Portfolio Project management Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Portfolio Project management - Term Paper Example The products of Wal-Mart are differentiated according to various ranges. Wal-Mart generally applies the combination of differentiation and cost leadership that is Wal-Mart emphasizes on providing various products and services with better quality by charging a price that is less as compared to its competitors. Wal-Mart has also been able to enter into its international market by the adoption of multinational business strategy. The prime reason of success of Wal-Mart is that it believes on focusing and developing the strategy of the single business which refers to as focusing and prioritizing on 95% of revenue that is generated from the grocery business. Wal-Mart generally adopts and formulates economies of scale for gaining cost advantages over its competitors. Wal-Mart has designed its products and services in such a way that it provides the customers to save money and also to live a better and proper life. Wal-Mart mainly consist of selling the products and merchandise such as by ma il, store or through online. Wal-Mart allowed the company to achieve an efficient and large scale supply chain; it has its own low cost brands such as the great value. Wal-Mart has designed a unique cost structure which allows and facilitates Wal-Mart to charge low and fewer prices from its customers and achieving high and effective competitive advantages. Wal-Mart has adopted a strategy by charging a low price and providing a good quality of products. Wal-Mart generally uses the aggregate forecast for investigating and monitoring the trends of customer purchase for each and every store. Wal-Mart is capable of maintaining inventory at a lower level and meeting the demand of the customer. The decrease or reduction in the level of inventory will lead to the decrease in the floor plan and lowering the expense of interest and also lowering the cost of carrying and providing a wide diversity of products that is displayed on the shelves of the store that is

Encouraging Career Exploration among Adolescents Essay

Encouraging Career Exploration among Adolescents - Essay Example Adolescent age varies depending on gender, with girls experiencing it at an earlier age than boys. It is the age where risk behaviors appear through experimentation among the youths. During the experience, both sexes get a ray of decisions and pressure from all the sides interfering with their choices. Based on this regards, various factors affect career exploration among the adolescent. To start, career choices remain guided by the nature of jobs in the later life. When young, children tend to make decisions on future jobs depending on inspiration from their surroundings. This, however, changes during the adolescent stage where people often look for ideal jobs. This gets influenced by economic and social contextual factors forcing them to occupy new occupational paths (Nilsson, Schmidt, & Meek, 2002). The remarked transition according to psychological expert Doctor Bandura is because of new perceptions brought by ranging choices caused by many factors. This is the stage where many p eople feel they want to do more than expected hence engaging in things which go against societal expectations. They filter jobs to come up with the ideal jobs; they want to shape their careers based on job appropriateness (Hobbs & Stoops, 2002). Career decision making is a process that should be completed right from high school; however, the adolescent stage calls for a revision showing career immaturity. Consequently, the inability to make decisions also contributes to poor career choice during the adolescent stage. This is because many people in the adolescent stage feel they have the whole world in front of them. Settling on careers, therefore, remains a difficult activity which requires guidance (Gardner & Steinberg, 2005). Subsequently, migration plays an influential factor in adolescent career decision making. For instance, out-migration of rural adults creates a function of ruralist hence creating a feeling of limited job opportunities. Students in the adolescent stage found in rural areas, therefore, have problems making career choices for fear of job insecurity. The conflicting dilemma experienced by the rural youths is faced by adolescent youths, with many youths unable to judge the difference between urban employment and rural places. In this regard, youths tend to make career decisions which see urban employment guided by high income and more opportunities (Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 2002). Adolescent youths, for instance, argue rural jobs pay peanuts, and so they make the wrong decision of moving to towns while, in the real sense, urban employment pays high but is accompanied with many expenses. Apart from decisions based on rural or urban locations, career choice among the adolescent also faces other barriers. This includes qualification as well as financial obstacles. For instance, many adolescent youths hope for grandiose dreams with some wishing to be doctors while some hoe to be engineers (Gardner & Steinberg, 2005). In as much as these are poss ible, many youths in the adolescent ages fail to acquire the qualification for such careers.

Britains Collective Memory of Churchill

Britains Collective Memory of Churchill How has Britains physical heritage shaped the collective memory of Churchill? This chapter will discuss the concept of collective memory, why people remember certain aspects of history and how changing interpretations of the past shape the meanings and functions of heritage. Therefore, by assessing these features we can assess the purpose of the invention of the image of Churchill. By addressing these factors, this chapter will answer the questions: Why is a particular interpretation of heritage being promoted? Whose interests are being advanced or held back? In what kind of milieu was that interpretation communicated? Historians have frequently discussed which characteristics of the past make it beneficial to people. For example, first, history is essentially depicted as progressive in terms of evolutionary social development. Secondly, societies attempt to connect the present to the past in an unbroken trajectory through the use of various types of heritage, such as monuments or museums. Thirdly, the past provides a sense of termination in the sense that what happened in it has ended, while, finally, it offers a sequence, allowing us to locate our lives in linear narratives that connect past, present and future it gives a full and completed story, without any uncertainty which is why it is often reassuring. Once these traits are translated into heritage, in terms of identity, it provides familiarity and guidance, enrichment and escape. More compellingly, it provides a point of validation or legitimation for the present in which actions and policies are justified by continuing references to repr esentations and narratives of the past that are, at least in part, encapsulated through manifestations of tangible and intangible heritage. Heritage is most commonly, used to promote the burdens of history, the atrocities, errors and crimes of the past is not the past that are called upon to legitimate not only the atrocities but also the everyday politics of the present.[1] Heritage Heritage is a highly political process, it is malleable to the needs of power and therefore, is often subject to contestation and manipulation. Shared interpretations of the past, are used to construct and develop narratives of both inclusion, and exclusion.[2] Heritage is constructionist, therefore concerned with the selected meanings of the past in the present. This suggests that the past in general, and its interpretation as history or heritage, discusses social benefits as well as potential costs in the construction and reproduction of identities.[3]   Which is precisely why the way in which the image of Churchill is conveyed matters. If Churchill is being presented to the public as a flawless leader it can vastly affect how communities define themselves and their principles. Heritage is the selective use of the past as a resource for the present (and future), memory and commemoration are inexorably connected to the heritage process.[4] It is either a personal or instituti onal interpretation of history, therefore, the fact that institutions are picking the way in which Churchill is presented on a heritage level suggests that they have an agenda for this particular portrayal. Heritage is a highly politicised process that is subject to contestation and bound up in the construction, reconstruction and deconstruction of memory and identity. Memory always represents a struggle over power and is thus implicated in the who decides? questions about the future.[5] Thus, the image of Churchill is being used to legitimate the politics of the present. By giving the image of Churchill an iconic status the politicians of the present are attempting to build what could be considered as a broken trajectory i.e. to develop a cohesive identity amongst the public that will support the institution that is in power. This aspect of course is harmful, because by using the figure of Churchill, a white upper-class male, known for using offensive (racist) terms for minorities (to say the very least) and glorifying him as a national hero projects a very bad image and encourages people to believe that this behaviour ought to be revered as in the case of right-wing nationalists. The conception of heritage originated at a national scale and it still remains very much defined at this level. Nationalism and national heritage were both developed in nineteenth-century Europe. The idea of a national heritage was fundamental to the idea of the nation-state as it required national heritage to consolidate national identification, absorb or neutralise potentially competing heritages of social-cultural groups or regions, combat the claims of other nations upon its territory or people, while furthering claims upon nationals in territories elsewhere.[6] [Heritage is] [t]he promotion of a consensus version of history by state-sanctioned cultural institutions and elites to regulate cultural and social tensions in the present. On the other hand, Heritage may also be a resource that is used to challenge and redefine received values and identities by a range of subaltern groups.[7] Notions of power are central to the construction of heritage, and consequently identity, giving weight to the argument that heritage is not given; it is made.[8] Those who wield the greatest power, therefore, dictate or define what is remembered and consequently what is forgotten.   Memorial icons of identity such as monuments, memorials, and buildings that have been invested with meaning, carry conscious and subconscious messages and are subject to competing interests. Their very public visual presence translates powerful ideological messages that are never politically neutral, and ensures that the messages they convey are open to contested interpretations.[9] Those with the most at stake in political terms, and those with the greatest ability to exercise power, have a vested interest in the production of sites of cultural heritage and bring the past into focus to legitimise a present social order. It is an implicit rule that participants in any social order must presuppose a shared memory which is integral for a group or communal solidarity. The meaning of any individual or group identity, namely a sense of sameness over time and space, is sustained by recalling the past; and what is remembered is defined by the assumed identity.[10]   Nicholas Soames, the grandson of Churchill is a prime example of this. He has a vested interest in the maintained reputation of his grandfather and therefore seeks to bury any that attempt to besmirch Churchills reputation. Leaders use the past for a variety of political purposes. The nations heritage is therefore brought to the fore to calm anxiety about change or political events, eliminate citizen indifference toward official concerns, promote exemplary patterns of citizen behaviour, and stress citizen duties over rights.[11] Buckley supports this view: the question as to which symbols will define any given situation, will largely be determined by the practical question of which people and whose interests predominate. The selection process is carefully tailored and manipulated by individual members of a community or group with power or influence.[12] As sites of civic construction, they instruct citizens what to value concerning their national heritage and public responsibilities.[13] Such sites represent and embody power, greatness, resistance, memory and loss.[14] [Churchill is useful as to the public he possesses all these attributes] Monuments, for example: [m]ark the great pinnacles of human achievement selected from the past, they give an edifying sense that greatness was once possible, and it is still possible. They provide present generations with inspiration. Citizens re-enact and repeat the past in fixed locales as suggested by their national governments.[15] So for anyone to suggest that Churchill was not as brilliant as stated leaves the public lacking a role model to aspire to be. Heritage, not only serves to reinforce narratives of national identity but often works to supress the identity of minority or less powerful groups.[16] [As Churchills legacy does, he is a figure of war] Heritage inevitably reflects the governing assumptions of its time and context. It is always inflected by the power and authority of those who have colonised the past, whose versions of history matter.[17] There are many problematic positions within Heritage, the most relevant in this case being Uncritical Imperialism. There is a sizeable body of opinion that does not see any serious problem with the legacies of imperialism and race in heritage, and acts to validate it; a formation we might crudely label as uncritical imperialism. This can take various forms. For example, it can appear through simply ignoring, or airbrushing, imperialism from the heritage narrative in question. [This is precisely the type of people that subscribe to the reputation of Churchill]. Uncritical imperialism can also take the form of being outraged at any attempt even to raise difficult issues over heritage and race.[18] If these imperialist legacies are not dealt with i.e. they are overwhelmingly denied, repeated and acted out, rather than worked through it legitimises nationalism and is harmful.[19] In domesticating the past we enlist [heritage] for present causesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [it] clarifies pasts so as to infuse them with present purposes [20] heritage is often used as a form of collective memory, a social construct shaped by the political, economic and social concerns of the present.[21] Heritages are present-centred and are created, shaped and managed by, and in response to, the demands of the present and, in turn, bequeathed to an imagined future.[22]. As such, they are open to constant revision and change and are also both sources and results of social conflict.[23] Heritage may comprise no more than empty shells of dubious authenticity but derive their importance from the ideas and values that are projected on or through them.[24] Heritage is a cultural product and a political resource.[25] Heritages primary purpose is to invoke a sense of identity and continuity. Heritage as communication (Modernity attempted to fix space through the creation of rigidly territorial nation-states, promulgating ideologies which attempted to subsume differences through representations of homogeneity. But all too often, the grail of universal conformity has produced atrocity and genocide as those who do not fit have been driven out or eradicated. Heritage is heavily implicated in these processes as a medium of communication of prevailing myths and counter-claims.[26] Consumption of Heritage Heritage is used or consumed, what is consumed within heritage is its representation in the form of a historical narrative. Agents spend time, money or other resources on the production or reproduction of such historical narratives, in order to have them consumed as heritage. As the spending of resources is involved, it is logical that participating agents will have a specific purpose heritage narratives are not produced for nothing or for fun, but in order to, for example, preserve cultural values, attract tourists and tourist spending, or to reinforce specific place identities. The narratives convey the meanings of the heritage commodity, and as such take part in the processes of deliberately (or accidentally) creating place identities: [A] major outcome of conserving and interpreting heritage, whether intended or not, is to provide identityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ There may be other purposes as well, such as legitimation, cultural capital and sheer monetary value, but the common purpose is to make some people feel better, more rooted and more secure.[27] The general public lacks background heritage knowledge such as the fact that these emblems of heritage that are being shown are only specific interpretations of history. Monuments, museums, and other memorials they inscribe ideological messages about the past into the many practices and texts of everyday life, making certain versions of history appear as the natural order of things.[28] A monument is a structure, edifice or erection intended to commemorate a person, action or event.[29] In contrast, definitions of memorial focus on the preservation of specific memory and on their iconographic role in evoking remembrance. While the monument has often been built to promote specific ideals and aspirations e.g. statue of liberty etc. The memorial is essentially a retrospective form, idealising a past event, historic figure or deified place.[30] Monuments and memorials reassure non-combatants and relatives that the dead had died for a greater cause, one linked to abstract values of nationhood, camaraderie or Christian citizenship. Honouring the placeless dead is this what Churchill is? An icon for the placeless dead anchoring. The ideas are always solidified in the discourse of big words heroism, gallantry, glory, victory, and very sparingly peace.[31] Military memorialisation has become rationalised, routinized, standardised. The dead are no longer allowed to pass unnoticed back into the private world of their families. They were official property to be accorded appropriate civic commemoration in solemn monuments of official remembrance. Equality of sacrifice.[32] Churchills legacy is tied to war so if he becomes disgraced it disgraces families. Identity A major factor behind the decisions on how heritage related to Churchill is presented is identity. Therefore, to assess why particular aspects of Churchill are presented to the public, we must also understand why the concept of identity is the driving factor behind the presentation of heritage and then from that information, assess what the message is behind the portrayal of Churchill through heritage and what institutions would like you to feel from their portrayal of Churchill (What feelings and emotions are they trying to evoke? Who is it that decides what is displayed and why are they trying to make you feel this way? What do they gain?). Tosh argued that for any social grouping to have a collective identity, it has to have a shared interpretation of the events and experiences which have formed the group over time: as in the case of many nation states, emphasis may be on vivid turning points and symbolic moments which confirm the self-image and aspirations of the group.[33] Which is what the image of Churchill is a prime candidate for. These collective beliefs play a fundamental role in securing a sense of togetherness and cultural solidarity which is vital in the formation and legitimisation of any national identity.[34] National cohesion, in other words, requires a sense of collective awareness and identity endorsed through common historical experience. Unofficial memory is often seen as a binary opposite to national or official memory.[35] The popularised image of Churchill fits the message that the institution is trying to get across to the nation very well. During the 1990s, it was fashionable for theoreticians to argue that identities were becoming disembedded from bounded localities and the traditional frameworks of nation, ethnicity, class and kinship. At the core of such ideas lay the key assertion that global networks have diminished the importance of place and traditions, ruptured boundaries and created hybrid, in between spaces. In a sense, this is encapsulated in the idea that national heritage can be reconstructed as world heritage because certain sites and practices are of universal significance. the effect of Brexit reverses this. Hybridity and transnational identities may, for example, counter and complicate nationalist ideologies.[36] The resurgence of Churchills image to the fore-front of the media may be a result of the effects of Brexit. After approximately 40 years of developments in a globalised identity amongst those in what is now called the EU is disintegrating, the emphasis on characters that were seen as typicall y British heroes is on the rise hence Churchill. In a world in which identity is fundamental to politics and contestation at a global scale, understanding the means of articulating often vague feelings and senses of belonging becomes quite crucial. Heritage in its broadest sense is among the most important of those means, even more so because identity can no longer be framed primarily within the national context that has so defined it since the European Enlightenment of the eighteenth century. Not only do heritages have many uses but they also have multiple producers. These may be public /private sector, official/non-official and insider/outsider, each stakeholder having varied and multiple objectives in the creation and management of heritage.[37] Sites of memory and power are often constructed in public spaces, where they can operate as dichotomous sites of unification and sites of division.[38] Territoriality and its relation to identity Churchill is also used to justify a sense of territoriality. Also inherent in the production of sites of cultural heritage is the concept of territoriality. Memory is intimately bound up in efforts to construct territory and place.[39] Territoriality is synonymous with notions of a demarcated geographic space (a territory) which usually contains some kind of homogeneous, collectivised community sharing a collective identity or heritage.[40] Territoriality is often needed to stabilise and mobilise groups or individuals and their resources inside demarcated boundaries. Within societies then, various groups insert symbols into the cultural landscapes which resonate with their sense of heritage and identity, and which simultaneously incite remembering and mark territory. For territoriality to work, the group often places visual warning symbols around the agreed territory further to deny others access into the home area which is precisely why using the image of Churchill is harmful, particularly after Brexit as it only justifies his racist stance and therefore validates neo-fascists ideals. Not only does territoriality demarcate boundaries which are ultimately intended to exclude outsiders, but it is dichotomously aimed at seizing a shared public space and thus controlling those inside the territory. Flags, for example, which often reflect the heritage of a particular group or nation, are good examples of territorial signifiers. They tell outsiders that the territory they are about to enter or pass is not theirs. Rather it belongs to those who live within the demarcated boundary or to those who empathise with what the flag represents.[41] The purpose of using Churchill is to help encourage nationalism, and therefore an us and them attitude. Spatial practices which bolster and sustain the power of the dominant group are essential components for that groups control over the hegemonic values that it represents or imposes.[42] That dominant group is often the nation-state. Tilly, for example, argues that secure territorial boundaries and a monopoly of violence are the two defining characteristics of the present day state. Territorial boundaries are the foundations for institutions such as national sovereignty, citizenship, the modern welfare state and democracy.[43] The interlinked concepts of nationhood and statehood share a dependence on the notion of exclusivity concerning sovereign rights over access to territory. The notion that landscapes embody discourse of inclusion and exclusion is closely linked to the idea that manipulated geographies also function as symbols of identity, validity and legitimisation.)[44] The continuing importance of territoriality and its seemingly intractable relationship with the nation-state at the turn of the century has been questioned. globalisation embodying transnational economics, politics and cultures, the melting of borders, particularly in Europe, and an increasing sense of belonging to a global unit, has led to a distinct lack of engagement with the unitary nation-state.[45] [However, this will be reversed with the effect of Brexit and nationalism will rise]. Histories that are white-washed are streamlined by the rise of nationalism and its cultural solidification through what Hobsbawn and Ranger termed the invention of tradition.[46] It also impoverishes our collective understanding of the past, of the rich and complex mix of the multiple travels and flows of people that have worked in a multitude of ways to shape us all.[47] it gives rise to a sense of superiority and nationalism. The reason that identity is important when assessing heritage is because identity is about sameness and group membership and central to its conceptualisation. Which is a relevant concept when discussing the reasoning for the specific portrayal of Churchill. Douglas argues that identity is expressed and experienced through communal membership, awareness will develop of the Otherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Recognition of Otherness will help reinforce self-identity, but may also lead to distrust, avoidance and distancing from groups so defined. Public and National memory Memorialisation was a way to stake ones claim to visible presence in culture.[48] Places that constitute significant sites which have been invested with meaning. They are locations with which people connect, either physically or emotionally and are bound up in notions of belonging, ownership and consequently identity. Part of how you define yourself is symbolised by certain qualities of that place.[49]   This idea is taken forward with both Chartwell house (Churchills estate) and the Churchill war museum. These buildings linked with Churchill are designed to prompt these particular emotions *Insert findings* National memory is frequently thought of in conjunction with official memory that, in most societies, emanates from the state and its institutions, often representing the hegemonic needs and values of the general public. The state is usually the official arbitrator of public commemoration and, therefore, of nation heritage, and as such, it assumes responsibility over planning, maintaining and funding memorial monuments, programmes and events.[50] [Which is precisely what Churchill is used for, he is not just an icon- he himself is also a symbol to the families whom lost kin in ww2 which is why very few criticise him (or are even allowed to) as to insult Churchill is to insult the nations kins and suggest that their sacrifice was wasteful and not justified, the hagiography of Churchill gives credence to this sacrifice   therefore he is undefeated but this is possibly why there is an increasing amount of criticism building about him as family members related to soldiers who died become fewer there is less emotional attachment to the character of Churchill as **** says maybe once those with living memory of Churchill have passed we can finally have a genuine reassessment of Churchill the man rather than tackling a god]. In post-memory, memories are passed down through generations to be represented by people who have no personal attachment to the memory. Subsequently, they seek to re-use, re-enact and e-represent those memories in order to feel closer to their ancestors.[51] hence why those who do not possess living memories of Churchill will still feel so strongly about the condemnation of his character. Emotional memory has also been used to describe the transgenerational remembering of the traumatic events.[52] Yet what all of these typologies of memory have in common is the fact that they are attached inexorably to certain places. Sites of cultural heritage, therefore, such as buildings, monuments, plaques, museums and gardens of remembrance, incite our memories and reinforce our attachment to particular places.[53] Remembering and commemorating the past is an essential part of the present and is important for a number of reasons. Without memory, a sense of self, identity, culture and heritage is lost. Through remembering, identities are validated as well as contested, and the adoption and cultivation of an aspect of the past serves to reinforce a sense of natural belonging, purpose and place.[54] Identities and memories, like heritage, are inevitably selective in that they serve particular interests and political ideologies in the present.[55] Americans and Europeans are compulsive consumers of the past shopping for what best suits their particular sense of self at that time.[56]   This idea fits very well in the post-Brexit world as there seems to be a lot of cherry picking in terms of Anglo-historical figures in order to gain a cohesive outlook after the Brexit result and to provide people with a sense of purpose in a time of relative uncertainty. Histories are consequently bought to conform to the latest fashion. Memories are seen as selective and partial and used to fulfil individual, group or communal requirements of identity at a particular time and in a particular space: Times change, and as they do, people look back on the past and reinterpret events and ideas. They look for patterns, for order, and for coherence in past events to support changing social, economic, and cultural values.[57] Subsequently new, more appropriate, histories are invented: Invented traditions are normally governed by overtly or tacitly accepted rules and of a ritual or symbolic nature, which seek to inoculate certain values and norms of behaviour by repetition, which automatically implies continuity with the past. In fact, they normally attempt to establish continuity with a suitable historic past.[58] [Churchill was from a period in which the public last felt relevant on the public stage]. Tosh suggests that social groupings require a narrative of the past which serves to explain or justify the present, often at the cost of historical accuracy. He states: memories are modified to suit particular situations or circumstances and do not always correlate with historical truths.[59] Histories can become distorted and permeated (often deliberately) with inaccuracies and myths during the selection process, making the act of forgetting in memory construction just as crucial for the cultivation of identity.[60] Interpretation is predetermined by the social, economic, political and/or local context. Societies justify current attitudes and future aspirations by linking them to past traditions which helps bond and unify factionalism.[61] temporal representations as part and parcel of their drive to implant and reinforce their hold on society.[62] Heritage statue of Churchill, Westminster. House of Commons mid stride, hands on hips old. Oscar Nemon Statue of Churchill in Parliament square old big coat, walking stick- him as was at Yalta where my statue will go its grade II listed. Churchill in terms of heritage and masculinity Heritage predominantly tells male-centred story, which seeks to promote a masculine, and in particular an elite-Anglo-masculine, vision of the past and present. The links between heritage and identity are often taken for granted we protect, manage, interpret for visitors, and visit heritage sites because they are, in some way, symbolic of our identities. Material heritage and in

Differences Between Business Strategies and Functional Tactics Essay ex

Differences Between Business Strategies and Functional Tactics 1. FUNCTIONAL TACTICS Functional tactics are the key, routine activities that must be undertaken in each functional area that is human resource management, marketing, finance, production/operations and research and development to provide the business ‘s products and services. Hence functional tactics translate thought (grand strategy) into action designed to accomplish specific short- term objectives. Every value chain activity in a company executes functional tactics that support the business’s strategy and help accomplish strategic objectives. 1.1 Differences Between Business Strategies and Functional Tactics - Functional tactics are different from business or corporate strategies in three fundamental ways: i. Time horizon. ii. Specificity. iii. Participants who develop them. Time Horizon - Functional tactics identify activities to be undertaken â€Å"now† or in the immediate future. Business strategies focus on the firm’s posture three to five years out. - The shorter time horizon of functional tactics is critical to the successful implementation of a business strategy for two reasons. i. First, it focuses the attention of functional managers on what needs to be done now to make the business strategy work. ii. Secondly, it allows functional managers to adjust to changing current conditions. Specificity Functional tactics are more specific than business strategies. Business strategies provide general direction. Functional tactics identify the specific activities that are to be undertaken in each functional area and thus allow operating managers to work out how their unit is expected to pursue short-term objectives. Specificity in functional tactics contributes to successful implementation by: - Helping ensure that functional managers know what needs to be done and can focus on accomplishing results. - Clarifying for top management how functional managers intend to accomplish the business strategy, which increases top management’s confidence in and sense of control over the business strategy. - Facilitating coordination among operating units within the firm by clarifying areas of interdependence and potential conflict. Participants Different people participate in strat... ... Beecham Kenya 2000 - 3. Flat organizations – Microsoft and dotcom companies - - 4. Increased responsiveness to customers NB. BPR requires maintenance of Key Performance Indicators on Quality, Lead time, Cost and Service. CONSEQUENCES - As BPR efforts progress, one of the first phenomena is excess capacity. As processes are re-engineered, even more capacity is discovered. The most frequent response is downsizing. - BPR suggests that old practices must be â€Å"obliterated† and new processes designed from scratch to fully leverage new technologies and business realities. In practice, few managers have the luxury of re-designing their processes or organizations from â€Å"clean sheet of paper† - people, equipment and business knowledge cannot be so easily scrapped. Furthermore, organizational change almost inevitability becomes a learning process in which unanticipated obstacles and opportunities emerge. Reference: - Pearce & Robinson – Strategic Management - Readings on bus 6020 - Henry J. Johansson – Business Processing Engineering

Slip or Trip Essay

On August 13, 2013, at approximately 1:37 A. M. , Sparks police department received a call that an accidental death has occurred. Queenie Volupides, the wife of the deceased Arthur Volupides, claims that her husband slipped and fell on the stairs while he was coming down to the kitchen for another alcoholic beverage. She says that she wasn’t home when the incident occurred. She states that she was at a country club that was hosting a party and that when she arrived home (at approx 1:15 A. M. ) she found him lying on the stairs dead.However, the crime scene shows many inconsistencies within Queenie’s Story. Deputy Blank arrived on the scene at around 2:15 A. M, responding to Volupides 911 call. After viewing he crime scene, Deputy Blank noticed that in Arthur’s left hand there was an unbroken glass (presumably what he was drinking alcohol in). This raises many suspicions. If Arthur had tripped and fell down the stairs, then the glass shouldn’t be in his han d unbroken but instead somewhere in the vicinity of his body shattered.This is because, usually, when somebody is falling down the stairs they will drop whatever is in their hands to try to grab a rail or really anything to try to regain balance. Also, the glass was found in his left hand and when somebody is intoxicated, they can barley stand let alone attempt to hold a glass in their non-dominant hand. Also, Deputy Blank noticed that Queenie had been cooking something when officers arrived. While she was expecting guests, the body of Arthur was just feet away from the stove. Most people would have noticed the dead body and called the police right away.Responding officers have theorized that the pan she was cooking in is the murder weapon. Upon further inspection, Blank also realized that Arthur was still in his formal suit when he was killed. When Questioning Queenie about this she says that he was supposed to go to the party with her but before she left they had gotten into a fig ht. That explains why he had gotten into his suit but yet still doesn’t explain why he had stayed in his suit. If Arthur had been home for more than ten minutes, then he probably would have taken off at least his shoes, robe, and tie.Suspicious where near confirmed when Arthur’s autopsy came back. It did confirm that Arthur had had a high blood alcohol level. It also concluded that he had died from a wound on his head. If Arthur had really fallen down that flight of stairs then there would have been more injuries than that of the wound on this head. Maybe if he had a broken bone or was bruised then Queenie’sâ€Å" falling down the stairs† story might have been believable. Our recommendation is that Queenie Volupides is charged with Arthur Volupides Homicide.

Paper – Sensory Marketing

English Paper Julien BECQUEVORT BAC 3 – Intermediate 1 2011-2012 English Paper Julien BECQUEVORT BAC 3 – Intermediate 1 2011-2012 The sensory marketing The sensory marketing Table of contents Introduction2 Sensory marketing2 Visual marketing4 Sound marketing5 Olfactory marketing6 Gustatory marketing7 Tactile marketing8 Personal opinion9 Conclusion10 Bibliography12 Introduction Even if one  does  not realize,  sensory marketing  is ubiquitous in  marketing campaigns and  it may explain  most of our  purchasing decisions. The soothing ambience  of a store,  pleasant odor  diffused,  attractive colors,†¦ can influence the customer’s decision.Sensory marketing can be defined as â€Å"a  marketing technique that  seeks  one or  more of the five senses of the consumer. Its aim is to  attract customers  by increasing  their welfare  in order to positively influence  their behavior  vis-a-vis a  product or a  point of sale†. To approach sensory marketing, I decided to begin by a short description of the topic. After, I will talk about the five types of sensory marketing : visual, sound, olfactory, gustatory and touch. To finish, I will expose you my personal opinion about the subject. Sensory marketingCompared with traditional marketing, the sensory marketing focuses more on the five senses : sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. The sensory marketing creates around the product a multisensory atmosphere that boosts their attractiveness. According to specialists, the use of the five senses in a marketing campaign would allow companies to increase their sales by arousing customer’s emotions. Nowadays, with the growth of the supply for a product, it is very important for a company to differentiate itself from its competitors. We notice that more and more companies use the sensory marketing to do it.Despite the fact that Kotler stressed already in 1973 the importance of the atmosphere in a store, the sensory marketing has only really developed until the 2000’s. It is still a young aspect of the marketing strategies. But today, more and more marketing specialists attach importance to the sensory marketing because it is a great success. This success can be explained in two ways. On the one hand, sensory perception brings a comfortable feeling, a sense of reality that the consumer looks for because of the development of virtual in our society.On the other hand, the consumer looks for a sensorial experience with all senses and especially with a back to the nature in a context of increasing urbanization. But some specialists say it is unethical to play with people’s feeling and emotions in a commercial aim. In fact, the sensory marketing can be used in an abusive way, trying to manipulate the customer. However, it is not like â€Å"neuromarketing† that is completely unethical. This type of marketing consists in a study of the mechanisms of the br ain when it receives commercial stimuli.Professionals of marketing can adapt their advertising campaigns based on the results of the study. It’s difficult for consumers to not buy the product with this type of marketing. But concerning sensory marketing, if the consumer has been once fooled on a product because of a sensory marketing, he will not be fooled a second time. Today’s marketing would be a marketing based on the five senses at the same time. That is called â€Å"polysensorality† by the marketers. However, it’s really difficult to set up for most of products. Now, I will give you some concrete examples in order to better understand what the sensory marketing is.It would be interesting to diffuse a smell of hot chocolate in a chocolate department. This strategy, combined with an attractive visual aspect of the product, will guide the consumer towards the product. Moreover, tastings in stores can also increase the sales of the product. The consumer can be aware of the product’s quality, smell, texture, etc. Nature et Decouvertes is a pioneer among the sensory marketers. When we are in the store, all our senses are stimulated. For example, all the products are exposed and we can touch and test everyone. It is really entertaining for the clients.Concerning the smell, odours of essential oils are spread in the shop, and even outside of it. It makes the passers want to enter the store. Moreover, we can hear a relaxing music. People often buy a CD and essential oils to recreate this relaxing atmosphere at home. Nature et Decouvertes has well understood that the sensory marketing can increase purchases but also enhance the image of this brand. Visual marketing The visual marketing is used by the professionals of marketing since a lot of years. The beauty and the design have always been very important in the marketing.People are always looking for aesthetic. Colours and forms, department’s arrangements of a shop are im portant factors for the product’s success. It influences the consumers and triggers emotional reactions that play a role in the purchase decision. The sight is the most highlighted sense in a marketing campaign. The client has his first impression of a product, whatever it is, by the sight. Visual aspects are essential and sellers try to attract people thanks to the sight. For example, in an automobile showroom, everything is studied.The lighting, the colours and the positions of the cars can influence people who look for aestheticism. But the visual marketing has also evolved with new technologies. Nowadays, beautiful pictures are broadcasted on LCD or LED screens. In travel agencies, pictures of withe sand and blue seas scrolled on a screen and invite to evasion. People are more likely to push the door to enter the agency. Apple has also developed a strong visual marketing for its products. We can found the iPod, the MP3 players of Apple, in a wide range of colours.Before, the iMac was also available in different colours and the product was transparent in order to make the machine more pleasant. All the products of Apple are design and beautiful. Apple is specialized in the visual marketing because the brand has understood that the customer will choose more easily a product which is beautiful. Sound marketing The sound marketing is a recent side of the sensory marketing. Marketers have now understood that hearing is primordial in a communication campaign. The sound marketing must represent the brand and the product.It’s really important for a brand to have a specific music, a jingle or a voice which can allow people to identify the brand in question. Uncle Ben’s, U and Leclerc are linked to a specific voice that differentiates themselves from competitors. These voices play a role of jingle and the auditors recognize immediately the brand. Music is also used in stores and shops to sell a product. But it’s recent. Different studies have proven that music influence the perception of time and the customers stay longer and more easily in a store which trend music is played.According to these studies, a soft music, like classical music, encourages to stroll and relaxes the customers. The particular sound of a product is also used by producers hoping to differentiate it. For example, in the world of household electrical appliances, the sound of the buttons is different depending on the brand. But the most striking example is the engine’s sound of a Harley Davidson. No engine makes a noise similar to a Harley Davidson. This is one of the biggest selling points of the brand and it was studied during a long time by mechanics. Please, follow this link ttp://www. youtube. com/watch? v=31GBuRHxsDo&feature=fvwp&NR=1 Olfactory marketing Since more or less two decades, marketers have discovered that odour in an advertising campaign has a lot of influence on the purchase decisions of the customer. Before the 90â€℠¢s, this sense was totally put aside. It was very difficult to implement the olfactory marketing because the technologies did not permit it. Since few years, marketers have understood that the power of odours is something that they should not overlook as the olfactory memory is the most powerful.The olfactory marketing is very important to highlight a product or a brand. When we walk on the street, we can smell delicious odours coming from a restaurant, a bakery or store which sells coffee. All these odours attract the customers and trigger an emotional process that lost any sense of time. Customers like to go to shops and store where it smells good. It’s normal. Some brands like Nature et Decouvertes and Sephora have succeeded in attract the customer and the passers with odour. But olfactory marketing is not limited only to odours in shops and stores, it cans also be found within the products.For example, it’s important that a cosmetic cream smells good. In order to d ifferentiate their products from the others, it’s essential for a company to use different flavours. It’s the same for cleaning products. A lot of brands like Mr Propre, Carolin or Dreft use different scents for their cleaning products. These products do not only evoke cleanliness but also evoke evasion and pleasure thanks to the odours. A third example is the 3M company who has commercialized flavoured strawberry post – its. The target of this marketing’s type is essentially teenagers and especially young girls.However, olfactory marketing goes further and an odour diffuser, the â€Å"SmellBox†, was created to diffuse fragrances in a shop or a store. This box is connected to a computer and diffuses odours that are linked with the broadcasted pictures on the screen. Today, it is the most advanced application of the olfactory marketing. Gustatory marketing With this type of marketing, there are two possibilities  : either the consumer likes the pr oduct either he doesn’t like and doesn’t buy it. Taste marketing is often used in supermarkets where different brand representatives propose to taste new products.Clients appreciate this practice because they can judge the product for free. And this technique increases sales because people buy it after having tasted it so they don’t take a risk and know that they like it. Obviously, this marketing is usually used for food products. But there are some exceptions. Indeed, gustative marketing can be a good way to promote a product. For example, a jewelry demonstration accompanied by a chocolate fondue. Or we can also find candies in some stores. Moreover, gustative marketing is essential for toothpaste’s brands too.Today, the trend is traveling and people like new flavors of the world. There is a strong growth in sales of exotic spices and especially from Asia, very trendy at the moment. So, food industries have their gustative laboratories in order to taste new relishes depending on the trend and desires of consumers. Thus, this sort of marketing is not easy because we always have to adapt to the new flavors appreciated by people. So, there are gustatory trends that we have to follow all the time to satisfy customers. Tactile marketing This sort of marketing uses the touch to optimize sales of a product.This sense has more and more importance in communication campaigns, and professionals know it. Indeed, consumers need to touch the product in order to have a precise idea of its quality. For example, at the supermarket, customers like palpating fruits and vegetables and they think that they can evaluate their quality in this way. In fact, the touch creates a familiarity with the product. So, tactile marketing has a gigantic power and sellers have to use it in order to enhance sales. Moreover, people prefer going to a store which proposes to touch products, so this sort of marketing increase the number of clients.That’s why more and more enterprises look for textures appreciated by consumers. Today, for example, the trend is cashmere. Indeed, this textile inspires sweetness, comfort, protection, etc. As the touch refers to the qualities and functions of the product, the choice of the material and the form is essential. More the texture is successful, more consumers will want to buy it. We can well see this phenomenon in bedding store where people always lie on mattresses. Clients want to test the thickness and comfort, and prices become even less important. Food industries have also understood the advantages of this marketing.Children and teenagers like the combination of different textures as crunchy and sweet. For example, Danette created a new product to satisfy consumers : liquid chocolate accompanied by crunchy balls. We can also find chewing-gum crisps outside and liquids inside. Tactile marketing can also be applied for a service. Indeed, a hotel will be judged on the softness of the sheets, the thic kness of the towels, pillows’ quality, etc. If the client appreciates all of these things, he will have a good image of the hotel. So, the touch is a factor essential for product’s success. Personal opinionI have chosen this topic because I am really interested in the marketing sciences. I think that it is very important for a firm or a company to deeply understand how behave customers when they receive commercial stimuli. Otherwise, I would choose as master options marketing and management’s services. I hope that I will learn even more with the lecture of consumer’s behaviour. During my studies in management, we have seen lots of strategies and techniques to attract the customer to a product or service, but I think that the sensory marketing is the most interesting and is really booming.We can see more and more strategies of sensory marketing today. I think for example at the cover of the jam’s jars of Bonne Maman brand. The cover is squared with blue and white or red and white. Moreover, the writing on the label looks like handwriting. It really reminds jams of long ago. Another example is the development of the free distribution of new products in the street. When we walk on the street, we can see huge cars giving for example chocolate, cans of Coca-Cola, †¦ This is linked with gustatory marketing. Just yesterday, I went to a copy centre and the merchant had put an essential oil diffuser in the store.It was really nice to photocopy sheets in this atmosphere. Even if a copy centre does not need to use sensory marketing in order to attract customers, I think that it is a good initiative and it works. I will go back there to make photocopies. I think that more and more brand and retailers must use the sensory marketing. The customers asks for it, it is more sympathetic that our senses are requested when we do shopping or when we see an advertising. Moreover, studies and surveys have proved that the sensory marketing real ly influences the purchase decisions.It has to be developed by all the brands, if it is possible obviously. During the lectures of market research, we have seen lots of studies that showed that the marketing sensory has a lot of influence on consumers. For example, we have seen, supported by figures, that the purchases are more important if the music in the store is slow than fast. Moreover, if it is coupled with a nice odour, the amount of purchases is much more important. We have also learned that the light plays an important role in a restaurant. If the light is bright, the number of wine bottles purchased is higher than if the light is subdued.Per contra, the spent time in the restaurant and the amount of the bill is higher if the light is subdued. Recently, I have participated to a market research concerning the bookshop Libris Agora. We were asked during the study to analyse different odours that could be diffuse in the bookstore. It is typically a sensory marketing strategy. Personally, I am for a strong sensory marketing strategy. As I said before, it can attract lots of people to a store. For example, I like when trend and good music is played in a shop.I have already noticed that I stay more easily in a store where dance and electro music is played, maybe because I love this kind of music. Contrary to what my analysis says, I will never go to a store where classic music is broadcasted or maybe I will stay maximum five minutes. I think that it is because I am young and that does not attract me at all. Nevertheless, I can understand that people like this type of music and that classic music encourages people to stay longer in a store. One of the sensory marketing strategies that I like the most is the gustatory one.I really like to taste different products when I am at the supermarket or when I go to a fruit and vegetables seller. Usually, if the products are good, I put them in the cart. In order to further differentiate from the competition, brands a nd retailers should enhance their sensory marketing strategies. They should couple visual marketing with olfactory marketing, etc. However, the consumers must not receive too much sensory stimuli at once time. If it is the case, I think he feels oppressed and uncomfortable and he will certainly run away from the product or the store.Retailers have to find the right middle between the different strategies of sensory marketing. Moreover, the sensory marketing is not popular with everyone. I know some people who feel uncomfortable with odour of essential oils. I think that the big problem of the sensory marketing is to find the right settings in order to reach as many people as possible. Conclusion Throughout this report, I tried to explain what the sensory marketing is and how the five senses can play a role in the purchase decision. I also  tried to  give concrete examples  to  make this  report more understandable.We can see that in a context of an increasing supply, compa nies have to differentiate themselves from each other. It requires a very thorough marketing and more and more companies rely on sensory marketing to attract customers to their products. According to experts, marketing of tomorrow will be a â€Å"polysensory† marketing through which all senses of the consumer and prospect will be awakened. Nowadays, thanks to new technologies, this type of marketing is possible and some companies like Nature et Decouvertes use already this concept of â€Å"polysensority† marketing.The discipline of sensory marketing is now booming but it is very important to not oppress the customer with too much commercial and sensory stimuli. The sensory marketing must be carefully considered before being implemented. Bibliography http://marketing. oboulo. com/marketing-sensoriel-exemple-zara-h-m-killafornia-1 05054. html http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Sense http://fr. wikipedia. org/wiki/Marketing_sensoriel http://www. netpme. fr/marketing/704-marke ting-sensoriel. html http://www. journaldunet. com/management/dossiers/0606139marketing/cestquoi. shtml

The 11 Natural Log Rules You Need to Know

The 11 Natural Log Rules You Need to Know SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re taking a high school or college math class, you’ll likely cover natural logs.But what are natural logs? What is ln? Why does the letter e keep showing up? Natural logs may seem difficult, but once you understand a few key natural log rules, you’ll be able to easily solve even very complicated-looking problems.In this guide, we explain the four most important natural logarithm rules, discuss other natural log properties you should know, go over several examples of varying difficulty, and explain how natural logs differ from other logarithms. What Is ln? The natural log, or ln, is the inverse of e. The letter ‘e’ represents a mathematical constant also known as the natural exponent.Like π, e is a mathematical constant and has a set value. The value of e is equal to approximately 2.71828. e appears in many instances in mathematics, including scenarios about compound interest, growth equations, and decay equations.ln(x) is the time needed to grow to x, whileexis the amount of growth that has occurred after time x. Because e is used so commonly in math and economics, and people in these fields often need to take the logarithm with a base of e of a number to solve an equation or find a value, the natural log was created as a shortcut way to write and calculate log base e. The natural log simply lets people reading the problem know that you're taking the logarithm, with a base of e, of a number. So ln(x) = loge(x). As an example,ln(5) = loge(5) = 1.609. The 4 Key Natural Log Rules There are four main rules you need to know when working with natural logs, and you’ll see each of them again and again in your math problems. Know these well because they can be confusing the first time you see them, and you want to make sure you have basic rules like these down solid before moving on to more difficult logarithm topics. Product Rule ln(x)( y) = ln(x) + ln(y) The natural log of the multiplication of x and y is the sum of the ln of x and ln of y. Example: ln(8)(6) = ln(8) + ln(6) Quotient Rule ln(x/y) = ln(x) - ln(y) The natural log of the division of x and y is the difference of the ln of x and ln of y. Example: ln(7/4) = ln(7) - ln(4) Reciprocal Rule ln(1/x)=−ln(x) The natural log of the reciprocal of x is the opposite of the ln of x. Example: ln(⅓)= -ln(3) Power Rule ln(xy) = y * ln(x) The natural log of x raised to the power of y is y times the ln of x. Example: ln(52) = 2 * ln(5) Key Natural Log Properties In addition to the four natural logarithm rules discussed above, there are also several ln properties you need to know if you’re studying natural logs. Have these memorized so you can quickly move onto the next step of the problem without wasting time trying to remember common ln properties. Scenario ln Property ln of a Negative Number The ln of a negative number is undefined ln of 0 ln(0) is undefined ln of 1 ln(1)=0 ln of Infinity ln(∞)= ∞ ln of e ln(e)=1 ln of e raised to the x power ln(ex) = x e raised to the ln power eln(x)=x As you can see from the final three rows, ln(e)=1, and this is true even if one is raised to the power of the other. This is because the ln and eare inverse functions of each other. Natural Log Sample Problems Now it’s time to put your skills to the test and ensure you understand the ln rules by applying them to example problems. Below are three sample problems. Try to work them out on your own before reading through the explanation. Problem 1 Evaluate ln (72/5) First, we use the quotient rule to get: ln(72) - ln(5). Next, we use the power rule to get: 2ln(7) -ln(5). If you don’t have a calculator, you can leave the equation like this, or you can calculate the natural log values: 2(1.946) - 1.609 = 3.891 - 1.609 = 2.283. Problem 2 Evaluate ln(e) /7 For this problem, we need to remember than ln(e)=1 This means the problem simplifies to 1/7, which is our answer Problem 3 Solve ln (5x-6)=2 When you have multiple variables within the ln parentheses, you want to make e the base and everything else the exponent of e. Then you’ll get ln and e next to each other and, as we know from the natural log rules, eln(x)=x. So, the equation becomes eln(5x-6)=e2 Since eln(x)=x, eln(5x-6)= 5x-6 Therefore 5x-6= e2 Since e is a constant, you can then figure out the value of e2, either by using the e key on your calculator or using e’s estimated value of 2.718. 5x-6 =7.389 Now we’d add 6 to both sides 5x= 13.389 Finally, we’d divide both sides by 5. x= 2.678 How Are Natural Logs Different From Other Logarithms? As a reminder, a logarithm is the opposite of a power. If you take the log of a number, you’re undoing the exponent.The key difference between natural logs and other logarithms is the base being used. Logarithms typically use a base of 10 (although it can be a different value, which will be specified), while natural logs will always use a base of e. This means ln(x)=loge(x) If you need to convert between logarithms and natural logs, use the following two equations: log10(x)= ln(x) / ln(10) ln(x) = log10(x)/ log10(e) Other than the difference in the base (which is a big difference) the logarithm rules and the natural logarithm rules are the same: Logarithm Rules ln Rules log(xy)=log(x)+log(y) ln(xy)= ln(x)+ln(y) log(x/y)=log(x)−log(y) ln(x/y)=ln(x)−ln(y) log(xa)= alog(x) ln(xa)= aln(x) log(10x)= x ln(ex)= x 10log(x)= x eln(x)= x Summary: Natural Log Rules The natural log, or ln, is the inverse of e.The rules of natural logs may seem counterintuitive at first, but once you learn them they’re quite simple to remember and apply to practice problems. The four main ln rules are: ln(x)( y) = ln(x) + ln(y) ln(x/y) = ln(x) - ln(y) ln(1/x)=−ln(x) n(xy) = y*ln(x) The key difference between natural logs and other logarithms is the base being used. What's Next? Writing a research paper for school but not sure what to write about?Our guide to research paper topicshas over 100 topics in ten categories so you can be sure to find the perfect topic for you. Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius?We've got you covered!Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit(or vice versa). Taking the SAT or ACT?Students often struggle most with the Math section of these tests, but check out our comprehensive guides to SAT Math and ACT Math for everything you need to know to ace these math questions.

Free Essays on The Wife Of His Youth

When you’re young you do things that can be considered foolish when you’re older. Mr. Ryder was a young slave and he married Liza Jane. When he was older he forgot all about her. What’s foolish about that is he didn’t go and look for her after she had been sold down the river. Instead, he started a new life with her not in it. I think Charles Chesnutt looks at Mr. Ryder as a man who should have looked for his wife after the war. The Blue Vein Society is a group of individuals that were mixed and considered more white than black because you could see their blue veins. In order to become a Blue Vein, one must have really light skin. Mr. Ryder was a man who used to be a slave and has chosen to forget his past and move on. He was sort of a leader of the Blue Veins and a well respected man. On top of all this, Mr. Ryder is throwing a ball and is planning on proposing to Molly Dixon, a woman that moved to Groveland and stole his heart. Up until now, he has forgotten all about his wife he married when he was young. I think Chesnutt’s attitude toward the Blue Vein Society was that racism existed among race. The Blue Veins wouldn’t let anybody without light skin or of low social status join their group. They thought of their selves as higher than the all blacks. When Mr. Ryder is faced with the situation with his wife and the Blue Veins, he asks them what they would do if they were in the shoes of the husband that Liza Jane was looking for. When all of them say that he should confront her, Mr. Ryder does just that. He introduces everyone to the woman he married when he was younger. I think Chesnutt made the story that way to show everyone how the Blue Veins should accept her because of her devotion of looking for her husband for the past twenty five years. Mr. Ryder, a slave in his past, moved to the north after the war and worked at a railroad company for many years. All through the years he never thought ... Free Essays on The Wife Of His Youth Free Essays on The Wife Of His Youth When you’re young you do things that can be considered foolish when you’re older. Mr. Ryder was a young slave and he married Liza Jane. When he was older he forgot all about her. What’s foolish about that is he didn’t go and look for her after she had been sold down the river. Instead, he started a new life with her not in it. I think Charles Chesnutt looks at Mr. Ryder as a man who should have looked for his wife after the war. The Blue Vein Society is a group of individuals that were mixed and considered more white than black because you could see their blue veins. In order to become a Blue Vein, one must have really light skin. Mr. Ryder was a man who used to be a slave and has chosen to forget his past and move on. He was sort of a leader of the Blue Veins and a well respected man. On top of all this, Mr. Ryder is throwing a ball and is planning on proposing to Molly Dixon, a woman that moved to Groveland and stole his heart. Up until now, he has forgotten all about his wife he married when he was young. I think Chesnutt’s attitude toward the Blue Vein Society was that racism existed among race. The Blue Veins wouldn’t let anybody without light skin or of low social status join their group. They thought of their selves as higher than the all blacks. When Mr. Ryder is faced with the situation with his wife and the Blue Veins, he asks them what they would do if they were in the shoes of the husband that Liza Jane was looking for. When all of them say that he should confront her, Mr. Ryder does just that. He introduces everyone to the woman he married when he was younger. I think Chesnutt made the story that way to show everyone how the Blue Veins should accept her because of her devotion of looking for her husband for the past twenty five years. Mr. Ryder, a slave in his past, moved to the north after the war and worked at a railroad company for many years. All through the years he never thought ...

The Write to Santa Program in Canada

The Write to Santa Program in Canada More than 6,000 Canada Post volunteers, both staff, and retirees help the Jolly Old Elf with Canada Posts Write to Santa program. Every year, over a million children from all around the world, take advantage of the program by writing to Santa and receiving a personal reply. Letters are answered in the language in which the letter was written, including Braille. Requirements for Letters to Santa Via Canada Post All mail should include a full return address so Santa can answer. Be sure to mail your letter so it gets to Santa before December 14.  Santas mailing address is: Santa ClausNorth PoleH0H 0H0Canada No postage is required for letters to Santa from Canada. However, from other countries, you will need to mail them with the appropriate postage for your country to deliver the envelope to Canada where Santa and his helpers can receive it and reply. Canada Post asks parents to make sure letters to Santa do not include treats for Santa, like cookies. For the fastest delivery to Canada from other countries, its best to use standard sized envelopes and ensure you have placed the correct postage. Santa does not have an email address, according to Canada Post. You will need to send him paper mail. Receiving a Reply From Santa If you send your mail from Canada by early December, you should receive a reply in the mail by December 14, according to Canada Mail. If you dont get a reply, send another letter before December 14. Mail sent by December 14 should have a reply back to your child by December 24. Replies to other countries may take longer as they are dependent on the delivery by the mail systems of those countries.   Getting Creative With Your Childs Letter to Santa Santa and his helpers are happy to see your childs wish list. But you can enliven your letter with pictures, drawings, funny jokes, and stories telling about your childs favorite games, sports, friends, pets, and other details. This helps  brighten the mail and make it easier for Santa and his elves to craft a personal response that will delight your child. It can be a fun experience to help your child write the letter and explore what excites them and what they find most interesting in their lives. Tips for Teachers In order for Santa to write the best letters, his elves need some information about each child. Teachers may check with Media Relations at Canada Post to find templates and checklists to complete a class package of letters to Santa. Yearly requirements and tips are often released in mid-November.   To make sure your students get a response before schools and daycares break for the holidays, mail your classroom letters by December 8. Note that this date may change from year to year, depending on where weekends fall and the volume of letters experienced.

Answer questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Answer questions - Essay Example These dimensions can be used to determine exercise behavior as shown by numerous studies, such as Arais study in Japan and Rhodes and Smith study (Define Personality: Enduring characteristics that are important to a persons behavior) can frequently be related to personality. The conclusion of the studies showed that Extraversion could be associated with being active and hence pertained to individuals who would exercise more whereas Introversion could be related to a less active behavior. Furthermore it showed that athlete’s had a tendency to be more extroverted, emotionally stable and in some few cases psychotic. (Web) Stage 2 – Fixation/ Diversification – Ensuring the movement is consistent within the current environment and then adapting the movement accordingly so that the performance turns out to be successful. (Web) To clearly understand these two stage let’s look at the example of how playing long-tennis can incorporate the effective use of these two stages. It incorporates the key elements in form of body movement and object manipulation. In the first stage the player will focus on understanding how he must organize his movement to successfully serve to his advantage. He then determines how relevant what move or playing position will be by using the available information for the motor skills. In the second stage, before the opponent strikes the ball in your direction you hold still or shit from spot to spot it depends, (fixate) until you decide what direction the ball might head towards. And finally you incorporate diversification in your movement with perhaps a tennis forehand drive out of reach of opponent. Hence you incorporate key elements of body movement and object manipulation of Gentile’s Model in playing Tennis. According Nideffer’s (1981) framework of the theory of Attentional and Personal Style is used mainly in the process of

American Type Painting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Type Painting - Essay Example Greenberg notes that although painting had started showing signs of modernization earlier than other arts, there are several expandable conventions embedded in the art of painting. There are a great number of conventions that artists cannot isolate and this difficulty in isolation makes painting difficult to expand and change. The author reiterates that the law of modernization is to recognize and immediately discard the facets of a medium that are not essential for its viability. The process of self-purification is observed to have come to a halt in literature as the letters have few conventions to eliminate before reaching those essential to it. Likewise, music has changed over the ages to reach an in expandable state. Most of the facets of music that can be isolated and altered or eliminated have reached the limit of change. The author makes a radical simplification with the hope that the suggested and noted simplifications may be used to overhaul the existing arts to renew vitali ty of the arts in the face of the community that is bent on rationalizing everything as well as maintain irreplaceability. Clement Greenberg was an American specialized in the field of art critic who was closely linked with the American Modern art. His work American Type painting is generally viewed as a response to the Rosenberg’s American Action Painting, but its focus is more specific. It is an observed, unrelenting and sustained attempt to refute the idea that abstract expressionist painting. has fundamentals of a break with the past. The work is a close and meticulous visual analysis to the new critics, based on the most basic element of painting rather than ideas, concepts and psychological states (Frascina, Francis, Charles Harrison & Paul, 1998). It handles the emergence and development of abstract expressionist, which mainly argues for the discrimination of color field painting linking it to impressionism rather than cubism and explains that modern art evolved while artists were perusing advanced pictorial flatness. The title of the essay shows his discomfort with abstract expressionism which he believed was erroneous. Greenberg’s piece viewed abstraction as a facet for modern painting. This is the only way for any painting work to be authentically modern. Each medium had to engage in a process of rationalization which will eventually make it distinct from other related medium. Indeed it was a necessary element of modern art work because painting was being threatened by the introduction of commerce and cliches. Figurative art and the type of anectodal subjects were frequent in the American

Trends that Influence Effective Learning Assignment

Trends that Influence Effective Learning - Assignment Example According to Morrison et al (2010), ADDIE process was established at the University of Florida and was meant for military training servicemen, who needed curriculum development processes. Its present version was developed, and revised in mid-1980’s. ADDIE process involves the five treads founded in this model. They include; analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluation.Analyze; this involves an instructor collecting information concerning the learners, identifying the topics, and the content that should be covered. It is in this step that the instructors give a layout of the objectives of the project that need to be achieved. This enhances and gives meaning to the content since it makes learning to be relevant and achievable. Objectives serve as pointers of goal setting in education. When an instructor is developing a pedagogical way of delivering information, one must ensure that he comes up with objectives that need to be addressed. In cases, where these goals are not met, then learning may not have taken place. Therefore, for useful learning and teaching to be identified proper tools and materials should be applied to improve instruction. Design; this is the second step that enables instructional designers to develop their projects using the information received from the analysis stage. It is at this point that the instructor shows how he plans to ensure that learning has been achieved. The content is broken down into basic units that can be easily understood by learners.

Study skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Study skills - Essay Example HARMON, P. (2007). Business process change a guide for business managers and BPM and six sigma professionals. Amsterdam, Elsevier. [Online]. Available from: http://www.worldcat.org/title/business-process-change-a-guide-for-business-managers-and-bpm-and-six-sigma-professionals/oclc/162131603 According to Aalst et al., (2003) the core purpose for the formation of any business venture is to make profit. For the profit to be realized in the business, input, and the output must be balanced in a manner that the input is less than the output. Profit maximization requires efficiency and effectiveness in the management of the resources of an organization. Management of the resources of an organization thus needs the development of a well-organized management plan that will ensure that there is no wastage of the resources as well as utilizing the available to their maximum potential. The most significant resource in an organization that can be manipulated by the management is a human resource. The employees of a business can be motivated for achievement of the intended goals of the business; thus, an appropriate means of managing the human resource is a crucial strategy that must be developed in an organization ( Harmon, 2007). HARTMANN, P. (2014). New business creation: systems for institutionalized radical innovation management. [Online]. Available from: http://www.worldcat.org/title/new-business-creation-systems-for-institutionalized-radical-innovation-management/oclc/880892027 According to Teece (2010), strategic management of a business is a systematic process that involves the formulation of the goals and objectives of the institution. In the process of formulating the objectives of the organization, the management must take into consideration the available resources, the operational environment of the business as well as a timeline for the achievement

Accounting and finance for managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Accounting and finance for managers - Essay Example The Return on Capital Employed ratio is used to analyse a company's position in terms of the return or profit it gains on the funds invested by the company's shareholdersIt shows the effectiveness of the company's management It shows the effectiveness and performance of the company's management to obtain more returns on the shareholders' investment. It is of importance to the company's management as well as investors and shareholders being a performance indicator for the company. The ROCE ratio for the Glaxo Smithkline plc is 102.78%, which shows that the company has been able to utilise the funds invested by shareholders in an profitable manner.The Asset Turnover ratio reveals the management's efficiency in utilising the company's assets towards sales and revenue generation (Meigs & Meigs, 1993). It is of particular interest to company's management in evaluating their policies and the revenue generation. The Glaxo Smithkline plc's asset turnover ratio is 90%, which shows that the sa les generated by the company proved to be 90% utilisation of the company's assets. It is a sign of an above-average performance of the company's management.The Gross Profit Margin Percentage evaluates the percentage of profit earned by a company on sales after the production and distribution activities (Mcmenamin, 1999). This ratio analyses the company's profit margin before accounting for various operating costs. This ratio is of critical importance to both the management and investors, in order to keep an eye over the company's income level and profit margin. The gross margin percentage for the company in consideration is 78.83%, which indicates that the company only loses about 22% of its sales revenue in the production and distribution activities. It is an indicator of the company's gross profitability. Net profit percentage 21.7% The Net Profit Marin Percentage ratio shows what percentage of profit a company earns on its sales (Mcmenamin, 1999). This ratio analyses a company's profitability after taking into account all the operating costs. The importance of this ratio is the same as that of gross profit percentage. The net profit percentage for Glaxo Smithkline is 21.7%, which means that the company loses about more of the gross profit in various selling and administrative expenses. Therefore, the company needs to revise its operating costs in order to gain much out of the actual gross profit. Current Ratio 1.5: 1 The current ratio measures short-term liquidity of a company in terms of its ability to pay off its short-term debts and liabilities (Meigs & Meigs, 1993) (Mcmenamin, 1999). It shows how much liquid assets a company owns against its short-term liabilities and obligations. The current ratio is of extreme importance to a company's short-term creditors for the purpose of a better evaluation of the company's liquidity position. The current ratio for this company is 1.5: 1, which means that the company owns about $1.5 worth of assets to pay off its short-term liabilities worth $1. Quick Ratio 1.3: 1 Quick ratio reveals the liquidity position of a company after keeping aside the value of stock (Meigs & Meigs, 1993). Therefore, it gives a quick review of a firm's liquidity position in terms of cash or the assets that can be quickly convertible into cash. It is of particular interest to the short-term creditors and suppliers of the company, as they need to evaluate a company's liquidity position and analyse how feasible it is for them to do business with the company. The quick ratio for this company is 1.3: 1, which means that after keeping aside the value of stock, the company still has $1.3 worth of assets to pay of its liabilities worth $1. Also, the difference between current and quick ratio shows that not most of the company's capital has been tied up in stock. Gearing Ratio 78.05% The Gearing ratio is an analyser of a company's long-term liquidity or solvency (Meigs & Meigs, 1

What developments over the last 20 years have made transnational crime Essay

What developments over the last 20 years have made transnational crime harder to detect and prosecute - Essay Example Transnational crimes can be referred to as the violent activities carried out in a country by any rival country either by means of physically participating in terrorism / crimes or by supporting or exploiting the local individuals through brain-washing or the financial support. It is considered as a new form of warfare thereby avoiding physical contact with rival country, hence ensuring safety of men and material which are likely to be damaged during physical war (Netanyahu and Mekhon, 1981). Such crimes may also include those activities which are undertaken in the same countries but their affects / fallouts have effects on the other countries as well. These include the human / drug trafficking, arms / goods smuggling, information warfare / propaganda and even the cyber- crimes (Williams & Vlassis, 2001-pg 16). At times, it becomes very evident as which country is involved in such international crimes, but it is very hard to bring them to justice or trial in international courts due to non-availability or paucity of requisite proofs. Since last two decades, many countries developed laws to tackle such crimes. United Nations Security Council in its resolution 1373 / 2001, decided that all states should render their full assistance to other countries for criminal investigation and proceedings. Necessary evidences may also be provided by the state, to the one investigating the transnational crimes. At present INTERPOL (International Police) is the world-wide organisation in this regard, which renders its assistance to the other countries involved in investigation / prosecution of criminals by bringing the criminals to justice who evade to other countries (Mallory, 2007-pg 176). Despite having joint investigation teams, it is very difficult to bring these criminals to justice because of many reasons. The most obvious reason in this regard is difficulty in identification of hostile actors operating from across the border. This problem becomes even more pronounced du e to ‘lack of will’ by the government of the state which was involved in transnational crimes. The state / country that is to provide the evidences / proofs, try to hide the facts because if it is proved that that transnational crime has taken place from their country, it will tarnish the image in international community. Gathering evidences from the country which is already an adversary may not be an easy task due to conflicting laws or in some case the restrictions on law enforcement agencies in cooperating with international agencies. A lot of financial resources are required in joint investigations. Moreover, the issue regarding who will pay the incurred amount; the country which has been affected by the transnational crimes or it will shared between both of the countries, remains a question mark (Shanty & Mishra, 2005-pg 287). Another difficulty faced in prosecution / follow up of transnational crimes is difference of mind-sets. Terrorist or criminal for one nation can be a hero or freedom fighter for the other country (Abadinsky, 2010-pg 7). The affected state will definitely not be able to accrue the desired results in this situation. The fast growing technology, exploited by criminals for cyber-crimes or propaganda about other countries may not be easy to identify and prosecute as their exact location cannot be identified very easily. Although there are international rules on cyber-crimes, but we have

Accounting and finance for managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Accounting and finance for managers - Essay Example The Return on Capital Employed ratio is used to analyse a company's position in terms of the return or profit it gains on the funds invested by the company's shareholdersIt shows the effectiveness of the company's management It shows the effectiveness and performance of the company's management to obtain more returns on the shareholders' investment. It is of importance to the company's management as well as investors and shareholders being a performance indicator for the company. The ROCE ratio for the Glaxo Smithkline plc is 102.78%, which shows that the company has been able to utilise the funds invested by shareholders in an profitable manner.The Asset Turnover ratio reveals the management's efficiency in utilising the company's assets towards sales and revenue generation (Meigs & Meigs, 1993). It is of particular interest to company's management in evaluating their policies and the revenue generation. The Glaxo Smithkline plc's asset turnover ratio is 90%, which shows that the sa les generated by the company proved to be 90% utilisation of the company's assets. It is a sign of an above-average performance of the company's management.The Gross Profit Margin Percentage evaluates the percentage of profit earned by a company on sales after the production and distribution activities (Mcmenamin, 1999). This ratio analyses the company's profit margin before accounting for various operating costs. This ratio is of critical importance to both the management and investors, in order to keep an eye over the company's income level and profit margin. The gross margin percentage for the company in consideration is 78.83%, which indicates that the company only loses about 22% of its sales revenue in the production and distribution activities. It is an indicator of the company's gross profitability. Net profit percentage 21.7% The Net Profit Marin Percentage ratio shows what percentage of profit a company earns on its sales (Mcmenamin, 1999). This ratio analyses a company's profitability after taking into account all the operating costs. The importance of this ratio is the same as that of gross profit percentage. The net profit percentage for Glaxo Smithkline is 21.7%, which means that the company loses about more of the gross profit in various selling and administrative expenses. Therefore, the company needs to revise its operating costs in order to gain much out of the actual gross profit. Current Ratio 1.5: 1 The current ratio measures short-term liquidity of a company in terms of its ability to pay off its short-term debts and liabilities (Meigs & Meigs, 1993) (Mcmenamin, 1999). It shows how much liquid assets a company owns against its short-term liabilities and obligations. The current ratio is of extreme importance to a company's short-term creditors for the purpose of a better evaluation of the company's liquidity position. The current ratio for this company is 1.5: 1, which means that the company owns about $1.5 worth of assets to pay off its short-term liabilities worth $1. Quick Ratio 1.3: 1 Quick ratio reveals the liquidity position of a company after keeping aside the value of stock (Meigs & Meigs, 1993). Therefore, it gives a quick review of a firm's liquidity position in terms of cash or the assets that can be quickly convertible into cash. It is of particular interest to the short-term creditors and suppliers of the company, as they need to evaluate a company's liquidity position and analyse how feasible it is for them to do business with the company. The quick ratio for this company is 1.3: 1, which means that after keeping aside the value of stock, the company still has $1.3 worth of assets to pay of its liabilities worth $1. Also, the difference between current and quick ratio shows that not most of the company's capital has been tied up in stock. Gearing Ratio 78.05% The Gearing ratio is an analyser of a company's long-term liquidity or solvency (Meigs & Meigs, 1

Terrorism Study Essay Example for Free

Terrorism Study Essay What do you think of when you hear the word terrorism? Most people will refer to the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Of course, these were horrific attacks especially considering over 3,000 people lost their lives that day. There was no precedent like that before. Unfortunately, though, that is not the only terrorist attack in history. Terrorism has existed in the world for quite a long time. Terrorism hits home for many people who were or shall I say are in some way involved with the effects of terrorist activity. As you continue to read my paper I will talk about what terrorism is, why terrorism matters to me, and why it affects me. What exactly is terrorism? Well, there are many different definitions out there. However, these definitions have certain things in common. Terrorism involves extraordinary violence. It is intended to create massive fear and involves a planned attack for a purpose, often against something or someone. While terrorism is meant to be an act of violence to bring about change, it is usually not committed by those officially in the government. Usually, terrorist groups have fewer members than you would think. They want to be dramatic and attract attention by carrying out a bloody act. They hope to gain power and influence due to their act. Terrorism has become a huge matter in my life. It has caused sadness not only to me but to hundreds of people around the world, but the number one reason it matters so much to me is due to having my dad serving with the United State Marine Corp. My dad just as other dads and mothers has served three tours since this war began. So many families have been broken up and we have also lost so many men and women at war due to terrorism. After seeing so many of our close friends and families lose a loved one at war has not only allowed me to become more educated with the war by also with different changes that have occurred due to the terrorism that happene d since September 11, 2001. For example we have so many people complain about our security policies that we go through at airports. I can understand how going through and x-ray machine, being padded down at times, and people going through your belongings can be somewhat humiliating to some people. But, lets focus on the big picture here. The better security we have here in the US the less chance we have for terrorism attacks. That in the long run will also bring our loved ones back home and eventually stop us from being at war. Having my dad serve three tours had been a huge concern to me and my family. It has made me look at life differently and has allowed me to realize how important or freedom is and how much I have learned to admire and appreciate all our troops. Finally I will share a few reason on why terrorism has affected me. Due to terrorism my dad has had to serve in Afghanistan and Iraq. Ever since his first tour my dad has not been the same dad I was used to having. Traumatic events experienced while at war has caused him to suffer from PTSD ( Post Dramatic Syndrome Disorder). The absence of the military parent, and other stresses are common for military families, but the deployment of a parent to a combat zone represent a challenge of a different magnitude. Since I am the oldest and a male at that I have had to grow up faster than normal kids my age so that I could help my mom with my brother and sister. I have also been there to help my sister and brother understand where our dad was at why he was there. There hardest part of it all was trying to answer them when they would ask me is dad dead or alive. Me being the oldest I knew that was and answer that was out of my control but always found someway and somehow to assure them that he was ok. Till this day our family deals and struggles with challenges my making sure my dad is getting the proper medical care and the challenge of us learning how to cope with his disorder. Terrorism is a horrible act of violence that causes so many changes and challenges in life. The mental health of the returning service member also affects us children as well as family functioning and relationship satisfaction. Therefore, it is important that the needs of the entire family are considered. Now let’s all join together to fight towards making the US a safe place to be at.

Outcome Analysis of Burns Patients in BICU

Outcome Analysis of Burns Patients in BICU Outcome analysis of burns patients after admission to burns intensive care unit in a tertiary regional referral centre Goh SY, Thong SY, Win MTM, Ng SY ABSTRACT Background: The clinical course of severely burned patients may be stormy and the prognosis tends to be poor in patients with multiple comorbidities and those with inhalational injury. The aim of this study is to develop an objective and reliable predictive model for mortality in patients with major burns. This will help us identify the important factors influencing outcomes and allows more evidence-based prognostication. Methods: Adult patients admitted to the burns intensive care unit (BICU) in a major tertiary referral center from 2008-2011 are selected. Demographic factors, types, severity and complications of burn injury as well as outcomes are reviewed. Results:In the 4-year period, 181 patients were admitted to BICU. Mean age (SD) was 41 (16) years old. Mean (SD) total body surface area burn was 37.2 (30.2%). Mortality was 39.5%. Mean (SD) length of stay in the BICU and hospital for patients who eventually survived were 8.4 (13.4) and 28.5 (37.9) days respectively. Lower airway burns has a significant relationship with the development of renal failure after multivariate analysis (Odds ratio 5.1, Confidence interval 1.1- 24.0). Greater total body surface burns, development of acute respiratory distress syndrome and older patients with more extensive burns predispose to mortality as shown in table 2. In our cohort of patients, the probability of death may be estimated by this equation: Probability of death= (1+ey)-1 y= -7.008+0.04(TBSA) +1.791(ARDS)*+0.054(Age+TBSA) *= ARDS (0=no, 1=yes) Conclusion: We have developed a predictive model for mortality in major burn patients. This may be useful in prognosis during early stages of care. Introduction Survival after burns injury has improved tremendously over the last few decadeswith the refinement of fluid resuscitation, better intensive care and early surgical excision1as some of the strategies that have significantly influenced patient outcomes. These advancements have contributed to lowering mortality rates in burns patients in Singapore to 4.5% between 2003-20052. Despite these advancements, however, overall mortality rates of patients with major burns remain high. Numerous factors such as age, percentage body surface area burns and inhalational injuries3 have been found to influence the prognosis and outcomes in this group of patients. The combination of these predictive factors into scoring systems that would yield an expected mortality rate for each given patient has been the subject of many studies4-6.However, most of these studies have not been performed or validated in our local population. A robust predictive model would be useful for clinicians as a more evidence-based approach for counselling and prognostication at an early stage of treatment. We can even plan further treatment and intervention based on prognosis and other clinical factors. A standardized model will also provide an opportunity for audit and a basis against which new treatment modalities may be compared. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the prognostic variables influencing outcome in patients admitted to our burns intensive care unit and to develop a predictive model for mortality in patients with major burns. Methods Clinical care The burns centre at the Singapore General Hospital is a major tertiary referral centre for burns injury in Singapore as well as the Southeast Asia region. Burn patients presenting at the Accident and Emergency department are assessed by the plastic surgerical team, who decide if the patient requires admission to the specialised burns unit or the burns intensive care unit. The extent and depth of burns were assessed and documented.All patients requiring intensive care, such as those with major burns, are haemodynamically unstable, or have sustained inhalational injury requiring mechanical ventilation, are managed by a team consisting of at least a plastic surgical specialist and an anaesthetist. These patients received fluid resuscitation according to the Parkland’s formula. Adequacy of fluid therapy was assessed by endpoints such as hourly urine output, arterial blood pressure and central venous pressure. Early enteral nutrition, mechanical ventilation and vasoactive support were initiated as required. Early surgery for escharotomy, burns excision and grafting were carried out as early as possible. Patients This study was approved by our centre’s institutional review board. The medical records of all burns patients admitted to the burns intensive care unit at the Singapore General Hospital over a 4-year period between January 2008 and December 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Information including demographics, comorbidities, mechanism of injury, total body surface area (TBSA) burned, incidence of inhalation injury, complications such as organ failure, length of hospital stay and mortality were recorded and entered into a database. Statistical Analysis Statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 17, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Data are presented as mean and standard deviationfor continuous variables and proportions for categorical variables. Univariate comparisons of proportions and means were respectively done using Chi Square test, Fisher exact test and t test. Logistic regression and linear regression analysis was applied to study the relationship between the variables and mortality and length of stay, respectively. Variables with a plausible relationship with mortality or p0.05. Results Patient profile During the 4-year study period, a total of 182 patients were admitted to the burns intensive care unit (BICU).These patient characteristics are presented in table 1. The mean age of these patients was 40.5 +/- 16 years old, with males comprising a larger percentage of the cohort (79.1%). Mean total body surface area (TBSA) burned was 37.2 +/- 30.2%. Most of the patients were healthy prior to their burns, with only a small minority having any significant medical issues. A high proportion of the patients suffered inhalational burns (83%). However, only 26 out of the 182 patients (14.3%) fulfilled the criteria for ARDS. Other significant patient characteristics and details of their burns injuries are listed in Table 1. Flame burn was the commonest injury etiology in our patient population (88.4%). Table 2 shows the mechanism of burn injuries suffered by our group of patients. Length of stay The mean length of stay was 20.9 days. The survivors spent a mean of 8.4 days in ICU, as opposed to 6.9 days for the non-survivors. The majority of patients who survived to discharge were discharged home (table 3). TBSA, albumin level and sepsis were found to be significant predictors of LOS, yielding a final predictive model of: LOS = 41.608 – 0.234(TBSA) – 0.919 (albumin) + 16.14 (sepsis*) Where *=presence of sepsis (yes=1, no=0) Mortality Out of the 182 patients, a total of 65 patients or 35.9 % did not survive the hospital stay. The mean age of these patients was 42.1 years. Mean TBSA involved was 66.8% (compared with a mean of 20.6% in the survivor group). In our analysis, we found that the non-survivor group had significantly larger TBSA burns (p To develop the predictive model, we analysed the variables in univariate analysis. Variables with a plausible relationship with mortality or p A predictive model for mortality was thus developed as follows: Probability of death = (1+ey)-1 Where y = -7.008 + 0.04 (TBSA) + 1.791 (ARDS)* + 0.054( Age+TBSA) * = ARDS (no=0, yes =1) Discussion In this study, we elucidated the risk factors that contribute to mortality in patients admitted to the BICU, and developed a predictive model for mortality incorporating these factors. Previous mortality studies have sought to establish prognostic variables associated with burn mortality. In 1961 Baux described in a French thesis a simple empiric formula, stating that mortality rate was the sum of age and percentage area burned7. Inhalational injury was then found to be an important predictive factor and this was included in a mortality probability equation reported by Clark et al in 19868. The abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI), which is in widespread use, assigns numerical values according to the severity of 5 prognostic variables (age, gender, inhalational injury, %TBSA and presence of full thickness burns). The sum of these variables yields a predicted mortality rate9. Similar predictive factors have been found to be relevant in several other studies3,10,11. However, these st udies generated highly variable predictive models, highlighting the need for individualised models for different patient groups. Our study is unique as it is one of only a handful of studies based on an Asian population2,12-14 , with even fewer attempting to develop predictive mortality models5. In addition, we only included burns intensive care unit patients in our study, as opposed to the entire burn population. Advancements in medical care and aggressive early excision and grafting of burns have led to a global reduction in burn mortality in recent times. In Singapore, the overall mortality for burns victims was found to be 4.5% between 2003 and 200512. This improvement has also been evident in severe burns victims, with mortality falling annually from 60% in 2000 to 30% in 20032. However, death rate remains high in this group of patients, and it is our aim to look at the outcomes and predictive factors determining mortality in this susceptible group, and to develop a clinically relevant predictive model targeted at them. Our study found that TBSA, age+TBSA and ARDS were significant predictive factors affecting mortality in our ICU patients. Inhalational injury, generally accepted as a prognostic factor8,9, was not found to be significantly associated with death in our patient group. There could be several explanations for this finding. In our series, 151 or 83% of our patients were diagnosed with inhalational burns. This is a very high percentage compared to most of the other studies, though it is not entirely surprising. Our patient cohort consisted entirely of ICU patients. This unique group of patients have either sustained major burns or inhalational burns that have required ventilatory support. . The remaining 17% of patients that might have been in ICU due to reasons other than inhalational injuries may not have been sufficient in number to demonstrate a survival advantage, if any. Secondly the lack of universally accepted diagnostic criteria means that the diagnosis of inhalational injury can vary widely between different institutions and intensivists, using either clinical examination or fibreoptic bronchoscopy, or a combination of both. Hence it has been suggested that, the need for invasive ventilation, the determination of which is far less complicated than the diagnosis of inhalational injury, may be a better marker for mortality risk6. In our study, we found that the presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a common complication associated with major burns or severe inhalational injury, was directly associated with death. This could be an indication that the severity of inhalational injury, rather than the presence of it, may be a more suitable prognostic indicator for death, particularly in the group of patients requiring intensive care management. Since this is a retrospective study, we were not only able to collect data relating to the patient’s characteristics at presentation, but also susbequent clinical data as treatment progressed, such as development of ARDS, sepsis and renal failure. Clearly these factors are important as response to therapy is a vital determinant to patient outcomes. However, inclusion of these variables may not be possible at patient presentation, the point at which prediction of mortality is sometimes vital for determining the direction and aggressiveness of therapy. Perhaps future prospective trials can look at determining predictive factors that influence mortality at various stages of treatment, creating a superior prognostic tool with which we may advise patients and families, guide therapy and perform internal audit and research. Clinicians utilising any kind of predictive model to estimate mortality probability in the clinical setting should always proceed with caution. These may be used as a tool to aid clinical decisions regarding treatment but should not replace sound clinical judgment. Neither should the outcomes be judged solely upon whether the patient lives or dies, without scant consideration for the quality of life after the hospital stay. These endpoints are a lot more difficult to assess, and in the absence of a standardized tool the incorporation of quality of life indicators into prognostic scoring systems may still be a long way away. Conclusion In our study, we have developed a predictive model for mortality in our cohort of burn patients admitted to the burns intensive care unit. The next step would be to validate the model in future prospective studies. A validated model can potentially help teams involved in tough clinical decisions to prognosticate and formulate treatment plans for severely burned patients. It also serves to show that further studies need to be done to validate and come up with a more robust model. We did not find a significant relationship between inhalational injury and mortality in our study, a finding consistent with several other studies.