Why Use Bitcoins Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Why Use Bitcoins - Research Paper Example An answer is proposed to the twofold spending issue joining distributed system. Bitcoins includes arrange timestamps exchanges by shaping a record that can't be changed without re-trying the verification of-work. The longest chain unmistakably demonstrates that it started from one of the biggest pool of CPU quality, and furthermore fills in as confirmation of the grouping of occasions saw. In spite of the fact that as long as the majority of CPU quality is heavily influenced by hubs which are not teaming up to assault the system, they will bring forth the longest chain and outpace assailants. Insignificant structure is required by the system itself. Leaving and rejoining of the system by hubs voluntarily additionally occurs, while messages are communicated on a best exertion premise; likewise the hubs permit the lengthiest verification of-work chain as proof of what occurred in its nonappearance (Andy). Presentation Commerce on the Internet has come to over hand-off on money related organizations filling in as outsiders depended upon to process electronic installments. The framework despite everything experiences the innate shortcomings of the trust based model, however it functions admirably enough for some exchanges. Since budgetary foundations can't avoid intervening questions, totally non-reversible exchanges can't be regarded conceivable. While constraining the base pragmatic exchange size and removing the opportunities for little easygoing exchanges, the expense of intervention expands exchange expenses, and there is a more extensive degree with respect to the expense in the loss of capacity to make non-reversible installments for nonreversible administrations. There is likewise the requirement for trust spreads because of the probability of inversion. While talking with clients for more data than they would some way or another need, Bitcoin dealers must be careful about them (Angry). Despite the fact that Bitcoins have been end up being essential in the dispersion of cash, they are some of the time related with different dangers which help vendors operating at a profit markets. A specific level of misrepresentation is permitted as unavoidable. These costs and cost vulnerabilities can be sidestepped face to face, using physical cash, however no such systems are available to do installments over a correspondences channel without a confided in party. An electronic installment framework dependent on cryptographic evidence rather than trust is required, making it workable for any two consenting partakers to execute straightforwardly with one another, accordingly not requiring the administrations of a confided in outsider. Routine escrow instruments could undoubtedly be executed to ensure purchasers, since the exchanges which are computationally unfeasible to converse would shield merchants from extortion. In this paper, we study the utilization of Bitcoins as answers for the twofold spending issue joining shared appropriated timestamp s erver so as to bring forth computational proof of the consecutive request of exchanges. The framework encouraging Bitcoin exchanges is secured as long as genuine hubs as a gathering run more CPU quality than any gathering of assailant hubs cooperating (Chirgwin). Bitcoin for a free society A free society needs a free market while a free market requires a sound type of cash. Bitcoin is a type of money with great properties like pseudonymous, no presumable hood of solidified records, there is no charge-backs and there is extremely modest and exceptionally quick exchange of assets. This is a tremendous bit of leeway over a trade or money just economy. So as to prevail over the long haul, Bitcoin needs the accompanying 3 theories: I. No state control. To put it plainly, we ought not endeavor to pick up legitimateness for Bitcoin; the state ought not be asked or associated with Bitcoin tasks ii. No bank inclusion: We ought not concentrate on interoperability with the customary banking

Letter to editor Free Essays

Subsequent to perusing the article composed by Christopher Stevens about teaching Yorkshire I believed I ought to react in light of the fact that, despite the fact that Mr. Stevens obviously reflected upon the genuine circumstances of the school, he despite everything figured out how to cause to notice the negatives and structure Ignorant ends while Including his Inconsiderate perspectives. He kicks back and crestless when It can be said that he more likely than not gone to class what 20 years prior and that circumstances are different, instructors must comprehend what they’re doing else they wouldn’t have been given the activity with such colossal duty. We will compose a custom paper test on Letter to proofreader or on the other hand any comparable theme just for you Request Now While he keeps on pointing fingers he overlooks how staggering Mr. Burton and Mustards contacting Journey has been just as other elevating minutes in the show. Rush Community Academy has a few distinct sorts of characters that join in however in your article you have generalized all adolescents. You take a portion of the scenes from the show and make a huge deal about them and afterward utilize that to make suppositions pretty much all youngsters. Don’t you go out in the city and see ‘Ignorant’ and ‘swaggered’ out children? Instead of summing you up should give close consideration to the way that schools are differing, that the understudies and have their own little world, some would even consider It their own one of a kind air pocket. The primary thing I’m going to discuss will be base. I think to accomplish the ideal base you should experience some significant strides before applying any cosmetics to guarantee you get a perfect completion. Ensuring your skin is perfect, peeled and lotion is critical, this will permit the establishment to really soak in into the skin and make it resemble your genuine skin. In any case, there’s a stage before that, and that’s applying groundwork, it’ll give oil free hydration, limit the presence of pores and ensure your cosmetics keeps going throughout the day. While applying establishment, the most Important thing to recollect s that toning it down would be ideal, this’ll even out your skin tone and let your common skin appear on the other side, this’ll leave you looking brilliant and Like your skin has a sound sparkle. The subsequent stage Is hidden, the reason for existing Is as of now In the name and that’s to disguise, It’ll make dark circles and defects for all intents and purposes vanish, just as featuring under the eyes and making you look progressively brilliant and conscious. Next proceed to apply powder, this will leave you sparkle free and ensure your cosmetics doesn’t slip and slide for the duration of the day. Foreheads I think temples are so significant, they outline your face and include structure , there’s arioso approaches to fill in your temples, pencils, wax, powder and gel, my undisputed top choice is the had’ temples unit, had represents top quality , you get four powders in the pack, the hues go from light medium and dull, you ought to float towards purchasing the unit as per the shade of your hair, you get four powders, they are pigmented and velvety, this permits the shadow to coast through your eyebrows Eyes I thoroughly consider of all cosmetics, eye cosmetics must be my generally top choice, one since Its such an imaginative part and you can get extremely aesthetic In looks you can make. Negative juxtaposed to the positives. The most effective method to refer to Letter to editorial manager, Papers

2.009

2.009 2.009  Product Engineering Processes. A senior capstone class option for mechanical engineering students (aka gotta take one of them to graduate).  The premise of this class is to ideate, design, build, and present a brand new product by the end of the semester. 1  Unifying theme. This year the theme was Danger, so there was a lot of really cool demos at the end. 8  Number of teams the class is divided into. 24.9 The average number of hours that students spend on this class a week, based on course reviews. ~150  Number of students in the class. 1,200  The number of people sitting in Kresge Auditorium during the live product launch, with thousands on a wait list to get tickets. ~40,000  The number of people watching the product launch webcast online. Many Actual products, patents, and companies that have come out of 2.009. This class is as Real Lifeâ„¢ as it gets. 2.009 consumed a lot of my waking hours this fall. Its hard enough to come up with a brand-new product idea. Its even harder to build it. Its even harder to make it work reliably enough to present live on-stage without a major catastrophe. And its hardest of all to do this in a single semester. However, I can honestly say that it was the most fun Ive had as a student at MIT.   I was on the Purple Team, and I am so incredibly proud of what we were able to build. Watching all of the presentations, it was obvious that all of the other teams felt the same way about their products, too.   Since not everyone was able to watch live, Im going to link videos of the final presentations and brochures for each of the teams, and add a few insider scoop comments. Note on the final presentation video format- each team has an intro skit, and there was a live band that played a custom song for every. single. team. This is followed by a 7-minute presentation and a 3 minute Q and A session. Yeah, it was a long night. Yellow Team- Manta  Yellow started off the night with a literal *BANG*. Their product, Manta, is a man-overboard rescue system that fires ropes attached to flotation devices   that encircle the person in the water and pull them back to safety. They literally fired it onstage in Kresge. Every spectator was given earplugs when they walked in. Click here to see the brochure. Blue Team- Talon  Blue made a knife that automatically retracts when it senses it has come in contact with something that it shouldnt cut, i.e. you. They demonstrated it live on an actual hand. I had my eyes closed for this part so I didnt really see it in action, but the student walked away with all of his fingers, so that was pretty cool. Click here to see the brochure.   Purple Team- Lilac  We made a breastfeeding aid that allows mothers and children who cant nurse (due to medical conditions, excessive pain or difficulty, etc.) to breastfeed as naturally as possible. Yes, an awesome mother and her adorable baby came on stage and demoed it live. Click here to see the brochure. Red Team- Tempra  Picture this- its past dinnertime, youve already been watching presentations for over an hour, youre super hungry and cant get food until the end and then Red Team comes on and cooks a full meal on stage. :(((((. Cool product though, it senses the exact temperature of your pots/pans and assists you in perfectly cooking your food. Bonus: Watch through the Q and A to see our very own Petey ask some key questions about thick steaks. Click here to see the brochure. Orange Team- Vesta  Orange made an awesome vest that keeps a person warm after falling into freezing water for up to 12 hours! I thought I had a rough semester, but apparently one of the students on this team had to lay in a freezing pool for hours  in order to test the product. You can see what that looks like in their demo video, where they re-created that test on stage. Click here to see the brochure. Green Team- Elevate  This is a wheelchair attachment that allows the user to raise the height of their seat, giving them the ability to reach higher places and see on a more eye-to-eye level (the use case they demonstrated was a user raising the height of their seat to eat in a restaurant). This was an awesome demo, and I really liked the fact that the mechanism they made was purely mechanical. No need for heavy motors and/or batteries! Click here for the brochure.   Pink Team- Zip  Another cool mechanical design, Zip is a knee scooter that can transform into crutches so the user can move up and down stairs or maneuver tight spaces. Their team space in lab was a graveyard of crutches and Razor scooters, which seems like a fun combo. Click here to see the brochure. Silver Team- Sentry  Silver made a speed bump that collapses to allow emergency vehicles to pass. A similar concept to the technology that changes traffic signals to allow ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks to speed through, but much more difficult to make. Unfortunately they couldnt bring a fire truck on stage, but they did have a golf cart drive over their bump. Click here for the brochure. Finally, heres a beautiful video of MIT and the surrounding area shot using a drone. They played this at the beginning of the presentation, and it made me nostalgic for my college years, even though I still go here: Post Tagged #2.009

Simon as Silent Prophet of Lord Of The Flies Essay

Simon as Silent Prophet of Lord Of The Flies The role of the prophet changes with the society in which he lives. In Modern America, a prophet is a visionary, telling his people what they can become; in Biblical times, a prophet was the voice of God, telling his people what they had to become to fulfill their covenant with God. In William Goldings Lord of the Flies, though, the prophet told his people nothing; he realized what they had already become, and he dared not tell them because he knew they would turn against him. Simon lived in knowledge and fear because his society denied the role of the prophet, and he did not fight it because he wanted so much to be part of that society. The basic premise of Lord of†¦show more content†¦Simon, though he did not tell the other boys of his vision, was incapable of forgetting. He was the observant character, the quiet philosopher. He was often alone, sometimes by his own choice, and he liked to wander into the peaceful jungle. He sincerely cared about the other boys, sometimes helping the young ones to fetch fruit, yet Simon turned away from them and went where the just perceptible path led him. Soon high jungle closed in (56). He loved solitude and yet felt loneliness; he was alien to the other boys. The boys did not think anyone would be stupid enough to go into the jungle by night: The assembly grinned at the thought of going out into the darkness. Then Simon stood up and Ralph looked at him in astonishment (85). Many of the boys even thought he was batty because he left the group to spend time alone. He did not fear the jungle, and he did not fear the Beast. Maybe, he said hesitantly, maybe there is a beas t. . . . maybe its only us (89). The Beast takes many forms in the boys imaginations; once, they saw a strange shape moving at the top of a mountain, and they were afraid that it was the Beast. No one dared to go near it save Simon, who went alone to the mountaintop during one of his sojourns; he discovered that the Beast was only a dead parachuter whose gear shifted in the wind. Ironically, the dead man was a soldier, a symbol of the savagery that was the true Beast. However, Simons compassionShow MoreRelatedEssay on History of Crucifixion6118 Words   |  25 Pages(sedicula) or a wooden peg positioned midway on the upright supported the body weight from tearing open the wounds. Once the condemned was thus immobilized he was left alone, unable to attend to bodily functions, unprotected from inclement weather or flies, and, because the place of execution was usually some public street or prominent place, subjected to abusive words and mockery from passersby. Often the body was left to putrefy on the cross and becom e the prey of carrion birds to complete the utterRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesmainstream of popular culture through the use of music. Marley is not seen as a religious ï ¬ gure; rather he is seen as a rock star, a pop hero, an icon. And yet his faith is at the core of his music. Rastafarians have dubbed Marley the psalmist and prophet of the movement. This is a crucial part of the wonderful complexity of the Rastafarian movement. Jamaica owes a great debt to the men who formed the Rastafarian movement in the 1930s. Rastafarianism has served as a lightning rod of discussion about

7 Ways Private School Prepares You for College

When students apply to private school, it’s often with the ultimate goal of getting into a top college. But how exactly does private school prepare you for college? 1. Private Schools Offer Exceptional Academics The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) researched just how prepared students were for college. When asked, students who attended both boarding schools and privates reported that they were more prepared for college both academically and in non-academic areas than those who attended public school. Private school students were also more likely to earn an advanced degree, with boarding school students coming in with the highest percentage of advanced degrees earned. Why is this? One reason is that private schools are designed to help students develop a love of learning, which means that they are more likely to continue their schooling beyond high school and undergraduate college. 2. Private Schools are Rigorous It’s not uncommon to hear a private school graduate come back from their first year at college saying that it was easier than high school. Private schools are rigorous, and demand a lot of students. These high expectations result in students developing strong work ethics and time management skills. Private schools often require that students participate in two or three sports and afterschool activities, while also offering clubs and activities, in addition to their academics. This heavy schedule means time management skills and a schoolwork/life balance are skills that students master before college. 3. Boarding School Students Learn Independence Students who attend boarding school receive an even better preview of college life, more so than students at a day school. Why? Because boarding school students live in dorms on campus, instead of at home with their families, they learn what it’s like to live independently, but in a more supportive environment than you might find at college. Dorm parents at boarding school play an active role in the lives of boarding students lives, providing guidance and encouraging independence as they learn to live on their own. From laundry and room cleanliness to waking up on time and balancing work and social life, boarding school challenges students to make responsible decisions. 4. Private Schools are Diverse Private schools typically offer more diversity than public schools, as these institutions tend to enroll students from not just one town. Boarding schools go even further, welcoming students from all over the world. Like colleges, diverse environments tend to provide rich experiences, as students live and learn with people from all walks of life. These varied perspectives on current events, lifestyles, and even pop culture references can enhance the academic classroom and broaden personal understanding of the world. 5. Private Schools have Highly Qualified Teachers The TABS study also shows that boarding school students are more likely to report having high-quality teachers than private or public schools. At boarding school, teachers are so much more than just classroom teachers. They are often coaches, dorm parents, advisors, and support systems. It’s common for boarding school students to stay in touch with their teachers long after graduation. Private school teachers typically dont just have teaching certificates, in fact, many private schools value experience over a teaching certificate. Private school teachers tend to have advanced degrees in their subject areas, and often have extensive professional backgrounds in their teaching subjects. Imagine learning physics from an actual engineer, or being coached by a former professional player? Private schools strive to hire the best in the business, and the students benefit greatly. 6. Private Schools Provide Personal Attention Most private schools boast small class sizes. At private schools, an average class size is often between 12 and 15 students, whereas the NCES reports that an average classroom ranges from about 17-26 students, depending on grade level and type of class. These smaller class sizes, which sometimes have more than one teacher, especially in kindergarten programs and primary school programs, mean more personal attention for students, no back row, and no chance of getting overlooked in discussions. Private school teachers are also expected to be available outside of normal class times for extra help, especially at boarding schools. This supportive environment  means  students receive even more opportunities for success. 7. Private Schools Help Students Apply to College Another benefit of boarding school, particularly when it comes to preparing for college, is the assistance students, and their parents, receive in the college application process. College Counseling offices work with students and their families to help find the best fit colleges and universities. As juniors, and sometimes even as freshmen or sophomores, students begin to work with qualified college counselors who help guide them through the college application process. From providing help with researching colleges and universities to reviewing financial aid and scholarships, college counselors work to help students find the schools that will help them thrive. With more than 5,000 colleges and universities in the United States, college counseling services can be invaluable to students and their families. Assistance in finding the right college doesnt just mean finding a school that offers a particular major, either. Private schools also help students capitalize on their strengths during the college admission process. College counselors can help students identify schools with targeted sports or art programs, which can be  helpful if scholarships are available. For example, a student who hopes to eventually pursue an MBA may opt for a college with a strong business school. But, that same student may also be a standout soccer player, and so finding a college with both a strong business program and an active soccer program can be a huge help. Boarding school coaches are often involved in helping student athletes get seen by top college recruiters, which could result in an athletic scholarship to play on an athletic team. College is expensive, and every bit of financial aid support can be a huge help in staving off mounds of student loans.

A study into the discourses present in schools Free Essays

This paper will be a theoretically based survey into the discourse of the instruction system and its handiness by a peculiar demographic of students in the instruction system. The purposes of this paper are to derive an apprehension of the function that discourses drama in schools, to recognize the links between discourse, linguistic communication and individuality, to foreground the societal justness issues that arise when some students can non entree the course of study and to suggest back uping and opposing statements for a alteration in lingual codifications in the school environment. In this paper, when adverting the term ‘discourse ‘ , I will mention to the definition used by Gee ( 1990 ) : â€Å" a socially accepted association among ways of utilizing linguistic communication, of thought, feeling, believing, valuing, and of moving that can be used to place oneself as a member of a socially meaningful group or ‘social web ‘ , or to signal ( that one is playing ) a socially meaningful ‘role ‘ . We will write a custom essay sample on A study into the discourses present in schools or any similar topic only for you Order Now † ( p. 143 ) It will go clear during this paper that discourse is non modestly the words one uses, or the phrases that are understood by peculiar groups. It is the really make-up of what individuality is. Classroom discourse is an of import country of survey because it is the medium by which information from the topics is transferred from the course of study, schools and instructors to the students. It is besides of personal involvement due to experiences of learning at an interior metropolis school, whose population consisted of an above national norm of students from households from a low socioeconomic country of the state, with the bulk of students entitled to free school repasts. From duologues with these students ( both separately and collaboratively in the schoolroom context ) , I realised that there was a distinguishable contrast in the discourse used by both parties. Occasionally inquiries arose from students that were finally a palingenesis of a statement already expressed by myself. This facet of revoicing will be scrutinised, and its importance to classroom discourse emphasised in this piece of work. Further inquiries originating from this experience related to the entree t hese students had to the course of study being taught to them. It was pertinent that the repeat by the students showed a deficiency of apprehension of the linguistic communication used instead than of the value of the content being taught. Was the discourse of the course of study an obstruction to the acquisition of these students? Surely if the student can non understand the instructor ( and every bit if the instructor can non understand the student ) , larning must be impeded. It is my purpose to analyze these differences and understand the links between discourse, individuality and cultural capital of this peculiar demographic of student, the discourse of schools, and the importance of these differences. At the foundation of the apprehension of the discourse of a peculiar individual or group of people, is its links to their distinguishing individuality. Harmonizing to Gee ( 1991, in Mitchell and Weiler, p. 1 ) , discourse encompasses the garb one wears, instructions on how to move, how to talk and taking on specified recognizable functions. It is hence more than merely the idiom one uses, it is all that is used to make an individuality, an ‘identity kit ‘ as competently put by Gee. The functions that one is given are tied to the environment in which they are present, for illustration – locally – the functions assigned to a instructor when they are in the school environment. A instructor will be trained to act, talk, act, think and even frock in a specific manner because that is what the environment demands, differences in these behaviors would foreground non-conformity toward the societal environment, and basically the discourse itself. Similarly, one could propose that kids, harmonizing to their societal groups will utilize a peculiar discourse that relates to that peculiar group ( Bernstein, 1962, p. 33 ) . Identity is per se linked to linguistic communication, as explained by Barker and GalasiA„ski ( 2001, p. 28 ) as a merchandise of civilization â€Å" to which linguistic communication is cardinal † . They besides attempt to help the apprehension of how of import the construct of individuality is to the sense of affinity shared by peculiar groups, such as students. They describe individuality as an thought of belonging or associating to a group of people with which one can place emotionally ( p. 28 ) . This thought is developed by Marshall ( 1990, in Ball, 1990, p. 14 ) when explicating Foucault ‘s doctrine of the ‘subject ‘ , intending â€Å" both being tied to person else by control and dependance, and being tied to one ‘s ain individuality by a scruples or self-knowledge. † Another of import facet that will be explicated is the importance of linguistic communication as a tool to determine a power construction and the barriers that this causes to taking alternate attacks to educating. As highlighted by Gee ( ibid. , p. 2 ) , closely of import to talk about is the manner power is distributed, specifically in a hierarchal nature. This position suggests that disputing the discourse could be viewed as a challenge to the school bureaucratism. Discourses, Compatibility and Access to Education I have briefly outlined the two discourses that are of involvement, to progress this probe it would be relevant to analyze and explain the relationship between the two in a school environment, and finally, if they are compatible. To understand if these two discourses are compatible it is of import to understand some cardinal issues such as entree to peculiar codifications of linguistic communication ( Bernstein, 1962 ) , cultural capital ( Rothstein, 2004, p.19 ) and issues of individuality and willingness to accommodate ( Bernstein, 1958 ) . The course of study and schools in general have a peculiar codification of linguistic communication. Wittgenstein ( 2001, p. 6 ) metaphorically describes words as tools in a tool chest, explicating that merely as a cock or gum may hold different maps, so excessively words may hold assorted utilizations depending upon the context. Hymes and Gumperz ( 1971 in Bernstein, 1971, p. 145 ) conceptualise codification as â€Å" the rule which regulates the choice and organisation of speech events. † Auer ( 1998, p. 38 ) explains the codification of linguistic communication as â€Å" a mechanism of transduction between purposes†¦ and vocalizations, and so between vocalizations and readings. † This is further developed by Littlejohn explicating linguistic communication codification as â€Å" a set of forming rules behind the linguistic communication employed by members of a societal group † ( 2002, p.A 178 ) . Two types of lingual codification are identified: elaborated and restricted ( Bernstein, 1962, p. 32 ) . Basically the difference between the two is based on the trouble of anticipation ( Hymes and Gumperz, 1971, in Bernstein, 1971, p. 145 ) and the scope of options available in the vocabulary ( Bernstein, 1962, p. 32 ) , where they are inversely relative. Elaborated codification is defined as holding an extended scope of options and hence the predictability of the vocabulary is low. â€Å" An detailed codification facilitates the building and exchange of individuated symbols. The verbal planning map associated with this codification promotes a higher degree of structural administration and lexicon choice [ with regard to a restricted codification ] . The readying and bringing of comparatively expressed significance is the major intent of the codification † ( p. 33 ) Conversely restricted codification although differing harmonizing to the societal scene, its vocabulary will be drawn from a sparse scope. The conditions for development of this codification varies but in general is based on a â€Å" common set of closely shared designations, self-consciously held by the members, where immediateness of the relationship is stressed. † ( p. 32 ) Peer groups of kids and striplings are premier illustrations of the demographic that use this organized construction and specific vocabulary choice. It could be argued that these groups prefer the usage of this codification because of the societal facet of their relationships. Bernstein notes the possibility that â€Å" restricted codification facilitates the building and exchange of societal symbols. † ( 1962, p. 33 ) Of peculiar involvement are pupils from the lower categories, due to the manner in which they are raised and live their lives, it is thought that they have less entree to the discourse of instruction. Harmonizing to Rothstein ( 2004 ) those from the lower categories are read to in early childhood less frequently than those who have educated parents, and those who are read to, are non as challenged with the originative inquiries. This consequences in a lower acquaintance with words, impacting upon early acquisition upon school entry, irrespective of the natural ability of the kid to larn ( p. 19 ) . Children and striplings from lower socio-economic backgrounds are premier illustrations of users of restricted codification, nevertheless as detailed codification is more expressed in significance, it is a better method of communicating when trying to supply accounts when there is no old cognition, so more comprehensive accounts can be delivered ( p.34 ) , a state of affairs which reflects favorably to a school environment where students are having the bulk of information for the first clip. As instruction is arguably more appropriately delivered in detailed codification, the consequence is the outgrowth of the discourse job. To back up this Bernstein ( 1962 ) explains that elaborative codification is universalistic with mention to its significance with regard to its theoretical account, i.e. â€Å" it summarises general societal agencies and terminals. † ( p. 33 ) and hence â€Å" merely some people have entree to the codification and to the possible universalistic character of its significances. † ( p. 34 ) . Contrarily, restricted codification is particularistic with mention to its significance with regard to its theoretical account, i.e. â€Å" it summarises local societal agencies and terminals. † ( p. 33 ) therefore â€Å" all people have entree to the codification and to its local condensed significances † ( p. 34 ) . As non all people have entree to elaborative codification, pupils when at school can hold different experiences in footings of the development of their cultural capital ( Hymes and Gumperz, 1971, in Berstein, 1971, p. 143-144 ) a position supported by Rothstein ‘s account of the attainment spread ( Rothstein, 2004, p. 20 ) . Hymes and Gumperz explain that harmonizing to how receptive a kid is to the discourse of instruction, they will see a relative sum of symbolic and societal development ( ibid. ) . Both of these statements are supported by Gould ( 1965 ) , who adds that a restricted codification should non be devalued, as it has the power to unify the user to fellow societal group members and the community – a point besides stressed by Bernstein ( 1962, p. 36 ) – furthermore a alteration of codification alters the cardinal elements of what constructs their societal individuality and world. â€Å" This statement means that educational establishments in a unstab le society carry within themselves estranging inclinations. † ( cited in Bernstein, 1971, p. 136-137 ) . When a member of society is non included in such of import facets of societal life, such as schooling, particularly when it is their right to be so, it raises the issue of societal justness which is defined by Rawls ( 1971 ) : â€Å" the primary topic of justness is the basic construction of society, or more precisely, the manner in which the major societal establishments distribute cardinal rights and responsibilities and find the division of advantages from societal cooperation. † ( p. 7 ) Analyzing this definition of societal justness leads me to oppugn if all schools are so administering the cardinal right of instruction reasonably, and is sufficient advantage provided to those who have inferior entree to the discourse of instruction? Social justness is undeniably an of import public issue in the context of the United Kingdom and England. Tomlinson ( 2005, p. 153 ) evidences this observing the confidence of the Prime Minister in 1997, Tony Blair, plighting that â€Å" The New Labour authorities came to power confirming a committedness to societal justness and to instruction as a means to make a socially merely society. † He besides notes the Prime Minister pulling upon links with societal development, promoting states to be unfastened to difference in 1999 ( ibid. ) . If societal justness in the schoolroom is to be achieved, and if it presently is non due to the impression of the course of study being unaccessible because of the discourse used, should the thought of alteration of lingual codification in the schoolroom be entertained? Keeping in head that linguistic communication is an intrinsic portion of individuality, the effects of enforcing a alteration to something every bit personal as an individuality should be carefully examined before being implemented. Bernstein ( 1958 ) intimates that the lower person ‘s societal strata, the greater opposition they will demo to formal instruction and acquisition, including that this is really a map of the group. His literature besides explains the method of opposition that is likely to be displayed, including, critical jobs of subject, non-acceptance of the values of the instructor, the failure to develop and experience the demand for an extended vocabulary and a penchant for a descriptive instead than an analytical cognitive procedure ( p. 160 ) . As antecedently evidenced the peculiar demographic of student are united due to the discourse they use, combine with this a united negative temperament towards schooling and it can be understood that willingness to talk about displacement from this demographic may be really low. If this scheme has defects, should the inquiry of lingual alteration to the course of study be raised? It seems pertinent that if every bit mentioned all have entree to a restricted lingual codification, and non all have entree to an detailed codification, that a restricted codification is the ideal lingua for learning. Complications with this posit are nevertheless instantly obvious, notably the impact on the quality of the topic cognition being transferred to the student, and the power battle that may ensue in utilizing an inferior strand of linguistic communication. Sing the quality of the teaching method, is it right to suggest for illustration, that in mathematics the word whole number which is rich and really specific in significance, elaborate in codification, be sacrificed for the possibly more accessible figure, from a restricted codification? One could anticipate benefits in pupil attending, and it could be argued that a hapless apprehension is better than no apprehension a t all. Harmonizing to Foucault ‘s rule of discontinuity ( Foucault, 1982, cited in Ball, 1990, p. 2 ) â€Å" We must do allowance for the complex and unstable powers whereby discourse can be both an instrument and an consequence of power, but besides a hinderance, a stumbling block, a point of opposition and a starting point of an opposing scheme. † To develop this, parallels to Auer ‘s account of power when utilizing foreign linguistic communications in other states can be drawn. If a restricted codification is thought of as a foreign minority linguistic communication and the elaborative codification is thought of as the local linguistic communication, a clear power construction can be established. â€Å" it may be said that in a minority linguistic communication context, the minority linguistic communication is the linguistic communication of entry and the bulk linguistic communication that of power. This macro-sociological power so infiltrates the colloquial exchange such that a talker who uses the power linguistic communication ( the bulk linguistic communication ) besides exerts interactive power over his or her co-participant ( s ) . † ( Auer, 1998, p. 236 ) Ball ( 1990 ) describes educational establishments as topographic points which control how discourse is distributed and the entree that persons have to the assorted discourses ( p. 3 ) . The thought of control clearly displays the power that schools have ; one would assume that schools would waver to destruct the barriers that discourse present to forestall the loss of high quality over their students. Hymes and Gumperz ( 1971 ) confirm that there is a discontinuity in footings of discourses that kids from lower socio-economic backgrounds face ( in Bernstein, 1971, p. 144 ) . There is an statement that a kid learns how to be educated by engagement, therefore larning to distinguish between discourses. The kid learns which is appropriate for each societal scene, larning how to believe and move and in consequence larning how to go a pupil ( Hicks, 1996, p. 105 ; Gee, 1990, p. 87 ; Wertsch, 1991 in Miller, 1992, p. 65 ) . This is farther grounds to propose that the posit has mistakes. Revoicing is a technique used by instructors which harmonizing to O’Connor and Michaels ( Hicks, 1996 ) is a â€Å" peculiar sort of reuttering ( unwritten or written ) of a pupil ‘s part – by another participant in the treatment. † ( p. 71 ) Combinations of both restricted and elaborated codification are evidenced in illustration ( 4 ) . Although the illustration is constructed, it is claimed to be a typical illustration of a schoolroom treatment. The instructor uses elaborated codification to reiterate and reenforce a statement made by the pupil, which is in restricted codification. This in consequence exposes the pupils in the schoolroom to both lingual codifications, thereby leting all students listening entree to the treatment. ( 4 ) Student: Well, I think that Smith ‘s work is truly non relevant here because she merely looked at grownups. Teacher: So you agree with Tom so, you ‘re proposing that Smith is irrelevant to the linguistic communication acquisition of immature kids? Student: Yeah. ( p. 71 ) Further analysis of the literature reveals that uncertainnesss remain with this scheme nevertheless. O’Connor and Michaels make clear that there can be an issue with student-teacher apprehension, ensuing in a dislocation in the effectivity of the technique in the lesson, saying that â€Å" If the instructor can non understand what the pupil is proposing in footings of the current undertaking, it will be really hard to integrate that part efficaciously, with or without the revoicing scheme. † ( p. 97 ) Another highlighted quandary is the desire for pupils to non experience patronised ; they understand that if students ‘ statements are invariably recognised but non linked to the academic content, it can be a cause for the pupils to go defeated due to the arch nature of the responses. ( p. 97 ) Decisions The purposes of this paper are to derive an apprehension of the function that discourses drama in schools, to recognize the links between discourse, linguistic communication and individuality, to foreground the societal justness issues that arise when some students can non entree the course of study and to suggest back uping and opposing statements for a alteration in lingual codifications in the school environment. It has been established utilizing the literature that that there are links between discourse and individuality and one of the cardinal facets of discourse is the manner one uses linguistic communication ( Gee, 1990 ) . Two types of lingual codifications are identified by Bernstein ( 1962 ) , restricted and elaborated, stand foring a lower and higher vocabulary complexness severally. It was established that some students, chiefly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, do non hold entree to academic linguistic communication which is constructed utilizing an detailed codification, as highlighted by Gould ( 1965 ) and Hymes and Gumperz ( 1971 ) , which leads to issues of societal justness. In an effort to look into a possible solution to the jobs of discourse, an analysis of the literature by O’Connor and Michaels ( Hicks, 1996 ) was held, proposing a alteration in discourse from one of the two parties. Although there were some obvious quandaries, viz. the feeling of a loss of power by schools, an apprehension of the revoicing technique used by some instructors intimated that it is sensible to propose that entree to the linguistic communication of schools could be improved without the usage of drastic steps. Further inquiries could be raised approximately predicted power battles that could break out should the balance held with the aid of the two discourses disappear, and about the effects that discourse has on pupil-teacher dealingss. This is an of import issue as the teacher-pupil relationship has a critical impact on the behavior of students in the schoolroom. Harmonizing to Robertson ( 1985, p. 111 ) Wragg et Al. produced a brochure for usage on a instruction pattern which listed of import issues for students, one of which was personal relationships. One could oppugn if efforts to interrupt the discourse barriers would better these relationships. Possibly the most of import inquiry to reply is the consequence on the acquisition of the students, premises on this facet are made by O’Connor and Michaels ( Hicks, 1996 ) stating, â€Å" we assume here that each case of pupil engagement, fostered and scaffolded by the instructor, represents an chance for an increase of acquisition, nevertheless little. † ( p. 64 ) It is of import nevertheless that more research in this field takes topographic point ; it would be good to understand genuinely the troubles faced by both students and instructors due to the assorted discourses present in the schoolroom. A greater apprehension of the schoolroom in footings of the lingual codifications used would profit teaching method and the instruction of the course of study because as evidenced in this piece of work, without lucidity in communicating some students do non hold entree to the course of study. Tim Brighouse in a treatment with Helen Gunter had emphasised the importance of entree and societal justness in instruction. Metaphorically he explained that, every kid has the right to reject instruction but in order to reject it they must foremost hold full entree to it, saying that â€Å" Every kid has the right to reject Beethoven † ( Gunter, 2010 ) . How to cite A study into the discourses present in schools, Essay examples

E-Business Applications of Macy’s Digital Transformation †Free Sampl

Question: Discuss about the E-Business Applications of Macys Inc. Answer: Introduction Retail Business is not as the same it was decades before. The nature, scope and operational aspect of retail business are changing in rapid manner in recent digital age. The digital transformation in retail and use of internet has changed the customer interaction and engagement in retail. Retail businesses are adopting online channel and in-store digital transformation along with physical channel; overall it is the implementation of Omni-channel approach (Fulgoni, 2014). Macys Digital Transformation in Retail To discuss, digital disruption and future of retail stores in digital era, Macys digital transformation is one of the best examples worldwide. It is being 150 years old departmental store, adopting and implementing digital transformation in consumer centric environment in a strategic way. As a very traditional retail store, it faced challenges in customer serving in internet marketplace. Macys has committed its effort for transformation in digital revolution through making $230 million investment in its website from 2006 and 2007. While implementing it digital stride, it has implemented various strategies like Omni-channel approach, more focus on online order distribution centres, training of front line employees about magic selling technique, integrated consumer experience and consumer service. Macys has successfully integrated the gap between its physical stores and digital channels. Its innovative approach of digital in-store experience for its customer and employees enables it to provide better customer experience and engagement. Employees are armed with connected iPods to find inventories, implementation of mobile wallet for easy payment facility and customised in-store digital catalogues are most important initiatives taken by Macys (Bennett and Azhari, 2015). Macys is trying to create a luxury experience through in-store digital personalisation. MyStylist@Macys is helping shoppers to choose the best product from digital catalogue. Digital ordering system enabled personal shoppers to order online and pick the order from nearby local store. Connect@Macys kiosks enabled customers to choose from inventories which are not displayed in the store; where customers can suggest colour, style and design combination. Macys digital innovation strategy is better known as Top Door Strategy. This strategy has contributed in positive manner in growth of Macys. It has allocated and utilised its resources to create a winning customer experience in store. Industry experts praised about Macys commercial website and mobile application (Macys, 2017). It has made huge investment but to get better return on investment (ROI) it must revitalise its digital and physical approach time to time (Lewis and Loker, 2015). On Black Friday in 2016, it got 3.5 million online shoppers and 300,000 mobile application users. Conclusion In conclusion, it can be said that Macys digital strategy needs to be more focused on creating better in-store digital experience. Customers should be provided with much more easy customisation, design and deliver facility and use of virtual reality to imagine how products will look in actual usage (Krueger, 2015). Macys should collect and analyse the huge data of customers during their interaction through digital channel and in-store digital interaction. This new digital transformation strategy of Macys will provide more customised and individualised offerings to customers and ultimately it will increase customer satisfaction and Macys brand value. References Bennett, D.R. and El Azhari, J., 2015. Omni-channel customer experience: An investigation into the use of digital technology in physical stores and its impact on the consumer's decision-making process. Fulgoni, G.M., 2014. Omni-Channel Retail Insights and The Consumer's Path-to-Purchase.Journal of Advertising Research,54(4), pp.377-380. Krueger, J., 2015. Omni-channel shoppers: An emerging retail reality.Think with Google, Accessed,6, p.2016. Lewis, T.L. and Loker, S., 2015. Adoption of emerging in-store technology interfaces for the apparel retail employee. InSuccessful Technological Integration for Competitive Advantage in Retail Settings(pp. 119-143). IGI Global. Macys 2017. 2017 Fact Book. Retrieved 15 September 2017, from https://investors.macysinc.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477p=irol-reportsannual

Butler Lumber Company Case Study Report free essay sample

In this report, we study the case of Butler Lumber Company and analyze the financing problem it was facing. First, we give a brief review of the background information of the company. Then we diagnose the business by examining its financial statistics and discover that company was seriously lacking of cash due to the poor operation of working capital and cost control. Free Cash flow is the key concern in our estimation. â€Å"Break-Even Analysis† stressing on the balance of free cash flow is applied in the estimation of the loan amount needed for anticipated sales growth. In the third part, we offer the comments from financial advisor and the banker. The financial advisor was supposed to suggest Butler downsize his business, carefully manage the working capital, control the operation expense and maybe resort to equity finance instead. Relevant â€Å"Sensitivity Analysis† is offered. For the bank officer, we advise him to ask for the right of supervising the operation of inventory and collection of accounts receivable. We will write a custom essay sample on Butler Lumber Company Case Study Report or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Except for that, the right of bank to adjust the loan limit inversely related to the financial health conditions could lower the risk taken by the bank. Finally, the conclusion and takeaways we draw from the case are stated. The company had been realizing the continuing expansion of sales volume by adopting price competition including the quantity discounts and credit terms. On the other hand, the competitive price was due to the purchases of materials at substantial discounts. In 1988, Mr. Butler bought out Mr. Stark’s shares and became the sole owner and president of the firm.

Tourism In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia Tourism Essay Essays

Tourism In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia Tourism Essay Essays Tourism In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia Tourism Essay Essay Tourism In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia Tourism Essay Essay Saudi Arabia is known to the universe as the centre of Islam and one of the really few states in the universe to hold maintained Islamic jurisprudence the Islamic law. Harmonizing to the U.S section of province ( 2010 ) Saudi Arabia remained as an absolute monarchy until 1992, at which clip the Saud royal household introduced the state s first fundamental law based on the Islamic law. With an country of about 865,000 square stat mis, Saudi Arabia is approximately one-third the size of the Continental United States, and the same size as all of Western Europe. Saudi Arabia s oil part and chief beginning of wealth prevarications along the Persian Gulf. This oil-derived wealth allowed the state to supply free wellness attention and instruction while non roll uping any revenue enhancements from its people. At the clip of World War II Saudi Arabia had tierce of all known oil militias, but falling demand and lifting production outside the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC ) endangered the state with domestic agitation and sabotaging its influence in the Gulf country. However, they fleetly recovered with a blooming economic system. Standard of life is calculated by ranks, such as existent income per individual and poorness ranks. Measures such as entree and quality of wellness attention, income growing inequality and educational criterions are besides used. The best statistic for mensurating criterion of life is the same one the UN uses to mensurate the degree of development of a state. The human development index ( HDI ) which is used as an option to mensurating GDP in order to find the state s wellbeing. The HDI provides a step of the mean three facets of human development, populating a long and healthy life, instruction and holding a nice criterion of life. Harmonizing to the latest U.N human development study ( 2007 ) Saudi Arabia s HDI value is.843. This denotes that Saudi Arabia ranks high on the human development index. Other facets taken into consideration when mensurating the land s HDI are life anticipation rates, under 5 mortality rates, and literacy rate. Harmonizing to the latest U.N human development study ( 2007 ) Saudi Arabia s life anticipation rate is 72.7 old ages old. The under 5 mortality rate in Saudi Arabia is 21.27 deceases per 1,000 harmonizing to the World Bank ( 2008 ) . In footings of literacy rate merely 85 % of Saudi Arabians are literate. The Saudi authorities is working on bettering the literacy rate in Saudi Arabia. Harmonizing to the latest U.N human development study ( 2009 ) Saudi Arabia s GDP rank subtraction HDI rank is at -19 a negative figure indicates that the HDI rank is lower than the GDP per capita ( PPP US $ ) and that poorness is low in that state. Gender inequality occurs on a day-to-day bases in Saudi Arabia. Harmonizing to Abdella ( 2010 ) the land allows work forces to twice the heritage that adult females are allowed. Womans are required to hold a guardian bodyguard them for many of life s day-to-day undertakings. Without the presence of a guardian, a adult female can non analyze, entree wellness services, marry, travel abroad, have a concern or even entree an ambulance in an exigency. Saudi adult females do non hold the right to drive. It is illegal for a adult female to be in the company of a adult male who is non in her immediate household. Young adult females are still non allowed to analyze certain topics, such as geology nevertheless it is indicated that adult females can go abroad entirely for surveies.On the topic of polygamy, work forces are permitted by jurisprudence to hold up to four married womans. Womans do non hold equal entree to the tribunals or an equal chance to obtain justness. Abdella ( 2010 ) acknowle dged that the authorities ought to measure Torahs and policies and revision basic Laws in order to guarantee gender equality and except the favoritism of adult females. In Saudi Arabia population growing is outpacing the economic growing and handiness of services and substructure in the state. The CIA universe fact book ( 2010 ) proved that by contrast to the U.S, Saudi Arabia experiences a high population growing rate of 1.85 % . Saudi Arabia s growing rate is lower than mean developing states, which is typically about 2.5 % ; but higher than the U.S 1 % population growing rate. Due to its population Growth Issues Saudi Arabia is confronting troubles in supplying occupations, H2O, nutrient and energy to its autochthonal immature population and there is a widening spread between the ability of the economic system to make occupations and the population growing rate. A major difference between economic growing and human development is that economic growing focuses on the expansion of income, while Human development focuses on enlarging all human options. Harmonizing to United Nations human Development Program ( 2010 ) instruction, wellness, clean environment and stuff good being make non needfully depend on income. Therefore, the options available for bettering people s lives are inclined to the quality of economic growing in its wider sense, and the impact is by no agencies confined to quantitative facets of such growing. The terminal end of investing in human capital, in footings of wellness, instruction, nutrition and preparation, is to hike production and generate extra income. Investings in physical substructure are a important property of Saudi Arabia s current economic development thrust. Harmonizing to Hayward ( 2009 ) the land seeks to cut down its trust on the oil industry. Saudi Arabia announced a immense economic stimulation budget for 2009, apportioning more money for instruction and an addition in public disbursement by 15.8 per cent. The Saudi Government plans to pass a enormous sum of money on substructure undertakings in the following five old ages as the land seeks to profit from lower building costs amid the planetary fiscal crunch. The building division will be motivated by the launch of six economic metropoliss to be completed by 2020. Harmonizing to Hayward ( 2009 ) these six new industrialized metropoliss will diversify Saudi Arabia s economic system and are expected to magnify GDP. Undertakings presently underway in the Kingdom include two immense railroad enterprises, which will hike trade and touristry webs. Work continues to spread out in Saudi Arabia s port web as the state competitions with other Gulf States to offer a gateway to Middle East markets. With the spread outing population growing issues the force per unit area is being put Forth on the state s public-service corporations. The Saudi agricultural sector is the 2nd largest industry in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia has achieved huge agricultural development, suppressing the troubles of scarce rain, meager subterraneous H2O, limited local work force and widely dispersed arable lands. Harmonizing to the CIA universe fact book ( 2010 ) many persons migrate to Saudi Arabia for employment. In 2009 merely 6.75 % of the population was employed in agribusiness and 21.40 % employed in the services. Agriculture has grown at an mean one-year rate of 8.7 per centum since 1970 and histories for more than 9.4 per centum of Saudi Arabia s GDP. Harmonizing to The Saudi web ( 2010 ) in order to keep agribusiness, the Saudi Government has built more than 200 dikes to continue rainwater, with storage capacity of 689 million three-dimensional metres. In order to finance this development, the Saudi Agricultural Bank was established in 1964. It is a specialised agricultural bank ; it extends long-run, interest-free loans to husbandmans and agricultural companies. Harmonizing to The Saudi web ( 2010 ) the Saudi Government has besides supplied seeds and saplings at nominal monetary values. It has afforded veterinary and agricultural counsel and works protection services. Other steps include the purchase of strategic agricultural harvests, such as wheat and barley at high monetary values, through the General Organization for Grain Silos and Flour Mills. Public treatment about environmental issues has increased significantly throughout Saudi Arabia, Following a series of inundations in the Kingdom. Harmonizing to the Saudi web ( 2010 ) the most of import environmental issue confronting Jeddah is sewerage. The estimations on the country of the metropolis that is presently connected to the cloaca pipes vary from 8-14 % , with around 80 % of houses utilizing infected armored combat vehicles. In recent old ages, the waste from the metropolis s infected armored combat vehicles has been discarded in the Briman Sewage Lake, better known as Musk Lake Centre. However, environmental and wellness anxiousness following last twelvemonth s inundations, coupled with a royal edict telling the voidance of the lake, have prompted metropolis functionaries to happen alternate solutions. The usage of leaching cavities infected armored combat vehicles without a concrete underside that allow sewerage to run out into the land led to dirty and belowground H 2O taint every bit good as a rise in the H2O tabular array. The deficiency of a proper cloaca system has created an ecological catastrophe. Global heating has besides affected Saudi Arabia more than any other state late. The temperature in Saudi Arabia has neer allowed it to snow in Saudi Arabia. However, due to planetary warming it late snowed in Saudi Arabia. Due to political struggle ensuing from the wiki leaks incident the Saudi authorities is hesitating towards implementing environmental policies. No state in the universe will be spared from the effects of the fiscal crisis and ensuing in a planetary recession. Harmonizing to Bourland ( 2008 ) For Saudi Arabia, it has wholly shifted the focal point of economic policy from commanding rising prices to reconstructing assurance in the fiscal sector. We see the following cardinal deductions for the Saudi economic system. Oil monetary values will be significantly lower than antecedently anticipated and reduced production will worsen the impact on oil grosss. Finance for local and foreign companies making concern in the Kingdom will be less easy available and more expensive. Harmonizing to Bourland ( 2008 ) economic growing will decelerate as jobs accessing appropriately priced funding and lower oil grosss delay project execution and impair assurance. Lower oil grosss will intend the terminal to the immense budget and current history excesss of recent old ages. Sharply lower trade good monetary values and a strengthening of the riyal will do rising prices to fall back quickly over the following 12 months. Due to corruptness in Saudi Arabia, the Public pick theory would assist better Saudi Arabia. The Public pick theory is most effectual when authorities agents are self interested and will non make things in the public involvement and in state of affairss where the authorities is corrupt. Public pick theory encourages minimized Government and maximized market in development schemes. Government policies in Saudi Arabia promote gender, societal, and educational inequality. Corruptness is perceived as important. Harmonizing to the index of economic freedom ( 2010 ) Saudi Arabia ranks 80th out of 179 states in transparence. International s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2008. The absence of transparence in authorities histories and decision-making encourages a perceptual experience of corruptness on the portion of some members of the royal household and in the executive subdivision. Government procurance is an country of concern. Bribes, frequently disguised as committees, are allegedly commonplace. Corruptness is presently forestalling Saudi Arabia from making its full economic potency. The less fortunate population of Saudi Arabia relies on paying off functionaries to acquire things done. Those without money are ever left buttocks. Even affluent citizens are affected by corruptness due to the fact that they are unable to put and spread out their wealth. Crime rates are really low in Saudi Arabia due to their utmost penalties set by Islamic laws Torahs. Consequently, offense does non hold a important impact on Saudi Arabia s economic development. The chief job refering to offense in Saudi Arabia is its multinational trafficking Issues. Harmonizing to the consequence of the Eighth United Nations Survey on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems ( 2002 ) Saudi Arabia has become a finish state for workers from South and Southeast Asia who are allegedly subjected to nonvoluntary servitude physical and sexual maltreatment, non-payment of rewards, parturiency, and withholding of passports as a limitation on their motion. Domestic workers are preponderantly vulnerable because they are restricted to the house in which they work, without being able to seek aid. Harmonizing to the consequence of the Eighth United Nations Survey on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems ( 2002 ) Saudi Arabia is besides a finish state for Nigerian, Yemeni, Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese kids trafficked for forced beggary and nonvoluntary servitude as street sellers ; some Nigerian adult females were reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for commercial sexual development Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy. The national authorities consists of a Council of Ministers, headed by the King, who holds the station of the Prime Minister. Its absolute dictatorship government has helped increase corruptness within Saudi Arabia. The land would be a really hapless state without its oil grosss. There is a definite demand for economic variegation for economic variegation is Saudi Arabia. Inequality and corruptness are besides major economic reverses for Saudi Arabia. Gender inequality and human right misdemeanors occur on a day-to-day bases in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, the authorities uses whatever reading of the Quran that is convenient for them in order to warrant their greed and human Right Violations.

Economic Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Economic Report - Essay Example As people find gainful employment, they may get married and settle down, or alternatively call their friends and neighbors to the new cities. The engines of economic growth thus provide an impetus for housing as people look for or develop suitable establishments that can be called a home or a place of residence. In turn, demand for housing units signifies that there are economic opportunities in a certain area. It must also be seen that the housing sector itself is a provider of gainful employment to a number of other industries such as masonry, steel, plumbing, water, power and other utilities, painting, upholstery and what not- the list seems endless. Once we have become aware of this, we can truly see the importance that demand and supply for housing units will have and does have on the economy of any nation, including Scotland. This paper is divided into three parts. Part A will present an analysis of the Scottish housing market for the first decade of the new millennium (2000-20 10). It will look at the major factors affecting demand, supply and price of housing units. In the process of analysis, it will also seek to determine whether the housing sector in Scotland is volatile or not and what are the reasons for this. Part B will go on to review specifics regarding the reasons for the ups and downs in the housing sector. Part C will differentiate between factors that are indigenous to Scotland and factors that may affect the whole of the UK housing sector. It will then end with recommendations to be implemented that when done, will hopefully reduce the volatility of the housing market in the UK in general and in Scotland in particular. PART A Analysis of the Housing Market in Scotland (2000-2010) Available data shows that the average number of new housing units established per year in Scotland since the 1980s was 20,000 units; these have however peaked at 25,000 in 2007 and there has been a decline since then to around just 17,000 units in 2010. This declin e was seen in the years 2009 and 2010. The average UK house price was ?163,244 at the end of 2010, with London being the most expensive region in the UK overall, and Edinburgh leading the price rise in Scotland. In Scotland, the average price of a house was ?137,491, indicating a decrease of 2 percent over 2009. Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire were areas that had recorded a housing demand growth of 4 percent over the year ending December 2010. These areas have benefitted from strong and stable economic opportunities. Conversely Dundee, Angus, Lothian and Falkirk have been the lowest performing areas where demand fell by as much as 3 percent in the 12 months ending December 2010 (Scottish Housing Market Review, 2007 & 2010). Major Factors Affecting Demand, Supply and Price of Housing Units A look at the housing market in Scotland over the last decade (2000-2010) indicates that there have been some major factors affecting the demand and supply for housing units over the stated period. Generally it has been seen that demand for housing units has been spearheaded by the changing demographics in the cities, the economic climate and rates of interest and inflation. The opportunities for employment and living conditions impact upon the rate of migration of people to the major cities, and the number and types of housing units demanded are also dependant

Explain why it is important for marketers to understand the concepts Essay

Explain why it is important for marketers to understand the concepts of market segmentation and target marketing - Essay Example Market segmentation has over time been regarded as one of the fundamental concepts in modern marketing. The segments formed are thus constituted by consumer groups who have similar requirements, as well as groups of services and goods that exhibit similar attributes. Ideally, market segmentation concept has been largely associated with Wendell R. Smith, in the paper he first he first published in the year 1956 (Kim, Park, Lee & Lee, 2006). According to him, "Segmentation is based upon developments on the demand side of the market and represents a rational and more precise adjustment of product and marketing effort to consumer or user requirements† (Flint, Woodruff, and Gardial, 2002). In this respect, therefore, segmentation is viewed as being disaggregative in regard to its trends and effects in bringing about recognition of various demand schedules where only one was initially recognized. The concept of market segmentation is dependent on the recognition of differentiated product demands, whereas its application as a tool for marketing is dependent on the effectiveness in identifying the most befitting variables which can be used to divide total demand into segments that are economically viable (Freytag and Clarke, 2001). The segments that are economically viable could be seen as having the sufficient size that enables the marketers to attain sufficient level of profit through catering to certain needs of the members therein. According to Yankelovich and Meer (2006), "the idea that all markets can profitably be segmented has now received almost as widespread acceptance as the marketing concept itself". This notion is shared by Kim, Lee and Koh (2004), who note that market segmentation relies on the idea that there is need for the company to divide or segment the market in a manner that enables the achievement of certain sets of buyers. The sets of buyers, or the resu ltant

Impact of Work-Related Stress, and Treatment

Impact of Work-Related Stress, and Treatment Stress as the modern day back pain Abstract It has been estimated by MIND, the mental health charity, that in excess of five million people in the United Kingdom are suffering such an extreme level of work related stress as to put them at risk of a complete breakdown (cited in Laurence 2005). The pressures on individuals suffering from stress frequently results in them being absent from work although, whilst they remain in work there are effects on the level of accidents and the productivity rates. With the significant financial loss that this gives business, it would be expected that managers are highly proactive in reducing the causes and effects of stress. This report sets out to determine if this is true and to measure people’s knowledge of stress, their awareness of its prevalence and the ways in which it is being controlled. The research suggests that managers have very little knowledge of any of these areas. Despite the increasing level of publicity in both the public and professional press, the problem of stress remains unmonitored and its effects inaccurately measured by the majority of the companies questioned. The guidelines produced by the Health and Safety Executive and the legal requirements under the Health and Safety at Work Act have seemingly had no impact on organisations. Failure to recognise and address the issue of work-related stress will, therefore, lead to it becoming a blight on British industry, being misunderstood, unchecked and poorly measured, as the problem of non-specific back pain was for much of the second half of the last century. The costs of work-related stress are well reported. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work reports that over 40 million days a year are lost to British industry because of stress-related problems (Health and Safety Executive 2004). A recent report by the mental health charity, MIND, states that more than five million people in the United Kingdom are suffering such as extreme level of work related stress as to put them at risk of a complete breakdown (cited in Laurence 2005).Their report goes on to say that for every  £10 generated in the economy,  £1 is lost due to stress related issues and that â€Å"less than 10% of companies have a policy to deal with it† (cited in Laurence 2005pg. 16). ACAS report the Health and Safety Executives findings of 1995 that the cost to society of work related stress was  £3.7 billion. Lord Layard reported to a Government seminar more recently that he estimates the current costs to be  £25 billion (cited in Laurence 2005). It is noted that they do not define what is included in these costs. The most recent statistics show that disability claims due to mental and behavioural disorders has risen from 28% of the total claims submitted in 1997, to 37% in 2003 and is expected to continue to rise (Personnel Today magazine 2005). The subject of stress is appearing more often in both the popular press and professional publications. O’Driscoll et al refer to the work offset and Schuler who suggest that there are four main reason for this: â€Å"concern for individual employee health†¦the financial impact on organisations†¦organisational effectiveness and legal obligations on employers to provide safe and healthy work environments† (O’Driscollet al 2002 pg 188). The question remains as to how organisations are monitoring, reducing and managing the stress experienced by their employees and how they can improve in these areas. Literature Review Stress is not a new phenomenon. It was first identified in 1910 by Sir William Osler who identified that some patients appeared to be under strain during medical treatment. In was not until 1936 that a specific definition of stress as a reaction to a demand on a person was reported by Selly (O’Driscoll et al 2002). A major period of research was in the1950s, when Lazarus et al examined the effects of stress on work performance. McGrath noted that stress is due to â€Å"environmental demands exceeding a person’s resources and capacity, when the outcomes are important for the person† (cited in O’Driscoll et al 2002 pg 190) and French et al formalised the role of the environment in stress by saying that â€Å"strain can result from the mismatch between the person and the environment on dimensions important to the well-being of the individual† (cited in O’Driscoll et al 2002 pg 190). Lazarus continued his work to examine the three phases of cognitive appraisal of stress. He identified that these are primary – the initial reaction to a risk, secondary the assessment of how to overcome the source and reappraisal judging whether or not the reaction to the source of stress was successful (cited in O’Driscoll et al 2002). This work was important as it initiated more investigations into coping mechanisms. Behr and Franz’s work differentiated between the concept of stressors as â€Å"the environmental stimulus or event† and strains â€Å"the person’s response to the stimulus or event† (cited in O’Driscoll et al 2002 pg192) and this differentiation became and has remained important when looking at how to reduce stress in the workplace (Fontana 1989). It is recognised that stress is a natural aspect of life, but also that work-related stress is becoming global in nature and affects both manual and professional staff in industrialised and developing countries. The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology have measured certain jobs as being prone to more than 6 one stress scale rating of 1 to 10. These include miner, police officer and prison officer (Health and Safety Executive 2004). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the American equivalent of the UK’s Health and Safety Executive. NIOSH is a Federal agency responsible for â€Å"conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related illness and injury†(Saunter et al 1999). Their report, publication number 99-101, cites three statistics to illustrate the problem of work-related stress in the USA. Northwester National Life found that work is the main stressor for a quarter of people, Princeton Survey Research Associates report that three quarters of workers think there is more stress at work than the previous generation experienced and St Paul Fire and Marine Insurance found that health complaints are much more likely to be duet factors associated with work than with family or financial problems(Saunter et al 1999). This leads us to determine the exact nature of stress. Fontana makes the point that it is not so much â€Å"the events that determine whether we’re stressed or not, as our reaction to them†(Fontana 1989 pp. 3). He goes on to call individual’s reaction to potentially stressful situations as a result of their cognitive appraisal of the situation i.e. what one person sees as being stressful, someone else will not. He cites the philosopher, Epictetus, who said â€Å"men are not disquieted by things themselves, but by their idea if things† (Fontana 1989 pg. 63). The Health and Safety Executive echo this view in defining stress as â€Å"the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them† (Sautà © ret al 1999). Similarly, the European Commission’s definition is: â€Å"the emotional, cognitive, behavioural and psychological reaction to aversive and noxious aspects of work, work environments and work organisations. It is a state characterised by high levels of arousal and stress and often by feelings of not coping† (Health and Safety Executive 2004). Selly noted that stress is not always a detrimental emotion. He defined the difference between â€Å"eustress†, which is seen as positive, motivating and challenging circumstances, which give people an opportunity to stretch themselves and achieve self-satisfaction, and â€Å"distress†, which is where people cannot cope (cited in Foot et al1999). Within the human resources professional publications, it is frequently cited that there is no actual definition of stress or its symptoms as it is not a recognised medical term (Personnel Today magazine 2005).However, several writers have described the body’s reaction to stress and the effects it has. Fontana defines stress as the demand on the adaptive capacity of the body and mind and highlights that too little of this demand leads to boredom and under stimulation, whereas too much results in being overstretched and overwhelmed. When faced with a challenge, the natural reaction of the body is that of fight or flight – either standing the ground and confronting the source of the challenge or by strategically withdrawing. This fight or flight reaction is meant to be a short term, immediate reaction to perceived danger as a method of survival. If its allowed to continue, it can have an adverse effect. As Fontana points out, â€Å"our modern society doesn’t usually allow us physically to fight or run away when we face stressors so that we are allowed to relax. We remain in a state of preparedness for action which we aren’t permitted to take† (Fontana 1989 pp. 6). The body’s responses to stress can be divided into four categories. Firstly, several chemicals are released into the bloodstream including adrenalin, no radelin, thyroid hormones and cholesterol. These stimulate the body through increasing the reflex rate and increasing the blood supply and blood sugar levels to increase the metabolism. However, if this increase in metabolism is not dissipated through physical activity, it can increase the likelihood of heart disease, strokes and kidney disease and aggravate diabetes (Fontana 1989). A racing metabolism can lead to tiredness and exhaustion. The second response is the redirection of blood from those organs which can cope with this forth short term, such as the skin and the stomach, to the air passages in the lungs to increase the aeration of the blood to feed the muscles. Again, if this continues over an extended period of time it can resulting digestive problems, bouts of unconsciousness and malfunctions of the body’s natural temperature control mechanism. The third reaction is an increase in concentration abilities. This is caused by the release of endorphins and cortisone which lowers the body’s natural immunity system and decreases the body’s sensitivity to pain. Again, over the long term, this can result in increased susceptibility to infection, ulcers and extreme allergies. Finally, because the blood thickens to accelerate the clotting process in the case of injury, it also becomes more difficult to move round the body, putting pressure on the heart and possibly leading to heart disease and str okes (Fontana 1989). The phenomenon of â€Å"burn out† is described by Malachi as the state where â€Å"emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation of others in the work context, and feelings of low personal accomplishment on the job† lead to an inability to function in the work environment (cited in O’Driscoll teal 2002 pg. 202) and is seen as the end result of unchecked stress. The causes of stress may come from several sources. Work is seen by many as being a primary source. General organisational problems include insufficient or poorly communicated process and procedures, unclear roles and responsibilities and a lack of basic tools and facilities. A lack of support functions which are often viewed as non-essential, not only increases the workload of individuals who have to do more in their day-to-day activities, but can also lead to feelings of worthlessness. The increased tendency to long or unsociable hours can not only affect the body’s natural circadian rhythm, but can make it difficult to establish and maintain those things which people find help to diffuse their stress e.g. relationships and hobbies. Lack of prospects in apposition can be stressful, although, as will be discussed later, thesis not the case for everyone. A lack of job security is seen as an initiator of stress and becomes particularly significant during a time of change when other stressor may be encountered such as having to alter established work routines and methods. Apart from these general organisational problems, there are a whole host of specific conditions which lead to high levels of stress (Fontana 1989). NIOSH summarise these as: â€Å"the design of tasks, management style, interpersonal relationships, work roles, career concerns and environmental conditions† (cited in Saunter et al 1999). NIOSH relate a list of eighteen work-related areas that can produce stress (cited in Saunter teal 1999). These are referred to in more depth later in the report. What also needs to be taken into account are the sources of stress outside the workplace which lead to the symptoms being displayed whilst artwork. These include domestic problems and also more deeply seated psychological issues such as obsessionality, sensation seeking and over-identification (Fontana 1989). It has been suggested that certain personality types are more susceptible to stress. Commonly used is the distinction between Type And Type B people, as initially defined by Cooper and Bram well (cited in O’Driscoll et al 2002). Fontana describes this distinction impersonality types as being generally accepted by psychologists and medical doctors. A Type A person displays the characteristics of competitiveness, impatience and inflexibility. They work better when given tough deadlines and will tend to take a leadership role. They set themselves high standards to achieve and our highly self-critical if they don’t achieve them. Although Fontana does not provide details, he claims that Type A people are more likely to develop heart disease and high blood pressure. He goes on to suggest that Type A people are more likely to be susceptible to stress as they are highly competitive and â€Å"mobilised almost permanently for action† (Fontana 1989 pg. 72). Other writers, Gangster and Schaubroeck 1991, Haskins, Baglioni and Cooper1990 and Froggatt and Cotton, all cited in O’Driscoll et al 2002,debate whether Type A people are subject to increased stress because they put themselves in more situations that can be deemed as being stressful because of their competitive nature, or that they are more likely to experience stress in any given situation NIOSH report that whilst some employers believe that remain competitive in the economy, organisations need to exert pressure on their employees to maximise productivity and reduce costs, research shows that organisational performance is adversely impacted by th e increase absenteeism, error rates and poor motivation. Similarly, they have found that those organisations that incorporate policies that encourage good health in employees showed a corresponding healthiness in their competitiveness in the economy (cited in Saunter et al 1999). This differentiation as to the relative importance of environmental factors over personality traits has remained an important factor in stress research and, consequently, the approaches to managing stress in the workplace. Ivancevich et al suggest three approaches to managing organisational stress. These are: â€Å"reduce the number or intensity of stressors experienced by employees, help employees modify their appraisal of the stressfulness of the situation or help employees in coping more effectively with stressors and their consequences† (cited in O’Driscoll et al 2002 pg 213). Kahn and Bossier, 1992, identified that the majority of action taken in relation to stress occurred at the second level i.e. involved in changing the way people viewed stressful situations through training and employee assistance programmes (EAPs),rather than trying to remove the actual source of the strain (cited in O’Driscoll et al 2002 pg 213). O’Driscoll (2002) argues that the evidence for the effectiveness of these programmes is limited and that there are questionable benefits to training employees to be able to cope with poor working conditions or practices. Despite this, NIOSH report that nearly half of large companies in the United Sates offer stress management training to their employees, usually involving such topics as time management and relaxation techniques. They point out that these types of interventions have only a short-term effect on the symptoms of stress as well as emphasising the need to alleviate the root causes of the stress (cited in Saunter et al 1999). Elkin and Rosh have put forward a number of actions that could be taken to resolve the stress at source. These include task redesign, allowing flexible work patterns, empowerment of employees and reviewing reward systems to ensure they are equitable. Evaluations of these interventions are reported by O’Driscoll as being positive, but he goes on to emphasise that their use has been limited (O’Driscoll et al2002). Burke noted that the â€Å"removal or reduction of stressors is the most direct way to reduce stress since it deals with the source† (Burke1993 pg. 85). Whilst he does concede that â€Å"these approaches may entail immediate costs for the organisation†, he also notes that â€Å"these will be offset by long-term benefits not only for individual employees but also the organisation as a whole† (Burke 1993 pg. 85). NIOSH recommends combined approach, as even if the causes of stress for the majority of employees were removed, because of individual appraisal of stressors, it would be impossible to remove them all. They also emphasise the need for the size and nature of the organisation to be taken into consideration, as what is possible and desirable for a large multinational may not be appropriate or practical for a small enterprise (cited in Saunter et al 1999). NIOSH identify that the three main factors required for an individual to be able to â€Å"reduce the effects of stressful work conditions† are: â€Å"balance between work and family or personal life, a support network of friends and co-workers and a relaxed and positive outlook† (cited insurer et al 1999). They also advocate a basic programme to initiate actress prevention programme. This involves awareness building for all employees, securing the support and commitment of the senior management team, seeking an utilising employee input to all areas of the programme and ensuring the technical skills of stress management are incorporated through training specific employees of using the resources of consultants. They see employee involvement as being particularly useful when looking at the job design causes of stress and the employee have first-hand knowledge of the tasks (cited in Saunter et al 1999). The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations of 1999 made employers legally bound to undertake risk assessments in the workplace to identify the potential hazards and to take measures to reduce them. Within the definition of potential hazards was stress. As there remained some confusion as tithe nature and causes of stress, the HSE developed a series of standards to be used by employers to identify and manage the key causes of stress at work. These are: â€Å"the demands made on employees, the level of control employees have over their work, the support employees receive from managers and colleagues, the organisational policies in place, the clarity of the employees role within the organisation, the nature of relationships at work and the way that change is managed†(ACAS 2004). In the second half of the last century, a common problem for businesses was the amount of absence from work due to no specific back pain. As it’s difficult to prove that someone is not suffering from back pain, concerns existed as to how it could be controlled. It is suggested that, not only may work-related stress take this position as the main cause of absence from work, but also that the two conditions are related. Occupational Health magazine has reported the findings of research which indicates that musculo skeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common symptoms of stress (Occupational Health 2004). It is suggested that the rise in incapacity benefit claims related to mental or behavioural problems is directly linked to the decrease in claims for back problems and this is due to doctors being more likely to diagnose mental problems as they have less of a stigma than previously for patients. It is therefore possible, that there has been no actual increase in the amount of stress related illness, rather that it is now called that whereas previously people reported one of the symptom of stress which was back pain (Personnel Today magazine 2005). The difficulties in determining whether a reported illness is merely symptom of the deeper underlying problem of stress leads to questions being raised as to amount of stress experienced by today’s workers. Charlesworth (1984) suggests that â€Å"as many as 75% of all medical complaints are stress related† in the United States. Methodolgy The questionnaire was divided into two parts. The first section was asked only of those in senior management positions such as general managers and personnel managers. This was done to determine organisational policies, procedures and measurement of stress. The second set of questions was asked of everybody and included the senior managers so that the effects of stress on them could also be measured. The questionnaire was sent out to variety of business types including catering, production and financial services. The objective was to gain an overall view of the effects of stress on businesses, not to concentrate on those industries which have been classed as particularly stressful as this would have given a distorted view. A limitation of this approach is noted however, as being that some of the respondents indicated low levels of stress or no stress at all and may have therefore been unable to answer all the questions from personal experience. The main objective of the questionnaire was to collect information on the effects of stress in the workplace, the cost of stress and the benefits of a stress free environment. The questionnaire included admixture of quantitative questions to determine factual information and qualitative questions to collect opinions. As the research did not want to suggest answers to the respondents, all the questions were asked aspen questions. Providing multiple-choice answers may have had detrimental effects on the replies received, as it would provide options the respondent may not have considered. However, it is accepted that there may have been an effect in that people did not realise that point was relevant. For example, in the question regarding the symptoms of stress, the respondents might not consider backache unless it was suggested to them. Two exceptions to this were question nine in the manager’s questionnaire and question eight in the general questionnaire which examined the respondents views on the sources of work-related stress given by NIOSH (cited in Salter et al 1999). The replies given to all the other questions were then categorised byte writer. When collating the replies on managing stress, the guidelines set out by the Health and Safety Executive were used and the writer determined which category the answer came under (demands, support, control, policies, role and change). It is accepted that this was a potential weakness in this part of the questionnaire as it was based on the writer’s opinion. The questionnaire was distributed in a postal format to non-senior managers following personal visits to the organisations to conduct separate survey with the senior managers and to gain their consent. Whilst this method has benefits in that respondents would be more likely to be honest as the replies were anonymous (except for those in specific management positions), there are also drawbacks in that a low response rate was expected. To overcome this, the number of questionnaires sent out allowed a population sample of one hundred tube expected with a return rate of 20%. The actual number returned was seventy-five. The questionnaire was conducted on a face-to-face basis for the management roles, as it was important that their questionnaires were returned to provide important information as to policies and procedures. This resulted in a 100% return rate of management surveys. The responses from the general questionnaire were subdivided into those from management and non-management with the supervisors being defined as managers. This allowed better analysis of the results. Where appropriate, it is indicated whether the respondents were manual workers, office based and/or customer facing as this is seen as being relevant to the research. As stated earlier, as the purpose of the research was not to determine which job sectors are more stressful, the results do not differentiate between organisations. Questionaire Managers 1. What do you understand by the word â€Å"stress†? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents An inability to cope with something that causes panic 4 31 Anxiety 5 38 Fear of failure or not being able to continue 7 54 Depression 2 15 When you have too much to do and not enough time or resources to do it 8 62 When you cannot remain rationale about a situation 2 15 Losing control 1 8 Don’t know 0 0 2. What causes stress? Answer Number of respondents % of respondents Too much to do and not enough time to do it 6 46 Different things for different people 4 31 Don’t know 2 15 Other 1 8 3. What would indicate to you that an employee is suffering from work related stress? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Through being absent and giving stress as the cause 10 77 They would submit a grievance 1 8 They would tell their manager 1 8 Other 0 0 Don’t know 1 8 4. Do you or your organisation, actively measure stress levels amongst your employees, and if yes, how? Answer Number of respondents Percept of respondents Absenteeism reported as due to stress 10 77 Performance measures 1 8 Combination of these 1 8 Do not actively measure 1 8 5. How do you evaluate the success of any interventions to reduce stress? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Look for a reduction in absenteeism with stress given as the reason 12 92 Don’t measure 0 0 Staff surveys 1 8 Don’t know 0 0 6. Where is the emphasis of your efforts to manage stress Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Reducing or eliminating the causes of stress 1 8 Helping employees to modify their appraisal of the stressfulness of situations 0 0 Helping employees in coping more effectively with stressors and their consequences 2 15 Managing attendance issues 8 60 None of these 0 0 No effort 0 0 Don’t know 2 15 7. How do you balance people’s needs for challenge and achievement under pressure with ensuring they are able to cope? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents By setting realistic targets 9 69 By allowing people to work at a rate they feel comfortable with 0 0 By asking them 0 0 By identifying when stress occurs and reducing it 2 15 Bu setting consistent expectations 2 15 Other 0 0 Don’t know 0 0 8. What do you feel are the main causes of stress in life in general? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Financial problems 10 77 Relationship problems 6 46 Peer pressure 2 15 Work 3 25 Traffic 7 54 Concerns over the environment 3 25 Concerns over politics 4 30 Concerns over war or terrorist attacks 4 30 Concerns over family members 9 75 Don’t know 0 0 9. Which of the following factors do you believe cause stress to your employees in your workplace? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Workload – too much or not enough 2 15 Pace/variety/meaningfulness of work 6 46 Autonomy 2 15 Shift work/hours of work 3 23 Physical environment (noise/air quality etc.) 2 15 Isolation at the workplace (e.g. working alone) 0 0 Role conflict 0 0 Role ambiguity 0 0 Level of responsibility 0 0 Under/over promotion 0 0 Job security 0 0 Supervisors 0 0 Co-workers 0 0 Subordinates 0 0 Threat of violence 0 0 Participation in decision making 0 0 Management style 0 0 Communication patterns 0 0 None of these 0 0 10. What are your legal obligations in terms of identifying and managing work-related stress? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents There aren’t any 7 54 Comes under HASAW Act 2 15 Have to complete risk assessments which includes assessing possible sources of risk 1 8 Other 0 0 Don’t know 3 23 11. What are the HSE standards that organisations should use to identify and manage stress? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Don’t know 13 100 Could name all six 0 0 Could name five 0 0 Could name four 0 0 Could name three 0 0 Could name two 0 0 Could name one 0 0 12. What actions do you take under each of the HSE standards: Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Demands 7 54 Support 6 46 Control 4 31 Policies 7 54 Role 0 0 Change 5 38 Other 0 0 Don’t know 0 0 a. demands – ensuring employees do not become overloaded and unable to cope with the amount of work they are asked to do (job design, flexible hours and training) b. support – management style and degree of intervention c. control – allowing employees to have input into how they complete their tasks d. relationships – personnel policies on grievance, poor performance etc. e. role induction, objectives f. change – managing change 13. How would one of your employees alert management if they were experiencing work-related stress? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Through grievance procedure 8 62 During appraisal 7 54 Through formal representatives e.g. union of employee consultative committee 4 31 Would just say 0 0 Don’t know 0 0 Other 0 0 14. What are the symptoms of stress? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Being absent from work 4 31 Panicking 4 31 Nervousness 2 15 Heart problems 1 8 Crying 7 54 Alcohol and drug use 6 46 Accidents in the workplace 1 8 Don’t know 0 0 Other 15. What is the absence rate in your organisation? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents 0 – 2% 7 69 2 – 4% 5 8 4 – 6% 0 8 6 8% 1 15 Don’t know 0 0 16. What percentage of this absence level is due to stress related illnesses? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Less than 10% 9 69 More than 10% but less than 30% 1 8 More than 30% but less than 50% 1 8 More than 50% but less than 75% 2 15 More than 75% 0 0 Don’t know 8 62 17. What is the financial impact of stress in your workplace? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Calculated the same as any absence from work 13 100 Don’t measure 0 0 Don’t know 0 0 18. What do you include when you measure the financial impact of stress which you do not include when measuring the cost of other reasons for absenteeism: Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Reduced productivity 0 0 Employee turnover 0 0 Absenteeism 0 0 Medical costs 0 0 Recruitment 0 0 Use of temporary staff 0 0 Retraining costs 0 0 Loss of production 0 0 Poor customer service 0 0 None 13 100 19. Which level of employee do you feel is more susceptible to stress in your organisation? Answer Number of respondents Percentage of respondents Senior managers only 0 0 Blue collar workers only 3 23 Middle managers only 0 0 All management levels 8 62 Everyone is equally susceptible 2 15 Don’t know 0 0 20. What type of