With Reference to a Named Example

A disaster hotspot is an area with a vulnerable population at risk from 2 or more hazards. The Philippines are considered a disaster hot spot. The Philippines are exposed to more than 2 hazards, geophysical and hydro-meteorological such as earthquakes and tropical storms these hazards are more affective as he Philippines is known for having a vulnerable, poor, population meaning it has a lower capacity to cope.The Philippines are largely affected by geophysical hazards, mainly by tectonic hazards such as earthquakes and volcanoes, these hazards occur due to the Philippines geographical location, it is located between 2 destructive plate boundaries of the Eurasian plate and the Philippines plate which when submerging under one another create allot of friction which causes heat, this melts the submerging plate under the Philippine islands themselves which form volcanoes on the islands such as Mayon which prove to be quiet catastrophic when erupting.The friction created by the submergen ce of the plate can also be felt as an earthquake and as the plate boundaries are quiet close to the islands the earthquakes are generally more powerful like the Manila earthquake January 11, 1982 which was registered 6. 9 on the Richter scale. As the Philippines are also surrounded by sea and oceans tsunamis is a large possibility, when an earthquake under sea occurs the water above it gets shaken causing waves which get larger as they close in to the shores.This is a large threat to the Philippines as it is formed of 7 thousand islands most of them relatively close to the sea level meaning that they can get submerged by waves not that high, a 7. 9 magnitude earthquake hit the east cost of the Philippines on August 16th, 1976 12:11 A. M. , this created a tsunami devastating 700km of coastline bordering Moro Gulf in the North Celebes Sea this tragedy left 5,000 dead, 2,200 missing, 9,500 injuries and a total of 93,500 people left homeless.Hydro meteorological Hazards also affect the Philippines like Tropical storms, as the Philippines are located 5Â °-20Â ° above the equator which is considered as being the tropical storm belt so deadly tropical storms are quiet common, Washi 2011 was one of the world’s deadliest storms of 2011 which left 1,000 people dead and many more homeless. Droughts also are a major occurrence like the February 2010 drought caused by the El Nino oscillation, losing the country 2. 5 million metric tonnes of rice and corn where 800,000 hectares of rice and cornfields were already affected by other problems.This damage caused 33 million US dollars’ worth of damage which was predicted to ride to 400 million. The high vulnerability of the population gives the Philippines a very low capacity to cope. This is due to the high levels of poverty (26. 5% in 2009) this means that people cannot afford to prepare for hazards, like have storm proof/ earthquake proof infrastructures. High population density at the coastal regions, like t he capital Manila, means even more people are prone to flooding and tsunamis and also mudslides and also in higher concentrations so if a hazard does occur more people are affected at the same time.

The Repercussions of a Universal Health Program in the United States

The implementation of a universal health program in the U. S. is one of the many plans presented by President Barack Obama during his campaign several months ago. (AP, 2007) Now that Obama is the president, we might be expecting this particular response to problems in health care that have been a burden to many Americans in the past years. However, will a nationalized, universal health program resolve the various issues that have been plaguing health care over the years?Reviewing the possible upshots or consequences of this program would serve as rejoinders to this question. A nationalized, universal health program is a seeming response to the problem of limited healthcare coverage in the country although compared with other nations; the U. S. spends large amounts of money for this particular service. (AP, 2007) In general, a universal health program will provide all citizens of the U. S. ith health insurances regardless of the guidelines previously set as qualifications for individu als who are allowed to access healthcare insurance and services.Other issues addressed by a universal health programs is the high cost of healthcare services and medicine, the involvement of private insurance companies in providing healthcare insurance to all, and the prevention of medical errors. (â€Å"Healthcare,† N. D. ) The positive effects of a universal health program constitute healthcare access to all the citizens of the U.S. , whether they are employed or unemployed, obtaining extreme salary ranges or household incomes, and such. However, the program might not gain support from the private sector, particularly insurance providers and employers, as well as other people who do not wish to experience high taxes. Insurance providers will be out of business and the people will be expecting tax increases to provide for healthcare resources.Medical health professionals and healthcare workers might suffer from the increase in number of people who require health care service s, leading to the need of expanding the country’s healthcare workforce, and consequentially, resources to fund the expanded workforce. In addition, the quality of healthcare might not undergo improvements or developments due to limited funding, since majority of healthcare resources are allocated to providing healthcare insurance to all.Overall, although the universal health program is an excellent way for the government to address the needs of its people, there are various issues and challenges that must be resolved to ensure the smooth facilitation and implementation of the program. The government should look for ways to arrive at a consensus with private insurance providers, encourage citizens to establish careers in healthcare, and to assure the citizens that tax raises will be able to resolve the issues of limited access to healthcare in the country affecting the health and welfare of the people.

It’s a Dog’s Life

Is that him? It sounds like him. I cower under the bed, and wait. It's nice under here; he can't get to me. Good, it's only the paperboy-he likes me. I run to the door, and take the paper in my mouth, he waves at me through the glass, and I jump up at the door, and bark excitedly. He barks back playfully, and I wag my tail. I wish I lived with him, a sweet, innocent little boy who would never lift a finger to hurt me. I smile and lay on the cold, tiled floor, he will be back soon. I do hope he's had a good day. I don't know if my frail old body could take much more of his harsh beatings. He used to be such a gentle, loving man, but ever since poor Sally and Marie died in a car accident, he's become cruel and nasty. A day rarely goes by without me feeling the bottom of his shoe, and that's if I'm lucky. Sometimes he goes for days without feeding me, or he'll grab me by the throat and yell in my ears, and when he's had a bad day, he'll kick me and laugh cruelly. My battered body is racked with a trembling that I cannot stop as I hear him coming. I can hear his keys rattling, I think I'll just keep out of his way for tonight. He turns the key in the lock, and kicks the door open. Seems like he's in a bad mood, I'll just stay under the bed. He's coming in the bedroom now-his face is flushed. I know with a harsh recollection of his wrath, that in a minute he'll beat me. â€Å"Dog, get your miserable body over here now, I've got some food for you,† he bellows at me. I struggle as I lift my scrawny carcass off the ground, my poor old bones ache. I lower my head and waddle over to his armchair. He pours beer over my head and hurls a can of dog food at me, it hits me on the leg and I whine in pain. I collapse on the floor, then he walks over and kicks me in the ribs. I yelp, and hear a loud voice. Surprisingly, it's not his voice. I painfully lift my head, and see a stranger standing outside the window. â€Å"Hey, Mister. You can't do that to a dog!† shouts the stranger, and pushes past the open door. He tries to run, but there is a struggle. He bangs his head on the wall and falls on the floor. The stranger walks up to me, and holds out his hands. â€Å"It's gonna be all right little fella, I'm going to take you somewhere, where a whole load of nice people will look after you and find you a decent home, I promise.† He strokes my weak head and I lick his salty palms. He carefully lifts me into the back of his car, and drives me to a big kennel, full of other dogs and cats and animals that I have never seen in my life before. A tall man with a kind face walks over to me and smiles, not a snarl of a smile or an evil grin, like he used to flash me when he hit me, but a kind smile, straight from his heart. Now I feel reassured, I know that now I'm in good hands and things are going to get better. I stayed in that nice place that I soon named ‘Doggie Heaven' for six months until I was introduced to a kind English lady, with two little girls and boy who walked me every day. I liked them so I was allowed to stay with them for a whole week. The lady and the tall RSPCA man talked, and the next thing I knew, the gentle RSPCA man was waving goodbye to me. I would miss him as well as all the other kind people, but I knew that could live a happier life without him. My thoughts were broken by the sound of a kind, gentle voice, calling my new name. â€Å"Come on, Kizzy, we're having dinner now. † It was Timmy, the little boy who would take care of me for the rest of my life. Timmy turned around to go back into the house, and I got a sudden warm feeling. I felt for the first time in a long while, that I had a home, and a family who actually cared about me. I belonged.

Review Questions Chapter

Coral reefs are elaborate networks of crevices, ledges, and holes made up of calcium carbonate; coral polyps are tiny animals that build coral reefs by secreting a crust of limestone around their bodies that accumulate once multiple polyps die.Coral reefs help moderate atmospheric temperatures by removing CA from the atmosphere, act as natural barriers that help protect of the world's coastlines from erosion by battering waves and storms, provide habitats for a variety of marine organisms, produce about one-tenth of the global fish catch, one-fourth of the catch n developing countries, provide Jobs and building materials for some of the world's poorest countries, and support fishing and tourism Industries worth billions of dollars each year.Coral bleaching is when a coral becomes stressed and the algae on which it depends for food and color die out, leaving an underlying white or bleached skeleton of calcium carbonate; this occurs because of increased water temperatures and runoff of silt from the land. 2. The two major aquatic life zones are saltwater (marine) and freshwater life zones. 3. Phytoplankton (plank plankton) are multiple types of algae; Zooplankton (animal Lankan) are primary and secondary consumers which feed off phytoplankton (primary consumers) or other zooplankton (secondary consumers these range from protozoa to large invertebrates such as Jellyfish. Alternation are much smaller plankton that may be responsible for 70% of the primary productivity near the ocean surface. Nektons are strongly swimming consumers such as fish, turtles, and whales. Penthouses are bottom dwellers that attach themselves to one spot (e. G. Barnacles, oysters, worms, lobsters, crabs). Decomposer are organisms (mainly bacteria) which break down the organic compounds in the dead bodies and wastes of aquatic organisms into simple nutrient compounds for use by aquatic producers. 4. A major advantage of living In an aquatic life zone Is the fact that there Is high biodivers ity.A disadvantage Is that It Is constantly affected by human activities. 5. The four factors that determine the types and numbers of organisms found in these layers are temperature, access to sunlight for photosynthesis, dissolved 02 content, and availability of nutrients. 6. The marine systems provide climate moderation, carbon doodle absorption, nutrient cycling, waste treatment, reduced storm impact, habitats and nursery areas, emetic resources and biodiversity, scientific information, food, animal and pet feed, pharmaceuticals, harbors and transportation routes, recreation, employment, oil and natural gas, minerals, and building materials. . The coastal zone Is the warm, nutrient-rich, shallow water that extends from the Estuaries are regions where rivers meet the ocean. Coastal wetlands are land areas covered with water all or part of the year. Mangroves are the tropical counterparts of salt marshes. Temperature and salinity vary greatly in estuaries and coastal wetlands becau se seawater and freshwater mix, because tidal and river flows vary, and cause of land runoff.These have such a high NP because of high nutrient inputs from rivers and nearby land, rapid circulation of nutrients by tidal flows, presence of many producer plants, and ample sunlight penetrating the shallow waters. 8. The intertribal zone is the area between low and high tides. Rocky shores are beaches with a remarkable variety of species that occupy different niches in response to daily and seasonal changes in environmental conditions such as temperature, water flows, and salinity. Sandy shores are beaches with niches for different marine organisms. . Barrier islands are low, narrow, sandy islands that form offshore from a coastline. These are sought for human development because they are beautiful; however, these are at risk because the can be damaged or destroyed by flooding, severe beach erosion, or storms. The dunes should be protected because they serve as the first line of defense against the ravages of the sea. 10. Coral reefs are vulnerable to damage because they grow slowly, are disrupted easily, and only thrive in clear, warm, and fairly shallow water of constant high salinity.Humans impact coral reefs negatively by causing ocean warming, soil erosion, algae growth from fertilizer runoff, mangrove destruction, bleaching, rising sea levels, increased UP exposure, damage from anchors, and damage from fishing and diving. 11 . The open sea is the sharp increase in water depth at the edge of the continental shelf separated from the coastal zone. Its three main vertical zones are the epiphytic zone, the bathmat zone, and the abyssal zone. The NP per unit of area is so low because of its size. 2. Humans destroy coastal wetlands for agriculture and urban development, destroy mangroves for agriculture, development, and aquaculture, erode beaches because of coastal development and rising sea levels, degrade ocean bottom habitats by dredging and trawler fishing, an d damage coral reefs. 13. Freshwater life zones are the freshwater bodies of water. The two main types are standing (lentil) bodies of freshwater and flowing (lactic) bodies of freshwater. 14.Freshwater systems provide climate moderation, nutrient cycling, waste treatment, flood control, groundwater recharge, habitats for many species, genetic resources for biodiversity, scientific information, food, drinking water, irrigation water, hydroelectricity, transportation corridors, recreation, and employment. Unify, and groundwater seepage fills the depressions in the earth's surface. The literal zone is the zone near the shore which consists of the shallow sunlit waters to the depths at which rooted plants stop growing.The liniment zone is the open, sunlit water surface layer away from the shore that extends to the depth penetrated by the sunlight. The profoundly zone is the deep, open water where is too dark for photosynthesis. Then benthic zone is the lowest part of the lake where mos tly decomposer and detritus feeders are located. 16. The three types of lakes are the oligarchic (poorly nourished) lake, atrophic well nourished) lake, and the mesospheric (middle) lake. 17. Surface water is the water which doesn't seep into the ground or evaporate.Runoff is surface water once it flows into streams. A watershed is a land area that delivers runoff, sediment, and dissolved substances to a stream. The floodplain zone is generally populated by cold-water fish. The transition zone is inhabited by producers and cool- and warm-water fish species. The floodplain zone is populated by producers such as algae, contractible, and rooted aquatic plants along the shore. 18. Inland wetlands are lands covered with freshwater all or part of the time.Marshes, swamps, prairie potholes, floodplains, and arctic tundra in the summer are examples of inland wetlands. Seasonal inland wetlands are wetlands that are only covered by water during certain times of the year. 19. Dams, diversions, and canals fragment 40% of the world's 237 large rivers. Flood control methods built along rivers alter and destroy aquatic habitats. Cities and farmlands add pollutants and excess plant nutrients to nearby streams and rivers. Many inland wetlands have been drained or filled to grow crops or have been covered with concrete, asphalt, and buildings.

A Man’s Character Is His Fate to What Extent Is Othello’s Own Character?

‘A man’s character is his fate. ’ To what extent is Othello’s own character the cause of his downfall? According to Aristotle’s Poetics, a classical tragic hero should be renowned and prosperous, superior in some specific way, so that the reversal of fortunes or downfall, stirs up feelings within the audience of a greater intensity. Such disastrous results are often triggered by the mistake of the tragic hero due to their tragic flaw or hamartia, which is often linked to hubris or excessive pride.In Shakespeare’s Othello, as a General of the Venetian army, Othello meets these criteria, as his mistake is to trust ‘honest Iago’ and convince himself that revenge upon Desdemona will lead to honour and success. In fact, as with most tragic heroes, it is this decision which leads to his destruction. However, it is important to consider whether Othello’s ruin was the inevitable result of the defects in his character or whether the re were other forces, outside of his control, which led him to his doom.If it is solely Othello’s hamartia which leads to his downfall, then it must be related to the change in his perception of Desdemona. In Act 1, when warned by Brabantio that Desdemona may also deceive Othello, Othello retorts passionately: ‘My life upon her faith! ’ The exclamation here demonstrates the dedication and trust that Othello feels towards his new wife, but by Act 3, Othello is already beginning to doubt her: ‘By the world,/ I think my wife by honest, and I think she is not’ (3. 3. 389).Shakespeare’s use of cosmic imagery when Othello swears illustrates the magnitude of Othello’s resentment at his own hesitation, as his judgement is usually impulsive, as in Aleppo, (5. 2. 361) when he knew immediately to ‘smote him thus’, as he was certain of his enemy, but in this case, doubt has impaired his vision and he is unsure who to trust: his new wif e or ‘honest Iago’. Othello’s peripeteia occurs when he decides to trust Iago; however, the audience are surprised at this decision, as it is unclear what has changed his perception of Desdemona so that he condemns her as ‘that cunning whore of Venice’ (4. . 88). Some critics are of the opinion that it is jealousy that has clouded his judgement thus, and argue that this must be his hamartia. However, it is equally possible that Shakespeare has given Othello the ‘fitness of character’ that Aristotle stated was an important feature of a tragic hero, as his true hamartia may be his value of the honour-shame culture which existed among European Elizabethan warriors, and is linked to the hubris common in tragic heroes.It can be argued that the shame induced by the idea of his wife’s unfaithfulness results in his downfall, which Shakespeare expresses through animalistic imagery: ‘I had rather be a toad/ And live upon the vapour of a dungeon/ Than keep a corner in the thing I love/ For others’ uses’. Therefore, Desdemona’s murder becomes an act of sacrificial love: ‘A murder which I thought a sacrifice’ (5. 2. 64) as he feels that ‘else she’ll betray more men. Perhaps it is for this reason that, in his death scene, Othello says: ‘For naught I did in hate, but all in honour’ (5. 2. 301) and calls himself ‘An honourable murderer’. Either way, possible flaws like these suggest that Othello’s downfall was his own doing as such traits may have driven him to trust Iago and murder Desdemona, actions which in his anagnorisis led to extreme suffering, and caused him to commit suicide. Alternatively, Othello’s impulsive and passionate nature could also have contributed to his downfall, as this may have been his hamartia.This would fit the necessary ‘consistency’ outlined by Aristotle, as the same passion and instantaneou s response can be found in his reaction to Brabantio in scene 1 as in the later scenes, in his immediate reaction to Iago’s suggestive statements. At first Othello responds calmly: ‘Why dost thou ask? ’But the more evasive Iago is of such questions, the more it riles Othello and Shakespeare uses cosmic imagery when Othello swears such as ‘By heaven, I’ll know thy thoughts’ to demonstrate the value that Othello assigns to Iago’s opinions.When Iago eventually suggests that Desdemona is dishonest, Othello trusts Iago to ‘Give [him] the ocular proof’ (3. 3. 361), and some critics may argue that this rash decision to trust Iago is proof that Othello is impulsive, causing him to make foolish decisions. It is for this reason that he accepts Iago’s story of Cassio’s dream as the ‘ocular proof’ even though Iago admits ‘’Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream’; Othello immediately reacts: ‘I’ll tear her all to pieces! ’ (3. 3. 433).Shakespeare then uses dark and malignant imagery to show Othello’s passionate rage with phrases such as ‘Arise black vengeance’ and ‘tyrannous hate! ’ Such imagery would have been significant to an Elizabethan audience, as they considered the colour white to symbolise purity and goodness, whereas black had strong connotations of the devil, evil and uncleanness, thus highlighting the wickedness in Othello’s disposition. Therefore, this can be used as evidence that Othello was only convinced byIago’s improbable suggestions because he was led by passion and impulse, being ‘Perplexed in the extreme’ by rage, instinctively trusting Iago. The motif of blood that Shakespeare includes supports this: ‘O, blood, blood, blood! ’ (3. 3. 452) as it has connotations of violence, therefore foreshadowing the violence of the final act, in which the motif is repeated by Desdemona: ‘Some bloody passion shakes your very frame’ showing the connection between Othello’s hamartia and Desdemona’s murder.On the other hand, it can be argued that Othello’s downfall was not his own doing. In Act 3 scene 3, Shakespeare first suggests that Othello truly doubts Desdemona when he says, ‘And yet how nature erring from itself-’ (3. 3. 229) because he thinks that being white, Desdemona would prefer a white man like Cassio to himself. Such racial insecurities are highlighted in Othello’s character throughout the play, and may be the reason behind the pains that he takes to impress people through his speech and experiences.However this line implies that Othello’s doubt in Desdemona were the result of racial insecurities, and whilst they could be singular to him, the prejudices that existed against ‘Moors’ in the Elizabethan era, and in the play suggest otherwise. Queen Elizabeth com plained in 1601 of the â€Å"great numbers of Negars and Blackamoors which are crept into this realm,† 1 a feeling also expressed in the play when Othello is condemned as an ‘old black ram’ (1. 1. 89) and a ‘Barbary horse’ (1. 1. 111). Such animalistic metaphors emphasise the low opinion that Elizabethans had of ‘Blackamoors’, which may have been the root of Othello’s downfall.Similarly, the unconventionality of Othello’s marriage to Desdemona rebelled against Elizabethan ideology, being ‘contrary to nature’ as critic Karen Newman put it, which presented an obstacle in itself. Their marriage broke the natural order causing chaos and consequently, as in most tragedies, this chaotic force had to be destroyed for order to be restored. Such ideals may be evidence that the couple’s ruin was inevitable, as to an Elizabethan audience, they symbolised the unnatural, chaotic force which must be overthrown.Alterna tively, it is equally possible that although Othello had many flaws, it was Iago who acted as a catalyst by exposing them, thus causing Othello’s downfall. Shakespeare frequently alludes to this through recurring motifs which show Iago’s power of corruption, the first of these being poison. For example, when plotting, Iago refers to poison when he says: ‘I’ll pour pestilence into his ear’ (2. 3. 346), and then in the final scene, Lodovico summarises the 3 corpses as ‘poisons sight’, thus demonstrating the link between Iago’s manipulation and the plight of Othello and those around him.Shakespeare builds upon this manipulation through the motif of turning, as Iago vows to ‘turn her virtue into pitch’ (2. 3. 350), in the same way that Othello turns ‘Turk’ through the metaphor in his final speech, ‘an turbaned Turk†¦ traduced the state†¦ And smote him thus’ (5. 2. 349-52), and is evide nce of Iago’s success in turning Othello from a General into an enemy of ‘the state’. Similarly, the black and white imagery of ‘virtue’ and ‘pitch’ is repeated by Othello himself when referring to Desdemona’s reputation: ‘begrimed and black/As mine own face. However, ‘begrimed’ implies that both characters are stained, but as Desdemona is innocent, and Othello’s inherited ethnicity determines his skin colour, the simile could relate to Iago’s manipulation, and the darkness that he has brought upon the couple. This is mirrored by the transformation of Othello’s language: formerly grand verse depicting his former successes becomes sinister and dark, with animalistic imagery of goats, monkeys, toads, and poisonous snakes, and diabolic metaphors for Desdemona such as ‘fair devil’, which liken his language to that of Iago.These changes are evidence of the vital role of Iago in Othel lo’s downfall, suggesting that Othello’s flaws, although numerous, may not have been fatal. It is for this reason that the phrase ‘Perplexed in the extreme’ in Othello’s final soliloquy, can take on a double meaning, as although Othello’s passionate emotions of jealousy, rage, and shame clouded his judgement, Iago’s ability to manipulate, which Shakespeare has emphasised through his use of repeated motifs and imagery, could have been the other vital factor.It was this combination that influenced Othello to make the fatal and mistaken decision that Iago’s suspicions were correct and believe that his honour would be regained if he took vengeance upon Desdemona. Iago was only successful because of Othello’s hidden flaws, but equally Othello’s flaws were deeply buried within him, allowing him to become a General of the Venetian army, proving that they were not fatal, but aroused by skilful manipulators like Iago. 1584 words Bibliography †¢1 = http://www. suite101. om/content/elizabeth-i-motives-for-expulsion-of-blackamoors-from-london-a248507 †¢A. C. Bradley (1904) Shakespearian Tragedy, New York: Palgrave Macmillan †¢Beard & Kent (2008) AQA AS English Literature B, Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes †¢Marian Cox (2003) AS/ A-Level Student Text Guide, Othello, William Shakespeare Oxfordshire: Phillip Allan Updates †¢http://www2. cnr. edu/home/bmcmanus/poetics. html †¢http://www. britaininprint. net/shakespeare/study_tools/race. html †¢William Shakespeare (2003) Othello Edited by Norman Sanders Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Prospects for the Measurement and Management Essay

Research Assessment Exercise is an exercise that is carried out at an interval of about five years aimed at evaluating the quality of research that is undertaken by British higher education institutions. The exercise is undertaken basically on behalf of the four United Kingdom funding councils of the higher education. The research Excellence Framework came as a successor to the Research Assessment Exercise as a method of assessing the research of British higher education institutions. As a mew framework it is expected to produce a robust indication of research excellence for all disciplines following the failures of its predecessor. Both have faced much criticism from scholars who feel that the mode of operation of these assessment exercises is not standard and is marred with misleading information that has grave consequences to the value of higher education n the country. How they operate Research Assessment Exercise uses specialists in the particular fields of research to make submissions to the councils that are ranked by the review panel. The assessment process places much emphasis on the quality of research outputs which includes the papers published in academic journals as well as conference proceedings. The process of assessment also takes into consideration the environment on which the research was carried out as well as indicators of esteem. Each discipline of study that the research is based on has a panel that is well vast with that discipline that determines the rules that will be used as the general guidelines of the assessment exercise. The institutions are also invited to submit their research outputs that are published over a given period. The Research Assessment Exercise takes into consideration the research outputs made by full time members of staff in the research that have been selected for the inclusion. The Research Excellence Framework came as a successor to the Research Assessment Exercise that had highly been criticized by academics in the United Kingdom. It substituted Research Assessment Exercise as a method of assessing the research carried out by British higher education institutions. As a new assessment strategy it is aimed at producing an indication of research excellence in higher education institutions that is robust and can be used as a benchmark quality adjacent to international standards. It also aims to provide a basis that can be used in the distribution of funds to research institutions reducing the administrative burden on institutions. It aims to avoid creating an undesirable behavioral incentive and promote equality and diversity by providing a stable framework on which there will be continued support of a world-leading research foundation within higher education institutions. Both are considered important based on their operations in the society. This is based on the fact that they give insight to the funding councils on the way that they will fund the higher education institution based on the credibility of the research of each institution. They as well show the excellence of the different higher education institutions which helps the public in monitoring the progress of the education institutions in the country (Business Video News, 2010). Criticism The Research Assessment Exercise has highly been criticized on the basis of the fact that happens to ignore the publications made by many full time researchers in the United Kingdom. This has been attributed to the fact that most of these researchers whose publications are ignored are employed on basis of contracts that have a fixed term. The guidelines made by Research Assessment Exercise of the year 2008 attribute that most research assistants are not eligible to be attributed as research active staff (Andrew, 2008). It also excludes the publications made by researchers on fixed term contracts from the assessment exercise unless they can be credited to a staff member who is eligible for the assessment exercise. Criticism has also been raised on the expertise of the panel to evaluate the quality of the research outputs. This is on the basis of the fact that the performance of experts happens to be less when they work in fields that are outside their specific areas of specialization. The Research Assessment Exercise has also been criticized on the basis of the impact that it has on the institution of higher education. This is based on the outcomes of the assessment exercise that have led to the closure of departments that have strong research profiles as well as adequate student recruitment. This has led to massive loss of jobs, demoralization of staff as well as narrowing of the opportunities of research over concentrating funds leading to the undermining of the relationship between teaching and research. The assessment exercise has been criticized as an exercise that has the impact of destruction of the higher education system in the United Kingdom raising its opposition by academics. The criticism to both Research Assessment Exercise and Research Excellence Framework has highly been centered on the fact that the research that is made by the higher education institutions is usually rewarded on the basis of the economic impact that it has. This has been based on the idea that these research assessment exercises assess the research made by the institutions and rank them on the basis of the economic impacts that their research outcomes have on the economy of the country (Chanson, 2007). Based on the economic impact of their research, the institutions are then funded by the funding councils and this has raised much of the criticism. The basis of many academics opposing these assessment structures is the thought of the economic emphasis that is placed on their researches (Felipe, 2009). This has raised the high opposition of both assessment exercises by the academics on the basis that the exercises require them to place much emphasis on research that have an economic benefit. The argument of the academics is the fact the research assessment exercises focus their attention on one aspect of their research that is economic. The feel of the academics is that the assessment exercises are discriminatory on the basis that their attention is on the economic impact that the research has on the society rather than the significance of the research itself. This makes the academics have the idea that their field of research is compromised in the sense that they have to make research findings that have an economic benefit on the society. The indication that research proposals should indicate the economic impacts that the research has on the society has been viewed as a move that limits their scholarly freedom. This is on account of the fact that the indication of the economic impact of the research limits the field of the research. This is on account of the fact that it creates a bias situation in which the researchers are bound to give improper reports on their research. This is in regard to Research Excellence Framework which has it that it will allocate a quarter of United Kingdoms university research funding on the basis of the impact of the research (Andrew, 2009). This is viewed as to create a loophole in which higher education institution may carry out research with the aim of meeting the impact rather than the educational goal of the research. It is also viewed as a factor that has the potential of leading to mislead research reports that are geared at creating the economic impact targeted by the assessment exercises in order to get the funding. It is seen as a move that limits the freedom of education on the grounds that it seeks to appreciate education on the basis of its economic impact in the society (An open letter to Research Councils UK, 2009). This is on the basis that academic researchers are responsible for the impartial pursuit of knowledge a factor that is undermined by the recommendations made by Research Excellence Framework. This is seen as a limitation in the field of education on the grounds that it interferes with the policy making in the scientific field. This is viewed to have the impact of limiting success in the scientific field on the basis that the freedom of research has been tampered with. This has led to academics opposing the assessment exercises feeling that they limit their freedom of pursuit of knowledge. This is on the grounds that it limits their field of research on the basis that they have to direct their research in a way that they have an economic benefit in the society. The limit is on the basis of the fact that science is a global discipline that has held non-interference policies that have led to the discovery of many important aspects in the field that have had much significance in the human life. The recommendation by the assessment exercises are viewed as a devastating move in the sense that some of the research made must not have an economic benefit in the society but may have massive impact in the society. This creates a situation in which the researchers cannot make some of their research reports owing to the fact that they do not have an economic benefit in the society. The scientific research has also been known to make findings that are hard to predict on the basis that their impact depend on certain factors that may change over time. This creates an uphill task for the researches on the account that they have to calculate the economic impact of their research that is at times dependant of the way that the research is applied in the society. The economic impact that is taken into consideration is also hard to determine as well as measure. This is based on the fact that there has not yet been an invention made that can be used in the determination as well as measurement of the economic impact that something has in the society (Jessica, 2009). This creates a situation in which what is considered as the economic impact is an assumption that is bound to change depending on factors that surround the operation of the research. The measurement of the economic impact that the findings have in the society is the main point of argument based on the fact that it is hard for this impact to be accurately measured. This raises a question of the criteria in which the assessment exercises use in the calculation of the economic impact that the reports from the research have in the society. The basis of argument is the fact that a clear calculation cannot be easily made raising concerns over the criteria that is used by the panel in the determination of this. This creates a situation in which the assessment panel is viewed as biased on account of the fact the economic impacts made are assumption thus the firm seen as to favor the research of the academics that they have interest in. The fact that academics are opposed to the assessment exercises does not necessarily mean that they are no longer to be managed. This is due to the fact that lack of their management can lead to the misuse of the funds allocated to them as well as carrying out of unwanted research that has less significance. This calls for the need of their management as a move that is aimed at their regulation as well as monitoring their activities. However, the management ought to be in a systematic way that does not limit their freedom of pursuit of knowledge. This is based on the fact that poor management strategies can be applied leading to the destruction of the learning process that is accompanied with the academics. The management ought to be directed on the distribution of the funds as well as monitoring the usage of the funds. This is aimed at avoiding embezzlement of the funds as well as the use of the funds in projects that are of less significance to the goal of academics. The management ought to give freedom for research based on the fact that academics are aimed at acquiring knowledge and this can only be achieved with the freedom to carry out research on any field. This is despite the impact that their findings have in the society and this should not be used as the basis of their funding. Some of the research is significant to the life of human beings but may not have economic significance which can not be used as the basis of funding academic research. Academic research is really a matter of serendipity on the basis that serendipitous discoveries play a significant role in the advancement of science. This is based in the fact that they offer a foundation on which important intellectual leaps of understanding are made. This is based on the fact that accidental discoveries reveal information that when contemplated can be developed into an important scientific discovery (Science Daily, 2009). Conclusion The assessment plan is an important idea that helps the public in the monitoring of the way the higher education institutions utilize the funds allocated to them by the funding councils. It also plays an important role in helping the public monitor the activities of the higher education institution so as to tell their progress in the pursuit of knowledge. However the criterion that has been used by the assessment exercises RAE and REF have been discriminatory and not beneficial to the academics leading to the destruction of the research activities of these higher education institutions. This is based on the fact that they lay much emphasis on certain aspects of the research such as their economic impacts which offers misleading information to the funding councils. This has raised the criticism that the exercises have faced from the academics. The measurement of the economic impacts of the research has also raised concern questioning the criteria used by the panel to determine the economic impact. This is based on the fact that there is no known criterion that can be used in the determination of this aspect of research findings that is used in the assessment exercise. Bibliography Andrew M. (2008). The researchers the RAE forgot. Viewed August 1, 2010 from Andrew O. (2009). REF should stay out of the game. Viewed August 1, 2010 from An open letter to Research Councils UK. (2009). Only scholarly freedom delivers real ‘impact’ 1. Viewed August 1, 2010 from Business Video News. (2010). David Willetts announces review of the impact requirement in the Research Excellence Framework. Viewed August 1, 2010 from Chanson, H. (2007). â€Å"Research Quality, Publications and Impact in Civil Engineering into the 21st Century. Publish or Perish, Commercial versus Open Access, Internet versus Libraries? † Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, NRC, Vol. 34, No. 8, pp. 946-951 Felipe F. (2009). Poisonous impact. Viewed August 1, 2010 from Jessica S. (2009). Humanities research threatened by demands for ‘economic impact’. Viewed August 1, 2010 from Science Daily (2009). Accidental Discovery Produces Durable New Blue Pigment for Multiple Applications. Viewed August 1, 2010 from < http://www. sciencedaily. com/releases/2009/11/091116143621. htm>

Counsel's Advise on Evidence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Counsel's Advise on Evidence - Essay Example Admissibility is quality or character which any material presented in a court of law as evidence must possess before the same can be allowed to be to be introduced in court as evidence. The images and photographs in this case must possess the required qualities so that they can act as evidence in a court of law. In this computer era, the nature of photography is necessary to determine the applicable rules of evidence. The nature of photography may be either digital or analogue. But before going deeper into this it is important to know that there are two main requirements for acceptance of any form of photography as evidence. These are relevance and authentication. The rule of relevance is a general rule for admissibility in evidence and what amounts to relevance is determined at the discretion of each judge (Hugh, 2003, p. 67). A chain of custody which includes the chain of the undeveloped film will in some rare cases be required. In some other cases, where the photograph is offered for its truth and forms the basis of issue in the case, then the best evidence rule applies. However, the most important of all these requirements is authentication. The party who introduces any form of photography must be ready to testify that the photography is correct and accurate unless the piece of photography is accepted by stipulation of the parties. The concern of the solicitors in this case is on the surveillance and monitoring where the digital images can be processed with ease. Admissibility on the account of authenticity is an issue that needs to be addressed in this case. Digital images are stored in binary format in the memory of a computer.

Human origins, human problems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human origins, human problems - Essay Example The paper is summarized in a concluding paragraph and Harvard referencing style has been used properly. 2. Introduction to the Hobbit Before going into the details of the subject matter, let’s first get to understand what Homo floresiensis actually is. Homo floresiensis, literally meaning Man of Flores, was discovered by Michael Moore’s team at the Liang Bua cave1 on the island of Flores in Indonesia2 on September 2003. Nicknamed as the Hobbit, it is believed to be a species known for its small sized body and brain whose fossils, according to archeologists, have been found somewhere 38,000 to 18,000 years ago3. More specifically speaking, the size is said to be â€Å"only about 1 meter in height and fully bipedal, with a very small brain size of 417cc†4. Homo floresiensis may be called contemporaries of Homo sapiens. Scientists suggest that since it is usual that large mammals may exist on islands in their dwarf form, hence Homo floresiensis may also be a dwarf f orm of Homo erectus. Mayell5 states that the skulls of the tiny humans were the size of grapefruits and they lived on pygmy elephants, Komodo dragons, and big rats found on the island. 3. Homo Floresiensis (LB1) in Human Evolution 3.1. ... The found specimen, LB1, contains leg bones, hands, feet, pelvis, and other remains which are both primitive and derived. LB1 is said to be the fossil of an adult who might be the age of 30. An analysis of its pelvis revealed that it was the skeleton of a female. It would have been a bit larger on size if it was a male although all fossil found so far are of the same size as LB1. Since, the individual was of young age, the bones of the skeleton had not fossilized as yet and are reported to be in the consistency of mashed potatoes or wet blotting paper. The brain size is as small as 380cc that is a chimpanzee’s brain’s size. With the fossils of LB1, some stone tools were also found which a homini with such a small sized brain cannot make. Thus the tools are believed to be created by Homo sapiens. Anthropologists, for example, Peter Brown, Michael Morwood and their colleagues argue about LB1 that â€Å"it was contemporaneous with modern humans (Homo sapiens) on Floresâ⠂¬ 6. 3.2. Evolution Homo floresiensis are said to have evolved from Homo erectus and the result is a tremendous decrease in the body and brain size. Because of the reduced brain size, archeologists also suggest that the â€Å"floresiensis might actually have evolved from something smaller, such as the Dmanisi hominids found in Georgia, some of which have brain sizes between 600 and 700 cc, smaller than the 800-900cc typical of early erectus†7. Also, when stone tools were found on another location in Flores in 1998, it was said that these tools may be the creation of Homo erectus because these were the pre-sapiens hominids existing in Indonesia who are thought to have crossed the sea-passage that separates Flores from Java. Some archeologists believe that these

Ford Motors as the Best Company to Work with Essay

Ford Motors as the Best Company to Work with - Essay Example This research is being carried out to evaluate and present reasons why Ford Motors is the best. The company pays competitive salaries without delay. This is because the company always makes profits which it uses it to remunerate its employees. The minimum wage for the ordinary worker ranges from $1700 to $450k for the managers. Many people are seeking to be employed in an organization that makes profits and has increased sales. This is because their jobs are secured. The company makes profits through increased sales. Employees are motivated by the on the job training. This means that there is always an opportunity for the employees to have more knowledge. Employees are given incentives such as a provision of laptops for the jobs. They are also given some of the vehicles to use to cruise to their places of work.Houses are given free of charge once an employee. Extra hours are paid accordingly so as to encourage them to work extra hard. The promotion is given to hard work and performan ce. This encourages them to put more effort so as to perform so as to get the promotion. The company is also concerned of the employee through having health Insurance , pension plan, maternity and paternity leave and vacation & time off (sick days)

An Online Estate Agent in Saudi Arabia Research Proposal

An Online Estate Agent in Saudi Arabia - Research Proposal Example With every endeavour in this world calls for business opportunities, and since around the year 2000, online estate agents started to offer an option to the customary fee structure, maintaining cheaper, predetermined fee selling packages (Lecinski, 2012). These internet estate agents declare to grant private property vendors the capability of advertise their property through the leading property portals (the ideal medium utilised by customary high street estate agents) for a portion of the price of the customary estate agency. New-fangled models have been brought in, which applies digital media screens on behalf of the agents’ customary high street window (Lecinski, 2012). These screens permit these agents to convey their listings into a remote area where setting up a workplace might otherwise not be achievable. A report, in 2010, confirmed that online estate agents normally charge a fixed fee of  £400 to  £1,000, with others charging an extra commission on sales (Lecinski, 2012). Also, others charge extra fees for additional services like the supply of a "For Sale" post, professionally and efficiently taken photographs, as well as accompanied viewings. In Saudi Arabia, particularly, real estate is considered as one of the fastest growing businesses second to oil (Dabholkar & Overby, 2005). Financial experts argue that the construction of 500,000 housing units planned by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, at a price of SAR 250 billion, would assist ease real estate rents and prices. The newly developed mortgage law, as well as its executive bylaw, contain principles for real estate finance and growth and allow banking institutions to support real estate projects. Internet users in this country were last reported at 13,000,000 in 2011, according to a report by World Bank published in 2012 (Muhanna & Wolf, 2013). These are individuals with access to the worldwide web. Therefore, as the nation’s economy and internet user population continues to enhance rapidly, demand for house units will also continue to increase (Muhanna & Wolf, 2013). This opens a window of opportunities for realtors. So, if someone is short of business ideas, then online real estate investment should be considered. Aims and Objectives This dissertation will dwell on this business venture (online house agents) discussing the possible advantages of starting an online house agent website instead of using the customary method. The paper will incorporate sections such as aims and objectives, literature review, research methods and planning to execute the recommendations. This paper will adapt the Goggle and NAR (National Association of Realtors) study in order to come up with its findings. The goal is to assist the reader understand the growing role of digital media in the client home search procedure. It will uncover the trends, as well as insights, around digital media application amongst home shoppers, whether they were searching for home,

The impact of terrorism on tourism Dissertation

The impact of terrorism on tourism - Dissertation Example However, of late the terrorism activities have gained further dominance owing to its growing linkage to the tourism industry. Wilks, Pendergast and Leggat (2006) states in this regard that it is hard to uncover the reasons which have led to the growth of terrorism and its growing linkage to tourism activities. The tourism industry has become the target point for terrorism activities in the international scale owing to the slag of security and alertness. Tourists on tour tend to be remain undeterred about the surrounding environment being lost in the fun of holidaying which becomes the target point of terrorist to easily lay their grounds upon. Wilks, Pendergast and Leggat (2006) further observe that the rate of infiltration of terrorist in tourism centers has also another potential reason other than the lack of alertness of the tourists. The functions of tourism mainly occur along the principal trade routes of any region. Thus the terrorists feel that attack on such trade and economi c routes would help in disrupting the economic activities of the region. Thus terrorist attacks on tourism helps in jeopardizing the trade and economic operations of a region making it poor. ... The linkage of terrorism operations with tourism industries can also be observed to be a potential factor that enables the terrorist outfits to gain considerable publicity. Tourist centers being largely linked with market places helps the terrorist gain wide amount of publicity having conducted a large massacre of human lives and property. It helps them reach their demands to the eyes and ears of the higher authorities. Finally, Wilks, Pendergast and Leggat (2006) state that the nature of the functions of tourism industry being so diversified and spread across international borders that it becomes difficult to trace the movement of terrorists inside hotels and tourist areas. People from various nationalities clad in different type of outfits tend to regularly visit international tourist hotspots which being not closely monitored encourages militancy actions. (Wilks, Pendergast and Leggat, 2006, pp.82, 85-86). Types of Terrorist Activities across Tourism Centers The event of terrorism linked with tourism activities in order to succeed in their goals of spreading terror and panic in the regions takes to different forms of terrorist operations. In this regard, Henderson (2007) observes that terrorist outfits generally carry out a host of terrorist activities, which aims to take many lives in order to succeed in their mission of spreading terror. Different terrorist operations are planed out by the terrorist groups, which can take place individually or in particular assortments. The different activities, which are planned by the terrorist groups, include employment of suicide bombers to counter insurgency operations. The terrorist

Letter of explanation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Letter of explanation - Essay Example Coming from a family with such strong feelings about learning about languages, my chosen ESOL classes encompassed aspects related to reading, writing, grammar and speech. These classes were attended from basic to advanced levels to achieve a good command over the language. The field of study that has always attained my attention is business administration. I have always found myself inclined towards the study of interesting modes and processes of businesses that make only few of them different than the rest. This interest has evolved into a dream of acquiring a bachelor degree in the field of business administration. Upon my arrival in this country, I was aware of the fact that I would not be able to fulfill my dream of attaining the above stated degree in the absence of fluency in English. Therefore, the fulfillment of my dream to have a bachelor degree also provoked me to attend multiple ESOL classes in the beginning of my college career. After attending ESOL classes, I have sensed a great difference in my academic performance since I am able to comprehend the on-going lectures and class discussions in a better manner. My questions do not remain unanswered since I can frame my queries in a correct manner. Class discussions have gotten more interesting and make me learn many things that cannot be comprehended in isolation. I believe that my time spent in ESOL classes have proved to be an important factor in helping me attain good academic results and experience of a productive college career. Learning a new language does not only facilitate the effective acquisition of education in another country, it also helps the individual in mingling with the prevailing culture and norms of the society. Fluency in the language of the region tends to remove the communication barriers and helps in getting one comfortable with his new surroundings. This kind of psychological aspect has also been facilitated from

Settlements in the americas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Settlements in the americas - Essay Example One example of such explosion occurred in Jamestown in 1610. For three years after the arrival of the British in 1607, the Indians felt the newcomers were allies. All that changed in the winter of 1610 when starved British settlers raided the Powhatan tribe of their food. Within a few short months, the British occupying Virginia announced a declaration of war against the American Indians in the region. Eventually a peace treaty would be signed, but it was only to last for right years. Despite the peace treaty being struck, the American Indians remained bitter towards their British neighbors and continued to feel exploited. Additionally, overtime a strong sentiment developed amongst the Indians reflecting the feeling that their land had been taken from them. By 1646 the British had defeated the Indians following an all-out Anglo-Indian war. No one can deny the impact economics had on the British’s decision to first befriend and the eradication of the Indians. For the British, it was largely about land. Land meant money and power. However, this did not compute for the Indians because their concept of land remained very different. For the Indians, and unlike the British, land was not â€Å"private property.† In fact, the Indians had no concept of private property at all. In their view, the land belonged to all who occupy it and it should be treated with respect. Their fundamental inability to understand land in the same way as the British meant conflict was truly inevitable. However, land wasn’t solely used to justify violence against American Indians. The British also used religion to justify violence. In 1637 New England settlers committed the equivalent of a genocide against Pequot Indians. The British in charge of the attack claimed God favored their extermination of the Indians because they had previously killed settlers. According to the Indians, God not only accepted but encouraged the slaughter of Indians because they

Marketing Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 4

Marketing Management - Essay Example The planning process begins with an examination of the firm's internal and external entities creating a situation analysis. Based on a comprehensive review of these applicable issues, the firm establishes its operation, strategy, objectives, and more than a few functional plans. Planning efforts pertaining to each functional area will generate a strategic plan for that area. Although it is relevant to note that the processes apprehended with developing a customer-oriented marketing strategy and marketing plan, should pressure that firm to develop effective marketing plans that are conversant with the business's goals. It is therefore significant for every department to strategically set up its standards that will boost customer relations. Senior management must synchronize these functional plans in a way that will achieve a firm’s mission and business objectives. The Marketing Plan is a written document providing the layout of the firm’s marketing activities that involve execution and control of those proceedings. Promotion plans generate a number of purposes. For one, the marketing plan distinctively depicts how the firm will achieve its goals. This aspect of marketing planning is essential. In this sense, the marketing plan serves as the â€Å"roadmap† for executing the marketing strategy. Although the focus is on marketing planning and strategy, we cannot highlight enough that marketing decisions must be executed within the limits of the organization’s overall mission, goals, and objectives.

Should women in the military services be assigned combat duties Research Paper

Should women in the military services be assigned combat duties - Research Paper Example This paper supports women to be in military and fights against the laws kept across to prevent them from combat. People are trying their best to introduce women in combat, by according to the data taken during combat, majority of the death encountered during hostilities are of women. Even though, the paper supports women in combat, they are killed during the war. This paper explains two major factors that resulted to need of women in the forces. During a congress in the military service, they had problems recruiting and retaining a good number of qualified males, turning their attention into training women. The second thing was that there was a movement to have equal rights for women in the 1960s and 1970s. I will use this resource to will avail information in the paper regarding the movement that resulted to equal opportunity in jobs, including national defense and the removal of laws against them. Michele M, and Johnson D. Women in Combat compendium. Washington,DC: Government Print ing Office, 2012.Print. Michele and Douglas are in the U.S army college who conducted research for the army and the department of defense. This book explains the compendium requested by Colonel Putko for the support of a study based on women in combat. Douglas Johnson agreed but had to put a condition to monitor the women’s performance in the field. It is seen that the motion is one of the greatest emotion, and women wish to be part of the military. Research in the U.S army shows that approximately 15 percent are made up of women. This paper still indicates that it is impossible to apply rules that exclude women from combat due to the current battlefield. Enforcing the laws result to the reduction of combat capabilities, putting down the professional development of women and bringing on a serious reduction of readiness during warfare. The two major points supporting the combat of women is that, the combat nature has changed and the rules that were earlier enforced do not fit in the current situation. There is no doubt that women can perform their duties in the combat situation, apply self-defense with great skills, which in essence, is equal to the male comrades. I will use this resource to provide the paper with details on the importance of women on combat duties. Solaro E. Women in the Line of Fire. Emeryville,CA: Seal Press, 2006. Print. This book truly explains the facts of women in combat that was fought in the history of America. Success is shown in women in ground combat after a success in their mission, despite their exclusion. It is inevitable for the U.S to lack tactical and clear frontline women to engage with Iraqi women during the war. The book shows gender discrimination in the military and the government as there is a different in what women are supposed to do and what they are doing. The women capabilities in combat are assumed rather than being assessed. Leadership diversity should be encouraged where women are integrated in all sectors of the military, to make an effective military. Women who have participated in combat services should be recognized, but the bans prevent them from being rewarded materials of combat veterans. Repealing the law put up to prevent women from combat is very necessary for gender equality. Both male and female should be given equal opportunity in combat. In the ranks, distribution women are offered the lowest ranks,

New technology development in the primary sector Assignment

New technology development in the primary sector - Assignment Example oned activities, the packaging and processing of raw materials associated with these sectors is also considered to be a component of the primary sector. In developed and developing nations, a decreasing percentage of workers are employed in the primary sector either directly or indirectly. For instance, around 30% of the U.S labor force is involved in primary sector activity at the moment, compared to more than two-thirds in the mid-19th century. Without even knowing it, everybody comes into contact with the products of the primary sector every day. From the food we eat for breakfast, to the train we take to work, each and every part of our day contains things made from products of the primary sector (Peng 2009, pg. 12). Apart from extracting and processing raw materials, the primary sector is also involved in the creation of the basic materials for use in other sectors. For instance, growing and harvesting cotton which can then be turned into clothes which we wear every day, or bags for carrying luggage from the market, or when travelling. In summary, the primary sector produces goods which we cannot do without. Goods which we need to survive and operate, hence the â€Å"primary† part of its name. The terms research and development (R&D) and their synonyms are usually used co-terminously when referring to them in many contexts, and almost as interchangeable terms in some contexts. Terms applied in such close proximity to each other deserve a closer semantic analysis and should also attract interrogation from professional subjects involved with regard to not just their relationship to each other, but also their individual value to several contexts in regard to the quality of evidence that each offers. Research is the first step in new technology development. It starts with a problem and collects, records and tests data to develop a remedy. On the other hand, development involves working out the details of the solution, such as what materials for construction are

The consequences of child abuse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The consequences of child abuse - Essay Example Even though there are rules that are at protecting children, child abuse is still an enormous issue that plagues our future generation. Child abuse negatively affects the physical, mental, emotional and sexual condition of a child. However, there are solutions that are devised to fight child abuse. This article will scrutinize the various forms of child abuse and the solutions that can help solve this issue (Crozier, Hopper and Kolk, 2013). Child abuse can be in different forms. One of the most common child abuse methods is through physical abuse. Physical child abuse is the most noticeable form of child abuse. Physical child abuse is as the tangible harm caused by physical molestation of a child. Physical injury can be enacted by kicking, biting, caning or even burning a child. Physical molestation can also be brought about by use of the improper discipline of a kid. For example, if a parent regularly punishes his/her child using violent methods that entail excessive caning or any other form of physical harm, then the parent has physically hurt his/her child. According to the USDHHS (United States Department of Health and Human Services), inappropriate discipline was the number one cause of physical abuse among children in the year 2007. It is not parents alone that can physically harm children. Children, especially in developing countries can suffer from physical molestation by other adults like teachers. Most develo ping countries lack the legal framework in terms of rules and regulations that protect the children. Consequently, children are brutally disciplined in school and left with physical injuries. Some societies still dwell in the age that believed in the adage ‘spare the rod, spoil your child’. Often, most parents in these societies excessively punish their children. Physical child abuse can be detected by noticing physical injuries like cuts, bruises and broken bones (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). Another

Currently Ethical Issue in Business Research Paper

Currently Ethical Issue in Business - Research Paper Example This has mainly emanated from the absence of transparency, consistency; accountability, coupled with institutional weaknesses within judicial and legislative systems have been a primary cause of corruption within companies. The paper explores ethical challenges associated with corruption and bribery in business. Business ethics has overtime attracted significant interest partly owing to the perception of crude capital tendencies, which elevate the making of profits relative to ethical making of such profits. The realization of corporate goals and objectives necessitates that business managers design relevant policies and strategies, which enable them to attain the set objectives and cope with the overriding business environment. Nevertheless, some of the corporate policies may offend ethical sensibilities (Trevino & Nelson, 2011). Background Corruption is a complex phenomenon covering a wide range of and its origin lies deep within political and bureaucratic institutions. Although, t he costs of corruption may differ and systemic corruption may be accompanied by sound economic performance, studies on corruption demonstrates that corruption is bad for development. Bribery represents one of the core tools of corruption and can be employed by businesses as a mode of â€Å"buying† things availed by governments or other entities such as contracts, government incentives, lower taxes, legal outcomes, and licenses (Myint, 2000). Ordinary business practices when abused can be construed as corrupt payments. Bribery and corruption in companies limits competition, corrupts the society, and damages innovation. In most cases, â€Å"corrupt† and â€Å"illicit† can be employed interchangeably, which implies that corrupt behavior contravenes a principle of legality; nevertheless, not all illegal behavior is corrupt and not all corrupt behavior can be deemed as illegal (Kochan & Goodyear, 2011). Transparency International differentiates forms of corruption by motive, whereby corruption behaviors injurious to the firm can be labeled as dysfunctional corruption while that beneficial to the firm can be labeled as functional corruption (Myint, 2000). Such a distinction is relevant when discussing international business and corruption given that some acts such as bribes and kickbacks may enable the firm to operate profitably, especially in the short-term (Loughman & Sibery, 2012). Discussion The World Bank estimates that close to 0.5% of GDP is lost via corruption each year. Bribery is mode common form of corruption, which creates a leeway where organized crime can flourish, corroding of trust in institutions, and undermining the rule of and democratic practices. Corruption can be highlighted as endemic within emerging economies causing chaos in economic development. In recent years, there has been a surge in high-profile cases of corporate corruption and bribery, which have given rise to colossal fines for companies engaged in corruption su rpassing $ 1 billion and increasing diplomatic tensions between countries. In response to increasing incidences on corruption, the U.S. Justice Department has increased prosecutions of alleged acts of foreign bribery by U.S. corporations. For instance, in 2009, over 120 companies were under investigation representing a stark contrast from what was happening in the previous years. Recent trends toward vibrant enforcement of

Assisted Suicide Essay Example for Free

Assisted Suicide Essay Have you ever heard a grown man cry; a cry so loud that you can hear and feel the pain within his voice? No, well it happens daily, here in the United States. There are thousands of people that are going through so much suffering that pain killers are like putting a band aid of a bullet wound. As hours pass the wound is getting bigger and the band aids are helping less and less. Most of these people just want a release, but even professionals cannot grant that request. Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) is a controversial topic which is debated on through out the world. PAS) is a process where a doctor or nurse gives a lethal injection of medicine to a patient in need. But since this procedure is illegal, doctors are not allowed to aid an individual that is seeking a final release. This is the reason why terminally ill patients around the country are constantly tormented with pain and agony past their will. Assisted Suicide should be legalized in the United States because it will lead to less pain and suffering, less financial problems, and more time for the doctors and the patient’s family to get past this tragic event. The history of assisted suicide is neither lengthy nor complex. Aided suicide has origins tracing all the way back to around the fourth century, when scholars estimate the Hippocratic Oath, an ethical vow taken by doctors, was written (Liecht). Part of the Oath states, â€Å"I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan† (Picket). What this statement is saying is that doctors are not legally or morally allowed to assist a terminally ill patient end his or her life. Within the last thirty years, however, instances of physician assisted suicide have been showing up all over the world. In 1997, Oregon created the â€Å"death with Dignity† law that â€Å"allows terminally ill patients to commit suicide with lethal doses of prescribed medication (Picket). â€Å"At least now theres a discussion around end-of-life care and what people want, and making sure they have access to hospice† (Dr. Hedberg). â€Å"People are talking to their physicians about being in pain. That dialogue has been improving in the state. I dont want to say that its because we have the law. However, over the past 10 years, it has opened people up to thinking about end-of-life care and palliative care as an important aspect of medical care† (Dr, Hedberg). So as years pass more and more terminally ill patients ask for the â€Å"end-of-life care† because of the pain and suffering they have to go through daily. Individuals that are at the end of their lives should have a voice to whether or not they should live painfully or die peacefully on their own terms. Everyday in the United States people decide to take their own lives so they do not have to go through sever problems health wise. For example, take the story of Edward Downes and his wife, Joan Downes was a successful maestro. He conducted the BBC Philharmonic and the Royal Opera when he was at his prime. In her prime, his wife had been a ballet dancer, as well as a choreographer. Recently, however, he had become nearly blind and his hearing was deteriorating very rapidly. Joan, his wife, had recently been diagnosed with cancer. Instead of living out the rest of their lives in pain and with the burden of the worsening medical conditions, the pair chose to use physician assisted suicide. The couple’s children were supportive and stated, â€Å"After 54 years together, our parents died peacefully and under circumstances of their own choosing† (Sciutto). Nine hundred and ? ty six usable responses relating to physician assisted suicide (PAS) and 957 in relation to family assisted suicide (FAS) were available. 84% of respondents supported legalization of (PAS) and 54% legalization of (FAS). This compares with 75% in favor of legalization of (PAS) in the US in 1994 and 73% in Australia in 1995 (O’Neil, Feenan, Hughes). These statistics are stating that the majority of the population that was given these questions believes that if assisted suicide were performed that they would want a professional performing this task. Conversely, there are many barriers in making decisions about death among family members, including culture, education, knowledge of the health care system, and the delegating of all decisions entirely to the family (Haley). A family member of a patient stated that all she wanted was â€Å"another sane adult’ who could â€Å"talk in terms†¦that removed the taboo from the processes by giving a real clear picture of possible approaches without advocating [PAS]† (Spigel). It is obvious that no relative would want to let a member of the family pass away without doing what ever is possible, so that the patient has every fighting chance to pull through. So the burden ways equally on the family, if not, more, because when it comes to assisted suicide grieving will last longer than pain every time. Once the procedure has taken place, the family members are the ones who have to take care of the patient after they are diseased. Along with pain and suffering, money is another aspect that needs to be taken into onsideration when the discussion of Physician Assisted Suicide comes up, in an unfortunate conversation. Every year more and more people are diagnosed with terminal illnesses, and the financial toll of the medical bills that are increasing rapidly and the burden falls mainly on the loved ones of the patient. These high medical costs must be borne by the patient, the patient’s family, or the society to prolong life. Thus, the decision to not prolong death could be beneficial to all parties involved (Chan and Lien). The longer the families hold off on their decision, the longer the hospital bill will be. Therefore the benefit of euthanasia is to avoid the realization of the negative cash flows (Chan and Lien). The older a person gets the easier it is to get seriously injured, so elderly people are more of a risk, and less of an award when they have to undergo medical procedures that might or might not save their lives. These trends will be cause for concern. Those elderly and infirm, who must rely on family and friends for care, feel particularly guilty about placing an extra financial burden on their loved ones (Odone). The elderly, as a group, have lower income and are more likely to suffer medical conditions that require a large sum of money to cure or manage (Chan and Lien). This fact alone displays the benefits of having Physician Assisted Suicide as an option that is available at all times. So if someone over the age of sixty gets hurt or injured within your family, most of those expenses are coming out of your pocket. Most of this care is still provided by relatives and friends, while state financed care is available only for those with low incomes. As a result, many pensioners are forced into selling their houses if they move into a nursing home, where the average cost is higher than what a majority of the people with medical problems have the ability to make. Some 2. 5 million elderly live below the poverty line (Odone). Denote Vt as the benefit of euthanasia at the time when terminal illness is diagnosed. Vt includes the cost of continued treatments avoided and the pain and suffering associated with the terminal illness that can also be avoided with euthanasia (Chan and Lien). The t in Vt represents time, so as t goes up the value of Vt goes down. The shorter time it takes an individual to react to the unforgiving reality of terminal illnesses, the better off the patient and the patient’s family will be. So if anyone is considering Physician Assisted Suicide, it would be more beneficial to them if they would go through with procedure sooner than later. The disadvantaged are also hit by today’s recession, when euthanasia may be seen as a cost-effective way to treat not only the terminally ill but all those who require extra care and assistance, including the elderly (Odone). Even though euthanasia is cheaper than keeping someone in the hospital, make sure that your situation is necessary for this process. So if euthanasia is available to you, do it for the right reason instead of thinking that is an easy way out. Consider the view point of a person that has a grandmother that was just diagnosed with a terminal illness. At first you will do what ever it takes to get your grandma back to tip top shape. But as time goes on, her situation is progressively getting worst and so are those bills that are stacking up on your kitchen counter. All of a sudden you have dug a hole so big finically that you can barely feed your family let alone yourself. So paving the way for the early and speedy exit of the elderly and the infirm can suddenly seem like a practical and inexpensive solution (Odone). Last but not least, the emotional aspect of assisted suicide is one of the most important contributions in the making of this decision. The emotions of the patient are the reason why the topic of Physician Assisted Suicide even comes up in a conversation. The mental mindset of the nurses and/or doctors is the reason why the procedure actually takes place. But the emotions of the patients’ loved ones will stay with them for as long as they will live. So the mindset of individuals called emotions are the reasons why (PAS) is needed and why it actually takes place. One doctor quoted a patient as saying, â€Å"I am going to come in and I am going to try to convince you. † Another doctor said, â€Å"I learned very quickly that the patient’s agenda is to get the medication. When I tried to talk them out of it, or to really assess their motivations, then they perceived me as obstructionist and became quite resentful of that (Stevens). The minds of the patients are made up. These unfortunate individuals are more concerned about relieving the pain and stress they have been going through, than to worry about the suggestions of others. If the patients don’t care about another person’s opinion on life decisions their life, then why should the government say that nobody can end their life early because of medical reasons? In a structured in-depth telephone interview survey of randomly selected United States oncologists who reported participating in euthanasia or (PAS), Emanuel reported 53% of hysicians received comfort from having helped a patient with euthanasia or (PAS), 24% regretted performing euthanasia or (PAS), and 16% of the physicians reported that the emotional burden of performing euthanasia or (PAS) adversely affected their medical practice (Stevens). An oncologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This observation of different doctors’ experience is stating that the majority of the doct ors feel better when they know that they helped a person in need. Dr. Linda Ganzini described the painful experience of two patients whom she [as the evaluating psychiatrist] disqualified for the option of Oregon’s assisted suicide law. She stated: â€Å"These disqualifications resulted in extraordinary pain and anger for both of the patients and their families, which interfered with much-needed opportunities to resolve other emotional issues (Stevens). † Although the mindset of a patient is not as clear as is would be if they were healthy, these individuals are still capably of thinking for themselves. But if the patient is not stable, the physician should consult with the family. But in this case, the doctor bypassed both the patient and the family’s choice when it came down to their daughters’ health. If both families agreed to have this procedure done on their loved one, then there should be not controversy with the decision by the doctor. Pain and anger is directed towards and felt by the evaluating psychiatrist. Such anger was energetically expressed by Kate Cheney, an Oregon PAS patient, whose evaluating psychiatrist told her, â€Å"You can’t make a decision for yourself and your life, because you are not in your right mind. † Kate Cheney’s angry response was â€Å"Get out of my house. I can’t believe you can tell me something like this (Stevens). † A psychiatrist is a doctor trained in the treatment of people with psychiatric disorders. This situation is another instant where the doctor denies a patient of Physician Assisted Suicide because the evaluating psychiatrist claims that the person in need is not mentally capable to determine if the illness is great enough to perform (PAS). The anger from Kate has carried on to her daughter. That shows that the patient, Kate, was mentally capable to express her anger enough that, the same emotion was cared on to another generation.

To Kill a Mockingbird - is a must see Essay Example for Free

To Kill a Mockingbird is a must see Essay To Kill a Mockingbird, is a story told through the eyes of a young girl named Scout Finch (played by Bailee Madison) who grows up in Alabama (Maycomb County) during the Great Depression when blacks and whites were very much segregated. The story revolves around the ideas of racism, poverty, ignorance and discrimination. Boo Radley(played by Guy Pearce) is the main source of Dill (played by Kenton Duty) Jem (played by Greg Sulkin) and Scout’s fascination because he is very withdrawn, which is very strange in Maycomb- where everybody knows everybody, because he is so reserved he is given a bad reputation of being mentally unstable. People discussed many rumors that are later proven to be completely false. Growing up in a town where everyone knows each other she and her brother, Jem Finch are hounded and taunted at school because their father, Atticus Finch (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) is an attorney who takes up a case in which an acquitted, Tom Robinson (played by Shemar Moore), a black man is accused of attacking a white girl. He’s up against the rooted racial power structure of the Old South, severe bans against interracial sex, as well as the pride of the girl’s disadvantaged and brutal family (The Ewell’s). Because their father is protecting a black man in a court of law, they are bullied at school and decide to watch the trial, realizing that their father isn’t the man they thought he was. Throughout the beginning of the story Jem and Scout see Atticus as a feeble man but during the trial they both get a newfound respect for their dad. Scout and Jem both recognize the strength in Atticus and the respect he commands of those around him. Little things like the mad dog and the way he handles himself in front of the mob at the jail make them realize how strong their father is regardless of physical age. Bob Ewell wanted to get revenge on Atticus for completely destroying his dignity during the hearing and to suffer during the post-trial period. Therefore, he wanted Atticus to experience the pain he felt. Hence, he attacked Scout and Jem, in the hopes of killing them. Boo Radley heard Jem scream and came outside immediately to help them. He grabbed a kitchen knife on the way out and stabbed Mr. Ewell up the ribs in attempt of saving Jem and Scout. To Kill a Mockingbird The scene I chose is the court scene because it symbolized life, or death to Tom Robinson. It also would affect the Finch’s because during that time people were narrow-minded and would see them as sympathizers to the blacks which was unheard of in a small southern town during the 1930’s.

Communication Strategies in Nursery Settings

Communication Strategies in Nursery Settings This essay will be exploring the importance of effective communication strategies within nursery settings; also highlighting potential barriers which could be faced by practitioners and managers. It will also be discussing the benefits of staff appraisals, along with implementation strategies for appraisals, grievance and disciplinary procedures. Employment processes will also be discussed within this essay, with particular reference to policies which must be in place within nurseries; in compliance with national standards. Effective management within a setting is important as â€Å"the quality of management is one of the most important factors in the success of any organisation† (Mullins, 2010, P.786). In order to become an effective manager background knowledge and understanding of certain areas is required. Communication takes place within the daily running of a nursery through many different forms, including; verbal and non-verbal communication. However communication may be misread by the receiver if the communicator’s facial expressions, body language or lack of eye contact is misleading; a good connection between the communicator and receiver is essential as it ensure the message is received correctly. Effective communication ensures good working practice and a welcoming atmosphere within settings for practitioners, children and parents. â€Å"Communication is therefore a central component of effective business operations† (Hargle, et al, 2004). Although managers must practice good communication skills with their staff team, it is a two-way process requiring all participants to effectively practice these skills; ensuring positive outcomes. However this is not always possible, as some participants are not always willing to listen to or accept others ideas or opinions. By becoming active listeners’ individuals are consciously practising effective listening skills and promoting good practice; however this may not always happen in daily practice, as the environment plays an important role in effective communication. If the setting is busy or not all members of staff are in the same area, communication would therefore be more difficult; resulting in some messages not being passed on or forgotten. There are three general categories for communication; aggressive, assertive and passive. Good managers and leaders aim to be assertive communicators, to ensure the goal is reached but also ensuring all parties feel valued. Whereas passive and aggressive communication are not effective forms of communication for leaders and managers; as passive communicators do not like to put their ideas forward and go along with others to avoid conflict. Aggressive communicators are â€Å"generally perceived as selfish and unwilling to compromise† (About.com, 2012). These will form barriers to effective communication as some recipients will not be willing to listen to aggressive communications, as they may feel they are being dictated to. The ability to guide practitioners through situations which may arise ensures effective leadership and positive outcomes for children. Although managers are required to implement new requirements, such as the reformed EYFS, many members of staff may not be comfortable with the change. â€Å"Effective leaders understand that any organisational change can have a major impact on the lives of those involved or affected by it† (Rood, 2006, P.186). The leadership continuum, developed by Tannenbaum and Schmidt, shows â€Å"a range of action related to the degree of authority used by the manager and to the area of freedom available to non-managers in arriving at decisions† (Mullins, 2007, P.372). Effective leadership empowers staff members to work towards a shared goal, achieving positive outcomes for children, practitioners and the setting. To achieve this, leaders must inspire others through positive role modelling, collaboration, open-ended conversation and encouragement. Isabelle Albanese’s 4 Cs of communication are comprehension, credibility, connection and contagiousness. â€Å"The 4Cs quickly provide a pocket tool to evaluate the effectiveness of every kind of communication† (PMP, 2014); ensuring communication is precise, understood, captivating and progressing in achieving goals. Therefore by using the 4 Cs managers and practitioners alike are able to focus on essential information within their communication, ensuring the effective running of the nursery. Appraisals are usually carried out within nursery settings on an annual basis, in order to discuss evaluate and track individual practitioner’s performance, progress and future ambitions; with particular reference to training needs and future professional targets. The appraisal form provides a documented account of what has been discussed by management and staff members, with a signed copy of individual action targets agreed by all parties involved in the process. It must also comply with the UK Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, which states that â€Å"It is unlawful to discriminate, harass or victimise job applicants, employees or trainees on the grounds of age† (Compact law, 1996-2014); all correspondence recorded in the appraisal process should not discriminate against the individual due to their age, race, religion or disability. Management training on how to deliver effective appraisal is beneficial as it ensures management are motivating their staff to reach their full potential; whereas ineffective appraisals will make practitioners feel demotivated in their job role. Effective appraisal systems must measure, debate and plan individual development and targets, generating useful feedback in both directions (Hay, 2008). Appraisals also offer practitioners the chance to voice their opinions and ideas on the running of the nursery; therefore managers must be open to ideas and opinions of their staff in order to maintain positive working relationships and improve their setting in the best interests of staff and children. Appraisals are a chance for both managers and practitioners to raise any concerns they may have over working practice, whilst also reflecting on their own performance within their role; both positive and negative. However some practitioners may see appraisals as a chance for management to be ne gative and list issues they may have; therefore it is essential for managers to take into account the views and opinions of practitioners, and offer constructive targets for improvements. â€Å"New staff should be given copies of policies and procedures as part of the induction process and given the opportunity to discuss them with their line manager† (Daly, et al, 2009, P.287).This should include the nursery’s appraisal policy, and should be easily accessible for practitioners to access when they require. The policy should clearly state what is expected from both practitioners and management during the appraisal process. Employees are often required to fill out an appraisal form prior to meeting with management, where they are able to reflect upon their own job performance. It is important for managers to provide practitioners with the last year’s appraisal, to allow them to reflect on whether they have achieved their own personal development targets; also giving them the chance to complete targets they may feel they haven’t achieved. However it could be argued that self-appraisal should be continuous practice throughout the year, in order to maintain high standards of care and learning for the children. â€Å"Self-appraisal should not only be seen as part of the appraisal process. It is also, in a more or less informal way, a regular feature of nursery work† (Sadek and Sadek, 2004, P.140). Performance appraisals are a good tool in identifying particular individuals who are progressing well in their job role, and who may be eligible to progress to the next pay and job level; within some bigger nurseries. They also prove worthwhile in motivating individuals within their role, through personalised discussion and development targets. â€Å"Managers of effective settings provide intellectual stimulation for their staff, along with respectful individualised support† (Miller, et al, 2012, P.288). Although the appraisal process provides a private personalised time where individuals are able to discuss their concerns with managers, it is important for managers to address any pertinent issues with staff as they arise. This therefore ensures that issues are resolves quickly and effectively, rather than being left to escalate. However this is not always possible within larger nurseries whether staff members do not always come into contact with management. Like the appraisal policy the disciplinary and grievances procedures must be clearly set out within a policy, and kept in an easily accessible place for employees to refer to as required. These procedures ensure the safety and protection of all staff in the setting; in accordance with the ACAS code of practice and current legislation, including the Employment Act 2008. They provide â€Å"clear and transparent structures for dealing with difficulties which may arise as part of the working relationships from either the employers or employees perspective† (CIPD, 2014). The policies should also set out what is expected from staff members, in relation to their conduct; therefore trying to avoid such issues; however this is not always possible. Issues which may arise include lateness, capability, bullying and performance of individual practitioners. Disciplinary and grievance procedures aim to deal with these issues in house, without the involvement of a tribunal. The three stages of the disciplinary procedure are as follows; issuing a letter to the employee, a meeting between management and the employee and then finally a chance for an appeal. The ACAS code of practice states that â€Å"employers would be well advised to keep a written record of and disciplinary or grievances cases they deal with† (ACAS, 2009, P.2). This is an important aspect of the procedure, as the records provide evidence in case the issue goes to an employment tribunal. Training is essential in order for management to conduct an effective disciplinary interview; â€Å"Having the appropriate training and knowledge enables you to be in control and manage any situations that arise† (Niched, 2012). Employees should be given advanced notice of the meeting in the form of a letter, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. All facts surrounding the case should be examined and investigated prior to the meeting, ensuring management are aware of all the facts. It is essential that another member of management records notes during the meeting, to guarantee that evidence is collected in case a tribunal is called. All parties involved must be able to put their side across, with plenty of time; this may include relevant witnesses to the case. In order for the manager to make an informed decision they must remain impartial during the meeting, then deliver the verdict to the employee in writing; along with information in case they wish to appeal the verdict. In conclusion to the interview the outcome may involve no action being taken, a warning being issued or the dismissal of the employee. The manager with decide which of these outcomes is appropriate due to the nature of the case; however they must be able to prove their decision is appropriate and reasonable. Instead of filing a formal procedure employees should be able to approach their managers on a daily basis to discuss any issues; however they may not always feel comfortable doing this. The employment of new staff within nursery settings follows three stages; advertisement, selection and recruitment and induction. Nurseries are required to have policies in place to reflect these stages, stating how they aim to employ high quality staff whilst maintaining equal opportunities for all applicants. The wide deployment of advertisements at the same time allows a wider range of applicants to apply for the job, with equal time to apply. The vacancy should be advertised to all areas of the community, which is essential to maintain equal opportunities. To select potential candidates from all the applications managers must review their curriculum vitae against the job description. This is an effective way to avoid discrimination, as they are not being deterred by race, gender or age; it is focussing on their individual skills and attributes, which are appropriate to the role. Having two members of management involved in selecting new members of staff promotes equal opportunities and avoids discrimination; all decisions should be recorded and delivered in writing. Settings must have an induction policy which clearly sets out how new staff will be introduced to the setting; effectively informing them of the daily running of the nursery and settling them into the environment. This should also include the new member of staff being given the nursery policies to look at, making them aware of the policies and procedures; also identifying children with particular needs or allergies. This is an effective tool during the induction as it avoids mistakes being made, for example a child with a dairy intolerance being given milk to drink by accident. In an ideal world the shadowing of a current member of staff would provide the new employee with a mentor and a chance to familiarise themselves with the daily running of the setting. However this is not always the case or possible within settings, as due to the busy nature of the environment existing staff members may not have the time to show them certain things; resulting in the new employee not gaining the relevant knowledge needed. The staff development policy must take into account the ever changing needs of the children in the setting, as well as the changes in legal requirements; such as the reformed Early Years Foundation stage. The key elements of effective practice (KEEP) states that effective practitioners must have, â€Å"knowledge and understanding in order to actively support and extend children’s learning in and across all areas and aspects of learning† (Surestart, 2005, P.3). Individual staff personal development plans identify the training needs of individuals, ensuring they receive this training is essential as high quality care and education is important in ensuring positive outcomes for all children. â€Å"Effective practice in the early years requires committed, enthusiastic and reflective practitioners with a breadth and depth of knowledge, skills and understanding† (Wilcock, 2012, P.50). The settings promotion policy should clearly set out how promotions will be identifie d and given at appropriate times, in accordance with the recruitment policy and equal opportunities; staff appraisals also help to identify potential candidates for promotion. In conclusion effective communication is essential within nursery settings to ensure the smooth daily running of the setting, whilst also achieving the highest outcomes for children. There are many potential barriers to effective communication, which must be overcome by all practitioners to maintain effective practice, and positive working environments. Appraisals are an important factor within staff development as they identify positive aspects of practice, whilst also identifying improvement targets; improving the environment and care of the children. Disciplinary and grievance procedures must be carried out effectively in order to resolve issues quickly and appropriately, within the best interests of all involved. The employment of new staff should reflect equal opportunities, whilst retaining high quality staff appropriate to the role.