Summarize the Article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Summarize the Article - Essay Example It was ensured that each participant could be clinically observed during the 3 periods until onset of CVD or death. For final analysis participants for whom all data of physical activity was present and who had data on the selected confounders (smoking, marital status, comorbidity and cholesterol level) were used for final study. The authors calculated the life expectancy and the physical activity and found that people with low physical activity tended to be older (mean age 62) and had more comorbidities than those with slightly higher physical activity. The authors also noticed that low and moderate activity groups had higher female proportion than the high activity group. The authors also found life expectancy increased with increased levels of physical activity. They found that the life expectancy of a sedentary person at 50 years was 1.5times shorter than those who engaged in some moderate physical activity at the same age. Also, people with high physical activity did not suffer from CVD and hence had higher life expectancy. Since physical activity has a protective effect on health and increases life expectancy even with associated comorbidities it is important to understand their significance and contribution in life especially after 50 years during which most people tend to give up work and adopt a sedentary life style. Older people who engage in physical activity tend to live longer because their system remains relatively free from diseases such CVD, risks and associated stress hence physical activity can somehow control aging for a minimum period of time thereby elonging life span by a few

Epidemiology and Surveillance Essay Example for Free

Epidemiology and Surveillance Essay Scott L Tomar, a profession at the University of Florida describes public health surveillance as the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of data regarding a health-related event for the use in public health action (Tomar, 2007). The information collected from surveillance is implemented in planning, evaluating and to put together research hypothesis (Tomar, 2007). He explains that this surveillance contributes and aids in the decrease of not only morbidity and mortality, but also the supervision in health improvement. Surveillance is a component of communication and organization for monitoring and preventing diseases and illnesses. The United States does not have a surveillance program in place for periodontal disease. It is not being monitored state, country wide or even locally. These systems have been used for decades for other diseases; fortunately periodontal surveillance is just in its beginning stages. The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors and the centers for disease control and Prevention’s Division of Oral Health created the NOHSS, National Oral Health Surveillance systems. This program assists in monitoring and determining the responsibility and/or consequence of oral diseases, delivery system and the water fluoridation at state and national levels. NOHSS also has implemented signs to look for in the surveillances which are, adult dental visits, tooth cleaning, tooth loss, fluoridation status, child caries experience, child untreated caries, dental sealants and cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx (Tomar, 2007). The risk factors for periodontal disease according to the NIDCR, National Institute of Dental Craniofacial Research are smoking, hormonal changes in girls and women, diabetes, diseases of cancer or aids and their treatments, medications, and genetic susceptibility. If these factors would be monitored and put into a data base this desased can be prevented or treated more accurately. It would minimize the adverse affects or health risks it can cause to the population. Surveillance can measure what is orally, to be more exact periodontal with the population. The future of the treatment and prevention of this disease can benefit from search and awareness of the problem. Surveillance can obviously help reach this goal. Once all the factors, information and data are collected and analyzed by the surveillance dentist, hygienist and oral surgeons can be more informed and educated about this growing problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has partnered with the American Academy of Periodontoly to initiate the CDC Periodontal Disease Surveillance Project. This project concentrates on population-based surveillance at all levels. Surveillance has improved tremendously and has developed valid self-reported This initiative has made significant advancements toward the goal of improved surveillance, including developing valid self-reported measures that can be obtained from interview-based surveys to predict prevalence of periodontal issues in populations. The project’s goal is to confirm and find validity These eight questions will be field tested in the United States population in two phases. As noted in the article, a pilot will use a small convenience sample of United States subjects to lay the groundwork and justify further testing of these questions in a national survey. The key objective of this pilot phase will be as follows: 1) to confirm that these questions, or a subset of them, have sufficient validity for predicting periodontitis in this sample of the United States population; 2) to determine whether non-response rates to these questions differ among racial/ethnic groups; and 3) to assess the logistical aspects of conducting the pilot. I am a firm believer that surveillance should be used on many aspects of public health. Your health is determined not only by your own genetics and personal choices, but also by the environment around you. We all strive to live long, healthy lives and where we live, work and play affects our health. If you care about your health, the length and quality of your life, and the health and lives of your friends and family, then you should care about public health and the one week out of the year dedicated to bettering the lives of you and your surroundings. Surveillance makes it easier to view ones surroundings.

Destruction and Failure of a Generation in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsb

The Great Gatsby and the Destruction of a Generation      Ã‚   The beauty and splendor of Gatsby's parties masks the decay and corruption that lay at the heart of the Roaring Twenties. The society of the Jazz Age, as observed by Fitzgerald, is morally bankrupt, and thus continually plagued by a crisis of character. Jay Gatsby, though he struggles to be a part of this world, remains unalterably an outsider. His life is a grand irony, in that it is a caricature of Twenties-style ostentation: his closet overflows with custom-made shirts; his lawn teems with "the right people," all engaged in the serious work of absolute triviality; his mannerisms (his false British accent, his old-boy friendliness) are laughably affected. Despite all this, he can never be truly a part of the corruption that surrounds him: he remains intrinsically "great." Nick Carrway reflects that Gatsby's determination, his lofty goals, and most importantly the grand character of his dreams sets him above his vulgar contemporaries. F. Scott Fitzgerald constructs Gatsby a s a true American dreamer, set against the decay of American society during the 1920s. By eulogizing the tragic fate of dreamers, Fitzgerald thereby denounces 1920s America as an age of blindness and greed an age hostile to the work of dreaming. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald heralds the ruin of his own generation.    Since America has always held its entrepreneurs in the highest regard, one might expect Fitzgerald to glorify this heroic version of the American Dreamer in the pages of his novel. Instead, Fitzgerald suggests that the societal corruption which prevailed in the 1920s was uniquely inhospitable to dreamers; in fact, it was these men who led the most unfortunate lives of all... ...ible Honesty: Mongrel Manhattan in the 1920s. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1995. Fielder, Leslie. "Some Notes on F. Scott Fitzgerald." Mizener 70-76. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. 1925. New York: Scribner Classic, 1986. Hobsbawm, Eric. The Age of Extremes. New York: Pantheon, 1994. Posnock, Ross. "'A New World, Material Without Being Real': Fitzgerald's Critique of Capitalism in The Great Gatsby." Critical Essays on Scott Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby." Ed. Scott Donaldson. Boston: Hall, 1984. 201-13. Raleigh, John Henry. "F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby." Mizener 99-103. Spindler, Michael. American Literature and Social Change. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1983. Trilling, Lionel. "F. Scott Fitzgerald." Critical Essays on Scott Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby." Ed. Scott Donaldson. Boston: Hall, 1984. 13-20.   

Successful Completion Of Compulsory Education Education Essay

IntroductionSuccessful completion of mandatory instruction provides the school departers with chances either to foster their instruction or to come in into full clip employment. The degrees at which these pupils pass reflect a great trade non merely on their single public presentation but besides that of the schools that work competitively difficult for good public presentation on the national conference tabular arraies. Whereas successful post-16 patterned advance is of import for the pupils, the pick of which path they should take is every bit of import. Through debut of co-curricular and work related larning programmes to schools, the authorities has ever made proviso for the school departers to be good prepared for either the universe of work or patterned advance to further or higher instruction after their compulsory instruction, irrespective of their capablenesss or societal backgrounds ( Thomas 2001:2 ) . Cropley ( 1978 ) suggested that society in general demands that the scho ol system should ease the scholar with full and satisfactory personal growing and increased ego realization, in that success of immature people in instruction attainments besides has a great bearing towards the society ‘s future economic prosperity ( Thomas 2001:21 ) . This survey will research the chances available for the post-16 patterned advance and look into the inhibiting barriers that cause some immature people to be neither in employment nor in instruction and preparation ( NEET ) in malice of the authorities ‘s reforms to the system, as stated in the undermentioned infusion from appendix 1: â€Å" Reducing the proportion of 16- to 18-year-olds non in instruction, employment or preparation ( NEET ) is a precedence for the Government. Bing NEET between the ages of 16-18 is a major forecaster of ulterior unemployment, low income, teenage maternity, depression and hapless physical wellness. No individual bureau holds all the keys to cut downing NEET ; LAs, schools, the Learning and Skills Council, young person support services and employers all have cardinal functions to play. † DcsfStatement of PurposeThe intent of this survey is to turn to the research inquiry â€Å" What are the chances and the challenges faced in the procedure of patterned advance to the Post Compulsory Education? † A literature hunt will be done to research the programmes on offer, the chances they provide and the challenges faced by the pupils in the procedure of patterned advance to farther instruction establishments. This will take to a find of the degree of success in footings of enga gement and aid to place any barriers that cause some immature people to be excluded from these programmes stoping up non in employment or instruction and preparation ( NEET ) . The survey will besides reexamine some of the paperss produced by authorities backed scholarly commissions assigned with the duty of reforming instruction programmes, to set up grounds why it was found necessary to widen chances for farther instruction and what impact it has had on the pupil population in England. Such paperss will include among others studies by the Nuffield Review committee ( 2005-2006 ) , the Dearing study and the Tomlinson Report ( 2004 ) .Research inquiriesThis survey is based on one cardinal inquiry: â€Å" What are the chances and challenges in the procedure of patterned advance to the Post Compulsory Education in England? † This inquiry will be addressed by interrupting it down into two research inquiries:What are the post-compulsory instruction programmes on offer in England?W hat are the inhibiting factors faced by pupils in the procedure of post-16 patterned advance?Significance of the surveyThis research is intended to increase the consciousness and apprehension of the significance of the station compulsory educational programmes to the post-16 pupils and their parents. A survey of the procedure of patterned advance to the post-compulsory educational programmes is intended to place issues that pose as challenges or suppressing factors to the immature people and suggest possible ways to enable more engagement, taking to decreased Numberss of those non in employment of instruction and preparation ( NEET ) . It is besides hoped that such cognition will profit all stakeholders within the system towards improved collaborative engagement and bringing of services. This survey will prosecute pupils in a study where questionnaires will be used to pull out textual informations from the take parting respondents, which will be chiefly the pupils. The chief Centre of survey will be the take parting colleges subject to blessing by the appropriate ethical commission, and permission from the college disposal. Through a particular agreement with the disposal a subdivision of parents to the take parting pupils will be accessed to seek their sentiment on the post-compulsory instruction programmes available for their kids.Focus of the surveyThe research inquiry â€Å" What are the chances and challenges in the procedure of patterned advance to the Post Compulsory Education in England? † is a far making study inquiry and undoubtedly surpasses the range of this survey. For practicality of the survey nevertheless a particular focal point will be made on two farther colleges within Berkshire, a county with legion farther instruction colleges with more holding been built in the recent yesteryear. The probe will take on a general attack to the research inquiry in the position of placing what motivates the pupils and what they find to be barriers in the post-16 patterned advance. It is with the apprehension that schools play a prima function in finding the hereafter of students through academic attainments every bit good as through the school ethos as the chief beginning of inspiration for the scholar ( Thomas 2001 ) .In an effort to turn to the research inquiry, the survey will concentrate on the undermentioned elements:To set up the principle for the post-16 programmes available to pupils in England. Explore the standards for registration in the post-16 programmes, and its inducements Factors that both influence and suppress the post-16 patterned advance procedure, impacting determinations for or against engagement.Aim of the surveyThe chief aim of this survey will be to research options and place challenges that are faced in the procedure of patterned advance to further and higher instruction in England, and how these have engaged scholars. Recommendations from this survey will be made to take parting schools for effectual execution of such positions as will be collected from pupils and some of their parents. It is hoped that the survey will excite and lend to the preparation of in-depth research into similar programmes in some of the states in the underdeveloped universe, where instruction for all is on top of the political docket as one of the millenary development ends ( MDG 2015 ) .A reappraisal of the literature turn toing the survey inquiriesWhat are the post-compulsory instruction programmes on offer in England?Career counsel and reding sing their post-16 patterned advance paths is made available to the pupils in their concluding twelvemonth of compulsory instruction through Connexions direct, a agency dedicated to the service and advice of immature people ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.connexions-direct.com/index.cfm? pid=351 ) . A timetable for the whole twelvemonth is made available to the pupils to help them in be aftering the events that will finally take to their determinations on which path they will take ( see appendix2 ) . After finishing their compulsory instruction, immature people can take to go on in full clip school or articulation college, do an apprenticeship or acquire straight into employment, sooner with preparation ( Dcsf ) . For those aged between 16 and 17 there is what is known as ‘September Guarantee ‘ which is an agreement that guarantees the pick of those interested to stay in school or go on into college: â€Å" the ‘September Guarantee ‘ agencies that they will decidedly be able to go on learningaˆÂ ¦Everyone between 16 and 17 due to go forth instruction is guaranteed an offer of a topographic point on an appropriate courseA – and information, advice and counsel to assist weigh up their options. † ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/OptionsAt16/DG_10013574 ) Options runing from ‘A ‘ degrees to work related makings are available for the post-16 patterned advance. Presently selected schools and colleges do offer the 14-19 twelvemonth old sheepskin ( ibid. ) which is one of the latest add-ons to the instruction reforms. Whichever path immature people choose to take the advice given to them is â€Å" it pays to maintain acquisition as more and more, employers are looking for people with higher degree accomplishments and makings † ( Dcsf ) . The authorities acknowledges that makings are non a warrant for occupations although it encourages immature people to take part in the available chances as they will stand a better opportunity for both their societal and economic prosperity in a competitory economic universe.What are the inhibiting factors faced by pupils in the procedure of post-16 patterned advance?Having seen the broad scope of chances available to immature people after their mandatory instruction with all the option s and free counsel available through Connexions Direct, this inquiry will now turn to ways in which the construction of the post-16 instruction system inhibits and bounds engagement in farther survey by some pupils. Whereas schools are meant to assist find the future engagement of pupils in post-16 instruction, Thomas ( 2001 ) classifies possible barriers to the system to include those ironically created by the compulsory instruction system. One of these classs is making and accomplishment and the 2nd 1 is attitudes towards larning, page 73. Whereas pupils ‘ failure to accomplish a lower limit class has frequently been a cause for many lost chances to come on to post -16 instruction, it must be born in head that even where success is registered, it is most of import to cognize what impact the school has had on their perceptual experience as scholars. Whether acquisition was gratifying or excessively hard will be seen in the manner they respond to the post-16 chances. The attitude formed about school and acquisition contributes a great trade to the students ‘ self-efficacy ( Bandura1997 ) and formation of their self image. It is hence in the involvement of the stakeholders within the instruction system, chiefly the instructors, pupils and their parents that the school environment provides the scholar with experiences that contribute to the image they have of themselves ( ibid ) . Pring et Al ( 2009 ) suggest that as surveies in educational attainment and societal mobility indicate, the function which schools play in altering lives can be limited in a sense that ‘family background continues to be a major determiner ‘ ( Coffey, 2001:68, 69 ) , and that public presentation in schools is mostly influenced by the societal category background. Sing societal category, Pring et Al ( 2009 ) had this to state: ‘aˆÂ ¦the more disadvantaged the societal category background, the lower the degree of educational attainment that is likely to be achievedaˆÂ ¦ Furthermore, immature people from less advantaged category backgrounds are less likely to take up chances available to them to come on through the educational system even where they are sufficiently qualified to do the progression' Pring et Al ( 2009:32 ) It is beyond the range of this survey to discourse the relationship between societal exclusion and response to post-16 educational programmes it can be stated harmonizing to earlier surveies that ‘social category influences school accomplishment and this in portion impedes or enhances patterned advance into post-compulsory instruction ‘ ( Thomas,2001:74 )MethodologyCohen et Al, ( 2007 ) refer to methods as ‘instruments of roll uping and construing informations ( page 83 ) ; whilst methodological analysis is the agencies which gives a descriptive attack and sort of paradigm to the survey ( page 47 ) . Educational research methods include interviews, questionnaires, and observations, among others. The determination as to which instrument is most suited for informations aggregation in this survey will depend chiefly on the ‘methodology ‘ or the nature of this research. The nature of this survey is both fact-finding and descriptive, that is it sets out to lo ok into and depict chances and barriers presented by the procedure of patterned advance to the post-compulsory instruction system. As asserted by Best, ( 1970 ) , this research is concerned with conditions or relationships regulating 16 twelvemonth olds as they enter post-compulsory instruction stage. With this background hence this research worker will utilize the questionnaires to roll up and construe the positions of both pupils and their parents ongoing post-16 educational programmes available to them in the participating colleges. The survey will look at pupils as persons but the information collected will be interpreted in footings of the representative community.The study research methodThis method is most appropriate for this survey as it intends to find present educational conditions in a non-experimental manner, Hartas ( 2010 ) . The information will be collected in a non randomised manner by usage of questionnaires to be completed at will by take parting pupils. The metho d will give textual informations sing chances, challenges and/or barriers that are present in the passage from the compulsory to post-compulsory instruction. The principle for usage of this method is dependent on the premise that the respondent ‘s positions and sentiments agree with their actions and it is hope that they will reply these inquiries truthfully. It is besides possible that non all respondents may be able to give their honest positions due to personal failings such as the usage of linguistic communication, or due to a deficiency of self-efficacy. Another premise asserted by Hartas ( 2010 ) is that the sample constitutes a homogeneous group of respondents with comparable instances where they all interpret the inquiries in similar ways without which the responses may non be dependable. Cohen, et Al ( 2007 ) assert that studies can take on the nature of either longitudinal, transverse sectional or tendency surveies. Longitudinal surveies are used to roll up informations over an drawn-out period of clip and are applicable to such surveies as relate do developing phenomena. Harmonizing to Ruspini, ( 2002:24 ) , they enable research workers to analyze the continuance of societal phenomena foregrounding similarities, differences and alterations over clip in regard of one or more variables or participants, place long term effects and explain alterations in footings of stable features such as sex or a variable characteristic such as income, ( Cohen, et al 2007:212 ) . Because this survey will be confined within a fixed and limited timeframe it renders this type of study out of the inquiry. On the other manus a ‘Cross Sectional ‘ survey is one that produces a descriptive image of a population at a peculiar point in clip, as in the instance of carry oning a nose count. In instruction, cross sectional surveies involve indirect steps of the nature and rate of alterations in the physical and rational development of samples of kids drawn from representative age degrees. Harmonizing to Cohen, et Al, ( 2007:213 ) , the individual ‘snapshot ‘ or the representative image of the cross sectional survey provides the research worker with informations for either retrospective or prospective question. The 3rd type of study, the ‘Trend survey ‘ , focuses on factors instead than people, where these factors are studied within a specific timeframe ( Borg & A ; Gall 1989:422 ) . This survey peculiar will take on a ‘Trend Study ‘ nature of an enquiry where two sets of 10 pupils each will be interviewed from two different farther instruction colleges to function as a representative sample for intents of this survey. Following is a description of the educational methods which will be used efficaciously in the aggregation of informations for intents of this research.QuestionnairesUsing the written questionnaire, the pupils will be approached in a more or less personal manner as it works as a replacement for the personal interviews ( Cohen and Manion, 1998 ) . In add-on to turn toing the survey inquiries, these questionnaires will besides be used to roll up informations on issues that are of concern to pupils in the current system of instruction, and solicit for any suggestions they might wish to be included in the recommendations ensuing from the survey. Sing its efficiency for this nature of informations aggregation, Borg & A ; Gall, ( 1989: 426 ) asserts that this method is really instrumental when the research worker needs to rapidly and easy acquire tonss of information from people in a non baleful manner, hence the determination for it to be used in this survey.Policy Documentary ReviewPolicy Documentary Review as a research method is done by analyzing and reexamining policies and their application. Using this method the research worker will analyze some of the paperss produced by assorted committees assigned with the duty to reform instruction of 14-19 twelvemonth olds. Documents to be reviewed in this survey will include the Tomlinson study and the Nuffield committee study, which were made as recommendations to the authorities ‘s section of instruction ( DCSF ) in the old government.How the textual information will be analysedHow the information is traveling to be analysedRationale for the Selection of Participating CollegesPopulation harmonizing to Hartas, ( 2010:67 ) is a group of persons or administrations that portion the same feature that is of involvement to a survey, in this instance the pupils in the procedure of post-16 patterned advance throughout England. Such a figure will evidently be inexplicable in a survey of this size nevertheless, a ‘repr esentative sample ‘ in this instance as defined by Hartas ( 2010 ) will be the pupils selected from the two colleges of farther instruction within Berkshire. The procedure of choosing this sample is really of import as it is pertinent to the cogency of this research, and it will be explored further in the chapter on methodological analysis. Nevertheless the cardinal factors that need to be mentioned here include what judgement will be based on viz. , the sample size, representativeness of the parametric quantities of the sample, handiness to the sample and the trying scheme to be used ( Cohen, et Al. 2007:100 ) .Bibliography:Bell, J ( 2006 ) Making Your Research Undertaking: A Guide for first clip research workers in instruction, wellness and societal scientific discipline 4th erectile dysfunction. ; .Maidenhead: Open University Press Borg, W.R. & A ; Gall. M D. ( 1989 ) Educational Research: An Introduction 5th. Ed. London: Longman Blaikie, N. ( 2000 ) . Planing Social Research: The logic of expectancy. Cambridge: A Polity Press Bryman, A. ( 2008 ) Social Research Methods, 3rd. erectile dysfunction. Oxford: Oxford University Press Coffey, A ( 2001 ) Education and Social Change ; Buckingham: The Open University Press Corbetta, P. ( 2003 ) SOCILA RESEARCH: theory, Methods and Techniques. London: Sage Publications Cohen, L. & A ; Manion, L. ( 2007 ) Research Methods in Education 6th erectile dysfunction. London: Routledge. Creswell, J.W. ( 2008 ) Educational Research: Planning Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.3rd.ed. Pearson Education International Creswell, J.W. ( 2009 ) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Los Angeles: Sage Publications. Cropley, A. J. ( 1978 ) Lifelong Education: a psychological analysis ; Oxford: Pergamon Press. Dcsf ( 2009 ) hypertext transfer protocol: //www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/OptionsAt16/DG_10013574 Department for Education and Skills ( DfES ) ( 2002 ) Transforming youth work: Resourcing excellent young person services. London: DfES / Connexions. Dewey, John, ( 1997 ) ; Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Doctrine of Education. New York: the Free Press. Flude, M. ( 1989 ) , School, work and equality: a reader. London: Hodder and Stoughton in association with the Open University. Fraenkel, J.R. & A ; Wallen, N.E. ( 2006 ) How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education 6th. Ed. London: McGrawHill Geertz, ( 1973 ) The reading of Cultures, New York: Basic Books. Gerwitz, S & A ; Cribb, A. ( 2009 ) Understanding instruction: a sociological position Cambridge: A Polity Press Graham-Brown, S. ( 1996 ) Education in the Developing World: Conflict and crisis. London: Longman Hartas, D. ( 2010 ) Educational Research and Inquiry: Qualitative and Quantitative attacks. London: Continuum Hodgson, A. et Al ( 2009 ) Education for All: The Future of Education and Training for the 14-16 twelvemonth olds. London: Routledge Leonor, M. D. ( 1985 ) Unemployment, Schooling, and Training in Developing Countries ; London: CROOM HELM Lichtman, M. ( 2006 ) Qualitative Research: A User ‘s Guide. London: Sage Publications. Liz, T ( 2001 ) Widening engagement in Post-Compulsory Education ; London: Continuum. Pring, R et Al ( 2009 ) Education for all: The Future of Education and Training for 14-19 twelvemonth olds ; London: Routledge. Pring, R ( 2009 ) ‘The demand to develop a deeper national argument ‘ Nuffield Review 14-19 Education and Training workshop, England and Wales, accessed from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.philosophy-of-education.org/pdfs/Saturday/Pring % 20workshop.pdf The Tomlinson Report: 14-19 ‘Curriculum and Qualifications Reform, ‘ accessed from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/ps/documents/briefing_papers/ps0007_the_tomlinson_report_14_19_curriculum_and_qualifications_reform_feb_2005.pdf Thomas, L. ( 2001 ) Widening Engagement in Post Compulsory Education ; London: Continuum Tight, M. ( 1996 ) KEY CONCEPTS IN ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING London: Routledge. Tomlinson, M ( 2004 ) ‘ 14-19 ‘Curriculum and Qualifications Reform: a concluding Report of the Working Group on 14-19 Reform, October 2004 ‘ , www.14-19 reform.gov.uk, accessed from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/documents/Final % 20Report.pdf Walford, G. ( 1987 ) DOING SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION ; London: The Falmer Press Watson, K. ( 1983 ) Youth Education and Employment: International Perspectives. London: CROOM HELM

Philosophy – Design Argument (with Plan)

(b) The world appears designed, so God exists. Discuss. (30 marks) Plan: * DO NOT GO INTO ONE ABOUT GOD’S EXISTENCE!!! * Purpose and design appears to exist in nature * Mathematical formulas in nature * Gases in atmosphere * Evolution * If we were made in the image of god, then why are we such a new species and how come we didn’t exist from the beginning of time * Furthermore, why are we the only known humans on this planet and why if god was the creator has he made it so we are not suited for other planets?Let us assume that it is true to say that there is a clear existence of purpose and design in nature, the question is whether or not the existence of purpose and design implies the existence of God. The design that is apparent in the world can certainly be shown not to be the work of God, or at least God as an omnipotent (he can do anything), omniscient (he knows everything), omnipresent (He is everywhere) being. It seems that everything around us is some small cog i n a large piece of clockwork that has been intricately designed for all aspects of the planet to coincide and work with each other.The main strengths of the teleological argument are that the conditions of the world are so perfect for us to live in that it must have been designed. Evidence is everywhere. One can use the William Paley's watchmaker theory in support. Which states that: if you're walking along the beach and find a watch you don't assume it’s there by accident. You know someone must have made it due to how intricate the interior and it showing evidence of design; this is the same with the world.One of the most obvious forms of design is the Fibonacci sequence which appears in nature repeatedly; the mathematical pattern can be seen in snail shells and petals of a plant. It seems like this formula was the template for the production of nature, it surely cannot be coincidence that it appears in so many different aspects? Yet maybe it is man that has just made this t heory up and is in fact finding patterns where they do not exist, it does seem likely due to man’s attempt at rationalising everything. Hersh/Davies illustration of mathematizing the world; insert here) This is just like the Parable of the Gardener an idea where two people go on holiday and leave their garden. When they come back one of them thinks the garden has gotten overgrown and has been neglected, whereas the other sees evidence that a gardener must have been tending to it. It is an example of how people can look at the same evidence yet come to different conclusions. The parable of the gardener shows how two people can view the same thing but interpret it in completely different ways.This can be seen by contrasting the way a theist views the world and the way an evolutionary scientist views the world. The theist sees evidence of design, whereas the scientist sees evidence of evolution. It has long been demonstrated how natural selection can simulate the appearance of d esign; in short, you do not require a designer, design can be the result of a process. If we consider products such as an iPhone, we notice that the product has evolved technologically over time. Yet it most certainly had a designer.Therefore, we can see that evolution is not necessarily at odds with creation. It could be the case that the world was designed, by a designer, but has been â€Å"upgrading† through a process of evolution and natural selection ever since. The problem with this view for the theist is that the theist wants to assert that God is omni-omni-omni, and therefore would have got it right first time and would not have created an imperfect world that needs to improve itself through evolution. Yet for the agnostics this is a difficult point to comprehend as there is no proof of a god or designer.Yet as far back as the 13th century Thomas Aquinas argued that articles of faith can't be scientifically proven and that it's a mistake to try. It seems that the argu ment of the existence of god is the creation of man himself. There are some serious discrepancies between the bible and version of events known to all and the empirical evidence. According to biblical sources, man was made in god’s image on the sixth day of creation. Yet science and empirically backed sources make it clear that the existence of the human race is relatively new and was certainly not ‘formed’ at the time of the earth’s creation.The theists can argue that the bible is not meant to be taken literally, but that God still created the world, only not in six days in the way described in the biblical story. Furthermore, if humans are the ‘divine’ race then surely their existence would be found on other planets, which currently there is no evidence of whatsoever. Michael Behe came up with the Irreducible Complexity, an argument designed to counter evolution. He argues that there are things in the world (such as bacterial flagellum and t he human eye) that are so complex, they couldn’t have just arisen by chance: they must have been designed for the purpose they fulfil.Yet, the human eye is not, actually, that well designed. It is back to front for one thing! So perhaps arguments such as these are not well supported when the subject in favour is greatly flawed. Perhaps then, the Fibonacci sequence is a mere act of chance that has been evolved through natural selection as the best form of survival. However, this is too vague and does not quite explain how such a complex form of maths just ‘evolved’ repeatedly within nature.Again this is a clear indication of design and must prove that there has been planning within the planet, and on a larger scale within the universe. After all, there are solar systems which survive due to the most fragile balance of gravity, these could easily have not worked and it is of such small chances that it has. Hume often compared the universe to a vegetable, something that grows of its own accord if the environment is right; there have been examples of ‘failed’ planets just as there are sometimes failed crops.This leads onto the delicate mix of gases within earth’s atmosphere that sustain life. If any one of these gases was to change its ratio, the consequences would be catastrophic, causing the likely extinction of life within the planet. Many marvel at the slim chances that our planet is the way it is, yet they seem to forget that there have been periods of millions of years where there has been no such life due to the mix of gases being wrong, or temperatures being too extreme.However, having said this there must be design. Perhaps not in the universe as we know so little about it, but at least within the planet. It is not necessarily true that the designer is perfect, as of course there are flaws yet the sheer detail of every item in nature is so intricate that it makes one question its design and if something had a role i n creating it. Conclusion: there was a designer, but that designer was not (an omni-omni-omni) God

Sophies World essays

Sophie's World essays Sophie's World presents the history of philosophy in the form of a novel. A young girl learns about life and philosophy. One day a few weeks before her fifteenth birthday Norwegian schoolgirl Sophie Amundsen looks inside her mailbox and finds a mysterious letter addressed to her. Opening it, she discovers a single piece of paper with two questions written on it: Who are you? And where does the world come from? Sophie is surprised and intrigued and begins to ponder these questions, first with frustration at their apparent childishness and then with a growing interest. Soon the first letter is followed by more communication from this mysterious correspondent, this time in the form of a whole chapter from a book on introductory philosophy. Strangest of all, the book seems to be written specifically to her. Soon Sophie finds herself taking a complete course in philosophy from an anonymous philosopher. Then, Sophie and the philosopher finally meet and he reveals his Secret Purpose to her. Suddenly, Sophie's whole world is turned upside-down and the fun really begins. The teenage girl, Sophie leans so much from the philosophy that is given about each philosopher from long ago with each of the lessons that she is given from her teacher/philosopher, Alberto. Sophie learns about medieval philosophy while being lectured by a monk in an ancient church, and she learns about Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir in a French cafe. It all begins with a quotation from Goethe: "He who cannot draw on three thousand years is living from hand to mouth." Could the world have come from nothing? It all seemed so illogical until Democritus invented the most ingenious toy in the world. Next we see Socrates standing in front of a market stall packed with various goods. "What a wonderful number of things I have no use for." We learn about Plato and his theories about the existence of an ideal world of which we see only the dim reflection. ...

Free Essays on emand for International Regimes

God-Like Man In Robert O. Keohane’s article, â€Å"Demand for International Regimes†, there are many strong point expressed by the author. The main argument for the article is that international regimes allow for a more efficient flow of world politics by cutting cost of agreements, making more and higher quality knowledge available to the actors in world politics, and lastly making a solid framework for the legal responsibility of agreement making. In the paper five main points are expressed. First is the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of constraint-choice analysis. Second is the function of regimes and the contexts within they operate. Third are the benefits of international regimes and the demand by the actors in world politics. Fourth are the issues of closure and communication within regimes. Fifth, and last, is the suggestion that by 1980 control oriented regimes will be supplemented by insurance regimes. Overall Robert O. Keohane seems to be a strong activist for the implementation of international regimes and over the course of the article seems to be trying to sway the reader’s opinion on the use of international regimes by expressing the vast strengths and benefits of them. These benefits and strengths will be presented point by point in this paper. First point is the identification of strength and weaknesses of constraint-choice analysis. Constraint-choice analysis is the understanding that in world politics there exists no hierarchy. The stage that is world politics is in constant, yet controlled, anarchy. Constraint-choice analyzes and understands that, although there is no higher power per se, there still is power and inequality. The larger states posses a greater power than smaller ones. This is why international regimes may become an important power to the larger states because they may push forward ideas and pass international legislation that benefits other large states. This is all great for the... Free Essays on emand for International Regimes Free Essays on emand for International Regimes God-Like Man In Robert O. Keohane’s article, â€Å"Demand for International Regimes†, there are many strong point expressed by the author. The main argument for the article is that international regimes allow for a more efficient flow of world politics by cutting cost of agreements, making more and higher quality knowledge available to the actors in world politics, and lastly making a solid framework for the legal responsibility of agreement making. In the paper five main points are expressed. First is the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of constraint-choice analysis. Second is the function of regimes and the contexts within they operate. Third are the benefits of international regimes and the demand by the actors in world politics. Fourth are the issues of closure and communication within regimes. Fifth, and last, is the suggestion that by 1980 control oriented regimes will be supplemented by insurance regimes. Overall Robert O. Keohane seems to be a strong activist for the implementation of international regimes and over the course of the article seems to be trying to sway the reader’s opinion on the use of international regimes by expressing the vast strengths and benefits of them. These benefits and strengths will be presented point by point in this paper. First point is the identification of strength and weaknesses of constraint-choice analysis. Constraint-choice analysis is the understanding that in world politics there exists no hierarchy. The stage that is world politics is in constant, yet controlled, anarchy. Constraint-choice analyzes and understands that, although there is no higher power per se, there still is power and inequality. The larger states posses a greater power than smaller ones. This is why international regimes may become an important power to the larger states because they may push forward ideas and pass international legislation that benefits other large states. This is all great for the...

How to Make a Volcano Erupt With Smoke

How to Make a Volcano Erupt With Smoke Volcanic gases or smoke are associated with many volcanoes. Gases from a real volcano consist of water vapor, carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, other gases, and sometimes ash. Do you want to add a touch of realism to your homemade volcano? Its easy to make it smoke. Heres what you do. Materials Basically, how this works is you start with any homemade volcano recipe and insert a container into the cone of the volcano to produce smoke. Model volcano (homemade or purchased)Eruption ingredients (e.g., baking soda and vinegar or yeast and peroxide)Small cup that fits inside the volcanoChunk of dry iceHot waterGloves or tongs How To Its helpful to start the smoke before adding the ingredient that starts your volcanic eruption. The smoke will appear either way, but its easier to handle the dry ice before the action starts. Add ingredients to your volcano, except the final one that starts the eruption. For example, a vinegar and baking soda volcano doesnt erupt until you pour vinegar into the volcano. A yeast and peroxide volcano doesnt erupt until you pour peroxide solution into the volcano. If you are simply making a model volcano smoke, you dont need to worry about this step.Set a cup inside the volcano.Add a chunk of dry ice or else several small pieces. If you cant buy dry ice, you can make it yourself.Pour hot water into the cup with the dry ice. This will cause the dry ice to sublimate from solid carbon dioxide into carbon dioxide gas. The gas is much colder than the surrounding air, so it will cause water vapor to condense, essentially forming fog.Now you have a smoking volcano! If you like, you can make it erupt now, too. Make Smoke Without Dry Ice If you dont have dry ice, you can still make smoke come out of a homemade volcano. For a non-erupting model volcano, you could use a smoke bomb to produce a lot of smoke. You have other options for a smoking erupting volcano, including: Safe and non-toxic water fogLiquid nitrogen fogGlycol fog Safety Information Dry ice is extremely cold and can cause frostbite if you pick it up with bare skin. Its best to use a glove or tongs to handle the dry ice.

Debate Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Debate Paper - Essay Example The certificate must bear the signature of a sole incorporator, whose main objective is to establish the corporation. The Articles generally specify the name of the business, the chosen capital stock structure, the objective of the corporation, and the formal location of the headquarters and agent(s) of the corporation. After all that, the sole incorporator should formalize the appointment of the initial company directors by signing a consent document. Corporations such as Food Mart Stores are normally established to advance the business interests of the shareholders and cushion them against any liability. As such Smith owes a duty to the company’s stakeholders: the investors, directors, employees, and Stone Hill customers. Nonetheless, he is confronted with a delicate situation that could see the company make more profits by opening a bigger store farther away for the neighborhood at the expense of the locals. Different ethical theories manifest in this case study with regard to the impending decision on whether or not to close the store. Firstly, utilitarian ethical principle focuses on implementing ethical decisions that would maximize the good or value within the society while ensuring that the end result harms as few individuals as possible (Shaw, 2010). In this case, two issues prop up in the analysis of the best utilitarian action that Smith should take: on the one hand, the geriatrics who cannot carry heavy loads over long distances on foot make up about 10 percent of the population. Moreover, the average income of the lower-end segment in the neighborhood population depending on the Food Mart Store is $15,000, a figure that is lower than that of the city residents. On the other hand, Food Mart Stores and Smith face a gloom future if no action is taken to expand the store for stocking of a wide range of goods. With a gross income of a paltry 2%, the corporation’s operations could grind to a halt if it heeded the cry of the local population advocating for the retaining of the status quo, or worse still, engage in a costly renovation exercise whose returns on investment would be too little to imagine. Moreover, the future of Smith at the helm of the company hangs on the balance as the level of profits generated by the corporation continues to decline. Having done adequate research on the positive prospects of opening a larger store stocked with a variety of goods, it is ethical of Smith to press for the closure of the two smaller stores in order to pave way for the establishment of a bigger one that would guarantee all the stakeholders better outcomes. In essence, the new store will provide low prices on goods for patrons; and ensure higher profitability and continued existence to the benefit of all the stakeholders. A utilitarian-driven action by Smith would definitely cause suffering to the old residents of Stone Hill, however their suffering would be insignificant because they are a paltry10 percent of the populatio n. The poorer residents have reasonable incomes (of $15,000) which would enable them to adjust if a new store was established a few miles away from the neighborhood. Secondly, a rights ethical principle comes to fore in this dilemma. It is premised upon the notion that all stakeholders in a company have rights which

Impact of Labour Turnover in the Hospitality Industry on Guest Essay

Impact of Labour Turnover in the Hospitality Industry on Guest Satisfaction - Essay Example The aim was to prove that the hypothesis of acceptance of this culture leads to devastating consequences and that high turnover must be prevented, minimized, and managed. In order to meet the aims of the study, it was necessary to examine the causes and nature of turnover, whether it is considered to be bad or if it is considered to be good and necessary in the operation of companies. Existing arguments were examined as some believe that high turnover is desired in the hospitality industry yet some do not believe it to be a positive thing. Another argument included turnover as a culture of the industry. The Greek market was used as a case study to provide examples and illustrations which proved the writer’s hypotheses and aims. The Greek hospitality industry’s study also allowed the examination, evaluation, and findings of this study. In order to meet the objectives of this study, a literature review was conducted to define high turnover and various aspects of the topic in relation to the hospitality industry. Turnover is when employees stay only for a short time before moving on or becoming dismissed for one reason or another. (D’Announzio-Green, Maxwell, & Watson 2002, quote Barron and Maxwell, 1993, p. 5). â€Å"Turnover is the result of both quits and layoffs.   Thus, some turnover is a result of jobs in one firm being destroyed and jobs in another firm being created  Ã¢â‚¬â€ and hence due to the reallocation of jobs across the economy in response to changes in product demand.   A majority of job changes, however, are because workers reshuffle across the same set of jobs, and this worker reallocation occurs over and above job reallocation,† as written by Lane (2000).   Some hospitality industry sources report that turnover rate is between 100 and 150 percent each year.   This causes poor attitude amongst staff and affects the quality of service and care that is given to the customers.   (Crabtree, 2005.)   It is usually considered to be a bad thing; however, as Stark (2004) states â€Å"research has demonstrated that some turnover is healthy, indeed essential to organizational well being.†Ã‚   Scholtz (n.d.) reports that there are companies who have a turnover rate of ten percent or more and think it is a good thing because â€Å"they are replacing the bottom performers with new people will improve organizational performance.†

Marketing and consumer behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Marketing and consumer behavior - Essay Example This is due to the weakness of lack of understanding of the cultural philosophy of company by the buyers. At this point, the urgent need to deeply look at consumer buying and its influence on the organisation in the market is respectfully essential. The purchasing behaviour for business consumer and non-business consumer tends to be distinctively different; characteristics of each group can be summed up into few elements that have a power to draw a comparison between them. These elements include: For the company examined, the characteristic of buying quantity is related to other multi corporation companies. The brand Tomy Hilfiger has wide distribution channels over the world. The company spent more than three billion in 2002 to supply channels. Table 1 shows the differences between business buyer and consumer purchasing behaviour. Using numerous methods such as CPL advertising that ask consumers who are interested in their products to sign in for new newsletters so that the customers emails can be generated in order to reach targeted audience in consumer market. (www.panforix.com). The capability of companies to sustain their consumers to buy more products with the purpose of generating more profits seems not to be characterized by simplicity. Culture, personality and motivation are three of several components of consumer’s influential factors which have a great impact on their purchasing behaviour (Yakup&Jablonsk,2012). Culture is defined as â€Å"sum of a shared purpose among members of societies, customs, norms and traditions â€Å". Thus, buyers’ conduct is affected by this, when decisions are made. Saudi Arabia as an emergent market and most important market for foreign sourced products has become culturally more sensitive. Market segmentation and targeting are main issues raised by this. Saudi female buyers are more willing to buy smart clothes than buying American casual clothing style while Saudi males are more pleasant to buy branded

Bringing People With You Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Bringing People With You - Research Paper Example A leader with better communication abilities can easily influence his audience and make them focused on the firm’s mission. By doing so, the leader can ensure integrated efforts from the part of his followers to achieve the firm’s short term as well as long term goals. Similarly, the paper maintains that a leader has to influence and persuade his audience so as to find the success quickly. Primarily, the leader should make certain that his followers (workers) hold a positive view of the organization, because employee perceptions about the firm determine the firm’s worksite culture. Hence, the leader should specifically try to convince his subordinates that the organization is particularly obliged to ensure its employees’ wellbeing. In addition, the leader has to influence other stakeholders including shareholders, investors, creditors and banks. The leader must make certain that those stakeholders are actively involving in the firm’s business activi ties. By influencing the audience thoughtfully, a leader can keep his organization’s stakeholder groups well coordinated in order to reach the business goal(s). Introduction For an organization of any size, active support and participation of employees and other key stakeholders are necessary to achieve long term goals and objectives. Communication is the most important factor that assists a leader to get his people focused on the firm’s mission. Hence, leadership communication plays a notable role in promoting business growth and changing the way the organization operates. In order to be a successful leader, one should influence perception, habits, and values of his audience. This paper will identify the most major factor that will enhance an organization’s growth. In addition, the paper will also explore the key stakeholders and their actions influencing the long term sustainability of a business. Leadership Communication Although a wide variety of factors pla y a crucial role in growing a business, communication is the most important element that greatly influences an organization’s market share growth. This element is also essential to bring meaningful changes to the organization’s day to day business activities. In order to influence his audience effectively, a leader should possess better communication skills and capabilities. Therefore, the conventional management concept of leadership communication is of considerable importance still in modern days. â€Å"Leadership communication is an interactive process in which a leader intentionally influences, and is influenced by, followers employing a range of verbal strategies and a variety of non-linguistic models† (Charteris-Black, 2007). Some old studies point out that a leader spends nearly 70 to 90 percent of their working time on communication activities every day. If the same studies are conducted today, the result would be much higher than this because nowadays l eaders (or managers) widely use modern communication channels like e-mail and text messaging. A leader may adopt different communication strategies such as active listening and managing the conversation so as to identify his audience’s problems and thereby pass information to them on time. The active listening communication strategy maximizes the effectiveness of communication. Under this

A Non-intrusive Three-way Catalyst Diagnostics Monitor Based on Assignment

A Non-intrusive Three-way Catalyst Diagnostics Monitor Based on Support Vector Machines - Assignment Example One such situation is the engineering production process. For example, the Ford Mustang GT uses the engineered sensor to determine catalyst output (Backey 3). The sensor and catalyst ensures motor vehicle exhaust fumes adhere to the government’s environmental standards (Backey 3). Furthermore, Dr. Backey explained the current monitoring process contributes to the control of polluting exhaust fume contents. Ford Company’s ODB monitor motor vehicle maintenance device enhances the monitoring and control of the exhaust contents. The easily developed new device implements a non-intrusive maintenance process (Backey 4), not interfering with the current control strategy. The easy development and the non-interference concept effectively contribute to better control and diagnostic procedures (Backey 4). Moreover, the Ford entity implements the clustering strategy. The company prefers the FCM cluster technology. Under the technology, the entity takes into account the FCM cluster strategy. Different cluster technologies are taken into consideration. One clustering strategy is the K-means statistical tool approach. The MATLAB statistical tool is another good alternative (Backey 11). The company strategy is a continuing research and development plan, continually developing data that will enhance the Ford Company’s motor vehicle operations. In addition, the Ford entity must implement the above bucket style diagnostic strategy. The strategy is a compulsory American government requirement. Failure to comply with the requirement, the company cannot sell its motor vehicles within the United States environment (Backey 5). The sensor must be tailored to fit the different motor vehicle models. Further, the current strategy incorporates physics principles (Backey 6). The physics equations contributed to the strategy’s success. The equations were combined

Bringing People With You Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Bringing People With You - Research Paper Example A leader with better communication abilities can easily influence his audience and make them focused on the firm’s mission. By doing so, the leader can ensure integrated efforts from the part of his followers to achieve the firm’s short term as well as long term goals. Similarly, the paper maintains that a leader has to influence and persuade his audience so as to find the success quickly. Primarily, the leader should make certain that his followers (workers) hold a positive view of the organization, because employee perceptions about the firm determine the firm’s worksite culture. Hence, the leader should specifically try to convince his subordinates that the organization is particularly obliged to ensure its employees’ wellbeing. In addition, the leader has to influence other stakeholders including shareholders, investors, creditors and banks. The leader must make certain that those stakeholders are actively involving in the firm’s business activi ties. By influencing the audience thoughtfully, a leader can keep his organization’s stakeholder groups well coordinated in order to reach the business goal(s). Introduction For an organization of any size, active support and participation of employees and other key stakeholders are necessary to achieve long term goals and objectives. Communication is the most important factor that assists a leader to get his people focused on the firm’s mission. Hence, leadership communication plays a notable role in promoting business growth and changing the way the organization operates. In order to be a successful leader, one should influence perception, habits, and values of his audience. This paper will identify the most major factor that will enhance an organization’s growth. In addition, the paper will also explore the key stakeholders and their actions influencing the long term sustainability of a business. Leadership Communication Although a wide variety of factors pla y a crucial role in growing a business, communication is the most important element that greatly influences an organization’s market share growth. This element is also essential to bring meaningful changes to the organization’s day to day business activities. In order to influence his audience effectively, a leader should possess better communication skills and capabilities. Therefore, the conventional management concept of leadership communication is of considerable importance still in modern days. â€Å"Leadership communication is an interactive process in which a leader intentionally influences, and is influenced by, followers employing a range of verbal strategies and a variety of non-linguistic models† (Charteris-Black, 2007). Some old studies point out that a leader spends nearly 70 to 90 percent of their working time on communication activities every day. If the same studies are conducted today, the result would be much higher than this because nowadays l eaders (or managers) widely use modern communication channels like e-mail and text messaging. A leader may adopt different communication strategies such as active listening and managing the conversation so as to identify his audience’s problems and thereby pass information to them on time. The active listening communication strategy maximizes the effectiveness of communication. Under this

Discussion a solution to the problem of the abortion Essay

Discussion a solution to the problem of the abortion - Essay Example However, some among them approve of abortions in cases of incest and rape, taking into account the psychological trauma and future inconveniences that the victims have to face. But many of them think that abortion cannot a real solution to such situations, and can only increase the difficulties for those who feel guilty and paranoid after abortion. According to them, life is the most valuable element that we have to take into account in such situations, and not the ever-changing psychological states of people. The group that argues that abortions should be legalized believes that it must ultimately be the choice of the woman to have abortion or not. The idea that abortion becomes a necessity to only those who are sex assault victims is contested by them, with data that proves that in most cases, failed contraceptives and other personal choices related to the maturity of the woman and family structure are the strongest reasons for abortion. If a woman is determines that she could not manage to raise a child, she should be given the basic human freedom to get rid of the fetus before it grows to a child. There may be risks involved in repeated abortions, which could be discouraged with proper counseling from health professionals. Legalization of abortion with strict guidelines which would determine the genuineness of the person who requests it could be the only solution to the problem. Hasty and uninformed abortions could be discouraged. There could be a team of people who explain for the psychological aspected involved o the concerned person. Moreover, health professionals could be given an opportunity to research the valid reasons for an abortion before it is done. They may ask the person who needs it to give valid reasons, and prove that she would be able to handle it psychologically. Denying a woman the right to choose when she could or could not have a child will violate human

Peugeot Case Essay Example for Free

Peugeot Case Essay * Introduction Through this final assignment I will explain how the French company Peugeot, can introduce it hybrid car the 5008 hybrid HDI. I choose an hybrid car for different reasons. The first one is that I think that hybrid cars are going to know a better future than electric cars. In effect, this is a huge change for people in general and they are not used to that way of driving and consuming. Offering an electric car is too radical and making hybrid cars, combining fuel and electricity is a good way to make a transition. This is why I choose to makes it on hybrid car. Secondly, I choose the 5008 hybrid HDI because is one of the biggest car that Peugeot is offering, and as we know American people are more likely to use biggest vehicles than in France. Finally I choose Peugeot for the reasons explained bellow. The company is also known as the Group PSA. Actually PSA is the biggest car company if France and have for main competitor Renault the second biggest group in France. The company has extended and sells their products to different region in the world like in Asia and Latin America. With all the ecological issues within the car industry the car industry, companies have the obligation to find alternatives to the CO2 problems, but also because innovation is always recommended no matter the industry. This is why Peugeot presented in 2009, its new car the Peugeot 5008 HDI Hybrid. Nowadays, Peugeot is not very present in United States, and this new product could be an opportunity for them to enter this market. Through this assignment, I will answer the question of the case by explaining the reasons to export, but also by studying the competition present in the US market and all the potential risks that the company has to avoid. Finally I will end the final by making the marketing plan that Peugeot could adopt in order to enter the market. Why Peugeot should export the 5008 HDI hybrid? Many reasons make that Peugeot want to invest in the US market. But even if they already have an international experience due their presence in Latin America and Asia, they have to be careful because the US market has its own specificity. Their new hybrid cars could be a huge opportunity to enter this market. In effect, hybrid cars are becoming more and more appreciated in the US market and people like this kind of car. The American market is such important that it gives more or less the trend of sales for the coming years. Since 2001, the market never stops growing and the forecast for the next year seems to be good as it is show on the graph below: As we can see, the increase has been constant through the years and will don’t stop until 2015. Those forecasts seem to be excessive but in fact they are quite true. In August 2012, a study has been made by an American website â€Å"hybridcars† and it shows that the number of sales has increased looking at the previous year. In august 2012, 249,311 of cars have been sold which represent an increase of 63.2% looking at the number of sale at the same period. As we can see the increase is extremely important, and when we look at the total number of sales of all cars, it makes more important the increase. In effect, the increase of all the vehicles at the same period is â€Å"only† about 14.0%. I say only because there are 50% of gap between all the type of cars and hybrid cars. This enormous increase is also due to the fact that the US government is helping people who want to buy an hybrid car by creating incentives. This incentive is made by giving a tax credit. The  credit is not fixed and it is calculated in function of the State where the car is bought and also about the brand of the car. Those tax credits are quite important because it goes from $900 to $3500. Each state have its own program, like in New York, they have the â€Å"Clean Pass†. All those points show that Peugeot should enter in the US market. The forecast that we have seen are very encouraging, and other factors should help hybrid cars in general, like the environmental issues. Something that also shows that hybrid cars are â€Å"trendy† is that in many movies or tv shows we can see hybrid cars, and the most used one is the Toyota Prius which is like the muse of hybrid cars and that we have seen in the tv show â€Å"Desperate Housewife† or â€Å"South Park†. Peugeot should try to surf on that new wave, but everything is not going to be so easy and Peugeot is going to face several barriers. Economic and political barriers that impact the export. The car industry is an industry that is facing a lot of legal issues. In France for example, car that are polluting and that have an important CO2 emission are going to be taxed, but security law and regulations are also numerous. When you want to enter in the US market you have many things you have to be careful about. Concerning the product in itself for example the company has to obtain a certificate which is called the CBP clearance. If car companies want to obtain that CBP certificate that says that you are not bringing weapons or drugs, you have to be conformed to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of transportation. If you want to bring cars in the US, your cars have to answer to those norms as described by the official American website www.cbp.gov , â€Å"Imported motor vehicles are subject to safety standards under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, revised under the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988; to bumper standards under the Motor V ehicle Information and Cost Savings Act of 1972, which became effective in 1978; and to air pollution control standards under the Clean Air Act of 1968, as amended in 1977, and 1990.† In general, cars that are manufactures outside the US have to be in good standing with the US safety regulation, bumper and emission standards. Still with the CBP website, taxes are also established for the importation of goods. For autos, the importation tax is about 2.5%, and duty rates are based on price paid.  All those elements, Peugeot have to take them into account and adjust their production and prices following those rules. But those laws specific to the US market are not the only problems that Peugeot can face. In effect, the international competition can be also a huge issue. Peugeot, a strong international competitiveness. To make a good study of the international position of Peugeot in comparison to its competitors I will first make a study of the macro environment, following by the study of the meso environment. To make the study of the macro environment it is advocated to use the Porter’s Diamond. * The factors conditions: Actually, this is one of the most important things for the company because they are not present in the United States and they don’t have any infrastructures and if they want to produce their car, they will have to invest a lot in that. Concerning the human resources, United States is a huge country with many people that are already trained to this kind of industry and they are very competent in that industry, so this would be a strong advantage for Peugeot. * Demand conditions: I think that the demand in the American market is quite important. As we have seen in the first part of the final the demand for hybrid cars is increasing, and we are talking about a huge increase of 63%. * Related and supporting industries: All companies are focused on what the consumer is expecting, it means making economies. A lot of companies were developing and making research on electric engines in aim to reduce the consumption of gas. The car industry has done the same and developed new cars with both engines with gas and electricity. Those industries working in the new raw materials and fuel are in the center of a lot of other industries because they want to reduce their cost. * Firm strategy, structure and rivalry: I will develop this part in the following parts and in the Porter’s 5 forces. * Government: In a general aspect the US government is making efforts to promote the Hybrid cars, by allowing the different states to make incentives and making a tax credit to people who are buying hybrid cars. But Peugeot is a foreign company, and as we have seen they are a lot of laws and standards that foreign companies have to respect if they want to integrate the US market. * Chances: Looking at a general aspect Peugeot have good chances, because of the global warming and the fact that people don’t want to spend so much money in gas and that they want to reduce their cost. This is a chance because if they can produce a good car it is going to be the future and people will buy it. They have to make huge efforts in Research and development in aim to be competitive, because they are not the first one that want to be present in USA. In effect, Toyota and its famous Prius are present in the US market for many years, so Peugeot have some delay looking at them. Now I will use the Porter’s 5 forces for Peugeot to make the study of the meso environment. * Threat of New Entrants: I clearly think that the industry won’t see another competitors coming. The market is actually saturated and it count really big companies that can develop their product development and can invest in research and development which cost a lot and that new entrants could not support. So for the moment Peugeot will have to face actual competitors. So we can say that the threat of seeing new entrants coming is very low. * Bargaining power of suppliers: Peugeot is one of the biggest companies in France and in Europe, and to be at the top of such region they need to have a very good relationship with their suppliers. But what makes the quality of the car is the quality of the raw materials, this is why it gives a huge power to their suppliers. * Bargaining power of customers: I think that the power of customer is very high. This is mainly due to the substitutes that are offered to those customers. Train, bus, plane all those alternatives are offered to the customer, this is why they have a lot of power, because if Peugeot want to keep them they have to listen to them and do what they want. More of that they have a lot of competitors, and the customer is looking for the best product at the lowest price and he is helped by the development of internet where he can have access to different companies staying at home, but also where they can post their comment on a product. This is why the power of customers is high. * The threats of substitute products: They are a lot of different substitutes, on a local way and on a more national and international way. When I say local I think about bicycles for example and when talked about national or international I talked about buses train and plane. But even if they are numerous that doesn’t mean that they are powerful, because even if environmental problems are present nowadays, people prefer use hybrid cars rather than carpooling for example. So we can say that the power of substitutes is quite low. * Rivalry among existing competitors: The car industry is a very hard industry with a lot of different competitors. Following the International crisis and the environmental issues all the companies have adopted the same strategy by developing hybrid cars to answer to the new demand. Some of the big competitors have disappeared like General Motors, but in Europe, Volkswagen is leading everything and they have a huge potential of growth because they can invest in research and development. So we can clearly say that the existing competition is very high. If we look at the whole 5 forces, the car industry is a very strong industry with strong actors which are closing the entry for new competitors and where actual ones have to be more and more innovative and invest a lot in R D. The influence of culture in the marketing strategy. To have a quick view of the culture of the USA, we can use the study of Hofsted. You can see below the difference between the USA and France: * Power distance: Comparing to France, the US score is low (40), and this is mainly due to the premise â€Å"liberty and justice for all†. This also involved the fact that superiors in a company are more attainable for employees than in France, the information easily shared and employees are more frequently consulted to take decisions. * Individualism: When we look at that score we can see that the American has one of the highest score possible (91). It means that everything is based on the personal performance but also that employees are self-reliant and promotion for example is made looking at your previous result. But this also means that we expect from American people to be very autonomous very young. * Masculinity: The American score of 62 is quite elevated regarding to the French score. Again it means that American people tend to display and talk freely about their â€Å"successes†. American people â€Å"live to work† in aim to earn money and rewards. This is an important point for Peugeot, because as we have seen in the diamond description they don’t have any building or employees, and this could be a very good opportunity. * Uncertainty avoidance: The score of 46 is also a very good news for Peugeot. This means that American people have a good acceptance for innovations and a strong willingness of testing new things and new products. American people tend to be more tolerant of ideas or opinions from anyone and allow the freedom of expression. * Long-term orientation: Both of the countries have a short term oriented culture. It means that companies perspectives are based on short term with profit and loss statement made on a quarterly basis. This is why we ask employees to have quick results. We can also use Hall’s communication context, to try to identify and define the American culture. I think I can say that USA is a  low context culture. In general American people prefer to communicate on situation and are more oriented on their daily life. They mostly communicate within their out-groups in a broad and diffuse way. In general they communicate only on what is necessary. This is one of the main difficulties for the company is to adapt their product to a culture unknown for them. They have to succeed in doing the cross-cultural management and create and make coordination from this cross-cultural management. Which market entry? They are many ways for Peugeot to enter in the US market, they are all different, they have all their advantages and drawbacks. But in those times, where everything needs to be done very quickly, some choices are more relevant than others. Importing could be a good solution quick but also complicated in a sense that it would be expensive because as we have seen there are taxes to make enter cars into the US, more of that they will have to find a distributor in the USA and they will lose some of their power in distributing their cars. I think the best, the easiest and the quickest way is to make and create a franchise system. They are many advantages of creating a franchise. First you will use workforces of the country where you want to be in, and those people already know how their market is working and are things are doing in their country, you don’t have to spend such time looking for information and local people are more aware of those cultural differences. Secondly, you don’t have to change your brand name, it will only cost you few trainings that you have to provide to the employees. It is also very benefic because you can make pay the people that want to make a franchise with your brand some royalties, but in return you will have to give them communication support, you have as I told it before to trained the employees and you will have to keep eyes and see if the franchisee is not doing things on its own. In general, companies like this kind of market entry because they can keep some control on the franchisee, and because they received royalties which are between 1 and 20%. They are other risk that Peugeot don’t have to forget also. It is the fact that the franchisee will pay with delay or won’t pay at all. Another recurrent issue of the franchise is that the franchisee can use the knowledge taken from the franchisor and  use it on its own after that. It is a problem of intellectual property. What about an acquisition? Making an acquisition could also be a good type of market entry, because of some advantages like: * Quick entry: it allows acquiring resources and competencies in a new market very quickly. * Market power: it also gives you more market share if you make an acquisition with a competitor, you will take its market share and it will help you to be bigger. * Market penetration: it also allows you as in this case to enter in a new country or market. * Gain of competencies and resources: you will also earn some knowledge and knowhow from the new company and you will improve your productivity. But it has also some disadvantages: * Cost of acquisition: acquiring another company could be very expensive and specifically if we talk about a hostile takeover. The price depends on the size of the company, their market shares, their resources and other many things. * Managerial issues: the company that you are acquiring may have different way to work, different business culture and it can create tensions between the two entities. * Unrelated diversification: a company can make different acquisition, an horizontal and a vertical one. The company has to be careful and see if the company that it acquire has relation with its industry to make the acquisition easier. * Management of workforces: when acquisition happened it is not unusual to see people fired and it can create tensions within the company or strikes like in France. The International Product Life Cycle: The international product life cycle has some particularities. The IPLC is divided in 4 phases. In general, during the first phase, it is the US exportation that dominates the global market. But when this phase is ending, the next 3 phases see the producers from other developed countries becoming more and more important. Those countries first established their production and sale their product only in their own market, but in a second phase they go to third country market and finally integrated the US market in the last phases. If the US market is very strong in the very first phase is for some  reasons we have seen previously. In effect, the important market size, the acceptance for innovation, the R D resources and the well-developed marketing information system, make of the US market a very good market to launch a new product. So if we looked and follow what we have seen just before we would be in the fourth part of the international product life cycle, but because we are talking about an innovation in a very well-known market and industry we can talk about a new product so we would have been in the first phase, but in this first phase we already have seen companies from countries different from the US like Toyota, exporting and developing the Hybrid market in the US. I think the Hybrid car market is not at the maturity phases and it will reach in the future more customers. Effects of the exchange rates and inflation: In effect, the exchange rate is an issue that Peugeot have to consider if they want to make business in another country. The device in the US is the USD (United States Dollar) while in France it is the â‚ ¬, which is good in fact, because it will cost less for the French company to invest in the US. We should have a quick look at the fluctuations of the exchange rate of the two devices since the beginning of the year: As we can see, the exchange rate has fluctuated a lot with a minimum of 1.21 and a maximum of 1.34. Even if it seems to be a small change, in reality it represents a huge amount of money due to the big quantities of possible product sold. Peugeot has to take into account those fluctuations, but the consequences are less important that if would have been in the other way passing from dollars to euros. They still have to be careful and to anticipate those changes in aim to invest at the right moment. This is also very important, because the whole euro zone knows some bad times due to the economic crisis, this is why it could be interesting for them to invest in a country in a more â€Å"stable† country. Personal selling: First of all, before adapting its way to communicate and sale its product, the French company has to define its target. Because it stills an innovative product, the final consumer should have an higher income’s average and should be from the high-middle and upper class. Also the majority of people  that are buying hybrid car are people about 55 years old and older. They are also people that are aware and that are concerned about environmental issues that the planet is facing and that what to contribute to its safety, but also that think that they are going to save money because the price of the fuel is going to increase. When you want to sell a product in United States, you have to take into account many factors. First that they see themselves as the best business men and having the biggest companies of the world and that foreign companies are inferior. But American people are also expert of cross-marketing which means that they like to promote their product on different support like blogs, website, banners, tv adverts†¦ The use of technology is also important and using them is very important when you want to sell your product to an American consumer. Finally, American people love to have humor on their advertising. But contrary to France, they prefer to make humor on situations of the everyday life and not on the people. More of that when you want to communicate in the US, you have to be careful with the fact that this country have a lot of different ethnics within it. They are people coming from South America that are latinos but they also have a strong black community which have a lot of power, so you have to communicate to each of them. Making communication and selling products in USA is very different from selling in France and Peugeot again has to adapt to that issue. But with the principal Idea of making a franchise in the US it will be easier to adapt their communication to their customer because they will have employees from the US and that understand the American culture. International marketing controls: I think that if Peugeot what to be successful in the US, they will have to constantly make marketing controls. The different points we have been through this final are part of the control that Peugeot have to make. Make studies about their competitors, use the Porter’s 5 forces and Porter’s diamond, making a SWOT analysis, making a PEST analysis, controlling their financial management with the money they have invested in R D for example, controlling the fluctuation of the exchange rate and studying the international product life cycle, all those elements are tools that all companies have to be careful about. A good marketing strategy is established in a long term vision by preventing changes or at least adapting their  strategy as soon as possible by finding the needs of the customers. * Conclusion: Exporting a new product to another country is something difficult for many reasons. The very first one is because of the cultural differences between the countries. But the cultural differences are not the only issues; there is also the way that the Peugeot want to enter the American market. But I think that the company should do it, because as we have seen through this final, USA is a good country for innovative product but also because it is a huge country with a lot of potential consumers. Being present on the American market could also be a good start for the company to be durably present on such powerful market where a lot of innovations came to. But if they are aware of that, it means that other companies from other countries are also aware of it, so if they want to be successful they have to take a quick decision and to take the risk to do it, because as many business men say, the biggest risk is not taking any risks. * Bibliography: * â€Å"Peugeot 5008, le monospace by Peugeot† , Forum-Peugeot.com, 2012, Web, http://www.forum-peugeot.com * â€Å"Policy Priorities for advancing the U.S. electric vehicle market†, Deborah Gordon, Daniel Sperling David Livingston, Carnegie Endowment, September 2012, Web, http://carnegieendowment.org * â€Å"Importing a Motor Vehicle†, CBP- Securing America’s Borers, August 2008, Web, http://www.cbp.gov * â€Å"Importing vehicles and engines into the U.S.†, EPA-United States Environmental Protection Agency, Web, http://www.epa/gov * â€Å"United States vs France† National culture, Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimension,2012, Web, http://geert-hofstede.com * â€Å"Top 10 tips for selling products in the United States†, Bill Decker, Denver Business Journal, June 2011, Web, http://www.bizjournals.com * â€Å"2012 Hybrid Cars†, Hybridcars, March 2012, Web, http://www.hybridcars.com * â€Å"July 2012 Dashboard†, Hybridcars, Augus t 2012, Web, http://www.hybridcars.com * â€Å"Hybrid market Forecasts†, Hybridcars, September 2006, Web, http://www.hybridcars.com * â€Å"Hybrid car tax credits: incentives fade into Memory†, Hybrids, February 2011, Web, http://www.hybridcars.com * â€Å"Hybrid and Plug-in Incentives and rebates – Region by Region† Hybridcars, March 2010, Web, http://www.hybridcars.com * â€Å"Profile of hybrid drivers†, Hybridcars, March 2006, Web, http://www.hybridcars.com * â€Å"Boursorama EUR/USD Spot†, Boursorama, December 2012, Web, http://www.boursorama.com

Causes of Job Turnovers and Staff Retention Issues

Causes of Job Turnovers and Staff Retention Issues STAFF RETENTION INTRODUCTION Staff turnover has become the norm today in the manufacturing, service and merchandising / merchandise industry. Employees are moving from one form of employment to another because of several factors that the employers have not yet grasped. In this regard many industry players are busy defining ways to protect turnover of its employees. The most affected part of this is the merchandising industry. In the bid to prove muscle in the fastest growing industry executives in the merchandising industry are fighting hard the high trend of their staff consistently changing jobs (Omondi 2). Today generating an atmosphere favorable and valued by all employees in the ever changing employee market may not be as pain-streaking as it may appear to the larger population. It engages a number of issues may make the brilliant minds that make up your staffs want to stay in the organization. A combination of this contribution may eventually lead to higher number of employees and thus reduce turnover. The contributions made above require that they be performed in tandem for observable achievement to be achieved. Grasping the skill of staff retention requires that management delve deeply into what causes turnover of staff in institutions. Many questions should be put on the table in order to ascertain reasons why one would want to work in one organization and not prefer to work in another organization. The managements should not rest at that but proceed to look into the subsequent period that the employee has been absorbed into an organization. By asking these questions it is easy to discern that there are a lot of issues that have been left wanting for a long time. i find it easy to look at this issues by sympathizing with the employee and trying to assume his shoes at the company. This in real meaning requires doing proper research on standard ethical models that might be brought on board to encourage retention of employees. In the recent past the employers used to retain employees . The confidence thus gained goes down well with those in the precincts of work thus offering them purpose and presence. Boosting the moral of workers is one way of improving confidence of staff. In this regard even the general productivity of the company of the company can be noticed. Working closely and collectively in addition grants the staff presence. Al in all its just a matter of saying thank you as morality demands. There are different styles of leadership in institutions that influence how relationships in the work place take place. People in leadership roles should be in the fore front in show wing proper codes of conduct to their employees, as opposed totaking the hind seat. In turn the employees may feel very motivated within the working environments that they are working. This enabling environment will thus lead to a sense of belonging by the individuals and cohesiveness thus leading to teamwork translating into a proud team. For one to retain staff he or she has to consider several important issues of the work place. BACKGROUND Draper Co. Ltd. Found in 1987 is a sweater manufacturer that employs more than 100 people in Hong Kong. Since garment companies had bloomed in recent years. The role for merchandising people become more difficult and the manpower is short in the labor market. Draper is facing the problem of high staff turnover rate. In addition, with opening of the mainland market. Many foreign enterprises had set up their merchandising sections in Hong Kong and some enterprises also invite Hong Kong garment companies to cope with their expanding business. As a result, the job vacancies of merchandisers increased tremendously. Among the merchandising industry, garment sections are highest in demand for merchandisers. This is due to the fast growing of the sectors as well as the high employee turnover rate and the lack of talent in the labour market. With the goal of identifying predictors of turnover, factors and employees intention to leave or stay with the company will be the major issue of Draper Co. Ltd. 1.2 RESEARCH PROBLEMS Initially, the establishment of the project required the involvement of different parties who would provide data and statistical analysis. The study required involvement of external organizations which would require them to allow access their staff to cooperate during the course of the research. Unfortunately some of these merchants turned down request to take part a little after the project was already initialized, it was quite unfortunate. The team of researchers contacted several nationwide merchandise groups to request them to take part in the research as a subsequent measure. Within a short period of time, two particular merchandisers articulated formal concern and primarily arranged to play a part in the project but with the approval of the Board of Governors of their respectful organisations. The team of researchers used up considerable hours meeting with a variety of the team of people representing the merchandisers and giving important information related to the research and showing presentations that highlight the scope of the study. An agreement was made with these merchandisers that the research panel would conduct industry job and staff retention survey within the merchandise organization, rather than concentrating on organizational loop holes as it would imply that there are indeed loop holes, in their respective organisations which might not be the truly case. However because of various unpredicted situations including the falling ill of one of the team members who acted as coordinator of the research team and these respectful merchandisers, the merchandisers in the end made the decision to withdraw its cooperation, leaving operation of the research between a rock a rock and a hard place. The research team then informed the Draper Co. Ltd of the current problems and suggesting a different research method design that would still be in line aims of the project and the objectives outlined before the research was initially flagged off. In this respec t, a decision was made to advertise across various merchandise outlets to secure individual people working as merchandisers to act as respondents from different retail outlets, thus eliminating the process of approaching company heads or Board of Governors for endorsement to guarantee a speedy and effortless contact with respondents. The Draper Co. Ltd was highly involved in endorsing the submission for change in the approach for the research. The research carried out by the team concerned conducting 100 partially controlled telephone interviews with with merchandisers from different merchandising firms including own staff at Draper Co. Ltd . The research method design of the survey was cautiously designed and conversant with preceding works that dwelled on employee equality and diversity concerns all over the work evironment (e.g. Sutherland and Davidson, 1997). The design of the interviews was such that it could be in accordance with the aims and corresponding objectives of the Dr aper Co. Ltd and eventually deal with a array of concerns as well as the recognition of possible occupational improvement barriers and the recognition of approaches for conquering these limitations, chances for education and training, job promotions and provision for leadership. The partially controlled interview timetable was then stored in secure modules and safe websites secured with passwords, which eventually made it easy for members of the research panel to enter information directly into the research database and online pages, and at the same time carrying out interviews with respondents all over the merchandising industry. The details of the research methodology and what will be contained in the schedule for the is described in the subsequent sections. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE This study was led by a research team commissioned by the Draper Co. Ltd. The research team was selected by the management of the company with advise by the legal advise wing experts. It was agreed that 16 members be brought aboard the the team of researchers. The main goal of identifying predictors of turnover, factors and employees intention to leave or stay with the company will be the major issue of Draper Co. Ltd. The aims of the project were as follows: To examine two sets of potential causes of job turnovers and eventual staff retention mechanisms: firstly, those that impede the retention of workers in the organization and secondly, those that speeds the exit of the players from the organizations. Identify strategies for overcoming these barriers Investigate the feasibility of constructing a national database, documenting the career paths of women in the merchandise industry Develop, publish and disseminate good practice guidelines and recommendations using reports, conference presentations, feedback seminars, academic journals and merchandise specialist and national press. The objectives of the project were to: Investigate two sets of potential reasons for staff leaving the company: firstly, those that accelerate the exit of workers and merchandisers and secondly, those that impede the efforts of retaining staff in the organization. Identify strategies for overcoming these reasons. Investigate the feasibility of constructing a national database, documenting the career paths of workers in the merchandise industry. Develop, publish and disseminate good practice guidelines and recommendations using reports, conference presentations, feedback seminars, academic journals and merchandise specialist and national press. RESEARCH QUESTIONS Why this company has high staff turnover rate Why staff relationship will make new comer difficult to fit in team work What relationship caused high staff turnover rate How to retain staff in this company Does the management policy affect staff retention Does the company is responsive to employees needs and wants Does companys reputation retain staff RESEARCH METHOD 3. Research Methodology Having discussed the complexity of the retail industry and the related literature, the following chapter attempts to identify and describe the research design and sampling type. After which, the chosen research method will be introduce and how the collected data is being tabulated will be discuss. In addition, the hypotheses of this study will be derived at the later part of this chapter. 3.1 Research Design Research design specifies the methods and procedures for conducting a specific research project. It is a detailed blueprint used to guide the implementation of a research study towards the realization of its objectives (Wong, 1999). According to many authors (Churchill, 1999; Wong, 1999; and Zikmund, 2000), there are three types of research design, namely the exploratory research, descriptive research and causal research. Exploratory research is known to be the best suited for situations that have relatively little or nothing known about the study. The essence of this research design is to focus on two main ingredients listening and discovering, in order to provide a great understanding of a concept (Wong, 1999) and to clarify and define the nature of a problem (Zikmund, 2000). These authors also pointed out that exploratory research can be conducted with four approaches which are literature search, experience survey, focus group discussion and in-depth interview. These open-ended, flexible and interactive qualitative approaches help to formulate problems more precisely but not providing accurate statistical information. Descriptive research aims a describing the characteristics of the population under the study such as the behaviours of consumers. It is primarily concerned with the gathering of numeric, measurable data and it is recommended when the research purpose is centered on providing accurate, statistically reliable data. Descriptive research is being broken down into both longitudinal and cross-sectional studies (Zikmund, 2000 and Wong, 1999). Longitudinal studies involve panels (Churchill, 1991) and provide measurements at successive points of time of an event. On the other hand, being the most common and familiar (Churchill, 1991), cross-sectional studies describe an event at one particular point of time and it is useful in facilitating comparisons between different population subgroups (Wong, 1999). Finally, causal research is to explore and establish a cause-and-effect relationship, if any, between variables through laboratory and/or field experiments (Wong, 1999, p58). Cross-sectional study was chosen for this study. This is because cross-sectional study relies on a sample of elements from the population of interest that are measured at a single point in time (Churchill, 1999) and it can at best yield measurement data (Wong, 1999, p. 57). Hence, this research design suit in this study because it attempted to measure how consumers make decision. 3.2 Sampling Design Wong (1999, p.54) pointed out that descriptive research requires a reasonably large number of respondents (i.e., sample size) to supply the required information. Although it is recognized that a convenience sample is not always truly representative of the population, the author of this study had decided to adopt this method due to time restraints. The author adopted convenience sampling of non-probability sampling as it aids convenience and efficiency and also generates a large number of sample sizes. This is because it involves the selection of people who are most conveniently available to the interviewer (Wong, 1999). Due to time constraint, the gathering of responses for this study would be greatly base on convenience. Convenience gathering of responses and ability to contact the respondents (if necessary), has allowed the author of this study to choose both Marketing Institute of Singapores (MIS) part-time and full-time students as the main target respondents. In addition, friends, colleagues and family members of both the respondents and the author would be approached as well. 3.3 Data Collection for this Study According to Wong (1999), marketing data may be classified into two basic types: primary data and secondary data. Primary data refer to those collected to meet the specific research needs at hand. Secondary data on the other hand, refer to existing information which has previously been collected and reported by some individual or organization, and which are other than the research problem at hand. Thus the distinction between primary and secondary data lies in the original purpose of data collection. 3.3.1 Secondary Research Secondary data is an essential element of almost all research carried out. According to Churchill (1999, p. 253) secondary data possess significant cost and time advantages. This is because, the existence of secondary data can in many instances dismiss the need for potentially expensive and time-consuming field work as secondary data exists aplenty from internal and external data sources (Wong, 1999). Apart from time-saving and cost economics, secondary data is less subject to intentional bias. Also as certain types of information may be impractically or virtually impossible to gather through data approach, secondary data are the only alternative (Wong, 1999). Therefore, secondary data enable this study to avoid biasness that might be made unintentionally by the author during the development of the hypotheses. Hence in this study, journals from electronic databases such as Emerald and Ebsco were reviewed to aid the development of the study. The use of journals was to serve as a basis to draw the hypotheses of this study. However, Wong (1999) pointed out that one of the disadvantages of secondary data is that it became outdated easily in an ever-changing environment, and often, there were differences in classification or measurement as well as lack of accuracy. The above appeared true to the author as some of the journals being reviewed appeared to be outdated and inaccurate due to different areas of focus. The author also found that there was limited access to many online research websites and the availability of journals on store atmosphere in the retail context was also limited. Therefore both the retail and service context were being reviewed in the process. With the difficulties mentioned above, it was anticipated that the secondary research found would not be sufficient to fulfill the objectives of this study. As mentioned by Churchill (1999), when problem is not yet resolved with secondary data, the researcher should proceed to primary data. Therefore, the author of the study moved on to gather primary data for the completion of this study. 3.3.2 Primary Research Primary data prove its importance when the required information for marketing research/evaluation may not be available from secondary data sources. For the purpose of this study, the author had decided to use quantitative research. This is because, according to Wong (1999, p.110), quantitative research is used when the primary objective is to derive numeric or quantifiable data which is statistically accurate and reliable. Quantitative research is also recommended when there exists a need for accurate numeric data. Due to time constraint, the author decided to avoid open-ended questions and adopt close-ended questions on the questionnaire. This is because, close-ended questions are easily administered by an unskilled interviewer compared to open-ended questions and it is also much easier and faster for statistical data tabulation and data comparison. In addition, the checklist of responses in the questionnaire helps reduce difficulty in memory-recall that respondent might encounter in responding open-ended question (Wong, 1999). On the other hand, the checklist of responses may not be as comprehensive and alternate responses that appear in the checklist may create position bias, which will cause the respondent to be unable to freely express him or herself, and often detailed information is being missed (Wong, 1999, p.138). 3.3.3 Questionnaire Development The questionnaire used for this study consists of three sections, namely demographics, Closed-ended questions (Dichotomous questions Multiple-choice questions) and Scaling questions (Agree-disagree questions). Section A served to gather data on respondents personal particular such as gender, age group, highest education level attained, occupation and monthly Income level. Section B aimed to gather data on respondents view towards the impact of store atmosphere on consumers emotions, purchase and repatronage behaviour. It will determine to what extent each atmospheric elements influence respondents mood and purchasing behaviour. Five-point Likert-scale statement (1=Strongly Disagree and 5=Strongly Agree) was being used to allow respondents to rank and identify the degree of influence of each of the atmospheric elements. Responses were also sought regarding consumers patronage behaviour. 3.3.4 Pre-testing The objective of pre-testing is to ensure that the questionnaire used in this study is easily understood and not misinterpreted by the respondents. There should also be minimal possible difficulties faced by respondents in answering the questionnaire. For the reliability of this study, pre-testing is vital to ensure the accuracy of the data collected. The questionnaire was pre-tested via a small-scale pilot test with 5 respondents and subsequent changes were made. The author sent the questionnaire via email to the 5 respondents and they where asked to attempt the questionnaire and provide comments and feedbacks. After gathering the feedbacks and comments, the questionnaire was being modified and refined to meet the objectives of this study. In order to improve the clarity of the questionnaire, redevelopment of the questionnaire was required. The author had to refine the section A and rephrase some misleading questions in Section B. Some questions that were being duplicated and confusing to the respondents were omitted. New questions were also developed and integrated into the questionnaire to achieve the objective of the study. 3.3.5 Final Data Collection After redeveloping the questionnaire, the new questionnaire (appendix ) was ready for the actual distribution and data collection. The questionnaire was being distributed both online and offline to MIS part-time and full-time students as well as their friends, colleagues and family members. Naturally, offline respondents are more responsive to the completion of the questionnaire. This is because they tend to complete the questionnaire the moment they receive it and return to the author right after completion. Although online distributions of the questionnaire enable wider participation and easier distribution, it is commonly view as spam mails and ignored by receivers. Therefore, there were a total of 49 responses from offline distribution and 39 online responses which resulted in a total of 85 responses that served as primary data for this study. 3.3.6 Data Analysis Method SPSS 13.0 version was being used for data analysis in this study. The author made use of one sample T-test, paired sample T-test, chi-square and correlation to conduct testing of the hypotheses. The statements used to measure the variables were assessed on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree with numerical value of one being strongly disagree and five being strongly agree. 3.4 Hypotheses â€Å"A hypothesis is a statement that specifies how two or more measurable variables are related. A good hypothesis carries clear implications for testing stated relationships†, (Churchill, 1999, p.101). As stated, for this study, it was important to measure the impact of the influence of the atmospheric elements of a store on consumers mood and behaviour. Hence, the following hypotheses were derived for this study. Based upon the theories reviewed, it is hypothesized that: Mood H1a: Colours has a significant influence on consumers mood in the store H1b: Lighting have a significant effect on consumers mood of the store H1c: Music has a significant effect on consumers mood of the store H1d: Scent has a significant influence on consumers mood of the store H2: Mood is positively influencing consumers length of stay in a store Spontaneous Purchase H3a: Consumers will have a more favourable attitude toward merchandise with the effects of store atmospheres H3b: Effects of store atmospherics on merchandise is positively influencing spontaneous purchase in the store H4: Income level is influencing spontaneous purchase that is caused by store atmospherics Repatronage Intention H5: Consumers will exhibit greater degree of patronage intention when the store atmosphere appeals to them H6: Gender, Age and Education level influence consumers evaluation of stores image The responses gathered from the questionnaire were then entered into SPSS 13.0 for statistical analysis. 3.5 Summary of Chapter 3 Secondary data such as journals and textbooks were being reviewed before conducting the actual primary research. This was to allow the author to further understand the review on Store Atmospherics, mood and repatronage behaviour before developing the questionnaire for primary data collection and to develop the hypotheses of this study. A total of 89 responses were collected via online and offline distribution to enter into SPSS 13.0 for statistical analysis. Conclusive Research Design Descriptive Research Method: Data Analysis is quantitative Secondary data survey Questionnaire Survey Data Collection Survey analysis by launched an Employee Workplace Survey to gather data that would identity why do employees stay/leave the company? Identifying factors influencing retention to gather data from across the employee population of the company. TERMINOLOGIES DISSERTATION OUTLINES Chapter 2 Literature Review 2.1 Introduction This Section looks at the main literature in this area. The first sections focus on the structure of merchandising and the broader profile of the sector. The section then moves on to its main concern which is the job retention of merchandisers at junior and senior levels in merchandise. Merchandising is an economic sector, which has traditionally been associated with the employment of merchandisers. Overall, 60% of low skilled employees are merchandisers and 40% are skilled. Whilst these figures show that the merchandise sector clearly employs a larger number of low skilled than the skilled, it is not a ‘balanced industry (Skillsmart, 2006). The representation of low skill workers in the merchandise sector however, follows a number of important patterns. Official statistics are used to highlight the predominance of merchandisers in part time work in the merchandise sector and the under representation of merchandisers at senior levels. According to Skillsmart, (2006), official f igures are general and are unlikely to provide a clear understanding of the dynamics relating to the position in which merchandisers are employed in merchandise sector. The following sections therefore outline theories that have been offered to account for these gender disparities, particularly in relation to barriers for merchandisers attempting to progress into senior management positions. An examination of managing diversity is then offered and potential mechanisms for ensuring merchandise organisations fully utilise the talents of all employees to maximise productivity is discussed. 2.2 The structure of the merchandise sector The merchandise sector is the largest private sector employer in the Hong Kong yet it is rarely recognized as such. Skill smart (a not for profit organisation, set up and part funded by Government to identify and address the skills needs of the Hong Kong merchandise sector), suggest that this is, possibly because its workforce is not concentrated in any particular region or locality. In fact, the merchandise sector is the largest public sector employer in the Hong Kong. Furthermore, Wang XI Inc is the Hong Kongs second largest employer after the Jubilee (Skillsmart, 2004). Overall, the merchandise sector employs three million people throughout the Hong Kong, which accounts for approximately ten per cent of employment throughout the Hong Kong. However, the structure of the industry is unusual, and is described by Skillsmart, as ‘hourglass shaped. The overwhelming majority (95%) work in firms with less than ten employees. Consequently, there is significantly less (just over two hundred) merchandise employers with more than fifty staff, reflecting the â€Å"hourglass shape† of the industry profile. 2.3 Present profile of turnover of employees Employment expectations have risen slightly in (Q1) from an already high level in Q4. Of the 514 executives surveyed, 54% expect to increase their hiring which is slightly up from 53% the previous.Year-on-year, expectations have remained steady. The 54% planning to grow headcount this year is at the same level as Q1 2006, though there are some variations between the sectors surveyed. Companies are extremely confident about how they will perform in the next six months with 95% of respondents forecasting their companys performance to be excellent or good in the first half of 2007. Respondents in Hong Kong report higher levels of staff turnover than in any other market surveyed in Asia with 37% stating that turnover in the last twelve months has exceeded 10% (Hudson, 2007). Hudson, one of the worlds leading professional recruitment, outsourcing and talent management solution providers, today released findings of its comprehensive quarterly Hudson Report for Asia. With a reputation as a key socio-economic indicator in the current marketplace since its Asia launch in December 1998, the survey has been built on the premise that employers expectations of an increase or decrease in staffing levels represent a significant indication of their optimism in the growth of their organisation and their industry as a whole. The Hudson Report represents the expectations of over 2,200 key employment decision makers from multinational organisations of all sizes in all major industry sectors, with 514 of these executives based in Hong Kong. 2.4 The general profile of employees in the merchandise sector Traditionally the merchandise sector is associated with the employment of low level and unskilled workers, the vast majority of whom work in the lower ranks of the organizational hierarchy. The profile of employees in merchandise also follows a number of other patterns. The merchandise sector for example employs a large proportion of young people. According to recent estimates 29% of those employed in the sector are between the ages of 16 to 24. This is compared to the overall economy figure of 14%. It has been suggested that this figure may be due to the popularity of merchandise as a part-time occupation for young people and students (Skillsmart, 2006). Merchandise is also a popular choice for older workers (those over 55). In terms of ethnic minority employment, the merchandise sector employs a similar proportion to those figures available nationally (Skillsmart, 2006). Recent research has shown however, that certain recruitment practices may prevent ethnic minorities from gaining employment in merchandise organizations. For example a study for Birmingham and Manchester cities in Britain for example, found that employers might specify jobs as a matter of course that require the staff to work on Saturdays without realizing that a large pool of potential workers would be unable to work on this day as it is their Sabbath (Vector research, 2003). 2.4 The trends common in the merchandise sector Merchandise is an economic sector, which has traditionally been associated with the employment of diverse people of different background. Overall, 55% of merchandise employees are women and 45% are men (Skillsmart, 2006). This gender factor in the merchandise sector remains fairly consistent throughout the nations and regions of the Hong Kong and this profile has been fairly consistent over the last 10 years. Skill level has also played a bigger part in influencing how long an employee is wiling to stay in a given organization. Better salaries in other organizations may lead to employees moving from their respective place of work in pursuit for better opportunities(Hudson, 2006). Level of qualification gives workers a broader spectrum of work opportunities that they gladly take into considerations. Skillsmart (2006) suggest that Hong Kongs larger ethnic population is likely to be the source of this greater proportion of the workers in the capital run by ethnic minorities may proprietorship driven by highly skilled male people. It is important to note however, that t he representation of retention in the merchandise sector follows a number of