Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Marijuana a Gateway Drug - 906 Words

Running head: CRITICAL ISSUE ANALYSIS: MARIJUANA Critical Issue Analysis: Marijuana Janet Matthews University of Phoenix April 22, 2009 Critical Issue Analysis: Marijuana Gfroerer, J. W. (2005). Marijuana Is a Gateway Drug First time marijuana use will lead to harder drugs, creates health risks including HIV. Earleywine, M. (2004). Marijuana Is Not a Gateway to Other Addictive Drugs. Most marijuana users do not touch hard drugs. First time marijuana use does not mean an individual will use harder drugs because people will use whatever drug is available when they are ready to experiment. According to data from the 2000 National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse†¦show more content†¦One of the articles’ headliner says first time users are under 17, but in reading the paragraph, the findings are since 1992 the age range has remained around 17, a big difference between saying â€Å"under† and age and â€Å"around† an age. While sensationalizing all the propaganda, this pertinent information is buried and the actual focus of the article becomes lost. Because the authors of the first article bombard the reader with word usage designed as a scare tactic, it ultimately has little effect. This rhetoric could end up backfiring on those who use the article in a drug awareness effort due to blatant lies and half-truths. Not to mention, the authors of the first article are researchers, therefore, the only responsibility is gathering the information without taking a direct stance on the issue. This limits the credibility of the authors, who work for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The author of the second article uses data from the same source as the previous, without the feeling of information shoved down the readers throat. The article has a more realistic approach because every reader can identify with the content. Although there may be some exaggerated points, the article speaks to what people know, therefore, more creditable. To the author’s credit, a recipient of nine teaching awards for drugs and human behavior, leading researcher in psychology and addictions, the Associate Professor of Clinical Science and Director ofShow MoreRelatedMarijuana as a Gateway Drug2211 Words   |  9 PagesSociology 225 Research Paper Marijuana as a Gateway Drug The gateway theory is a hypothesis which states that the use of gateway drugs (alcohol, tobacco and marijuana) lead to the use of more illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), marijuana is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. â€Å"Schedule I drugs are classified as having a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United StatesRead MoreMarijuana: A Boon or A Gateway Drug876 Words   |  4 Pages ‘Cannabis’- a plant of wonder, commonly known for its by-products like marijuana, hashish, hemp oil, etc. is the most popular drug plant. These products often used for their psychoactive effects. This can include heightened mood or euphoria, relaxation, and an increase in appetite. Popularity of the marijuana has increased widely these days between all age groups. Smoker’s says, â€Å"There is no harm in smoking marijuana, as it is non-addictive, it relaxes your body and connects you to your soul whereasRead MoreJaclyn Larsen. Mr. Gregory. Period 2. February 12, 2017.1749 Words   |  7 PagesPeriod 2 February 12, 2017 The Gateway Theory: On Marijuana Within the last few years there has been a nation wide drive towards the legalization of marijuana. This year, it has finally been taken off the list of gateway drugs. A number of states have seen the legalization of marijuana as a gateway to medical benefits. Whereas other states are still skeptical of some of the unknown factors of marijuana. So how was the decision made that marijuana is not a gateway drug? It simply came to the end factRead MoreGateway Effect of Marijuana Essay1405 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana has been used by people over many centuries for medical uses. It is a natural pain killer used today as a recreational drug by people all over the world. According to Noel Merino in, â€Å"Introduction to Gateway Drugs: Opposing Viewpoints†, â€Å"a drug is something other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body†. Marijuana is a very controversial drug and has been outlawed in many countries for its affect on the function of t he body. â€Å"Effects may involve hallucinationsRead More†¢Legalizing Marijuana Is Beneficial For A Person’S Mental717 Words   |  3 Pages†¢ Legalizing marijuana is beneficial for a person’s mental and emotional health Marijuana should be legalized because it is beneficial for a person’s mental and emotional health. Marijuana is beneficial for a person’s mental and emotional health because it helps decrease anxiety, relieve stress and it provides a mental break from pain for those who are suffering physically. Firstly, marijuana is beneficial to one’s mental and emotional health because it helps decrease anxiety. Anxiety affects 12%Read MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?849 Words   |  4 Pageswhether marijuana should be legalized. Around 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. In the state of Illinois, medicinal use of marijuana has been passed on April 17, 2013. Since January 2014, patients are able to obtain marijuana with a doctor s recommendation. The new debate is whether marijuana should be legalized for the general public as a recreational drug. Although some believe that marijuana is harmless, and that it has beneficial medicinal uses, ma rijuana shouldRead MoreThe Benefits Of Decriminalization Of Marijuana948 Words   |  4 PagesMarijuana is a widespread drug all over the world. A few countries, such as Netherlands, Australia and some U.S.   jurisdictions, have decriminalized the use of marijuana. Some people support the legalization of marijuana for medical and entertainment purposes because they believe that it can solve a number of problems. However, it should keep the illegal state for any purpose because legalizing marijuana will create more potential problems. This essay will talk about two important reasons for keepingRead MoreWeed Be Better Off Without Marijuana1728 Words   |  7 PagesBetter Off Without Marijuana Dope, Mary Jane, Pot, Grass, Weed, Blunt, Joint, and Nuggets are only a few of the countless names for marijuana, a narcotic drug used for recreational and sometimes medicinal uses across the world. Recently growing enough popularity among younger generations due to the glamorization of media, and the overwhelming financial gains through taxes and fees seen in Colorado, have caused Ohio legislators and citizens to consider the idea of legalizing marijuana for both recreationalRead MoreThe Legalization of Marijuana Essay868 Words   |  4 Pagescontroversial topics in the news today is the legalization of marijuana. Supporters believe that the drug is not harmful and can have numerous benefits. However, opponents argue that marijuana can lead to addiction and other more dangerous drugs. In the end, marijuana should be legal based on economic, medicinal, and philosophical factors. First, the legalization of marijuana would have a tremendous economic impact. Since â€Å"marijuana is thought to be the second most profitable cash crop in theRead MoreThe Harmuful Effects of Marijuana787 Words   |  3 Pages In 2006, A Drug Free Worlds The Harmful Effects of Marijuana† emerged in the media. ADFW reasons that marijuana is harmful in numerous ways, including cerebral damage and debilitation to the immune system. Throughout the article, they also try to persuade the reader that cannabis is a gateway drug that undoubtedly leads the users into much harder drugs. When reading this article, one must consider that research to support anything can be found if one searches hard enough, but without a doubt

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Muslim Genocide that Took Place in Europe - 663 Words

Genocide Research Paper â€Å"I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented†(Wiesel). Just like Elie Wiesel mentioned, one must never remain silent when such atrocities are occurring. Although there may be times where one feels powerless to injustices there should never be a time where one fails to protest. Silence is the reason for the moral crimes that have happened in history and are still going on to this day. Genocides have always happened because of silence. Just like Elie Wiesel questioned God’s silence in Night, he also questioned the world’s silence. The silence that caused the annihilation of many human beings and forever changed history. According to dictionary.com, a genocide is the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group. As previously mentioned , genocides occur from the silence of the people, racism, and fear. The belief of superiority of one’s own race is the beginning of a genocide. Hatred towards the Muslims caused the beginning of a new extermination. The Muslim genocide took place in Europe, Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1992 until 1995. Since the beginning of Bosnia, Muslims have always been the majority in the population. Bosnia was created after the break-up of Yugoslavia, which included the religious groups of Serbs, Croats, andShow MoreRelatedThe Horrors of Genocide: Night, by Elie Wiesel1699 Words   |  7 Pagesthis social utopia. Throughout history, many occurrences of genocide have occurred due to the diversity of people and even though society has evolved greatly, there are still people and places today that are suffering. To start off with, what is genocide? Genocide is the killing of a massive number of people of in a group. Genocide has not only been practices in the present day, but it has been practiced for millennia (Horvitz 1). Genocide occurs because people are different, in race, religion, andRead MoreThe Bosnian Genocide Was A Mass Killing1331 Words   |  6 PagesThe Bosnian genocide was a mass killing similar to the Holocaust that occurred in Bosnia Herzegovina shortly after the separation from the former state of Yugoslavia, disbanded in 1992 due to the Yugoslav Wars (The Breakup of Yugoslavia, 1990–1992 - 1989–1992 - Milestones - Office of the Historian.). Akin to most other genocides that have previously been recorded throughout history, the Bosnian genocide was caused by part of the population believing they had second-rate citizens in their land,Read MoreHistory Research Topic- Bosnian Genocide1164 Words   |  5 PagesBosnian Genocide in 1995 Outline Plan Bosnian Genocide was a terrible act of murder which started when Muslims and Croats voted for independence in referendum that was boycotted by Serbs In 1992.When the European Union recognized Bosnian’s independence the war broke out and Serb’s occupied the country. I chose to do my Research about this while studying The Rwanda Genocide in 1994. I discovered that Rwanda wasn’t the only genocide that happened in the past and I really wanted to learn somethingRead MoreThe Denial of The Armenian Genocide Essay1442 Words   |  6 Pagesdenial of the Armenian genocide and the use of the term â€Å"alleged† are insults to those who have agitated over the years in highlighting the genocide and the Armenian people themselves. The pictorial anger and anguish of this painful traumatic experience had left the survivors of this horrific event with deep scars beyond repairs. The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were a dark world for the Armenians who were held helpless and bound at the treacherous hand of the Muslim Turks of the OttomanRead MoreGenocide Essay997 Words   |  4 Pages Unfortunately, genocide and mass killings happen in many places around the world and bring destruction to thousands of people. Genocide is the del iberate and systematic killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation. Some genocides occur due to small, invading groups of people, or one dictator in power who dreams of a â€Å"pure† land to rule. Others occur because of a country’s own government and the people in it who wish to change the makeup of their countryRead MoreThe Armenian Genocide Essay2458 Words   |  10 PagesThe Armenian genocide has several main causes: European meddling in Ottoman internal affairs, nationalism, economic jealousy, and Armenian involvement in the Russian war effort. Though, a lot of the causes are interrelated. For example, nationalism and European meddling go hand in hand. What exactly was the Armenian genocide? Well, the Armenian genocide was a state orchestrated machine of mass-murder and rape of the Armenian people, and several other ethnic groups, of the Ottoman Empire 1915-1923Read MoreThe Tragedy Of The Bosnian Genocide1412 Words   |  6 Pageshistorians may never know if they could have been prevented. Genocides are an example of such an event, as they are often influenced by delicate situations, and are often very tragic. The deepest tragedy of all is that we will never know if these mass murders of specific ethnicities could have been averted. One such dreadful occurrence became known to the public as the Bosnian Genocide. Lasting from 1992 till 1995, the Bosnian Genocide erupted after the ruination of Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia was a communistRead MoreAn Understanding And Appreciation Of History862 Words   |  4 Pages being forced to take the blame for the world’s problems. Such as in Nazi Germany, as the rise of Hitler lead to the discrimination, mass deportation, and eventual genocide of Jews in the Holocaust. Other examples of genocide â€Å"the deliberate killing of people who belong to a particular racial, political, or cultural group.† took place in Armenia, Cambodia, Bosnia and Darfur (Merriam-Webster). Developing an understanding and appreciation of history allows people who are living in the present, andRead More The Horror of Genocide Essay997 Words   |  4 Pagesbut definitely possible. The word genocide, which is also known as ethnic cleansing, is certainly not uncommon to anyone living in this not so perfect world, full of violence, hatred and discrimination. Throughout the decades, genocide has taken place in more than one occasion, causing wars, slaughters and mass destruction of cities and towns. I think that genocide is by far the worst crime in humanity. Hatred, superiority and personal memories are all behind genocide. Everyday, I get more surprisedRead MoreThe Genocide Of The Ottoman Empire Essay1493 Words   |  6 Pagesterm â€Å"genocide† refers to the systematic killing of a group of people because of factors that may include race or religion. The Ottoman Empire is to blame for the Armenia Genocide which took place between 1915 and 1923 and resulted in the deaths of over 1.5 million. Years after, under Adolf Hitler, Germany was to blame for the Holocaust which resulted in the death of over 6 million Jews. Despite both genocides taking place in different countries and during different time periods, both genocides have

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Five Year Anniversary of Face book’s Acquisition of Instagram

Question: Discuss about the Five Year Anniversary of Face books Acquisition of Instagram. Answer: Changes in policy Facebook essentially bought nearly 35 million users of Instagram for approximately $1 billion that is equal to over $28 for every user. Analysis of the acquisition reveals the fact that during the time of acquisition, the valuation of facebook stood at $90 billion. However, the present valuation of facebook stands at $306.4 billion that is roughly $179 per share. Essentially, in this case, valuation is necessarily the price that a specific party pays for another party, or in other words it is the value that a specific side will sacrifice in order to make the transaction work (Fracassi, 2016). As such, valuation can be considered as a combination of flow of cash as well as the time value of money. In this case, the seller firm tends to value the corporation at a price as high as possible, whilst the purchaser tends to get the lowest price possible. Amidst several criticisms as regards the acquisitions of Instagram, facebook had different ideas regarding the worth of the company. Many questioned the decision of acquiring Instagram as many people were of the view that disbursing $1 billion for a corporation that generated no revenue was not feasible. Basically, management of the firm facebook considered the future prospects of business, solid growth base, risk of the target firm and cost of capital. In a bid to understand whether a specific deal is worthwhile it is important for the acquiring firm to comprehend the price-earnings ratio as P/E for all stocks falling within the identical industry can provide acquiring firm proper guidance regarding multiple of target P/E (Grinblatt Titman, 2016). Again, the acquiring firm also need to consider enterprise value to sales value ratio as this can help in understanding the value as well as amount of debt of a corporation that necessarily needs to be returned back at certain point of ti me. The company facebook registered increase in research as well as development expenditure from $1.4 billion in 2012, $388 million in 2011 and $144 million in 2010. At the time of acquirement of Instagram that is during the year, the rate of inflation in USA was registered to be 2.07%. The inflation rate presents an overview of the American inflation that is based on the consumer price index (Bena Li, 2014). However, analysis of annual report of facebook reveals that inflation has had a material effect on the overall business, financial condition as well as outcomes of operations. However, inflation affects the capital market and hinders corporate growth and thereby adversely affects Merger Acquisition. Interest Rate enhances the cost of funding an acquisition. As the rate of interest augments, acquisition cost increases and this increased cost essentially discourages diverse acquirers from purchasing. Again at the time when Treasury rate is high, discount can be considered to be high as an acquirer can securely park money in different risk free investment with high level of interest (Greve Zhang, 2017). Finally, all the valuations is said to decrease in case if the rate of interest is enhanced. Annual report of facebook for the period 2012 shows that the effective tax rate was 89% up from 41% from 2011. In addition to this, with increase in tax, owners of firms are less probable to cash out owing to increased tax consequences from the firms sales. References Bena, J., Li, K. (2014). Corporate innovations and mergers and acquisitions.The Journal of Finance,69(5), 1923-1960. Fracassi, C. (2016).Corporate finance policies and social networks.Management Science. Greve, H. R., Zhang, C. M. (2017). Institutional logics and power sources: Merger and acquisition decisions.Academy of Management Journal,60(2), 671-694. Grinblatt, M., Titman, S. (2016). Financial markets corporate strategy.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Some Challenges of Effective Communication Essay Sample free essay sample

Harmonizing to Jim Leininger in his article. employees express deeper degrees of employee committedness and are likely to be more satisfied with their leading if their companies have strong communicating plans. But effectual communicating is confronting more and more challenges in a cultural diverse and coevals diverse environment in China. First of all. linguistic communication is one of barriers in a transnational company. Even there is normally one working linguistic communication in transnational companies. like English. Peoples are greatly affected by their female parent linguistic communication and can’t comprehend their squad members who come from different states wholly sometimes. Second. Peoples from different civilizations normally have different thought and mentality. The cultural differences frequently cause misconstruing and statements that lead failure in communicating. So. working linguistic communication accomplishments and larning different civilizations is really of import for employees in civilization diverse companies. And companies normally give some basic preparation about this for new employees. We will write a custom essay sample on Some Challenges of Effective Communication Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Communication between different coevalss attracts more attending with the post-80 and post-90 come ining occupation market. Comparing the seniors. post-80 and post-90 coevals were raised in an environment with more freedom. chance. diverseness and wealth. they are believed to keep a really different attitude towards life and work. New coevals have wider. more diverse cognition because they grew up in the Internet age. and they are possibly cherished resource for invention. So. the post-80 and post-90 and the seniors should seek to cognize and digest the differences between them and happen the good manner of communicating. Besides communicating among people. effectual communicating in a company includes â€Å"employees understand their company’s ends. their ain occupation. and the nexus between occupation and the customer† . That means company should hold a complete communicating system and good acknowledged concern civilization.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Past Leaders essays

Past Leaders essays Sigmund Freuds life consisted of two things: himself and psychoanalysis. He was an extremely hard worker. Seeing several patients in a day, and then writing into the night, but he never seemed to have fun. He stood up for his work and defended it 100%. Freud had theories of repression, disturbances of sexual function, which he claimed to be neurotic, and infantile sexuality which he said all children are partly neurotic. He prided himself on always being right. He as well came up with the theory of the Id, Ego, and Super-ego, which were the three different parts of the human mind. Freud came to the conclusion of studying his childhood patients that many of the bad incidents that his patients recalled and that seemed to have caused their illnesses were sexual in nature. He established that the primary cause of neurosis was the sexuality of childhood. He also came up with transference which is when someone would enter a new situation in life or they are confronted by a new person, then they would project upon the other person the prejudices of their past and of their previous experiences with people. Freud came up with these main concepts of psychoanalysis as well as many more which are still used to this very day in that same field of study. He didnt create this subject of study; he just perfected it, and made it better. He is said to be the best psychoanalyst to ever live. He kept to himself, and people still dont know certain things about him even to this day. So yes to close, he did help the discovery of self, with his ideas of the id, ego, and supe r-ego, and the neurotic thoughts of the human mind. He made his field into what it is today. Nikolai Lenin grew up living better than the average bureaucrat. Both his father and his brother died within a year. His brother Alexander was killed because he was found to be plotting to assassinate Tsar Alexander III. Soon after his brothers death L...

Friday, November 22, 2019

25 German Loanwords

25 German Loanwords 25 German Loanwords 25 German Loanwords By Mark Nichol The German language has provided English with a huge inventory of words, many of them pertaining to music, science, and politics, thanks to the influence of German-speaking people on those areas of human endeavor. Here are some of the more useful German terms borrowed into English. 1. Achtung (â€Å"attention†): an imperative announcement used to obtain someone’s attention 2. Angst (â€Å"anxiety†): a feeling of apprehension 3. Blitz (â€Å"lightning†): used only literally in German, but in English refers to a sudden movement, such as a rush in a contact sport 4. Carabiner (â€Å"rifle†): an equivalent of the English word carbine, this truncation of karabinerhaken (â€Å"riflehook†) refers to a metal loop originally employed with ropes in mountaineering, rock climbing, and other sports and activities but now widely employed for more general uses 5. Delicatessen (â€Å"delicate eating†): a restaurant or food shop selling meats, cheeses, and delicacies 6. Doppelgnger (â€Å"double-goer†): in German, refers to a look-alike, but in English, the primary connotation is of a supernatural phenomenon either a spirit or a duplicate person 7. Ersatz (â€Å"substitute†): refers to an artificial and/or inferior imitation or replacement 8. Flak (acronym): an abbreviation for â€Å"air-defense cannon† used figuratively to refer to criticism 9. Gestalt (â€Å"figure†): something more than the sum of its parts, or viewed or analyzed with other contributing phenomena 10. Gà ¶tterdmmerung (â€Å"twilight of the gods†): a catastrophic event 11. Hinterland (â€Å"land behind†): originally a technical geographic term; later, in both German and English, came to connote undeveloped rural or wilderness areas, and in British English has a limited sense of â€Å"artistic or scholarly knowledge,† as in â€Å"Smith’s hinterland isn’t very impressive† 12. Kitsch: something of low taste and/or quality, or such a condition 13. Leitmotiv (â€Å"leading motive†): a recurring theme, originally applied to music and later literature and theater but now in general usage 14. Nazi (truncation of â€Å"National Socialist†): originally denoted a person, thing, or idea associated with the German political party of that name and later the national government it dominated; now, by association with Adolf Hitler and the tyranny of the party and the government, a pejorative term for a fanatical or tyrannical person 15. Poltergeist (â€Å"noisy ghost†): a mischievous and/or malicious apparition or spectral force thought responsible for otherwise inexplicable movement of objects 16. Putsch (â€Å"push†): overthrow, coup d’etat 17. Realpolitik (real politics): the reality of political affairs, as opposed to perceptions or propaganda about political principles or values 18. Reich (â€Å"realm†): in German, usually a neutral term for â€Å"empire† or part of a name for a nationalized service, such as the postal service, but in English, because of the Nazi appellation â€Å"the Third Reich,† connotes tyranny 19. Schadenfreude (â€Å"harm joy†): enjoyment of others’ misfortune 20. Sturm und drang (â€Å"storm and stress†): turmoil, drama 21. Verboten (â€Å"forbidden†): prohibited 22. Weltanschauung (â€Å"worldview†): an all-encompassing conception or perception of existence 23. Weltschmerz (â€Å"world pain†): despair or world-weariness 24. Wunderkind (â€Å"wonder child†): a child prodigy 25. Zeitgeist (â€Å"time ghost†): the spirit of the time, or a prevailing attitude, mentality, or worldview Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Incorrect Pronunciations That You Should AvoidRound vs. AroundHyphenation in Compound Nouns

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Marketing-It's Popcorn Time Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing-It's Popcorn Time - Essay Example The popularity and wide acceptance of the internet is manifested in the increasing internet literacy and rising usage worldwide. Thus, this large potential of the internet in reaching out target market can be utilized by IPT. Through the internet technology, marketing and distribution of products can be done online by setting up a website. IPT’s products can be advertised and orders can also be taken online. This can increase customer satisfaction because they can now shop for IPT’s products in the convenience and comfort of their own homes. Through the internet, a company can also customize buyer experience through the use of value-adding features which can be manipulated by the customer. In the long run, IPT can use the internet technology to cater to a wider market since the scope of internet is global. The company can partner with a local distributor in a specific country where it wants to distribute its products while conducting order generation and processing in i ts website. Internet technology will also enable IPT to conduct business to business transactions with suppliers and distributors thereby strengthening its strategic alliances with them (Kotler 2005). Customer relationship management generally covers the activities of business organizations in managing customer relationship including collecting, storing, and analyzing customer information (Customer Relationship Management 2007). One of the aspects of this tool is the use of databases which gathers information about the demographics, past orders, and transaction history with the customer. For IPT, a customer databases is a gold mine because it enables it to identify and understand its customers. Through the various databases, IPT gain knowledge on the specific preferences of buyers with different profile. After analyzing the buying history of a customer, IPT can use the information in conducting more specific target marketing. CRM

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Cost Accounting Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cost Accounting - Case Study Example Thus for a manager, who has an authoritative style of leadership like the said CEO, could get things even without consulting managers or employees who can can readily agree. However, the budgeting process should theoretically and practically require participation from middle and even lower managers to be effective. Managers may not just be working for their pay. They are also human beings who would prefer that their contribution to the organization should also be recognized and valued by management by making them part of the decision-making process. Although a chief executive officer must plan, organize and controls activities, at the same time he must also lead people in the organization toward attainment of objectives. As manager, he influences his subordinates, who cannot be presumed to lack creativity. Subordinates or followers may even contribute for the improvement of the plan because at the planning stage the CEO can sense possible problems that they have and strategies on how to counter them can become material part of the budget process. A typical organization has functional areas or departments with conflicting interests and priorities as the process essentially requires making an optimum use of the limited resources. The budget process entails managers to use resources which are tied with activities and that are needed to attain set objectives. If the middle and lower managers are not consulted in budget process, they would most probably not support fully the goals per budget as set by the CEO. It must be noted that a good CEO is good delegator (ZweigWhite ,2010) and this is the essence of an organization person. Setting the goals and just telling his subordinates to strive for their attainment would be an act of lack of trust to his lower managers. If the said CEO realizes that his people would prefer to decide with him, working with the

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Video Game Design Essay Example for Free

Video Game Design Essay Video games is no doubt the widely celebrated market leading the entertainment industry for youngsters. From the basic Atari consoles with mere up and down buttons and a special plastic rifle spewing infra red bullets to Level Up internet games where you can fight opponents in the other side of the world, this violent entertainment industry is definitely not stopping from evolving into a bigger money making monster. News reports further observe that â€Å"fueled by a growing portable gaming market, sales of video game software and hardware topped . 5 billion, a six percent increased over 2004s $9. 9 billion and topping 2002, which held the previous record of $10. 2 billion, according to The NPD Group. † (CNNMoney. com. , 2006) The industry is not devoid of morale and ethical issues despite its support from the business sector and overwhelming support from its consumers. In fact, conferences of video game event are worldwide in scope. The Entertainment Software Association are preparing for the E3EXPO slated for next year. â€Å"E3Expo remains an important event for the industry and we want to keep that sense of excitement and interest, ensuring that the human and financial resources crucial to its success can be deployed productively to create an exciting new format to meet the needs of the industry. The new event ensures that there will be an effective and more efficient way for companies to get information to media, consumers, and others,† (ESA, 2006) as its leader Lowenstein promoted. With video gamers on one side, video game creators on another, the public continues to debate on the issue of social responsibility in this video game industry. Who is responsible for all the violence found in video games? Debates arise from the breadth of the studies against video games to those that could see measures that regulate the games aimed at protecting young minds who could not distinguish from real to non real. These debates arise because people acknowledge the social responsibility that needs to be addressed. Social responsibility is the vanguard of the morales of a community. When something is not ethical, these two words are brought up like a bell that calls people into order. In the video gaming industry, where sex and violence reach both adult and juvenile minds, where gamers can spend days on end in front of a monitor totally locked in a world of play and totally forgetting his other social duties and responsibilities, something is not right. Video game designers must be socially responsible not to design games that are violent. They should not step outside market decision. There is no such thing as letting the market decide in this age of complex marketing and advertising tactics and strategies. Social and psyschological studies would prove that issues arising from violent video games must find immediate solutions from all stakeholders including designers. â€Å"Not only can excessive video game playing cause behavioral and social changes in a person, but it can also result in neurological changes as well. A recent study utilized positron emission tomography in order to show that levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine increased while playing video games. (Ingram, 1998) â€Å"The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado, near Denver and Littleton. Two teenage students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, carried out a shooting rampage, killing 12 fellow students and a teacher, as well as wounding 24 others, before committing suicide. It is considered to be the deadliest school shooting, and the second deadliest attack on a school in United States history after the Bath School disaster. † (Wikipedia. com. 2006) The advent of video games was expected with the development of software and computer hardware industries. Tracing back, the need for entertainment increased the need to develop technologies that would cater to this need. The need for entertainment was spawned by the decline of social values that are based on physical social interaction. This is not over simplification. Statistics show that one of three six year old have their own televisions in their room. The alarming statistics should make the community act on these issues. Unfortunately, the community itself is hooked on these video games where society’s need to release their frustrations can be exhausted. Doctors believe that whatever the content, children and adults must not be hooked on technologies like the computer and television for more than two hours a day. American statistics note an average of five hours of television and computer use a day. Health risks due to technologies are on a rise. One of three people in America is obese due to improper diet and lack of exercise. One of ten teenagers have been jailed for at least five times before turning eighteen. It is a fact that parents hold two jobs to sustain a family. One million children a year become member of divorced households. The need to be entertained exists because a void in the values exists. And this void is being nurtured by sex and violence found in games created by the very same people who are void of this nurturing. There is no amount of creative video game that can replace family and social dynamics. Violence is violence. As it is, the juveniles are desensitized from blood and gore so much so that the need for more blood and gore leads to more blood and gore. Unlike television, video game is an interactive system. The creator is the one who thinks of the big plot where all subplots follow. He is the one who creates the characters that the gamers choose from the start. How can the creator not be responsible for something he created when he is a member of society who will feel and face the consequences of his creations. Maybe these video game creators rake in millions of dollars now but a few years from now, the wars they create and on the video console will become flesh and blood as proven by recent bomb attacks. But no matter how violent this creative output becomes, American dare not cross the right to free speech. Courts are also in disparities. â€Å"Our contemporary court decisions show that the right to free speech is more important to us than eliminating offensive content about women, says Ren Reynolds. Whether games even qualify as speech, though, is still up for debate. St. Louis County recently asserted that games are not speech, and therefore are not protected under the First Amendment. However, in a separate case, the 7th Circuit U. S. District Court of Appeals found that games are speech. Most of us, including feminists concerned by representations of women, are not in favor of diminishing our rights under the First Amendment. † (Hall, 2002). Video game creators cannot forever run away from their social responsibility. Sooner or later these young creative dynamic people at the prime of their lives will become old. They will one day see themselves at the hands of their caregivers in hospices. Their game buddies would be in other hospices as well remember good old killing days of blood and gore. They must not expect society to be as compassionate when they can’t keep up the level of their games when they grow old. Investing on one’s future is answering to the call for social responsibility. This responsibility is not in the hands of just a few but in all of the stakeholders. Being responsible is just like thinking about creating the bomb that can be dropped in Hiroshima. The Chernobyl accident effects have been passed on to generations in the enviornment as well as with their people. It is only when creators give true service to the community when they are truly creative and worthy of awards. Reference CNN Money. Video game set sales record in 2005 January 14, 2006: 3:56 PM EST Game Boy, PSP lift the industry, despite languid holiday season http://money. cnn. com/2006/01/13/technology/personaltech/gamesales/index. htm ESA. Entertainment Software Association Announces Evolution of E3Expo for 2007 http://www. theesa. com/archives/2006/07/for_immediate_r. php Hall, Wesley. Kitchen Sink. Oakland: Oct 31, 2002. Virtual Morality; Violence and Ethics in Video Games Vol. 1, Iss. 1; pg. 75 Ingram, Jay. June 12, 1998 Positron Emission Tomography Wikipedia. com. 2006

Thursday, November 14, 2019

A Rose for Emily By William Faulkner :: Free Essay Writer

A Rose for Emily The following paper analyzes the William Faulkner story called A Rose for Emily. The paper discusses my thoughts and ideas about the story, and evaluates different elements of the story. The paper analyzes the style that the author uses in characterization, and a few specific methods used to convey the plot and lay out the scene mentally, giving specific examples in the story. Finally, I give my overall opinion of the story. I found the first paragraph very enticing; first drawing me in with the explanations of why all the townspeople attended her funeral. Then making me want to get a look into her house that only a few others had seen for so many years. The descriptions of the house with its â€Å"cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies† sparked memories of old houses in my neighborhood when I was growing up. The story quickly created strong mental images of contrasting scenery with the mention of the encroaching cotton gins, garages, and gas pumps around Emily’s grand, but decaying home on what the author calls a â€Å"select street†, (Xroads, 2005). The Author’s smooth use of imagery and language drew me deep into the story after only the first paragraph, and it just kept getting better. I enjoyed this story for a number of reasons, which included how the author laid out the plot. The story was not told in a chronological order, thus allowing relevant information to be pieced together in an interesting and different way. It started with Emily’s death, then jumped back in time and finally led to her ultimate demise. This play on time was carefully constructed so that it built suspense and anticipation in a way that a chronological story could not, (Xroads, 2005). I also enjoyed the story because of its gothic undertones. The author’s use of dark images such as the decaying mansion, dead bodies, and the morbid attraction of Emily to dead bodies was only part of the carefully crafted multi-layered story line that used descriptive language, characterization, and chronology to keep you on the edge of your seat, (Xroads, 2005). I also liked the way the author portrayed the characters in the story, especially Emily. One example is Emily’s characterization when she purchases the arsenic, looking through her â€Å"cold, haughty black eyes† which peer from a â€Å"face the flesh of which was strained across the temples and about the eye-sockets†, (Xroads, 2005).

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Advantage of Taking a Stress Management Class Essay

Unfortunately, stress is a very normal part of everyday life for most of us. Stress can both be positive and negative. Leaving negative stress to chance, you will encounter serious health problems. Although stress is commonplace, it is far from healthy. Stress management professionals in the industry will recommend stress management classes as a means to better health and wellbeing. Stress management classes are available through employers and health care professionals. These sessions will help you to identify the factors that are causing the stress and help you make good lifestyle choices to reduce stress in the future. The larger companies are realizing that assisting employees to cope with stress will not only result in better health and emotional wellness for the staff; it will also improve the bottom line as well. These stress management classes are offered in multiple formats; from formal lectures by authorities in the field, to weekly training sessions that teach skills like meditation and biofeedback. Studies of these seminars show a marked improvement in employees’ stress symptoms after eight weeks of training. Less stress means higher production for employers, so it becomes a win-win situation for many companies. Individual Stress Management Classes There is several ways to access stress management classes for everyone. Do not think that stay at home mom doesn’t have stress. There are other opportunities for stress management classes. A good resource to begin with is your primary care provider. You can also check books and websites for information regarding stress management classes. Advantages of taking a class are that you will learn to spot the sources of your stress in order to take control of them more effectively. Stress management classes will teach you coping skills such as relaxation techniques and exercises specifically targeted at tension. You will also have the chance to meet others who are facing similar hurdles in their own lives, and build a support network with others who are sharing like burdens. Negative stress can take away your emotional wellbeing and at the same time contribute to general poor health. Therefore, stress management classes can help you identify the source of your stress, learn how to gain control over them, and educate you to reduce your stress symptoms. When feeling the results of constant stress, contact your nearest health provider to find out about a stress management class for you. Many people don’t think about stress management unless they’re already on the verge of burnout. With our busy lives, it doesn’t always seem obviously important to take on the practice of stress management before a worn-out body or an overly taxed psyche force the issue. However, developing healthy stress relieving habits really do pay off in the long run. Not only does a regular stress management practice stave off the negative effects of stress, but it can also bring positive outcomes like increased productivity, better health and more happiness in general. The following are some reasons why: †¢ Your Health: Excessive stress really can lead to poor health outcomes, from relatively minor things like headaches and digestion problems in the short run to major conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke after years of unmanaged stress. (Here’s a more complete list of stress related health problems, and a more detailed description of how stress affects your health.) †¢ Your Looks: Many stress relievers can also make you healthier and even more attractive. For example, taking care of your body by getting enough sleep can make you more productive and healthier, and can help you better manage stress, as well as staving off dark circles under the eyes and a poor complexion. Also, eating right can keep your blood sugar levels even, keeping your emotions in check and making you more resilient to stress, as well as helping you stay in your ‘skinny jeans’ or favorite tee-shirts from college. Getting regular exercise can help you blow off steam when you’re frustrated and keep your body fit and toned. †¢ Increased Productivity: Simply put, when you’re not stressed, you can be more productive because you’re more focused. Therefore, it really pays to keep stress to a minimum. Certain stress relief habits naturally make you more productive. Power napping, for example, can help you catch up on sleep and be more focused and productive, making less sleep stretch further. Being organized can also help you save time and money in the long run, reducing stress and helping you to be more productive in virtually every area of your life. Even limiting caffeine can help, improving your sleep and helping you feel less stressed at the end of the day. Finally, having the right attitude is actually a habit that can be learned. Being an optimist can benefit you in many areas of your life, helping you let failures roll off your back and actually enabling you to achieve more! (Think you’re already an optimist? You may be surprised. Take this quiz to find out for sure, and dis cover the secrets of optimistic thinking.) †¢ Your Happiness: Some stress relief practices just bring more joy. If you want to enjoy life more, you’ll want to adopt some of these stress relievers, and the fun will come more easily. Caring for pets, enjoying music, dancing while you clean, working more laughter into your life, maintaining a supportive circle of friends, and even having sex are all fun activities that double as great stress relievers for various reasons. Read more about them and how they can help you, and remind yourself that you’re never too busy to include these activities in your lifestyle—they’re stress management techniques! †¢ Your Stress Levels—Of Course!: The desire to avoid walking around feeling stressed-out is, in itself, a good reason to bone up on stress management. Certain general techniques that primarily just relieve stress (rather than serving some secondary function) are more than worth adopting because, when you’re less stressed, you enjoy life more. Some of the best stress management techniques available include , and good old [link url=/od/breathingexercises/ht/breathing_ex.htm]breathing exercises. Read more about the benefits of each, and choose a few to try, and you won’t have to let stress sap you of energy, productivity and enjoyment of life again! Putting in the effort to learn effective strategies for stress relief and low-stress living will pay off in the long run. Because of this, stress management is among the most important subjects to learn! Ideally, stress management needs to begin when we’re young so that we don’t have battered, scarred trunks when we reach mid life and beyond. But, the reality is, most of us never consider stress as damaging †¦until we’ve been reacting to it for a long time. The good news about our amazing bodies is that once we identify the stressors and make some definite life style changes, we can often reverse a lot of the damage. Sort of like being able to get some wood filler, apply it to the nicks on the tree trunk, then sand it down to recreate a smooth finish on your trunk. Stress management can really promote better health. What are some of the benefits of stress reduction? 1. Better immune function 2. Less illnesses and physical complaints 3. More energy 4. Feeling more relaxed 5. Sleeping better 6. Better digestion 7. Calmer mood 8. More focused, more positive 9.   Case Example: Elaine A housewife named Elaine suffered from dreadful panic attacks. She would be in a state of great agitation. She was sure she was having a heart attack, terrified she would die, despite the fact that she had no heart disease and was just 45 years old. Twice she rushed to the emergency room for help. She was suffering acute chest pain, sweating profusely and nauseated. Her heart was pounding, her breathing was shallow and rapid, her hands shook and she had diarrhoea. Real symptoms. The emergency room medics examined her carefully and told her she was reacting to stress and suggested she see her family doctor. Her family doctor checked Elaine over, sent her for a series of tests to rule out disease and prescribed . . . exercise. Whenever she felt acute anxiety symptoms, she was to jog or run or get on her exercise bike until the attack passed. His notion was that to get rid of the bad chemicals, it was imperative to replace them with good chemicals. After a few weeks of doing that †¦it worked. She was able to control the panic and anxiety with exercise. With a lot of practice, she also learned to do relaxation techniques and deep breathing so that Elaine can take control of anxiety whenever she feels over-whelmed at times when she’s unable to exercise. No pills or magic, just using the body and mind to cure itself. Case example 2 Allen was a firefighter for many years. When he had been to a fire, he would come back to the fire station all keyed up and be unable to relax. The adrenalin he needed to fight the fire was still pumping – hours after he was out of the â€Å"fight† mode. The â€Å"tiger† was gone yet seeing flames destroy people’s property bothered him emotionally. When people were hurt or died in the fires, he was even more keyed up and anxious. He felt sad. Soon he had high blood pressure and was prescribed medication. Realizing he had to take action, try to reverse what he was feeling, he started running on the tread milling once he got back from a fire. His family had a history of heart disease, he was determined not to sick. He gets on the treadmill for 30 – 45 minutes while watching TV or listening to relaxing music. He also learned to meditate which took weeks to master. He does tai chi several days weekly. Within just 4 month his blood pressure was under control and he was able to come off the medication. He actively changed his bad stress chemicals to good stress chemicals. A Stress Management Seminar for understanding and Coping with Stress The length of a stress management seminar may vary from several days to some being only half a day. The stress management seminar may be presented by experts ranging from psychologists to scientist and professionals from other diverse fields. With the promise of change and challenge in our growing markets a stress management seminar may provide some answers for people to try and cope with the growing strain put on their lives. Stress may be a life threatening factor for one man and a life enhancing one for another. The stress management seminar can prove to be pivotal in comprehending many apparently paradoxical observations and realize that the difference between negative and positive stress may lie in the perception and handling of stress as well as how best to cope with it. What vital information can be learnt at a Stress Management Seminar? Just some of the keynote presentations that are dealt with at a stress management seminar; †¢ Self-assessment of stress â€Å"triggers† †¢ Four factors of stress mediation †¢ The power of re-frame and focus †¢ The productive and proper use of W.I.I.F.M strategy. †¢ How to do more with less †¢ Circles of destiny †¢ How to master an action grid †¢ Network strength and organizational alignment. Of course, there are many different stress management seminars available and one should choose a seminar that helps participants in identifying the causes of stress as well as enable them to have effective tools to avoid as well as reduce and manage stress, both on and off the job. Some stress management seminars would include written individual as well as group exercises, group discussions and group activities as well as business simulations to make the learning process more effective. Different themes that are presented at the stress management seminar may include; †¢ getting the most from one’s work †¢ Knowing how stress drains the value from one’s life †¢ Nature as well as causes and effects of stress †¢ An attendee’s personal stress profile †¢ Rational as well as irrational thinking and behavior †¢ Effects of positive as well as negative thinking and much, much more. The kind of people who would normally attend a stress management seminar may include executive team members, managers or employees of different persuasion. Some stress management seminars may be customized for group or even firm requirements. Many seminars have also been changed to suit the skills level the company.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Pervasis Case Study

Pervasis Receives Orphan Drug Designation in Europe for Vascugel ® to Prevent Arteriovenous Access Failure in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis Cell-Based Therapy Aims to Regulate the Body’s Healing Response, Promoting Vascular Repair, Reducing the Need for Repeat Surgical Procedures and Improving Patient Outcomes Cambridge, Mass. , March 1, 2011 — Pervasis Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that the European Commission (EC) has granted Orphan Drug Designation for Vascugel ® for the prevention of hemodialysis vascular access failure in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD).The designation follows a positive opinion from The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) within the European Medicines Agency (EMA) earlier this year. Vascugel is a novel endothelial cell-based therapy that aims to regulate the body’s healing response following surgical interventions to create vascular access which are necessary for ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis.By p romoting and enhancing vascular repair, Vascugel reduces the need for repeat surgical interventions and improves overall patient outcomes. ESRD is an advanced and irreversible condition treated mainly by hemodialysis or kidney transplantation. It is estimated that more than 250,000 ESRD patients in the EU receive hemodialysis, a blood purification therapy designed to replace critical kidney functions – such as filtering waste.Orphan Drug Designation by the EC provides regulatory and financial incentives for companies to develop and market therapies that treat a life-threatening or chronically debilitating condition affecting no more than five in 10,000 persons in the European Union (EU). In addition to a 10year period of marketing exclusivity in the EU after product approval, Orphan Drug Designation provides companies with scientific advice and regulatory assistance from the EMA during the product development phase, direct access to centralized marketing authorization, as wel l as reductions in certain fees. We are committed to bringing Vascugel to patients with end stage renal disease who currently must endure serious complications and repeat surgical procedures so they can continue to receive life-saving hemodialysis treatment,† Frederic Chereau, president and chief executive officer of Pervasis. â€Å"Receiving Orphan Drug Designation in the EU is an important step, as it will help to advance the development process, and enhance our ability to deliver our novel cellbased therapeutic approach to address this significant unmet medical need. Vascugel has demonstrated proof of concept in two Phase 2 clinical trials involving patients with ESRD who require a permanent arteriovenous (AV) access in order to undergo hemodialysis. In these trials, Vascugel exhibited an excellent safety profile, and encouraging efficacy trends were observed, including improved duration of patency (or unimpeded blood flow) and a delay in time to first intervention as comp ared to placebo. In 2009, Pervasis received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Vascugel in patients with ESRD. Pervasis announced last month that the FDA had granted Fast Track review status for Vascugel. Last year, Pervasis reached an agreement with the FDA for a Phase 3 clinical trial of Vascugel under the Agency’s Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) procedure, whereby FDA formalized its agreement that the design of the Phase 3 trial was acceptable to support a regulatory submission seeking new drug approval.Failure of Hemodialysis Access Points Leads to Poor Outcomes During hemodialysis, blood is removed from the body, filtered through a dialyzer, or artificial kidney, and then returned to the body. Patients must undergo a surgical intervention to create a vascular access that enables blood to flow from the body to the dialyzer and back to the body. AV fistulae (created by directly joining an artery and vein) and AV grafts (created u sing a synthetic tube to join an artery and vein) are the two primary types of hemodialysis access.Due to an inflammatory cascade triggered by surgical intervention, the vascular access often has difficulty healing, and quickly become unusable or clot rapidly, prompting the need for additional, recurring surgeries to create a new access which can lead to multiple complications. Up to 60 percent of all arteriovenous (AV) grafts require re-intervention after one year. 1, 2 AV access failure is the most common reason for hospitalization among hemodialysis patients and can lead to anemia, infection, weight loss, jaundice, prolonged bleeding, and other serious complications. Vascugel ® – Combating Inflammation and Promoting Healing Pervasis’ novel approach to cell therapy uses adult-differentiated allogeneic endothelial cells (donor endothelial cells with a highly targeted biologic function) embedded in a polymer matrix to enhance the body’s natural healing respons e. The endothelium is the thin layer of cells that lines the interior surface of blood vessels in the body. Endothelial cells are critical to tissue repair and health, and have a well-understood role in regulating many of the body’s healing processes, including those associated with vascular repair.Vascugel, which utilizes Pervasis’ patented endothelial cell-based platform, is placed on the outside of the blood vessel at the AV access site during the surgical intervention to create the access. The endothelial formulation in Vascugel secrete several factors that combat inflammation and promote proper vascular healing, reducing thrombosis (or clotting) and the formation of intimal hyperplasia, or a thickening of the blood vessel wall in response to injury. After approximately four to eight weeks, Vascugel is safely resorbed by the body.Pervasis’ other areas of clinical investigation include improving outcomes in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) follow ing surgical procedures such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTAs) with stenting, the failures of which result in serious complications and a significant increase in medical costs. Earlier this year, Pervasis announced it has also embarked on an oncology development program using its proprietary endothelial cellbased platform to prevent solid tumor growth, cancer recurrence and metastatic disease. About Pervasis Dixon et al.DAC Study Group. Effect of dipyridamole plus aspirin on hemodialysis graft patency. N Engl J Med. 2009; 360: 2191-2201. 2 Hayashi et al. Vascular access for hemodialysis. Nat Clin Pract Nephrol 2006; 2: 504-513 3 Castner D. Recommendations for tracking arteriovenous access complications using a charting-by-exception model. Anna Journal, 1998; 25(4): 393-396. 1 Pervasis Inc. is a clinical stage company that is developing groundbreaking endothelial cellbased therapies designed to regulate the body’s natural healing and repair processes in various critical therapeutic areas.The company has initially focused on developing therapies to improve the outcomes of common vascular interventions, such as arteriovenous access, angioplasties, stent placements, and peripheral and coronary bypass grafts – the failure of which result in serious complications and a significant increase in medical costs. The company’s lead program, Vascugel ®, has demonstrated proof of concept and safety in two Phase 2 clinical trials.Pervasis is also applying its endothelial cell-based platform technology to develop an oncology therapy focused on preventing solid tumor growth, cancer recurrence and metastatic disease, as well as products for inflammatory disease and orthopedic injury. Pervasis is a privately held company with funding from Flagship Ventures, Polaris Venture Partners, Highland Capital Partners and the Richter Family Fund. For more information, please visit www. pervasistx. com. This news release contains certain forward-looki ng statements that involve risks and uncertainties.Such statements are only predictions and the company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include the timing of clinical trials, the risk that products that appeared promising in early research and clinical trials do not demonstrate safety or efficacy in clinical trials and the risk that the company will not obtain approval to market its products. Company Contact: Margaret O’Toole Pervasis Therapeutics, Inc. 617-871-1201 [email  protected] com Media Contact: Liz Falcone Feinstein Kean Healthcare 617-256-6622 liz. [email  protected] com

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Describe the cognitive processes required when preparing for examinations The WritePass Journal

Describe the cognitive processes required when preparing for examinations Introduction Describe the cognitive processes required when preparing for examinations ). The aptitude to process information selectively through attention, and retain information in a way in which is accessible through the working memory are two imperative aspects of cognitive capacity. While evidence indicates that attention plays little role in the maintenance of information encoded in the memory (Fougnie, 2008), it has been suggested that there are strong links between the working memory and attention faculties of the cognitive mind during the encoding and manipulation process of knowledge acquisition (Cherry 2014; Fougnie, 2008). Theoretical models of the working memory commonly describe a role for attention. However, between these different models, the exact role for attention has not been agreed on and remains vaguely unclear, thus debates about which processing stage that attentional selection occurs (Fougnie, 2008). The most widely accepted model of memory is the Working Memory Model proposed by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974. In this model, attention is the mediator between sensory memory and the central executive, where sub functions such as the phonological store and the visuospatial sketch pad, two short term memory stores, hold short term auditory and visual information respectively. These are known as the ‘slave systems’ and provide evidence as to how humans are able to multitask. According to the working memory model, the information from these slave systems are then transferred back to the central executive whereby they are encoded in the long-term memory (Fougnie, 2008). These findings provide an outline to which cognitive processes occur during exam preparation, where students attempt to retain information that they will later on retrieve. Yet, further research suggests that learning and retaining information for exams may be a more complex procedure than those outlined by memory models (Hill, 2009). Ebbinghaus (1885) investigated the method in which the retention and forgetting of information occur. The establishment of the forgetting curve provided insight into how memories dissipate over a period of time (Groome, Brace, Dewart, Edgar, Edgar, Esgate, Kemp, Pike Stafford, 2006). Similarly, Bartlett’s Story Recall experiment (1932) lent insight to the notion that information is required to hold semantic value in order to be remembered (Groome, et al., 2006). Thus, according to Hill (2009), the most effective ways for students to memorise information for their exams is through repetition, elaboration and organisation. To further elaborate on the suggestions of Ebbinghaus (1885), Bartlett (1932) and Hill (2009), researchers proposed several studies in sustenance. Ebbinghaus (1885) further stated that in order to avoid forgetting and enhance memory, repetition was significantly valuable. Making use of the ‘mind’s voice’, the phonological loop, the cycle o f learning and accurately recalling strengthens the memory, thus making exam preparation easier as less time will be required to re-learn the material, hence why revising for exams more than once improves recall (Hill, 2009). Moreover, in favour of Bartlett (1932), it has been found that information possessing semantic value is recalled more efficiently (Craik Tulving, 1975; Ley, 1978). It may be hypothesised that the explanation of is deduced to the attention function of the working memory selecting meaningful information in order to enhance the individual’s performance based on prior learning and experience. Based on these findings, mnemonics may be suggested as an effective revision tool, since associating information with vivid visual imagery and words has proven enhanced recall (Bower, 1972). Furthermore, presenting information in a structured manner in which meaning is conveyed has been found to facilitate recall (Hill, 2009). By grouping or ordering materials in an or ganised manner, the individual will take advantage of the mind’s existing method of representing information semantically, thus making the information easier to encode and retrieve through memory. For example, Ley et al (1978) found that presenting medical information to patients in an organised and structured way improved their recall up to 25%. Thus, it is suggested that students adequately organise their learning materials in a semantic manner in order to prepare for their exams in the most resourceful way. Although the literature has provided rich evidence to support the notion that the memory and attention faculties play a major role in exam preparation, there are also relevant limitations in need of addressing. The working memory model has been criticised as being invalid, as when new studies propose findings that do not fit with the current working memory model, the working memory model is modified in order to accommodate the new findings. This makes it difficult to falsify the model or replace it with a new one, and indicates that any research findings based on the working memory model are void (Neath Nairne , 1995). Moreover, the findings of Ebbinghaus (1885) have been questioned, as the subject of his study was himself. Without any objective findings, researchers believe the results of the forgetting curve to be unreliable (Hill, 2009). Despite these criticisms, later research based on both the working memory model and the forgetting curve has successfully uncovered new findings on the cognitive processes involved in memory (Groome, et al., 2006). In conclusion, the findings in the literature have lent ample support to the notion that exam preparation heavily relies on the cognitive processes of attention and memory. The literature has indicated that these two faculties work conjointly in order to achieve long-term memory. Studies on the Working Memory Model have identified the specific roles of the two cognitive processes, and the literature has provided further support on how the working memory model is vital in exam revision through detailed descriptions of these functions. Studies on memory retention and forgetting have implicated that repetition, elaboration and organisation are the key skills that an individual needs to employ whist preparing for exams in order to maintain an optimal memory capacity for the revised information. Regardless of the limitations associated with the research done on memory, the working memory model still stands as a strong representative for the cognitive process involved in exam preparation. References Baddeley, A.D. Hitch, G.J. (1974). Working memory, in G.H. Bower (Ed.),  The Psychology of Learning and Motivation: Advances in Research and Theory. Vol. VIII. 47-90, New York: Academic Press. Bartlett, F.C. (1932). Remembering. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Bower, G.H. (1972). Mental imagery and associative learning. In L. Gregg (Ed.), Cognition in Learning and Memory, 51-88. Broadbent, D. E. (1957) A mechanical model for human attention and immediate memory. Psychological Review, 64. 205-215. Cherry, K. (2014). Top 10 Memory Improvement Tips. Retrieved from: http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/tp/memory_tips.htm Accessed: 12/03/14 Craik, F.I.M. Tulving, E. (1975). Depth of processing and the retention of words in episodic memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology, General, 104. 268-294. Cowan, N. (1995) Attention and memory: an integrated framework. New York: Oxford University Press. Dosher, B.A. (1999) Item interference and time delays in working memory: Immediate serial recall. International Journal of Psychology Special Issue: Short term/working memory, 34. 276-284. Ebbinghaus, H. (1885). ÃÅ"ber das Gedchtnis. Untersuchungen zur experimentellen Psychologie. Leipzig: Dunker Humbolt. Estes, W. K. (1969)  Reinforcement  in human learning. In J. Tapp (Ed.), Reinforcement and behavior. New York: Academic Press. Fougnie, D. (2008). The Relationship Between Attention and Working Memory. New Research on Short Term Memory. 1-45. Groome, D., Brace, N., Dewart, H., Edgar, G., Edgar, H., Esgate, A., Kemp, R., Pike, G. Stafford, D. (2006). An introduction to cognitive psychology. Processes and disorders. Second Edition. East Sussex: Psychology Press. Hill, G. (2009). AS A Level Psychology Through Diagrams: Oxford Revision Guides. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Julesz, B. (1971). Foundations of cyclopean perception. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Kandel, E. R. (1976) Cellular basis of behavior: An introduction to behavioural neurobiology. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman. Livingstone, M.S. and Hubel, D.H. (1988) Segregation of form, colour, movement and depth: Anatomy, physiology and perception. Science, 240. 740–749. Ley, P. (1978)  Memory  for medical information. In Gruneberg, M.M., Morris, P.E. Sykes, R.N. (eds) Practical Aspects of  Memory. London: Academic Press. Lu, Z.L. Dosher, B.A. (2007). Cognitive Psychology. Scholarpedia.2(8), 2769. Luce, D. R. (1959) Individual choice behavior; a theoretical analysis. New York: Wiley. Neath, I. Nairne, J.S. (1995). Word length effects in immediate memory: Overwriting the trace decay theory. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 2, 429-441. Posner, M.I. (1980). Orienting of attention. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 32, 3-25. Roediger III, H. L. (2002) Processing approaches to cognition: The impetus from the levels-of-processing framework. Memory, 10. 319-332. Treisman, A. M. (1969) Strategies and models of selective attention. Psychological Review, 76. 282-299. Ungerleider, L.G. Mishkin, M. (1982) In D.J. Ingle, M.A. Goodale, R.J.W. Mansfield (Eds.). Analysis of visual behavior. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. von Neumann, J. Morgenstern, O. (1944). Theory of Games and Economic Behavior, Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Parentheses, Braces, and Brackets in Math

Parentheses, Braces, and Brackets in Math Youll come across many symbols in mathematics and arithmetic. In fact, the language of math is written in symbols, with some text inserted as needed for clarification. Three important- and related- symbols youll see often in math are parentheses, brackets, and braces. You will encounter parentheses, brackets, and braces frequently in  prealgebra  and  algebra, so its important to understand the specific uses  of  these symbols as you move into higher math. Using Parentheses ( ) Parentheses are used to group numbers or variables, or both. When you see a math problem containing parentheses, you need to use the order of operations to solve it. Take as an  example the problem: 9 - 5 à · (8 - 3) x 2 6 You must calculate the operation within the parentheses first, even if it is an operation that would normally come after the other operations in the problem. In this problem, the times and division operations would normally come before subtraction (minus), but since 8 - 3  falls within the parentheses, you would work this part of the problem first. Once youve taken care of the calculation that falls within the parentheses, you would remove them.  In this case (8  -  3) becomes 5, so you would solve the problem as follows: 9 - 5  Ãƒ ·Ã‚  (8 - 3) x 2 6 9 - 5 à · 5 x 2 6 9 - 1  x  2 6 9 - 2 6 7 6 13 Note that per the order of operations, you would work whats in the parentheses first, then calculate numbers with exponents, then multiply and/or divide, then add or subtract. Multiplication and division, as well as addition and subtraction, hold an equal place in the order of operations, so you work these from left to right. In the problem above, after taking care of the subtraction in the parentheses, you need to divide 5 by 5 first, yielding  1;  then multiply 1 by 2, yielding  2;  then subtract  2  from  9, yielding  7;  and then add  7 and  6, yielding a final answer of 13. Parentheses Can Also Mean Multiplication In the problem 3(2 5), the parentheses tell you to multiply. However, you wont multiply until you complete the operation inside the parentheses, 2 5, so you would solve the problem as follows: 3(2 5) 3(7) 21 Examples of Brackets [ ] Brackets are used after the parentheses to group numbers and variables as well. Typically, you would use the parentheses first, then brackets, followed by braces. Here is an example of a problem using brackets:   4 - 3[4 - 2(6 - 3)] à · 3 4 - 3[4 - 2(3)] à · 3 (Do the operation in the parentheses first; leave the parentheses.) 4 - 3[4 - 6] à · 3 (Do the operation in the brackets.) 4 - 3[-2] à · 3 (The bracket informs you to multiply the number within,   which is -3 x -2.) 4 6 à · 3 4 2 6 Examples of Braces { } Braces are also used to group numbers and variables. This example problem uses parentheses, brackets, and braces. Parentheses inside other parentheses (or brackets and braces) are also referred to as nested parentheses. Remember, when you have parentheses inside brackets and braces, or nested parentheses, always work from the inside out:   2{1 [4(2 1) 3]} 2{1 [4(3) 3]} 2{1 [12 3]} 2{1 [15]} 2{16} 32 Notes About Parentheses, Brackets, and Braces Parentheses, brackets, and braces are sometimes referred to as  round, square, and curly brackets, respectively. Braces are also used in sets, as in: {2, 3, 6, 8, 10...} When working with nested parentheses, the order will always be parentheses, brackets, braces, as follows: {[( )]}

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Two cases write up Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Two cases write up - Coursework Example The first group comprising of 12 million investors want to pass on investment decision burden on other. The next group consisting of 3 million investors are able to take their own investment decisions. The leftover 15 million investors need proper advice and education for investment proposes. The primary requirement of the customers of Schwab is price and the corresponding security of their invested money. Trust is the most important component that builds customers’ confidence, which can be achieved by providing quality services. Therefore, the customers want lower price from Schwab for the services, information and advice it provides regarding the investment. The business model for Charles Schwab Corporation is based on transaction. The core operation area of the company is to provide services to the investors. The services provided by Schwab can be termed as financial services for investment purposes. Specifically, it provides financial services related to security brokerage. In order to develop conventional business model, it has introduced several innovative technology in service model to cater to its customers. This has lead to significant growth of the company. For convenient services, it has developed ‘telebroker’, ‘Schwablink’, ‘eSchwab’ and ‘onesource’. Schwab generates its revenue from the brokerage commission paid by its client for investment transitions. With the help of its conventional business model, it has been able to offer services like brokerages at a lower commission. In 1991, it became famous as low-cost broker. It made forward integration by purchasing Mayer and Schweitzer which helped the company to reduce bid-ask spreads. The company earns around 50% of its revenue from its commissions, 13% from principle transaction and rest from mutual fund services and interest revenue. During the late 1990s, the popularity of the internet increased significantly which revolutionised

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Development of the plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Development of the plan - Essay Example dinate with the different practitioners and with the public health sector for them to come up with a vaccination program which the patients and the general public can access in their pharmacies. With the coordination of the public health sector, the proper vaccines can be set forth and can be recommended for purchase. The overflow from the public health offices can be directed towards the pharmacies in order to de-clog the lines for people availing of said vaccines. In order to set this up in the pharmacy, a corner of the pharmacy can be set aside for the administration of vaccines. The administration of vaccines can first be cleared with the general practitioners in order to ensure that the patient availing of the vaccine can safely receive the vaccine. This corner would have to have a licensed pharmacist or possibly a nurse who can help administer the vaccine. Proper sterile techniques would have to be employed in this corner. A washroom would also have to be available to the medical staff in order to ensure that hand washing techniques are applied by the staff before and after each vaccine is administered. Materials used (disposable) have to be discarded safely through proper disposal techniques. Such corner would also have a waiting area for the patients to wait their turn and for patients to rest soon after the administration of the vaccine. Monitoring of vital signs by the nurse would have to be employed before and after the administratio n of the vaccine in order to ensure that the patients are healthy and have no adverse reactions to the vaccine. There are other newer vaccines available in the market. Vaccines for recently emerging infectious diseases include: H1N1 and meningococcemia. These vaccines are often limited in number and only administered with the coordination of the WHO. The pharmacy has to coordinate its sale and administration of such vaccines in order to ensure that the vaccine goes to the right persons – the high risk patients

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Analysis - Essay Example People who work in this type of industry are often linked with issues that deal with deception and public manipulation. The release of information is so quick that it tends to become viral affecting people of all ages. Whatever medium that may be whether it is radio, television or print, finding a market is not at all hard since people are always intrigued with what is happening around the world. Media Companies Media Companies earn money basically through the widespread of information. Almost in every household there is a presence of mass media through its mediums like the television, newspapers, magazines, computers or even cellular phones. Clearly this shows the attachment of the following mediums to the people’s everyday lives. The thing that is common between the media companies and other types of businesses is that they spend money to create or buy products that will eventually let them earn profit. Many people will gain benefit from it including those who are seeking jo bs and hoping to work in media companies. A lot of risks are present when a media company releases something new to the public. There is for example rejection, people’s lack of interests to the advertised product or services, the spreading of the wrong information that may lead to law suits or the issues that might be thrown by the competitors to try to damage the leading companies’ reputation. A lot of controversies are thrown to the media industry, despite of this it continues to prosper. This is certainly because of its main asset which is information. There may be some negative issues but that does not mean that all media companies are up for no good and are just eager to earn. Some companies are committed to give what is due to the public. Top Media Companies in the US and Canada The following are among the top media companies in the United States and Canada, offering products and services such as pay television channels, online and print publications, websites, a dvertisements, and radio programs through its radio stations. There is no question why after all the struggles they have undergone through the years, these companies are now tougher to face new challenges that may come their way. American Media, Inc. American Media Inc. (AMI) is a leading magazine and tabloid newspaper publisher in the US with its Chairman and CEO David Pecker. It reaches up to 54 million of America’s men and woman a month having an over-all circulation of 6.8 million and about 10 million visitors on its online publication with a hundred views per month (â€Å"About Us†). The topics covered by their publications are those that the Americans are obsessed with, mostly on gossips and good health. It also offers sales and marketing services that enable them to have an even distribution of their periodicals on different supermarkets in areas of the US and Canada (â€Å"American Media Inc. Company Profile†). Last November 17, 2010 the company filed fo r Chapter 11 Bankruptcy which according to the United States Court is allowable only to corporations and partnerships who at time of debt, cannot actually pay the creditor due to the small amount of assets that the company owns (â€Å"Reorganization Under the Bankruptcy Code†

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Learning organisation as a realistic model

Learning organisation as a realistic model The learning and functioning in workplace carries a foremost responsibility to establish a constant learning for the organization. Learning organisation is one of the most significant forms of organisation used in present to shape the future for the success (Belasen 2000). In this type of organisation, learning is a base which assists in the development of most effective career plans and individual skills towards the path selected. In present, most of the organisations are trying to convert themselves in a learning organisation so that it can attain significant benefits related to learning organisation (Coffield 1998). Here, in this report the concept of learning organisation is discussed so that it can be identified that is the learning organization a useful or realistic model at the workplace. It is done in reference to a learning organisation that is IBM. Learning Organisation Learning Organization refers to an organisation in which employees at all levels, separately and conjointly, are incessantly growing their capability to bring forth results they truly care about (Nagwekar n.d.). It is not just the most appealing or existing management trend but it can also furnish organisations with work environment that open and flexible to innovative ideas. It also involves the concepts that provide solutions to continuous work-related troubles that are available among all its employees (Svensson, Randle Bennich 2009). It assists individuals with an ability to strengthen their knowledge base, which gives them with an ability to think significantly and ingeniously. Additionally, it also facilitates workplace individuals with an ability to communicate thoughts and conceptions, and the talent to collaborate with other individuals throughout the procedure of interrogation and action (Belasen 2000). A learning organisation try to create its own future by assuming that learning is a continuous and inventive procedure for its people (Rainbird, Fuller Munro 2004). The learning workplace directs individuals towards a development, adaptation and transformation of themselves in reaction to needs of organisation and as well as customers. It allows employees to work freely so that they can learn and express their ideas and problems and in turn can contribute towards the development of an improved work place (Nagwekar n.d.). This environment also assists individuals in shifting from the conventional authoritarian workplace philosophy to one in which the organisational hierarchy is broken down, and human potency is acclaimed (Coffield 1998). This type of working environment foster a culture in which individuals believe in creating results that they actually want and where they can learn that how they all can learn together for the advancement of all inclusive organisation. This type of organisation furnishes people with reaction to the competencies that is essential for every individual to attain success in its own field (Gould Baldwin 2004). The learning can be increased with the help of different learning approaches like training, rotational experiences, coaching, work-related education, electronic-system learning, and with the help of several other learning-oriented interventions (Lassey 1998). Today most of the organisations are trying to attain benefits of learning organisation as they feel that it is a realistic model but it is not the situation as it is much useful rather realistic (Nagwekar n.d.). An organisation become learning organisation with its own efforts and practices that if not undertaken accurately will not direct towards the creation of a learning organisation. In this type of organisation it is essential to make use of appropriate training programs that may vary according to the needs of specific organisation and its individuals (Belasen 2000). All aspects related to becoming a learning organisation need to be undertaken carefully as otherwise it would not be possible for a firm to use it for its own benefit. If it used effectively can assist a firm with several advantages and abilities to deal with existing challenges related to business, management of internal environment, employees commitment towards learning and working in the direction of organisational goals (Pun Balkissoon 2011). Throughout studies and evaluations, it is identified that there are some disciplines which must be mastered by an organisation if it wants to introduce a useful learning organisation that are as follows: Systems Thinking For becoming a learning organisation, it is essential that the firm develops and ability to envision the big picture and to make out patterns rather than conceptualizing change as obscure events (Belasen 2000). Additionally, there is also a need to think by interconnecting to the whole so that it can become easy to identify that how it operates and what actions can create troubles. Personal Mastery It commences by becoming devoted to lifetime learning and it is the key element of a learning organization (Nagwekar n.d.). Building Shared Visions For creating a learning organisation organisations need to develop a genuine or shared vision that evokes commitment in good and as well as in bad situations and has the potential to unite an organization. Mental Models Managing mental models is also vital as they can obstruct new and prevailing penetrations and organizational practices from being carried out. Until or unless there is no realization and a concentration to openness it is not possible to implement real change. Team Learning It is also critical as almost all modern organisations in present are operating on the basis of team work. It means that if a firms team members do not come together and learn it cannot become a learning organisation (Nagwekar n.d.). The concept of learning organisation is quite useful as it does not only allow firms senior managers to do all thinking but it also appropriates all individuals at all levels to think in regard to the entire organisation. It facilitates all employees to make use of their inner potential with a hope that they can also build something distinctive or unique for their firm. Benefits of Learning Organisation How learning organisation is useful at the work place can be understood with the help of discussion of its benefits to a firm. The benefits of learning organisation started appearing with the realization of its importance. It is helpful for dealing with different types of challenges that are as follows: Rapid Change: In present competitive environment change is occurring rapidly in all workplaces that in turn forces agencies to quickly adapt work procedures. Development of a learning organisation furnishes organisations with an opportunity to learn through adapting change and other pertinent issues (Belasen 2000). Eroding Knowledge Bases: The current attrition of Federal employees, awaited retirements decreases-in-force are inducing on-going damage to the organizational knowledge bases. This can be resolved with the help of a learning organisation that assist in furthering information exchange and tap expertise from all level employees (Murphy Willmott 2010). As well, it also makes use of technology to support and strengthen information exchange that in turn assists in resolving employees queries and issues. Shifting Focus: Focus of federal agencies is altering from a duty of ensuring compliance to serving customers effectively that also creates different challenges. The creation of a learning organisation will ensure a strategic alignment between customers needs preferences, individual learning, organisational aims, and resource distributions (Coffield 1998). Attainment of strategic alliance is very important as without this it is not possible for a firm to attain its aims and it can be done effectively with the help of development of a learning organisation. Limited Training Resources: The companies overall training budgets are decreasing day-by-day whereas employees also have less time to attend formal training sessions. This affects their growth and as well as company growth. With the help of a learning organisation at workplace, a company can make use of different alternative strategies that may easily incorporate learning into the workplace (Gould Baldwin 2004). These alternative methods are low in cost and are much more effective to furnish a company with all essential training needs of its employees. Evolving Roles of Supervisors: With the increasing diversity in organisations supervisors roles are evolving with an increasing responsibility. Now, supervisors are not only accountable for playing traditional human resource functions as they are also responsible for managing each and every aspect of business and its employees (Belasen 2000). With the development of learning organisation supervisors roles has become much more easy as in this they work as teachers and each employees is empowered to be accountable for their own learning. Management of all the above discussed challenges can be done effectively with the help of a learning organisation. The benefits of learning organisation evidenced that how it is useful in a workplace in regard to management of different aspects and as well as employees continuous learning (Wang Ahmed 2003). Learning Organisation as a Useful Model at Workplace Learning organisation is quite useful model at workplace as it allows a firm with several advantages related to attaining superior performance, improvement in quality, concentrating on customers, for attaining competitive advantage, to manage change, develop committed workforce, and for recognizing assured success and growth (Serra 2009). How a learning organisation work as a useful model at workplace can be understood with the discussion of IBM that makes significant use of learning for attaining above discussed advantages. At IBM, learning is a strategic facilitator of change. It works as an essential tool that helps it in affirming its new go-aheads, re-skills its manpower and appropriates it to handle key market changes and organizational alterations. Its use of learning helps it in developing a learning organisation that in turn works as a useful model at its workplace. IBMs commitment towards learning can be evidenced by its US$750 million annual spending for different learning initiatives (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). This annual spending of IBM is done with a belief that learning organisation enhances its productivity, endows employees and teams to innovate, empowers development of employee potential, and expands organizational knowledge to providers, co-operators and customers. In addition to developing a learning organisation, IBM has also adopted a repetitive procedure of learning transformation that helped it in attaining a leadership in learning. The continuous learning and leadership in organisational learning has enabled IBM to win and continuously grow in present competitive environment. The company success as a learning organisation can also be understood with its efforts towards enhancing learning. IBM operates with a belief of learning anywhere, anytime and on demand. Employees of IBM spend an approximate 17 million hours each year (around 55 hours per employee) in different formal training programs that may be conducted online or in a traditional classroom (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). Previously learning was given through traditional classrooms but now it is mostly conducted online (Belasen 2000). Another substantial belief that helped IBM is its link up of learning with employee retention. Its appropriate learning to its employees assist it in retaining its employees that is most significant issue in present competitive era (Furnham 2005). The continuous learning also assist the company in saving significant costs related to new employees training costs. Being a learning organisation, IBM respects the role that learning plays in attaining organisational effectiveness (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). All efforts of IBM towards becoming a learning organisation or using it as a useful model assist it with several advantages related to organisation, people, technology and knowledge that are as follows: Organization: By making use of leadership organisation as a useful model at its workplace, IBM has become able to attain organisational effectiveness. The company learning strategy facilitates it in attaining its vision. It has also helped the company in developing a leadership that is devoted to the significance of learning and believes in distinctly communicating learning that is essential for organisational success (Serra 2009). Development of appropriate leadership assists employees in identifying the needs, intends and chances for learning. Implying a learning organisation at workplace also helps IBM leaders in creating and maintaining a supportive learning culture for their team members that in turn motivates them towards working at their utmost potential. Continuous learning also helps IBM in making use of effective communication systems that alleviate the lateral information transfer and facts throughout all levels of organisation (Furnham 2005). The continuous learning arouses creativity and brings forth new penetrations and innovative practices at IBM. People: Being a learning organisation, IBM has become able to hire people who are significantly interested in their work and vigorously replicate on their experience. The intense learning had allowed its employees to make use of their understanding and take different initiatives to contribute towards knowledge management (Serra 2009). The different online and traditional learning programs have facilitated IBM with the development of employees as reflective practitioners. By working in a learning organisation all employees of IBM become able to grow their strengths and maximize their learning by getting involved into different learning programs. It also assists the company in creating an environment in which everyone work with cooperation and collaboration so that everyones learning towards working in a much more effective way can be enhanced (Chich-Jen 2011). Knowledge: Another substantial field in which it is beneficial to make use of learning is knowledge. For every learning organisation it is a critical asset as learning is the product of knowledge and its origin (Caldwell 2006). Development of a learning organisation enables an organisation to understand that how it can attain knowledge. Establishing learning organisation at workplace enables knowledge creation through individual to collective approach (Serra 2009). IBM being a learning organisation provides substantial opportunities for company knowledge to be developed and shared with others through social contact and approach to documentation. IBM employees are aware that how they can put specific knowledge in all essential systems for knowledge management (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). All these information and knowledge is not possible if a firm is not a learning organisation. Technology: Another substantial field supported by learning is a firms technology. When a firm, become learning organisation it become able to harness the significance of advanced information and communication technologies. Without having knowledge and empowerment in these technologies it is not possible for a firm to attain its objectives related to knowledge management and learning (Serra 2009). IBM as a learning organisation makes an effective use of information and communication technologies that in turn assist in strengthening its organizational identity, establishing and maintaining learning communities, keep everyone informed and aware of all essential corporate evolutions (Chich-Jen 2011). Additionally, continuous learning at workplace also helps IBM in creating unbelievable and associative linkups between people that in turn furnish access to their creative knowledge and thoughts. It also encourages innovation and originality by sharing and developing a practice of learning from others effective practices (Serra 2009). IBM being a learning organisation provides different opportunities to its employees to learn that how they can make an effective use of advanced information and communication technologies to enhance their knowledge and leaning (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). All the above discussed fields evidence that how IBM is able to use learning at its workplace by continuously investing in learning. The role of learning in IBM can be understood with its importance from last 90 years. From last 90 years, learning is playing a substantial role in driving IBM towards success (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). On the basis of its unified and lined up approach, IBM has furthered and are constantly maintaining effective learning programs for its employees, professional and administrator development. In the year 1915, after four years of IBM incorporation, it established a distinct IBM education department for training and developing all of its employees. Subsequently it was used formally on all its product lines so that employees can be instructed regularly and works effectively by increasing their learning towards their roles and company products and services (John 2002). Afterwards it offered a formal customer education following an IBM Management Development Program. For making employees more effective towards reacting customer requests and queries, the company started an IBM Customer Education Program that shows the company dedication to become a learning organisation (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). All these company management initiatives towards increasing employees learning significantly assist it in developing employees that are highly dedicated towards organisational goals and making innovations with the help of their creative thoughts and maximized sharing (OKeeffe 2002). The learning commenced in its beginning has now enabled company and its employees to operate by considering its future. IBMs focus on learning organisation was significantly useful for it as it assisted it in transforming itself from a hardware company to a recognized service-driven company. This change at company necessitated reorganization and re-skilling of its employees that became easy with the help of continuous learning (Aktharsha Anisa 2011). With learning, it became easy for IBM to align its employees in accordance to its new business models as its employees were dedicated and was ready to change their approach so that business opportunities available to company can be optimized. Throughout their past efforts, IBM has become able to develop dedicated employees and now it has been concentrating on the development of core-competencies and job-related abilities and skills. For improving its employees job-related competencies, the company learning programs target five strategic aspects that are sales, employee development, leadership and management, IT training and training to support business partnerships (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). For developing effective learning programs, the company also employed a learning governance model that helped IBM in setting its learning priorities. The company learning governance model is structured in a way that assures maximum effectiveness of IBMs learning investment. IBMs learning governance model is structured to ensure maximum effectiveness for our learning investment. For developing a learning organisation at workplace IBM governance complies with different aspects like every learning intervention should be integrated and implemented in regard to IBM strategy (Dierkes, Antal, Child Nonaka 2003). Additionally, its focus was on implementing a disciplined approach to enterprise wide learning so that more and more benefits related to organisation, people, technology and knowledge can be attained (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). All these company initiatives towards becoming a learning organisation significantly helped it in attaining all business related objectives. The company success is due to its integrated learning approach. The company management operates with a belief that individual learn in different patterns and on this belief IBM tried to use different educational approaches for increasing its employees learning. The integrated learning approach includes interactive, web-based, collaborative and face-to-face learning (Aktharsha Anisa 2011). Among these the most appropriate method suited to a group can be selected according to their own skills and requirements. Another effort in this direction done by IBM is the development of the IBM Learning Investment Council. For increasing learning at IBM, first of all the employees performance reports and other available reference materials are used that are usually web-based. This appropriates online transfer of information and also provides an access to individual to the material that is pertinent to their job and needs (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). It allows employees to learn at their own pace that in turn create interest among them and motivates them to learn according to their own suitability and abilities (John 2002). In addition to this, learning is also created from interaction, simulation or games that motivated individuals to contribute on real-life situations and endows them with an ability to practice specific competencies at their own speed (OKeeffe 2002). Another significant approach used at IBM for increasing learning is collaborative learning and class-room learning. The approach of IBM towards learning from its initiatives has significantly assisted in it transforming its history that was not possible without its timely learning initiatives (Dierkes, Antal, Child Nonaka 2003). From beginning, the company management was aware with the usefulness of organisational learning at workplace and this is the reason they tried to implement it by undertaking different efforts. The company motivated all its employees to focus on continuous learning so that their skills and abilities can be strengthened (Curado 2006). It was done with a realisation of learnings importance and its usefulness for a firm in the direction of attaining all its pre-determined business goals. With the realization of learnings importance IBM tried to integrate it with its business strategies so that all its efforts can be directed with continuous learning that in turn can provide its employees with an advantage to increase their abilities and skills from time-to-time or according to changes in market and customer needs. Conclusion With the help of above discussion of learning organisation, its benefits and use of learning by IBM it can be said that learning is a useful model for an organisation. Without learning it is not possible for a firm to develop its employees with all essential job-related competencies. Organisation learning at workplace encourages employees to strengthen their skills that in turn direct them towards performing their duties in a much more effective manner (OKeeffe 2002). The success of IBM demonstrates how important and useful organisational learning is at workplace if implemented appropriately. IBM learning initiatives evidences its importance and how it assisted it in transforming its image (Rae 2008). In present competitive environment organisational learning is highly useful as it assist organisations with an ability to develop its employees competencies and skills in accordance to their own requirements related to attaining business aims and objectives.