Critique a Oral Presentation

Research the average salary range for the position, keeping in mind: * The company and Its culture (use annual reports, Web sites, reference materials available at libraries such as â€Å"Business Directory†) * The geographic location Your own market value (years of experience, education) * Assess your personal criteria * What are your â€Å"must haves†? * What are your â€Å"would like to haves†? * What are your â€Å"can live without†? Poise: This is the ability to remain calm and confident in uncomfortable situations.You will demonstrate poise if you: * Do not reveal your salary requirements too early * Convey confidence (remember, you would not have gotten the Interview If they didn't think you could do the Job! ) ; Show enthusiasm Stay positive * Take your time when an offer is made (ask for time to think about it) Professionalism: The way you negotiate is an example of the behavior the employer will expect to see on the Job. Things to keep in mind: * understand the dynamics of the situation (for instance, you may negotiate differently if you have been in Job search a long time vs..If you have several offers to consider) * Remain positive – you and the employer share a common goal getting you to feel good about joining the company * Be confident – companies expect negotiation * Ask questions – hearing how they arrived at their offer may give you clues about alternatives * Detach from the outcome – it will help you relax AND you won't alienate your future boss * Focus on the value of the total package * Look for different ways to achieve your objectives Know when to quit What to do if the company requests your salary requirements or salary history: * If job announcements request that you provide salary requirements in your cover letter, research what similar positions pay in that geographic location. Respond by giving a broad range, perhaps 10% above what you think it should be. (For a $39,000 position , you could say: â€Å"Your ad requested salary requirements. Given my education Ana experience, Dates on my research I expect to De considering something In ten $40,000 to $50,000 range.Research the company before you negotiate. 4. Be enthusiastic and professional during negotiations. . Never stop selling yourself. (Keep telling the company how you will benefit them throughout the negotiation process. ) 6. Ask for a few perks you can do without. (This gives you bargaining room. ) 7. Be willing to walk away. (You II be more confident, and you may receive higher compensation. ) 8. Don't say yes to an offer right away. (Be enthusiastic and appreciative when receiving the offer, but ask for at least 24 hours to respond. This gives you time to get over your initial elation at being selected and to determine if the Job is the best one for you. )

Courage and Bravery in Lord of the Flies Essay

In amidst of the tragic events that occurs in the town of Maycomb, one positive theme that stand out throughout the whole time is courage. Its presence is observed by the narrator Scout from the characterisations of the central character Atticus, his influence on his children’s upbringing and other the members of the community that displays such qualities e. g. Mrs Dubose and Boo Radley. Atticus Finch is one of the most prominent and respected people in the town who has strong views on courage. His role in the story serves as a moral backbone and fatherly figure to his children. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view†¦ until you climb into his skin and walk around in it† This quote shows his open-mindness for truth by understanding people through their perspective, and he was courageous enough to act on this philosophy. Atticus displays bravery when he takes Tom’s case despite the consequences of his town turning against him and his children. He represents Tom fairly in court for free, and in the face of criticism and threats of violence he stands for what he believes is right. Atticus is not only a brave man himself but also a strong influence to his children as he goes to great pains to instruct Jem and Scout to be better human beings. â€Å"You’re gonna hear some ugly talk about this in school. But I want you to promise me one thing: That you won’t get into fights over it, no matter what they say to you. † Although Scout fights other children who insult Atticus in an attempt to defend and stand up for him, she eventually learns that withholding violence is one of the highest forms of bravery. On another occasion in the face of danger when a mad dog is running down the street, Atticus shoots it perfectly yet he hides that he is the town’s best marksmen, but emphasises that he is not courageous for shooting a dog dead in one shot, but because he had to. He disproves of the children’s fascination with guns and believes that guns do not make men brave. As Scout tells, â€Å"My father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived. † One of the most significant lessons Jem learns was from Mrs Dubose, when he was made to go and read to her and her long-battled morphine addiction is revealed. Instead of spending the rest of her life and dying painlessly under the influence of morphine which as the easy and â€Å"acceptable† option, Mrs Dubose chooses to break free in an agonising way, despite of how far her sickness has become, knowing that she will die in the process. â€Å"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it though no matter what. † Atticus holds Mrs. Dubose as the ultimate definition of bravery and she is a person he admires as having â€Å"real courage†. This form of bravery can be reflected back to Atticus when he defends Tom Robinson. He argues the case to the best of his ability even though he knows it will be nearly impossible for a white jury’s verdict of a black man to be â€Å"not guilty†. A different take on courage is within the community, when the fire occurs. â€Å"The men of Maycomb, in all degrees or dress and undress, took furniture from Miss Maudie’s house to a yard across the street. The response that arises is immediate. The phrase â€Å"in all degrees of dress and undress† stresses that the men do not need time to think but come straight from their beds to help regardless of their attire. â€Å"Looks like all of Maycomb was out tonight† Even during this time, Boo left his place so Scout will not be cold. Then it turns out ironically later on that Boo who has been an object of fear and suspicion at the beginning, risks his own life to save Jem and Scout’s lives from Bob Ewell. His courage overrides the town’s prejudice to come their aid. Even Jem runs back to help Scout, knowing he stood no chance against a drunk adult, yet he succeeded by buying enough time for help. It is essential to note how the lack of courage influences many people. The character of Bob Ewell proves a foil for Atticus, where the later is a noble and virtuous man and the former a coward. Ewell never directly faces those whom he thought have wronged him and held grudges against everyone connected to the case. His actions give evidence of this when he vandalises Judge Taylor’s home and harasses Tom’s widow Helen Robinson at a distance. His need for petty revenge is his greatest cowardice, especially when he resorts to assaulting Atticus’ children in order to make himself feel more of a man, resulting in his own death. The characters fight for what they believe in throughout the entire book in one way or another and bravery is shown by almost everyone in times when the situation demands it. Although some events may turn out badly, courage is an essential and desirable quality which will always make the world a better place to live in.

Strategic Planning

â€Å"Tomorrow is built today† – Each of us knows very well that our decisions and actions or non-actions of today will shape our future tomorrow. The collective consciousness of this fact and our efforts in the direction of a better future can definitively work in order to make the future what we like to see – the future can be provoked! Mind rules not only heart and body but all the respective issues in this world. The strategies of life are created by man with his ideas and approaches. â€Å"Think twice before you speak† is a familiar term in day to day life, this statement has got a deep meaning within itself, i.e., before you are about to say something think bout what you are going to speak and what would be it's outcomes later on. It is well said that if you want to achieve something in life, dream for it and plan how to achieve that goal or objective once getting started. Things always gets complicated for a person if the tasks involved in it are not familiar to that very person who was suppose to finish it off. It's always said that, two are better always rather then working single because two people working together makes things possible easily n quickly, thinking bout it's outcomes in advance and the result that comes out is always systematic and best possible. Some human beings follow others footsteps and some create their own ideas and work hard effectively and efficiently for attainment of their goals and objectives. Achievements never knocks at the door after dreaming bout them. One has to work out in real to achieve such tasks. As our day routine gets started we do look for a change so that the coming day should be better in comparison to the previous one. The major aim of most of the people in today's world is profit(monetary) and goodwill and yes definitely a long term well know never ending name in the market place just not in their country but most of the parts of the world. Future remains in hand if a task or work is performed efficiently and effectively keeping in mind all the basic operations which are supposed to be included in that known task. Life has changed a lot with real life competitions and challenges coming up day by day. Whatever step one moves should be effective and well balanced as the other could be smarter and experienced then what he/she is. Challenges not only arise within individuals but also within group of people and competitors. Each and every movement should be well planned and then only should be undertaken for its progress. For the highest level of stability one has to adopt advance skills and objectives as these only help in attainment of goals and objectives. STRATEGIC PLANNING Strategic planning is a management tool, period. As with any management tool, it is used for one purpose only: to help an organization do a better job – to focus its energy, to ensure that members of the organization are working toward the same goals, to assess and adjust the organization's direction in response to a changing environment. In short, strategic planning is a disciplined effort to produce fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, what it does, and why it does it, with a focus on the future. A word by word dissection of this definition provides the key elements that underlie the meaning and success of a strategic planning process: The process is strategic because it involves preparing the best way to respond to the circumstances of the organization's environment, whether or not its circumstances are known in advance; nonprofits often must respond to dynamic and even hostile environments. Being strategic, then, means being clear about the organization's objectives, being aware of the organization's resources, and incorporating both into being consciously responsive to a dynamic environment. The process is about planning because it involves intentionally setting goals (i.e., choosing a desired future) and developing an approach to achieving those goals. The process is disciplined in that it calls for a certain order and pattern to keep it focused and productive. The process raises a sequence of questions that helps planners examine experience, test assumptions, gather and incorporate information about the present, and anticipate the environment in which the organization will be working in the future. Finally, the process is about fundamental decisions and actions because choices must be made in order to answer the sequence of questions mentioned above. The plan is ultimately no more, and no less, than a set of decisions about what to do, why to do it, and how to do it. Because it is impossible to do everything that needs to be done in this world, strategic planning implies that some organizational decisions and actions are more important than others – and that much of the strategy lies in making the tough decisions about what is most important to achieving organizational success. The strategic planning can be complex, challenging, and even messy, but it is always defined by the basic ideas outlined above – and you can always return to these basics for insight into your own strategic planning process. Strategic planning is only useful if it supports strategic thinking and leads to strategic management – the basis for an effective organization. Strategic thinking means asking, â€Å"Are we doing the right thing?† Perhaps, more precisely, it means making that assessment using three key requirements about strategic thinking: a definite purpose be in mind; an understanding of the environment, particularly of the forces that affect or impede the fulfilment of that purpose; and creativity in developing effective responses to those forces. Strategic planning has also been described as a tool – but it is not a substitute for the exercise of judgment by leadership. Ultimately, the leaders of any enterprise need to sit back and ask, and answer, â€Å"What are the most important issues to respond to?† and â€Å"How shall we respond?† Just as the hammer does not create the bookshelf, so the data analysis and decision-making tools of strategic planning do not make the organization work – they can only support the intuition, reasoning skills, and judgment that people bring to their organization. Finally, strategic planning, though described as disciplined, does not typically flow smoothly from one step to the next. It is a creative process, and the fresh insight arrived at today might very well alter the decision made yesterday. Inevitably the process moves forward and back several times before arriving at the final set of decisions. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE MIGHT BE? WHAT KIND OF FUTURE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? Competitions and challenges in the market or in a working concern is the primary aspect .it bothers all the managers of a growing concern in way or the other. Whether, it is the product (which they deal in or going to launch in the market), price (what should be the price related with other substitutes available in the market), longevity (what would be its demands in future), uniqueness (how it would be different from the other products) and rather endless number of features. Production is concerned with costumers, their tastes, choices. Mood differs from one body to the other. Nobody have the same kind of needs or wants. Thereby products also vary in prices, weight and size. Production is always carried out keeping in mind the perfect market situation. The basic aim of every individual is to earn profit and goodwill in the market. The stability and up-to-date growth is a must concern. To achieve all the goals and objectives all the plans are well made and accordingly strategies are designed. A strategy not only helps in a unique start of work but also gives the best outcomes of the efforts made for future. It takes years to earn goodwill in the market; therefore it is a must to make plans whatever is effective for the start-up of the work. End numbers of features are taken in consideration by any of the famous well-known company or industry whoever are the known leaders in the market. Sum of the known features are: * Members: the number of people who are going to lead the environment and the owners of the business concern. Most of the business concerns have partners. They have to aim at the goals and objectives, moreover, decide what their future would be. They are the only leaders to decide the nature of their business and what would be the size and how globally it should be recognised. They look out for not just competitors but also have to follow some law and orders of the government. These owners employ experienced staff as managers to work under them and employees to work under managers known as subordinates. Owners are the decision makers. * Capital: investments or the amount to be engaged into the business is one of the important feature without which nothing could be worked out. * Product: plans are made regarding the product that has to be brought up in the market. number of issues are considered like, costumers and their choices, other resembling or same usage products that would come up or already exists in the market,. The managers have to decide, how their products would be unique and how it would be better then the rest of the companies' products available in the market. How it would be cheaper and what goodwill would it bring to the company. Whether it has the future or not in the major aspect considered. * Market: strategies relates to market size and its globalization as well. One has to think bout customers and tends and fashions in the market. Managers have to plan out for the best market for their companies' products and its variations. * Machinery and equipments: new methods of production are used with new techniques available so that product could be easily made with less time consumption. Therefore, experienced and well defined staff is appointed and supervisors always motivates the employees and brings in new innovative ideas regarding production. * Available resources: A strategy not only helps in effective production but also helps in usage of resources available. Less wastage results in more profit and best outcome. * Employ welfare: Board of directors gives utmost respect to their employees and take care of their employees whether they are managers or subordinates by providing them with comforts and teaching them the new innovative ideas. They also give them bonus for their effective and efficient hard work they put on for production. * Exports-Imports: strategies are designed on the matter for exports of products and markets for trade are searched in a way or the other to earn profit and goodwill. They also take care of the importers from whom they have to but the raw material and stuff for production. A strong relation could only be maintained if the company have well detailed strategies regarding their work performance. * Strengths and Weaknesses: managers or the board of directors make plans to overcome the weaknesses whatever they could be. The strategies are designed in such a way that it lasts long and have enough strength to overcome every declining effect. A long lasting performance can only be obtained if the growing concern gets hold of their weaknesses. * Web page: as internet has proved to be one of the best sources in business relationships of most business companies. Owners make it a point to design their company's web page in such a manner that each and every product and its features along with price details are easily understandable. Strategies are made to achieve goals and targets not only through internet but also globally. Concluding with an Example: Longview Solutions and Marks & Spencer Take Planning to New Heights THIS IS MARKS & SPENCER Marks & Spencer is one of the UK's leading retailers of clothing, foods, homeware and financial services. Operating within approximately 12.5 million square feet of selling space, serving ten million customers a week in over 340 UK stores, Marks & Spencer employs more than 67,000 people. The company also trades in wholly owned stores in the Republic of Ireland and Hong Kong, and has over 150 franchise stores in 28 countries operating through a network of partnerships. In 2002/2003, Group turnover was in excess of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½8 billion. SITUATION With extensive operations in the United Kingdom, Marks & Spencer required a financial planning, actual reporting, and reforecasting solution to be used by all stakeholders in the planning process across all business units, service areas, and stores. There was a requirement for consistent, cohesive data that could be viewed and reported upon at various levels of summarisation from individual budget holders to a consolidated Group position. BUSINESS CHALLENGE The Marks & Spencer objective was to approach the planning process in a professional manner, passing accountability to individual commercial budget holders. The existing process was spreadsheet-driven and time-consuming with a heavy reliance upon the Finance Group to manipulate and consolidate the data, leaving less time for challenging and detailed analysis. SOLUTION Marks & Spencer considered five critical factors in its decision process – Product, People, Policy, Principles, and Price. Marks & Spencer selected Corporate Performance Management (CPM) application Khalix(r) by Longview Solutions because it best met their needs on all five key performance criteria. Khalix was able to: * Provide Marks & Spencer with a single, accurate version of the financial truth through one central repository of data * Delegate ownership and accountability for budgets and plans back to the commercial budget holders * Reduce the overall time required to achieve an approved, realistic budget * Meet Marks & Spencer's need for a flexible solution that could adapt and grow with the company * Perform â€Å"what-if† analysis during budget creation, to facilitate better decision-making and minimise risk * Provide Marks & Spencer with a solution that would fit with their corporate technology standards and future requirements * Achieve consistency of reporting across similar business units RESULTS With Longview Solutions' Corporate Performance Management application, Marks & Spencer is able to provide excellent service to internal customers and has achieved the following results: * Speedier and more accurate budgeting and planning process, with an overall reduction in process time. * High visibility of consistent, accurate data which is accessible to all – â€Å"One version of the financial truth† * Successful ownership for budget-setting to the appropriate level and clear visibility of ownership and accountability of planned performance at all levels of business * Ability to spend time analysing and challenging the plan, removing risk, and exploiting opportunities to achieve a realistic plan * Strong relationship between the Longview Solutions and Marks & Spencer teams, which has resulted in a high level strategic partnership that is helping shape future product direction * Ease of maintenance for database changes and reporting Thus Strategic planning brings in longevity and prosperity for modern corporations. Bibliography: TEXT BOOKS: -Strategic Management Business Policy by Thomas L. Wheelen and J. David Hunger. (Ninth edition). -Strategic Management by John L Thompson. -Strategic Management-An Introduction by Ronald Rosen. -The Strategy Process-Concepts, Contexts, Cases by Henry Mintzberg and James Brian Quinn. -Strategic Management by Cardiff Business School Cardiff University. -Sir John Harvey- Jones, Past chairman ICI, 1987 WEB: -http://www.longview.com/customersuccess/M&S.asp -http://www.lordofthewebs.com/portfolio/StrategicPlanning.asp Strategic Planning Strategic Planning MGT3880: Leadership for Organizations George Henson Strategic planning is a process of optimism by an organization. It anticipates the future of the organizational goals and strategically plans how the organization will achieve those goals. Strategic planning involves several steps in its process those steps are; (1) strategic thinking including external analysis, (2) internal analysis, (3) identifying key strategic issues, (4) developing viable strategic alternatives, and (5) choosing the best strategy using as criteria whatever the company defines as â€Å"success† (Abraham, 2012).The â€Å"Opening Bell Cafe† requires a strategic plan to ensure effectiveness so that new clientele, products and profits are within reach in the near future. The â€Å"Opening Bell Cafe† is a new organization and a revised strategic plan can assist with tackling new goals and growth for the organization over the next three years. This organization is very distinct because it offers services and products that exclude them from other leading competitors. In particular, the organization is responsible for employing individuals with great customer service and providing the client with quality individuals and extraordinary services.Also, the organization capitalizes on its stellar training of culinary and customer service skills which separates it from other competitors. The organization members are required to understand the organizational policies and are the first to ensure that the employee’s and client’s needs are addressed. The managers of the organization are responsible for deciding the direction in which the department should go, what the company should produce, and hence in what industry it competes (Abraham, 2012).Understanding the organization’s competitors, identifying the customers, rather they can provide and how the company will continue to remain profitable is the management’s responsibility. In order for the strategic plan to be effective the direction of the company must be understood. The student believes that the current direction is understood but is not being implemented correctly. The company knows what they want to offer; good products and great services this will allow the organization to compete with leading competitors.The menu of this organization differs from the cafe products to catering services and menu. The organization is aware of who the customer is but is unaware of how to meet them which is a weakness of the organization. During this strategic planning process a SWOT analysis must be completed to understand the organizations strengths, weaknesses opportunities and threats of the organization. The SWOT analysis is a straightforward model that provides direction and serves as a basis for the development of marketing plans (Danca, 2012).The SWOT analysis is being conducted for the benefit of meeting certain goals, the organization has to address the strengths an d weaknesses internally and the opportunities and threats externally. The â€Å"Opening Bell† has several strengths but the employee relations and effective differentiation are two of the organizations strengths. Opening Bell Cafe is a respectable employer and values its employees. They ensure that the employees feel a part of the team which increases employee relations so that everyone has a pleasant experience with Opening Bell Cafe.Effective differentiation is the second strength of the organization. Effective differentiation permits the organization to study the competition and questions if they offer the same as competitors. While studying the group has to be realistic about behaviors that will allow the organization to compete with leading brands while identifying ways to improve. These strengths allow the organization to offer well trained employees and recognize products the competitors do not offer. Exploiting the strengths give the Opening Bell the ability to market and promote ahead of the competition.Weaknesses of the organization need to be understood in order for the organization to have growth and tackle goals. One weakness of the organization is the narrow product line and poor marketing skills. Having a narrow product line limits this company from competing with other cafes’ that offer a selection of breakfast, and lunch. Poor marketing skills limited the organization from reaching millions of potential customers. Just recently the organization established a website which means the people who do not go utilize their stores or catering was unaware that the organization exists.Strategically the company can avoid these issues by planning for new menu items and developing a marketing strategy. If the company can begin to offer more products and reach potential clients the organization can increase growth, revenue and earnings. Capitalizing on opportunities can be beneficial to the organization as well. The opportunity has a specific technical definition; it is a product-market issue (Abraham, 2012). The company can address this situation by creating a new product for an existing market. Opening Bell can also, expand the market for an existing product.Creating new products and expanding on existing products can bring about new clients which can offer the organization appeal from their competitors. Such small changes can be huge when competing with leading brands such as Starbucks or Dunkin Doughnuts. Threats can be unfavorable to any company however identifying threats can help the company when strategizing. The threats for the Opening Bell consist of competitors having stronger brand names and the downturn in the economy. All consumers are currently aware of the leading brand names of Starbucks and Dunkin Doughnuts.Since Opening Bell is aware of these leading brand names they have to offer variations of products and experience. The leading brands do not offer delivery which means that local companies can phone in orders or even order online. Experts say that, â€Å"a downturn in the economy can mean that customers are spending less† (Anonymous,1990). After the threats are identified the organization can work towards increasing customer relations. After conducting the SWOT analysis the student has identified areas that are crucial toward the strategic planning process.The crucial areas are employee relations, poor marketing skills, expand the market for an existing product, and expanding on new products. If these areas are continuous strengths of the organization the organization can focus on other areas that may need restructuring. Employee relations are a part of the operational aspect of the business. Managers are required to guarantee that the organization employees know what to do and how to do it. For this aspect to remain an organizational strength it is essential that all employees know how to communicate effectively.One expert states, â€Å"In order to cope with competitio n, technological developments and customer demands, managers seek different solutions and tools to manage the unstable, rapidly changing, and never predictable situation which involves communicating effectively† (Johansson, 2008). This statement shows the organization that in order to continue growth in the industry the organization should continue focusing on employee relations. The organizations poor marketing skills have to be addressed in order for the strategic plan to be effective.It seems that at the present time the organization does not possess a marketing team or manager. The Opening Bell cannot dismiss what marketing the organization can do for the growth of the company. Having a marketing team who can promote the organization and improve customer relations will be valuable for the organization. The organization should put a budget together that permits marketing opportunities. This issue cannot be overlooked any longer the â€Å"Word of Mouth† marketing stra tegy has gotten the organization so far and now the growth is at a cessation.The organization has to utilize the tools of the internet and television to compete with the leading brands. Having a marketing team who can create promotional opportunities for customers can increase customer acquisition. The strategic plan has to improve the marketing skills of the organization. Expanding the market for an existing product can be challenging but the organization can grow from improving something that is already prevalent for other brands. Since, the organization utilizing fresh ingredients there is nothing like freshly baked cookies and homemade hot chocolate.There is already a market for these items and making them fresh to order with like a fifteen minute wait time would be fulfilling for the consumer. The hot chocolate would be a great in markets where the winters are cold and something warm is always desired One expert states that, â€Å"In fact, line extensions may be the answer to building sales and moving your company in a whole new direction† (Mischina, 2004). Being able to expand can open a whole new avenue for the organization that has not been offered by the leading competitors.Expanding on a new product for an existing market can create long-term growth for the organization. In today’s world of healthy eating offering gluten free product or even allergen free products on the daily menu can set the organization apart from leading competitors. These new products can provide a much needed solution to a giant problem that others have not offered yet. The previously mentioned areas are essential to the strategic plan of the Opening Bell because they provide an avenue on what is being done and what can be done to further advance the organization.The external analysis which entails observing, analyzing, and understanding what is changing in a company's external environment to anticipate what the future might hold has been completed (Abraham, 2012) . Secondly, the internal analysis involves knowing analyzing, and understanding everything about the company itself, especially what makes it a strong competitor or why it isn't as strong as it could be (Abraham, 2012). Both of these steps in the strategic planning process have been completed. The key strategic issues have been identified and managers are working on resolving the issue.Annual objectives will be set also, to measure these critical challenges. To measure the success of the strategic plan the Opening Bell will utilize the metrics of revenue growth and the return of investments. These two measuring tools can allow the organization to measure the success or failures of the organization. Revenue growth is used more often when a firm's revenue growth has been inadequate or flat, or when issues of market share and market positioning are strategically significant (Abraham, 2012,).The organization must measure the growth of revenue to warrant an effective strategic plan. Meas uring revenue growth allows the leader to be aware of rather the organization is prepared monetarily for the strategic plan that has been set forward. Also, the strategic plan sets forward what the allotted monies will be used for and how. Secondly, the return of investments can measure the success of the strategic plan. A ROI is a profitability measure. When utilizing the ROI managers should be aware that ROI can measure the performance of the organization, managers and its business units.Lastly, the strategic plan should include strategic implementation because it’s the only way to boost ROI and increase your chances of success (Evans, 2012). Both of these metrics are capable of measuring the success of the strategic plan which can help any adjustments that need take place to guarantee the company is headed toward success. For an organization such as the Opening Bell Cafe a strategic plan will help to provide sustain the ups and downs of this uncertain economy.Planning stra tegically can ensure that the organization meets goals that they have established. All of the strategic planning process steps have been addressed and will be implemented in the near future. Effectiveness is only possible when all employees are on the same page with one another and when a directive is put into place for all to follow. Indeed, the organization is new to the industry but they have found that revising the strategic plan can lead to growth for the organization. Reference Abraham, S. 2012) Strategic Management for Organizations. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from: https://content. ashford. edu/books Anonymous. (1990). 1990 SWOT Analysis. Retrieved from: http://som. csudh. edu/depts/cis/meyadat/ClassesPage/CIS502/casestudies/SWOT Danca , A. (2012). SWOT Analysis. Retrieved from; http://www. stfrancis. edu/content/ba/ghkickul/stuwebs/btopics/works/swot. htm Evans J, (2012). 8 Steps to Boost the ROI of Your Strategic Planning Efforts. Retrieved from: http://www. vancarmichael. com/Management/5844/8-Steps-to-Boost-the-ROI-of-Your-Strategic-Planning-Efforts. html Johansson, Catrin (2008). Speaking of change: three communication approaches in studies of organizational change. Corporate Communications 13. 3 Retrieved from: http://search. proquest. com/docview/214190184/ Mishina,Y. (2004), Are more resources always better for growth? Resource stickiness in market and product expansion. Strat. Mgmt. Retrieved from: http://onlinelibrary. wiley. com/doi/10. 1002/smj. 424/abstract

Chinese and American Manufacturing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chinese and American Manufacturing - Essay Example This is due to the fact that most of the imported products that are presumed to come from China are indeed from American companies. It, therefore, becomes a fact that ‘buying from China is buying from America’ since this product are made by American firms. Examples of these products include Apple iPhones, Nike shoes, Dell computers, Mattel dolls, Gap shirts and Hasbro toys. The sentiments claimed in an advertisement posted by GarGraves that they are able to cut their prices by more than 75% despite their competitors coming from China can absolutely true. One of the factors that can concur with this statement is the fact that their energy costs are dampening manufacturing industry of China. Industrial electricity has risen by about 66%, and natural gas by about 138% in China from 2004-2014 (Boston Consulting Research, 2014). The claims made by GarGraves can also be supported by the fact that U.S is producing shale gas, which has resulted in a substantial decline in energy prices. Energy and electricity costs are not the only factors that can make GrayGrave make such claims. Logistic is a key factor in the determination of operation costs, GrayGrave does everything locally. Since everything is done locally, aspects such as inventory management are done with ease as well as increasing flexibility. Transportation of products such as special and multi-gauge track is very minimal as compared to if GryGrave decided to manufacture and import them from China, which will increase operating costs.

Brief a Case Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Brief a Case - Assignment Example The injuries occurred from falling scales that toppled because of the explosion of fireworks in a bag that were dropped by Long Island Railway employee. Palsgraf sued the railway company for the conduct of its employees that resulted to the passenger dropping his package. The trial court and the immediate appellate courts ruled in favor of Palsgraf citing negligence (Cardozo 1). The appeals court rescinded the decision of the trial courts citing that negligence is not a tort unless the injury is foreseeable. The legal questions raised in this case were â€Å"How is the duty of care owed determined?† and â€Å"To who does a party owe the duty of care?† The appeals court held that the defendant owes a duty of care only to the individuals who are in the realistically predictable zone of danger (Cardozo 1). The case number 11 CV 0445 Wilson Sporting Goods Company, the Appellant, vs. Edwin Hickox and Lisa Hickox, the Appellee, was decided on January 31, 2013. In the previous history of this case, the appellee, Hickox, was wounded while wearing a Wilson Sporting Goods Company’s mask. Hickox brought liability case against the company and won in the trial court. In this case, Wilson Sporting Goods Company appealed citing that Hickox and his wife presented expert testimony that was devoid of acceptable basis and that the evidence was not sufficient (Fisher et al. 1). The appeals court held the decision of summary judgement to Medtronic citing that the company was liable for injuries caused to Hickox for negligent and defective design, failure to warn and the violation of indirect warranty of the applicability of the item for a particular resolution (Fisher et al. 1). The court awarded Mr. Hickox $750, 000 and Lisa Hickox, his wife $25, 000. The primary question was whether the evidence presented by the expert was adequate. Pursuant to Jones

Couse work Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Couse work - Coursework Example From this point, the accounting institutions embarked on seeking an alternative to different accounting principles they had already developed, by generating alternative procedures, which were superior to the others. This move was sparked by the desire for good accounts for the companies that were growing during this period, and the higher desire for uniformity in accounting procedures (Baxter, 1979 n.p.). This move was emulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales immediately after the end of World War II, and eventually many other countries followed. Although it did not initially start as a mandatory move, there was a high recommendation for companies to apply the generated standardized accounting procedures, without seeking the consent of such companies. The accounting bodies majorly depended on the loyalty of the members, to comply with the standards, since there was little they could do to enforce these standards to the companies and other bodies that we re not willing to adhere to them (Baxter, 1979 n.p.). ... Thus, in Baxter’s view, accounting standards entail; accountants showing what they are doing, enhancing the uniformity of accounts presentation layout, providing the basis of accounting for some economic phenomena and making essential disclosures (Baxter, 1979 n.p.). Task B: The extent to which Baxter’s views have influenced the development of a conceptual framework for accounting In Baxter’s view, there are four major factors that form the subject matter of accounting standards. First, the accountant must be able to inform others what he/she is doing, to the stakeholders who may not possess the accounting knowledge, through the published reports, which clearly indicates the policies and procedures followed to arrive at the final financial statements (Baxter, 1979 n.p.). Secondly, the accounting standards enhances the standardization and creation of a uniformity in the layout and presentation of accounts, making it possible to compare the account information of o ne institution to that of the other, while also enabling the evaluation of the accounts for the basis of taxation. With a uniform layout of institutional accounts, it is possible to determine the revenues and the expenditures incurred by the institutions, while understanding the accounting and taxation policies applicable. Thirdly, Baxter presents a view that another subject matter of accounting standards is disclosure (Baxter, 1979 n.p.). This, according to him, entails the revelation into particular details of certain accounting aspects, where the reader of the final results is expected to make their own judgments. One such component that calls for disclosure is depreciation, which is an element that seeks the percentage change in value of an asset over time, in terms of the diminishing asset

Hong Kong Law of Tort Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Hong Kong Law of Tort - Essay Example The mother, after witnessing the series of events, called her husband Ben, the stepfather of Elizabeth who came one hour after. He collapsed after seeing the bandages on Elizabeth. John, brother of Elizabeth after being notified, came one day after incident. All three persons, Lucy, Ben and John, suffered from shock after the incident. The idea of negligence is a product of hundred of years of law making. Until the present, the idea of negligence is still very much open to interpretations by the court. Although there have several attempts in the past to come up with criteria for negligence, the‘ categories of negligence are never closed.’1 Although the courts wanted a rule by which to judge conduct, they wanted the rule to be flexible enough so that the rule could be applied in various circumstances. Lord Atkin in Donoghue v Stevenson, the courts were initially quite reluctant to apply it as a criterion of general application in every case of negligence. Instead, they ad opted a case by case approach, thus restricting the imposition of liability to only few situations of negligence. 2 Negligence is generally defined as the failure to use ordinary care. A person fails to use ordinary care if he/she does something that a person of ordinary prudence would not have done under the same or similar circumstances. Failure to use ordinary care can also occur by omission, or failing to do something which a person of ordinary prudence would have done under the same or similar circumstances. Negligence, then, is a judgment of both acts and omissions.

Medical Reimbursement Methodologies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Medical Reimbursement Methodologies - Essay Example The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans were really the blue prints from modern health insurance. That which started as a hospital plan for public school teachers at the Baylor University Hospital, became the model for Blue Cross Plans around the US. Essentially, these were prepaid plans for hospital services under a contractual agreement. Blue Cross dates back to 1933 where with support from American Hospital Association, this started as a nonprofit plan that covered only hospital charges. By 1946, this plan spread across 43 states and starting from 9% in 1940, in 1950, it covered about 57% of the population. In order to avoid conflict with the in-clinic private practice, to start with this was hospital oriented. This was endorsed by AMA, and later a new plan evolved in 1939, which was known as Blue Shield, and this evolved through development of active service plans. This was sign of commitment to private health insurance as the means to spread the financial risk of sickness without f ear of threatening personal interests of the physician. These plans were literally responses to challenge thrown by national health insurance. In due course of time, they started working together to provide both hospital and physician coverage. Now, these plans jointly provide a comprehensive care through either joint corporations or close working relationships. Since these plans were not for profit to begin with, the commercial insurance providers were skeptical to start with, but later, with the success of these plans, they also started providing health insurance. 3. Explain why the lack of universal health care coverage can raise health care costs. If there is a lack in universal healthcare coverage, there is cost involved in healthcare. Those who are uninsured and uncovered, they will have to pay from their pocket. Therefore, they try to tolerate symptoms and ignore

The Analysis of The short Story Mayfly Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Analysis of The short Story Mayfly - Essay Example Life is as temporary as a mayfly’s life, but happiness is shorter when people lack the freedom and autonomy to express their real identity to themselves and their loved ones. The point of view of the story comes from James and it helps to shape the story’s focus because it shows his struggles in finding his identity and happiness. A third-person point of view that emphasizes one person’s perspective takes readers deep into his subconscious, where his conflicts arise and become unresolved. It shows that James cannot control his life because he cannot make autonomous choices, such as when he thinks that he does not have to explain to Molly why they should drive through the wave of monarchs: â€Å"Let Molly figure it out for herself† (Canty 65). The significance of this thought is that he wants Molly to understand on her own that their relationship is not helping them grow as individuals, but the verbal and dramatic irony is that he also cannot figure out wha t to do with his life. Furthermore, James’ perspective reveals his most intimate thoughts and opinions in life, which he does not always openly express to people who need to hear them the most. James finds Molly’s environmentalism annoying because of her impractical oversentimentality. She cries over dead butterflies, but she cannot stop smoking and find a stable job: â€Å"But James didn’t see how someone would hire her, with her smudgy eyes, her so-so-record† (Canty 65). She is a paradox, an environmentalist who cannot protect her own health and promote her own welfare. Another example is how James feels about Sam and Molly. For him, they are the same: â€Å"The two of them had the same knack for finding a sore spot and then poking it† (Canty 66), but he does not say anything and sips his beer instead. The people who need to hear his opinions do not hear them, so that they can change, hopefully, in the process of honest communication. Jamesâ€⠄¢ viewpoint, especially the absence of his voice, indicates his lack of self in the midst of people who impose themselves on his life. Aside from the viewpoint, the setting of the story enhances it by affirming its themes because it is something temporary, but is about long-term human relations and its role in their happiness. The setting of a married home suggests James’ apprehension of and hopes for marriage. James wants to have Sam and Jenny to have a happy marriage because it is the next stage of his life and relationship with Molly, but he has seen from Jenny’s infidelity that marriage is not all butterflies, but is one large mayfly with constant dissatisfaction: â€Å"It doesn’t sound like bliss† (Canty 68). Mayflies die fast, and so does happiness from marriage. Fishing is another setting that is temporary. For James and his father, fishing is their ultimate distraction from life’s miseries: â€Å"This was when his father would break out a Roll-A-Table and the cooler and set them up with sandwiches and beer...† (Canty 66). They had fun, but it became shorter and shorter after James’ mother died. Her death ended his father’s life to: â€Å"His father had seemed to lose his appetite for everything...All but the drinking† (Canty 66). His father turned into a hollow shell and lost his will to be happy. The setting underscores life’s irony that sometimes, long-term human relations cause despair, not happiness. Plot is another element

Kingdom Building Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Kingdom Building - Term Paper Example As for what I do right now, I do feel that I am called to help the poor. That is my job. In my ministry, everyone is equal, for God â€Å"looketh on the heart.† God looks upon what is on the inside—not upon that which is on the outside. Thus, it is important that we realize that God judges differently than humans judge, humans who look upon outward appearances many times—forgetting that there is a person underneath the flesh and bones. People are not just flesh and bone, but we are also mind and spirit. The whole mind-body-spirit connection must be made. People who minister only to one part of the body will not see the complete picture. If someone is hungry, he is not going to want to listen to spiritual platitudes about how one should feed the hungry. That makes no sense. Therefore, my style of ministry oozes with common-sense, on-the-ground approaches that will help people be ministered to on all levels, not just one single level. This is important to recognize because, so many people stress the spiritual level. So many people push about being spiritual. Jesus, however, taught us not to be spiritual, but to have a common-sense approach. If I see a hungry man or woman, I am going to feed that person. If I see someone who needs water, I will give that person a glass of water. I’m not going to come up to them and shove a Bible tract in their face and say, â€Å"Are you ‘born again’?† ... If they do not fit in your ministry path, what kinds of people would need to serve along with you for successful ministry? This should be at least one page long. (275) I am a big encourager, and I like to see people do well. I would definitely have to work with other people who are encouraging, because without that form of encouragement, I don’t see myself or my parishioners succeeding. The people who attend my church should always feel welcome, and no one should be left out feeling they did not do a good job. It’s always a good idea to find some positive aspect about everything and everybody—it is never kind to speak ill of someone, even if they have faults. I know that sometimes gossip and fear-mongering can definitely ruin faith-based relationships and trust within a church. This is called lashon hara in Hebrew (literally, â€Å"the evil tongue†), which is the exact opposite of love.2 Speaking ill of someone is not only considered rude, but gossip is co ntagious. Once one person does it, it is tempting for someone else to want to â€Å"chime in,† and give their opinion. Soon, a molehill can be turned into a mountain with enough silver tongues spouting their opinions. In my ministry, another requirement would have to be working with people who are teachable individuals or people who are teachers themselves. People who are teachable are open to all kinds of learning. Similarly, teachers likewise might usually be the types of people who are open to learning of some sort. Thus, I have to work with people who are both encouragers and teachers, like myself. This gives me the ability to perfect my ministry to the point where people will come to rely on my consistency, as well as the steadfastness

Black People Essay Example for Free

Black People Essay Tar Baby Toni Morrison’s novel might for some be a novel of cultural awakening. One also might at their first reading and perhaps also by reading the different studies made on Tar Baby, restricted to an interpretation that sees Jadine, Morrison’s protagonist, as woman who has, consciously or unconsciously, lost her â€Å"ancient properties† (305) and internalized the values of a white culture. Jadine has totally disconnected herself from her racial identity and cultural heritage. This reading is supported by the fact that Jadine has got her education in Europe with the financial assistance of Valerian Street (her aunt’s and uncle’s employer). Paraphrasing Marylyn sanders Mobley – the characterization of the protagonist, Jadine, draws attention to a fundamental problem as one that Morrison wants to affirm the self-reliance and freedom of a black woman who makes choices for her own life on her own terms. She also seeks to point out the dangers that can happen to the totally self-reliant if there is no historical connection. While the conflict in Tar Baby is undoubtedly â€Å"between assimilation and cultural nationalism represented by the sealskin coat Ryk has given her and the pie table† (Rayson, 94), the limiting categories which Jadine is continually forced into do not come from the white characters but primarily from the black community in which she finds herself because she (Jadine) has embraced white stereotypes along with white culture. While Valerian is portrayed as the traditional master-figure in the novel, it is actually Son, Sydney and Ondine, and the folk past represented by the different women in different places that try to conquer and dominate Jadine, who retain and represent their culture in the very colour of their skin. On the other hand, one could argue that it is as a result of Jadine’s university education in Europe and her career that further draws her away from her culture and identity and therefore (paraphrasing Mobley in Toni Morrison critical perspectives past and present) contributes significantly to the emotional and spiritual uncertainty that plague her as well as the many different roles that are imposed upon her by her aunt and uncle as well as the ‘society’ that caused her to seek upward social mobility. Sydney and Ondine, Jadine’s uncle and aunt in the novel can be seen as representative of one of the tar pits for Jadine. They do not accept all black people equal in the community in which they live because they employ racial hierarchies. Ondine sees herself as the only woman in the house (209), while Sydney notes more than twice that he is a Philadelphia Negro, â€Å"the proudest people in the race† (61). They seem to have a clear vision of what they want for Jadine their niece. As the story progresses, though, it becomes clearer that it is not actually a question of what they want for Jadine but what they want of her or expect her to do. In addition to them wanting Jadine to provide them safety and credit for their race, Ondine admits by the end of the novel, â€Å"maybe I just wanted her to feel sorry for us [ ] and that’s a lowdown wish if I ever had one† (282). Jadine understands that Sydney and Ondine â€Å"had gotten Valerian to pay her tuition while they sent her the rest† (49) and Ondine keeps reminding that she â€Å"would have stood on her feet all day all night to put Jadine through that school† (193). Ondine sees Jadine as her â€Å"crown† (282), and she and Sydney are continually â€Å"boasting† (49) about Jadine’s success to the point that Margaret calls Ondine â€Å"Mother Superior† (84). In return, they seem to want Jadine to offer them safety for the rest of their lives as Ondine claims that â€Å"Nothing can happen to us as long as she’s here† (102). They are not comfortable with the idea of Jadine marrying Ryk, who is â€Å"white but European which was not as bad as white and American† (48), but they are terrified of her running off with a â€Å"no-count Negro† (193) like Son. Although their views on racial hierarchies seem to alter from time to time, on the outside they seem to want what is best for Jadine. Jadine refute Ondine’s views of black womanhood when she tells her some of the things that are expected of her from society Jadine tells Ondine that: â€Å"I don’t want to learn how to be the kind of woman you’re talking about because I don’t want to be that kind of woman† (282). This, according to Rayson (1998), might be interpreted as Jadine’s â€Å"rejecting the roles of mother, daughter, and woman to stay the tar baby† (Rayson, 95), however it marks her becoming aware of what kind of woman she is by the end of the novel. Jadine‘s inclination toward upward social mobility leads to her separation from the Afro-American roots and the tar quality that Morrison advocates. This kind of flaw in Jadine effectively disqualifies her as a black woman capable of nurturing a family and by large the community. Jadine‘s perception of an ancestral relationship from which she is estranged occurs when she sees an African woman in a Parisian bakery. When she is celebrating her success as model evidenced in her appearance on the cover of Elle, Jadine becomes nervous or perhaps uncomfortable by the African woman in yellow attire. She triggers an identity crisis in Jadine at the moment when she should have felt more secure with her professional achievement assured by beauty and education. In his African woman, Jadine catches a glimpse of beauty, a womanliness, an innate elegance, a nurturer, an authenticity that she had never known before: ? That woman‘s woman – that mother/sister/she/; that unphotographable beauty? (p. 43). By calling the African woman ? that mother/sister/she,? J. Deswal (online source â€Å"Tar Baby- Shodhganga) claims that â€Å"Morrison presents a threefold definition of womanhood which can thrive within the confines of family and community only. The three eggs she balances effortlessly in her ? tar-black fingers? (p. 44) appear to Jadine as if the woman were boasting of her own easy acceptance of womanhood†. Wendy Harding and Jacky Martin in A World of Difference: An Inter-cultural Study of Toni Morrison explain the importance of the African woman‘s presence as such: â€Å"Whereas Jadine has just been rewarded for her conformity to Western ideals of feminity, the African woman suggests a more powerful version of black womanhood. Like some fertility goddess, she holds in her hand the secret of life. She is the mother of the world in whose black hands whiteness appears as something as easily crushed as cared for (71). When Jadine measures herself by the idea of black womanhood that she sees in the African woman the insecurities of her rootless condition surface in her mind. The women in yellow makes Jadine confront her female role and her sexuality†. Jadine sees ? something in her eyes so powerful? (p. 42) that she follows the woman out of the store. The writers also claim that â€Å"As a symbol of repudiation of Jadine‘s westernized lifestyle, the African woman ?looks right at Jadine? (p. 43) and spits on the pavement†. Jadine hates the woman for her spitting, but what she cannot do is escape feeling ? lonely in a way; lonely and inauthentic? as she tells the readers on page 45. When the sense of self is based on the denial of one‘s ethnic roots, one is certain to experience mental chaos and alienation. So, the woman‘s insult to Jadine had the powerful effect of challenging Jadine‘s choices: her white boyfriend, her girlfriends in New York, her parties, her picture on the cover of Elle and the way she lived her life. One can say that it is as a result of the African woman that Jadine desided to visit her aunt and uncle on the island. Jadine is confused and even questions her plans to marry Ryk, her white boyfriend: I wonder if the person he wants to marry is me or a black girl? And if it isn‘t me he wants, but any black girl who looks like me, talks and acts like me, what will happen when he finds out that I hate ear hoops, that I don‘t have to straighten my hair, that Mingus puts me to sleep, that sometimes I want to get out of my skin and be only the person inside – not American – not black – just me? (p. 45) It is through Son, however, that Morrison offers Jadine the ultimate opportunity to ‘redeem’ herself to her heritage, adapt it and revive her womanhood. Son picks up from where the African woman left off in a sense by making Jadine confront her inauthenticity. Jadine and Son enjoys their stay in New York because it is the place where Jadine feels at ease. She feels loved and safe: ? He ‘unorphaned’ her completely and gave her a brand-new childhood? (p. 231). In turn, Son is encouraged by her need and by his apparent ability to redefine Jadine culturally and emotionally. Son insists that he and Jadine goes to Eloe his hometown where Jadine will see how Son is rooted in family and cultural heritage. He attempts to rescue Jadine from her ignorance and disdain for her cultural heritage, trying in a sense to mould Jadine into the image of his black female ancestors. Son assumes that a relationship with Jadine will mean that they will have children together. He presses claims for family and community: ? He smiled at the vigour of his own heartbeat at the thought of her having his baby? (p. 220). Thus, he wants Jadine to love the nurturing aspects of home and fraternity. He is fed on dreams of his community women. The dreams of ? yellow houses with white doors? and ? fat black ladies in white dresses minding the pie table? (p. 119) are nourishment to Son. Sandra Pouchet Paquet (The ancestors as foundation in their eyes were watching god and tar baby) observes: ? In Son‘s dreams of Eloe, the African-American male ego is restored in a community of black man at the center of a black community. But however appreciative Son is of the beauty, the strength, and the toughness of black women; his vision is of male dominance; of the black women as handmaiden? (511). The image feminity that Son cherishes – of the black woman taking passive role as a nurturer of the hearth – is flagrantly opposite to Jadine‘s perception of the modern black woman. This terrifies Jadine and narrows the possibility of their forming a family. The modern, educated black woman seems to snivel at the aspects of traditional female- specific role as the nurturer of hearth and home. Decadent white values and life style thwart the black woman’s vital roles of building families and raising children. The modern black woman cannot be a complete human being, for she allows her education to keep her career separate from her nurturing role. The black woman is increasingly becoming able to define her own status and to be economically independent. She tries to seek equality in her relationship with men. Robert Staples gives an insight into the faltering dynamics of modern couples: ? What was once a viable institution because women were a subservient group has lost its value for some people in these days of women‘s liberation. The stability of marriage was contingent on the woman accepting her place in the home and not creating dissension by challenging the male‘s prerogatives? (125). The black woman‘s intrinsic quality of ? accepting her place in the home? is Morrison‘s tar quality. However, in advocating the tar quality Morrison does not admonish the educational and professional accomplishments of the black woman. In fact, the black woman is expected to achieve a balance between her roles in the domestic and professional fields. â€Å"It is the historical ability of black women to keep their families and careers together. In an era where both the black male and female seek to fulfill individual desires, relationships falter and, consequently, the prospects of the propagation of a family are not too bright. Jadine‘s tar quality is submerged by the white-like urge for freedom and self-actualization. As a result, she finds the conventions of black womanhood antithetical to her own value system†. At Eloe, Jadine is determined to resist rigid male-female role categorization. Jadine cannot ?understand (or accept) her being shunted off with Ellen and the children while the men grouped on the porch and after a greeting, ignored her? (p. 248). While at Eloe, Jadine is provided with yet another chance to attain certain qualities that is for black women. She is accustomed to living an upper-class white lifestyle so she finds the people of Eloe limited and backward. Their stifling little shacks are more foreign to her than the hotel-like splendor of Valerian‘s mansion. She stays in Aunt Rosa‘s house where she feels claustrophobically enclosed in a dark, windowless room. She feels ? she might as well have been in a cave, a grave, the dark womb of the earth, suffocating with the sound of plant life moving, but deprived of its sight? (p. 254). It is in this very room where Jadine and Son were having sex that she had a second awakening vision, which is more frightening than the one she had in Paris about the African Woman. Here, Older, black, fruitful and nurturing women – her own dead mother, her Aunt Ondine, Son‘s dead wife, the African woman in yellow and other black women of her past – become a threatening part of Jadine‘s dreams: I have breasts too,‘ she said or thought or willed, I have breasts too. ‘ But they didn‘t believe her. They just held their own higher and pushed their own farther out and looked at her,? (p. 261) and ? the night women were not merely against her not merely looking superior over their sagging breasts and folded stomachs, they seemed somehow in agreement with each other about her, and were all determined to punish her for having neglected her cultural heritage. They wanted to bind the person she had become and choke it with their breasts. The night women?accuse Jadine for trading the ? ancient properties? (p. 308) of being a daughter, mother, and a woman for her upward mobility and self-enhancement. All these women are punishing Jadine for her refusal to define herself in relation to family, historical tradition and culture. As they ‘brandish’ their breasts before her eyes, they mock and insult her with their feminity. Jadine finds these women backward and sees no self-fulfilling value in the roles that they serve. However, she is constantly haunted by dreams of the black female image that she seems to have lost throughout life. Ondine express shame and disappointment over her lack of concern for her family, the African woman, at the Parisian bakery, spits at her in disgust and the night women, in the vision at Eloe taunt her with their nurturing breasts. Having refuted her own black culture and heritage, Jadine face the consequence of a divided consciousness and a mental death. Her decision to end the love affair with Son— ? I can‘t let you hurt me again? (p. 274) is an evidence of her shunning womanhood and losing her Afro- American roots as she chooses Ryk her white boyfriend over Son who refused to become the person or image that Jadine wants him to be . Jadine is compelled to make her choice and she decides that it is in Paris, away from Son, where there are prospects of financial success and personal independence. She doesn‘t want what Son and Eloe have to offer: To settle for wifely competence when she could be a beauty queen or to settle for fertility rather than originality and nurturing instead of building? (p. 271). Jadine makes it clear to the reader that she is self-sufficient and independent of men, family and community.

International Trade Essay Example for Free

International Trade Essay Relation between trade and world output International trade represents the exchange of goods/raw materials and also manufactured goods (and services) between countries. This situation occurs since a country has particular products or services that are much better than other countries in terms of quantity, price quality, or any other measurable factors. This idea further refers to a notion of competitive advantage. This condition encourages countries to trade their goods and services with other countries to take benefit from the countries that can produce goods more effective and efficient. In the past decades, the increase of international trade has driven the integration of the world economy. Moreover, within 1980 and 2002, the volume of world trade has raised relative to world output. This condition exists because the traded goods have become cheaper relative to those goods that are not traded. Furthermore, the condition occurs due to the influence of three factors characterize the increase in trade as following The decreasing costs of trade. In transportation, communication and search, currency exchange and tariffs are all factors that influence when trading goods internationally. Within the past 20 years, these costs are falling; suggesting that there would be an increase in the volume of trade. Second factor is the fact that tradable goods sector experience improved productivity growth. According to studies, it is found that productivity growth tends to be higher in the tradable goods sector than in the non-tradable goods sector. This situation will in turn increase the ratio of trade to output. The third factor is the increase of income per head. The increasing income will likely drive   consumers to shift their spending away from basic food and clothing products and into manufacturing goods, which offer more differentiation, diversification and international trade. Broad pattern of international trade Historically, trade has taken part since the existence of human being. While trade is not limited within countries, it develops into what we know as international trade or trade conducted among countries in the world. Paul Krugman and Maurice Obstfeld (1997) reveal that countries involved in an international trade based on two common reasons. First, they have goods that are different from others. Second, countries trade to achieve economies of scale in production. To understand the international trade, there is a theory called pattern of international trade as suggested by several scholars. In the Ricardian Model, for example, international trade exists when each country exports goods in which it has a comparative advantage and the existence of international trade is due to international differences in the productivity of labor. Second approach is from two Swedish economists, Eli Heckscher and Bertil Ohlin. Instead of solely determined by labor productivity as in Ricardian model, Heckscher-Ohlin theory emphasizes that comparative advantage is influenced by the interaction between nations’ resources (Krugman and Obstfeld, 1997). Relation between trade and world output The increasing oil price becomes critical and major problems of world economy. Its negative impacts seem to be the factors that haunt either industrialized countries or the developed ones. It is due to the negative impacts can lead severe international economic recession. People around the world would never forget such economic recession happened in 70’s. In the U.S. in order to reduce the dependence towards fossil fuel, they develop the alternative energy including the use of bio fuel. However, more than 90% of palm oil, raw material of bio fuel, is produced by Malaysia and Indonesia. If the two countries do not do trade with the U.S. for palm oil, the country may not offer bio fuel to their customers. Reference: Krugman, Paul R., and Maurice Obstfeld. (1997). International Economics: Theory and Policy. Addison-Wesley Dean, Mark and Maria Sebastia-Barriel. (2004). Why has world trade grown faster than world output? Retrieved January 21, 2008 from http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/qb/qb040304.pdf Wild, J. J., Wild, K. L., and Han, J. C. Y. (2006), International Business: The challenges of globalization (3rd ed.) (Chapters 4 – 6). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson-Prentice Hall.

New Zealand Rail System SWOT

New Zealand Rail System SWOT Summary This task is based on entrepreneurship and innovation. In this task im getting to explain key functions internal setting, system structure and organization culture, external environment, pestle, government policy, common law, opportunities and SWOT by using the example of the given company thats kiwi train. Introduction The New Zealand rail system grew from separate beginnings made by individual provinces or entrepreneurs from the 1860s onwards. Colonial Treasurer and later Premier Sir Julius Vogel made rail a major plank in his programme to develop the colony in 1870. By 1880 New Zealand Railways (NZR) was operating more than 1,900 kilometres of track, and carrying almost 3 million passengers and 830,000 tonnes of freight a year. The first half of the twentieth century was a golden age for rail. In 2003, Toll Holdings Limited, an Australian-based transportation and logistics operator, acquired approximately 85 percent of the shares in Trans Rail. As a result of Tolls offer for shares in Trans Rail becoming unconditional, an agreement between Toll and the Crown was triggered, a key feature of which was the buy-back of track and associated infrastructure by the Crown. The Crown undertook to invest $200 million in improving rail infrastructure while Toll undertook to invest $100 million in new rolling stock. In September 2004, ownership and management of the network and its assets was vested in the existing Railway Corporation of New Zealand which adopted the trading name, Kiwi Rail Network (ONTRACK). Under the agreement, Toll retained exclusive rights to the network for freight purposes, subject to meeting minimum tonnage levels annually. Key terms: Creativity is the capacity to grow new thoughts and to discover new techniques for taking a gander at issues and openings. For Example:- they create different trains that have very high speed Innovation is the capacity to apply imaginative answers for those issues and openings keeping in mind the end goal to improve individuals lives or to advance society (tvnz, 2016). For Example:-Â   kivi train provide the gift cards Entrepreneurship is the consequence of a restrained, efficient procedure of applying inventiveness and development to requirements and openings in the commercial centre. Entrepreneurs are the individuals who wed their innovative thoughts with the deliberate activity and structure of a business. Specialists trust that business visionaries prevail by deduction and doing new things or old things in new ways. Internal environment: these are the minor factor into the companythat organizations internal environment is composed of the elements within the decisions about circumstances that occur frequently within their organization along with internal environment is composed of the elements within the organization, including current employees, management, and especially corporate culture, which defines employee behaviour (Cj0KEQiA8orFBRCEpODivaOft, 2016). Although some elements affect the organization as a whole, others affect only the manager. Strength Favourable circumstances of your association show improvement over any other individual Novel or most reduced cost assets would you be able to draw upon that others Individuals in your market see as your qualities get the deal Weakness Able to move forward It be advisable for you to maintain a strategic distance Individuals in your market prone to see as shortcomings Elements lose you deals Opportunities Changes in technology and markets on both a broad and narrow scale. Changes in government policy related to your field. Changes in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes, and so on. Local events. Threats would you be able to move would it be advisable for you to maintain a strategic distance Individuals in your market prone to see as shortcomings Elements lose you deals External environment External environment refers to the major factors and forces outside the organization that have the potential to significantly affect the performance of an organization with help of pestle (transport, 2016). Political: Political factors identifies with the weights and openings brought by political establishments and to what degree the administration strategies affect the business. Government arrangements Trading arrangements Funding, awards and activities Lobbying and weight bunches Internal political issues Legal: legislation factors identifies with the laws, control and enactment that will influence the way the business works. Current enactment Future enactment International enactment Regulatory bodies and procedures Employment law Structure: the staff of kiwi train is working according to the rules and regulations. They follow all the structure because they working under legalisation. Conclusion: The New Zealand rail system grew from separate beginnings made by individual provinces or entrepreneurs from the 1860s onwards. Colonial Treasurer and later Premier Sir Julius Vogel made rail a major plank in his programme to develop the colony in 1870. New Zealand which adopted the trading name, Kiwi Rail Network (ONTRACK). Under the agreement, Toll retained exclusive rights to the network for freight purposes, subject to meeting minimum tonnage levels annually. Reference: Cj0KEQiA8orFBRCEpODivaOft. (2016, 2). Retrieved from http://www.kiwirailscenic.co.nz/?gclid=Cj0KEQiA8orFBRCEpODivaOft_EBEiQAy3mlfSAhh5KDEGUJl2BEFsxTSPH6hjNn4gZ4p2ThsVhnxrgaAmOj8P8HAQ transport. (2016, 2). Retrieved from http://www.transport.govt.nz/rail/rail-in-new-zealand/ tvnz. (2016, 2). Retrieved from https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/overseas-climate-action-encouraging-kiwi-innovation

islam :: essays research papers

The Founder   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Muhammad was born in Mecca, Arabia, in AD 570. His father died before he was born and his mother died when he was only a child. He was first raised by his grandfather and later by his uncle Abu Talib. He lived with a desert tribe for a while and learned how to shepherd the flocks. At age 25, he began to serve a wealthy widow aged 40 by the name Khadija. They got married and had two sons and four daughters. The two sons died early. One of his daughters married his uncle Abu Talib’s son Ali.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Arabia at that time was under bloody civil wars, political corruptions, and oppression of the poor. Muhammad felt the cal of Allah to preach against the present system. He began preaching in AD 610 but faced resistance from his own people. They threatened to kill him. In AD 622, he moved north to Medina. He soon gained some followers. Those accepted Muhammad as the messenger of God were called Muslims which means â€Å"one who submits† to God. In AD 630 Muhammad and his followers came back to Mecca and took control of it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today, the cities of Mecca and Medina are significant in the Islam religion. The year 622 which Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina is also significant.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Muhammad died in AD 632. His elected successor, Abu Bakr, declared the jihad or holy war from Medina and Mecca to win the world from Spain to India. When they reached Europe, they were defeated by Charles Martel’s troops at the Battle of Pointiers or known as the Battle of Tours in 732. Faced with opposition in Europe, they turned eastward to Central Asia, India, and Indonesia. Today, Islam is the major religion in the Middle East, North Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Indonesia.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although Muslims respect and honor Muhammad, they do not worship him. He is considered to be one of the prophets or messengers of God along with Moses, Abraham, and Jesus. The Teachings   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Islamic book is called the Koran which means the â€Å"recitation.† Parts of the Koran resembles the Bible especially, the Apocrypha and the Talmud. The book has many stories of the Old Testament prophets and Jesus whom was called the â€Å"Word of God.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many tenets in Islam are identical to those of Christianity. The Koran teaches the absolute unity of the power of God. It teaches that God is merciful and just.

Politics :: essays research papers

MINNESOTA’S 4TH U.S. HOUSE ELECTION There are three candidates running for Minnesota’s 4th U.S. House; Democrat, Betty McCollum; Republican, Linda Runbeck; and Independent, Tom Foley. The issues at hand are; Healthcare, prescription drugs, and education.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Betty McCollum graduated with a B.S. degree out of Cathrine College. She taught grade school and was a sales manager for twenty- five years up until her political career began in 1986. She served on St. Paul’s City Council from1986 through 1992. In 1992 Betty was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives and was the only legislator to defeat two incumbents in a single year. Her Legislative accomplishments include the passing of Minnesota’s most comprehensive school bus safety laws and two constitutional amendments which; a) allows citizens to recall elected officials for wrong doing , b) provides bonuses to veterans of the Persian Gulf War. She currently serves on the Mississippi Parkway Commission, a ten state joint commission to protect the environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Betty McCollum wants to invest over half of non-social security surplus to insure a long-term solvency of Medicare that can be extended to prescription drugs and other medical necessities for seniors and people with disabilities as a means of getting quality, affordable health care. She also wants to hold drug companies accountable drug pricing policies in order to make prescription drugs more available for seniors. Finally McCollum wants to reduce class size improve teacher quality, modernize school buildings and expand available technology to better education.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Republican, Linda Runbeck graduated Bethel College with a B.A. in sociology/ social work. Her political career consists of being the state senator in district 53, from 1993 to the present; state representative 52A from 1989- 1992; and council member of City of Circle Pines from 1984- 1987. Her professional career began as a caseworker for Ramsy County social servicesbetween1968-69. Later, Runbeck was an advertising executive for County Seat Stores & Dahlberg Inc., and owned a Miracle Ear franchise from1991-1995. Today she is the co- owner of Braham Monument Co.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  McCollum supports state standards on local school implementation and encourages a zero tolerance for violence within the schools. Also, she wants to allow kids to transfer school districts if their current school is too dangerous. McCollum wants to make the government less influential in health care. She feels through individual responsibility in the form of co- pays and deductibles. She supports Minnesota’s Senior Prescription Drug Program, which offers financial help to senior living on a fixed income and whose said income largely goes to prescription drugs.

Yersinia pestis †Infection, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Essay

Yersinia pestis – Gerneal Infection, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Yersinia pestis, the culprit behind the infamous Black Death, spread by rat fleas, has cast a shadow over human civilization, taken the lives of countless peasants and nobles alike like a violent brute who murders invariably. There are three major forms of infection stages, the bubonic plague, the septicemic plague, and the pneumonic plague (primary and secondary), all are lethal if not treated with proper antibiotics. Due to similar symptoms, clinical diagnosis, the distinction between a common cold and a lethal infection is made difficult. However, though a potent murderer, Yersinia pestis can be easily eliminated by antibiotic treatment; survivors of the disease may be scarred. The plague has always been a shadow overcastting the dawn of mankind; it had hid in the darkness, where the rodents roam and the poor dwell; it had unleashed its terror upon, claiming the souls of nobles and peasants alike. There are a total of five major plague outbreaks, including the infamous Black Death of medieval Europe, which wiped away half of its population. Yersinia pestis, the culprit behind the Black Death, are Gram-negative bacteria that are septicemic and extremely infectious. Though humans are highly susceptible to the microorganism, its main hosts are rodent species such as rats and squirrels, and are only transmitted onto humans when infectious fleas regurgitates animal blood while feeding on us. Yersinia pestis infection comes in three forms: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic; the pneumonic plague is the deadliest. The rodent epidemic is transmitted unto humans when Y. pestis â€Å"are transmitted by fleabite, enters the lymphatic [system] 2 and migrate to the re... ...6. Microorganisms and Bioterrorism. Ed. Anderson, Burt, Friedman, Herman, and Maaro Bendinelli. Springer: 2006. Kopp, Elizabeth, and Medzhitov, Ruslan. â€Å"A Plague on Host Defense.† The Journal of Experimental Medicine. . â€Å"Plague Fact Sheet.† Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Department of Health and Human Services. 30 March, 2005. 26 July, 2006. . â€Å"Plague Prevention and Control.† Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Department of Health and Human Services. 30 March, 2005. 26 July, 2006. . VeriMed Healthcare Network. â€Å"Plague.† Medline Plus. 17 June, 2005. 26 July, 2006. .

“Wine of Astonishment” Analysis

Setting In  The Wine of Astonishment, the setting is very significant as it gives the reader a better understanding of the background and atmosphere of the story. The story is set over a twenty year period somewhere between nineteen thirty two and nineteen fifty one. It is in a small, remote village in Trinidad called Bonasse where everything takes place. The setting is one of the best techniques in a story, as it has the power to make us feel like we are actually in the story and watching everything take place right before our eyes.The village setting is surrounded by African folk culture which is seen by the stick fighting and chantwell traditions, the communal pride in Bolo's prowess over Ivan Morton's achievements. By this rural setting the reader has to consider their way of life seen by Eva's plantain crushing to the calypsos by light of the flambeau outside Buntin's shop as well as their economic background which at that time was predominantly agricultural with the plating o f cocoa and sugar. It also makes the characterization more intimate where we see love between Joyce and Clyde.The events more symbolic such as the Spiritual Baptist religion which plays a pivotal part in the story. Characterization EVA Eva is the narrator of the story ‘Wine of Astonishment’. She is the wife of Bee and the mother of five. Eva lives in the village of Bonasse with Bee and the three younger of her children. She is of African descent and is of the Shouter Baptist faith. She is a very religious woman and she believes all things happen for a reason. She believes that God gives them all their trials and tribulations because they can bear them.She is a loving mother as she tells her son Reggie that even though he failed his examination, he still had his life in front of him. Her motherly nature is also shown when she was worried about Joyce, her daughter, and Clyde’s relationship. Eva and Bee have been married for twenty-three years and are very close to each other. Eva tries to help Bee by convincing him that they could bear their burdens and convincing him that Ivan Morton would help them. She also tells him that while they do not have as much as others, they have the necessities, and need no more. BEE Bee is the leader of the Shouter Baptist Church in Bonasse.He is married to Eva and has five children, three of which lives with him and his wife in Bonasse. He is of African descent. He is often burdened by his position, yet he cannot simply leave, he must go on, as seen when Eva narrates in page 3, â€Å"†¦and maybe he want to say to hell with the church, to hell with Ivan Morton, to hell with everything, but he can’t get out the web, he must go on hoping. † Ivan Morton was in the Council for Bonasse and Bee sacrificed for him to be there, however Ivan Morton was doing nothing to help the Shouter Baptists and that frustrated Bee greatly.He is very religious and hates the fact that they could not worship God in t heir own way but had to abide to the laws. He relies on his wife, Eva, as his confident and supporter. She helps him to get back up when he is down. Bee seems to be very wary of letting his last son, Reggie, to go to high school because he fears what it may make him. Narrative Technique The story is told in first person, as the narrator is known to be Eva a main character of the play.The first person narrative, captures the attention of the reader in an early stage of the piece of literature, understanding and wanting to understand the situation that the narrator would currently be involved in . We look at the story through her point of view and see the turn of events as they occur through her eyes. Most of the story is written in dialect, as it would be the way that Eva, the story teller would commonly be speaking. It also encourages the readers to be in favor of one party(s) in the story, not having the input of another narrator or that of an omniscient narrator, who would not giv e the story only one point of view.This narrative technique is very useful in capturing the reader’s attention as it helps him/her (as the case may be) get a better grasp into what’s going on within that person’s life and having full access to that person’s most private thoughts and feelings. As it is in Eva’s case, we see her life and struggles within herself, causing the reader to take a special interest in Eva and to empathize for her in whatever situation she is facing, as she describes it to the reader(s).

Philosophy of reading Essay

â€Å"Just simply teaching a child to read is not enough; we must provide them something that is worth reading. Material that will make their imaginations grow – materials that will help them to understand their own lives and push them towards interacting with others who’s lives are completely different than there own† (Paterson). As elementary educators it is our privilege and responsibility to expose young people to knowledge. By making this introduction a fun one, it allows for the child to have a positive attitude about school and learning that they will take with them through out their entire educational career. Many children have a excited and happy attitude about starting school. Every student also feels like they are ready and prepared, no matter what their entry level literacy skills may be. It is common knowledge that not every child will enter the school system with the same levels of literacy. That is why it is up to us, as educators, to teach them how to read by using appropriately developed strategies and individualized instructions. When I was a little girl growing up I was one of a family of sixteen children, so beginning from a very young age once the school days were done we were left with our  older siblings while mom and dad worked hard to earn us a living. My mother would frequently read to me out of story books or simply stories she made up on her own. Since there were so many of us, by the time i was born we had a pretty good assortment of books to choose from. My first memory I have of reading in the classroom setting was in the fourth grade. My teacher was Ms. Bartrum, she was such a lovely woman who was the first to instill in me the joys of reading through accelerated reading programs and book fairs. I was a goal of mine to be the first one to finish one  book and move on to another one on the list, this is a case where a little competition was a healthy thing. Mrs. Bartrum was really good at picking out books that would challenge us but also capture our interests which made reading them a lot less challenging. Cunningham and Allington research has shown that those children who learned to read and write with ease had a lot of different experiences in reading and writing, which allowed them to benefit from the literacy experiences they had in school (Cunningham & Allington). Teaching students to read is not simply picking the right  reading program, and one specific program will not work with for every single student. As a teacher I feel that it is my job to be the spark for the love to read, by using an effective and balanced learning approach. It is of the upmost importance that the curriculum is designed so that it engages the students in the content, while allowing the students to use their own learning styles and accompanying to their developmental needs. The teaching method called â€Å"Best Practice† uses the idea that by using teaching methods and strategies within the classroom will create an individualized environment for learning. I continuously make an effort to use the best practices method in my everyday classroom instruction. Students learn based upon their own individual needs or interests. It is important to help students to gain their own craving for knowledge, it is critical to their academic success. By creating a learning environment that allows the students to feel safe, will in turn make it easier for them to trust you which will make the learning experience much easier. An environment that is encouraging, positive, actively engaging, and allows for social interactions will harbor the best practice learning method. The way that a classroom is arranged can have an effect on the students and how they learn as well. My personal classroom is arranged so that they students’ desks are arranged in a U-shape with my desk in the middle, this allows me to have a view of each student and to be able to get to them easier. My classroom is also full to the gill with reading materials, every which way the students turn they are greeted by books. Our reading corner is focused around our interactive word board, it holds our library with is full of many different forms of reading materials from chart books to decoding books. Also posted throughout the classroom is the alphabet, picture cards, and letter cards with a corresponding word being used in a sentence. Morning messages and charts are placed within easy access for the students so that they can review and practice whenever they want. Also made available within the classroom is environmental prints, these help the students with their writing, studies have shown that they are an effective way of aiding in emergent literacy (Jalongo, 2010). Each day there is an hour set aside to work on reading in small groups. Even though throughout the day several books are  read, this one hour period during the day is when individual reading levels are really focused on within each group. Groups are used during these lessons because studies have shown that students within the early grade levels learn more when a portion of their reading lessons are given in small groups, with regularly tested progress, and ample amount of time to understand the lesson is given (Taylor, 2005). â€Å"Reading is fundamental†, this saying is used to demonstrate the how important reading is to our youth. Having the skills to read and write is not only fundamental in an individual’s success in the academic sense but also in life itself. Reading and writing skills are a continued development throughout a person’s entire lifetime, however they early years, from birth to the age of eight, are the most crucial time frame for developing literacy skills (IRA and NAEYC, 2009). Reading has an undeniable importance because of the basic tools it provides an individual. It is the building block for the nation’s educational system. One must have adequate reading skills to be able to master any other subjects such as math or science, this is why it is the most crucial of all subjects to master. Despite it being such a simple concept, if it weren’t for reading our culture  wouldn’t be as advanced as it is today. By simply saying that â€Å"reading is fundamental† lacks emphasis, because without the ability to read our lives would be extremely different in many ways. References: Reading Rockets. Interview with Katherine Paterson. On-line. Accessed on December 5, 2014 at http:// www. readingrockets. org/books/interviews/paterson Hall, D. P. & Williams, E. (2000). Teachers Guide to Building Blocks: A Developmentally Appropriate, Multilevel Framework for Kindergarten. Greensboro, NC: Carlos-Dellosa Publishing Company Inc. International Reading Association (IRA) & National Association for the Education of  Young Children (NAEYC). (2009). Learning to Read and Write: Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children. NAEYC: Washington, DC. Jalongo, M. R. (2007). Early Childhood Language Arts. (4th Ed). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Taylor, B. , Pearson, P. , Clark, K. , & Walpole, S. (2005). Beating the Odds in Teaching All Children to Read. CIERA Report #2-006. University of Michigan: Ann Arbor.