Anorexia Nervosa Etiology, Treatment, and Related...

This paper was designed to discuss several basic topics regarding anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is and eating disorder with an incredibly high mortality rate characterized by low body weight and an obsessive fear of becoming overweight that occurs primarily in females after puberty, yet before the age of 40 years. Unfortunately, Not much is known about the causes of anorexia nervosa, but possible correlations are blood relation to a person suffering from anorexia nervosa, those who have recently experienced a stressful event, a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder in childhood, or participation in a culture or profession that values thinness. Due to the mystery of the true causes of the disorder, the†¦show more content†¦Once a person has been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, the treatments typically involve intense hospital stay programs which are usually at least ten weeks long. These programs are usually effective in both the restoration of weight to the patient as well as the decrease in depression and obsessive compulsive tendencies. However, this type of treatment is discouraged by most medical insurance plans because of the length of the hospital stay as well as the cost. Consequently, this aspect of anorexia nervosa along with the possible causes, are traditionally the most common topics of research regarding anorexia nervosa (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Two main areas of research to speed up the treatment time of anorexia nervosa have been explored. These areas are developing more efficient outpatient programs, and the development of medications to restore weight and decrease obsessive and d epressive symptoms in individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa. In the experiment, â€Å"Olanzapine in the Treatment of Low Body Weight and Obsessive Thinking in Women with Anorexia Nervosa: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial†, the drug olanzapine, an antipsychotic drug with a reported side-effect of weight gain was prescribed to patients along with a traditional ten week day hospital program. The results of thoseShow MoreRelatedEating Disorders : Anorexia Nervosa1493 Words   |  6 Pages408 Hernandez Illness Paper – Anorexia Nervosa February 28, 2016 According to the Mayo Clinic (2016), eating disorders are â€Å"conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact your health, your emotions, and your ability to function in important areas of life.† One such eating disorder is anorexia nervosa. Not to be confused with anorexia, which is simply a general loss of appetite that can be attributed to many medical ailments, anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorderRead More Childhood Sexual Abuse Impacting the Etiology of Eating Disorders1990 Words   |  8 PagesChildhood Sexual Abuse Impacting the Etiology of Eating Disorders Todays literature estimates that as many as 1 in 3 females and 1 in 7 boys have been the victim of sexual abuse. There are about 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of incest each year in each major city in the United States. It is reported by the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse that in 1993, 2.9 million children were reported to protective services because they were being abused, neglected, or both (Schwartz). 16%Read MoreThe Treatment Of Eating Disorders4614 Words   |  19 Pagescriteria and symptoms a person must exhibit in order to be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa or bulimia. These symptoms primarily relate to a disturbance in eating pattern, weight loss, an intense fear of being fat, and a disturbed body image. The etiology of eating disorders is not clearly understood, but psychological, sociocultural, and biological factors need to be considered. The treatment approach for anorexia nervosa and bulimia is also challenging and can present with serious medical complic ationsRead MoreEssay on Biochemical Correlates of Anorexia and Bulimia1070 Words   |  5 PagesBiochemical Correlates of Anorexia and Bulimia Millions of people in the United States suffer from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is a dangerous eating disorder characterized by distorted body image, obsession with food and weight, drastic reduction in food intake often to the point of starvation, and extreme weight loss (1). Bulimia nervosa is a somewhat similar eating disorder more specifically characterized by recurring episodes of uncontrollable binge eating followedRead MoreEffects Of Eating Disorders On Children And Adolescents2521 Words   |  11 Pageschildren and adolescents, eating disorders can overlap in many instances. As an example, some children alternate between periods of anorexia and bulimia. Eating disorders typically develop during adolescence or early adulthood. However, research has shown that they can start in childhood, too. Females are much more vulnerable. Only an estimated 5% to 15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are male. With binge eating, the number rises to 35% male (Ame rican Psychological Association, 2000). It is importantRead MoreEating Disorders Are A Potential And Critical Concern2762 Words   |  12 Pagescategorical diagnosis of bulimia nervosa. Hoek and van Hoeken (2003) reported that the prevalence of bulimia nervosa has tripled from 1988-1993 for woman ages ten to thirty-nine. Many people who develop eating disorders do not seek the essential help they need and attempt to mask the serious illness. Thus, the estimated reports of bulimia nervosa are presumably subordinate (Heok van Hoeken, 2003). It is important for school counselors to understand bulimia nervosa in its entirety. The knowledgeRead MoreEssay on Linking Eating Disorders With Genetics1871 Words   |  8 Pagescontinue eating large amounts of food. At this point, you may be wondering why these examples are not considered Bulimia Nervosa. According to Dr. Richard Allan Gordon, author of Eating Disorders: Anatomy of a Social Epidemic, these examples â€Å"show little evidenc e of a preoccupation with thinness and are unlikely examples of the modern eating disorder. In fact, the existence of Bulimia Nervosa as a distinct disorder prior to the twentieth century is highly unlikely...and even within the twentieth centuryRead MoreEating Disorders : Anorexia Nervosa1477 Words   |  6 Pagesdisorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. They all involve serious disturbances in weight regulation and eating habits, accompanied by adverse effects on social, psychological and physical aspects of one’s life (‘Eating disorders: About more than food’, n.d.). This essay will specifically be focusing on bulimia nervosa, as research shows a higher level of stigma associated with it, compared to other eating disorders (Roehrig McLean, 2009). Bulimia nervosa is characterisedRead MorePanic Disorder And Anxiety Disorder1674 Words   |  7 PagesPanic Disorder refers to an overwhelming fear, terror, or fright that is usually referred to as panic, one that happens to an individual several times in his or her life. She goes on to describe panic as a situation that is short-lived and frequently related to a terrifying event that happens in an individual’s life. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to provide a detailed discussion that shows a definitive picture of panic disorder. In order to enhance one’s understanding on what a panic disorderRead MoreThe Prevalence Of Body Dissatisfaction And Eating Disordered Behavior Essay1931 Words   |  8 PagesBackground: Dissatisfaction with the size, weight, and shape of one’s body contributes to the risk of developing an eating disorder. Body dissatisfaction appears common among adolescents, but there is little information available on changes in prevalence over time. Purpose: We aim to study temporal changes in body dissatisfaction and eating disordered behavior between 1999 and 2007 and their relationship in high school aged youth. Methods: The National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data sets

The Death Of The Scout Essay - 1430 Words

Then the specter arrived, a certain fear of death, it was dull and oppressive, it came to the Scout. This fear wasted no time becoming poignant as the Scout realized that it was now no longer a mere matter of just freezing some fingers and maybe a few toes, or of losing his hands and feet altogether, but that now it was a matter of life and death with the odds solidly stacked very much against survival. This threw the Scout into a full panic, and it turned and ran up the ammonia creek-bed back along the old, dim trail. The pequoti quickly joined in behind and kept up but it kept a safe distance. The Scout now ran blindly, and without any willful intention, in fear such as it had never known before. Slowly, as the Scout ploughed and floundered through the argon snow, it began to see things again — the banks of the ammonia creek, the old-growth timber-jams, the leafless trees, and the beautiful sky. This running made the Scout feel much better. The Scout no longer shivere d. Maybe, just maybe, if the Scout ran on, its feet would thaw and dry out; and, anyway, if it ran far enough, the Scout would reach the safety of camp and the others. Without a doubt the Scout would lose maybe a finger and maybe a toe and maybe some of its face; but the others would take good care of the Scout, and save the rest upon arrival. But at the same time there was this other competing and rapidly growing thought in the Scout’s mind that said it would never get to that mining camp and theShow MoreRelatedComing of Age Novels978 Words   |  4 Pagesyear old Jean Louise â€Å"Scout† Finch of Maycomb County, Alabama. Both characters were brought up in small, close-knit southern towns, with false views of the world, and ignorance to knowledge and experience. As the stories progess however, the two gain a new type of knowledge and realization of the world. Experiences dealing with love, death, racism and discrimination helped the character’s child-like i deas of the world blossom into a more adult-like perspective. Will and Scout had changed in ways bothRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1665 Words   |  7 Pagesmay mature through tragic moments in their life or just through time passing. Jem and Scout are two characters in â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† that have matured throughout the whole novel. These two characters went through a crucial trial and had stereotyping, racism, loss and big learning moments. Jem and Scout were just like any other child but were in stages of maturing and growing up. Children including Jem and Scout mature through the influences of family, how they deal with loss and a rude awakeningRead MoreChapter 20 : Brown Paper Bag1096 Words   |  5 PagesChapter 20: â€Å"Brown Paper Bag† Explanation: Scout and Dill are talking to Mr. Dolphus Raymond when he reveals that it is Coca-Cola that he drinks inside the paper bag. This exposes that Mr. Raymond is not a drunk, but only acts that way. Also, it illustrates that he just prefers being around colored folks rather than whites by giving other white people a reason to leave him alone, which is alcoholism. The scene then turns to Atticus giving his finally remarks at the court. Just when he finishesRead MoreThe True Meaning Of Courage1527 Words   |  7 PagesLouise â€Å"Scout† Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird. In Stranger Than Fiction, an IRS agent, Harold Crick, with a monotonous life learns that you must not only survive, but you must truly live. This lesson is taught through a series of events that lead to his breaking out of his shell and truly living his life. The events are preliminarily put into action through Harold hearing the voice of the author of a book about his life. In To Kill A Mockingbird, a tomboyish s ix-year-old, Jean Louise â€Å"Scout† FinchRead MoreMaturity And Personal Growth Often Appear Through The Experience1628 Words   |  7 Pagesof innocence affect personal growth through the way in which several innocent characters suffer the wrath of prejudices, resulting in imprisonment, murder, and near-death experiences. Harper Lee relates many of the characters to her own personal life. Lee’s father was a lawyer which led to the development of Atticus’ occupation. Scout Finch is an embodiment of Harper Lee. Mrs. Duboise’s character stemmed from Mrs. Powell Jones who was a tormentor to Harper Lee during her youth. In Mockingbird, MrsRead MoreEssay about The Narrator Debate: To Kill A Mockingbird1192 Words   |  5 PagesSome critics have argued that Scout, in To Kill A Mockingbird, is an unreliable narrator. This is simply because Scout is a child. They suspect she is too innocent, naà ¯ve, and has an unbiased view. However, Scout as the narrator is a reliable choice because she allows the reader to concentrate more on the exterior of situations, she allows the reader to make his/her opinion, and she gives the reader direction of how to cover events and certain actions in the novel. Scout, as a child narrator, helpsRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Dilemma Essay1389 Words   |  6 Pagesdilemmas which caused them to eventually, become lawyers and to who have since matured and understand the world a little better. This quote demonstrates throughout the novel, how Atticus, who is a lawyer, teaches his daughter, Scout, to experience life lessons, which shows how Scout was influenced by her lawyer father which makes her understanding like a good lawyer would be. Therefore, Harper Lee uses moral and ethical dilemmas in her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, to illustrate Scout’s development throughoutRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1103 Words   |  5 Pagesmany emotions, as starts to realize the full extent of racism in Maycomb. Scout responds in this particular way.†Well Dill, after all he s just a negro†(Lee 266.)Scout is 9 years old within this age juveniles are easily influenced also look up to their elders. Scout isn’t raised the same way as Dill she’s been hearing all theses racist things and is being surrounded by many racist people all her life. Not only has Scout been followed by the topic of racism with Dill it remains to follow her toRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee785 Words   |  3 Pagespresent, the Mother of Jem and Scout. Their mother died when Jem was six and Scout was two. This is when Cal steps in to mother the children. Later on in the book Aunt Alexandra comes to live with them to help with Scouts becoming of a lady. Atticus their father tries’s his best to guide them in the right direction. Things would definitely be different if the Mother was still alive. Atticus is the one who is affected the most by the death of the mother. If her death had not taken place he would notRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1052 Words   |  5 Pagesmany emotions, as starts to realize the full extent of racism in Maycomb. Scout responds in this particular way.†Well Dill, after all he s just a negro†(Lee 266.)Scout is 9 years old within this age juveniles are easily influenced and look up to their elders. Scout wasn t raised the same way as Dill she’s been hearing all theses racist things and is being surrounded by many racist people all her life. Not only has Scout been followed by the topic of racism with Dill it remains to follow her to

Description Of The Painting Essay Example For Students

Description Of The Painting Essay Description of the painting. Most of these people are simple and poor, women n with children, and the minority are rich. Their moods are very contradictory. Departure of Columbus to America was perceived in different ways by pee pole. We see that people of different social statuses have entirely differ rent reactions to his voyage. The first one Who catches the eye is a sad monk, who understands that this is the wrong attitude. In this case, he is alone. We see how a young man takes his blessing and kisses his lords hand. In addition, we can see a sad woman in a lively attire, it is most likely that SSH e is his beloved woman who sends him into the unknown, and she realizes that he may not come back. The trip is very long and dangerous. There are two of her brothers from a rich family, They both rather envy Columbus, they t hind he is very lucky, and would like to be in his place. Perhaps their father sitting in the boat with them did not give them permission to leave the country. We see a lot of poor people who are going to sail alongside Columbus as abhor force to earn money and teed their families. They are escorted by sad women who are genuinely suffering on behalf of their children a ND husbands. An elderly woman turned her gaze to her only son, who is pulling the sails on the ship. He is all that she has. We see a very rich and hightailing man, he is supposed to be a sponsor who o has invested a considerable amount of money in this voyage. His deject De wife is crying on his shoulders, accompanying him (she might be sees g him for the last time. __). The man is very serious, concentrated and he must be unhappy, because he is not sure about the success of journey (he could lose all his money). At the same time, we see a priest of high rank (Obviously he has good relationship With the Queen), he blesses Columbus for a good trip. Columbus feels himself very majestically, as a future hero. He fanatically believes and knows that there is unexplored land. He wants to BEA hero, wants to be glory fifed forever.

Psychological explanations of Schizophrenia free essay sample

The characteristics of Schizophrenia (SZ) can be categorised into two different types: Type 1 symptoms (Positive Symptoms) and Type 2 (Negative symptoms). Type 1 characteristics include things such as delusions, hallucinations and paranoia. Patients may experience things such as hearing voices, which are often said to be from God or the Devil. Type 2 symptoms however show more catatonic behaviour, for example a loss of drive, a lack of emotion or catatonic stupor. On the other hand, there are some patients who experience both type 1 and type 2 symptoms, these are therefore categorised as Disorganised as they will have disorganised behaviour and speech. There is a 1% chance of developing SZ if neither of your parents is carrying the gene, however this increases to 20% if one parent is diagnosed, and to 46% if both parents are. It is said to occur within men when they are 25 or younger, however it occurs at an older age of 25-45 for women. Discuss psychological explanations of Schizophrenia In the 1950’s and 60’s it was believed that if you belonged to a dysfunctional family that you were more likely to suffer from SZ due to the dysfunction of communication within the family. According to the different psychological explanations of SZ this is because of the high emotional tension and the many secrets and close alliances that are kept in the family. One psychological explanation of SZ was put forward by Bateson et al (1956) who looked at childhood as a base for developing SZ, for example the interactions children have with their mothers. His explanation, the Double Bind theory, states that SZ can occur due to conflicting messages given from parents to their children, for example when a parent expresses care but does so in a critical way. This means that the child will become confused as the message they are given is conflicting, as one message effectively invalidates the other. As a result, the child is left with self doubt and eventual withdrawal. Experiences such as these are said to cause SZ as they  prevent the development of an internally coherent construction of reality, in the end they are likely to experience SZ type symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, and in some cases, paranoia. This theory therefore suggests that the home environment and the relationships a child has with their parents through messages plays a role in the development of SZ. This is because there is no clear template of a loving relationship; instead the child is always unsure if they have done something wrong due to the confli cting messages they are given. A strength of this theory is the supporting evidence from Berger. He found that SZ patients reported a higher recall of double bind statements (conflicting messages) by their mothers than non SZ patients. However this reliability of this study was criticised as patients recall may be affected by their SZ. There are said to be problems as it is called a retrospective recall, as the data is unreliable. For example, delusions may occur meaning that the patients are recalling things that didn’t happen. Another criticism of the Double Bind theory is the inability to replicate the findings across studies. This is because of individual differences, and the fact that as most of the memories were from childhood, you cannot go back in time to assess the validity of the recollections. An additional criticism is the fact that the Hawthorne Effect may have occurred. As it was an observation of the families, there is no proof that the parents will act as they normally do around their families, therefore the validity of the results reduces as the results will not show a true picture of how they really are as a parent. Also, the families are studied retrospectively, meaning they are studied long after the mental disorder may have affected the family system. This means that various family routines will have been disrupted so you will be unable to see how the family acted before a child developed SZ. This is because living with someone with SZ is difficult and distressing for all the family as it has an impact on everyone, not just the patient of SZ. A final criticism is that it is said to be an unconstructive theory as the theory blames the parents and families for a child developing SZ. By suggesting that a parent has caused SZ is at least unhelpful and at most highly destructive, as they not only have to cope with living with someone with SZ, but they are then told that it is their fault, which will lead them to feel guilty and hurt as they are blamed for a poor upbringing. A second psychological explanation of SZ is Expressed Emotion. This was developed in the late 1970’s when psychologists were more interested in how the family might play a part in the course, rather than the cause of SZ. For example, Brown found that patients who returned to homes where there was a high level of expressed emotion, for example lots of hostility, criticism and over involvement, they showed a greater tendency to relapse in comparison to those who returned to homes where there was a lower level of expressed emotion. This was supported by Linszen who found this to be four times more likely. This study suggests that a high level of emotion in the family environment plays a role in the SZ patients’ disorder becoming worse. There is also support for this explanation from Vaughn and Leff who also found that the level of expressed emotion had an affect on relapse rates amongst discharged patients. However they also studied the amount of face to face contact patients spent with relatives after discharge, and they found an increase in relapse rates as face to face contact increased, and even more so with higher levels of expressed emotion. This study suggests that the more time a SZ patient spends with a family with high levels of EE means that they are more likely to relapse. On the other hand, this study has not been replicated therefore the validity of their results is questioned. There is a lot of supporting research for this explanation, for example from Kalafi and Torabi (1996) who studied expressed emotion within families in an Iranian Culture, where mothers are extremely over protective and submissive, and fathers are more rejecting as they are not able to comfort their child as it is seen as weak in their culture. They found a higher prevalence of expressed emotion was one of the main causes of relapse, as there is a lot of negativity in the families which in the end leads to high levels of stress which they find it very difficult to cope with. This suggests that a mixture of emotion from parents in the Iranian culture plays a role in the SZ patient relapsing. However this theory was criticised as it is not clear whether EE intervention was the key element of the therapy or whether aspects of the family intervention might have helped. Therefore this leads to confusion and eventual withdrawal. Therefore there are other aspects of intervention that could be useful as it is unclear as to whether EE is helping the family as a unit. A second criticism is that many patients with SZ are either estranged from their families or have minimal contact, and yet there is no evidence that such people are less prone to relapse. Therefore it is unclear whether there is an impact. On the other hand, there are several strengths to this theory. For example, there is a lot of supporting research conducted to make the theory more valid. The EE is a well established â€Å"maintenance† model of SZ and many prospective studies have been conducted which support the EE hypothesis across many cultures, therefore the theory is also applicable cross culturally. This is also because negative emotion will most likely be found in many different cultures. There has also been an argument as to whether the EE model is a cause or an effect of SZ. The EE model has becoming widely accepted that research is now focussing on relatives of those with SZ in order to understand better which aspects of high and low EE relate to relapse. There is evidence to support that the family members are not held responsible for a person developing SZ, for example they tend to attribute positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions to the person’s mental illness. But on the other hand, there is also evidence that some attribute negative symptoms, for example social withdrawal, to the person’s personality characteristics and in the end they are said to become over critical in an attempt to change those behaviours. Overall, it was concluded by Lopez that families characterised by negative affect (criticism) has much higher relapse rates in comparison to those with positive affect (warmth). Overall, an excellent piece of work as always, X. You have thoroughly mentioned all relevant research and remembered to elaborate after each study.

Lord Of The Flies Chapter 4-7 Notes Essays - English-language Films

Lord of the Flies: Chapter 4-7 Notes Lord of the Flies: Chapter 4-7 Notes 1. When the fire goes out it symbolizes the loss of all remaining civility and the beginning of absolute savagery. The fire was the boys' only link to the past, as it was the one true technology they had. Fire symbolizes man's domination and manipulation of nature. As the fire goes out the boys are no longer people, but animals. It is also important to note that the fire was voluntarily allowed to die. This tells us that the boys voluntarily became savages, so this represents not only the loss of a civilized society, but also the betrayal of it. When the fire goes out, it also signifies the loss of hope. If the boys believed that they would be rescued, then they would not allow the fire to go out. Again, because of the fire being let out voluntarily it also represents the betrayal of hope. When the fire goes out, the boys no longer want to be a part of civilization or be rescued by it. 2. The beast from the air is a dead man, who is attached to a parachute, falling from the sky. The beast from water is a figment of their imagination. Once again the loss of civilization and the old ways are represented. The dead man in the parachute, falling slowly, from the old world and civilization, represents the steady decline of the old ways which have been implemented in the new society and therefore the distinction of being civilized itself and the death of it. The beast represents mankind's fear of an outside threat as well as the evil and wrong doing that mankind brings upon itself. Fear of an outside threat has been a characteristic that mankind has had ever since we walked on two legs. Ancient peoples saw demons, and now many people claim to see UFO's and aliens; it is quite plausible that a very primitive society would see a beast. As evil and fear are created from man, so is the beast. The beast, being a fictitious creation of man and one that appears in every society, becomes no longer a physical entity, but a fear rooted deep in the human psyche; perhaps a fear of ourselves. 3. The parachute symbolizes the forces of human behavior that attempt to hold the fabric of society intact. The parachute, however, fails to hold society afloat indefinitely. The parachute slowly loses to nature (in this case gravity, but symbolically mankind's animal instincts and desires). This conclusion can be drawn because the parachute is carrying a dead man, who of course represents the old way and civility. Perhaps it could be also concluded that the parachute symbolizes the last efforts to maintain a civilization that has already died and cannot be saved. Because the parachute symbolizes efforts to save civilization on the island, it can be related to Ralph, Piggy, and Simon. The parachute, however, does not represent these characters, but rather what they themselves in turn represent; leadership, knowledge and kindness. 4. When Simon says, "You'll get back alright...", he means to say that the beast is a figment of the imagination and cannot harm anyone; therefore, they will get back without a beast preventing their return. Golding puts Simon's words in such a manner so that they have a connotation of sarcasm and annoyance. I believe that this was done to give the reader a hint of Simon's unspoken knowledge. Simon knows that the beast is fictitious, in fact Simon knows what the beast represents. He is annoyed by the general ignorance of the boys on the island and knows that when they return, they themselves will bring the beast back; only it won't be the beast that they think they know. 5. Jack was unable to kill the pig because he still had traces of civility left in him. The savage part of him drew him to kill the pig, but did not fully dominate and he was unable to kill the pig. Society teaches us from a young age that it is not only wrong to kill, but disgusting. He was not ready to stain his hands with the blood of another living creature and to abandon his morals. He took a large step towards savagery by deciding and nearly bringing himself to kill the pig, but was not ready to complete the journey; not yet. 6. Piggy's glasses are significant as a symbol of knowledge. Piggy also represents knowledge, and he is blind, basically useless without them. Piggy

Health coach Essay Example

Health coach Essay Example Health coach Essay Health coach Essay Bing a wellness manager for gamescape these past 5 hebdomads has truly helped me reach a better apprehension of wellness and health. Having a squad with such different backgrounds and really different in their whole facet of wellness and health was a challenge at times but that is what made me understand wellness and health so much better. Bing the squad leader and holding to do different life determinations for the three other squad members helped me see how altering some little things can hold a immense impact in your life. I have learned that even person who is really active and fit like June in gamescape was there is still room for betterment and better wellness picks to be made. The most of import thing that I have learned is that there has to be balance between all six elements in order to make optimum wellness. It is truly of import to understand each component and do it a portion of your life because if one is absent in your life so you can non make true wellness and health. Before gamescape I had no thought about the six elements that make up wellness and health. I knew that all those things were of import but I neer truly knew the function the six elements have in making optimum wellness. Besides larning all the ways that I can assist forestall chronic disease has been great. larning about all the hazard factors made me really scared at first but I besides know now that I can assist forestall it.

Managing the Hospitality Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managing the Hospitality Experience - Essay Example This is achieved through an effort to entertain guests (Jones 2002). According to Jones (2002), hospitality should be an experience rather than a service. Guests’ experiences should be attractive to both their families and friends. Guests are craving for authentic local experiences that will establish an emotional connection (Hemming ton 2007). An excellent example is the Andaz5th Avenue Hotel. According to the general manager of Andaz5th Avenue Hotel, the experiences include fashion, events and food. According to USA today valuable and rare experiences are significant driving factors in the hospitality sector. 31 per cent of customers said destination hotels are perceived to be a hidden gem. 26 per cent of the interviewed customers said they loved to share photos of the hotels they stayed. Creating the elusive guest experiences to different customers is achievable but demanding. The expectations of guests are divergent and differ with times and seasons. Another compelling exa mple is the Renaissance Hotel. Renaissance hotel brand has introduced an ad targeting both leisure and business travelers. The brand insists that business guests who insist on free Wi-Fi and breakfast must have an experience, as well. Dan Vinh, Renaissance vice president, said the hotel hopes to offer a unique experience. He believes guests are stimulated by the environment in order to be productive. Q2. According to Visser, hospitality entails sharing of security, food and shelter with a stranger within the community who has no friend or relatives. The act of providing and receiving generosity creates mutual trust. According to Doud, generosity is a gracious act. He argues that, the use of the word stranger in the definition of generosity tends to imply that the receiver of the generous act does not deserve it because they are not acquainted to each other. The word grace implies a respectful attitude given towards people who do not deserve or earn a worm consideration. Hospitality is also hereditary. Once an act of hospitality has been done to a person or household, the same is extended to the descendants and passed on from generation to generation. This establishes a long term bond (Kandampully & Sparks 2001). Bonds established through hospitality were supposed to be temporal. The agreed period was three days, and the guests were expected to reciprocate by not overstaying. Hospitality had territorial limitations. Protection was offered within the period of stay and the boundaries of territorial influence. For instance, Arabs only offered protection as long as the guest was in within their home. Beyond that, the guest could end up become a victim of the host. Therefore, the guests used to leave at night and without any farewell to the host for fear of being pursued by the host. According to Pitt-Rivers, hospitality was not necessarily a mark of friendship. Providing hospitality, according to Pitt-Rivers, was an act of sanctity where a hostile stranger and a h ost were neutral to each other. Hospitality was an act of self interest because certain gains were expected. According to Selwyn, hospitality gave way to a transformation where the aggrieved regained their trust and friendship in the course of exchange of services. Hospitality is known to transform friends into closer friends. Hospitality is an act of selfless will where acceptance and trust are propagated. This causes hospitality to be a source of symbolic ties that create unique connections between people.

Reading Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 20

Reading Response - Essay Example Topik argues that voyages lead to the global trade which allowed other goods from Asian countries, particularly tea in becoming part of the European culture2 (Topik 2006). Topik in his article highlights that the revolutionary boom and the voyages boost the trade of cheap drug food like tea in the European region. With the passage of time, people become excessively addictive of tea. On the other hand, James states that the expansion of global trade made cheap goods like tea available to people and they became fashion symbols. I am of the view that James in the article emphasizes on the West Indians of East India Company and salves were the reason for making people addictive, whereas Topik in his article states that the control of the production of the tea plantation was the major issue, and trade of cheap products. In my opinion, both articles present the same idea that the global trade made tea one of the most significant and most widely used commodities. In addition, the adaptation and accessibility of these commodities made tea common in the people. There is a minor difference in the idea presented by the authors. James talks more tea as an imperia l commodity whereas, Topik talks about the trade and slavery as a cause for tea to become a common

Fuel and energy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fuel and energy - Case Study Example Cutting trees, air pollution, water pollution etc. are some of the after-effects that tend to destroy the delicate balance of the nature. Traditionally we've been using oil and gas for all of our energy requirements. But over the years, with growing realisation of threat to environment and fast depleting natural resources, governments around the world have started making efforts to see that how best we can adjust our lifestyle in such a manner that the future generations do not face acute shortage of energy and a healthy living environment. It is no secret that our energy needs are growing day by day, but at the same time, the supplies of oil and gas are shrinking. It is said that each drop of oil which we use in seconds takes millions of years to develop through the natural process (Smale, 2004). Therefore, it is certain that a day will come when the oil sources around the world will dry up. The North Sea production has certainly led to the transformation of UK oil industry, but at the same time industry analysts have expressed their views from time to time that the production has peaked and we must prepare for a lif e after oil (Murray, 2004). Though due to the recessionary trends the crude oil prices have come down, but the manner in which these prices were on their way up till sometime back, were a serious cause of worry for the government. Therefore, we need to plan in such a manner that the country finds itself prepared for any eventuality in the coming years. Well, we can always call upon the citizens to make judicious use of energy to preserve the sources for long, but such measures would prove to be short-term measures only. Damage to environment by the use of oil and gas is another very important aspect which has forced us to think about greener alternatives. Planning for the long-term would involve use of renewable fuel sources. This is an alternative which can help the country in adopting a holistic approach towards making use of cleaner fuels. Organic fuel is one such alternative which promises to be a dependable alternative for our energy needs. Plants, animals as well as human beings absorb some amount of solar energy which is stored in the body in the form of fats, sugars or starches. If we can extract this energy for reuse, it is termed as organic fuel. As compared to fossil fuels, such organic fuels are far more environment friendly. Though, theoretically all plants are supposed to have this property, but there are some plants which have more of such ability. In fact when Rudolph Diesel developed Diesel in 1895, he also made use of oil extracted from sunflower, rape, peanuts and palm. But, with the discovery of fossil fuels, the petrochemical industry came to being. As we enter into the 21st century, the need for saving on our res ources becomes more prominent. In order to have a smooth transition, Bio-fuel technology is divided into three generations1; First-generation bio-fuel technology makes use of what we eat Second-generation technology makes use of what we throw away. Third-generation bio-fuels will subsequently be produced from some plants which were earlier considered to be of little use. The amount of carbon dioxide that melts into the atmosphere as a result of our routine actions creates damaging footprints of carbon. In fact at times, we unknowingly tend to perform some actions which lead to an increase in our carbon footprints on the environment,

Impact of Bail and House Arrest

Impact of Bail and House Arrest Introduction Bail and house arrest are parts of the legal system that allow offenders to serve time or await trial outside of the normal jail settings. Bail allows a defendant to await trial outside of jail buy paying a sum of money as a guarantee that he or she will show up to court at their designated time (Abrams Rohlfs, 2011). House arrest allows the convicted to serve their appointed sentence at their home instead of in prison. This time served comes with conditions that require the convicted to remain at home and only go to pre-approved locations such as work, the grocery store, medical appointments, etc., at approved times. They both offer the benefit of saving the government, be it federal or local, the money it typically spends on housing criminals in the jail/prison system. The Findlaw blog estimates that keeping someone in prison can cost more than $20,000 per year. House arrest also aides in keeping the prison facilities from being overcrowded (Trinh, 2015). Bail and house arrest do offer problems to the defendants and the public as well. This paper will look at some of the problems associated with the bail and house arrest options, namely the dangers to the public posed by both and the additional strain to recipients of house arrest. The following sources will help prove those points and examine the pros and cons of each. Bail Bail is a promise a defendant makes in the form of cash or equal value in property to return to court in order to stand trial on the charges that there stand accused of in order to receive that payment back. A simplified way of looking at the bail process is that if you make someone pay $1000, or equivalent value in property, they will return to court to stand trial with the promise of getting that money back (Feige, 2015). The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution each contain a clause on due process. This clause is there to protect citizens from arbitrary denial of life, liberty, or property by the government outside the sanction of law. The Eighth Amendment has an excessive bail clause which is designed to protect defendants from being subject to excessive bail set during pre-trial detention. One recent example of this clause protecting a defendant from excessive bail set can be found in the murder case of Robert Durst. Durst was given a $3 billion bail during pre-trial activities in 2004. An appeals court in Texas later deemed it excessive and that no one could meet the requirements of a bail that high, not Durst himself, and definitely not the bail companies. The court then lowered the bail to $450,000. (CNN.com, 2004) One of the issues with this clause is that it leaves too much room for interpretation when applying bail practices. The clause simply states: excessive bail shall not be required which is extremely vague. To remain in line with the Eighth Amendment, there should be a definitive explanation of the term excessive which doesnt exist. This led to bail reform being sought out. The Bail Reform Act of 1984 was designed address some concerns that pretrial detention may be violation of constitutional rights. The Act was supposed to help keep defendants from being presumed guilty before their trials occurred. This is definitely a benefit for a society based on the notion that defendants are innocent until proven guilty. However, the Act has allowed for the extreme conditions of release for those defendants that can afford them (Zweig, 2010). Another complaint with the bail system is that it favors the wealthy and discriminates against the poor. Poorer defendants do not have the disposable income to afford to pay bail and often have that used against them to force, or coerce, a guilty plea from them with a promise to avoid jail time, only to go home with a crime on their record. These blemishes on their criminal record can have a lasting negative affect on their ability to find employment in the future among other things. (Feige, 2015) Yet another complaint with the bail system is that is puts the recipients back on the street while they await the completion of the judicial process. For the innocent defendants, this is not an issue. However, this is not the case for the defendants that are actually guilty. These guilty defendants are now in a position to recommit their crimes, or commit new crimes, including attempting to harm potential witnesses for case against them (Sacks Ackerman, 2014). House Arrest House arrest allows for a defendant in a case to serve time or await trial at their primary residence. House Arrest is designed to keep nonviolent offenders from becoming repeat offenders. House arrest wont necessarily restrict the defendant to their home, however. Some exceptions, like attending medical appointments, going to work or school, attending church, and certain shopping trips may exist and must be preapproved. House arrest is an alternative to serving jail time and it is intended for nonviolent offenders accused of minor crimes. It also requires electronic monitoring of the offender. The offender is monitored 24 hours a day to track their whereabouts in ensure that they remain in predefined locations. It may seem like a benefit at first, because the offender gets to avoid jail time. However, recipients soon find out that having their movements restricted and forcing other family members to complete functions they would normally perform can become more and more stressful as time goes on. Often times, the family of the prisoner begins to feel as if they are being punished as well; leading to strained relationships. One argument against house arrest is that it unfairly punishes the family of the prisoner for the duration of the sentence (Brown Elrod, 1995). Another issue with house arrest is that the offenders could be dragged back into court or before their parole officers when there is a malfunction with the device and risk a return to prison. Some offense that fit this description included losing a connection while taking public transportation, such as a subway, to a preapproved appointment, or just losing power to the device. In fact, the prisoner, is responsible for ensuring that the device remains charged and powered on at all times. The prisoner is also required to pay the costs associated with electronic monitoring. For this reason, an offender with gainful employment is the ideal recipient of a house arrest sentence. The offender must also maintain a home phone land line without call waiting, call forwarding, caller id, other advanced features to be eligible for home electronic monitoring. Repetitive violations of these requirements could land the prisoner back in jail. One last noteworthy problem with house arrest, is that even though it is normally intended for nonviolent offenders, each jurisdiction makes their own rules for the conditions of house arrest. There have been times with some dangerous criminals have been allowed to serve time awaiting trial on house arrest. One notable occurrence of this fact can be seen in a gang member, Rashawn Hines, from the Wilmington neighborhood of Chicago being allowed to await trial under house arrest in November of 2014. Hines was later arrested for another charge. An investigation led to findings that his house was a local hangout for the Bloods street gang and that Hines distributed guns and drugs to members of the gang (Norton, 2014). Conclusions: Bail and house arrest both get defendants/offenders out of the prison and jail system during the judicial process. This saves the governing agencies money on housing them in jail. It was noted earlier that incarcerating a prisoner costs the government more than $20,000 per year. It also allows the government to avoid the problem of overcrowding in the prison system. However, they both have the possibility of putting criminals back on the street with the common public. While the intent of both practices is to deter individuals from repeating the offense or committing other offenses, the truth is there is no guarantee of that, especially when you give them the access to do so. Home monitoring can keep law enforcement aware of the individuals location, but it cannot stop them from committing any specific action. In the case of Rashawn Hines, electronic monitoring could not stop criminals and gang members from coming to him. Bail is way of helping to preserve the notion of innocent until proven guilty which our judicial system is based on, but not every defendant is actually innocent. Bail allows all recipients, innocent and guilty alike, back on the streets. The guilty are in a position to commit the offense again or commit new offenses, including fleeing from the jurisdiction they were arrested in or hindering the investigation against them. Both provide benefits to the government, especially financial benefits. However, they both raise concerns of safety to the public as well. There are benefits and consequences that should be weighed and considered in any possible system reforms. Sources: Abrams, D. S., Rohlfs, C. (2011). Optimal bail and the value of freedom: Evidence from the Philadelphia bail experiment. Economic Inquiry, 49(3), 750-770. Brown, M. P., Elrod, P. (1995). Electronic house arrest: an examination of citizens attitudes. Crime Delinquency, 41, 332. Feige, D. (2015, June 11). Bail Is a Fundamentally Unfair Way to Coerce Guilty Pleas From Poor People. Heres a Fix. Retrieved February 11, 2017, from http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2015/06/bail_is_unfair_here_s_a_simple_way_to_fix_it.html Gainey, R. R., Payne, B. K. (2003). Changing attitudes toward house arrest with electronic monitoring: the impact of a single presentation? International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 47(2), 196-209. Lilly, J. R., Ball, R. A. (1987). Brief History of House Arrest and Electronic Monitoring. Northern Kentucky Law Review, 13(3), 343-374. Retrieved from http://0-search.ebscohost.com.maurice.bgsu.edu/login.aspx?direct=truedb=sihAN=SM113024login.aspsite=ehost-livescope=site Leon, M. (1999). On the Value and Scope of Freedom. Ratio, 12(2) 162-177. Norton, F. T. (2014, November 6). Gang investigation led to arrest of man under house arrest, drug bust. StarNews Online. Retrieved February 18, 2017, from http://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20141106/gang-investigation-led-to-arrest-of-man-under-house-arrest-drug-bust Sacks, M., Sainato, V. A., Ackerman, A. R. (2014). Sentenced to Pretrial Detention: A Study of Bail Decisions and Outcomes. American Journal of Criminal Justice. Staff. (2004, August 26). Court lowers $3 billion bail for Durst. Retrieved February 11, 2017, from http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/08/26/durst.ctv/ Trinh, L., Esq. (2015, March 27). 5 Things You Should Know About House Arrest [Web log post]. Retrieved February 17, 2017, from http://blogs.findlaw.com/blotter/2015/03/5-things-you-should-know-about-house-arrest.html Zweig, J. (2010). Extraordinary conditions of release under the Bail Reform Act. Harvard Journal of Legislation, 47 (2). Retrieved February 10, 2017, from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.roosevelt.edu:2048/ehost/detail?vid=3hid=127sid=0e88f6c6-7384-436d-9af6-dd6eafcb20ea%40sessionmgr110bdata=JmxvZ2luLmFzcCZzaXRlPWVob3N0LWxpdmU%3d#db=aphAN=52241622

home improvement :: essays research papers

Home Improvement   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To construct a sitcom, like Home Improvement, there are certain media concepts that the show must take into consideration before building a set, and script. The medium that is chosen determines the format of the text, money limits construction, and the audience limits construction, as well as the lifestyles, and values of the audience. The writers of the show have to determine what dialogue is used in the script, for example the language and word choice that is used. The script also includes choosing a plot, setting, character’s, and narrator’s. To add to this list, the show could not be made possible without a recording environment, such as cameras, a studio to work in, lighting, sound effects, props, costumes, equipment for colouring, and fonts for messages.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The audience has a lot to do with the success of the show. The writers for Home Improvement have to look at the show as a audience member would. If it does not run smoothly and does not show an environment that the audience may not find interesting, can affect the popularity of the show.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Home Improvement is about, a five member normal family that is faced everyday problems, involving either the children or the adults. Tim Taylor, (played by Tim Allen) is a clumsy, hilarious man, who is in love with tools, hosts a television show called â€Å"Tool Time,† while â€Å"raising three hormonally - charged boys into responsible adults,† Brad, ( Zacery Ty Bryan ) and Randy, ( Jonathan Taylor Thomas ) who are always chasing the girls, and Mark ( Taran Noah Smith ) as quoted from an ABC PRIMETIME article, along with the help of his understanding wife Jill (played by Patricia Richardson .) Jill and Tim seem to have a healthy relationship between the two of them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Meanwhile, Wilson, the Taylor’s unusual neighbour, serves as a teacher or a guide for Tim, or anyone else who has a problem. Wilson is always there when Tim needs to talk.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Al Borlan, ( Richard Karn ) is Tim’s best friend, and also his co-worker on the television show â€Å"Tool Time.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Heidi, is the â€Å"Tool Time Girl† who always introduces Tim Taylor for the show â€Å"Tool Time.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Every episode the audience expects a on-going scenario, for example Tim always getting hurt or Al always to be joked upon, these are the parts of the show, that the views keep wanting to come back to watch.

Ethical Implications of Cloning and Stem Cell Research Essay

Bio-medical breakthroughs in the fields of genetic and tissue engineering hold great promise. However, as modern medicine advances, it often poses major ethical issues on which people are seriously divided. The argument in favor of proceeding with research at unrestrained pace is mainly advocated by scientists and medical experts who would like to see some fantastic therapeutic benefits that science promises in the form of stem cell technologies. Scientists are absolutely thrilled by the possibilities looming on the horizon (Thompson, Harrub 2001c). On the other side of the debate are people, sometimes led by religious groups, who are concerned we may going too far too fast, using unacceptable means and in unknown directions. Stem cell research has the greatest potential for saving lives, but is controversial for its research based on embryos and fetuses (Rickard 2002). Stem cells are immature and unspecialized cells that that possess both the capacity to renew themselves indefinitely as well as the capability to differentiate themselves into specialized and mature cells. Mature cells, such as the heart’s myocytes or the liver’s hepatocytes, stop dividing after several dozen divisions, while stem cells can keep on dividing indefinitely, either renewing themselves or bringing out specialized cells. There are four types of stem cells in the human body 1) adult stem cells, 2) fetal stem cells 3) embryonic stem cells, and 4) nuclear transplant stem cells. For the first three months of pregnancy, a fertilized cell, or zygote, divides and grows in the mother’s womb and is referred to as an embryo. The embryo’s stem cells are the precursors of the development of a complete human baby. They produce all of the body’s various 100 trillion cells. It should become possible to use embryonic stem cells to regenerate any type of cell that the body needs. When the embryo assumes an apparent human body form, it becomes a fetus. Because the fetus is growing rapidly, all tissues and organs, including the brain, contain stem cells. It is for this reason that stem cell researchers are interested in studying fetal tissues. Studies suggest that human embryonic stem cells have immense potential in terms of developing into multiple tissue types and long-term self-renewal. Therefore, stem cell research entails the intentional creation of human embryos in the highly artificial context of an IVF clinic, using cloning techniques, and discarding them after their use for research is exhausted (Thompson, Harrub 2001a). The question to be resolved is whether research on embryonic stem cells constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights, in particular the principle of respect for human dignity and the right of life. However, many believe that conception/fertilization is not a moment but a process, and the early development does not indicate true individuality in any sense of the word, and therefore there is violation of human rights. The promise of embryo research, liberal-minded people tend to think, is too real to ignore any longer by sticking to conservative attitudes that stand in the face of pragmatism. And yet, even they would flinch at the possibilities of reproductive cloning. The difference between therapeutic cloning using embryonic stem cells (stem cell research) and reproductive cloning is the distinction between creating cloned body tissue or organs for therapeutic purposes and creating cloned human beings. Reproductive cloning is generally viewed as morally abhorrent because it is seen as unnatural and a â€Å"commodification† of human life, and it captures public fears about the power of science to pursue a eugenic agenda. When governmental organizations of today debate ban on human cloning, the main issue in such debates would be whether to ban outright all forms of embryo cloning, which a number of countries seem to support, or to permit the cloning of embryos for research purposes (therapeutic cloning/ stem cell research) while outlawing human reproductive cloning. Besides reproductive cloning, there is another untoward ramification to therapeutic cloning, which is cloning for enhancement. The issue of using advances in stem cell research for the purposes of enhancement, as against solely therapeutic purposes, opens up a Pandora’s box of all kinds of complications, ethical, social, psychological, philosophical and practical. For instance, stem cell approaches might help to cure Parkinson’s patients, but, in the not too distant future, they could also be used to improve brain functions. Rich people would be able to afford this therapy and poor people would not. This could create a most undesirable stratification of the society. But where does therapeutic cloning end, and enhancement cloning begin — even if cloning was advanced for purely therapeutic purposes, it would soon spread into the domain of enhancement. This is the argument of â€Å"slippery slope† commonly advanced against all biomedical research involving genetic and cellular manipulation. Last but not least, thanks to the promise that genetic engineering and human cloning research hold, the prospects of achieving capabilities for indefinite life extension even within the next twenty to thirty years are very high (Thompson, Harrub 2001b). The consequences of physical immortality for whole populations are simply inconceivable. But today, the possibility of human race becoming permanently deathless looms uncomfortably close to us. Therefore it becomes imperative that something be done to stem the advances of genetic and cloning research before the situation goes out of hand. A number of states have already enacted specific cloning-ban legislation, either banning the cloning of humans or imposing a moratorium on cloning within the state. Other states have taken action at least to consider formally similar legislation. At federal level, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003, which bans the process of human cloning for any purpose and the importation of any product derived from an embryo created via cloning, was passed by the U. S. House of Representatives on 27 February 2003. It was not ratified by the senate though. The Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2005 bans only reproductive cloning while allowing therapeutic cloning. To date, federal regulations only prohibit federal funding for research into human cloning (Cash 2005). Though the science of bio-medical engineering is making rapid strides, and offers the promise of unveiling radical new therapies, simply the fact that a technology exists does not imply that anyone who can pay for it can be automatically allowed to use it. This is because the emerging genetic and cellular techniques and technologies raise all kinds of issues, ethical, philosophical, social, psychological and so on. They carry with them implications very difficult even to comprehend.

Operations Management Essays

Operations Management Essays Operations Management Essay Operations Management Essay Sunderland Business School Level: MModule: Operations Management Module Code: PGBM03Module Leader: Tom Cuthbertson Issue Date: 26th July 2011Return Date: 16th August 2011 Contribution to Module Assessment 100% This is an individual assignment. Work submitted must adhere to the University policy on Cheating, Collusion and Plagiarism. Introduction If Marketings function is to identify the needs of customers, then it is Operations Management which has the role of providing the required products or services in a way that satisfies the criteria imposed by the market. Efficient operation of this function is therefore important if the organisation is to be successful. An understanding of the main operational tasks is an essential starting point in this process. Assignment Select an organisation, or a department of an organisation, of which you have experience and critically assess the operational methods and strategies adopted to provide the product(s) in a way that give(s) maximum satisfaction to the customers or clients. A good answer will identify the criteria applied by the customer in assessing satisfaction i. e. the order-winning and order-qualifying criteria. You should a)define the principal operations tasks to satisfy these criteria b)analyse the process strategies and procedures employed to ensure that these tasks are carried out as effectively as possible. The organisation may not have an operations/production department defined in such terms, but it will still produce something for the use of somebody. The report, excluding appendices, should be not more than 3000 words in length. For your guidance, it will consist of: a)an introduction in which you say who the organisation is and what your and your department’ s contribution is to the organisation. )An accurate description of who the customers are they may be external or internal and what they expect from the output in terms of the broad market criteria discussed in the recommended text (Slack). From this, using the models in the text, you should be able to identify what the operations objectives are. This should then suggest the sort of process that ought to be operating. (The different process types and their ability to meet the range of operations objectives are explained at length in the module material). )You should then describe the process in these terms and explain how and why it helps or hinders in the achievement of the operations objectives i. e. its ability to supply a product which meets the customer’s needs. This is the essential analysis that shows your ability to apply the module content to your experience. d)Having analysed the process, describe what changes you feel ought to be made – if any – and explain why these are necessary in terms of improving the ability to meet the operations objectives. You may like to give some guidance on the feasibility of the changes, how they ought to be implemented, a cost benefit etc. etc. , where these are possible. Assessment Your work will be assessed against the following criteria: 1. Knowledge – Your work should show a knowledge of the module content. 2. Understanding – Your report should demonstrate an understanding of operations management. 3. Insight – Your report should show an ability to analyse the operation in the light of the module content and your own reading. 4. Clarity – Your report should be well structured and clearly presented. You should include a short list of references to support your observations and assertions. This assignment is intended to give you an opportunity to show that you are apable of applying your knowledge of operations management, not only in describing the issues faced by the organisation, but also in explaining them and justifying your proposed actions to improve them. You are invited to review all the models and concepts that we have discussed. Tom CuthbertsonModerated by Dr Tie Xu Module Leader PGBM03 Operations Management – Assignment Business Report Structure – 3000 words +/- 10% Size 12 font, spacing 1. 5, include word count. Report Presentation Front Sheet – Nam e / Student Number / Programme / Module / Date Table of Contents Introduction Main Body of Report – Analysis of theory and practice related to this organisation or company Conclusion and Recommendations References 10 to 20 Appendix – not included in word count Use Turnitin and submit Turnitin report with your hard copy of assignment. Typical distribution of word count could be; 500 words Introduction 2000 Main body analysis 500 Conclusion and Recommendations PGBM 03 Module Assessment Grading Criteria First Class (70 – 100%) A creative and original response to the assignment brief. Critically reflecting on perceived theory and experiences. Wide and appropriate use of sources (theory and practice) based on reading and experiences. Report written fluently, with evidence of a highly developed capacity to structure work systematically and argue logically. Merit (60 – 69%) Comprehensive knowledge of concepts and theories. Appropriate application of theory and experience to the assignment brief. Ability to inter-relate concepts and ideas. Some originality in approach and awareness of scope and limitations. Report systematically structured and coherent. (50-59%) Evidence of knowledge of concepts and theories. Attempts to relate and balance theory and practice. Main issues addressed appropriately. Mainstream texts and lecture notes used. Work presented in a structured form but arguments weak in places. (40-49%) Evidence of uncritical knowledge of main concepts and theories. Limited attempts to relate theory and practice relaying on personal opinion or assertions. Limited evidence of reading. Presentation and structure weak in several places. Fail (0 – 39%) Some knowledge of main concepts and theory but major omissions and / or misunderstandings. Style and structure weak and overly descriptive. Considerable limitations in ability to perceive the relationship of theory and practice. Limited reading.

Marketing research, Taco Bell Essay Example

Marketing research, Taco Bell Essay Example Marketing research, Taco Bell Paper Marketing research, Taco Bell Paper Essay Topic: Marketing Many factors, both within the organization and in the market, have the potential to influence the success or failure of a companys internationalization. In order to put itself in the best position to succeed (or to prevent failure), a company must conduct an in-depth analysis of these factors and use that analysis to make an educated decision as to whether or not they should expand their business abroad. Strengths and weaknesses of the organization must be evaluated. Also, there are opportunities and threats that exist outside the control of the organization in the market that must be assessed. By determining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats through analyzing the company and market research, it will be possible to determine if internationalizing Taco Bell to Great Britain is a financially lucrative and promising decision. Strengths Based on the marketing research, Taco Bell has many strengths that would help it succeed in an internationalization effort in Great Britain. Its primary strength is its corporate ownership. Taco Bell is owned by YUM! Brands, an international organization consisting of six subsidiaries*. Those subsidiaries include Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, AW All American Food Restaurants, and Long John Silvers. YUM! has successfully franchised on an international level, and has done particularly well with Pizza Hut and KFC, featuring 4,348 and 7,088 international units respectively*. Taco Bell itself has internationalized as well, with 209 international units. Another positive aspect in terms of these YUM! Brands figures, is that there are 578 KFCs and 522 Pizza Huts in the UK already, but there are currently no Taco Bells*. These figures imply YUM! Brands would be able to successfully internationalize another of their leading subsidiaries in a market in which they have already been successful. In terms of their franchising strength, YUM! Brands provides the resources Taco Bell would need to establish a lucrative franchise in Great Britain. There are ten Franchise Restaurant Support Centers throughout the world to aid in YUM! Brands franchising. The center for Europe and Great Britain is actually located in England, providing an accessible support center for a newly established Taco Bell franchise*. Within the company there is the personnel support to aid in Taco Bells internationalization to Great Britain. While Taco Bell is under the control of its president and chief operating officer, it also has the extended support of the YUM! Brands executive officers. Furthermore there is actually a separate division called YUM! Restaurants International that would provide additional support to Taco Bell*. As an added support resource within the context of the organization, YUM! has their own board of directors. The board consists of twelve members, each possessing their own valuable experience with other large and often international corporations, which is able to provide valuable advice and support regarding Taco Bells new project. Weaknesses Despite the numerous strengths of the Taco Bell organization and YUM! Brands, there are some important potential weaknesses within the organization to consider before internationalizing. YUM! Brands reliance on franchising, Taco Bells reliance on beef as a cheap, staple product, and the image of Taco Bell as an American restaurant are all possible weaknesses that stem from the organization. Over 80% of YUM! Brands restaurants are franchised. YUM! Brands has had great success with this internationalization mode with existing KFCs and Pizza Huts, however, their reliance on franchising may hurt when trying to introduce a new restaurant, such as Taco Bell in Great Britain*. The culture and expectations of Taco Bell are not yet known in the UK, so the new franchise may not coordinate itself with the company image as well as it should. Another serious detriment for Taco Bells expansion into the UK is their reliance on cheap available beef. Due to regulations in the market (covered later), beef is not a cheap and readily available product in the UK. Many Taco Bell products contain beef and their products are known for being very inexpensive. With beef being more expensive, this creates a problem for Taco Bells core menu and prices*. An interesting weakness for Taco Bell may be its overall image. KFC and Pizza Hut serve American food in an American atmosphere both domestically and abroad. Taco Bell is distinct in that it is supposed to be a Mexican restaurant*. Domestically, the atmosphere of Taco Bell is the same as any other American fast food restaurant, but abroad, consumers may prefer a more Mexican, rather than American approach. Taco Bells American image may create difficulties when attempting to persuade customers that it is a Mexican restaurant. Opportunities Many opportunities exist for the internationalization of Taco Bell in the United Kingdom. Aspects of the British culture, economy, and general food market support the introduction of a Mexican fast food chain. British consumers enjoy spicy food, Indian food being one of the most popular foods. They also enjoy variety and novelty in food choices. Mexican food is generally spicy and Taco Bells line of spicy sauces give consumers a choice in how spicy the food tastes as well as providing an alternative to everyday British food*. Also, living in the UK is quite expensive, especially in London, and Taco Bell appeals to the price sensitive nature of most British consumers*. The ethnic food market in the UK is growing rapidly with Mexican food as one of the fastest growing sectors. Consumer food preferences are evolving to fit the increasingly fast paced lifestyles of the British*. Taco Bell has the opportunity to take advantage of consumers needs for rapidly prepared food. Many consumers have expressed an interest in Mexican food, yet there are few Mexican restaurants. Taco Bell can fill the niche and gain a share of the large ethnic and fast food markets. Taco Bell can gain the first mover advantage in internationalizing to the UK, as there are currently no direct competitors*. The UK has favorable psychological distance from the US. Trade, customs, and governmental policies are well understood by the US and it will not be difficult for Taco Bell to market itself effectively in the UK. Many US citizens also travel to the UK and know little about or do not enjoy British food thus creating a demand for American chains*. McDonalds, for example, has done very well in the UK. Threats Potential threats of Taco Bells entrance involve mainly the legal and economic environment of the UK and its fast food industry. The strict food safety regulations which require beef imported from the US to be tested and prohibit the import of hormone treated meat in the UK complicate the procedures for Taco Bell to acquire and sell their food. This increases their cost, as they have to find suitable meat suppliers and ensure their meats are hormone free. As the UK government is open to foreign investments and free trade, the few regulations and stable economy makes the UK market attractive to many foreign firms. One threat Taco Bell should note is the continuously growing fast food industry and the fact that Mexican food is one of the three most popular foods in the ethic food industry*. As there is currently no established Mexican fast food chain in the UK, Taco Bell could take up great risks including the significant pioneering costs of being the first mover in this market*. Taco Bells main competition includes McDonalds, traditional Mexican restaurants, Indian, Asian, as well as local cuisine*. However, their competition does not fall directly into the Mexican fast food category. Final Analysis The S.W.O.T analysis taken from the marketing research indicates that Taco Bell should internationalize and the United Kingdom will provide a lucrative market. YUM! Brands has proved successful in internationalizing its other leading subsidiaries in the UK market. It has a well-defined franchising plan including a support center located in the UK, which can ameliorate the possible weakness involved with introducing a new restaurant through franchising. Taco Bell has the opportunity to fill a niche within the UK fast food market and appeal to British consumer preferences for spicy, rapidly prepared food. Entering the niche market as a first mover may include high pioneering costs, but allows Taco Bell to take advantage of the rapidly growing ethnic food market. As a result of weighing the organizational strengths against the weakness and market opportunities against the possible threats*, the analysis proves that with careful planning, internationalizing Taco Bell to the UK should be a success.

Risk Factors and Challenges in the Technology Industry Essay

Risk Factors and Challenges in the Technology Industry - Essay Example Moreover, business enterprises are very concerned about "outsider" company having access to the sensitive commercial information. Escalating complexity of the products and solutions: It is hard to test all the scenarios for the applications involving extremely lengthy and complex code, which sometimes leads to "bugs" and malfunctioning. Growth of in-house IT: Many non-computer firms joined the industry by adding divisions or by acquiring computer services companies. Banks, publishers, airlines, and telecommunications companies were among those whose information technology divisions were involved in this industry (SIC Computer Related Services n/p). Dependability on the readiness of the customers to engage in electronic interactions or networking: Value of network grows in line with the number of participants. If the market does not successfully adopt the new technology on a wide scale, it will not exist long. The wave of year-2000-related new equipment purchases that took place at the end of the 1990s, as well as the availability of quality used equipment from bankrupt Internet companies in the early 2000s, had a negative impact on the corporate market for new electronic devices and computers. (Electronic Computers n/p) From 1998 to 2000, reported IDC, ave... 2. Communications and Networking Changes in the industry-related regulations: For example, adoption of the Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996 greatly influenced operations of the telecommunication industry players. Standardization and adoption of new protocols. Emergence of many competing formats, offering lower costs and improved services to the customers: for example emergence of PCS systems as strong competition to wireless phone systems. Integration of different services (e.g. mobile phones with PDA -functions, text and multimedia messages services, WAP-internet access). Transformation of the industry structure: mergers and acquisitions in the industry (for example, recently approved acquisition of Skype VoIP-operator by the EBay Corporation). Reaching saturation in the developed-countries markets and challenges of global expansion. Dependability on the readiness of the customers to engage in electronic interactions or networking: Value of network grows in line with the number of participants. If the market does not successfully adopt the new technology on a wide scale, it will not exist long. 3. Electronics and Computer Hardware: Temporary slowdown of early 2000s in the technology spending in both corporate and private sectors caused by economic conditions and changes in the consumer behavior: The wave of year-2000-related new equipment purchases that took place at the end of the 1990s, as well as the availability of quality used equipment from bankrupt Internet companies in the early 2000s, had a negative impact on the corporate market for new electronic devices and computers. (Electronic Computers n/p) High R&D costs and consequently high break-even volumes. Increasing competition of low-cost Asian electronic

How have anthropologists responded to colonialism in different Essay - 1

How have anthropologists responded to colonialism in different historical moments - Essay Example Sometimes competition is healthy for development, but at certain times it is carried out by people personally until they hold grudge against the others. In such, colonialism is also important as it shows how societies form, clash, improve and how people interact and cope up with the situation. For the study then, the viewpoint of anthropologists would be examined in response to colonialism and how ethnographic knowledge would play a significant role in the study and history of colonialism. Before going deeply into the relationships of the concepts of colonialism, ethnographic knowledge and anthropology, it would be better to define and set basic foundations regarding the topics involve in the study. It would greatly help in appreciating and understanding their relationships after knowing each one of them. The first concept in the study is anthropology. It would be the viewpoint to be used in response to ethnographic knowledge regarding colonialism. Anthropology is said to be the â₠¬Å"study of human behavior in all places and at all times. It combines humanistic, scientific, biological, historical, psychological and social views of human behavior,† (Angrosino 2002: 1). Various aspects of the human being are being studied in anthropology. The origin of human being is the main concern of anthropology and it would cut across other disciplines like the humanities, scientific research, natural sciences and the social sciences like history, psychology and sociology. The definition supports the claim that â€Å"anthropology is holistic in that it combines the study of human biology, history and the learned and shared patterns of human behavior and thought† which is known as the â€Å"culture in order to analyze human groups,† (Nanda and Warms 2011: 20). The study is not only concerned with the individual but with the interactions in the society as well. Anthropology can also be defined as â€Å"the comparative study of human societies and culture s. Its goal is to describe, analyze, and explain different cultures, to show how groups have adapted to their environments and given significance to their lives,† (Nanda and Warms 2011: 20). The second definition points out that the focus of anthropology is the society and culture as people interact with one another and form groups. And each group and subgroup of the societies formed has its distinct culture or habits that are unique to the members of such groups. The people who study anthropology are called anthropologists. Anthropology has many subfields to allow people to focus on the details that make up the study of man. The two major subfields of anthropology are physical anthropology and cultural anthropology. Physical anthropology can be defined as: the study of the biological, physiological, anatomical and genetic characteristics of both ancient and modern human populations. Physical anthropologists study the evolutionary development of the human species by a comparat ive analysis of both fossil and living primates. They study the mechanics of evolutionary change through an analysis of genetic variation in human populations (Angrosino 2002: 1). Natural science is the main focus of physical anthropology to study the nature of man and its origin of existence. The history is studied using the fossils to identify the body structure of man in the past. It also involves genetics in studying the populations and the differences of people. On the other hand, cultural anthropo

Explain Vince Rizzo's search for identity in the movie City Island Essay

Explain Vince Rizzo's search for identity in the movie City Island - Essay Example This paper will shed light upon Vince’s search for identity in the movie; light will also be thrown upon how he fathered a child in his teenage, who comes back in his life and how things progress from there. Vince is a native of the island, he is uncomfortable with people who come to stay there and bring about unwanted changes, and the opening scene of his voiceover presents the same very comprehensively. Vince is not comfortable with his job, he is a prison guard, and his ambition of becoming an actor is perhaps the most important thing in the movie. He lies to his wife and moves to Manhattan to pursue a career as an actor. There are a lot of misunderstandings in the movie, Vince’s wife thinks that her husband is after some mistress who he has been pursuing for quite some time, Vince’s ambition and several misunderstandings make this movie very intriguing. Vince has several problems which he is completely unaware of, his daughter strips at a club in order to pay her school fees; he meets his step son who he fathered out of wedlock. Vince’s son is addicted to porn on internet and wants to fulfill his fantasies with a girl residing in the neighborhood; these are some of the many problems which Vince was facing. The introduction of Tony, Vince’s step-son brings a huge twist in the movie.

Particular religion Essay Example for Free

Particular religion Essay I do not subscribe to any particular religion, but I believe in the transcendence of the human spirit, and that there is something greater than ourselves out there—an absolute entity that encompasses us all. Many could qualify this absolute being as a God, but the word holds many sociocultural implications such as worship or a personification of that beings attributes that I choose not to call it as such. I believe in the universality of goodness and that the only way one could achieve happiness and fulfillment is by living an good and honest life. My lifes experiences led me to believe in the concept of an absolute being, however, religion is not integral to my beliefs. My beliefs are determined my my experiences and not by religion. I have realized that most religions are man-made, and thus do not have any legitimate claim to the truth. It is all too apparent today that there exist many different religions, sects, churches, and denominations, most of which have conflicting beliefs. I have not encountered any one that works for me. Growing up, I was initiated to the religion of my parents—that is, Christianity. As a youngster, it easy to unquestioningly accept whatever it was that was inculcated in me. However, as I have gotten a better understanding of the world and myself, I have realized that that religion is lacking—for me it does not provide the adequate explanation as to living my life in the fullest sense. Over the years, religion has become irrelevant. For me, religion is a matter of faith—something I have but not to the extent that I accept that everything one religion tells me is true. Being a generally empirical person, that is to say, that I believe that something must be proven for it to be true, the idea of a religion, as we traditionally know it does not hold any weight for me. Having qualified what religion means to me, I can say that my definition does not reduce it to what I, as Frederick Streng says, â€Å"happened to be acquainted with by accident of birth and socialization. † I recognize the existence of a myriad of ultimate realities and pluralities when it comes to reli ¬gion and that having an open mind is the key to understandings what each belief really mean to the people who have them. I would not say that I have an anti-religion view, but having said that I do not subscribe to one may give that impression. My belief does not mean that I eschew every other religion as being false. I believe that religion have redeeming qualities, and that anything that influences a human being to be good and be the best that one can be could not be that bad. I would like to believe that my open attitude towards the concept of religion eliminates any perceptual bias, or reduces in the least. In the same token, my definition encompasses all, since I do not believe in the absoluteness and infallibility of any one. I regard new and emerging religions on the same ground as the old ones. All provide the means to potentially transform an individual. While my definition attempts to encompass all religions, it may not have enough precision to address each and every one of them. Just as beliefs evolve as one matures, so does ones definition of concepts and ideas. Its possible that I still have not experienced enough to qualify a universal definition that applies to every one. However, I believe that the search for the true understanding of religion is an ongoing process, that a closer study of it would make a clearer picture of the religious life emerge.

Samuel :: Short Stories War Violence Essays

Samuel He looked into her eyes and proceeded to tell her how beautiful she was to him. He had to her many times before, and every time she would smile and look away. Sometimes he wasn’t really sure how things came to be. No-matter how bad things had become, he always found strength in her. Now there was a baby on the way, his whole life was turning around. The child was born in a place where war and hardship had become a commonality. He was given the name Samuel by his mother. Before Samuel was even born, his father was killed while fighting on the outskirts of town, and in his mother’s heart there was left a hole that was kept from consuming her only by the hope and anticipation of her son that would soon be born. Still, she could not imagine bringing a boy up in such a war ravaged place, and without a father. However, she loved her son enough to keep them both alive, and for twelve years they held strong against the harsh cold, bullets, and starvation. Like Samuel’s father, death and war would soon claim Samuel‘s mother. The inevitable occurred when Samuel’s mother was hit by gunfire in the market place. Now he was alone. His mother, the only person who loved him, had gone. He ran to her that day and held her head and prayed for her life. She was gone before she even touched the ground. Still the boy held her. He felt sick and cold on the icy asphalt but he could not move. However, he did not cry. Maybe he could not cry. He was strong, and naturally he would stay strong through the tough times, but this was different. He felt something he had never felt before. He quickly learned the ways of war and learned to fight. He could no longer find forgiveness or wholeness in his heart. For the next part of his life he was driven only by his vengeance and passion for his dead mother. Nothing anyone could say or do could mend his broken heart. He was too consumed by the void in his life that the kind words of friends and cousins had become little more than echoes in an endless gray space.

Development Broadcasting in India and Beyond

In this journal, Fursich sets out by decrying the effect of commercial satellite television in many Asian countries whose media was state run. This, he says, leaves the old-hand broadcasters with only one way of survival: reassess their role in the newly competitive market. Fursich has a valid point here; the old broadcasters have to re-invent themselves in the ever dynamic market landscape lest they remain irrelevant (Johnson, 54). As we are left to think of the reassessment of the new market’s needs, the issue of globalization of commercial media should be centermost.The Indian context used by Fursich to advance his argument does not out rightly discredit his point because of the premise that many a researcher have researched on Indian media with reference to the topic. However there are disparities in the measure of response to media commercialization in different third world countries (Eko, 67). To use the Indian broadcaster Doordarshan (DD) as a microcosm of all the third world media is to overlook some vital components of a totalitarian research.In fact, it makes his expose’ much of India and less of â€Å"and Beyond†, an aspect which could have been avoided if Fursich could quote the media situation in some other third world nations. The severe pressure that Fursich says has faced DD in the new satellite and cable channels’ era awaits most of those other â€Å"traditional channels†-those that were there before the advent of commercial satellite television (Hamelink, 174). This is because the media was government owned, and the basic purpose was to educate the masses making the need for financing an n entertainment channel veer off the reason for its establishment.Even as the general policy of these state-owned channels change, to borrow from the Doordashan’s case, the issue of tailing and not leading arises as he aptly states. Most state-owned media across the third world form poor matches to the numerous private ly owned commercial channels; one is because their content is more dynamic and the channels are many. The mention of the Television’s historical development since 1950’s serves as a base for understanding the notion of broadcasting as a tool for national development, a concept that still rules in most African media settings (Eko 179).This tool for national development is what later turned to be a political tool. The argument here fits into the reality very well as stated by Cambridge (151) that the state owned and funded media were overly dependent on western programming and furthered the interests of the political elites while at the same time limiting the forms of expression and national identity development. The present situation, thanks to commercialization of the media has greatly increased the use of communication as part of international trade agreements and not political initiatives (Hamelink 172).The negotiations in international trade have also enhanced priva tization of communication infrastructure a point mentioned by Fursich in his article. The state funding, its abuse by political elite and the widening global marketing can be said to have liberated the media. This follows from Hamelink’s argument (Hamelink 172) above that international trade agreements and not political initiatives improved communication. The end result as Fursich states was that the state-owned broadcasters had to adjust to what he calls a mixed economic model that encompassed advertising and reducing state subsidies.The new commercial media environment, he adds, led to among others proliferation of shows stations and formats with advertising focused on the haves, neglecting the have-nots. I could not agree more with Fursich on this point primarily because ,brought down by the heavy financial needs so as to achieve its national goals, the national broadcaster of any country will use all means possible to hang onto the issues in its blue print. When faced by imminent downfall, what did Doordarshan do? This question could as well apply to any other state-owned broadcaster in the third world.DD however had an upper hand as its basic foundation on development mandate and though tailored for this purpose, it positioned itself as not only local but also international competitor to the channels that offered a range of programs. From this information, the issue of ambition can be seen, raising question whether the aims of a given broadcaster can be realized if it crosses the geographical boundary of a third world nation and still aim to satisfy the locals and the ever competitive international market (Johnson, 2000).The same rhetorical can be inferred from Fursich’s article. India’s effort in making its broadcast center on programming and technological innovations that dealt with agricultural education and nation building is worth appraisal unlike, as Fursich says, the other post-colonial countries’ mixed programming strat egy that imported former colonial masters’ programs. This allowed the educational aim of the media to be realized as the citizenry were given lessons on what locally faced them and thus doing away with the surrealistic mixed genres of other post colonial nations.The state funding of the DD, which was increased (Kumar, 20) thereby enabling promotion of state initiatives and later assisted in the setting of additional centers other than New Delhi. This is worth borrowing especially by the third world nations whose state-owned media stations are at the verge of collapse due to inadequate financing. The focus on the primary goals of a state-owned media can be kept at the same time introduce entertainment programs that were not initially planned for. This can be seen in the case of DD which housed two operas in 1980’s (Fursich, 378) that had been slotted in by the broadcaster in its bid to go commercial.The themes of the opera the Hum Log was family planning, and women educ ation ,topics that cannot be said to be just for entertaining households but also educating them. The point here is that programs can be chosen so as to work in a two-pronged way, entertain the citizenry and educate them (Kumar 30). The coming into the Indian market by such private broadcasters as CNN and MTV can serve as an eye opener to the state-owned media in the third world into the insight of collaborative business contracts which will ultimately rid them of any financial problems that may result due to the state’s inability to fund them fully.The localized transmittance of certain programs that appeal to the locals as in the case of India can greatly improve the markets of upcoming economies. The locals will be paying for the programs they like most and in return the state will easily achieve its goals. This is a noble initiative by the Indian broadcaster that should be adopted by the other third world nations. In this case, such issues as cultural conservation can eas ily be achieved because the localized transmittance serves persons with more or less the same cultural orientations.Some worries may creep into the state-owned broadcaster because while is strives to accomplish its missions, the state has a stake in what should really reach the citizenry thus making these state-owned media to lack autonomy. Having looked at various aspects of the Indian broadcaster and what challenges it has faced, I can postulate that the same challenges can befall any state-owned broadcaster in the third world. The choice of India a representation of all the third world countries without an attempt of a comparative approach cannot discredit the immense and valuable information by Fursich’s article.

A Case Study of Joint Venture Banks in Nepal Essay

Using the data set published by joint venture banks in their annual reports, and NRB in its supervision annual reports, this paper examines the financial health of joint venture banks in the CAMEL framework. The health check up conducted on the basis of publicly available financial data concludes that the health of joint venture banks is better than that of the other commercial banks. In addition, the perusal of indicators of different components of CAMEL indicates that the financial health of joint venture banks are not so strong to manage the possible large scale shocks to their balance sheet and their health is fair. THE HISTORY OF MODERN commercial banking industry dates back to 1937 A.D in which year Nepal Bank Ltd. was incorporated. Till 1984, financial sector was closed to private sector and foreign investors. HMG/Nepal started to liberalize the financial sector in the first half of the 1980s. But it speeded up this process only in early 1990s. Private sector rushed into the finance industries especially after the restoration of democracy in 1990. Most of the commercial banks came into operation during the decade of 1990s. Government of any countries highly monitors and controls the finance industry even in the liberalized market economy. Government does so due to its high gravity in the national economy, and to build up the confidence of private sector in its financial system. Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) as an apex monetary authority of the country started to monitor and control the finance industry especially at the end of the 1990s by issuing the directives to the financial institutions (FIs). It initiated the offsite and onsite supervision of FIs to maintain their sound financial health and to build up  the confidence of private sector in the liberalized financial system and protect the interest of the investors. It has adopted the CAEL (capital adequacy, asset quality, earning and liquidity) system to check up the health of FIs. It has yet to use the CAMELS to evaluate the financial performance and check up the financial health. Independent outsiders also can not use all components of CAMELS to check up the financial health of FIs in Nepal due to the full disclosures of required financial information to outsiders. NRB dictated FIs to disclose the financial information in uniform way only in the fiscal year (FY) 2001/02. In this paper, attempt has been ma de to check up the financial health of joint venture banks in the framework of CAMEL. 1. Rationale of Regular Health Check up of Commercial Banks Not only the commercial banks but also any FIs require regular health check up to maintain the confidence of private sector in financial system of the country and protect the interest of depositors, lenders, shareholders and other stakeholders. The gravity of the importance of sound financial sector has increased tremendously after the international financial turmoil of the second half of the 1990s. International monetary authorities such as International Monetary Fund and international FI like the World Bank have underpinned the need of healthy financial sector to build up the confidence of private sector in the liber41 The Journal of Nepalese Business Studies alized financial system. Therefore, they have directed their member countries to reform the financial sector and conduct the regular health check up of FIs through onsite and offsite supervision. International FIs like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) are supporting the projects run in the vein of reforming process of the financial sector of different countries. For example, the World Bank is constantly providing the technical and financial support to reengineer NRB and restructure Nepal Bank Ltd. and Rastriya Banijya Bank (NRB 2005). Health of financial sector depends on the health of individual FIs. In addition, individual FI’s health counts on the myriad macro and micro factors. Among the macro factors, political stability and the real sector growth are vital. The financial health of FIs can not sustain without the political stability and sustainable real sector growth with sound health. However, the intensity of contagious effect of these macro variables may vary from one individual FI to another. Therefore, health of individual FI should be checked up regularly to know the intensity of such effect. Health of an individual FI is a function of multiple factors such as quality of its assets, liquidity position, capital base, management quality, market sensitivity and earnings. All these factors affect the different types of risk to an individual FI. Different types of risks: credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, market risk, off-balance sheet risk, foreign exchange risk, sovereign risk, technology, operational risk, insolvency risk, affect the health of an individual FI adversely if they are not managed in sustainable manner (Saunders and Cornett 2004). A number of factors such as quality of assets, financial market condition, foreign exchange market, composition of assets, financial health of its clients, profitability, capital adequacy, affect the degree of these risks. Financial health check-up of an individual institution should be made regularly to detect the adverse effect of these risks on its health. Micro-prudential indicators such as capital adequacy, asset quality, management soundness, earning and profitability, liquidity, sensitivity to market risk, and market based indicators like market price of financial instruments, credit ratings are used as indicators of the sound health of an individual FI (Evan and others 2000). These indicators are explained at length in the ensuing section of this paper. 2. Theoretical Prescription of CAMELS Framework The Basle Committee on Banking Supervision of the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) has recommended using capital adequacy, assets quality, management quality, earnings and liquidity (CAMEL) as criteria for assessing a FI in 1988 (ADB 2002). The sixth component, market risk (S) was added to CAMEL in 1997 (Gilbert, Meyer and Vaughan 2000). However, most of the developing countries are using CAMEL instead of CAMELS in the performance evaluation of the FIs. The central banks in some of the countries like Nepal, Kenya use CAEL instead of CAMELS. CAMELS framework is a common method for evaluating the soundness of FIs. This system was developed by regulatory authorities of the U.S banks. The Federal Reserve Bank, the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation all use this system (McNally 1996). Monetary authorities in the most of the countries are using this system to check up the health of an individual FI. In addition, International Monetary Fund also is using the aggregated indicators of individual FIs to assess the financial system 42 Health Check-up of Commercial Banks soundness of its member countries as part of its surveillance work (Hilbers, Krueger and Moretti 2000). 2.1 Capital Adequacy CAMELS framework system looks at six major aspects of an FI: capital adequacy, asset quality, management soundness, earnings, liquidity, and sensitivity to market risk (Hilbers, Krueger and Moretti 2000). The first component, capital adequacy ultimately determines how well FIs can manage with shocks to their balance sheets. Thus, it tracks capital adequacy ratios that take into account the most important financial risks—foreign exchange, credit, and interest rate risks—by assigning risk weightings to the institution’s assets. For the purpose of capital adequacy measurement, bank capital is divided into Tier I and Tier II. Tier I capital is primary capital and Tier II capital is supplementary capital. In Nepalese context, Tier I (core/primary) capital includes paid-up capital, share premium, non-redeemable preference share, general reserve fund, accumulated profit, capital redemption reserve, capital adjustment fund, and other free reserve. Amount of the goodwill, fictitious assets, investment in the financial instruments issued by an organized organization in excess to the limit specified by NRB, and investment in the financial instruments issued by the organizations having the own financial interest is deducted from the sum of all elements of the primary capital to arrive at the core capital. Similarly, Tier II (supplementary) capital comprises of general loan loss provision, assets revaluation reserve, hybrid capital instruments, subordinated term loan, exchange equalization reserve, excess loan loss provision, and investment adjustment reserve. Thus, the total capital of commercial banks is the sum of core capital and supplementary capital (NRB 2005). Leverage ratio can be used to measure the capital adequacy of a bank. This is the ratio of bank’s book value of core capital to the book value of its assets. The higher ratio shows the higher level of capital adequacy. The U.S.A. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (FDICIA) of 1991 has fixed the five target zones: i. 5 percent and above ii. 4 percent and above iii. under 4 percent, iv. under 3 percent, v. 2 percent and less, of leverage ratio. The leverage ratio falling in the first zone implies that bank is well capitalized. Similarly, the leverage falling in the second zone shows that bank is adequately capitalized. The leverage falling in the last three zones indicates that bank is inadequately capitalized and regulators should take prompt corrective action to bring the capital to the desirable level (Saunders and Cornett 2004). The leverage ratio stated in the foregoing discussion is simple capital to assets ratio. In other words, assets are not risk adjusted. The 1993 Basel Accord enforced the capital ratio to risk adjusted assets of commercial banks. According to this accord, core capital must equal to or exceed 4 percent of the risk weighted assets of the commercial banks. Similarly, the amount of the supplementary capital should not exceed the amount of the core capital and the total capital must equal or exceed 8 percent of risk weighted assets (Saunders and Cornett 2004). NRB initially fixed the core capital at the level of 4.5 percent of the risk weighted assets and total capital at the level of 9 percent of risk weighted assets of the commercial banks (NRB 2058). For the current FY2005/06, the mandatory levels of core capital and total capital are 6 percent and 12 percent of risk weighted assets of commercial banks. But NRB has strictly directed all commercial banks that the amount of the supplementary capital should not be in excess to the amount of the core capital (NRB 2005). 43 The Journal of Nepalese Business Studies 2.2 Asset Quality Credit risk is one of the factors that affect the health of an individual FI. The extent of the credit risk depends on the quality of assets held by an individual FI. The quality of assets held by an FI depends on exposure to specific risks, trends in non-performing loans, and the health and profitability of bank borrowers—especially the corporate sector. We can use a number of measures to indicate the quality of assets held by FIs. ADB suggests these measures—loan concentration by industry, region, borrower and portfolio quality; related party policies and exposure on outstanding loan, approval process of loan, check and balance of loans; loan loss provision ratio; portfolio in arrear; loan loss ratio; and reserve ratio—of checking the quality of assets of an FI (ADB 2002). NRB uses composition of assets, nonperforming loan to total loan ratio, net nonperforming loan to total loan ratio as the indicators of the quality of assets of commercial banks (NRB 2005. NRB has directed the commercial banks in regards to the concentration of the loan. Any licensed FI can grant the fund base loan to a single borrower or borrowers related to the same business group up to the 25 percent of its primary capital. In the same vein, it can provide the non-fund base loan up to 50 percent of its core capital (NRB 2005). Similarly, it has directed FIs to classify the loans into performing loan and nonperforming loans. The loans that are not due and 3 months past due fall in the class of performing loans/performing assets and others do in the non-performing loans. Further, non-performing loans are classified into three groups: substandard, doubtful, and bad debt/ loss (for detail classification see NRB directive 2/061/62). Commercial banks have to make 1 percent provision for pass loan/performing loan, 25 percent for substandard loan, 50 percent for doubtful loan and 100 percent for bad loan (NRB 2005). Non-performing assets in the total assets of commercial banks was 22.77 percent in the FY 2003/04. But the percentage of non-performing assets of an individual commercial bank varies from 0.76 percent to 57.64 in the same fiscal year. But the normal international standard of the percentage of non-performing assets is 5-8 percent of the total assets. 2.3 Management Quality Sound management is key to bank performance but is difficult to measure. It is primarily a qualitative factor applicable to individual institutions. Several indicators, however, can jointly serve as an indicator of management soundness. Expenses ratio, earning per employee, cost per loan, average loan size and cost per unit of money lent can be used as a proxy of the management quality. ADB recommends cost per unit of money lent as a proxy of management quality. But this can not be used as an indicator of management quality in Nepal. Since the data on amount of the total loan mobilized during a particular FY is not available in published financial statements and annual reports. As stated earlier, NRB has skipped up this component of CAMELS in the performance evaluation of commercial banks (see NRB 2005). 2.4 Earning Performance Earning capacity or profitability keeps up the sound health of an FI. Chronically unprofitable FI risks insolvency on one hand and on the others, unusually high profitability can reflect excessive risk taking of an FI. There are different indicators of profitability. Return on assets, return on equity, interest-spread ratio, earning-spread ratio, gross margin, 44 Health Check-up of Commercial Banks operating profit margin and net profit margin are commonly used profitability indicators. NRB uses return on total assets as an indicator of profitability of a commercial bank. In addition, it uses the absolute measures such as interest income, net interest income, noninterest income, net non-interest income, non-operating income, net non-operating income and net profit, to evaluate the profitability of a commercial bank (NRB 2005). 2.5 Liquidity Liquidity risk threats the solvency of FIs. In the case of commercial banks, first type of liquidity risk arises when depositors of commercial banks seek to withdraw their money and the second type does when commitment holders want to exercise the commitments recorded off the balance sheet. Commercial banks have to borrow the additional funds or sell the assets at fire sale price to pay off the deposit liabilities. They become insolvent if sale price of the assets are not enough to meet the liability withdrawals. The second type of liquidity risk arises when demand for unexpected loans can not be met due to the lack of the funds. Commercial banks can raise the  funds by running down their cash assets, borrowing additional funds in the money markets and selling off other assets at distressed price. Both liability side liquidity risk (first type risk) and asset side liquidity risk (second type risk) affect the health of commercial banks adversely. But maintaining the high liquidity position to minimize such risks also adversely affects the profitability of FIs. Return on highly liquid assets is almost zero. Therefore, FIs should strike the tradeoff between liquidity position and profitability so that they could maintain their health sound. Commercial bank’s liquidity exposure can be measured by analyzing the sources and uses of liquidity. In this approach, total net liquidity is worked out by deducting the total of uses of liquidity from the total of sources of liquidity. Similarly, BIS maturity laddering model can be used to measure the liquidity of a commercial banks. In addition, different liquidity exposure ratios such as borrowed funds to total assets, core deposit to total assets, loans to deposits, and commitments to lend to total assets are used to measure the liquidity position of a commercial bank (Saunders and Cornett 2004). NRB uses total loan to total deposit ratio, cash and equivalents to total assets ratio, cash and equivalents to total deposit ratio, NRB balance to total deposit ratio to measure the liquidity position of commercial banks in the course of the performance evaluation of commercial banks (NRB 2005). 2.6 Sensitivity to Market Risk Commercial banks are increasingly involved in diversified operations such as lending and borrowing, transaction in foreign exchange, selling off assets pledged for securities and so on. All these are subject to market risk like interest rate risk, foreign exchange rate risk, and financial asset and commodity price risk. The health of an FI more sensitive to market risk is more hazardous than that of less sensitive. Foreign exchange risk, interest rate risk, equity price risk, and commodity price risk are the indicators of sensitivity to market risk. 3. Methodology At present, all together 17 commercial banks are in operation. Out of this, Rastriya Banijya Bank is fully owned by HMG/Nepal while in case of Nepal Bank Ltd, HMG/Nepal is the major shareholder. There are six joint venture banks in collaboration with the foreign investment partners and remaining are fully owned by Nepalese investors. For the purpose 45 The Journal of Nepalese Business Studies of this study, the population has been defined in term of joint venture commercial banks. So the population of this study is six. For the purpose of this study, 3 banks—Nabil Bank Limited (Nabil), Nepal SBI Bank Ltd. (NSBI) and Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBN), were selected randomly (for sampling frame and sample refer to Appendix 1). This study is based on the historical data disclosed by annual reports of commercial banks. NRB has dictated the commercial banks to disclose the financial information in the prescribed format since the FY 2001/02. So, the comparison of financial performance of commercial banks each other is only possible only the FY 2000/01 onward.1 Most of the commercial banks have yet to hold the annual general meeting and publish their annual report for the FY 2004/05. So, it is not possible to include this FY in the study. Therefore, this study covers the last four consecutive fiscal years—from the FY 2000/01 through FY 2003/04. The analysis of this study is entirely based on the CAMELS framework. As stated in theoretical prescription, health check up of any FIs in this framework is concentrated in the six components: capital adequacy, asset quality, management quality, earning, liquidity and sensitivity to market. But in this study, the last component has been dropped due to the presence of much more complication. So, analysis of financial health of joint venture banks is carried out in the framework of CAMEL. Indicators of each component also have been used according to the financial data disclosed in annual reports of sampled joint venture banks. So, complicated indicators of each component of CAMEL framework of checking up the health of the banks have been skipped up in this study (for the indicators of each component refer to Appendix 2). 4. Analysis of Financial Health of Commercial Banks This section of this paper analyses the indicators of the financial health of sampled joint venture banks in the CAMEL framework. As stated in methodology, all indicators of the financial health of FIs have not be worked out and analyzed, only the indicators permitted by the publicly available comparable financial data have been used to analyze the financial health of the sampled banks. The ensuing section presents the analysis of different indicators of sound health of an FI in the context of joint venture banks in Nepal. 4.1 Capital Adequacy As stated earlier, leverage ratio, core capital ratio, total capital ratio and supplementary capital ratio are used as the indicators of capital adequacy of an FI. Leverage ratios of sampled banks, in general, show that joint venture banks are well capitalized and they are strong enough to mange the shock to balance sheet. Since the leverage ratios of sampled banks during the study periods are greater than 5 percent. Conventionally, leverage ratio of 5 percent or greater than 5 percent indicates that commercial banks are well capitalized. The indicators: TCR, CCR and SCR, of capital adequacy of joint venture banks also corroborate with the implication of leverage ratio. In general, all banks under study have met the capital adequacy ratio as directed by NRB. Only NSBI has not met the minimum capital requirement as directed by NRB in the FY 2000/01 and FY 2003/04. In these fiscal years, its TCR and CCR are lower than that of minimum ratio specified by NRB. Similarly, in the Financial information for the FY2000/01 were extracted from the annual reports of the sample banks. But this was not possible in Nabil Bank Ltd. Capital of commercial banks in Nepal is negative due to the heavy amount of negative capital of two public sector banks: Nepal Bank Ltd. and Rastriya Banijya Bank. Capital of these two banks is negative due to the heavy accumulated losses. Thus, the public sector banks have yet to meet the capital adequacy requirements as required by NRB. But private sector banks have, in general, met the capital adequacy requirement. The comparison between the capital fund to risk weighted assets ratio of each individual joint venture bank with the aggregate capital fund ratio of private sector commercial banks (IAR) implies that joint venture banks have stronger capital base than that of other private sector banks in general. In addition, average capital fund ratio of joint venture banks during the study period hovers around 14 percent. This is higher than the minimum ratio specified by NRB. This clearly implies that joint venture banks are complying with the directive of NRB on the requirement of the capital base of commercial banks. As stated in the foregoing analysis, banks under study are well capitalized and they are complying with the directive of NRB on capital adequacy ratio. But their capital base relative to the risk weighted assets is not so strong. According to the international rating convention, total capital should be greater than 19.5 percent of the total risk weighted assets of commercial banks in order to be a strong capital base. But none of the banks under study has the capital fund greater than 19.5 percent of the total risk weighted capital. As indicated by TCR, on the average, capital adequacy of joint venture banks is fair during the study period. Total capital adequacy ratio less than 15 and equal to 12 indicates that capital adequacy is fair and on the average this ratio falls within this range. 47 The Journal of Nepalese Business Studies 4.2 Asset Quality It is obvious from the theoretical prescription that the health of commercial banks largely depends on the quality of assets held by them, and quality of the assets relies on the financial health of their borrowers. As stated earlier, many indicators can be used to measure the quality of assets held by commercial banks. But, here, only two simple indicators— non-performing asset ratio and loan loss reserve ratio—are used to measure the quality of assets being held by banks. The increasing trend of these ratios shows the deteriorating quality of commercial bank assets. In general, 5 percent to 10 percent of non-performing assets is considered as satisfactory level of quality of bank assets, Table 2: Indicators of Asset Quality of Sampled Banks