The Negotiation Strategies In International Business Commerce Essay

In concern relationships, parties negotiate because they think they can act upon the procedure in such a manner that they can acquire a better trade than merely accepting or rejecting what the other party is offering. Ghauri ( 2003 ) says concern dialogue is a voluntary procedure of spring and take where both parties modify their offers and outlooks in order to come closer to each other. In literature, sometimes â€Å" bargaining † and â€Å" dialogue † are used interchangeably. Negotiation, besides called â€Å" integrative bargaining † , refers to win-win dialogue where both or all parties involved can stop up with every bit good or attractive results. In other words, everyone can win. It is more related to a problem-solving attack, where both parties involved perceive the procedure of dialogue as a procedure to happen a solution to a common job. In integrative bargaining nevertheless, if dialogues are non decently handled, both parties can stop up with a jointly inferior trade. With dialogue, it is possible for both parties to accomplish their aims and one party ‘s addition is non dependent upon the other party ‘s grant. Business dialogue is considered by many writers as being this type of dialogue. The power/dependence relation is another basic feature of all dialogue processes. It is closely related to the existent power relation, which is influenced by the value of the relationship to the parties and their available options. Background factors for illustration the market place – can act upon the power/dependence relation. The ability to command a relationship is related to the sensed power of two parties, their comparative expertness and entree to information. This power is a belongings of the relationship and non an property of the histrion ; in fact, it is closely related to dependance. Therefore, the power relationship is in balance if both parties perceive equal power. The power relationship is imbalanced if one of the parties perceives more power, or if one party is dependent on the other. The dramatic growing of international trade over the last five decennaries has been non merely in footings of volume but in complexness every bit good. International sellers are now more and more concern negotiants, who invariably discuss trades across boundary lines with a assortment of people, runing from consumers to mediators and even rivals. Technology frequently plays a major function in such trades and this could misdirect people into believing that the whole dialogue procedure is chiefly an applied scientists ‘ treatment based on rational and scientific facts. In fact, proficient complexness intermingles with human complexness to render such dialogue processes hard to pull off. A considerable sum of literature is available on dialogues, some of it besides on concern dialogues but the field of international concern dialogues is rather neglected. Strategic Negotiations. Richard Walton etal,1994 identify three primary dialogues schemes. These are â€Å" forcing, † â€Å" fosterage, † and â€Å" flight. † Each represents an overarching form of interaction that characterizes the dialogues. A scheme does non emerge all at one time, but over clip as a consequence of consistent forms of interaction. A forcing scheme by and large involves taking a â€Å" distributive † or win/lose attack to the dialogues, combined with a â€Å" divide and conquer † attack to internal dealingss in the other side, and an attitudinal attack that emphasizes uncertainness and misgiving. By contrast, a fosterage scheme by and large involves taking an â€Å" integrative † or win/win attack to the dialogues, combined with a â€Å" consensus † attack to internal dealingss in both sides, and an attitudinal attack that emphasizes openness and apprehension. â€Å" Escape † is a non-negotiations scheme in w hich one or more parties seek to stop or undersell the relationship. Dietmeyer and Kaplan ( 2004 ) utilize a research-based attack to dialogue that assists gross revenues professionals in making their ain concern ends, while guaranting that their clients run into budget and professional aims as well-going beyond win-win to accomplish true, mensurable concern value for all parties at the negociating tabular array. Power and Diplomacy Power. Susan Strange ( 1998 ) brings out that power accrues to those who can offer or deny security ; those who manage the creative activity of wealth by production ; those who create recognition to let or deny other people to pass today and pay back tomorrow ; those who ( myocardial infarction ) manage the currency in which recognition is denominated ; those who have knowledge ( advanced engineering ) which provides military high quality and laterality in other power constructions. John De La Mothe ( 2002 ) , argues that scientific discipline, engineering and invention have long been cardinal factors in the competitory advantage of states. Today, nevertheless, the new international political economic system is being progressively driven by scientific discipline and engineering in new ways. Integration, globalisation and internationalisation have all become war cries for a series of dynamic procedures in which scientific discipline and engineering are profoundly concerned. As a conse quence, non merely are the policies of â€Å" national † authoritiess being exposed in footings of the bounds of their sovereignty, but scientific discipline and engineering are being progressively implicated in a broad array of public issues – runing from security, privateness, development and economic growing to employment, environment, foreign policy and geopolitics. Clearly, in today ‘s rising universe, the ways in which authoritiess organize their scientific discipline and engineering policy, their scientific discipline and engineering intelligence, and their research advisory constructions and resources matter more today than of all time before. Diplomacy. James Rosenau was one of the first to propose that the domestic and international are someway ‘linked ‘ and elaborated upon what he termed ‘linkage political relations ‘ ( 1969 ) . Scholars concentrating on the regional impact of domestic political relations are Karl Deutsch ( 1957 ) and Ernst Haas ( 1958 ) . Haas high spots two types of ‘spillover. ‘ The first type, functional spillover, occurs when cooperation in certain sectors of the economic system ( or society ) creates technocratic force per unit area for cooperation in bordering sectors, thereby impeling integrating frontward. The 2nd type, political spillover, occurs when ongoing cooperation in certain countries empowers supranational functionaries to move as informal political enterprisers in other countries. In order to pull off complex technocratic issues more efficaciously, rational authoritiess must depute discretion to experts, Judgess and administrative officials, thereby making powerful new supranational histrions with an involvement in cooperation. Graham Allison in Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis ( 1971 ) excessively, speaks of an ‘overlap ‘ between international and domestic political relations. In State Power and the Structure of International Trade, Krasner argues that that openness in the universe economic system is most likely to happen â€Å" during periods when a hegemonic province is in its dominance † . Equally long as the province ‘s technological lead is increasing, its leading will comprehend economic advantages to openness, since openness will spread out markets for the merchandises of its technologically sophisticated industries. The hegemon will besides derive politically, since the â€Å" chance costs of closing † will be low, comparative to those confronting smaller and poorer provinces. Conversely, when several big, unevenly developed provinces coexist, Krasner predicts that the more backward provinces will happen openness economically and politically dearly-won and will therefore resist it. Greater trade closing will, hence, consequence ( Keohane 1997 ) . Like Gilpin before him, Krasner excessively stresses on the influence of the Ã¢â‚¬Ë œ strength ‘ of the province on international trade. The important point is the correlativity between what occurs within a province is related to what occurs beyond province boundaries. Robert Putnam in Diplomacy and Domestic Politicss: The Logic of Two Level Games ( 1988 ) argues that domestic constructions and diplomatic negotiations are endlessly entangled and says that the negotiant is under force per unit area to accommodate domestic and international struggles. Putnam ‘s work challenges the ‘level of analysis ‘ attack to analyzing international dealingss which stresses the importance of sorting informations under three bunchs: the systemic, national and the person ( Singer 1961 ) . Mayer ( 1991 ) develops a theoretical account to research the deductions of domestic political divisions for international strategic battle in international trade. He explores the topic by handling international trade as a game and placing the participants and analyzing how they play. The observation that there are several overlapping games being played, a few of them being strategic and others non, is important. Policies such as duty, quotas, and export and produc tion subsidies are the tools used by the participants to derive an advantage in the international strategic trade game ( Krugman 1986 ) . Work on ‘strategic trade policy ‘ physiques on game theoretical theoretical accounts which analyse how provinces use trade policies to leverage their economic public presentation. India and Nanotechnology ( The literature study included, amongst others, a perusing of one-year studies of GOI MOD, DST, CSIR, TIFAC, CII ; back issues ( app 3years ) of Business universe, New Scientist, Hindu Businessline and Business Today. ) GOI enterprises include DST launched Nano Science and Technology Initiative ( NSTI ) with an allotment of Rs. 1000 crore, Government has spent about Rs. 250 crore, over the past five old ages to advance R & A ; D in the country of nanotechnology. 100 research undertakings on the synthesis and assembly of ceramic nanoparticles, nano tubings, nano wires, nanoporous solids, and DNA french friess have been supported by the Government. CII Enterprises have resulted in ; India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Cooperation, Indo-US High Technology Cooperation Group ( HTCG ) , Nanotechnology partnership with Taiwan, a figure of Nanotechnology Conclaves, Nanotechnology Cluster-CMTI, Jharkhand Nanotechnology Initiative, West Bengal Nano Park etc. CII is working closely with the Government of India on US India High-Technology Cooperation Group ( HTCG ) formed on November 2002. The HTCG acts to ease and advance bilateral high-technology trade. The focal point countries of the nucleus group include Information Technology, Defense, Life Sciences and Nanotechnology. Gaining the potency of nanotechnology, HTCG working group on Nanotechnology is formed to ease seamless flow of cognition between both the states and joint development undertakings affecting industries. The Confederation of Indian Industry ( CII ) has put together a 10-point action program to authorise Indian industry to come out with commercial nanotechnology merchandises, which it believes will drive the hereafter of industry worldwide. The action program includes awareness creative activity, preparation and accomplishments development, engineering facilitation and networking and easing collaborative undertakings. The Nano Science and Technology Consortium works to make a platform conducive for the growing, publicity and partnering in the field of Nano Science and Technology taking together industries, faculty members and authorities through consultative, consultative and educative procedures which will supply growing platform for organisations, faculty members and authoritiess for tackling the Nano potency at Global degree. Companies like Samsung have already entered the Indian market with a scope of merchandises utilizing nanotechnology such as icebox, rinsing machine and air-cooler. Samsung uses nano-silver in assorted composings in its merchandise scope. Further, companies like Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, Mahindra & A ; Mahindra, Nicholas Piramal and Intel have invested around $ 250 million in the domestic market towards this terminal. Yash Nanotech has inked understandings with IIT Mumbai, NCL Pune and the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre of Advanced Research, Bangalore, to set about planetary contract research and set up nanotech fabrication installations. Civil Applications. These can be grouped under four caputs, viz. , sensing, including imagination, detectors and detector webs for the sensing of pathogens and chemicals ; protection, including decontamination equipment and filters, and personal protection ; designation, including anti-counterfeiting and hallmark, forensics, quantum cryptanalysis and the market for forgery and gray goods ; social impacts, including current regulative and ethical models, possible impacts on moralss and human rights, and public perceptual experience. Application in the field of medical specialty is one of the most absorbing countries that include new malignant neoplastic disease therapies, drug bringing systems, and biomaterials for implants or prosthetic device or diagnostic tools, which are under development or already in market. An of import country of application of nanotechnology includes fresh drug bringing techniques, which are quicker & A ; less hazardous, compared to the costs of developing new drugs. Military Applications. These besides flow out from civil applications in countries like ; higher public presentation platforms ( aircraft, ships, bombers, boats and orbiters ) , enhanced feeling through more sensitive and selective detectors, enhanced human public presentation, information laterality through enhanced information engineering, improved battleground casualty direction, lower life rhythm costs with improved stuffs, coatings, and condition-based care etc. Stake holders. The assorted interest holders include ; authoritiess, Industry, Entrepreneurs, R & A ; D, Institutions, Academic Research Institutions, and Society. Case Studies. These can be subdivided into those which pertain to PSUs, R & A ; D constitutions and Defense and the private sector endeavors. The private sector industries which can be studied for dialogues ensuing in assorted types of partnerships/JVs/MOUs/TOTs etc. are listed below: – Measuring devices & A ; equipments: Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd, Icon Analytical equipment. Ltd. , Veeco.Health Care: Dabur Research Foundation, Bharat Biotech International Ltd. , Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. Materials processing: Tata Chemicals, Pune. Reliance India Limited. Car: Mahindra & A ; Mahindra, Tata Motors, United Nanotechnologies Pvt. Ltd. Electronics: Bharat Electronics Ltd, SemIndia Systems, Samtel India.

To what extent do different approaches to change management facilitate or hinder organisational unification when companies acquire assets?

Abstract This paper describes three major approaches to change management, such as Kotter’s eight-step mode, Bridge’s transition model and Prosci’s ADKAR model. The focus on change management theories and leadership structure is important in order to provide viable recommendations to the top-management team at White Bird, whose performance with regards to change management is compared to the one of Perdue Farms. It has been also determined the most appropriate organisational structure for White Bird along with expanding the integration of employees and achieving adequate unification. Introduction The occurrence of change in the organisational context is an important precondition for business success. White Bird has tried to stabilise its integration processes within the formed holding (Cameron and Green, 2012). The recognition of applicable HR management issues is fundamental to provide properly structured orientation to the company (Hayes, 2010). The objective of this paper is to explore to what extent different approaches to change management facilitate or hinder unification when companies acquire assets. Comparative Case Study of White Bird and Perdue FarmsKotter’s Eight-Step ModelThe agriculture holding White Bird, which is based in Russia, is at a stage of integration and revitalisation of its HR management tasks. The process of managing business change in this organisation is fundamental to its improvement and growth. The acquisition of the organisation has led to the use of strong authoritative management (Cameron and Green, 2012). White Bird has been engaged in a process of applying crucial HR practices. In comparison, another company that operates in the agricultural sector in a developed country is Perdue Farms. This company, similarly to White Bird, relies on the implementation of change management theories in order to achieve a competitive advantage (Elliott, 2011). One of the change management theories that produce fast and effective results is Kotter’s eight-step model (Kotter, 1996). The focus of this theory is on the establishment of a sense of urgency, for ming a powerful coalition and developing vision. Both White Bird and Perdue Farms demonstrate the application of these principles of change management in their structure. White Bird is focused on ensuring a smooth change process, which includes the importance of making a relevant decision regarding the top-management team. Even though the present leadership style in the company is authoritative in nature, it could be beneficial for the organisation to develop another type competencies and leadership (Hayes, 2010). Participative leadership would provide a significant basis for the smooth integration of change management practices in White Bird. Participative or democratic leaders offer guidance to group members and allow input from other individuals in order to ensure a high level of motivation and creativity (Kotter, 1996). Perdue Farms has a flexible structure of leadership, which has contributed to the success of the company (Elliott, 2011).Bridge’s Transition Model of Change ManagementAnother change management theory that can be considered by White Bird is Bridge’s transition model, which provides a good understanding of what actually takes place when an organisational change occurs. Bridge differentiates between the processes of change and transition, implying that change is based on situational factors (Bridges, 2009). Therefore, the best organisational structure for this type of business would be a matrix structure, which combines elements of divisional and functional structure. As a result, the organisation of business activities would be properly completed considering the emphasis on dual management that would expand the decision-making skills of team members (Cameron and Green, 2012). A similar model has been applied at Perdue Farms, which has improved efficiency and reduced production cost to a significant extent (Elliott, 2011). White Bird can also maintain excellence in quality by integrating employees to corporate culture in order to create a single, unified organisation. It can be argued that White Bird should proceed in a manner that is consistent with its overall mission and objectives.Prosciâ€℠¢s ADKARModelThe change management model of Prosci, identified as ADKAR, can provide adequate orientation to the agriculture holding in terms of allowing change management teams to focus on achieving specific business outcomes (Hiatt, 2006). In general, ADKAR stands for awareness, desire, knowledge, ability and reinforcement. These elements have proved efficient to the functioning of Perdue Farms, whose performance can serve as a relevant example of successful change management initiatives for White Bird. The most significant benefit associated with Prosci’s model of change management is that it provides a clear direction for managers to manage change in accordance with the organisation’s competencies, corporate culture and orientation to change (Hayes, 2010). Elements of employee participation and engagement are important in the process of maintaining organisational change at White Bird. In addition, the organisation should be able to implement new skills and behaviou rs along with the necessity to sustain the change (Hiatt, 2006). In conclusion, it can be presented the argument that the approaches of Kotter, Bridge and Prosci to change management can facilitate the process of organisational unification. Conclusion This paper focused on the determination of the extent to which different approaches to change management can facilitate or hinder organisational unification (Cameron and Green, 2012). Such discussion took place with regards to the performance of White Bird compared to the one of Perdue Farms. It has been concluded that Kotter’s eight-step model, Bridge’s transition model and Prosci’s ADKAR can represent significant benefits to organisations in a process of change (Hayes, 2010). Such findings have important implications to the leadership orientation and business structure of White Bird. References Bridges, W. (2009). Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change. Philadelphia: Da Capo Press. Cameron, E. and Green, M. (2012). Making Sense of Change Management: A Complete Guide to the Models Tools and Techniques of Organizational Change. London: Kogan Page. Elliott, S. (2011). Perdue Goes to the Farm with an Earnest Approach. The New York Times [online]. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/business/media/27adco.html?_r=0 [Accessed: 12 August 2014]. Hayes, J. (2010). The Theory and Practice of Change Management. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Hiatt, J. (2006). ADKAR: A Model for Change in Business, Government and Our Community. Loveland: Prosci Inc. Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading Change. Watertown, MA: Harvard Business Press.

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Planetarium summary out of class - Assignment Example During the night we were able to witness yellow star – Weero – which is truly a bright star. I only knew it was yellow from class but today I saw it live! We also witnessed a show about a fascinating staff called space mirrors. Many people perceive stars as points of light that are far from the planet Earth. This is not true since stars are actually the reflections of the Sun off space mirrors in universe. Some mirrors are very close while others are far away; some are blue while others are red and so that is the reason why stars have dissimilar colours. The show revealed that some galaxies and stars look older since their light penetrated through the time cube. Later on, after the show, it was now the time to look, through a solar telescope, at the sun. I realized that the Sun appeared like some green ball since the telescope just allow a little of green light rays through it. Other stars also appeared green just as the

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Leading theories of free will - Essay Example Free will has been described as; having the ability to make decisions or choices, devoid any kind of limitations. As such, anybody who desires to make a decision out of free will, should not be influenced by any external forces or interferences whilst making such a decision (Kim et al, 2009). However, in reality, this is not often the case. Most decisions people make out of free will are, often based on some kind of influence, either from personal preferences or external interference. It is for this reason that hard determinism best describes the concept of free will. Hard determinism, as described earlier, claims that free will is inexistence. This is true because while it affirms to the philosophy of determinism, it does not agree that it is compatible with free will. It is next to impossible for one to make a free will without determinism and at the same time carry the belief that determinism affects free will, as claimed by compatibilists. A case in point is a situation where one needs to be morally accountable. It is agreed that most institutions or nations have certain morally guiding principles. In such a situation, one is expected to choose from two options; the moral option or the immoral stand. In the case of libertarianism, one should not be held morally accountable if he or she chooses the ‘immoral’ option since it supports free will, devoid of external or internal influences. It is for this reason that hard determinism comes into place and justifies the need to act ‘morally’ since that choice is influenced by a deterministic factor. The application of hard determinism can be justified through creation of ethical standards to correct wrong doers in a society. If everyone had the free will to do anything that they deem logical, then criminal behavior and other vices in society could be justified. It is for this very same reason that there exist standards to regulate human behavior to ac t according certain prescribed code of conduct (Kim, et al, 2009 p 47). This means that no one has the free will, like in the case of libertarianism or Compatibilism, to

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The advantages and disadvantages of antibiotics - Assignment Example There are several forms of various antibiotics each type works in a different way. In most countries, there are only available with a medical prescription; in fact, there is a concern that antibiotics are overused. There are various types of antibiotics; all these types have benefited the human health greatly, but antibiotics can be dangerous for human’s body. Therefore, this essay will discuss several recompense and shortcomings of using antibiotics to human beings by focusing on benefits and side effects of using them. Discussion Some benefits of antibiotics relate to the way they work; in fact, there are two types of antibiotics and they work in two different ways. Firstly, they kill bacteria by interfering with the formation of the bacterium’s cell wall or its cell content and kill the bacteria. This is called a bactericidal antibiotic, and an example of these antibiotics is penicillin; in fact, they also stop the replication of the bacteria, which is a bacteriostat ic antibiotic. On the other hand, antibiotics can be classified as broad and narrow spectrum. ... There are many benefits for using antibiotics; for instance, since the 1950s the antibiotics have been used to treat a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, and parasite infectious illnesses such as respiratory diseases, skin disorders, and sexually transmitted diseases. Garbutt (2012) says that millions of lives have been saved since they were first introduced; in a number of cases antibiotics can be used as a prophylactic medication, meaning that antibiotic prevent the disease as might be the case before surgery (Medical News Today, 2009). Furthermore, Munckhof (2005) stated, â€Å"Approximately 30-50% of antibiotics used in hospital practices are meant for surgical prophylaxis.† Munckhof (2005) argues that application prophylaxis antibiotic is an effectual management strategy for tumbling postoperative disease; in fact, patients who have heart disease or had heart surgery should take an antibiotic prior to dental extractions or any dental procedure that could cause bleeding to a void disease. The majority of the antibiotics types are usually taken orally, which makes it comfortable for most patients to take by themselves. In addition to the oral antibiotics, some of them can be applied directly on the affected areas in the form of an ointment (Malfertheiner, Megraud, O'Morain, 2007). Although, there is a quality of antibiotics which require administration by medical staff via intravenous, respiratory tract is used to administrate the prophylactic antibiotic during surgery. Nonetheless, the benefits of narrow spectrum antibiotics are associated with their inability to kill a lot of normal microorganisms in the body as compared to the broad spectrum; in fact, this reduces chances

Exempllification essay with outline mla format The topic of the paper

Exempllification with outline mla format The topic of the paper the importance of excercise - Essay Example Health practitioners hold that regular physical activity enhances the quality of life for an individual through promoting good health. Exercises lower risks of certain diseases that are actually regarded as high killers. For example, many people across the globe have succumbed to obesity. Obesity is a serious issue that experts say can be addressed through regular exercise and good diet management. Another fatal disease in the same line is heart disease. This disease is linked to obesity and physical inactivity. Cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure among others constitute other examples that feature in the exercise debate as far as health is concerned (Libal 51). Over and above lowering disease and health complication risks, regular exercise impacts positively on the general life that an individual leads. From appearance to reduced aging rate, persons who engage in physical activity realize enormous benefits of exercising relative to their health status. Moreover, benefits of exercising go beyond the health factor to encompass the wholesome aspect of an individual’s life. While the physical appearance of the person who exercises is at the center stage of exercising, stamina is built from the inside. All that matters in this respect is the amount of energy that the body uses to undertake a given activity. With regular exercises, the body learns to be efficient in terms of energy consumption. For example, walking, lifting weights, or bicycling consumes energy, leading to exhaustion as the energy in the body reduces. Regular engagement in these activities trains the body to use the same level of energy for intensified physical activity. As a result, the individual’s exhaustion point keeps improving, thereby depicting improved body stamina. The importance of exercise extends to weight control. Here, the example given in regard to obesity and weight-related health complications is revisited. The art of weight

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Pediatric Issues Paper - Essay Example Since the nutrient mix of breast milk is yet not fully known, giving DHA in infant formula can cause negative impacts. Secondly, the DHA added to infant formula is highly synthetic oil, extracted by growing fungus and algae in laboratories, through processing a toxic chemical hexane. It can at no chance be compared to breast milk. For gathering the required information, the WIC clinic in the area decided to take two measures. First was to ask, as a routine from every mother on their visit, about the method they use to nourish their infant. If the answer was Formula, they were further inquired about which formula they were using. Secondly, a representative was sent to every home in the nearby location to question different mothers about how they nourish their infant and incase of formula, which brand they use. Data was searched over the internet, locally published journals and magazines over infant health and growth. The research was thorough and focused on the rate of formula fed and breast fed babies and the effects on them of the chosen method of nourishment. (Positive or negative) The results raised an alarm to take the matter into serious consideration. Having DHA added, the formula was marketed ‘as closest to breast milk as ever’. With increased marketing, the number of mothers who believe that both methods are equally good also took a height. After the advent of the idea in 1996, the survey results showed that 12% of mother had this believe in 2003, which rose to a disappointing 24% in 2004 (results shown in appendix). The manufacturing companies had no way to control the demand by controlling the number of babies born, therefore, through intensive marketing, they changed the perception and succeeded in convincing and discouraging mothers to breast feed in order to increase their sales. It was shocking to hear firsthand horrible stories from mothers of how their infants

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Southeast Asian in the US - Essay Example It has been statistically proven that the influx of refugees in Massachusetts from the East and Southeast Asia is on the rise since the number grew from 169 (2006) to 498 (2009) (Refugee and Immigrant Health Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health 1). The Southeast Asian refugees come from diverse and distinct cultures across the world that makes it impossible to assimilate them in a unified group. The Massachusetts government was amazed by the complex diversity of the large refugee groups, who flew their country owing to various historical circumstances. In addressing the current refugee problems, there is a need for a perspective development that takes care of some consistencies in terms of the refugee behavior and experience. This development perspective would help in addressing the social and psychological problems of the refugees, and in the same context, the refugee behavior can be socially patterned. This developed perspective strategy would help in analyzing the refugee problems from historical, comparative and general views. These analytical views prioritize the refugee problems as recurring with identifiable characteristics, casualty sets and similar patterns of behavior. Indeed this analysis will help in treating speci fic refugee problems as atypical, unique and personal historical events in line with the general subject. The refugee problems, behavior and situations, which occur in many regions, contexts and times should also be carefully analyzed. Another experience with the Southeast Asian refugees is little analysis given to the refugee camps. Only a few materials exist in the camps, and just a few scholars have made attempts to examine the effects of experience at the camps on the refugee behavior. Still, there are no camps classification systems nor some of the important camp experience elements.

Ecology Mock Experiment Essay Example for Free

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Nature Of Competition In The Consumer Cosmetic Market Marketing Essay

Nature Of Competition In The Consumer Cosmetic Market Marketing Essay With regards to brand popularity and customer experience, Procter and Gamble is considered to be among the most successful brands in the global market. Moreover, Olay, anti-aging skin-care produced by the company is a renowned brand not only in the U.S but the entire global market. By using this brand for the case, the study demonstrates features and market communication approaches that could be utilized by brand marketers in order to gain competitive advantage locally and internationally. The study focuses on brand communication and promotion approaches that have resulted into positive consumer attitude towards the brand in the global market. Overview of Olay Brand Olay is a skin care product produced by Procter Gamble in U.S. The product is one of the leading skin care market brands in the global market, and the leading earner brand for Procter Gamble. In majority of the markets, including China, US and UK, Olay is the anti-aging market leader despite the competitive market environments. The brand is further extended into other products such as Total effects, Professional, Quench, Regenerist, Olay Vitamins and White Radiance. Olay is used as a moisturizer for those who desire to stay looking young since it is anti-aging cream. Nature of competition in the consumer cosmetic market It is important to note that demand for cosmetic brands is on the rise as more people settle for aesthetic beauty and body care. The Olay brand is mainly in the anti-aging market which experiences rising consumer demands as well as competition. The anti-aging product market is heightened by the increasing aging population especially in the developed countries, and the increased desire by both the younger and older consumers to maintain youthful appearances. With a growth forecast of 4.3 per cent between 2009 and 2014, the anti-agers market is expected to experience steady global growth. Such a market growth rate is higher than that of any other cosmetics category, and therefore the anti-agers category has attracted more players in the market; both large and smaller companies intensifying fierce competition globally. This implies that the market players have to apt their marketing approaches in order to retain their clients and appeal to more in the market. The graph given below demon strates the rate of launch of new anti-aging products in the global up to 2009; Figure 2.2: Graph showing stronger growth and competition in anti-aging market Source: Datamonitors Product Launch Analytics (2010, p.2) As given in figure 2.2, the anti-agers launches almost equaled the launches of overall skin care products in the global market. The sharp rise in anti-agers launches even during 2007-2009 economic recession showed that anti-ages are recession-proof, and that consumers are likely to demand for anti-agers even in harsh economic climate. Moreover, the graph shows rising competition in this category, implying that brand marketers have to think of newer approaches of communicating to their consumers. Brand communication based on product differentiation and innovation Being such a competitive market, market players need to ensure that their brands are appealing to the consumers in the market if they are to gain good command of the global anti-aging market. Innovation is therefore high among the industry players, ranging from brand packaging strategies, product promise to ingredient formulation in the products. Olay brand marketers capture the cognitive aspect of their consumers by communicating their innovation and differentiation vividly to their customers. The communication is often done through memorable packaging, and product arrangement in the stores. A survey conducted by Datamonitor (2010) between 2005 and 2009 revealed that the leading aspect that all the anti-aging products market players hold in the highest esteem is up-scaling. About 17 per cent of the new product launches that took place in the global market between 2005 and 2009 were touted (communicated) as up-scaling. Some other popular claims that resulted in new launches were mainly based on consumer health. The claims included the the communications which justified the products as not harsh to the consumer skins. The pie-chart given below show some of the aspects (features) that characterised the claim of new anti-aging skin care launches in the global market as widely communicated by different brand marketers to the appeal of the consumers. Source: Datamonitors Product Launch Analytics (2010, p.5) Communication strategies used by Olay to dominate market Procter Gamble has made attempts to achieve competitive advantage in the competitive global anti-aging skin care cosmetics market. Apart from being Procter Gambles strongest brand, Olay is the leading anti-aging skin care brand in the global market. The most remarkable Olay milestone was in 2003 when the sale of the brand broke the US$ 1 billion mark, showing the growing strength of the brand in the global market. Brand performance survey which was conducted in the U.S in 2009-2010, and said to be highly representative of the global market showed that Olay brand commands greater chunk of the skin care product market, beating its number two brand by nearly half (Datamonitor, 2010). The table given below shows the 2009-2010 Olay performance in the US market (with the results said to be representative); Company Brand 2009-2010 % Market Share Procter Gamble Olay 16.7 Procter Gamble Ponds 8.4 Procter Gamble L Oreal Paris 5.5 Johnson Johnson Aveeno 5.3 Johnson Johnson Garnier 5.1 Johnson Johnson Neutrogena 4.6 Johnson Johnson Nivea 4.5 Johnson Johnson Noxzema 4.0 L Oreal Dove 3.8 L Oreal Clinique 3.6 Due to its better market performance as compared to other brands, Procter Gamble capitalized on the Olay brand strengths and worked on its weaknesses so as to ensure continued market leadership in the global market. First, the company created and actively promoted various sub-brands of Olay, with each sub-brand aligned to a unique tier with the purpose of attracting customers from a larger demographic base. The sub-brands of Olay brand include the following; Olay Total Effects this is the cheapest sub-brand of Olay, targeting the low and middle income earners in the global market. The key features of this brand as communicated by the marketers, and that are majorly pronounced in the brand adverts include the following; tone enhancements, line minimization, gentle exfoliation, nourishing moisturisation, subtle lifting, free radical defense and pore refinement. Apart from its appealing packaging (appendix 1 a), these are the brand communication strengths that have kept the brand afloat in the market. Olay Complete this is a mid-priced Olay sub-brand with the following product communication features as the focus strengths; it offers sun protection to the skin using UVA/UVB, and Vitamins A, C, D and B5; the brand has moisturizers with the green tea extracts. The brand packaging is appealing with the Olay logo clearly marked on the package to arouse consumer memories (Appendix 1 b). Olay Regenerist this is another mid-priced Olay sub-brand with the formulation strengths combining the following ingredients as the focus of their brand communication; Pal-KTTKS, pentapeptide and other anti-aging ingredients such as Vitamins B3 and E, allantoin and green tea extracts. The packaging of the sub-brand is similarly appealing with the Olay logo clearly marked on it (appendix 1 c). Olay Definity the mid priced product contains glucosamine ingredients with the marketing statement being; fight what ages you most. The packaging demonstrates an appealing product design with the logo clearly visible (appendix 1 d). Olay Pro-X this is the latest sub-brand created by the Procter and Gamble Company to capitalize on the brand popularity of Olay. The product is premium priced and brand designed to give the consumers younger look skin through cell turn-over rate boosting. The packaging design is shown in appendix 1 e. Given that Olay Pro-X is the latest Olay sub-brand in the market, and is the greatest seller for the company, the current study will dwell on some of the communication used for promoting the brand. Olay Pro-X sub-brand Pro-X is the latest Olay sub-brand that the Procter Gamble Company is capitalizing on. The product was first launched in the US market in 2008, and since been introduced in other major and fast growing markets such as China, Canada and UK. The premium priced skin care products sell at a price range of between US$ 42 and US$ 62 depending on the market. The most remarkable differentiating feature of the product is its complex ingredients, containing peptide complex Pal-KT. The ingredients which were developed by Procter Gamble scientists, and are exclusive to the company enhance a firm skin look of the consumers. As a brand communication and pricing strategy, Olay Pro-X products are retailed in department store brands with the right store ambience to beat its high priced rivals Lancome and Clinique. To combine communication and experiential features, the sub-brand is distributed throughout major drug stores, chain stores, super market channels and discount stores through the world to ensure easy access by the consumers. The presence of Pro-X brand across different market structures despite its premium nature is meant to encourage the growth of Olay brand through competition at different pricing points, positioning the masstige alongside lower and mid priced Olay sub-brands. In its promotional strategies, Procter Gamble aimed to satisfy its target market by sensitizing its consumers of the following attributes through effective brand communication; Cleansers: restorative cream cleanser and exfoliating renewal cleanser Complete Regimen Protocols: anti-aging starter protocol and the intensive wrinkle protocol Primary moisturizing solution: hydra firming cream, age repair lotion and wrinkle smoothening cream. Targeted specialized treatments: deep wrinkle treatment, eye restoration complex, intensive firming treatment, skin tightening serum and discoloration fighting concentrate. By availing all the above components and benefits of Olay Pro-X sub-brand, Procter Gamble ensured variety for their consumers through one brand. A section of consumers who are loyal to Olay brands confessed that in majority of cases, they get their expectations in the Olay products that they use (). The products from the Pro-X range have similarly received awards from media, showing that the brand is well received by people as reflected on the media. A 2009 Americas Healthiest Beauty Buys competition run by Health Magazine selected Pro-X Eye Restoration Complex as the best eye product in the market. In another product competition known as Defy Your Age Beauty Award, Pro-X Age Repair Lotion SPF emerged as the best product in the category. Such acknowledgements by media have instrumentally encouraged more consumers to try the Olay brands due to independent verification of the brands as opposed to promotions. Product marketing strategy for the Olay Pro-X sub-brand Procter and Gamble Company has worked towards creating a professional brand image for the Pro-X product to appeal to more customers in the global market. As evident on the product packaging (appendix 1e), all the Olay Pro-X products are actively and conspicuously labelled with the word professional so that the brand aim is swiftly known to the customers. The word professional has been used as a strategy not only by Procter Gamble but several other companies in the global market. The word is intended to convince the clients that the products are better alternatives to solve their problems in a superior manner, given that majority of the products labelled professional are premium. Figure 2.3 given below shows the number of major brands that have used the word professional as strategy to entice customers; Figure 2.3: Graph showing use of the word professional as a branding strategy Source: To the customers, the perception of the word professional becomes real especially after comparison usage images (outcome before and after the product usage) and consumer testimonies as placed on media. The higher prices of Olay Pro-X brand (at between US$ 42 and US$ 62) acts to validate the premium and professional image of the product in the global market. However, this price is quite significant for most customers to pay for cosmetic products, particularly in the harsh economic climate witnessed during the 2007-2009 economic recession. Being aware of the economic challenge that customers face, Procter Gamble introduced pricing strategies and promotional activity appeals to the customers who make compromises on their spending and consumer assurance offers. One of such offers which were used in the US market was referred to as rebate and money-back guarantee scheme. In this scheme, the customers could send their purchase receipts to the company for a US$ 20 refund on products bought at US$ 50 and above. This would encourage trial buying, and give the customers opportunity to test if the brand information suites the product features and ingredients as had been communicated earlier. The pricing strategy was used as a tool against other competitors in the market. Although Olay competitors retailed at the same or almost similar price, the pricing strategy enabled new customers to try the Olay products and later on be loyal to them. In a nutshell, Procter Gamble through effective communication strategies ensured that Olay brands are reliant on their customers, and therefore informed the belief that Olay products were worth their prices. The Olay Pro-X brand promotion has been boosted by infomercial about the brand. Despite the brand sales being strong and on the rise, the company developed about thirty minutes infomercial that informed their customers about the brand values and benefits. Quoted in Womens Wear Daily (2010), Chris Heiert, the brand marketing director justified the Olay infomercial by making the following remarks; Consumers are information seekers and want to understand the science and technology. That led to this idea which is the best of both worlds. We will be able to reach new consumers but when she wants to go back and purchase it, she can-in the mass market. (In Datamonitor, 2010, p.11). The infomercial stressed on the science behind the manufacture of the product, interviewing the scientists who developed the product, and presenting some of the clinical tests data on the product. The infomercial similarly displayed shots of Olay consumers before and after use of the product. Due to the longer duration of the infomercial, it was imperatively designed to capture the attention of viewers throughout the duration of play rather than at the start or end. Overall, the infomercial played a key role in informing Conclusion and relevance of the case study to the study topic The anti-aging skin care market upon which Olay brand competes is quite competitive locally and internationally. This warrants effective communications on brand innovation and differentiation as vital strategies for market survival. In order to ensure the relevance of Olay brand Procter Gamble offered novel aspects of the brand that encouraged its purchase over its substitutes and competitors. Introducing new ingredient that had never been used by competitors (Pal-KT) in its Olay Pro-X products, Procter Gamble were able to create a unique brand that was more result oriented as opposed its competitors. However, the result was achieve through effective communication that ensured accurate product promotion based on what the consumers were expected to draw from these products. Secondly, Procter Gamble Company through Olay brand managed to win consumer trust through media and scientific verification of its products. It is extremely important for brand marketers to gain the support of consumers through loyalty to the brands. The scientific and media verification are particularly gained when the test results conducted before and after the product use are valid as in the brand communication. In the case of Olay Pro-X brand, Procter Gamble introduced a money back guarantee scheme that would help assure the customers of the workability and reliability of the product. Moreover, brand campaigns, store ambience and brand packaging played a central role in winning consumer trust on this brand. The word professional was used as a branding communication strategy on the product packaging and stores so as to assure consumers of the reliability of their products. Finally, Olay brand popularity was ensured through adverts and promotions. Specifically, the company used infomercials (which is relatively a new approach to brand promotions) to provide strong marketing platform to promote the brands. Infomercials focus on the strengths of the brand being promoted by highlighting the past successes of the brand. Pegged with the brand verification, infomercials importantly build brand loyalty and equity in the market while encouraging new set of customers to try the brand. The strategies given here and others could be used by the local Chinese cosmetics manufacturers to gain dominance in the local industry. 4. METHODOLOGY Introduction 4.1 Research Philosophy This current study used the philosophy of applied research. Applied research takes place in environments that are characterized by organizations, systems, cultures, behavior, rules, politics and processes. These components execute simultaneously and change over time. Any effort to analyze an organization or an industry will result in findings showing differences in characteristics, habits and rules across the different constituent components. To develop a clear insight when researching on issues that may affect organizational performance, the situation and the entities (constituent factors) must be comprehended. The uniqueness of a situation must be understood and considered when researching. Constructivism is based upon the assertion that knowledge on phenomena is best-retrieved from people or entities that are immersed in the research environment (Denzin and Lincoln, 2011). Thus the focus is on the participants and entities that have experience and knowledge on the phenomena being studied. Constructivism as a post-positivist philosophy is generally opposed to positivism, in terms of the absolute validity of knowledge. Constructivism is based on the tenet that knowledge can be constructed from multiple dimensions. The existence of multiple realities is emphasized in different variations of constructivisms epistemology (Creswell, 2009). The world under constructivism and most research areas are complex and can be analyzed from multiple perspectives that should therefore be considered in creating knowledge. Thus, the approach is best suited in studying aspects that are influenced by a multitude of factors. Constructivism also requires that the researcher should understand the position and potential effects that their views have on the accuracy of their findings (VanderStoep and Johnston, 2009). The choice of constructivism in research philosophy is guided by the nature of the problem being addressed in the study. Different approaches have been adopted in analyzing the eff ectiveness of marketing communication strategies. In essence, this implies that the area being studied is complex and can be analyzed from different dimensions. Therefore, there is a match between the tenets of constructivism and the nature of the problem being studied. 4.2 Research Design Both qualitative and quantitative research designs were used in the study. The choice of a qualitative research design was guided by the nature of the study and the epistemology that has been adopted. Qualitative research designs are generally developed with the aim of creating a deeper understanding of the data. In most cases, qualitative inquiries are not pre-emptive. The nature of the study, the scope and the strategies that will be used in data collection are often determined by the research questions. Additionally, the analytical process under a qualitative research design may influence the direction that is adopted. Though the research design adopted should be in line with the nature of the research questions, some situations have been identified as suited for qualitative studies. A number of these scenarios are evinced in the current study. First, qualitative techniques are suitable in cases where there is little known on the subject area (Bohnsack, Pfaff and Weller, 2009). It is worth noting that even though marketing communication is an area that is has been intensely researched; fewer studies have explored how brand marketing communications impacts on consumer attitudes. Majority of the studies are based on consumer behavior change without exploring their attitudes towards the brand. From this perspective, the study appears to be exploratory in nature and therefore a qualitative research design is suitable. Secondly, a qualitative research design is appropriate in cases where a study seeks to develop an understanding of the participants experiences. Under the epistemology adopted, understanding the participants experiences is vital in developing valid and reliable results. Hence, the study attaches great weight to the participants experiences. Likewise, qualitative research design is suitable in cases where it is difficult to approach the participants due to practical or ethical reasons (Denzin and Lincoln, 2011). The study delves on issues relating to marketing communication and its impact on consumer attitude; it illustrates how marketing communication would be used to influence consumers positively towards a given brand. These are issues of critical importance to competitive firms and it is therefore expected that getting data for quantitative data analysis may not be easy. Accordingly, the anticipated practical difficulties have also played a role in the adoption of a qualitative re search design. Lastly, a qualitative research design has been adopted because it supports the nature of the research questions as much as it is in line with it. A qualitative research design allows for greater flexibility than formal quantitative techniques. This flexibility offers the support needed to collect rich data so as to answer the research questions. The quantitative part of the study aimed to understand how various brand marketers use marketing communication to influence consumers attitudes towards their brands. Data collection instruments consisting of semi-structured questionnaires were prepared for quantitative data collection. Unlike the qualitative data collection approaches, data results were presented in numbers and statistical measures (Creswell, 2009). Using quantitative research methods ensured that the measurable effects of marketing communication with respect to consumer attitudes towards the brands in question were achieved. 4.3 Research Approach The research approach used has to be in line with the research design and the epistemology adopted. A case study approach was also used in the study. Case study methodologies have been used in different research fields with varying levels of success. Marketing communication research studies have adopted this research approach as well. Ideally, a case study is expected to capture the complexities of selected cases. Most researchers concur with the view that selected cases should be contemporary; it is a complex functioning unit and it has to be investigated in its natural context. The method of inquiry used and interest in individual cases have been identified by different researchers as important aspects in selecting and implementing a case study approach. The case studys methodology is related to other methods in that it allows for the use of different techniques and approaches in analyzing a case from multiple perspectives. Triangulation of approaches and findings from the different approaches is also supported by a case study approach (Bohnsack, Pfaff and Weller, 2009). This is the main reason why the case study approach is often referred to as a meta-method. Proctor Gambles Olay was selected as the case for various reasons. First, Proctor Gamble Company engages in a lot of marketing communications with a view of convincing consumers to buy its products. Additionally, Proctor Gamble is one of the companies that have global leader brands in terms of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. This shows that the company is progressive and more likely to embrace marketing communication strategies as a means of changing consumer attitudes towards its brands. Lastly, the researcher could easily access information on marketing strategies of the co mpany as opposed to other first tier rivals in the global market. The first step in the research approach was selecting a case. The next step involved seeking permission from relevant authorities within the selected organization so as to carry out the study. In seeking permission, the researcher informed the relevant authority about the aim of the study and the procedures that will be used. These were measures intended at ensuring informed participation and gaining any support that could be offered by the company. Additionally, the study involved perusing through advertising and marketing communication initiatives by the case organization. The next step involved selecting members of the organization that would be interviewed. The selection was based on availability and knowledge of the marketing communication initiatives implemented by the company and their effects on respective brands that were investigated. Sample and Population The definition, selection and sample of the population are important aspects in research. For this study, the participants were mainly drawn from Proctor Gamble Company. To start with, the researcher collected qualitative data from three employees of the company. The employees, were mainly in the marketing department were selected depending on their ability and knowledge of the marketing communication strategies used by the company to promote its brands. The study thus focused on marketing communication professionals within the case company. Convenience sampling is used due to the multiple practical issues that have to be considered. Furthermore, the potential participants are few and so the use of random sampling approach was considered to be unfeasible. Secondly, the researcher collected quantitative data from 100 participants who were considered to be consumers of Proctor and Gamble Olay brand. The consumers were identified from Proctor Gamble stores and shops where they agreed and consented to their participation. In seeking for the consent of the participants, the researcher requested them to spare about 10 minutes in order to complete the survey questionnaires. The researcher even explained to the participants the importance of the research. The researcher also explained to them that the activity was voluntary and they could only participate if they want to. Instrumentation The semi-structured survey questionnaire that was used by the researcher sought information on the participants background variables, information on marketing communications, and the duration of interaction with Proctor and Gamble Company products. In relation to the interviews, the study focused on the four major areas that are highlighted in the research objectives and questions; the features that firms and brand marketers consider when preparing a marketing communication for a brand; the marketing communication aspects that influence consumer attitudes and buying behaviors towards brands in the market; the impacts of new technology introduction in the marketing communication with regards to consumer behavior and attitudes towards a brand; and, ways of building business network and stronger brand through effective marketing communication. Determination of how the variables were brought out in the research questions were considered as important aspects in the research process. It is worth noting that the study was not limited to short answers. Rather, the participants were required to expound on their views and the researcher looked at the brand marketing communication efforts that the company has in place. Data Collection The study involved the collection of two sets of data: data from the interviewees and data collected through administering of the questionnaires. The focus was on active marketing communication efforts rather than past marketing strategies. In collecting the qualitative data, the focus was on collecting information from employees within the case organization that have the knowledge and experience of the effects of brand marketing communications. Semi-structured interviews were used because they allow for the flexibility afforded by unstructured interviews and they also support formal organization required to answer the first research question. The use of semi-structured interviews is thus guided by the requirements brought about by the instrumentation of the variables. Use of semi-structured interviews is both feasible and practical with respect to collecting rich data and time requirements. After selecting the participants, they were required to identify the days that they would be free to be interviewed. This was a measure aimed at ensuring that the interviewees were comfortable with the selection of the time and place of interview. The interviewees were then individually informed of the day, place and time that the interview will take place. The interviews were conducted via telephone conversation and recorded for transcribing later. Each interview ran for about 30 minutes. The participants were not in any way coerced or influenced into participating in the study. They were informed of the aim of the study and the nature of the questions that would be asked beforehand. Additionally, the interviewees were informed that they were free to ignore some questions for either institutional or personal reasons. These measures were aimed at ensuring that the interviewees were at ease. Due to the strategic importance of marketing communication to the organization, the questions directed to the interviewees focused on the company stance on the same. This indirect approach of questioning is important since in most cases, it reduces the pressure on the interviewees. Moreover, they generally relayed their experiences in their workplaces (from which they have developed their personal views). As indicated earlier, the researcher approached customers at Proctor and Gamble stores and shops, and asked them to take about 10 minutes in order to complete the quantitative survey questionnaires. The participants did this at their own volition. Data Analysis Qualitative data analysis techniques were used to analyze the data while considering the research questions. The two major data analysis techniques used were quasi-statistics and logical analysis. Quasi-statistics is a qualitative data analysis technique that involves counting the number of times something is mentioned. This technique is important in answering the second and third research questions. On the other hand, logical analysis is a qualitative technique that involves generalization of causation and logical reasoning processes. To support the logical reaso

William Tyndale :: essays research papers

The smell over whelming in the air. The brunt flesh cast a shadow with the dark smoke that the fire created. Some people cheered, some people cried, and yet others smiled greedily under hidden cloaks. The people of England had decided to burn one man that stood up and translated the bible from the original manuscripts into what we have today. William Tyndale cried out with his last breath, " O Lord, open the King of England's eyes." The executioner first strangled Tyndale in order to keep him quiet about "his" word of God. William Tyndale has since become known as "The Father of the English Bible." Without Tyndale and his translation of the original manuscripts later versions of the English bible would not be available. William Hutchinson, later changed to Tyndale, was born around the date of 1494 AD. Tyndale had an exceptional gift of speaking over seven known languages. Tyndale attended Oxford University and in 1512 he received his Bachelors Degree. After another three years at Oxford University Tyndale graduated with a Masters Degree. In order to support his education William Tyndale tutored students from the higher class society. Tyndale joined the group called "the White Horse Society." This group gathered together in order to discuss the teachings of Erasmus and Luther. Then Tyndale was learned and well practiced in God's matters, spared not to show unto them simply and plainly his judgment, and when they at any time did vary from Tyndale in opinions, he would show them in the Book, and lay plainly before them the open and manifest places of the Scriptures, to confute their errors, and confirm his sayings. And thus continued they for a certain season, reasoning and contending together divers times, until at length they waxed weary, and bare a secret grudge in their hearts against him. As this grew on, the priests of the country, clustering together, began to grudge and storm against Tyndale, railing against him in alehouses and other places, affirming that his sayings were heresy; and accused him secretly to the chancellor, and others of the bishop's officers. After a few short years Tyndale left "the White Horse Society" and moved back home to teach children. Tyndale preached at Saint Austen's Green which resided in front of the Cathedral of Bristol. During Tyndale's stay at home he caused a commotion that consisted charging him with heresy. All of this was due to the teachings of the "Lollardry.

Mending the Relationship of Two Brothers in James Baldwins Sonnys Blu

Mending the Relationship of Two Brothers in James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues According to Liukkonen, James Baldwin is well known for his "novels on sexual and personal identity, and sharp essays on civil-rights struggle in the United States." "Sonny's Blues" is no exception to this. The story takes place in Harlem, New York in the 1950's and tells of the relationship between two brothers. The older brother, who is the narrator and a participant in the novel, remains unnamed throughout the story. The novel is about the struggles, failures and successes of these two African American brothers growing up in the intercity as a minority. The encounters that the narrator and his brother, Sonny, have throughout the story exemplify Baldwin's theme of personal accountability and ethical criticism. The older brother, the narrator, finds himself struggling at the beginning of the story. While riding the subway, he reads in the paper that Sonny has been arrested for possession of drugs. During his day of teaching, he reflects on prior years with Sonny and their past adventures as young boys. He remembers Sonny's "wonderfully direct brown eyes, and great gentleness and privacy." The narrator sees his brother as a good boy, not "hard or evil or disrespectful." He wonders how many of his algebra students are similar to Sonny in appearance and personality along with his drug habits. This comparison allows the older brother to conclude that Sonny was probably not arrested on his initial use of drugs. It also allows the narrator is see that Sonny may be like most of the other young boys in Harlem. As the narrator makes his way to the courtyard heading home from school, a "friend" of Sonny's, another drug-user, approaches him. The narrator ... ...the narrator and all people a way of finding meaning in their pains and joys. The two brothers again can live in brotherhood and harmony. Works Cited Finnessy, Patrick. James Baldwin. 2004. Biographies. University of Illinois at Chicago: Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Heterosexual Concerns (OGLBTC). 26 Apr 2004. James Baldwin. 2004. American Masters. PBS. 23 Apr 2004. Liukkonen, Petri. James (Arthur) Baldwin Books and Authors. 2002. Amazon.com. 20 April 2004. Magill, Frank N. ed. Masterplots II: Short Story Series. Vol 5 Pru-Ter. California: Salem Press, Inc. 1986. Sipiora, Phillip. Reading and Writing about Literature. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2002. Wilson, Kathleen, ed. Short Stories for Students: Presenting Analysis, Context and Criticism on Commonly Studied Short Stories. Vol 2. Michigan: Gale Research, 1997.

Cultural Background Paper Essay

The fusion of cultures has been ever growing and I would like to say- being multiracial these days is not a new phenomenon. There are many of us who come from a similar status where we share different ancestors from different cultures. For instance, my own friend has a Hispanic father and an African-American mother. Both the parents come from different cultures and the instances have been increasing. However, I share an Indian background with a Hispanic background. The fusion of the two cultures was unthinkable but I believe it has to happen sometimes that way. The main reason why I believe we have cultural fusions is because of the increased ethnic and racial diversity in the United States of America. It is interesting to note how different parents from different cultures actually bring in their stories and traditions into our lives. I believe it is easy to distinguish characteristic traits from an Indian background and a Hispanic background. There are a few traits that make one easily recognizable and distinguishable from others. Importance to family ties and bonds is extremely crucial. I remember my father (who obviously shares an Indian background, American-Indian) who stressed on the importance of relationships. Grandparents, uncles, aunts and every relative had to be respected and served on their occasional arrival. Indians are particularly fond of spicy food with their own kind of spices which includes lots of chili, cumin powder and other so-called â€Å"masalas† in their food (Gawle, 2003). There is an obligation and responsibility that the Indians exhibit in their mentality which makes them extremely family-oriented. As Jean Bacon in his book, â€Å"Life-lines: Community, Family and Assimilation among Asian Indian Immigrants† states regarding this stance, â€Å"The notion of obligation perhaps encourages members of the second generation to follow the wishes of their parents regarding issues such as educational choices or choices of marriage partners more often than would be the case if this sense of obligation were not present. It was very surprising to me that none of the children in these families ever defied his or her parents’ desires. No one ever decided to move away and become financially independent in order to pursue his or her own, as opposed to his or her parents’, desires. No one took out educational loans to secure the education of his or her choice† (Bacon, 1996). The system of joint-families and extravagant weddings with lots of food and numerous ceremonies is synonymous with them. Their music sense with the sitar and the classics by well-known singers was their favorite. Religion and spiritual obligations were also taken seriously. As Charles A. Moore in his book, â€Å"The Indian Mind: Essentials of Indian philosophy and culture† states regarding Indian culture, â€Å"It is common ground in Indian thought that the adoption of secular means and methods do not lead to freedom or salvation. It may be held that, if we could conquer Nature and fully exploit her resources, we might satisfy all our wants, and as soon as they arise. The modern man in the atomic age with his immense faith in technology is prone to think that the solution lies this way. But wants may still outstrip our ability to satisfy them; a leap-frog race may result. The root problem is left untouched. Technology cannot provide the wisdom and the good will necessary to make a wholesome use of our power. Control over Nature without control over oneself (self-restraint) can lead only to rivalry, domination, conflict, and suicidal warfare. The human problem is basically spiritual; it lies in self-control and self-education† (Moore & Morris, 1967). The following quote from the book on the Indian culture shows the immense spirituality in the Indian community and how they try to resolve their problems through the means of self-control. Their religion and their belief in spirituality play a vital role in bringing out these characteristics. My mother who is a Hispanic lady submitted to the Indian culture as they shared a few common ideologies. On the whole, the Indian trait in my family background is dominant. An interesting study was done by Shamita Das Dasgupta on the gender roles and cultural continuity in the Asian Indian Immigrant community in the United States of America where she evaluates the attitude of women and dating in the Indian culture. Her revelation is as follows, â€Å"Where attitude toward women was concerned, there seemed to be great intergenerational similarities between parents and children. The belief in gender equality of both mothers and fathers was positively correlated with that of their children regardless of age. However, mothers’ egalitarianism seemed to be mitigated by their children’s age. That is, the older their children, the more conservative mothers became regarding women’s roles. Since mothers’ own age was not linked to this relationship, it can only be speculated that as adolescents grew older, their mothers started to experience the pressures of socializing them in traditional gender roles. In the process, they themselves turned toward conservatism† (Dasgupta, 1998). Another interesting trait that can be drawn in the Indian culture is regarding the relationship between a boy and a girl. The Indian culture places an immense importance on the physical chastity. In other words, there is nothing like sex-outside-marriage for them. As Shamita Das Dasgupta in her journal article states, â€Å"Undoubtedly, a reason for instilling inhibitions about dating in girls more than boys is due to Asian Indian parents’ obsessions with maintaining sexual chastity. Dr. Prasad, a professor of engineering conducting a youth forum in New Jersey, stated, â€Å"From an Indian Culture point of view, dating involving physical relationships before marriage is not permissible. † Segal (1991) notes this fear in Asian Indian parents and believes most Indian immigrants who are not quite familiar with the practice tend to conflate dating with sexual activity† (Dasgupta, 1998). The idea of physical chastity plays an important role in the Indian community and any kind of illicit relationship outside the framework of marriage is taboo for them. It means absolute disgrace on the family if any such kind of an act is indulged by either the boy or the girl. In Hinduism particularly, such girls are exiled from the communities and their family members are disgraced and humiliated to a great extent. My parents value their own cultures and traditions. Though I come from a bi-racial background, my family has most of the Indian traditions in it as my mother had very willingly given herself to the Indian heritage. The freedom stories as well as the Indian history are still known to my father. My father stated in a brief conversation, â€Å"Indian culture imbibes its traditional roots from the Vedas. We have a deep attachment to it and we cannot forget what our country has done for us to bring us so far. Our Indian tradition and culture is our identity to who we are. Indian culture promotes an inner sense of brotherhood and unconditional love- something that I witness lacking in the West but we have a small world of our own here. I still value the Indian norms and I am proud of it as well. I cannot forget the freedom fighters that fought for our beloved country. I believe that is how we are here. I cannot forget the sacrifices given by our country’s soldiers to protect India from foreign invasion. The emotions are far too many to be forgotten†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (John K. Ram Prasad, personal communication, May 15, 2007). John Y. Fenton, in his book entitled, â€Å"Transplanting Religious Traditions: Asian Indians in America† lists some of the important characteristics that are found in the Indians and are most desired to preserve. He lists family as the most important trait and dominant in the Indian culture. Secondly, he states Indian character (pious and chastity) and thirdly, he states religion as the inherent trait amongst Indians. Fourthly, he finds cultural arts and language as important traits in the Indian culture. (Fenton, 1988). There are some hints on the Hispanic culture in my family background as well. Though they are not very dominant, they are worth looking into as the character traits are identifiable in their own way in my family. I believe the reason why it was easy for my Hispanic mother to accept the Indian traditions as her own was because they shared many similarities, one of them being their conservative or traditional lifestyle. Furthermore, the Hispanic culture also places immense emphasis on the family, religion and community (Sutherland, 1997). My father also exhibits similar characteristics as discussed above but he has evolved in some sense. As stated in several literatures above regarding religion, my father keeps his religion in his own personal space and allows his children to make their own decisions (which are very unlikely to happen in a typical Indian culture). Adapting to the American environment came easy on him and adapting to the Indian culture came easy on my mother. I have witnessed many occasions when my father gave his first priority to family and then on building a perfect human character in his children. His children and wife were always his first priority over everything and he made sure they received the best of education and lifestyle. Furthermore, his moral stories enlightened us to be good humans and be of good human character. His teachings also revolved on the aspect to respect our grandparents as well as our great-great-ancestors that he so proudly talks about. Though an American now, his Indian values are still present and he vows to pass it on in every way he can through us and though his grand children, as he says. He still celebrates all the festivals and all the Indian rituals. I have personally witnessed these traits in my family that show that my parents are indeed very knowledgeable about their culture. As we saw above, the traits of the Indians are very dominant in my family and most of them have been discussed and stated as being visible in my family. Yes- the traits have also been found visible in my close Indian relatives as well as grandparents who value their Indian culture and still prefer to eat chapattis, curry, sweets and love Indian music and ghazals (Ghazals are slow Indian songs with Urdu lyrics, sort of a beautiful poetry on subjects like love, life and sadness). Old Indian movies and soap operas still occupy a prominent status in my grandparents’ menu through which they cherish their Indian culture and the traits are obviously noticeable. As my grandmother stated a few days ago, â€Å"We cannot forget where we are from†¦ we cannot forget our land, no matter how long we have lived here. We cherish our cultures through centuries and no matter where we are, we will continue to cherish it till our death and pass it on†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Jodha Ram Prasad, Personal Communication, May 20, 2007). Racism has been an old tale in the history of United States of America and still continues in different manners with different thinking patterns today. They label people like my parents and grandparents as â€Å"typical stereotypical characters† though they have lived all their life to this country. Personally, I have never had any racist experiences but my relatives who have been here for over three decades did. They had problems getting enrolled into American institutions and they would often be looked down as from the â€Å"third-world countries,† though they hold the American citizenship. My uncle states his story that depicted racism exhibited in his own words, â€Å"I was 18 when I had finished my high school and lived all my life in the United States. Even then, we had our house in such a locality where only immigrants lived. It was difficult for us to buy or rent houses in those locations where whites would live. Once I tried getting a house in a typical white locality and found that they gave me rates that were twice expensive than what they charged the white people. This would eventually force us to buy homes in immigrant localities, hence depicting discrimination. We were discriminated based on where we came from. We would be paid lower than the whites in our era when the fight against racism was still in its beginning stages. It was difficult to get the law in our support either. We were eventually marked as weak and powerless†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hardy Lewis Choudhry, Personal communication, May 21, 2007). There are many such stories that we would get to hear. These were not new then and are not new even now (though we have several legislations and agencies protecting us from racism). Our grandparents, parents and relatives have a lot more to say than anyone else as racism was extremely common when they immigrated to United States than it is now. Today, we have our rights protecting us from discrimination and racial profiling (that previously didn’t exist). Even today, as I see, Indians are marked stereotypically as foolish and old-fashioned thinking people. There are quite many things that I have learned about my family’s culture through this research and this includes the Indian philosophy and culture, including the racism stories and several other experiences from my primary care-givers. The American culture that I have blended in and the Indian culture that still persists in my family are poles apart in their philosophies and so are their lifestyles. I have witnessed that the conservative Indian thinking is actually a trait that is passed on and I have seen that the Indian culture values a person by his character. Earlier, my focus was never laid on my family’s culture as we lived the way as every American family would live but it was interesting to note the rich characteristics of Indian culture in my family, including my parents, grandparents as well as relatives who gave a tremendous insight into several notions of the Indian philosophy and Indian traditional values. I believe and I respect the traditional cultural values of my family (earlier to which I was not exposed to) and I have learned how spirituality plays a vital role in the making of a person’s character and mind. On the whole, the experience has been quite enriching as India is truly a country with diverse cultures and an interesting history. I am still reminded about Mahatma Gandhi and the times of the Mughals (ancient rulers of India) by my grandparents which show that the traits still exist in them and they want those traits to prevail in me as well which they hope I will pass on to my progeny too†¦ REFERENCES: Moore, Charles A. , Morris, Aldyth V. (1967). The Indian Mind: Essentials of Indian Philosophy and Culture. East-West Center Press. Page no. 323-389. Dasgupta, Shamita Das (1998). Gender Roles and Cultural Continuity in the Asian Indian Immigrant Community in the U. S. A Journal of Research, Vol. 38, 1998. Bacon, Jean (1996). Life-lines: Community, Family and Assimilation among Asian-Indian Immigrants. Oxford University Press. Page 242. Gawle, Rupa (2003). Ask not what your family can do for you†¦ Is obligation an exclusively Indian trait? India Abroad. Published on the 13th of June, 2003. Retrieved online on the 22nd of May, 2007 at http://www. highbeam. com/doc/1P1-78807655. html John K. Ram Prasad, Personal Communication, May 15, 2007. Fenton, John Y. (1988). Transplanting Religious traditions: Asian Indians in America. Praeger Publishers, Page 201. Sutherland, Jean (1997). Understanding Hispanic/Latino culture and History through the use of Children’s literature. Yale-New Haven Teacher’s Institute. Retrieved online on the 22nd of May, 2007 at http://www. yale. edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1997/2/97. 02. 06. x. html Jodha Ram Prasad, Personal Communication, May 20, 2007 Hardy Lewis Choudhry, Personal communication, May 21, 2007

Public Punishment Essay Essay

Public punishment is an act or instance of punishing. A deterrent is something that discourages or is in intended to discourage someone from an act. In today’s society public punishment is often debated, where as in the 1800s, punishing someone publically was accepted. From community service to standing at intersections with hand written signs, public punishment can act as a deterrent or not affect that person at all. Public punishment is often frowned upon, but is effective in some, not all cases, and influences better behavior. Public punishment does not always work. Trenton General from Chesapeake, Virginia, is a troubled teen whose grades in school were below his parents’ expectations (Belkin 1). Trenton’s parents took away his video games, cell phone and made him a â€Å"work for food† sign around his neck in an orange jumpsuit (Belkin 1). His parents stated â€Å"It was an embarrassment to us that we tried so much to reach him and it seems like ever ything we did failed† (Belkin 1). His parents tried everything they could until they decided to resort to public punishment (Belkin 1). Trenton’s guardians gave him the choice of no phone for two weeks or stand on the corner with a sign with his grades posted, that method did not work (Belkin 1). Trenton stated that â€Å"because when it comes to school it’s boring† (Belkin 1). Public punishment does not always work. Public punishment is often frowned upon because of the humiliation that is brought along with the punishment. Trezhan Blaha, from Elyria, Ohio, learned his lesson when he was caught stealing from the mall (Jackson 1) . Trezhan’s mother and uncle decided that he should stand on the corner with a sign that read: â€Å"I like to steal and have no respect for my mother or authority† (Jackson 1). Blaha stated â€Å"I was embarrassed but I definitely learned my lesson† (Jackson 1). This punishment from Blaha’s guardians helped him learn his lesson and acted as a deterrent for the future.In Fulton County, Georgia, Judge Robinson is starting to crack down on new methods to punish criminals (Romaker 1). Shoplifters and prostitution are just two of many crimes in Fulton County that are being introduced to criminal t-shirts (Romaker 1). The criminal t-shirts are not meant to be a fashion statement but serve as a deterrent for other criminals (Romaker 2). The judge in the county who sentences these criminals to wear the t-shirts stated, â€Å"Public punishment, serves as a deterrent, particularly at a time when more people are being tempted to steal from others† (Romaker 1). When the economy went in the tanks, the shoplifting rate went up. To cope with the criminals these judges them neon green shirts with large, black letters announcing their crime (Romaker 2). The judges decided that criminals needed to suffer a little humility (Romaker 2). Wayne Seely, former police officer said â€Å"Judge Robinson should be commended for saying he’s had enough and doing something to discourage people from stealing† (Romaker 2). These criminal t-shirts are not only happening in Fulton County but in other counties around Georgia (Romaker 2). This public punishment was not only effective but served as a perfect deterrent for future thieves. In some instances public punishment can work very effectively or can not affect the person at all. T renton General was one of those people whom were not affected by publicpunishment despite having to hold his grades up on a busy intersection. Trezhan and the Fulton County criminals learned their lesson from the humiliation and the stares that came along with the punishment. Not all public punishment does work, but most do. As some would say â€Å"You do the crime you pay the time†. Works Cited: Belkin, Lisa. â€Å"Bad Grades= Public Punishment† The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 18 February 2009. Web 30 Oct 2012. Romaker, Janet. â€Å"Fashion Police: Judge Tailors punishment that fit Criminals to a T.† The Blade. Waveson, Ohio. 7 Sept 2012. Wed Oct 2012. â€Å"One boys very public punishment† Abcolocal .go.com.N.p., 23 Mar. 2012. Web 30 Oct 2012.

Reflective Account of Increasing a Persons Observations

Reflective Account of Increasing a Persons Observations on an Acute Mental Health WardThis essay will discus a decision that was made on a local male acute ward. Using this example, an analysis of the decision making process has been made and a reflective model has been used in order to generate personal knowledge that will inform further practice (Rolfe, 2011a). A pseudonym of Tim has been used for the discussed patient to maintain confidentiality in accordance with the NMC code of conduct (2010a). Observation is one way in which mental health nurses can protect acutely mentally ill inpatients from harm and is commonly implemented for patients who impose a risk of harming themselves, others and for those who are vulnerable (Bowers et al, 2006). Tim, who was on a local male acute ward, posed a risk of harming himself and became very vulnerable during his stay. On admission he was perceived to be at low risk of harming himself and vulnerability, therefore was observed on the minimum level of observation, general observation, which includes all patients and involves an hourly eyesight check on the patient (DH, 1999; NICE, 2005). The decision to increase his observation level was jointly taken by the mentor and the author by gathering information from bank support workers about Tim's current presentation. After a noted deterioration in Tim's mental health, it was decided to increase observations to within eyesight of staff. Justification for this was that he was becoming a serious risk of harming himself as he threatened to jump from the ward roof, as he was determined to leave. Tim was detained under section 2 or the mental health act (DH, 2007). He felt that he needed to leave in order to find his son who he had recently lost contact with. He had been stopped attempting to climb a drain pipe to leave via the ward roof and had been in a very distressed state. Eyesight level of observation is seen as the second highest of four levels and demands intense nursing, only within arms length is higher (DH, 1999; Jones & Eales, 2009; NICE, 2005). Close observation is an example of decision making which is exclusive to mental health nursing. The Chief Nursing Officer described observation as a key area where good practice is essential and that nurses should ‘demonstrate an understanding of the benefits and limitations of the use of levels of observation to maximise the therapeutic effect on inpatient units’ (DH, 2006). Additionally NICE (2005) recommends the use of observation in the short-term management of disturbed/violent patients. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2010a) require nurses to be able to apply knowledge and an appropriate repertoire of skills that is indicative of safe and effective practice and based on the best available evidence. At the time of making the decision it seemed the right course of action. The mentor's final decision was taken for granted as he was an experienced nurse and a lack of personal experience meant that the author had limited personal experience to work with. Before undertaking this assignment it could not decided what could be done differently if faced with a similar situation on qualification. On qualification, such a decision will have to be well informed and made with confidence and one that has to be made in accordance with the NMC code of professional conduct (2010) which requires nurses to be accountable for their own actions and omissions in practice. By using the decision making tool below the advantage of hindsight can be used when analysing this decision to better inform future practice. Pritchard (2006) sees decision making as one of the most difficult processes that a nurse can undertake and one of the most important parts of nursing practice. Aitkin (2003) concludes that formal decision analysis can improve future decision making. The utilised decision making model, as described by Jasper (2003), asks the questions Who/What/When/Where/Why and How? These questions make a useful contribution to systematic, holistic, clinical judgement and enable evaluation and critical thinking about the made decision to take place Jasper, 2003; Standing, 2011). Tim has a long history of mental illness and was admitted to the ward following a deterioration in his mental illness after he lost contact with his son. His mood was elevated and he felt very restless and agitated. Prior to admission, he was found police in a very distressed state. Tim was placed on a section 2 of the mental health act (DH, 2007) and was originally observed generally where a member of staff would have to see him face to face on a hourly basis (NICE, 2005). Under section 2 of the mental health act Tim has lost the right to leave hospital at will and his responsible clinician has not granted him section 17 leave. A person can be detained for up to 28 days and treat against their will (DH, 2007). As Tim was detained it was important for staff to keep him on the ward. Increasing attempts by Tim to leave led to a change in observation level to within eyesight to make sure he did not leave the ward by any means. Staff levels were low, and for that reason it was felt that there was not enough staff to informally observe Tim. In addition there was a general feeling of fear that if Tim left the ward there would be inevitable consequences for the staff. The literature shows that the decision to increase a persons observations is common when faced with the above situation. Buchanan-Barker ; Barker (2005) are critical at the increase of observations on acute mental health wards following high profile tragedies placing practitioners in defensive mode to stop patient elopements and harm to patients. Organisations have responded to this risk by formalising observation policies to defend themselves against litigation. In addition, it is felt that observation policies dominate practice and reassure distant managers that ‘something is being done' (Horsfall ; Cleary, 2000). Equally, nurses use observation in ‘defensive mode' in order to prevent harm. Despite these measures, the effectiveness of observation to reducing patient risk and providing a therapeutic benefit is not at all clear (Mana, 2010). This indicates that observation is driven by risk culture and defensive practices concerned with physical integrity of the person and do little to address the origin of a person's distress (Cutcliffe & Stephenson, 2008; Buchanan-Barker & Barker, 2005). Tim was finding it hard to cope with the loss of his son and wants to leave the ward to find him. One study found that the most cited reason for ncreasing levels of close observations was the prevention of absconding from an acute ward which could lead to the patients self-harm, neglect vulnerability and violence (Dennis, 1997). During Tim's observation staff were tired and unwilling to engage with Tim. Staff were seen to be following Tim from one part of the unit to another which was aggravating him further. The observation was void of conversation which is in contrast to Peplau's (195 2) view that clinical observation should be carried out with the nurses attention to the interpersonal relationship with the patient. Likewise, Rooney (2009) reports that nurses acknowledged that observations were more about prevention than cure and keeping the patient safe was priority. On the other hand, Bowles et al (2002) found that distressed patients need both containment and engagement. In conclusion, there was a need to maintain a therapeutic relationship while considering the management of risk and the empowerment of the patient. The mental Health Act (DH, 2007) requires an appropriate package of treatment to be in place which includes one-toone time with staff which could have helped alleviate Tim's anxiety. Short staffing meant that Tim's one-to-one time had not taken place and from a personal view point a package that can only be theoretically provided is not be good enough. Bank support workers had been allocated to observe Tim as the qualified nurse had to complete paperwork. This is in agreement with the findings of Rooney (2009) who reported that observation was usually left to unqualified staff as nurses were often dealing with other matters. In contrast, NICE (2005) states that observation should be undertaken by registered nurses. Nurses may delegate to competent staff who have had the appropriate training. It is thought that the bank staff did not have the appropriate level of competence which created a poor skill mix on that shift which Aston et al (2010) see as a barrier to good decision making. In agreement Rooney (2009) found that staff acknowledged therapeutic work could take place during times of observation however, they felt that they lacked the relevant skills. Staff reported that no one had ever explained how to interact with the patient or had received any further guidance beyond the aspects of risk management and containment. Most nurses who took part in this study had no practical or theoretical preparation for observations. Tim attempts to leave by the door on the ward when it is opened for visitors and he will try several times a day to enter the court yard to leave by climbing onto the roof. The high level of staffing resources taken up by preventing Tim from leaving the ward prevented staff from engaging with other patients who felt that they were being ignored and neglected which in turn added further stress to staff. In agreement are a number of authors who have shown that formal observations consume nursing resources and that the patient being observed receive a disproportionate amount of nurses time (Mana, 2010; Bowles et al, 2002). Bowles et al (2002) argued that the time taken up by the demands of observation was to the detriment of of care of patients that were not seen as a high risk. To reflect on the above experience Rolfe's framework has been used which poses the questions what? , so what? , now what? (Rolfe, 2001; 2011a). This type of reflection which is done after and away from the actual event is referred to by Schon (1983) as reflection-on-action and the following discussion focusses on how the author and others did and what changes could be made. Despite this type of reflection being useful reflection-in-action is seen to have far more significance in professional practice. Reflection-in-action looks at the suitability of a particular intervention while it is been carried out. This is one of the distinguishing features as a nurse progresses from qualified status to an advanced practitioner (Schon, 1983; Rolfe, 2011b). In terms of clinical reasoning and decision making, reflection is seen as an invaluable resource for developing personal practice and learning from other people's perspectives (Aston et al, 2010). In addition to this, reflection can generate knowledge from practice rather than relying on external research findings (Rolfe, 2011a). Rolfe's (2001) framework allows the construction of personal theory and knowledge and how a similar situations outcome might be improved by future actions. The NMC makes it clear that nurses should take part in appropriate learning that helps develop competence and performance (NMC, 2010a). According to Benner's (2001) novice to expert the author recognises that as a management student working towards qualification he needs to be a proficient performer who looks at situations as a whole rather than their constituent parts. In strong agreement, Aston (2011), who uses a skills escalator approach, places a management student at level 4 which is a level where a student is expected to demonstrate they can draw on a wide range of resources using an evidence based rational for decisions. When the author collaborated with staff to assist in making a decision for Tim he felt equally involved in the decision making process however personal contribution was lacking due to limited knowledge at that time. The NMC (2010a) require that care is based on the best available evidence or best practice. The author's personal decision was not based on either. Furthermore, Aston (2010) recommends that confidence in making a decision is developed by a number of factors including relevant past experiences and practising using decision making skills. Pritchard (2006) argues that the process of decision making is learned gradually through practical experience of caring for patients and observing more experienced colleagues making decisions. Further inhibiting the authors ability to make a decision was a theory practice gap (Aston, 2010). This indicates that the author was practising at Benner's (2001) novice stage, in that he had entered a new clinical area and had a limited contextual understanding. The author was too inexperienced to made the above decision. Tim was placed on eyesight observations and the permanent presence of staff upset him. Tim was feeling distress and anger. There were no positive outcomes and the intervention was not effective meaning the wrong decision may have been made. Personal decisions and actions were not based on evidence or experience. One of the barriers to future decision making is making mistakes and reflection is one way of recognising what could have been done better. In addition, in the new clinical environment, the author should have been assisted to practice safely under constant supervision and possibly not able to make such a decision at this stage of nursing training (Aitkin, 2003). Despite this being the case a thorough theoretical knowledge before working on the ward would have better prepared the author for making the decision. In contrast to this is the notion that a nurse who is experienced in working with theoretical knowledge will find differences in practice that the formal theory fails to express (Benner, 2001). This indicates that a new understanding of the situation has been reached. Despite no real harm coming to Tim the author was not in a position to assist in making the decision. The author should have declined stating that he did not have the relevant knowledge. It is clear that the author had a low critical thinking capability at that time. It is argued that this is a problem faced by newly qualified nurses. Graduates do not meet expectations for entry level clinical judgement ability (Del Bueno, 2005). Similarly, Deuchester (2009) reports that newly qualified nurses go through a transition shock and have a poor ability to make decisions. Feelings of doubt, loss, confusion and disorientation for newly qualified nurses are reported along with a lack of knowledge that includes practical, theoretical and tacit. Despite this being the case the NMC (2010b) require students to demonstrate the ability to work as autonomous practitioners by the point of registration. Del Bueno (2005) concludes that newly qualified nurses should be expected to think critically and use clinical judgement in order to develop it. In conclusion the broader issues that have arose from this are that time needs to be taken to stop and think and consider whether whether the decision is meeting the patients needs. The main learning, for future practice, is to make sure that the author is exposed to as many situations as possible to gain practical knowledge. In addition, theoretical gaps in knowledge need to be eliminated in future practice. The best attempt to engage with the patient needs to be sought in the future. If observation levels needs to be increased the decision should be weighed up against the patient being allowed to move freely and not feel restricted and Mental Health Act (2007) requirements of offering one to one-to-one sessions.