Book pseudo-philosophical

The book of job is indeed a difficult book (particularly because it is structured like a poem, which i think made it all the more boring. ) But going beyond that, it has some interesting pseudo-philosophical discussions going on. Job is a brave man, given the circumstances and the general assumptions about the nature of the universe at the time (a universe where god occasionally makes his presence known through a whirlwind or some such device).Job is good and brave, but I think there is an inherent assumptions in his arguments that make them fail (in my book): the assumption of the validity of the rationale behind the rules under which God seems to operate. Since Sin is also, ultimately, God's invention, I think an appropriate response to such a condition as Job's would have been â€Å"Why are You playing around with us? † When Job finally acknowledges God's justice, Job gets his good life back! (Someone was just being childish and just wanted some appreciation, after all. )I don't believe that there is a direct correlation between good actions and†¦ divinely bestowed awards. A bit of work and a bit of luck are what it takes to get a good life. As for Genesis chapters 1-11, I cannot take these as an authentic record of historical events. While reading, I kept getting a feeling, in the back of my mind, that there is something inherently wrong in the rationale and explanations of the behaviors of the characters (God included). The story presented in Genesis has the makings of a myth, and is in the same level as that of other creationist stories of other beliefs.As Darwin says, the concept of God is quite beyond the scope of my abilities. Genesis 1-11 is an â€Å"explanation† of the origins of the world, which I believe must be a lot more complex than the chapters relate (at least on the surface). It also â€Å"explains† the origins good and evil in modern mankind. Boring also. Primarily because the story has been recounted countless time s, and, understandably, the sentences are structured as dissimilarly as possible from everyday speech, while still retaining grammatical correctness. But it is still nice to understand ancient (and modern) cultural and religious mentality.

Mr. Gascoigne’s company Essay

I am going to create a macro that will allow Mr Gascoigne’s company, (Shoes ‘n all) to insert a different response into a template letter, so that the letter will contain the necessary information appropriate for the use. I am going to create 4 different Macros. They will input a short paragraph that will tell the reader about their credit bill to the company. The 4 Macro’s will be: 1. To open the Master Letter 2. Telling the reader that their credit bill is up to date and that they hope that the customer will continue using the company to buy their shoes. 3. Telling the customer that their credit bill is slightly behind and that the require the credit bill as soon as possible 4. Telling the customer that they haven’t paid their bill for quite a while and that their credit account has been closed. 5. A slogan that will appear in the footer. I first created a simple letter and put in ‘ new and opened a blank document. New was the time to start recording. I wanted to record a macro that would open the master Document. To start to record the Macro I went to tools-> Macros ->Record new Macros (left) Once I had pressed it a new box came up, where I inputted the Name. I named it master and pressed OK (Below) Now that I had opened the file I pressed Stop on the Macro Tool bar. Now that the master had been created. I wanted to start recording the responses to go in the letter. So to record in the first response I first needed to load the master Macro because it contains the different responses and the blank letter. To load the Macro I went to Tools -> Macro -> Play Macro Now that the letter had been opened I wanted to start to record a new macro. I started it the same way as I did at point 1 and entered the name as Para. Again, like before the cursor turned into a picture of a tape, to signify that it is recording. When recording macros it is unadvisable to use the mouse to select text because it sometimes causes complications. So what I wanted to do was to select the paragraph, Copy it, Move up to the blank space in the letter and paste in the paragraph. So to do this all on keyboard I moved down the page to the paragraph by using the cursor keys. Once I got to the first paragraph I wanted to highlight it. To do this without the mouse I went to the point before the paragraph, held down shift and scrolled along the text using the cursor keys. I stopped scrolling at the end of the paragraph. This then highlighted the text. Now I wanted to copy it. The hotkey to copy it on a keyboard is Ctrl+C. This then saved the information to the clipboard. Now I wanted to paste the paragraph in the blank space. So I scrolled up to the space using the cursor keys. To paste the copied text in I just pressed Ctrl+V. This then pasted the paragraph in to the slot needed. I then used the mouse to stop recording the macro like I did at point 1. I recorded the other three macros like I did at point 2 and named each one Para 1, Para 2 and Para 3. Now I wanted to create a macro so that it will input a slogan into the footer. So I started off recording it and named the macro as Slogan. Using the mouse is necessary when creating a footer, but it is usually advisable to use the keyboard whenever possible. So I used the mouse and pressed View-> Header and Footer (Bottom Left) Now That the actual bar was created I just wanted to insert the macros in to the toolbar. So I pressed the commands tab and dragged each of the macros into the toolbar. Once they had been dragged in, they looked like this. As you can see the icons are very wordy. So I decided to assign a picture to each of them so it would be easier select them and understand them. So, to do this I: 1. Selected the icon. 2. Press Modify Selection 3. Select Change Button Image 4. Select the picture So I selected a different picture for each icon. I tried to make it as appropriate as I could Master=Speak Para1=Happy Face Para2=Piggy Bank Para3=Unhappy Face Footer=Steps It is also possible to change the Macro in the actual code. To open the macro code I went to Tools-> Macro->Macros I then selected the Macro I wanted to edit and Selected edit. The code then appeared. I then Edited it. See documents 6 & 7 Sam Flower Macro’s and Toolbars GNVQ IT Page 1.

Kiva Instead

Instead, informal systems and relationships, including loans from neighbors or relatives, and rotating savings/ credit clubs, have filled this gap. While such solutions have worked for some and are often the only option available, they can be inconsistent and unreliable during times of tremendous need. In addition, poor entrepreneurs can become trapped in vicious cycles of borrowing from local moneylenders, who may demand exorbitant interest rates.Traditionally, banks were unwilling to provide loans to poor entrepreneurs due to the perceived risk. Common concerns included the fact that the unbanked were often illiterate, had no collateral, no prior credit history, and were not employed by anyone other than themselves. However, in 1976, Muhammad Yunus, seen by many s the visionary behind the microfinance movement, bucked conventional wisdom and loaned the equivalent of $27 of his own money to 1 This section is excerpted and modified from the Stanford 6SB case: Equity Bank (A), case no .E-260. Bethany Coates prepared this case under the supervision of Professor Garth Saloner as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. Copyright 2008 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, e-mail the Case Writing Office at: [email  protected] stanford. du or write: Case Writing Office, Stanford Graduate School of Business, 518 Memorial Way, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5015. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means † electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or 0th the Stantord Graduate School of Business. Kiva E-288 erwise wit hout the permission ot some poor craftsmen in Jobra, Bangladesh.After all of the borrowers repaid, he repeated the experiment with more villages, and over the years, grew his series of xperiments into a multibillion dollar bank that has provided small loans to over 5 million people worldwide. Years later, Yunus noted, â€Å"At Grameen, we don't have any legal instrument between the lender and the borrower†¦. Everybody asks, What will happen if nobody pays back? I say, ‘But everybody pays back, so why should I worry about Grameen Bank charged 20 percent interest and reinvested all but 10 percent of earnings back into its operations.As Grameen grew, other leading microfinance institutions (MFIs), including ACCION International and Opportunity International, began to emerge and based their work on the same old ideas as Yunus: that the poor could reliably repay their loans, with interest, and could use the profits to grow their businesses. Mission-driven, nonprofit MFIs also entered the market. These organizations tended to pursue very rural or otherwise unreachable clients, even at great cost. They were ab le to provide financial services, including credit, tailored to the unique needs and limitations of the poor.

Articulating The Importance Of Leadership On School Essay

Articulating The Importance Of Leadership On School - Essay Example An educational leader should have the ability to understand himself and develop sufficient self-confidence. Whenever a person develops believe in himself, he or she has the ability to fulfill many things. Those educational leaders who have self-confidence do not get scared or nervous when placed in a position that challenges them to make decisions. In this perspective, they should know how they are supposed to start each day to lead the school, the students as well as their fellow teachers. This way, they would be able to help them accomplish the desired goals of a classroom as well as the school. A good educational leader should be in possession of excellent communication skills. It is not possible for a leader to head a particular group if he is unable to communicate with them. A good leader is able to reach a large number of people through various ways. For example, the principal may have a face-to-face conversation with his subordinates every week as well as send them email updat es every day (Chiappetta, 2004). An education leader is supposed to be resourceful and open to new ideas. For example, with the improvement of technology and the prevailing economic times, educators should be open to new concepts for them to change the classroom or educational environment. Additionally, an educational leader should learn how to use the resources that available. A good leader does not just set his own way, but he uses the information available to him and applies to the future resources.  

Managerial Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Managerial Economics - Essay Example My interaction with an Asian friend working for Euromonitor acquainted me with their specific compensation package. Employing individuals outside the jurisdiction of the government of their head office requires important and special considerations. First, it means that they cannot pay employment taxes as this needs a tedious and complicated the process of dealing with each country’s tax collecting institutions. Secondly, this leads to a contractual/self-employed status of the country analyst since the business organization will not also be able to offer non-monetary benefits like health and insurance. It should be noted that employment of more than six months in a firm requires the company to provide health and social security benefits for their employees. Thus, the contract of a country analyst is renewed often in order to comply with this requirement. In order to compensate with the lapses, Euromonitor pays its country analyst above the market direct pay. My friend informed me that she is actually paid a weekly income which is equivalent to a month’s entry level minimum wage in her country. Thus, in her position, she is getting four times the minimum wage which is 50% more than what is offered by local firm in the same position. However, Euromonitor pays on a project basis. A project is scheduled in four weeks or more. A country analyst is paid 45 days after he submit the project. Unfortunately, extensions are not paid. When a project is scheduled for six weeks and the analyst completed it in nine weeks, the extra three weeks is unpaid. Furthermore, the salary is adjusted according to the performance of the analyst. Aside from this monetary side, working at home as a country analyst for Euromonitor provides non-financial rewards. These include: work-life balance by allowing the employee to work at the comfort of his own home with his family; casual dress because the employee

Development of Research Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Development of Research Questions - Essay Example The NCU Proposal and Dissertation Review Form (DRF) serves as a source reference for additional information regarding purpose statement requirements and appropriate documentation. The method of choice represents a combination of both quantitative research questions and hypotheses, which study the relationship between different variables that the researcher seeks to know, and qualitative research questions, where inquirers state research questions - not objectives or hypotheses. Various sources used in this paper, including different published research materials and Internet articles. In order to successfully carry out the research study on the proposed thesis, specific questions should be established to be researched in order for hypotheses to be tested. Thus, created signposts act as guidance and assist the research. Based on nature of this study, which sets out to research different challenges and presented opportunities that international students experience while taking accounting courses at U.S colleges, there is a strong need for using the mixed methods research and hypotheses. According to Creswell (2009), â€Å"a strong mixed methods study should start with mixed methods research questions, to shape the methods and the overall design of a study†. This method of choice represents a combination of both quantitative research questions and hypotheses, which study the relationship among different variables that the researcher seeks to know, and qualitative research questions, where the inquirer states research questions, not objectives or hypotheses. Provided is a progress development of a two-phase research study with the separate quantitative and qualitative research hypotheses and questions stated in sections introducing each phase. This research will not utilize separate, distinct mixed methods research questions, but rather will use a step-by-step approach. This research study will be conducted on-site of several

Timmers Proposed Business Models Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Timmers Proposed Business Models - Essay Example He gave the definition of a business model as being an architecture for the business, a description of benefits for the business actors and a description of a source of revenues (Timmers, 1998). His business models were e-shop, e-procurement, e-auction, e-mall, third-party marketplace, virtual communities, value-chain service provider, value-chain integrators, collaboration platforms, and information brokerage, trust and other services (Timmers, 1998). The e-shop model was envisioned by Timmers to be the Web marketing of a company or a shop. The Internet portion of this business was marketing. Timmers also stated that the Internet may also be used to order the goods and services, as well as pay for the goods and services. E-procurement is the procurement of goods and services. At that time, large companies and public authorities were the ones procuring in this manner. E-auction is another business model. This is where individuals bid on goods, much like E-Bay. E-mall was envisioned a s an electronic mall, which would consist of e-shops connected by a common umbrella, like a well-known brand. A third-party marketplace is where companies leave the Internet marketing to a third party, such as a marketing event such as e-Christmas. Virtual communities is another business model, which can generate both advertising revenues and membership fees as its income source. Amazon.com was cited as a virtual community by Timmers, as well as communities offering apparel and technology. Value-chain service provider is another e-commerce business model, and this is where a company specializes in a specific part of the value chain, such as electronic payments. Value-chain integrators are business which integrate the value chain. The collaboration platform provides tools and information for collaboration between enterprises. Information brokerage, trust and services are business which add value to the data available on open networks, such as information search, customer profiling, i nvestment advice and the like (Timmers, 1998). Critique of Timmers' Business Models Wirtz et al. integrates some of Timmers' concepts, stating that there are four broad internet business models - content oriented business models, which provide on-line access to content, such as magazines and newspapers on-line; commerce oriented, which offer goods and services on-line; context-oriented, which structures the information found on the web, as opposed to providing content, goods or services; and connection-oriented, which provide the infrastructure which enables the user's participation in online networks (Wirtz et al., 2010, p. 4). Likewise, Tvrkiova and Koubek (2010) integrate the ways that firms may do business and put them into broader categories than did Timmers. They state that electronic business models may be classified as e-business, which means that communication and commerce uses the Internet as the main instrument; e-commerce, in which modern communication technologies are u sed to increase the effectiveness of relationships between companies and consumers; e-marketplace, which is a marketplace, much like an e-mall; e-procurement, which is a business model where business obtain or provide something over the Internet; and e-marketing, where business sell products through a network (Tvrdikova & Koubek, 2010, p. 271). Rao et al. Classifies e-business applications into three major categories. The first category is electronic marketplaces, where goods and services are bought and sold; interorganizational systems, which facilitate the flow of goods, services, communication and collaboration; and customer service, which provide customer service, such as handling complaints and tracking orders (Rao &

The wealth and poverty of nations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

The wealth and poverty of nations - Essay Example Other people in the world should try to understand how the expansionists Europeans have grown very rich. He also stated that relative poverty today is the result of failure on the part of political, religious and mercantile elites to pass the tests of maintaining and regaining independence from and assimilating the technologies demonstrated by the people from Europe (DeLong, 1998). Landes demonstrated that Europe was the center and basis of economic development. He also pointed out that the reason why Eurasian civilizations had an edge in technological advancement over non-Eurasian is the climate. According to Landes, it is impossible for human beings to live in any numbers in â€Å"temperate† climates before the invention of fire, housing, tanning, but that once the technological capability to live where it snows has been gained, the "temperate" climates allowed a higher material standard of living (DeLong, 1998). I am not really convinced about this argument that Landes had presented. Though, I can say that climate can be one of the factors affecting the developments of an economy, it need not be of great impact as what Landes had pointed out. In our world today, a lot of counties gifted with rich natural resources and great climate are suffering from great economic issues and belonged to the less developed countries.

The Changes In The Use Of Buildings In Manchester Essay

The Changes In The Use Of Buildings In Manchester - Essay Example The city features a lot of famous buildings and landmarks including its palatial mills, warehouses, libraries, churches and other historical landmarks. The city of Manchester is also accredited to be the city from where the Industrial Revolution initiated. The city’s buildings have displayed an immense show of power, politics and wealth. The banking halls featured in the famous King Street simply go on to show reflect what’s just mentioned above by its large and well-furnished banking halls which were built during the Victorian era. Everything changes with time and so has the building landscape of Manchester. The twentieth century saw the grown of what’s referred to as the â€Å"modern day Mexico†. Recognizing the importance of studies, the Central Reference Library was built on Saint Peter’s Street, aiming to provide students and old aged people a good place to study and increase their knowledge about things. Focusing on civic amenities of the metr opolitan, the Town Hall Extensions were also developed with an aim to provide people places where they can head out to. Throughout the years the Manchester City Council has played a very active and important role in maintaining the old buildings of the city alongside constructing new ones. The citizens of Manchester take very much pride to be associated with in a city whose council has not just maintained old buildings and preserved the heritage of the city, but utilized them in such a manner that their existence is utilized to their full capacity. The once famous Corn Exchange has now become a Triangle, the famous Joshua Hoyle’s warehouse situated in Piccadilly has been converted into the classy Malmaison Hotel and the Watts Warehouse has been converted into a glamorous hotel.

Platos Republic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Platos Republic - Essay Example Socrates was outspoken in criticizing the new government and after the Democrats took hold of power, Socrates’ relationship with the oligarchic set up made his enemies to find appropriate reasons to make him face trial. They charged him with corrupting the youth of Athens through immoral ways and in spite of his articulately expressed defense, Socrates was held guilty and condemned to death. In his Apology, Plato has recorded the last days of Socates’ life. Socrates continued to remain staunch and true to his belief system and was unwilling to go back on his past statements. He even refused the offer of exile and willingly ingested the cup of hemlock poison that ended his life. This paper holds that the charges against Socrates did not have strength and that they were primarily a result of the ongoing political strife amongst the varied claimants who wanted to lose no opportunity in claiming positions of authority in the newly established democracy. The defense for Socr ates will be substantiated by repeatedly referring to Plato’s Republic because there is considerable circumstantial evidence in this work to steer him clear of the charges of corrupting Athenian youth (p.36). We know that Socrates was charged of corrupting the youth through a few contemporary Greek sources; Plato, Xenophon and the playwright Aristophanes. The Republic was born in Plato’s mind in his early youth while he was hopeful of becoming a politician. At this time he was much impressed with Socrates and became his pupil informally. Following the Peloponnesian war, Athens was ruled for about eight months by the Thirty Tyrants who were an oligarchic and tyrannical power group that tried to enroll Socrates as well as Plato within their group. Although Plato did not give a clear signal, Socrates openly refused to join them and very soon became reputed for adopting anti-democratic ideas. This proved to be very dangerous for Socrates, especially after the taking over of governance by the fundamental democratic set up that had soon over thrown the Thirty Tyrants. Socrates was tried by the newly formed Athenian democracy for having corrupted the youth, introduced new gods and for ha ving adopted and encouraged atheism. He was convicted to death and subsequently executed, of which Plato was a witness. Plato was extremely disillusioned. The Athenians held that in having corrupted the youth Socrates encouraged the young to accompany him on his chosen path. Such developments made the youth of the day to confront the fundamentalist democracy of the period (p.248). In ascertaining whether Socrates had actually corrupted the youth in Athens, this paper relies on Plato’s Republic, which is a thorough analysis of the circumstances that prevailed during the time. In some ways it can be said that Socrates did teach new divinities and in some ways he did not. Socrates was ready to respect the conventional gods such as Athena and Zeus. In fact, all the available evidence indicates that he believed in polytheism. He was in agreement with Hesiod and Homer that these gods had physical characteristics and would always remain alive. However, his images of the gods were mo re illustrious as compared to the images of the gods that one understands from recitations of Homer and other groups of story tellers and god talkers that were known as muthologoi and theologoi respectively, during the period. Socrates held that the gods were wise,

History of H&M Essay Example for Free

History of HM Essay H M, (Hennes Mauritz AB) is a Swedish multinational retail-clothing company, known for its trendy fashion clothing for men, women, teenagers and children. It started out as a single womenswear store in 1947, and subsequently transformed to a global company offering fashion for the whole family, and their home. The business concept is to give the customer unbeatable value by offering fashion and quality at the best price. HM ensures the best price by having few middlemen, having a broad, in-depth knowledge of design, fashion, textiles, buying the right products from the right markets, and being cost-conscious at every stage. HM is driven by seven core values, namely; Keep it simple, Straight forward and open-minded, Constant improvement, Entrepreneurial spirit, Cost conscious, Team work, Belief in people. HM’s quality testing is extensive, coupled with hard work to make sure goods are produced with least possible environmental impact and under good working conditions. Production is outsourced to independent suppliers as HM does not own any factories. Apart from this, HM does not own any of its stores, as they rent store space from international and local landlords. HM is present in 43 countries and has employed about 94,000 people as of 2011. It has 2,325 stores at end of 2011 and 2,629 stores at end of August 2012. It is ranked the second largest global clothing retailer behind Zara and No. 1 user of organic cotton worldwide. Current Logistics process of HM HM does not own any factory, they have outsourced to external suppliers that managed two departments: Procurement and Production. The Procurement function focuses on customers, fashion and composition of the range. The clothing designs are created in Sweden by around 100 internal designers, 50 pattern designers and an estimated 100 buyers. HM’s method of production is customer-driven. The company puts emphasis into research and forecasting of emerging trends, both through traditional research methods and innovative ones such as street trends. This activity is conducted by central staff and national offices which are responsible for detecting new trends. The production function involves 21 production offices. HM purchases garments from about 750 suppliers, in which 60% of production takes place in Asia and the rest mainly in Europe. The production offices have a mediating function between the internal buying department and external suppliers. They ensure that the buyers’ orders are sent to the right supplier, the goods produced are of the correct price and quality and that the suppliers adhere to the company’s code of conduct. Additionally, production offices also deal with the checking and testing of sample garments, which contributes to reducing lead times. The decision of determining which supplier is the right one is not only a matter of cost-efficiency but is dependent on other factors such as transport times, import quotas and quality control aspects. To reduce risk, buying is carried out on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Continuous IT developments over the years have helped to support HM logistics. While the inventory management is primarily handled within the HM organisation, transport is outsourced to third parties. In terms of distribution, HM adopts sea transportation where their finished products are shipped to a distribution centre in Germany, which will serve as a transit terminal. The transit terminal will be en-routed to receive the goods from all the suppliers across the world. Upon arrival at the designated location, goods are inspected and allocated either in a store or in the centralised warehouse. The role of the warehouse is to hold and replenish inventory levels in stores according to selling trends.

Emotional relationship Essay Example for Free

Emotional relationship Essay In this essay I will be looking at two theories of attachment, an intense emotional relationship enduring over time and in which prolonged separation is accompanied by stress and sorrow (Kagan et al 1982). I will also attempt to evaluate the statement from Bowlby 58, where he says that Mother love in infancy is as important for mental health as are vitamins and protein for physical health. The two attachment theories I will be looking at are Bowlbys 1953 Monotrophy Theory and Freuds Psychoanalytical Theory. Bowlby initially argued that attachment is an adaptive behaviour due to the human instinct to survive. Infants are born with a predisposition to survive and therefore have to form an attachment in order to gain food, warmth and protection etc. In order for this interaction to take place, the infant is born with Innate Social Releasers that prompt care-giving from the parent through releasers such as crying and cooing etc. Infants also need to form attachments in order to have a secure base from which to explore the world around them. This can be seen in securely attached infants, who are happy to explore an unfamiliar room, as long as the person with whom they have their primary bond is present (Strange Situation- Ainsworth and Bell 1970). Bowlby described this primary bond as Monotrophy, meaning turning towards one person. He recognised that this bond doesnt always form with the biological mother, just the primary care giver. Adults also have a predisposition to care and be responsive to their offspring, as the survival of the infant into adulthood ensures the continuation of their genetic line. Therefore the have an innate response to the infants social releasers. Bowlby suggested that infants have a Critical Period, up to 2 1/2 years, for attachments to form. If attachments were not made by this age, it would not be possible for the child to form any attachment and the child would suffer long-term, permanent emotional damage, particularly in the formation of lasting adult relationships. This is due to the Internal Working Model according to Bowlby and later by Bretherton and Waters (1985) who said that secure children have developed a positive working model of themselves, based on their feelings of security derived from having a sensitive, emotionally responsive and supportive primary care-giver. It is therefore said that avoidant children have a rejecting, unresponsive caregiver, resulting in a negative working model of themselves. He also developed the Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis, where he claimed that infants who were unable to develop attachments would grow up having problems with relationships and have a higher chance of behavioural disorders. This hypothesis was supported by other psychologists such as Spitz and Wolf (1946) and Robertson and Robertson (1971). An alternative theory of attachment is the Psychosexual theory put forward by Freud. He said there are five stages of development a child goes through: Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency and Genital. The stage that deals with attachment is the oral stage, which occurs from birth to about 18 months. Freud thought that during this time the infant is driven by the Pleasure Principle. This is caused by the development of the Id, the first component of the personality to develop. The Id demands instant gratification and in the oral stage, gratification comes through the mouth. The drive for oral satisfaction is vital at this age as the attention is focused on food and thus, survival. There are three parts to this stage of development: the drive for oral gratification that results in an uncomfortable feeling, so the infant cries. He is then fed, and the drive is reduced and the uncomfortable feeling, hunger, is gone. This is experienced as pleasure. Therefore the attachment is made with the person who offers the gratification and pleasure. Although at first glance, the two theories are very different, when analysed, similarities can be drawn. They both suggest stages the infant must go through in order to develop into a stable adult. Bowlby says that no infantile attachment leads to problems in adult relationships and Freud says that an unsuccessful transition through any of the five stages will result in regression in later life, for example a child with an oral fixation will suck his thumb, chew pen tops and in later life smoke. Both of these points are true to a certain degree, as there as been countless studies about children who have had maternal deprivation in early infancy and grown up into maladjusted adults. However it is difficult to be able to pinpoint exactly what is the cause of an adults maladjusted behaviour as there may be numerous reasons, which cannot be reduced to maternal deprivation alone. One major difference between these theories is that while Bowlby recognises that the primary bond doesnt have to be with the mother, Freuds theory is dependant on the mother or wet nurse. This could lead to implications when trying to apply Freuds theory today, as many infants are not breast-fed at all. Bowlbys theory was very well received in the UK when it was published, as it came just after the second world war, when women were being encouraged to go back to the home and their children, so the men could return to the jobs in the factories etc. His theory gave the government something by which to almost force the women home, as the threat of a maladjusted child, due to your absence, was more than most women wanted to deal with. It was also one of the most important and influential pieces of psychological work of that century.

Mills Sociological Imagination On Individual Problems

Mills Sociological Imagination On Individual Problems Mills (1959) talks of a sociological imagination when looking at the problems of the individual. How might this sociological imagination assist social workers? How might sociological theories offer useful insights into the socially constructed nature of many of the contemporary social problems encountered by social workers? Do this by reference to a contemporary social problem that social workers may have to work with. This paper will explore Mills theory of a sociological imagination when looking at the problems of the individual, and explain how this theory might assist social workers. The focus will then turn to poverty as a contemporary social problem encountered by social workers. Poverty will be explored and discussed by reference to how sociological theories (Marxism, Functionalism and Feminism) offer useful insights into the socially constructed nature of poverty. C. Wright Mills (1916 62) was, according to Cunningham (2008, p7) a flamboyant American sociologist. Slattery (1991, p210) claims his aim was to reform society as much as explain it, to popularise sociology and develop a sociological imagination amongst the American public. Matthewman (2007, p91) explains that a sociological imagination requires a special quality of mind. When we process it we are able to see links between biography and history, to see how the personal relates to the public, and the individual to the structural. Matthewman is supported by Leon-Guerrero (2005, p14). By continuing to develop a sociological imagination and recognising the larger social, cultural and structural forces, we can identify appropriate measures to address social problems. Cunningham (2008) explores this using an example of a person suffering from depression after losing their job. Without recognising factors outside of the personal (such as the current economic or political conditions), the p roblem cannot not be sufficiently understood, addressed or resolved. Consequently failure to develop a sociological imagination could result in judgements or assumptions being made upon the failure of the individual, rather than societal structures. Stepping back to see the bigger picture can avoid granted assumptions, labels or ones personal values coming into play. Finally, Cunningham (2008, pg7) argues that learning to think sociologically is one of the most important skills a social worker can bring to their practice. Poverty is a long standing social problem and one which is prevalent among service users. This is supported by Smale et al. (2000, p18) who claims those who use, and are required to use, social work services continue overwhelmingly to be poor and disadvantaged. Despite this, social workers have been criticised about their knowledge of the effects and origins of poverty and lack of awareness regarding societal structures in relation to poverty. Becker (1997) cited in Cunningham (2008, p47) claims social workers have little understanding of the complex processes that generate and maintain poverty; they have limited insight into how their political and welfare ideologies and attitudes to poverty affect their daily practice with poor people; they have failed to place poverty on the agenda for social work theorising, education, policy and practice. Krumer-Nevo et al. (2009, p225) writing for the Journal of Social Work Education agrees and argues that despite the profound commitment of soc ial work towards people living in poverty, the social work profession has failed to develop practice based on awareness of poverty. To measure poverty, it first it has to be defined. There is no universal agreement regarding how to define poverty, although Cunningham (2008) and Leon-Guerrero (2005) describe two main methods used, Absolute and Relative poverty. Absolute poverty constitutes a lack of basic necessities such as, food, shelter and clothing. It refers to a lack of physical needs and is more like to be found in third world countries. Relative poverty was developed by Peter Townsend. It focuses on the inequalities in society. Leon-Guerrero (2005, p224) states that it is based on the premise that some people fail to achieve the average income and lifestyle enjoyed by the rest of society. Relative poverty is a widely accepted definition in developed countries and is used by the government in the UK. The Poverty Site (2009) confirms that the (UK) governments target of halving child poverty by 2010 is defined in terms of relative poverty. Moulder (2000, p2) confirms that sociologists came to define social pr oblems as problems that concern large numbers of people, have social-structural causes, and require social-structural solutions. Leon-Guerrero (2005, p3) explains first, a problem is a social condition that has negative consequences. If there were only positive consequences, there would be no problem. Poverty has many negative consequences personally and structurally. Poverty is more than a lack of money. According to a report by the Department of Work and Pensions (2009, p2) research about the impact that poverty can have on peoples lives shows that the experience of poverty is almost always overwhelmingly negative, and can have psychological, physical, relational and practical effects on peoples lives. Moreover, poverty is a highly stigmatised social position and the experience of poverty in an affluent society can be particularly isolating and socially damaging. Beresford et al. (1999) concurs with the Department of Work and Pensions findings. Additionally, the media often report on links between poverty and health, educational attainment, teenage pregnancies, anti-social behaviour, mental health and social exclusion. All of which have a negative impact and consequence upon society. Leon-Guerrero (2005, p3) informs that a social problem has objective and subjective realities. A social condition does not have to be personally experienced by every individual in order to be considered a social problem. The objective reality of a social problem comes from acknowledging that a social condition does exist. It must be recognised at an agency (individual) level as having negative consequences for those who experience it. Poverty is apparent at an agency level in society: local clothing banks, annual Children In Need appeal; deprived areas we may have seen or live near, Big Issue sellers, seeing the homeless or beggars on the street, and in the media (reality documentaries such as The Secret Millionaire). Leon-Guerrero (2005, p6) addresses the subjective reality. The subjective reality of a social problem addresses how a problem becomes defined as a problem. It is defined by powerful groups in society (politicians, religious leaders, pressure groups, the media or even gr assroots). As noted earlier, the UK government has defined poverty as a social problem. Leon-Guerrero (2005, p6) states, they become real only when they are subjectively defined or perceived as problematic. Recognising the subjective aspects of social problems allows us to understand how a social condition may be defined as a problem by one segment of society, but be completely ignored by another. Cunningham (2008, p33) explains that in the 1980s and 1990s Conservative ministers used absolute definitions to refute claims that Britain had a significant poverty problem and that their policies had led to increased levels of poverty. The problem was defined away. This paper will now explore functionalism, Marxism, radical and liberal feminism. Functionalism was developed by Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) and further developed by Talcott Parsons. Functionalism views society on a macro scale. Slattery (1991, p63) uses a biological metaphor to explain Functionalism. It functions like any other natural organism as a system of independent parts the economy, the family, the government and so on held together by not a central nervous system but a central value system, a set of sociological guidelines called norms based on underlying moral consensus, or collective consciousness. Matthewman (2007) asserts functionalists view society as a complex system, involving a vast array of political, economic and social roles, all of which play an essential part in ensuring society functions and continues to develop. Consensus is at the heart of this theory. It assumes individuals are socialised to fit in, taught the norms of society, primarily by the family unit, secondly by educational institutions, peers, the workplace, and wider society. Le on-Guerrero (2005) claims social problems are not considered in terms of how severe they are, but how the problem arises from society, and whether it serves a function. Leon-Guerrero (2005, p228) argues that poverty is seen as a natural consequence of system stratification. This refers to rapid changes that took place in society economically and technologically. It created a workforce that was unskilled for the new economy. Functionalists believe inequalities within the workforce are inevitable. Social status, wealth and power is earned, rewarded and deserved, through skill and hard work. Davis and Moore (1945) cited in Best (2005, p29) support this, stating social inequality is thus an unconsciously evolved device by which by which societies ensure that the most important positions are conscientiously filled by the most qualified persons. A well-known writer from the political right perspective H. J. Gans (1971, p1-5) explores how poverty may exist to serve positive functions for society. Some of these include: the poor perform work others do not wish to do; they provide employment for the professionals that service them; activities such as drugs, pawn shops and prostitution continue to prosper; they serve as scapegoats (the honest and hard working can accuse them of being dishonest, lazy and scroungers); also poverty acts as a measuring tool in terms of status for the non-poor. However, Gans suggests that many of the functions served by the poor could be replaced if poverty were eliminated, but almost always at a higher cost to others, particularly more affluent others. He believes that a functional analysis must conclude that poverty persists not only because it fulfils a number of positive functions but also because many of the functional alternatives to poverty would be quite dysfunctional for affluent members. Ga ns believes poverty will be eliminated only when it becomes dysfunctional for the affluent or powerful, or when the powerless can obtain enough power to change society. Interestingly, Gans states his aim with this paper was, to show functionalism is not an inherently conservative approach, but that it can be employed into liberal and even radical analyses. The social construction of poverty from a functionalist perspective is seen as natural and beneficial for the affluent and society, or at least parts of it. Leon-Guerrero (2005, p228) supports this assertion. Functionalists observe that poverty is a product of our social structure. Functionalists do not inherently agree with poverty, they acknowledge it has functions as well dysfunctions but recognise that it has a role to play in the structure of society. They strongly believe power and wealth is earned through skill and hard work, not everyone has the talent to succeed, therefore, inequality and poverty is inevitable. The poor are seen as flawed, marked out from the rest of society, deviant and non-conforming. The current recession in the UK which has forced many more into poverty would, from a functionalist perspective, be viewed as a natural temporary occurrence. The role of a functionalist social worker would be to support individuals to get back into their role ensuring the smo oth running of society. Karl Heinrich Marx (1818-93) was one of the key influences in sociology according to Slattery (1991). Marxism is a conflict theory, which like functionalism, views society on a macro scale. However, they argue that poverty is the consequence of a capitalist society; it is constructed due to an unequal distribution of power and wealth. The main thread of the Marxist argument is that conflict exists between the classes: the bourgeoisie (who own the capital) and the proletariat (who provide the labour). Giddens (2006, p16) explains capital is any asset, including money, machines or even factories, which can be used or invested to make future assets. Giddens (2006, p16) asserts the bourgeoisie own their means of a livelihood, whereas the proletariat are wage-labour. The proletariat must seek employment from the bourgeoisie, who form a ruling class over the mass proletariat population. Payne (2005, p228) claims capitalism is an economic system in which a few people accumulate capital to i nvest in producing goods and others sell labour to them for wages. The profit earned by the bourgeoisie is seen as exploitation of the proletariat. Moreover, the bourgeoisie create a false consciousness controlling the media, policies, laws, religion and education, influencing and shaping the proletariats norms and values, idealising how society thinks. This false consciousness leads the proletariat to believe economic inequality is fair and just. This is supported by Best (2005) and Taylor et al. (2002). The most crucial point is the relationship between the two classes. Giddens (2006) explains that although each class is dependant on the other this dependency is not balanced. Giddens (2006, p16) explains the relationship between classes is an exploitative one, since workers have little or no control over their labour and employers are able to generate profit by appropriating the product of workers labour. Hilary Searing (2007) writes from a radical social work perspective. In an article Poverty in the Big Issue written for the Barefoot Social Worker website, Searing claims poverty is structurally constructed and the consequence of a modern capitalist society. Poverty and inequality seem to be an intrinsic part of modern capitalism. She criticises the government suggesting that poverty has been ignored in order to achieve economic prosperity. This Labour government, by continuing the neoliberal, modernising agenda of the previous government, regards poverty and inequality as the inevitable price to be paid to maintain competitiveness in the global economy. Like Marxists, Searing believes social class is a major factor. The social class a child is born into is a major determinant of their life chances. Searing believes social workers patch the cracks regarding poverty, rather than tackling the real structural cause. The government assumes that social workers can deal with poverty withou t tackling the underlying causes. Searing believes Labour demean social-structural causes, consequently placing the onus of poverty upon the individual. She states the government chooses to minimise the part played by social and economic factors, outside the control of the individual, in causing poverty and implies that in most cases personal inadequacy is at the root of peoples failure to remain independent and self-supporting. In summary, Marxists believe poverty is constructed by social structures; society fails the poor and the abolition of capitalism in favour of communism is the solution. According to Giddens (2006) Marxists believe revolution among the proletariat to overthrow the bourgeoisie is inevitable, and that it will bring about a new classless society. Giddens (2006, p17) explains Marxists do not consider inequality would be eliminated. Rather, that society would no longer be split into a small class that monopolises economic and political power and the large mass of people who benefit little from the wealth their work creates. Marxists would argue that the current recession was caused by greed and unethical risk taking amongst the bourgeoisie, and the proletariats will be left to bear the real costs. Cunningham (2008) argues that Marxists see social workers as agents of social control on behalf of the state, acting in the interests of the bourgeoisie. Their motive for helping people is to get them back into the work force. They believe that much of social work is around control, surveillance and assigning blame upon individuals. Payne (2005, p231) echoes Cunningham suggesting social workers are seen agents of class control enhancing the oppression by capitalist societies of the working class. They simply enable the capitalist system to reproduce itself in the next generation by helping people to cope with the difficulties of the system. Poverty is of particular relevance to feminist theories since Taylor (2002, p179) claims women are more likely to experience poverty than men. In an article for the BBC News website (2008) entitled Womens Low Pay Behind Poverty, womens pay was seen to be a major cause. The TUC said that mothers were being trapped in part-time, low-paid jobs. More than 75% of part-time workers were female. The gender pay gap for full-time workers was 17.2%. In the same article, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber asserts as 40% of households are now headed by single mothers, this has concerning implications for tackling child poverty. Haralambos and Holborn (1995, p145) claim household incomes are not distributed equally. Women tend to have smaller independent incomes than men and there is no guarantee that they will share fully the income of their husbands or partners. Additionally, women are less likely to have occupational pensions and income from investments; married women are less likely to work than married men; more women than men rely on benefits as their main source of income; lone parents are vulnerable to poverty, and a large majority are women. The majority of pensioners are also women. Glendinning and Miller cited in Haralambos and Holborn (1995, p145) claim women are more likely to live in poverty than men because they are viewed as secondary workers, their primary role is seen as domestic and they are less important than that of their husbands so they are not expected to earn a family wage. Moreover, women are disadvantaged in access to social security benefits. Only 60 per cent of women are entitled to maternity leave and many women care for sick and elderly relatives, yet they receive very small state allowances for doing so. This intermittent and often part-time employment of women leaves many illegible for unemployment benefit and redundancy pay. Moreover, within the household men command more of the family resources (of money, of food, of space and so on) an d this is legitimised by their status as breadwinners. Hill writing for The Observer (2009) suggests women suffer financially after divorce, while men become richer. She argues his available income increases by around one third. Women, in contrast, suffer severe financial penalties. Regardless of whether she has children, the average womans income falls by more than a fifth and remains low for many years. There are varying perspectives of feminism, the main three being liberal, radical and Marxist. According to Trevithick (2005) while there are differing perspectives they generally agree on certain principles. The main aim is gender equality; however, they differ on the cause and solution to this problem. Haralambos and Holborn (1995, p592) state most radical feminists broadly share the same aim as Marxists and liberal feminists they seek equality between the sexes rather than dominance. Haralambos and Holborn (1995, p592) state radical feminists see society as patriarchal it is dominated and ruled by men. According to Haralambos and Holborn (1995, p602) Kate Millet was one of the first radical feminists to use the term. Giddens (2006, p471) argues from this perspective men are responsible for and benefit from the exploitation of women and that patriarchy is viewed as a universal phenomenon that has existed across time and cultures. Leon-Guerrero (2005, p230) claims feminist scholars argue the welfare state is an arena of political struggle. The drive to maintain male dominance and the patriarchal family is assumed to be the principal force of shaping the formation, implementation, and outcomes of the U.S. welfare policy. In the UK, the preservation of marriage and the nuclear family is on the political agenda. Gentlemen (2009) writing for The Guardian claims the Conservatives say marriage is key to addressing social breakdown. They also propose rewarding married co uples. Bingham (2009) in the Daily Telegraph alleges the Tories are proposing tax breaks for married couples which would allow women who stay at home to pass on their allowance to their husband. Abramovitz (1996) cited in Leon-Guerrero (2005, p230) claims that welfare has historically served to distinguish between the deserving poor (widows with children) and the undeserving poor (single and divorced mothers). For instance, Margaret Thatcher condemned single mothers in the 1980s. According to the Workers Liberty website (2007) she once infamously proposed cutting all benefits to single mothers, stating that they should live in Salvation Army hostels or give up their children for adoption if their own families wouldnt support them. Haralambos and Holborn (1995, p592) allege the family is often seen by radical feminists as the key institution producing womens oppression in modern societies. Giddens (2006, p471) supports this stating radical feminists often concentrate on the family as one of the primary sources of womens oppression in society. They argue that men exploit women by relying on the free domestic labour that women provide in the home. As a group, men also deny women access to positions of power and influence in society. Firestone (1970), a radical feminist cited in Cunningham (2008, p96) claims womens inferiority is linked to their biological sex. Haralambos and Holborn (1995, p471) explore this further suggesting men control womens role in reproduction and child-rearing. Because women are biologically able to give birth to children, they become dependant materially on men for protection and livelihood. Most importantly this biological inequality is socially organised within the nuclear family. Giddens (2006) argues that not all radical feminists agree with Firestone, but rather believe that it originates from culture and socialisation. Haralambos and Holborn (1995, 592) argue that radical feminists believe that gender equality can only be attained by overthrowing the patriarchal order. Giddens (2006, p592) asserts that many radical feminists reject the assistance of males in reaching their aim, because men are seen as the enemies of womens liberation. In contrast, Liberal feminists according to Cunningham (2008) agree that equality should be more equal between men and women. However, unlike radical feminists they do not believe that patriarchy is the cause of womens oppression. Giddens (2006, p468) claims that liberal feminists look for explanations of gender inequalities in social and cultural attitudes. Cunningham (2008, p97) agrees with Giddens but probes deeper stating the roots of womens oppression lie with the irrational prejudice, stereotyping and outdated attitudes and practices that lead to sex discrimination occurring in all spheres of life. Like radical feminists they believe the family is oppressive to women. Women are expected to play the social role of wife and mother along with carrying sole responsibility for the household chores that go with it. Cunningham (2008, p97) believes it is an ideology that is perpetuated by the media and popular culture. A womens role is laid out before her, she is not free to find their own fulfilment. Life opportunities are not equal to that of mens. Dunne, Kurki and Smith (2009) assert that economic insecurity is believed to exist due to gender inequality. Women are disproportionately located at the bottom of the socioeconomic scale in all societies. Womens disproportionate poverty cannot be explained by market conditions alone; gendered role expectations about the economic worth of womens work and the kinds of tasks that women are expected to do contribute to their economic insecurity. In terms of addressing equality Giddens (2006, p470) claims liberal feminists tend to focus their energies on establishing and protecting equal opportunities for women through legislation and other democratic means. Haralambos and Holborn (1995) explain how liberal feminists supported the Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Act, hoping these would help to end discrimination. They believe gradual change can be brought about within the existing social structure. Cunningham (2008, p98) states they would also support further female representation and involvement in politics by the introduction of women-only shortlists. Liberal feminists are modest in how they aim to bring about change, through anti-discriminatory legislation rather than overthrowing the system like radical feminists. Finally, Cunningham (2008, p99) points out that liberal feminists believe nobody benefits from gender discrimination. Women lose out on the ability to develop their talents, business loses out because it fails to harness the potential and ability of 50% of the population, and men lose out because they are denied the opportunity to develop close ties with their children. This paper has sought to explore how Mills theory of a sociological imagination may assist social workers when considering the problem of an individual, and how three grand sociological theories can offer useful insights into the socially constructed nature of poverty. To conclude, this paper shall consider the use of those theories upon social work practice. Cree (2000, p7) asserts sociology offers social work the opportunity to explore meanings beneath taken-for-granted assumptions about behaviour, action and social structure. It offers a knowledge and value base which is not rooted in individual pathology but instead seeks to understand individuals in the context of the broader structures that make up their lives (including social class, gender, age, race, and ethnicity) and the historical movement within which they are living. Sociology provides competing theories that offer differing perspectives to explain the emergence, existence and persistence of poverty. Moreover, they can raise awareness of oppression and disadvantage that may be constructed in social structures. Cree (2000, p208) confirms that inequality and oppression exist at both individual and structural levels. Dominelli (2002) argues that practitioners who follow emancipatory approaches seek to achieve anti-oppressive practice by focusing on the specifics of a situation in a holistic manner and mediating between its personal and structural components. To obtain this impact, social workers and their clients develop clear goals to pursue and use networking and negotiation techniques to secure change. Change usually occurs at the micro-level where interpersonal relationships are the target of the intervention(s). Such an approach could be, as suggested by Cunningham (2008, p48) task-centred. This approach offers a very practical model which is potentially very empowering. The service user decides which areas they should like to work on. Practice is based on the premise that the service user will work in partnership with the social worker and learn new methods that will equip them in the future. In this sense, workers could adopt a very practical way to address some aspects of poverty. However , Cunningham warns perhaps this still doesnt go far enough, as this method of practice is based upon an individual approach and doesnt address the bigger picture. Possibly combining task-centred working with other more radical methods of working might address this. Dominelli (2002, p86) agrees with Thompson, and suggests if poverty is causing personal hardship, institutional (meso-level) and/or societal (macro-level) changes may be required alongside endeavours aimed at helping the individual to control its deleterious effect on his or her life. Feminist and Radical methods of practice both focus on the bigger picture. According to Drakeford (2008, p310) radical social work, essentially Marxist in persuasion, suggested that alliances could be formed between clients in social welfare which would allow for vested interests to be challenged and authority to be redistributed from the powerful to the powerless. Trevithick (2005, p284) states that this approach emphasises the importance o f social, economic and political solutions to social problems, thereby shifting the onus of blame from the individual without denying responsibility. This involves social workers challenging the social structures that oppress and discriminate. Trevithick (2005, p285) claims that practitioners who work from a radical/progressive/activist perspective are passionately committed to the issue of social justice and to working alongside people from disadvantaged groups in order to initiate change. Feminist social work, according to Dominelli and MacLeod (1989, p1) is informed by a feminist analysis of social problems. Dominelli and MacLeod (1989, p.23) assert the feminist approach has focussed on identifying the specific ways in which women experience their existence; drawing peoples attention to the lack of resources, power and emotional fulfilment which hold women down; exposing the social relations and social forces responsible for creating their state of affairs; and placing the plight of women firmly on the agenda for social change. Dominelli (2008, p113) suggests feminist social work practice is also relevant to children and men. This is echoed by Cree (2000). A limitation, according to Trevithick (2005, p282) is that most women experience additional oppressions, such as discrimination in relation to class, race, age, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture and religious beliefs. And that these additional oppressions are not always given sufficient weight. Cree (2000, p209) informs that sociology may not be able to provide social work practitioners with answers, but the questions themselves lead to the potential development of sensitive, anti-oppressive practice. This is because all theories, ideas and practices are based on a particular set of political and moral principles. We therefore have to make choices about what theories we believe are most useful, and what actions we think are most helpful (or perhaps least damaging) for those with whom we are working. Social work is fundamentally about values and about value-judgements. Sociological knowledge can provide us with a framework for anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive practice, by giving us the analytical tools with which to begin to explore the relationship between individuals and society. Mills (1959, p8) personal troubles and public issues. Cree (2000, p5) argues sociology and social work construct the individual. It is also for this reason that social workers need a sociologi cal imagination. Additionally, social works central purpose is to work on behalf of society to help those individuals and groups who are vulnerable and marginalised. If a service users problem exists due to structural of inequalities in society, and a social worker fails to make such a connection, they risk blaming the individual/group, perpetuating the oppression and discrimination already felt by social structures. Consequently, social workers need to have an awareness of the discrimination and oppression some people or groups face in society and be guarded not to perpetuate assumptions, labels or blame. Thompson (2005, p137) claims oppressive practice can happen through naÃÆ' ¯vetà © or ignorance: failing to recognise significant issues of inequality and thus exacerbating them by not addressing them. And by reinforcing stereotypes: jumping to conclusions about a particular individual without actually assessing their circumstances. Therefore, by developing and using our sociol ogical imagination and by being aware and open to theoretical perspectives and approaches to practice, we can take necessary steps to guard against anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice.

Using the literary and linguistic concepts and approaches of I Syng Ess

Using the literary and linguistic concepts and approaches of I Syng of a Mayden, this essay will be focusing on how the anonymous poet conveys religious ideas throughout the poem. The poem was written by an anonymous poet in the 15th Centaury How does the poet convey religious ideas in the poem 'I Syng of a Mayden'? Using the literary and linguistic concepts and approaches of 'I Syng of a Mayden', this essay will be focusing on how the anonymous poet conveys religious ideas throughout the poem. The poem was written by an anonymous poet in the 15th Centaury. As it was by an anonymous poet the poem was probably passed round by mouth and song meaning that it could be a ballad or hymn. As well as that, I also feel that due to the fact that the three middle verses all have 'That fallyt on the...' and 'As due in Aprylle' repeated it suggests that it could very well be a ballad or hymn as most are structured like that. The title 'I Syng of a Mayden' is Middle English text and the word 'Mayden' especially, as it's very medieval language dating back to The Madonna and Child where all paintings were focused on Bible stories, and a lot of poems at the time were transcribed in Monasteries indicating religious themes. 'Mayden' also means Virgin, relating back to the religious side of the poem, which could suggested that 'I Syng of a Mayden' was about the religious symbol, the Virgin Mary. Throughout the poem it shows references to Mary and baby Jesus, such as 'Kyng of alle Kynges' which has been mentioned in the Bible referring to Christ being more powerful than any King, 'He cam al so stylle' meaning he appeared in her womb as if like magic or 'As dew in Aprylle' as the poem suggests. The key themes in this po... ...es a simile 'as dew' to emphasis the importance of water in everyone’s live, in this case he uses it to compare importance to Christ in saying that, like water, you can't live without it. The poet uses hushed lullaby tones throughout the poem such as 'ches' and 'gras' which both end with a 'shhing' sound such as a lullaby making it a very peaceful, quiet atmosphere. He uses Bilabial nasals such as 'moder and mayden' to give a kind of softer sound, we produce these nasal phonemes by lowering the velum to allow air to flow through the nasal cavity giving an 'ng' or in this case an 'mm' sound. He also uses fricatives such as 'fallyt on the flour' which is the use of alliteration of the sound 'ff'. It gives it a harder sound. Lastly it uses sibilance in 'so stylle' which shows more alliteration and emphasises the words to make them seem even softer/quieter.

What Should Be Done About Internet Pornography? :: Internet Pornography

Is it an abridgment of freedom to restrict access to internet pornography? How would such an abridgment work? Pornography: What it is. For purposes of discussion I will be using the term in 3 different contexts: 1, referring to the collection of visual depictions of erotic activity, usually but not always involving full contact sex; 2, as well as the production and transmittal of same; 3, the industry in general, its depiction, portrayal, and distribution. At every step I hope to make clear in context which I'm referring to. What I won't be referring to is whether there is an intrinsically detrimental effect to the consumption of pornography. Research seems clear that when it comes to issues of linking porn to violent or sexually aberrant behavior, there are no causal relationships that can be established (Diamond, Jozifkova, Weiss, 2011, Math, et al., 2014). Pornography: What it is not. Although there have been a number of cases throughout the 20th century (and, depressingly), still into the 21st, that attempt to cast one or another work of literature as being pornographic or against community standards, we won't be discussing Huck Finn or James Joyce's Ulysses here. A case could be made that sections of the latter are pornographic; they are certainly erotic. Pornography as an industry, generates an estimated $100 billion per year. The questions that arise are: Are consumers obligated to know where and how products come to us to be consumed? Is the prod uction chain of any concern to us at all? Is there an immediate danger or concern to us personally? Is there a long term concern to us personally? Is there a danger to producers or workers in the short or long term? Are we supporting misery not just in the primary instance, but the secondary instance (at home) or tertiary (abroad)? In the 2009 preface to his book, How Good People Make Tough Choices, author Rushworth M. Kidder discusses how there has been a sea-change in the treatment of ethics in the workplace (Kidder, 2009). In looking at the issue again, it is worthwhile to see if the assumptions regarding pornography stand up under scrutiny. In regard to the claim that every aspect of the production of pornography is rife with criminal involvement, the source of that claim is the infamous Meese Report, since discredited (Calidia, 1986). While there are credible reports of criminal involvement in the production of porn overseas, the involvement in the trade is concerned mostly with the acquisition, production and distribution of illegal materials (Diamond 1999, Diamond 2011).

Tom Sawyer :: essays research papers

Mark Twain Mark Twain (1835-1910) ,originally Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was an American writer who also worked on boats, in a printing-works and as a journalist in Nevada. His books are mostly for young people, but his Pudd'nhead Wilson is a crime which characterises the first murdercase solved by use of fingerprints. His main works are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Life on the Mississippi and especially The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Tom Sawyer The scene of the book takes place nearby the Mississippi at the end of the 19. century. Tom Sawyer is a young boy whose both parents are dead. Therefor he lives with his aunt, Polly, and his younger half-brother, Sid. Tom has got a very good friend who he spends a lot of time together with, that's Huckleberry Finn. Huck is the young "pariah" of the village. He does not go to school, and he lives alone in a hogshead. All the other children looked up to him and wished they could be like him, and of that very reason almost none of the mothers liked him. Tom spends time together with Huck almost every day, and many times that is the reason why he comes late to school. One time Tom is late at school, he is punished by sitting on the girls' side of the school-house. Tom gets to sit together with a girl named Becky, and Tom doesn't see that as a punishment at all. He and Becky becomes very close friends and we are later in the book told that they get married. Tom and Huck do often see things that they should not have seen. One of this things happened at the graveyard at midnight one night. They saw three men who were digging up a coffin. One of these men were Injun Joe, and it ends up with he killing one of the men. Tom and Huck vitnised all this, but they were very afraid of Injun Joe and they therefor swore to keep mum about it. Another time the boys decided to go treasurehunting. Tom knew of many places where there could be hidden treasures. One of them were an old haunted house. While they are searching around there, Injun Joe and one other guy shows up. They are about to hide some silver they have stolen, but they end up finding a large amount of gold in the house.

Psychological assessment tools

Validation history, strength and weaknesses: One of the criticism of the gung scale Is that It used graded responses that may be confusing to elderly patients ,and so they may require assistance from the examiner to complete the form. Another problem with the test is that the mean score for elders Is significantly higher than that for younger subjects, with many normal elders assessed as false positive. It also misses depression in the elderly if it takes the form of multiple somatic complaints. Many authors have advised that it should NT be used for either research or clinical assessment of geriatric depression.Despite the concerns over the use of gung self depression scale in elderly , it still continues to be used for research especially in Europe,where it has been noted to revel sex and differences In in scales factor structure in the elderly population-the scale has also en translated to many languages including Arabic, German ,Portuguese and Spanish. 2. Millions clinical multir acial inventory. In 1969, Theodore millions undertook the test construction of the mimic. It contained 11 personality scales and clinical syndromes. Alt was revised both in 1989 and 1994.The millions clinical multiracial inventory is used to asses patient with a suspected or known psychological disorder to refine the diagnoses. The test is designed to be used specifically with adults. While it is developed mainly for use with mentally ill population. Scope: It is sometimes used for patients without a known psychological disorder. It can sometimes provide onsite into personality traits that can help people in psychotherapy NAS other settings. The MIMIC contains a total of 28 scales broken down into 24 clinical scales(personality and clinical syndrome scale).The 14 personally scales include; schizoid, avoiding, depressive ,dependent, histrionic, narcissistic,c antisocial, sadistic, compulsive, negativism,masochistic, psychotically, borderline and paranoid. The clinical scales include; anxiety, comparators, bipolar, hysteria, alcohol dependence, drug dependence, PATS, thought disorder, delusion disorder, and major depression. The mortifying indices include disclosure scale (x) , the desirability scale (y), and the debasement scale (z). Items: There are 175 true or false questions ,which ar designed to be completed in half an hour.The test closely coordinates with the ADSM . Patients' raw scores are converted to Base Rate (BRB) scores to allow comparison between the personality indices. The Base Rate scores are essentially where each score fits on a scale of 1-115, with 60 being he median score. Conversion to a Base Rate score is relatively complex, and there are certain corrections that are administered based on each patient's response style The Disclosure scale is the only scale in the MIMIC-III in which the raw scores are interpreted and in which a particularly low score is clinically relevant.A raw score above 178 or below 34 is considered to not be an accurat e representation of the patient's personality style as they either over-or under-disclosed and may indicate questionable results. A base rate score of 75 or greater on the Desirability or Debasement scales indicate that the examiner should proceed with cautioner the Personality and Clinical Syndrome scales, base rate scores of 75-84 are taken to indicate the presence of a personality trait, or (for the Clinical Syndromes scales) the presence of a clinical syndrome. Scores of 85 or above indicate the persistence of a personality trait or a clinical syndrome .Validation History and psychometric properties: Theoretical-substantive validity[edit] The first stage was a deductive approach and involved developing a large pool of items; the number of items was reduced based on a rational approach according to he degree to which they fit the theory as well as elimination of items based on simplicity, grammar, content, and scale relevance. Internal-structural validity[edit] Once the initial i tem pool was reduced, the second validation stage assessed how well items interrelated, and the psychometric properties of the test were determined.Internal consistency is the extent to which the items on a scale generally measure the same thing. Cockroach's alpha statistics range from . 66 (Compulsive) to . 90 (Major Depression). Test-retest reliability is a measure of the stability of the measure, or the change over time. The higher the correlation, the more stable the measure is. Based on 87 participants, the test-retest reliability of the MIMIC-III (5-14 days later) ranged from . 82 (Debasement) to . 96 (Comparators) with a median coefficient of . 91 . These however, no long-term data are available. External-criterion validity[edit] The final validation stage includes convergent and discriminative validity of the test, which is assessed by correlating the test with similar/dissimilar instruments. Positive predictive power is the likelihood of being right given a test positive, w hich ranged from . 30 (Masochistic) to . 1 (Dependent). Sensitivity, or the proportion of individuals that have a condition that are correctly identified ranged from . 44 (Negativism) to . 92 (Paranoid). Strength and weaknesses; the test is brief in comparison to other personality inventories and it has a strong theoretical basis.Some psychologists prefer to give it because the administration and scoring are simple, and it has a multi-axial format. The organization of the scales was confirmed by factor analysis and correlations done with third-party tests further confirm the validity of the scales. Internal consistency and alpha coefficients for the est., as well as test-retest reliability, are all good. 3. BECK'S ANXIETY INVENTORY The Beck Anxiety Inventory (ABA), created by DRP. Aaron T. Beck and other colleagues. It is a 21 -question multiple-choice self-report inventory that is used for measuring the severity of an individual's anxiety.The Beck Anxiety Inventory is a well accept ed self-report measure of anxiety in adults and adolescents for use in both clinical and research settings Scope: Though anxiety can be thought of as having several components, including cognitive, somatic, affective, and behavioral components, Beck et al. Included only two components in the Basis original proposal: cognitive and somatic. [2] The cognitive subspace provides a measure of fearful thoughts and impaired cognitive functioning, and the somatic subspace measures the symptoms of physiological arousal.Because the somatic subspace is emphasized on the ABA, with 15 out of 21 items measuring physiological symptoms, perhaps the cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of anxiety are being deemphasized. Therefore, the ABA functions more adequately in anxiety disorders with a high somatic component, such as panic disorder. On the there hand, the ABA won't function as adequately for disorders such as social phobia or obsessive-compulsive disorder, which have a stronger cogni tive or behavioral component.

Birth Control

It is a hormonal method of birth control. They increase estrogen and progestin to prevent the egg from leaving the ovaries and to increase the thickness of cervical mucus. The pill is very effective, over 99% effective, when taken as directed. It is safe for most women, but some women with health conditions or who take other medications should not take the pill. The pill may have some side effects. The benefits of birth control are it helps regulate and lighten periods, can help with menstrual cramps, acne, and prevent certain illness.It also improves many women's sex lives due to their ability to be spontaneous. The disadvantages to birth control pills are that few women get spotting between periods, nausea, and breast tenderness. However, that usually goes away within a few months. It can also change a woman's libido. It can also increase risk for some more serious illness. You need a prescription for the pill. You can go toa private clinic, community clinic, or free clinic for an evaluation and prescription. You can get the birth control from a pharmacy or a clinic.You may need an exam to get the prescription, which can cost between 35 and 250 dollars. The cost of the pill each month is between 15 and 50 ollars. Some planned parenthood will give you birth control for very low cost or for free depending on income. You take a pill at the same time during the day every day of the month. Condom A thin piece of plastic or latex that is shaped to fit a pen's. It is worn over the penis during sex. It is a barrier method, it prevents sperm from entering the woman's vagina, anus, or mouth. Condoms are 98% effective when used as directed.You can help their effectiveness by using spermicide and/or pulling out before ejaculation in addition to using a condom. Condoms are very safe unless a person is allergic to atex, in which case they need to purchase a plastic condom. The benefits of using condoms are their convenience, their protection against STD's, don't require a prescription, are cheap and easy to get, and they can help a man stay erect longer. The disadvantages of using condoms are that some partners may be allergic to latex. It also has been said to dull the sensation or interrupt foreplay to have to put on a condom.You can buy condoms at drugstores, community health centers and clinics, or at planned parenthood. Individual condoms cost about a dollar The condom is worn on the penis. You usually roll it on from the tip to the base of he pen's. Spermicide Spermicide is a chemical cream, gel, film, or suppository that stops sperm from moving. Spermicide is a chemical. It keeps sperm from moving or blocks the cervix. When you use spermicide correctly, it is 85% effective for women. The benefits of spermicide is that it can help protect against pregnancy if you are allergic to latex or cannot be on the pill.The disadvantage of spermicide is that it does not protect against S You can get spermicide at drugstores, clinics, or planned parenthood Spermicide costs about 8 dollars. You insert most spermicide deep into your vagina using an applicator or your fingers. Sponge It is made of plastic foam and is filled with spermicide. It covers the cervix to block sperm (barrier) and prevents sperm from moving. Women who use the sponge correctly get pregnant 9% of the time. Most women can use the sponge safely but you should not use it on your period. The benefits of the sponge are that it is safe and convenient.It can be carried in a purse or pocket. It can also not be felt by your partner. The negative effects of the sponge are it may be difficult for women to insert or remove. You can get the sponge at Planned Parenthood, drugstores, or clinics. It costs about 12 dollars for a pack of three. You wet the sponge with a little bit of water. Then you squeeze the sponge gently to activate the spermicide to get the whole thing wet. Then you fold the sponge and insert it as far as your fingers can reach. Feel around the sponge to make sure you can feel the loop and that it is covering the cervix.After intercourse you must leave it in for at least six hours and then pull it out by the loop. Patch The patch is a thin patch placed on the skin to prevent pregnancy. The patch releases hormones, progestin and estrogen It is very affective. Less than 1% of women get pregnant when using the patch as directed. The patch is very safe but cannot be used with some medications. The pros of using the patch is that it allows for a spontaneous sex life. It gives you shorter, lighter periods. It can also help with acne, cramps, and prevent some cancers.The cons of using the patch are that it does not prevent against STDs You can get it from a pharmacy. You need a prescription which you can get from a clinic or your doctor, and it costs about 15 to 80 dollars for one month. You apply the patch on to your skin and leave it for three weeks. Then you take it off for a week. Breastfeeding After giving birth breastfeeding releases hor mones to prevent pregnancy. It is a hormonal method. If a women practices continuous breastfeeding less than 1% get pregnant for six months. There are no side effects.The advantages of the method are the fact that it is very reliable and isn't difficult to use. It is also very safe. The disadvantages of using this method some women find it difficult to exclusively breastfeed their baby and it is only effective for six months after birth. You don't have to get anything, you Just breastfeed your baby. The method is free. You breastfeed your baby four hours during the day and six hours at night and your hormones will the prevent pregnancy. Birth Control Shot It is a shot you get in your arm. It releases progestin into your bloodstream and the hormones will prevent pregnancy.Less than 1% of women get pregnant on the shot. It can not be taken with some medication but for most women it is safe. The advantages of the shot is that it is safe, simple, and is long lasting. The disadvantages a re that there may be some irregular bleeding for the first 6 months. You can get the shot at a private health care provider or a clinic. It requires a prescription and can cost between 35 and 250 dollars. You use it by getting a shot from your doctor. Fertility Awareness Method Fertility Awareness Method works by tracking when the egg is released to prevent pregnancy.It keeps sperm out of the vagina during the periods where she is most fertile. 24% of couples who do not use the method effectively will become pregnant. The method is very safe and has no side effects. The benefits are that it is very safe and it is free. The disadvantages are that you must abstain from sex for ten days each month. You don't need to get anything. It is free and doesn't require a prescription. You keep track of the days you are ovulating and abstain from sex for those times to void pregnancy. Outercourse It is sex without penetration. It works by keeping sperm out of the vagina.It is practically 100% ef fective when used correctly. It is very safe and has no side effects. The benefits are that it decreases the probability of STD's, and can make sex play last longer and increase closeness and trust between partners. The disadvantages are that some people may find it difficult to abstain from vaginal sex. It cannot be obtained, you Just have sex differently. It is free, you don't need a prescription. The ways to have sex without penetration are oral sex, anal sex, masturbation, sex oys, kissing, manual stimulation, body-to-body rubbing, and fantasy.Diaphragm It is a shallow dome shaped cup you insert into your vagina. It is a barrier method. When used correctly, it is affective 94% of the time. It is more effective when used with spermicide. The advantages of this method are it is immediately effective, can be carried in a purse, doesn't affect hormones, and the sex partner can not usually feel it. The disadvantages are it may be difficult for some women to insert and can be moved ou t of place by aggressive sex or certain sex positions. You must see a health care provider to get a diaphragm.You must be fitted and given a prescription, then you can buy it at a drugstore. It can cost between 15 and 75 dollars (not counting the cost of the exam). You put spermicide in the cup. You fold the diaphragm in half and insert i t into the vagina, making sure it covers your cervix. Morning After Pill It is emergency contraception after unprotected intercourse. It keeps a woman's ovary from being released for longer so that it can not come in contact with sperm. Most are up to 89% effective when taken within three days of unprotected sex. It is very safe, there are no reports of any serious complications.The advantages to this method are that if you have unprotected sex, this can be a kind of last resort to protect yourself after. The disadvantages to the morning after pill are rare, but some side effects such as irregular periods, breast tenderness, or nausea. At 17 or old er you can buy a pill over the counter without a prescription. Under 17 you need a prescription. It can cost between 10 and 70 dollars. You take the pill as soon as you can after your unprotected sex. Abstinence Abstinence is abstaining from, or not having, sex. It works because you are not penetrating the vagina therefore cannot get pregnant.The method is 100% effective. The advantages to this method are it is free and there are no side effects. The disadvantage to abstinence is that it isn't any fun because you cant have sex. You don't need to purchase it. The method is free. You use it by exercising self control and not having sex. It costs about 295,560 dollars to raise a child until the age of 17 years old. It costs about 10,000 dollars for the babies first year of life. It costs about 550 dollars for diapers for one year. Formula will cost about 1,188 dollars. Other supplies will cost about 2,050 dollars for the first year. Birth Control The increasing world population is the most important problem that should be solved in order to solve big social problems such as bad economic situations and lack of resources. Birth control, although may lead to religious, cultural and spiritual objections, is the most effective way to decrease the population growth rate. Thus, governments should begin programs of compulsory birth control due to the fact that group survival is more important than personal freedom.Firstly, a high birth rate means an ever-growing population, needing more accommodation, education, and health care. When you fail to control high birth rates, this will bring about an increase in the population. The increasing needs of the expanding population cannot be supplied easily. Overpopulation will cause hunger, health problems and dissatisfaction among people. Additionally, with a high birth rate in a rapidly growing population, social problems will lead to social crises and explosion. Thus, high birth rate in a p opulation is a very serious problem that should be solved as fast as possible to avoid crises in the country in concern.Secondly, another negative aspect of high birth rate is the decrease of the natural resources of a country. The reduction of natural resources also brings about high inflation rates and negative economic conditions. When natural resources of a country fail to meet the growing domestic need, prices increase and living standards decline. Thus, in a developing country, the government should not let the population increase uncontrollably.Thirdly, birth control is the most effective and fastest solution to stop an increasing population. A common criticism of the practice of mandatory birth control is that it would not work properly, because it might be against people’s religious beliefs. However, a high birth rate is a real problem, which the government should actively control for a guaranteed solution. The government should launch a campaign to promote the neces sity of birth control and to increase awareness among people.To sum up, because awareness raising programs will take a long time, until then for a faster solution, the government, which has the power to enforce such programs, should start compulsory birth control programs while raising consciousness and conducting publicity campaigns.

Marketing Plan New Product Essay

Titles Page No 1) Executive Summary 4 2) Current Marketing Situation 5-6 3) Threats and Opportunities 6-9 4) Objectives and issues 9-13 5) Marketing Strategy 13-19 6) Action Programs 19-21 7) Budgets and Controls 21-23 8) References 24 Executive Summary on Apogee Apogee is a shoe which is completely made from old, unused soccer balls. After using a soccer ball for quite sometimes it becomes unworthy to use. So people throw out the old soccer ball to buy a new one. But what they don’t realize is how harmful this plastic material can be for our environment. To remove this problem and also to make brand new merchandise we are going to produce trendy shoes from these unused soccer balls. These shoes can be worn by the people of all ages. These are also going to be stylish so fashion concerned people can feel attractive in them. Next comes the huge issue of environment safety. There are many products in the market which are very useful but there deathly for our environment. But this shoe is completely made from recycling old soccer balls. So it does no harm to our environment. In fact it works to protect the environment. The third issue is price. People want to wear new and fashionable shoes. But most of them can’t afford such expensive products. As apogee is made from old soccer balls it is really cheap to produce. So we can offer people new and trendy shoes at a minimum price. Reviewing all the features of apogee we can assertively say that this product is going to be popular, environment friendly and last but not the least inexpensive. Current marketing situation We are planning to produce shoes from recycled soccer balls. In the current market people of all classes need shoes. They want more trendy & sturdier shoes. Furthermore people are now more conscious about the environment they live in. So we choose this idea of making shoes from recycled soccer balls keeping in mind the environment as well as the customers both at international and domestic level. Our customers: In today’s modern world there is a craze about sports, particularly about football.Soccer mania is here and everyone seems to be riding high on the popularity wave. Everyone watches football now a days, so what if they could use a product that not only served their purpose but also indicate their love for the game and that’s how we came up with the idea of making shoes from recycled soccer balls. Football is popular around the  globe , specially in Europe and south america. As we are planning for a global launch of our product we will concentrate particularly on these region. The youths of Bangladesh are quite interested about sports and of course football, so we are developing our product keeping in mind their taste and preferences. We are hoping we can go global with our product after we are successful in making it a success in our domestic market. Market segmentation: We are planning to divide our market on the differences of our customers trend,styl e and fashion. We will develop these shoes for both boys and girls. For Boys and girls who are aged from 10 to 15, we will asses their current demand for new shoes and also we will customize them according to their needs. We will use the same strategy for customers aged 16 and above. Thinking internationally, we may think about the international preferences of our global customers. We will also give our customers the alternative to customize their product according to their need and taste. Current market competitors: currently adidas and nike are dominating the sports accessories business by providing state of the art merchandises specially sports shoes. But what we want to do is we want to create an positive image of our product by creating the ultimate soccer shoes that is available and most importantly affordable for the customers. Furthermore we are using recycling material to make this product that will also create a positive image. As they say â€Å" first impression is the last impression† and that’s exactly what we are planning to do. We wan to make a global impact. Opportunity We cannot sustain our consumerist lifestyle without getting inundated by garbage and exhausting the earth’s resources. Solid waste disposal experts engage in an uphill struggle to contain this virtual avalanche of garbage we produce every day. It is apparent that digging a hole, a landfill, is clearly not the answer. Sooner or later, the waste becomes uncontainable and will spill into our farming areas, forests, and water sources. Here we have shown some opportunities of producing shoes from recycling football soccer – Good raw material: As football is an international game and it is produced for international purpose, we are getting almost best quality of product. If we recycle the  soccer and if we produce shoes from this waste material, ultimately we are getting good quality material for producing shoes. Less expensive: Many of we have the tendency to buy pure leather shoes. Sometimes we desire to buy but we step back when there is a question of money. If we use the useless soccer we will be able to reduce the cost of soccer and so ultimately we will reduce the purchasing price also. Save animals life: As we are using football soccer as our raw material which people consider as wastage, we are helping our environment to keep sound. When we are using animal leather, animal lives are in danger. So if we use the soccer we will be able to protect the life and it will be environment friendly. Proper utilization of resources: We are using the proper use of resources which is also good for environment. Environment friendly: Football is made with plastic, synthetic paper, leather and rubber. We know plastic, synthetic paper, plastic are discomposed material. When we get the utility, we throughout the ball in the dustbin that may causes problem to the environment. It may stick in the drain and can create problem in drainage system. Objectives and Issues of APOGEE: Marketing plans are written documents that help us communicate our marketing efforts for the following year. One of the most important parts of the marketing plan is the objectives and issues section, which helps internal employees or external stakeholders understand the marketing goals. 1. To save our Environment Our main objective is to save our environment through recycling. We will prepare shoes by recycling footballs. In recent years, scientists have been carefully examining the ways that people affect the environment. They have found that we are causing air pollution, deforestation, acid rain, and other problems that are dangerous both to the earth and to ourselves. With the help of recycling we can protect our environment to some extent. Recycling is a process using materials (waste) into new products to  prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from land filling) by reducing the need for â€Å"conventional† waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to plastic production. When a football gets old and rusty, it has no use. We often throw it into the dustbin or somewhere else. It is polluting our air and land. With the help o f recycling we can convert these footballs into shoes. We hope it will reduce air and land pollution and thus we can protect our environment. 2. Sell quality shoes with low price: Another objective is to sell quality shoes with low price. People now are very concern about quality and price. They want high quality product with low price. So we will sell high quality products with low price. 3. Increase market share: Another objective is to increase our market share. With the help of marketing strategy we can increase our market share. In this case we have to invest a lot of money in promotion and distribution of the product. We are expecting to increase our market share up to 10% in the next year. 4. To be the number one in the existing market One of the most important objective is to be the number one in the existing market. For these reason we have to implement our market strategies properly which have been discussed later. Issues that can affect our objectives: 1. Environmental issue: Environment means everything that makes up our surroundings and affects our ability to live on the earth. Today environmental issue is very important. There are many organizations who are working to protect the environment. They are creating pressure on the companies. So we will sell environment friendly product. We will not use any synthetic leather or any other chemicals that may cause harm to our environment. 2. Health issue: Today people are very health conscious. They want to know everything about the product. If they feel that  the product they are using are not safe, they will not use the product. APOGEE shoes are really safe because it is a green product. We will not use any chemical product in producing the shoes. 3. Social issue: We have to work in our society. So we have some social responsibilities. We have to think about our society and produce products according to their needs and wants. We should keep a friendly relationship with the people of our community. 4. Child labor issue: Another important issue is child labor issue. According to the labor act policy in 2006 child labor has been banned from all the industries. Showing respect to the law we will not use any child as our labor. 5. High quality with low price issue: People now are very concern about quality and price. They want high quality product with low price. So we will sell high quality products with low price. We will also give some discount to our customers. Marketing Strategy Of Apogee : Introducing a new product to the market can be a challenging task for a business. No matter how much confidence you have in the value of the product or how unique it is, there are still things to consider before unleashing it on the public. The marketing concept of building an organization around the profitable satisfaction of customer needs has helped firms to achieve success in high-growth, moderately competitive markets. However, to be successful in markets in which economic growth has leveled and in which there exist many competitors who follow the marketing concept, a well-developed marketing strategy is required. Such a strategy considers a portfolio of products and takes into account the anticipated moves of competitors in the mark. Customer Driven Marketing Strategies for Apogee : Making strategy decisions need to be customer driven as your end customers are the ones who will be making purchase to our products and services. The topic of Customer Driven Marketing is how to divide up the identified market into meaningful customer groups, choose which customer groups to serve, create market offerings that best serve targeted customers and position the offerings in the minds of customers – referred to market segmentation,  targeting, differentiation and positioning. The reason for having customer driven marketing strategies is companies today cannot appeal to all buyers in the marketplace. Buyers’ behaviors are difficult to predict, too widely scattered and too varied in their needs and buying practices. Companies must design customer driven marketing strategies that build the right relationships with the right customers. Why Customer Driven Marketing for Apogee : In a nutshell, with proper application of a customer driven marketing strategy, the we can focus our efforts on meeting distinct needs of individual market segment & to target segments in which it can profitably generate and sustain customer value. It can then communicate & deliver the chosen position with its resources available for an effective strategic marketing plan. With a customer driven marketing approach, the company has clearer direction to maintain its desired marketing position on targeted market segment(s) through consistent performance & communications. Nonetheless, for larger companies such as Unilever and P&G, they can offer complete range of products to serve all market segments to meet customers’ needs. We must divide up the total market ,choose the best segments and design strategies for profitably serving chosen segments. This process involves market segmentation ,market targeting , differentiation and positioning . Market Segmentation : As we are making shoes from recycled soccer balls and its for everyone ( Boys,girls,Childrens) we can divide our markets into 2 types – 1. Customers Aged 10-15. 2. Customers Aged 16 and above. Market Targeting : Footwear sales have been falling in developed countries and slowing in emerging countries due to lower income levels; and therefore, less spending on apparel and footwear. Consumers are  focusing increasingly on value for money, looking for simple, hard-wearing shoes that last . As children and young people are passionate about stylish shoes we are focusing them as our target market . Positioning : We will make our shoes more attractive than our market competitors . We will sell our shoes at a reasonable price . We will give them longer lasting shoes and will guarantee them for a certain period. We will use our distinctive shoe logo or Brand name so that we can hold our market for a long time. At the beginning we will give advertisements to acknowledge them about our products .We will give discounts for our special customers . Our shoe logo Differentiation : We will serve our customer a different service compared better than our competitors on the following basis : I. We will make our Shoes attractive. II. We will sell our shoes at reasonable price. III. We will give discount to our customers . IV. Will give them guarantee for our products . V. Will take orders from customers to make customized shoes . Marketing Mix : This section outlines how we will make strategies for each marketing mix element of our Apogee shoes and how each responds to the threats , opportunities and critical issues . Product : In order to outdo our competitors we will take specific strategies for our product .The strategies will be – 1. We will make a variety of products on some specific categories such as for boys shoes ,Sandals , Sport shoes for girls we will make clogs ,lace ups, heel shoes etc. 2. We will always promise them  100% best quality for our product . 3. We will follow Fendi ,DIESEL ,Armani , Burberry ,Moschino designs to make our shoes . 4. We will use clear shoe box, ,paper shoe boxes in packaging our shoes . 5. We will make it eco -friendly. paper shoe boxes plastic shoe box clear shoe box – Price : We will always try to give customers good quality shoes at a reasonable price .For this we need to take some sort of incentives , they are – 1. We will give price tag on each of our shoes. 2. We will give 5% discount on our shoes at the starting of our business in order to get consumer attention on our shoes. Place : 1. We will open our branches in home and abroad. 2. We will try to open our branches in U.S.A , Canada , South-Africa .So we will obviously try to make an influence on consumers to buy our product. 3. We will always try to sell the shoes that were produced first. 4. As shoes will be produced in Bangladesh we need to transport them across national boarder and in home .We prefer to transport shoes to abroad by air and in home by our private transport . Promotion : 1. We will advertise our shoes on newspaper, magazines , and on t.v. 2. We will open our own branch in home and abroad . 3. We will show the positive sides of our products such as its durability, comfort ability , up to date with latest designs and customer choices . ACTION PROGRAMES A Marketing Action Plan is a way of putting in place a structured series of activities to get a predictable result. Here are the basic steps: 1. Define the service we want to offer. 2. Define our Target Market for the service. 3. Define additional outcomes 4. Plan the resources required 5. Plan of costing Financial Plan Our financial plan is based on receiving several loans to purchase/fabricate the production equipment, provide initial operating capital, and establish the customer value. We will achieve profitability early in the first year and due to the expected high growth rate, we will realize strong profits on sales by net year. APOGEE shoes are made with recycled soccer ball and produced in fair-trade factories. We also sell only to independent retailers worldwide in order to cycle money back into local economics. Our hope is that people with similar philosophies will be inspired by our experiment in grassroots capitalism and start their own business ventures. This company pretty much focuses on one thing: recycled material. In making shoes, we use 80% recycled material and other things. Our principles underlie on low cost, but effective marketing strategies. Budgeting Apogee develop and make use a effective budget plan that will make sure to achieve expected profit rate. The following is an estimate of the sources of our principal costs: Capital costs †¢ Land fees †¢ cost of special equipment and †¢ Cost of set-out containers. Operating Costs †¢ Labor; †¢ Supplies; †¢ Administrative and Overhead; †¢ Truck Maintenance; †¢ Fuel, Maintenance; †¢ licenses, insurance, registration fees; Cost of Production WE will establish a minimum cost estimate for producing hoe. As we use the useless soccer ball for producing hoe the cost will not be high than using the material. Recycling less energy and generate less pollution than using less material. So here we have low energy cost. Promotion cost Our budget include marketing cost. Because e need to advertise.issue pre release, and make calls to potential customer. We will determine the cost of each marketing element. Labor cost In Bangladesh, the labor cost is not high. Here at first e hire some labors who are expert in this work. We analysis that this cost will not exceed our budget. We will make sure that we can get maximum output from labor. Distribution cost Apogee first launch some testing product and when it reached at higher growth rate then it ill export it product to other country. Controlling Apogee practice a constant marketing control process. First it set specific marketing goal. Then we will measure it performance in the marketplace and then evaluate the cause of any difference between expected and actual performance. Finally it takes corrective action to close the gap between it goal and it performance. This may require changing the action program or even changing the goal. (RESOURCES) Recycling Benefits – A Recycling Revolution www.recycling-revolution.com/recycling-benefits.htm Threats on scrap sources accessibility: the loss of access and a new †¦ www.institut.veolia.org/†¦recycling†¦/recycling†¦/recycling-threats.as†¦ Photos – National Geographic Kids kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/photos/