Film Production Descriptive Essay

The development stage is one of the most crucial stages for a producer, it is where you get the chance to plan every aspect of your production before you begin pre-production and production. The chance to get the ball rolling right. During the discovery stage of the film it is the producers role to obtained rights or an option to a film that he thinks is promising, if the rights owner is worried that their novel might be tainted by a film maker the producer must come to a legal agreement to maintain a certain set of standards concerning film director, cast and art department. Pre-production Producers role is to meet with all other heads of department to discuss direction of film, intent, budget and other relevant items needed before any production is to start. Legal documentation, planning, hiring, actors, art department. It is the producers role to helm all the creative people involved in the production as well as give some creative input. Financially it is the producers role to organise financing for the film whether that be through loans, offsets, co production, investors. The producer must discuss with all heads of department information gathered during development phases. Production The producers role during production is to organise all departments into a functioning crew. The producer may often not be on set personally whilst much of the principal photography is going on, thus they will appoint executive producers, line producers and associate producers to oversee their interests during production. Post production The producer has final say in the edit and sound used for the film, what scenes are shown and ultimately whether or not more footage will need to be shot after principal photography. For example, they might want an alternate ending. Distribution Distribution is the second of the most important stages of the production process. Distribution is where you get to create an audience for your film! As a producer your goal is to obviously have people watch your production and the distribution phase is where the producer gets to plan marketing objectives and then distribution objectives. This is the most rewarding stage of the process but also the most difficult for many considering our media overloaded world. What is meant by Genre, Auteur and Mise-En-Scene†. Give examples of three different feature film genres and the major elements that define each particular genre, as well as some specific examples of the genre. Also give an example of an auteur, including examples of his/her films. Give an example of two completely different mise-en-scenes for a simple dialogue scene between two people having an argument about their relationship. The basics for the genre is drama, or the type of it. In feature films there are many types of genre, for example action, horror, romance, sci-fi, comedy. Essentially drama is telling you what the film will be loosely based around. Action – Action scenes where there is intense action!! Guns, Cars, Stunts, Explosions Romance – Often a story about a romantic encounter, relationships, sex Comedy- Often a story with comedic elements – intended for the audience to enjoy themselves and laugh An autuer is a filmmaker who’s pieces of work are distinctive in terms of the cast, locale, theme and visual style and is therefore considered an author of their work. One of my favourite authors is Baz Lurhmann who’s first three productions are said to be the red curtain trilogy in which each of the three films has similarities. Each film establishes their story through a established thematic device, Dancing from Strictly Ballroom, poetry from Romeo and Juliet and music in Moulin Rogue. Each film also has a plot which is based off a well known story or myth. And there is a theatre motif which appears throughout all the films. What are the various contracts and other documents a Producer is responsible for when producing a feature film? There is quite a lot of documentation and contracts that go along with a film production, all of which a producer is responsible for. Contracts and agreements range from; assignment of copyright, production and investment agreements, film producers indemnity, multi-risks insurance, safety reports, Production agreement, non-disclosure agreements, post production deals, facilities deals. Chain of Title Assignment of Copyright The assignments of rights from the original artist to the producer, therefore the producer is now able to reproduce the work. Chain of Title The chain of title in film is a set of documentation that establishes the producers right to create and market the film. Typically includes, scriptwriters agreements, development agreements option agreements and rights assignments. Buyout A re-assignment to the producer from a development investor acting on behalf of the copyright owner in a project on repayment of the development investment plus interest. Option A purchase of time for a film to develop the work. Producers typically take out options on a work for a specific time and fee. This gives them the exclusive right to develop and finance the film.m Producers indemnity Insurance which provides financial compensation for the films budget in case of the production going over budget because of death, injury or illness. Multi-risks insurance Insurance that provides compensation if any production equipment is damaged during principal photography What are the various financial sources for an Australian Film? Explain what each one is Screen Australia Screen Queensland Producer Offset This is a grant given by the government to the production after completion of the film – some films use this money for the budget as they can rely on it after completion or it helps to achieve a film that will do better in distribution. Broadcasting Company grant/funding Co-Productions Grants Money that is donated to the production that does not need to be paid back

Play Critique of Cabaret

Cabaret takes place in the years 1929 to 1930 Berlin before Hitler’s appointment as chancellor. The play follows Cliff Bradshaw, an aspiring American writer, and Sally Bowles, a performer at the Kit Kat Klub and their friends through the trying times before the Nazis. The story shows the struggles of those torn between what they want, and what is acceptable and how blind some were to the problems staring them right in the face. In the words of the emcee: â€Å"Leave your troubles outside! So-life is disappointing?Forget it! In here, life is beautiful-the girls are beautiful-even the orchestra is beautiful! Willkommen im Cabaret! † As the story unfolds, we see how this blindness affects those who would rather not see. Cabaret is the first professional play that I have seen. I did not know what to expect and told myself that no matter what, to just make the most of it. There was no need, it was a truly captivating show that had me laughing and crying and dancing along the whole way through. I even talked a few of my friends into going so I could see it a second time.The story was easy to follow and I thought the characters, the costumes and the performance as a whole were good, but there were a few problems that I thought needed work. The first thing that caught me was, of course, the emcee, played by Lee Ernst. He immediately got my attention with his flamboyant costume and held it with his charismatic and energetic attitude. When he first came out on stage, he addressed the audience directly, asking us to leave our troubles outside and enjoy the wonders of the cabaret.It made me feel like I was actually sitting in the club, and not out in the audience of a play. Throughout the entire production he would pull us in and even brought audience members on stage to do a dance with him. He had an excellent ability of setting the mood for the audience and keeping us wanting more. The rest of the characters were also very well played and the actors did a g ood job of portraying their respective personalities. They were believable and real, and truly made me feel for them.The only one I thought was a little awkward in his role was Geoffrey Hemingway, who played Cliff. There were times in the play where he seemed to know his line, but didn’t quite use the right inflection, as if he knew the words, but forgot what his character was supposed to be feeling. Other than that, I think that the actors were great. The second thing that impressed me was how simple the sets were. There was usually only one or two pieces that told you where the scene was taking place, but along with the lighting and sound, it was easily put together and it worked very well.The one problem I had with it was during the play I was under the impression that the room with the couch was some kind of common room for the building, but while reading the study guide, found out that it was supposed to be Fraulein Schneider’s room. This confused me because I don ’t get why Fraulein Kost would be bringing her sailors through Fraulein Schneider’s room, but I guess they needed some place to show that part of the story.Also, there were times when there was just too much happening on stage and I got dizzy and confused as to what I should be paying attention to. Over all, I was impressed with their use of space and simplicity. Cabaret was performed on a thrust stage which also added to the feeling of unity and closeness between the performers and the audience. I think that in a play that is meant to make you feel like a part of the show, which Cabaret definitely is, this is important. It was one more way of pulling the audience in and making us â€Å"part† of the show.With this stage the action was happening within almost arm length of the front row and there was even a point at the beginning right before the show that actors were talking to the audience. It helped us relate more to the story then if they used a proscenium st age and told the story â€Å"at us†. Next, I think that the costumes were perfect, they did a wonderful job of depicting the many characters. They were sexy and scandalous for those at the Kit Kat Klub, yet did not hinder the actors from doing the many dance numbers, and showed the modesty and decency of characters like Fraulein Schneider.Along with the scenery, the costumes helped so there was no guess work as to where and when the story took place, the lifestyles lived by the various characters, their personalities and who they were as people. I have to add that after seeing the show, me and some of my friends, even one of the guys, wanted to dress up as dancers from the Kit Kat Klub for Halloween. I think they did a terrific job and instead of distracting, they made the story that much more entertaining, especially the guys in fishnets!Lastly, I thought all the singing and dancing really enhanced the show. I was worried that it would be hard to follow the story line with t hem singing parts of the script, but not at all. I think that it livened up the show and made scenes that would have been boring really great. One example of this was the scene where Fraulein Schneider sings â€Å"So What? †. It was a fun way of her character giving us a little history, without just going into a biography.Also, songs like â€Å"Two Ladies†, â€Å"Tomorrow Belongs To Me† and â€Å"If You Could See Her† express the feelings, viewpoints and ideas of the play in a manner that would have been much more difficult to do in conversation. All in all I thought it was a wonderful show and I think that everything worked well and flowed nicely. The few problems that I did have were minor and didn’t take away from the overall experience. The actors, director, and everyone else who had a part in this show should be proud, they made me truly enjoy myself and am looking forward to seeing more.

Glow Sticks

Wh Mia Foust Mr. Dunlap Honor Chemistry, Per 7 December 21, 2010 Glow Sticks Since glow sticks have been invented, consumers have wondered how scientists are able to create these magical sticks of light. They work without producing heat. They don’t need a battery or a bulb, Magic? This â€Å"cool† light is called luminescence. Unlike incandescence, which is light from heat energy, luminescence can be emitted at normal or lower temperatures.There are several types of luminescence, bioluminescence, is what happens in fireflies: as the â€Å"bio† prefix indicates, it’s caused by a chemical reaction in living things, cathodoluminescence, is caused by electron beams. And Chemiluminescence. Chemilumiescence is the magic behind the glow stick. Chemiluminescence is what happens in glow sticks. The energy that is needed is supplied by chemical reactions. The chemical reaction of chemiluminescence releases energy that is absorbed by electrons in molecules. Electrons in the atoms make a quantum leap once they absorb the energy from the reaction.The electrons must either jump to or fall back from one quantum level to another quantum level this is the quantum leap. (1) The electron jumps to a higher level; at this point the electron is in what is called the excited state, or a higher quantum. As the electron returns to the lower state, it releases the energy as a photon of light; the photon is the light that we see. To make this easier to understand, think of a rock being picked up. When a person picks up a heavy rock, it takes energy, just as it takes energy for an electron to jump to a higher energy level.When the person drops the rock and it falls to the ground, the energy is released as sound energy. And in the case of the electron, the energy that is released is light energy instead of sound energy. Planck’s equation, E = hv was created by Max Planck and Albert Einstein. The equation relates the energy of a Quantum leap â€Å"E† to the frequency, or color of the light that is given off â€Å"v†. Chemists have been fascinated with â€Å"cold light† for as long as there have been fireflies flying around the night skies. In the first steps to making their very own â€Å"cold light,† they knew what was equired: a molecule that radiates light when it is excited and an energy source to excite that molecule. In the early 1960s, a young chemist by the name of Edwin A. Chandross was looking for a way to describe chemiluminescence. Chandross knew that peroxides had a large amount of potential energy. He concluded that they were likely to be participants in the future of chemiluminescence. In his work, Chandross was able to produce a reaction that produced a â€Å"cold light†. However, it wasn’t very efficient. Although Chandross’s work wasn’t efficient, it was a major step in the right direction for chemiluminescence. Edwin A.Chandross didn’t realize that his discovery had great potential. Sadly he never patented it. Around the same time, another chemist by the name of Michael M. Rauhut began studying some of Chandross’s work. Rauhut and his team began searching for a reaction that would be powerful enough to be practical to use. Eventually they designed a phenyl oxalate ester that, when mixed with hydrogen peroxide and a fluorescent dye, produced a reaction not quite as efficient as a firefly. The group called it Cyalume, which became its name when Rauhut’s company, American Cyanamid, began selling it as one of their chemical light products.The basic structure of a glow stick is particularly simple. It contains the somewhat bendable plastic outer shell and the easily broken inner glass vial. When the glow stick is ready to be used, an individual will grip each end of the glow stick and bend it. As the flexible external plastic casing of the glow stick begins to bow, it comes in contact with the internal glass vial, and beg ins to apply pressure to it. Because the inner glass vial is less flexible than the plastic, it will fracture sooner than the outer plastic. The outcome is that the glass vial breaks and spills its contents into the larger compartment of the glow stick.It is the breaking of the glass vial that gives glow sticks their distinctive snapping noise when activated. When the glass vial is broke. The contents are able to mingle and react with the liquids in the main compartment. The chemical reaction begins and the glow stick lights up. (2) Refer to Figure 1. The outer compartment contains fluorescent dye and phenyl oxalate ester. Floating inside that solution is the small glass vial that contains hydrogen peroxide. When the phenyl oxalate ester and the hydrogen peroxide are mixed, it creates a reaction that produces peroxyacid ester. The Peroxyacid ester then decomposes to create carbon dioxide.This releases energy that excites the electrons in the florescent dye and causes them to jump to a higher energy level. Then as the dye becomes less excited, it releases energy, and the electrons produce light as they drop back down to a lower energy level. (3) Examine figure 2. Glow stick products usually last anywhere from 4 – 10 hours at normal temperatures. A change in temperature will cause the stick to glow brighter or longer. Normally the particles travel at a slow speed; however an increase in temp will increase the heat/energy and cause the particles to travel faster and collide with greater force.Chemical reactions cause chemical bonds to be broken and then reformed between different atoms, creating new substances. (4) Companies often tell consumers to pop their glow sticks into the freezer to keep it glowing longer. This is because the lower temperatures slow down the reaction rate. Particles move slower and collide less, making the reaction slower at lower temperatures. The amount of time the glow stick lasts also depends of the color of the dye. Reds and gr eens last the longest, while blues through pinks last a shorter amount of time. See figure 3. Glow sticks have many practical and recreational uses.People are thinking of new uses for glow sticks and glow light products every day. Along with being used for entertainment and fun, glow sticks can be used for safety purposes. For instance glow sticks have contributed to helping many through natural disasters, search and rescue, and they are even used a great deal by military members. Glow sticks have been used in the military since 1962. The military has found a variety of uses for glow sticks including non-tactical military ops, safety, and night operations. The military uses glow sticks for night missions, and safety, to keep track of others.The military uses glow sticks also for non-tactical military ops, by marking others movements, and the trails that are to be traveled. Now glow sticks are put into all standard issue military safety kits. They have found they are very useful and are a lightweight, low hazard, and easy to store. The military issues about 15 million glow stick units a year. (5) Civilians use glow sticks for recreation and fun. Consumers use them for activities such as camping, fishing, hunting, fans wear them at concerts, and children wear them to be cool at fairs and carnivals.Because of their size, convenience, price, and safe to use anywhere source of light, glow sticks are a product nearly everyone enjoys. Many boaters use glow sticks for nighttime cruses to keep track of one another on the water. The most popular type of glow stick is the standard six-inch stick, and the most popular color is green because it last the longest. There are many stories where glow sticks have contributed to saving peoples lives in search and rescue missions. When people are lost and being searched for and they have a glow stick they can be found more easily in the dark. Glow sticks are truly magic in their own way.They have helped many in different ways. Sci entist like Chandross and Rauhut, who have helped pave the way for increased safety measures for men and women in uniform, and who help adoring fans create ambiance at concerts should be thanked. Figure 1 (6) Figure 2 (7) [pic] Figure 3 (8) [pic] Work Cited Cool Blue Light Experiment Kit. 1996, 16-17 (1) How Chemical Glow sticks work. http://glowgranny. com/articles/ chemical_glow_sticks_working. htm. 11/25/10 (2) Huang, Jason. Customer Service Rep, Happy Glow. jason. [email  protected] com 11/25/10. â€Å"interview† (3) Using heat to speed up reactions in the kitchen http://www. ynami cscience. com. au/tester/solutions/chemistry/juniorsciencefoodchem/homechemistry1. htm. 12/1/10 (4) History of glow sticks in the military www. militaryglowsticks. com/pages/history-of-glow-sticks-in-the-military. html 11/25/10 (5) User and Applications. http://jeanbont. pbworks. com/w/page/23323157/Applications 12/19/10 (6) Reactions. http://www. engin. umich. edu/~cre/web_mod/new/glowsticks /reactions. htm 11/25/10 (7) Extreme glow http://www. extremeglow. com/Merchant4/ merchant. mvc? Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Helpful_Photo. 11/23/10 (8) ———————– 08 Fall Mia Foust Glow Sticks

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 91

History - Essay Example They tried to copy this style of ruling, which led to rise of absolute states so that they can assert their powers (Kidner, Bucur, Mathisen, McKee, and Theodore, 145). One of the characteristics is that the leader is the head of state and responsible for making most decisions in the state, for instance in the French absolute monarchy. King Louis XIV became a king at 23 years and was responsible for all decision made in his land. The second characteristic is that the success and power of the absolutist depended on how well they resolved their financial crisis. The third characteristic is that they were not totalitarian. This means that they neither seize nor seek to direct deceits of a culture of the state. They also had their standing armies that were referred to as the secret police (Kidner, Bucur, Mathisen, McKee and Theodore, 200). The agricultural states in the western maritime were not influenced by the absolutist states. England and Holland were the first two states that were not willing to apply this system. This was because they had already outgrown this system of leadership. They only implied some of the practice sin their internal political environment. The Dutch were also not interested in the absolutist system. The reasons for the decline of this system of the states were both intellectual and political. One of the reasons was that England was set for a radical change in its administration. It was struggling to have a modern state. England was setting out to have a parliament. These desires were driven by the religious concerns of list people. These states also saw many disadvantages in having this type of leadership. One of the reasons was that they would contact more trade and have fewer invasions as compared to the absolutist. They were slowly preparing for war and not trade. This meant that the st ates that rejected this move would not require a large army and most people

Video Games in America Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 22

Video Games in America - Research Paper Example These critics also argue that playing video games encourages violence and leads to addiction even though these allegations do not have any particular basis and evidence. Numerous research on if video games encourage violence has been unsatisfactory and has focused only on the short-term impact. During the periods when playing video games has become a commonplace occurrence in America; the rate of violent crimes has decreased by almost a half. If the games made people become violent, this tendency should be exhibited in the figures considering that half of the American people play either computer games or video games as demonstrated by the graph (Adam 2009). According to research, only three percent of people who play video games play alone as most of them engage in multi-player games in the same rooms or through online connections. It has also been suggested that gaming can be a topic of discussion for both children and adults which creates a foundation for friendships. This social attribute of gaming is demonstrated through teamwork and the sense of collaboration that is evident between the super players and their fans. The professional player's stream videos of their playing through online sites in order to assist other people who wish to play the games to learn and view various techniques. Video games are important in relieving stress as playing involves undivided attention.

Which is bigger Feel the Fear or The Giant Essay

Which is bigger Feel the Fear or The Giant - Essay Example Findings also indicate that the maximum and minimum heights for the Giant coaster are 36.434 metres and -96.434 metres. The difference between maximum and minimum heights is 132.868 metres. The analysis indicates that the dimensions of the rectangular enclosure that will give maximum possible area are 51 metres by 51 metres. The maximum possible area of the enclosure will be 2601 square metres. The analysis also indicates that the dimensions of the snack box that would give the maximum volume are 6.67 cm x 13.33 cm x 26.67 cm. The maximum volume of the snack box will be 2370.37 cubic cm. A mathematical model is a description of a system using mathematical concepts and languages. It is a mathematical representation of the relationship between two or more variables relevant to a given situation or problem. Mathematical modelling is the process of developing a mathematical model. It provides a method for solving problems mathematically. It is used to describe a real - world event, to investigate important questions about the observed world, to explain real-world event, to test ideas and to make predictions about the real world (Berry & Houston, 1995). In this report, mathematical modelling will be used to investigate the difference between maximum and minimum heights for the Feel the Fear coaster and the Giant coaster using differentiation, and maxima and minima concepts. The differentiation, and maxima and minima concepts will be also used to find the length and width of a rectangular enclosure for a given fixed fencing of 100 metres so that the enclosed area is maximized. The differentiation, and maxima and minima concepts will be used to determine the dimensions of a snack box from a 40cm by 40cm cardboard that would give maximum possible volume In this report, I used differentiation, and maxima and minima concepts to find the answers. The maximum and minimum heights for the Feel the Fear coaster

Special Education Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Special Education - Assignment Example Investigation Congress passed Public Law 94 -142 also known as Education of Handicapped Children Act. The act has been codified as the Individuals and Disabilities Education Act or IDEA. The law requires United States schools to offer free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities. Complying with the requirements will precipitate to the United States government’s release of federal funds to the requesting state. In addition, Title 20 of the United States Code Section 1400 states education for children with special disabilities is compulsory. The law clearly shows that the state that does not comply with the Public Law 94 -142 also known as Education of Handicapped Children Act will be meted repercussions like disapproval of fund requests. The law was created because congress found a need to formally institutionalize special learning education as the most appropriate learning venue for student who are too slow to absorb the lessons taught in class. On the s ide of the students with normal learning ability, slowing down the day’s lessons in order to cater to the learning capacity of the students with learning disabilities would create boredom. ... Although each interpretation has its proponents and critics, limited theory and few data are available to guide these important policy decisions. Yet, these decisions will have long-lasting impact on children with learning disabilities, and it is from this perspective that we seek better understanding of the contexts in which children receive their formal education. Studying in a normal classroom learning environment may be psychologically disadvantageous to the children with special learning disabilities. Some of the students with normal learning abilities may criticize or discriminate the classmates with special learning needs. There is a possibility that the intelligent classmates may even complain that the teacher is too slow in teaching the day’s lessons for the sake of the classmates with special learning needs. There is a slight probability that the students with normal learning ability may even ridicule the students with special learning needs. Pijl and Pijl (5) emphas ized the analysis of 31 related researches conducted using the meta –analysis technique showed that there are vivid differences in the learning ability of students with normal learning abilities and students with special learning abilities. The test focused on general intelligence and neuropsychological tests. This means that the students with special learning needs generated lower general intelligence scores compared to students with normal learning capacities. In the same manner, the students with special learning needs generated lower general neuropsychological test scores compared to students with normal learning capacities. The findings indicate that students in regular education

HRD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

HRD - Essay Example She somehow managed to spend the meeting with her client as they asked numerous questions. As soon as she returned to her job, she contacted her director and mentioned that she is shocked to note that she was rather introduced to the company as a CQI practitioner for which she was not hired. Since there were fewer consultants at work, it came to understanding that Kindred had to take their client. It is for this reason that Kindred had to consult academic researchers at the library as well as her class mates who were specialist. Also, she had to take help from a friend who pretended to be an assistant (Cummings & Worley, 2009). Herein, it should be noted that Kindred had to face dilemma at her job. There were three types of dilemmas which were noted in the case of Kindred namely dilemma of self, competence and confidence. Firstly, the dilemma of self notes those kindred was confused about her identity which was falsified by her director in front of clients showing her as a CQI specialist for which she was not even hired. Secondly, the dilemma of competence level was that she became doubtful about as she was skilled in different area (Cummings & Worley, 2009). The question remains that whether her lack of CQI specialty was because she didn’t aspire to learn or because of her director who presented her wrongly. And finally, dilemma of confidence which marked that she was not sure for whom she was working. The question remained in her mind that whether her director is an honest person or not. She was making many assumptions in her mind that even in the future; her director would have done similar acts by sending to clients for which she would not have been competent at all (Cummings & Worley, 2009). If I was in her position, I would have done the same because ethics are to be followed. A career growth is not expected until or unless there are subjected clauses and ethics which are

Summary about singin in the rain movie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summary about singin in the rain movie - Essay Example To her embarrassment from Don’s reaction, she aims a pie at him but hits Lina instead. Don and Kathy however reconcile and fall in love. A subsequent presentation at the party is however successful and the producer decides to change the movie into a talkie whose production process is challenged with the worst experience being Lina’s voice. The production is then changed, upon success, into a musical with Kathy dubbing Lina’s voice. This annoys Lina and she determines to end the relationship between Don and Kathy as well as diminishing Kathy’s credit in the production. Following the success of the production, the audience calls on Lina to make a live performance. Don, his friend Cosmo and the producer decides to let Lina sing on stage while they project Kathy’s voice to the audience from the powered microphone behind a curtain. Don, Cosmo and the producer then reveals Kathy by opening a curtain, to Lina’s embarrassment forcing her to flee from the stage. When Kathy tries to run away, Don stops her, introduces her as the real star before the two sings, and they later appear kissing on a billboard advertisement of the ‘singing in the rain’ film with Don and Kathy as the stars (Donen and Kelly,

Toward a Moral Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Toward a Moral Economy - Essay Example Just for the sake of their rights, some of the people who were in favor of the justice and equality for all raised their voices and thus the concept of moral economy were developed. There are different characteristics or the attributes, which can make any economy a moral and justified economy. The researchers are of the opinion that any economy can be perfect and moral just because of the implications and the practices in that particular duration. There are three main types of economies based on the practices and the implications, i.e. Socialism, capitalism and the communism. Usually if we look over all the concepts and the attitudes of a socialist economy then we can say that socialism is the best moral economy. If we look at the historical perspectives of the establishment of a moral economy, the different sociologists have worked a lot on this discussion. The one common point of all the researchers is the basic foundation of a moral economy. According to their point of view, the economic activities influenced by the sentiments, values, norms, and other just thought patterns might contribute to make a moral economy. The contributions of different authors are discussed here in detail; Adam Smith: Adam Smith wrote two books containing great and inspirational concepts about the establishment of a moral economy. One book ‘Wealth of the Nations’ is directly related to the ethical standards of an economy whereas the other book ‘The Moral System’ gives a general frame work for the foundation of an economic system. In both of his writings, Smith has tried to formulate general rules of justice and laws that should be implemented in an economic system. Adam Smith has even tried to pin point the process that can motivate the people to adopt ethical and moral laws so that they can work their best for the establishment of a moral economy at least on individual basis. Another high point of Smith writings is the formulation of two

My School Essay Example for Free

My School Essay Today if there is any institution which exerts the greatest influence on us after the family, it is the school. The years that we spend in school are not merely time spent in learning and filling our minds with knowledge, but also time spent in moulding our character, acquiring various attitudes and imbibing basic principles of life. The basic traits of our personality are formed during our school days. The name of my school is Don Bosco Secondary School. It is situated in a town called Tura, W. Garo hills, Meghalaya. It is considered to be one of the finest schools in the state, highly acclaimed for its excellent HSLC results. The school building is an impressive structure. It consists of four floors and has about 25 classrooms. Classrooms are spacious and airy. see more:speech on my school Two staircases at both ends lead to the floors. The school has a well equipped library, a well- established science laboratory and an excellent computer room, all of which are situated on the third floor. The schools auditorium situated on the top-most floor is said to be the finest hall in the region. The Principal’s office, clerk’s room and the Staff Room are on the ground floor, close to the entrance. The school canteen is another important part of the school complex. It is situated on a separate wing close to the ground floor. Two cemented basketball courts stand in front of the Principal’s office, while the school’s football field lies at the far end of the compound. A small garden full of flower plants surrounds the school building adding to the charm and beauty of the entire complex. My school has over 1500 children studying from nursery to class X and a staff of over 45. Our headmaster is an experienced and a very efficient person, who has been at his job for the last 15 years and more. Under his able direction, the school has been obtaining cent percent HSLC results over the last 10 years. The teachers are well experienced and well versed in their subjects. My school has also made a name for itself in the field of cultural pursuits and  sports activities. The school band is considered to be one of the best bands in the whole region. The principal celebrations in my school are School Annual Sports Day, Parents’ Day, Teacher’s Day, Children’s Day, Anniversary Day, Founder’s Day, etc., which are celebrated in a grand manner. Co-curricular activities, such as, scouting, N.C.C., Eco- Club, School band, etc. have contributed in making my school an excellent educational institution of the region. What I like most in my school, is the discipline that exists there. The headmaster as well as the teachers are disciplined and men and women of character. They do not allow any untruly behaviour or any undisciplined activities by students. A lot of emphasis is given to character formation, moral education and acquiring good values of life. Although the school ambient is rather strict and time-table based, yet there is lot of fun and joy in the school. Matches, tournaments, cultural shows, competitions, outings, etc. make my school life lively, interesting and enjoyable. I am proud to be a student of Don Bosco Secondary School, Tura. As I glance back at the bygone school years, my heart swells up with gratitude and thanks giving for the twelve wonderful years that I spent in the school. My school has profoundly shaped and moulded me more than any other factors in my life. School is a temple of learning and a training ground for future citizens. The name of my school is JB High School. It was set up in 1943 by a land-lord in our area. He donated land and money for the school. The atmosphere in which our school is situated is very pleasant. It is surrounded by a play ground on one side and a garden with a small pond on the other. The school has two rows of big buildings. The name of the school is written on the front building. There are ten class rooms in the front building. Other ten rooms in the back building are used for different purposes such as the Head Masters Office, Library, the Clerks Office, the Science Laboratory, the Teachers Common-room, the N.C.C. and Scout Room, etc. There is also a hostel in our school campus. There are twenty teachers, a PET, a librarian, a clerk and two peons in our school. All the teachers are qualified and experienced. The Head Master is a learned man. He teaches Science and Geography. He also teaches English. The total number of students of our school is about five hundred. We go to school in uniform. The uniform for boys consists of blue half-pant and white half shirt. For girls it consists of blue skirt and white blouse. The school functions from 10.30 A.M. to 4 P.M. classes begin after a mass prayer. During the recess hour we go to play ground. Some students also go to library and read newspaper there. In games period we play football, volley ball, etc. Girl students play ring ball too. The library of our school is a big one. There are about two thousand books on different subjects; we have a library period in our weekly routine. We borrow books from our library and refund them after a week. We observe the Republic Day, the Independence Day, the Teachers Day in our school. We also celebrate the Ganesh Puja and the Saraswati Puja in our school. We also hold debate competitions and games and sports every year. The school magazine named the Shree is published every year. In annual examinations the students from our school show brilliant performance. Many students from this school have occupied glorious position in our state. The District Science Exhibition is also held in our school. Two years ago a classical teacher from our school won the Governors Award. The discipline, the study atmosphere and the brilliant academic result of our school attract many meritorious students from distant parts of our state. It is an ideal school in all respects.

Red Bull Energy Drink Essay Example for Free

Red Bull Energy Drink Essay * Red Bull can be called as a pioneer in the energy drink category worldwide. In India too, Red Bull was the brand that created the energy drink category. * The brand came into existence in 1984. * The brand came to India in 2003. Although the brand has been keeping a low profile compared to the Cola majors , Red Bull has created a category of energy drinks in the Indian market. 4. Contd. * According to Economic Times ( 30. 05. 08) the energy drink market in India is estimated to be around 100 crores. * The market now has two main players Red Bull and Power Horse. * RB has an assessed market share of 29% of the global market of energy Drinks. * In the U. S. , Red Bull enjoys a 47% share of the energy drink market, and now has a 50% share of the German energy drink market. 5. SWOT Analysis * Market leadership- Within the energy drinks market Red Bull is the industry leader throughout the world. Marketing Efforts- a lot of promotions and well targeted campaigns and sponsorship e. g. formula 1 helps to expand Red bull brand and increase consumer brand awareness. * Strong , fresh fashionable brand identity. * Strengths 6. Weaknesses * Above-average prices. * Lack of innovation- there are a lot of competitors in the market and they have their own USP which leaves Red Bull behind. * Reliant on small product base- The company only markets one branded product, Red Bull Energy Drink (along with a sugar free variety). * Inexperience: is only 6 years old in India. * Lack of patent on RB ‘s recipe means anyone can copy it. 7. Opportunities * Extension of product line- this will help to retain market share. * Hardcore Advertising and Promotions. * Consumer recognition through sponsorship of sports events. * New ventures like partnership with Facebook. 8. Threats * Health concerns- tougher rules from government on high caffeine content. * Consumer awareness of health and well being- people may start to drink other alternatives as it is associated with healthier life style. * Drinks might not be accepted in the new markets. * Organic energy drinks might steal RB’s market share. 9. Promotion Opportunity Analysis * Competitive Analysis * Opportunity Analysis * Target Market Analysis * Customer Analysis * Market Segmentation Strategy 10. Competitive Analysis 11. Share of Energy Drink Market Red Bull 42. 6 Monster 14. 4 Rockstar 11. 4 Full Throttle 6. 9 Sobe No Fear 5. 4 Amp 3. 6 Sobe Adrenaline Rush 2. 9 Tab Energy 2. 3 Monster XXL 0. 9 Private Label 0. 9 Rip It 0. 8 Sobe Lean 0. 7 BooKoo 0. 5 Sobe Superman 0. 4 Von Dutch 0. 4 12. Real Competition * Redbull’s real competitors are the market leaders of cola companies such as : Pepsi Coca Cola, who have created their brand leadership since several years in the Indian market. 13. Opportunity Analysis * RB has a niche market is yet to percolate in the mass market. 14. Target Market Analysis * Core target market segments for RB consists of the core age group of 15 to 60. * Energy drinks with high sugar levels are more popular among children and women, while energy drinks with strong taste and flavor are more preferred by male consumers. * Recent studies also indicated that 65% of the energy drinks market consists of male consumers. 15. Customer Analysis * Young people are especially open to determined exhaustion and insufficient energy. * More specifically male teenagers people in their 20s, are also most likely to believe in the authenticity of the energy drinks’. * As a result, the majority of energy drinks are developed for and advertised to this younger generation. * Appeal to very specialized groups, such as gamers, extreme sports enthusiasts, and the hip-hop crowd. 16. Target Consumer Demographics Psychographics Usage Behavior Consumption collection Age: 15- 60 Content Image Conscious Influenced Spending Power Youth trends Physically Active Eat Out 25% of Indians 17. Market Segmentation Strategy * RedBull avoided usual methods of marketing, relying more on what is called buzz marketing or word-of-mouth. * Red Bull advertised directly to Generation Y , the so-called millennial: people born after 1981. * ‘ Student brand managers who would be used to promote Red Bull on university campuses. These students would be encouraged to throw parties at which cases of Red Bull would be distributed. 18. Corporate Strategies * Mission Statement * Our mission is to be the premier marketer and supplier of * RedBull in Asia, Europe and other parts of the globe. We will * achieve this mission by building long-term relationships with the * people who can make it become a reality. * Vision Statement: * People: Be a great place to work where people are inspired to be the best they can be. * Portfolio: Bring to the world a portfolio of quality beverage that anticipate and satisfy peoples desires and needs. * Partners: Nurture a winning network of customers and suppliers, together we create mutual, enduring value. * Profit: Maximize long-term return to shareowners while being mindful of our overall responsibilities. * Productivity: Be a highly effective, lean and fast-moving organization. 19. Brand Development Strategy * Great Strategy Begins with Great Research. * Once the brand’s core values have been identified, the road towards effective brand proposition development begins. * Development of the brand statement- commencing a Brand development strategy. 20. 21. Brand Positioning Strategy * Clear, Engaging, Unique, Relevant to the target audience. * Able to incorporate an element of positive emotional attachment that is better than just quot;good†. * Echoed within business, internally and externally. * Consistent across multiple marketing advertising mediums (print, online presence, etc). * Continually toughened within the organization so that employees consistently deliver what is promised. * Able to adapt to a changing marketplace. 22. Distribution Strategy. * Intensive distribution aims to provide saturation coverage of the market by using all available outlets such as: * Super markets, * Gyms, * Coffee Houses: Subway, Barista, Costa Coffee, Cafe Coffee Day * In n Out Convenience Stores. * Pizza Outlets. * Media Relations * Use Technology * Monitor the Web * Create Public Awareness 23. Integrated Marketing Communications Management * Sales Promotion: * Must encourage the 1 st purchase of the product in a store. * Make them aware of the product its advantages. 24. IMC Objectives * RedBull’s IMC objective is: Sales Promotions. * Create new target markets. * Large display in the Departmental stores. * Bull Hoof stickers on the floors of departmental stores promoting RB. 25. IMC Budget 26. Internet Web site * Promotions through social networking sites such as: facebook, twitter, Hi5. * Also, Ad promos on websites such as NDTV, zoom India. 27. Media * Ad Campaigns on Prime TV channels such as NDTV good times, MTV, Channel V, Zoom, VH1, Star World a few more. 28. Budget * Magazine: * Femina, People, Rolling Stones. * 15k per page * 12 mnths- 180,000 * Newspapers: * HT City Delhi Times. * 1lac per page * 4 weeks * 12 mnths- 4800000 * Radio: * 10k per mnth * 12 – 120000 * TV: * 5 lacs * 4 weeks * 12 2400000 * Total Expense: 31,80,000 29. 30. Integrated Marketing Communication Methodologies * How do we communicate? How do customers process information? * There are many models theories. * Thorough understanding of the audiences needs, emotions * activities is essential to ensure accuracy relevance of the * message. 31. Advertising * What target market do you want to reach? * What image do you want to portray? * What product or service do you want to emphasize? * How much money can you spend? * When is the right time to advertise? * Red Bull has an aggressive marketing campaign. * Red Bull uses all the available media channels, meaning cinema, TV, radio, press and the internet. * In other words the company focuses on the media through which it reaches its primary target market-young people. * RB allows the consumers to interpret the product the moments of use themselves. * Red Bull achieves this by a humorous and witty cartoon campaign, transferring the message that this energy drink helps you to escape by `giving you wings ?. 32. Consumer Promotions * Red Bull sponsors the motorsports or fun sports, but always where Red Bull is needed. * Red Bull does event sponsoring. * Event sponsoring attracts people’s attention towards the product and connects them. 33. Personal Selling * Sampling is another very important part of the three pillar marketing system. * As the major purpose of Red Bull is to energize the company samples at the right place at the right time, where it finds its exact target market. * Examples of usage are driving, studying, working night shifts and sports. 34. 35. Media Plan * TV: * Still a staple medium of advertising. * Allows to demonstrate the advantages of RB. * Good Reach. * Magazines: * Economical. * Provides higher brand awareness. 36. Evaluation Control Metrics Campaign Element Metrics News Media No. of viewers of the articles Social Media No. of people using the Blogs such as Twitter, Facebook Internet TV No. of people viewing particularly when the Ad is being aired. Print Advertisement No. Of Subscribers of those magazines, Newspapers Product Placement No.of comments (+ or ) mentioned on social networking sites. 37. Timelines IMC/ Month Oct 09 Nov 09 Dec 09 Jan 10 Feb 10 Mar 10 Apr 10 May 10 RedBull on the Web Print Media Blogs Radio TV Other Misc. * DARE TO BE DISCOVERED!!! 38. 39. Sources * http://www. rediff. com/money/2006/may/24drink. htm * http://www. thestudentroom. co. uk/showthread. php? t=986602 * http://www. trcb. com/business/marketing/redbull-marketing-strategy-7375. htm * http://www. drawert. com/red_bull_2. php http://energydrinks. factexpert. com/882-energy-drink-industry. php.

The Concepts Of Supply Chain Management Business Essay

The Concepts Of Supply Chain Management Business Essay Explain what are the supply chain uncertainties and supply chain risks; explore some already established theories about the supply chain uncertainty using academic and professional journal articles. Discuss the phenomena and behaviour of the Forrester Effect as one of the models for demand uncertainty; further explore the countermeasures of Forrester Effect. Elucidate the critical importance of supplier relationship management for the supply chain competitiveness; by finding and referencing to a number of professional literatures critically review some relationship management frameworks, models and approaches; discuss how a business might decide on the most appropriate relationship portfolio and management approach. Define and explain the concept of strategic outsourcing in the context of designing and reconfiguring supply chain structures; discuss the decision process of outsourcing and influencing factors; explore what might be the difficulties and barriers in its operational implementation; and finally summarise the key benefits and potential risks. Requirement: A content page and page numbering To complete two separate reports on two chosen topics from the three above, indicating the question number. Properly structure the discussion into sections and give subtitles for each section. Use references (normally 3-5 professional journal articles for each report) to demonstrate the extended learning Each topic is recommended to be up to 2500 words in length. No lengthy case study is required, but some short (a few sentences) real world examples may be adequate. SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Table of Contents 1.0 SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT.2 1.1 Introduction .2 1.2 Importance of Supply Relationship Management..2 1.3 Relationship Management Framework.4 1.3.2 Industrial Marketing and Purchasing (IMP) interaction Approach..4 1.3.3 Supply Chain Frameworks.4 1.3.4 Service Supply Modelsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦5 1.4 Relationship Portfolio and Management Approach6 2.0 STRATEGIC OUTSOURCING11 2.1 Outsourcing and Supply Network Design..11 2.2 Outsourcing Decision Process and Influencing Factors..11 2.2.1 Planning phase12 2.2.2 Explore the Strategic Implications phase..12 2.2.3 Tactical implications phase.12 2.2.4 Cost analysis phase..13 2.2.5 Implementation phase..13 2.3 Implementation Problems.14 2.4 Key Benefits and Potential Outsourcing Risks.15 REFERENCING..17 1.0 SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT 1.1 Introduction An important feature of a world class organisation is the way the organisation has been able to develop and link its suppliers with its external processes, Peter Hines, World Class Suppliers, (Pitman, 1994). Supplier relationship management can be defined as the relationship that exists between the supplier and its buyer based on long term commitments and trust with the ultimate aim to maximise the potential value of the relationship. This will include the management of different forms of supply relationships such as partnership, joint venture and vertical integration. 1.2 Importance of Supply Relationship Management The critical importance of supplier relationship types to achieve supply chain competitiveness can be viewed under the following headings: The effective use of strategic partnership Typical traditional short term relationship is characterise by irregular or one-off transactions that give rise to supply uncertainties, difficulties in choosing suppliers, and is price oriented making this type of relationship unreliable and unsupported. Organisations can move from this type of relationship towards a long term relationship known as partnership based on trust, shared goals and risks to achieve mutual benefits. Nigel Slack, Stuart Chambers and Robert Johnston, Operations Management, (Pearson, 2010), define partnership as an agreement between two firms that seek to accomplish a common objective. The Japanese, James P Womack et al, the Machine That Changed the World, (Macmillan, 1990) , used the concept of partnership and lean to gain competitive advantage because they realised their partners had the expertise, the technical knowledge and were reliable. Effective partnership with suppliers made them to compete favourably in the market because of good product quality, lo w cost and reliable delivery. Therefore, firms can use this same method to rationalise their supply base and use the lean concept to produce efficiently which will lead to reduce product lead times, reduce inventory and inventory cost. The implementation of new management tools and systems A key element of supply relationship management that gives firms competitive advantage is the implementation of the lean concept of monitoring supplier performance and continuous improvement. Monitoring performance is a post-contractual procedure in which the buyer continuously keeps an eye on the supplier by either managing the suppliers activities to make sure all commitments are met or using a measurement matrix such as key performance index (KPI) to compare supplier progress and divergence from targeted objective. The overall competitive advantage is an operation that is continuously improved in terms of quality, delivery and service. In 1989, Chrysler benching against the Japanese companies, initiated the Supplier Cost Reduction Effort (SCORE) program aimed to reduce cost, quality and monitor supplier performance; Dawei Lu et al, Supply Chain Management module notes (WMG, University of Warwick, 2011). The integration of knowledge and technology to create an all new technology Integration with supplier is all about coordination. Here, the buyer and supplier come together to align their processes thus improving communication and supply chain visibility for both parties. When firms integrate their knowledge and technology they are able to meet the needs of end customers by getting the right product at the right price and quality, giving them a competitive edge. This strategy was used by Bose Corporation 1990 that led to the extension and creation of the JIT2 concept, a logical extension of JIT that eliminates waste in the system, improves communication and reduces demand variability. Efficient consumer response (ECR) to demand variability caused by the forester effect. Firms are always seeking solutions for continuous demand variation and consumer requirements. Through effective supplier and buyer collaboration, firms will be able to achieve competitive advantage by efficiently managing their supplier relationship to meet the needs of the end consumer creating a fluid inventory flow from suppliers to the consumers reducing lead times, demand variability and uncertainty. This has led to initiatives such as Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID), a tracking technology that provides real time information and location of goods. Tesco, UKs largest grocery retailer has exploited this technology strategy and is piloting pallet-level RFID to manage its logistics; Christos Tsinopoulos and Carlos Mena, Competing Supply Chain Strategy: Tesco, Aldi and Lidl, (ECCH, 2010). Increase competition amongst firms to secure and increase domestic and international market share. Domestic and international market pressures are just other facets that have pushed firms to collaborate and develop strategic partnership with suppliers to gain competitive edge. Using this approach, firms use both local and international suppliers to broaden their sourcing base, reduce product lead time, and stream line cost through cheaper, global and local sourcing alternatives. The benefits are quick response to demand variation and high availability of variety of products at reasonable price and quality. This in turn attracts a greater amount of customers and increase market share. This is a strategy which IKEA, a Swedish international furniture company has successfully used to provide quality products at reasonable price and secure a large market share both domestically and internationally. 1.3 Relationship Management Framework 1.3.1 Introduction A relationship defines an interaction between individuals, organisations and groups; Kenneth Lysons and Michael Gillingham, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management (Prentice Hall, 2003). There are many possible supply chain relationship types because very few companies can operate on their own. These relationships can be categorized as business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumers (B2C), consumers-to-business (C2B) and customers-to-customers (C2C). B2B relationships are most common and have been used in many approaches and models such as IMP, SCOR, HP, GSCF, Service supply chain and IUE-SSE to help explain supplier-customer interaction. 1.3.2 Industrial Marketing and Purchasing (IMP) interaction Approach The IMP interaction approach is a dynamic model of supplier-customer relationship developed in the mid 1970s by a group of five European countries and universities; IMP Group.[online].(http://www.impgroup.org/about).(Accessed 06 Feb 2011). Based on investigations of about 900 business relationships, the IMP group developed a model of an interaction process at both the firm and individual levels creating a dynamic, complex and long standing relationship rather than one based on a short term stable relationship; Bensaou M (1999), Portfolios of Buyer-Supplier Relationships, Sloan Management Review, Vol. 40, 35-45. This relationship is influenced by soft factors such as power, cooperation, closeness and expectations as well as external environmental factors such as market structures, dynamism, internationalisation and position in the market. The IMP Group approach and model provide a good overview of buyer-supplier relationships and have formed the basis of other frameworks like David T. Wilson, (1995) Integrated model of Buyer-Supplier relationships, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science , Vol. 23, 335-345. 1.3.3 Supply Chain Frameworks Customer-supplier relationship management models and frameworks can also be viewed within the context of the different types of supply chain models that exhibit customer-supplier relationship management. This will include a variety of supply chain models which address customer-supplier relationships such as HP, SCOR, GSCF, and IUE-SSC model. These models identify customer-supplier relationships by adopting two differing views; product and service supply chain view. Product oriented models adopt a manufacturing approach that involves the physical movement of goods under uncertainties managed to satisfy customer demands and include the HP, SCOR and GSCF models. The Hewlett Packard (HP) model was developed by the Hewlett Packard Company as a result of spiral inventory and customer dissatisfaction the company was facing with its order fulfillment process. Lee, H. and C. Billington, (1995), The Evolution of Supply-Chain Management Models and Practice at Hewlett-Packard, Business Source Premiere, Vol. 25, 42-63, used this model to demonstrate how suppliers, manufacturers and customers are linked in the flow of goods with multiple warehouses providing inventory at each stage to buffer demand. The Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model is a highly structured and broad model developed by the Supply Chain Council to measure total supply chain performance; Supply Chain Council. [Online].(http://supply-chain.org/f/SCOR%2090%20Overview%20Booklet.pdf ) (Accessed 06 Feb 2011). The SCOR model adopts a process manufacturing viewpoint and identifies supplier- customer relationships by breaking down the supply chain into links, each link made up of processes representing supplier-customer relationships. These relationships are then benchmarked using Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to assess the success within the supply chain. This model, although it improves customer satisfaction through improved supplier-customer relationships, it does not attempt to describe some elements of post delivery customer support, a critical feature of supplier-customer relationship management. The Global Supply Chain Forum (GSCF) is yet another supply chain framework that adopts the process manufacturing approach and identifies supplier relationship management as one of its eight key business processes of product flow. Croxton L. Keely et al, (2001), the Supply Chain Management Processes, International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 12, 13-24, depicts this model as an end-to-end process where each process is linked and managed to interface with key customers and suppliers. This creates eight business processes among which is customer-supplier relationship management to allow the smooth flow of product within the supply chain. 1.3.4 Service Supply Models The above three models define supply chains purely from a traditional perspective of product flow. However, with the growing importance of services and service industry, Ellram et al, (2004), Understanding and Managing Service Supply Chain, The Journal of Supply Chain Management, Vol. 40, 17-32, adapted this manufacturing approach into a new line of service thinking that uses service capacity and delivery, instead of products to classify supply chains as the key processes. This service supply model captures customer-supplier relationship via an end-to-end supplier and customer process that include capacity and demand management, cash flows and service delivery management, and just like manufacturing supply chain, customer relationship management. This is a very good approach that identifies relationship management but limited in that services are intangible and this makes them difficult to visualise and measure. A follow up to the service supply chain viewpoint is the work of Baltacioglu et al (2007), A New Framework for Service Supply Chains, Service Industries Journal, Vol. 27, 105-124, who proposed the IUE-SSC model. IUE-SSC model represents the initials of the affiliated organisation of the authors and Service Supply Chain Model. This model identifies customer-supplier relationships by breaking down supply chain into three basic parts: the supplier, the service provider and the customer. Here, the service supplied by the supplier constitutes a core and supporting service and just like the service supply chain model by Ellram et al, this model identifies a number of activities that includes some customer-supplier relationship management essential to the service supply chain. Relationship types are diverse and could either be of business type such as B2B or consumer type such as C2C. In my thinking the popularity of B2B and the historical context of consumer-supplier behaviour pushed the above mentioned authors to focus exclusively on B2B relationships in explaining customer-supplier behaviours in the models they proposed. But the general shift in consumer behaviour and the impact of globalisation and information technology should trigger a move to contemporary models of consumer-supplier relationships in business-to-consumer, consumer-to-business or consumer-to-consumer. I therefore think that the modern business world would appreciate models build around E-commerce type relationships and a move from product or service approach models that explains consumer-supplier relationship management. 1.4 Relationship Portfolio and Management Approach Conventional thinking suggests that relationships tend to vary with companies and there is no fit for all purpose relationship. A logical step after organisations are able to identify the various types of relationships is to focus on the relationship portfolio they want to build with their suppliers and to effectively manage this relationship for competitiveness. A number of methods and approaches have been adopted ranging from the various types of relationships to more analytic models such as Kraljics Purchasing/supply portfolio-analysis and the power regime. Firms have adopted different approaches to tailor the different types of relationships to fit their particular products, service or markets. These relationships tend to follow a pattern from a short term traditional arms length relationship to a new form of close and long term relationship known as partnership or vertical integration; Alan Harrison and Remko van Hoek, Logistics Management and Strategy, (Pearson, 2008). Others have viewed this trend as a continuum and included additional types such as strategic alliance and joint ventures. Depending on its strategy, a firm might adopt a range of style such as develop strategic partners by rationalising its supply base and dealing only with a few suppliers, a popular approach most firms are now adopting. It might also adopt a variety of relationships style depending on the markets and the products. The Kraljics model analyses the purchasing portfolio of a firms product into high and low supply risk and supply impact on the financial results. The end result is the segregation of products as: strategic, leverage, routine and bottlenecks as shown below; High Low Fig 1: Kraljics model Leverage products Alternate source of supply available Substitution possible Competitive bidding Strategic products Critical for products cost price Dependence on supplier Performance based partnership Routine products Large product variety High logistics complexity Labour intensive System contracting E-commerce solutions Bottleneck products Monopolistic market Large entry barriers Secure supply and search for alternatives Low Supply Risk High Source: Dawei Lu et al, Supply Chain Management module notes (WMG, University of Warwick, 2011). Using this method, management can therefore spend time and develop performance based relationships such as partnership on those suppliers whose products matter most, for example, strategic products and outsource non critical or leverage products. Bensaou M (1999), Portfolios of Buyer-Supplier Relationships, Sloan Management Review, Vol. 40, pp. 35-45 adopted a similar approach based on product and market conditions to create a supplier portfolio of our different relationship profiles; captive buyer, strategic partnership, market exchange and captive supplier. Fig 2: Relationship Portfolio Source: Bensaou M (1999), Portfolios of Buyer-Supplier Relationships, Sloan Management Review, Vol. 40, pp. 35-45 To effectively manage the relationships such as the Captive buyer and Market exchange, Bensaou suggested the use of management practices such as treating each other with respect and fair profit sharing and for strategic partners to regularly exchange information or pay frequent visit creating a social climate that is trusting and collaborative. The ABC analysis method is another commonly used technique by businesses to segment supplier relationship portfolio. Wagner S. and Johnson J. L., Configuring and Managing Strategic Supplier Portfolios, Industrial Marketing Management, Vol. 33, 717-730 adopted this approach using a wide range of factors such as volume, suppliers performance, supplier strategic importance, price and quality to segregate suppliers into category (Cat) A, B and C. Cat A suppliers where suppliers that supplied a total 80% volume, while Cat B supplied 15% and finally Cat C, 5%. Very little time is spent on managing and developing Cat C supplier because of their limited volume. In most cases they are used by the company as a way to reduce cost by either direct sourcing or via e-procurement. On the other hand, Cat A suppliers should be considered imperative by top management and a close relationship or partnership should be developed. This relationship can be monitored through regular and annual meetings with suppliers as well as creating an award for suppliers to maintain motivation. In addition, the buyer can invest on supplier development by either assisting or sponsoring supplier to improve performance. Another approach is that by Andrew Cox et al (2004), Managing Appropriately in Power Regimes: Relationship and Performance Management in 12 Supply Chain Cases, Supply Chain Management, an International Journal, vol. 9, 357 371, that correlates the findings of relationships and performance management strategies in power regimes. In a power regime, a business can decide on the appropriate relationship and relationship management style(s) depending on their power condition, as shown on the fig 3. Therefore, in a business deal where the buyer is dominant or has an interdependence power position, it will be better to choose a relationship approach based on supplier development. Conversely, in a supplier power regime relative to supplier dominance and/or interdependence then the option is for a supply chain management approach to be adopted. A change in the power structure in this technique will lead to a change in the relationship portfolio and this will lead to improve performance outco mes especially when either parties change their behaviour. Fig 3: Power Regime 2.0 STRATEGIC OUTSOURCING A significant decision facing most businesses today and which have a long term impact on the firm is whether to produce internally (insourcing) or use an outside supplier (outsourcing); Robert Monczka, Robert Trent, and Robert Handfield, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, (Thomson, 2005). 2.1 Outsourcing and Supply Network Design Outsourcing, sometimes referred to as make-or-buy, is a strategy by which an organisations management decides to hand over its non-core activities to a specialised third party that can efficiently provide the service; Kenneth Lysons and Michael Gillingham, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, (Prentice Hall, 2003). Therefore, central to outsourcing is the make or buy decisions and the relationship that is formed between the purchaser and the supplier. The make or buy decision arises because organisations have come to the realisation that they cannot produce or make everything on their own and can effectively spend more time on core competence while non core competence could be outsourced. This decision to outsource or make or buy is a strategic one that will create a new supply network of suppliers and sometimes suppliers suppliers. In this new supply network, the organisation will need to adjust its operation in line with its new suppliers and, where possible, its suppliers suppliers creating a total supply network; Nigel Slack, Stuart Chambers and Robert Johnston, Operations Management, (Pearson, 2010). This strategic decision to outsource brings a whole new chapter within the organisation and will prompt a key design decision; how to configure the new network and how much of the network should be retained by the organisation. This will help management to decide on how it intends to influence and manage the overall new structure . 2.2 Outsourcing Decision Process and Influencing Factors Traditionally, the main outsourcing decision process focused on cost reduction. However, the importance of outsourcing decision to an organisation competitive position has pushed many organisations to consider a number of other factors. The decision process adopted here is one adapted from Robert Monczka, Robert Trent, and Robert Handfield, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, (Thomson, 2005). 2.2.1 Planning phase The initial process in undertaking any outsourcing motive is to initiate a project of a cross functional team and define its scope and objectives. The team should identify activities to be outsourced and present to management for acceptance. Explore the Strategic Implications phase Strategic implications will mean aligning the outsourcing decision with three main factors: The companys long term plans and its impact on other activities and functions. This means if the activity that is being outsourced should disrupt the companys future plan or affects other functions, it is better off being insource. Furthermore, the decision should be in line with an understanding of the organisations core competence. If outsourced activity is not perceived as being core capabilities, the firm might decide to outsource. Analysis of the impact of process technological and how it compares to its competitors for competitive advantage. If analysis shows minimal competitive advantage then the organisation can decide to outsource but in cases where in house process technology provides competitive advantage, the organisation could reconsider to insource. 2.2.3 Tactical implications phase Tactical decision process will consider the following factors, and the ability to test prospective outsourcing initiative. Alternatives to outsourcing: Being tactical is crucial in outsourcing because the final decision to outsource can be very expensive for the organisation. Therefore, before making that final decision, the organisation could reconsider alternatives to outsourcing such as producing in-house, subcontracting or vertical integration. The length of contract: Outsourcing decision could mean being tied down in a long term contract which could impact on other strategic objectives. Impact of size: Also the size of the outsourcing activity can impact on the decision process as management can decide on other options if the activity to outsource is too large and can have adverse effect on core activities. Corporate culture: The impact on corporate culture is another key tactical factor that should be considered on outsourced activity to organisation. This means considering employees feelings regarding the activity to be outsourced. 2.2.4 Cost analysis phase Critical to any outsourcing decision process is its ability to be cost-effective at a quality level competitive in the marketplace. An accurate cost-effective calculation looks beyond the initial and obvious costs and is based on a marginal costing principle; a cumulative costing concept including total variable cost, total fixed cost and operating costs. Other costs will include the opportunity cost which is the potential benefits forgone if the activity being outsourced is done in house. Implementation phase The implementation process will be driven by effective service provider selection and managing post-contractual relationship. Because outsourcing usually involves a long term contract and high investment, selecting the correct service provider is imperative. The selection process will include; Market research: This involves carrying out a thorough market research to determine market price and terms of conditions, and identifying potential service providers with the right expertise, capacity and similarity in corporate culture. Develop a tender request. The tender request should provide in detail the outsourcing requirements as well as general information about the organisation including the scope and the objectives of outsourcing. This document will form a good guide to potential service providers. Conduct site visit. After tenders have been submitted, a site visit to potential service provider will aim to compare reality to what is on paper. It will be an opportunity to look at the corporate culture, its processes, the people, and how they can fit in to the outsourcing organisation. Negotiate. Negotiation will aim to find a common ground for a win-win situation. Central to this will be: quality of service and the performance level, scope for improvement and change, pricing and management style including assimilation of employees. The implementation process is not complete without any form of decision to manage post-contractual relationship which is very important to the sustainability of the whole outsourcing process. The key factor is to develop a key performance indicator (KPI) to continuously measure and monitor performance of service provider so that service quality is maintained and relationship continuously improved. In conclusion, the decision to outsource by a firm is a crucial and strategic one because it affects a greater part of the firm and it can be used as a competitive tool. Traditionally, this decision was based simply on cost and benefits but as discussed above, the decision process is now influenced by many factors and departments. Therefore, for an outsourcing decision process to be effective and efficient, a cross functional team should be selected to be part of the whole process. Implementation Problems Shawn McCray (2008). [Online].(http://www.tpi.net/pdf/papers/Top_10_Problems-with_Outsourcing.pdf).(Accessed 23 February 2011), identifies poor change management and governance as key issues in implementing outsourcing. Some of the problems related to implementation are: Post-contract processes poorly written: This occurs because both parties after signing the contract do not want to work together. The root problem being mutual misunderstanding of contract and the scope of outsourced activities resulting to services not performed and increase frustration amongst staff. Cultural clash: Cultural clash, corporate or international, can tend to produce tension, distrust and misunderstanding. This is problematic especially in a situation of offshoring where communication is limited to email or phones. This will be further compounded in difference in work ethics which if not streamlined will create added tension. Quality of service: A main reason management decides to outsource is to improve the quality of service. Where service provider is unable to achieve this, the whole outsourcing process becomes questionable and creates problems surrounding contractual performance and implementation. Lack of Coordination: Coordination and the lack of a coordinating team present an implementation problem. This is because as soon as the contract is signed, the client quickly shifts all responsibilities to the service provider who is still trying to get started and there is no team in place to coordinate activities. This wi

Call Of The Wild :: essays research papers

Call of the Wild Jack London's thrilling epic tale of adventure and bravery, through the eyes of a part St. Bernard, part German Shepherd named Buck. Our story opens with the author describing the lifestyle of this pampered dog on the premises of his master's home, Judge Miller, in the Santa Clara valley. John London describes a particular gold rush that transpired in 1897 and it was named the Klondike gold rush. Very early in the story line, Buck is kidnapped by Manuel, one of the gardener's helpers, who's major weakness was gambling. Buck was sold to two men named Francois and Perrault. Buck was shipped to Alaska to serve as a sled dog during the Klondike gold rush. One of my favorite lines in the book is where John London writes; "Buck's first day ashore was like a nightmare." "Every hour was filled with shock and surprise." (Page 12) You can see that he is trying to convey how different his new life is now. Buck was placed among a pack of savage husky, wolf-l ike dogs. (Billie, Joe, Sol-leks, Dave, Spitz and Curly are just to name a few. After Buck had completed his wearisome labor his body had become feeble and weak. (Injuries also added to this dilemma later on.) The other savage animals that Buck is placed with, live by only one rule, the law of club and fang. Buck is placed in several predicaments where he must defend himself against the other savage animals and he is disciplined for it. Buck loved his 'master', John Thorton who saved Buck's life from Hal, Buck's master, prior to this event. Following his departure, Buck finds himself in the wild, trusting and depending on his primal instincts. Learning how to pursue his food is but one of the many milestones in the book that Buck must overcome. (Jack London describes how Buck hunted down a rabbit for food.

Ernest Hemingway Essay -- essays research papers

Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899 in a small community of Oak Park, Illinois. He was the second child out of six, with four sisters and one brother. The area Ernest grew up in was a very conservative area of Illinois and was raised with values of strong religion, hard work, physical fitness and self-determination. His household was a very strict one that didn’t allow any enjoyment on Sundays and disobedience was strictly punished. Ernest’s father taught him good morals and values that he if he followed that he would be good in life. His father also taught him to hunt and fish around the Lake Michigan area and to love nature. The family would spend their summers in the wilderness and their winters back near Chicago. For the rest of his life Hemingway remained an avid fisherman and never lived far form a fishing hole. The outdoors is where he created a lot of his work, and a place where he got a lot of his inspiration from. Hemingway went to school in the Oak Park public school system where he wrote for the High School paper. Hemingway graduated high school in 1917 and then he took a job as a reporter for the Kansas City Star. This was against his parent’s wishes of him going to college to become a professional. While Hemingway worked for the Star, he learned to elaborate more and polished his writing ability positively. He found out after awhile that writing for the newspaper wasn’t for him. He had tried to join the military after he had graduated from high school b...

Persaid History :: essays research papers

Perseid History This is the most famous of all meteor showers. It never fails to provide an impressive display and, due to its summertime appearance, it tends to provide the majority of meteors seen by non-astronomy enthusiasts. The earliest record of its activity appears in the Chinese annals, where it is said that in 36 AD "more than 100 meteors flew thither in the morning." Numerous references appear in Chinese, Japanese and Korean records throughout the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th centuries, but only sporadic references are found between the 12th and 19th centuries, inclusive. Nevertheless, August has long had a reputation for an abundance of meteors. The Perseids have been referred to as the "tears of St. Lawrence", since meteors seemed to be in abundance during the festival of that saint on August 10th, but credit for the discovery of the shower's annual appearance is given to Quà ©telet (Brussels), who, in 1835, reported that there was a shower occurring in August that emanated from the constellation Perseus. The first observer to provide an hourly count for this shower was Eduard Heis (Mà ¼nster), who found a maximum rate of 160 meteors per hour in 1839. Observations by Heis and other observers around the world continued almost annually thereafter, with maximum rates typically falling between 37 and 88 per hour through 1858. Interestingly, the rates jumped to between 78 and 102 in 1861, according to estimates by four different observers, and, in 1863, three observers reported rates of 109 to 215 per hour. Although rates were still somewhat high in 1864, generally "normal" rates persisted throughout the remainder of the 19th-century. Computations of the orbit of the Perseids between 1864 and 1866 by Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli (1835-1910) revealed a very strong resemblance to periodic comet Swift-Tuttle (1862 III). This was the first time a meteor shower had been positively identified with a comet and it seems safe to speculate that the high Perseid rates of 1861-1863 were directly due to the appearance of Swift-Tuttle, which has a period of about 120 years. Multiple returns of the comet would be responsible for the distribution of the meteors throughout the orbit, but meteors should be denser in the region closest to the comet, so that meteor activity should increase when the comet is near perihelion (as has been demonstrated by the June Boà ¶tids, Draconids and Leonids). As the 20th-century began, the maximum annual hourly rates of the Perseids

Nursing Case Studies on COPD

In this reflective piece of writing I will be explaining how chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects the patient physically, psychologically ,and socially ,I will also explain how the disease affects his daily routine and how it impacts on his family life. I will give an overview of the clinical signs and symptoms, how the disease alters the pathphysiology of the lungs, and what these changes cause within the body. I will be using the reflective model â€Å"What, So What, Now What â€Å" (2007). The patient I have chosen to write about is a seventy year old male who has been married for nearly fifty years. He has two grown up sons, both married with children of their own. Mr Woods has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease diagnosed ten years ago. Prior to this disease Mr Woods was a lifelong smoker, beginning at the age of fourteen years, smoking up to thirty cigarettes per day. Mr Woods condition has progressively worsened over the past few years, and he now requires home oxygen therapy. A patient was brought into the emergency department by the paramedics complaining of difficulty in breathing. On arrival he was tachypnoeic, had a respiratory rate thirty two and was found to have an audible wheeze. He stated that he had a productive cough and was expectorating green coloured sputum. The patient felt warm to touch. He looked pale, was sat upright, slightly leaning forward in a rigid posture on the ambulance stretcher. I was delegated the role of undertaking Mr Wood’s initial assessment, which included ensuring the patient was undressed ready for examination by a doctor, and also carrying out a baseline set of observations. I was happy to undertake this task, because I had the required training, skills and was deemed competent to carry out the necessary care required to look after Mr Woods. The nurse in charge informed me of Mr Woods medical history prior to me entering the cubicle, including what had precipitated his attendance to the emergency department which on that particular day had been his worsening shortness of breath. On entering the cubicle, I helped Mr Woods get undressed and into a hospital gown because any slight exertion made him more short of breath. I carried out a baseline set of observations. His blood pressure was 165/95, he had a pulse rate of 125 beats per minute, a temperature of 38. c, a respiratory rate of 32, on 2 litres of oxygen his saturation level was 88%, and his blood glucose level was 4. 4mmol/l. Although some of these observations are not within ‘normal’ range, for a person with COPD some of these observations maybe acceptable because the disease affects the path physiology of the lungs. The airways leading to the lungs, the bronchi, become inflamed. The inflamed airways produce too much mucus (sputum) which can lead to a p ersistent cough, wheeze and increasing shortness of breath. This happens because the air sacs (alveoli) become overstretched, rupture and merge which causes them to lose their elasticity. This causes the oxygen absorbing surfaces to be reduced, and with the narrowing of the airways gas exchange is less efficient (Parker, 2009). The lungs over inflate which reduces the air volume moving in and out of the lungs which can lead to tachypnoea (abnormally rapid rate of breathing), breathlessness on exertion, respiratory distress, abnormal posture I. e. leaning forward to help open the airways (Nursing Standard, 2001). Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease can have a tendency to have low oxygen saturation levels, usually around 88% on air. In healthy patients their levels are usually between 95%- 100%. COPD patients often need supportive treatment of 2 litres of oxygen to maintain oxygen saturations normally acceptable for that specific patient. However oxygen therapy higher than 2 litres may cause their carbon dioxide (CO2) levels to rise (Abrahams, 2009). As Mr Woods COPD had progressively worsened he had been commenced on home oxygen which he uses throughout most of the day. This helps him to undertake the most simplistic of daily activities of living. Mr Woods lives at home with his wife who, due to the impact of this disease on Mr Woods, has now become his main carer. She helps her husband with his daily activities such as washing, showering and preparing his meals. He needs help mobilising to the downstairs shower room, and, once there, needs assistance to get undressed. Whilst in the shower room Mr Woods needs to sit on a shower stool because he cannot manage to stand for any length of time due to breathlessness. He is also unable to walk upstairs because he gets short of breath on exertion so he has had a stair lift installed which enables him to go upstairs to bed. This enables Mr and Mrs Woods to fulfil both the physical and psychological aspects of their relationship. COPD can affect the psychological wellbeing of the sufferer. Before Mr Woods condition deteriorated he was able to go out, he used to enjoy going fishing with his sons and playing with his grandchildren. Because of his condition, Mr Woods is prone to feelings of inadequacy and depression. He also feels guilty because of his growing dependency on his wife for the simplest of daily tasks such as making a cup of tea or answering the door. Because of the growing demands of her husband’s worsening condition Mrs Woods now has to depend on other family members to facilitate her with tasks that Mr Woods can no longer undertake due to his COPD, and frequent visits to the hospital with recurrent chest infections. Whilst Mr Woods was in the emergency department it was my responsibility to make sure Mr Woods was comfortable and that his observations were done regularly and documented. I was happy to do this as I am deemed competent and have the required training to carry out these duties. I made sure Mr Woods was sitting upright as this would help him with his breathing by improving his lung capacity and making sure oxygen was prescribed by the doctor and administered via nasal cannulae as per trust policy. I noticed Mr Woods remained tachyponeic, so repeated his observations. Even though on 2 litres of oxygen his saturation levels still remained low so I informed the nurse in charge that Mr Woods observations remained unstable. A doctor was notified and the patient assessed which involved listening to his chest. The doctor then prescribed nebulisers, oral steroids and paracetamol. A chest x-ray was also requested. I had to ask a qualified member of staff to administer Mr Woods medication, because I am not qualified to dispense drugs to a patient as a student assistant practitioner as this does not fall within my scope of practice or within the boundaries of my role. I think the fact I know my limitations and boundaries make me a safe practitioner. I made sure I had documented Mr Woods observations and that I had informed the nurse in charge of his condition making sure that I had dated, timed and signed what I had written. I got my documentation countersigned by a qualified member of staff as stated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2008). The doctor asked me to cannulate and take some blood from Mr Woods. I was comfortable with this request because I am qualified to undertake the task. I explained to Mr Woods that I needed to put a needle in his arm and take some blood and that I would be leaving the cannula in his arm for any medication his may require later. I put the equipment together that I needed to cannulate, making sure that it was on a clean trolley and that I had a sharps bin. I then washed my hands, put on my apron and gloves following universal precautions. I then proceeded to cannulate Mr Woods explaining everything I was doing throughout the procedure. Once the cannula was in I disposed of my sharp in the sharps bin and put my dirty equipment in the clinical waste and then washed my hands. Mr Woods was then taken for his x-ray. Once labelled I then gave the blood to the doctor to send of to the path lab. I then filled in the cannulation documentation form as per hospital trust policy. I was pleased that I managed to get the cannula in on my first attempt because Mr Woods had terrible veins and I did not like the thought of having to put him through the procedure again as it can be quite painful and distressing. Mr Woods x-ray showed he had a chest infection for which he was prescribed intravenous antibiotics. Mr Woods was then transferred to the Medical Assessment Unit for further treatment by the medical doctors. Reflecting back I believe I have developed my knowledge about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Reading articles, text books and trust policies on COPD has allowed my to enhance my ability to recognise when patients are clinically unwell and have the confidence to highlight these abnormalities to the relevant members of the multidisciplinary team I. e. the nurse in charge and doctor, so the patient can be managed promptly and appropriately. Also the information I gained from talking to Mr Woods was invaluable in allowing me to gain insight and therefore a greater understanding of how the disease affected not only the patient but also his family on a day to day basis. Witnessing first hand the debilitating affects the disease process has on an individual such as Mr Woods and his family left me feeling a little sad due to the fact that my role as a student assistant practitioner limited my involvement in his treatment. Having been the first member of staff to attend to Mr Woods on his arrival to the department and to have spent time developing a therapeutic relationship with him I felt that involving another member of staff to carry out an aspect of care may make him question my abilities to look after him as I could not administer his medication. I could address this issue by explaining to the patient that my role as student assistant practitioner does not allow me to give medication but explain that I am competent in carrying out all other aspects of care. Developing my existing knowledge on the psychological and physiological affects of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease has been consolidated by caring for a patient that has attended the emergency department with this chronic long term condition. Extending my knowledge base on this condition and the long term effects it can have on the individual will ensure that I treat each patient on their needs rather than just on their condition. Also looking back on this assessment I believe I acted professionally, promptly and efficiently. I feel I carried out my duties to a high standard of care within the boundaries of my role as a student assistant practitioner which in turn enabled Mr Woods to receive the treatment and medication he required to ensure the best possible outcome. Looking after Mr Woods has shown that I can work effectively as a member of the multidisciplinary team. I am able to assess, implement and evaluate my care which has enabled other members of staff to witness my holistic and high level of care delivery within the emergency department. I believe this can benefit not only the patients attending the department but also help develop my role within the team.

Critical and Creative Thinking Questions

I think the four major sources of stress in my life would be money being number one. This is because I am an international student who moved from Hong Kong to America. Having doing this I had to learn how to manage my own money for example rent, bills , and also enough for entertainment. When I was living in Hong Kong with my family I didn’t have to worry about all these factors so it came easy to me. Family would be another source of stress in my life but only because of me being away by myself in another country. This is probably because this is the first time I have been away from home and having to look after myself and the ‘money’ issue my parents especially tend to get too worried, which in some cases cause a lot of fights. Im not saying this is something bad but defiantly something that can trigger me at some points. My social skills is a definite source of stress in my life, This being because I am not very good at interacting, socializing and communicating with other human beings. Some of my interactions and relationships can be very stressful and tension filled, and i almost come off as being a very unsociable person. If you where experiencing a period of high stress, what would you do to avoid illness? If I where to experience a period of high stress I would probably exercise a lot which usually helps me with depression and tension and also relaxes me. But also exercising improves cardiovascular efficiency and increases strength that could help avoid illness due to stress. I believe that when your exercising and you sweat a lot, it almost feels like your getting rid of all the problems in your life. Why are smoking-prevention efforts often aimed at adolescents? Smoking prevention efforts are usually aimed at adolescents because thats when a lot of smokers start smoking a form of tobacco, such as cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco. A lot of youngsters and often influenced by peer pressure and imitation of role models, even family members. They think if your family member is smoking, its ok for them to try or to pursue it. Smoking prevention programs focus on more immediate problems with smoking. films and discussions in these programs educate teens about peer pressure and the medias influence in smoking, as well as helping them overcome this phase. What are the benefits of involving a person’s family in behavior modification programs to treat chronic pain. When a person is suffering from chronic pain family members usually ask about it, which tends not to help the patient. This is because talking about pain or what or how they feel often focuses on it more and they start to think about it and all there thoughts draws attention on it and increase’s its intensity. To prevent this, psychologists have treatments in there modification programs for both the patient and family members. I feel if having a family member by your side while you are going through this and they attending the programs help the patient. This is because the patient feels comfortable that some one close to them a (family member) is participating in these pain management plans which could help ease of the stress and pain. Which forms of coping do you most often draw on? When I am stressed I believe the best way for me to cope is by listening and finding new music. Not only does music relax me but sometimes it could be deeper than that. Lyrics of a song can sometimes or somehow relate to what your going through and can often help and solve the problems. Which of the resources for stress management seem most important to you? I believe that social support is the most important resource to me because when i’m stressed I tend to feel much better when I have people around me to discuss what I am going through, but also just because someone is there to listen. Close friends and family often make us feel comfortable and important and provide positive attitude to changes in our life. Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 1) Sensation and perception are closely linked. What is the central distinction between the two? Sensations can be defined as the passive process of bringing information from the outside world into the body and to the brain. The process is passive in the sense that we do not have to be consciously engaging in a â€Å"sensing† process. Perception can be defined as the active process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting the information brought to the brain by the senses. 2) If we sensed and attended equally to each stimulus in the world, the amount of information would be overwhelming. What sensory and perceptual processes help us lessen the din? Perceptions vary from person to person. Different people perceive different things about the same situation. But more than that, we assign different meanings to what we perceive. And the meanings might change for a certain person. One might change one's perspective or simply make things mean something else. You would also use vision to observe different people who were having a conversation as well as listening to observe all the conversation taking place. 3)  What senses would likely be impaired if a person were somehow missing all of the apparatus of the ear (including the outer, middle, and inner ear)? If someone was to lose total hearing that would be devastating. If you were to totally lose your hearing you would be losing one of the most important senses you have and this can affect you in other areas including your equal equilibrium not being able to walk straight can cause major ramifications in your life like blurred vision, headaches as well as the loss as speech