Codes of Conduct in the Workplace

Implicit rules in the Workplace Theme: CODE OF CONDUCT Gathering MEMBERS NAMES: PATRICIA MELANET KONAYE NDUNAT JASE NAUDET CUMANI NAKOT ABONGILE MKEFAT THEOPHILLUS MGWADLEKAT DEVON MARTINT A set of principles is a lot of rules explaining the obligations of an individual, a gathering of individuals or association. Different ideas that are like set of principles are strict laws, moral codes and moral. Implicit rules is otherwise called morals, qualities, gauges or decides of conduct that screen the choices or proportions of an association. It adds to the government assistance of an association and it ensures that it praises every single individual of that association. A set of accepted rules must be manufacture or planned under various offices and enactments (laws) contingent upon the objective or which situation the code lead must be drawn under. It must be affirmed by all individuals from the gathering. It must be marked by the board and be reasonable for all the gathering individuals. It fills in as a pledge on each condition of enactment. Implicit rules must have certain methods that the individuals need to follow. It incorporates rules that are intended to assist experts with conducting business with genuineness and uprightness. A set of principles record may have a synopsis of a strategic estimations of a business or association, and how the individuals should move toward exploitative episodes in the workplace. The set of principles helps the person to perform expertly. It goes about as a hindrance to make it point that individuals don’t cross certain focuses in an association. It causes individual to contribute viably to the errands given. Set of principles have a bit of leeway in it particular with regards to struggle. This implies having a lot of decides that people work agreeing less clashes include. The individuals who disregard or neglect to consent to the set of accepted rules will be dependent upon disciplinary estimates that may incorporate excusal on the off chance that it is settled upon. A code is additionally an instrument to support conversations of morals and to improve how representatives/individuals manage the moral situations, preferences and ill defined situations that are experienced in ordinary work. A code is intended to supplement important guidelines, strategies and rules, not to fill in for them. Sets of accepted rules offer a significant open door for capable associations to make a positive open character for themselves which can prompt an increasingly steady political and administrative condition and an expanded degree of open certainty andtrust among significant bodies electorate and partners. (Standards of Stakeholder Management, The Clarkson Center for Business Ethics, 1999, p. 12.) Sets of accepted rules have been around for a long while. The motivation behind the set of principles is to make a point that the guidelines and measures of a business or association are met. They fill in as a base to convey basic commitments. Indeed, however individuals mistook them for law rules. They catch vision for greatness for people and associations. Codes are not implied for proficient condition no one but; you can discover them at chapel, ideological groups, schools, networks, associations and organizations. There will be there to accentuation commitment to workers and people to make them answerable not to make inconvenience or accuse each other about specific things in a gathering or group. Sets of accepted rules are structured distinctive their can have a negative and positive impact towards the workers or individuals. A previous US Supreme Court Justice, Earl Warren composed â€Å"law skim on an ocean of ethics†. In my own understanding this statement implies everything that worries the law is managed an as per the standards or morals. A decent social and social thought assists with executing set of principles. Set of accepted rules decides financial development and improvement of a specific business or association. The set of principles is endorsed by Island Council that it gives direction to individuals on what norms they should or expected to lead them agreeing. In this way individuals are required to consent to the implicit rules. As per the Pitcairn Island set of accepted rules it’s a need for individuals to go to the gatherings. In the event that they don’t go to legitimization of being missing is required. Individuals must come arranged to the gathering and show up in time. Nolan guideline accentuation that the individuals must go along as indicated by the accompanying angles: benevolence, trustworthiness, destinations, responsibility, receptiveness, genuineness and administration. On the off chance that contention emerges because of conflicts in one of the referenced standards open is increasingly preferred (when encountering strife among individual and open honesty, after a choice is made open uprightness is progressively preferred). (Leader John Mayor.20 October 2011.Comm ittee on Standards in Public Life).[Online].Available:www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/committee_on_Standards_in_Public .[20 Mach 2014]). A few people don’t concur with the implicit rules so implies it has burdens too. Rivals preserve that implicit rules are regularly just lovely, unsurprising and useless words with no commitment. Be that as it may, if the set of accepted rules has been set up together by each individual in the business or association, and it is continually inspected because of changes and new encounters it will have an extraordinary worth. Rivals frequently consider code to be lead just as a creative promoting and open connection instrument. Thought, an existed set of accepted rules exhibits its incentive in emergency conditions as opposed to in a difficult situation free occasions. Representatives or individuals will be the ones who will confront agonizingly understanding as the aftereffect of an unnoticed composed implicit rules. Pundits question that administration truly anticipates that workers or individuals should obey to the moral estimations of its set of accepted rules, in the event that it would mean losing business or decreasing benefits. Maintaining high moral gauges is imperative to remain in a business and keeping up long haul productivity. In this manner the board and the proprietors of the business anticipate that workers should consistently act as indicated by moral standards. It has been suggested that a set of principles isn't in the intrigue business or association. The more the business or association centers to an implicit rules the more prominent the benefit of individuals or representatives to swindle. An industry that has confidence in moral conduct doesn’t require significant investment in rebuffing the individual who disrupted the norm. Every so often it is felt that a set of accepted rules is consoling ridiculous desires, that it is affected talk and otherworldly convictions about what is conceivable in a hard, sensible business world. One principle emergency with a set of accepted rules is that it needs to take abstract guidelines and make them objective. To be sure this is their primary concern to take emotional gauges and make them a typical arrangement of guidelines. An inconvenience of an implicit rules it should be constrained (outcomes) with the end goal for individuals to obey it. Set of accepted rules is ambiguous, what it says isn't what it implies in light of the fact that top administrators decipher it as per chiefs needs. An implicit rules is a company’s proficient conviction of morals ethics, values and fitting conduct for its activity, forced by the pioneers. All together for an implicit rules to work in an association or business it must be adaptable to representatives. Administrators must permit representatives to take an interest in figuring an implicit rules. Set of accepted rules it doesn’t comprise of positive moral standards and it doesn’t give representatives opportunity of decision. I think it’s a smart thought to return to the set of principles from time to time to check whether it’s still on point with what’s going on in the business or association. List of sources http://www.djargoproject.com/lead/2013 - 04-08 [17 March 2014] Morals codes sets of accepted rules as apparatuses for Promoting an Ethical Profession Public Service: Comparative Success Lesson. 2005. Prem, World Bank, Washington DC.1 †76. Driscoll, Dawn-Marie and W. Michael Hoffman, Ethics Matters: How to Implement Values-Driven Management, 2000, p. 77. Standards of Stakeholder Management, The Clarkson Center for Business Ethics, 1999, p. 12. http://www.allbusiness.com/HR/representative improvement worker morals/913929-1.html Louise Balle [20 March 2014] https://www22.verizon.com/about/professions/pdfs/CodeOfConduct.pdf [19 March 2014] http://www.allbusiness.com/proficient logical/bookkeeping charge planning/4500132-1.html [18 March 2014] Www.pwc.co.za. (2008) Code of direct the manner in which we work together. [Online] Available from http:/www.pwc.co.za/en_ZA/za/resources/pdf/pwc-set of accepted rules june-08.pdf. [Accessed: 18 March 2014]. Island Council. 9 November 2011. Implicit rules. 1 †6. Article On Moodle: CRITICISMS OF A CODE OF CONDUCT/ETHICS (UNKNOWN) Implicit rules In our gathering we comprehend an implicit rules as a lot of customary standards and desires that are viewed as authoritative on any individual who is an individual from a specific gathering. Set of principles is decides and guidelines that direct the gathering to a shared objective and appointing the obligations to people for appropriate and successful running of the undertaking given. It’s a concession to rules of conduct by the gathering. In our gathering we anticipate that all the gathering individuals should comply, follow and agree to the implicit rules, if not there will be outcomes confronted. Proclamation of Core Values Manufacture trust and Credibility †the achievement of the gathering relies upon the trust that we procure from one another as a gathering individuals. Duty is significant when working in gatherings, demonstrating trustworthiness, genuineness and reliable. Regard for the individual †regard is significant when working with individuals. Each person in a gathering have the right to be treated with deference and nobility. In the event that we approach each other with deference there will be less clashes. Intercultural Communication †everybody ought to be dealt with similarly, so they can feel good t

Defined free essay sample

Names have force, and I accept that my name is a most impressive aspect concerning me. The motivation behind a name is to characterize and recognize a person or thing, and my name characterizes me surprisingly. My name mirrors my differing Puerto Rican and Irish legacy just as a considerable lot of the characteristics and issues that I have. It mirrors my Irish continuance and constancy that was required for Irish outsiders to be effective in the United States just as my Puerto Rican roots that are not obvious upon first sight. It features my mission to be exceptional and discover similarly invested individuals that I can work with to accomplish what was recently thought inconceivable. I don't ‘look like a Pablo’ yet the complexity between my tasteful qualities and my name’s ethnic ramifications is unessential in light of the fact that my name depicts who I am and have become. This incongruence between my name and appearance has made numerous individuals see me co ntrastingly and has likewise formed my assessment of the world. We will compose a custom article test on Characterized or on the other hand any comparable theme explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page The first occasion when I at any point truly pondered my name and its suggestions was in the fifth grade. I was playing baseball for the nearby Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) group, and I was exiting to my situation at third base to heat up. The different team’s second baseman was heating up in the outfield and asked me what my name was, and I revealed to him that my name was Pablo. I simply recollect him giggling and asking again â€Å"No, what’s your REAL name kid,† as though it was a joke. I have attempted to acknowledge the way that I have blended legacy, and I have at long last come to deal with my personality. My name speaks to the individuals who preceded me and the battles that they have looked to place their relatives at a favorable position in people in the future. In the past I have forgotten about pieces of my name to comply with society before I understood that society needs to fit in with me; they have to acknowledge my legacy and who I am. At the point when I began secondary school, I was submerged in a culture where my skin tone was a minority, as the segment of white understudies is 6%, anyway my Puerto-Rican legacy was not under-spoke to in my new condition. The Catch 22 between my experience and appearance didn't make a difference for once in light of the fact that my name connected me to the way of life around me. I had no compelling reason to depict my family line and safeguard my entitlement to singularity here. I was not seen as the outsider, fair looking kid in a gathering of darker looking understudies, yet as another piece of a working network. I considered my to be as a subsequent home, a spot where my name didn’t cause caused a stir, chuckling, or open mouths, but instead I was acknowledged for my blended legacy. My name and ethnic character will influence me perpetually, by proceeding to portray and characterize me as I venture through life and impact individuals in the manners that I have been aff ected, and I am pleased to state that I am and consistently will be who I am.

Why Its Tough to Keep Friends When You Have ADHD

Why It's Tough to Keep Friends When You Have ADHD ADHD Adult ADD/ADHD Print Reasons Why Its Tough to Keep Friends When You Have ADHD By Keath Low Keath Low, MA, is a therapist and clinical scientist with the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina. She specializes in treatment of ADD/ADHD. Learn about our editorial policy Keath Low Reviewed by Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW on June 19, 2019 facebook twitter instagram Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, author of the bestselling book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Dont Do, and a highly sought-after speaker. Learn about our Wellness Board Amy Morin, LCSW Updated on July 31, 2019 ADHD Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Living With In Children Thomas Barwick / Getty Images Making friends and maintaining friendships can be a struggle for adults with ADHD. Cynthia Hammer, MSW and ADHD coach, provides some insight into social relationships and ADHD, along with tips to help you improve them. Why Friendships Are Hard When You Have ADHD One of the best ways to find happiness in your life is through close friendships. But if you have ADHD, you already know that finding and maintaining these friendships can be a lot harder than it sounds. Hammer says we often get so caught up in our own lives, combined with trying to manage all thats happening, that we often fail to think about others and what we can do for them. Here are some reasons Hammer says ADHD can cause trouble keeping friends: You feel overwhelmed. When were overwhelmed, even thinking about doing just one more thing is one thing too many. If this one more thing is for someone else, it can easily never make it onto our personal radars. You think its not important. We convince ourselves friendships just arent important, or we believe that the opportunity to show a friend that we care about them and that they are important to us comes and goes so often, it doesnt matter if you miss some of them. But friends that dont feel acknowledged and appreciated on a regular basis can often fall to the wayside as they ask themselves, What is there in this relationship for me? You get bored. Some people with ADHD enjoy having friends  but often get bored with them, feeling the need for a break. They find it hard to be consistent in regularly enjoying their company, regularly paying them attention, and providing them with goodwill. You choose interests over people. Sometimes, we allow something else to take precedence over how we spend our time. For example, you might choose to learn to use a new video game over going to a movie with a friend, if that interests you more. Youre inconsistent. Erratic, fickle behavior, such as acting like you want to be with someone one day but then not wanting to see them again for several months is not the way to handle friendships. The person on the receiving end of this kind of friendship might feel used and think you only contact him or her when you have nothing better to do. You have a poor memory. An additional challenge for many with ADHD is a poor memory. What are the names of your best friends three children? Who is due to have a baby? Being told these kinds of personal details and then not referring to them in future conversations presents a huge stumbling block to creating long-term relationships. People want to feel that theyre importantâ€"that their activities and successes and failures are shared and valued by their friends. Friends who consistently say, I dont remember that or I forgot you told me that give the impression that they didnt care enough to remember. You avoid topics that are important to your friends. If you  avoid certain topics because you dont remember key information, youre going to find it hard to build a long-term relationship. When youre unable to share memories and details of your time together, you give the impression that youre not truly interested in your friends and dont value their friendship. 7 Ways to Improve Your Social Relationships According to Hammer, these are steps you can take to improve your friendships: Be aware.  The first step to improved social interactions is to become aware of what youre doing thats harmful. Monitor yourself. Are you actively listening or are you only waiting until you can put in your own two cents? If so, make a commitment, that for the next month, you will focus completely on  being a good listenerâ€"you will  hyperfocus  on this. If you say anything at all, it will be only to ask a simple, short question to clarify or expand what the speaker is saying.Repeat it back.  If youre listening to just one other person, occasionally ask them if you can say back what you heard them say, and then just do it, simply and concisely. Dont add anything. Give them a chance to tell you if youve correctly understood what they said and then let them proceed while you return to your role as the good listener. Practice, practice, practice these skills.Dont interrupt.  Are you interrupting others? Again, awareness is the key. Become aware of yourself in your interactions. If your e interrupting, take steps to stop it. When you feel the urge coming on, take a sip of water, make a note, take a deep breath and hold it for a second, or think, relax. Dont interrupt, and if you do, immediately recognize it, apologize for interrupting, and encourage the speaker to go on.Stick to the topic at hand.  If you have a tendency to change the subject and go off on an unrelated tangent, become aware and stop yourself. People dont appreciate it and wont view you kindly.Decide how much you value your friendships.  For the bigger problemsâ€"not paying enough attention and consistent attention to your friendsâ€"reflect on how much you want to improve your relationships. How much do you value having good friendships and what are you willing to do to get and maintain them? Good friendships dont just happen. They take nurturing and care. Are you willing to do what is necessary? Will you make good friendships and relationships a priority? When you have the choice between learning a bout your new computer and going to a movie with a friend, will you put a higher value on going to the movie because of the long-term payoff? The choice is yours.Put the pieces in  place for nurturing your relationships. When youre talking with a friend, make your plans for the next time youll get together, commit to it, and get it on your calendar. Learn to use a computer-based program that will remind you of important dates like birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Get all the contact information for each of your friends recorded. Buy assorted cards and stamps to have on hand so you can easily remember birthdays and anniversaries. When shopping, pick up some items you can use as unexpected gifts for your friends. Or buy tickets to some activity and ask them to go with you.Let your friends know how much they mean to you.  Purposely tell them how much you appreciate their friendship, how much you enjoy the time you spend together, and how much you look forward to getting together in the f uture. Dont let too much time go by without being in touch with those whose friendship you value the most. Tips for Dealing With Poor Memory Its one of the hardest challenges listed here, and unfortunately, poor memory isnt going to go away, says Hammer. Here are her strategies to minimize the impact: Make notes on your friendsâ€"including their likes and dislikes, their interests, their important relationships, and activitiesâ€"and review them before your next get-together.Subscribe to a service that will send birthday cards and other important events for you. You can set it up for the whole year at one time.Write down names of anyone new you meet and review them occasionally.Prepare before meeting with someone you havent seen for a while. Ask about what you know is important to them and whats going on in their lives. Demonstrate that you remember important details of things they have told you. A Word From Verywell People with ADHD have so much to contribute to relationshipsâ€"enthusiasm, creativity, energy, humor, and more. Dont keep those amazing traits from others by not giving them the chance to know you better. By learning and practicing simple techniques for healthy social interactions, you will be on your way to a bounty of good relationships and an ever-ready supply of meaningful friendships.

A Characterization of Revenge in Literature - 1524 Words

Revenge is a centerpiece of most conflicts within literature. In The Oresteia, All the King’s Men, and The Aeneid, there are three modes through which revenge can be exacted: premeditated dishonorable revenge, premeditated honorable revenge, and unplanned agitated revenge. These sometimes violent acts of emotion can reveal the purpose of a character as well as the role the character plays in either developing or resolving the many conflicts present within his story. Characters who exact revenge upon others purposefully and dishonorably are typically antagonists who create new conflicts through their actions. In Agamemnon, when Clytemnestra â€Å"coil[s] [Agamemnon] round and round in†¦ the robes of doom, and then†¦ strike[s] him†¦ twice,† she successfully takes revenge upon her husband for slaughtering their daughter, Iphigenia, to Artemis in order to sail towards Troy (Agamemnon 1403-1405). However, Agamemnon is still considered innocent as â€Å"he acts as he does because Zeus has taken away his wits† by ordering Agamemnon to vanquish the Trojans; Agamemnon kills his daughter simply to follow Zeus’s orders (Lloyd-Jones 197). Thus, when Clytemnestra kills this innocent man, she is performing a dishonorable act of murder, creating a conflict between the queen and two of her children, Orestes and Electra. Another character who takes revenge in a premeditated dishonorable fashion in Tiny Duffy, the Lieutenant Go vernor of Louisiana in All the King’s Men, who told Adam about Willie Talos’sShow MoreRelatedNatural Consequences In William Blakes A Poison Tree1019 Words   |  5 Pageswas Montresors well deserved revenge. Poe and Blake use characterization to demonstrate natural consequence in response to despicable action. 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Stock characters that were typically present in Gothic literature were the social outcast, the misfit, the guilt haunted wanderer, and the solitary eccentric. However, earlier Gothic literature was considered primitive and mechanical – trite andRead MoreDramatic Irony Used for Characterization in Othello by Shakespeare713 Words   |  3 Pagesspecifically puts his readers at the edge of their seats. Being full of jealousy and betrayal, the plot of Othello is guided by this playwright’s usage of dramatic irony. Through the use of dramatic i rony and characterization Shakespeare creates Iago, the most sinister character in all of literature. William Shakespeare, being born on April 23, 1563, was subject to an early renaissance education. With new ideals, such as humanism, spreading throughout Europe during this time it was inevitableRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Poe1402 Words   |  6 Pagesthe following: characterization, irony and symbolism. Irony is when expressions are used although given contrary meaning from which they generally stand for while symbolism involve utilization of signs to put forward thoughts by giving them meaning. Poe uses Montresor and Fortunato as main characters in the story, Montresor is manipulative. He is vengeful and manipulates with divine indirectness (Graham 85. While Fortunato who is Montresor’s wealthy enemy whom he intends to revenge upon. In briefRead MoreTheme Of Love In Wuthering Heights786 Words   |  4 Pagesand revenge that he plans to deliver through actions in the novel to all who have wronged him, majority focusing his hatred and exerting his powe r toward Hareton. â€Å"I know what he suffers now, for instance, exactly; it is merely the beginning of what he shall suffer, though. And he’ll never be able to emerge from his bathos of coarseness and ignorance† (Bronte 216). 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Sports - Japanese Vocabulary

Ethnographic Study Bikram Yoga Free Essays

This ethnographic study of the history, rent state and proposed health benefits as understood to be alternative health care of Buckram yoga will consider bibliographic research and will include a first-hand account as well as Informal interviews. Buckram Chuddar was born in Calcutta, India in 1946. He started to learn yoga poses and theory as young as three years old. We will write a custom essay sample on Ethnographic Study: Bikram Yoga or any similar topic only for you Order Now At the age of five Chuddar began to work with Guru Vishnu Gosh who happened to teach children next door to Shuddery home. It was Gosh who encouraged him to compete In the National India Yoga Championship. Chuddar went on to win the championship three institutive years starting at age eleven, making him the youngest champion. At the age of twenty, however, Shuddery knee was crushed by an eighty pound weight dropped by his weight lifting spotter, Western medicine told him that he would be crippled for the duration of his life. Chuddar was reluctant to accept this reality and decided to better the condition of his knee with yoga under the supervision of Gosh. It is claimed that he was able to walk and was fully recovered from this life- altering Injury in Just six to eight months (Slicked, 2003). This miraculous recovery as Coauthor’s Inspiration to dedicate his life to the practice and spread of yoga. Gosh taught Chuddar a more traditional Hath yoga â€Å"picking specific saunas [or postures] for specific ailments,† (Slicked, 2003). From these teachings, Chuddar chose twenty-six poses meant to be completed twice over, punctuated by a savanna, or corpse pose which acts like a rest period, along with two breathing exercises to be completed in the span of ninety minutes. Each pose is designed to work certain areas of the body such as the spine, knees, digestion system and immune system. This sequence is also designed to be performed in a humid room heated to 105 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit; this Is meant to mimic Indians climate, facilitate a deeper range of motion for the yogi and help prevent injury (Slicked, 2003). Chuddar made a name for himself in Japan prior to bringing his brand of yoga to the United States but the first American Buckram yoga studio was established in California In 1973 after trading yoga treatment for a green card into the country with President Richard Nixon (Gala, 2009). While ;yoga In America was Initially popularized amongst the elites and has been associated with movie stars and intellectuals since 1 OFF blood pressure and lengthened one’s life span that practice became fashionable amongst the general public,† (Gala, 2009). Since then, yoga in general has moved from being more or less a past time to being part of a fitness, health and wellness program amongst many types of people. Those practicing western medicine often see yoga as a benefit in the sense that it is a cardiovascular activity, it is considered relaxing by most and will burn calories that might not have been burned otherwise in patients ho might be overweight and reliant on medications. Whether or not yoga can live up to its vast health claims in Western medicine standards has yet to be determined. Even still, Buckram yoga’s popularity through celebrity status or otherwise has made it a billion dollar industry with Chuddar himself collecting 2. 6 million dollars in 2003 from teacher training alone (Gala, 2009). Shuddery extensive unabashed wealth and endorsement of competitiveness in what is typically considered to be a spiritual pursuit has brought about a certain amount of controversy but has not dampened he interest in the yoga itself. People everywhere continue to believe in its abilities to heal, ward off ailments and keep the body trim and healthy. When I walk into my Buckram yoga studio in Phoenix I am immediately greeted by a cheerful woman dressed in yoga clothes passing out class schedules to those who just finished a class from behind a desk. I sign my name and remove my shoes at the door. The main room includes a large refrigerator should you want to purchase a water bottle, racks of mats and towels that can be borrowed and large, luxurious ouches where people sit to await the next class. The locker room around the corner is equipped with an open shelving unit to place your personal belongings, a shower, a restroom and separate sink unit with a large mirror, towels, decorative soaps, etc. All around, this facility is very well maintained and seems to go out of its way to provide comforts and niceties to its patrons. The locker room provides a place for friends to talk to one another but most stifle conversation in the main room. In the locker room I ask my fellow Buckram followers why they chose to incorporate Buckram yoga into their lives. A woman who appeared to be in mid-thirties explained: â€Å"l read that this yoga is the best out there because the heat helps you push out all your toxins, you know, because you sweat so much. I also read that you burn Just a ton of calories which is good because I don’t have all the time in the world to spend at the gym. Another, who appeared to be in her twenties and in good physical shape, told her story: â€Å"I was always really active and played mostly soccer but I tore my CAL a couple years ago and I can’t do all the things I used o. A friend of mine, kind of a granola girl, brought me here and I have been coming ever since! I always feel like I had a really good workout but I don’t feel like I’m stressing any part of my body too much. † In asking a woman who let me know that she was sixty-five why she considered Buckram yoga to be a benefit to her she said: â€Å"My doctor suggested I try to be more physically active but I’m not the girl I used to be†¦ ‘m not able to do much really and I’m unwilling to subject myself to water aerobics. He [the doctor] is concerned about my blood pressure and my stiffening mints. When he told me about Buckram yoga I about died right there imagining doing something like this in that kind of heat! But I gave it a go, of course I have to bring in a stool to help me balance and I don’t do every pose, but I think it’s helping. I feel a different take on Buckram yoga from the physical payoffs: â€Å"I’m a new mom and my maternity leave ended a few weeks ago. Vive been practicing yoga for years but I like Buckram the best right now. There’s no top 40 music playing in the background, everyone who is here wants to be here for Just this- not to be seen wearing a cute roust outfit and it’s Just all about you for an hour and a half. You stare at yourself in the mirror and you hear the instructor but really you Just hear your own breathing. I feel more centered when I leave here. † When I enter the classroom I am immediately overwhelmed by the humidity. Being from Phoenix, Arizona I am no stranger to heat but in this classroom the air is thick and Just bordering on difficult to breathe for me. The lights are low and there are already students lying on their back in savanna position. No one speaks in the room as it assumed to be a peaceful place f meditation. Class begins when the instructor turns the lights on and introduces herself. The instructor makes a point of asking if there is anyone in the room new to Buckram yoga, congratulates them for coming and reminds them to stay in the room, lie on their mats if need be and to have fun. We go through all twenty-six poses, including the breathing exercises, with her dispensing instruction as we ease into each new movement. She also reminds us all to focus on our gaze in the mirror and that our bodies our stronger than our minds are at times so getting through class will quire determination on our parts. For safety reasons students are allowed to drink water as they please but it is discouraged to drink outside of the designated times and while the class in the midst of a pose. However, once the class is finished you can observe the majority of people gulping water hurriedly before getting into the final savanna which concludes the sequence and allows time for personal meditation. While I lay in silence I find myself agreeing with the major points my interviewees offered: Buckram yoga is a tough but gentle workout for people of all levels and remotes a sense of personal well-being and calm that very few workouts I have tried do. This, however, was Buckram Shuddery aim all along. He believes that if you practice this yoga to the best of your abilities you will â€Å"live a better, healthier and more peaceful life,† (Chuddar, 2010). For Chuddar, physical health and mental peace must coincide for one cannot exist without the other. Martin Marty discusses the importance of recognizing that spirituality and physical health are indeed intertwined in his essay Religion and Healing: The Four Expectations. This essay souses more so on faith in the religious sense but for many yoga offers a very spiritual connection to a force that has the power to heal, bring calm and bring like- minded people together to form a sense of community. Marty reminds us that â€Å"in a typical half year of American publishing†¦ Hundreds of†¦ New Age titles on health and well-being appeared†¦ Imaging, breathing, meditation, herbalist, and hypnosis are but a few of the many technique for being in tune with the infinite,† (Marty, 2005). It can be safely assumed that yoga could be added to that list in which ways people reach out spiritually. Harold Koenig writes in Afterward: A Physician’s Reflections that we need be focused on healing the â€Å"whole human person,† (Koenig, 2005). How to cite Ethnographic Study: Bikram Yoga, Papers

Strategic Management and Marketing (Business proposal)

Question: Discuss the understanding of the developmental processes of strategic marketing management (Kaplan and Atkinson 2015). Answer: Project scope The project work would provide essential insight into the ideologies of the strategic marketing management. It would also provide an understanding of the developmental processes of strategic marketing management (Kaplan and Atkinson 2015). The project emphasizes on the implementation of technology to develop a transformational; program in order to establish a revised, sustainable and innovative model for tourist information provision in collaboration with the City Council, the Manchester Visitor Economy Forum and tourism business. The project focuses on providing ideas to generate revenue in order to transform the business organization into a sustainable outfit. Moreover, the project work will also inspire people to visit Greater Manchester. Situation and Background The main purpose and aim of the strategic management is to analyze the organizational goal and provide a solution in achieving the desired targets. Moreover, the strategic management is also responsible for ensuring that the organization is standing in a sustainable position. Apart from this, the strategies that are implemented by the management provide the stepping-stone for making proper managerial decisions (Fawcett et al. 2014). On the other hand, marketing is considered as the primary philosophy that provides business growth, business outlook, and prosperity to an organization (Srensen 2012). However, the concept of marketing holds various assorted models that offer value, brand identification, and promotion for a particular organization. The core and underlying concepts of marketing are focused on analyzing customer's demands, needs, and values. Based on these aspects the marketing aspect provides shape to the organization by exchanging communication and relationship with the customers and other stakeholders. Side-by-side, the marketing policy of an organization, is focused on building up direction and install business scope for the company considering its long-term sustainability. The marketing strategy provides an organization with a competitive advantage in the market. On the other hand, the organization needs to cope up and apply all of its available resources so that it can meet the expectation of its stakeholders. This is the basic concept of strategic marketing management, which is implemented by most of the organization to sustain its supremacy in the business market (Hill, Jones and Schilling 2014). Based on all these viewpoints the strategic management team of an organization is focused on developing various strategies to deal with major market competitors. The strategies also help the organization to identify the market opportunities so that they can successfully commercialize their product and services. Side-by-side the strategic and marketing management professionals are also focused on allocating and recruiting valuable work resources in order to design a proper organizational structure (Ross 2013). This helps the company in acquiring notable performers and achievers that play a significant role in providing success to the organization in the long run. However, the marketing and strategic management team need to align the cost position, pricing policy of the organization with the trust, expectation, and demands of the customer, competitors, suppliers and other stakeholders to extract out the best possible result. The strategic management includes three primary stages that are implemented in the organization to analyze the overall scenario. Firstly, the management team is required to run an internal and external analysis of the company (Taghizadeh et al. 2013). For the external analysis porter's five forces management tool is considered the best out of the lot. On the other hand, SWOT analysis is considered as the best tool to run the internal analysis of the company. The internal analysis of the company helps the management team to understand the marketing, operations, management and financial components of the business. The third and final step of the analysis is focused on providing a strategic posture to the company and provides proper market strategies to the enterprise in order to increase the popularity and brand value. This is where the marketing plan is devised which meets the needs of the external and internal environment but also fits the strategy of the organization (Freeman 2010). Theoretical approach Figure 1: Theoretical framework showing the strategic implementation process Source: Created by Author Research approach Two types of research methods, which mainly influence the depth of a research study, are inductive and deductive approaches. It is often observed that the deductive research approach focuses in a waterfall approach, which moves from a general viewpoint and thereby attains a complex perspective. This is done by formulating quantitative research study. Apart from the deductive research study, the inductive research study focuses on developing building approaches, which follows the specific concept to general approach (Wang et al. 2012). In this research study, the researcher is required to highlight the underpinning theories along with the concept of academic literature to test efficiently the experimental data which are obtained by interacting with the subjects of the context. The research is found to be associated with scientific protocol to test theories based on the primary empirical data. The Deductive Research Approach focuses on a waterfall theory, which tends to move from a general perspective of the topic to a specific approach. This streamlined approach formulates an extensive knowledge gaining procedure through simplified data testing approaches. This method is effectively followed in both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. On the other hand, the inductive approach targets in deducing a general topic from a set of complex and specific approach model (Bryman and Bell 2015). In this research study, the researchers are aimed to underpin the reviews obtained from various people. The reviews will be effectively tested against the obtained empirical data. This is accomplished by interacting with the research subjects efficiently and in a detailed manner. Hence, a deductive research study is selected for this current topic, which would be effective to deduce relevant analysis (Bourletidis 2013). Figure 2: Different stages of deductive research approach Source: Created by Author References Bourletidis, K., 2013. The strategic management of market information to SMEs during economic crisis.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,73, pp.598-606. Bryman, A. and Bell, E., 2015.Business research methods. Oxford University Press, USA. Fawcett, S.E., Ellram, L.M. and Ogden, J.A., 2014.Supply chain management: from vision to implementation. London: Pearson. Freeman, R.E., 2010.Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Cambridge University Press. Hill, C., Jones, G. and Schilling, M., 2014.Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Cengage Learning. Kaplan, R.S. and Atkinson, A.A., 2015.Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning. Ross, D.F., 2013.Competing through supply chain management: creating market-winning strategies through supply chain partnerships. Springer Science Business Media. Srensen, H.E., 2012.Business Development: a market-oriented perspective. John Wiley Sons Ltd. Taghizadeh, S.K., Jayaraman, K., Ismail, I. and Iranmanesh, M., 2013. Service Innovation Management on Market Performance through Relevancy of Market conditions: Guide to Telecommunications Industry, Malaysia.Australian Journal of Basic Applied Sciences,7(4), pp.241-252. Wang, C.H., Chen, K.Y. and Chen, S.C., 2012. Total quality management, market orientation and hotel performance: The moderating effects of external environmental factors.International Journal of Hospitality Management,31(1), pp.119-129.

Goals and Achievements of Impressionism

The name impressionism basically attempts to help people understand the work and achievements of impressionist painters. This artistic approach was more prevalent in the 1870s and 1880s.The painters applying impressionism intended to focus the direct impressions of color and light that a person sees and feels when interacting with the environment (Cunningham Reich, 2010). The ideal themes originated from sunlight, water reflections, mist and fog among many others.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Goals and Achievements of Impressionism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this art the artists were less concerned with the emotional reactions of the viewers but focused more on visual and intellectual responses. Their artworks were very significant but the most memorable of all events is when the reformation of painting process was done. During this event, painters went out of their studios to the open air to constru ct and paint nature from direct watching. These artists had various goals and made a number of achievements which will be discussed in the following paragraphs. There were a variety of artworks that were developed by different artists, originating from a diverse scope of the artists’ perception. One of the great artists was a Frenchman called Claude Monet whose artwork mainly involved painting. Most of his paintings illustrated his assets in Giverny, where he lived. Monet would paint one item that was replicated in so many other ways with an aim of depicting a diverse effect of aspects such as light and atmosphere. Initially, Monet concentrated on paintings that were related to industrialization, famous recreational sites and people. Later on he switched to artwork that revolved around landscapes whereby he focused on the aesthetic character of light and the abundance of nature. One of his renowned paintings is referred to as the ‘painting by the Seine river sideâ€℠¢ featuring Vetheuil, Lavacourt, and Poissy (Reich, et al, 2009). This piece of artwork came up due to the great interest that Monet had on the way the waters of Seine River appeared. He was really intrigued by the transparency waters and how it reflected light. Monet had stayed by the river side for quiet some time hence he was able to learn the appearance and relate with it. The time spend made him have a complete view of the image that he wanted to paint. The painting was mainly intended to show the beauty that various aspect of nature brings to the eyes of man when integrated. Such an artifact still holds a lot of significance to this date (Klein Monet, 2006). The view of this painting brings a person into terms with nature which is very difficult to happen in the direct observation of the environment. It also helps people to see the importance of conserving the nature’s freely given beauty since it contributes a lot to the livelihood of human beings and other habitants. Such artificacts should be passed from one generation to the other so as to make sure that each generation is able to see the importance of conserving the nature with the aim of maintaining its beauty.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In conclusion, it can be clearly seen that many of the artistic works that were prepared by various artists hold a lot of meaning even to this date since most of the works were related to the things that were so familiar and touched the lives of the natural habitat. It is therefore very important to uphold the significance of every single depiction that these artworks try to portray. Every item should possibly be preserved in its original state so as to maintain the same information that was initially intended by the artist, thus impressionism. References Cunningham, L. Reich, J. (2010). Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities, Vol. II, With Readings (7th ed.). Boston: Wadsworth/Cengage. Reich, J, Cunningham, S Lawrence. (2009). Culture Values, Volume II: A Survey of the Humanities with Readings [With Access Code], Volume 2 of Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities, 7th ed., New York: Cengage Learning. Print. Klein, A, Monet, C. (2006). Claude Monet, Great artists, Adam G. Klein, Chicago: ABDO. This essay on Goals and Achievements of Impressionism was written and submitted by user Frankie G. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

E,; Epweee Essay

E,; Epweee Essay E,; Epweee Essay 175 Longstreet Dr. Wilmington, North Carolina 28412 January 4, 2013 New Hanover High School 1307 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina 28401 Dear Reader: As a junior in high school, I have continued be an honor student ever since freshman year. I also feel inclined to maintain the position I currently uphold through my senior year. Subsequent to finishing high school, I plan to go any of the three colleges including UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Greensboro, and East Carolina University. I am aspired to major somewhere between marketing, business and finance. During the time I spent researching Michelle Obama’s nutritional plan and childhood obesity, I have gained a lot of knowledge concerning this generation’s lifestyle health wise. Personally, I researched this project because of my curiosity of why and how people get to be their size besides the obvious. I learned that the cause of obesity in general is not only poor diet and lack in exercise, but that the everlasting advancement technology has one of the main reasons. The process of this research project taught me a lot about time management. Procrastination is a huge factor that as a people, we should really eliminate out of our lives. During the process of this project, I decided to continue the importance and implanted interest within me in further research for my graduation project. Childhood obesity is an issue that, in argument, I would take delight in taking sides with the health smart lifestyle.

Comments on Movies Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Comments on Movies - Article Example This is realized when he requests Kermit to create and advertisement which promotes fried frog legs. Thus, this remains a challenge for Kermit and his friends because every time they preferred resisting the request. Kermit, at the same time have to cope with the passionate feelings for Miss Foggy. There is a lot of homage done to classical films through this appealing children’s adventure. It features casts of Hollywood greats such as Edgar Bergen and Orson Welles. This movie was a great box office success. The song ‘The Rainbow Connection’ of the movie was nominated for the Oscar. Oscar Nominated Shorts-Live-Action Live-action, documentary shorts and animated are three categories during the Oscar program that people knew nothing about. Pentecost (Ireland) is about a dream of an Irish- Peter McDonald, who wants to become a footballer. The sport soccer is a part of everyday life in Ireland. In the starting of the movie, Damien (Scott Graham) is on a suspension at c hurch and grounded at home because he had hit the priest of the church with an incense burner. He is pardoned by the parish when they get to know that the bishop will be visiting. In addition, his father allows him to watch football on TV. Hence, the young lead performs really well throughout the movie. Raju, on the other hand is about a German couple who adopts an Indian boy. The movie is shot in Calcutta. The movie revolves around the quest to find Raju, when he disappears on an outing. Time Freak is a groove of movies on time-travel. A time machine is used by Stillman to travel back to recent events. The Shore (Northern Island) is a story of reconciliation, which is set against past historical events. Tuba, is a clever dark comedy. The star of which is ‘death angel’. It revolves around the track of events of the ‘death angel’, which are lined up when he learns that he has six days to live. We need to talk about Kevin Lynne Ramsay is a British Film maker who has featured this suspenseful and gripping psychological thriller. This movie explores the factious relationship between a mother and her son. Tilta Swindon plays the role of the mother, Eva, in a revitalizing, tour-de-force performance. The mother struggles against her first sons increasing malevolence for 15 years. Ezra Miller plays the role of the first-born child, Kevin. Kevin’s innate evilness is measured against Eva’s own culpability. Hence, exploring the nature vs. nurture debate. It is a thought provoking, fearless and confident movie. The experimental story of the movie is novel based. It is good to see Ramsay back with a bang after such a long time. The kid with a Bike This movie is about a boy who is left in a state run youth farm, abandoned by his father. The kid- Cyril, obsessively searches for his bicycle. The movie is very deep. Cyril places his last bit of hope in the symbol of his relationship with that of his fathers. The town hairdresser agrees t o foster him on weekends, in a random act of kindness. This act surprises the hairdresser to find herself so determined to help Cyril. In this film, the Dardenne brothers explore the emotional life of an 11 year old, who searches for father figures, with his wild and unpredictable behavior. The film’s concern is raised by the behavior of the man, with fathers and sons above the education and poverty issues, compelling to a universal moral plane, which is more interesting. Finally, the Dardenne bro

Contemporary issues in business (DEBENHAMS) Essay

Contemporary issues in business (DEBENHAMS) - Essay Example According to the company reports, it has acquired enhanced market share pertaining to women’s wear along with men’s wear, whereas in relation to children’s wear it has acquired considerably less amount of market share as it stood at the tenth position. The company since 20 years as an open system is investing in British design pertaining to its exclusive designers. In the year 2012, the company had been awarded ‘Multichannel Retail’ award (Debenhams Retail plc, 2001). This report intends to discuss the external drivers of change that lays a greater impact on the company’s operations. Moreover, the probable negative forces to change will also be recognised in the report in keeping with Debenhams present operational environment. 2.0 Today’s Drivers of Change: PESTEL Analysis of Debenhams Retail sector frames an important part of the United Kingdom’s economy. Drivers of change are applied to derive information regarding the companyà ¢â‚¬â„¢s operational activities. These factors remain external but create a major impact on the organisational operations. This segment of the study will focus on the drivers that foster changes within the retail sector of the UK. Moreover, the implications of these drivers result in internal change within Debenhams as well. The demographic scenarios, the influence of globalisation of the current UK industrial sector and the advanced technical changes have laid a major influence on the retail industry as well. 2.1 Political In order to ensure a competitive analysis of Debenhams within the UK, it is necessary to assess the environment within which the company is presently operating. It has been observed that the retailers are greatly affected by one of the decisive drivers of change i.e. the political structure along with trends in numerous ways. The political influence is essentially created on the retail sector by the power exerted by the politicians pertaining to locations. In the UK, these politicians exert power by on the basis of the ‘land-use planning system’. In this context, the mentioned particular system is primarily about the planning developed by the local authorities. In keeping with these particular activities, government has power to intervene in order to provide direction and guidance regarding the development and opportunities along with proposals (IMI, 2010). Moreover, it has been assumed that regulations prevailing within the UK industrial sector focus mainly on training. In this regard, training expenses act as a driving force within the UK retail sector. Therefore, Debenhams needs to comply with training requirements and regulations to operate within the UK sector. In terms of regulations and governmental impact, it can be noted that in the UK, there are certain national policies being framed on skills and education. These particular national policies lay a major impact on the sector related to skills demand along with supply. Availability of

Business analysis of Procter and Gamble

Business analysis of Procter and Gamble William Procter and James Gamble form Procter and Gamble, a partnership in Cincinnati, Ohio, to manufacture and sell candles and soap. He established Procter and Gamble in 1837 in united States of America. The leading maker of household products in the United States, PG operate in nearly 80 countries around the world and markets its nearly 300 brands in more than 160 countries, more than the half of the companys revenue are derived overseas. Among its products, which fall into the main categories like: Fabric care Beauty care Family care Health care Baby care Home care and beverages Are 16 that generate the more than $1 billion in annual revenues, actonel (osteoporosis treatment), Always (feminine protection), Ariel, and also Tide (laundry care), bath room tissues and also crest products, shampoos like Head Shoulder, pampers, Pringles etc. PG provide the branded products and services of superior quality and value that improve the lives of the worlds consumers. As a result consumer will reward us with leadership sales, profit and value creation allowing our people, our shareholders, and the communities which will make the beginning of the marketing of branded products. PG buying Raw materials and converted into the finished goods to sell in the market. PG is a multinational company which was formed in 1837. PG 1837 Launch: Maker of Candles and Soap. Both men had emigrated from the United Kingdom. William Procter had emerged from England in 1832 after his woollens shop in London was destroyed by fire and burglary. The suggestion for the partnership apparently came from their mutual father- in- law. Alexander Norris, who pointed out that Gambles trade, soap making, and Procters trade, candle making, both required use of lye which was made from animal fat and wood ashes. PG is one of the worlds leading suppliers of fast moving customer goods. PG is a well reputed company all around the world which is satisfying its customers by proving fast moving consumer goods. PG is public limited company and also listed on the NYSE. PG has operation nearly about 80 countries around the world and its market is nearly 300 brands in more than 160 countries all over the world. They deal in all kinds of products from animal foodstuff to foods and detergents plus other personal and consumer products, to which it spreads its vast knowledge and resource. PG Corporate Strategies: Growth Strategy: After 1857 the company go into new market and decide to expand and update its facilities. In 1869 the transcontinental railroad linked the two coasts and opened still more markets to PG. In 1875 the company hired its first full-time chemist to work with James Gamble on new products, including a soap that was equal in quality to expensive castile soaps, but which could be produce less expensively. In 1878 PG white soap hit the market and catapulted PG to the forefront of its industry and sales were twice in detergents, personal products and packaged foods. The success of Ivory and the ability of PG to spread its message further through the use of national advertising caused the company to grow rapidly in the 1880s. In 1886 PG opened its new Ivorydale and improve the quality and consistency of PG products. PG soon introduce another successful brand: Lenox soap. Marketed as a heavier-duty product, the yellow soap helped PG reach sales of more than $3 million by 1889. Restructuring Strategy: In 1990 PG restructured its brand management system into a matrix system. PG that year launched a major restructuring effort aimed at making the companys brand name products more price competitive with private label and generic brands, brining products to market faster and improving overall profitability. The program involved severe cost-cutting, including the closure of 30 plants around the world and elimination of 13,000 jobs, or 12 percent of PG total workforce. Category managers became responsible for several brands, making them sensitive to the profit of other PG products in their areas. PG continued to compete against one another, but far less activity. The restructuring also eliminated certain layers of management, quickening the decision making process. PG core businesses were foods, soap, and detergents, toilets etc. Harley Procter develops a new soaps potential. Harley Procter was inspired to rename the soap by Psalm 45, all thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassi a, out of the Ivory places where they have made thee glad. Procter, committed to the excellence of the companys products, had them analyze and improve even before they went to market. This was the origin of PGs superior product development Divestment and Retrenchment: PG invest a lot of money on the advertisement for his product but the return is not enough from the product and they dont capture the large part of the market. So the management of the PG decides that they only focus on their core brands and it ended the 20th century with a strategic plan, later called the Path to Growth that included a focus on the top brands within core sectors and an emphasis on growth within developing countries. PG redirect the money it saved from trade promotion for direct marketing efforts that helped bring coupon and sample programs to targeted groups for brands with narrow customer bases such as Pampers, Clearasil, and Oil of Olay. Branding Strategy: PG launched a shampoo (Pantene Pro V) in 1992 in the United States, this product capture the huge market in the US. In 1994 PG entered the European tissue and towel market through the purchase Vereingte Papierwerke Schickedanz AGs European tissue unit. That year also saw PG reenter the South African market following the lifting of US sanctions. Among new products introduce in 1999 was swiffer also an electrostatic dusting mop that was part of new category of household product (quick cleaning). The Swiffer line went on to become one of PGs fastest-growing brands of the early 2000s. Innovation Strategy: PG introduce first detergent (Tide) product 1946 in the United State. Within two year tide backed by a $21 million advertising budget, was the number one laundry detergent. Tide remained the number one laundry detergent into 21st century. In 1950 cheer was introduced as bluing detergent and over the years other laundry products were also marketed: Dash in 1954, Downy in 1960, Bold in 1965, Ariel in 1967 was the number one detergent. 1950 is highly profitable for the company. After five year another innovation of the PG establish itself in the toilets business with crest toothpaste. In 1960 American Dental Association endorsed crest, and the product was on its way to becoming the countrys number one toothpaste nudging past Colgate in 1962. Merger Acquisition Strategy: In 1980 PG acquire the grocery business through a number of acquisitions, including Ben Hill Griffin citrus products. The company also entered the over-the-counter drug market with the 1982 purchase of Norwich-Eaton Pharmaceuticals; the company completed its biggest purchase in 1985 with the acquisition of the Richardson-Vicks company maker of Vicks respiratory care products, cold remedies and oil of Olay skin care products, this purchase make the PG a leader in over the counter drug sales. In 1988 PG made its first move into the cosmetics and planned to further develop its international operation. 1955 there was a rapid economic growth in the Western World. During that time PG strategy was to takeover or acquires new companies in new geographical areas. PG strategy was to acquire those companies who were in the food and chemical manufacturing. In March 2001 PG reached an agreement with the Coca-Cola Company to create a $4 billion joint venture designed to join Cokes Minute Maid bran d and distribution network with PG Pringles chips and Sunny delight drink brands. PG also acquired in 2001 was Dr. Johns SpinBrush, maker of a battery-powered toothbrush featuring spinning bristles that at $5 was much cheaper than existing electric toothbrushes. Soon thereafter, the newly named crest SpinBrush was successfully launched. In 2001 PG also were crest Whitestrips, a tooth whitening product. These two new products helped increase global sales of the Crest brand by 50 percent, propelling it past the $1 billion mark during fiscal 2002. Business Strategy Growth Strategy: In 1902 PG to expand its business in the cleaning industry in the market, for this purpose PG opened a new plant in 1904 in Island, New York. After this PG also introduce a beauty soap Camay in 1920, company started to expand its product lines and also the market capacities. In 1946 it had made a synthetic detergent. The PG business strategy also include the acquiring the small firms within the geographical areas, and in the mid 1950 PG also acquired a Kentucky food company. The 1950 is highly profitable for the company because in this year company make a lot of acquiring small companies and also establish new business like detergent through which company earn a huge profit and also entered in the cosmetics business. They opened different market throughout the European market. Cost Leadership: In 1980 company mainly focus on its production setup. To open new market throughout Europe, these things for the PG can go anywhere it thought that production cost will be minimum. PG started their business in those areas where the production cost, labor cost, raw material cost is minimum, because these areas were best economically for the company point of view. Diversification: PG diversified in many businesses like in 1946 in detergent and also diversified in the cosmetic business, to open the market throughout the Europe. In 2001 PG also make a joint venture with the Coca-Cola Company to create a $4 billion joint venture designed to join Cokes Minute Maid brand and distribution network with PGs Pringles chips and Sunny Delight drink brands. Operational Strategy: Research Development: PG doing a lot of research to improve the quality of its product, domestically and also internationally, PG flexible management structure and diverse product range play an important role in the rapidly changing international market. PG broad product range directed to overall profit increases in the company. In 1886 PG opened its new Ivorydale plant on the edge of Cincinnati to keep up with demand. In 1890 James N. Gamble hired a chemist, Harly James Morrison, to set up laboratory at Ivorydale and improve the quality and consistency of PGs products. PG soon introduce another successful brand: Lenox soap. Marketed as a heavier-duty product, yellow soap helped PG reach sales of more than $3 million by 1889. 2. Current Strategic Situation of PG SWOT Analysis of PG (S)trengths: PG has a strong brand name and it is a multinational company because it is a fast moving international consumer goods company which is operating more than 160 countries all over the world. PG is a well known reputable global organization and is well known all over the world and have big brand impact on the market all over the world. It has created goodwill in the mind of the customer and PG have more 300 brands all over the world with and 138,000 employees across the world. Research and development is the key department for the PG for the innovation of the products and also the advertising and marketing is the key thing for the PG. Strong research and development network helps it to develop new products and entre into new markets. PG invest greatly in its research and development to about $2 billion are invested every year by PG for improving and introducing new products PG is a global leader in different product like fabric, home, and beauty care in different countries. Strongest brand in the world is the biggest strength of the PG. PG is tightly integrated with some of the largest retailers in the US as well as world around and also around the world the world have distribution channels. ÂÂ   (W)eaknesses: PG acquired Clairol business in year 2001; it was unable to grow this business. The Clairol herbal essence brand failed to enter new markets as the market had access to better and innovation products. So many top brands of the PG are losing their share market rapidly PG has a lack on focus on advertisement of its brand because people do not have clear idea about the products of PG. People mostly not aware about the brand of the product like Pantene Pro V and other cosmetics and detergent products. (O)pportunities: Opportunity for the PG is health and beauty products for men, with the acquisition of Gillette; the company now has several growth opportunities in this market segment. PG has doubled its environment goals for the year 2012 and thus promises more value for the environment concerned customer today. Almost in all over the world growth rate is increasing which in turn increases the demand of products and necessities and especially in Asia the market is growing at a faster rate as compare to other continents so they have a to attract new entrants. (T)hreats: There is big threat for the PG is in the fast moving consumers goods market today. Companies like Unilever and Kimberly Clark, Johnson Johnson and Colgate-Palmolive etc pose a serious threat for the PG in different countries. Political condition is the biggest threat for any company because each country has their own rule and regulation of taxes and other things. This is the biggest threat for the PG PESTLE Analysis: (P)olitical Factor: Political factors some time make a very big impact on the companies; every country has different condition and rule of the taxes within the business sector. In some countries there are heavy taxes and there are some countries like in Europe where taxes are not so much. (E)conomical Factors: PG also affected by the economical factor because every country has different economical condition, for example like in Asia people have only average scale jobs and earn average money in a month, so they do not afford costly products and also affected by the inflation rate. But PG has the biggest brand all over the world they set the price according to the area point of view and target the customer according to geographical location. So it can get easily to finance and earn money in the every part of the world and also PG has the biggest strong brand image in the world (S)ocio cultural factors: Today world is very fast and technological world; people are very well educated and have different life style according to their value and beliefs. They have well known knowledge about the products that they use and they know each and every thing of the world. (T)echnological Factors: PG spending a lot of money on their research and development department and always looking for the new innovation in the world. Porters Five Forces Analysis Bargaining power of customer: Bargaining power of the customer is high because there is a lot of same product of the different companies available in the market at the almost same prices. PG is produce the consumer product and its customer are individual or large number of individual in the different geographical areas, thats why bargaining power of the customer is high. Due to the fast and the technological world people is very much awareness about the product and its brand. Mostly today people are very price conscious and health conscious. This thing affect PG and increase the buyer power of purchasing. Threat of new entrants: There is a lot of existing competitors in the market and they have low cost while if new competitors want to enter in the market, the cost will be high for them, and the cost like property, land, equipment, transportation cost, fixed cost. These all costs recover, if you have high sales in the market and the production of the products. But the PG multinational company and has the big brand name in the market to meet the customer needs. So it does not face any difficulty to produce the product in the market, it is difficult for the new player which enter into the market first time. But in some countries the government asks the investor to come and invest money in the tax free industrial zone. In that area it is possible for the new entrant to enter into the market. Bargaining power of suppliers: Bargaining power of supplier of the PG is that, if PG rely on the few suppliers with a large volume it can create a problem for them. In order to reduce their supplier power, they have a good supply system, due to which their switching cost is low. PG As Unilever is getting fresh milk on a much lower rate as compared to its processed milk rate, and also fresh milk is a commodity, so it does not cost much to Unilever. Here power remains with the UnileverUnilever do not have any threat from their suppliers of forward integration as it is a high capital requirement industry and their suppliers are small and do not have ability to forward integrate. Threat of substitute: As people are well educated and they know the other substitute in the market like local seller, through internet buying. But Unilever has created a brand image because it is supplying quality products. So the switching cost is low.The prices of substitutes are lower when we compare them with other substitutes. But the quality which Unilever is providing is not the same. And convenience because Unilever products can be purchased from anywhere. So buyers can easily switch to substitutes whenever they want to switch. So, the threat for substitute is low. Degree of Rivalry: The major competitors are Procter and Gamble, Kraft and Nestle.As it is a fast moving consumer goods industry. So the growth in this industry is so high. So there is a big gap mean competition is low.These businesses need high fixed costs, including their costs for distribution and advertisement.The switching cost is high because there is high fixed cost. Exit barriers also very high because the are performing their duties all over the world.So it is not easy to exit from the industry. Organization: Unilever is a multinational company which is doing its business in different parts of the world.Unilever recruit the local people of that region for their management and employees and then it train those people so that they can perform their jobs efictivelyfinall. Structure: Internal and external resources: Intangible Resources: Employees of Unilever are its intangible resources.It has brand awareness. It is a multinational company so its goodwill count. Outlook of their plants and their products. Research and development and good relationships with their customers. Tangible recources: Unilever has 500 plants in different countries.It has trained and skilled labour.It has a better transportation network. The products that they are providing. Capabilities: Unilever is doing its business in more than 170 countries.It has production 500 production plants in different.There are 400 core products of Unilever from which it is getting 100% return.It has 13 such products from which it is getting 75% of total sales.Unilever has grown 2.3% and its sales has been increased by 3.5% in 2009. Shareholder Powers: Unilever has shareholders from both Unilever PLC and Unilever NV. Shareholders of both companies has made the decisions which are implemented Unilever Global. Future Strategies: Corporate Strategy: Our future corporate strategy is to become No1 Globally in Fast Moving Consumer Goods by delivering innovative products and by fulfilling and satisfying consumer preferences. Business Strategies: Our business strategy is Market Penetration. We will emphasize on those products which are already in the local markets like lux, Knorr, Sunsilk, Omo, and Dove. We will go for Market Development by doing this we will introduce existing products in the new Geographical areas. Our strategy is cost Leadership strategy. In cost leadership strategy we will make plants in those geographical areas where the land cost, labour and cost as minimum and where are tax free zones. We will go for Asians and European countries where the people are more prices conscious. On the basis of my analysis as I have done earlier the bargaining power of buyer is low, Threat of substitute is low, Threat of new entrant is low, Bargaining power of supplier is low and competitiverivalryishigh.I recommend that Unilever will go for Marketing Ddevelopment.Unilever will increase its market share by expanding its products and by going in those areas in which it had not gone by doing this it can become better than its competitors. It is multinational company and financially it is so much strong Because its competitors are also very strong like Procter and Gamble and Kraft. As unilever is a multinational company so it has brand awareness in the customers mind. It will further develop its business in Asia countries Nepal and Bahrain. It will develop its plants in these countries. By going in these countries it can grow its business .As the per capita income of Bahrain is $27068 in 2009 and the GDP is $28.124 billion. Those areas where the people are not aware so much abo ut its brands it will go in those markets with new things. I recommend Unilever that it will go for market penetration in those areas where it is doing its business but its products are not so much accepted by the people. It means that people do not believe much on Unilever products because they think that its competitors Kraft, Proctor and Gamble, Nestle are providing better quality products. It will give a message to its customers by promotions that its products are unique as compare to its competitors. It will increase brand awareness. It will built trust in the customer mind about Unilever products. It will also attract customers to switch from its competitor products to its products. It will advertise more and more to gain the attention of its customers. Because by doing this it will retain its potential customers. It will also attract those customers which have been used its products but not retain with its. It will give use sales promotions for achieving the confidence of those customers. For example it will give options like by one g et one free. It will give the price discounts. It will give the points on purchasing more. It will also attract those customers who have not used its products before because they think they their competitors are giving more quality as compared to its products. It will also do personal selling means that it will build a strong relationship with its customers by giving free trials of its products and it will collect much and much information about its customers it will know the exact needs that what its customer wants.Unilever will increase its penetration by training of their distribution teams. It will invest more in its distribution network so that its products easily approach to its customers. I recommend that it will use Low cost strategy. For a new company that is going to enter in this industry the economies of scale is not easy and possible. A successful entry requires the company to have significant experience to stay in economies of scale. On the other side as fixed costs are high, so in order to recover its fixed costs a company has to produce in bulk thats required a huge market share. So in the end we can say that it is not easy for new entrants to enter the industry if they are not backed by huge financial investments and with a competent management, and product differentiation. In the end, we can conclude that threat of new entrants is minimum. Unilever has gain Economies of Scale and it is using New Technology. It will take a look on the prices of those products whose prices are too high because there are many countries where the economic conditions is not good like Pakistan where people cannot easily buy Unilever products because these products are costly than its competitors. So people give more preference to those products which are cheaper and which products are costly people shift to the competitors brands. Unilever should offer low price to their customers and by doing this it will win the confidence of those poor peoples who cannot afford Unilever brands. in those areas where the operating costs is too low. I recommend that Unilever will perform its functions as a single business unit. As It a part of two different companies one is Unilever PLC Listed on London stock exchange and the other is Unilever NV which is listed in the Netherland Stock exchange. Both companies are form a single financial report. Due to leadership structure it is not looking like a multinational. Because two different companies are holding one. It reduces the performance of the company. The conflicts between the Leadership and management are creating difficulties for the performance of the overall business. Because the decisions are made by the two different leadership authorities. Its structure should be simple. It will work like one Unilever and there will be cross functional management structure. Each department will emphasize on their responsibility. By doing this their performance will be increased. It will show the clarity of the leadership. Each department will be responsible for their assigned tasks and d uties. It will help Unilever to focus on the demand of the their customers. It will provide the balance of operations. I recommend that Unilever will do research and will do advertising for its core brands to click the mind that it is providing best quality product. It will show through the advertisement that it cares of its customers. It will emphasize on those products which are healthy for the customers. By introducing innovative products and knowing the needs of the customers it will increase its sales. I recommend that Unilever should emphasize and concrete more on its core brands like Knorr, Lipton, lux, omo, blue band, dove, sunsilk. And it will provide Good quality products those will be healthy and convenient for its customers. It will change the customers preferences by giving innovative products and by maintaining the quality of its products. I recommend that it will make its own selling stores where people can easily get its products. Like it will make franchises where the people easily get Unilever products.Unilever will also clear people perception about the Unilever products

The Dramatic Irony in Oedipus the King

The Dramatic Irony in Oedipus the King Before taking a closer look on the identity of the protagonist and murderer, and having in mind that Oedipus the King is a very spacious and difficult to analyze play, including opportunities for discussion on quite a few topics, I have chosen to briefly focus on the dramatic irony used by Sophocles to disclose the characters’ identity throughout the play. In general, irony is a very common technique used in every drama work and it is usually used by the author at times when something dramatic is about to happen the existence of which is cleverly suggested through ironic behavior of the main characters and often includes symbols, comparisons and contrasts pointing to the main idea of the author. In this sense, Sophocles is really famous for his well-known techniques of using irony and skillfully combining it with intricate relations and symbols such as light, dark, morning and night in order to convey his idea. In addition, a dramatic irony could be present when the audience is aware of critical information that the characters are unaware of. In this play, the readers already know the real relations between Oedipus, Jocasta and Laius. A general symbol of the irony used in the play is the exultation of both Oedipus and Jocasta over the failures of the oracles prophecies, however in both cases these prophecies come true – Oedipus leaves Corinth only to find out after that he has actually found his real parents and Jocasta kills her son in order to find him later married to her and more alive than ever. In other words, each time a character tries to neglect and push away the predictions of the oracles, the audience already knows what? that their attempts are futile and in vain. This creates a clear sense of the irony used by Sophocles. An interest thing to note is the very manner in which Jocasta expresses her disbelief in oracles, which is quite ironic by itself. She describes the oracles as powerless in an attempt to comfort Oedipus, but immediately after that she prays to the very same gods whose powers she has just mocked. However, if Oedipus doesn’t trust the power of oracles, he definitely values the power of truth and equality. He firmly believes in his own ability to seek out the truth as a riddle-solver. This is direct contrast between Oedipus’s trust in prophecy and trust in intelligence. Having in mind that those two are complete distinct terms like science and religion, it is quite ironic that they both lead to the same conclusions and outcome. The truth revealed by Oedipus actually fulfills the oracles’ prophecy. Ironically it is Oedipus’s rejection of the oracles that discloses their power. The best example of dramatic irony however, is the frequent use of references to eyes, sight, light, and perception throughout the play. The dialogue between Oedipus and Tiresias reveals it: â€Å"have you eyes, / And do not see your own damnation? Eyes, / And cannot see what company you keep? † Those words by Tiresias prove the blind man’s prophetic powers, for he already knows that Oedipus will blind himself. Moreover, he continues: â€Å"those now clear-seeing eyes / Shall then be darkened†. Where do you think the irony here is? Sophocles actually suggests two different things. Firstly, Oedipus is blessed with the gift of perception for he was the only one able to answer the Sphinx’s riddle. Yet he cannot see what is right before his own eyes. He is blind to the truth, and the truth is all he seeks. Secondly, Tiresias’s presence as a blind man amplifies the irony in Oedipus’s mocking his blindness. He is a man who does not need eye sight to see the truth and Oedipus is just the opposite – he who can see with his eyes is blind to the truth standing before him. Interestingly enough, however, is that Oedipus switches his role with Tiresias, thus becoming a man who sees the truth and loses his sense of sight. This outlines the drama in the play. In addition, the sight theme is further carried on to another level when the Chorus is disgusted and refuses to even see Oedipus. He has polluted his own sight and body but at the same time he has done the same with others’ sights by his very existence. That is why when he enters blinded the Chorus shouts: â€Å"I dare no to see, I am hiding / My eyes, I cannot bear / What must I long to see†¦Unspeakable to mortal ear, / Too terrible for eyes to see†. Ironically, Oedipus has become the same disease that he wishes to remove from Thebes and has turned himself into a sight that is more horrible than the wasted farmlands and the childless Theban women. It is dramatic that when he becomes such a monster, he is already blinded. To finish with, I have thought about the influence that this irony has on the reader and the way it touches the reader’s own perception of Oedipus and his actions. How do you correlate the dramatic irony to the character of Oedipus? Does it change your initial emotion toward him or it further bolsters it? It is important what you generally think of Oedipus: Oedipus as incapable of doing anything to change his destiny and as a mere puppet of fate or Oedipus as a flawed character who is guilty of his own actions and as an instigator of all tragic events. I personally think that in this story you cannot escape fate no matter what you do. In an attempt to do so, both Jocasta and Oedipus change the whole structure of their families and threatening to ruin them. They have set the course of the story into action. His tragic end is not his fault for he is powerless against fate. Works cited Cameron Alister, â€Å"The Identity of Oedipus the King: Five Essays on the Oedipus Tyrannus,† New York University Press, 1968 Great Books of the Western World, â€Å"Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes†, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc, 1952 http://www. ripon. edu/academics/Theatre/THE231/PlachinskiR/oedipus/dramaticirony. html

Effects of Social Networking Sites Essay

As the world moves into the second decade of the 21 st century, one of the major markers of this era is the rise and use of online communities. In particular, a paradigm called Web 2.0 describes recent technologies that focus on networking mass numbers of individuals into distinct communities over the Internet (O’Reilly, 2007). Social networking sites (SNS) are online communities designed to connect individuals to wider networks of relationships, and are one major example of Web 2.0 applications. Sites such as Facebook have exploded in membership. In a short period of 2007 – 2010, Facebook estimates that its membership has grown from 50 million to over 400 million users (Facebook, n.d.). Online social networks are now an integrated part of daily life and compel questions of how these media platforms affect human development, relationships, and interaction. Teenagers are among the most avid users of technology in general and social network sites in particular (Lenhart, Madden, Macgill, & Smith, 2007b). Recent reports find that youth spend nearly 10 hours per day using some form of technology, with socially networked media playing a large role in their daily lives (Rideout, Foehr, & Roberts, 2010). New technologies are deeply intertwined with adult perceptions about teenage life. Mimi Ito and colleagues observe that, â€Å"Although today’s questions about ‘kids these days’ have a familiar ring to them, the contemporary version is somewhat unusual in how strongly it equates generational identity with technology identity† The clear finding is that today’s youth are increasingly connected to the world through socially networked media. While teenagers are engaged with technology, they are ever more disengaged from another major component of their lives – school. Read more:  The Effects of Social Media on College Students National analyses find that nearly 30% of high school students do not obtain their diploma on time (Cataldi, Laird, KewalRamani, 2009). High school completion rates are difficult to measure, but various independent studies also suggest that nearly one-third of students ultimately drop out of school (Barton, 2005). When one compares these competing aspects of teenage life – technology versus education – a simple strategy clearly emerges. Perhaps if educators begin to integrate social technologies into learning, they will increase student engagement and achievement in school. Heeding the call of scholars (i.e. Jenkins, 2006; Ito et al. n.d.) recent policy and research efforts are now racing to develop new social media platforms and technologies for learning. For example, the  Federal Department of Education and organizations such as the MacArthur Foundation have invested millions of dollars to build social media platforms, video games, and other digital tools for learni ng (Whitehouse, n.d.). Despite the optimism that social media tools might improve student engagement and learning, the stark reality is that these new technologies often conflict with the practices of K-12 schools. Surveys find that the vast majority of school district leaders believe social technology can improve student learning. However, these same district administrators typically block student access to online resources like social network sites (Lemke & Coughlin, 2009). The decision to ban students from accessing social network sites underscores a major conundrum for educators. Online social networks widen a students’ access to resources and social support and may have beneficial effects on their development. Conversely, as student access to the world widens they are inevitably exposed to potentially negative material and interactions. The simplest strategy to limit liability and safeguard school districts is to ban access to these new digital tools. However, such policies neglect the potentially large benefits of using social media in the classroom. To alleviate this dilemma, educators and policymakers need a deeper understanding of social media and youth. Several questions are critical in the area of youth learning with social technologies, including: †¢ Which youth are using particular social technologies? †¢ How do they use these technologies to communicate, develop relationships, socialize, and learn? †¢ What are the effects of these technologies on youth development? †¢ What are the effects of these technologies when applied in educational contexts such as the classroom? In this dissertation, I explore these questions by examining a particular technology: the social network site. Communities such as Facebook and MySpace mediate teenage life, affecting how youth communicate and learn from one another. In addition, social networks are intertwined into just about every major online community today (Livingstone, 2008). These factors make SNS a particularly salient focus for evaluation. Throughout the following chapters I examine different questions surrounding the phenomena of social network sites and teenage youth. In Chapter 2, I review the extant research literature that examines SNS. I consider several controversies around SNS and youth: (a) What kinds of youth are using social networking sites? (b)  Does student participation in these online communities affect their privacy and social relationships? (c) Do student activities in SNS influence their personal development in terms of self-esteem and psychological well-being? (d) Does SNS use affect student grades and learning? The review highlights how research in this field is only just emerging. The few stud ies that examine social network sites are mainly exploratory. However, media researchers have a rich history of scholarship from which to draw new insights. I integrate previous thought on Digital Divides, Psychological Well-being, Social Capital Theory, and Cognitive and Social Learning theories to guide SNS researchers in future studies. In Chapter 3, I present an empirical analysis using a national dataset of teenagers from the Pew Internet & American Life Project (Lenhart et al., 2007b; Pew Internet & American Life Project, n.d.). In this study, I ask whether demographic variables such as education, socioeconomic status, and access to the Internet are significantly related to whether teenagers participate in social network sites. This line of analysis is typical of digital divide studies that examine whether particular populations have less access to new technologies. If new technologies do have positive benefits for individuals, but under- represented populations do not have access to such tools, there are tremendous issues of equity and access yet to be addressed (Jenkins, 2006). Most studies of digital divide and SNS examine adult and college-age populations. I present an analysis of teenage populations to examine their usage patterns. The results of this paper highlight how the association between demographic indicators and social media use are weaker in 2007 than seen in earlier studies. Teenage youth of all backgrounds increasingly find ways to connect with others using social network sites. In Chapter 4, I consider a question of particular importance to teachers and education leaders. Through a large-scale experiment, I examine whether using social network sites in urban classrooms has any causal effect on students’ social capital, engagement with school, or academic achievement. I build an experimental social network site that approximates the functionality seen in sites such as Facebook and MySpace. The key difference in this experimental condition is that the site is private to two urban, school districts and explicitly for use to exchange educational information. Working with 50 classrooms and nearly 1,400 students, I utilize a cluster-randomized trial,  where class periods are randomly assigned to use the experimental site. Employing this randomized trial design, I find that an academic social network site does not necessarily improve student engagement with their peers, their classes, or increase student achievement. However, I find exploratory evidence that existing social network sites such as Facebook and MySpace improve students’ feelings of connection with their school community. The study offers evidence for one compelling idea: Perhaps schools should attempt to leverage students existing social networks, rather than block access to them or impose their own. In Chapter 5, I outline what is needed in future research about social network sites, and new technologies in general, to better inform the policies and practices of schools, educators, parents, and those interested in youth development. In particular, previous scholarly thought has focused on either a technologically deterministic or social agency perspective. Technological determinism suggests that a media tool itself affects social outcomes such as learning, but a long history of research underscores the fallacy of this philosophy. Scholars who focus instead on social agency, explore how individuals use new technologies in cultural and social contexts. However, this stream of research neglects rigorous evaluation of how new media affect youth. Both perspectives in isolation offer incomplete analyses o f how new media, such as SNS, impact youth. I argue that future researchers must develop and test finer hypotheses that simultaneously consider the technological affordances of social network sites, the social and cultural institutions within which SNS are used, and the actual interactions between individuals that occur in these online communities. The chapters in this dissertation examine the phenomena of social network sites and youth through different but complementary lenses: theoretical, descriptive, and experimental. The summative contribution of these analyses is a deeper picture of how teenage youth use SNS and its effects on their academic and social development. The studies show that youth of all backgrounds are increasingly connected via online social networks. The empirical analyses also show that social network sites are no silver bullet for improving learning in high school classrooms. The technology itself does not improve learning, but social media might help students become more connected and engaged with their school communities. The implications for educators and  schools are numerous. Problems such as student disengagement with education are profoundly significant issues, and additional research is needed to better understand how online networks influence youth development and learning. The current tools of teenage communication go by a peculiar set of names. Wall Posts, Status Updates, Activity Feeds, Thumbs Ups, Facebook Quizzes, and Profiles are some of the ways that youth today communicate with one another. These tools are features of social network sites (SNS), such as Facebook and Myspace. SNS are part of a suite of recent web applications, also called social media, which utilize Web 2.0 principles. The term Web 2.0 defines websites that are designed to: (a) rely on the participation of mass groups of users rather than centrally controlled content providers, (b) aggregate and remix content from multiple sources, and (c) more intensely network users and content together (O’Reilly, 2007). People use these web applications to interact in hyper-aware ways and the scale of this mass communication phenomena is significant. As of May 2009, Facebook ranked as the 4 th most trafficked website in the world and Myspace ranked 11 th highest (Alexa, n.d.). That high school youth are connected to these global online communities is both a frightening prospect for parents and educators and an intriguing area for social science research. Educators and parents in the United States face difficult quandaries concerning students and SNS. No one denies that youth use these technologies to communicate with the world, and they do so with high frequency and intensity (Lenhart et al., 2007b). Many scholars suggest that students learn in new ways using social media and that educators should embrace these new platforms (Ito et al., n.d.; Jenkins, 2006). In a recent national survey, the vast majority of school district leaders report that they view social media as a positive development for education (Lemke & Coughlin, 2009). Nevertheless, 70% of districts also report that they banned all access to SNS in their schools. Despite the clear understanding that social media can be vital to student learning and digital literacy, educators currently struggle with how to comply with regulations like the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), as well as overcome general fears about student interactions in social network sites. To inform both the policy concerns of district leaders and  the local practices of teachers and parents, research is needed to understand how youth use SNS and what effects it has on their social and academic development. In this chapter, I consider several key controversies around youth usage of SNS, and review relevant research that begins to inform these debates. I first define the media effects framework and outline how this research tradition attempts to understand the effects of new technologies on social outcomes. Second, I define social network sites and describe studies that capture how youth use these technologies to develop relationships, hang out with friends, and learn new skills. Third, the chapter reviews relevant research that informs several controversies concerning SNS and adolescents. I also connect these contemporary debates with previous scholarly thought about students’ out-of-school time (OST) and traditional concerns about the effect of technology on learning. The specific controversies reviewed are: †¢ What kinds of youth are using social networking sites? †¢ Does student participation in these online communities affect their privacy and social relationships? †¢ Do student activities in SNS influence their personal development in terms of self-esteem and psychological well-being? †¢ Does SNS use affect student grades and learning? Finally, I outline the overall condition of research on SNS and youth. The current state of the literature is suggestive of the effects on adolescent social and academic development, and primarily consists of ethnographic and cross-sectional data. I outline the future questions that will be critical for the field and suggest relevant methodological directions to move this emergent research stream forward. What Can We Learn from a Media Effects Framework? Many of the controversial questions concerning social network sites ask what kinds of effects these technologies have on youth development. Given this focus, I work primarily from a media effects tradition of research. Media effects scholars examine the outcomes that arise when people use new technologies. Talking about effects engenders important theoretical discussions that must be laid clear when examining studies. Most significantly, the term implies a focus on causality. Studies in this framework imply that a media form, or the features of the technology, causally influences some outcome (Eveland, 2003). The structure of questions from this perspective is usually in the form of: Does media affect learning? Does television influence student achievement? Or do social  net work sites affect the psychological well-being of adolescents? Media effects scholars in a variety of fields have quickly come to realize that the answers to these questions are more complex. Very rarely, if ever, is there a direct causal relationship between a technology and a social outcome such as learning (Clark, 1983; Clark, 1991; Schmidt & Vandewater, 2008). Early media questions often used a technological framework or object-centered approach (Fulk & DeSanctis, 1999; Nass & Mason, 1990). Such a perspective assumes and tests whether a technology itself causally affects a social outcome. For example, in Education a major question of technology research is whether media affects learning. Education researchers now firmly conclude that media does not affect student learning (Clark, Yates, Early, & Moulton, In Press). Numerous studies show that the media tool neither improves nor negatively impacts learning when compared to the same teaching strategy in the classroom (Bernard, Abrami, Lou, Borokhovski, Wade, Wozney et al., 2004; Clark, 1983; Clark, 1991). What matters is not the computer, but the learning behaviors that occur within the software or educational program. T he findings of non-significant media effects on student learning do not mean that technology has no influence. For example, Richard Mayer (2001) shows through a series of experiments that the design of a multimedia presentation affects student learning of a topic. Putting words and pictures closer together on the screen, when they are relevant to each other, helps students retain more knowledge than when the elements are placed further apart on the screen. These results do not validate a technological orientation, where one expects that the computers themselves improve learning. Rather, the pedagogical strategy of placing relevant words and images together in a presentation affects cognition. Media researchers understand that the features of a technology afford certain possibilities for activity. A multimedia video on the computer allows one to design words and images on the screen, while a computer simulation might guide a learner using models of real-world cases. A media tool allows for different possible learning behaviors (Kozma, 1991). This subtle difference in theoretical orientation is what scholars call an emergent perspective (Fulk & DeSanctis, 1999) or a variable-based approach (Nass & Mason, 1990). Scholars using an emergent or variable-based approach view technology as a structuring factor. Features of  a technology, not the technology itself, enable and constrain how one uses that tool. Conversely, social forces such as cultural norms and behavioral practices influence how one ultimately uses a technology. William Eveland (2003) offers five characteristics of media effects research that help define how studies take into account both technological and social variables. Media effects studies have: (1) A focus on an audience, (2) Some expectation of influence, (3) A belief that the influence is due to the form or content of the media or technology, (4) An understanding of the variables that may explain the causality, and (5) The creation of empirically testable hypotheses. A focus on audience compels researchers to understand the characteristics of the youth who use SNS. Knowing who uses, or does not use, social network sites is an important sociological question for scholars of digital divide. In addition, Hornik (1981) notes the possible differential effects for disparate populations, â€Å"If communication researchers have learned anything during the previous three decades, it is that communication effects vary with members of the audience† (p. 197). Current media studies also focus on the form or content of a technology, and move away from making black-box comparisons between technologies. Questions that ask whether Facebook is related to lower grades, or if MySpace is unsafe for children, are broad and uninformative directions for future media effects studies. Instead, the pivotal questions explore how the features of SNS enable or constrain behavior. Future media studies about SNS and youth should not frame questions using a technologicall y deterministic perspective where one expects the technology to cause an outcome. Instead, media scholars identify how youth interaction, communication, and information sharing are the critical variables in understanding SNS effects on social and academic outcomes. This understanding of media effects research helps define finer-grained hypotheses of why a tool like SNS might affect student development, under what uses, for whom, and when. What are Social Network Sites and How Do Youth Use Them? When a teenager joins a site like Facebook they first create a personal profile. These profiles display information such as your name, relationship status, occupation, photos, videos, religion, ethnicity, and personal interests. What differentiates SNS from previous media like a personal homepage is the display of one’s friends (boyd & Ellison, 2007). In addition to exhibiting your network of  friends, other users can then click on their profiles and traverse ever widening social networks. These three features – profiles, friends, traversing friend lists – represent the core, defining characteristics of social networking sites. One will notice that SNS also include other media tools such as video and photo uploading and many websites now employ social networking features. For example, YouTube is primarily a video sharing service, but users can add others as their friends or subscribe to a member’s collection of videos. Using boyd & Ellison’s (2007) definition, YouTube can be included as a type of social network site. As resear chers examine the effects of SNS on social behaviors, they will undoubtedly come across these blurring of technologies. Sonia Livingstone (2008) notes that SNS invite â€Å"convergence among the hitherto separate activities of email, messaging, website creation, diaries, photo albums and music or video uploading and downloading† (p. 394). This convergence of technologies may complicate what one means by the term social network site. Amidst the sea of what websites can be termed SNS, the technical definition of social network sites still provides a shared conceptual foundation. Comparing across common features – i.e. profiles and friend networks – researchers can begin to understand how various communities co-opt these characteristics to create entirely new cultural and social uses of the technology. Patricia Lange’s (2007) ethnographic study of YouTube shows that users deal with issues concerning public and private sharing of video. Some YouTube users post videos intended for wide audiences, but share very little about their own identities. Their motivations might be to achieve Internet fame and gather viewers. Other members upload videos intended for a small network of friends and may restrict the privacy settings to only allow access to those individuals. The concepts of friend and social networ k for these users are entirely distinct. Dodgeball, an early and now defunct mobile-SNS, is another social network site that has been studied. In Dodgeball, a user broadcasts their location via cell-phone to their network of friends: