The Key to Happiness

The key to Happiness Is the glass half empty, or is it half full? A true optimist would say that the glass is half full. That is because an optimist will always lean towards the more positive option. Optimism is defined as â€Å" the inclination to look at the bright side of any situation, and expect the best possible outcome from any series of events. Anyone can be optimistic, some people choose optimism as a way of life, it can reduce stress producing a better quality of life, and if used on a regular basis optimism can be the key to happiness.Anyone at all can practice optimism. To be an optimist all one has to do is choose to see the positive side of a situation. Its like the saying, â€Å"Count your blessings. † A person may feel that they have nothing to be positive about, but when they are reminded of the positive things in their lives they tend to forget about the negative. Optimism can be developed when one has realistic goals and expectations. Optimists don’t fall into a trap of feeling hopeless, instead they strive for growth and positive change. Being optimistic is not about pretending that everything is okay.It is about thinking positively when things go wrong, learning from them, and moving forward. Optimism can be incorporated into any activity that takes place on any given day and if used on a regular basis, people will see a positive change in their lives. Optimism can produce a better quality of life. Anxiety and negative emotions can take its toll on the body, it can affect your cardiovascular and your immune system. Having an optimistic attitude can protect against these effects. Research has shown the people who choose to have an optimistic attitude about their future behave differently.Optimists have been known to exercise more, smoke less and eat healthier. When they fall ill, optimists are more likely to participate actively in their treatment. Some would say, â€Å"A healthy mind, means a healthy body. † Optimists are better able to handle difficult situations with the ups and downs of daily living. Optimists tend to be more creative and harder workers. They are not afraid of there pasts or their futures. They understand that not everything can be changed, they accept that and move on. Optimism is the key to happiness. It helps us appreciate everything we have in life.It is within appreciation that we find happiness. Optimism is full of positive possibilities. It leads a person to happiness by reducing stress and pulling people towards a more positive future. Helen Keller wrote an essay on Optimism in 1903. She wrote, â€Å"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway to the human spirt. † This is a true statement because having faith in ones self will encourage that person to set new goals in their lives and better yet help them have the will power to achieve them.It is wi th a pessimistic attitude that people give up too quickly on their goals or possibly never even set them to begin with. With optimism comes hope, perseverance, and self confidence. It is with hope that one strives for a better tomorrow. It is perseverance that wills a person to keep trying. Confidence gives people the ability to believe that everything will turn out all right. All of these things portray optimism. Making yourself happy by seeing the better side of situations in life will lead to success. Optimism in everything they do will bring out the best qualities and skills in a person, and this will lead to true happiness.

Free trade is a global public good

In acquiring a greater understanding of the aforementioned terms, one would proceed to outline the cost and benefits of free trade and any barriers that are associated with trade which can prohibit the process of free trade. Once all the above information has been given, one can then analyze the information and make an inform decision on if free trade is a global public good. In defining trade, O'Brien and Williams stated that trade refers to the exchange of one commodity for another.They further noted that whenever two or more individual's exchanges goods and services they are engaging in the process of trade, which has been in existence since the beginning of time – through the barter system. It is important to note that trade is an essential social activity that satisfies humans' wants, needs and desire; in other words, due to the existence of trade persons has improve their standard of living incredibly (O'Brien and Williams, 2010).It should be noted that there are three d ifferent forms of trade namely domestic, intra-regional and international trade. Domestic trade is also refers as internal trade which looks at the archiving and selling of local goods within the national boundaries of a specific country. It is believe that domestic trade functions as a link between producers and consumers; and it is sub-divided into two categories of wholesale and retail, through the exchange of goods and services.Trade is also done at the intra-regional level among members states of a regional bloc such as CAROM; this is mainly done to enhance regional cooperation through regional institution while primarily focusing on the economic exchange of goods and services. However, international trade is done on a such wider whereas the focus is on the exchange of goods, capital and services conducted across international borders.Due to globalization, industrialization and trade liberalizing, countries are allowed to engage in trade at all level rather to satisfy person wa nts and needs for domestic, intra- regional and international goods and services. It is important to note the principle of trade remains the same at all level and the only difference in the above three forms of trade is the cost and this is due to high level of taxes and trade barriers (Donkey, 2004). Some scholars argue for the movement of ere trade since it would remove all forms of trade barriers it would allow the world to trade freely with each other without any restriction.On the other hand, critics of free trade argue that free trade enhance exploitative condition where some nation has an unfair advantage over other due to their wealth and manufacturing capabilities. This is why it is argues that in theory, the concept of free trade is an excellent idea but in practice it is a human devastation on small island states and developing nations, as these countries lack the economies of scale that develop nations would have due to their size ND economic power (Donkey, 2004).Free tr ade can be defined as the absence of government restrictions upon goods, capital, and the flow of labor between nations, which could possibly hinder the process of trade. It is believe that an advantage of engaging in free trade is that it allows for nations to concentrate their effort on manufacturing specific product or service, where that nation can possibly have a distinct comparative advantage (Irwin, 2009). It is expected that under a free trade agreement a number of barriers to trade would be removed such as taxes, tariffs, import quotas and subsidies etc.If such is done, the implementation of a free trade agreement would allow foreign companies to trade their goods and service just as easy as a domestic company since they would be no restriction on trade. Additionally, it is believe that free trade will lower the prices of goods and set-vices being offer by promoting competition, innovation and specialization of products and services within a specific region (Irwin 2009).How ever as noted earlier, theoretically speaking free trade sounds like a perfect model but practically speaking it is not as easy a model to replicate and this is due to the fact that ere trade has numerous disadvantages to some states that would be involve in the process of free trade. Therefore, to leaves one to question if free trade can be considered as a Global Public Good (JPG) but before one can answer the above mentioned question, it is crucial to find out what is a global public good.According to the International Task Force on Global Public Goods; any goods or services that are essential for survival is a global public good and it should be made available for all without any charges (www. Nautilus. Org). Given the aforementioned definition, it Can be argued that the only global public good that is available in this world is â€Å"air', since all other things in the world has a cost attach to it. However, it should be noted that global public goods is a new concept which is still in the developmental stages by academics, researchers and policy analysts.Typically speaking, a global public good is considered a global good when it has universal benefits, covering multiple groups of society and by extension the entire population. The World Bank defines global public goods as commodities, resources, services and systems of rules or policy regimes with substantial cross-border externalities hat are important for development and poverty-reduction, and that can be produced in sufficient supply only through cooperation and collective action by developed and developing countries (www. Rollback. Org). In practical terms, the determination that the development community should work cooperatively to produce a desired quality and quantity of global public goods that involves consideration of how such action should be implemented and how collective financing can be employed to ensure that the respective public good is not underselling.However, the united Nations (UN) declare that Gaps should meet two requirements, they must be â€Å"non- vial† (where both you and I can consume the good without affecting the utility either of us derive from its consumption) and they must be â€Å"non- clubbable† (whereas no one can be prevented from enjoying it the good, once it has been produced) (Gaul, et al. 2003). The provision of public goods is a key element of the quality of life and environmental sustainability. The underplays Of global goods may affect prospects for economic development and threaten global economic stability, peace and prosperity.There are a number of mechanisms that are needed for the effective delivery of public odds and services in some developing countries that are central to poverty eradication strategy. However, the role of public goods in economic development has been neglected in the mainstream literature and the current views of economic development need to be enriched and complemented by considerations of global public goods to achieve sustained high-quality economic growth, and to ensure that growth translates into effective poverty eradication strategies.This is essential to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (United Nations Industrial Development Organization, 2008). Although the Millennium Development goals are not secretaries consider as public goods by nature, attaining them requires investments in international public goods. For instance finding a new vaccine against malaria or developing an accessible treatment for AIDS, preserving the peace or creating easier access to knowledge, promoting financial stability or establishing a more open and fair trading system could have a greater impact on poverty reduction that could aid in the international arena (Entailer and Trifler, 2002).There are several categories of public goods that are identified in numerous literatures which are all closely related to five f the Millennium Development Goals: the environment, health, security, kno wledge and governance. While it is believe that the environment, health and security are largely associated with benefits derived from reducing risk. Both knowledge and governance are primarily associated with enhancing capacity building.It is important to note that providing international public goods takes more than financial resources but rather it take takes the proper regulatory framework and institutional responses to ensure their supply. And that is where the greatest shortcomings remain. The world has made enormous strides in communications and interdependence between countries, but we have not developed the policies or institutions needed to manage these processes (Et Veldt, Hewitt and Morrissey, 2006).Free trade is regarded as a public good within the international political economy but the international community has a common interest in realizing the benefits of trade and the free movement of goods and services, which in turn requires co-operation. Due to the lack of coo peration among sovereign rational actors in an anarchical international society, the status of free trade as a public good appear somewhat difficult and even unlikely at times.It is assume that this occur due to the absence of central authorities within the international arena (Jones, 2002). In an international political system of individually rational actors (states) and no central authority capable of enforcing cooperation or providing public goods unilaterally, international agreements and organizations such as the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade (GAIT) and the World Trade Organization (WTFO), are believed to be important and can be considered as an alternative mechanism to cooperation.The point is hat there is a need for an international regime which cooperates to achieve global public goods. One can argue that the benefits of free trade have differed on several accounts from traditional public goods and even if one tries to modify free trade to that of the classic trade theory it becomes even more problematic. Therefore, this leaves one with the question of if free trade is a public good and if so how can it be modify in such a way whereas everyone can eventually benefit from its existence (Hickman and Kookiest, 1997).The status of free trade as a public good serves as a point of departure specially for neo-liberal as it relates to regime theory on international cooperation concerning trade liberalizing. It can be argued that the existence of dilemmas of collective action leads to the retardation of the provision of public goods whereas international agreements and organization had failed to establish cooperation.The reason why the provision of public goods is so problematic is that it entails certain dilemmas of collective action, such as the prisoner's dilemma (base on mistrust and manipulation to receive a specific benefit over others rather than cooperating) and the free rider lemma (enjoying the good without contributing to the provision of i t) which are central in preventing rational actors from cooperating in the pursuit of global public goods.It is therefore, evident that international trade requires states to cooperate in order to dismantle the barriers of trade (Et Veldt, Hewitt and Morrissey, 2006). While some scholars would try effortlessly to make the argument that free trade is a global public good, one should note that there are a number of different barriers to trade, (politically, socially, environmentally, economically, and technologically among other). With all hose barriers against trade this leads one to ask a number of questions such as: Is trade is beneficial or harmful?Should traders be free to move goods and services across national frontiers? And if trade is to be subject to all these restrictions, what kinds of barriers should be imposed and what are the given reasons for such barriers? It is therefore important to know that within the global contemporary economy, international trade touches many s ocieties and communities through direct and indirect effects. It reaches into our homes, places of work and our recreational venues, depending on one's living arrangement and how deeply integrated one's society is within the global political economy.This is why trade is of such importance to all because it impacts us all through the simple consumption of our food to the very clothes we wear on a daily basis; these are all evidence of the tremendous importance of trade across national frontiers (Jones, 2002). For one to further understand if global trade can be seen as a public good, one would need to analyze the cost and benefits to free trade in an international arena. The benefits of free trade have been espouse by the liberals, who believe that free read benefits everyone whereas it increases efficiency and raises the level of productivity.However in sharp contrast, radical and nationalist critics have argued that free trade undermine national economies, create uneven development and damages the environment. It can be argued that the liberals trade theory appears to have created a high level of skepticism in the minds of persons, whereas the liberals are proposing that both sides to a transaction can make a profit. Now in the minds of the average persons this appears as absurd, especially since the common view of transactions see one did gaining while the other side makes a lost.Contrary to popular believe, the liberals has made a case for free trade in which all persons involve can gain, based on the theory of comparative advantage. According to this theory, countries should specialize and produce goods and services for which they possess a comparative advantage (O'Brien and Williams, 2010: 150). The move toward freer international trade has its roots in David Orchard's classical theory of comparative advantage, which is driven by inherent differences in a countries' capacity – and hence the cost – to produce different products and arrives.Ri chard definition of comparative advantage includes specialization of a product, returns of scale, product differentiation and technological differences. He believes comparative advantages in returnable industries are those with high startup costs, making small-scale entry difficult which can lead to more gains from trade and robust economic development (United Nations Industrial Development Organization, 2008). However, mercantilism's theories argued that the aim of a country was to increase its trade relative to that of its rivals hence increasing its wealth.For mercantilism, trade was a ere-?sum game with one country's gain equivalent to another country loss. Contrary to other contending views, Adam Smith argument of absolute advantage was the first to counter the protectionist philosophy of the mercantilism who regarded a positive balance of trade and accumulation of capital as the main goal of any trade policy. Smith pointed out the benefits of international trade and the divisi on of labor in his major work ‘The Wealth of Nations†.Smith notes that by specializing in producing what you do best and importing other goods from trading partners, one would gain both individually and collectively. It should be noted that Orchard's singular achievement was to demonstrate that trade was a positive-sum game in which all parties would have benefited, even if one party had an absolute advantage in the production of all goods and services (Hickman and Kookiest, 1997). Under a liberal trading order, trade would be undertaken by countries according to their comparative advantage.Due to this, countries would improve their economic growth, become more stable, powerful and efficient since they would be specializing in the production of foods and services in they were the most efficient producers and enabling their nonusers to buy foreign goods at the lowest prices. Based on the rules of comparative advantage, specialization would promote efficiency and increase growth, as seen in the underlying principles of the modern trade theory.However, Orchard's assumption that differences in labor productivity were the sole determinants Of comparative advantage is too limiting since it focuses too much on capital, labor and land. One can also note that the theory or comparative advantage appears to be very prescriptive since it suggests that the welfare of an individual country and by extension the world ill be improved base on countries specializing according to their comparative advantage (O'Brien and Williams 2010).From a liberal perspective, protectionism is inefficient since it reduces competition, and increases the monopoly power and thus the profits of the industries which benefit from protection. On the other hand, free trade increases the degree of products available to consumers, although ultimately it will reduce the degree of product differentiation in each country. The gains from trade come parlay from the greater degree of product varie ty and partly from the lower rice per product.The theory of free trade has emphasizes the gains or benefits from trade from a nation. There are two main aspects to be gain from the engaging in trade which are specialization which leads to increase productivity and economic growth; and diffusion of knowledge, innovation and production techniques which is closely linked to international trade. Trade is seen as an engine of growth as it advances the technological progress of society making production more efficient, effective and affordable within the 21 SST century (O'Brien and Williams, 2010).Despite the theoretical elegance, the theory of free trade is constantly being attacked by numerous critics. It can also be argued that free trade is meant to help eliminate unfair trade barriers to goods and services as well as raise the economy in developed and developing nations. There is a popular believe that free trade will create an unfair advantage to domestic supplier and it would reduc e the number of jobs created in a mercantilism society.For instance, persons within agricultural base countries have argued that industrialization has hinder their attempts to industrialized since comparative advantage dictates that they antique to import industrial products whereas they might have a future comparative advantage in the production of a specific industrial product. In such a case, one can argue that it is necessary to implement the necessary protections for local industries, until they become competitive and can reap the benefits of comparative advantage (Lamer 1994). Another argument against free trade is that it places the precedence of national security over trade.In other words, it is argued that countries need to seek alternative methods of acquiring certain food apart from via trade in times of war and conflict. Simply put, it means that countries need to be self-sufficient in the production of certain strategic industries. It is also a widely accepted view that if free trade threatens the national security of a state, that it would be necessary for the government of the state to impose certain tariff and taxes on trade and even impose any necessary restriction if needed in order to protect the society (Entailer and Trifler, 2002).The third argument against free trade is that it is harmful for the environment, whereas the increase in farming, pesticide, emissions Of greenhouse gases and high energy usage as created a harmful impact towards the environment. The Global Development and Environmental Institute (EDGE), find the environmental impact as mixed whereas some countries have a higher level of environmental hazards than others.Therefore, the EDGE suggested that the WTFO imposes certain barriers and restriction on those countries which has a higher level of environmental pollutants in comparison to the countries which has fewer pollutants since free trade is contributing to the degradation of the environment (O'Brien and Williams, 2010) . In conclusion it can be argued that ere trade is not a public good as it creates a number of disadvantages for some nations especially the developing countries. Such disadvantages include the loss of jobs, environmental hazards; inequalities in food securities and retardation in the development of industrialized products.Given the rules of the UN in regards to global public goods, in order for something to be considered as a public good it has to be able to benefit all persons and any usage of the item of product should not affect anyone. Therefore one can argue that free trade is not a global public good as it do not benefit all takeovers and in order for free trade to benefit all there need to be some trade barriers implemented on some nations and that in itself is against the rule Of a global public good.

Attitude of Young People of India Towards Luxury Brands Essay Example for Free

Attitude of Young People of India Towards Luxury Brands Essay Brand (555) , Gucci (27) company About StudyMoose Contact Careers Help Center Donate a Paper Legal Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Complaints Introduction: A couple of generations ago, a typical purchase decision for the average Indian would be choosing between, say, clothes and electronic goods whenever they had a little cash to spare. Today, the customers’ dilemma involves making up their mind between Prada and Gucci, Merc and Lamborghini. Marie Antoinette would say, â€Å"If they can’t have bread, give them brands instead! † In a relatively short time span of 20 years, India has moved from pavement markets to swanky malls, from frugal minded consumer to who want it all and from a population largely obessed with celebrity gossip to one which yearns to gain knowledge. India is taking wing. It is not simple because India is set to become the fastest growing major economy in the world. The combination of a large young working population, rising income levels, overwhelming consumer optimism and increasingly urbanized lifestyle is driving consumption growth in India. The market potential of world’s second largest population has not gone unnoticed. International Luxury brands have India on the radar. As developed market continue to battle economic turmoil. India offers luxury brand owners unrivalled growth opportunities. The Indian luxury market is projected to reach USD 14. 72 billion in 2015(CII and A. T. Kearny, 2011). It may represents only 1-2 percent of the global luxury market, but its market growth rate of more than 20 percent per annum, promise positive returns for luxury players. A flow of international brands from Giorgio Armani to Ferrari to Sofitel Hotel have entered the Indian market to claim a share of the luxury rupee. Many others are waiting, watching and preparing. This is not just about today’s market but a key strategic market of the future. Problem Definition: * Young consumer attitudes are essential for the marketers to plan their strategy in reaching the target consumers. So in our study we have focused to segment young consumers according to attitude variables. Objectives: * The aim of the study is to segment young consumers based on their three important beliefs parameters (confidence, trust, optimism) as we know beliefs is an important attitudes of consumer Literature review: 1. THE ROLE OF CONFIDENCE IN UNDERSTANDING AND PREDICTING BUYERS’ ATTITUDES AND PURCHASE INTENTIONS * Peter D. Bennett and Gilbert D. Harrell * Journal of Consumer Research * Vol. 2, No. 2 (Sep. , 1975), pp. 110-117 * Published by: The University of Chicago Press * Article Stable URL: http://www. jstor. org/stable/2488752 This research examines the role of buyers confidence in the formation of attitudes and purchase intention. It supports current buyer behavior theory which postulates a positive relationship between overall confidence in a brand and intention to purchase the brand. It also examine buyers confidence in their own ability to judge attributes of brands. 2. NEED FOR UNIQUENESS AND CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOUR FOR LUXURY BRANDS AMONGST INDIAN YOUTH * Authors: Meenakshi Handa, Arpita Khare * JournalInternational Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management * Publisher : Inderscience Publishers * ISSN:1753-0806 (Print),1753-0814 (Online) * IssueVolume 3, Number 5/2010 * Pages489-502 The purpose of this research was to examine the Indian youth’s need for uniqueness (NFU) and their attitudes towards luxury brand as an expression of individuality. A primary research was conducted amongst Indian University students to ascertain their NFU and perception of luxury brands. It was apparent that while the NFU is not very high amongst the Indian youth, luxury brands do symbolize status and individuality to them and serve a value-expressive function. As the Indian social system is witnessing a transition from traditional family driven values to more of western and individual-centric values, NFU and expression of self-identity amongst Indian youth may also become more marked. While marketing global luxury brands in India, advertising may be focused towards conveying a new identity to the consumers yet maintaining a balance with traditional norms and value systems. 3. LUXURY’S NEW DESTINATION – CHANGING PARADIGMS OF THE INDIAN CONSUMERS – AN EMPIRICAL STUDY * DR. BUSHAN D. SUDHAKAR*; ARUN KUMAR. PARISE * International Journal of Multidisciplinary Management Studies * Vol. 2 Issue 1, January 2012, ISSN 2249 8834 * Online available at http://zenithresearch. org. in/ In this study the researcher investigate, Indian consumer migration towards Luxury brands form value middle tier brands. The findings suggest that there is significant difference with the gender difference, social status, price, quality to purchase a luxury good. There is a higher association between the annual household income and Purchase of luxury goods It clearly says that affordability, quality, availability, celebrity, self-satisfaction, image and social status are the key drivers to the migration of consumers to Luxury brands from value middle tier branded goods. It confirms the view that brand perception and purchase value is, apart from socially oriented motives of buying to impress others also affected by financial, functional, and individual aspects. It would seem that the dimensions presented in this paper are appropriate variables for segmenting the market for branded items. 4. ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE CONCEPT OF LUXURY: AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS * Bernard Dubois, Groupe H. E. C & Gilles Laurent, Groupe H. E. C. * Asia Pacific Advances in Consumer Research Volume 1, 1994 * Pages 273-278 In this paper is the author did an exploratory analysis of the perceptions and attitudes attached to the word (and underlying concept of) â€Å"luxury†. It is hoped that the results presented below will stimulate further research in the area and eventually contribute to the development of a theory of luxury acquisition and consumption behavior. Research Gap: The literature available on topics such as Need for uniqueness and consumption behavior for luxury brands amongst Indian youth, luxury’s new destination – changing paradigms of the Indian consumers – an empirical study, There is no study on attitude (belief like confidence, trust and optimism) of Young people of India towards Luxury brands, which will help in marketers to plan their strategy in reaching these new and promising target consumers. It is essential for the marketer to understand how consumers think and value a product. There has been a vast increase in the luxury market and attempts are being made to attract the youth through different marketing strategies. This research will identify the different belief parameter which is an important attitude of young people of India which influence them towards luxury brands and provide information for better understanding of young customer. Research Design:. Sample Design: Sample size: is hundred (100). Sample techniques: it is judgmental sampling these samples/ respondents will be selected from both NIFT students and young working professional’s i.e. young people’s working in companies like TCS, Infosys and Wipro. Observational Design: This research based on primary & secondary data. The primary data are collected through structured questionnaire. Primary data generally means those raw data which are handled first handedly and haven’t any previous meaningful interpretation. Secondary data collected from different journals, book and internet on topic of people’s attitudes and luxury brands. Statistical design: we are going to segment young consumers based on their three important beliefs parameters (confidence, trust, optimism) as we know consumer belief is an important factor of consumer attitude. Our proposed segmentation tool is Cluster analysis. We will be using Hierarchical cluster with between groups linkage as the clustering method based on squared Euclidian distance. Ward’s Hierarchical Clustering Method: Ward considered hierarchical clustering procedures basedon minimizing the ‘loss of information’ from joining two groups. This method is usually implemented with loss of information taken to be an increase in an error sum of squares criterion. ESS. First, for a given cluster k, let ESSk be the sum of the squared deviations of very item in the cluster from the cluster mean (centroid). If there are currently K clusters, define ESS as the sum of the ESSk or ESS = ESS1 + ESS2 + †¦ + ESS K At each step in the analysis, the union of every possible pair of clusters is considered, and the two clusters whose combination results in the smallest increase in ESS (minimum loss of information) are joined. Initially, each cluster consists of a single item, and, if there are N items, ESSk = 0, k = 1,2, †¦ , N, so ESS = O. At the other extreme, when all the clusters are combined in a single group of N items, the value of ESS is given by N ESS =j=1nxj-x†(xj-x’) where Xj is the multivariate measurement associated with the jth item and i is the mean of all the items. The results of Ward’s method can be displayed as a dendrogram. The vertical axis gives the values of ESS at which the mergers occur. Ward’s method is based on the notion that the clusters of multivariate observations are expected to be roughly elliptically shaped. It is a hierarchical precursor to nonhierarchical clustering methods that optimize some criterion for dividing data into a given number of elliptical groups. We discuss nonhierarchical clustering procedures in the next section Proposed Questionnaire: 1=strongly agree 2=agree 3=neither agree or disagree 4=disagree 5=completely disagree Please do tick which option you feel most†¦ Statement no 1: 3. 3. 2. 2. 5. 5. 4. 4. 1. 1. â€Å"I buy luxury products because good quality of product† Statement no 2: 3. 3. 2. 2. 5. 5. 4. 4. 1. 1. â€Å"Luxury means some extra things which is adding more value than the regular brands have† Statement no 3: 3. 3. 2. 2. 5. 5. 4. 4. 1. 1. â€Å"I buy luxury products whatever I can afford & whatever I want† Statement no 4: 3. 3. 2. 2. 5. 5. 4. 4. 1. 1. â€Å"I preferred luxury products what I like, if I like it a lot and feel like it’s worth my money† Statement no 5: 3. 3. 2. 2. 5. 5. 4. 4. 1. 1. â€Å"I preferred luxury brands because it brings higher aspiration in my life† Statement no 6: 3. 3. 2. 2. 5. 5. 4. 4. 1. 1. â€Å"I like to have BMW or Ferrari in future†. Attitude of Young People of India Towards Luxury Brands. (2017, Feb 17). ng-people-of-india-towards-luxury-brands-essay We will write a custom sample essay on Attitude of Young People of India Towards Luxury Brands specifically for you We have essays on the following topics that may be of interest to you

Terror problem in Turkey Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Terror problem in Turkey - Research Proposal Example It is noted that terrorism is an exaggerated way of expression that demeans the values of democracy in the world. As a result, the incumbent governments have to initiate several ways and avenues of combating terror to enhance democracy. The Turkish government has been actively involved in fighting terrorism. It is noted that Turkey established an anti-terror law in 1991. The ostensible reason for the law was to annihilate the activities of terror groups, and one of the outstanding groups was the Kurdistan Workers Party (Jones 1). The activities of the group were deemed unconstitutional as they affected a part of the society. However, in the recent time, the Turkey government has been criticized by world leaders in concerns to fighting terror attacks. The world leaders have stated that Turkey should have control mechanisms in limiting the financing of terror groups in its territory. It is evident that terror groups need massive finances to execute their ill motives, and consequentially, when they do not have finances they are unlikely to cause havoc. According to sources, the Turkish government has an intention of acting on the issue, as it is concerned about the safety of the nation. Several cases of terror attacks have been recorded in Turkey. The recent case is the bombing near the embassy of the United States. Consequentially, terror attacks in Turkey are divided into different categories. The first category is the car and truck bombings. These include the Diyarbakir incident in 2008 and 2013 Istanbul bombing (Ahmed 18). The second category involves attacks by organizations, which include Al-Qaeda and Kurdistan Workers Party. Thirdly, there is suicide bombing, which includes 2007 bombing in Ankara and 2010 Istanbul blast. Therefore, it is evident that turkey has experienced various terror attacks. As such, there is need to enhance commitment to fighting terror activities. Jones, Dorian. Turkeys Anti-Terror Law Casts Increasingly Wide Net.

Environmental Accounting in United Arab Emirates Assignment

Environmental Accounting in United Arab Emirates - Assignment Example This is of significance especially when the company intends to attract new investors and retain shareholders by confirming confidence in its stability and transparent management practice. Globally several federal regulations exist targeting to improve the practice of environmental accounting and disclosure of vital information among the business community. These include i. The comprehensive environmental response, compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) 1980 which requires corporate dealing with potentially harmful substances to incur the cost of remediation. ii. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act(RCRA) 1976 which establishes responsibility for monitoring, transportations, treatment, storage and disposal of potentially hazardous substances iii. The clean air Act 1990 which seeks to reduce the amount of harmful gaseous emissions disposed of by corporations (Farouk, Cherian &Jacob 2012, p.1-8) Besides these several other environmental regulations have been developed especially with emerging concern of environmental cost of manufacturing. While in some regions, these are the compulsory requirement the AUE region lags behind in implementation. Being a developing market the region is at the initial stage of implementing good corporate governance practice among stakeholders with voluntary disclosure being embraced by companies that seek to impress investors and shareholders. This report focus on the environmental accounting issues and legal framework for environmental protection provided for in the UAE. The paper will also discuss on the implementation of the disclosure practices in the emerging markets in UAE. The information applied has been collected from secondary sources limited to current practice level and improvement as suggested by regulations. Environmental accounting Effective accounting ensures a reliable flow of transparent, comparable and consistent information about the environmental cost. Within the AUE compliance to financial disclosure is regard ed as a requirement hence a majority of organization provide financial accounting report. Lack of regulation demanding nonfinancial reporting allows management and boards to release information at their discretion. Environmental accounting refers to the process of identifying and creating awareness regarding cost related to maintaining a sustainable ecosystem which in turn helps in identifying techniques to reduce such cost. (Farouk, Cherian &Jacob 2012, p.1-8) Green accounting tools are used to determine environmental cost due to organization operations such as emission of greenhouse gases, depletion of natural resources and environmental degradation. It is the collective social responsibility of the government and business entities to adopt responsible behavior through monitoring eco-system degradation and controlling the occurrence of possible disasters associated with their activities. Corporate environmental reporting through the lens of semiotics This is the first paper obtain ed from ProQuest. The main objective of this study was to analyze the structuring of environmental accounting information by corporate organizations in order to gain the implied report meaning. A report reflects a qualitative survey conducted for selected companies in Malaysia and Australia.  

How dose Hydropower energy effect the environment in the State of Essay

How dose Hydropower energy effect the environment in the State of Wyoming - Essay Example This paper will discuss some of the most common ways through which hydropower energy affects the environment in the state of Wyoming. The movement of water downstream in the plant facilitates the creation of kinetic energy which can be converted into electricity. In the past, hydropower energy plants were quite reliable and efficient than most of the other sources of energy. The hydropower energy majorly depends on precipitation and changes in elevation. The construction and operation of the hydropower dams substantially affect the natural river systems. In most cases, the power plants are usually regulated by the state and federal laws to care for the surrounding and human health (Edwards 15). However, there are other environmental impacts which are closely associated with the power generation technologies. Various studies highlight that hydropower energy is an environmentally clean and safe method of producing electricity. In fact, hydropower energy is more efficient as compared to most of the other sources of electricity. In addition, hydropower energy plants do not contribute to global warming or the formation of acid rain. In the state of Wyoming, there are minor air emissions that are produced by the hydropower energy plants. This is because the amount of fuel which is burnt at the hydropower energy plants is quite negligible. These emissions can also be produced by the vegetation which is located along the riverbed of the dam. These plants can decay in the man-made lake hence releasing methane which is one of the greenhouse gases (MacKay 18). Further analysis proves the bacteria contained in the vegetation can transform mercury which is contained in the rocks in the reservoir into a soluble form. This mercury also affects the aquatic life and poses a serious threat to the citizens of Wyoming. The hydropower energy stations in Wyoming also require the use of man-made lakes, which usually affects the

Muslim Empire In Spain ( Alandalus ) Research Paper

Muslim Empire In Spain ( Alandalus ) - Research Paper Example HISTORY In 711 AD, the Christian chief Julian went and appealed to the governor of North Africa Musa ibn Nusair for his assistance against the tyrannical rule of Roderick in Spain. The Moorish Umayyad army consisting of 7000 troops from North Africa under their Commander Tariq bin Ziyad crossed the state of Gibraltar and gained control over much parts of the Iberian Peninsula. Roderick was killed in the battle and his Visigoth army was defeated. It was the start of an eight year Islamic rule in that region. From the 8th- 15th centuries, various parts of the Iberian Peninsula majorly Southern Spain, Portugal and France were ruled by the Muslims; which were mostly Arab or Berber. PERIOD The Muslim empire in Spain was not under a single reign instead it was a series of different successions made by various Muslim rulers. From 711- 716, the military troops under their leader Tariq ibn Ziyad conquered the region. In 756, the Umayyad prince Abd ar Rahman.I establishes the Emirate of Cordoba. It was a blooming time of the Umayyad dynasty as well as for the Arab culture (BBC, 2009). Later Abd ar Rahman.III took over. The reign of Umayyad dynasty in Spain lasted from 756- 929. Civil wars in 1009 and 1013 totally collapsed the Emirate of Cordoba. As result of this various small states came into being. These states known as the â€Å" Taifas† were divided amongst Arabs, Berbs and Iberian Muslims. As they were weak in military power and thus asked the help of the North African warriors to help fight the Christian kings. From 1080- 1250 Almoravids and then Alhomads ruled. DECLINE In 1212, the Christian states united against the Alhomads . And till 1252 nearly all the Iberian Peninsula came under the three Christian states of Portugal, Aragon, and Castile. The reason of decline of the Muslim empire in Spain was not because the Christians were strong, but it was because the Muslim rulers were cutting each other’s throat and hence was becoming weaker. By the mid thirteenth century the Muslim rule in Spain was limited to a thin mountainous strip of land in the south. In 1230-40 Muhammed ibn Yusuf ibn Nasr founded a state centered around the city of Granada. Granada had a weak economy and had to face internal conflicts as well.Also the Muslims in North Africa at that time, went into decline and could no longer provide Granada their support (Islam & Islamic History, 2001). The Christian States of Castile, Aragon and Portugal united and grew stronger. In 1474, war started and one city after another came to the Christian artillery. In 1492, after an eight-month siege, Granada also became a part of Christian artillery. The Muslims in Spain finally lost all their in 1492.And by 1502, after 800 years the Christians gained power again and issued orders involving Muslims to convert to Christianity, otherwise imposing brutal limitations. The Muslim empire in Spain made various contributions in many fields. During Abd ar Rahman III reign, books from Baghdad (as it was the centre for research back then) were brought to this land. Libraries, hospi tals, Research centers and centre of Islamic studies were established. Scholars, historians, poets and researchers were invited to the region to make their contributions in their respective fields. ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN SCIENCE Science is a very vast field. The Muslim scientists and scholars contributed a

IKEA and India Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

IKEA and India - Assignment Example During 1960s-1970s, it became the prominent furniture manufacturer in Sweden. In the 1980’s, IKEA expands dramatically into new markets such as USA, Italy, France and the UK (Ikea, 2012). At present, Ikea has operations in more than 40 countries in the world. However, it has no business units in India at present even though India is one of the most rapidly developing economies in the world. Many people believe that India may become a superpower both in terms of economic growth as well as military power in near future itself. Moreover, it is often said that global wealth is currently shifting from less heavily populated American and European continents to the more heavily populated Asian continent because of the rapid growth witnessing in India and China like countries. Prominent international companies are currently competing each other in establishing business units in India like emerging markets. Under such circumstances, it is difficult for Ikea like MNC’s to avoid I ndia completely while formulating their international business strategies. This paper analyses the merits and demerits of India as a market for Ikea’s international business operations. Analysis and justification of Indian market Porter’s Five forces Model Michael Porter has identified five competitive forces which may affect the competitive power of an organization. They are; Threat of substitute products, Threat of new entrants, Intense rivalry among existing players, Bargaining power of suppliers and Bargaining power of Buyers (Porter’s Five Forces Model, 2009). The figure given below illustrates Porter’s five forces theory. (Porter’s Five Forces Model, 2009) Threat from new entrants is the first force in Porter’s five forces model. â€Å"Microeconomics teaches that profitable industries attract new competition until the downward pressure on prices has squeezed all the economic profit from the firms. New firms in an industry put downward pressure on prices, upward pressure on costs and an increased necessity for capital expenditures in order to compete† (Porter’s Five Forces- Threat of New Entrants, 2012). Furniture market in India is not much competitive because of the absence of prominent companies. In fact furniture manufacturing is a small scale industry in India and hence MNC’s like Ikea can easily overcome the resistance of small scale furniture manufacturers in India. In other words, Indian furniture industry is highly fragmented and Ikea can exploit such situation to their favor. Less threat from new entrants or competitors will help Ikea to increase their profits in Indian market. â€Å"Competitive rivalry will be high if there is little differentiation between the products sold between customers† (For Marketing Learners Globally, n. d). As mentioned earlier, Nokia may not face much competition in Indian market because of the absence of any furniture manufacturing MNC’s in Indian market. Small scale furniture manufacturers in India may not have the financial capabilities to compete with Ikea like big companies. â€Å"Supplier power exists when there are only few suppliers. It also exists when the switching cost becomes more for the organization to move from one supplier to another† (For Marketing Learners Globally, n.d). Availability of wood for manufacturing furniture is different at different locations in India. For example, India’s southernmost states such as Kerala have immense forest resources whereas North India has

Using either Peter Pan or Elidor, examine the relationship between the Essay

Using either Peter Pan or Elidor, examine the relationship between the real world and the fantasy world - Essay Example f a kind†, and although readers find themselves somewhat confused in drawing a straight line between reality and fantasy, â€Å"there are kinds of writing in which absolute clarity is not a virtue, when for instance, the author has to evoke a mood, to suggest feelings of which his characters are scarcely aware themselves†, and â€Å"clarity appeals to the intellect, but the emotions are often more deeply stirred by something less sharply comprehended†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Mincoff, Marco, â€Å"The Study of Style†, p.10, 13). Many distinguished authors, essayists, critics have written about Peter Pan and the â€Å"Neverland† beginning their works with the famous opening sentence â€Å"All children, except one, grow up†. Many of them use a scientific psychological approach and argue about the Freudian Oedipus complex in the main character, which actually falls into â€Å"the third common area of psychological criticism, that is, the analysis of fictional characters† (â€Å"Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama†, Kennedy, X.J. and Gioia, Dana, p.1398). Hereby, I would try to give my own understanding of the novel and leave scientific arguments to more adequate people for such a difficult task. Before I go into some deeper analysis of the novel itself, let me say that I agree with most of the opinions that we (the people) really wish at one time or another to remain children forever and never grow up, because everyone knows growing up brings too many problems along. A minor proof of this can be found in Goceva-Zdravkovska’s short poems about passage of time: It is obvious that in the three years period between these two short poems, the poet had grown up, and didn’t like it. Many people feel this way, and so did Peter Pan. However, his creator J. M Barrie knowing the boy wanted to remain a boy forever created the â€Å"Neverland† for him as well, and Peter never grew up. Speaking of Peter Pan’s creation and J. M. Barrie, it must be said that the author got the

Attack metholodgies ( network security ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Attack metholodgies ( network security ) - Essay Example Thus, the security system attackers and hackers are now using the information obtained after penetrating through the security systems to attack the target individuals or organizations and defraud them. Without full understanding of the nature of threats to the network security systems and the methods of attacks applied, it would not be possible to establish a strong security mechanism that will effectively protect the network systems and their associated data from attack. The understanding of the Network Security Attack Methodologies is therefore pertinent to the establishment of the most effective defense mechanisms and capabilities. The modern computer and network security systems are faced by diverse threats, owing to the fact that there has been a general growth in the internet accessibility and use, as well as the overall growth in the number of targets comprising of both individual and organizational computer and network security systems [1]. The attack capabilities has also increased, due to the development of more advanced hacking and attack tools, following the increased knowledge and skills of computer operation and usage that have come with the advanced technology wave. Securing the network security systems against potential threats, both for the individuals and business organizations is a present effort that seeks to protect older systems already established, while also securing the newly acquired systems. While the protection of the network security systems against known threats could be easy, there is a need to ensure the continuity of proactive efforts to detect emerging new threats and understand their defense mechanisms [2]. The understanding of the network security attack methodologies require a broad focus on who is interested in attacking, what their motivation is and what capabilities they have to exploit the network security weaknesses [3]. The network security systems are far ahead of the available defense

Comparison of How it happened and The Signalman Essay Example for Free

Comparison of How it happened and The Signalman Essay The atmosphere in How it happened is full of mystery and energy. The plot moves very quickly, imitating the speed of the automobile as in the story it is said the automobile has a horse power of thirty, Then I remember the big motor, with its glaring headlights and litter of polished brass, waiting for me outside. It was my thirty-horse-power Robur, which had only been delivered that day. It also emphasises the lack of control the driver has over it. Whereas the atmosphere in The Signalman creates both suspense and mystery. The appearances of the spirit help to create suspense as we anticipate them to lead us to the climax. However, we find out at the end of the story that the signalman was getting premonitions of his own death. The appearances are really red herrings as it is the signalman himself who dies. Whereas the biggest red herring in How it happened is how the narrator speaks from memory in the first person, fooling us into believing he must still be alive. This makes the twist at the end so much more powerful. The difference of experience between the first time reader, who is fooled into believing the narrator must still be alive and the 2nd time reader who is able to pick out things that are ironic, for example, I can live it again. The 2nd time reader knows hes dead when hes saying it. Dickens creates a strong atmosphere through the characterisation of his characters as well as his long complex sentences that can be difficult to understand. This is because of the 150 year cultural gap of reading the story. This makes differences with the way we read the story. For example, The monstrous thought came into my mind, as I perused the fixed eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit, not a man. The word monstrous meant abnormal in 1866. This also shows Dickenss effort to create psychological state. He also describes things very ambiguously, for example, I resumed my downward way, and stepping out upon the level of the railroad, and drawing nearer to him, saw that he was a dark sallow man, with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows. His post was in as solitary and dismal a place as ever I saw. The words underlined make the signalman difficult to imagine because if everything is dark, you would not be able to make out his features. The title How it happened is deliberately allusive to draw the reader in. But, it does immediately introduce suspense as we wonder what it refers to. Whereas the title The Signalman conveys urgency. The characterisation created in How it happened is that the narrator characterises himself as a risk taker, admitting one often does foolish things to the reader. This adds to his sense of honesty but also makes us question his decision taking. Also, it provides tension between two ways of behaving which should interest us. Whereas the characterisation created in The Signalman is a bit different because both the characters remain shrouded in mystery and this adds to the sense of curiosity that surrounds the story. We dont know the protagonist intimately to picture him in our mind. The themes in The Signalman include death, the supernatural and reason. Dickens sometimes uses the convention of quotation marks and sometimes does not. This reflects the contrasts of rationality and supernatural goings on. The narrator tries to give reasons to the visions that the signalman has, yet the final image of the story is of the narrator seeing the image of the signalman and the ghost himself. Dickens cleverly manipulates tension to give the final image the haunting effect. Whereas in How it happened, Arthur Conan Doyle was an apparent rationalist and he believed that after your death, you could continue to live on as a spirit. It was also believed that these spirits could communicate with the living through people known as mediums. This belief is present in the story where the narrator has survived his death in order to tell us how it happened. This idea is given more credit when we know that the story originally started with the line, This story was told to me by a medium . The story How it happened was written in 1918 and involves a high-powered automobile. This suggests to us the story must have been written about the present at the time. It is also set in London. At that time, London was still the centre of an empire and this important as the story involves aspects of modernism. Whereas the setting of The Signalman is important as Dickens goes to a lot of effort to make the story seem ghostly and surreal. Dickens was writing this story involving trains because they were the biggest and finest machines at the time and by writing the story to do with railway system he is challenging it. Dickens was also in a famous train crash. The Signalmans job is a job of life and death. The one in the story has a reputation for being good at the job. The signalman works in a cutting and that the descent into this place is described as if one is descending to the underworld of Greek Mythology. The clammy stone and that fact that it becomes oozoer and wetter helps create this sense. They key aspect of the cutting is its remoteness. The tunnel as well is described as having wet stains, suggesting that this is a place you would not want to visit. This helps to make an eerie atmosphere and makes it easier for us to imagine spirits and other ghostly aspects. The story is an intensely human story about psychological differences between two people whereas How it happened is about dealing with the physical and spirit world. The narrative voice in How it happened is in the first person and we tend to trust its honesty about the first person. This is because the narrator admits to not remembering everything clearly. I can remember some things upon that evening most distinctly, and others are like some vague, broken dreams. This is what makes it so difficult to tell a connected story. This openness suggests we are going to hear the truth. He also blames neither the car nor Perkins for events but himself. I also remember asking Perkins, my chauffeur, how she had gone, and his saying that he thought she was excellent. The ways he says, Perkins, my chauffeur tell us social standing and class of narrator. The narrator gains a ghostly aspect at the end, when we find out he is dead, and this introduces the idea of Spiritualism that is key to the story. Whereas the narrative voice in The Signalman is also in the first person and we find that until the end of the story we are not sure if we can totally trust it. This is because of the ambiguities in the description of things as well as the lack of information about the narrator himself. But we can tell the visitor is a sceptic. He chooses not to believe that the bell was rung by a ghost without proof. I caught at that. Did it ring your bell yesterday evening when I was here, and you went to the door? As readers, we side with the sceptic. The skill of the story is that most people will not agree the bell rang without sound. There is also an additional piece of irony, the sceptic doesnt believe in the ghost but he says the same things the ghost said like Halloa! Although he does tell us that he is a man who had been shut up within narrow limits until at last set free. But it is difficult to understand this because we dont know if hes referring metaphorically to something else or talking as if he has spent a long time in prison.

Migratory & people Essay Example for Free

Migratory people Essay Migratory patterns are examined on a general as well as a regional level. In addition to the descriptive analysis the article discusses possible reasons behind the migratory tendencies. The study focuses on two different aspects. First, the minority situation of the Antigua, Carolina rice, slave families, Red-Black people, Louisiana houses is investigated in terms of urbanisation and cultural-linguistic environment, reflected in the internal and external migration behaviour. Together with an increasing out-migration to other foreign countries, the mobility of the Antigua, Carolina rice, slave families, Red-Black people, Louisiana houses could contribute to the diminishing vitality of the group. Second, the demographical characteristics of the migrants are explored in the perspective of migration as a central part of the individual life course. During the study period the features of the migrants have changed in correspondence with changes in the labour market. The migrants originating from city regions now tend to be older and sometimes more highly educated, thus implicating career-oriented migration. Migration from less urban regions, however, continues to be connected to ‘nest-leaving’ events such as getting a university education. It is suggested that the migration pattern is a cultural expression due to the ethno-linguistic minority situation and the cultural closeness. Among the distinct effects of migration are the stimulation of further migration through the displacement of other peoples; a reduction in the numbers of the migrating group because of hardship and warfare; changes in physical characteristics through intermarriage with the groups encountered; changes in cultural characteristics by adoption of the cultural patterns of peoples encountered; and linguistic changes, also effected by adoption. Anthropologists and archaeologists have traced the routes of many prehistoric migrations by the current persistence of such effects. Blond physical characteristics among some of the Berbers are thought to be evidence of an early Nordic invasion. Ethnic and cultural diversity is a fact which can and should enrich social life in all parts of the world. One focus of research under most is on the nature of change in multi-cultural and multi-ethnic societies in which issues of education, culture and religion, identity and human needs, democratic governance, conflict and cohesion interact in complex patterns. These issues require interdisciplinary, comparative, and culturally sensitive research which may furnish information useful for the peaceful and democratic management of multi-cultural and multi-ethnic societies.

Change Management Compulsion Or An Option British Airways Business Essay

Change Management Compulsion Or An Option British Airways Business Essay There is a famous saying stated by an unknown author The only thing that is constant is change (Berman, 2007). With the current changing customer requirements and external environment necessities, organisations which behave as closed systems and do not constantly change themselves to fit the market requirements and customer demands will fail in the long term (Harigopal, 2006). Organisational change is an ongoing process which brings the systems and procedures of the organisation in line with the factors prevailing in the external and internal environment of the organisation (Nemetz and Fry, 1998). As business management gurus argue, external forces of change require not only adaptive, flexible organisations and new management approaches but also competent managers able to adopt to changing times and to manage organisational change (Beckhard and Harris, 1987). It is essential to understand how organisations in the real world implement and deal with organisational change. One such organisation which has implemented various change methodologies in the past few years in response to the changing business environment is British Airways. British Airways is the UKs flag carrier and one of the largest airlines in the world. Like many large organisations, the airline has had to change its strategy, technology, structure and culture in order to achieve competitive advantage in todays rapidly changing global business world. 1.2 Aims Objectives of Research The main objective and strategic aim of this study is to explore the role and significance of Change Management in this era of globalization and changing market needs by taking the case study of British Airways in specific. Research Question- The primary research question of this research study is: To explore the extent to which change management is necessary for a firm to achieve sustainable competitive advantage? Additionally, the secondary research question is to examine the change management initiatives previously taken by British Airways to attain competitive advantage and profitability. 1.3 Literature Review This chapter will highlight the various aspects of change management. It will use academic research to understand the concept of change management by looking at its definition and determining the various approaches of change management. It will then describe the framework for change and various change management initiatives taken by organisations. The various change models will also be listed and analysed and the organisational background of British Airways will be provided along with a SWOT analysis of the organisation. 1.4 Methodology This chapter will determine the methodology used to conduct this research and the reasons for various data collection methods chosen. It will also look into the philosophical aspects of the research study. 1.5 Research Findings and Discussion During this chapter the researcher has analysed the findings and compared these with the literature review and methodology to establish the extent to which change management is necessary for an organisation to sustain competitive advantage and the role and significance of Change Management initiatives taken by British Airways to attain profitability. 1.6 Conclusion The last chapter is the Recommendations and Conclusion chapter. This chapter will list the recommendations generated from the research study findings while also bringing to light the limitations of the research study. The references used and the research related appendices will then be presented at the end of the research study. CHAPTER 2 Literature Review This chapter will review the existing literature on change management. It is important to understand current research on the subject area, to enable the reader to understand the nature of the existing knowledge of the subject (Denscombe 1998, p.15). Specifically, this literature review will focus on the following issues; Firstly, it will determine the definition of change and list the various types from the typology of change. Secondly it will describe the framework for the change process, generic model of change and the various change management diagnostic models are discussed. Thirdly the importance of communication in Change Management is explained. Fourthly the SWOT analysis is also described along with the various change initiatives taken by organisations in the aviation industry. 2.1 Typology of Change Change in academics is defined as the substitution or succession of one thing in place of another. As per research studies conducted, it is identified that the patterns of change repeats and is recurring in every industry. These patterns of change constitute of incremental and radical changes. The increasing frequency of these patterns of change in various industries over the past couple of decades has necessitated for organisations to predict the pattern of changes in their external industry environment so that they are better equipped with the resources and capabilities required to embark upon change and maintain their competitive advantage. A typology of change was developed by Nadler and Tushman to outline the various abilities of organisations to predict the patterns of change in the external industry environment. They have divided the ability to predict changes into two types of proactive and reactive while listing the scope of change as being transformational or incremental in nature. The typology of change is created by Nadler and Tushman by developing a matrix of the type and scope of change. They have differentiated the change strategy among organisations into four types of fine tuning, adaptation, re-orientation and re-creation. These strategies have been described in the following paragraphs (Hayes, 2007 and Chaffey, 2006). The first two changes of fine tuning and adaptation in organisations which occur are incremental changes. Fine tuning is the change process where organisations are proactive and will try to fill in the inefficiencies and gaps internal to the company when compared to the changing external environments which act as reducing agents to the effective performance of the business processes of the organisation. Adaptation is a reactive change process where the organisations have to make changes to their internal processes after they have felt a threat in their competitive position due to the changes made in the organisation. These changes are limited and do not affect the core functions or business processes of the organisation but are targeted towards reducing or removing the threats from the external environment and competition in an effective manner (Cook, Macaulay Coldicott, 2004). The two changes although occur for a long duration, are only basic changes and do not impact the fundament al aspects in which the organisations operations work (Hayes, 2007). The change processes of re-orientation and re-creation are both transformational in nature since they impact the fundamental operations of change. They occur when the need for change is vital to survive (Poole Van de Ven, 2004). The re-orientation change process in organisations basically requires organisations to change or re-define their existing corporate or business strategy (Chaffey, 2006 and Hayes, 2007). This change is conducted for two reasons. The first is to pro-actively prepare the organisation for the future changing external environment or to change the external environment itself by innovation such that the core competency of the organisation is increased over its competitors (Hayes, 2007 Potter, 2004). In Re-orientation, since there is no external threat to the organisation and it is being pro-active, it is difficult for the employee workforce to understand the need for such a drastic radical change. This change process requires the management of the organisation to create a sense of urgency and a necessity for change among the organisational employees so that the change process can be enforced. Otherwise it is difficult for organisations to implement this change. The last type of change process is Re-creation. This is a forced change and is transformational in nature. This type of change is implemented by organisations when they feel they need to change their core operations in order to sustain in the changed external environment. In most scenarios, the success of these re-creation changes can determine the survival of the organisation. These changes however are high risk changes since the organisations do not plan these changes ahead and do not, in most scenarios, have the required time and resources for their successful implementation. The change impact is mostly lower than expected for many reasons such as low involvement and motivation among employees, inadequate readiness in management etc. This change if not tackled effectively can lead to employee resistance and de-motivations (Chaffey, 2006 and Hayes, 2007). 2.2 Framework of Change The framework of change as developed by Lewin (1951) constitutes of the same three steps in all change processes. These steps are unfreeze, change and refreeze. Unfreeze is where the organisation tries to create an urgency for change so that the employees and the management are ready for change. Change, as the name indicates, is the second stage where the change occurs. Freeze is the final stage where the change made is now ensured to become part of the organisation. As per the framework, every change process has a higher level of uncertainty leading to resistance among employees. However, certain techniques can be adopted in order to avoid this resistance. One of these techniques is to introduce additional steps such as identifying the future state prior to implementing the framework of change (Weick Quinn, 1999). There have been many new models which have evolved in the past few years which have tried to add more steps or make modifications to this model. One of them is the generi c model of change created by (Hayes and Hyde, 1998) however, the general concept and baseline in all these change models is still the same. The generic model of change signifies the change process to be continuous in nature. It states that the change results of one process act as the triggering factor for some new required changes. Change process begins by determining the internal inefficiencies and improper capabilities of the internal organisation and the external environment in the industry the organisation operates in and using this gathered information to develop the new organisations strategy. This new strategy will now automatically implement the new anticipated change in the organisation (Johnson, Scholes Whittington, 2008). The ability to determine the correct strategy is the most crucial step in any change process since an incorrect change strategy can also be implemented successfully however it will not deliver the same benefits and fill in the required market inefficiencies as required and the overall change process can in turn be a failure (Buttrick, 2005). After looking at the above studies, the change process is modified as below. The initial aspect of the change process is now moved to identifying the resources required to implement the change process and the various techniques which can be used further to begin unfreezing the organisation. While this is being done, the organisations inefficiencies and gaps with the external environment are determined in order to develop the change strategy. This change strategy is designed that such that it achieves the anticipated future state of the organisation and reviewed to make any modification such that it is aligned towards realising the future state. The next step is to create a change plan before directly implementing the change. This change plan is implemented on a step by step basis and upon completion of each step, it is reviewed to determine if it is still aligned or the future state and rectify any identified deviations. Once this is completed and the future state is realised by the organisation, new techniques in order to merge this change with the organisations culture will be implemented. This is when the final stage of refreezing appears and the success or failure of the change process and the involved resources is determined. It is also used to collect feedback of the change process and reward the resources who had performed effectively towards achieving the future state (Jones, 2008). This generic model of change created by Hayes Hyde in 1998 and the change framework developed by Lewin in 1951 are both effective models which can used to implement change. However, both these models ignore one crucial aspect of change management which plays a vital role in the success of any change event, people management. Without effective people management, it is impossible to implement change in any organisation successfully. 2.3 Change Management Models There are various models which can be used to diagnose the success of a change event or the need for a change event. These models reduce the overall change process into a few key factors which need to be taken into consideration while implementing the change process in any organisation. They allow the management to determine the key aspects from both the process and the people perspective which need to be looked into. This in-turn increases the ability of change managers firstly to implement the change process successfully and secondly to evaluate its success and take necessary actions (Hayes, 2007). One of these models is the McKinsey 7S model. This model divides the change process diagnosis into seven elements which can be used to determine the existing internal environment status in a firm. These seven elements are strategy, structure, systems, staff, style, shared values and skills. The internal organisational efficiency of an organisation is determined successfully using this model and its results can be used to develop the internal strategy of the organisation (Saunders, 2007). This model can be used to develop change initiative programmes in organisations and develop a strategy which will achieve the overall internal fit in the firm however, it cannot be used to determine a fit between the internal capabilities of the organisation and the external environment in which it operates leading to a necessity for another model which takes this into consideration (Burke Litwin, 1992). The model which takes this into consideration is The Burke-Litwin causal model of organisational performance and change. This model is used for many purposes such as to identify the type of change implemented, whether it is incremental step-by-step change or a radical change or to determine the overall effect of using change management procedures in organisations while determining the performance of these management initiatives. This model constitutes of various elements which are crucial for a change process. The input element is the organisational performance and the output element is the individual and organisational performance. The other factors in the model are the through-put of the model. The models elements are further divided into two types of factors. The five factors of external environment, leadership, mission and strategy, organisational culture and the individual and organisational performance are the transformational factors while the remaining factors are the increme ntal factors. They are distinguished so based on the ability of the factors to influence the type of change. One of the successful applications of this model was to determine the success and performance on the change processes implemented in British Airways in the year 1983 (Burke Litwin, 1992). (Burke Litwin, 1992). This model will again be used in this study to determine the performance and effectiveness of the change management strategies used in British Airways in the past year. 2.4 Communication in Change Management: One of the key aspects of any change process in terms of people management is communication. If the communication is ineffective or missing, then the employee resistance to embrace the change only increases further. The communication strategies used by various organisations are different and this determines the amount of information shared by them with their employee workforce. Another factor which affects this amount of information shared with the employees is the managements personal views and understanding on the subject of change management and importance of communication. The Spray and Pray strategy used by management is where the information provided to employees is not considered or evaluated by the management to determine if it is actually relevant to them or not. This sort of communication can allow the vital and relevant information to be buried under irrelevant and not so vital information and reduce the overall necessary impact of communication on the employees. The manag ement which chooses to share the relevant information with their employees and also provides them with the various benefits of the change implemented to these employees use the communication strategy of Tell and Sell. In this scenario, the communication effectiveness is higher than the previous strategy and the amount of the information shared is lower. One of the most effective communication strategies which can be adopted by management in any change organisation is the Underscore and explore strategy where the information is provided to employee workforce in exact reference to the change situation and the various inputs provided by the management are considered at the same time. This ensures that the employees feel to be a part of the change being implemented and reduce their overall employee resistance. In the other two communication strategies of Identify and reply and withhold and uphold, the information shared with the employees is not adequate and the management withholds som e crucial elements of information which can increase the employee resistance to accept change. The below diagram represents the various communication strategies in accordance with the communication effectiveness and the amount of information shared by the management (Clampitt, DeKoch and Cashman, 2000). Figure-2 : Communication Strategy Continuum   (Clampitt, DeKoch and Cashman, 2000) 2.5 SWOT Analysis To determine the inner fit of an organisation with an external environment, one of the techniques which have proven successful on numerous occasions is the SWOT analysis. This SWOT analysis is divided into two segments, the internal factors segment which constitutes of the strengths and the weaknesses of the organisation and the external factors segment which constitutes of the opportunities and threats presented by the external environment in reference to the organisation. The role of strengths and opportunities is to determine the internal capabilities and inefficiencies of the business processes and the employee talent of the organisation. The role of opportunities and threats is to determine the external environment that the organisation is functioning in and find ways in which it can either support or act as a danger to the organisations functions. Once these are determined, it is then determined how the internal strengths of the organisation can be used to benefit from the exte rnal opportunities of the industry environment. The weaknesses are also looked into to determine if there is a possibility to change into a threat and how this movement can be avoided. The threats are looked at from the perspective of changing them into opportunities or reducing their possible impact on the organisation. The weaknesses are also worked upon in a similar way, to reduce their impacts and risks to the organisation or to remove them altogether by changing them into opportunities (Briggs, 2001). 2.6 Change Management in Organisations in the Aviation Industry: Some of the change initiatives which have been experienced by organisations in the Aviation industry are the privatisation of companies such as Qantas airlines. This happened at the same time as most industries in various nations were moving towards privatisation and de-regulation while moving away from the shadows of the public sector. The change process was rapid and radical in nature. Another change in the aviation industry which was not just restricted to one organisation was the agreement of global alliances among the various international and domestic airlines in the global market. This changed the structure and process of operations in the Aviation industry while also bringing in harmony the use of labour and the strategies adopted by management across various airlines in the industry (Fairbrother, 2002). Another change initiative which was related across airline companies was the use of part time and casual employees so that they can benefit from using them when required and paying them only for the number of hours employed. This has allowed them to reduce the overall labour costs however, in most airline companies; most of the part time employees did work overtime just as much as full time employees leading to no change in the overall labour costs (Dawson, 2003). The privatisation of the airlines is not just limited to Qantas airlines but has increased further to British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM etc (Delfmann, 2005). An additional change management initiative is the collaborative effects among most airline companies to ensure a reduction in the carbon footprint overall and thus support the climate change initiatives along with the various other industries and governments (Bishop Grayling, 2003). Steve this is the other introduction to the research study I written, but Im unsure if this is perhaps too current as it relates to the current global economic recession. Could you advise if it is maybe best to delete the information I have highlighted in bold and continue with the original introduction I have written on page 3. Introduction to the research study There is a famous saying stated by an unknown author The only think that is constant is change (Berman, 2007). With the current changing customer requirements and external environment necessities, organisations which behave as the closed systems that do not constantly change themselves to fit the market requirements and customer demands will fail in the longer terms (Harigopal, 2006). The punctuated paradigms irregularities frequency has increased over the past decade implying that the change in organisations is not as fast or as paced as the change in external environments which in-turn is increasing the gaps between the customer requirements and products/services provided by organisations (Hayes, 2007). This has made it crucial to study the significance of change management internally in organisations so that this building gap can be reduced and organisations can benefit from these constant changes through adapting their culture. The recent economic recession and credit crunch with a decreasing GDP rate across the United Kingdom in 2008-09 (Statistics, 2009) has forced organisations to find new ways to reduce costs for the products and services generated by them so that they can survive in this difficult climate. Organisations responses to these necessary changes being forced upon them is being tackled using various techniques such as economies of scale (Grant, 2005), internal re-structuring and creating new operational processes which will reduce their operational and maintenance costs. This in-turn has led to need for effective change management in such organisations so that the changes implemented are widely accepted by the workforce which in-turn ensures that success from the implemented change techniques are achieved (Cameron Green, 2008). One such organisation which has implemented various change methodologies in the past few years in response to the changing industry environment is British Airways. The organisation like many others has undergone some changes in their strategy, technology, structure and cultural aspects in order to survive in the changing environment and maintain the organisations core competency. British Airways will be used as a case study in this research study in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the research study. Many literatures focus on change management in organisations enforced due to various reasons and either at the beginning or at the end of the change management procedures being implemented. However, most of these researches have not taken into consideration the change management forced by external environments due to an economic recession especially since this scenario is not very common or recurring constantly. This research will contribute to the existing literature by using economic recession as one of the external factors leading to implementing changes in the airline industry. This research study will attempt to act as a guide to further researches who wish to identify the necessity for effective change management in the airline industry organisation especially when the external contributing factor is the economic recession. Sharon, This is a very well written first draft of your dissertation. I think there are some very good elements but there are also quite long passages where there are no references cited. I think if you do a little more reading and address these gaps then you will have the basis of a very good literature review. Steve

The Burdens of Lt. Jimmy Cross in Tim OBriens Story The Things They C

The Burdens of Lt. Jimmy Cross in Tim O'Brien's Story "The Things They Carried" One of the most overlooked aspects in the life of a soldier is the weight of the things they carry. In Tim O'Brien's story, "The Things They Carried," O'Brien details the plight of Vietnam soldiers along with how they shoulder the numerous burdens placed upon them. Literally, the heavy supplies weigh down each soldier -- but the physical load imposed on each soldier symbolizes the psychological baggage a soldier carries during war. Though O'Brien lists the things each soldier carries, the focal point centers around the leader, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, and his roles in the war. Lt. Cross has multiple burdens, but his emotional baggage is the most pressing. Of all the weights burdened upon Lt. Cross, the heaviest baggage is located in his own mind. Specifically, the heaviest things Lt. Cross carries are an emotional obsession over Martha's love, the physical consequences caused by his daydreaming of Martha, and an unrelenting guilt about Ted Lavender's death. In the first paragraph of the story, Jimmy Cross' rank is noted (First Lieutenant) along with the fact that he "carried letters from a girl named Martha, a junior at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey" (434). From the outset, the reader sees that Martha plays a pivotal role in his thoughts and actions. The fact that Jimmy Cross "would imagine romantic camping trips into the White Mountains in New Hampshire" after he marched the entire day and dug a foxhole indicates that he thinks often of Martha (434). While these thoughts of a lover back home provide some form of escape for Lt. Cross, they also burden him with the obsessive feelings of unrequited love. ... ...nal lives, but O'Brien's choice to focus one soldier, Lt. Cross, lets the reader scope the depths of the human mind during an extremely stressful situation. As a young lieutenant, this man shoulders his own longing for love, the death of a fellow soldier, the guilt he places on himself, as well as the added duties of responsibilities for a platoon of men. The narrator provides one specific quote, which perfectly summarizes the mental aspects of war: "They carried all the emotional baggage of men who might die. Grief, terror, love, longing -- these were intangibles, but the intangibles had their own mass and specific gravity, they had tangible weight" (443). Indeed, the intangibles in this story do have tangible weight -- weight that Lt. Cross must carry for the rest of his life. Works Cited: O?Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. NY: Broadway Books, 1998.

homes Essay example -- essays research papers

Except for the fairly elaborate chieftains' houses, Greek dwellings remained simple through classical times. A passageway led from the street into an open court off which three or four rooms were reached, the whole being fairly small in scale. The Roman houses, as seen, for example, at Pompeii, also stood at the street's edge. Past a vestibule was an open space called the atrium, from which the sleeping rooms were reached; a colonnaded garden often stood in back. In ancient Rome most people lived in the equivalent of apartment houses, three to five stories high, with apartments ranging from three to six rooms; some were like tenements, others were elaborate. At ground level were rows of small shops. The rich had huge villas outside the cities that were composed of living quarters and pleasure pavilions. IV. Houses of Medieval EuropePrint section This comparative sophistication in housing disappeared during the so-called Dark Ages in Europe. Although castles and primitive manors housed many people, most of the remaining population were packed into simple, unsanitary dwellings huddled within the walls of small cities and towns. The countryside was unsafe, and agriculture and population both declined; the prosperous farms of classical antiquity disappeared. Slowly, after AD1000, conditions improved, first around the great monasteries and then in the expanding cities. The rise of a prosperous mercantile class resulted in the construction of large town houses and in due time country manors. Comparatively peaceful conditions brought some improvement in housing for farm serfs, but the living conditions of the poor town-dweller continued, on the whole, to be miserable. By the end of the Middle Ages the concept of the palace had evolved from the idea of the grand town house. These palaces were elaborate dwellings for ranking ecclesia stics, merchant princes, or ruling families; they might occupy a whole block and contain, in addition to ceremonial and private apartments, quarters for large numbers of retainers and hangers-on. V. From the Renaissance to the 19th CenturyPrint section The palace was perfected during the Renaissance and remains one of architecture's most enduring images, a dignified, large-scale city element that has been adapted and repeated ever since. Palaces were first built in Florence, Italy, and then throughout the Western world. In France... ...ouses that broke with historical architectural styles were slow to be accepted. As early as 1889 the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright built a house embodying new concepts of spatial flow from one room to another. He and others, both in Europe and in the United States, soon moved toward a domestic architectural style of metric forms and simplified surfaces largely free of decoration. Contemporary changes in painting and sculpture were allied to this movement, and by the 1920s modern architecture, though by no means universally accepted, had arrived. Glass, steel, and concrete reinforced with steel gave architects many new design options, and by the mid-20th century the modern house was commonplace. Glass boxes, freely curving styles, and stark, austere geometric forms were all possible; but at the same time traditional styles persisted, and in the U.S. many homeowners found a more or less standard, one-floor, two- or three-bedroom ranch house satisfactory. VIII. Houses of the Far EastPrint section House types in India vary greatly according to region, climate, and local tradition. The villages have courtyard houses as well as simple, single-volume dwellings; in the cities,

The Role of Mass-Media in the Contemporary World Essay -- essays resea

The Role of Mass-Media in the Contemporary World The power of the mass media has once become so powerful that its undoubtedly significant role in the world today stays beyond any questions. It is so strong that even politics uses it as a means of governing in any country around the world. The mass media has not only political meaning but also it conveys wide knowledge concerning all possible aspects of human beings’ lives and, what is utterly true, influences on people’s points of view and their attitude to the surrounding environment. It is completely agreeable about what kind of virtues the mass media is supposed to accent. Nevertheless, it is not frequent at all that the media provides societies with such a content, which is doubtful in terms of the role consigned to it. Presenting violence and intolerance as well as shaping and manipulating public are only a few examples of how the role of mass media is misunderstood by those who define themselves as leading media makers. As long as violent programmes are shown on TV, the role of the mass media becomes completely different from how it was originally treated. Violence is socially harmful and especially the youth are very prone to such scenes that may strongly affect their psyches. It is true that programmes featuring cruel pictures are marked as ‘only for adults’ but the time when they are emitted is relatively early and the access to them seems to be rather unlimited to young people. Another matter that is very fre...

The Nervous System

Chapter 35 Nervous System MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. The basic types of tissue in the human body are a. |cell, organ, and organ system. | b. |sight, smell, and hearing. | c. |thyroid, trachea, adenoid, and bronchus. | d. |muscle, nervous, connective, and epithelial. | ANS:DDIF:AREF:p. 894OBJ:35. 1. 1 2. Which system regulates and controls growth, development, and metabolism? a. |endocrine system|c. |integumentary system| b. |lymphatic system|d. |skeletal system| ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 893OBJ:35. 1. 1 STO:12. A. 4. b 3. The levels of organization in the body include a. |endocrine, respiratory, digestive, and nervous. b. |cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. | c. |cells, tissues, and functions. | d. |lymphatic, respiratory, and circulatory. | ANS:BDIF:AREF:p. 891OBJ:35. 1. 1 4. How many organ systems make up the human body? a. |4|c. |8| b. |5|d. |11| ANS:DDIF:BREF:p. 891OBJ:35. 1. 1 5. A group of similar cells that perform a single function is called a(an) a. |nerve. |c. |tissue. | b. |organ. |d. |organ system. | ANS:CDIF:BREF:p. 891OBJ:35. 1. 1 6. Which type of tissue lines your internal organs? a. |epithelial|c. |nerve| b. |connective|d. |muscle| ANS:ADIF:BREF:p. 894OBJ:35. 1. 1 7.Which type of tissue enables a person’s fingers to move as he or she plays the piano? a. |epithelial|c. |nerve| b. |connective|d. |muscle| ANS:DDIF:EREF:p. 894OBJ:35. 1. 1 8. Which type of tissue provides support for the body? a. |epithelial|c. |nerve| b. |connective|d. |muscle| ANS:BDIF:BREF:p. 894OBJ:35. 1. 1 9. The process by which organ systems maintain relatively constant internal conditions is called a. |circulation. |c. |homeostasis. | b. |organization. |d. |teamwork. | ANS:CDIF:BREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 10. Which process enables the body to maintain a stable temperature? a. |heating|c. |feedback inhibition| b. |circulation|d. cellular activity| ANS:CDIF:AREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 11. The level of chemicals in the body that speed up cellular activity is regulated by a. |action potent ial. |c. |the sympathetic nervous system. | b. |feedback inhibition. |d. |the parasympathetic nervous system. | ANS:BDIF:EREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 12. Which system coordinates the body’s response to changes in its internal and external environment? a. |lymphatic system|c. |excretory system| b. |nervous system|d. |reproductive system| ANS:BDIF:BREF:p. 892, p. 897 OBJ:35. 2. 1STO:12. A. 4. b 13. Neurons are classified by the a. |direction in which they carry impulses. b. |amount of metabolic activity that takes place. | c. |number of dendrites that branch out. | d. |number of impulses that they carry. | ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 897OBJ:35. 2. 1 14. What is the smallest structural and functional unit of the nervous system? a. |nerve|c. |organ| b. |neuron|d. |tissue| ANS:BDIF:AREF:p. 897OBJ:35. 2. 1 15. What begins when a neuron is stimulated by another neuron or by the environment? a. |a threshold|c. |an impulse| b. |an action potential|d. |a dendrite| ANS:CDIF:BREF:p. 899OBJ:35. 2. 2 16. What is the function of neurotransmitters? a. |to transmit nerve impulses through dendrites| b. to stimulate the production of epinephrine| c. |to transmit nerve impulses across synapses| d. |none of the above| ANS:CDIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2 17. For a neuron to reach an action potential, it must a. |release electrons. | b. |absorb calcium. | c. |reverse the electrical charge across the cell membrane. | d. |take in sodium ions. | ANS:CDIF:EREF:p. 899OBJ:35. 2. 2 Figure 35–1 18. Refer to Figure 35–1. The cell body of a neuron collects information from which structure? a. |A|c. |C| b. |B|d. |E| ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 897, p. 898 OBJ:35. 2. 2 19. When an impulse reaches the end of a neuron, it triggers the release of a. neurotransmitters. |c. |dendrites. | b. |sodium ions. |d. |receptors. | ANS:ADIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2 20. What is the function of the central nervous system? a. |to relay messages|c. |to analyze information| b. |to process information|d. |all of the above| A NS:DDIF:BREF:p. 901OBJ:35. 3. 1 21. Which of the following is a function of the cerebrum? a. |controls conscious activities of the body| b. |controls heart rate| c. |controls blood pressure| d. |controls breathing| ANS:ADIF:AREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 22. The region of the brain that recognizes hunger is the a. |brain stem. |c. |hypothalamus. | b. |medulla oblongata. |d. |thalamus. ANS:CDIF:AREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 1 23. The ability to move your right hand is controlled by the a. |left hemisphere of the cerebrum. | b. |right hemisphere of the cerebrum. | c. |both the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum. | d. |neither hemisphere of the cerebrum. | ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 24. A student’s ability to think about a question and answer it correctly is directly controlled by the a. |brain stem. |c. |medulla. | b. |cerebellum. |d. |cerebrum. | ANS:DDIF:EREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 25. Which division(s) of the peripheral nervous system transmit(s) impulses from sense organs to the central nervous system? . |sensory division|c. |sensory and motor divisions| b. |motor division|d. |spinal cord division| ANS:ADIF:BREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 2 26. Which division of the nervous system controls the ability to dance? a. |somatic|c. |central| b. |autonomic|d. |brain| ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 2 27. The division of the nervous system that helps the body react to pain is the a. |somatic nervous system. |c. |autonomic nervous system. | b. |sensory nervous system. |d. |sympathetic nervous system. | ANS:ADIF:AREF:p. 904OBJ:35. 3. 2 28. Sense organs are part of the a. |peripheral nervous system. |c. |autonomic nervous system. | . |central nervous system. |d. |parasympathetic nervous system. | ANS:ADIF:AREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 2 29. What are the two divisions of the peripheral nervous system? a. |brain and spinal cord|c. |somatic and autonomic| b. |thalamus and hypothalamus|d. |sensory and motor| ANS:DDIF:BREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 2 30. Which of the following general categories of sensory receptors are located everywhere in the body except the brain? a. |thermoreceptors|c. |photoreceptors| b. |mechanoreceptors|d. |pain receptors| ANS:DDIF:AREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 1 31. Which general category of sensory receptors detects variations in temperature? . |thermoreceptors|c. |photoreceptors| b. |mechanoreceptors|d. |pain receptors| ANS:ADIF:BREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 1 32. Sensory receptors that are sensitive to chemicals are found in the a. |skin, body core, and hypothalamus. |c. |eyes. | b. |skin, skeletal muscles, and inner ears. |d. |nose and taste buds. | ANS:DDIF:EREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 1 33. Which of the five senses contains two types of photoreceptors called rods and cones? a. |vision|c. |smell| b. |hearing|d. |taste| ANS:ADIF:BREF:p. 907OBJ:35. 4. 2 34. In which of the following structures might an infection cause dizziness? a. |semicircular canals|c. |eardrum| . |oval window|d. |cochlea| ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 908OBJ:35. 4. 2 Figure 35–2 35. Which labeled structure in Figure 35–2 creates pressure waves in the cochlea? a. |structure A|c. |structure C| b. |structure B|d. |structure D| ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 908OBJ:35. 4. 2 36. In Figure 35–2, which labeled structure sends impulses to the brain that enable it to determine body motion and position? a. |structure A|c. |structure C| b. |structure B|d. |structure D| ANS:BDIF:AREF:p. 908, p. 909 OBJ:35. 4. 2 37. Which sense relies on the largest sense organ in the body? a. |touch|c. |smell| b. |hearing|d. |taste| ANS:ADIF:AREF:p. 09OBJ:35. 4. 2 38. If you did not like the flavor of a certain oral liquid medicine, you could hide much of its taste by a. |closing your eyes. |c. |holding your nose. | b. |covering your ears. |d. |folding your hands together. | ANS:CDIF:EREF:p. 909OBJ:35. 4. 2 39. Drugs that increase heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate are called a. |stimulants. |c. |opiates. | b. |depressants. |d. |alcohol. | ANS:ADIF:BREF:p. 910OBJ:35. 5. 1 40. What types of drugs slow down the activity of the central nervous system? a. |stimulants|c. |opiates| b. |depressants|d. |cocaine| ANS:BDIF:AREF:p. 911OBJ:35. 5. 1 41.Uncontrollable pain and sickness occur because the body cannot produce enough endorphins when a drug user attempts to stop using a. |opiates. |c. |crack. | b. |cocaine. |d. |marijuana. | ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 911OBJ:35. 5. 1 42. The most widely abused legal drug is a. |marijuana. |c. |amphetamines. | b. |tranquilizers. |d. |alcohol. | ANS:DDIF:BREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 43. What system does alcohol immediately affect? a. |digestive|c. |nervous| b. |circulatory|d. |endocrine| ANS:CDIF:BREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 44. Alcohol does each of the following EXCEPT a. |slow reflexes. |c. |impair judgment. | b. |stimulate heart rate. |d. disrupt coordination. | ANS:BDIF:AREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 45. One third of all homicides can be attributed to the effects of a. |alcohol. |c. |crack. | b. |cocaine. |d. |opiates. | ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 MODIFIED TRUE/FAL SE 1. There are four levels of organization in the human body: cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. _________________________ ANS:TDIF:AREF:p. 891 OBJ:35. 1. 1 2. A group of similar cells that perform a single function is called a(an) organ. _________________________ ANS:F, tissue DIF:BREF:p. 891OBJ:35. 1. 1 3. The hypothalamus is to your body as the thermostat is to the internal environment of a house. ________________________ ANS:TDIF:EREF:p. 896 OBJ:35. 1. 2 4. Spreading out from the cell body of a neuron are short, branched extensions called axons. _________________________ ANS:F, dendrites DIF:BREF:p. 898OBJ:35. 2. 1 5. The propagation of an action potential is slower in myelinated axons than in axons that lack a myelin sheath. _________________________ ANS:F, faster DIF:EREF:p. 898OBJ:35. 2. 2 6. The largest and most prominent region of the human brain that is responsible for the voluntary, or conscious, activities of the body is the cerebellum. _________________________ ANS:F, cerebrumDIF:BREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 7. The brain and spinal cord can withstand considerable trauma due to the meninges acting as a shock absorber. ______________________________ ANS:F, cerebrospinal fluid DIF:AREF:p. 901OBJ:35. 3. 1 8. If you accidentally step on a tack with your bare foot, the pathway that the nerve impulse takes from your foot to your leg is called a reflex arc. _________________________ ANS:TDIF:BREF:p. 904 OBJ:35. 3. 2 9. The autonomic nervous system is part of the motor division of the peripheral nervous system. _________________________ ANS:TDIF:AREF:p. 904 OBJ:35. 3. 2 10.Chemoreceptors are associated with the sense of smell and touch. _________________________ ANS:F, taste DIF:AREF:p. 909OBJ:35. 4. 1 11. Rods respond to light of different colors, producing color vision. ____________________ ANS:F, Cones DIF:EREF:p. 907OBJ:35. 4. 2 12. A person with a relatively small number of cones in the retinas may have trouble distinguishing colors. _____________ ____________ ANS:TDIF:EREF:p. 907 OBJ:35. 4. 2 13. The cochlea and the two tiny sacs located behind it help the body maintain its equilibrium. ______________________________ ANS:F, semicircular canals DIF:EREF:p. 908OBJ:35. 4. 2 14.Addiction can be defined as intentional misuse of any drug for nonmedical purposes. _________________________ ANS:F, Drug abuse DIF:AREF:p. 914OBJ:35. 5. 1 15. About 40 percent of the fatal accidents that occur on Americans highways involve the drug alcohol. _________________________ ANS:TDIF:BREF:p. 912 OBJ:35. 5. 2 COMPLETION 1. Your skin, hair, nails, and sweat and oil glands make up your _________________________ system. ANS:integumentary DIF:EREF:p. 892OBJ:35. 1. 1STO:12. A. 4. b 2. Neurons are classified into three types according to the ____________________ the impulse travels. ANS:direction DIF:AREF:p. 97OBJ:35. 2. 1 3. The process by which a stimulus produces a response that opposes the original stimulus is called ____________________ inhibition. ANS:feedback DIF:BREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 4. ____________________ is the process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment. ANS:Homeostasis DIF:AREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 5. In most animals, axons and dendrites are clustered into bundles of fibers called ____________________. ANS:nerves DIF:AREF:p. 898OBJ:35. 2. 1 6. Sensory neurons and motor neurons are connected by ____________________, which carry impulses between them. ANS:interneuronsDIF:BREF:p. 897OBJ:35. 2. 1 7. The myelin sheath that surrounds a single long axon leaves many gaps, called ____________________, where the axon membrane is exposed. ANS:nodes DIF:AREF:p. 898OBJ:35. 2. 1 8. The difference in electrical charge across the cell membrane of a resting neuron is its resting ____________________. ANS:potential DIF:AREF:p. 898OBJ:35. 2. 2 9. The two major divisions of the human nervous system are the central and the ____________________ nervous systems. ANS:peripheral DIF:BREF:p. 901OBJ:35. 3. 1 Fig ure 35–3 10. The process illustrated in Figure 35–3 is called a(an) ____________________.ANS:reflex arc DIF:EREF:p. 904OBJ:35. 3. 2 11. The turning of your head is controlled by the ____________________ nervous system, which is part of the peripheral nervous system’s motor division. ANS:somatic DIF:EREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 2 12. Sensory receptors called _________________________ are found in the skin, skeletal muscles, and inner ears and are sensitive to touch, pressure, stretching of muscles, sound, and motion. ANS:mechanoreceptors DIF:BREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 1 13. Small muscles attached to the ____________________ of your eye change its shape to help you focus on near or distant objects.ANS:lens DIF:EREF:p. 907OBJ:35. 4. 2 14. The class of drugs called ____________________ mimic natural chemicals in the brain known as endorphins, which normally help to overcome sensations of pain. ANS:opiates DIF:EREF:p. 911OBJ:35. 5. 1 15. Cirrhosis of the liver is a possible resu lt of the long-term use of ____________________. ANS:alcohol DIF:BREF:p. 913OBJ:35. 5. 2STO:11. A. 4. c, 13. A. 4. b SHORT ANSWER 1. Compare and contrast tissues and organs. ANS: A tissue is a group of similar cells that perform a single function. An organ is a group of tissues that work together to perform a complex function.DIF:AREF:p. 891OBJ:35. 1. 1 2. What is homeostasis? ANS: Homeostasis is the process by which organisms keep internal conditions relatively constant despite changes in external environments. DIF:BREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 3. How can the nervous system help a person run without falling? Explain. ANS: Balance is necessary for running. Portions of the nervous system, along with the sense organs, can interpret a person’s balance and make minor corrections to make sure the person will not fall. DIF:EREF:p. 908OBJ:35. 4. 1 4. Distinguish between the functions of dendrites and axons.ANS: Dendrites and axons are parts of a neuron. Dendrites carry impulses from the e nvironment or from other neurons toward the cell body. Axons carry impulses away from the cell body. DIF:BREF:p. 898OBJ:35. 2. 2 5. At what location does a neuron transfer an impulse to another cell? ANS: the synapse DIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2 Figure 35–1 6. Identify the structure and its labeled parts illustrated in Figure 35–1. ANS: neuron; (A) dendrite; (B) cell body; (C) axon; (D) myelin sheath; (E) nucleus DIF:EREF:p. 897OBJ:35. 2. 2 7. What are the major regions of the brain? ANS:The major regions of the brain are the cerebrum, the cerebellum, the brain stem, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus. DIF:BREF:p. 901, p. 902, p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 1 8. How is the spinal cord like a major telephone line? ANS: The spinal cord is the main communications link between the brain and the rest of the body, transmitting information, just as a telephone line carries many calls at once. DIF:AREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 1 9. Why is a severe injury to the brain stem usually fatal? ANS: The bra in stem controls some of the body’s most important functions, including breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure, and swallowing.These involuntary processes are essential to life, so the disruption of any of these processes can cause death. DIF:EREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 10. What is a motor neuron? ANS: A motor neuron carries impulses from the brain and the spinal cord to muscles and glands. DIF:EREF:p. 897OBJ:35. 2. 1 11. How is a pain in your toe perceived by sensory receptors? Why is it important for your body to sense this pain? ANS: Pain receptors respond to chemicals released by the damaged cells in your toes, which may indicate danger, injury, or disease. DIF:EREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 1 12. Identify the five main senses. ANS:The five main senses are vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. DIF:BREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 2 13. Compare and contrast the functions of rods and cones. ANS: Both rods and cones are photoreceptors in the retina. Rods are sensitive to light but do not distingu ish colors. Cones are less sensitive to light than rods, but cones respond to light of different colors. DIF:AREF:p. 907OBJ:35. 4. 2 14. How do opiates help people overcome sensations of pain? ANS: Opiates mimic natural chemicals in the brain known as endorphins, which normally help to overcome sensations of pain. DIF:BREF:p. 911OBJ:35. 5. 1 15.What are the cause and effect of fetal alcohol syndrome? ANS: Fetal alcohol syndrome is caused by consuming alcohol while pregnant. The effect of this syndrome is a range of birth defects in the baby, such as heart defect, malformed face, delayed growth, and poor motor development. DIF:AREF:p. 913OBJ:35. 5. 2STO:11. A. 4. c, 13. A. 4. b OTHER USING SCIENCE SKILLS This diagram shows the structure of a synapse between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of a neighboring neuron. Figure 35–4 1. Applying Concepts In Figure 35–4, which structures release neurotransmitters? ANS: vesicles DIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2. Interpreting Gr aphics In Figure 35–4, into what area do the neurotransmitters diffuse? ANS: synaptic cleft DIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2 3. Predicting Referring to Figure 35–4, predict the direction of the impulse. ANS: The impulse will travel from the axon to the dendrite of the adjacent neuron. DIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2 4. Applying Concepts Referring to Figure 35–4, after the neurotransmitters are released from the cell surface, what happens to the neurotransmitters? ANS: The neurotransmitters may be broken down by enzymes, or taken up and recycled by the axon terminal. DIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2 5.Applying Concepts If the axon in Figure 35–4 is part of a motor neuron, to what cells are the impulses being passed? ANS: muscle cells and glands DIF:AREF:p. 897OBJ:35. 2. 2 USING SCIENCE SKILLS Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is a measure of the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream. The following graphs illustrate how many alcoholic drinks consumed in one hour result in different levels of BAC in individuals of different masses. In some states, an adult driving with a BAC of 0. 08% or higher is considered to be legally drunk. Figure 35–5 6. Using Tables and Graphs You have a mass of 45 kg and have had one drink.According to Figure 35–5, how long would it take for your BAC to drop to 0. 04% or lower? ANS: one hour DIF:EREF:p. 912, p. 913OBJ:35. 5. 2 STO:11. A. 4. c, 13. A. 4. b 7. Using Tables and Graphs You are a 48-kg adult and have had four drinks in an hour. According to Figure 35–5, could you drive legally after three hours? ANS: no DIF:EREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 8. Interpreting Graphics Based on Figure 35–5, how is the mass of an individual related to BAC levels? ANS: Individuals with more mass can consume more alcoholic drinks in the same period of time and have a lower BAC than individuals with less mass.DIF:EREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 9. Interpreting Graphics A 40-kg person and a 50-kg person each drink 4 drinks in 4 h ours. Do they have the same BAC? ANS: No. The 40-kg person has a BAC of 0. 10% or higher, whereas the 50-kg person has a BAC of 0. 05% to 0. 09%. DIF:EREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 10. Applying Concepts A 58-kg person has two cocktails just before dinner and a glass of wine with dinner 30 minutes later. According to Figure 35–5, how long would the individual be in the â€Å"Definitely illegal† category? ANS: one hour DIF:EREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 USING SCIENCE SKILLS Figure 35–6 11.Interpreting Graphics What is the name of structure C in Figure 35–6? ANS: spinal cord DIF:BREF:p. 901, p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 1 12. Applying Concepts Referring to Figure 35–6, which structure is responsible for the voluntary, or conscious, activities of the body? ANS: structure A, the cerebrum DIF:BREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 13. Applying Concepts Referring to Figure 35–6, which structure is the control center for recognition and analysis of hunger, thirst, fatigue, anger, and body temperature? ANS: hypothalamus DIF:BREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 1 14. Interpreting Graphics In Figure 35–6, which structure is the cerebellum?ANS: structure B DIF:BREF:p. 901, p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 15. Applying Concepts Referring to Figure 35–6, what two regions of the brain stem act as neural â€Å"switchboards,† regulating the flow of information between the brain and the rest of the body? ANS: medulla oblongata and pons DIF:BREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 ESSAY 1. How are the cells of the human body similar to individuals in a society that work in groups to accomplish shared goals? ANS: Every cell in the human body is both an independent unit and an interdependent part of a larger community—the entire organism.Similarly, each individual in a society can survive independently, but it is also necessary to form interdependent groups to accomplish certain goals. DIF:EREF:p. 891OBJ:35. 1. 1 2. Name six of the body’s systems and describe their functions. ANS: Answer sh ould include six of the following systems. The nervous system coordinates the body’s response to changes in its internal and external environment. The integumentary system serves as a barrier against infection and injury, helps to regulate body temperature, and provides protection against ultraviolet radiation from the sun.The skeletal system supports the body, protects internal organs, allows movement, stores mineral reserves, and provides a site for blood cell formation. The muscular system works with the skeletal system to provide voluntary movement and helps to circulate blood and move food through the digestive system. The circulatory system brings oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to cells; fights infection; removes cell wastes; and helps regulate body temperature. The respiratory system provides oxygen needed for cellular respiration and removes excess carbon dioxide from the body.The digestive system converts foods into simpler molecules that can be used by the cells of the body. The excretory system eliminates waste products from the body. The endocrine system controls growth, development, and metabolism. The reproductive system produces reproductive cells and, in the female, nurtures and protects the developing embryo. The lymphatic system helps protect the body from disease, collects fluid lost from blood vessels, and returns the fluid to the circulatory system. DIF:EREF:p. 892, p. 893OBJ:35. 1. 1 STO:12. A. 4. b 3.Based on the process of feedback inhibition, explain how your body maintains a relatively constant temperature. ANS: The hypothalamus contains nerve cells that monitor both the temperature of your skin at the surface of the body and the temperature of organs in the body’s core. When these nerve cells sense that the body’s temperature is lower than normal, the hypothalamus produces chemicals that signal cells throughout the body to speed up their activities. Heat produced by this increase in cellular activity causes a gr adual rise in body temperature, which is detected by the nerve cells in the hypothalamus.This feedback inhibits the production of chemicals that speed up cellular activity and keeps body temperature from rising to a dangerous level. If your body temperature rises too far above normal, the hypothalamus slows down cellular activities, minimizing the production of heat. DIF:EREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 4. Compare resting potential and action potential in a neuron. ANS: The difference in electrical charge across the cell membrane of a resting neuron is the resting potential. Once an impulse begins, positive ions rush across the cell membrane, reversing the charge difference.The inside of the membrane gains a positive charge, and the outside of the membrane gains a negative charge. This rapid reversal of charges is called the action potential. As the impulse passes, the positively charged ions flow out of the cell, and the resting potential of the membrane is reestablished. DIF:AREF:p. 898, p . 899OBJ:35. 2. 2 5. What is the function of each of the main regions of the brain? ANS: The cerebrum controls voluntary activities, intelligence, learning, and judgment. The cerebellum controls coordination and balance.The brain stem controls blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and swallowing. The thalamus receives messages from the sense organs. The hypothalamus recognizes sensations of hunger, thirst, fatigue, anger, and body temperature. DIF:AREF:p. 902, p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 1 6. Compare the effects of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. ANS: The sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system each release different neurotransmitters that have opposite effects on the same organ system, which helps the body maintain homeostasis.When the sympathetic system speeds up an activity, the parasympathetic system slows down the same activity. For example, heart rate is increased by the sympathetic nervous system, but decrease d by the parasympathetic nervous system. DIF:AREF:p. 904OBJ:35. 3. 2 7. What are the five general categories of sensory receptors? Where are they located in the body? ANS: The five general categories are pain receptors, thermoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, chemoreceptors, and photoreceptors. Pain receptors are throughout the body except in the brain.Thermoreceptors are located in the skin, body core, and hypothalamus. Mechanoreceptors are found in skin, skeletal muscles, and inner ears. Chemoreceptors are found in the nose and taste buds. Photoreceptors are found in the eyes. DIF:AREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 1 8. How would you design an experiment to show that much of what people actually taste in food depends on their sense of smell? ANS: Students’ experiments may include having someone taste different types of foods that have specific tastes and smells, and then having the person taste them with his or her eyes shut and nose held closed.Students should determine if the person can id entify the food that he or she tasted without the use of sight and smell, and record observations and draw conclusions. DIF:EREF:p. 909OBJ:35. 4. 2 9. People who have to drive long distances sometimes take stimulants. How might this practice be dangerous? ANS: Stimulants increase the release of neurotransmitters at some synapses in the brain, which then leads to a feeling of energy and well-being. However, when the effects of the stimulants wear off, the brain’s supply of neurotransmitters has been depleted.The user quickly falls into fatigue and depression, which can impair the person’s ability to drive and could lead to accidents. DIF:AREF:p. 910OBJ:35. 5. 1 10. In the Designated Driver Program, one person in a group agrees to be the driver and not to drink any alcohol. Why is this program important? ANS: By decreasing the number of drunk drivers on the road, you decrease your chances of being involved in such an accident. If more people were involved in the Designat ed Driver Program, fewer people would be in danger of being involved in a fatal accident. DIF:EREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2