Health Policy

Value Dimensions of the Affordable Care Act President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted in March 2010 will increase health insurance coverage to millions of Americans. This is the first significant reform in health care in over 40 years and targets closing the gap of uninsured Americans by mandating insurance. There has been debate over the individual health insurance mandate and whether it is constitutional. Opinions on the individual mandate and the values it impacts are conflicting among all stakeholders.This talk will concentrate on the following stakeholder groups: (1) Insurance companies and (2) uninsured individuals who might otherwise choose not to purchase health insurance or do not have the means to do so (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2012). It is no secret that health care has become increasingly unaffordable; cost of medical treatments and insurance premiums keep rising and society feels a moral obligation to insure that its citizens do not suffer from the una vailability of health care. The individual mandate provision has been and will continue to be one of the most controversial elements embodied in the ACA.This provision requires individuals to maintain minimum essential coverage each month or pay a penalty. This new law allows the American people to choose health insurance plans that work best for them by providing a short, plain language summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) as well as a glossary of commonly used insurance terms to all patients. Coverage includes those who, until now, have continuously been denied because of their existing health conditions Beginning (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, 2010). January 1, 2014, all U. S. esidents are required to maintain the previously mentioned essential coverage unless the individual falls into certain categories including the following: religious conscience exemption, incarcerated individuals, undocumented aliens, when contribution exceeds 8% of household income and individua ls with a coverage gap of less than 3 months, individuals in a hardship situation as defined by the Secretary of Department of Health & Human Services, individuals with income below the tax filing threshold, and members of Indian tribes (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, 2010).The Affordable Care’s Act does decrease the number of uninsured compared to if this legislation did not pass. The policy of mandating insurance provides an incentive for individuals to purchase insurance or face paying fines. Tax benefits induce employers to provide coverage to their employees. Employers may even provide more health awareness programs to reduce health costs. Provisions under this legislation also decrease the number of underinsured including the healthy young individuals who might otherwise choose not to purchase health insurance.The ACA will also eliminate barriers for interstate insurance providers and encourage more competition to provide a low-cost advantage for the uninsured. This may also lead to nonprofit agencies being developed to provide a low cost option for the uninsured. The Individual Mandate and the entire ACA will impact the health of all Americans. The ways the individual mandate may impact consumer access to healthcare, healthcare quality and costs and insurance companies is still debatable depending on which stakeholder group you are aligned with.The ACA will expand coverage to nearly 95% of consumers that reside in the U. S legally (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2012). Consumers previously not covered under government programs such as Medicaid will be able to receive healthcare benefits through those programs. In addition, preventive care will be free and seniors will have access to cheaper prescription drugs. The ACA also provides incentives to primary care providers to practice in underserved areas which will also expand consumers’ access to healthcare.On the other hand, cuts in Medicare will take place at a time when millions of bab y-boomers become eligible for Medicare and some Americans could lose access to their current health care plans as a result. The ACA also establishes several new rules and controls for insurance companies including requiring that they cannot deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, must spend a certain percentage of premiums collected on actual patient care costs.These new rules provide protection for consumers and ensure insurance companies are held accountable for the care and services provided to patients that are enrolled in their plans (Friedman & Becker, 2012). Another major issue that has raised considerable debate and even led to law suits being filed is the constitutionality of the ACA. Those who oppose healthcare reform argue that it is unconstitutional for Congress to require that every person purchase health insurance. However, the ACA improves ccess to healthcare which promotes the general welfare of consumers, and thus congress has the power to spend money to promote general welfare. Although the ACA has several short-comings that are currently being debated and others yet unknown, the bill’s potential to improve access to care for the uninsured, reduce healthcare costs and make insurance companies more accountable make it worth the trouble. As with any major change, working out the problems over time will be required to allow the ACA achieve the goal of improving the health status and overall life quality of consumers (Friedman & Becker, 2012).References Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. (2010). Federal Healthcare Reform. Patient protection And affordable care act individual mandate & subsidy. Retrieved from: https://www. bcbsri. com/BCBSRIWeb/pdf/Individual_Mandate_Fact_Sheet. pdf Friedman, A. & Becker, N. (2012). Understanding the Individual Mandate’s SCOTUS Pivot Points. Justices ponder adverse selection, a potential death spiral and severability. Retrieved from: http://ldihealtheconomist. com/he000023. shtml Kaiser Famil y Foundation (2012). Health reform. Retrieved from: http://healthreform. kff. org/

50 First Dates – Movie

50 First Dates The movie I’m writing my paper on is 50 First Dates. It’s about a guy named Henry trying to build a romantic relationship with a girl named Lucy. How they went through there ups and downs in forming that relationship. Henry at first was in to short-term attractions to the tourist and very disclosed. He was afraid of commitment because of what he went through in college. He would jump from one sexual attraction to another not think anything of it.While Lucy who had a mental disorder called Goldfield Syndrome, which made her lose her short-term memory. Really had no chose on being in a relationship because she wouldn’t remember the person the next day. That would all change the moment Henry first saw her in a cafe. Henry at first was into hooking up with the tourist women knowing that they were leaving soon. He had a lot of short-term initials with those women. He would show them a good time while they were on vacation and then lie to them about who he was so they wouldn’t look for him.Henry didn’t really seem like he wanted to fall in love with anyone because of his girlfriend in college breaking his heart. He was very disclosed to these ladies not letting his feelings get out there. Lucy on the other hand had no relationships with any one because of the disorder. If she got to know someone one day she would forget him the very next day. A year before she was in a car accident which caused her to lose her short-term memory.She was living the same day for over a year with the help of her family lying to her about what day and year it was. So one day Henry went to eat breakfast at this local cafe when he laid his eyes on Lucy. He had a physical attraction to her the very first time he saw her. Lucy was sitting in a booth making a pancake house when Henry decided to walk over there and compliment her on the design. They hit it off very well at the beginning and started to talk while they ate breakfast. They had a lo t of similarity from the†¦

An Analysis of Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences Essay Example for Free

An Analysis of Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences Essay The purpose of this paper is to explore Howard Gardner’s theory on multiple intelligences. I will focus on spatial and bodily-kinesthetic intelligences and how linguistic intelligence has an underlying effect on the other intelligences. Spatial and bodily-kinesthetic intelligences would seem to be very distant from linguistic intelligence, however I believe that they are more similar then one might expect. Spatial intelligence can be loosely defined as the ability to manipulate and recreated the physical work in ones mind. Artists often use this intelligence as they take an actual object and are able to manipulate it onto a canvas or piece of paper. Many IQ tests have a section that tests the ability of a person in their use of block design. Students who excel in spatial intelligence have the ability to recreate within their mind the things that they see visually. Gardner states, â€Å"The left hemisphere of the brain has, over the course of evolution, been selected as the pre-eminent site for linguistic processing, the right hemisphere of the brain, and in particular the posterior portions of the right hemisphere, proves to be the site most crucial for special processing† (Gardner, p. 181). Gardner is trying to show how separate in the brain spatial and linguistic intelligence really are. By isolating the intelligences, Gardner focuses on the idea of savants and brain damage to prove his theory that the intelligences are totally separate. Eliminating part of the brain would still allow for someone to be successful and intelligent at spatial abilities. His idea is that even if a person lost their ability to speak or the ability to use their hands, that their other intelligences could possibly still work at a high level. I agree with his theory, however I think the intelligences overlap more then he may believe. Linguistic intelligence seems to have a basis in spatial intelligence also. Many students might do just fine being able to read a word problem and then form the design in their head. Gardner gives an example, â€Å"Take a square piece of paper, fold it in one half, then fold it twice again in half. How many squares exist after this final fold? † (Gardner, p. 171). This idea shows how linguistic intelligence can be used when dealing with a student who has a greater spatial intelligence. Even without the student physically being able to fold the piece of paper they could still solve the problem due to their linguistic intelligence. Gardner shows this idea as he talks about people having distinct separate intelligences, but that each intelligence has the ability to overlap with another. I also decided to talk about his theory of bodily-kinesthetic intelligence because I feel this intelligence goes together well with spatial intelligence. Both of these intelligences are educated best by going away from the traditional teaching methods of reading and writing. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence is the ability for a person to use their body to solve a problem. This can be seen in many athletes and other people who are very active. Some people are born with a higher bodily-kinesthetic intelligence then others. Tests on reaction time have shown that some people are born with almost superhuman reaction time ability. This reaction time allows them to hit a baseball with such success that cannot be taught. Parts of this intelligence can be learned by studying similar to some of the more the academic intelligences, however bodily-kinesthetic intelligence is not viewed as an academic intelligence. Wayne Gretzky said, â€Å"Nine out of ten people think what I do is instinct†¦. It isn’t. Nobody would ever say a doctor had learned had profession by instinct: yet in my own way I’ve spent almost as much time studying hockey as a med student puts in studying medicine† (Gardner, p. 231). Both a hockey player and a surgeon rely on their body to perform at a high level. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence is just not brute force but the ability to read what is happening, and then adapt. In football, a player will tackle another player, although before that happens the tackling player must read the play to get a path take on the ball carrier. A surgeon can have perfect skills in using their hands to operate but they also need the ability to learn the correct procedures. These ideas show that a person can be above average in more then one intelligence and that is in fact fairly common. The traditional way of teaching is through reading and writing that puts an emphasis on linguistic intelligence. Gardner’s theory is to separate the intelligences by showing that even a person who loses the ability to use part of their brain will still be able to function at a high level at some other intelligences. Gardner points out that he believes the intelligences are separate, but that they rarely operate separately and more often then not there are several intelligences working together. This is how linguistic intelligence is so important to the overall learning of a student. Most tests such as IQ tests put an emphasis on how well a person does on verbal section of the test. Gardner said, â€Å"I have already noted that many retarded children display a surprising ability to master language†¦ Even more striking are those rare children who, despite retardation or autism, prove able to read at an astonishingly early age† (Gardner, p. 84-85). This is apparent when talking about a surgeon who loses the ability to use their hands and so they cannot operate on patients anymore. They may not have the ability to physically do the operation anymore but they can still instruct someone else to do the surgery. This surgeon has lost their ability to use their hands but their brain is still intact so they can use their linguistic intelligence to instruct another person to perform the operation. Gardner does not think linguistic intelligence is more important than any of the other intelligences, but I believe that linguistic intelligence sets the basis for the other intelligences. Without this intelligence the student will not be able to understand what that teacher is trying to convey in class. Language is important for the student to get through school, however a student could get though school without fully realizing their full spatial intelligence. Linguistic intelligence allows a student to gain the ability to study the concepts and then apply them to the other intelligences such as bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. One cannot expect someone to just learn all the intricate details of boxing and then to go into the ring and win a title. This can only happen with some intelligence that is born within the person. Intelligences are within everyone but it is hard for a person to know exactly what intelligence they posses the strongest. Howard Gardner’s idea of multiple intelligences stems from his belief that each person has different intelligences that they posses. These intelligences are inherently separate due to the fact that because of brain damage, a person can lose an intelligence while still being able to perform at a high level on other intelligences. Gardner does not believe that linguistic intelligence is more important then the others, however in our society we put such a great emphasis on linguistic intelligence. A student can fall behind in their linguistic development and due to our societies testing and basis in teaching the student might not attain high grades. This does not mean the student is not smart, it just means that they might excel at a different type of intelligence. Overall, Gardner explains how each person has many different forms of intelligence that they could be above average in. An Analysis of Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. (2017, Jan 05).

Performance measurement system Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Performance measurement system - Research Paper Example (Franceschini, Galetto, & Maisano, 2007) A statistical model needs to be developed to get results of performance and a full picture can never be measured directly and sometimes observation is the only way of coming to a conclusion about performance and you do not get figures to assess with. The main aim behind a performance management system is to better the performance of an organization. Communicating better in an organization and having a trustful relationship with your peers and bosses is not something that is directly linked to bettering performance than perhaps training individuals but they are indirect measures that will in the long run help to get to the final purpose of the organization. Some reasons to use PMS are to assess how an organization is performing; for this the managers in an organization need to determine what the organization was supposed to achieve. This means that the mission and vision statement of the organization should be clear. For this performance also, data is obtained from not only the observable performance but also the environmental hazards and also looking at the companies the organization had benchmarked itself against and seeing them as a comparative database. Ideally, the organization needs to be using the best practice which is the most efficient and cost effective process even in regards of health, safety and environment. Benchmark could also be the same organizations past and present performance with the same or different processes used. PMS also helps to keep the organization’s functions under control by making sure that managers and subordinates are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Managers do not have the hierarchical control that they used to have before however, taking space into account, they still use certain measures to control their business. Everyone must comply with these

Strategy and key discourses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Strategy and key discourses - Essay Example A well-deciphered strategic initiative can facilitate an organisation in ascertaining its supremacy and gaining significant competitive advantage in the marketplace. The overall direction of a business entity is largely dependent on the decisions and strategies taken by the company. Strategies are also crucial in responding successfully to the uncertainties, complexities and competitiveness prevailing in the business market scenario. Different companies have their own set of rules and methods to create strategies for their business. Moreover, the formation of strategic initiatives significantly depends on the core competencies of an organisation (John et al., 1996). The paper aims at constructing an essay plan based on the key discourses concerning the illustration in detail the different horizons for making strategies. It would also provide an elaborative explanation of the different levels of strategy. Discourse Analysis Discourse analysis is a research method. It is a mode of appr oaching and making an assessment of a particular problem. This method is neither a qualitative nor a quantitative move to research but is a conduct of questioning the basic hypothesis of quantitative as well as qualitative approaches in the research process (The University of Texas at Austin, n.d.). Three Horizons for Strategy Different companies all over the world now-a-days are very much focused on enhancing their profitability of their business operations. Owing to this reason, they aim to develop various distinctive strategies. The process of developing a strategy involves a particular framework, i.e. the ‘three horizons for strategy’. The significance of a long-term-based viewpoint upon the formulated strategies is emphasised by the three horizons framework. The three horizon framework suggests that each and every organisation should visualise itself as comprising three different kinds of business or activity (Johnson & et. al., 2010). The three horizons framework is exemplified below: Horizon 1 This horizon involves â€Å"Short Jump† initiative that would strengthen and expand a company’s position in the existing market. In this step, the company essentially focuses on adding new products to its existing product line. This step also engages the expansion of the company in terms of geographical area and reaching fresh marketplaces where it is yet to have its presence. In this approach, the company can capture a significant portion of the market share of its competitors. The main objective of this horizon is to capitalise largely on its growth potential in the present business market (Thompson et al., 2006). Horizon 2 This step of the horizon is called the medium jump. In this step, the company acquires strategic proposals to influence the present resources and potentials by entering into a new business with a considerable prospective of growth. The companies in the modern-day context need to always be aware of emerging opportuni ties in the market. Whenever there is a prospect where there is an assurance for rapid growth with the incorporation of enormous prevailing experience and rational capital influx and technological knowledge that could be helpful for rapid market access, the company should jump in to leverage that prospect with full strength. When the second demarcated horizon takes a restrain, the first horizon takes the initiative as long as there is enough unexploited growth present in the company’s business perspective (Thompson et al., 2006). Horizon 3 This step is called long jump. In this horizon, the company takes strategic decisions to

Halloween as a Ritual of Reversal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Halloween as a Ritual of Reversal - Essay Example Halloween overcomes the normal order of things in a variety of ways. Some of the costumes include gown black, like bats. This is mostly dressed because they symbolize that bats always operate during the night. Also, bats are thought to be creepy and this put people to think they would symbolize the link with the dead the other common costume symbolizes the black cat this was due to at the end of the autumn season symbolized the act of reincarnation. Most people believed that cats were more close to witches and this also another reason why they would prefer black cats. Others costumes that do come in handy are the skeletons this are perceived to show or portray the link between the living and the dead. The skull is unique in its own as it is used to show courage and not afraid of death. Costumes and masks are dressed to symbolize that during those days one could hide from the evil spirits. The spider web is always common because it shows the stages and process of life as a progress and not a one off thing. Halloween can be a strong tool in bringing America together as one without any discrimination of race it by portraying The USA as people who had a specific origin. It has grown to be so prevalent in The USA by the fact some of its history was found in there. It has been more popular due to the different race that is in America; people of different backgrounds who have met in one country. The influence of the media and social media cannot be

MGMT402 U4 DB Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MGMT402 U4 DB - Assignment Example However, this will be varying based on the nature of offense and when it is done. For a first offender, there will be a monetary fine of $250-$2,000 per each illegal immigrant employed. For a second offense, the fine increased to between $2,000 and $5,000 per. However, stiffer penalties might be imposed on the third and subsequent offenders who might be eventually sentenced to up to six moths in jail. I support this penalty because it is justified (Massey, 2007). In this regard, it is my considered opinion that Patricia should be keen to ensure that she does not face the same penalty. In her restaurant, she should ensure that she is privy with her workers’ immigration status to ascertain if there are illegal or legitimate. Only legitimate ones should be hired in her restaurant. As an employer, she should make efforts to know if her employees are legally permitted to work in the country. This can be done by checking their social security numbers. Otherwise, she would have to face the wrath of this

Improving Performance and Organizational Effectiveness Research Paper

Improving Performance and Organizational Effectiveness - Research Paper Example In this paper, we will discuss how Fortune 500 companies can achieve their goals of improving employees’ performance and organizational effectiveness. Ways to Improve Organizational Effectiveness Most of the managers of Fortune 500 companies aim at improving the elements of management, quality, and employee involvement in order to improve organizational effectives. Implementing a suitable customer relationship strategy also plays a key role in improving organizational performance (Elmuti, Jia, & Gray, 2009). Proper Management The role of managers is critical for the success of any organization. Top level and middle level management perform the role of brain for an organization that directs all departments of the organization. For example, in a healthcare organization, management assigns tasks to different departments based on the nature of tasks and the departments put their efforts to complete those tasks. Top management provides regular training to the employees not only to improve their performance but also to make them improve the quality of products. If we talk about traditional management practices, we can say that in traditional management, all business processes and decisions revolve around the top management of the organization that prevents employees from being creative and innovative. The role of managers in improving organization performance and effectiveness is also important because they lead, shape, and guide all employees to work properly to achieve the organizational goals and objectives. Without proper management of employee behaviors and other issues, a company can never show good performance. Integration of Quality Quality means to provide product satisfaction to the customers. Any organization or a company can satisfy the stakeholders and the customers only if it provides them with quality in the products that they use. According to Brown (2011), quality is the key to organizational success because it leads an organization to sustain able growth and competitive advantage (p. 93). Pearce (2007) states that for a business to be effective a quality approach must cover all people and all activities at every interface within the business. Quality also means to seek continuous improvement in the products and services provided by any organization. One cannot deny the importance of quality management in an organization. Many companies and organizations firmly believe in the benefits and importance of adopting the ISO 9000:2000 standards (Al-Khalifa, Al-Salem, & Mohamed, 2008). Improving and maintaining quality of products and services is a very important point of consideration for any organization to get success in a competitive market. Quality management is an ongoing process of building and sustaining healthy working relationships between the company and its customers by providing the customers with quality products. The target of growth of business and gaining trust of customers in the competitive market can be achie ved if a company implements a proper quality management system in a company. Quality management system of any organization should base on ISO 9000 series, which represents an international agreement on the quality management practices within an organization (Uzumeri, 1997). If a company wants to attain market domination, the management of that company needs to provide its customers with the highest quality products and service. It is necessary for any organization to implement a well-developed quality management

THEORIES OF MOTIVATION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

THEORIES OF MOTIVATION - Essay Example Their work has become generally predictable with little or no challenge, especially with the supervisor involving himself at the floor level for telling the workers what to do, and often doing it himself. The workforce needs motivation to get out of its present de-motivated state. Maslow’s theory of motivation with its emphasis on analyzing individual needs and psychological factors will help to find solution. This contrasts with Herzberg’s or McGregor’s theories that place greater importance on situation analysis and management style respectively. Key words: Motivation, Maslow, Herzberg, McGregor, needs, psychological factors, Theory X, Theory Y, Gen Xers, Millennials, relationship, team-spirit. Case Study: Sun-2-Shade - Theories of Motivation Case summary The Sun-2-Shade case reflects the situation whereby workers do not feel motivated in spite of the business flourishing, good pay and a supportive supervisor. The significant descriptive words in the case like boring job, resenting supervisor help and late-coming clearly point to the estrangement between the supervisor and his workers, who are said to be around his age group (Gen Xers and Millennials). There is an absence of team-spirit, no sense of belonging or accepting responsibility for their lackadaisical attitude. One needs to analyze the case in the light of theory of motivation vis-a-vis the supervisor’s approach and characteristics of the age group of the workers/supervisor. Using Abraham Maslow’s theory of motivation Maslow’s hierarchical nature of human needs point to what motivates a person at a particular stage of his/her career. For example, people at the bottom of the 7-stage pyramid of the hierarchy value the basic physiological needs more. When the lower stage needs are met, the relevant factors lose their importance as motivators and a higher degree of motivating factors come into play, which are more psychological nature. Thus, as they move up to, f or example, the fourth stage, self-worth and self-esteem become more relevant as ‘needs’ – in other words, motivating factors (Martin and Jumis, 2007, pp.72-75). Significantly, Sun-2-Shade workers seem to be yearning for such recognition having already achieved secure jobs, good pay and working in a progressive/growing company. A word about the interaction of the age factor is relevant. The supervisor and the workers are of the age group – Gen Xers (born 1965-‘76 period) and Millennials (born 1977-‘98 period) (Thielfoldt and Scheef, 2004). Obviously, the age group is a mix of the seniors of the former and juniors of the latter categories. Gen Xers prefer ‘flexibility and freedom’ while Millennials value ‘structured, supportive environment’ but can ‘expect and demand more’ (ibid.). Hence there are subtle differences in the groups of workers and this can point to the solution to the problem. Using Herzberg a nd McGregor theories Herzberg’s two factor motivation theory proposed that hygiene factors have the ability to reduce dissatisfaction while motivators increase job satisfaction (Anon., n.d, online). The hygiene factors like pay and benefits, job security, working conditions, company policies, etc. determine how an individual rates his job/employer against his own expectations. In the process of such assessment, the individual is less concerned about his own credentials and more concerned with what he is getting out of the job. The better the hygiene factors the more the satisfaction level, which then works as the basis for the motivators. The motivators like work content, recognition, promotion etc. help an individual to gain a sense of job satisfaction. Hence, the Herzberg theory supports the view that motivation cannot be achieved if the underlying hygiene factors are ignored. McGregor’

The main challenges to undertaking a cost-benefit analysis in the Essay

The main challenges to undertaking a cost-benefit analysis in the criminal justice sector - Essay Example The objective of the study is to present research that defines the main challenges to undertaking a cost-benefit analysis. The cost-benefit analysis will be investigated to determine what does it tell us about the economic efficiency of situational crime reduction. Furthermore, the cost-benefit analysis will be investigated to determine what does it tell us about the economic efficiency of situational crime reduction. The reduction of crime in the national level is ‘driven by policies which emphasise partnership working between police, criminal justice authorities, local authority teams and other agencies, in order to tackle offending and impact on the causes of crime’ (I&DeA 2009). The ‘total costs of crime have been estimated at ?36.2 billion per year in England and Wales’ (I&DeA 2009). Most of these cover the monetary losses to individuals, the costs of the criminal justice system, and the wider social impacts. Crime has a direct impact on victims includi ng direct physical health impacts and potentially serious mental health impacts. Moreover, crime may lead to negative health impacts to the community. ‘The direct effects of violent crime on physical health are obvious. It is estimated that 351,000 people per year attend accident and emergency departments in England and Wales following violent assaults’ (Sivarajasingam et al 2008). Most of them will have ongoing health needs as a result of being attacked. Moreover, negative psychological effects of crime are extensive. Crime victims are susceptible to suffer from serious mental health impacts, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse disorders. Crime is costly to the economy but also the measures to reduce or prevent it. The ‘potential benefits from a more valuable response to offending can be divided into various types such as benefits to the prospective offenders enabled to follow a more constructive and engaged life path , benefits to the Government from reduced spending on the Criminal Justice System and benefits to households and the private sector from reduced victimisation rates, reduced fear of crime and lower spending on crime prevention as offending falls’ (Bowles & Pradiptyo 2005). Cost benefit analysis extends CEA(cost effectiveness analysis) by attaching monetary values to the outcomes of a program. After the cost of inputs and outcome benefits have been quantified in monetary terms, a comparison of alternate interventions can be made. For example, ‘the benefit cost ratio of 1.35:1 for a burglary prevention program indicates that for every dollar spent on the program, $1.35 of benefits is received (e.g. by the avoidance of future burglaries)’(Dossetor 2011). The ‘Home Office claims that violence against women and girls costs ?40.1 billion a year’ (Whiston 2009). This includes plans to teach children about the evils of wife-beating through â€Å"educating c hildren and young people about healthy, non-violent relationships†. Gender bullying will also be tackled by teachers. The ‘?40.1 billion figure was cited recently in Saving Lives, Reducing Harm, & Protecting the Public which gave as its source the Pre-budget report and comprehensive spending review for 2007’ (Whiston 2009). The Home Office has carried out research to discover the true figure. One estimate published in 2005 in Economic and Social Costs of Crime against Individuals and Households, found that the ‘total burden of crime in 2003-04 was ?36.2 billion. Sexual offences and violence against the person together represented 60 per cent of this figure – just under ?22 billion. That includes offences against men as well as women.’ In September 2004, the Women and Equality Unit published a study by Sylvia Walby of the University of Leeds that ‘calculated the cost of domestic violence, including rape at ?5.7 billion, and loss to the eco nomy of ?2.7 billion. That is much lower than either ?40.1

Tituba and two elderly women Essay Example for Free

Tituba and two elderly women Essay However nobody can be held totally responsible, if the people had not believed Abigail and been so nai ve to think that witchcraft was present in the village none of it would have happened. The heroes of the story are all those that stuck to their principles and died for their cause. Corey would not condemn his friend as the others had done and stuck to his principles throughout the play. Rebecca Nurse who will not lie to save herself and Proctor who fights against the charges and does what is morally right in the end. Hale tried to be a hero as he tried to save the lives of the condemned but it was too late for him, the damage had been done. The village rapidly becomes split in two, those who are for the court and those against it. For the court are: Parris, Abigail, Danforth, Hathorne, Mary Warren, Putnam and Goody Putnam, all having very different reasons for being on that side, they are also supported by the majority of the. Against the court are: Elizabeth, Proctor, Giles Corey, Martha Corey, Rebecca Nurse and Francis Nurse. Hale is for the court proceedings at the beginning of the story then changes to against during the court scene in Act Three. These are quotes that support the court: Mrs Putnam: You think it is Gods work you should never lose a child, nor grandchild either, and I shall bury all but one? There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fire within fires! Putnam: She cannot bear to hear the Lords name, Mr Hale; thats a sure sign of witchcraft afloat. This woman must be hanged! She must be taken and hanged! Mary: I must tell you sir, I will be gone every day now. I am amazed that you not see what weighty work we do. You must see it sir, its Gods work we do. So Ill be gone every day for some time. Im I am an official of the court, they say. I am bound by law, I cannot tell it. Cheever: I am a clerk of the court now, yknow. Hathorne: Arrest him Excellency! This is contempt, sir, contempt. Danforth: This is the highest court of the supreme government of this province, do you know it? But you must understand, sir, a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road in between. Hang them high over the town! Who weeps for these weeps for corruption! Parris: Hes come to overthrow this court, Your Honour! These are quotes against the court: Rebecca: I think Ill go then. I am too old for this. Francis: Reverend Hale! Can you not speak to the Deputy Governor? Im sure he mistakes these people. We have proof of it, sir. They are all deceiving you. Proctor: If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clear as Gods fingers? Ill tell you whats walking Salem vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law. I will fall like an ocean on that court! Hale after he sides with the court: I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court! Throughout the play Miller is trying to convey certain messages which he felt were important. Although this was written fifty years ago, many are relevant today. One message is Power corrupts the power that Abigail held over not only the girls but also the community helped her to corrupt their minds and beliefs. Without this corrupting power the situation would not have gone to court and innocent people would not have died. Corporal and capital punishment are wrong. Throughout the play each character that was for the court was not for it for the right reasons. Parris was for the court to gain revenge on Proctor and to retain his position in the community, Abigail to take the blame off herself and to eradicate Elizabeth from the love triangle, Putnam to gain land and Mrs Putnam as she cannot seem to grasp the fact that she cannot have children, Hathorne and Danforth as they are enforcing the law and Mary Warren as she is taken in by Abigail. None of the accusations are based on true facts, as a result of these lies innocent people were hanged. If we read the Echoes down the Corridor it states that Twenty years after the last execution, the government awarded compensation to the victims still living and to the families of the dead. Basically the government admits that the hangings were wrong, but no money will bring back the people who were lost, capital punishment cannot bring back the dead if they are found to be innocent later. Echoes down the corridor gives the reader an insight into what happened after the hangings and the effect on the community, Parris was voted from office and left Salem, Abigail turns into a prostitute, Elizabeth married again and farms belonging to victims were left to ruin. The things mentioned are true and are not fictional it shows that Abigail, after her scheming lying ended up in the lowest, demeaning job. Greed is a powerful motivator. The Putnams throughout the play are fuelled by their greed for more land. Their motivation for encouraging the trials, along with the death of their seven babies was greed for land. They do not care who they hurt and consequently, in effect murder, so long as they get what they want. Consider the consequences of your words/actions. Throughout the story people did not think what the possible consequences could be of crying witchcraft. If Abigail had stopped to think that there was a possibility that Proctor would have been hanged, she would not have done what she did. Proctor did not think when he slept with Abigail that Elizabeth would find out and that it would cause friction in their relationship. If Mrs Putnam had accepted the fact that she cannot bear children, she would not have accused anyone, then lives would not have been lost. If Hale had realised right from the beginning that witchcraft was not present in Salem, that the accusations would lead to innocent people being hanged and listened to his conscience, then he may not have been so hungry for statements. Evil as well as good is endemic in society. Both evil and good people can be found in society. Characters such as Abigail, Putnam and Parris were evil in the story and good characters were Proctor, Elizabeth, Giles Corey and Rebecca Nurse. However if there were no evil people in society and in the play we would not know what good was. I think this is an excellent play. I like the way it is based on a true story as it makes it more interesting to read and watch. I think that Miller is a very clever playwright using interesting plots, characters and language to add interest to the play. The messages it conveys were not only relevant then but also now, there is evidence supporting many of his messages today. I think the way Miller leaves it up to you to decide about the characters personalities and their actions is part of what makes the play please everyone, everybody can take something away from the play. My particular favourite quote is said by Elizabeth in Act Two I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. To me it means that the only person who can judge you is yourself, nobody else can, as long as you are happy with whom you are. The tension and drama of the play, particularly between John and Elizabeth and during the court scene makes an excellent play. There is great contrast between certain moments for example Act One ends with frantic cries from the girls then Act Two begins with tension and silence between Elizabeth and John. Throughout the story you constantly ask yourself, will John stick to his principles and become a martyr or will he back down and live? Will people continue to believe Abigail? These elements of the play makes you want to read on and find out. The love element throughout the story makes it interesting and we can empathise with the characters, the plot is not unbelievable. The ending has a twist to it, we begin to believe that Proctor will sign the confession then he tears it up, the ending satisfies everybody, Proctor is forgiven and dies a hero. We know Abigail is a villain, but we cannot help but feel some sympathy for her, she watched her own parents killed, she is an orphan living in a community in which she feels suffocated and her heart has been torn apart. When we first began to read the play I did not understand it because there are so many characters and I did not understand the background to the play or generally what was happening. The language was difficult to understand and I did not understand where the play was leading. When we watched a video of the play I began to understand it and was disappointed when we finished reading the play as I had just begun to enjoy it. When I watched the video I learnt who all the characters were, what their positions were in the village and what was happening. I found it easier to understand and I felt that the costumes and the houses made me feel more like I was there. I thought the video was close to the script in the book and was a good representation of the play in film form. I think that if I read this play again I would really understand it and appreciate it even more. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Miller section.

Effect of Video Games on Society

Effect of Video Games on Society Sam Hawkwood Over the past several years, games have received a lot of attention because of their content. Ever since the advent of the truly interactive video game – especially first person shooter games – people have been looking for signs that such media has a negative effect on. Games that are seen as violent have come under a lot of scrutiny and never more so when some tragedy happens and the perpetrator is known to play violent video games. In this paper, I will be looking at the effects that video games have had on society and I will come to the conclusion if they are good or bad for us. Gaming has gone from something that only nerds do to an activity that more enjoy than not. Rather than something that was regarded as the domain of computer geeks, its become a common activity that people of all ages are finding not only fun but acceptable. During the 80s and 90s, most games were generally all child-friendly and puzzle based, with little in the way of variety and realism, however over the past twenty years, gaming has taken a big leap into more mature games. This can be easily seen in the leap from games like Pac-Man and Mario Bros to Halo and Grand Theft Auto; such a change in little under a generation has had a big impact on society. The largest impact more modern games have had are in how they are perceived by the public. With the rate of tragedies such as shootings rising, the media has often blamed video games. There have been several shootings that have been blamed on video games in the past decade; for example, the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut was initially blamed on the popular game series Mass Effect. As stated some time after the shooting, in which 28 people lost their lives, 24 year old Ryan Lanza was named as the killer (US News). In reality, it was his brother who had stolen his ID card on his way to the school. As soon as Ryan Lanza was wrongfully named the shooter, Facebook users found his profile and learned that he was a fan of the massive hit from Bioware, the previously mentioned Mass Effect. Immediately, thousands of people went to the games Facebook page and blamed the shooting on the game. Even after Ryan was cleared as the killer, Facebook users continued to blame the game, despite the fact that the true killer, Adam Lanza, had had a history of obsessive-compulsive behavior and a fascination with mass shootings, and had not even been a serious player of video games and didnt consider them as particularly interesting. When it comes to a situation like this, video games were wrongly attacked. Although we could assume something else would be blamed if the wasnt any gaming involved. In the case of the Sandy Hook shooting, when Adam was 16, his mother took him out of school and supposedly started to homeschool him, although it was later found that he was not getting any education after his removal from school (US News). In 2011 the Valve game Portal 2 was accused of making fun of adopted children (Pcr). With no real violence, guns, swearing or nudity to speak of, you would have thought that this game would fly under the radar of the media. But unfortunately for Valve, this was not the case. Part way through the game, the primary antagonist taunts the player and says â€Å"fatty, fatty no parents†. This is clearly meant to be a joke and Valve has said that no offense was meant. This is very understandable since the voice actor for this character is the English comedian Stephen Merchant. According to WBTV News, the adopted daughter and father play the game often and when the father heard the line, he immediately turned off the game, hoping his adopted daughter didnt hear it. In a game that is very education and rated E For Everyone. WBTV News even contacted Sony, the distributors of the game. Sony told WBTV News to contact Valve, the developers of the game. But WBTV has said that Valve has not responded (Pcr). With most people of the gaming community blaming the father for over reacting to a joke, it is hard to say how this has effected society. As small of an event as this is, who knows how this could effect the future of the Portal series. In January of 2010, the British Medical Journal published an article about how video games are causing rickets to effect UK children (Cnet). According to the research, more children are staying inside and lacking vitamin D. The inactivity causes their bones to soften, leading to a physical deformity. â€Å"Kids tend to stay in more these days and play on their computers instead of enjoying the fresh air. This means that their vitamin D levels are worse than in previous years,† (Cnet). According to an article by online information technology website www.cnet.com, video game developers should make their protagonists â€Å"losers† (Cnet). Matyszczyk asked, â€Å"How about we talk to the makers of Grand Theft Auto, World of Warcraft, and the rest into making versions in which characters with vitamin D deficiency, in one way or another, losers?† While there is no real evidence to support this idea being fake, there isnt any evidence to disprove it. So while this idea could be true, most of the gaming community brushed it off as an excuse from parents who dont know how to teach their child. This effect of society has the potential to be big, but it was a small story to begin with and unless this can be proven, we will likely never hear of this again. So far, I have given examples of times where games have effected society, in a negative way (regardless of a storys popularity). There have still been multiple articles written about how video games are good for society and even your health. According to a Forbes article from November 2013 (Shapiro, J., 4 Reasons Video Games Are Good For Your Health (According To American Psychological Association), p.01), there are at least four ways that video games can improve your health. The article written by Jordan Shapiro states that playing â€Å"First Person Shooters† can improve your cognitive skills. In controlled tests, people who played â€Å"First Person Shooters† showed faster and more accurate attention allocation, higher spatial resolution in visual processing, and enhanced mental rotation. Apparently, the improvement in spacial skills that game players develop are comparable to those developed in formal courses designed to teach the same skills. There also seems the be convincing evidence that playing enhances problem solving skills, and improves creativity. â€Å"Among a sample of almost 500 12 year-old students, video game playing was positively associated with creativity.† (Forbes) Another point made by Shapiro is that â€Å"Contrast to stereotypes, the average gamer is not a socially isolated, inept nerd.† (Forbes) Many of todays gamers are not loners at all. In fact, gaming brings people together. The whole point of online gaming is working with other people to accomplish a unified goal. The Mario Bros. games have a strong co-op mode for people to play together and work together. There are other parts of online gaming that put you and your friends up against other players. When it comes to violence in gaming, there is no scientific evidence that proves that playing violent games makes you violent. In fact, there is a lot of proof showing how playing violent video games can make you a better person. A study from the University of Buffalo led by professor Matthew Gizzard, PhD, states â€Å"Rather than leading players to become less moral, this research suggests that violent video game play may actually lead to increased moral sensitivity.† (TheDailyBeast) Gizzard points out that when the players gaming session was over, he worked to identify and assess players feelings of guilt. â€Å"The research with video games is so polarizing,† Gizzard said. â€Å"You see people arguing that video games are the worst thing that ever happened to society. You have some people arguing that it it leads to school shootings. On the other side of the equation, you have people saying video games are going to be this cure for all sorts of societal ills.† (TheDailyBeast) It is still hard to say whether or not video games have been good or bad for society. There have been many many moments where games have done some bad, but there are also many times where games have been great for people. The effect video games have on people can vary. Most people would see it as a fake world where nothing in there is related to the real world. Some people see video games as simulator of real life. When people wrongly blame video games for a shooting, it is almost just like saying that television would melt your brain in the 40s and 50s. It seems to be pinning the blame on something that you dont fully understand. I do not believe that video games have been bad for society. In fact, I believe that they have allowed us to go into a new age of technology. But if people continue to see video games as evil, then maybe it shows that we arent ready for that type of technology. My conclusion is that I believe video games have been, and, for a while to come, will be beneficial for human survival. I have given several examples of how video gaming has been given a hard rap for many negative aspects of society, and how studies seem to show this is in fact not the case. We must realize we are leaving the analog age of entertainment and entering the digital age. Video gaming is a very big part of this digital age we must be careful not to quickly put blame onto something in society simply because it is not fully understood or appreciated. References Fox, L. (2013, Nov. 25). Report: Sandy Hook Shooter Adam Lanza was Obsessed with Mass Shootings. U.S. News. Retrieved from URL http://www.usnews.com/ Magnusson, H. (2014, Mar. 02). Report: 5 Riediculous Things the Media Blamed Video Games for. Cracked. Retrieved from URL http://www.cracked.com/ Ashcraft, B. (2012, Dec. 15). Report: Mob Blames Mass Effect For School Shooting, Is Embarrassingly Wrong. Kotaku. Retrieved from URL http://www.kotaku.com Nolan, H. (2012, Dec. 14) Report: The Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting: Everything We Know About the Shooter. Gawker. Retrieved from URL http://www.gawker.com (2012, Dec. 16) Report: Mass Effect Video Game Wrongfully Attacked By Facebook Group Following Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting [Op-Ed]. Inquisitr. Retrieved from URL http://www.inquisitr.com Cohen, J. (2014, Dec. 14) Report: Two Years Later, Still Learning From Sandy Hook. Npr. Retrieved from URL http://www.npr.org Wooden, A. (2011, May. 19) Report: Portal 2 slammed as insensitive by US media. Pcr. Retrieved from URL http://www.pcr-online.biz Matyszczyk, C. (2010, Jan. 21) Report: Video games blamed for return of rickets. Cnet. Retrived from URL http://www.cnet.com Shapiro, J. (2013, Nov. 27) Report: 4 Reasons Video Games Are Good For Your Health (According to American Psychological Association). Forbes. Retrieved from URL http://www.forbes.com Zawacki, K. (2014, Jul. 04) Report: Playing Violent Video Games Makes You a Better Person, Study Says. TheDailyBeast. Retrieved from URL http://www.thedailybeast.com

The Customer Supply Chain Business Essay

The Customer Supply Chain Business Essay The report consists of a project entitled Pillsbury: Customer Driven Reengineering undertaken as a part of the course curriculum for the subject Business Process Reengineering (BPR). As a part of this project, after reading the case, a discussion took place between all the group members so as to clearly identify the problem definition. As a next step, discussion of the various issues faced by Pillsbury were discusses followed by the evaluation of the efforts undertaken by it. Competitive pressures, technology advances, and demanding consumer preferences were causing all companies in the food industry to reexamine their operations and attempt to eliminate waste and inefficiency throughout the food chain. The Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) effort was a multi-industry project, ECRs goals were to reduce costs and drive inventory levels down throughout the system, while simultaneously enhancing capabilities to meet the needs of diverse consumer market segments. Pillsbury executives were unsure whether their company was prepared for the new ECR environment. So, this report basically includes the entire experience involved in undertaking the planning of BPR at Pillsbury and the various phases it went through during the transition and the challenge faced by it i.e. whether to go for a continuous improvement program having a short term view or a redesign of processes which was more futuristic. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY To understand the practical implementation of BPR classroom concepts To understand the degree of complexity involved in planning BPR implementation To understand the importance of customer driven reengineering approach in order to adopt a pull strategy for the entire supply chain i.e. better matching Pillsburys purchasing, manufacturing, and distribution operations to consumers purchases To understand how to use the available resources in an optimum manner To understand the implications of a continuous improvement program Vs Redesign of processes. To understand the importance and criticality of various performance measures like ABC costing. COMPANY INTRODUCTION Pillsbury  is a brand name used by  Minneapolis-based  General Mills  and  Orrville, Ohio-based  J.M. Smucker Company. Historically, the  Pillsbury Company, also based in Minneapolis, was a rival company to General Mills and was one of the worlds largest producers of  grain  and other foodstuffs until it was bought-out by General Mills in 2001.  Antitrust  law required General Mills to sell off some of the products. General Mills kept the rights to refrigerated and frozen Pillsbury products, while dry  baking  products and frosting are now sold by Smucker under license. Leo Burnett  who created Pillsburys  Doughboy  and  Jolly Green Giant  considers them two of the agencys top five brand icons. ProdPack-Pillsbury-Cakemix-Small.jpg NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Pillsbury once claimed to have the largest grain  mill  in the world at the  Pillsbury A Mill  overlooking  Saint Anthony Falls  on the  Mississippi River  in Minneapolis. The building had two of the most powerful direct-drive  waterwheels  ever built, each putting out 1200  horsepower  (900  kW). There are now plans to convert it into a loft-style apartment building. The Cunningham Group plans to convert six historic buildings to a mixed-use project varying from 6 to 27 floors in height. The project will include 895 units of housing and 175,000 square feet (16,300  m2) of commercial space, including the Pillsbury A Mill. HISTORY The company originated in 1869 when  Charles A. Pillsbury  bought a share in a Minneapolis flour mill. After the purchase of additional mills and the introduction of enhancements to the milling process, his firm was reorganized in 1872 as C.A. Pillsbury and Company. It was sold in 1889 to an English syndicate, which merged Pillsbury with other mills in their holdings to form Pillsbury-Washburn Flour Mills Company, Ltd., with Charles Pillsbury as managing director. The Pillsbury family regained ownership of the company in the 1920s, and it was incorporated as Pillsbury Flour Mills Company in 1935. In 1972 Pillsbury began purchasing  Burger King fast-food outlets, and it soon came to own the entire chain. Through the  Green Giant Company, acquired in 1979, it began marketing canned and frozen vegetables and frozen prepared foods. It also acquired Hà ¤agen-Dazs, maker of premium ice cream and frozen yogurt, in 1983. Pillsbury was owned by British company Grand Metropolitan, PLC (renamed Diageo PLC) from 1989 to 2001, when  General Mills  acquired most of Pillsburys assets (Burger King remained as a separate division of Diageo until 2002). The Hà ¤agen-Dazs brand was marketed through a joint licensing agreement with  Nestlà ©Ã‚  and General Mills. PRODUCTS The company manufactures a wide variety of consumer food products under the Pillsbury brand, including frozen biscuits and rolls, breakfast foods, cookie dough, cake mixes, and snack foodhttp://s3.amazonaws.com/gmi-digital-library/8b86b131-cccf-4292-b584-d216cf00fdd7.jpgBiscuitsBreads Grands! ® Cinnamon RollsCinnamon RollsBuffalo Chicken Crescent PuffsReady To Bake! ® Partner BrandsStrawberry Marshmallow Pie Biscuits, pies, flour, pizza crust, cookies, crescents, cinnamon rolls and various partner brands like Green Giant and Cascadian Farm. CASE INTRODUCTION Pillsbury entered Customer Driven reengineering initiative expecting to achieve significant levels of cost reduction and efficiency. To its delight, it also discovered a new way to compete. Competitive pressures, technology advances, and demanding consumer preferences were causing all companies in the food industry to reexamine their operations and attempt to eliminate waste and inefficiency throughout the food chain. The Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) effort was a multi-industry project .ECRs goals were to reduce costs and drive inventory levels down throughout the system, while simultaneously enhancing capabilities to meet the needs of diverse consumer market segments. Pillsbury executives were unsure whether their company was prepared for the new ECR environment. The executives perceived that Pillsbury lacked several critical capabilities to win in this new environment. In 1991, Dan Crowley as Controller of Green Giant, had launched an activity-based cost (ABC) initiative to examine the groups high cost structure. The study revealed startling plant-to-plant variations in costs for essentially the same process, large dispersion of actual costs from the companys standard cost per case. In August 1993, Crowley and Slocumb took a BPR proposal to CEO, Paul Walshs, Strategy and Policy Group, which comprised the division presidents of Pillsburys major business units and the top functional department heads. The proposal identified a process which would complement Pillsburys existing strategic plan to achieve top quartile financial performance amongst its strategic peers. The case describes the various efforts undertaken by Pillsbury during this transition and the various phases of the reengineering problem detailing various activities undertaken in every phase. The major challenge faced has been a choice between redesign of processes or continuous improvement because the target set in the earlier stages seemed a bit too achievable in the later stages NEED FOR REENGINEERING Customers perceived Pillsbury as an average company, not the best, not the worst, and without much innovation. John Mann, Senior Vice President and General Sales Manager, and another newcomer to the Pillsbury senior management team, concurred with McWilliams assessment: We were viewed as a laid-back Midwestern company, one that found it difficult to create a sense of urgency.McWilliams felt that Pillsbury had to become a different company if it was to change the perception of customers. Pillsbury executives were unsure whether their company was prepared for the new ECR environment. The executives perceived that Pillsbury lacked several critical capabilities to win in this new environment. First, the company was still organized according to traditional functional lines: purchasing, operations, distribution, finance, and marketing and sales. This organization led to local excellence and optimization of the individual functions but not necessarily to the optimization of the entire value chain. Second, the companys financial measurements and performance measurement system reinforced local optimization. The food market had become fragmented and the majority decisions taken by the consumer were made in the retail environment diluting the effect of the brand image. Thus Pillsbury had another challenge to transform its arms length relationship with the retailers (transaction based) to relationship oriented. DRIVERS FOR BPR AT PILLSBURY Highly competitive environment. Pillsbury lacking the necessary capabilities to compete in such environment. Lack of optimization of the entire value chain. The need to transform the arms length relationship with the retailers. To have an Information system to enable fact based marketing To develop a customer driven supply chain i.e. transition from push to pull strategy of supply chain Eye opening results of activity based costings. The project team prepared the classic ABC whale curve which showed a few product lines producing all the profits, with the remaining SKUs either breaking-even or losing money. Based on the insights from the ABC analysis, Green Giant management closed about a half dozen plants and consolidated operations more efficiently in the remaining plants. Crowley then took on a broader finance role within Pillsbury as Operations Controller and extended the ABC analysis to many of the dough manufacturing plants. Pillsbury now had good insights about the cost drivers for its cost of goods sold. The weak link was developing comparable information for its warehouse, sales, marketing, and promotion expenses. It had no ability to trace these expenses to its customers so that it could produce individual customer PLs. Skepticism that TQM was delivering its promised benefits to the PL bottom line within a reasonable time frame. For example, an internal study compared companies known to have adopted TQM principles with a control sample of non- TQM companies. The study found no discernible difference in financial performance between the two sets of companies. PROCESS MAPPINGS VISION: Crowley and Slocumbs vision of a potential for 15% cost improvement (about $300 million) in a staid and mature food processing company was met with some understandable skepticism and disbelief. Despite that, Walsh and his management team provided to Crowley and Slocumb a modest budget and 90 days to develop a business case to determine whether a $300 million cost reduction was possible. Crowley was appointed to a new position, Vice President for Customer Driven Reengineering, and Slocumb became Vice President for Business Process Reengineering. The business case was to focus on cost and margin improvements in three major divisions: Pillsbury branded products, the Green Giant products, and the frozen pizza businesses. These businesses had $2.5 billion of sales in Fiscal Year 1994. Reengineering: Phase I The Pillsbury team selected a consulting firm to work with them to help build the business case. Three months of analysis led to identifying three core business processes that offered targets for improvement: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Customer Supply Chain à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Brand Management à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ New Product Commercialization The Customer Supply Chain (CSC) was decomposed into three sub-processes: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Total Customer Development à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Fast Flow Demand Replenishment à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Value Based Sourcing and Supply The team then proceeded to identify the opportunities for process improvement within each of the three CSC sub-processes. C:UsersdellDesktop9-c89015168d.jpg C:UsersdellDesktop10-19289f286e.jpg Value Based Sourcing And Supply The third CSC sub-process, Value Based Sourcing and Supply, focused on Pillsburys extremely complex system of vendors and sourcing arrangements for its more than $500 million of raw material purchases. Historically, Pillsbury had reduced its material costs by exerting price pressure on its suppliers. Further gains from such price pressure were considered limited. The project team believed that more flexible and robust ingredient specification would allow them to select more efficient vendors, and that additional gains could be realized by leveraging vendor resources and knowledge. To gain these benefits, however, vendors would have to become partners with Pillsbury in a total cost reduction process. Cost savings from Value Based Sourcing and Supply were estimated at about $40 million (around 8% of purchases), plus savings in working capital reduction of about $14million. Outputs of phase 1: A business plan that promised margin improvements through cost reductions and revenue enhancements of more than $100 million, plus reductions in working capital of about $25 million. Reengineering: Phase II Phase II was launched in January 1994 to determine whether the business case developed in Phase I was feasible and realistic. About 25 Pillsbury employees, supported by the external consultants, spent four months analyzing customer data bases on more than 100 top accounts, conducted in-depth interviews with key customers and suppliers, and mapping and assessing the state of all existing internal business processes in the customer supply chain. The study of internal processes revealed highly complex, time-consuming processes with dozens of handoffs, and multiple recycling of requests for decisions and resource authorizations. The customer interviews revealed that important food retailers, wholesalers, and brokers were moving aggressively forward with plans for category management. Category management promised to give retailers far more effective management capabilities over their store shelf space allocations, SKU rationalization, and demographic marketing plans. The Phase II studies confirmed the vision established at the end of Phase I (see Exhibit 17) that reengineering the customer supply chain could provide upwards of $100 million in benefits. About half would come from working more closely with customers-adopting a more focused customer segmentation strategy, targeted marketing using local demographic information on consumer purchasing behavior, and exploiting store-specific cost and profitability information to promote the most profitable mix of brands and SKUs for both Pillsbury and the local store. The other half would come from better managing Pillsburys entire supply chain-from growers and other key vendors, through manufacturing, transportation and distribution to warehouses and individual stores. It needed to take activity-based costing (ABC) down to retail store level PLs. The old financial model calculated standard costs per case and produced product line PLs. The new model will measure activity-based costs of entire processes and give Pillsbury customer PLs. Service based pricing: shifting its pricing focus so that it can charge more for special services that some of our customers may desire but that others do not want. It can define a base level of service that everyone receives, with an explicit statement of what that includes. Major change in measurement: performance measurements will need to be driven by customers and consumers expectations THE CHALLENGE In June 1994, the Pillsbury team had completed the customer analysis and was ready to move into redesign. Before the meeting to present the findings and recommendations to the Integration Committee, Slocumb expressed some concern about the current set of recommendations. The business case to achieve $100 million in cost savings and margin enhancements was then credible. But the target may be too reachable. People may obtain the $100 million in cost savings from local process improvements, not from the complete redesign of its high-level business processes that were described in Phase I. the target of $100 million had come to be the objective rather than the fundamental redesign of our Customer Supply Chain. If we get $100 million in benefits, thats certainly a worthy goal, but it will not redefine the organization. We have a choice whether to be a company with a $25 stock price, or take the actions that will take us to a $50 stock price., Tom Debrowski, Senior Vice President of Operations and Chairman of the Integration Committee DECISION Pillsbury should be re-designing the organization around customer and consumer values to create a new and sustainable competitive advantage. It should strive to be the best in providing the freshest product at the lowest cost to retailers along with unique consumer insights from its superior information systems. It can achieve the $100 million without redefining the way they do business. But to achieve the $300 million, it will have to become a very different supply organization. It will have to get the supply chain to a high level of competitive fitness by getting cost savings that will make it more efficient than its competitors, and, then generating growth through its value-added consumer insights, getting the right product to the shelf at the right time at low cost to the retailers. The largest barrier for achieving this level of competitive fitness is introducing and managing change. Multi-skilled, multi-functional teams, including finance, need to be working with our customers. SOLUTION To achieve the $300 million improvements, Pillsbury needed to approach the organization with a completely open mind, to think the unthinkable. It will force it to think completely out of the box if they are going to achieve benefits of that magnitude. They need to stop managing individual functional departments, and begin to manage core operating processes. With the old model, the manufacturer, the distributor, and the retailer each attempts to optimize its own operations. The new way, through reengineering, should enable them to optimally source raw materials, convert to finished goods, distribute to trade customers, and sell to consumers in ways that minimize total system cost. By determining who can do each process in the chain most efficiently, it can let that process get done only once, at the most efficient site. That way it can eliminate waste from the system. REENGINEERING EVALUATION The success needs the following. The Analysis, Design and Prototype yielded the pain areas and laid out the broad road maps. But implementation needs the following to be successful Senior management must drive reengineering initiatives with a well-articulated vision that is appropriate for the situation. IT is an undervalued asset that can be tapped through reengineering to transform a company from a make-and-sell-oriented enterprise to a sense-and-respond-oriented enterprise. Successful implementation of reengineering projects requires the involvement and participation of the companys managers and employees. Consultants and outsourcing are important for various aspects of a reengineering project, but they are insufficient without the buy-in from managers and professionals in the organization. Business process can be streamlined or reengineered, but to change the long-term economic picture, a transformation initiative needs to encompass the reevaluation of communication systems and the sharing of intellectual assets. The organization should have a clear target in mind, whether it is to incorporate a continuous improvement philosophy or a complete redesign of processes. AFTER EFFECTS OF REENGINEERING EFFORTS During the last three years, the entire strategic direction of the company has changed. Selling off the flour mills was an epochal event. It was a major cultural shock to many people inside and outside the organization who thought of Pillsbury as a vertically-integrated flour manufacturing company. They have demonstrated that they can become a consumer-based company that is prepared to get out of operations that do not add value. An integration of the entire value chain was the target driven by the customers leading to a pull based strategy. Information systems were to enhance the communication capabilities to incorporate fact based marketing. Major cultural change was seen with the relationship with the customers transforming from merely an arms length relationship Major improvements in expenses and profitability were expected rendering Pillsbury with the capabilities required in such competitive environment. CONCLUSION The problems initially faced by Pillsbury required a complete redesign of the processes and not merely a continuous improvement effort. Thus the decision taken by the management to extend the target to $300 million was a correct decision if a long term view was to be considered. The major changes that were to incorporated as a result of this BPR effort were necessary for Pills burry to have the necessary capabilities to compete in the highly fragmented and competitive market. The reengineering effort was well planned in various phases describing the various considerations of each phase starting with the development of a business case followed by its feasibility analysis. The areas chosen for improvement were Customer Supply Chain Brand Management New Product Commercialization These areas provided great opportunity for integration of the entire value chain and to transform into a pull based value chain with the customer as the major driver. The efforts undertaken have led to great motivation amongst all the stakeholders and they believe that Pillsbury is not a laid back organization anymore. Their customers are enthusiastic about shifting from changing the way they do business together and are willing to endorse new relationships, such as service-based pricing. LEARNINGS The importance of manufacturer-retailer relationship in this highly fragmented market. The difference in continuous improvement efforts and redesign of processes How to approach a BPR problem in a systematic way demarcating the tasks to be done in a particular order in various phases. The importance of techniques like ABC Costing and the utilization of the revelations such techniques make

mortal kombat :: essays research papers

Mortal Kombat â€Å"According to Time magazine, September 27, 1993, violence in video games is on the rise especially with the release of Mortal Kombat. Over 50 million children all over the United States brought this violence into their homes. The parents and other adults of these children finally decided that the video games in the U.S. had gone too far.† Mortal Kombat was the first game that brought blood and gore into the video game world. Mortal Kombat started in the arcades it was such a hit, they made it into a game you could buy for personal use. Critics raved over it when it was first introduced, saying it was too violent for kids and it needed to be taken off the shelves. This game appealed to many people because of its real-life graphics, blood and gore. The game was also responsible for the video game rating system used today. The game was an instant hit, they made an endless amount of Mortal Kombat games, for every gaming system imaginable, there was even a movie made based on the game. This essay will illustrate how Mortal Kombat is violent, and take a critical point of view of this popular game.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mortal Kombat is a video game based around hand-to-hand combat between two characters in the game. The person playing would control one-character and use combinations of punches, kicks and special moves to cause as much damage to the opponent as possible. This game is fun and very addicting; children would end up playing the game constantly trying to master the moves and techniques of the game. People found it fun because the characters and the worlds that you fight in seem like some fantasy, most people would fight their friends to see who would rein supreme; it was a constant challenge to be the best fighter. With the new game that came out not too, long ago you are able to plug an internet cord in the back of your gaming system and play anyone in the world. This game caught so much criticism that the makers had to take the blood out of the game, and they turned it in to white sweat, but little did the critics know that there were codes you could enter to bring the blood back to the game. There also were codes called â€Å"Fatalities† which were finishing moves where you could decapitate someone’s head, rip their arms off and burn them alive.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury :: Free Essay Writer

Fahrenheit 451 Imagine a culture where books are prohibited, where the basic rights illustrated in the First Amendment hold no weight and society is merely a brainwashed, mechanical population. According to Ray Bradbury, the author of Fahrenheit 451, this depiction is actually an exaggerated forecast for the American future – and in effect is happening around us every day. Simply reading his words can excite theories and arguments pertaining not only to the banning of books but to our government structure itself. Age-old debates about Communism and equality are stirred by the trials of characters in Bradbury’s unique world. By studying the protagonist, Guy Montag, and his personal challenges we can, in a sense, evaluate our own lives to see that we don’t make similar mistakes. While the book is definitely a critique of society and of the government, readers are given many dominant themes to follow, and to find all of them requires several readings. The main plot, following Montag, illustrates the importance of making mistakes in order to grow. For example, at the very end of the book Granger (an outspoken rebel to the book-banning laws) compares mankind to a phoenix that burns itself up and then rises out of its ashes over and over again. Man's advantage is his ability to recognize when he has made an error, so that eventually he will learn not to make that mistake anymore. Remembering the faults of the past is the task Granger and his group have set for themselves. They believe that individuals are not as important as the collective mass of culture and history. The symbol of the phoenix's rebirth refers not only to the cyclical nature of history and the collective rebirth of humankind but also to Montag's own spiritual resurrection. Appropriately named, Guy is just a regular person who started out as a drone, following the dictations of his superficial leaders (his last name, Montag, is also ironic in that it is the name of a paper-manufacturing company). Eventually, however, he begins to realize that while reflecting the morals of equality in that no one was above the law, his society also takes away the power of an individual to make a difference. He starts out rash, inarticulate, self-obsessed, and too easily swayed. At times he is not even aware of why he does things, feeling that his hands are acting by themselves. These subconscious actions can be quite horrific, such as when he finds himself setting his supervisor on fire, but they also represent his deepest desires to rebel against the status quo and find a meaningful way to live.

Copyrights in the Music Industry Essay -- Intellectual Property, Copyr

Is important for anyone who has created any intellectual property to protect it. In the music industry, in order for someone to protect their work, they must obtain a copyright. Music has been around before anyone could obtain a copyright and when the invention of the computer came along it made it easier for someone to steal another artist's intellectual property with the help of the internet. This paper will cover what events have taken a big role in copyright protection for artist, the consequences if someone was to break the rules of a copyright which is called copyright infringement, and how will a copyright hold in the future. Were copyrights enacted without the thought of life changing technology, and how can some music companies surpass copyright infringement and make a profit from the artist? Can a copyright really make that much of a difference in the world we know today? Intellectual Property and Copyrights Intellectual property is property resulting from intellectual, creative processes. A product that was created because of someone’s individual thought process. Examples includes books, designs, music, art work, and computer files. (Miller R. J., 2011, p. 114) In the music industry a copyright is an important tool for artist to use to protect themselves from infringers. A copyright is the exclusive right of an author or originator of a literary or artistic production to publish, print, or sell that production for a statutory period of time. A copyright has the same monopolistic nature as a patent or trademark, but it differs in that it applies exclusively to works of art, literature, and other works of authorship (including computer programs). (Miller R. J., 2011, p. 125) How can someone obtain a copyright? To ob... ...en the biggest hurdles the music industry has overcome. Thanks to iTunes and Google Music record labels and artist can reach almost anyone in the world with their music and know that their work won’t be infringed upon. In the next five years copyrights will still have the respect it has today. As technology moves along copyrights will be right behind it revising the rules and regulations to make sure that an artist intellectual property is safe and that the artist or label can receive compensatory damages for copyright infringement. Works Cited A&M Records, Inc. v. Napster Inc., 239 f.3d 1004 (U.S. Court of Appeals For The 9th Circuit 2 12, 2001). Copyright Law of the United States of America. (2013). Retrieved from Copyright United States Copyright Office. Miller, R. J. (2011). Business Law Today: Comprehensive. Mason: South-Western Cengage Learning.

Health and Healing at Your Fingertips Essay

Throw out the bottles and boxes of drugs in your house. A new theory suggests that medicine could be bad for your health, which should at least come as good news to people who cannot afford to buy expensive medicine. However, it is a blow to the medicine industry, and an even bigger blow to our confidence in the progress of science. This new theory argues that healing is at our fingertips: we can be healthy by doing Reiki on a regular basis. Supporters of medical treatment argue that medicine should be trusted since it is ffective and scientifically proven. They say that there is no need for spiritual methods such as Reiki, Yoga, Tai Chi. These waste our time, something which is quite precious in our material world. There is medicine that can kill our pain, x-rays that show us our fractured bones or MRI that scans our brain for tumors. We must admit that these methods are very effective in the examples that they provide. However, there are some â€Å"every day complaints† such as back pains, headaches, insomnia, which are treated currently with medicine. When you have a headache, you take an Aspirin, or Vermidon, when you cannot sleep, you take Xanax without thinking of the side effects of these. When you use these pills for a long period, you become addicted to them; you cannot sleep without them. We pay huge amounts of money and become addicted instead of getting better. How about a safer and more economical way of healing? When doing Reiki to yourself, you do not need anything except your energy so it is very economical. As for its history, it was discovered in Japan in the early 1900s and its popularity has spread particularly throughout America and Western Europe. In quantum physics, energy is recognized as the fundamental substance of which the universe is composed. Reiki depends on the energy within our bodies. It is a simple and effective way of restoring the energy flow. There are no side effects and it is scientifically explained. Opponents of alternative healing methods also claim that serious illnesses such as HIV/AIDS and cancer cannot be treated without drugs. They think so because these patients spend the rest of their lives in the hospital taking medicine. How can Reiki make these people healthy again? It is very unfortunate that these patients have to live in the hospital losing their hair because of chemotherapy, losing weight because of the side effects of the medicine they take. Actually, it is common knowledge that except for when the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, drugs also cannot treat AIDS or cancer. Most of the medicine these patients use are to ease their pain and their sufferings because of the medical treatment they undergo. Instead of drugs hich are expensive and have many side effects, you can use your energy to overcome the hardships of life, find an emotional balance, leave the stress of everyday life and let go of the @ 2006 Bogazici University SFL 6 of 6 everyday worries. Most of the chronic conditions such as eczema or migraine are known to have causes such as poor diet and stress. Deeprooted anger or other strong emotions can contribute to viral infections as well. Since balancing our emotions and start learning Reiki and avoid illnesses before it is too late. Some people may still maintain that in our material world, everything depends on time. It is even â€Å"lacking time† that causes much of the stress that leads to the illnesses we mentioned. How would it be possible to find time to do Reiki to ourselves and the people around us when we cannot even find time to go to the theater? This is one good thing about Reiki; it does not require more than 15 minutes of our time. There is no need for changing clothes or special equipment. It is a wonderfully simple healing art, an effective method of relaxation and stress-relief. Most important f all, it is less time consuming than medicine if we think of all the time we spend taking medicine for some complaints and taking some more for the side effects as well. Having said these, resistance to Reiki would be quite illogical. Reiki is natural and drug-free. What is more, it is easy to learn by anyone, regardless of age and experience. It can be used anywhere, anytime. It also enhances physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being and the benefits last a lifetime. It is definitely high time to get away from the drug boxes we store in our drug cabinet!

Organization and Culture Essay

Provide a brief (one 1 paragraph) description of the organization you chose to research. The company that I chose to research is the company Google. Everyone is aware of Google. It is the most widely used search engine in the world. Google is considered to be one of the best, if not the best search engine of all time. The company Google is considered to be a technological giant and a threat to other tech giants, for example Microsoft. Google’s creators Larry Page and Sergey Binn, started this company in 1995. Google was first developed to be a search engine, but it has crown to the point where it can be used as an internet browser also. Unlike its competitor Microsoft Internet Explorer, it has to be compatible with certain browsers in order to function at its fullest potential. Examine the culture of the selected organization. Google’s corporate culture began with its founder’s philosophy, the famous 10 tenets. (Lisa Jackson 2013). And since Google is still controlled by its founders, that means that the culture in part of the company’s mantra. Google’s founders Larry Page and Sergey Binn believe that trust is one of the most important aspects for the culture at Google. Google mission is a culture of choice. That is they are not a conventional company in the sense that they are not a slave to Wall Street, and that allows them to build a culture that will deliver on this mission and that is principally organized to drive innovation. (Jeff Jarvis, 2013). Because of this trust that Google foster’s to their employees, they are allowed to take risk, while being innovative. And with innovation comes feedback and collaboration. With this type of corporate culture at Google, their employees are much more enthusiastic about the ideas that they present to the founders. There is not right or wrong way at Google, they are visionaries and as such can implement and idea, and if it works, that fantastic, if the idea does not work, then  back to the drawing board. Again, it all stems from the trust ideas from the founders. Google’s culture is very unique. At Google, they believe that if you focus on the user, all else will follow. They also believe that democracy on the web works and also that there is always more information out there. These are three out of the ten tenets that the founders of Google stand by. With these types of statements from one of the largest technological companies, it is no wonder that Google is considered the number 1 place to work in the United States. It’s because the founders allow the staff to develop ideas, make mistakes and they celebrate the failure instead of reprimanding or terminating the staff. This seemingly laid back culture fuels the imagination of the staff and gets them always looking for ways to improve not just the company, but themselves as well. Explain how you determined that the selected organization showed the signs of the culture that you have identified. When I decided to do rese arch on Google, and their culture, I decided to look at why this company is considered one of the best places to work in the United States. I asked myself, why is this company so popular? Why are their employees always happy? First you look at the culture. The founders believe in letting their employees be free to be innovative. They have a t-shirt and jeans work atmosphere, freedom to make mistakes and start over again, etc. This is only part of the culture. Another aspect of the Google environment is ensuring that their employees are adequately compensated. Their benefits are also excellent. Google’s employees enjoy free health and dental, free breakfast lunch and dinner. They also have an organic chef that caters to the needs of the employees. Google found that women were leaving the company at twice the rate of everyone else. In particular, this occurred with new mothers. Google’s maternity leave plan was 12 weeks paid time off. Human Resources changed the plan so new mothers could get 5 months paid time off with full pay and benefits. They were allowed to split this time up however they want. The result after the change in policy? A 50% reduction in attrition for new mothers. Google tries to hire and retain the best employees. They do this based on data. When this data is collected, they u se this information to gauge employees and improve their productivity.   Determine the factors that caused the organization to embody this particular culture. For Google, it seems as if the corporate culture that they have right now is doing just  fine. Google was name the top place to work in 2012. But if for some reason, they did decide to change their corporate culture, I think it would be to continue to enhance on the 10 tenets that was there from conception. Of course as time, and concepts changes over time, innovators such as Larry Page and Sergey Brinn will have to change as well.But, with a new CEO, Larry Page who is excited about leading the team into product development and technology strategy, but also keeping the core of the company for what it was when they first started. Google is efficient and effective. Fortune magazine reported that Google does more business than their entire competitor combined, plus they do it at a lower cost. Because Google has a casual and democratic atmosphere, resulting in its distinction as a â€Å"Flat† company. The company does not boast a large middle management, and upper management is so hands on, it’s hard to qualify them in a separate category. Teams are made up of members with equal authority and a certain level of autonomy is maintained.   Determine what type of leader would be best suited for this organization. Support your position. The type of leader that would be best suited for Google is a Transformational Leader. Transformational leadership is a type of leadership style that can inspire positive changes in those who follow. Transformational leaders are generally energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate. Not only are these leaders concerned and involved in the process; they are also focused on helping every member of the group succeed as well. Through the strength of their vision and personality, transformational leaders are able to inspire followers to change expectations, perceptions, and motivations to work towards common goals. They have the ability to garner trust, respect and admiration from their followers.   Imagine that there is a decline in the demand of products or services supplied by the selected organization. Determine what the change in culture would need to be in response to this situation. If for some reason there is a decline for the products and services supplied by Google, I think that the founders will continue to have the same culture that they originally started the company with. And I say that because, so far that culture seems to be what has Google as one of the top tech giants in the world. Of course, the founders Larry Page and Sergey Binn, being the visionaries that they are, as times and concepts changes over time, they will have to change as well. They will always have to be one  step ahead of the competition, if intend to last in the technological game. References The Real Secret of Google’s Corporate Culture: by Lisa Jackson, July 2013. https://www.web-ebschohost-com.libdata.strayer.edu/ehost/deliveryArticle: Refreshing Google. By: Saporito, Bill. (2011) Vol. 177 Issue 5, p48-49. https://www.web-ebschohost-com.libdata.strayer.edu/ehost/deliverySearch and Destroy. (Cover Story) Authors: Vogelstein, Fred. Source Fortune 5/2005 Vol. 151 Issue 9, p72-82. (Article) https://www.web-ebschohost-com.libdata.strayer.edu/ehost/deliveryThe Real Difference between Microsoft and Google by: Dana Blankenhor (February 2008) http://www.corporateculturepros.com

Ladies & Gentleman Essay

The point was about the term â€Å"ladies and gentlemen. † It would be easy to think of upper class women in flashy dresses and extravagant hats and men in tailcoats and top hats when talking about ladies and gentlemen. However, one of my goals when using the terms is to make their definitions much more than mere appearance, if appearance at all. This modernization of the terms helps bring the definition into the current century and throw away the traditional and very close-minded definition. It is for this reason that I believe being a lady or gentleman is based on personality, how a person treats others, I speak for most people who use the term â€Å"ladies and gentlemen† in reference to a person’s conduct, not a person’s class, social standing, race, sexuality. Some, when faced with the terms â€Å"ladies and gentlemen,† will immediately assume the worst by using the outdated definitions. Some will also dig for reasons to label those who use â€Å"ladies and gentlemen†. In labeling us this way, these people do not facilitate any sort of progress for the terms or for any sort of unity for women, or men, ladies or gentleman. We live where we ought to not judge people by the color of their skin, their class, gender, or sexuality, with all of this, there are still groups who refuse to take off their blinders. Ladies and Gentleman, now there is a saying that has been with us for a long time, but what does it really mean and where did it come from? Let’s start with the ladies as we all have been known to do in the century we live in today to always allow ladies to be first. The term ladies could mean many different things to many different cultures so let’s get the one that is primarily recognized by all. There are numerous definitions of a lady and I am sure that we all have varied opinions of what a lady is, but here is a few from the dictionary. â€Å"Chiefly British A general feminine title of nobility and other rank, specifically, Used as the title for the wife or widow of a knight or baronet. Used as a form of address for a marchioness, countess, viscounts, baroness, or baronets’. Used as a form of address for the wife or widow of a baron. Used as a courtesy title for the daughter of a duke, a marquis, or an Earl. Used as a courtesy title for the wife of a younger son of a duke or marquis† (Ladies, n. . ). To discuss gentleman, as in reference to ladies is an entirely different topic but closely related . However to separate them is almost UN heard of in this society we live in today. The writer here feels it of necessity to come up with a definition of what is a gentleman where did this term come from. The definition of what the dictionary states is :, A man of gentle or noble birth or superior social position: â€Å"He’s too much a gentleman to be a scholar†, Used as a form of address for a group of men (gentleman, n. . ). Now we have a general idea of what a Ladies and a gentleman Are, let’s put them together to get a better understanding of â€Å"Ladies and Gentleman†. To take a look at them individually is one aspect to consider but let’s look at what a well rounded person is first and foremost prior to becoming a Lady or a gentleman. I’Uomo Universal Literally, â€Å"universal Man† a self reliant, multitalented, freethinking individual â€Å"(Sayre H 2008-2012). From the art work to the poetry of art and even the given philosophy that was all just a cultural part of growing with the ages was known to make Ladies and gentleman and primarily a humanist in all forms of the century. It was certain beliefs and attitudes to help make people what is universally known as well rounded . However the importance from education to cultural practices from philosophy made them who they were and their practice of becoming ladies and gentleman. In a survey conducted I was able to poll ten people and from vary ages and backgrounds. Although they all had varies opinions on what a lady and what a gentleman is. It was a little redundant on what the ladies had to say concerning their definitions, and what the men had in their responses. The simple fact from the ladies side was mostly about the dress of a lady and how they carried themselves in public. However on the men’s side of the scenario it was mostly about them being of a maternal instinct, and mannerisms of a lady one being polite, sincere and genially whole. However when it came to the Gentleman part of this survey it was all about having decent employment and being a good provider, and once again a good father figure. Funny as it seems this was from both the male and the female’s opinion. My age bracket was from one, my son who is twenty one, to my neighbor who is in their sixties. The ladies were a woman in their mid twenties to my mother in her late seventies. Their vocations were that of manufacturing to one of a professional woman a teacher. However it was an interesting fact when I asked these questions to my girl who was brought up well as she calls it blue blood, or if you will high society and her idea’s and experiences being brought up to be a lady. The fact that she was taught to courtesy in her early years and to have proper mannerisms of that type of upbringing to be able to be presented to other able blue blooded men at eighteen for a possible mate to ensure of proper breeding from their bloodline was somewhat a crazy response to my questions on being a lady or a gentleman. Therefore to some things up and to suggest whether or not I agree with Castiglione and his descriptions of a woman and that of a man or should we say a lady and a gentleman? To be or not to be the real question, a woman, lady or man or gentleman. Therefore I will share my opinions on the positives, I see fit and the negatives that I believe could be harmful to ones general character. To be born out of nobility would be an awesome deal but when and where we were born and the freedom of choice in our upbringing is one I am a little half and half on if that makes sense, in other words I do believe it is wonderful to be born with your parents and having them part of your life to help guide you, and to prevent errors in their culture to help make you a well rounded person. However to feel that a judgment is made upon you from whose family you were born into and how you were to dress and what reactions one would have towards you because of your nobility at birth and being told you believe this way or that way I feel is wrong. Therefore to be judgmental of the skin the dress and down to the language and how it is spoken to others and to deem their worthiness by a person’s size is a little farfetched but perhaps in that century the judgment rang true of a person’s actions be it male or female. To be a lady who plucks eyebrows or powders their face, or to be a wanton women to honest men or I believe the proper term here is harlot. Men of good posture and build for fighting wars or one whom is of a cowardice nature, but what of those men who flatly just did not measure up to the standards of a fighter for wars. In our society today we are somewhat powerless of what our physical stature is to become and therefore almost impossible to say what we will become and surely plays an important role in the attitude towards that.