What are the impacts of tourism in a selected region of the UK?

Tourism is the industry that looks after the needs and welfare of tourists and provides the things that help them travel to places where they can relax and enjoy themselves. I am studying both the positive and negative impacts of tourism on the Lake District because the Lake District is being overwhelmed with tourists each year but without the income that tourism generates the Lake District wouldn't survive. The Lake District is one of 15 National Parks across the UK which has 2 main purposes. – To enhance and preserve the natural beauty of the landscape. – To provide a place for recreation and enjoyment. A third aim is; – To protect the social and economic well being of people who live and/or work in the National Park. The positive impacts of tourism are associated with the economy and employment. Tourism can also start off a cycle known as the positive multiplier effect; the tourism industry locates in an area which provides jobs for locals. This gives workers more money to spend and so more local shops open and more jobs are created and so on and so on. But as well as positive impacts, there are also many negative impacts of tourism. The first is footpath erosion. This occurs when people (tourists in this case) are walking along a footpath, as they do they wear away the vegetation which loosens the soil and exposes the soil to the elements. Then when it rains the footpath becomes muddy and so people veer to the edges of the footpath to avoid the mud. The vegetation next to the path then becomes eroded until the footpath ends up like the picture above This is of course an extreme case but this footpath erosion literally ends up leaving a scar on the landscape. Since 1999 the National Trust has been trying to stop this happening by setting up a 10 year plan to repair and maintain the paths. This will cost an estimated à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5.1 million of which à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1.46 million has been donated by the Lottery Heritage Fund. This money will be spent on a number of different sustainable strategies like stone pitching. This is when local stone is buried into the ground to make footholds. Alternatively steps have been put on steep hillsides made from local stone so that they fit in with the rest of the natural landscape. The second negative impact of tourism is litter. When tourists visit the Lake District, some drop litter on the floor. People come to the Lake District to see the natural beauty of the countryside but are put off coming back because of the litter on the floor therefore the Lake District loses further income. Animals and their habitats are damaged because of pollution. Bins have been placed in many different areas of the Lake District, especially the honeypot sites to discourage this. Daily warden patrols have been set up to try to clean up any mess created. Conflict on Lake Windermere is another controversial issue in the Lake District. Since 1976 people have been worried about the disturbance of the peace on Lake Windermere by power boats etc. Surveys have revealed that on an average day there are 812 crafts on the water, of which 368 are speed boats. The reason for the conflict is that other lake users such as fishermen and canoeists want peaceful, safe conditions to undertake their leisure activities. Another concern is that the wake from speed boats is causing erosion along the banks of the lake. On the 29th March 2005 a 10 mph speed limit was introduced on the lake. This however did not benefit everyone because power boat enthusiasts had to find alternative locations to use and some local businesses (e.g. Jet Ski rental companies etc) had to modify their companies so they didn't lose custom. I personally believe that we need to manage tourism in a sustainable way if we are to preserve the Lake District's natural beauty for future generations. Strategies like the footpath maintenance may be extremely costly but in the future will benefit the Lake District's economy and the people who live in and visit it.

The Role of Technology in the Development of the United States in the 20th Century

In the past hundred years, it is no question that the advancement and development of the United States has grown exponentially. A great deal of this advancement has been due to the growth in technology that makes life easier, more efficient, and healthier. All of these things combined together, gowing in the 20th century, has made the United States one of the largest world powers and one of the most desirable places to live. There are some things, on the other hand, that technology has affected that really hinders not only the United States, but the planet as a whole.Most of these problems are environmental, which can be detrimental to the planet in the long run, despite the current outcomes. Practices including deforestation and over-fishing contribute to this. However, this technology, when compared to the good and the bad, has definitely left behind a positive mark behind it because of the obvious evidence that technology, such as automobiles, computers, and space exploration, hav e greatly impacted the present day America we are living in today. Today, in the 21st century of America, we are a thriving country, rich with technology.We live in a society where an automobile is almost a necessary factor through daily life because without a car or public transportation, most individuals would not be able to actually get to their job. The creation of the automobile has impacted the place we live so much because the citizens of the United States can work in jobs in a much larger radius from their home, which turns out to be very efficient for both the companies employing these people as well as the employee himself because he has more option for places to work, all because of the automobile.We also live in a society where computers are abundant, so much so that in almost all workplaces there are elements of computers and internet. Also, without these computers and information systems, there would be no online courses or universities for students to take. Online cou rses have had a very positive impact on our country because students can get an education with the ease and the comfort of their own home, all while maintaining a very low price. This makes enrolling in a university more attractive to someone on the fenceof going to university, so in the big picture we have more Americans learning at some kind of institution making our nation smarter and more advanced than it has ever been. This is all due to the growth in the automobile industry and the computer and information systems industry growing in the 20th century. Without these industries growth, our lives today would be very different. Some industries growths, however, will lead a very different outcome in the long run. Paper companies are using methods to chop down trees at a very large rate, in favor only of the paper industry.This is greatly hurting the planet because of the mass deforestation the paper companies are creating. These trees and forests are a necessity for daily life on e arth and without the forests, our future as humans on this earth will be a lot less thriving than the position we are in today. Another example is over-fishing in all bodies of water. Fish are a renewable resource , however, they need to time to reproduce and grow. Fisheries are capturing these sea creatures at such a rate that the fish are not able to fully recover from the over-fishing these companies have done.These two problems are very similar to each other and provides a common theme with the negatives of our new technological growth. The 20th century led our nation to this problem because we have just gotten carried away when it comes to the use of natural, renewable resources. We just have to remember that moderation is key, because with moderation, the trees will be able to grow back and recover from the deforestation and the fish will be able to reproduce at a greater rate. In closing, the pros of the technological growth of the 20th century greatly outweigh the cons.The c ons are a much easier problem to fix because the nations companies that deal with renewable resources just have to take these resources in moderation, otherwise these necessities for life will not be around for much longer. New technology, like the automobile and computers, instead of diminishing our country, have brought light and a new hope to our country, as well as the world because these industries are growing at an enormous rate because almost everyone in America as both a computer and a car.One of the biggest things that we have to look forward as a country is space travel which began in the 20th century when America put a man in orbit and the first man on the moon. The technology that got America to the moon has greatly affected the space technology we have today. It has influenced the 21st century buzz of putting a man on mars as well as warp drives. These are both very exciting things America has to look forward to and we can do that all thanks to the 20th century technolo gy.

Recruitment and Selection (Human Resources Managment) Essay

Recruitment and Selection (Human Resources Managment) - Essay Example In today’s rapidly changing world and with the strategic focus, selection also needs to be strategic. Strategic selection demands a range of activities in the general stream of looking for candidates to fit in the jobs. It involves not only the job at hand but potential range of matches for the person in future jobs. Additionally, the enhancing reach of globalization demands much more flexibility and certain interpersonal and personal skills for a candidate to undertake the ever changing and challenging environment i.e. effective selection by the HR selectors. However, the basic match of candidates to the job description is of significant value because otherwise, achievement of organizational goals and attaining appropriate return on investment (on human capital) is not possible. In true terms, no training or motivation or praise can make individuals work beyond their capacity. Current scenario For Toyota R & S policy The globalization of business has shift from trade and busi ness to strategic alliances, integration of businesses etc. This change has significantly affected the HR practices. One of the major challenges, which global organizations are facing today, is attracting global talent. Toyota, one of the largest shareholders of the global automobile market, is no exception when it comes to facing HR problems, particularly in the US, and in other countries as well where their business has grown. Over the years, the observation has been a general and massive shift of jobs from manufacturing and agriculture to service industry and telecommunication. US economy is moreover a services based economy with 80% of the jobs belonging to the services industry. The trend is expected to continue, resulting in increased demand for services industry jobs and reduced inclination towards agricultural or manufacturing units. Toyota being a manufacturing firm hence suffered from this trend. It meant for Toyota lesser pool of candidates available for recruitment and s election. Changing demographics, shortage of highly skilled and qualified specialist and legislative problems are some of the problems Toyota’s HR has to face globally. (Robert L Malthis, 2008) In order to handle this issue, Toyota should make use of various internal and external recruitment models. The forthcoming sections of this report discuss the various aspects of recruitment and selection model used by Toyota. Nature and composition of workforce Toyota believes in low cost and high performance, which is why the business has developed a proper recruitment and selection process that reflects Toyota’s philosophy. Toyota’s main objective is cost reduction and lean management but they believe in valuing their human capital. Same methodology is followed in recruitment and selection. There are a number of temporary and permanent employees in the organziation. Toyota also makes use of off shoring and outsourcing in countries where there is shortage of skilled labo r such as USA and other North American countries. Sound procedures in

Discuss the role of the Trinitarios, provide detail as to the origin Essay

Discuss the role of the Trinitarios, provide detail as to the origin of the organization, strategy-both political and military a - Essay Example According to Pons (149-150), without any foreign aid, the Trinitarios of Dominicans, headed by Juan Pablo Durate fought for Dominican independence; and the most significant move of Trinitarios was their win over Tomas de Bobadilla who was an opponent of Haitian government. The writer also says that Bobadilla’s political experience was an important factor for Trinitarios’ political strategy. The difference in opinion of Trinitarios with that of conservatives lowered their influence over the authority and they lost the power. However Trinitarios continued their effort to regain the lost power and demanded for higher ranks in the authority in order to attain the control of armed forces. Trinitarios set up their military coup and managed to establish their lost positions and power. Eventually Durate powered the control of country’s main garrison by attaining the post of military commander of Department of Santo Domingo. Following this, Durate succeeded in establishin g a new government through a series of proclamations. At the same time, there arose movements against Trinitarios and several actions to disable their power. According to Sagas and Inoa (3), the incessant efforts of Trinitarios brought forth the nation’s independence.

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

Microeconomics - Essay Example In addition, microeconomics looks into decisions made by businesses regarding production and prices attached to goods and services produced by individual businesses. In general, microeconomics deals with economic decisions made on a micro level (McEachern 13). A clear understanding of microeconomics is essential since it builds a platform through which macroeconomics is constructed. Macroeconomics pays attention to a wider perspective of economic issues. Its main focus is on the national economy in general, providing a basis understanding of how issues relate to each other in the world of business. It is essential to have an understanding of microeconomics and macroeconomics in order to learn how the economy works for a given country. Decisions made by firms and individuals in microeconomics are largely influenced by costs and benefits. In this case, cost can occur in the form of financial cost or opportunity costs. Financial costs can be in the form of total variable costs or average fixed costs while opportunity costs are alternatives foregone (McEachern 14). Microeconomics has a number of questions that economics under this branch of economy attempt to answer. Examples of such questions include impacts of changes on prices of goods on people’s purchasing decisions, impacts of increased income, and impacts of changes on interests on national savings. Economists are of the opinion that the market has two parts; the demand and supply part. The demand side consists of households, economic agents, and firms. These components of the demand side go to markets to source certain goods and services. The supply side comprises of suppliers who supply goods and services to specific markets. In this case, firms are the main suppliers (Boyes & Melvin 21). In markets holding finished goods, those who demand mainly comprise of consumers at household levels. Contrary to this, the main consumers of capital goods include firms such as

Career Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Career Development - Essay Example Active career development initiatives by a company are a key retention tool to keep the best talent within its fold. It is one of the greatest motivators to keep an employee happy and engaged. Most organizations consider career development as part of their critical human resource strategy. Form the employee’s point of view career development initiatives gives them a clear focus about their career track. Economic and technological changes have resulted in working careers becoming more unpredictable. Presently, career opportunities tend to be seen in the light of employability recognizing that career development frequently goes beyond the boundaries of one organization. Career development can be understood as an enumeration of consecutive job and training. In continuation with demands of the modern labour market, there is increased emphasis on employees’ active role and level of involvement with respect to his or her career. This is reflected in concepts such as personal initiatives, employability, or preparedness to change

Land Law terms and conditional Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Land Law terms and conditional - Essay Example The most common problems resulting from tenancy agreements border on landlord ignorance of tenant rights or problems of transfer as the one detailed in this case. This is a situation where a current owner sells the property to another, the major question being whether current tenants are bound by agreements made under the previous owner. Most times, the two forms of tenancy are referred to as either assured or shorthold tenancy. However, there are other forms of tenancy that result, not because they are assured or recognized by the law but because they fail to meet the provisions stated for these two forms of tenancy. A license to occupy A license to occupy is appropriate only for temporary arrangement; it is less detailed in comparison to a full lease. For this reason, it cannot be used in place of a full lease, or where the occupant is going to occupy property for a lengthy period of time. License to occupy is adaptable to diverse situations, and is frequently used when a tenant is only interested to occupy property momentarily or when the procedures of a lease are being concluded. Individuals wishing to occupy property for a temporary time can avoid such long term commitments by drafting a license to occupy, in which case rent is to be paid in the next week or month. If such obligations are not met, the License will come to an end. Under a License to occupy the Landlord has exclusive rights to property access at any time. Lease Agreement Unlike a license to occupy, a Commercial Lease Agreement is appropriate for letting property for a period not less than six moths and not beyond three years. The longer the lease period, the more detailed the lease agreement becomes. An agreement which is anything beyond three years requires a well detailed agreement which should be prepared and reviewed by a qualified solicitor. One major difference between leases and other forms of tenancy is that lease agreements accords exclusive rights of occupancy to the lease holder. The implication of this is that the landlord cannot access the property unless under any identified circumstances specified in the agreement. Exclusive rights to property also mean that the tenant reserves the right of the owner for the period of the lease, this means he can sub let, through a Sublease Agreement. Leasing is not common for residential property but is mostly embraced for commercial reasons. Lease forms a contractual obligation binding the property owner the lessee, however, it also creates an interest in property. For this reason, it must be issued for a definite period of time, but can extend beyond this period. In such a case, it becomes a Tenancy at Will which can be terminated through an adequate notice. Adequate time for the notice might be detailed in the lease agreement, however, if such is not included the notice period will equate to the frequency of payment of rent as indicated in the agreement. The main difference between a lease agreement and a License is that a lease conveys interest in land, something which a license does not. This was well indicated in a 1673 case, Thomas v Sorrell: In this case, it was passed that a license passes no interest, and does not alter or transfer property; all it does is make an act lawful which without the license had been unlawful. A similar, position was taken by Justice Macdonald in Baker v Gee, the Justice held; that according to the provisions of

Operation management Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Operation management - Term Paper Example Dubai’s operation management teams are responsible for designing and managing the various products, underlying processes, supply chain and even the services to be tendered. The team headed by the city’s local authorities are in charge of overseeing acquisition of resources, their development and utilization so that various firms are able to deliver goods and services to the multicultural client base that gets in and out of this United Arab Emirates city (Kachru, 636). Statement of the problem The strategic geographical location of Dubai in the Middle East has significant role in the economic progress of the region. It is the central commercial indicator of the entire region in respect of the mass international economic and financial activities taking place in it. What is of particular interest is how quality control can be improved by the city’s management authorities. How operation management can effectively be put into play to see an improvement in overall perf ormance of the city’s activities is the problem of central concern Introduction Dubai Metro boasts of Arabian Gulf’s first major urban railway project that targets to boost the efficiency of movement amid various activities in the city. It has one of the finest urban rail systems in the globe which is responsible for mass influx of tourists and serves as the avenue of economic and financial activities (Ramos, 1). The need for quality control is paramount in this commercial hub since the commercial activities taken up are to be standardized at international level with complete adherence to the diverse cultural concepts that constitutes the visitors. Operation management of this city is under the overall authority of Dubai Municipality’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) who has supervisory role in all the quality control exercise in collaboration with central government authorities (Report, 110). Scope of the topic It is important to assess the various concepts that surround the strategies that are put in place by the relevant authorizes in Dubai as far as quality control is concerned. Operation management is a technical concept and a tool for effective and efficient flow of various activities in a busy metro like this. Some of the variables that need to be taken into consideration in relation to the exercise include the population, level of technology, social factors and the physical aspects. The goal of undertaking quality control is to integrate the local business rules into the global trade policies that will suit the standards of the international bodies. The overall theoretical concept under discussion is the modalities of reconciling the required diverse socio-cultural population and the expected internationally acceptable economic policies (Kurtz and Louis, 526). The city is at the mercy of sound operation management as it is always at the forefront of feeling any disturbance in the global financial crisis occasioned by various ec onomic cycles. It is also imperative that management of this quality control outsource some services for quality and cost. This is a capital intensive management issue and therefore must incorporate various technological models for a viable process. Some of the factors that will be instrumental in carrying out the research include the developed monitoring method of the various projects’ budget, quality and safety standards, and management of

Deontologism vs. Utilitarianism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Deontologism vs. Utilitarianism - Essay Example It advocates for fair consideration of other people’s interests while undertaking an action. Simply put, utilitarianism states that â€Å"we ought to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of people† or in another form, â€Å"inflict less harm on the least number of people† (Kanniyakonil, 2007, p. 65). A utilitarian would therefore contemplate the possible impacts of his or her action to other members of the society. Based on the doctrine, an act that threatens other people’s stakes is therefore avoided while a beneficial act is promoted. Singer, based on his four principles, argues that â€Å"pain is bad,† consideration into harmful acts should not be discriminatory and should be based on consequences of contemplated actions (Rachels and Rachels, 2007, p. 281). Utilitarianism can be understood from two perspectives, â€Å"act utilitarianism, and rule utilitarianism† (Kanniyakonil, 2007, p. 65). Act utilitarianism is based on each action by a person, which ought to always be consistent with the ethical principle of maximum good. It is defined by the view that good actions leads to good rather than harmful results. Act utilitarianism therefore judges actions from the specific consequences of a particular act, or intentions into such consequences rather an existing moral value (Kanniyakonil, 2007). ... The two approaches therefore differ with respect to time of determination of what is good and what is evil. While action utilitarianism determines morality upon an action or upon contemplation of an act, rule utilitarianism pre determines morality upon conception of an ethical value in a society (Kanniyakonil, 2007). Utilitarianism is further understood from four philosophical perspectives, â€Å"‘welfarism’, ‘consequentialism’, aggregative, and maximizing† (Kanniyakonil, 2007, p. 66). According to welfarism, utilitarianism is fundamentally determined by the resultant good from an initiative. Cosequensialism on the other hand focuses on the impacts of an act as opposed to its nature. Consequential theory therefore evaluates and determines an action with respect to available alternatives to the action and approves the most beneficial alternative. Aggregative and maximizing concepts of utilitarianism are on the other hand based on the view that even the most beneficial alternative is associated with possible reservations into unhappiness (Kanniyakonil, 2007). Associated problems Utilitarianism, regardless of its assumed appeal to maximum good from actions, has a number of associated problems. One of the problems faced under utilitarianism, and with respect to determination of the best alternative for maximum good is its reliance on probability. This means that there is no accurate measure of possible good to justify utilitarian approach to determining ethics (Kanniyakonil, 2007). Rachels and Rachels also identify a number of problems that seems to undermine the basic principles and assumptions of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is for instance associated with injustice. This based on the difference in scope between morality and law. In

Effects of Foreign Direct Investment Essay Example for Free

Effects of Foreign Direct Investment Essay The possible positive and  negative effects of FDI  inflows Ing. Tomà ¡Ã… ¡ Dudà ¡Ã… ¡, PhD. Possible positive effects FDI provides capital which is usually missing  in the target country Long term capital is suitable for economic  development Foreign investors are able to finance their  investments projects better and often cheaper Foreign corporations create new workplaces Possible positive effects FDI bring new technologies that are usually  not available in the target country. There is empirical evidence that there are spillover effects as the new technologies usually spread beyond the foreign corporations Foreign corporations provide better access to  foreign markets Ex. Foreign corporations can provide useful  contacts even for their domestic subcontractors Possible positive effects Foreign corporations bring new know-how and  managerial skills into the target country Again, there is a spill-over effects – as people leave the corporations they leave with the knowledge and know-how  they accumulated Foreign corporations can help to change the economic  structure of the target country With a good economic strategy governments can attract  companies from promising and innovative sectors Possible positive effects â€Å"Crowding in† effect The foreign corporations often bring additional  investors into the target country (ex. their usual subcontractors) Foreign corporations improve the business  environment of the target country Ethical business or rules of conduct Possible positive effects Foreign corporations bring new â€Å"clean†Ã‚  technologies that help to improve the  environmental conditions Foreign corporations usually help increase the  level of wages in the target economy Foreign corporations usually have a positive  effects on the trade balance Possible negative effects Foreign corporations may buy a local company  in order to shut it down (and gain monopoly  for example) â€Å"Crowding out† effect We can see this effect if the foreign corporations  target the domestic market and domestic  corporations are not able to compete with these  corporations Possible negative effects Foreign corporations may cut working  positions (privatization deals or MA  transactions) Foreign corporations have a tendency to use  their usual suppliers which can lead to  increased imports (no problem if the  production is export driven) Possible negative effects Repatriation of the profits can be stressful on the  balance of payments The high growth of wages in foreign corporations  can influence a similar growth in the domestic  corporations which are not able to cover this growth  with the growth of productivity  The result is the decreasing competitiveness of domestic  companies Possible negative effects Missing tax revenues If the foreign corporations receive tax holidays or  similar provisions The emergence of a dual economy The economy will contain a developed foreign  sector and an underdeveloped domestic sector Possible negative effects Possible environmental damage  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Incentive tourism†

Anorexia Nervosa Patient Case Study

Anorexia Nervosa Patient Case Study For my six week clinical practice placement in an adolescent mental health unit I chose to focus my project on a 15-year-old anorexia nervosa patient. This disorder largely affects young women and is an extremely challenging problem to treat. I felt that working with an anorexia nervosa patient in this controlled environment, under the guidance and supervision of a mentor, would be a particularly good application of action learning because â€Å"action learning†¦ can rapidly develop critical skills.†[1] In particular I wanted to develop interpersonal skills necessary to communicate well with patients and colleagues, and learn to relate to any issues raised by my patient being a teenager. As I learn better from hands-on training than through just reading and discussion I felt this would a valuable use of my clinical placement. Anorexia nervosa patients often have low self-esteem and â€Å"a desire for achieving perfection in all the things they do†[2] – this was something I had to be aware of during the placement because it raises the problems with goal setting. With anorexia it is difficult to agree on goals with a patient because the main goal, from a health perspective, is weight gain, which they want to avoid.[3] The other issue is that the patient is 15-years-old. This fits the common case that many patients â€Å"seek therapy at the insistence of parents†¦ [so] the patient arrives at for the consultation poised to resist, anticipating the same pressures for change.†[4] These factors combine to make treatment extremely difficult: first, the patient is resistant to change; second, the patient specifically wants to avoid weight gain, which is the main goal; third, if you can get the patient to agree on a goal they might feel anxiety because of their perfectionism, leading to mo re controlling behaviour – i.e. trying to lose weight. My mentor was especially helpful in highlighting some of these points to me with regards to the patient, and helping me think about ways we could deal with them clinically. In my last placement I did a training course in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and my mentor and I felt this could be useful. There is extensive clinical evidence supporting the use of CBT in treating anorexia nervosa[5] and â€Å"once the disorder is initiated, it is the cognitive self-reinforcement that becomes the key factor in regulating it.†[6] We agreed that since cognitive behaviour is key to the illness it has potential to break the negative thought cycle. I used clinical guidelines to understand more about the possible benefits of CBT for anorexia nervosa. One item of interest is that: â€Å"The CB approach has two particularly valuable sources of flexibility and creativity applicable to the issue of engagement. These are structured assessment and models of resistance†¦ structured assessment can be very helpful in developing an in-depth understanding surrounding resistance to services.†[7] With the guidance of my mentor and other clinic staff I worked on my assessment skills with the aim of engaging this particular patient. Unfortunately, in the course of my six week placement the patient proved very difficult to engage with, perhaps because â€Å"change involves a patient giving up a cherished and valued state.†[8] If this had been in an unsupported setting I would have found this very discouraging and probably would have doubted my methods. However, through using the learning side of the process I found that â€Å"motivation and engagement are commonly poor or ambivalent in patients with eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa†[9] and that â€Å"patients with anorexia nervosa react to stress both in childhood and adulthood with a helpless style of coping and a tendency to use avoidance strategies.†[10] These findings showed that I was dealing with a widespread problem, not something specific to my patient. This insight, and the supportive atmosphere from the other clinical staff, helped me keep my focus on the patient, and not think of the challenges as personal failings. In the space of six weeks I didn’t have time to work through these issues with this particular patient, but the action learning process gave me the confidence that I would be able to address them in future. It also put in perspective that the patient continued to lose weight. That is obviously not the outcome desired but knowing that: â€Å"70 percent of the [eating disordered] subjects for CBT remained symptomatic†[11] assured me that this is also a common problem. During the placement my mentor and I discussed these problems and talked about different methods that might be useful to overcome them. One area I decided it was important for me to focus on is relational skills with patients. With anorexia nervosa, especially, â€Å"the interpersonal process†¦ needs to take this ambivalence or indeed resistance into account. The skills of motivational interviewing are invaluable.†[12] We also talked about the possibility of using other types of therapy along with CBT. Most of the clinical data supports CBT as effective, but there have been some studies that show family therapy can be beneficial[13], which we thought might be a useful avenue to explore since the patient is 15. However, my mentor cautioned me that family difficulties often lie at the root of eating disorders and suggested I check some literature. I found out that â€Å"women with anorexia nervosa typically describe both their parents negatively†¦ and women with eatin g disorders described their parents as typically unsupportive of their independence.†[14] This would suggest treating family therapy with caution. It could be that patients come from genuinely unhappy families, or it could also be that anorexia nervosa patients resent their parents’ perceived intrusion of trying to make them eat as an attack on their independence. I’m glad my mentor raised this issue, because it made me realise that before using additional therapies you need to consider patient history and resistance, and you also need to understand the reasons they might not want to do a particular therapy, to allow you to make the best decision about treatment options. During the placement there was a good mix of clinical work and theory. I found my relationship with my mentor was the most important element during my time working with the patient, as they modelled good patient care and helped me reflect on my own work. They emphasised to me that â€Å"reflection is important within formal professional courses†¦ and for demonstrating work-based learning,†[15] which is something I probably wouldn’t have really thought about without their guidance. One of the possible weaknesses of action learning, according to some practitioners, is that: â€Å"where real work and learning are explicitly associated, the excitement, significance and immediacy of the action element can often submerge the learning element.†[16] I can see how that could happen in a busy clinical setting – for example an AE department – but I felt that within the setting of the mental health clinic there was adequate time for learning and there was a chance to access books, clinical guidelines and advice from the staff. As a result of what I learned during my project my development goal is to practice my therapeutic communication skills and make an effort to get feedback on them. This placement made me see how important interpersonal skills are, as well as the different challenges. In working with my patient I felt lack of engagement was one of the biggest difficulties, and led to an unsuccessful outcome in the short term. Developing strong therapeutic communication skills is a way to overcome resistance to treatment. Using the listening skills of therapeutic communication will also help understand the patient’s needs and challenges related to treatment – such as possible family issues in anorexia nervosa. It was somewhat discouraging to not see a better result with this patient, but the placement taught me that: â€Å"in Action Learning the emphasis is on the courageous struggle to act and understand; not on short cuts and quick fixes†[17] and I think that knowledge will enhance my confidence as I approach the challenges of improving my communication skills and taking forward what I learned. Bibliography Bennett-Levy, J., Butler, G., et al., Oxford Guide to Behavioural Experiments in Cognitive Therapy, Oxford University Press, 2004 Bulman, C. and Shutz, S., Reflective Practice in Nursing: The Growth of the Professional Practitioner, Blackwell Publishing, 2004 Cassidy, J. and Shaver, P., Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications, Guilford Press, 2002 Costin, C., The Eating Disorder Sourcebook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Causes, Treatments, and Prevention of Eating Disorders, McGraw-Hill Professional, 2006 Garner, D. and Garfinkel, P., Handbook of Treatment for Eating Disorders, Guilford Press, 1997 Grant, A., Mulhern, R., et al., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Mental Health Care, SAGE, 2004 Marquardt, M. and Callahan, M., Action Learning, American Society for Training and Development, 1997 Newell, R. and Gournay, K., Mental Health Nursing: An Evidence-based Approach, Elsevier Health Sciences, 2000 Norman, I. and Ryrie, I., The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing: A Textbook of Principles and Practice, McGraw-Hill International, 2004 Pedler, M., Action Learning in Practice, Gower Publishing, Ltd., 1997 Footnotes [1] Marquardt, M. and Callahan, M., Action Learning, American Society for Training and Development, 1997, p. 13 [2] Bennett-Levy, J., Butler, G., et al., Oxford Guide to Behavioural Experiments in Cognitive Therapy, Oxford University Press, 2004, p. 267 [3] Ibid, p. 95 [4] Garner, D. and Garfinkel, P., Handbook of Treatment for Eating Disorders, Guilford Press, 1997, p. 99 [5] Garner, D. and Garfinkel, P., Handbook of Treatment for Eating Disorders, p. 95 [6] Ibid, p. 106 [7] Grant, A., Mulhern, R., et al., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Mental Health Care, SAGE, 2004, p. 149 [8] Newell, R. and Gournay, K., Mental Health Nursing: An Evidence-based Approach, Elsevier Health Sciences, 2000, p. 253 [9] Bennett-Levy, J., Butler, G., et al., Oxford Guide to Behavioural Experiments in Cognitive Therapy, p. 282 [10] Newell, R. and Gournay, K., Mental Health Nursing: An Evidence-based Approach, p. 247 [11] Costin, C., The Eating Disorder Sourcebook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Causes, Treatments, and Prevention of Eating Disorders, McGraw-Hill Professional, 2006, p. 118 [12] Norman, I. and Ryrie, I., The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing: A Textbook of Principles and Practice, McGraw-Hill International, 2004, p. 463 [13] Ibid, p. 467 [14] Cassidy, J. and Shaver, P., Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications, Guilford Press, 2002, p. 508 [15] Bulman, C. and Shutz, S., Reflective Practice in Nursing: The Growth of the Professional Practitioner, Blackwell Publishing, 2004, p. 30 [16] Pedler, M., Action Learning in Practice, Gower Publishing, Ltd., 1997, p. 229 [17] Ibid, p. 32

The Republic by Plato Essay -- essays research papers

The Republic by Plato At the beginning of Book I, we are introduced to the narrator, Socrates, and his audience of peers. We are made aware, however, of Socrates' special charm and intellectual gifts through the insistence of Polemarchus and the other men for the pleasure of his company. The tone is casual and language and modes of expression rather simple, as is commonly the case in Plato's dialogues. However, Plato's unaffected style serves at least two purposes. For one it belies the complexity and elevation of the ideas, thus it is in accord with Socrates' characteristic irony itself, which draws the "fool" in by feigned ignorance, only so that the master can show that he does not know what he thinks he knows. And second, the plainness of style complements truth and wisdom, the aim of all the dialogues, which by nature are aphoristic. In Socrates' conversation with Cephalus, the proper approach to aging and the state of old age is addressed. Although other men Cephalus' age commonly complain that for them, "life is no longer life," Cephalus feels that they misattribute discomfort and unhappiness resulting from their defective characters to advanced age. Building on a statement by Sophocles, Cephalus concludes, "he who is of a calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age." Socrates' inquiry as to whether Cephalus' happiness owes to the comfort of wealth demands a qualification of this position? That while a man's nature ultimately determines his peace of mind in old age; wealth is also an undeniably important factor. The passage concerning justice illustrates Socrates' dexterous intellect and his dogged skepticism. Playful and humorous at times, the conversation ends, at several points, in absurd--and apparently inexorable--conclusions such as that the just man is a thief. What is at work here is another type of irony, in which Socrates and his auditors accept as a temporary resolution what the dialogue's audience, i.e. the reader, cannot. Here, Plato grants the reader space to think for himself. A central problem with Polemarchus' definition (borrowed from Simonides) a form of conventional morality of justice, "doing good to your friends and harm to your enemies," is the vulnerability of its individual terms. Not surprisingly, Socrates probes each one, exposing any and all weaknesses or limitatio... ...es itself on the wisdom. The souls of the wicked are a more complicated issue, for, insofar as they are immortal, evil cannot destroy them. However, Plato warns, there are various manifest parts to the soul, and evil-doing damages these. And unjust men also injure their own bodies and the bodies of others. In any case the afterlife is what is most important; there the good soul enjoys the benefits it may or may not have experienced in life. The moral of the tale of Er, if we may drain it of its color, is that of the eternal return, or recurrence. After death the soul is ultimately judged. This judgment determines the owner of the soul's order of choice in lots for the next life. Then, whatever wisdom he has accumulated previously helps him make his choice when his lot comes up. Both moments are essential because they represent choices between good and evil. One is an ongoing choice, alive in mortal life, and the other is the ultimate choice the sum of what the soul has learned in life. Man is responsible for his own behavior, says Plato. And the final twist is that, it seems, the wise man does not really forget, since if he is truly wise he will choose yet another wise existence.

Epic of Beowulf Essay - Shields in the Epic Poem, Beowulf

Shields in the poem Beowulf      Ã‚  Ã‚   Shields, a defensive weapon mentioned in the poem Beowulf, include a variety of compositions from wood to iron; and this is wholly in accord with archaeological finds. There are a considerable number of references to shields in the poem, making this topic a very relevant one to consider.    â€Å"Weapons could be heirlooms, and royal treasuries and armories still preserve arms and weapons from earlier days, so imagination in this area need not be confined to contemporary artifacts (304),† says Catherine M. Hills in â€Å"Beowulf and Archaeology.† Before turning to the archaeological evidence, let’s look at the Beowulf poem, where one finds copious references to shields. As Beowulf and his party approach the Danish land:    From high on a wall  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   the Scylding watchman whose duty it was  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to guard the sea-cliffs saw glinting shield-bosses  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   passed hand to hand down the gangplank,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   an army’s war-gear (229-32)    The Scylding watchman is still talking:    Never more openly  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   have warriors landed when carrying shields,  Ã‚   and you have no leave from our men of battle, agreement with kinsmen (244-6)    Beowulf explains to the ship-guard:    We come with good heart  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to the land of the Danes, to seek out your lord,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   the son of Healfdene, shield of the people (267-9)    By the time the Geats arrived at Heorot, they were tired and had to sit down:    The sea-weary men  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   set their broad shields, spell-hardened rims,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   against the high wall, eased down on benches (325-27) ... ... – the Sutton Hoo ShipBurial.† In Beowulf: The Donaldson Translation, edited by Joseph F. Tuso. New York, W.W.Norton and Co.: 1975    Chickering, Howell D.. Beowulf A dual-Language Edition. New York: Anchor Books, 1977.    Clark, George. Beowulf. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1990.    Cramp, Rosemary. â€Å"Beowulf and Archaeology.† In TheBeowulf Poet, edited by Donald K. Fry. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.    Hills, Catherine M. â€Å"Beowulf and Archaeology.† In A Beowulf Handbook, edited by Robert Bjork and John D. Niles. Lincoln, Nebraska: Uiversity of Nebraska Press, 1997.    â€Å"Shields.†   The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000. www.bartleby.com/65/.    Stanley, E.G.. â€Å"Beowulf.† In The Beowulf Reader, edited by Peter S. Baker. New York: Garland Publishing, 2000.

Solar Energy is not a Solution to the American Energy Crisis Essay

Solar Energy is not a Solution to America’s Energy Crisis With the growing cost of fuel for cars and the rolling blackouts of last summer, the need for an alternative, cost-effective, environment friendly energy source is escalating. Many possible solutions have been presented, such as nuclear power, wind power, and hydrogen fuel cells; prevalent among these is solar power. Solar cells directly convert photons from the sun into electricity (Wikipedia). Solar cells that convert both solar and non-solar light are called photovoltaic cells (Wikipedia 2006). They are made of semi conducting materials, most often silicon (Aldous 2006). The simplest photovoltaic cells power watches and calculators while larger, more complex systems can add to the power grid and provide power for homes. How Solar Power Works Most solar cells are made of crystalline silicon. Pure silicon has 14 electrons that form 3 different tiers around the individual atom. In the last tier there are only 4 electrons, but as each tier desires 5 electrons there is one missing from this tier. To fill the last spot the electrons will join together to share their electrons. This linking is what forms the crystalline structure, which is vital for photovoltaic cells. (Aldous 2006) Solar Energy 3 Pure silicon is not a good conductor for electricity because it has no free electrons, so we add impurities to the silicon. The process of adding impurities is called doping. Phosphorus is an impurity that can be added into the silicon used for solar cells. This type of impure silicon is called N-type and is much better as a conductor than pure silicon. This is because phosphorus has five electrons in its final tier so every atom of phosphorus has one electron not shared with ... ...sidered as a viable alternative energy source at the present, nonetheless if, with further research, efficiency continues to increase and the cost to produce solar panels continues to decrease, solar energy could be a major contributor to power in the future. Solar Energy 7 References Aldous, S. How Stuff Works. How Solar Cells Work. Retrieved August 3, 2006 from http://www.howstuffworks.com/solar- cell.htm Carlstrom, P. (2005, July 11). The Chronicle. As solar gets smaller, its future gets brighter Nanotechnology could turn rooftops into a sea of power-generating stations. Retrieved August 3, 2006 from http://www.sfgate.com/cgi- bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/11/BUG7IDL1AF1.DTL SOLAR CELLS. Retrieved August 3, 2006 from http://www.solarnavigator.net/solar_panels.htm Wikipedia. Solar Cell. Retrieved August 3, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell

Response Journal for “The Charmer” by Budge Wilson Essay

Budge Wilson’s â€Å"The Charmer† is a remarkable tale of loss, morality, and love. It is the story of how a young girl comes to realize that her devilishly handsome brother is nothing more than a charmer. It is set in a 1950’s Halifax home where Zachary, the narrator’s brother, repeatedly abuses his privileges and takes advantage of his family. Zack seems to believe that his looks will help him escape any situation he may find himself in. He uses his sense of humour and charm to manipulate his family and friends. Zack has a way of making those around him feel special, and uses this quality to his advantage. His sister, Winnifred, washes his bike and fetches his baseball glove just to see his â€Å"flashing Colgate smile† and to be called Posie, the nickname he has chosen for her to let her know that she has measured up. He is aware that the cake his mother has baked is not meant for him, yet he eats it anyway. He offers an insincere but convincing apology, and she starts to bake another cake. His family are his willing slaves, and it is only after the tragedy of Lizzie’s death that they finally begin to see who Zachary really is. Zack is the imperfect model son, but his family is too blinded by love to see his flaws. His fake apologies somehow manage to touch their hearts, and allow them to forgive all of his mistakes. Zachary steals money and alcohol from his parents, but manages to get away with it. He gambles and crashes the family car, but goes unpunished. He is â€Å"the only son, the only brother, the oldest child,† but even more than that, he is as the title implies, the charmer. Despite his good looks and charming personality, Zachary does not accomplish anything in life. At twenty-four, he still lives at home, still wolfs down chocolate cakes, and still borrows the family car. He spends his money on his girlfriends and his alcohol, and gambles away what is left of it. He loses job after job, and is becoming, if he is not yet, an alcoholic. Zack has so much offered to him, but fails to apply himself to improve his situation. However, he cannot be held entirely responsible for his failures, as his family holds some of the blame. If they had only shown less sympathy, and had seen past his false facade, he would have learned early on that he  could not charm his way through life. The conclusion of the story is quite ironic, as the narrator’s daughter displays the very same deceiving qualities that her brother was famous for. Winnifred describes her daughter, Lizzie, as â€Å"pretty and mischievous† and is aware that Zachary was the same way. She is reminded of the manner in which her parents treated Zachary, and learns from their mistakes. She refuses to allow her daughter to become what Zack has, and punishes her accordingly. To portray the themes of this story, the author used a number of literary devices such as, allusion, characterization, flashback and paradox. Allusion is clear as the author refers to Zachary’s â€Å"Colgate† smile, and to the famous people that Winnifred often sees on television. These stars include Clark Gable, John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Steve McQueen, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Burt Reynolds, and Tyrone Power. Characterization is used to create Zachary’s character. The narrator says that her brother is charming, intelligent, and fun, but nevertheless a devil. Others say that he is sensitive, while he thinks he can escape any situation. He interacts with other characters, and uses them to further his own cause. The entire story is based on flashback, since the narrator is recounting the events of her childhood, and finishes the story by speaking of an incident that takes place when she is an adult. The paradox of this story is evident when the mother refers to Zack and says, â€Å"This is his way of coping. He’s probably suffering more than the rest of us.† The truth of this statement is highly improbable, since Zack seems to care for no one but himself, and does not even bother to visit his younger sister though he knows she is deathly ill. However, the character may be suffering emotional pain that his actions do not let on. â€Å"The Charmer† presents a timeless, captivating situation, which every reader can in one way or another, relate to. It is the tale of a sister, who sees her brother for who he is, and not who he pretends to be. It is a tale of a mother who cannot accept that her son is imperfect, and of a father who struggles to see past his own love for his son. Primarily, however, it is the story of one boy who ages into adulthood, yet does not mature, and who  hurts his family, yet feels no remorse beyond that which he pretends to.

The Relationship between pupil expenditure in high and low capacity school districts and community variables

Across the nation, the public, lawmakers and educators have become deeply concerned with finding ways to measure the effectiveness of schools and school systems. Politicians and educators have been struggling with developing useful yardsticks for school effectiveness that are honest, accurate and easily comprehended. The initial stages of this effort have often resulted in evaluations that assess, judge and even mete out consequences to schools who’ve been measured by a small set of benchmarks that often do not reflect the context of the individual school.Many states, including Rhode Island, have published annual state achievement results. People have used these results to rank order districts and schools on the basis of those results as if the schools were competing on a level playing field. While valid for certain purposes, these methods encourage the public to draw sometimes unfortunate conclusions about the value of a school or school system because the yardstick itself is not sensitive to differences in school contexts, to other information about school practices, or to achievement results which are not part of the formal state assessment program.In this study we will undertake the analysis from the financial perspective and study the relationship between pupil expenditure in high and low capacity school districts and community variables. A multiple regression model will be used in order to statistically evaluate the relationship (Information works, 01) 2- LITERATURE REVIEW A hypothesis (H) is an unproven statement or proposition about a factor or phenomenon that is of interest to the researcher. It may, for example, be a tentative statement about relationships between two or more variables as stipulated by the theoretical framework or the analytical model.Often, a hypothesis is a possible answer to the research question. Hypotheses go beyond research questions because they are statements of relationships or propositions rather than merely question to which answers are sought. Whereas research questions are interrogative, Hypotheses are declarative and can be tested empirically. An important role of a hypothesis is to suggest variables to be included in the research design (Malhotra, 77). A literature review will be undertaken in order to develop hypothesis which will be tested in the study.In our study we will use the same variables as Gaudet used in the study of performance of the MCAS tests. Using these variables we will test the relationship with the pupil expenditure in school districts. These include level of educational attainment of school districts, income level, percentage of households above the poverty line, its percentage of single-parent families, its percentage of non-English-speaking households, and its level of private school enrollment in school districts. 3- REASONS FOR CHOOSING THIS TOPICThe fundamental reason for choosing this topic is that having searched literature I found that very few works have been c onducted concerning the relationship between pupil expenditure in high and low capacity school districts and community variables. Since most of the studies have been focusing the students’ performances as the indicator of the success of the school systems. This fact has encouraged me to do this piece of work in order to contribute to the existing knowledge about this subject by adding a new point of view.Another reason is that most people who are involved in the evaluation of the school systems have poor background in finance, so it is so difficult for them to understand the pros and cons of the financial aspects of the school systems. In addition to that analysts and common people should understand the relationship between pupil expenditure in high and low capacity school districts and community variables. They should not only concentrate on educational tools but also address the community variables while designing the educational expenditure policies in order to improve the performance of the school system in the United States.

Importance of Leadership

Chapter 1 The Importance of Leadership D. Quinn Mills Leadership How to Lead, How to Live  © 2005 D. Quinn Mills. All Rights Reserved. Leadership: How to Lead, How to Live Few things are more important to human activity than leadership. Effective leadership helps our nation through times of peril. It makes a business organization successful. It enables a not-for-profit organization to fulfill its mission. The effective leadership of parents enables children to grow strong and healthy and become productive adults. The absence of leadership is equally dramatic in its effects. Without leadership, organizations move too slowly, stagnate, and lose their way. Much of the literature about organizations stresses decision-making and implies that if decision-making is timely, complete, and correct, then things will go well. Yet a decision by itself changes nothing. After a decision is made, an organization faces the problem of implementation—how to get things done in a timely and effective way. Problems of implementation are really issues about how leaders influence behavior, change the course of events, and overcome resistance. Leadership is crucial in implementing decisions successfully. Each of us recognizes the importance of leadership when we vote for our political leaders. We realize that it matters who is in office, so we participate in a contest, an election, to choose the best candidate. Investors recognize the importance of business leadership when they say that a good leader can make a success of a weak business plan, but that a poor leader can ruin even the best plan. 10 The Importance of Leadership Who Will Gain from Leadership? Do you want to be a leader? Or, if you’re already a leader, do you want to improve your leadership? Do you want to affect what other people do—to help them accomplish important goals? Do you want to point the way in your organization? Do you want to climb the promotion ladder to positions of higher authority and greater pay? Leadership will make these things possible. You should read this book if: †¢ †¢ You are interested in leadership and how it affects you. You plan to lead an organization or are already in a leadership position. You are interested in developing yourself to meet the challenges you will confront in a leadership role. You wish to make a difference in the world through leadership. †¢ †¢ The Meaning of Leadership What is leadership? It is a process by which one person influences the thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors of others. Leaders set a direction for the rest of us; they help us see what lies ahead; they help us visualize what we might achieve; they encourage us and inspire us. Without leadership a group of human beings quickly degenerates into argument and conflict, because we see things in different ways and lean toward different solutions. Leadership helps to point us in the same direction and harness our efforts jointly. Leadership is the 11 Leadership: How to Lead, How to Live bility to get other people to do something significant that they might not otherwise do. It’s energizing people toward a goal. Without followers, however, a leader isn’t a leader, although followers may only come after a long wait. For example, during the 1930s Winston Churchill urged his fellow Englishmen to face the coming threat from Hitler’s Germany. But most Englishmen preferred to believe that Hitler could be appeased—so that a war could be avoided. They were engaged in wishful thinking about the future and denial that the future would be dangerous. They resented Churchill for nsisting that they must face the danger. They rejected his leadership. He had very few followers. But finally reality intruded—Germany went too far and war began. At this point Churchill was acclaimed for his foresight, and became prime minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. During this period almost all Englishmen accepted his leadership willingly. True leadership is sometimes hard to distinguish from false leadership, which is merely a form of pretending. Winston Churchill was a real and great leader. But there are also people who wish to appear to be leaders, but aren’t actually. They say that they are leading others; they posture as if they are setting direction and inspiring others. Yet often they are merely pretending. There’s an old saying that the way to become a leader is to find a parade and run to the front of it. We refer to a person â€Å"leading† a parade, but walking at the front isn’t really leadership unless the person in front is actually choosing the direction! If the person isn’t choosing the direction, then being at the front of the line is merely a way to pretend to be a leader. 12 The Importance of Leadership Leadership can be used for good or ill. Hitler seemed to be a leader of the German people, but he set an evil direction. He had great leadership skills, but put them to terrible uses. Sometimes people in business use leadership skills to exploit others. Sometimes people in charitable organizations use leadership skills to benefit themselves rather than the people they are supposed to help. Leadership skills can be perverted to pursue bad ends. The Importance of Ethics The danger that leadership will be perverted is why ethics are so important to good leadership. Ethics are the inner compass that directs a person toward what is right and fair. Only if a person has an inner ethical compass can he or she be sure that leadership qualities will not turn to evil ends. Learning to lead with good objectives is the only purpose of this book. So let us say that those who do harm are not leaders at all; we recognize that they may be influential and persuasive, but we will not think of them as leaders. With confidence that you, good readers of this book, will put leadership to noble ends, we go forward. The Work of the Leader Taking a leadership position means several things: A leader must have a vision of the future for the organization and its members. 3 Leadership: How to Lead, How to Live EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1-1 TAKING A LEADERSHIP POSITION Taking a leadership position means: †¢ †¢ Having a vision about what can be accomplished. Making a commitment to the mission and to the people you lead. Taking responsibility for the accomplishment of the mission and the welfare of those you lead. Assuming risk of loss and failure. Acc epting recognition for success. †¢ †¢ †¢ A leader must be able to express his or her vision clearly and in a compelling manner so that others are engaged by it. (See Executive Summary 1-1. A leader has to make a commitment to his or her vision, to the organization, and to the members of the organization. A leader can’t be committed one day and uninterested the next. People will judge a leader by his or her commitment, and will commit themselves no more than the leader does. A leader assumes a considerable amount of responsibility— not just for the mission that he or she urges others to accept, nor just for the organization he or she heads, but for his or her followers, their lives and efforts, as well. 14 The Importance of Leadership A leader assumes risk. If there is no risk, little leadership is required. If the effort is easy and certain to succeed, anyone can, and probably will, â€Å"lead† it. But where the effort entails a risk of failure, then many people will quail before the challenge and leadership is necessary to get people to make the commitment and the effort to succeed. In most organizations, one associates high levels of leadership with high levels of authority. The chief executive of a company usually plays more of a leadership role than people at lower levels of the hierarchy in the firm. It is the same in notfor-profits and government agencies. The higher on the job ladder a person is, the more she is expected to exhibit leadership. In the military, however, the opposite holds true, and for a very good reason. In the military the greatest leadership challenge is to get other people to risk their lives in combat. Generally, the higher one goes in the chain of command, the less exposure he has to the battlefield, and the less exposure to men and women who are in combat. The officers who have responsibility for commanding soldiers in combat have the greatest leadership challenge, for they must get others to risk their lives. Michael Jordan’s brother is an army sergeant major leading a deployment in Iraq in which he is responsible for more than 2,000 soldiers. Offered an opportunity to leave his assignment in combat, he chose to stay with his unit in harm’s way. In so doing, he accepted one of the military’s most significant leadership challenges. 15 Leadership: How to Lead, How to Live The first responsibility in a position of leadership is to have a vision. (See Executive Summary 1-2. ) The visionary leader must create his or her concept of what the organization can accomplish. A business leader may be leading a few people in a department or an entire company; a military leader a small squad or an entire army. The vision may be smaller when the group of people is small; and much broader when the group of people is large, but it must be forward-looking and exciting in either case. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1-2 VISIONARY LEADERSHIP Visionary leadership requires: †¢ †¢ Creating a vision, a mission, and a strategy. Communicating the vision/mission/strategy and getting buy-in. Motivating action. Helping an organization grow, evolve, and adapt to changing circumstances. †¢ †¢ The leader must also provide a mission—what needs to be done—and a strategy, a path, for how to accomplish the mission and achieve the vision, a way for the group to get there. But having an exciting vision, an exciting mission, and a careful strategy is not sufficient. A leader must clearly communicate them. Only if people grasp the vision can they commit to it, and buy-in is crucial to motivating action. Finally, a vision cannot be rigid and unchanging; it must adapt 16 The Importance of Leadership to changing circumstances, growing and evolving. Otherwise it becomes outdated and obsolete, and loses its power to excite and motivate people. Leaders versus Administrators and Managers Leadership is not the same thing as being in a position of authority. It is possible to be a boss in a company without being a leader. A boss can be more of an administrator than a leader. Conversely, an administrator can be effective in his job without being a leader. The administrator is a bureaucrat— whether in government or in business—a person who keeps careful records and sees that things are done according to the rules. On the other hand, a leader can be effective without being an administrator—leaving rules, regulations, and their enforcement to others. Administration is not as exciting a topic as leadership, but it is almost as important. The success of organizations depends to a great degree on how well they are administered. A manager is often thought to be primarily an administrator. But a manager is not an administrator; management requires a special set of skills of its own. And being a manager is different from being a leader, as we shall see below. So there are three roles: administrator, manager, and leader. A manager has the broadest role, and a good manager has much of an administrator and a leader in him or her. A manager needs to set direction and inspire others to get work done (leadership functions) and he or she needs to keep records and see that rules are followed (administrative functions). 17 Leadership: How to Lead, How to Live The manager is a necessary combination of leader and administrator. (See D. Quinn Mills, Principles of Management, Waltham, MA: MindEdge Press, 2005. ) But leadership is the most important of the three roles. Administrators What does an administrator do? (See Executive Summary 13. ) An administrator applies rules and regulations generally developed by top executives of an organization. In the government, the key rules and regulations are often issued by legislative authorities like the U. S. Congress). He or she keeps records and fills out forms necessary to take administrative steps (like getting employees paid or reimbursing an employee for travel expenses). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1-3 ELEMENTS OF ADMINISTRATION The elements of administration are: †¢ †¢ Making rules and regulations Making decisions that apply and interpret rules and regulations Keeping records Filling out forms †¢ †¢ 18 The Importance of Leadership Managers What does a manager do? See Executive Summary 1-4. ) He or she makes plans and creates budgets that set forth in great detail how something will be accomplished and how much money and other resources (e. g. , people, office space) are necessary to accomplish those plans and budgets. He decides who is going to be assigned to the necessary tasks and how they will fit into the organization. She supervises the actions people take, ensuring that they are doing the right things, that no money is being misappropriated or wasted (we call this â€Å"controlling†), and when problems arise she helps to resolve them. Finally, by combining these tasks into a coherent whole, the manager makes the organization operate efficiently. Running an organization effectively requires administration, management, and leadership. Leadership is ordinarily in shorter supply than administrative or managerial competence. Leadership is more important and more demanding for most people. Fewer people are able or willing to be leaders, so it tends to be a higher calling than administration or management. There is a large literature discussing the differences between leaders and managers. There is also an important distinction to make between leaders and administrators. In general, a leader takes a broader view and points an organization toward necessary, even critical, change. The core of the criticism in the literature is that organizations of all sorts (corporations, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations) tend to be over-managed (and/or over-administrated) and under-led. Because of over-management and overadministration, organizations are slow to make necessary changes and achieve less than what they could. This is a substantial criticism that points to the importance of leadership. 19 Leadership: How to Lead, How to Live EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1-4 ELEMENTS OF MANAGEMENT The elements of management are: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Planning and budgeting Setting direction Organizing and staffing Aligning the efforts of many people Controlling Decision-making and problem solving Motivating and inspiring people The Nature of Leadership True leadership is special, subtle, and complex. Too often we confuse things like personal style and a position of authority with leadership. †¢ Leadership is not primarily a particular personality trait. A trait closely linked to leadership is charisma, but many people who have charisma (for example, movie actors and sports figures) are not leaders. Leadership is not primarily a set of important objectives. It involves getting things done. †¢ 20 The Importance of Leadership †¢ Leadership is not primarily a formal position. There have been great leaders who did not hold high positions—for example, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jeanne d’Arc—and there are people who hold high positions who are not leaders at all, but administrators who don’t want to rock the boat. Leadership is not primarily a set of behaviors. Many leadership manuals suggest that what defines leadership is things such as delegating and providing inspiration and vision; but people who are not leaders can do these things, and some effective leaders don’t do them all. †¢ Many discussions of leadership confuse any and all of the above— personality, important objectives, formal position, specific behaviors—with leadership. (See John P. Kotter, What Leaders Really Do, Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1999. ) But leadership is more than any of the above characteristics. It’s a process by which one influences the thoughts and behaviors of others in a substantial way. It may involve charisma, important objectives, a formal position, and a particular set of behaviors, but it is not limited to any of them. Effective leaders are often very complex people. Writing about Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector of England during the English civil wars of the seventeenth century, a foremost historian marveled at the complexity of his personality. â€Å"There was no single Cromwell, â€Å" he wrote, â€Å"—that is, a clear-cut individual†¦Instead, there was a multiplicity of Cromwells, each linked to the other by his enormous vitality†¦Firstly, there was the very human, simple and compassionate man, a visionary and a romantic. Secondly, there was a violent, boisterous and irascible bully. Thirdly, there was the resolute and iron-willed general†¦Fourthly, the calculating politician, the man of expedients who had no guiding principles. 21 Leadership: How to Lead, How to Live And lastly, there was†¦the Cromwell†¦who, as the interpreter of God’s will, was capable of committing any atrocity. † (J. F. C. Fuller, A Military History of the Western World, Volume 2, New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1955, p. 110. Because leaders can be so complex, we must be careful in our generalizations about leaders and their personalities. But not all leaders are such complex personalities, which is good for most of us who aspire to leadership. Examples of Leadership Leadership in Business In the 1980s Harley-Davidson was almost knocked out of business by competition from other firms. To survive, it needed to change dramatically. Rich Teerlink, the company’s leader, was able to save the firm financial ly, but with the pressure off, the challenge of continuing to improve seemed even more daunting. Could Teerlink get his managers and employees to make the significant, and to many of them inconvenient, changes necessary? He did it by building a different company, one driven from the bottom up by employees rather than from the top down by managers. It’s a story of successes and failures, advances and setbacks, dead ends and breakthroughs, ending in a much stronger company than before. (Read the inspiring story in Rich Teerlink and Lee Ozley, More Than a Motorcycle: The Leadership Journey at Harley-Davidson, Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 2000. 22 The Importance of Leadership Leadership in Government When Charles O. Rossotti became commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 1997, the agency had the largest customer base—and the lowest approval rating—of any institution in America. Mired in scandal, caught in a political maelstrom, and beset by profound management and technology problems, the IRS was widely dismissed as a hopelessly flawed an d dysfunctional organization. Rossotti— the first businessperson to head the IRS—transformed the much-maligned agency. In the glare of intense public scrutiny, he effected dramatic changes in the way the IRS did business—while the agency continued to collect $2 trillion in revenue. Through heated congressional hearings, encounters with Washington bigwigs, frank exchanges with taxpayers and employees, and risky turnaround strategies, Rossotti demonstrated leadership against daunting odds. (Read this enlightening story in Charles O. Rossotti, Many Unhappy Returns: One Man's Quest to Turn Around the Most Unpopular Organization in America, Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 2005. ) 23

Management Planning Paper Essay

The Boeing Corporation is the world’s leading aerospace company and is the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners as well as military aircrafts. Boeing has teams that manufacture missiles, satellites, defense systems, and communication systems. NASA turns to Boeing when they need something and Boeing operates the International Space Station. Boeing has a broad range of capabilities and skills, which is probably the reason they are the world’s leading aerospace company. With the Boeing headquarters in Chicago, more than 170,000 people in 70 different countries find themselves employed with the corporation and most of them hold a college degree (Boeing Corporation,  2012). It takes many hard working employees and managers to make Boeing a successful corporation. This paper will discuss the planning function of management, analyze the influence of legal issues, ethics, and corporate social responsibility and their effects on management planning. I will also analyze factors that influence the company’s strategic, tactical, operational, and contingency planning as they relate to the Boeing Corporation. The planning function of management is the process of setting goals within the corporation that are expected to be achieved over a set period. Therefore, Boeing got to be the world’s leading aerospace company by setting such goals. The Boeing Corporation has engineer departments, sales departments, mechanical departments, and product testing departments among a few others. Each individual department will have set goals put in place by corporate and guidelines regarding how they should achieve the desired goal for each project. Each goal is designed for each department to become the most efficient in their levels. There are six steps in management planning. The steps listed in provided course materials are situational analysis, alternative goals and plans, goal and plan evaluation, goal and plan selection, implementation, and monitor and control (Thomas S. Bateman, Scott A. Snell,  2009). Step one gathers and summarizes information that is in question. It examines current conditions with an attempt at forecasting future conditions. Step two generates alternative goals that may be used as an alternate if the first desired plan does not ork. Step three evaluates the potential of the alternative goals and prioritizes/eliminates ones that might or might not work. Step four in management planning is the selecting of goals believed to be most appropriate and feasible by the managers. Step five implements the goals and plans into action by managers. Goal achievement is likely to be linked to the organizationâ₠¬â„¢s reward system to encourage employees to achieve the goals and implement plans properly (Thomas S. Bateman, Scott A. Snell,  2009). Step six is essential in making sure goals and plans are met. If the goals and plans are not monitored and controlled managers would not know if they were ever met successfully. Boeing the huge corporation that it is has had its fair share of legal issues. The corporation has to pay special attention to detail when it concerns obeying the laws and regulations in regard the manufacturing of aircraft. The planes must be tested for safety and flying ability before they ever hit the mainstream public. Notices on the aircraft tell passengers when they should be buckled and when it is considered safe to unbuckle. Engineers have to provide manuals for the aircrafts in case any issues may arise when in use. Ethical issues come into play when Boeing makes bids to other corporations like the military or NASA. They are not allowed to charge prices that people believe to be unfair or make any changes after things have already been agreed upon. This means that the sales department has to plan how much they want to sell their product for. The main corporate social responsibility that Boeing has is safety. They have to engineer items safe for the public to be on/use. With Boeing being the world’s leading Aerospace Corporation, millions of people rely on the use of their products. That means that engineers have to know the latest safety information and managers have to make sure that they put the safety information to use. Strategic planning is used by the Boeing Corporation when making new aircraft and other items. They have to figure out how to market their item just right so that buyers will be interested in it. This planning has led Boeing to make planes more efficient and comfortable for passengers to ride on. Tactical planning is organized for competition, such as Airbus and demand for product. Boeing is a competitor of Airbus, which is another aerospace engineering corporation. Boeing has to be aware of competitor’s new products and when they will be released. This means that they have to formulate and release products either better or more efficient than the competition’s. Operational planning identifies the specific procedures and processes required at the lower-levels within an organization (Thomas S. Bateman, Scott A. Snell,  2009). So within the Boeing Corporation this would be those who deal with the delivery schedules and human resources departments. Every plane that takes off or leaves an airport has to be scheduled and the arrival/departure times displayed so that the public is aware. Human resources is responsible for the hiring/firing of Boeing’s many employees and any issues consumers may have with a product or service. If someone believes that they did not have a good experience in the flight he or she would call the resource department, and the department would most likely do everything in his or her power to make the person feel better. Contingency plans are put in place in case of any challenges that may arise when making their products. A good example of Boeing’s contingency plan is in 2008 they were trying to produce 40 aircraft a year but the United States hit an economic crisis. This meant that Boeing had to cut back their number of aircraft being created so they did not feel the effects of the economic crisis. So Boeing did not become the world’s leading aerospace corporation by doing nothing. It took hard work, planning, and management. There are six steps in management planning that corporations follow to try to ensure their survival in a competitive world. Boeing has had its fair share of legal and ethical issues and tries to abide by the rules and regulations for safety set forth by the goverment. Boeing tries to keep a strategic plan when creating new products and a tactical plan on how to market their items.

Media Audiences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Media Audiences - Essay Example Stuart Hall defines culture as, "actual grounded terrain of practices, representations, languages and customs of any specified society (Hall, 1996)." By this definition, western culture is its own society, but when referred to, the regions most commonly thought of as embodying western culture are Europe and the United States. The most significant aspect of western culture has to do with the ideology of the hegemony in charge. In western culture this would be the business moguls especially those that own media companies, majority members of government Hall defines representation as "How the world is socially constructed and represented to and by us (Hall, 1996)." The representation is key because it dictates how a group of people will interact with their culture and also how other cultures will preconceive and then receive members of a certain society. Highly acclaimed French Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu has done much work on culture and its influence on decision making. He finds that the public has no genuine representation in democratic societies. When people tend to watch media coverage of certain events and they see the results of polls and statistics, they perceive the information from the perspective of a rational choice theorist. Most people based their decisions on the grounds of believing this theory, but Bourdieu is in opposition to it. Rational Choice theory is the belief that human beings naturally choose a given path dependant on whether it is the best means to achieve their goals. It is a belief in methodological individualism; this meaning it adopts the belief that social situations, and group behavior is solely the result of individual action. Within this theory, corporations and national governments are viewed as individual operators as well. The problem that arises with this theory are the certain assumptions. Thi s theory assumes human beings are aware of certain information, of which they aren't always aware, and it assumes that individuals consistently make mental calculations to determine their next decision. He points out how this belief contributes to the human tendency to conform when he argues that, Doing one's duty as a man means conforming to the social order, and this is a fundamentally a question of respecting rhythms, keeping pace, not falling out of line. 'Don't we all eat the same wheat cake Don't we all get up at the same time These various ways of reasserting solidarity contain an implicit definition of the fundamental virtue of conformity. (Bourdieu, 1977) He later goes on to show that conformities only other opposition is eccentricity, which becomes natural for those intrigued by it irregularity. the opposite of which is the desire to stand apart from others. Working while the others are resting, staying in the house while the others are working in the fields, traveling on deserted roads, wandering round the streets of the village while the others are asleep or at the market - these are all suspicious forms of behavior. The eccentric who does everything differently... (Bourdieu, 1977) Bourdieu believes that society cannot just be analyzed in terms of economic classes and ideologies, but that individual education and culture must be applied as well. Bourdieu does not separate people based on class and then analyze them, but groups everyone into what he calls a field/ social arena. This contradicts classic Marxism, as well

The Differences Between Alexander the Great and Napoleon Essay

The Differences Between Alexander the Great and Napoleon - Essay Example Either way, they were both men of great power. By comparing their differences in personality and ambition, it becomes clear what traits are dominant among those who wish to lead and rule, and what traits are merely quirks of the person. Alexander the third, more commonly known as Alexander the Great of Macedonia, was not the first in his family to be a warrior. His father, King Philip the second had also been a great warrior, bringing together the country of Macedonia. (Brown). For him, conquest was inevitable, as was the taming of his great horse, Bucephalus. Believing himself to be one of the Gods, Alexander took over his father's empire at the age of twenty, when his father was killed. Alexander won conquest after conquest, eventually being named Pharaoh of Egypt. (Brown). Yet as he pushed his men on, they grew resentful, and eventually refused to continue. It was not long after that he because very ill, and died. For Alexander, his ambitions were actually small, but they took on a large meaning. At the time, to be truly the best was to be Greek. Yet he was from Macedonia, a land the Greeks despised. Alexander the third, more commonly known as Alexander the Great of Macedonia, was not the first in his family to be a warrior. His father, King Philip the second had also been a great warrior, bringing together the country of Macedonia. (Brown).   For him, conquest was inevitable, as was the taming of his great horse, Bucephalus. . Believing himself to be one of the Gods, Alexander took over his father’s empire.... force the land and power necessary to become someone great, and indeed, near the end of his conquests he was called the "Lord of Asia" and had conquered many countries. His motivations and ambitions were clear, wealth, fame, power. He also wanted to finish the work of is father, and destroy the Persians, whom the Macedonians thought to be horrible, filthy people. As for his personality, there is much to be seen in some of his earliest moves a nd actions. Bucephalus, his horse, was tamed by him at the age of twelve, when no other man could tame him. Not only was his intelligence clear, but also his sheer determination. When none of the king's men could tame the horse, Alexander said that he could or would pay the cost of the horse. Easily, he noticed that the horse was not unwilling, but his own shadow was scaring him. Turning him into the sun, Alexander easily tamed and rode the horse. It was at this point that his father told him "Oh my son, look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee." (Lamb) The death of his horse some eighteen years later was tragic to Alexander, and he buried his horse in a tomb near a town he named Bucephala, to honor his horse. His kindness to his animals was important; as was his kindness to the people he conquered. Although, like others, he sold women and children into slavery, he was remarkably good to those who did not oppose his rule, and did n ot rape and murder the women, as other leaders might have. He wanted power, but in many ways, it is clear that he also wanted respect. His intelligence is also clear in his ability to understand and learn from Aristotle, one of the greatest philosophers in history.  

The function of design and how graphic design speaks to society and Essay

The function of design and how graphic design speaks to society and affects human experience in in a broad spectrum - Essay Example Paul Rand’s quote above illustrates the essential nature of communication as it relates to graphic design and the design process as it impacts numerous different forms of the public exchange of ideas. In â€Å"Declaration by Design: Rhetoric, Argument, and Demonstration in Design Practice† (1985), Richard Buchanan wrote, "If one idea could be found central to design studies, it most likely would be communication." (Buchanan, 1985)Thus, design affects the human experience by creating an expanded vocabulary of expression to relate the varying degrees of subjective experience to an audience, and further reflects the need of human beings to express themselves in ever more complex thoughts. Simplicity, in this aspect, can be seen as a design tool that cuts through conceptual elaboration to present an archetypal structure or form. The goal of design is to create new words that are not words but symbols, signs, and images which express a message to society through a language t hat both references and transcends common, everyday speech. In this regard, design can be seen as â€Å"stylized language† and speaks of the complexity of social communication while conveying the message or theme of the designer. Design ultimately is a form of art, yet it can be approached scientifically to determine the characteristics which define it and govern its operations culturally. Martin Buber’s theory of knowledge is based upon the analysis of social forms of communication, and in this theory the symbolic aspects of communication are distinguished from signs that merely describe or point directions as a function of communication by the nature of transcendence. Buber creates a number of social relationships as models showing the importance of communication referencing the subjectivity of the â€Å"other† in its means of taking the individual beyond the self into a transcendent state of understanding and shared experience. As this is the intimate, spirit ual nature of communication that we represent in art, it is rare in practice and the actual functional communication in society is often sign oriented in that it only seeks to inform or direct but not provoke a transcendent experience. As Maurice S. Friedman writes in his book â€Å"Martin Buber: the life of dialogue† (2002): "Subject-object, or I-It, knowledge is ultimately nothing other than the socially objectivized and elaborated product of the real meeting which takes place between man and his Thou in the realms of nature, social relationsm and art.† (Friedman, 2002) Buber’s theory of knowledge is important in understanding the social aspects of communication as they relate to design. For example, social communication that is directed or mediated by the sign can be expected to be functional, utilitarian, and descriptive, designed for the facilitation of personal operations in daily life but not particularly concerned with the transcendent as subject matter. Symbolic communication, in contrast, takes as its subject matter and intention the symbolic aspects of expression that relate to the communication of Truth and the communicator seeks to create a higher state of awareness or understanding in the other. Thus, the design and graphic art process should be evaluated first to determine whether the form of social communication is using a language based on signs, which point to other objects, or of symbols, which transcend themselves in shared subjectivity, when

Older Adults in Society Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Older Adults in Society - Assignment Example According to the study ageism â€Å"legitimates the use of chronological age to mark out classes of people who are systematically denied resources and opportunities that others enjoy, and who suffer the consequences of such denigration, ranging from well†meaning patronage to unambiguous vilification’. They further state that it may also give rise to various inherent negative beliefs concerning older people as well the whole process of ageing in general, beginning with well-intentioned benefaction to unequivocal disparagement.From this paper it is clear that  the concept of Ageism, contrary to popular beliefs is a far wider concept and encompasses wider range of issues as compared to mere discrimination on the basis of age. Such beliefs are created socially, which are then reinforced and assimilated within our societies, and are experienced in our social lives.  The term ageism is mostly used to describe the various prejudices and stereotypes which exist in our socie ties today, with regard to older people on the grounds of their age. It also describes the behaviour which is directed towards the older population either directly or indirectly.  The author has identified various types of age related discrimination. While differentiation on the basis of age is a consequence of deep rooted understanding and perception of individuals and mostly occurs as a result of a considerate acknowledgment of the age-related differences.   ... It also describes the behaviour which is directed towards the older population either directly or indirectly (Ray et al., 2006). The author has identified various types of age related discrimination. These include under representative i.e. passive or indirect form of discrimination; positive or protective discrimination which includes giving extra or special treatment to the said age group; and negative or overtly harmful discrimination, which is also known as direct discrimination. Direct discrimination occurs when any individual is given differential treatment on the basis of his/her age, while in case of indirect discrimination although care is provided it is offered in such a way that the older people cannot exploit the services offered for their ultimate benefit, and instead have to suffer due to disproportionate provisions of services (Roberts and Robinson, 2000). According to Adams et al (2006), indirect discrimination occurs when the medical practitioners or organizations res ponsible for providing health care services adopt ageist attitudes with respect to decision-making and service provision. The policies thus implemented in such a way have little or no regard to the needs and requirements of the older section of the population, as their health care needs are given lower priority than required. Thus, due to such an attitude of the health care providers, the aged people find themselves with very few alternatives to seek health care. Such type of ageism, although quite common and rampant, is difficult to challenge and address, especially given its discreet or covert nature. According to Hagestad and Uhlenberg (2005) ageist attitude is related to various factors