Management and Leadership Skills in Team Building Essay

Management and Leadership Skills in Team Building - Essay Example As Leonard (2004) indicated, effective communication and teamwork are essential for the delivery of high quality, safe patient care. In another study, Nash & Govier stated that there is enough evidence showing that effective teams can improve members’ well-being as well as quality of care. Health care providers recognize the importance of team working in preventing patient errors   However, for teams to be effective, effectiveness should begin from the initial stages of team building. The determinants of an effectual team include member satisfaction, cohesiveness, effective communication, quality leadership and organizational culture. Another element of effective team working is adherence to behavioral norms or rules as Nash & Govier (2009) noted that among the elements of successful teams setting up and understanding the ways of working (rules) is of utmost importance. These elements can be achieved by the collective influence of good leadership and management.As Leonard   indicated, effective communication and teamwork are essential for the delivery of high quality, safe patient care. In another study, Nash & Govier stated that there is enough evidence showing that effective teams can improve members’ well-being as well as quality of care. Health care providers recognize the importance of team working in preventing patient errors.  However, building an effective team requires top notch leadership skills because it involves bringing together people with different personalities.

Elements of the Marketing Mix Essay Example for Free

Elements of the Marketing Mix Essay This case will study describe the elements of the marketing mix. These four elements include product, place, price and promotion. This paper will include a description of how an organization’s marketing strategy is affected by the four elements of the marketing mix. Another aspect that this paper will include is a description of how each element is implemented in the company. One more topic that this paper will describe is the organizations name and industry in which it exists. The marketing mix is defined as a mixture of several ideas and plans followed by a marketing representative to promote a particular product or brand. Several concepts and ideas are combined together to formulate final strategies helpful in making a brand popular amongst the masses to form the marketing mix (Marketing Mix Meaning and Its Elements, n.d.). The elements of the marketing mix are often called the four P’s of marketing (Perreault, Cannon, McCarthy, 2011). First, Product is defined as goods that are manufactured by organizations for the consumer. Products can be two types, tangible and intangible. A product in a market place is something which a seller sells to the buyers in exchange for money. Price is defined as the money which a buyer pays for a product. The price of a product is indirectly proportional to its availability in the market. If a product is not readily available then the price goes up (Marketing Mix Meaning and Its Elements, n.d.). Place refers to the location where the products are available and can be sold or purchased. Here one is exposed to a physical building, or store, or one can purchase items on the internet. Finally, the fourth element is promotion. Promotion refers to the various strategies and ideas implemented by the marketers to make the consumer aware of their product (Marketing Mix Meaning and Its Elements, n.d.). Today’s market is huge and there is an abundant variety of products available. Frito Lay is a multi-national  corporation that is predominantly in the salty snack business. Frito Lay aims its market strategy at both the mass market and target markets alike. This food driven company does have some strengths such as its renowned reliability, high quality control and markets its product as convenient fun foods. The products that Frito Lay generates have consumers in mind that particularly buy snack foods as a leisure item. Their packing and branding is targeting a consumer that wants to snack on the go or during lunch with a sandwich. With this in mind, the organizations marketing strategy uses all four of the marketing mix very well. Frito Lay sells a wide variety of chips form Ruffles to Lays, Cheetos to Doritos and Tostitos to Funyions. These products satisfy many customers’ needs for fun snacking. In the Product element, packaging is also very important when keeping the consumer satisfied. Bright colors are used to catch the eye when they design the bags that carry all of their brands. In the Place element, the product is highly visible in that one can purchase said items and every convenience store in the marketplace. Not only is the product in just about every UDS store but in vending machines and supermarkets. The channel of distribution is very important to deliver these products to the consumer and Frito Lay has an excellent distribution system in place. The third element, Promotion, targets new customers and retaining current customers. Many people have heard the phrase â€Å"no one can eat just one.† This catch phrase was designed for Lays potato chips and hasn’t been used in years, but just about everybody has heard that. That is advertising at its finest. The use of mass selling techniques has been advantageous to Frito Lay. The fourth â€Å"P† is Price and that obviously plays an important part in Frito’s model. Frito Lays strategy is to stay competitive with other salty snack manufacturers and their price points. Their target price is also directed at young adults and children. Each element in the marketing mix is used very well by Frito Lay. The products that this corporation sells to the consumer vary from salty snacks to cookies and even beef jerky. Frito Lay guarantees freshness for its product and delivers a price point that is competitive to just about any consumer. In the channels of distribution process it is important to get a food item to the retailer in a timely manner as the food item can spoil. The freshness guarantee that Frito Lay offers dictates that the salty snack has a shelf life of about a month for most products and the  products need to be removed from the shelves if they do not sell. Because of this model, the delivery system promotes efficiency when sold and distributed to each retailer. Promotions are huge with Frito Lay as they spend millions for point of sale coupons and retail discounts. Not only is there retail push for sales but Frito Lay spends millions on advertising. Advertising can be seen in standard commercials to big budget commercials during super bowl ads. These methods of communication are geared at mass selling and are very effective. Finally, the Price element is important to Frito Lay as the market price for materials goes up so does the price of their products. To circumvent these price hikes, Frito Lay will lower the content volume in the bag and not raise the price. In other instances, they will raise the price by ten cents and remove the price on the bag for a short period of time. The idea is to trick the consumer into believing the price is the same. In all the instances, Frito Lay has a business model that is very effective and has endured for many years. By understanding the similarities and differences between these elements one can understand how a corporation uses the marketing mix to their advantage. The four elements are critical to understand the very nature of the consumer and the retailer. This case study shows that it is important to understand the marketing mix business model as it pertains everyone and final user. References Marketing Mix Meaning and its Elements. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://managementstudyguide.com/marketing-mix.htm Perreault, W. D., Cannon, J. P., McCarthy, J. (2011). Basic Marketing. A Marketing Strategy Planning Approach. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collectioon database.

Henrik Isbens A Dolls House Essay -- A Dolls House Essays

A Dolls House By Henrik Ibsen Dramatic Critique The P’s Person: Nora, Torvald Helmer’s wife, and mother of Ivar, Bob, and Emmy. Peculiar trait: On the surface Nora’s peculiar trait seems to be her obsession for money. Her internal peculiar trait is that she desires to become significant to her husband. She spends money on material objects to decorate their home and dress up the family. The impression of the home appears perfect, like a doll’s house. Passion: Nora’s passion is to be a real human and not be unreal towards herself, her family, or her husband. She wants to be accepted and human like the rest of the world, and she tries to figure a way to make this possible. â€Å"When (Nora) lived with Papa, he used to tell me everything, so that I never had any opinions but his. And if I did have any of my own, I kept them quiet, because he wouldn’t have like them.† Since childhood Nora has not been able to express her own feelings. She has bottled everything up inside, and she has a passion to open up and show her true self. Problem: Norma has been a â€Å"doll† all her life. She has taken on others problems and kept her thoughts and feelings all to herself. It is now time for Norma to explain herself and deal with the facts. Norma forged her father’s signature on an I.O.U for two hundred and fifty pounds. She tries to do anything she can so her husband will not find out. Her husband just received a job at the bank; therefore, he could easily find out about the fo...

Childhood and Memories poetry Essay

Carol Ann Duffy was born in 1955 and has four brothers; she grew up in Staffordshire with a strong religious upbringing. At fourteen she decided to become a poet and has written ever since. A lot of her works look at growing up and past experiences especially from childhood. Most of these poems are published in her 1993 book of poetry, â€Å"Mean Time†. I am going to concentrate on five of her poems; â€Å"The Captain of the 1964 Top of the Form Team†, â€Å"Litany†, â€Å"Stafford Afternoons†, â€Å"Brothers† and â€Å"Prayer†. One of the most obvious points that stand out in all of Duffy’s poems is religion and it isn’t surprising having gone to catholic schools since the age of seven! The poem â€Å"Litany† has a clear religious meaning with the title having Christian references; a litany in the church is a list of people who the congregation pray for in a time of need. By Litany, I believe that Carol Ann Duffy is actually trying to portray the things that really stood out in her childhood, a good example of this could be the first litany in the poem, â€Å"candlewick bedspread three piece suite display cabinet†. Perhaps Duffy was often old of for damaging her mother’s sofa or can remember her mother tidying up the house and the bedspread for visitors. Another poem with religious iconography is â€Å"Brothers†, in which Carol Ann Duffy describes her four siblings, on of which is illustrated as â€Å"an alter boy† I believe she is trying to tell the reader that they lived solitary lives and didn’t have a very active social live inside or outside the family. This is because of the portrayal of her other brothers, â€Å"a boy practising scales†, â€Å"a boy playing tennis with a wall† and â€Å"a baby crying†. If you look at these collectively you can see that these are quite lonesome activities and events, none of them involve other people. My final example of religious connotations is in â€Å"Prayer†, most of the poem is in iambic pentameter and I believe that this is trying to show that religion can bring order in to a hectic lifestyle. The poem is about loosing faith but still having hope and a type of sub-conscious faith in your mind. The rhythmic structure along with the religious connotations throughout the poem give hope to reader by allowing us to believe that the poet has suffered the same as you and has got through their experiences and are here to remember them. Carol Ann Duffy also uses the effect of the senses on the reader, my first example of this is in â€Å"Litany†; the poet uses taste to relieve the memory of being disciplined. â€Å"The taste of soap† is quite a strong image that, unfortunately, most people can remember from being in the shower or having a wash! The use of senses gives the reader the chance to really imagine themselves in the poet’s shoes and gives the poem a more realistic picture. In â€Å"Brothers†, Carol Ann Duffy uses another sense; hearing to emphasis her mothers repetitive comments about children and her wishes to be a grandmother but then finding out that Duffy was a lesbian. I believe that the phase â€Å"I hear her life in the words† obviously this is a turning point in Duffy’s life; telling your mother your gay isn’t the easiest thing in the world! And the use of senses here shows how much this experience really did stand out. These two examples are quite obvious but the final one is a little more subtle. It is again in Litany and is synaesthesia, it mixes more than one sense, Duffy explains how a butterfly moves into her hands, â€Å"a butterfly stammered into my curious hands† here the two senses being used are touch, the butterfly crawling onto her hands and voice in the word stammering it is a piece of onomatopoeia. Synaesthesing allows the audience to imagine one thing, in this case someone stammering and put it into another situation, a butterfly crawling and flapping its wings. This gives the all important realistic picture.

Describing of how Accessing a Aange of Services and Facilities can be Beneficial to an Individual’s Wellbeing

An individual‘s well-being may benefit in a number of ways through the accessing of range of service and facilities, these may include a benefit to their physical well-being, when they can easily and encouraged to access facilities such leisure centres to exercise. And sometimes this can improve their physical stamina in dealing with some of physical limitation. As the session in the swimming pool at the day center, where service users with physical limitation try to force themselves in movements to enjoy the time that they spend inside the pool.Identify barriers that individuals may encounter in accessing services and facilities Barriers that individuals may encounter in accessing services and facilities are; -Distance. Not all transports are provided to get access to wheelchairs therefore it require a special vehicle -Education. Lack of information is a barrier for an individual to access services -Opportunity cost. Cost may be prohibitive or there may not be staff available to give support. Also cultural and social barriers may affect the individual in accessing to services and facilitiesDescribe ways of overcoming barriers to accessing services and facilities -Providing specialist transport such a vans with ramps for wheelchair access or team of specially trained people who know how to professionally escort people with mental issues in accessing other facilities and service -Lack of information is a barrier and can be addressed by presenting as much information on the type of the services, who the service is for and the proper use of facilities.-Special equipment such hoist are required for some individual and a number of well trained staff to allow service users to benefit of it -With our multicultural world there has been a rise in the need for interpreters and this has been recognised in most government institutions where they facilitate for those that may be not able to understand English and may need an interpreter. Explain why it is important to support individuals to challenge information about services that may present a barrier to participationSupporting individuals who challenge information about services that threaten participation help to encourage more people into participating. Finding out which things put a hamper on participation will help to make more associate themselves with the activity. How to ensure individuals’ rights and preferences are promoted when accessing and using services and facilities The most effective way to ensure individual’s right and preferences is always asking them permission. Explain well, in the clerer way what we are going to do, and asking them if the are agreed on that.

Free Essays on Interpretive Analysis On “A Good Man Is Hard To Find“

Interpretive Analysis On â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Find â€Å"In Flannery O’Connor’s â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† we get a portrait of a 1950s postwar family who, in the midst of their own naivety, find themselves not only on the road from Atlanta, Georgia to Florida but on the road to the their own demise. The most outstanding character in this story is the grandmother, and since the story is told from the third person omniscient view, it will be easy for us to analyze the grandmother’s character. She connects the other characters together throughout the story with her own selfishness and stupidity, and through a self-realization which becomes the most important moment in the story. As the story opens, the scene is set in the home of a man named Bailey and his family which consists of his mother (the grandmother), his wife and their two children- June Star and John Wesley. Bailey is planning a trip to Florida, but the grandmother would rather go to Tennessee. We see the first sign of the grandmother’s selfishness here when she tries to convince her son, Bailey, to take the family to Tennessee. She does her persuasion through a newspaper article which says that a convict called The Misfit has escaped from the Federal Penitentiary in Florida. She says, â€Å"I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it. I couldn’t answer to my conscious if I did.† We will see how this statement becomes the epitome of irony in the next few paragraphs. While the family is on the road to from Atlanta to Florida, the scene changes to a filling station and dance hall called The Tower. While the family is eating Red Sammy’s barbecue sandwiches, the grandmother carries on a very foreshadowing conversation with Red Sam. â€Å"These days you don’t know who to trust,† he said. â€Å"Ain’t that the truth?†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"A good man is hard to find.† If the grandmother knows this and makes these assert... Free Essays on Interpretive Analysis On â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Findâ€Å" Free Essays on Interpretive Analysis On â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Findâ€Å" Interpretive Analysis On â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Find â€Å"In Flannery O’Connor’s â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† we get a portrait of a 1950s postwar family who, in the midst of their own naivety, find themselves not only on the road from Atlanta, Georgia to Florida but on the road to the their own demise. The most outstanding character in this story is the grandmother, and since the story is told from the third person omniscient view, it will be easy for us to analyze the grandmother’s character. She connects the other characters together throughout the story with her own selfishness and stupidity, and through a self-realization which becomes the most important moment in the story. As the story opens, the scene is set in the home of a man named Bailey and his family which consists of his mother (the grandmother), his wife and their two children- June Star and John Wesley. Bailey is planning a trip to Florida, but the grandmother would rather go to Tennessee. We see the first sign of the grandmother’s selfishness here when she tries to convince her son, Bailey, to take the family to Tennessee. She does her persuasion through a newspaper article which says that a convict called The Misfit has escaped from the Federal Penitentiary in Florida. She says, â€Å"I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it. I couldn’t answer to my conscious if I did.† We will see how this statement becomes the epitome of irony in the next few paragraphs. While the family is on the road to from Atlanta to Florida, the scene changes to a filling station and dance hall called The Tower. While the family is eating Red Sammy’s barbecue sandwiches, the grandmother carries on a very foreshadowing conversation with Red Sam. â€Å"These days you don’t know who to trust,† he said. â€Å"Ain’t that the truth?†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"A good man is hard to find.† If the grandmother knows this and makes these assert...

What is meant by the word abortion Essay Example

What is meant by the word abortion Essay Example What is meant by the word abortion Essay What is meant by the word abortion Essay The word abortion means intentional destruction of a foetus or the inducing of a premature expulsion from the womb to cause death. (the termination and removal of a foetus while it is in the mothers womb). This can happen medically through a therapeutic abortion when the pregnancy is deliberately aborted or naturally through a miscarriage due to complications with the pregnancy. About 75% of all human conceptions abort in this way. The medical name for this is spontaneous abortion.A pill can be prescribed within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse or when contraception fails and a further two tablets 12 hours later. This pill is more commonly known as The Morning after pill.If the foetus is about up to 13 weeks old, a drug called prostin is usually given to make the uterus contract then the vacuum process will be used to expel the foetus. Special care is taken to ensure every piece of tissue is removed or this can cause serious harm. The medical name is vacuum aspiration (suction abo rtion). This is the most common method of abortion about 85% of abortions in England and Wales are done this way.Instead of using a suction tube, a scraping instrument (or curette) can be used and the foetus is scraped from the womb. In some places this method ahs almost been replaced by the suction method. The medical name for this is Dilation and CurettageInstead of using a curette small forceps can be used to crush the foetus and pull it out of the womb. This method is usually used later on in pregnancy. The medical name for this is Dilation and Evacuation.In very late abortions after 18 weeks, more common to America, the foetus life is ended with an injection of hormones called prostaglandins this induces the labour. The dead foetus is given birth to as if it were being born. Many late abortions are now performed by bringing on labour in this way.Abortion has been one of the most fiercely debated issues of the past millennium. As more people discuss it, new dimensions are added to the argument and this may be why laws vary from country to country and have changed so many times.Abortion has been legal in this country since 1967 when the abortion act was passed. The abortion act was passed because of an MP called David Steel. David Steel thought it was unnecessary for thousands of women to die each year through having back street abortions. Untrained people with un-sterilised equipment carried out these back street abortions. The abortion act stated, A mother can have an abortion if it is carried out before the 28th week of pregnancy. The act imposed this week limit because when the act was first passed the anti-natal equipment (ultrasounds etc) was very new and doctors didnt fully realise the amount the baby would have grown and developed. Also during the 1960s peoples attitudes towards women were changing, they now had more rights and could control contraception with the pill.The weeks limited was changed to 24 weeks under the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology act where it was stated, An abortion should be carried out before the 24th week of pregnancy. It was altered because anti-natal technology and understanding had progressed rapidly and people realised there was a good chance a baby could survive if it was born at 28 weeks whereas at 24 weeks it couldnt. The law currently requires permission from two doctors to carry out an abortion.The current government would like to lower the week limit to 20 weeks, this is because anti-natal care has improved a lot even since 1990 and so a baby can survive at 24 weeks, but even now if a baby was born at 20 weeks there is no chance of it surviving. Nowadays abortions are carried out in hospitals or healthcare centres by trained doctors and nurses using sterilised equipment under these two acts. The governments plans may appease Pro-life campaigners who feel that human life is sacred.Some 17, 000 abortions are now carried out annually in England and Wales. Of the women involved, over two thirds are single and most have no previous (born) children.Southern Ireland agrees with the Pro-life point of view and so has made abortion illegal. This means that any Irish woman who gets pregnant has to travel over to Northern Ireland, which is governed by England to have an abortion. There are also many groups who are pro-abortion and feel that it is a womans right to choose what happens to her body.(ii) What biblical and Church teachings might be used in discussion about abortion?The Bible never mentions abortion directly because it is a medical term but it does have things to say about the sanctity of human life (sanctity is the quality of something considered so holy or important it must be respected totally). When they say this, Christians mean that they believe there is something special and holy about human life. They also believe that God makes each person individually and deliberately, so everyone has value.For example some of these teachings from the bible may be used as a Christians view. In Genesis 1:27 it proclaims, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. So the bible teaches that people are in some way reflections of God, and that in human life, something that can be seen of God himself. Also in 2:7 it describes how God made Adam, and then breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. So Christians believe that only God can kill you because he alone created you.The traditional Christian teachings place the highest value on human life, which leads to them condemning the idea of abortion. One of the earliest teachings of Christianity not in the New Testament, The Didache, says: You shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb and you shall not murder the infant already bornThe Bible also says in Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. Both pro-abortion and Pro-life campaigners can use this statement. Firstly pro-abortion campaigners can say that human life doesnt start until the b aby is born but Pro-life campaigners can say that the Bible proclaims killing of anyone including a foetus is wrong. Christians believe that anyone shouldnt kill any living thing including a living foetus.Isaiah 49:5 says, And now, Saith the lord that formed me in the womb to be his servant This quote can be used by Pro-life campaigners who can say that God created us to serve and follow his commands. So Christians believe this quote means that God made you so only God can decide when you die.Acts 17:26 declares, And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation This quote can be used by Pro-life campaigners who can say that only God can decide when we die because he created us all. Christians feel that this statement means that only God can decide when we die because he created everyone in the world.Jeremiah 1:5 says, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, b efore you were born I set you apart. Basically this quote is explaining the fact that before a baby is born (a foetus) is separate from its mother therefore has the same rights to life.Lastly in Corinthians 3:17 it is written that, If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the temple of God is hold, which temple ye are Christians believe this quote means that abortion is basically harming God himself because the temple of God is the human body because he created us all.Christianity is a very diverse religion it has many different churches that all interpret the Bible differentlyThe Church of England and the Church of Scotland teach that abortion is wrong except in extreme circumstances such as serious risk to the mothers health and life. They especially disapprove of abortion when the mother is doing it for selfish reasons such as saying her career is more important.The Free Churches believe abortion is down to the mother she has a right to decide. The only ch urch that rule abortion is completely wrong is the Roman Catholic Church.The Roman Catholic Church has the most traditional line on abortion. They believe the baby gains a soul at conception- Ensolement and that abortion is morally evil. They will not allow abortion under any circumstances what so ever, in fact they say, All people must realise that only God can end life, which is a view that reflects the quote from Act 17:26 that basically means, only God can decide when you die because he is the one who created you. A Roman Catholic Church in Glasgow even went as far as running a pro life scheme where they offered money and emotional support to pregnant women to keep their child rather than have an abortion. The scheme is open to women all over the world, not just in Scotland.The Roman Catholic view is completely different from the Methodist Churches point of view. The Methodist Church feel that abortion is perfectly acceptable if: The mothers life is in danger, The baby will be b orn with a severe handicap or the children already in the home will suffer if a new baby arrives This quote is like the one a pro-abortion campaigner could take for the text written in Acts 17:26 where the pro-abortion groups say even if God created all life a woman still has the right to decide what happens in her body.The two churches have interpreted the Bible quotes very differently with the Roman Catholic Church saying abortion is not allowed at all because it is murder. They have said this because in Exodus 20:13 it says Thou shalt not kill and they have interpreted this statement literally and have taken it to mean any person even a half formed one such as a foetus. The Methodist Church on the other hand has taken this quote and has disregarded it in a certain sense because they do not feel a foetus is a person. They have taken the view that when the foetus is in the womb it is not technically a human.I think the churches have interpreted the Bibles teachings differently beca use of their leaders, background and other religious viewpoints. The Roman Catholic Church is very traditional and interprets the Bible ideally and literally. The Roman Catholic Church has many ceremonies and sacraments. The Methodist Church is much more liberal and allows their followers more flexibility. The Methodist Church has tried to interpret the Bible in a way that is relevant for modern living.Depending on their own church of Christianity (Roman Catholic, Methodist, and Church of England etc) Christians can in some circumstances justify an abortion. If they are any other church other than Roman Catholic then Christians will always have at least one reason to have an abortion for example the baby having a severe handicap or the mothers life being in danger. This gives them a religious justification because it is saying yes you may have an abortion and we will not send you straight to hell, because of this it will make them feel better about themselves and their decision. Pro -life campaigners could rebuke all of the above statements by saying that no Christian can justify and abortion because if they do have an abortion they are going against God himself because he says in the Bible Thou shalt not kill (Exodus 20:13) Pro-abortion campaigners can say that even if their church doesnt allow an abortion then women should still have them if that is what they want because it is their right to do what they want with their bodies and not the right of their priest of the Bible. Personally I feel that any woman Christian or not is justified in having an abortion because it is her own right to do what she wants with her body.Through all of this, women from every religion continue to terminate pregnancies.(b) Explain how Christians might put their beliefs about abortion into action.There are many ways in which Christians who are against abortion might put these beliefs into action. Some examples of these actions are* Some Christians may wish to go to straight to th e source of the problem and cut it off right from the beginning. So they may organise talks for young people in their church, or work as young volunteers in a counselling centre which offers help and contraceptive advice to young people to try and give young people a chance to receive proper sex education so that fewer unwanted pregnancies happen in the first place.* A Christian may join a Pro-Life organisation, which campaigns against abortion, such as Life, SPUC (the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child) or CURA. By doing this they will help target advertise the disadvantages of having an abortion and the issues, how to help people who have had an abortion, people who are considering an abortion and abortion rights. They advertise in leaflets and magazines etc, targeting young women. They can give free pregnancy tests, expert pregnancy counselling, accommodation before and after birth, advice about rights, and help with baby clothing etc and support. Providing these serv ices will help to bring down abortion rates as it provides the insecure mother with security and wellbeing.* They may pray about the problem of abortion, perhaps asking Gods help for the foetuses and for the pregnant women if perchance the woman is pregnant with a mentally handicapped child she may pray to save the potential child.* They might take part in protests against abortion. Some of these protests could be writing letters to their MP, take part in marches or other demonstrations, carry placards advertising their opinions, besiege clinics which offer abortions, and try to persuade the people visiting the clinic to think again before keeping with their abortion plans.* Christians offering advice to someone who might be considering having an abortion might suggest that the baby could be adopted, as there are many couples who would happily take on a child as they could be unable to conceive etc. There are many Christian adoption agencies, and a Christian who is against abortion my support one of these and therefore encourage women to go through with their pregnancies and give the baby to a couple who will provide him or her with a loving home.* Sometimes abortions are wanted because having the baby is going to prove to be to easier said than done, maybe because it will be born with medical problems or perhaps are suffering with financial problems. A Christian who, because of their faith, can offer support for families or single mothers. For instance a Christian may offer to baby-sit for a single parent, so that he or she can go out with their friends to let a bit of the stress and strain of looking after a child off. Some Christians work as foster career which involves them looking after the children of parents who are finding it difficult to manage, on a more long-term basis. These things could save many abortions taking place therefore reducing the abortion rate. This is a serene type of protesting against abortion.* Generally in discussion with other pe ople they might show that they strongly disagree with abortion, and they might explain their opinions by making reference to their faith and maybe the bible. Its a simple method of putting a Christians faith into action but sometimes it can be the most affective.* Some Christians may choose to go the politics route and try and get the law changed about abortions. They could do this by voting for someone in an election who promises to make abortions more difficult to obtain. This would be making a start to getting the law changed and therefore clearing the lawful right to have an abortion.There are also many ways in which Christians who are in favour of women being able to have an abortion might put these beliefs into action. Some examples of these actions are* Again they may pray about the abortion problem.* They may join similar groups like Life only a group which campaigns for the right to choose abortion such as the BMA, the British Pediatric Association or other Pro-choice campa igns.* They might support an organisation which offers counselling for people who have had abortions.* Even if they believe that abortion can sometimes be a sensible choice they may still believe in giving young people a chance to avoid unwanted pregnancies in the first place by giving them a proper sex education.* Again they may express their views about abortion in discussion but this time how they feel it is sometimes the most loving choice, also discouraging other people to criticise women who have chosen to have abortions and pointing out the many reasons people have abortions and why people still have the right to have an abortion.(c) Abortion is never justified. Do you agree?Some people may agree with this statement becauseIt has been said that a foetus is not a human being; it is merely part of the woman. Whereas, medical science has proved that the foetus is biologically separate from its mother. From the moment the embryo is formed a new individual comes into existence, ge netically different from its parents. The development of test tube fertilisation has proven that an embryo can exist outside a female body. All these scientific advances confirm that the unborn is a separate human being. The terms embryo, foetus, baby, child and adult are just different words for a human being at different stages of life.Given the necessities, a foetus has the potential to grow into an adult.Many women think that they would have to give up their job or education if they were to have a baby, but now this is not true. There are laws which prohibit discrimination on the basis of pregnancy. Even though a woman may have to postpone some of her plans, the foetus right to live should take precedence over the mothers right to a certain lifestyle.Other anti-abortionists would argue that people with severe handicaps can lead happy and fulfilled lives. Every foetus is a unique, talented human being, a genius perhaps even a William Shakespeare or Beethoven. An example of a pers on is the education minister who is blind, David Blunkett. Other examples are people who are involved in the Paralympics, a large achievement and success of disabled people. A very famous man called Stephen Hawkins has motor neurone disease. He is a wheelchair user because he is paralyzed and can only communicate through a computer. He has achieved such things as being a famous author and is a very well known scientist.The main argument against abortion is that human life is sacred and that killing a human even a half formed one is wrong it is basically murder. Pro-life campaigners and the Roman Catholic Church agree strongly with that view. They believe that this life begins from the moment of conception and anything that takes away this life is the same as to murder. If it is wrong to kill a baby of 2 months, in the eyes of Pro-Life people and some Christians it is equally wrong to kill a two-month-old embryo. They see every human life both within the womb and out of the womb as s acred and from God. So they believe that a fertilised egg is a human being that possesses a soul from the moment of conception.The different types of abortion can be very harmful not just to the potential human beingTaken the morning after pill involves risks for the women long term health. These are a small risk of thrombo-embolic and cardiovascular complications that increase with age, obesity and smoking. Anyone with a family history of diabetes and hypertension is at increased risk. The textbooks on drugs also caution about the use of this method for people with migraines, epilepsy, depression, asthma, contact lenses and varicose veins. There is also a risk that you may remain pregnant after taking the pill.During vacuum aspiration artificial dilation of the cervix in pregnancy carries the risk that the cervix will be damaged and will be insufficiently tight to contain a subsequent pregnancy, so the mother runs the risk of miscarriage or premature delivery next time she is pregn ant. It is also possible for the wall of the womb to be perforated, which can be very serious for the mother.During dilation and curettage or dilation and evacuation unless all the parts are removed it is possible for infection to set in. Infection as a result of retained parts of the child or the placenta can result at worst such damage to the fallopian tubes and the ovaries that the women is unable to ovulate and the egg to pass through the fallopian tube. Infertility specialists regularly cite abortion as a major cause of infertility. If infection is not treated quickly the women will be very ill, sometimes haemorrhaging and needing urgent hospitalisation.Many believe that a baby is a human with rights from the point of conception, this means that many people believe from the point when the foetus is formed the baby is a human being. These people believe that abortion is murder and should not be legal and should not be carried out. They believe that if an abortion is carried out it should be treated as a murder and the mother should be given a prison sentence.There are also less significant views, such as, having an abortion can break down relationships, cause depression and tear families apart. Having an abortion could be seen as an obstacle in a relationship, the two dont know what to say to each other or how to react. It could break up a family by going against others wishes; for example if half the family wants the baby and the other half dont. This leaves the mother very confused and lonely. Depression is seen as a more serious case, mothers can become depressed by changes in the body, she could feel guilty and following a termination she could feel like a piece of her has gone.Some other reasons why pro-life groups and some Christians are so strongly against abortion are:A Child should not be punished for its parents irresponsibility. The argument here is based on the embryos right to life irrespective of the situation his/her parents find themselves in. If the conception of the child is due to casual sex, the parents should have no rights to decide if the child should live or not. They would probably only be having an abortion for their own convenience and not value the unborn childs life at all.Woman should not be allowed to put her career before her life of her child. In todays society many woman are career orientated and the untimely arrival of a child may ruin their career prospects. If a career woman becomes pregnant she may look for an abortion as a way of dealing with an unwanted child. The Pro-Life movement believe that no human situation can justify the taking of an innocent life. Obviously a person in this situation may need counselling or help in knowing how to reconcile her pregnancy with her career.Abortion may have physical or mental side affects for the woman. Many women who go through with an abortion sometimes suffer from depression as a result of it. Pro-Life groups try to inform the public of these realities while Pro-Choice groups pay little attention to this.Abortion is plain and purely murder. This is what Pro-Life people and many Christians see abortion as. They believe if we are able to justify abortion then we could just as easily excuse murder as in both cases youre killing with intent.On the other hand some people would disagree with this statement becausePeople for abortion are often labelled Pro-Choice groups. These include The National Abortion Campaign Lobby. Pro-Choice groups believe that it is the right of any woman to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes. Groups which are Pro-Choice believe that abortion should be made legal and be offered to all women. The arguments they make for abortion are as follows:The embryo in the womb is not an actual human being. This argument is based on the belief that the embryo is just a cluster of cells which is not a person but only has the potential to be a human being.A woman should have the right to terminate her pregnancy if she wishe s This argument is based on the belief that a woman has absolute right over her own body. In this argument the embryo in the womb is not considered to have any rights whatsoever.Abortion should be legalised to stop unsafe and unsanitary back street abortions. This is one of the strongest arguments for abortion. In modern day society girls can get abortions anywhere if they really wish. These back street abortions are very dangerous and could maybe even lead to the mother dying as well as the child dying. So for this reason Pro Choice believe abortions should be allowed.Woman may not have the facilities and the money to raise a child. This argument is based on the fact that bringing up a child can be a financial burden. Pro Choice believe that if a mother feels she will not be able to care for the child then it is irresponsible on her part to bring a child into the world.A woman has become pregnant as the result of rape or her life is at risk if she has the child. Pro Choice argue th at it is unfair to force mother to go through the trauma of pregnancy to have a child which will make her feel hurt as it will remind her of the rape. Pro choice groups also argue that if a mothers life is at risk then she shouldnt have to go through with pregnancy because it would leave any other children she has motherless. A foetus is only a potential human life, but there can be no argument about the humanity of the woman.The child maybe born with physical or mental abnormality. This argument is based on a warped value system that says that a person with a mental or physical handicap is worth less than a person who has no disability.Many people who argue for abortions agree that with or without the law, it will still happen. Desperate women will go to all sorts of measures to get an abortion. People who fight for abortion argue that it is safer to allow abortions to be legal, this way, women can get the treatment they need safely.Another view is that if a woman is ill with child she should be able to abort the pregnancy. Many believe that if a mother is ill or has been raped or knows that the baby will have no quality of life they should be able to have an abortion. Some women who are disgraced in their familys views argue that their prime concern for requesting a termination was for the potential child. How can a mother bring a child into this world when she knows she will not love or care for it?In 1991 nearly 90% of all the 163,000 who had an abortion did so, on the grounds that it would be damaging to their physical or mental health.Another reason is if the pregnancy was unexpected. Contraception is widely available but it is not yet 100% reliable; in fact no method is 100% reliable.Other factors as to why women need or have abortions are, she may be too young or too old, and there is some conflict as to how old a woman can be to have a child. Some women terminate their pregnancy because of AIDS and HIV. Mothers are scared this may be passed in to thei r babies.If a woman wanted a child and found out from a scan that it would be severely handicapped and disabled she may want an abortion. Surely, as a parent you want whats best for your child in the long run and not put him or her through the pain of at least a childhood and adulthood of teasing or even worse bullying. If he or she was severely disabled mentally then he or she may not be able to communicate. This would affect the child mentally and physically. In modern day society there is a high chance of being discriminated against. Everywhere people are prejudice so why risk any abuse. Why put it through pain all of its life when it could have no pain at all.Research indicates that abortion is very safe. In fact carrying on with an unwanted pregnancy can cause more long-term stress and suffering than abortion can. A refused abortion can cause the mother to feel hate towards the child.It has been estimated that one hundred thousand women a year die from illegal abortions in coun tries where it is illegal. An estimated two million women have illegal abortions a year; those that dont die could be left with permanent injuries which may not allow the women to have further pregnancies in the future.Many people believe that from conception to birth the foetus is part of the mothers body and she therefore has complete jurisdiction over it. Therefore, some argue she should be able to have the right to terminate it from any time between conception and birth. These people do not believe in the 24-week law and may try to terminate a baby after this deadline.Even if abortions are banned they will still be done illegally. For example last year on the coast of Dublin there was an abortion ship, which is on international water where people can get an abortion if they like.In my opinion I disagree with this statement. Abortion is justified, but only in some cases.I think that the earlier laws were too harsh and impractical and the more recent laws are too lenient and vague . A balance between the two must be established. I think that the weeks limit should be changed to 20 weeks as the foetus has nearly finished developing senses and a brain and therefore might be able to feel pain during an abortion.I believe that many of the reasons for having abortions are totally unacceptable. For example, there have been reports that some pregnancies were terminated because parents decided that their child was the wrong sex. I think that too many women do not look hard enough to find the possible solutions of the problems that arise with pregnancies. Parents must take more responsibility. It is the final decision for the mother and the baby which can never be undone. It is probably one of the most difficult and heart rending decisions that a female will ever have to make in her life. A decision which should not be taken lightly as abortion can harm you body not just your feelings. It suddenly ends a natural process and can make it difficult for you to conceive an other baby.If a woman does not feel she is ready to bring up a child, the best option is to give the child up for adoption as there are thousands of people who are desperate to foster or adopt children. I disagree with some people who believe that abortion is simply a last chance contraceptive.But I do believe that there are circumstances and situations in which abortions are the best option. For example, if the child will have severe disabilities or if the continuation of a pregnancy will cause a high risk of severe injury to the mother or even death because the death of the mother would leave other children without a mother and this will mean that all their lives will be hugely affected. I also believe that it is right to terminate the life of one or more foetuses involved in a multiple pregnancy to preserve the life of other foetuses. Finally, I think that although doctors should consult other doctors, they should not be prosecuted for carrying out an abortion in extreme circumst ances. For example, in 1938, Dr Alexander Bourne performed an abortion on a 14 year old girl after a gang of soldiers raped her. Dr Bourne informed the police and was prosecuted.When an abortion is requested, I believe the reasons for the abortion should be evaluated by an impartial body. They should also consider the possible outcomes of the situation, if an abortion takes place, and if it does not. The woman seeking the abortion should not be the only person whose wishes are taken into consideration. The family and father should also be given thought.I do not think that abortion should be made illegal either. If abortion was made illegal, hundreds of women would die trying to solve the problem of an unwanted child by themselves. It would also cause a raped mother to have the baby, which could lead to her hating the child, because it reminds her everyday of her dreadful ordeal. Some women would die if they continued with the pregnancy and need to have the option of terminating the pregnancy available to them. Not having an abortion could also lead to a severely handicapped child being born with no chance of surviving. In my opinion legal abortion should be an available choice for a pregnant woman. I dont class a baby as a living, human being until it is born and so I dont see abortion as murder.I also believe that once the child is born there are very little mothers who will regret going through with the pregnancy and birth no matter what the situation is whether they have financial problems or whether they are just not ready.

Woodrow Wilsons Fourteen Points - Explanation and Text

Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points - Explanation and Text One of the key US contributions to the end of World War I was  President Wilson’s Fourteen Points. These were an idealistic plan for rebuilding Europe and the world after the war, but their adoption by other nations was low and their success wanting. American Enters World War I In April 1917, after several years of entreaties from the Triple Entente forces, the United States of America entered World War I on the side of Britain, France, and their allies. There was a range of reasons behind this, from outright provocations, like Germany restarting unrestricted submarine warfare (the sinking of the Lusitania was still fresh in people’s minds) and stirring up trouble via the Zimmerman Telegram. But there were other reasons, such as America’s need to secure an allied victory to help, in turn, secure the repayment of the many loans and financial arrangements the US had organized, which were propping up the allies, and which may be lost if Germany won. Some historians have also identified US President Woodrow Wilson’s own desperation to help dictate the terms of the peace rather than being left on the international sidelines. The Fourteen Points Are Drafted Once American had declared, a massive mobilization of troops and resources took place. In addition, Wilson decided America needed a firm set of war aims to help guide policy and, equally as importantly, begin to organize the peace in a manner which would be lasting. This was, in truth, more than some of the nations went to war with in 1914†¦ An inquiry helped produce a program that Wilson would endorse as the Fourteen Points. The Full Fourteen Points I. Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view. II. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas, outside territorial waters, alike in peace and in war, except as the seas may be closed in whole or in part by international action for the enforcement of international covenants. III. The removal, so far as possible, of all economic barriers and the establishment of an equality of trade conditions among all the nations consenting to the peace and associating themselves for its maintenance. IV. Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety. V. A free, open-minded, and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims, based upon a strict observance of the principle that in determining all such questions of sovereignty the interests of the populations concerned must have equal weight with the equitable claims of the government whose title is to be determined. VI. The evacuation of all Russian territory and such a settlement of all questions affecting Russia as will secure the best and freest cooperation of the other nations of the world in obtaining for her an unhampered and unembarrassed opportunity for the independent determination of her own political development and national policy and assure her of a sincere welcome into the society of free nations under institutions of her own choosing; and, more than a welcome, assistance also of every kind that she may need and may herself desire. The treatment accorded Russia by her sister nations in the months to come will be the acid test of their good will, of their comprehension of her needs as distinguished from their own interests, and of their intelligent and unselfish sympathy. VII. Belgium, the whole world will agree, must be evacuated and restored, without any attempt to limit the sovereignty which she enjoys in common with all other free nations. No other single act will serve as this will serve to restore confidence among the nations in the laws which they have themselves set and determined for the government of their relations with one another. Without this healing act the whole structure and validity of international law is forever impaired. VIII. All French territory should be freed and the invaded portions restored, and the wrong done to France by Prussia in 1871 in the matter of Alsace-Lorraine, which has unsettled the peace of the world for nearly fifty years, should be righted, in order that peace may once more be made secure in the interest of all. IX. A readjustment of the frontiers of Italy should be effected along clearly recognizable lines of nationality. X. The peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose place among the nations we wish to see safeguarded and assured, should be accorded the freest opportunity of autonomous development. XI. Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro should be evacuated; occupied territories restored; Serbia accorded free and secure access to the sea; and the relations of the several Balkan states to one another determined by friendly counsel along historically established lines of allegiance and nationality; and international guarantees of the political and economic independence and territorial integrity of the several Balkan states should be entered into. XII. The Turkish portions of the present Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty, but the other nationalities which are now under Turkish rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and an absolutely unmolested opportunity of an autonomous development, and the Dardanelles should be permanently opened as a free passage to the ships and commerce of all nations under international guarantees. XIII. An independent Polish state should be erected which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea, and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenant. XIV. A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike. The World Reacts American opinion was warmly receptive to the Fourteen Points, but then Wilson ran into the competing ideals of his allies. France, Britain, and Italy were hesitant, with all wanting concessions from peace that the points weren’t prepared to give, like reparations (France and Clemenceau were stiff supporters of crippling Germany through payments) and territorial gains. This led to a period of negotiations between the allies as ideas were smoothed through. But one group of nations who began to warm to the Fourteen Points was Germany and its allies. As 1918 went on and the final German attacks failed, many in Germany became convinced they could no longer win the war, and a peace based on Wilson and his Fourteen Points seemed to be the best they would get; certainly, more than they could expect from France. When Germany began arrangements for an armistice, it was the Fourteen Points they wished to come to terms under. The Fourteen Points Fail Once was the war was over, Germany having been brought to the verge of military collapse and forced into a surrender, the victorious allies gathered for the peace conference to sort the world out. Wilson and the Germans hoped the Fourteen Points would be the framework for negotiations, but once again the competing claims of the other major nations – mainly Britain and France – undermined what Wilson had intended. However, Britain’s Lloyd George and France’s Clemenceau were keen to give in some areas and agreed to the League of Nations. Wilson was unhappy as the final agreements – including the Treaty of Versailles – differed markedly from his goals, and America refused to join the League. As the 1920s and 30s developed, and war returned worse than before, the Fourteen Points were widely considered to have failed.

What Companies Can Learn From The Enron Case and The Impact of the Essay

What Companies Can Learn From The Enron Case and The Impact of the Enron Case - Essay Example The corporation was formed with the merger between two natural gas pipeline corporations, namely Houstan Natural Gas and Internorth Inc. After the merger, the position and corporate image of Enron Corporation improved by a large extent thereby enhancing its productivity and profitability among others in the market of the US. In the year 1989, Enron Corporation became one of the largest gas suppliers of the United States and United Kingdom (UK) with approximately sixty thousand kilometers of gas pipelines (American-Business, 2011). The prime objective of Enron Corporation was to position itself as an inventive as well as a prominent leader in the sector of natural gas of the US. Apart from these, Enron also extended its services in other sectors namely water, fiber optics, newsprint and telecommunications among others. Enron Corporation was quite succesful in its business operations, as its revenue enhanced approximately from US$ 9 billion in the year of 1995 to about US$ 101 billion in 2000 (Dharan & Bufkins, n.d.). It was as a result of enormous international and domestic expansions but the entire amount was cloaked from the shareholders through affiliations with other concerns (Drennan, 2008). Unfortunately, the brand image of Enron Corporation declined due to planned book-keeping fraud known as ‘Enron scandal’and illegal loans. ... It may include prevarication or alterations of accounting records in order to attain an illegal financial benefit. Thus, it can be clearly revealed that it is an example of corporate internal fraud as the board members and management of the organisation were entirely involved in this case of conspiracy (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, 2009). This type of fraud not only hampers organisational distinctiveness but also its culture, employees, ‘corporate social responsibilities’ and ethics. Hence, it can be affirmed that if the pillars of the busuiness are affected then it can not sustain in the long run among others in the market. Thus, it proved rather detrimental for Enron Corporation thereby fading its name from the market of the US. Fraud Conducted in Enron Enron Corporation was regarded as one of the fastest emerging and best controlled business organisations in the market of the US, but it could not retain its corporate image for the long run. The prime reason was due to the accounting scandal which resulted at the end of the year 2001. It was finally revealed that the fraud resulted in deterioration of its financial situations bringing about downfall of position and reliability among others in the market of the US. As a result, customer loyalty as well as market share was also affected to a large extent (IWS, 2002). Due to varied financial discrepancies, Enron Corporation finally filed a bankruptcy case on 2nd December in the year 2001. The prime suspects of Enron’s internal fraud were namely Kenneth Lay, Andrew Faston, Michael Kopper, Jeffrey Skilling, J. Clifford Baxter and Arthur Andersen, among which most of them were the directors of the organisation (Drennan, 2008). The fraud resulted due to the

Surgical lesion infection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Surgical lesion infection - Essay Example Preoperative hair removal is one of the risk factors associated with surgical site infection frequency. Orsi, Ferraro and Franchi (2005) discovered that hair removal using razor has a higher risk of surgical site infections. The use of clipping or depilatory creams is considered to be a better option. Furthermore, hair removal should be carried out immediately before surgery in order to decrease the risk of SSI. Tanner, Woodings and Moncaster (2006) also tested the hypothesis that preoperative hair removal is the cause of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients. However, the results demonstrated no dissimilarity in SSI between patients who have had undergone hair removal before surgery and those who have not. This study also supported the view that removal of hair using depilatory creams or clipping results in a few cases of SSI as compared to hair removal by with the help of a razor. Duggal , Beaumont and Jenkinson (2002) assert that it is essential to prevent and control infectio n in order to promote a safe environment which is a chief requirement of health care expert during clinical practice. Patients who are hospitalized are more likely to develop infections which can be due to organ transplantation, persistent procedures, immune suppressive drugs, etc. Damani (2003) states that nosocomial infections are the outcome of microbial growth in health care settings and negligence in procedures of infection control along with a weakened immunity system of patients. Bdareen (2011) explains that a study by WH shows high rates of nosocomial infections in ICUs and orthopedic and surgical wards. The common infections acquired in hospitals are urinary tract infection, infections of the gastrointestinal tract, skin and soft tissue disease, septicemia and infection of the lower respiratory tract. Widespread organisms are the general cause of most nosocomial infections. For instance, coliforms are the cause of urinary tract infections, S.aureus is the reason behind woun d infections, pneumonia is due to S.pneumonae and the most serious and fatal septicemia is due to S.aureus, S.epidermidis and coliforms. Hospital-Acquired versus Community-Acquired Bacteria. Online image. Available from

Asian Theatre and Drama Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Asian Theatre and Drama - Essay Example Decked up with a number of psychological and social issues, the play brought a remarkable fame to Tagore not only within the nation but across the globe as well. The combination of pathos and the humor operating hand-in-hand within the plot of the play enables a huge scope for a prolific presentation of the play on stage. Owing to this scope, a lot of modernization and improvisations have been incorporated within the plot of the original text while performance by various dramatists. PETA’s Ang Post Office which was performed in the 4th Day of the month of September in 2010, Directed by Grady Labad and Dramaturgy framed by Rustom Bharucha and the adaptation was done by Rody Vera. The entire play gives a different dimension to the language of humanity but the presentation of the ending scene, where the protagonist Amal is lying on the bed dying builds a spectacle unforgettable. The light, sound and action of the characters the moving of the bed, and the association of all the ch aracters on stage transformed the macabre of death into a panorama worth viewing that has the strength to percolate through the mundane inhibitions and comprehension of human mind and transport the audience into some space belonging to cosmic realm . Thesis Statement This essay intends to focus on the ending scene of the performance of Tagore’s ‘Post Office’ by PETA and the intensity of its presentation through which the group is able to take the viewers on a cosmic ride almost. Before analyzing the ending scene of the PETA’s ‘Post Office’ performance, it is very eventual to introspect into the original text from which the play has actually evolved; its themes, motif and most importantly a thorough judgment of its backdrop and context should also taken into consideration. Tagore’s ‘Post Office’ is a play from the pantheon of symbolic theatre. One can trace another plot running through the main plot of the play which is allegorical nature. The allegory inherent in the play, ‘Post Office’ by Tagore les at the pivotal motif of the play or the most potent theme considered. Illusion and reality at the end of the world and the eternal battle of life and death is the crux of the play. Tagore’s own fascination for the mysticism associated with death and life after death actually glossed the play, ‘Post Office’. Tagore’s idealism for the spiritual death finds profound expression through t he presentation of Post Office. The dynamics of skepticism regarding the physical and spiritual death all through his life gets a proper expression in the play, ‘Post Office’. Amal dies a physical death, but his physical death is not his actual death. Amal seems to die, but his physical extinction does not lead an end to life’s unceasing voyages2. The village doctor was about to maltreat and put him to death, but Amal feels that when a patient is visited by the royal physician, then no one can fall into the clutches of death so easily. Through the fabric of metaphors Amal awaits the King’s letter to come to him directly pondering upon the window through which he can see the Post Office. The door or the route to the endless road opens at the closing scene of the play. The royal physician himself brings the message for Amal, but the message of emancipation from the hands of the royal physicia

Discussion Mentor Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Mentor - Assignment Example Much of the mentoring has occurred in informal settings, where the nurses only provide guidelines in seeking to ensure that I undertake various nursing activities accurately. They have become an integral part of my career advancement Many of the nurses are experienced and capable of assisting novice individuals with many of their requirements. The knowledge and skills they possess plays a fundamental role in ensuring that they provide the required support (Jill & Bally, 2007). Despite sometimes facing difficulties themselves, they are capable of undergoing extreme conditions, which are also critical in encouraging other nurses (Wilkes, 2006). The efficiency with which they perform their responsibilities is an element that makes them admirable mentors. Despite the inexplicable mentorship skills they possess, the nurses are sometimes affected by some numerous issues, which make them naà ¯ve and susceptible to external pressure. When faced with some challenging situations, it is common for inefficiency to become imminent and sometimes, they have to seek direction and guidance

Shell uses new refinery new reffinery to support sustainability Essay

Shell uses new refinery new reffinery to support sustainability - Essay Example addition to being a big project, the new transformation process has the potential of creating a new natural gas, which would contribute to earnings for the company. GTL gas is priced at roughly half the normal price of crude oil, which is likely to spur increased demand mostly due to lower natural gas prices. Shell is also likely to win the environmentally conscious consumers and businesses since GTL is purer than the traditional crude thus having a competitive edge over other companies in the energy business. The process of GTL however, has various production and operational barriers. The process is extremely expensive, considering the amount invested in the project, which is $ 19 million, and this has drawn the attention of critics who hold the view that alternative procedures are more cost effective. Moreover, the GTL process consumes a lot of energy, hence posing the question of the effectiveness of the projects’ environmental sustainability. Another barrier facing the venture is the fact that the GTL project can only make profits when oil prices are high and thus the company’s stakes are either a loss or a win with this particular venture. In the event of the project’s failure after 5 years, the company should not abandon the project all together. With the experience it had with a similar project in Malaysia, this should be an indication that the company should remain optimistic and keep the project running. The company should take into consideration the experience with the previous project to know what to do and what to avoid in this particular venture. Having worked through the numerous glitches in the GTL process, the company should be more confident in undertaking this particular project. Finally, Shell stand s to win more profitable relationships in future in case this project succeeds in the rich labour and energy resources Qatar. Thus, Shell should consider continuing with the venture even if it was to fail after 5

Discussion Mentor Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Mentor - Assignment Example Much of the mentoring has occurred in informal settings, where the nurses only provide guidelines in seeking to ensure that I undertake various nursing activities accurately. They have become an integral part of my career advancement Many of the nurses are experienced and capable of assisting novice individuals with many of their requirements. The knowledge and skills they possess plays a fundamental role in ensuring that they provide the required support (Jill & Bally, 2007). Despite sometimes facing difficulties themselves, they are capable of undergoing extreme conditions, which are also critical in encouraging other nurses (Wilkes, 2006). The efficiency with which they perform their responsibilities is an element that makes them admirable mentors. Despite the inexplicable mentorship skills they possess, the nurses are sometimes affected by some numerous issues, which make them naà ¯ve and susceptible to external pressure. When faced with some challenging situations, it is common for inefficiency to become imminent and sometimes, they have to seek direction and guidance

Journal entry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Journal entry - Essay Example The habit is then transferred to classrooms in the writing of assignments and essays. This has lowered the quality of written work teenagers produce. The problem is getting severe by the day such that college admission officers are getting concerned that the habit is getting out of hand. They are reporting increased cases of below par admission essays. (Eble 65) notes that slang is ever changing, and the speakers seek to establish a form of social identity within the group. The other reported problem has been the use of slang words. Words are gradually being replaced by simpler, shorter versions. While this problem is common among teenagers and the younger generation, the habit is catching up with adults. It is now a common occurrence to hear people say ‘yeah in place of ‘yes. People have a hard time differentiating between casual and official language. The effects of this communication mishap are being seen where people are failing in job interviews due to the use of what is deemed as casual language. Those who encounter such scenarios learn the negative impact of the use of slang in the harshest of ways. They fail to adjust their language according to the situation at hand. While many insist that the slang has had a negative impact of English language, there are those who disagree. They argue that English; just like any other language is not static. They are of the opinion that languages are dynamic and as such, the language is a collection of words from different languages, (Hogg 111) For instance, English is a collection of words from Greek and Latin, which have been reinvented and assimilated over time. The invention of fast mode of transport has enhanced globalization where people travel far and wide thus further promoting cultural interaction. As people travel for business, education or tourism purposes, they are bound to assimilate some words

The treaty of Versailles Essay Example for Free

The treaty of Versailles Essay The first dispute occurred in January 1919. A meeting was held at Versailles in France by the leaders of each country as to decide how to punish the Germans. The leaders who attended the meeting were Lloyd George, prime minister of England, Georges Clemenceau, prime minister of France, and Woodrow Wilson, president of America. They were also known as The Big Three However they disagreed with each others ideas. They each wanted something, which benefits themselves. Firstly, as the French were probably one of the worst victims of WWI. The prime minister of France wanted the German to be deeply punished. A request to have Germany demilitarized from the border of Germany to France and a restriction which Germans could only have 100000 men on their army. Also they wanted the Germany to pay all the reparations coursed during WWI. As well, he believed that Germany should be blamed for everything of what happened in WWI. Secondly, the British Prime Minister Lloyd George had different opinions to Clemenceaus points. The main reason was because England got everything they wanted from the war. First the German military got destabilized. Second, the German naval threat was gone and the British colonies arent threatened anymore. Englands punishments for Britain arent as harsh as the French. A restriction on Germans army and pay a large amount for reparation was all they wanted. This was mainly due to the fact that Germany was one of their big trading partners. If Germany was bankrupt, England wont benefit at all. Lloyd George declared if the treaty listened to Clemenceau, Germans would revenge in 25 years. Thirdly, the Americans had a total different idea. Woodrow Wilson believed that the factors, which caused WWI, werent all because of Germany. France and England should also be blamed for the cause of the war. Wilson considered that the Europeans diplomatic was too self-determined, they ignores the publics wishes or opinions. He also believed that the problems could only be solved if there is the relations between the countries were improved and a new self determined diplomatic government was being could be created through all the European countries. In conclusions, the main courses of the conflict during the The Big Three meeting were: firstly, the diplomatic relationships between the three countries, where the Americans hated the British, England and France also hated each other, they were only uniting before cause had to face a tough enemy. Secondly, the French wanted Germans to pay for more than what they caused, where England just wanted Germany to pay for a certain amount since they got exactly what wanted. Thirdly America had a totally different opinion to both of the other countries in the treaty, which was probably the major cause of the conflict.

A Strategy Proposal for Obstetric Emergencies

A Strategy Proposal for Obstetric Emergencies REPORT: A STRATEGY PROPOSAL FOR MANDATORY SKILLS AND DRILLS SESSIONS FOR OBSTETRIC EMERGENCIES 1  Executive Summary 1.1 This proposal was carried out following the need for drills as identified and recommended by the CEMACH report. 1.2 The situation was reviewed in the light of current directives regarding inter-professional collaboration. This report will express the necessity to involve all obstetric and neonatal staff, ensuring competency and continuous professional development. The report has identified mechanisms suggested for the introduction of obstetric drills in such a way that they are viewed by the potential participants as a non-threatening mechanism that is highlighting good areas of practice and areas for improvement. The process will stand jointly with a programme of targeted education to address areas of weakness. The process of drills and their feedback will be monitored and refinements made. This system of risk management will feed into the process areas of concern suitable for drill evaluation. 2.  Rationale for Choice of Topic Maternity care has been identified as an area for improvement (Department of Health 2000 An Organisation with a Memory). This topic of drills was chosen because there are clear calls for its use by a number of bodies (these include CEMACH, 1999, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ â€Å"Towards Safer Childbirth† document and CNST) and it well illustrates the importance of multidisciplinary team working. These drills are a requirement of CNST level 2 which confers a 20% reduction in insurance premiums on trusts. Drills have been of proven benefit in improving performance in eclampsia simulations (Thompson, 2004). It is likely that drills in other areas of obstetrics will also lead to improved performance (Thompson, 2004). The midwifery statutory body, the Midwifery Committee of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and formerly the UKCC are concerned with the regular updating of skills requiring at least five days of training every three years. Humanistic approach The very nature of improving patient care for its own sake should be sufficient impetus to create an environment receptive to this change. The proposal is; The introduction of mandatory skills and drills sessions for obstetric emergencies: WHY: To involve all staff and ensure competency and continuous professional development. To identify staff who need more training e.g. study days. WHO: Midwives and other clinical staff, to encourage professional development and capability to deal with emergency situations. WHAT: Shoulder dystocia Antepartum and post partum haemorrhage Eclampsia Undiagnosed breech presentation Neonatal and Maternal resuscitation Placental abruption CNST actually recommends the following drills annually; Cord Prolapse Vaginal Breech delivery Shoulder Dystocia Antepartum Haemorrhage / Severe postpartum Haemorrhage HOW: Monthly skills and drills Change skill monthly Each drill twice a year Each midwife to attend a minimum of one of each skill per year 3.  Critical Discussion Background: The drills will be a part of evidence-based training through practical skills, on emergency situations occurring in the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum period to prevent maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity (CEMACH). The latest report of the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths sates that â€Å"emergency drills for maternal resuscitation should be regularly practised in clinical areas in all maternity units.† The Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CEMACH) has Maternity Clinical Risk Management Standards. CNST (level 2, April, 2005) Criterion 5.2.1 states; â€Å"There is a system in place to ensure that all relevant staff participate in  an annual skills drill.† The CNST documentation advises that; â€Å"Collaborative, multidisciplinary practice sessions or â€Å"drills†, for dealing with emergency situations, allow for all members of staff, especially new and junior staff, to know and understand their specific roles and  responsibilities in an emergency.† The CNST also states; â€Å"Critical incident analysis is an effective educational and management  tool, and its use should be incorporated into the philosophy and daily  management of Labour Wards.† For CNST satisfaction in this criterion there must be verification records of all those who attend each drill. The rills should be linked to a training programme. There should be at least 75% attendance and ideally 100% attendance. Critical incidents in obstetrics are uncommon. Whilst the risk management already in place may highlight weaknesses in provision of care and remedial measures may subsequently be taken such as further training it is advantageous to simulate these uncommon but acutely life-threatening situations in order to feed the results into the risk management process. Inter-Professional Team: It is especially important that the drills involve the multidisciplinary team. The following members will be regularly involved; Midwives Maternity assistants Obstetricians of all grades Anaesthetists Operating department assistants Porters Neonatal paediatricians and nurses Students It is important that all the people involved in an actual emergency are considered when setting up a drill. In some scenarios the haematology team may be involved following consultation beforehand. The more realistic the drill the more valuable it will prove. Strategy The proposal consists of a number of aspects (Roberts, 1998) such as assembling a project team, planning the drills, implementation, evaluation, modification then further implementation of the drills, further evaluation and so on. With regard to strategy introducing drills does not fit so well into there being an agreed process in advance with the likely participants in the drill. This will make the drill less realistic and, especially if the subject matter is known in advance, it will enable participants to prepare. A fine balance will be sought between gaining the support of the individuals affected via effective interpersonal sills and leadership to enable an atmosphere of trust. This approach is of proven benefit (Kassean, 2005). This will involve informing the clinicians that drills will take place and the reasons why and that they should enable improvement in practice and team working with emphasis on this being in a non-threatening manner. During initial drills the performance will depend on the abilities, clinical and team working of all the clinicians attending and will also depend on the drill itself. There are two things to evaluate; staff performance and the drill itself. The drill can be modified. The weak areas in the performance of staff can be evaluated and training issues made good. On repetition of the drills subsequent staff performance will reflect and can be used as a measure of the success or otherwise of the implementation of the drills. Discussion: It will be important to pay particular attention to discussion and accurate planning of the drills. Meetings will be set up involving management and including the Professional Development Officer, Risk Management Officer, Head of Midwifery and Clinical Liaison Officer. Although it is proposed to cover the above lists the needs and timing and degree of repetition of specific drills will be determined by incident reports. The risk management process will feed into the drill planning. The teaching elements will be modified in timing, content and repetition according to specific performance in the drills. Individual training can then be addressed where needed and appropriate and more general sessions also provided with the relevant attendance facilitated. The objective, which will be made transparent, is to maximise the combined motivation and effort of all those likely to be involved in the change. Resources needed: There are some resource implications although these are fairly minimal compared to the likely gains. Staff time is involved in setting up the drills. Rooms need to be available. However clinical rooms will be used for instance (but not confined to) the delivery suite when it is quiet. Standard equipment will be used and this will incur costs. It may be necessary to purchase models or these may already be available on the unit. Some handouts may be necessary and documentation will need to be kept of attendance registers and the progress and evaluation of the drills. Management of change There are many change theories. Particularly illustrative of the inertia to change is a major component of Lewin’s (1951) theory of change. Here people are â€Å"frozen† in a particular manner of doing things. There are many reasons for this rigid position. Whilst some of the reasons relate to external factors the crucial resistance to change is at the level of the individual. In order for the individual to change, their way of thinking about the factor needs to be addressed. Too much pressure however can make an individual more resistant to change (Broome, 1998). Too many stressors will decrease the level of performance (Broome, 1998). An example of a successful change implementation emphasised the importance of communication at this stage in the change process (Kassean, 2005). Once the individual accepts the reasons for the change rather than just that change is necessary they can make the change, then further freezing in the new position effects the change. Ethical and legal considerations Midwives must be accountable for the actions and they have a duty of care to be up to date with their training. There are fitness to practice issues inherent here. Dimond (2006) describes the outcomes of some recent legal cases concerning interdisciplinary communication and management of obstetric emergencies. Evidence of team working and adherence to appropriate guidelines will help in the defence of such problems. The process of drills and further training and repeat drills will help to create a learning culture (Garcarz, 2003). Burke (2003) compares their own study of the effectiveness and the subsequent changes in practice following drills to large awards where delivery was less timely than in their drills. Evaluation Feedback will be obtained in a variety of formats including questionnaires and in reflective practice interviews. This will enable qualitative data to be obtained and analysed. Quantitative data will be obtained and statistically analysed. This evidence will be used to evaluate just how effective the drills and the associated training are in improving clinical practice and team working in the simulation environment. Informal feedback will be acquired from discussion in team meetings of those involved in the drills as trainers and trainees. Such feedback will be helpful in assessing problems not identified elsewhere and will also be illustrative of the real barriers to change and how these might be addressed. 4.  Conclusion The introduction of obstetric drills is mandatory for CNST level 2 and is also recommended practice from a number of other bodies. There is evidence in the literature that such drills can be introduced in a manner which is accepted by participants and which is effective in the subsequent improvement of performance criteria. 5.  References Broome A 1998 Managing Change 2nd Edition. Basingstoke, Macmillan Burke C 2003 Scenario training: how we do it and the lessons we have learned. Clinical risk 9 103-6 CEMACH [WWW] http://www.cemach.org.uk/publications/WMD2000_2002/wmd-intro.htm accessed 23 April 2006-04-23 Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts Maternity Clinical Risk Management Standards April 2005 http://www.nhsla.com/NR/rdonlyres/EE1F7C66-A172-4F0C-8A36-7FCCD31A52A0/0/CNSTMaternityStandardsApril2005final.pdf accessed on 23 April 2006 Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts CNST [WWW] Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom 1999 Why mothers die. London: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Department of Health 2000 An organisation with a memory. Report of an expert group on learning from adverse events in the NHS, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer. London: Stationery Office Dimond B 2006 Legal Aspects of Midwifery, 3rd edition. Butterworth-Heinneman, UK Garcarz W Chambers R Ellis S 2003 Make your healthcare organisation a learning organisation. Radcliffe. Oxford Kassean HK Jagoo ZB 2005 Managing change in the nursing handover from traditional to bedside handover – a case study from Mauritius BMC Nursing 2005, 4:1 1472-6955 Lewin K 1951 Field Theory in Social Science. New York: Harper and Row Roberts K Ludvigsen C Project management for health care professionals Butterworth Heineman Oxford Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 1999 Towards safer childbirth. London; RCOG Thompson S Neal S Clark V 2004 Clinical risk management in obstetrics: eclampsia drills BMJ328:269-271

Response to Davidsons Africa in History :: World History

Response to Davidson's Africa in History Africa, steeped in history, is often known as the "cradle of civilization." Civilization was most greatly nurtured during the Pleistocene era. The history pre-, proto-, and fully human unfolds mostly during the Pleistocene era. Stone tools caused an increase in population throughout Africa because of knowledge of fire, knowing how to carry burdens and live in caves (9). Around 10,000 B.C., Neanderthals, last of the hominids, disappeared and home sapiens took over (9,10). Between 5500 and 2500 B.C. there was a Makalian 'wet phase' where there was a great mixing of people, plenty of fish, wildlife and trees. The author seems to believe in the authenticity of early African history. He dismisses the "Hamitic hypothesis" as "great nonsense" (ll,l2). The "Hamitic hypothesis" stated that the Hamites (Caucasians) were responsible for any process in history identifiable in Africa. The hypothesis stated that Negroes were too primitive to embark on any such processes of history (l2). >P> The first great civilization of Africa took place in Egypt. Egyptians started 3round the delta and were part of the Saharan Sudanese culture (l5). They became strong because they knew when the Nile River floods were coming and could cultivate their land with rich soil (13). The Egyptians built many notable stone monuments and created a pharaonic monarchy. For many centuries they were supreme military fighters and ruled Northern Africa through the Old, Middle and Late Kingdoms. During the Late Kingdom Egypt came under attack by the Kushites (33). Egyptians weren't able to defend themselves well in part because of lack of iron tools. Egyptians did not see iron as significant military weapons. Iron was seen as curiosity pieces for the pharaohs (37). Consequently, Kushites briefly became the dominant power in Africa. Quite often scholars argued that the Egyptians of the Pharaonic Age were not black. This is an argument that the author argues "as little tenable as saying Serbers and Ethiopians weren't Negro" (25,26). My opinion is that scholars would not care if the Egyptians were black if they weren't such an important civilization. Africa produced many significant civilizations such as the Egyptian, Songhay, Mali and Ethiopian but would see the fruits of labor manipulated and tortured during the Atlantic slave trade. Slavery marks one of the worst but important tragedies that beset my ancestors. The Atlantic Trade consisted mainly of slaves, firearms, gold, spices and indigo.

Behavioural Finance Essay

Hypothesis and the extent to which they can be explained by behavioural finance theories Finance that is based on rational and logical theories, such as the  capital asset pricing model  (CAPM) and the efficient market hypothesis (EMH). These theories assume that people, for the most part, behave rationally and predictably. The Efficient market hypothesis assumes that financial markets incorporate all public information and assets that share prices reflect all relevant to the firm information (Fama, 1970). Relevant information includes past information, publicly available information and private information. Efficient market is divided into three categories. Weak form efficiency is when stock prices reflect only the past information, semi-strong form is when past information and all publicly available information is reflected and strong form is when all the past, publicly available and information only available to company insiders is reflected on the stock prices. However, there are some anomalies and behaviors that couldn’t be explained by EMH. Market participants often behaved very unpredictably. However there is a new study called behavioral finance that is trying to explain all these anomalies. Behavioral finance studies the irrational behavior of the investors. Weber (1999) makes the following observation: ‘Behavioral Finance closely combines individual behavior and market phenomena and uses the knowledge taken from both the psychological field and financial theory’. Behavioral finance attempts to identify the behavioral biases commonly exhibited by investors and also provides strategies to overcome them. Some of the main problems with EMH may be cause by heuristic responses to new information, psychological anchors, overconfidence, social fads, framing and regret avoidance and herd behavior. Overconfidence: According to Nevins (2004), overconfidence suggests that investors overestimate their ability to predict market events, and because of their overconfidence they often take risks without receiving commensurate returns. Odean (1998) finds that investors tend to overestimate their ability, unrealistically optimistic about future events, too positive on self-evaluations, over-weight attention getting information that is consistent with their existing beliefs, and over-estimate the precision of their own private information. Overconfidence about private signals causes overreaction and hence phenomena like the book/market effect and long-run reversals whereas self-attribution maintains overconfidence and allows prices to continue to overreact, creating momentum. In the longer-run there is reversal as prices revert to fundamentals. Psychological Anchors, Overreaction: Good news should raise a business’ share price accordingly, and that gain in share price should not decline if no new information has been released since. Reality, however, tends to contradict this theory. Oftentimes, participants in the stock market predictably overreact to new information, creating a larger-than-appropriate effect on a security’s price. Furthermore, it also appears that this price surge is not a permanent trend – although the price change is usually sudden and sizable, the surge erodes over time. Heuristic responses to new information: Availability heuristic is used to evaluate the frequency or likelihood of an event on the basis of how quickly instances or associations come to mind. When examples or associations are easily brought to mind, this fact leads to an overestimation of the frequency or likelihood of this event. Example: People are overestimating the divorce rate if they can quickly find examples of divorced friends. People tend to be biased by information that is easier to recall. They are swayed by information that is vivid, well-publicized, or recent. People also tend to be biased by examples that they can easily retrieve. ( Tversky and Kahneman, 1974) Confirmation bias  is a cognitive bias whereby one tends to notice and look for information that confirms one’s existing beliefs, whilst ignoring anything that contradicts those beliefs. It is a type of selective thinking. The reason for overconfidence may also have to do with hindsight bias, a tendency to think that one would have known actual events were coming before they happened, had one been present then or had reason to pay attention. Hindsight bias encourages a view of the world as more predictable than it really is (Shiller, 2000). This is the characteristic of investors, when looking back, seeing events that took place in the past as having been more predictable than they seemed before they happened. Likewise, things that didn’t happen seem, with hindsight, much less likely to have happened than they did beforehand. Self-attribution bias occurs when people attribute successful outcomes to their own skill but blame unsuccessful outcomes on bad luck (Shefrin, 1999). Availability bias is the availability deviation is a general rule or a mental shortcut which lets people guess the probability of a result and to what percent it may appear in their daily life. Those who commit such a deviation consider the easily recalled events more probable than those they can hardly imagine or perceive. Availability bias declares the person’s tendency toward deciding and judging based on available and easily accessible data (Tversky and Kahneman, 1982). Herd behavior which is the tendency for individuals to mimic the actions (rational or irrational) of a larger group. Blackmore (1991) states ‘Within an hour of birth , humans engage in imitation’. There are a couple of reasons why herd behavior happens. It’s unlikely that a large group could be wrong. After all, even if you are convinced that a particular idea or course or action is irrational or incorrect, you might still follow the herd, believing they know something that you don’t. Recency bias is the tendency for people to place greater importance on more recent data or experience. This is the problem of putting too much weight on current events or data and not enough weight on past, historic trends. Many investors expect the market to continue rising in a current bull market; likewise, these same investors often expect a current bear market to get worse. Recency is shown in momentum investing when investors buy â€Å"hot† stocks simply on the basis of their recent strong performance. Kahneman and Tversky (1973) find that people usually forecast future uncertain events by focusing on recent history and pay less attention to the possibility that such short history could be generated by chance. It is believed the net effect of the gains and losses involved with each choice are combined to present an overall evaluation of whether a choice is desirable. However, research has found that we don’t actually process information in such a rational way. In 1979, Kahneman and Tversky presented an idea called  prospect theory, which contends that people value gains and losses differently, and, as such, will base decisions on perceived gains rather than perceived losses. Thus, if a person were given two equal choices, one expressed in terms of possible gains and the other in possible losses, people would choose the former – even when they achieve the same economic end result. Regret avoidance is the tendency to avoid actions that could create discomfort over prior decisions, even though those actions may be in the individual’s best interest. Researchers have argued that one of the reasons that investors are reluctant to sell losing positions is because to do so is to admit a bad decision. This reluctance can be linked to both regret avoidance and belief perseverance. To avoid the stress associated with admitting a mistake, the investor holds onto the losing position and hopes for a recovery. According to prospect theory, losses have more emotional impact than an equivalent amount of gains. Prospect theory also explains the occurrence of the disposition effect, which is the tendency for investors to hold on to losing stocks for too long and sell winning stocks too soon. The most logical course of action would be to hold on to winning stocks in order to further gains and to sell losing stocks in order to prevent escalating losses. The flip side of the coin is investors that hold on to losing stocks for too long. Investors are willing to assume a higher level of risk in order to avoid the negative utility of a prospective loss. Unfortunately, many of the losing stocks never recover, and the losses incurred continued to mount, with often disastrous results. The January-Effect is where the average monthly return for small firms is consistently higher in January than any other month of the year; in the UK this is observed in April. This contradicts with EMH, as EMH predicts that stocks should move at a random walk. January returns are greatest due to yearend tax loss selling of shares disproportionally (Branch 1977). Another anomaly of this type is the Weekend-Effect, where Fama (1980) found that returns on Mondays tend to be negative if compared to any other week day, but this has disappeared in the UK by the 1990s. Some theories that explain the effect attribute the tendency for companies to release bad news on Friday after the markets close to depressed stock prices on Monday. Others state that the  weekend effect might be linked to short selling, which would affect stocks with high short interest positions. Alternatively, the effect could simply be a result of traders’ fading optimism between Friday and Monday. Index effect is a phenomenon where the addition to, or deletion from, a stock index causes a change in the price, trading volume, volatility or operating performance of the stock concerned. A stock entering an index will automatically receive increased demand from institutional investors – principally index tracker funds and exchange trade funds (ETFs) – while a deleted stock will experience reduced demand. The fact that a stock jumps in value upon inclusion is once again clear evidence of mispricing: the price of the share changes even though its fundamental value does not. Another anomaly is P/E effect from CAPM model; portfolios with low P/E ratios outperform those with high. The low price-earnings ratio effect occurs because stocks with low price-earnings ratios are often  undervalued and their prices eventually rise because investors become pessimistic about their returns after a bad series of earning or bad news. A company with high price to earning tends to overvalued (De Bondt and Thaler, 1985). Winner-Loser anomaly De Bondt and Thaler (1985) found that shares which initially earn extreme positive return (winners) or extreme negative returns (losers) experience extended reversals in their performance over long horizons. De Bondt and Thaler (1985) suggested the overreaction hypothesis as an explanation of their result. This hypothesis claims that the market overreacts to information. That is, the market overweights the most recent information and underweights earlier information. However, this phenomenon is reversed when it is recognized that the market’s expectations were indeed an overreaction to the information released. This hypothesis also offers an explanation of the P/E effect. Fama and French (1992) showed that a powerful predictor of returns across securities is the ratio of the book value of the firm’s equity to the market value of equity. After controlling for the size and book-to-market effects, beta seemed to have no power to explain average security returns. One explanation is that investors overreact to growth aspects for growth stocks, and value stocks are therefore undervalued. According to some academics, the ratio of market value to book value itself is a risk measure, and therefore the larger returns generated by low MV/BV stocks are simply a compensation for risk. Low MV/BV stocks are often those in some financial distress. All of these anomalies may be explained by behavioral finance. Behavioural finance is the study of the influence of psychology on the behavior of financial practitioners and the subsequent effect on markets. Behavioural finance is of interest because it helps explain why and how markets might be inefficient. There are series of  behavioural biases  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ strange twists in human nature that cause us to act irrationally and against our own interests. On the other hand all of these anomalies may instead be an artifact of data mining. After all, if one reruns the computer database of past returns over and over and examines stock returns along enough dimensions, simple chance will cause some criteria to appear to predict returns. May be this is why some anomalies appear to be lost at some point of time e. g. the weekend effect during the 90s.