Thursday, October 31, 2019
Human Resource management (Workplace Bullying) Essay
Human Resource management (Workplace Bullying) - Essay Example At a time when employee loyalty is an important aspect of organizational strategies, it wise that all organizations shun work place bullying to ensure that employees are committed to the long term plan of the organization and that they perform optimally to achieve the goals of goals of the organization. Research by McCormack, Djurkovic and Casmir (2014) proves that organizations that provide a healthy work environment for the employees profit from optimal work output and perform better than those that pay little attention to work behaviour. Therefore, organizations must design strategies to ensure that work place bullying is shunned to pave way for optimal employee performance. Although the term bullying is common in management, it is clear that it is broad and refers to different aspects of organizational behaviour. Bullying or mobbing refers to situations in which a worker is subjected to long-lasting, recurrent, and serious negative or hostile acts and behaviour that are annoying and oppressing. Evidently, there are various forms of work place bullying within organizations. McCormack, Djurkovic and Casmir (2014) identify few including threats of professional status, threat to personal standing, overwork, destabilization and underpayment as various forms of bullying within many organizations. Among many researchers, there seems to be a consensus that work place bullying as the abuse of power that subjects employees to psychological, emotional or physical torture during their duties in the work place (Namie, 2003: Pfeffer, 2007). Often, those who have more powers in the organization abuse those below them by the way they handle them or even communicate du ring normal duties. Researchers such as McDonald, Backstrom and Allegretto (2007) have paid attention to underpayment as one of the forms of bullying within modern organizations. While this may be controversial, it is clear that in the endeavour to minimize expenditures within the competitive business
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Policy Brief ( 2 pages (1.5 line spacing) and the third page for Essay
Policy Brief ( 2 pages (1.5 line spacing) and the third page for sources only ) please please please i want and need to get full mark. thank u very much - Essay Example benefits for Vermont State, and the state should continue educating and encouraging its residents to take advantage of the Medicaid program (Sara, 2013). The state of Vermont has always prioritized the health of its members. It extended Medicaid to parents who had a higher income than the standard eligible income limit, given that the standard limit was in many cases below half the poverty level. In addition, Vermont covered parents who did not have children, unlike other states. Additionally, the state enacted a single-payer health care legislation in 2011. It consequently established an insurance exchange to meet the requirements of the ACA act until it applies for a waiver on the implementation of the single payer system. Vermont records approximately 47,000 uninsured people. This comprises of a large number of the population, which needs to be covered, to improve their ability to access medical attention. Fortunately, for the state, following the adoption of the 2010 ACA act, this number shall reduce significantly, as the regulation encourages more people to enroll for Medicaid (Holahan, Buettgens, Caroll, & Dorn, 2012). Following the generous Medicaid program that the state of Vermont has always held, implementation of the ACA will benefit the state, as it shall spend less on Medicaid, compared to other states. The state shall adjust its current federal medical assistance percentage to match the enhanced FMAP (Manatt Health Solutions, Center for Health Care strategies, & State Health Data Assistance Center, 2012). Such adjustments shall also offset the probable increase in administrative costs, thus making the Medicaid beneficial for Vermont. Consequently, the state shall benefit greatly from the ACA act, thus boosting the economic position of the state. More to this, adopting the expansion serves the state better, given that even states that do not expand their Medicaid still contribute Medicaid funds to the federal government. Following the expansion of
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Suspended Ceiling Construction
Suspended Ceiling Construction Advise the client on the selection of the proposed ceiling to be installed in the public exhibition space on the second floor where the suspended aircraft exhibit will be display and the raised access floor solution will be constructed in the offices on the fourth floor. Introduction 1.2 Suspended ceiling A suspended ceiling can be defined as a ceiling which are fixed to the framework and suspended from the main structure thus forming a void between the two components. The functional requirements of the suspended ceiling are:- Constructed on a construction grid preferably a 300mm dimensional system Resistance to impact and wear Durability to the change in climate and temperature Conforms to the building regulation code and fire rating of internal products Provide structural fire protection to steel beams supporting the concrete floor Provide acoustic control as it relates to absorption and reverberation properties Provide any sound and thermal insulation Easily constructed, repair, clean and maintain 1.3 Arrangement showing a typical isometric drawing of the suspended ceiling grid. 1.4 Sound absorption Acoustic control is a very important aspect of control for the museum of aviation building. The absorption of sound and the control of reverberation should be of heavy concern. Decibels level in the exhibition hall can reach a high of approximately 41 decibels. However, the acceptable decibel levels for and indoor environment like the museum of aviation exhibition hall should be 1.5 Design Aesthetics Design aesthetics for the museum of aviation is normally with the clients expectation of the requirements of the performance of the ceiling, and the client has three performance factors that they are expecting the ceiling to perform. The clients has indicated concerns in lighting, ventilation The final appearance for this ceiling, and to allow integration of the clients requirement depends on the type of material used. Surface finish depends on texture and colors. Cavities to allow the incorporation of the HVACs system and the accommodation of electrical and mechanical services. 1.6 Maintenance So design that an adequate means of access is provided to the void space for maintenance of the suspended system, concealed services and or lighting fittings by maintenance personnel 1.7 Integration For successful completion of this ceiling for the museum of aviation exhibition hall, interaction of the other building elements needs to be considered. Element that needs to be incorporated into the design of the suspended ceiling is lighting, sprinklers system, diffusers, column rings. Proper synchronization of these elements is very important 1.8 Sustainability Due to the increase awareness of getting people to think green and increase attention is being given to green building and sustainable design, especially as it pertains to the quality of the indoor environment and the present of volatile organic components (vocs) within it. Without the use of air conditioning system to maintain the indoor air quality to a control temperature and comfortable surrounding ventilation systems must be used. The use of artificial ventilation system should be heavily discouraged. Cost benefits are highly achieved from the use of natural ventilation systems. Being environmentally friendly for the client in this construction of the museum is a very important milestone in todays working market Armstrong ventilation system and the suspended ceiling will be used in the exhibition area of the museum building. This system allows the use of natural ventilation. Therefore reducing the use of artificial ventilation and the high cost associated with it. 2. Raised access Floor System 2.1 Introduction Raised floor system were developed in response to the high-tech boom of the 1970s The raised access floor system will be constructed in the offices of the museum of aviation building. Generally floors are to provide a level surface with sufficient strength to support the imposed loads of people and furniture, provide resistance to fire and a correct finish type of surface to receive the chosen finish. For the museum of aviation office space the Tates medium duty access floor system panels incorporated with a commercial fire proof carpet to integrate with the other parts of the building and office wall and ceiling finishes. 2.2 Design Aesthetics Floor finishes are usually applied to a structural base but may form part of the floor structure as in the case of the floor for the museum of aviation offices , access floor system are non structural components. Most finishes are chosen to fulfill a particular function, and clients taste and style such as Appearance-mainly chosen base on there aesthetic appeal and effect but must have some wearing properties High resistance-chosen mainly for their wearing and impact resistance properties and for high usage areas such as kitchens and offices. Hygiene -chosen to provide an impervious easy to clean surface with a reasonable aesthetic appeal. 2.3 Integration Integration of the floor system and other supporting elements of the office such as ceiling, furnitures and wall finishes need to be coordinated to enhance a constant and pleasing aesthetic look throughout the museum. Material selection should be closely coordinated with the clients expectation and the required final finishes. Tates floor solution provides a wide variety of colours and finishes to fit any design solution. 2.4 Sound Insulation Noise is produce by vibrating object which cause tiny particles of air around it to move in unison. These displace air particles collide with adjacent air particles setting them into motion and in unison with the vibrating object. This continuous chain reaction creates a sound wave which travels through the air until at some distance the air particle movement is so small that it is inaudible to the human air. Taking this into consideration transmission of noise and improvement the acoustic comfort in the office and other parts of the building can be achieved by the reduction of vibration. Vibration can be reduced or eliminated by adhering to the following Selection of the adequate flooring panels and thickness Distances between the floor joists 2.5 Fire protection Fire is every one business, just as safety is every ones concerned. Interior finish is subject to a wide range of building code requirements pertaining to fire. The combustibility of an interior finish material is rated by testing the flame spread of the surface of the material. Therefore the combustion rating for the museum of aviation internal finish should be rated zero (0) on the combustion of materials scale. Tates floor solution is zero combustible hence our selection of it use. 2.6 Durability Strengths of material is and important part in the durability of any material. As it applies to the floor panels, the durability depends on a number of factors which is as follows. Size of the floor joist Thickness of the floor panels Composition of the floor material Distance between the supporting pedestals All these factors will determine the dead load, imposed load and the superimposed load that the floor can carry; Tates medium duty or heavy duty panels selected for the museum of aviation office floors have these performing characteristics. 2.7 Maintenance Cleaning Maintenance in general to any component or system is surely the life span of it. Raised access floor systems maintenance is limited to cleaning of the floor surface on a schedule maintenance plan. In the construction phase of the raised access floor system, maintenance should be incorporated from the design phase to allow service technician the ability to access their cables and all other data or telecommunication line, via access panels non-destructively to the floor system. 2.8 Recommendation and Conclusion Appraisals of various raised access floor systems were conducted, but after careful consideration the Tates raise access floor system is the most suited solution for the office of the proposed museum of aviation building. Tates floor system is light weight and ease to handle. The panel is also 100% interchangeable and the frame on which these panels are constructed has an excellent grounding and electrical continuity. Tates floor system is also completely non-combustible and has very good anti-static properties. Load bearings capabilities for various load requirements Manufacturers portfolio This manufactures portfolio contains information on the products and components that are incorporated into the raised access floor on the fourth floor and suspended ceiling systems on the second floor in the proposals for the museum of aviation building 1. Raised access floor system Your clients and tenants expect your guidance to design and spec workspaces that accommodate todays technology and environmental issues as well as tomorrows. An under floor service distribution system provides a state-of-the-art solution to the complexities of HVAC, power, voice and data cabling systems, and the customary limitations these systems present to building owners and architects charged with meeting the ever-changing needs of building inhabitants. With Tates Interiors as your trusted partner, you can demonstrate to your clients that you bring expertise to the table to: reduce construction cost; provide flexibility in future re-configuration save unnecessary costs involved in moving walls and internal wiring, cabling and HVAC systems; reduce lost productivity and speed revenue generation as tenants and work teams more quickly move into upgraded space provide high-technology solutions utilized by the worlds leading technology brands and most sophisticated companies; introduce underfloor systems that enhance the beauty of the work environment; expand floor-to-floor space for more attractive and up-to-date interiors; provide green office environments for better air quality; improve the comfort level of individuals as they work; and, allow tenants to adapt cost-effectively as technological advances change the ways in which they must work. Our access floor systems assure strength, stability and efficiency, which substantially contribute to a buildings structural integrity and value. Every system component has been designed, developed and rigorously tested to ensure that overall performance exceeds even the most stringent international standards. Architects and building owners have relied on tates Interiors since 1975 to assist in their client needs assessment, design cost-effective custom solutions, provide the highest quality installation that doesnt result in a call-back, and maintain their raised access floors to maximize its wear-life. Excellent project management and scheduling enhance you and your clients experience of the worlds most renown high quality access floor systems. And youll appreciate the broad range of choices you can provide your clients with Tate Access Floors. Youll find high-end finishes for executive offices and boardrooms, attractive design choices for lobbies and other public spaces, as well as highly functional options for call centers and telecom and computer rooms, including: Steel Carpet tile Wood laminate Marble Rubber Vinyl laminate Glass PosiTile Additionally we work with architects and building owners to bring their computer rooms and other areas into ADA and OSHA compliance, from consulting and planning to retrofit and installation of new flooring systems. The pressure is on you from all directions, a reality we understand. We know that as general contractor, youre expected to bring design concepts into reality within time constraints and engineering limitations, not to mention tight budgets. So every supplier you select must get it right the first time, from delivery of goods to picture-perfect installation and clean up. Youll appreciate our track record for performance excellence, from a thorough needs analysis that prevents work interruptions and change orders that cause costly delays for you, to highly trained and experience crews that know how to work safely and productively to install underfloor systems that create the look and high functionality your clients expect. Of the 7,000-plus jobs weve installed, less than 2 percent of those required a single call back to make adjustments, a client service record of which we are extremely proud. Youll find a broad range of choices you can provide your clients with Tate Access Floors, from high-end finishes for executive offices and boardrooms, and attractive design choices for lobbies and other public spaces, to highly functional options for call centers and telecom and computer rooms, including: Steel Carpet tile Wood laminate Marble Raised Floor Cleaning Maintenance Tates Interiors has installed and maintained computer floors and office for close to 30 years. We know that it takes specially trained individuals and a full line of computer floor components to get the job done right the first time. We have full service capabilities including manpower and a complete inventory of components in Houston, Dallas and Uk. We can offer immediate response to your needs for service on computer room floors or raised floors in your office areas. To maximize your investment in your raised access floor, regular maintenance is a must. No one understands the Tate Access Floor product better than our trained personnels. We can help you extend the wear-life of your raised flooring with: Panel rotation for even wear Understructure adjustments Replacement of broken edge trim Replacement of warped panels Refurbish delaminated panels Sub-micron filter vacuuming Sealant applied to subflooring Spot cleaning to remove stains Professional surface cleaning Detail cleaning of entry points Tates under floor cleaning service helps protect your employees from airborne contaminants which can also clog circuitry, increase the risk of fire, lead to accidental halon discharge and contribute to a range of health problems and increased employee absenteeism. A regular maintenance program will keep your computer floor looking like new, and create a pleasant and professional environment staff, management, and clients will appreciate and respect. Our cleaning also satisfies many insurance audits, which may help reduce the cost of insurance. You can opt for an annual, semi-annual or quarterly cleaning and maintenance contract for both surface and under floors, as well as order spot cleaning as needed. Remember: Dust and dirt are abrasive to floor surface and harmful to sensitive equipment. Wax build-up inhibits static dissipation Loose edge trim or rocking panels can lead to a trip hazard and increased liability. The following details are showing the versatility of the tates access floor system and its access panels for maintenance and easy installation of services
Friday, October 25, 2019
courteous :: essays research papers
Being courteous is an act of being respectful and by using good manners towards people. Treating people with courtesy can show many different feelings towards the person being acted upon. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare there are many characters in the play that use and donââ¬â¢t use acts of courtesy. The focus of this issue is the question of, do the men in the play show courtesy towards the women in the play? Othello is the main character, and Iago is a solider in his army. Iago was passed a position of lieutenant to another solider named Cassio. This action made Iago very angry and jealous, so he would seek a sort of revenge throughout the play. In the play Othello Iago, a respected individual, shows very little respect towards women in the play. In lines 103 through 125 in Act 2 scene one Iago is very disrespectful towards the women in the play. In Iagoââ¬â¢s speeches, especially in lines 109 through 119, Iago acts in a very heavily manner towards Desdemona, and Emilia in these scenes throughout the play. In the opening acts we learn that Othello is a respected man, and a leader of an army. He lives out a long history of heroic stories and epics that make women woo over him. He marries Desdemona, while carrying a relationship with Emilia, the wife of Iago. Iago finds out about a past relationship with Othello and Emilia and becomes jealous and seeks revenge again. Iago then thin ks of a way to make Othello jealous. Iago shows no remorse towards anyone in these situations and uses not only his wife but also Desdemona to seek revenge on Othello out of jealousy. Throughout act 2 Iago talks to and about women in a very rude DuBois 2 manner. In line 115 Iago states, " ââ¬Å"You rise to play, and go to bed to work.â⬠This statement was primarily directed towards Desdemona and Emilia but, also includes all women at this time period. This means that a womanââ¬â¢s main purpose is to please a man and thatââ¬â¢s it. Iago also shows little respect for the leaders of his army, like Cassio his former lieutenant. He uses Cassio to make Othello jealous and then this makes Othello angry at Cassio. Cassio also shows little some disrespect towards women as well. In act 3 tension arises between the crowd and at the end a former prostitute of Cassio approaches him and he deliberately eases her by telling her that he hasnââ¬â¢t seen her in awhile because he is under a lot of stress lately.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Limited Household Participation in the Stock Market Phenomenon Analysis
LIMITED HOUSEHOLD PARTICIPATION IN THE STOCK MARKET PHENOMENON ANALYSIS TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION3 2. FACTORS THAT DETERMINE STOCKHOLDING DECISION OF HOUSEHOLDS4 2. 1. Wealth4 2. 2. Intelligence quotient (IQ) and cognitive skills4 2. 3. Education4 2. 4. Country4 2. 5. Information availability and ease to trade6 2. 6. Market trust6 2. 7. Age7 2. 8. Marital status7 2. 9. Sociability (social interaction)8 2. 10. Personal values9 2. 11. Life satisfaction9 2. 12. Health10 2. 3. Risk aversion10 3. CONCLUSIONS12 4. REFERENCES13 1. INTRODUCTION There are a lot of researches made to investigate the reasons why households participation in the stock market is relatively low. According to the numbers, only 21% of EU households participate in stockholding (European Survey of Consumer Finances, 2009). This looks irrational because the majority of the society members do not capture their chance to win additional benefits from their wealth in the stock market.The purpose of this exploratory research is to provide general insights about current status of households stock market participation and explain the variables that have effects on stockholding decision by households. Currently, the households investment level can be treated as market inefficiency due to irrational or unconscious households behavior. However, there is a number of external factors that influence the decision making in this field too.The statistics from variuos countries imply differences even among highly developed countries with similar GDP per capita like Italy with 14% and UK with 26% households stockholding level (European Survey of Consumer Finances, 2009). This means that there are externalities that lead to such differences and not just irrational households behavior determine the situation. To draw the full picture, this research focuses on both types of factors ââ¬â internal and external. The following chapters include short analysis of the main factors that have impact on household st ockholding decision and the summary. . FACTORS THAT DETERMINE STOCKHOLDING DECISION OF HOUSEHOLDS 2. 1. Wealth Wealth refers to accumulated tangible and intangible assets. It is obvious that for stock investing households need to have some tangible assets to buy stocks. Therefore, wealth is one of the main factors that determine whether a household can actually invest, or in other words, convert savings to investment. According to the survey, 31% of respondents in EU state that they have some savings but do not participate in any kind of investing (European Survey of Consumer Finances, 2009).Households starting to invest face a number of costs such as time spent to understand the stock market system, get familiar with markets situation and trading flow. It may seem that the knowledge gain does not cost anything but there are opportunity costs when it comes to time. Other than that, there are also some direct tangible costs like transaction costs, taxes and other fees for the brokera ge. Of course for wealthier households this kind of barriers are less relevant, however, poorer households might be considering if possible benefits outweigh the costs. . 2. Intelligence quotient (IQ) and cognitive skills IQ is probably the most common measure to assess human intelligence. There is no doubt that beneficial stockholding requires appropriate level of intelligence to make good investing decisions. According to recent researches, there is a correlation between IQ and participation in stock market (IQ and Stock Market Participation, 2011). Householdsââ¬â¢ heads with higher IQ tend to diversify, hold mutual funds, more stocks and eventually bear lower risks with higher returns.In addition to IQ, it is worth to mention cognitive skills that have impact on participation and successfullness of stockholding. Good cognitive skills lead to lower time costs for getting knowledge and higher awareness that are so crucial for investing. 2. 3. Education In general, education prov ides a lot of advantages for societies and its members. Self development is crucial to gain cognitive skills, general knowledge, increase awareness and gain variuos experiences. These are the traits necessary for successful participation in stock markets.It is proven that education has positive correlation with households stockholding participation. More specifically, even one additional year of schooling increases the possibility of participation by 7% ââ¬â 8% (Stock market participation and household characteristics in Europe, 2010). Moreover, decisions making of educated householdsââ¬â¢ heads are more rational. 2. 4. Country As it is mentioned in the introduction, different countries have created different environments for stock markets and, therefore, this is one more factor that can influence households stockholding decision.More specifically, governments can influence investment climate by adjusting such variables as taxes, laws, infrastructure, education, general count ryââ¬â¢s stability and even more. The Figure 1 below represents country specific percentage of households having direct and indirect stockholdings between 2006 and 2007 (Stock market participation and household characteristics in Europe, 2010). Figure 1. Stock market participation and household characteristics in Europe, 2010. In order to improve the opportunities for households to participate in tock markets, while at the same time to make it easier to enter the above-mentioned markets to new entrants, and to improve the conditions of participation for existing participants, and finally ââ¬â to ensure the stability of financial markets, government often takes appropriate actions, whose has a relatively high impact on the further development of stock markets. Government must ensure the macroeconomic stability of financial markets, while at the same time they must ensure the existence of an open economy.A theory of an open economy is very important on the development of stock markets, because only in this case people and companies can freely trade in goods and services with other people and businesses, so that has a major impact on the growth of financial markets. Another neccessary condition for the success of any stock market is its repayment of stock dividends culture ââ¬â before making any type of investment it must be ensured that stockholders will be allowed to get their dividends at a pre-determined time and at a pre-determined amounts.Talking about ensuring the fair trading process, European Union in 2004 released the EUââ¬â¢s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) (this directive was implemented three years later, in 2007), in order to open the door to the creation of new trading platforms directly operated by intermediaries, and in 2008, nine major investment banks (BNP Paribas, Citi, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Societe Generale and UBS) has launched new pan-European equities tr ading platform (based in London) called ââ¬Å"Project Turquoiseâ⬠.Has this directive had an impact on stock markets? Yes. The issuance of this directive led European Union to increase competition and consumer protection in investment services. In order to complete this section about relevant government efforts, we must conclude that the relevant government actions truly has a significant effect on the growth of stock (and bond) markets, promotes fair trade among all countries included in the process of buying / selling stocks, and eventually ââ¬â influences country's economic level to ncrease. But are these actions sufficient enough in order to ensure the increase of the involvement of households in the stock markets in the future? 2. 5. Information availability and ease to trade Technologies and their development have huge impact on everyday households life. Although nowadays the majority of wealthy households have ability to use the Internet, two decades earlier this was different and households participation in stock market rate was different too.The research of impact of the Internet to stock market participation reveals that there are strong evidences that the Internet penetration contributed to increased amount of households participating in stock market (Stock Market Participation and the Internet, 2008). According to the same research, the usage of the Internet increases the possibility to have stocks by 7%. This is mostly because of ease of stock trading (online trading), lower transaction costs and lower information costs. 2. 6. Market trustTrust is important factor for householdââ¬â¢s decision to invest in stock market. Financial markets involve much risk and uncertainty. To tell the truth, the majority of households whose invest in stocks don't fully understand how the capital markets actually function. There needs to be some faith and certainty in this process. If it is known that a certain person or a company is unreliable and untrus tworthy, you, simply, donââ¬â¢t want to have any kind of business and common interests with them. The same is with households.In deciding whether to buy stocks, investors takes into account the risk of being cheated, so those households, whose generally are more trusting, are also more likely to invest in the financial markets, and those who are less trusting are less likely to invest in the market. Collapses of financial markets and its key participants ââ¬â individual companiesââ¬â¢ (when fraud was initiated and tolerated by heads of major companies) not only lowers the distribution of expected payoffs, but at the same time reduces the confidence in the system, which generates these enefits. A great example ââ¬â company ââ¬Å"Enronâ⬠. ââ¬Å"Enronâ⬠was one of the biggest U. S. energy companies, however, when it was revealed lots of obscure in accounting procedures (it can be considered as a fraud), performed in 1990 on both ââ¬Å"Enronâ⬠and its par tner, accounting company ââ¬Å"Arthur Andersenâ⬠, there was a bankruptcy initiated on ââ¬Å"Enronâ⬠ââ¬â it was the largest bankruptcy in U. S. history. Share price fell from $ 90 to a few cents, and since those shares was considered to be very reliable, this bankruptcy was considered as disaster in the financial world.Companyââ¬â¢s shareholders lost nearly $11 billion. What do you think, what impact do these examples of companiesââ¬â¢ breakdowns have on the growth in confidence in financial markets? 2. 7. Age Another interesting fact in observing limited household stock market participation phenomenon ââ¬â age. One of the factors that influence householdââ¬â¢s decisions about stockholdings is the ageââ¬â¢s effect on risk tolerance. There was a research done, in order to identify the risk tolerance level within specified age groups, and it showed that the risk tolerance decreases within the age.According to a research done by Rui Yao, Michael S. Gutte r, and Sherman D. Hanna, where they analyzed the effect of race and ethnicity on subjective financial risk tolerance, measuring age as a continuous variable, found out that each year increase in age decreased a probability of taking any type of risk by almost 2 %. Another factor, having significant impact on household investment decisions according to its age, is income.As this factor was discussed at one of the beginning pages of this research paper, it is worth to remind that different age groups receives different amounts of wages, what has an impact on their ability to act and to invest in financial markets. Finally, it is an interesting fact that interpersonal trust (trust is our previously described factor due to limited household participation in stock market, but this time this factor is viewed from a slightly different perspective) is more important for stock market participation decision within younger age groups and political orientation within older age groups. . 8. Mari tal status Itââ¬â¢s not a secret that marital status is another important factor, which has a significant impact on householdââ¬â¢s decisions whether to participate in the stock market or not. Married people are more willing to take (and share with each other) a certain level of risk than those, whose are living alone, and those, whose are living together, but are not married at all. There was a research done in order to identify the effects of marriage and divorce on financial investments.According to this research, women are more likely to invest in the stock market after their marriage, and take back their investment after divorce, while at the same time men shows quite different patterns on investment decisions. This suggests that the female gender is more risk averse than men (risk averse is also identified as one of the factors that has an impact on householdââ¬â¢s investment decisions in the stock market), but in terms of couples who are married, a degree of risk mor e or less evenly distributes among themselves.It is worth to mention that marriage increases the likelihood of future investments in the financial markets for both men and women. There are lots of household finance literature available both online and in libraries, where it is often highlighted the differences in men and women behaviors while investing (marital status, as one of the factors having impact on households decision whether to participate in stock market or not, can be analyzed in a little bit different way.Thatââ¬â¢s true ââ¬â by gender and by risk level each gender has possibility to take on themselves). According to the literature, the differences on investment preferences between men and women are more exposed, when individuals rather than married couples are being analyzed, because as it was mentioned earlier, married investors takes more risk than single investors. A distribution in risk by gender, talking in terms of marital status, is not the only reason fo r limited household participation in stock market. There an be distinguished several different factors, attributable to marital status ââ¬â itââ¬Ës changes in household risk preferences, changes in background risks, and, also, changes in economic resources. 2. 9. Sociability (social interaction) Is it not true that working with a good company of friends involves more fun and at the same time the overall productivity increases? At the same time, donââ¬Ët you feel safer when you purchase a good, that was tested by people living in your environment, and it was recommended as a reliable and useful good?Another example would be a participation in any social program, where there previously participated, for example, your neighbours or friends ââ¬â your decision-making process is very strongly influenced by the people of your environment, and here takes place the so-called phenomenon of word-of-mouth communication. All these examples perfectly suites to define one more factor , which explains limited household participation in stock market phenomenon ââ¬â it is sociability, or, in other words, householdââ¬Ës social interaction.Harvard Business School provides us with an opportunity to observe their findings about sociabilityââ¬Ës impact on stockholding decisions. Firstly, according to a research done, social households ââ¬â those households, that has friendly and warm relations with their neighbours, are more likely to participate in stock markets, than those, whose relations with their neighbours are ruined or there arenââ¬Ët any neighbours in their environment. Secondly, as the proof of the first claim about sociability, researchers indicates that the impact of sociability is much more higher in those states with higher stock market participation rates.Quite ââ¬Å¾unexpectedââ¬Å", right? Finally, they found out that differential between social and non-social households appears to have widened since 1990s. We often encounter with wor d-of-mouth communicationââ¬Ës impact in our everydayââ¬Ës life, but when you are trying to assess sociabilityââ¬Ës influence on household decisions whether to participate on stock markets or not, you then realize the true power of a word. Word-of-mouth information sharing is key point in understanding sociability as another factor of limited household stockholding decisions, so we state that thereââ¬Ës a significant impact of social interaction on such like household decisions. 2. 10. Personal values This research is gradually beginning to analyze not only the superficial factors, that affects household decisions related to stock market participation, but it also tries to look a little bit deeper into personal characteristics of an investor. One of the most important internal factor, having a great impact on investorââ¬Ës financial decisions, is personal values of an individual.A technical definition of personal values would be that itââ¬Ës the strongest internal p rovisions, having a large impact on our everyday decisions. Those everyday decisions are better know as our consumption decisions, they are also a major driver of our voting decisions and so on. Compared to other internal factors, such as risk aversion or life satisfaction (those are our next two internal factors, whose will be discussed a little bit later in this research), studies about personal values and its impact on our everydayââ¬Ës life are more preferable by todayââ¬Ës researchers.According to their findings, personal values are connected to various demographic variables, i. e. Self-Transcedence and Openness to Change are the values that are proven to become more important when the level of education gets higher. It have also been proven that personal values are associated with social involvement, where, according to researchers, social involvement increases with the level of education. Finally, about two thirds of all studies shows that political orientation has stro ngest association with personal values.As every person has different values, the same is with political orientation ââ¬â as there are many factors affecting citizensââ¬Ë lives, such as the income inequality, national security and so on, it is natural, however, that different values are emphasized in different environments. So whatââ¬â¢s a true effect of personal values on investment decisions? Firstly, people with self-enhancement values of power and achievement are more likely to invest in stock markets than the others.And secondly, it is observed that personal values have a significant impact on those groups of people and their decisions, where investing in stock markets is relatively rare. 2. 11. Life satisfaction Isnââ¬â¢t it true that happier, more optimistic and satisfied with their life people embraces better decisions? What are the differences between pessimistic and optimistic people? ââ¬â Optimists are more likely to believe that future economic conditions will improve. On the other hand, it is observed that optimistic people are working longer hours, they are more likely to remarry after divorce.So, optimism and life satisfaction are other important factors influencing householdsââ¬â¢ economy-related decisions. There was a research by Cambridge universityââ¬Ës researchers done, where they found that optimism is highly correlated with stock ownership. People with higher levels of life satisfaction lives longer. Mostly. Therefore they think they are further from retirement, hence they are trying to control financial factors that are known that could affect their lifespan.Itââ¬Ës a fact, that people, whose are more satisfied with their life, are working more, they are less pre-disposed towards retirement. What is more, it is more likely that one day theyââ¬Ëll create any kind of business, so theyââ¬Ëll become self-employed. Finally, optimistic people are more likely to remarry after divorce. All of this suggests that lif e satisfaction and optimism truly is a critical component of economic-decision making, and that those two factors plays an important role both on household decisions related to stock market participation and economic welfare of stockholders. . 12. Health Health risk is increasingly viewed as an important form of background risk that affects household portfolio decisions. According to householdââ¬Ës level of health (whether itââ¬Ës poor or good) thereââ¬Ës a possibility to detect whether household is willing to participate on the stock market or not ââ¬â poor health is associated with smaller amount of risky assets and greater amount of safe assets. Researchers are trying to evaluate the links between health, health risk and portfolio selection.Recently it was observed that it does not matter whether households are trying to control their level of income and variety of socio-demographic characteristics, poor health decreases the probability of owning risky assets ââ¬â for example, those households with poor health entails a higher risk of unexpected out-of-pocket medical expenditures, and prefers to own a corporate or government bond instead of holding a stock. Despite the fact that health risk quite often leads to a previously mentioned higher out-of-pocket medical expenditure risk, two possible outcomes can arise from such things.In particular, households may start changing the allocation of their financial resources, that can reduce their exposure to financial risk. On the second case, households can increase their precautionary saving, what reduces their ability to act in stock markets. At this point it is worth to mention that the intervention of government organizations reduces the impact of health risks related to householdââ¬Ës stockholding decisions. Thatââ¬Ës why ââ¬â it is observed that countries without adequate health care laws tends not to invest in risky financial assets, so this suggests an important role of such laws in shaping householdââ¬Ës portfolio decisions. . 13. Risk aversion Finally, last but not least ââ¬â factor, which had a significant role on this entire research. Thatââ¬â¢s risk aversion. Weââ¬â¢ve emphasized different levels of risks on our study and their impact on household stockholding decisions, such as health risk or the age effect on risk tolerance. It has became clear that risk aversion reduces the probability of householdââ¬Ës investments on risky assets. As the standard portfolio theory states, the amount of wealth a person wishes o invest in risky assets, depends directly on his degree of risk aversion, so it is logical to assume that if a person is more risk averse, he will hold safer portfolios. There was a research done several years in a row (from 1998 to 2001), where researchers found out that risk aversion has an effect not only on the structure of portfolio, but it also has an impact on the final decision whether an individual wants to become a stoc kholder (you should remember that previously we had a little discussion about that entry costs affects individualsââ¬Ë stock market participation decisions, too).Finally, talking about risk aversionââ¬Ës relation to other factors affecting stockholding decisions, it is found that risk aversion is negatively correlated with wealth. Thatââ¬Ës true ââ¬â risk aversion decreases when wealth levels increases, and vice versa. To complete our discussion, another interesting fact ââ¬â it was identified, that women are more risk averse than men, however, differences between genders, tends to be larger in single households (remember what effect on householdââ¬Ës decisions on stockholding has marital status). 3. CONCLUSIONSIn general, all present researches about the topic agree that household stock market participation currently is not at the efficient point. There are a lot of complex factors that have impact on household stockholding decision and those have been discussed . However, some researchers observe even more correlations with stockholding decision and such interesting variables as race or living place but due to the limited scope of this exploratory research, these interesting factors are not taken into consideration. Needless to say, there are plenty of not mentioned factors that determine the level of stockholding.Of course, the governments are motivated to encourage investment level of households to make stock markets more efficient. There are some great examples how particular countries managed to increase the level of household stockholding over time. However, the complexity of the factors that lead to higher efficiency in each country are hard to determine and need further analysis to determine what works for each country particularly. Unfortunately, not all factors can be stabilized by the government. The global financial crisis of 2007-2008 showed that trust crisis in stock markets can not be handled so easily.Therefore, the only way to ensure sustainable stockholding growth is to adjust the system itself and add measures that could protect stockholders and decrease the possibility of such recessions. 4. REFERENCES 1. James P. Dow, Jr. , ââ¬Å"Age, investing horizon and asset allocationâ⬠, 2008 2. George Korniotis, ââ¬Å"Does Investment Skill Decline due to Cognitive Aging or Improve with Experience? â⬠, 2007 3. Sule Alan, ââ¬Å"Entry Costs and Stock Market Participation Over the Life Cycleâ⬠, 2006 4. Janus Capital Group, ââ¬Å"European Survey of Consumer Financesâ⬠, 2009 5.Luigi Guiso, Paola Sapienza and Luigi Zingales, ââ¬Å"Trusting the Stock Marketâ⬠, 2008 6. Vicki Bogan, ââ¬Å"Stock Market Participation and the Internetâ⬠, 2008 7. Mark Grinblatt, Matti Keloharju Juhani Linnainmaa, ââ¬Å"IQ and Stock Market Participationâ⬠, 2011 8. Charlotte Christiansen, Juanna Cchroter Joensen, Jesper Rangvid, ââ¬Å"Are Economists More Likely to Hold Stocks? â⬠, 2007 9. Elin a Laakso, ââ¬Å"Stock market participation and household characteristics in Europeâ⬠, 2010 10. Paul Gerrans, ââ¬Å¾Gender Differences in Retirement Savings Decisionsââ¬Å" 11.Jeffrey R. Brown, Zoran Ivkovic, Paul A. Smith, Scott Weisbenner, ââ¬Å¾Neighbors Matter:Causal Community Effects and Stock Market Participationââ¬Å", 2006 12. Dimitris Georgarakos, Giacomo Pasini, ââ¬Å¾Trust, Sociability and Stock Market Participationââ¬Å", 2009 13. Kaustia, M. , Torstila, S. ââ¬Å¾Stock market aversion? Political preferences and stock market participation. ââ¬Å", 2010 14. Shawn Cole, Gauri Kartini Shastry, ââ¬Å¾Smart Money: The Effect of Education, Cognitive Ability, and Financial Literacy on Financial Market Participationââ¬Å", 2008 ââ¬â 2009 15.George Korniotis, ââ¬Å¾Does Investment Skill Decline due to Cognitive Aging or Improve with Experience? ââ¬Å", 2007 16. Rosen, H. , Wu, S. , ââ¬Å¾Portfolio choice and health status. Journal of Financial Economicsââ¬Å ", 2004. 17. Edwards R. D. , ââ¬Å¾Health Risk and Portfolio Choiceââ¬Å", 2005 18. Christiansen C. , Rangvid J. , Joensen J. S. , ââ¬Å"The Effects of Marriage and Divorce on Financial Investments: Learning to Love or Hate Risk? â⬠, 2010 19. Christiansen C. , Rangvid J. , Joensen J. S. , ââ¬Å"Fiction or Fact: Systematic Gender Differences in Financial Investments? , 2010 20. Niilo Luotonen, ââ¬Å¾Personal Values and Stock Market Participation ââ¬â Evidence from Finnish University Studentsââ¬Å", 2009 21. Sule Alan, ââ¬Å¾Entry Costs and Stock Market Participation Over the Life Cycleââ¬Å", 2006 22. Yao, R. , Gutter, M. S. , Hanna, S. D. , ââ¬Å¾The financial risk tolerance of Blacks, Hispanics and Whitesââ¬Å", 2005 23. Rui Yao, Deanna L. Sharpe, Feifei Wang, ââ¬Å¾Decomposing the age effect on risk toleranceââ¬Å", 2010 24. Tullio Jappelli, Marco Pagano, ââ¬Å¾FINANCIAL MARKET INTEGRATION UNDER EMUââ¬Å", 2008
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Gun Ownership Essay
KENNESAW, Ga ââ¬â Several Kennesaw officials attribute a drop in crime in the city over the past two decades to a law that requires residents to have a gun in the house. In 1982, the Kennesaw City Council unanimously passed a law requiring heads of households to own at least one firearm with ammunition. The ordinance states the gun law is needed to ââ¬Å"protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants.â⬠Then-councilman J.O. Stephenson said after the ordinance was passed, everyone ââ¬Å"went crazy.â⬠ââ¬Å"People all over the country said there would be shootings in the street and violence in homes,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Of course, that wasnââ¬â¢t the case.â⬠In fact, according to Stephenson, it caused the crime rate in the city to plunge. Kennesaw Historical Society president Robert Jones said following the lawââ¬â¢s passage, the crime rate dropped 89 percent in the city, compared to the modest 10 percent drop statewide. ââ¬Å"It did drop after it was passed,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"After it initially dropped, it has stayed at the same low level for the past 16 years.â⬠Mayor Leonard Church was not in office when the law was passed, but he said he is a staunch supporter of it. ââ¬Å"You canââ¬â¢t argue with the fact that Kennesaw has the lowest crime rate of any city our size in the country,â⬠said Church, who owns a denture-making company in Kennesaw. The author of the ordinance, local attorney Fred Bentley Sr., attributes at least some of the decrease in crime to the bill. ââ¬Å"I am definitely in favor of what we did,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"It may not be totally responsible for the decrease, [but] it is a part.â⬠Although he is pleased with the outcome, Bentley said he was originally opposed to drafting the law. ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t think it could be written in a constitutional fashion,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Obviously, it was constitutional, because the American Civil Liberties Union challenged it in court and we won.â⬠Jones said the ACLU challenged the law in a federal court just after it was passed. In response, the city added a clause adding conscientious objectors to the list of those exempt. Although the law is now being credited with a drop in crime, Jones said that was not the lawââ¬â¢s original purpose. He also pointed out that Kennesaw did not have a big problem with crime before. ââ¬Å"The crime rate wasnââ¬â¢t that high to start with. It was 11 burglaries per 1,000 residents inà 1981,â⬠he said. According to the Kennesaw Police Department, the cityââ¬â¢s most recent crime statistics show 243 property crimes per 100,000 residents in 1998, or .243 per 1,000. The cityââ¬â¢s crime rate continues to be far below other metro Atlanta cityââ¬â¢s with similar populations, like Decatur. In 1998, Decatur recorded 4,049 property crimes per 100,000 residents. Jones said one motivation for the council passing the ordinance had to do with publicity. ââ¬Å"It was done in response to a law passed by Morton Grove, Ill., outlawing gun ownership within the city limits,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Several council members were upset Morton Grove had gotten a lot of attention with their ordinance so they decided to top them. ââ¬Å"They figured the gun ownership ordinance would knock that city right off the front pages. They were right.â⬠Jones said the ensuing publicity surrounding the law has given Kennesaw worldwide name recognition. ââ¬Å"I have been to Australia and Europe and when I tell people I am from Kennesaw they recognize the name as the place that requires everyone to own a gun,â⬠he said. But Stephenson said the issue was not pub licity-driven but issue-driven. ââ¬Å"We believed in the right of people to own guns,â⬠he said. Jones said he has sold 550 copies of a 1994 book about the first-of-its-kind law, ââ¬Å"The Law Heard ââ¬ËRound the World.â⬠He said the law in its final form has many loopholes, so not everyone is required to own a gun. ââ¬Å"There are many outs,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"When you look at it, almost anyone could fit into one of the exempted groups.â⬠Kennesaw Police Chief Dwaine Wilson said no one has ever been prosecuted under the ordinance. Among those exempt are residents ââ¬Å"who conscientiously oppose maintaining firearms as a result of beliefs or religious doctrine.â⬠Others exempt include the physically and mentally disabled, paupers and those convicted of a felony. The law contains no clause addressing punishment for violating the law. If convicted, City Clerk Diane Coker said punishment would be determined by the general penalty clause of the Kennesaw Code Ordinance ââ¬â probably a fine of about $100. Jones said the unusual law has not deterred anyone from moving to Kennesaw. ââ¬Å"Our population has increased just like everyoneââ¬â¢s in Georgia in the past 20 years,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"The law really hasnââ¬â¢t done any harm to the cityââ¬â¢s growth.â⬠The cityââ¬â¢s population in 1998 was recorded at 14,493 ââ¬â a sharp increase over the 8,936 residents recorded in the 1990 census. C obb Chamber of Commerce president Bill Cooper said odd laws are typically not counted as strike against a city when a business is looking to relocate.à ââ¬Å"These laws donââ¬â¢t have laws donââ¬â¢t have an impact on a companyââ¬â¢s decision to move to Cobb County,â⬠Cooper said. ââ¬Å"Many communities have strange laws that are out of date. Businesses look at many factors when relocating, such as quality of life, education, infrastructure and available workforce.â⬠Bentley said the law actually may have helped business development. ââ¬Å"Kennesaw is home to more manufacturing businesses than any other Cobb city,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Companies have said they want to be located in conservative areas.â⬠And Kennesaw isnââ¬â¢t the only city in Cobb with an unusual law on the books. According to Jeff Koon, who runs a Web site specializing in funny laws, Dumblaws.com, Acworth has an ordinance requiring residents to own a rake. In Marietta, it is illegal to spit from a car or a bus, but perfectly legal to spit from a truck.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
The Evolving Concept of Success essayEssay Writing Service
The Evolving Concept of Success essayEssay Writing Service The Evolving Concept of Success essay The Evolving Concept of Success essayThe concept of success and the struggle for success became part of the idea of the American dream. However, the notion of success which is currently adopted by the society implies hardworking, making a lot of money, demonstrating wealth and power. The society assumes by default that such predominantly material values are common for everyone. Although it might be the dream life for some categories of people, there are also lots of people who arrive to other forms of success and choose their own routes. The main thesis of this paper is the following: success and happiness are individual concepts, and achieving personal success is hardly possible without failure.Zinsser (1970) in his essay The Right to Fail argues that the modern stereotypes about success are too strong and deprive the young people of the right to fail, to seek their own destiny through trial and error. Zinnser (n.d.) states: The right to fail is one of the few freedoms that this cou ntry does not grant its citizens (para. 3). This statement is especially actual for young people. Those who decide to leave college and to try other activities, be it volunteering, entrepreneurship or motherhood, are stigmatized as dropouts and losers. However, such strong social stereotypes prevent young people from searching their mission and the area that they can be successful in. For most people, it is not possible to find own calling from the first attempt; therefore, the right to fail is a necessary prerequisite for success.Furthermore, Zinnser reminds that History is strewn with eminent dropouts, loners who followed their own trail, not worrying about its odd twists and turns because they had faith in their own sense of direction (para. 6). There are numerous historical examples of dropouts who found their calling and reached success. Among the most successful dropouts there are Madonna, James Cameron, Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. The ir stories demonstrate the importance of recognizing own individuality and searching for own place in life. These examples reinforce the main thesis of this paper: failure is an inevitable component of success. Those who are afraid to fail cannot learn on their mistakes and therefore are not able to gain new experience.It should be also noted that the notion of success is very subjective and individual. In fact, new standards of success are emerging as younger generations protest against rigid lifestyle and choose to act in accordance with their values and talents, even though these actions do not lead to future wealth. Volunteers, missioners, educators there are many occupations which do not lead to riches. However, there is an increasing interest towards such activities among young people. According to Zinnser (1970), more than 3 million students would use the opportunity serve in the domestic Peace Corps. It is also important to note downshifting in this context: there are peopl e who reached success in the traditional understanding and then gave it up for less frantic and more fulfilling life. These examples clearly show that success is different, and each person should define the criteria of success independently.Such appreciation of failure and dropouts might cause certain refutations. One obvious refutation is that, despite many successful examples, there are a lot more examples of dropouts who ended up poorly. In this context, it is important not to mix genuine search of own calling with laziness and loafing. The core idea of the paper is that any person has the right to failure, the right to make errors and to be able to choose own destiny. The right to fail does not eliminate taking responsibility for own life.In general, Zinnsers essay brings up important questions of finding own place in life and defining the individual concept of happiness. The idea of happiness coined by the previous generations is centered around material values, wealth, power a nd stability. Younger people are challenging this concept by trying out new activities, new meanings and new occupations. It is essential to provide the right to fail to them so that they would be able to learn on these failures and to find the path to personal success.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Free Essays on The Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect occurs when gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and CFCs trap heat in the atmosphere by acting as a pane of glass in a car. à ³The glassà ² lets the sun light in to make heat but when the heat tries to get out the gases absorb the heat. Holding this heat in causes heat waves, droughts and climate changes which could alter our way of living. The main gases that cause the greenhouse effect are water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane which comes mainly from animal manure. Other gases like nitrogen oxide and man made gases called chloroflurocarbons get caught in the atmosphere as well. The decay of animals and respiration are two main but natural sources of carbon dioxide. In my opinion we people of the whole world should try and slow down the emmission of greenhouse gases and/or find ways to balance the gases so the climate doesn't change so rapidly. If it did we would be forced to adapt to the new climate that we brought upon our selves. If we had a international cooperation to put a damper on the production of chloroflurocarbons and slowed down the use of fossil fuels it would dramatically slow down the process of "global warming." Over the last 100 years the global temperatures have been increasing slowly but steadily. Since 1980 the temperature has risen 0.2 degrees C (0.4 degrees F ) each decade. Scientists predict that if we continue putting the same amount of gas into the atmosphere by the year 2030 the temperature will be rising as much as 0.5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F ) or more per decade. Over all the global temperature could rise anywhere from 5 to 9 degrees over the next fifty years. If the temperatures do rise as predicted several things could happen. The increases of temperature could alter the growth of crops in areas near the equator due to insufficient rain and heat. This could really hurt countries that rely on imported foo... Free Essays on The Greenhouse Effect Free Essays on The Greenhouse Effect The greenhouse effect occurs when gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and CFCs trap heat in the atmosphere by acting as a pane of glass in a car. à ³The glassà ² lets the sun light in to make heat but when the heat tries to get out the gases absorb the heat. Holding this heat in causes heat waves, droughts and climate changes which could alter our way of living. The main gases that cause the greenhouse effect are water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane which comes mainly from animal manure. Other gases like nitrogen oxide and man made gases called chloroflurocarbons get caught in the atmosphere as well. The decay of animals and respiration are two main but natural sources of carbon dioxide. In my opinion we people of the whole world should try and slow down the emmission of greenhouse gases and/or find ways to balance the gases so the climate doesn't change so rapidly. If it did we would be forced to adapt to the new climate that we brought upon our selves. If we had a international cooperation to put a damper on the production of chloroflurocarbons and slowed down the use of fossil fuels it would dramatically slow down the process of "global warming." Over the last 100 years the global temperatures have been increasing slowly but steadily. Since 1980 the temperature has risen 0.2 degrees C (0.4 degrees F ) each decade. Scientists predict that if we continue putting the same amount of gas into the atmosphere by the year 2030 the temperature will be rising as much as 0.5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F ) or more per decade. Over all the global temperature could rise anywhere from 5 to 9 degrees over the next fifty years. If the temperatures do rise as predicted several things could happen. The increases of temperature could alter the growth of crops in areas near the equator due to insufficient rain and heat. This could really hurt countries that rely on imported foo...
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Arfa Batik
From the backyard of the founders house, our exclusive hand drawn batik is now a multi million ringgit industry with markets as far ranging as Europe and the Middle East. Our batik fashion house or haute couture combines contemporary design and traditional Malay motifs into batik of simple elegance, and are very much sought out by discerning customers from around the world. WHAT WE DO We are involve in various batik production processes from manufacturing from printing, colouring/dyeing, designing and tailoring, wholesaling, exporting to retailing of our batik products. We seek to open a chain of Noor Arfa Batik retail throughout the world through franchising. Noor Arfa is Malaysianââ¬â¢s largest commercial Batek producer. Noor Arfa has built a reputation as the leading manufacturer of superior hand ââ¬â drawn fashion items and accessories. We also train and develop master craftsmen that consistently produce quality with excellence. We stand out as leader in our industry in the way we have perfected the art of combining distinct colour with classic designs and traditional Malay motives, to create Batek of simple elegance. The Market Noor Arfa Franchise operates in a dynamic and evolving marketplace. Consumers are presented with many options for batik textile and we see a growing interest in fashionable and contemporary batik that address the need to be trendy and yet unique in identity. We find our customers desiring the look that is Malaysian and yet global in application. Noor Arfa addresses this gap in the market by providing a more comprehensive product range that addresses the various needs of the different segment of the market for batik wear and textile. Our customers would also not have to worry about quality as we provide a consistent buying experience with our quality policy which is to produce excellent quality product that satisfy our customer needs. We also believe there are other areas of the market that would benefit from our products which we have not yet targeted. For example we see huge potential in offering our product to the trendy and fashionable young market which is looking for cool and ââ¬Å"inâ⬠fashion wear. This is an area of the market that is fully aware of the benefits of self identity and yet contemporary.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Strategies for managing symbiotic resource interdependencies Research Paper
Strategies for managing symbiotic resource interdependencies - Research Paper Example Insiders rule the first 18 months and Outsiders from then. It looked like Insiders are used primarily to alleviate and uphold the obtained company, so that its important arrangement is not lost, and then Outsiders are used for major inter-organizational alteration (Agwin, 2004). Duncan & Maureen (2009) add that extensive efforts are made to encourage trust between the two organizations and change enterprises begin to switch towards the boundary. This is where Outsiders are then engaged as they are more responsive to the dynamic features of the two developing unions. Audia (2006) shows that when two associations take part in continuing financial exchange, they can be thought to be in direct contact. Consequently, both traders and consumers get direct contact with instruments producers. Traders and consumers are tied to instruments manufacturers by a symbiotic relationship since their disparities supplement each other according to Ecologists. The transfer of information across organiza tional boundaries is the by-product of these financial relations. As Duncan & Maureen (2009) affirm, symbiotic acquisitions have great tactical interdependence, as worth is generated by high levels of independence and inter organizational synergies since its arrangement is highly valued. Moreover, the urge to achieve synergies through conveying capabilities entails high levels of interdependence and high levels of change. Advantages of Symbiotic Resource Interdependencies Symbiotic relationship is deemed as a prospective vehicle for pursuing diverse intentions that would be hard to realize through internal solutions. Particularly, it has been established that they have normally been used... The development and success of any industrial action or a business is frequently bound by few natural resources on which firms rely, in addition to limited space for operation. Moreover, most companies are faced with problems of monopoly and unsafe competition. Symbiotic resource interdependencies encompass joint resource management by varied firms in geographic closeness to attain ecological and economic advantages. These advantages might include decreases in operational costs and releases, more safe access to raw materials and fundamental utilities, and augmented durability of the resource base. Symbiotic resource interdependencies present various benefits to firms and industries. This includes ecological advantages due to decreases in resource exploitation, economic benefits resulting from cuts in the costs of resource production, inputs and waste disposal and from creation of extra income owing to higher value of by-product and waste streams. There are also business advantages du e to enhanced associations with external parties, and growth of new products and their markets. In addition, there are social advantages by creating new employment and raising the eminence of existing employments, and by creating a cleaner, secure, natural and working condition. Despite these advantages, there are some limitations to formation of these relationships. These are majorly presented by uncertainties of merging, management problems and fast technological alteration.
Gender Issues and Multicultural Issues in Counseling Essay
Gender Issues and Multicultural Issues in Counseling - Essay Example An example would be an African woman would not seek counseling from a Caucasian American. A middle class American woman would not understand the horrors of Rwanda. Multicultural and gender are usually the basis for counselorââ¬â¢s choice. Another counseling issue is the generalization of gender or race. Women are not all the same, but often grouped together despite the different roles of women in diverse races (Pope-Davis 2001:10). The problems addressed by a Latina woman, will not be the same for an African American woman. The generalizations of races create a stereotype that does not reflect the individual. The final similarity is the way a defined culture or genderââ¬â¢s place in society. After 9/11 Muslim women were ridiculed for wearing a head covering. African American women are perceived as the head of the households (Grant 1998:197). This classifying of individuals is similar in counseling. Counselors are humans. If an apparent Muslim came to a counselor, or needed the services of a counselor, the counselor would paint the Muslim into a terrorist box. Despite training to be impartial, counselors can judge individuals by race or gender. This is another reason individuals tend to want counselors that are the same race or gender. Counseling issues concerning race and gender are very
Instructional Methods Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
Instructional Methods - Research Paper Example Direct and indirect methods are two categories in which the learning methods can be divided. However, these instrumental learning methods are so complicated that they cannot be classified into merely two categories. Every instrumental teaching method used by the teachers has some pros and cons attached to it. The teaching method that the teacher uses in a particular class of students depends on the level and age of the students. Therefore the first step in teaching is to select the correct and accurate teaching method for the students belonging specific class. There is no such ideal method of teaching which can be implied to all teaching level and to all students belonging to different development level; it is the task of the student to select a teaching method which suits the situation. There are factors that the teacher must keep in mind before the selection of any specific instrumental teaching method, these are; material, physical setting, time, space, level of development of stu dents and many more (Kizlik). Approaches to Learning Teacher centered approach This approach is usually based on the fact that the role of the teacher is to provide instruction to the students that may foster learning, in order to achieve a specific goal. The teacher defines the objective of the course to the students and then explains the information to the students. ... Some effective teaching methods have been discussed below. Direct Teaching This teaching method is one of the widely accepted learning methods. This learning method focuses on very specific learning target. The students are given reasons regarding the importance of content which is being taught to them. The students gain can be easily measured by the help of this method. The content of this teaching method must be organized in advance and the teacher must have all the relevant knowledge about the student pre-requisite of the lesson. It is considered one of the effective teaching methods as it is based upon the learning of basic and specific skills. One of the disadvantages of this teaching method is that it stifles the creativity present in a teacher. This teaching method cannot proceed without the well organized preparation of the learning content. The teachers must possess good communication skills if they want to carry on with this teaching method. The steps involved in this metho d must be followed in the prescribed order. This method is usually effective in lower order thinking and it immensely depends on the skills and knowledge of the teacher. Cooperative learning This teaching method fosters mutual responsibility in the students. The teaching method related to this teaching style is supported by different research techniques. This method teaches the students to be more compassionate towards their work, to be patient and less critical. The instructor decides prior to the lecture that what knowledge and skills must be learned by the students. It requires sometimes making the student learn that how they may work in groups, for the specific task assigned to them. There are certain disadvantages related to this teaching style. Some students do
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Lower Limb Prosthetics Evolution Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Lower Limb Prosthetics Evolution - Article Example Presently, there has been the use of Carbon fiber springs in the prostheses that allows improved shock absorption and mobility without increasing any weight. Additionally, the carbon fiber have allowed active amputees to wear limbs that can help in the absorption of two to four times their total body weight. In 2004, the esteemed international event aided the drive of development of lighter and more functional devices such as the gait-adaptive knee and an artificial limb that can be modified for its users2. There has been the advancement of the technology today where scientists and developed with the advent of microprocessors, robotics and computer chips have allowed amputees to get back to their accustomed lifestyle. United States., United States., & United States. (1984). Journal of rehabilitation research and development. Washington, D.C: Veterans Administration, Dept. of Medicine and Surgery, Rehabilitation R & D
Strip Club Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Strip Club - Personal Statement Example It offers a cross-section of society, and a person will see both the negative and the positive of life when visiting. First, when paying to get into a strip club, you are looked at rather carefully by the bouncer who is normally at the door. He essentially acts as the gatekeeper to stop the too drunk or the too rowdy or the too strange-looking from going in. Once through this door (which is often covered by a curtain) the first thing that a person will notice is the sudden change in lighting, change in temperature and probably a new mixture of smells. First of all, the lighting inside a strip club is often quite dim and often red in nature. The stage on which the various girls strip is deliberately very-well lit however, and the eye is naturally drawn to it and the pole on which a lady is usually draped. A strip club is often kept a quite a hot temperature - higher than the average business. Perhaps this is because the girls need to keep warm because they are obviously less dressed than the employees of virtually any other business. It may also be to get the customers hot and bothered - to make them feel excited and thirsty and thus ready to buy the over-priced drinks. I It is the smell of spilt alcohol, various lotions that the girls use, smoke (if it is one that allows smoking) and generally a rather unclean, but not unpleasant smell, that exists inside a strip club. It is not a gentile place, and the smell shows it. On closer inspection the carpet will be seen to be stained with the rinks spit over many years of patrons coming in and out and not being careful because they are watching the girls. What kind of people are in strip clubs Well, there are some of the desperate type of men that are perhaps the clichs of such establishments as seen in movies. There are usually at least a couple of groups of drunk businessmen in town for the night, escaping their wives. However, there may also be a number of rather normal looking couples who actually go to strip clubs for entertainment. What precisely the women get out of it is not clear, but they seem willing enough to be there. Right by the stage where the girls dance and strip are stools for people to sit on, but often a little further back are longer couches and tables/chairs where people can just chat and drink as in any other bar. Most strip clubs do not force all patrons to sit right by the dancers, and thus there is no pressure to tip the girls if you do not want to. Finally, there is normally very loud music for the girls to dance to and often a rather old, has-been DJ who introduces the songs, the girls and may administer the lap dancing sessions when they occur. Normally the lights change for these sessions, in which most of the strippers offer individual performances for the patrons if they are prepared to pay the money. The bouncers are very much in evidence during these lap dances, making sure that the patrons do not touch the women in any way that they do not want to be touched. To conclude, a strip club is a fascinating place to visit. It offers a unique perspective upon human beings and is a business that offers 'pleasure' in a raw and yet often rather sad sense. The sadness comes from the vague sense of embarrassment that seems to hang around
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Market Entry and Exit Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Market Entry and Exit - Coursework Example Body The factors that influence market entry timing include demand of the product and the technological advancements that are related to the product. Whenever a new product is being launched, questions regarding the success of the product suffice. These questions include: what is the main purpose of the product or what need will the product satisfy, what are the features of the product that differentiates it from other products that are already available in the market (Schmoch, 2006). These questions revolve around the economics topic of Demand and Supply. The analysis of launching the product that takes place before the product is actually launched, involves discussion about: the substitute and the complementary goods available in the market of the product, and what segment of the market will be attracted by the product and whose demand will the product satisfy. When a product or service is launched into a market, consumers do not start purchasing the product right away and the prod uct does not capturers the entire target market in a very short period of time. Consumers need time to learn about the product and gain confidence in the product. Each product has a learning curve; this learning curve shows how well consumers have understood the product and how many consumers have understood the options and needs that the product satisfies. ... found it difficult to carry these bottles everywhere in their hands, thus a need for a smaller size bottle existed, Coke realized this need and introduced 300ml bottles which satisfied the existing needs of the consumers. As soon as the product is available in the market and consumers have learned about the product and have started using the product, the producers understand what the concerns that consumers have regarding the product are and they change the product accordingly to make it more acceptable among the target market. Another key element that is attached with the timing of entry in the market is the competitors. Competitors start entering with the same kind of new product as soon as they understand the nature and design of the product, they make certain changes to the product to differentiate their products from the existing product and then they launch their own product in the market (Miles, 2011). How fast competitors will enter the market depends on the product itself. I f the technology used to create the product is easily available, is inexpensive and the cost of switching to this new technology is low, then competitors will easily enter the market with their competitive edition of the product. On the other hand, if the product requires very expensive technology, high amount of investment and the switching cost to a new technology is high, the competitors will experience difficulty in creating a new product and their entry will be delayed. As long as competitors do not enter the market, the producer of a new product can maximize profits and have enough time to implement hurdles to stop the competitors from entering the market. Once the competitors enter the market, the consumer choices increase. Thus the profitability of the producer that has first come
Strip Club Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Strip Club - Personal Statement Example It offers a cross-section of society, and a person will see both the negative and the positive of life when visiting. First, when paying to get into a strip club, you are looked at rather carefully by the bouncer who is normally at the door. He essentially acts as the gatekeeper to stop the too drunk or the too rowdy or the too strange-looking from going in. Once through this door (which is often covered by a curtain) the first thing that a person will notice is the sudden change in lighting, change in temperature and probably a new mixture of smells. First of all, the lighting inside a strip club is often quite dim and often red in nature. The stage on which the various girls strip is deliberately very-well lit however, and the eye is naturally drawn to it and the pole on which a lady is usually draped. A strip club is often kept a quite a hot temperature - higher than the average business. Perhaps this is because the girls need to keep warm because they are obviously less dressed than the employees of virtually any other business. It may also be to get the customers hot and bothered - to make them feel excited and thirsty and thus ready to buy the over-priced drinks. I It is the smell of spilt alcohol, various lotions that the girls use, smoke (if it is one that allows smoking) and generally a rather unclean, but not unpleasant smell, that exists inside a strip club. It is not a gentile place, and the smell shows it. On closer inspection the carpet will be seen to be stained with the rinks spit over many years of patrons coming in and out and not being careful because they are watching the girls. What kind of people are in strip clubs Well, there are some of the desperate type of men that are perhaps the clichs of such establishments as seen in movies. There are usually at least a couple of groups of drunk businessmen in town for the night, escaping their wives. However, there may also be a number of rather normal looking couples who actually go to strip clubs for entertainment. What precisely the women get out of it is not clear, but they seem willing enough to be there. Right by the stage where the girls dance and strip are stools for people to sit on, but often a little further back are longer couches and tables/chairs where people can just chat and drink as in any other bar. Most strip clubs do not force all patrons to sit right by the dancers, and thus there is no pressure to tip the girls if you do not want to. Finally, there is normally very loud music for the girls to dance to and often a rather old, has-been DJ who introduces the songs, the girls and may administer the lap dancing sessions when they occur. Normally the lights change for these sessions, in which most of the strippers offer individual performances for the patrons if they are prepared to pay the money. The bouncers are very much in evidence during these lap dances, making sure that the patrons do not touch the women in any way that they do not want to be touched. To conclude, a strip club is a fascinating place to visit. It offers a unique perspective upon human beings and is a business that offers 'pleasure' in a raw and yet often rather sad sense. The sadness comes from the vague sense of embarrassment that seems to hang around
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Developing Yourself as an Effective Human Resources or Learning and Development Practitione Essay Example for Free
Developing Yourself as an Effective Human Resources or Learning and Development Practitione Essay LO1: Understand the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required to be an effective HR or LD practitioner. Briefly summarize the CIPD Map (i.e. 2 core areas, specialist professional areas, the bands and the behaviors) Comment on the activities and knowledge specified within any 1 professional area at either band 1 or 2 identifying those you consider most essential to your own (or other identified) HR/LD role. Theà HR Profession Mapà is a framework based on extensive research withà HR professionalsà at all stages of their career, and sets out what makes greatà HR: the knowledge, skills, and behaviors. An extensive variety of associations and HR experts are currently utilizing the CIPDs Profession Map to benchmark and fabricate their HR ability at the singular, group, capacity and association levels As you can see on the image above CIPD has created LO2: Know how to deliver timely and effective HR services to meet usersââ¬â¢ needs. 2.1. Identify the needs of 3 different customers using the HR service and explain how conflicting needs are prioritized. 2.2 Identify 3 different methods of communication and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each. In business, effective communication is vital to remaining competitive, amplifying benefit, keeping workers drew in and cheerful, and ensuring everybody is centered around the correct objectives and targets. At the point when correspondence is done effectively, it implies a similar thing to both the sender and recipient. Type of Communication Advantages Disadvantages Face to Face Eye to an eye is yet the favored correspondence channel if lucidity of a message is an essential factor. Communication in person enables you to connect with the audience in a forward and backward dialog. It likewise enables you to use nonverbal motions, outward appearances, and individual magnetism to upgrade the message. A disadvantage is a potential that a contention could turn out to be more warmed or enthusiastic in an eye to eye channel. Strain or stress is likewise more probable if you have the individual clash with the other individual. Written Email Email is a key correspondence direct in topographically scattered organizations or ones in which representativeââ¬â¢s travel. Email considers more adaptable reaction times. You can communicate something specific one day and get a reaction in a couple of hours or the following day. It takes into consideration discussion that isnt time-forced, however, can serve for quick turnaround times. It additionally considers the incorporation of records, for example, archives or pictures. Email is less individual than either vis-à -vis or telephone. The missing setting of the message may prompt errors or misjudged messages. Also, the greater part of emails and vital data can be lost with a basic hard-drive crash. In the event that email data are stored on another server, at that point information could get lost if that site goes down or bankrupt. Phone Land or cell phones have taken up the correspondence slack in organizations where separation and travel counteract eye to eye discussion. The phone still permits quick connection between two gatherings in the correspondence. Cell phones likewise extend your capacity to speak with removed specialists or workplaces. The absence of nonverbal or outward appearances expel those components from the message. This can repress the capacity to restrain the unique circumstance or feeling of a message sender. The telephone is likewise less personal than an up-close meeting. 2.3 Describe how you can provide effective service delivery. HR gives organization benefits over the representative lifecycle. Delivery perfection implies assembling and keeping up powerful administration, which incorporates: Building connections, which requires to invest energy and to speak with individuals, particularly up close and personal. This can be succeeded by being liberal, having an uplifting disposition, concentrating on passionate insight, listening effectively, promising open correspondence, esteeming others. There are many advantages in growing great connections: the work is more enjoyable and beneficial, it makes a positive domain, it values people and correspondence, it averts issues and enhances performances. Resolving complaints While instinctual a complain produces negative responses, overseeing it is part of the activity. It is significant to assume liability for the issue and to associate with a client on both an expert and individual level, utilizing cautious dialect, listen carefully and feel for the client. Moreover, grievances give the chance to enhance administrations delivery. Managing difficult customers Initially, it is fundamental staying alert that the client is despondent and to change claim attitude. Also, it is expected to listen them act. Right off the bat, it is central remaining ready that the customer is beset and to alter have the viewpoint. Moreover, it is relied upon to listen to them adequately, being empathic and after that repeat their stresses and make a request. Finally, demonstrate an answer and make a move rapidly revealing every movement to take to settle the issue. Finally, being empathic and after that rehash their worries and make inquiries. At last, display an answer and make a move instantly disclosing each progression to take to settle the issue. Managing time and budget constraints Overseeing time and budget successfully serves to deliver magnificence, to be beneficial and to meet desires. A key factor for effectiveness is to organize undertakings, distributing time and money related assets where it is generally required. It is vital to esteem the time and assets. It intends to compose, taking control of the day and arranging costs. Seeking continuous improvement The key to a consistent change in delivering outstanding services is observing the inner process, gaining from clients input, modifying the delivery process and enhancing performances and administrations guidelines. LO3: Be able to reflect on own practice and development needs and maintain a plan for personal development. 3.1 Define and explain the importance of Continuous Professional Development Most of the people once they have got their degree feel that their trip to knowledge has come to an end. They do not realize that the trip just began. Working in HR specifically is a continuous journey to research and expansion of knowledge and skills. This not only benefits the individuals but enhances ââ¬Ëââ¬â¢Continuing professional development is important because it ensures you continue to be competent in your profession. It is an ongoing process and continues throughout a professionalââ¬â¢s career.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ http://continuingprofessionaldevelopment.org/why-is-cpd-important/Here are some examples explaining why CPD is playing an important role in our careers: CPD guarantees our abilities keep pace with the present principles of others in a similar field. CPD guarantees that we and our insight remain important and progressive. We are more mindful of the changing patterns and headings in our calling. The pace of progress is presumably quicker than its at any point been ââ¬â and this is an element of the new type that we live and work in. On the off chance that we stop, we will get left behind, as the cash of our insight and abilities winds up plainly outdated. upgrade our certainty and inspiration add to our vocation advancement as we turn out to be more viable in our working environment CPD encourages us to remain intrigued and fascinating. Experience is an extraordinary educator; however, it means that we tend to do what we have done sometime recently. Centered CPD opens us up to new potential outcomes, new information and new aptitude zones. 3.2 Undertake a self-assessment against the CIPD Professional Map at either band 1 or band 2. Identify the areas for development. 3.3 Explain at least 2 of the options you have considered to meet your development needs which have been identified through undertaking 3.2. 3.4 Devise a personal development plan based on the outcome of the self -assessment and any personal aspirations which are relevant. This should cover a period of 6 months. undertaking 3.2. Bibliography Article title: Profession Map for HR and LD | CIPD Website title: CIPD URL: https://www.cipd.co.uk/learn/career/profession-map Author Continuing Development Article title: The importance of continuing professional development (CPD) Website title: Continuing Professional Development URL: http://continuingprofessionaldevelopment.org/why-is-cpd-important/
Monday, October 14, 2019
Analysis of Risk
Analysis of Risk The aim of this essay is to introduce the aspect of risk and some highlighting on the theories that support this aspect of risk assessment and will briefly discuss existing risk assessment schedules and at the end it will critically analyze national and local reports related to risk assessment (Faisal). Royal Society (1983) states that, risk assessment which axiom as the probability that a particular adverse event occurs and social services has been concerned predominate with risk assessment to prevent harm. They may also suffer further if they have to deal with seeing their perpetrator on a regular basis, and may be subject to further assaults in retaliation of their initial complaint. In addition to the risks to existing victims, poor responses may result in increasing numbers of people being abused. The Oxford Dictionary define risk as meaning a hazard, a dangerous, exposure to mischance or peril, as verb it also similar which means hazard, to danger, to expose to the chance of injury or loss( Parsloe, 2005). Risk is closely linked to dangerousness, resulting in harm which seems to be agreed means harm to self or others and extend of harm which constitutes a risk in various situations especially adult with learning disabilities. Every human being becomes vulnerable during their lifetime for many of reasons they all respond differently to events that happen to them because of who they are and the lack of support that they have around them (Jacki, 2001). People with learning disabilities are one of the most vulnerable groups in the society (Department of Health 2001). Learning disabilities may be more at risk not only because their own difficulties in understanding or communication but also because of the way they receive services and the fact that they may be actively targeted or taken advantages (Jean and Anthea, 1997). Increasingly responding to the risks of others, preventing risks to vulnerable adults or running risks to themselves is all in days work for the busy practitioners and manager in the field of social care (Brearley, 1982). Any criminal offence which is perceived to be motivated because of a persons disability or perceived disability, by the victim or any other person. [Association of Chief Police Officers]. According to Home Office Any incident, this constitutes a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate. People with learning disabilities are subject to risk all time due to their vulnerability they sometimes abused by those who have control over them or by those who realize that they are vulnerable because of their disabilities they often find it very much more difficult to assess risk the way most of social carer and services do (Vaughn and Fuchs, 2003). However, take risks because they feel vulnerable to a point approaching hopelessness (Fischhoff et al., 2000). In either case, these perceptions can prompt adults to make poor decisions that can put them at risk and leave them vulnerable to physical or psychological harm that may have a negative impact on their long-term health and viability. According to Kemshall and Pritchard (2001) states that, there has been much debate about a welfare model or a criminal justice model should be adopted. In order to fully appreciate the process of risk assessment, here identify the one of particular serous case review murder of Steven Hoskin after the recent death 39years young man who has been dead by numbers people. Adults vulnerable protection systems are likely to come under close scrutiny (Jacki, 2001). Steven Hoskin had learning disabilities and he was 39 young man who was been killed and his body was found at the base of the St Austell railway viaduct on 6th of July 2006. Two principal perpetrators, Darren Stewart (aged 29 years) and Sarah Bullock (aged 16 years), and the manslaughter conviction of Martin Pollard (aged 21 years). Steven Hoskin was 39 years old. Born to a single woman who herself had a learning disability, Stevens learning disability became apparent in his early childhood. At 12 years of age he left a local prim ary school and became a weekly boarder at Pencalenick special school, returning to his mother (on the Lanhydrock Estate, outside Bodmin) at weekends. Steven did not read. After leaving school at 16, Steven was unable to secure employment and was admitted as an inpatient to Westheath House, an NHS Assessment and Treatment unit for people with learning disabilities and mental health problems. Although he remained there for 14 months, the therapeutic purpose of his stay is unknown. While at Westheath House, Steven participated in youth training activities in the Bodmin area. This was an unhappy time for Steven as he was victimised by the other trainees.'(ref) Stevens relationship with his mother deteriorated and ultimately became characterised by conflict and violent outbursts. In September 2003, Steven was charged and convicted with common assault and he was subject to a Probation Order. An Adult Protection Plan confirmed that Stevens mother should move.(ref) Even the initial meeting of the Serious Case Review Panel confirmed there was no lack of information about Steven and his circumstances and that with better inter-agency working; Steven Hoskin would have been spared the destructive impacts of unrestrained physical, financial and emotional abuse in his own home. While this knowledge cannot change, erase or soften what happened to Steven, it was an impetus for Cornwall Adult Protection Committee and its partner agencies to analyse what went so badly wrong. As uncomfortable as this process has been, it leads to learning, i.e. our purpose has not been one of judgement but of correction and improvement (Dixon 1999). It is important that adult protection is triggered when someone is believed to be at risk of harm/abuse and not only at the point where there is demonstrable evidence of harm. In order to conform to their obligations under human rights law, agencies have to be proactive in undertaking risk assessments (e.g. Monahan et al 2001) to ensure that preventive action is taken wherever practicable. The Disability Rights Commission (2005) confirmed that the health of people with learning disabilities is likely to be worse than that of other people, (even before taking into account specific health needs or disability related barriers to accessing health care), as they are likely to live in poverty and are exceptionally socially excluded. Young People and Adults have to look out for young people. They must be alert to the possibility that the same young people may be harming those more vulnerable than themselves (ref.). Valuing People (2001) identified Independence as a key principle and helpfully confirmed that: While peoples individual needs will differ, the starting presumption should be one of independence, rather than dependence, with public services providing the support needed to maximize this. Independence in this context does not mean doing everything unaided (p23). It is essential that health and social care services review the implications of acceding to peoples choice if the latter is not to be construed as abandonment (e.g. Flynn, Keywood and Fovargue 2003). Stevens murder has confirmed that the choices of adults with learning disabilities in relation to their health care decision-making (Flynn, Keywood and Fovargue, 2003). Valuing People (2001) defines choice as follows: `Like other people, people with learning disabilities want a real say in where they live, what work they should do and who looks after them. But for too many people with learning disabilities, these are currently unattainable goals. We believe that everyone should be able to make choices. This includes people with severe and profound disabilities who, with the right help and support, can make important choices and express preferences about their day to day lives. (p24). Protecting Vulnerable Adults, Valuing People states: `People with learning disabilities are entitled to at least the same level of support and intervention from abuse and harm as other citizens. This needs to be provided in a way that respects their own choices and decisions. (p 93) The difficulty for people with learning disabilities is that carers often do feel often they are expected to make these choices for them. The law of negligence can appear to inhibit decision making personal freedom and choice sit uncomfortably next to the concepts of duty of care and professional liability (Fuchs, 2003). The police reported Stevens circumstances in the months preceding his murder as follows: `Steven Hoskin had lost all control of his own life within his home. He had no say, choice or control over who stayed or visited the flat. He had no voice or influence over what happened within the premises. Darren Stewart had recognised the clear vulnerability of Steven Hoskin and had moved in on himà ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã ¦he recognised the opportunity for accommodation and removed from Steven Hoskin the little ability he had to make his own choices and decisions. Darren Stewart was fully aware of Stevens vulnerability and learning difficulties and took advantage of those facts to control both Steven and the premises. Margaret (2007) identifies the following factors in what went wrong for Steven: Youths use Stevens bedsit to drink and take drugs where they steal his money and assault him. Steven cancels his weekly community care assistant service. Tortured after admitting their involvement in shoplifting. Assaulted, made to wear dog collar, cigarettes stubbed out on him .Forced to falsely confess to being paedophile and to swallow 70 painkillers. Marched to top of viaduct and forced over edge falls to his death. Safeguarding adults: To be vulnerable is to be in circumstances defined by the continuous possibility of harm or threat (e.g. Flynn 2005). No Secrets makes it clear that monitoring safety is a multi agency responsibility. The key to protecting and safeguarding vulnerable adults is sharing information, so any professional who comes into contact with a vulnerable adult should be able to determine immediately if, and when, other agencies are involved and has a duty to share concerns. There were no such consequences arising from the numerous instances when Steven and Darren came to the notice of NHS services or the police. Flynn (1989) confirmed that adults with learning disabilities living in their own tenancies were vulnerable to victimisation, most particularly in localities of hard to let tenancies; that these men and woman were wary and scared of young people; and that most experienced loneliness and isolation. Departments of Adult Social Care cannot be expected to look out for all citizens with learning disabilities without the resources to do so. Fair Access to Care criteria are known to be rendering more and more vulnerable adults ineligible for ongoing support (ref) It forcibly brings the commissioners and providers of health services and the police to the foreground. They were Darrens first port of call and, perhaps under his influence, they became Stevens as well. Stevens murder presses the case for ever-greater investment in partnership working in safeguarding adults (Perkins et al., 2007). The stated primary aim of No Secrets (2007) is to create a framework for action within which all responsible agencies work together to ensure a coherent policy for the protection of vulnerable adults at risk of abuse and a consistent and effective response to any circumstances giving ground for concern or formal complaints or expressions of anxiety. The agencies primary aim should be to prevent abuse where possible but, if the preventive strategy fails, agencies should ensure that robust procedures are in place for dealing with incidents of abuse.(p.) This statement clearly indicated that No Secrets was intended to encompass both a safeguarding preventative approach, in addition to an adult protection intervention one; although we would acknowledge that the intervention role has taken precedence in reality (ref.). Risks change constantly and people grow, change, and develop. It is important to review risk assessment regularly, and aim always to increase choice and freedom for the people with learning disability (Sellars, 2003 p.155). In considering the effectiveness of No Secrets as a mechanism to provide a level of intervention that could protect adults at risk of abuse, it would seem sensible to consider what has failed to work successfully within adult protection, whether such failures were a consequence of the nature of guidance or instead insufficient/inappropriate application of that guidance, and whether such failings could only be overcome by the introduction of legislation. An obvious mechanism that could be used as part of this evaluation process would be the consideration of Serious Case Reviews relating to adults.(ref). People may make an informed choice to accept a particular risk today, but circumstances and people change. A risk considered acceptable today, may be a problem tomorrow, and statutory agencies have a consequent responsibility to regularly monitor and respond to changing circumstances. Personalisation does not mean a statutory agency has permanently discharged its duty of care on the basis of an informed decision taken at a single point in time. This was a key point of the Serious Case Review into the death of Steven Hoskin, Steven wanted friends. He did not see that the friendship he had so prized was starkly exploitative, devoid of reciprocity and instrumental in obstructing his relationships with those who would have safeguarded him.'(ref.) Disability hate crime fails to recognise the duration of Stevens contact with his persecutors; the counterfeit friendship; the background to Stevens perilous disclosures to Darren; the joyless enslavement; or the motivations of all of his persecutors. Stevens murder has profound implications for the support of vulnerable adults in our communities. It challenges the principle, or dogma, of choice for adults who are apparently able; it unstitches some certainties about communities -their capacity to look out for others, their familiarity and permanence; and it requires us to question why the ever- tightening eligibility criteria of services are rendering very vulnerable men and women so unprotected. The fact that individuals in all agencies knew that Steven was a vulnerable adult did not prevent his torture and murder (ref). This does not imply that these agencies are without merits or strengths or that they are wholly culpable, but is intended to convey their acknowledgement of their individual and collective under-performance, and what has to change in the light of the magnitude of cruelty experienced by Steven (ref). There is the role of care providers in adult protection intervention work, how they are engaged in investigations, and what role commissioning has in the overall process. And the commissioning role can be crucial, as noted by the joint investigation into the Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, which stated, The trust has blamed the three PCTs in Cornwall for failing to commission appropriate services for people with learning disabilities and, while this does not lessen the trusts culpability, the criticism is accurate. This is the other side of the coin; we are inclined to believe that it wont happen, even when the objective statistics suggest otherwise the difficulty that now exists for people with learning disabilities, especially those with greater disability, and those who care for and support them, is that the law specifies that many such people are vulnerable, and not able to make this choice for themselves (Daniel, 2003). The onus of assessing risk and making the decision therefore often rests with carers. Because it is such a difficult decision to make for someone else, carers often take the simple way out, and avoid letting situations arise where learning-disabled people in their care have the opportunity to develop sexual relationships: if a person cannot make an informed choice then perhaps it is easier not to offer them that choice (Lindsay 2004). This is the current dilemma for those who work in community care situations. According to David J. Thompson,(2000) the issue of sexual relationships is perhaps the most difficult and complex, but this problem of balancing risk and choice is a constant one for carers and professionals, in relation to many aspects of everyday life. In the background is the ogre of the law (and/or local management), ready to jump on the unwary, should they get it wrong. No wonder, perhaps that many are cautious about enabling such choices to be made. Get higher in the information of vulnerable adults referred to them for the reason that they are at risk of physical and sexual mistreatment, in addition to financial fraud, a study has found in Social services departments have seen (Simon, 1997. So where adult with learning disabilities have more complex problems, such as behaviour problem, mental illness, or others any physical or mental disorder they will need additional care and support to cope with their everyday lives (Hawks, 1998). Sometimes these problems impose additional risks, and these do need to taken into account when assessing and managing risks for each person/adult.
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