Health and Social Care Essay Example for Free

Health and Social Care Essay We acknowledge with sincere thanks the many people who gave generously of their time to help us with this work. We particularly appreciate the expertise and advice o? ered by Arnon Bentovim, Richard Velleman, Lorna Templeton, Carolyn Davies and Sheena Prentice. The work has been funded by the Department for Education and we thank sta? in the department, particularly Jenny Gray who supported us throughout the work with her interest and valuable comments. The work was assisted by an advisory group whose membership was: Isabella Craig and Jenny Gray (Department for Education); Christine Humphrey (Department of Health) and Sian Rees (NICE); Arnon Bentovim (consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the Tavistock Clinic); Marian Brandon (reader in social work, University of East Anglia); Carolyn Davies (research advisor, Institute of Education, University of London); Jo Fox (social work consultant, Child-Centred Practice); David Jones (consultant child and family psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry; University of Oxford); Sue McGaw (specialist in learning disabilities, Cornwall Partnership Trust); Sheena Prentice (specialist midwife in substance misuse, Nottingham City PCT); Wendy Rose (The Open University); Lorna Templeton (manager of the Alcohol, Drugs and the Family Research Programme, University of Bath); and Richard Velleman (University of Bath and director of development and research, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust). Introduction This second edition of Children’s Needs – Parenting Capacity provides an update on the impact of parental problems, such as substance misuse, domestic violence, learning disability and mental illness, on children’s welfare. Research, and in particular the biennial overview reports of serious case reviews (Brandon et al 2008; 2009; 2010), have continued to emphasise the importance of understanding and acting on concerns about children’s safety and welfare when living in households where these types of parental problems are present. Almost three quarters of the children in both this and the 2003-05 study had been living with past or current domestic violence and or parental mental ill health and or substance misuse – often in combination. (Brandon et al 2010, p. 112) These concerns were very similar to those that prompted the ? rst edition of this book, which was commissioned following the emergence of these themes from the Department of Health’s programme of child protection research studies (Department of Health 1995a). These studies had demonstrated that a high level of parental mental illness, problem alcohol and drug abuse and domestic violence were present in families of children who become involved in the child protection system. Research context The 2010 Government statistics for England demonstrate that, as in the 1990s, only a very small proportion of children referred to children’s social care become the subject of a child protection plan (Department for Education 2010b). However, the types of parental problems outlined above are not con? ned to families where a child is the subject of a child protection plan (Brandon et al. 2008, 2009, 2010; Rose and Barnes 2008). In many families children’s health and development are being a? ected by the di? culties their parents are experiencing. The ? ndings from research, however, suggest that services are not always forthcoming. Practically a quarter of referrals to children’s social care resulted in no action being taken (Cleaver and Walker with Meadows 2004). Lord Laming’s progress report (2009) also expressed concerns that referrals to children’s services from other professionals did not always lead to an initial assessment and that ‘much more needs to be done to ensure that the services are as e? ective as possible at working together to achieve positive outcomes for children’ (Lord Laming 2009, p. 9, paragraph 1. 1). Practitioners’ fear of failing to identify a child in need of protection is also a factor driving up the numbers of referrals to children’s social care services which result in no provision of help. ‘This is creating a skewed system that is paying so much attention to identifying cases of abuse 2 Children’s Needs – Parenting Capacity and neglect that it is draining time and resource away from families’ (Munro 2010, p. 6). Munro’s Interim Report (2011) draws attention once again to the highly traumatic experience for children and families who are drawn into the Child Protection system where maltreatment is not found, which leaves them with a fear of asking for help in the future. A ? nding which was identi? ed by earlier research on child protection (Cleaver and Freeman 1995). Evidence from the 1995 child protection research (Department of Health 1995a) indicated that when parents have problems of their own, these may adversely a? ect their capacity to respond to the needs of their children. For example, Cleaver and Freeman (1995) found in their study of suspected child abuse that in more than half of the cases, families were experiencing a number of problems including mental illness or learning disability, problem drinking and drug use, or domestic violence. A similar picture of the di? culties facing families who have been referred to children’s social care services emerges from more recent research (Cleaver and Walker with Meadows 2004). It is estimated that there are 120,000 families experiencing multiple problems, including poor mental health, alcohol and drug misuse, and domestic violence. ‘Over a third of these families have children subject to child protection procedures’ (Munro 2011, p. 30, paragraph 2. 30). Children’s services have the task of identifying children who may need additional services in order to improve their well-being as relating to their: (a) physical and mental health and emotional well-being; (b) protection from harm and neglect; (c) education, training and recreation; (d) the contribution made by them to society; and (e) social and economic well-being. (Section 10(2) of the Children Act 2004) The Common Assessment Framework (Children’s Workforce Development Council 2010) and the Assessment Framework (Department of Health et al. 2000) enable frontline professionals working with children to gain an holistic picture of the child’s world and identify more easily the di? culties children and families may be experiencing. Although research suggests that social workers (Cleaver et al. 2007) and health professionals are equipped to recognise and respond to indications that a child is being, or is likely to be, abused or neglected, there is less evidence in relation to teachers and the police (Daniel et al. 2009). The identi? cation of children’s needs may have improved, but understanding how parental mental illness, learning disabilities, substance misuse and domestic violence a? ect children and families still requires more attention. For example, a small in-depth study found less than half (46%) of the managers in children’s social care, health and the police rated as ‘good’ their understanding of the impact on children of parental substance misuse, although this rose to 61% in relation to the impact of domestic violence (Cleaver et al. 2007). The need for more training on assessing the likelihood of harm to children of parental drug and alcohol misuse Introduction 3 was also highlighted by a survey of 248 newly quali? ed social workers (Galvani and Forrester 2009). A call for more high-quality training on child protection across social care, health and police was also made by Lord Laming (2009). Munro’s review of child protection in exploring ‘why previous well-intentioned reforms have not resulted in the expected level of improvements’ (p. 3) highlighted the ‘unintended consequences of restrictive rules and guidance’, which have left social workers feeling that ‘their professional judgement is not seen as a signi? cant aspect of the social work task; it is no longer an activity which is valued, developed or rewarded’ (Munro 2010, p. 30, paragraph 2. 16). The experience of professionals providing specialist services for adults can support assessments of children in need living with parental mental illness, learning disability, substance misuse or domestic violence. Research, however, shows that in such cases collaboration between adults’ and children’s services at the assessment stage rarely happens (Cleaver et al. 2007; Cleaver and Nicholson 2007) and a lack of relevant information may negatively a? ect the quality of decision making (Bell 2001). An agreed consensus of one another’s roles and responsibilities is essential for agencies to work collaboratively. The evidence provided to the Munro review (2011) found ‘mixed experiences and absence of consensus about how well professionals are understanding one another’s roles and working together’ and argues for ‘thoughtfully designed local agreements between professionals about how best to communicate with each other about their work with a family ’ (Munro 2011, p. 28, paragraph 2. 23). Although research shows that the development of joint protocols and informationsharing procedures support collaborative working between children’s and adults’ services (Cleaver et al. 2007), a survey of 50 English local authorities found only 12% had clear family-focused policies or joint protocols (Community Care 2009).

An Analysis of Robert Frosts The Road Not Taken Essay -- Road Not Tak

An Analysis of Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken In "The Road Not Taken," by Robert Frost, many questions arose about the meaning of the poem. One common interpretation of the poem about assertion of individualism, where the speaker is taking the road not traveled so that he can assert his individualism, is a nice interpretation. However, I believe that the speaker is really having a hard time making up his mind, and the poem is a conversation with himself trying to rationalize his decision. It seems as if both ways might lead to great occurrences, but only one way is the right way. There are four points in the poem that stick out where the speaker is either vague and unclear or contradictory in evaluating his choices. The first is in the first stanza where it says "And sorry I could not travel both"(2). The second point is contradictory and between lines seven through ten particularly, where the speaker is musing over which path to take. Another particularly interesting point is in line thirteen where it says, "Oh, I kept the first for another day!" And the final point to look at is in line sixteen where Frost writes the vague word "sigh," with no further explanation as to its connotation. "And sorry I could not travel both" (2). This seems to be a no-brainer observation, but also one that many struggle with. The choices that are made in day-to-day lives are ones that will stick with that person forever, and many times it can be frustrating not to at least explore what the other choice could have had in store. There are limitations to being human and finite, and one of those is the inability to look in the future and know what is the best possible decision will be. It is important to look at all possible outcome... ...as a happy and reflective sigh, as if to indicate satisfaction in the decision he made. Either way could completely change the tone of the poem, depending on the meaning of the simple word sigh. To eliminate the controversy hear, it could be important to think of a sigh as an audible release of breath, or as a contemplative sigh, as if Frost were simply thinking of the past. Frost is a brilliant poet who allows the reader to sink into the poetry so that the reader has an opportunity to view the poetry in his or her particular way. It is interesting to note some of the potentially confusing or sticking points in the poem that can cause some individual reflection. This allows the reader to have their own special connection to the poem, because a poem can conjure up many different thoughts in many different people. Frost was a poet who had that great ability.

How Are the Iais Principles Met with in the Mauritian Legislation on Insuranc

UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS FACULTY OF LAW AND MANAGEMENT SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS MAY 2009 PROGRAMME BSc (Hons) Accounting with Finance – Level 3, 4 BSc (Hons) Finance – Level 3 BSc (Hons) Finance with Law – Level 3 MODULE NAME DATE International Finance Wednesday MODULE CODE DFA3006Y(5) 6 May 2009 TIME 9. 30-12. 30 Hours NO. OF QUESTIONS SET 6 DURATION NO. OF QUESTIONS TO BE ATTEMPTED 3 Hours 4 INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES This paper consists of SIX Questions and you are required to answer ANY FOUR (4) Questions International Finance – DFA3006Y Question 1 a) (i) Explain the term â€Å" foreign exchange exposure† in relation to the operations of a multinational enterprise. [5 marks] ( ii ) How are such exposures usually handled by management? [9 marks] (b) Seattle Inc is a medical device manufacturer. The company’s annual sales of $ 40m have been growing rapidly, and working capital financing is a common source of concern. The Chief Finance Of ficer, Martin Bell has recently been approached by one of the company’s major Japanese customers, Yosaka, with a new payment proposal. Yosaka typically orders ? 12. million in product every other month and pays in Japanese yen. The current payment terms extended by Seattle Inc are 30 days, with no discounts given for early or cash payment. Yosaka has suggested that it would be willing to pay in cash (in Japanese yen) if it were given a 3. 0 % discount on the purchase price. On the basis of the information below: Spot rate 30-day forward rate 90-day forward rate 180-day forward rate ? 96. 60/$ Yosaka’s Weighted average cost of capital ? 99. 08/$ Seattle Inc Weighted average cost of capital ?100. 42/$ ?103. 56/$ 9. 00% 11. 95%Advise Martin Bell on Yosaka’s proposition, assuming that Seattle Inc hedges all its foreign currency transactions. (c ) [8 marks] Calculate the rate of forward premium of the US $ on the 180-day forward rate. [3 marks] [Total marks : 25] Pag e 1 of 3 International Finance – DFA3006Y Question 2 â€Å"When the financial systems fail, everyone suffers† – Edward Carr, The Economist. (a) Explain the importance of regulations in a financial system. [15 marks] (b) In the wake of the financial crisis that has shaken America and Europe, do you think regulators have failed in their role? 10 marks] [Total marks : 25 ] Question 3 (a) Briefly outline the disadvantages of a fixed exchange rate regime? [6 marks] (b) Explain the following terms: (i) Special Drawing Right ( SDR ) ( ii ) Currency board arrangement ( iii ) Euro currency ( iv ) Dollarisation [12 marks] (c) The Thai baht was devalued by the Thai government from Bt 25/$ to Bt 29/$ in July 1997. Calculate the devaluation of the baht against the US dollar [3 marks] (d) Explain the difference between devaluation and depreciation of a currency. [4 marks] [Total marks : 25] Page 2 of 3International Finance – DFA3006Y Question 4 (a) Do you think free in ternational capital mobility is desirable for emerging economies? [15 marks] (b) Explain how an active secondary market for securities can be beneficial to: ( i ) lenders ( ii ) borrowers [10 marks] [Total marks : 25 ] Question 5 (a) Outline the main summary statements of the balance of payments accounts and explain briefly their economic significance. [10 marks] (b) How can flows of ‘laundered’ money from drug trade or international terrorist activities find their way into the Balance of Payments? [5 marks] (c)How can such illegal flows be avoided if a country wants to be perceived as a â€Å"clean† financial centre? [10 marks] [Total marks: 25] Question 6 (a) As a firm evolves, domestic operations are no longer adequate to sustain further development, and the firm seeks other avenues of growth. Outline the considerations that need to be taken if the firm is contemplating a strategic alliance with a foreign partner. [15 marks] (b) Explain the difference between â€Å"internal† financing and â€Å"external† financing† for a foreign subsidiary and give two examples of internal financing. [10 marks] [Total marks : 25] -END OF QUESTION PAPER- Page 3 of 3

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Essay - 1408 Words

The Grapes of Wrath was written by John Steinbeck, in 1929. Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902, in Salinas, California. Steinbeck did not like to narrate any of his novels in which he had no background information in. That is why he would often live the life of his characters before he wrote his novels or short stories. So in preparation for The Grapes of Wrath he went to Oklahoma, joined some migrants and rode with them to California. The Grapes of Wrath starts with Tom Joad, the main character, hitchhiking a ride home after being paroled from the state prison. The reason he was in jail is because four years ago he got into a bar fight and killed a man out of self defense. That is why he only got a seven-year sentence. He gets a†¦show more content†¦Ma tells Grama that the family won’t survive if they have to stop in the desert, and that they have to make it across. Then Grama dies. When they get to a guard station, Grama is already dead, but Ma tells the guards that Grama needs to get to a doctor quickly, and the guards let them go. Once across the desert Ma tells everyone that Grama died, and they leave her to be buried, because they have no money. Then the family gets to a camp for migrants. All the men here are unable to find work. Then a contractor comes into the camp and is looking for workers. One of Tom’s friends asks what the man is paying, and gets accused of being a quot;red.quot; Then the man is arrested, and a fight starts. The sheriff tells everyone that the camp will be burned. So the Joads leave, with the exception of Casy who got mixed up in the run-in with the sheriff, and they find another government camp that is clean, fair, and protected from the police. Here Rose of Sharon’s husband deserts her and the family. Although Rose of Sharon, who is Tom’s sister, is pregnant. Then when the family is out of money, they leave in search of work. They hear of work in a peach orchard, and head out for that. When they get there, they are escorted into the orchard by police. Outside the front of the orchard there are many men yelling and screaming to the workers. Once inside they begin picking immediately so that they can have enough pay for dinner that night. After dinner, TomShow MoreRelatedThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck Essay1622 Words   |  7 Pages The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck, widely viewed as one of the most finest and powerful American writer, born to a middle-class family in 1902 in the Salinas Valley of California. Steinbeck is a writer who often spoke for the people. The Grapes of Wrath is a great movie, published in 1939, filled with many universal truths and views on human nature and society, especially where class is concerned. In the article, John Steinbeck The Grapes a wrath: A Call to Action says, â€Å"Steinbeck’s novel showcasedRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck1075 Words   |  5 PagesKirsten Lloyd Mr. Eldridge AP Junior English 21 August 2014 Grapes of Wrath â€Å"Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.† (Seneca), In the 1939 novel, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, the reader accompanies the Joad family as they struggle to escape the crippling Dust Bowl of the mid- 1930’s. In hopes of establishing a new life for themselves after being forced off their land the family embark on a journey from Oklahoma to California in search of fruitful crops and steady work alongRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck1563 Words   |  7 Pages John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, depicts a migrant farming family in the 1930s. During this time, life revolved around the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, making circumstances difficult for almost everyone involved, especially those who had little. This time of drought and despair caused people to lose hope in everything they’ve ever known, even themselves, but those who did not, put their hope in the â€Å"promised land† of California. Here, the grass was thought to be truly greenerRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck1189 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The Grapes of Wrath† Shortly after being released John Steinbeck’s book â€Å"The Grapes of Wrath† was banned because many critics viewed the novel as promoting communist propaganda, or socialist ideas. The ideas that many of these critics point to is Steinbeck’s depiction of the Big Banks/ Businesses as monsters, the comparison of Government camps to a utopia in contrast of the makeshift â€Å"Hoovervilles,† and the theme of the community before the individual, In his novel â€Å"The Grapes of Wrath† John SteinbeckRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck1093 Words   |  5 Pages In John Steinbeck s The Grapes of Wrath, Tom Joad and his family are forced from their home during the 1930’s Oklahoma Dust Bowl and set out for California along with thousands of others in search of jobs, land, and hope for a brighter future. The Grapes of Wrath is Steinbeck’s way to expound about the injustice and hardship of real migrants during the Depression-era. H e utilizes accurate factual information, somber imagery, and creates pathos, allowing readers connections to the Joad’s plightRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck1190 Words   |  5 PagesThe Grapes of Wrath April 14th, 1939, John Steinbeck published the novel, The Grapes of Wrath. The novel became an immediate best seller, with selling over 428,900 copies. Steinbeck, who lived through both the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, sought to bring attention to how families of Oklahoma outdid these disasters. Steinbeck focuses on families of Oklahoma, including the Joads family, who reside on a farm. The Joad family is tested with hardship when life for them on their farm takesRead MoreThe Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck702 Words   |  3 PagesJohn Steinbeck’s use of the intercalary chapters in The Grapes of Wrath helps weave the reader’s sympathy of the Joad family into a more broad sympathy for the migrant farmers as a whole, in the hopes that the readers would then be compelled to act upon what they have read. During the Great Depression, people had a big disconnect about what was happening in various parts of the country. People often struggle to find sympathy for events when they can’t even visualize a person who is suffering throughRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck2144 Words   |  9 PagesThe Grapes of Wrath is a well-known beloved novel of American Literature, written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939. Whoever said a road is just a road has not read The Grapes of Wrath. From the time we read when Tom Joad, novel’s protagonist, returns home after four years in prison; the meaning of roads changed. Route 66, also known as the mother road the road of flight, was a lifeline road, which allowed thousands of families to pursue their hopes and dreams. This road is also the road thatRead MoreThe Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck1014 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, was first written and later published in the 1939. Fr om the time of its publication to date, the exemplary yet a simple book has seen Steinbeck win a number of highly coveted awards including Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and later on Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962. Set at the time of the Great Depression, the book most remarkably gives a descriptive account of the Oklahoma based sharecropper Joad’ poor family in the light of economic hardship, homelessnessRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck1064 Words   |  5 PagesThe Grapes of Wrath, originated from a John Steinbeck’s book, a legendary film that focus on a major point of American history. The story follows the Joad family on their journey to California trying to survive the hardships. This film, focus on the social problems of America like the Dust bowl, The Great Depression, and industrialism. The Grapes of Wrath was filmed in a journalistic-documentary style, which displayed the realism of the epidemic in the thirties. The thirties the period The Grapes

Describe and Explain the Decline of the Abbasid Caliphate...

The decline of the Abbasids was not a steady of rapid series of events. There were numerous revivals of the Caliphate in which certain strong Caliphs gained more control and influence over the Islamic world than their predecessors had had. However at no point after the death of Harun al-Rahid (reigned 786-809) was the Caliphate ever as powerful. This period is regarded as the Golden Age of the Abbasid Caliphate and was followed immediately by civil war between his sons. Harun’s two sons were called Al-Amin and Al-Mamun. Al-Amin was the elder and was nominated as the heir to the Caliphate. However Al-Mamun, who was the effective governor of the eastern provinces was ambitious. He was spurred towards seizing the Caliphate for†¦show more content†¦Such a compromise was a symptom of a relatively weak Caliph. Further revolts led to the temporary loss of the Caliph’s power in Egypt, Syria and Palestine for substantial periods. However with Tahir and his famil y at his side, al-Mamun was able to regain these lands, leaving the Caliphate in 833 much less weak than it had been although not as strong as al-Rashid had in 809. Al-Mamun’s successor and son was a man called Al Mu’tasim. His reign was particularly important in the gradual decline of the Abbasids. Although he was not the first to use the infamous ‘slave soldiers’, they had been used from 814 onwards, he expanded their usage massively. The slave soldiers were mostly Turks from areas like modern Turkmenistan. These were hard nomadic peoples from the grass planes of the Steppe who were brutal worriers and provided the Caliph with military security for a price. These Turk soldiers were to play a crucial part in the decline of the Caliphate as their influence and power grew over their masters. The Turks soon formed the palace guard of the Caliph, taking on a similar to the Praetorian Guard of the Roman Empire. As their presence increased they became increasin gly unpopular in Baghdad. This unpopularity and the Caliphs increasing dependence on his mercenaries lead to Mu’tasim relocating the capital from Baghdad to Samarra in 835. This only diminished the power of the Caliphate inShow MoreRelatedThe Umayyad Dynasty And Abbasid Dynasty1370 Words   |  6 Pagesthe 14th century named Ibn Khaldun who developed one of the most outstanding model to describe nomadic societies and their lifestyles. Ibn Khaldun analyze the different forms of governments, explaining their strengths and weaknesses by presenting the 4 steps of his model to reveal the cyclical rises and declines of dynasties. I m using Ibn Khaldun s model to explain the history of the Umayyad dynasty and Abbasid dynasty. Throughout the 7-13th centuries, Islamic history, empires have risen and fallenRead MoreMuslim Spain (711-1492)8971 Words   |  36 Pagesis today Spain and Portugal was one of the great Muslim civilizations, reaching its summitwith the Umayyad Caliphate in the 10th century.Muslim Spain was not a single period, but a succession of different rules. Muslim Spain had the following chronological phases: †¢ The Emirate directly dependent on the Caliph in Damascus (711–756) †¢ The Independent Emirate (756-929) †¢ The Caliphate of Cà ³rdoba (929-1031) †¢ The first Taifas (1031-c. 1091) †¢ The Almoravid rule (c.1091-c. 1145) †¢ The secondRead MoreA Book Review of Lost History by Michael Hamilton Morgan2016 Words   |  9 Pageswestern civilizations who call the system of the Islamic Caliphate a dictatorship. The author has also used the method of narration in his book where he provides the reader with a timeline of events starting from the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) until the dismantlement of the last Islamic Caliphate in the early 20th century. He uses this method when he describes the great accomplishments in Baghdad during the rule of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Ma’mÃ… «n from 813-833 AD, under whose leadershipRead MoreA Book Review of Lost History by Michael Hamilton Morgan2029 Words   |  9 Pageswestern civilizations who call the system of the Islamic Caliphate a dictatorship. The author has also used the method of narration in his book where he provides the reader with a timeline of events starting from the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) until the dismantlement of the last Islamic Caliphate in the early 20th century. He uses this method when he describes the great accomplishments in Baghdad during the rule of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Ma’mÃ… «n from 813-833 AD, under whose leadershipRead MoreThe Origins Of The Viking2866 Words   |  12 Pagesaccelerated the collapse of long distance trade. At the same time also declining the importance of the cities as cultural and trade centers. The claim that the barbarian invasions resulted in a long tenured period of general economic and cultural decline can be argued against with sufficient evidence. Considering the economic crisis started much earlier and could not be reversed neither by the reforms of Diocletian nor of Constantine. It was not until after this initial depression that the ext ensiveRead MoreCeramics: Pottery and Clay17443 Words   |  70 PagesKOREA SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION BIBLIOGRAPHY INTRODUCTION As our generation change into a modern period, until now we still recognize the nature of CERAMICS as the one of the greatest art work in every nations. Today, the term is commonly used to describe a material used in pottery. The earliest recorded ceramics were the result of various mixtures and base - combinations, including clay. The resultant non-metallic and inorganic solid base is now a common sight in art ware and the domestic and industrial

Necessity in OBreins The Things they Carried Essay

RR- â€Å"The Things They Carried† What’s More Important? Necessity can usually be described as something or someone that is needed. However, this word has different meanings and is based solely on what the individual requires for his or her survival. These needs may increase or become distorted as he or she finds themselves in a life-or-death situation such as war. Circumstances may also provoke an average person to become emotionally distressed and thus the desire to hold on to all that he can. Despite the fact that these necessary items or ideas that he clings to may impair the person, abandoning them may seem impossible. This is the case in Tim O’Brien’s, â€Å"The Things They Carried.† For First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross,†¦show more content†¦For Jimmy Cross, he humped pictures of Martha, â€Å"a junior at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey † (318) and the letters she writes him. O’Brien highlights these items as special things that Lt. Jimmy Cross carries because they symb olize all he has left behind and hopes to someday return to. Additionally, the letters he receives from Martha are light in weight, only â€Å"ten ounce,† (315) but prove to be a heavy burden. However, Lt. Cross fails to realize his responsibility is not in keeping his photographs and letters safe, but in leading his men safely. Because of his delusional dreams of Martha, he is unable to prevent the death of Ted Lavender. In dealing with such a guilt and regret, Lt Cross is forced to give up the one thing he loved â€Å"more than anything, more than his men,† (318) his beloved Martha. He forces himself to burn everything that was Martha, her pictures, the letters, and pebble she sent, â€Å"because she belonged to another world, which was not quite real†¦because he realized she did not love him and never would† (323). By burning his special things of Martha, Lt. Cross is able to break free from the fantasy world and return to the role he was trained to do. â€Å"He was now determined to perform his duties firmly and without negligence† (327). With Lavender’s death in mind, he becomes aware of immediate dangers that may arise and begins to â€Å"impose strict field discipline† (327) to prevent death. Lt Cross â€Å"reminded

Long Tail Essay Example For Students

Long Tail Essay ail Project #4: Literature Search â€Å"The Long Tail† by R. Cros Table of contents I. Background II. Thesis 1 and 2 III. Thesis Findings A. Thesis One – Consumer-Driven B. Thesis Two – Higher Consumer Engagement IV. Thesis Objections V. Unanswered Questions VI. Bibliography VII. Abstracts (compiled) I. Background As a part of the MBA curriculum, a class titled Management Information Systems was given at Roosevelt in the fall of 2009. The class dealt a great deal with how information, innovation and technology were fundamentally changing business in America. The course focused primarily on the importance of gathering data and converting it into information (for use by managerial decision makers) and on the myriad uses of internet technologies in modern business, from the supplier intinamcy to the management of the collective knowledge of employees. During the course, the professor presented students with an interesting article titled â€Å"The Long Tail† written by Chris Anderson of Wired magazine. The Long Tail, as presented, was a fascinating concept, in the context of discussions of core business functions like the value chain, consumer-driven decision making and the use of technology in marketing. As presented by Anderson, the modern internet, with its ubiquity, super-fast times and access to an unlimited cacophany of products and services, was not just another way to market products; a new-fangled television or another â€Å"space† in which a firm must have a presence. To the contrary, per Anderson, the internet was changing marketing, branding and consumer behavior completely, at elemental levels. The theory stated that bricks and mortar have traditionally abridged the number and variety of products an enterprise could reasonably stock and sell, as space is limited. Because of this, firms have had to rely on â€Å"hit† products – general items with broad appeal, of value to the widest cross-section of consumers. But the concept of the long tail states that the internet has created a new reality of infinite choice, no space limitations, low-to-no marginal costs for production and lower â€Å"search† costs for the consumer. As a result, consumers of the future will no longer focus on the blockbuster movie, the album made by the latest record company pop star, or the video game that’s ‘everyone is playing’. Instead, with the help of clickstream tracking tools (that collect data on customer web activity, process and feed to firms as useable profiling data), collaborative filtering (software that makes recommendations on future visits, based on past web visits), firms will know more, and in more detail, about consumers (Oestreicher-Singer, G 2009). These recommender systems (as exists on Netflix and Amazon for example) and product reviews from product users, consumers will be led down the tail of the curve, away from few items that sell heavily, to an almost infinite number of lower selling yet value-ladden items – selling less of more (Vallance 2007). The argument goes that, because costs to house these products are virtually nill (especially for, but not limited to digital products), retailers can â€Å"stock† them. Not only that, but Anderson argues that because consumers have been slaves to bricks and mortar, there is pent up demand for niche products whose sales will not only thicken and lengthen the tail, but also equal or best the sales in the head of the curve. This theory throws the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 rule that says, in retail, for example, that 80% of your sales will come from 20% of your products) up in the air. II. Thesis 1) The long tail concept is valid and quintessentially customer driven, not only for digital media, but also a growing number of other items in the retail universe. ) That by its nature, the long tail engages the consumer in an affective and cognitive manner that is transcendental and more impactful. III. Thesis Findings The â€Å"blockbuster† model is illustrated well by looking at Grand Central Publishing. This former subsidiary of Warner Books publishes anywhere from 250 to 300 books per year; most at a loss. The leadership of Grand Central make tou gh decisions each year, as their strategy calls for them to cull 2 books from their three hundred, on which to focus most of their marketing time, energy and resources. The theory is that the couple books with the most potential will â€Å"carry† their year in terms of generating revenue. This strategy bears out for them. The sixty-one titles Grand Central had on its front list in 2006 incurred marketing costs of $650,000, and generated $100,000 in revenue. However, the company’s best seller from 2007 incurred marketing costs of $7m, while generating nearly $12m in revenue (Elberse 2008). This tried and true method has been used for years, across industries, to great effect – basic Pareto Principal. But the argument can be made that this is not a market-driven consumer approach. To the contrary, this can be seen as an approach that works in the perceived best interests of the firms (in terms of things like budgeting and projecting), and while it may make some use of customer opinion data (polls, responses, feedback, market-study), it can almost not help but be flawed. In reality, this may be an example of self-fulfilling prophesy, where the blockbuster products sell successfully, almost arbitrarily, because of the great investment in resources and marketing. The above scenario is one that the long tail theory tries to directly annihilate. In premise, there may be great value in the sixty-one Grand Central titles that lost $550,000 using traditional marketing strategies. Instead of the major investment, smaller, niche titles could be found on web-sites like Amazon. Reviews and recommendations could link them to other, similar items (maybe even blockbusters) and increase their value. To some, their â€Å"rarity† may even have value. Most importantly, the â€Å"spoilage† of these niche items could be alleviated beyond their year of release, beyond being placed out-of-print, to having an infinite cyber â€Å"shelf-life† (Davidson 2009). Thesis One – Consumer-Driven Information and Search The sheer depth, breadth and volume of information available on the internet has created a more knowledgeable consumer. â€Å"Shopbot† sites make it easy for people to compare prices across a multitude of retailers. The impact of imperfect information begins to wane when the consumer has access to a world of data, pre-aggregated and formed into highly useful information. Recommender systems then link consumers to similar items, and/or items bought by similar customers (Park 2008). The idea of search itself changed with the dawn of the internet age, but it has further evolved. In the old days, search meant driving down to the local mall (or two) to make product comparisons and â€Å"shop†. The internet first made this easier with the shop at home emphasis (not unlike the catalogue before it). But innovation has come in terms of making comparison much easier and more robust. The long tail takes the consumer on a journey though products â€Å"ideas†, associating the consumers’ needs in a broader sense, and not just to a certain product (Oestreicher-Singer 2009). This has had several other effects. It has resulted in: * Downward pressure on prices automatic comparison has created more perfect information for consumers (product characteristics for example), hence more competition * More interactive customer feedback and engagement; customers often submit their own ideas and products, or augment existing products directly * Less emphasis on established brands and decreased brand equity and share of customer (Morrissey 2007) Competitive Advantage These new capacities speak to a heightened competitive advantage for a number of concrete reasons. Long tail technologies help differentiate products to the consumer. They help illuminate unique, possibly ‘niche appeal’ product characteristics that otherwise must be de-prioritized in traditional marketing. For instance, reviews of a book might highlight secondary or unrealized themes or ideas not emphasized by marketers but appealing to a niche audience. This allows not just access to, but the ability for firms to focus on niche market strategies, because of superior incoming data and engagement during the purchase. Marketers can use long tail data to reveal how, why and in which ways their products are being connected to other brands and products, and make adjustments in mid-stream to tap the new, niche markets. The long tail technologies also strengthen the intimacy among customers, web-sites and suppliers. Individual customer data profiling morphs into a highly personalized service, adding value to the customer experience. When a site like Netflix already knows what may be of interest to its members, if streamlines the already manageable search and decision processes (Clemons 2008). Inherent Consumer-focus In essence, long tail theory puts the focus back on the consumer, not on arbitrary marketing strategies and brand-based decisions. Technology is the conduit for giving the consumer something they may not even know they want. Instead of filling out surveys or sending back opinion product opinion mailers, consumers leave detailed feedback on products on sites like Amazon, Netflix and the like. The ‘word-of-mouth’ reviews and recommendations act as imperfect market research; not easily quantifiable, but loaded with much, very useful product user information. Important cultural data often lies in the lengthy reviews, such as what products may be attached to certain subgroups, affinity groups, religious groups, etc†¦Particularly for media products like DVDs, music and books, for which sales have been mostly down over the past few years, technology is showing that these niche products may have low volume demand, but high value demand for consumers (Kumar 2009). The book Touching the Void is an example cited by Anderson. Released in 1988, author Joe Simpson’s story of an ill-fated mountain climbing trip in Peru was well-reviewed, but didn’t sell. Child Abuse EssayIn this regard, many found that the 80/20 (Pareto) rule was still intact and in fact the norm, sometimes co-existing with long tail strategies; in this, the top 20% sellers made 80% of the sales, but carried a much wider and varied array of products (Knowledge Wharton). The research theorized that the two concepts are not mutually exclusive. Surprisingly, some of the data showed an inverse relationship with the long tail. There is evidence that consumers may reach a point of information overload with so much choice, or actually not prefer niche products. The question as to whether consumers actually want the 4th, 5th or 80th best reggae album (for example) rises. Some data theorizes that niche products are actually preferred not by the general buying public, but by a small group of â€Å"heavy users†, more prone and apt to venture down the long tail. One study actually found that the long tail actually creates a heightened market for â€Å"hits†, possibly with consumers seeking more familiar â€Å"brands† and offerings and, again, feeling the blowback of so much easy search and myriad, available information (Tan 2008). Anderson’s theory failed to address the idea of inherent inferiority of some niche products – maybe Grand Centrals sixty-one titles were in fact not that good or appealing. When customer feedback is limited Long tail theory also does not address the instances when customer feedback is limited. Systems like collaborative filtering only work well with a sufficient quantity of data input. Research has found that it is often the case that niche products are so far down the tail, or have such limited appeal, that they do not get viewed, reviewed or otherwise evaluated. This is the Achilles heel of the long tail – the oxymoronic condition that for consumers to be funneled down the tail, they must first be funneled down the tail. Sites like Netflix do use an advanced degree of logic in how products are linked for shoppers in a small-cell manner. But sites like Amazon link products in larger categories, making them harder to find and less differentiated (Zhu 2010). This also has a boomerang effect, because ‘hit’ products are generally very highly reviewed and represented in collaborative filtering systems. So these products are more likely to appear as recommendations to consumers, and more likely to be purchased in many instances (Gomes 2008). Sabotaging the Tail Growing evidence supports the notion that major corporations have adapted their marketing strategies to maximize the positive elements of the long tail. In much the same ways that the majors have co-opted concepts like viral marketing through sites like YouTube (which currently has a corporate â€Å"video†/commercial that airs exclusively on YouTube and has received 7 million views), marketers are taking advantage of niches. In addition to simply placing convention advertising on the sites, many have theorized that companies may have found ways to †tweak† collaborative filtering systems to highlight their products, or turn loose associations into stronger connections. And as stated previously, some research is already showing that the long tail may actually benefit ‘hit’ products, as findings indicate says of these products actually increasing because of long tail technologies. In a â€Å"cream-rises-to-the-top† manner of thinking, evidence indicates that as some consumers explore the tail, they realize the products are mostly inferior, i. e. there is a reason they are not â€Å"popular†. Further more, in terms of search costs and information overload, research shows that new products appear at a rate that outstrips the consumers ability to be aware of and process them. The exception to this would be a relatively small group of heavy users (Tan 2009). Similarly, research is being to explore whether some on-line recommendations, reviews and ratings are authentic. Some research supports that sly marketers have tread into these waters as well, either using incentives (for consumers to offer positive reviews) or literally posting their own reviews to their products. Additionally, researchers are studying whether some actual customer reviews are authentic. Particularly among heavy users, opinions for and against certain products can be heavily biased, and the feedback mechanisms can be used for these consumers to voice their discontent for the product, firms or other things. PC users and Mac â€Å"Zealots† have a long-running rivalry. No doubt these computer savvy users could make use of recommendations and reviews to â€Å"slam† new products (like IPad for example) on general principal. Social Beings The most glaring contradiction, that cuts to the heart of long tail theory, is that is fails to recognize consumers as human, social beings, especially for certain products like digital media (music, films, tv and books). It was noted that Anderson did not give enough attention to the â€Å"water-cooler† effect; that consumers do not solely choose certain products based only on their attributes, characteristics and functionality. As has been discussed, culture is the values, norms, morals, symbols and accepted patterns of behavior that help us to communicate with a shared language and experience. These frameworks provide individuals with rules for navigating the world in an acceptable manner. In the same way we stand in line at the bank, or wear the same clothes and do the same cheers at a sporting event, we also seek to share cultural experiences through some of the products we purchase or services we use (Ottenfeld 2010). The viewing of Avatar, the mad rush to purchase the IPad or to religiously view the new episode of â€Å"American Idol† has a cultural element to it that is undeniable. Consumers want to share these experiences with their more traditional sub-groups; their families, their college friends, the people at the dog park or their colleagues at the water-cooler. The latest film by Spanish Director Pedro Almadovar, or album by the German Metal band Rammstein may possess are great deal of artistic relevance, but they are outliers within most of the American sub-cultural groups. Niche products have a tendency to fulfill consumers on higher levels of the needs scale. But those desires that lead consumers to seek connectedness with community, lead them to consume certain mass market products (Elberse 2008). V. Unanswered Questions Anderson’s work on long tail theory, and the subsequent research and writing on the subject have served to illuminate and inform thought and discussion on the subject. But there still remain unanswered elements that seem ripe for discussion and further investigation. Demographics The Long Tail is spoken of as a technological tsunami, universally destroying everything that came before it. While it is true that entities like Amazon, eBay, Netflix and the like possess and seeming ubiquity, an element of cultural examination seems to be missing. Anderson’s theory arguably pays far less attention to sub group demographics and characteristics like age, race. sex, income and similar factors. The Digital Divide that still exists is a major issue that is left under-evaluated. Some consumers have limited to no access to computers, let alone the internet. Though stores like Wal-Mart represent a physical approximation to the long tail (in a manner of speaking), that consumers have access to, the version Anderson purports is much broader and grander than this. Although great strides have been made to improve access to underserved communities, there are still individuals with limited access, training, capacity and/or resources to fully engage in a digital consumer culture. For example, computers with internet access are available in community libraries, but individuals in those communities may lack computer skills to use them, or even the resources to travel to the library. This leads to a more comprehensive contemplation on demographics. We know that older consumers are less likely to use computers. Individuals in certain racial and ethnic groups are less likely to use computers. It has been estimated that significant numbers of people of color and new citizens do not have bank accounts, making their ability to complete on-line purchases unlikely. People of certain socio-economic classes are more likely to use computers more often. There are regional factors that determine internet access; some rural and remote areas have less access than urban, populated areas. These and other demographic considerations pose many questions about the long tail theory. Search â€Å"Costs† Long tail theory also lacks a suitable discussion of search costs (discussed briefly earlier). Access to unlimited choice does not come without costs. In an era where consumers are burdened by time more than ever, an endless array of products can prove daunting and discouraging. Most internet consumers have experienced being taken through a seemingly never-ending chain of products, connected through filtering. The initial benefits of this are often tangible, but an element of â€Å"diminishing returns† often seeps into the process. The further the consumer journeys down the tail, there is a tendency for the products to be less connected to the initial search (Lin 2008). The familiarity of mass market products can offer a remedy to this overload. As consumers travel down the tail, viewing more products, of questionable quality and relevance, the appeal of the familiar, and its cultural significance, can be irresistible.