Conflict Sociology and Ever-changing Nature - 2792 Words

Strucutral functionalism is a form of functional analysis. Functional analysis (or functionalism) is one of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology. In fact, many of the early giants of sociology, such as Spencer, Comte, and Durkheim were functionalists. Essentially, this perspective sees society as comprised of many parts that contribute in unique ways to the operation of the whole society. The way I explain this to my class is to think of a clock. What makes a clock a clock? First, you have to have certain parts, such as hands, gears, springs, and a power source. But this is not enough. You have to put the parts together, of course. Still, however, you may not have a clock because you cannot put the parts together in any way†¦show more content†¦Subsequent thinkers have described different versions of conflict theory; a common theme is that different social groups have unequal power, though all groups struggle for the same limited resources. Conflict theory has been used to explain diverse human behavior, such as educational practices that either sustain or challenge the status quo, cultural customs regarding the elderly, and criminal behavior. http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/definitions/conflict-theory-49 Social conflict theory is a Marxist-based social theory which argues that individuals and groups (social classes) within society have differing amounts of material and non-material resources (the wealthy vs. the poor) and that the more powerful groups use their power in order to exploit groups with less power.[citation needed] The two methods by which this exploitation is done are through brute force usually done by police and the army and economics. Earlier social conflict theorists argue that money is the mechanism which creates social disorder. The theory further states that society is created from ongoing social conflict between various groups. There are other theories of deviance, the functionalist theory, the control theory and the strain theory. It also refers to various types of positive social interaction that may occur within social relationships. A homeless American.Show MoreRelatedThe Theory Of Human Actions, Decisions, Behavior, And Other External Elements Essay967 Words   |  4 Pagesinteractionism, functionalism, and conflict theory. Each played key roles in establishing the levels and focuses of analysis that are used in applying the three theoretical perspectives to the study of human actions, decisions, behavior, and other external elements, which can be explained not only by analyzing the individual scenario, but also by analyzing the context in which that individual is placed. Although all three theories are interconnected and important in sociology, the theory that is most usefulRead MoreSociological Theories Essay1185 Words   |  5 Pagesthat one theory can explain something that another cannot. My aim is to answer this question with reference to both functionalism and conflict theory. This will be done by comparing and contrasting both theories in relation to their perspectives on both suicide and gender di scrimination as social issues relevant to this day and age. Functionalism and conflict perspectives are both macro theories. This means that they focus on the big picture, for example social structure, social institutionsRead MoreSociology : A Sociological Perspective1053 Words   |  5 PagesSociology is the study of society and social lives and forces that influence people and shape the construction of society their lives. It also gives us an awareness of cultural difference that allows us to see the social world from many perspectives. (Sutton 2013). Sociology perspectives are overview of human behaviour and its connection to society as a whole. A sociological theory is a set of ideas explain how society or aspects of society work and there are many variations of the basic theoriesRead MoreThe Theory Of Social Life1581 Words   |  7 Pagesperspectives. In this paper I will summarize all three primary perspectives by identifying the role, figures and key concepts related to each of these three theories. I will then identify which of these three theories I find most useful in studying sociology today and then I will explain the rationale behind my selection. Finally, I will provide my own argument to the debate as whether the purpose of social research should be only to advance the understanding of human behavior or to investigate/reformRead MoreWeb Du Bois and Double Consciousness Essay936 Words   |  4 PagesW.E.B. Du Bois: Double-Consciousness Ashanti Johnson SOC101 Lestine Shedrick October 18, 2011 W.E.B. Du Bois (1968-1963) was a huge contributor to sociology through the eyes and experience of an African-American scholar (Vissing, 2011). Du Bois was an author, activist and student of Black sociology. In his 1897 article, Strivings of the Negro People†, Du Bois introduced the term â€Å"double-consciousness†, a concept I believe to be just as relevant in today’s African-American communitiesRead MoreThe Theory Of Social Change1396 Words   |  6 PagesIn sociology, social change is mentioned to be the variation identified by adjustments in rules of behavior, cultural symbols, value systems, or social organizations. All through the historical development of sociology, sociologists have used different models from other fields of research (Sharma, 2015).There are many different theories as to what makes up a social change. First you have the functionalist theory, which is mainly focused on what maintains a system, not what changes it. Also thereRead MoreDescribe the Functionalist (Emile Durkheim), Conflict (Marxist) and Interactionist approach to the Socialization of Education.877 Words   |  4 PagesDescribe the Functionalist, Conflict and Interactionist approach to the Socialization of Education. Education - A Functionalist Perspective Emile Durkheim proposed an explicitly functionalist explanation of the role of education in society. The major function/task of education was, according to Durkheim, the transmission of society s norms and values. Durkheim considered that all societies must have means of passing on their norms and values to the young. If they did not, they could not continueRead MoreSocial Stratification: Through the eyes of Tà ¶nnies and Park1638 Words   |  7 PagesIn any study of urban sociology one is bound to encounter few scholars that have contributed as greatly to our current understanding of the structure and evolution of society as have Ferdinand Tà ¶nnies and Robert Park. Both born in the late nineteenth century and living well into the first part of the 20th century, affording each an opportunity to experience radical industrial growth, political and economic upheaval, and the first great international war. Despite these similarities, each theoristRead MoreThe Conflict Perspective O n Class Struggles1038 Words   |  5 Pagesrelationship based on biology, marriage, or adoption. The conflict perspective refers to the inequalities that exist in all societies. The conflict perspective originated from out of Karl Max’s writings on class struggles. This perspective presents society in a different light than do the functionalist and symbolic interactionist perspectives. This perspective focuses on the negative, conflicted, and ever-changing nature of society. Conflict theorists challenge the status quo, unlike functionalistsRead MoreThe Most Important Features of a Social System1435 Words   |  6 PagesThe Most Important Features of a Social System A social system as a concept in sociological theory is one of great importance and indeed necessary. As a theoretical concept and component of theoretical explanation, it highlights the intricate nature of the society we live in. (Craib 1992) Talcott Parsons, a dominant functionalist theorist, focused much of his work on the concept of a social system. (Water 1994) Such a concept is indeed synonymous with his work. Whilst there is no universal sociological

lies,damned lies and statistics - 2353 Words

1. Introduction Lies, damned lies, and statistics is a phrase describing the persuasive power of numbers, particularly the use of statistics to bolster weak arguments. It is also sometimes colloquially used to doubt statistics used to prove an opponents point. The term was popularised in the United States by Mark Twain (among others), who attributed it to the 19th-century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881): There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. This Line stresses on the fact that common errors, both intentional and unintentional, associated with the interpretation of statistics, and how these errors can lead to inaccurate conclusions. It is a phrase attributed to the power associated†¦show more content†¦Some of them are:- 1. On a historical Note:- Something of a historical subversion: During World War II, the Royal Air Force wanted to add more armor to their planes, but because of weight limits they needed to know which places needed the armor most. So, they examined the planes after they came back and counted how often bullet holes were found in certain areas... and then placed armor in places that showed the fewest bullet holes. This is because, they assumed, that any place that did have bullet holes was a place that planes could be hit and still fly . Helped by the fact: No plane that ever came back had holes where the gas tank was. Because planes whose tank was hit would explode and not come back. 2. Ridiculous Conclusions:- Its a bit like the statistics on shark shows. You are more likely to die on the toilet than be eaten by a shark. When you compare how much time you spend around sharks versus how much time you spend around toilets ... really, the toilet has time to plan out its move in advance. Same deal with most accidents occurring in the home. Considering that you spend the majority of your time in your home, this should come as no surprise to anyone. The same for the example above about most vehicular accidents occurring near the home (some say within 25 miles from your home). This is because most people do most of their driving near their homes, not that the home or the surrounding area is more dangerous than areas distant from theShow MoreRelatedAssumptions Statistics : Data Statistics1192 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Assumption/Hypothesis Confirm a common assumption about data statistics: data statistics are accurate in calculation but can be misleading in interpretation and decision making. Background â€Å"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.† This quotation is often attributed to Benjamin Disraeli, the 19th century British Prime Minister. In research studies, Statistics allow us to distill a large number of experiences down to a few simple truths. But the truths may notRead MoreThe Assumption Of Data Statistics1180 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Assumption/Hypothesis Confirm a common assumption about data statistics: data statistics is accurate in calculation but can be misleading in interpretation and decision making. Background â€Å"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.† This quotation is often attributed to Benjamin Disraeli, the 19th century British Prime Minister. In research study, Statistics allow us to distill a large number of experiences down to a few simple truths. But the truths may not beRead MoreThe Chocolate Affair. By: Adam Duran. . Psy 325 Statistics922 Words   |  4 Pages The Chocolate Affair By: Adam Duran PSY 325 Statistics for the Behavioral Social Sciences Instructor: Jeral Kirwan Introduction The study of human memory stretches back at least 2,000 years to Aristotle’s early attempts to understand memory in his treatise â€Å"On the Soul†. (Masten, 2010) In this, he compared the human mind to a blank slate and theorized that all humans are born free of any knowledge and are merely the sum of their experiences. (Masten, 2010)Read MoreDemand and Supply of Housing in Australia2556 Words   |  11 Pagesconcern is that business and government decision in regards of housing market are being made based on demand assumptions that vary from the actual behaviour of the housing market. But how can we know who is telling the true well according with statistics during 1985-2009 an average of 1 residential dwelling was built per 1.75 new Australian and only in the last 3 months has the rate of new building fallen behind population growth. This is in excess of the current ABS ratio of 2.55 person perRead MoreEthics in Statistics1465 Words   |  6 PagesASSIGNMENT: Ethics in Statistics There are a number of possible ways in which unethical behavior can arise in statistics and researchers should steer clear of these. It is relatively simple to manipulate and hide data, projecting only what one desires and not what the numbers actually speak, thus giving birth to the famous phrase â€Å"Lies, damned lies and statistics†. However, this doesn’t happen all the time and there is no reason not to believe in the conclusions of a statistical analysis (SiddharthRead MoreNaked Statistics By Charles Wheelan948 Words   |  4 PagesIn his 2013 book, Naked Statistics, Charles Wheelan explains a field that is commonly seen, commonly applied, and commonly misinterpreted: statistics. Though statistical data is ubiquitous in daily life, valid statistical conclusions are not. Wheelan reveals that when data analysis is flawed or incomplete, faulty conclusions abound. Wheelan’s work uncovers statistics’ unscrupulous potential, but also makes a key distinct ion between deliberate misuse and careless misreading. However, his analysisRead MoreDrug War Research Paper1354 Words   |  6 Pagesthat not only was the war on drugs ineffective, drug use amongst students has risen since the start of the war on drugs (Robinson). What is more pitiful is the fact that the ONCDP falsely showed that drug use was actually decreasing. They provided statistics that showed that since 1985, drug use amongst 12 to 17 years old has decreased; thus illustrating that the war on drugs has in fact been effective in its cause (Robinson)What they failed to mention is that drug use amongst 18 to 25 year olds hasRead MoreNr 504: Leadership and Nursing Practice: Role Development1117 Words   |  5 PagesHealth Affairs, 21(5), 53-64. Durning, M. (2010). More nurses means better care. Research and documentation online. Retrieved from http://nursinglink.monster.com/benefits/articles/9506 Gonzalez, L. (2007). Nurse to patient ratios; lies, damned lies, and statistics. Nevada Rnformation. Aug; 16(3):8. Holmes, B. (2010). We’re all campaigning for nurse-to-patient ratios. The Lamp, Oct, 5. Slater, C. (2009). Time to raise our standards and take action on nurse to patient ratios. Nursing StandardRead MoreAn Analysis Of Beyond God And The Father : Toward A Philosophy Of Women s Liberation Essay1677 Words   |  7 Pages44-45).† Within the pages of Daly’s book lies controversial attacks of biblical text, more specifically the story of Adam of Eve alongside a call for action for women and men to undo the brainwashing that years of conditioning has caused them (Daly 44-45). More specially, Daly explained that in the story of Adam and Eve, because Eve was both created from the rib of Adam and assumed the role of temptress of the Garden that she was automatically inferior and damned for being the cause of all evil in mankindRead MoreIdeological Bias Reflected in American Crime Statistics1776 Words   |  8 PagesAs Nils Christie argued, crime is a property of the state (2004). As such, it can be defined by the same systems of ideals which influence the state. Crime statistics, which refer to a category of human acts that society view as deviant, can consequently be argued to be without objectivity (Dorling and Simpson, 1999). The statistics they provide are thus arguably not exact. To a certain extent one could infer they are reflections of society, of those who present the data and most importantly

Consumer Retail Electronics Industry Analysis Free Essays

Industry Analysis The US retail consumer electronics (CE) market had reported revenues of $180 billion in 2010. The different revenue streams that make up the reported annual revenue in 2010 for the CE market can be divided into five key areas: Consumer Electronics (CE), which consist of video and audio products; Home Office which consist of PC’s, notebooks, netbooks, tablets, and mobile phones; Appliances; Entertainment Hardware and Software; and Services (see Figure 1). Total sales from the Top 10 electronics retailers grew by 6% in 2011 to reach $110 billion. We will write a custom essay sample on Consumer Retail Electronics Industry Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now The past two business cycles, have been marked by slow growth, the fall of an CE empire, Circuit City, and complete flat line growth of key product areas such as TV’s. The market showed minor gains after the fall of Circuit City, but the growth can be attributable to the redistribution of Circuit City’s customer base. The major players in this market such as Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, RadioShack, ect†¦, only grew by 4. 5% in 2011. This is primarily due to the release of tablets, and netbooks, and not from existing product lines, already in place. It is definitely apparent that redistribution in consumer buying patterns like the shift to online shopping on retailers like Amazon. com has definitely impacted the nature of CE retailers. Cognizant Technology Solutions conducted a market study on the Retail CE market, in which they have identified 3 key areas which will continue to spur changes within the Retail CE market over the next few years. These 3 key areas as identified by Cognizant are Consumer sophistication and frugality, cut-throat competition, and millennial consumer behavior. Consumer Sophistication and Frugality The shift from moving to a commodity centered market, with the advent of online CE retailers like Amazon, the affect is in the efforts of the sales staff, which has been highly reduced, shoppers know exactly what they are looking for, for the most part, and use these retail brick and mortar shops as showrooms, where they go to touch and feel the merchandise, before they actually decide to purchase these item. These customers then usually retreat to the comforts of their home, or the nearest Starbucks, where they usually purchase the same exact item online usually through an online retailer like Amazon. In addition to this sophistication consumers have also become very frugal due to depressed economic conditions, and the high unemployment rate that is constantly rising. Consumers are looking for the best deal possible and if it means waiting few days for the item to be shipped then that is what they will do. From a business standpoint this new ideal poses certain operational challenges, Profit Margins (PM), and Distribution. Prices of high ticket items such as large flat screens and high priced PC’s have consistently declined, the sales that have occurred for this submarket have strictly been for replacement or extension sales services. These items usually have the highest margins of all CE products. To curb this retailers have revised their revenue mix, by including more lower margin items such as notebook PC’s and TV’s, and higher margin products which are sure fire sales such as smartphones, and tablets. Retailers that have focused on single channel distribution strategies such as the retail store model have had to invest in multichannel distribution strategies to compete with the shift in consumer buying behaviors. This method of buying has forced retailers to offer more options in addition to maintain their brick and mortar establishments. Cut Throat Competition Today’s CE retailers have always been confronted with difficult issues, but the pressures to produce a profit are even greater than ever before. Modern CE retailers face significant market competition from the likes of discounters such as Wal-Mart, and online retailers such as Amazon. An even more interesting dichotomy that has occurred in the CE market is the inability to determine supplier from competitor. This has occurred with Apple products, which designs and sells the most demanded consumer electronics. Apple has strict controls as to who distributes their products, any retailer outside of this Apple sphere is at a severe disadvantage and missing out on an entire market of customers they could have had engaging in commerce. Generation Y and Consumer Behavior The multitasking, always electronically connected group of people we call Generation Y or better known as the millennia’s continue to drive the innovation that is occurring in the notebook/ tablet, and smartphone product lifecycles, which have consistently drove the need for companies like Apple, and the like to have product releases every 6 months. This has created submarkets for the sales of accessories for the new products as well as service plans from Telecommunications Service providers for data plans to access the internet, and other media such as streaming music, and video via services like YouTube, and Netflix. This push for the access of media has forced retailers to get into the content provider business. With the advent of the internet and mobile devices generation Y’ers have instant access to price differentials across different channels enabling them to compare, and price shop while in the actual store standing in front of a product. This has decreased the need for sales staff, and these groups of consumers have relied on prices shopping, and social media, looking at reviews products, as well as what their friends have purchased via Facebook, ect†¦ to assist them in their CE purchases, this form of purchase has become known as â€Å"social purchasing†. How to cite Consumer Retail Electronics Industry Analysis, Essay examples

Hospitality Emergency Department

Question: Discuss about the Report for Hospitality of Emergency Department. Answer: Staff to client relations Staff to customer relations is an important aspect that will help the business endeavor to prosper and become successful. Staffs need to cater to the need of the customers. It is important that is understood in this case. The staffs make sure that top quality service is provided to the customers. The staffs are made to talk in a polite and gentle tone to the customers, and it is important they make sure that customers are provided proper seating arrangement. The queries of the customers are duly met by our staffs. It is kept in mind that the issues are promptly addressed by our employees and they are given proper attention and care. The needs and requirements of the customers are met and the food is served on time without delaying it unnecessarily. Individuals with pleasing personality are selected as staff since they need to cast a good image in the eyes of the customers. The communication skills of the staffs are given priority so that there is no miscommunication between staff and the customers. How to monitor the effectiveness of a roster? It is important for the manager to monitor whether the roster is effective or not. It is important for the manager to scrutinize whether the roster is able to achieve its target. The manager has to keep track and verify whether the roster is suitable for the organization. There are certain simple and fundamental steps that manager needs to take to review the effectiveness of the roster. Some of them are: Monitor the floor and employees available at duty One of the ways that the manager can review the effectiveness of the roster is by monitoring the floor of the restaurant and scrutinizing that employees are present at the assigned time. It helps to conduct a check as to whether the concerned staffs are present at the place of work at the assigned time. This will help the company to conduct the business during the busy peak business hour (Moore, 2014). Checking the attendance register The manager needs to conduct a regular check of the attendance of the restaurant. It is important for the manager to check the login and logout time of the staffs. It is important for the manager to review this to see if the staff is being punctual or not. It will help to see if there are points of deviation and will help the manager take necessary steps in adverse situations (Zeithaml et al. 2012). 6. How to improve roster development process? Managers have an important task of developing and improving the roster. Developing the roster helps the schedule to be flexible and allows the manager to overcome the shortcomings and the flaws in the existing roster. There are some ways that can be used for developing roster. Conducting personal communication with employees Managers need to conduct personal interview with employees to understand the effective and appropriateness of the current roster. The communication helps the manger to understand the effectiveness of the roster. It will help the manager to understand the grievances and the issues faced by the employees regarding the schedule. There could be certain issues, which employees might face regarding their shift timings and this could hamper the functioning of the organization. Therefore, the manager needs to do a qualitative study by communicating with the employee regarding the shift timing and consequently review the effectiveness of the current roster. Points of deviation can be addressed and the remedial measures can be applied (Nazari et al. 2016). Amending the current roster Another way that rosters can be improved is by making the rosters flexible for the employees. After communicating with the employees, it is important for the manager to address the issues of those employees that face difficulty with the current roster. By amending the current roster, it helps the roster to avoid rigidity. Therefore, it is important that managers amend and make the necessary changes according to issues faced by employees (Nazari et al. 2016). Reference List Eather, B., Malica, E., Walton, C., Hollmann, P., Kwong, W. (2015). Roster process review: a case study on the implications of preliminary findings.Australian Health Review,39(4), 467-469. Moore, K. (2014). Improving communication between emergency department staff: Kate Moore describes the development of an interactive website on which staff can check the roster and communicate with each other.Emergency Nurse,22(2), 29-36. Nazari, E., Sarafraz, A., Amini, S. N. (2016). The Effect of Key Factors of Knowledge Management Success on improving Customer Relationship Management (Case study: financial and credit institutions of Parsabad).International Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies (IJHCS)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹ ISSN 2356-5926, 915-923. Zeithaml, V., Berry, L., Parasuraman, A. (2012). Customer Relationship Management: Concepts and Cases.CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT: CONCEPTS AND CASES,130.

Water Transport Essay Example

Water Transport Essay Water transport Water transport refers to movement of goods and passengers on waterways by using various means like boats, steamers, launches, ships, etc. With the help of these means goods and passengers are carried to different places, both within as well as outside the country. Within the country, rivers and canals facilitate the movement of boats, launches, etc. Since the goods and passengers move inside the country, this type of transport is called inland water transport. When the different means of transport are used to carry goods and passengers on the sea route it is termed as ocean transport. Let us know further about these two types of water transport. Inland water transport Inland water transport use boats, launches, barges, streamers, etc. , to carry goods and passengers on river and canal routes. These routes are called inland waterways and are used in domestic or home trade to carry bulky goods. Passenger transport through waterways is not so popular in our country. Inland water transport system exists only in few states like. West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, etc. II. Ocean transport Ocean transport refers to movement of goods and passengers with the help of ships through sea or ocean waterways. It plays an important role in the development of international trade. It is also used for transporting goods and passengers in the coastal areas. Ocean transport has its fixed route, which links almost all the countries of the world. Sea transport may be of the following two types. i. Coastal Shipping In this transport, ships ply between the main ports of a country. This helps in home trade, and also in carrying passengers within the country. i. Overseas shipping In this transport, ships ply between different countries separated by sea or ocean. It is mainly used for promotion and development of international trade. It is economical means of transport to carry heavy machines and goods in bulk. Overseas transport is carried out on fixed routes, which connect almost all the countries. In ocean transport, different types of ships are used to carry passengers and goods. The se may be classified as under. a. Liners A liner is a passenger or cargo vessel, which belongs to a regular shipping company. We will write a custom essay sample on Water Transport specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Water Transport specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Water Transport specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer These ships ply over a fixed route according to a prescribed schedule or timetable. b. Tramps A tramp is a cargo ship, which does not make regular trips but plies whenever cargo is offered to it. It does not follow a fixed route or a prescribed timetable like that of liners. Advantages of water transport Water Transport has the following advantages: a. It is a relatively economical mode of transport for bulky and heavy goods. b. It is a safe mode of transport with respect to occurance of accidents. c. The cost of maintaining and constructing routes is very low as most of them are naturally made. d. It promotes international trade. Limitations of water transport Water transport has the following limitations. i. The depth and navigability of rivers and canals vary and thus, affect operations of different transport vessels. ii. It is a slow moving mode of transport and therefore not suitable for transport of perishable goods. iii. It is adversely affected by weather conditions. iv. Sea transport requires large investment on ships and their maintenance.

Piet Mondrian essays

Piet Mondrian essays In 1872 a man named Piet Mondrian was born in Amersfoort, Netherlands. He grew up interested in painting and the surrounding environment. Following the standard painting style of the time, which was impressionism Mondrian, began painting. He studies at The Amsterdam Academy of Fine Arts. He started off painting calm landscapes painted in grays, pinks, and dark greens. Soon Mondrian became influenced by a style known as cubism. Soon after that he started his own style. This style had a geometric style that he called neoplasticism. Mondrian soon moved to France in 1917 to study art and became the founder of a well know magazine called De Stijl which means The Style This magazine stated his thoughts and theories on his new art form called neoplasticism. He also published a book called The Neo-Plasticisme. With these he greatly influenced modern architecture. His paintings mostly are made up of vertical and horizontal lines at 90 degree angles in prime colors and black. He always painted on white or gray canvas. Modrian really carried abstraction to its limits. He said that art should express only universal absolutes which mean to paint only what is true. So therefore not many paintings of people where painted because it is said that he could not capture the soul of the models and got aggravated. Mondrians most famous painting as called Composition with red, yellow and blue. After living in France for many years Mondrian moved to New York in 1940 to escape the dangers of war. He began experimenting with a new type of art using chain link patterns with bright colors. When Mondrian moved his style became livelier. He stopped with the black lines. This can be seen in his last painting called Broadway Boogie Woogie. A man named Edouard Roditi said Everything in his life was reasoned or calculated. He was a compulsive neurotic and could never bear to see anything disordered or untidy. He seemed to suf...

Marketing and operations plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Marketing and operations plan - Assignment Example In approaching the course of studying the market successfully, the research into the market will entail engaging both secondary and primary sources of data. The secondary approach entails covering the publications on the industry that reflect the factors influencing the market. Additionally, the primary sources entail conducting individual research to collect data on the market. However, primary data is expensive to achieve, as such, this section will rely extensively on the secondary data on the market. The primary sources engaged include sample interviews and questionnaires on the niche of the business to get firsthand expectation of the market, for successful planning. The US fast foods industry is on the rise, with high density of businesses offering food services including bakery options. The total market is vast, entailing a population of about 500,000 people at the local town setting where the first venture will be located (Giovannucci, Barham & Pirog, 2010). Additionally, the business expects to expand significantly and own a share of the national market in bakery options. Thus, we expect to own at least 6% of the market share as we launch and grow accordingly to about 15% to remain equally competitive. The market has a high demand for bakery products, considering the high consumption of the products. the consumer preferences for bakery products remains high for low sugar content products, considering recent developments requiring he regulation of sugar content in products due to increasing cases of obesity (MÃ ¶ller, 2006). Nonetheless, the business will engage all legal measures to establish its product and grow accordingly as there is a n otable potential of capitalizing on the local market size accordingly. The aspect of high capital costs, training skills and marketing and consumer acceptance may prove challenging to the business entry. Nonetheless, as a

Eco-tourism in New Zealand Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Eco-tourism in New Zealand - Research Paper Example This requires communicating the restrictions without discouraging the audience. This enhances the importance of the right marketing communications mix which includes using technology to convey the customer feedback and collaborating with the government agencies. The industry is thriving and there is scope for new entrants to an emphasis on personal selling would help Dolphin Explorers to expand its reach. The nature of tourism has changed in recent times as new markets and new kinds of tourism have emerged (Herbig & O'Hara, 1997). Ecotourism has emerged among these as the fastest growing segment within the travel and tourism industry. Ecotourism involves travel to experience natural environments or settings. The demand for eco-tourism increased as customers shifted from mass tourism enriching and individualistic experiences (Diamintis & Ladkin, 1999). It has been defined as "responsible travel which conserves the natural environment and sustains the wellbeing of local people" (Herbig & O'Hara, 1997). It is a segment of the travel that appeals to the environmentally conscious and has a low impact on the surrounding area while contributing to the local economy. Nevertheless, the reality is quite different and New Zealand has particularly experienced social, cultural and economic impact. The inbound ecotourism market in New Zealand has experienced overall growth and ecotourism in NZ focuses on marine environments, particularly marine mammals, botanical, geological and ornithological resources (Higham & Carr, 2003). Wildlife tourism too also forms a significant element in ecotourism and involves seabirds, marine mammals and native avifauna. The growth and proliferation of eco tourism operations has created difficulties for this sector in NZ. Ecotourism can deprive the local people of the resources that they have been using (Herbig & O'Hara, 1997). Besides, once the local economies become dependent on eco-tourism, any downturn in tourism impacts their stability. Ecotourism can result in the commercialization of the culture. On the social side ecotourism, with higher disposable incomes in the hands of the local people can give rise to alcohol-related disturbances. Thus, for eco-tourism companies promoting tourism and sustaining the company poses a great challenge. Â  

The Healing Activity of Jesus and The Ministry of the Church Today Essay

The Healing Activity of Jesus and The Ministry of the Church Today - Essay Example His healing actions were central to His ministry as the Messiah who has come to preach the good news to the poor of the Yahweh. The cardinal principle of Jesus' mission is its stubborn option for the poor and the marginalized and the role of the healing action of Christ is an unequivocal proclamation that the people whom the society considers as the scum of the earth are the children of God in a special way. Since the Church is the continuation of Jesus in the world today, it is necessary for the Church to model its mission after the manner of Jesus and His disciples and missionaries, who provide us the benchmark of missionary conduct. Jesus has a proclaimed bias for the poor, marginalized, outcasts, handicapped, helpless and sinners. Jesus' basic identity was with those who were excluded from mainstream social class, who boasted about their pedigree and righteousness. (The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Mat.9.11, Mk.2.16, Lk.5.13). The derogatory remark about Jesus by the Jews highlights this identity chosen consciously by Jesus: a friend of the tax collectors and sinners (Mat.11.19). In the words of Martin Percy these friends of Jesus were those, who dwelt outside the periphery of the over- righteous Jewish society, the politically, socially and religiously disadvantaged (p.28). The main focus of Jesus' ministry was directed to the poor, the oppressed, the excluded and the helpless. The then Jewish society had a system of societal exclusions based on their self-righteous attitude as the chosen people of God. In the Jewish brag as the chosen people of God they forgot the fact that God has many chosen peoples. Social classes like the Samaritans were the outcasts, the presence of the sick like the lepers violated their ritualistic standards of cleanliness, tax collectors were branded bad because of their profession and the congenital handicaps like blindness were blindly accepted as the results of the sins of their ancestors. Though healing actions of Jesus is traditionally considered as faith revelations, the Jesus' Messianic mission of the societal inclusion of the marginalized is also inherent in them. This healing touch is a gratuitous gesture extended to all the deprived who came to Him, irrespective of race or religion. (Percy 30). Jesus achieves the empowerment of the marginalized by his own voluntary disempowerment, the culmination of which is the helpless nailed condition on the cross. In the active ministry Jesus demonstrates it by His spontaneous association with all classes of people whom the Jews considered outcastes. So there is dining with tax collectors, moving in the company of women of immoral history and blatant violation of Jewish rules of social segregation by asking the Samaritan woman water to drink. The choice of the ignorant fish folk as His disciples to carry on His mission, in itself is a symbol of the unique nature of Gods' work often achieved by using human beings, who in our judgment is least suited for the task. However, history has shown that the pack of ignorant fish folk under the leadership of the impetus Peter achieved what several divisions of grand armies of historical civilizations could not achieve. According to Martin Percy: This view would not have been strange to the Early Church fathers, whose

Examining The Concept Of Lean Synchronization Information Technology Essay

Examining The Concept Of Lean Synchronization Information Technology Essay Lean manufacturing is an approach of continuous improvement that focuses on the removal of waste resources from a process so that the goods flow to the customer at determined rate with minimum inventory. It mainly focuses on eliminating resources that does not create value for the customer. Based on Toyota Production System, Lean concentrates on preserving value with less work. Lean synchronization is the aim of achieving the flow of products and services which is able to deliver exactly what customers want, in exact quantities, exactly when needed, exactly where required at the lowest possible cost (Slack et al, 2010). This report evaluates the utility and relevance of basic Lean principles and Management and applies the same principles in contemporary business environment. Executive Summary First part of the report talks about theoretical aspect of lean. The concept of lean synchronization is explained first. After this the principles of lean and benefits of using lean are described. Subsequently barriers to lean implementation are explained. Second half of the report accounts practical application of lean in context with healthcare industry. Firstly the need to apply lean in hospitals is determined. Basic need of lean in hospitals is to: Reduce patient wait time Reduce cost and increase savings and Improve staff efficiency. Lean principles are than applied on hospital operations. Analysis discovered that time creates value to the patient. After this, value stream was assessed and waste processes were identified in the journey of patients recovery and treatment. Further to this, wastes were identified and recommendations were proposed to eliminate those wastes. Important Identified Wastes are: Extra work done for simple and easy tasks. Investigations and tests those are not required. Patient waiting for tests and surgeries. Redundancy in treating a patient. Recommendations to eliminate such wastes: Avoid the use of complex equipments that makes the processes tedious and time consuming. Perform only those tests that are required for the treatment. Equipments must be ready before a patient comes to pathology lab and operation theatre so as to avoid waste of time. Things must be done in right way in first attempt so as to avoid repetitive actions. Concept behind Lean Synchronization The term lean came into existence post World War II when there was a huge shortage of resources in Automobile sector in Japan. Toyota Company developed the concept of achieving most with optimum resources, by continuous elimination of waste. Today this concept is well known as Lean Manufacturing across the globe and is not limited to manufacturing processes. Lean applies to the whole enterprise including supply-chain, new product development process and services. The concept of lean thinking was introduced to European world in 1991 by the book written by Womack, Jones, and Roos: The Machine That Changed the World. According to Slack et al (2009), lean synchronization is concerned all about: Elimination of waste in whole process Involving all the resources and Continuously improving the process Lean approach simply calls to work smarter rather than harder with value driven sense of purpose. Organizations that follow lean thinking understand customer value and focus the processes to increase it. The ultimate aim is to create a perfect value process for the customer with zero waste. Such contemporary approach creates processes that enable companies to respond to changing customer desires with high quality, high variety, and low cost with very fast throughput times. Lean Principles The main guiding principle of lean to create right value for the customer with minimum effort is compounded of five key principles: value, value stream, flow, pull and perfection. Value: The key principle is to identify the customers view point about what creates value to the customer. Value Stream: This is to identify all the steps in value chain and to eliminate all those that do not create value to the end product. Flow: In order to make a smooth flow of the product towards customer, the value-creating steps must occur in tight sequence. Pull: Make only what is pulled by the customer and creates synchronization between demand and manufacturing process. Perfection: Once the value is identified, value stream is specified with wasted steps eliminated and flow and pull are introduced, execute the whole process again and continue until perfection is reached in which perfect value is developed without waste. 5stepslean.gif Fig.1 Benefits of Applying Lean Traditional Approach: Traditional approach assumes that each stage is separated from the other stage by placing the output in an inventory. The next stage will take the outputs from the buffer inventory and will pass them to the succeeding buffer e.g. as shown in fig.2, outputs from stage A are stored in buffer inventory which feeds the system for Stage B. In this manner each stage of the operation acts independently and picks material from buffer inventory and processes it for the subsequent buffer. These buffers insulate each stage from its neighbors and operations of one stage do not hinder the next stage. Hence if operations at stage A cease due to some reason, stage B can still continue for at least one time. The condition of insulation of each stage that seeks to promote traditional approach is indeed the learning argument of this system. Problems: Inventory remains idle. Slow throughput times since items spend more time waiting in buffer. Lack of coordination due to insulation of stages. Problem solving responsibility will be centered on people working in that very stage. C:UsersVibhorDesktopUntitled.jpg Fig.2 Lean Approach: In contrast with the traditional approach, lean approach processes and passes items directly to the next stage, eliminating the buffer inventories, hence reducing the barriers between stages. This provides the required amount of input for each stage at the required time. In this approach, problems at any stage have different impact on the process e.g. in fig.3 if stage A stops its operations, than subsequent stages will immediately notice the issue and the problem is quickly exposed to the whole system. This helps in improving the quality by providing quick feedback at each stage. C:UsersVibhorDesktopUntitled1.jpg Fig.3 In the traditional approach, if one stage stops functioning the other stage may continue to process by the available buffer resources resulting in high capacity utilization. But generally this situation would not sustain for a long period of time and the whole process will come to halt once the buffer is empty. On the other hand, in lean approach each time there is a blockage in any stage of the process, the whole process will come to halt, reducing the capacity utilization initially. Therefore where traditional approach encourages efficiency by protecting each stage from disruption, lean approach motivates the whole system to solve the problem. Fig.4 Source: Slack et al, 2010 According to Wild (2002), following are the benefits of Lean synchronization. Also evident from the above differentiation: Reduced inventories and work in progress; Less use of space; Shorter throughput times; Increased employee motivation and participation; Smoother work flows; Increased productivity; Improved quality and customer service Barriers to Lean Synchronization Lean synchronization aims at managing the operations process in such a way that it achieves exactly what customers are looking from the operation. Pure lean synchronization intends smooth, continuous flow without any sort of delay, waste and imperfection. Following are the major barriers to achieve this ideal state: Failure to eliminate waste in all parts of the operation Failure to harness the contribution of all the people involved in the operation. Failure to establish improvement as a continuous activity. Source: (Slack et al, 2010) Waste Identification and Elimination: Elimination of waste is the basic part of lean thinking and identifying the waste is the first step towards its elimination. Any activity that does not add to value is called as waste. The wastes that hinder the streamlined flow are: Wait time worker wait time and machine wait time is waste. This is usually dependant on efficiency of machinery and workers. Conveyance Change in layout can bring processes closer resulting in reduced movements. Inventory Inappropriate quantity of production According to Toyota, supplying less or more quantity than required is the greatest source of waste. Delivery Time- Early delivery is wasteful. Therefore items must be delivered Just In Time. Variability- If quality varies according to customer expectations and customer considers to be inadequately supplied than the whole process is wasteful. waste-poster.jpg Fig.5 Employee Participation: Organizations following lean philosophy must encourage its employees to participate in problem solving activity. The intention to encourage the feeling of personal responsibility and ownership within the employees is referred as respect-for-people. Some basic factors in encouraging employee involvement are: Environment Safety safety standards and environment must be followed by everyone. Flexibility employees must be given authority to take decisions and restrictive practices must be removed. Equality each employee must be treated equally. Creativity each persons creativity must be utilized to improve the processes. Total people involvement- staff must be encouraged to participate in other activities like recruitment, supply chain and customer dealing. This improves the processes and benefits the company as a whole. Continuous Improvement: Kaizen: Kaizen is a Japanese term for improvement or change for better. In terms of Masaaki Imai, Kaizen is a continuous process of improvement in which each individual of an organization is involved to achieve a state of perfection. Three guiding principles of kaizen as explained by Hill (2005) are: Process reviews review of entire process from designing stage to delivery. People participation employees insights to improve the process. Constant need for change seeking improvement and implementing changes result in achieving perfection. kaizen.JPG Fig.6 Source: Archfield Consulting Group Deming Cycle: It is also called PDCA cycle which involve a team of people who continuously find improvements in an organization. Waters (2002) defined this cycle as: Plan review of existing processes, information gathering, finding alternatives and suggesting improvement plans. Do plan in implemented and performance data is collected. Check analyzes the collected data to check if expected improvements appear or not. Act- if improvements are visible, the operation is made permanent else lessons are learnt. deming cycle.png Fig.7 Applying Lean in Healthcare Industry Applying lean in healthcare industry is similar to its application in manufacturing. Lean manufacturing reduces waste from the set of operations that takes place in producing of items. Similarly lean can reduce waste and improve the services provided to the patients in hospitals. This may also help hospitals to manage issues like financial deficits, infections, waiting queues and capacity management. Why Lean in healthcare? Alike other industries, healthcare also face problems like safety concerns, capacity and waiting queue management, low level of efficiency and lack of staff motivation. To get rid of these issues and to deliver improved and timely patient care, it is important to base hospital processes on lean synchronization. Lean implementation in hospitals can also prevent hospitals acquired infections, avoidable injuries, death and less recovery time. Traditional practice in hospitals Major time of patients and hospital staff is wasted due to multiple trips made by the patients and the staff members. Once the tests are performed, patient is called for diagnosis after few days. Treatment for the illness may or may not start on the same day. This delay in treatment may cause deterioration in patients condition. Implementation of lean in hospitals will reduce the time taken in treating the patient. According to lean process, a patient must come once and all the processes must be done on the same day e.g. tests are done and the treatment is started soon after the diagnosis from the tests. The process mentioned in the figure consumes unneeded time of patients and hospital staff and this in turn increases the overall cost and risk to life. Avoiding such unnecessary trips eases patient care and reduces the workload on doctors. Lean eliminates waste processes and increases the overall throughput in hospitals. Untitled.png Fig.8 Untitled.png Fig.9 Source: NHS Confederation Principles of lean in healthcare Value: To ensure patient satisfaction, hospitals need to analyze the patients viewpoint as depicted in fig.10. Value is the perception of a patient and can be created when right consultation, test, diagnosis, communication, treatment and after care is provided to the patient. By eliminating waste processes and utilizing resources, staff will be able to concentrate more on patient care. figure3.jpg Fig.10 Source: JWA Inc. Value Stream: Value stream is the process of identifying all the steps that creates value to the patient and eliminating those that creates no value to the patient. Usually hospitals tend to group patients on the basis of clinical similarity. However lean focuses not on similar conditions but similar processes.Fig.11 shows various steps and processes taken to discharge a patient. Untitled.png Fig.11 Source: Flinders Medical Centre In a hospital a value stream is the end-to-end process of caring for a group of patients whose overall care process have enough in common for them to be managed together, irrespective of clinical diagnosis (David Ben-Tovim, 2006). Following are the steps that may not create any value to the patient and should be eliminated: Patients visit to hospital on different days for different tests. Time wasted when patient waits to be seen by the doctor. Unnecessary step of nurse checking the patient. Time wasted in collecting medical equipments and information. Repetition of processes such as diagnostic tests and paperwork. Time consumed in searching medical history of patients. Performing tests that are not required. Fig.12 The factors stated above signify that time is the most valued element for the patient as well as for the hospital staff. To eliminate this waste of time, we first need to identify the cause of this waste. Fig.13 shows the causes that increase the waste in waiting time. Cause and Effect 3.jpg Fig.13 Waste Identification: Waste is anything that does not create value to the patient. Inventory: Holding excess material to avoid unreliable supply is referred as inventory waste in hospitals. Eliminating such waste can reduce cost and time of both the patient as well as the hospitals. Extra Processing: Use of complex equipments to conduct simple tests makes processes large and inflexible and may cause stress to the staff. Overproduction: Unnecessary tests and investigations are referred as overproduction in healthcare industry. These tests must be avoided to save time and cost. Waiting: This is the patient wait time that created due to process or material waiting e.g. patients waiting for test or surgery due to equipment readiness. Transportation: Movement of patients and materials are considered as waste but these cannot be eliminated completely. Processes must be arranged in a manner that steps become sequential and easy to identify. Defects: Defects increase the processes and are caused due to wrong medication or infections. Doing things in a right way will reduce redundancy as well as defects in a process. Movement: Hospital layout must be in a way that it minimizes the repetition of movements by staff and patients e.g. in operation theatres, all equipments must be in reach of the operation table so as to ease the surgeon while doing surgery. Mapping Value Stream: The challenge in value stream is to map exactly the things that actually occur at each stage of patients journey towards recovery, as depicted in fig.14. Lean redesigns this flow to enable seamless movement of patients to the next step without unnecessary work or wait. Fig.14 Fig.15 shows an example of process mapping where it just takes one step on the process of tests and lists each step of work that is currently performed. Amount of time, distance covered and required amount of materials can be added to each such step. It is evident that huge amount of work is being done without creating any value. Involvement of staff during waste identification is usually advised so that the effect of one persons actions is visible to all. Fig.15 Flow: Flow is the process where every patient is worked with single unit at a time and passed to the next step without any delay. Following are few processes that can be redesigned in order to implement lean operations: Concurrent medical problems complicate patient care of an elderly patient who got fractured. Treatment is affected because specialists fail to communicate and coordinate with each other. This problem can be resolved by creating another department called Trauma Unit which creates a single team having all kind of specialists. A standard hand off process between each member will make it possible to identify and address treatment issues regardless of who is on duty. In hospitals, usually same type of operations is conducted on one day and another type of operations on other day. To increase flow through surgeries, it is suggested that few operations of each type should be performed each day. This will reduce waiting time for patients as well as burden on wards. In outpatient department, patients are usually called in the morning at same time say 9a.m. and it is highly likely that not all of them will be treated at the same time and some have to wait till noon. Hence patients must be called according to priority and severity of the problem. Samples are held back in pathology to process them in batches. This leads to increase in wait time for patients. Samples must be tested soon they arrive to the lab. Pull: To create value to the customer, services should be provided in line with the demand. If the demand is for 100 admissions a day, it implies that 100 patients must be discharged on that day to accommodate the demand. To achieve this demand in hospitals all the key processes and interfaces between them must be redesigned. The time required to spend on each activity to achieve output in line with demand is called as Takt Time. It is the time that identifies the speed with which work and materials flow within different departments. In pull system, each patient is treated as one unit at a time and passed to the next level without as soon as it is ready. Fig.16 shows a pull system where each stage of the process pulls the patient towards it. Untitled.png Fig.16 Source: NHS Confederation Perfection: After eliminating all the waste processes without compromising the quality of service, the whole operations process is repeated until perfection is achieved. To achieve perfection in hospitals, following aspects must be taken care of: After Lean Implementation Patient first Wait time unaccepted Reduced errors Existing resources Reduce waste Problems visible to all End to end process Before Lean Service provider first Wait time Errors New resources Reduce cost Problems not visible Functional management Perfection Fig.17 Perfection is achieved by continuous improvement of the operations process. It is therefore necessary to that all the staff members and the hospital management must commit to seek perfection at their level. By creating standard, visible and clear processes, we can develop the foundation of uninterrupted improvement, where every new improvement becomes a landmark or platform for future processes. Advantages of Lean in Hospitals: It is observed that implementation of lean in hospitals have increased efficiency from 15 to 20 percent with safer and improved services using the existing infrastructure, technology and staff. Hospitals across the globe, which have adopted lean philosophy, have benefited from its implementation. According to David Ben-Tovim of Flinders Medical Centre, Australia, the hospital was struggling to survive and was on the verge of meltdown. But after applying lean in their operations process, they managed to earn more profits and decreased the costs. Some important advantages of lean are: Reduction of wait time for patients. Reduced cost and increased savings. Reduction in physical floor space by 30%. Productivity increases from 75% to up to 125% in some cases. Good customer relations. Staff motivation and reduced stress levels. Untitled.png Fig.18 Conclusion The aim of this research was to understand the lean philosophy and to apply lean principles in healthcare industry. It is evident from the study that lean philosophy brings positive results. It improves safety, quality and morale of the staff along with reducing time and costs in the operations process. Lean when enforced in hospital operations can add value to patient care and improve efficiency. Lean principles are generic and can be applied anywhere. If lean principles are applied at each stage of the operations process than huge amount of time can be saved. These principles challenge the whole idea of batching, triage, economies of scale and de-skilling. Results of lean implementation are potentially significant. Lean acts as antidote to traditional approach of performance management. Its emphasis is to put the whole system in a valuable stream. Leans focus is to improve effort on things that weigh importance to patients and hospital staff. It opposes the external benchmarks whic h tend to express the things that are indirectly related to improve patient care. It is also evident from the data that hospitals that have adopted lean in their operations have improved in terms of patient care, costs and time. Hence it can be concluded that implementing lean in any industry will prove to be the best bet.

The Kalapalo Indians :: essays research papers

The Kalapalo Indians The Kalapalo Indians of Central Brazil are one of a few surviving indigenous cultures that is uniquely protected by a national reserve in lowland South America. Through no effort of there own, they have been isolated artificially from Brazilian social and economic influences that reach almost every other Indian tribe in Brazil. This unusual situation has made it possible for the Kalapalo’s culture to be undisturbed by the outside world and the surrounding tribes. Much of Kalapalo life is run through a central concept or an ideal of behavior, called ifutisu. This is an infinite ideological concept that is represented in many ways in social life and ideal organization among the Kalapalo. The area in which the Kalapalo live is in the northeastern Mato Grosso state called Upper Xingu Basin. There are four unintelligible languages by groups in this region. This makes the Upper Xingu Basin linguistically diverse, but with many of the groups still sharing the same social and ideological features. It is very difficult to trace back the origins of Kalapalo life because of the integration of the many different and culturally diverse groups in the Upper Xingu Basin. So, many of systems of kinship classification, marriage practices, ceremonial organizations, status allocation, and religious beliefs are consistent with cultural rules and social practices and not with the original system. Many of the modern local groups can only reconstruct their own history which is in limited detail, these systems can’t be isolated completely from the existing society. The two most important social units in Upper Xingu society are the village and the household groups. Both the village and household can be considered corporate in that both control rights to territorial resources, acts as a unit when performing certain economic and ceremonial activities. Members of a household group are obligated to pass out food which they collect amongst themselves. Even when one cannot supply food a Kalapalo is assured of a share because everyone is treated with the same kind of respect. Despite this corporate organization, membership in villages and households is constantly changing, and there is much movement of people between group to group. The Kalapalo society is a system wherein social units, such as the village groups and households exist only because of the individual who decides to live in these systems and choose to cooperate with one another. This is very different from other non-western societies whereas the individual acquire the responsibility to join in social units, by birth or other means of relationship to and with each other regardless of the identity of the individual themselves. The Kalapalo social organization is characterized by a flexible group membership

The Autonomous Factors

This model demonstrates that the autonomous factors are unite on the left side and the reliant variable is joined on the correct side of the model. In this table all the free factors are centering or specifically influencing the reliant variable and the needy variable is client maintenance. The theory for this exploration is given underneath:2.7 ResearchHypothesis Following are the exploration theory of the examination: H1: Service quality has positive effect on the client maintenance. H0: Service quality has no positive effect on the client maintenance. H2: Customer fulfillment has positive effect on the client maintenance. H0: Customer Satisfaction has no positive impact on client maintenance. H3: Customer reliability has positive impact on the client maintenance. H0: Customer reliability has no positive effect on the client maintenance. H4: Environment   has positive effect on the client maintenance. H0: Environment has no positive impact on the client maintenance.3. MethodologyIn this exploration the easygoing examination has been utilized to clarify the impact of the free factors (benefit quality, consumer loyalty, client steadfastness, condition t) on the needy variable (client retention).The information for this exploration has been taken from 300 members by utilizing the instructive and mental estimation table (Krejcie, Robert 1970) . Add up to number of 160 surveys from out of 300 was returned which were totally and accurately filled by the members which were worthy for the investigation to go ahead. In this examination the helpful testing is been utilized to gather information from the members to bear on the exploration.3.1 InstrumentsIn this paper we have utilized the strategy which was beforehand embraced in the examinations, the poll was made out of aggregate 19 questions. First4 questions were of individual statistic and remaining 15 were of the 5 factors which were utilized as a part of this paper. Measurable bundle for sociologies (SPSS) rendition 20.0 was utilized for the investigation of the factors gathered through the survey.3.2 DateAnalysis procedures Unwavering quality examination is utilized as a part of this paper to check the dependability of the poll. As it is said in the past investigations that dependability examination acknowledgment run is over 0.70(Nunnally, 1978) . Pearson connection examination is utilized to check the connection between the diverse factors. What's more, the direct relapse investigation is utilized to discover the impact of the autonomous factors on the reliant factors.4. DataAnalysis and Results The Frequency table demonstrates that the information gathered from respondents incorporate 60% male and 40% female. Table no.1 Elucidation Keeping in mind the end goal to confirm the entomb thing consistency of things, Cronbach's alpha test was keep running on spss. The Cronbach's alpha test is utilized to recognize that how much our reactions on our examination are solid .The Cronbach's alpha shows esteems in above table including the estimation of every factor .The qualities are above to the standard esteem proposed by (Nummally, 1978) of 0.70, which exhibits that our instrument is dependable and we can irrefutably apply different measurable tests and decipher the results with assurance. Understanding Connection test was actualized to break down the connection between factors. Connection table proposed every one of the factors were emphatically associated to customer buy goal. The most connected variable was CL having Pearson Correlation estimation of r(120) = .648, p

Clerk & Squire Contrast “The Canterbury Tales” Essay

In Chaucer’s â€Å"The Canterbury Tales,† two young men of the Middle Ages, stand in sharp contrast to each other. The clerk and the squire are of similar ages but are very different. The clerk is a member of the middle class, has attended Oxford and studied Aristotle, while the squire, a member of the upper class, has been educated in the arts of chivalry. In appearance wise the clerk is a â€Å"grave† or somber individual. He is thin â€Å"hollow-cheeked† and dresses poorly (â€Å"outer cloak threadbare†). On the other hand the squire is a bright, cheerful person. He is lusty, strong and nimble and dresses extravagantly â€Å"red and white embroidery; short coat with long wide sleeves.† His facial appearance is similar to his dress habits, his hair is curled and he is very handsome. The two differ in personality as well. The clerk is formal and modest when he speaks and he only speaks (gives his input) if it is needed. He is also considerate of others, â€Å"pray diligently for the souls of them that gave him wherewith to stay at the schools† and his speech is of moral virtue. The royalty of the squire was apparent in his personality. He is courteous, modest and helpful to others. His royal roots show that he is a respectable man and in his youthful state, he is full of energy. Finally, we can see that the two have very different interests. The clerk is interested in lectures on logic, reading Aristotle and studying Philosophy. He also loves to learn and teach and convey his knowledge to others. The squire is engulfed with the many campaigns/battles of the country and loves jousting in his spare time. He also enjoys singing, playing the flute, riding horses, making songs, dancing drawing and writing. The squire’s royalty shows through his interests because the middle class would not have the time or resources to commit to these interests. The portrait of the clerk and the squire in â€Å"The Canterbury Tales† shows two men of similar age; in the same time frame, â€Å"The Middle Ages†. We learn that the two are very different in appearance, personality and interests. This can be attributed to the fact that they grew up in different classes. The clerk in the â€Å"Middle Class† and the squire in the â€Å"High Class†, in this time  frame classes molded how an individual grew and learned. Chaucer shows in his novel how two individuals can be the same in some ways but very different in others.

PG Organizational studies

PG Organizational studies Introduction In an effort to evaluate economic aspects and concepts in relation to an organization setting, this term paper focuses on a popular consumer company Proctor and Gamble, (PG), namely, on its organizational structure, employee compensation package, job design and dimension, as well as recommendations made in an effort to improve its operations.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on PG: Organizational studies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Company description Proctor and Gamble, commonly referred to as PG is a giant consumer good producer whose offices are distributed all over the world. What initially was a business partnership of its founders Proctor and Gamble, PG has become what it is today as a result of excellent and aggressive branding. The company has an impressive and extensive product line, which ranges from pet foods, cleaning agents, personal care products and until recently, foods and beverage s, making it one of the largest consumer goods companies in the world. This position has been complemented further upon the acquisitions the company has made overtime in a bid to diversify its product line. This has culminated to the substantial increase in profits. The company restructured its operations from its former global structure to embracing the matrix structure that has resulted into the categorization of the structure to include two Global Business Units with each unit, further divided into Business Segments, namely, beauty segment, grooming segment, health care segment, snacks and pet care segment, fabric care, home care segment, baby care and family home care segment. As a result of embracing this structure, the company sales levels have soared as a result of faster decision making, which is made possible due to the decentralization aspect brought about by the structure. PG has a leading position in many areas of consumer products, making its brand decision desirable to many firms. Good leadership, coupled with a combined team effort from all employees in all PG’s subsidiaries have strengthened its stance in the global arena, enabling the company to survive and thrive in an increasingly competitive global market for over 100 years. This has led to the fact that the company has received numerous honors, such as the Fortune magazine award of the Global Top companies for leaders and also awarded it the fifth place among the most popular companies.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Chief Executive Magazine, PG is the best overall company for leadership development as depicted in its list of the 40 best firms for leaders (Daft, 2010). These achievements have not come easy as hard work and dedication have been the driving forces of the company’s success. Organizational structure An organizational structure , according to Daft (2010) is defined as a diagrammatic and architectural representation of a firm’s processes and procedures. In other words, it refers to an organizational hierarchy of people and how information flows within the organization. Taking due consideration of this definition, Proctor and Gamble has adopted a matrix organizational structure. Being a multinational firm with widespread networks all over the world, the structure is most appropriate for handling global operations. This has seen the firm decentralize its operations, enabling it to open up the regional front in areas it represents by means of appointing regional directors. The directors handle activities from the divisions available in that specific region and reports to the Headquarters. In this case, the firm has needs decentralization so the regional agencies could enjoy a great deal of autonomy in decision making. It has proved beneficial as each market is unique and different from the other one as each serves consumers who are themselves different, hence have different tastes and preferences. In a bid to address this issue and serve their customers effectively by responding to their needs, the matrix structure becomes most appropriate. This is a deviation from the global structure the firm had adopted as part of its global strategy. With this structure, it was characterized by centralized decision making, coordination and control at the level of key functional activities, such as research and development, operations and marketing, thereby seeing agencies receiving directives via direct communication from the Headquarters. This goes, however, against the advancements made possible due to the courtesy of the matrix structure.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on PG: Organizational studies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The matrix structure also makes the global dimension be represented by the executive in cha rge of the worldwide product division while the local dimension is in the hands of the business units in the countries. As part of its marketing strategy, PG has 7 Market Development Organizations (MDOs), responsible for marketing products in the global regions where its presence is felt (Company 2013). Agency problem Lasher (2010) defines an agency problem as a conflict of interest, arising when people (agents) entrusted to look after the interests of others (principals) use the authority or power for their own benefit instead. In this case, the agent’s interest is self-motivated and overrides the one of the principals’, which should not be the case. This problem, also referred to as principal-agent problem, is most prevalent in organizations that offer a great deal of autonomy in decision making, enabling the trustees of the shareholders to take advantage of their position to work activities in their own favor. PG has not avoided this issue as there have been reports of the manifestation of the agency problem in the company. This has taken the form of price fixing, in other words, the establishing of products prices or services, rather than allowing it to be determined naturally through free market forces. PG in collaboration with Unilever, another consumer goods company, established a price fixing cartel in Europe. This led to PG, incurring a fine of $ 456.3 million. This adversely affected the share prices of its stocks, thereby leading to shareholders, losing the value of their stocks as well as affecting the reputation of the company which suffered a great blow. In this case, the directors and managers compromised the shareholders’ interests, by engaging in illegal business for unsustainable high sales levels. Directors, managers and employees of companies are supposed to use their delegated authority to maximize the total financial returns from the business to its owners (Lasher 2010). Therefore, PG acted contrary to its duty in reg ards to its shareholders. The main reason for the occurrence of the problem was due to the urge to create artificial prices that would translate to higher profits for the firm at the expense of the consumer. Upon the exposure of this illegal activity, the firm could suffer immensely as a result of fines imposed on it, as well as loss in investor confidence.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In a bid to correct the above situation, Lasher (2010) proposes the following measures the firm could adopt: Instituting measures, such as tough screening processes. The firm needs to put in place more restrictions that will see the decisions made by individuals scrutinized in order to promote transparency as well as accountability. This will help curb the occurrence of the problem. Introducing watchdog bodies within the firm. These bodies may take the form of committees, such as a financial committee, procurement committee, etc. This form of transparency of operations will instill discipline in employees as they will be wary of being exposed as a result of illegal activities, such as the occurrence of the agency problem. These bodies or committees should be comprised of independent members who do not have vested interests in the firm, as well as individuals of high levels of integrity and professionalism. Introducing incentives for good behavior and punishments for bad behavior. In an effort to award good behavior, the firm could introduce performance-based compensation. This will motivate individuals to work hard in the right way in order to enjoy defined compensation perks. Bad behavior could draw punishments in the form of threats of demotion or even result to firing some concerned individuals. This will make individuals conscious of their activities in order to avoid such eventualities. Job dimension Job dimension generally entails a description of the job in regards to the duties, purpose, responsibilities, scope and working conditions. This clearly identifies the title of the job which an individual can identify himself/herself with (Bailey 2009). PG description of job dimensions is, however, based on a global perspective because of its nature of being a multinational organization which has seen the description of jobs in its portfolio differ with regards to geographical position of the firm. Regional agencies of the firm differ with regards to the oper ations and local conditions in the host countries where they are located. This, consequently, means that the jobs ascribed to individuals working within the global platform prompt the proper organization and design of proper job dimensions that are in line with the demands placed on these agencies. Regions where PGs influence is felt are different and unique from each other. Each of them has different needs that need to be assessed in the determination of appropriate strategies that can be adopted. This also applies to the description of job dimensions. Employees, working in different regions need to have properly defined job descriptions that detail specific duties and purpose, customized in accordance with the demands of the local market which they serve, in a bid to achieve set targets and objectives. PG current design is, therefore, appropriate for its business. Running a global firm is no easy feat as it requires an effective organizational structure and an effective and motiva ted workforce. Employees within the firm have properly defined duties expected of them which create the basis for the evaluation of their performance. As a result, it creates clear and defined tasks which they use to guide their performance. Job design Mathis and Jackson (2010) define job design as the process of putting together various elements of a job in accordance with organizational as well as individual requirements and presenting considerations of health, safety and ergonomics. This leads to the outlining activities to be performed by an individual in accordance with the requirements of a job, while ensuring that a firm’s objectives are being achieved as well as ensuring that the employee is being considered with regards to achievement of personal objectives, while observing the health and safety of the employee. A good job design is important as it enables a firm to determine factors which affect work. In this case, firms are able to identify such factors and act acc ordingly in order to either exploit them to improve the firm’s business, or to downplay them if they have a negative impact on the firm’s performance. These factors are normally concerned with employee working conditions. It also enables to identify what tasks are require to be done, that is, companies require formulation of the firm’s strategic plan that details objectives that the firm strives to achieve, as well as relevant activities or tasks that will help to achieve these objectives as stipulated in the plan. This enables a firm to focus on what it aims at achieving, hence directing resources in an effective way to achieve these goals in the end. A good job design also determines when and how tasks are going be done. Identification of tasks required to be done is not enough as there is a need to determine the appropriate time to undertake them, based on the identified factors, influencing the firm, such as the status of the economy, as well as the methodol ogy adopted to carry out the tasks in a manner that will see the maximum use of resources in an effective way. This in effect enables organizations to make substantial cost savings. It must also be mentioned that despite the identification of tasks required to be performed as well as the appropriate methodology and timing to carry them out, the emphasis with regards to the determination of a job design results to the prioritization of tasks as it is impractical to carry them out all at once. Based on the above advantages that result from the adoption of formulation of a job design, the following are recommendations on how PG can improve its job design strategy (Mathis and Jackson 2010): Allow and encourage employee participation in the job design process because the inclusion of employee input will help their opinions be incorporated in the job design, for instance, they may vary activities proposed, based on their personal needs, work habits and circumstances in the workplace. The company should organize training workshops and seminars that are dedicated to assisting employees know what is expected from them with regards to tasks they are supposed to carry out in order to achieve clarity on how to carry them out. The job design should have good work/rest schedules- This assists employees revamp their energy hence results to employee performance improvement. Compensation package Compensation does not only mean financial benefits accorded to employees but also includes non-financial aspects, such as employee professional development through training or motivating employees. Based on my own personal view, the compensation package can be considered as not perfect since perfection has never been achieved by any firm as employee needs are diverse, and it’s not possible to satisfy all of them. However, although there is still room for improvement, PG has tried to come up with an attractive compensation package that is responsive to changing trends in the ma rket as described below: It offers competitive salaries; It has also a comprehensive flexible benefits program that allows employees to choose health, dental, disability and life insurance benefits that meet their unique needs and circumstances. Retirement plans are funded by the company and provide employees with flexibility in plan, design and investment options. Existence of any Employee Assistance Program gives employees a confidential access to professional counseling to help them deal with any personal or family problems. In order to improve the existing compensation package, the firm could adopt the following recommendations as suggested by Madura (2007), namely: Evaluate their compensation management maturity and identify shortcomings. This will prompt the company to take appropriate steps in an effort to correct the situation, hence assist in achieving an employee satisfaction. Integrate appropriate sources and systems. This will enable the company to integrate existing information sources with compensation and workforce performance. This will enable the company to increase system efficiency that employees can relate with. References Bailey, T (2009). Organizational culture, macro and micro empowerment dimensions. Washington: Joessey Publishers. Company. (2013). Retrieved from https://us.pg.com/ Daft, P (2010). Organizational theory and design. New York: Sage Publishers. Lasher, P (2010). Practical financial management. Boston: Oxford Publishers. Madura, J (2007). Introduction to business. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishers. Mathis, R and Jackson, J (2010). Human resources management. New York: Sage Publishers.

How does the applied math relate with the insurance field Assignment

How does the applied math relate with the insurance field - Assignment Example For example, when buying or selling an insurance policy, it is important for the two parties to understand the risks involved. These risks are analyzed, and their impact evaluated. This helps in determining the actual amount of the policy and the terms of payment. Secondly, mathematical techniques are used in analyzing utility curves. These curves are useful in determining how much a consumer is going to buy insurance for (Green, 96). In normal cases, the insuring firm has to charge the customer a fee more than the value of the risk. The utility curves thus help the insurance company determine the exact amount the customer is going to pay for the insurance. For example, if a consumer’s average loss per year for repairing his car is $10000, then the insurance company has to charge a fee above this figure for the insurance. This can only be achieved if mathematical techniques are used so as to calculate the actual profit percentage that the insurance company will charge. Thirdly, the insurance sector heavily relies on market research in the development of the various policies and understanding of the existing ones (Green, 97). Market research helps the insurance firms understand the best policies that will satisfy the demands of the market. For example, a company might want to study the market potential before developing a new insurance policy. In order to avoid losses, the company needs to have accurate information about the market. Mathematics is heavily applied in market research. For instance, random sampling can be employed by the insurance firms to understand various phenomenons in the market. In order to effectively collect, organize and analyze such data, mathematical techniques are required for accuracy. In particular, statistical methods are used in marketing research where variables such as standard deviation and variance help in the analysis of the collected data. Finally, applied mathematics is useful when it

Character Analysis on EDNA from the novel The Awakening by Kate Essay

Character Analysis on EDNA from the novel The Awakening by Kate Choplin - Essay Example Bloom posits that women of this time were barred from agitating for their independence and self-actualization (51). In contrast, Edna rediscovers her self -worth and acknowledges her emotional urges. This makes her abandon her former, domineering husband. She later marries Robert. In all the maneuvers, Edna, in a bid to break free from the societal norms and expectation, finds that her independence will attract isolation from the society. This owes to the general belief of many women in the society during that time. According to Bloom, Edna’s husband also objects her clamor for independence given that he strongly believes in the doctrines of society pertaining to the position of a woman in society (39). In her pursuit of painting, Edna is able to realize the beauty of individual creation and architecture. This makes her seek self-independence, regardless of the inevitable hurdles of society. Her quest for independence is emotionally driven and events happen in a sequential manner with regard to her quest for autonomy. Robert’s passion for Edna’s love is not strong enough to overcome his sense of morality. In fact, the note that Robert leaves behind is evident to Edna that she was alone despite the fact that she has obtained the hard-earned independence and self-achievement. The note articulated the fact that Robert was not ready to contravene the societal norms pertaining to women. This confirms that loneliness presents room for the independence Edna desires. The discovery of self-expression by Edna informs her of her long overdue independence. In fact, the awakening of Edna makes her learn three new concepts, including the mode of expression for the Creole women. The Creole women express themselves in a free manner and share their feelings regardless of their chastity. In addition, Edna is challenged by their faithfulness and liberty. In this regard, Edna learns that she is the architect of her

St.Regis Doha Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

St.Regis Doha - Essay Example This in turn has augmented the significance of strategic management in organization to quite a great extent. A sound and viable strategy that results from a proper planning process is therefore dubbed as the pivotal instrument for striving and maintaining a high performance in the market place. However, due to the increasing rapid changes in the global business environment, strategies formulated by organizations have to be resilient or adaptive in nature. This will aid in the process of continually creating an endogenous innovation or coping up with the exogenous changes (Bloodgood, 2007). Therefore from an overall point of view, the resilient and adaptive tactics of the company help in maintaining an adequate strategic fit between the strategy adopted by a firm and its surrounding external and internal environment (Aarika-Stenroos and Sandberg, 2012). This report aims at analyzing the business as well as the overall marketing strategy of St. Regis Hotel based in Qatar. After the ana lysis of the strategies pursued by the company, the study will attempt to identify the problems associated with the strategy. On the basis of the findings, the study will then recommend the most appropriate and relevant solution to the company. Lastly, a conclusion to the study will be drawn by highlighting the key findings and an overall gist of the report. The report will begin by providing a brief overview of the chosen organization and will then slowly move towards the analysis and recommendation segments. St. Regis: A Brief Overview St Regis was first opened in New York in the year 1904 and since then they had expanded in different parts of the world (Starwoodhotels, 2013a). St. Regis Doha is one of the premier hotels in Doha and is one of the largest in Qatar. It is five star luxury hotel situated at the heart of the city. The hotel is located in Doha West Bay. The hotel was constructed in the year 2012 and has a chain affiliation with the Starwood Hotels. Presently, the hotel accommodates 336 guest rooms and fifty-eight of them are dubbed as seductive suites. The ancient architecture and the surrounding sand dunes are the inspiration of this landmark in Doha. The biggest competitive advantageous factor of the hotel is its prime location. All the rooms in the hotel offer a mesmerizing view of the Arabian Gulf with the tranquil blue sea. Furthermore, it also has discreet oceanfront cabanas and a private beach. The extensive range of leisure facilities along with the magnificent interiors makes it a favorite destination for both business and leisure travelers. Some of the facilities offered by the hotel are internet and laundry services, concierge services, business center, parking facilities, and several recreational services. These additional attributes along with the superior quality of services marks the hotel as one of the best in the country. The hospitality of St. Regis also demands special mention. The guests of the hotel are welcomed with unmatche d geniality. St. Regis is continuously setting new standards of luxury service and excellence and service delivery within the hotel industry of Doha. The hotel since its commencement has been continuously setting new standards for the industry and has succeeded to add several feathers to its cap. Some of the evident ones are Best New Hotels 2013 by Travel+Leisure, achieving a position in the 2013 Hot List by Conde

Delivering Business Value with It at Hefty Hardware Essay Example for Free

Delivering Business Value with It at Hefty Hardware Essay IT Value is defined as the worth or desirability of a thing. It is a subjective assessment. The value of IT depends very much on how a business and its individual managers choose to view it. Strategic positioning, increased productivity, improved decision making, cost savings, or improved service are all ways value could be defined. It is tied to the organization’s business model because adding value with IT should enable a firm to do it business better. One company sees value resulting from all parts of the organization having the same processes; another defines value by return on investment (ROI); still another measures t by a composite of key performance indicators. IT value proposition is that everyone involved in an IT initiative agree on what value they are trying to deliver and how they will recognized it. IT Value is a function of people, process, and technology. The Three Components of the IT Value Proposition: Identification- Recognize and evaluate opportunities. Conversion- Transformation of ideas and opportunities into IT value propositions and creating IT value. Realization- Deliver value and ensure that technology is widely accepted Best Practices in Identifying Potential Value: Joint business-IT structure. Compare value across projects. Utilize a portfolio approach to project selection/prioritization. Establish a funding mechanism for infrastructure. Conversion: Managerial issues with Conversion More projects than resources: Insufficient time to complete all projects; inadequate technical/business resources; significant business process redesign may be required for implementation of IT. IT value creation can be successfully made by: Excellent project management; Effective execution (e.g. change management); Reliable IT operations Best Practices in Realizing Value: Measure outcomes against expected results.[Does Expected Value = Actual Value?]; Plan a value-realization phase for all IT projects; Look for and eliminate root causes of problems; Assess value realization at all levels in the organization; Have provision for acting on new opportunities.

Puritan View: God And Human Nature

Puritan View: God And Human Nature History is cyclical. That is the simple nature of it. There are always old ideas, traditional views of the way the world works that have been in place for a long time that are supplanted by new, radical ideas. These new ideas stay in place and become tradition until they are replaced by newer ideas and so on and so forth. That is the way of history and it is no different in the history of America. New England was born with the Puritan view of God and human nature and it stuck with that view for over a hundred years. Into this Puritan society, into a Puritan family, Benjamin Franklin was born. Benjamin Franklin did not agree with Puritans views and challenged them, with his Deist views. Deist ideas on God and human nature were vastly different than those of the Puritans, in that they disagreed on the nature of God and the afterlife which caused them to view human nature through different scopes. Deists, and for that matter Franklin, did not believe in the God of the Christians (or of Jesus being the Messiah). They believed in God as a creator, or as Franklin refers to him a First Mover and Maker of the Universe (Franklin, 6). The belief was that God created the universe with its many laws and then simply let it run by itself, a belief which Franklin shared. The Deist God was all-wise, all-good, [and] all powerful (Franklin, 6). Franklin believed that because God was all-powerful that there can be nothing either existing or acting in the Universe against or without his consent (Franklin, 6). Franklin furthered this thought with the belief that if it was true, and what he consents to must be good, because He is good; therefore Evil doth not exist (Franklin, 6). Franklin addressed a possible counterargument against this belief, one that might say things like murder of theft are inherently evil. Franklin counters this by saying to suppose any Thing to exist or be done, contrary to the Will of the Almighty, is to suppose him not almighty (Franklin, 6). Furthermore, if these acts are of God and God is all-good, then these things are inherently good. Puritans believed God to be intimately involved in their lives, punishing them and rewarding them as they sinned and did good respectively. The Puritan view of God was of a very judgmental God who used both wrath and mercy as He saw fit. Wigglesworth refers God being a judge several times in his poem. When Mary Rowlandson was taken captive by the Native Americans, she believed God was punishing her for not going to church and other sins and that it was righteousà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [for] God to cut off the thread of [her] life, and cast [her] out of his presence for ever (Rowlandson, 3). Upon reading a Bible given to her by one of her captors, Rowlandson found There was mercy promised again, if we would return to him by repentance (Rowlandson, 5). This is the way most Puritans viewed their lives: in terms of what they did to please and anger God. John Dane attributed each trouble he encountered, such as an allergic reaction to a wasp sting and palsy, to Gods retribution for sins he had co mmitted. He then says that when he did reform It pleased God in a short time to ease [him]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and [he] stood in awe of Gods judgments (Dane, 4). Puritans did what they could to please God, and accepted His punishment when they sinned. Yet, Puritans believed that deep down they were all evil and only a few of them would be truly redeemed. The Deist Franklin did not believe that God created an afterlife for human beings, which is to say he did not believe in Heaven or Hell. Franklin instead believed in pleasure and pain; pain being the misfortunes and sorrows in life and pleasure being the satisfaction of the desire to be free from pain. Franklin believed that pleasure and pain are in balance in life and that one could not exist without the other. He believed that pleasure was wholly caused by Pain and, by his definition of pleasure, therefore pleasure must be equal, or in exact proportion to pain (Franklin, 7). Franklin really stresses this balance of pleasure and pain. He perceives a possible counterargument against this belief as well. Such an argument might object that there is no such balance in life because it is easy to see people who live their whole lives in misery and pain and die without ever being relieved of this pain. Franklin counters this by saying that no one can be proper Judges of the good or bad For tune of Others (Franklin, 8), which is to say that the balance of pleasure and pain is individualistic, and no one can say that was causes him or her pain causes anyone else pain. Franklin furthers this by saying that even if a person lives their whole life in pain, the receive release, and therefore pleasure, from this pain when they die. He says, Pain, though exquisite, is not so to the last moments of lifeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and tis quite an exquisite Pleasure to behold the immediate Approaches of Rest (Franklin, 8). In the end, there will be a balance of pleasure and pain. Franklin sees that as there is this balance, there is no need for an afterlife. One would not need heaven to make up for earthly pains, as they would have been balanced out in life. Puritans believed fiercely in Heaven and Hell, and that God had created both places of afterlife. God predestined everyones fate, and chose only a select few to be saved and spend eternity in Heaven. Most people were damned to spend eternity in Hell because of Original Sin. Thomas Shepard said, Your best duties are tainted, poisoned, and mingled with sin (Wigglesworth, 4). Thus, because of Original Sin no human action could be inherently good; and he went on to say your good duties can not save you, yet your bad works will damn you (Wigglesworth, 4). It was only by Gods grace that a person could be saved. The pain one experienced on earth was punishment for sin, and only received relief if they were chosen by God to go to Heaven. According to Wigglesworth, the greatest relief of Heaven is that saints are made sinless and finally do not have to fear forfeiting Gods love (Wigglesworth, 4). Puritans believed that the people who went to Hell deserved it, even so much as Wigglesworth desc ribes a father learning of his son being sent to Hell and says he doth rejoyce to hear Christs voice/ adjudging him to pain (Wigglesworth, 4). Puritans accepted the fact that most of them would be condemned to Hell. Because Franklins God was all-good, everything created was all-good, and there was no afterlife, he viewed life (specifically human nature) differently than most people. It allowed Franklin to believe that human beings were naturally good-natured and to place importance on the mortal life. Thus, Franklin believed in the importance of self-improvement and virtue without God demanding a need for it. Franklin believed that anyone could improve their station, both economically and morally. Franklin even said hed formd most of [his] ingenious acquaintance into a club of mututal improvement which [they] called the JUNTO (Franklin, 10). In Franklins words, this club was designed to discuss Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy (science)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [with the] sincere spirit of inquiry after truth (Franklin, 10). Franklin truly believed that people could grasp their purpose in life by pondering these things and thereby better themselves. Yet, perhaps the most important concept Franklin came up with in regards to human nature were his thirteen virtues. Franklins thirteen virtues were temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility (Franklin, 12-13). In this, one can see how Franklin placed value on virtue outside of a religious need for it. Franklin said that in these virtues there is no mark of any of the distinguishing tenets of any particular sect. [He] had purposely avoided themà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [so] that it might be serviceable to people in all religions (Franklin, 15). Franklin said his virtues were in every ones interestà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ who wished to be happy even in this world (Franklin, 15).For Franklin, the mortal life was all one had and it was ones duty as a human being to become morally perfect and achieve ones fullest potential. Puritans had a completely different take on human nature, formed from their belief about God and the afterlife. To Puritans, human beings were naturally evil and they placed heavy importance on the afterlife. Dane was so convinced of his evil nature, he thought that it was a greater evil to live and sin against God than to kill [himself] (Dane, 6). The mortal life was about living in ways to please God or else risk his wrath and punishment. The Puritan life was centered solely on God because of his intimate involvement in their life. Dane puts it as Beating my thoughts on Gods infinite love took such an impression of my heart as that I thought I could do anything for God or suffer anything for God (Dane, 7). Dane warns that if one does not live their life like this they will bring sorrow and affliction on [their] heads and heartsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ to their great grief and sorrow (Dane, 7). It was not by their own hands that they could make themselves better, only by Gods providence. Bec ause Puritans accepted that most of them would go to Hell, it was their responsibility in the mortal life to do all they could to please God. At the same time, those predestined to be saved had the same responsibility or else risk eternal damnation. Yet most Puritans did not know what fate awaited them, so all had to live as if they were among the saved. The Deist Franklins God was all-good and did not create an afterlife, therefore it was human nature to be good and live their mortal life to its fullest potential. The Puritan God was intimately involved in their lives, judged them harshly for misdeeds, and eternally damned most of them. Therefore, it was human nature to be evil and sin and they had to live their lives by what God wanted in the hope that they were the ones God had chosen to save. It was because of their differing views on God that cause Franklin and Puritans to have such a different view on human nature.