Saturday, August 31, 2019

Macroeconomics Of Japan Essay

Japan is the greatest economy in Asia, in terms of GDP, as well as human resources and technology. The nation was once predicted to be the next superpower nation exceeding the United Sates and countries of the European Union. Today, it is the world’s third-largest economy after the United States and People’s Republic of China. It is also the second-largest economy by real GDP and market exchange rates. The economy is highly efficient and competitive especially in the services industry, which is originated from a good cooperation between the government and the industry, a strong work ethic and the mastery of high technology. Recent analysis however, revealed that the economy is currently under serious problems. Observers and even Japan’s own officials have admitted that the economy is no longer ‘first class’. There are even worries that Japan has no longer sustain the capacity to be one of the world’s greatest economies anymore, and the economy will slowly degrade into one of the typical Asian economies. Analysts stated that such an occurrence has happened before, when Argentina which were once considered one of the strongest economies in the world degraded into typical third world economies today. Is this the case with Japan? In this paper I am discussing the problems that stayed within Japan’s economy and elaborating their probable causes. Afterwards, I will elaborate the macroeconomic policies which have been performed by the Japanese government in response to these issues and how these policies have affected the economy. The period of discussion is 1997 -2007, which are the years after the ‘Japan economic bubble’ bursts, to the present day. II. Japan Economic Issues 1997-2007 II. 1. Background of the Issues – Japan Economic Bubble Japanese growth rates have been nothing less than spectacular for decades. In the 60’s the average real economic growth rate was 10%, in the 70’s it was 5% and in the 80’s it was 4%. Japanese financial system however, was based on a bureaucratic fiat. The government believes that by injecting sufficient amount of capital into the market, the economy will experience a rapid rate of growth. Thus, the financial system was set to inject cheap capital into the business sector (Hamada, 2004). In support of this policy, banks even reluctant to report –in bad loans. In short, companies were encouraged to borrow and expand continuously. Companies would then borrow using assets like land and then invest the money into the stock market. After the market rises, the company would have latent profits which will be used to buy more land and therefore, the cycle continues. These cycles were the origins of the huge real estate and stock market bubbles. These bubbles however, cannot be sustained forever, and when the Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised interests rates, the bubble bursts in 1989 and leaving commercial banks in Japan with a mountain of bad loans. II. 2. Stagnant Economic Growth Afterwards, assets prices began to decline rapidly. Japan’s economy was going through a long period of deflation since then, partly caused by the appreciation of yen. Because of this appreciation, the CPI increase rate dropped into negative in 1995. The expanding deflation caused Japan’s economy to remain in a static condition. Moreover, the deepening deflation was accompanied with weakening state of real economy like growth rates declines and increased unemployment rates. Between 1992 and 1994, real growth rates are below 1%. It even dropped toward a negative range in 1998. Jobless rate have also suffered a rise of 3. 4 % from 2 % in 1990 to 5. 4% in 2003. The economic downsizing in 1997 put Japanese economy into a new state of deflation (Oliver, 2002). II. 3. Deflationary Trap It was not considered serious until the inflation rate slipped to below zero in 1997. In this phase, observers believed that Japan was in a ‘deflationary trap’. However, because of various long-term considerations, the government has implemented policies to maintain inflation stable near the zero mark. In this situation however, the central bank cannot use its traditional instruments to deal with the issue. As a result, deflation deepens even further and the market intensified expectations toward further and longer period of deflation. Due to the increase in real rate of interest, consumer spending and corporate investments were discouraged. Unfortunately, the shrinking total demand in the macro economy further worsen the deflation. If not dealt with accordingly, this could lead into self-sustaining deflationary process (Campbell, 1992).

Friday, August 30, 2019

5 Forces Dynamic Analysis Essay

Question 1. –(refer to appendices on p.5) Political 1) From 1991-1998 No longer anti-alcohol campaign to boost ice-cream industry. Ice cream industry had to complete with substitute products. 2) Since 1998 Financial Crisis, Russian rubles devalued by two-thirds. Russians cannot afford foreign products and companies relied more on national suppliers. 3) 1999 VAT raise. Fruit-based ice-creams and popsicles raised to 20% VAT. Consumer buy less ice-cream because of elastic demand, revenue is less. Economical 1) Privatized companies must overcome bad infrastructure, to create value in Primary and Support activities, and to extend the maximum market share. 2) In ice-cream industry, Ice-Fili’s competitor, Nestlà ©, built Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s own infrastructure during the 1990’s and Russian faced an enormous challenge. Society/ Culture 1) Lakomka. Older customers love â€Å"Lakomka†, 5 competitors compete Lakomka. However, in a long term, Lakomka needs to sustain its life if old generation dies. 2) Russian likes Condensed Milk (less sweet) ice-cream generally. But Nestlà © may change consumers’ behavior. 3) Consumers took ice-cream during short summer but took beer throughout year. Technological 1) Newly imported equipment. Ice-cream industries invested newly imported equipment to enhance infrastructure. 2) 90% of new equipment used for freezing and packaging in Russian market, but only $1.5 to $2m per complete production line. Not really improving. Substitutes (High Threat) Soft drinks, beers, chocolate, confectionaries were rising but ice-cream declined by 3.5% in 2002. Rivalry (High Threat) Nestlà © established great infrastructure and wanted to be only brand in Russia in 2-3 years’ time! Entrants (High Threat) Regional producers took 30% of domestic market and still growing. Supplier (High Threat) Imported ingredients were more expensive; National suppliers had more supplier power, price of ingredient were more expensive Buyer (High Threat) 1) Customers had 240 different ice-cream products! Yet to count substitute goods. 2) Retailer cost 17.2% & distributors cost 30%, 47% of industries expenses!! From the PESTLE and Porter Five Forces shown above, Russian ice cream industry was struggling to evolve. Question 2 Resources– (refer to appendices on p.6) 1) Tangible resources In Physical point of view, Russian ice-cream market contains different plants and fruits. This is also mention under point â€Å"rare† below in the same answer. Ice cream companies’ experiences long year’s industries, human resources of local and national knowledge such as culture, marketing, and human connections were under the competitive advantage. 2) Intangible resources For firms in Russian market, long ice cream brands were already enjoying reputation because some reputable brands were household name such as Lakomka. Under Capabilities 1) Valuable Despite that is devaluation in Russian Rubles, which is a great opportunity to enter ice cream market in Russia in lower cost. 2) Rare Tailor made Ingredients. Russia has a huge area, which may grow some specific type of plant that cannot find in other countries. Those local plant and fruit could turn into local ingredients to make a unique ice-cream that could be found in Russia only. 3) Inimitable In the Russian market, there were more than 240 ice cream products alone. For a market entrant, the barrier of entry is low because customers were not sticking to a particular ice cream brand and reject the others. Entrants needn’t imitate other brand and enter to the market. That was why regional ice cream market enjoyed growth. 4) Organized to be exploited by the firm Russian market used to have a weak organizational infrastructure, neither in vertical and horizontal integration during 2002. Nestlà © had formed a well infrastructure already but Nestlà © couldn’t take entire integration in Russia  market, there are still some room for companies can take on this opportunity to integrate horizontally and/or vertically at the moment, to grow on company’s economies of scale at this moment, rather than years later that all the market big boys fill up the ice cream industry, which increase barrier of entries. Question 3: Strategic Positioning Model – (refer to appendices on p.7) In appendices 1, Ice-Fili played board in Competitive Scope but played differentiation in Economic Logic. Despite Ice-Fili sold 6 Rubles and compete directly with some of Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s medium price products, for a medium size company with limited tangible resources, Ice-FIli unable to be a Cost Leader to compete with high economies of scale like Nestlà © and local big companies. Ice-Fili had to prove its value. Porter 5 Forces – (refer to appendices on p.7) Threat of Substitutes Invest Eastern Europe and Germany Ice-Fili directors believed to take a ‘cash cow’ opportunity to produce dry ice and sell aboard. It was right as director aware substitute goods and lower switching cost of Buyers can threat ice-cream business. If dry ice aboard were Stars Market, of course it was worth to invest in; if dry ice was a Question Marks market, risk was much higher.; Furthermore, Ice-cream market and dry ice-market may not share the same technologies simply based on same freezing system, Ice-Fili needed to put more effort to control its business, plus taking care the tough ice-cream competition at the same time. Threat of entry Ice-Fili improved some sufficiency that raised the bar barriers of entry from below: 1) It was right to restructure 117 salary levels to one under Corporate Organization & Structure, more cost flexibility & got rid of high fixed cost rigid system. 2) Production Invested $8m on advanced machinery with 90% used for freezing and packaging! To tackle significant 5.7% packaging cost was reasonable. It may spend too much on improve lower cost Freezing system but spent less than 10 % on production, let â€Å"Older generation equipment† produced 25% production capacity was obviously  insufficient. Ice-Fili did not tackle high repair & maintenance cost. Buyers’ Power Ice-Fili planned their Product range with 170 different ice cream plus 20 new products every year. That let buyer to have more choice was creating far less sufficiency on cost control. Under poor financial position in 2002, simply should focus traditional intangible brand Lakomka and other most profitable ice-cream! Supplier Power 1) Ice-Fili kept 3-4 suppliers only. Kabuzenka stated Ice-Fili constantly received â€Å"new one† offers, but didn’t diversify more suppliers. High Suppliers Power remained. 2) Ice-FIli never hedged foreign currencies that can cost less to buy foreign products. Question 4. –(refer to appendices on p.8) Arenas- Red Ocean (substitute products), Blue Ocean (Dry-Ice Market & theme park) Invest Foreign Dry Ice Market- Ice-Fili must ensure they were investing Star Market rather than Question Marks market. If not a Star Market, Ice-Fili should not invest. Invest Ice Cream theme park- Ice-Fili located nearby Moscow. It is inexpensive to set, and easy to attract some visitors to visit theme park. i) Introduce company’s history ii) watch brief production process, iii) let visitors taste and evaluate developing future product. iv) Visit â€Å"cute† graveyard of Ice-Fili’s â€Å"buried products† to create fun. Invest substitute products- E.g. beer, chocolate, soda, etc., as markets were expanding, in short term, to buy these companies shares and generate cash a.s.a.p. In longer term, get enough resources to develop its own brand, or fully takeover an existing substitute company. Vehicles- Acquisition Backward integration- To save storage cost of ingredients, could pay suppliers slightly more by delivering on time for production. This enhanced inbound logistics under Generic Value Chain, Porter 5 Forces’ Supplier Power, and decrease Operation cost. Forward Integration- Set up own small distribution warehouses across geographical market locations, hire few employees in each location. It runs several tasks: a) Enhance Outbound Logistics by distribute products on time to all retail channels, replace 47% Retailers and Distribution costs. b) Use cheap operated SMS to communicate freely with local marketers, to gather 1st hand market demand and relevant information, to build up Services by developing relationships. Then e-mail this â€Å"fount line† information to headquarters on regular basis. Differentiation- Position medium price product and try to Re-register Lakomka 1) Register Lakomka- to become Ice-Fili’s unique product in the market. 2) Not bond with leading Russian producers for joint advertising- The bond favor more on Russian big players rather than medium Ice-Fili. Bond’s decision may constraint the future benefit of Ice-Fili. Eventually, Ice-Fili could be destroyed by the bond, not by Nestlà ©. It is not worth to save 0.44% cost by joining the bond. Staging- Based on priority of financial resources inflow and outflow of time sequence as follows: Invest substitute products 1st as market growing->register Lakomka->forward integration->backward integration->Dry Ice Market abroad->Ice Cre am theme park Economic Logic Gain cash from raising market (substitute goods); Save cash to run future business. Conclusion: 1st invest Horizon 2- certain growing substitute market; then enhance Horizon 1- register Lakomka and integration, finally invest Horizon 3-Dry Ice and theme park. APPENDICES Brief History PEST (question 1) Components of Internal Analysis (question 2) Strategic Positioning Model (question 3) Lower Cost Differentiation Board Target Competitive Scope Nestlà © -Cost Leadership Ice-Fili- Medium Price, Nestlà © Narrow Competitive Scope Cost Focus Differentiation- Niche

Thursday, August 29, 2019

AP Government Essay

527 Organizations- organizations that raise and spend money to advance political causes Blanket Primary- a primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties Caucus (electoral)- Closed Primary- an election in which voting is limited to already registered party members Coattails- The alleged tendency for candidates to get more votes in the election because their at the top of the ticket. general election- held to choose which candidate will hold office gerrymandering- drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in bizarre or unusual shapes to favor one party incumbent- The person already holding an elective office  independent expenditures- spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them malapportionment- drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population open primary- a primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place political action committee- set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations reapport ionment- position issue- an issue about which the public is divided and rival candidates or political parties adopt different policy positions primary election- held to choose candidates for office  prospective voting- voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues retrospective voting- voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office runoff primary- A second primary election held when no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first primary soft money- funds obtained by political parties are spent on party  activities, but not on a specific candidate sophomore surge- an increase in the votes congressional candidates usually get when they first run for reelection valence issue- An issue about which the public is united and rival candidates or political parties adopt similar positions in hopes that each will be thought to best represent those widely shared beliefs Five differences between congressional and Presidential campaigns are Presidential races are much more competitive A smaller portion of people vote in congressional races during off years than vote for the president. Members of congress can do things for their constituents that a president cannot A candidate for congress can avoid being held accountable for the â€Å"mess in Washington† More voters participate in congressional elections The five tasks that one must complete in order to run for the presidency is Get mentioned as someone who is of presidential caliber -travel around the world making speeches like Ronald Reagan which will put you on the radar. Shoot for over 12 in a day Devote lots of time! -Many candidates devote countless amounts of time, in terms of years. It is especially important to start sooner if you are not already known. However, you must be smart about your spending because you don’t want to go broke before the general elections begin! Try devoting a good four- six year of campaigning like Ronald Reagan. Get Money -You need a certain amount of money in order to get your name on the radar. To be eligible for federal matching grants to pay for primary campaign , you must first raise at least $5,000 in individual contributions of $250 or less in twenty states. Get Organized -You will need to raise a ton of money in order to campaign efficiently, but in order to do that, you will need a support system. Getting organized by hiring lawyers, accountants, a press secretary, travel scheduler, advertising specialist, direct mail company, pollster, volunteers and fundraisers will help the candidate stay on top of their game plan. Pick Strategy and themes -Choose your game plan wisely. Whether or not you are an incumbent should also determine what strategy a candidate chooses to take. You must also consider such factors as what type of tone your campaign will have, whether or not it will have a theme, timing, and what audience you would like to target. Incumbents are reelected to Congress over 90 percent of the time Seats are apportioned in each House of Congress according to Article 1 section 2 in the Constitution District boundaries can profoundly affect the outcome of the election due to problems of malapportionment, which is when one district is significantly bigger than than the other, requiring more votes in order to elect a representative. Gerrymandering was also an issue for it draws boundaries in odd shapes which in turn favors one party over another. The four problems to solve in deciding who gets represented in the House is Establishing the total size of the House Allocating seats in the House among the states Determining the size of congressional districts within states Determining the shape of those districts A candidate wins a party’s nomination by gathering enough voter signatures to get on the ballot in a primary election. They win their party’s nomination by getting more primary votes than the next candidate. Seats are reapportioned every ten years. In 1964, the Court ruled that the constitution requires that districts be drawn so that as nearly as possible, one person’s vote would be worth as much as another. Incumbents have the advantage of reelection in Congressional elections Due to the sophomore surge, members of Congress get 8 to 10 percent more votes than when they were first reelected. Two consequences of how congressmen/women are elected are that it produces legislators who are closely tied to local concerns and second, it ensures that party leaders will have relatively weak influence over them. Local orientation of members of congress has important affects on policy making for example, if you have a representative in a certain committee of Congress, your state has a higher chance of directly benefiting from whatever it is the committee can provide. Delegates tend to value reelection  over anything else and seek out committee assignments and projects that will produce benefits for their districts. On the other hand, trustees will seek out committee assignments that give them a chance to address large questions that may not even affect their districts. What works in a primary election may not work in a general election, and vice versa, in part because different elections or caucuses attracts a different mix of voters. The Iowa caucus is the first real test for candidates, so any slip at this caucus is a major disadvantage to the candidate due to the media attention and contributor interest. Primary voters tend to be more ideologically polarized than the average voter. Position issues are issues that are addressed during a candidates running for office in which he or she must make a stand on. These issues tend to share opposing views for the rival candidates and may also split the voters opinion. For example, in the recent election of Obama and Romney, tax cuts and the Obama medicare plan proved to be position issues. Valence issues do not require one to take a side, rather it i nvolves an issue in which everyone agrees, regardless of party identification. For example, in the Romney and Obama election, stronger education and school systems proved to be a valence issue. Television, Debates, and direct mail may influence campaigns in a variety of ways. Depending on the type of person who is absorbing the spots, visuals, and debates. For example, visuals and television newscasts may give the viewer less information than commercial spots. Visuals in some cases on the other hand, can be a vital part in a campaign because they cost very little and as news they may have greater credibility with the viewer. There are two different kinds of elections: general and primary. Primary elections are held to see who shall be nominated to run in the general election as a candidate, and the general election chooses who will take office. Some are closed while others are open,so one may have to declare in advance that they are registered to vote or you can go to an open primary where you decide which party’s primary you would like to participate right there and then. A presidential primary is used to pick delegates to the nominating conventions of the major parties. Candidates can get around â€Å"slips of the tongue† by relying on stock speeches. Since the 1960’s, television was used as a form of contesting campaigns and used largely to conduct campaigns. The internet made possible sophisticated direct-mail campaigning which in turn makes it  possible for a candidate to address specific appeals to particular voters easily and rapidly solicit campaign contributions Sources of campaign money for members of Congress come from their own pockets, private sources, or is raised from individuals, interest groups, or the political parties. For presidential candidates, money sources comes from private donors and the federal government, whereas Congress candidates rely on themselves or private sources to donate. Major Federal Campaign Finance Rules General -contributions and expenditures reported to FEC -Anything over $100 must be disclosed with name, address, and occupation of contributor -Nothing over $100 -no ceiling on how much candidates may spend out of their own money Individual contributions -can’t give more than $2,000 -no gifts exceeding $95,000 every two years. $37,500 goes to candidates Political Action Committees -each corporation, union, etc may establish one -Must register 6 months in advance, have at least 50 contributors, and give at least 5 candidates Ban on Soft Money -no union or corporation can give away own money from treasury to any national party Independent Expenditures -corps, unions, associations, can’t use own money to fund electioneering communications referring to candidates sixty days before gen. Election and 30 days before primary -PACs can fund electioneering up to their limits Presidential Primaries -Federal matching funds can be given to match individual contributions up to $250 or less -candidate must raise $5,000 in 20 states, with contributions of $250 or less Presidential Election -gov will pay all campaign costs up to legal limits of major party candidates and part of the cost of minor party candidates. The 2004 presidential election was unique because of the following factors: the war in Iraq, Bush running for second term which gave him an up in the electoral votes, Bush and Kerry won the same states that Bush and Gore won in 2000, and also  because of the high voter turnout. Minor-party candidates can get federal campaign money if they have won at least 5 percent of the vote in the last election. This has only happened once in 2000 The 1973 Campaign Finance Law created the problems of independent expenditures and soft money. The three changes to the Campaign Finance reform act was the banishment of soft money, raising the limits of independent contributions from $1,000 to $2,000, and it sharply restricted independent expenditures made by corporations, labor unions, and trade associations by restricting these organizations from using their own money to mention a clearly identified federal candidate in advertisement 60 days prior to the general election and thirty days prior to the primary election A suit formed against this law and stated that restricting an organization from mentioning a candidate prior to general and primary elections was a violation of freedom of speech. The Supreme Court upheld almost all of the law and stated it was not a violation. The NORC analysis states that if the recount of votes in Florida had not been halted by the U.S Supreme Court, Bush still would have won, also if hand counts in only four heavily democratic Florida counties had been was granted, Bush still would have won. However, if the same â€Å"equal protection† standard the U.S Supreme Court wanted to use but said there was not enough time, Al Gore would have won 527 Organizations are allowed to spend their money on politics as long as they don’t coordinate with a candidate or lobby directly with that person During peacetime, the state of the economy, the political party affiliation, and the character of the candidates generally decides who becomes presidential The pocketbook vote is the idea that the party holding the White House during good economic times will do well, however if the economy is not doing so well, neither will the party. It is hard to determine who’s pocketbook the voting does because how a person is doing financially will sway their vote on how they believe the good or bad economy will affect them. Besides money, religion, abortion, political reporting, and the vice-presidential nominee does not make much difference in the outcome of the election It is easier for incumbents to raise money because they are already well known to begin with, they can provide services to their districts, send free mail to their constituents, and can get free publicity by sponsoring legislation or  conducting an investigation The Republicans won nine presidential elections between 1968 and 2000 because democrats are not as committed to their parties as republicans are, Republicans have a higher percentage of independent voters, and there is a higher percentage of Republicans voting in the elections. A citizen does not need to be well informed politically to play an important in elections because despite the lack of knowledge in a certain field of politics, citizens ten to know more about the things that interest them. If it was a requirement for every citizen to be so well informed, citizenship in itself would be an occupation, taking up more time in people’s lives than they would want. A prospective voter is forward thinking. They consider both sides of views, including the opponent, and cast their votes for the person they feel will handle the matters more effectively. Perspective voters might focus on big issues such as abortion, nuclear energy, or school busing. A retrospective voter thinks backwardly, meaning they look to the recent past to determine whether or not the economy is doing well. If the economy is doing well, retrospective voters tend to vote for the party that currently occupies the White House, however if the economy was sour, these voters vote against the party in the White House. A prospective voter would focus greatly on economic issues, such as inflation. Campaigns make a difference in elections by reawakening partisan loyalties of voters, giving voters the chance to see how candidates handles pressure and how they apply it, and campaigns also allows voters to judge the character and values of a candidate. Thematic campaigning, negative ads, and the demands of single issue groups have impacted elections in the decision making process of the â€Å"right† candidate during the primary. A loyal coalition of democrats would be African Americans. In almost every election, two-thirds or more vote democratic A loyal coalition of Republicans would be The most loyal members of political parties does not have the most influence because they typically make up a small portion of the electorate. It is very hard to determine how a policies will be affected by elections is because there are so many offices to be filled and the ability it unite political parties under one policy is weak.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Does the Use of Ombudsmen, Tribunals and ADR Give the Citizen a Better Essay

Does the Use of Ombudsmen, Tribunals and ADR Give the Citizen a Better Solution for Settling Disputes Than Using the Courts - Essay Example This paper therefore addresses the significance of the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), Ombudsman and Tribunals in justice systems of the world.   Importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) In some countries, ADR is also referred to as external dispute resolution (EDR). It is found in countries such as Australia and encompasses dispute resolution techniques and processes that act as an enabling means for parties in disagreement to reach an amicable agreement. ADR is therefore an alternative system to a formal litigation. It encompasses resolving civil and communal disputes without involving the judicial process that involves court processes (Anderson1998, pp 113-128), although ADR has been a subject of heavy criticisms, the system has over the recent years gained popularity as well as acceptance among members of the bar and the general public. For example, some established courts now call for some parties to seek the services of ADR, mostly mediation before comm itting the cases to full trial in formal courts. The ever-increasing popularity of ADR may be partly attributed to the piling of cases in formal courts and the general perception that the system is cheaper as opposed to litigation. It is also widely believed that ADR upholds confidentiality. As is the case, the judiciary in some developed nations such as England has endorsed the system as it encourages mediation in settling disputes. ADR involves processes of mediation, negotiation, collaboration and arbitration and at times conciliation which as per now may fully be taken as a form of mediation. The system can satisfactorily be used alongside other legal systems, most notably the Sharia courts that falls within the jurisdictions of the common law as found in countries such as Australia (Anderson1998, pp 113-128), Mediation as one of the vital processes of ADR involves enlisting of a non-partisan third party to assist in the resolution of disputes.  Such a person is expected to pr ovide necessary ways for reaching a compromise. Arbitration on the other hand may be argued to be the most formal as far as the methods are concerned in settling of disputes without necessarily involving the courts.   Arbitration refers to a method where the parties involved in a dispute pass their concerns to an impartial party, who is mandated to come up with an impartial verdict on their behalf.   The judgment  passed is considered final and legally binding to both feuding parties.   The benefit of arbitration is that the agreement to carry it out can be made at any given moment. The involved parties can also strike a compromise on the number of arbitrators to preside over the dispute.   The parties also have the mandate of appointing an experienced expert in the field.   The hearings regarding arbitration can take so many forms paper arbitration, which compels the feuding parties to submit all their concerns to the arbitrator through writing. The arbitrator then stud ies the submissions before making a decision.   Transparency and objectivity is upheld as the parties have the right to request for a hearing that they appear as well as their witnesses if any (Slapper & Kelly 2004, pp 26-43). Is there justice in Tribunals? The establishment of tribunals anywhere in world has raised more eyebrows than praises. This relates to their intentions and goals in addition to statutory

Individual Leadership Growth Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Individual Leadership Growth Reflection - Essay Example In this paper, I give the self-discoveries I have made from this course with regard to my growth as a leader in terms of power, coercion and management functions. Various ways exist in which to define leadership because of the variance in the meaning attached to leadership under diverse contexts. Nonetheless, the bottom line of leadership entails a focus on the processes of a group. It entails how an individual’s behavior or personality perspective interacts to cause transformation. Additionally, it entails the power relationship between the leader and the followers. Therefore, the definition of leadership as a process of an individual influencing a group of individuals so as to achieve a common objective by Northouse (2010) adequately covers all aspects of leadership. This means that in this evaluation of my leadership, I look at how I have been able to influence various groups of individuals to achieve the intended common goal. It will involve an analysis of my leadership traits and how I have used such traits to influence groups. First, just as is human nature to love power, I have sought to acquire power under various capacities that would give me the command and thus the leadership. Without power, it would be difficult for me to cause transformation in a group. After all, Northouse (2010) defines power as the capacity to influence. Without this potential, it implies that it would be difficult for me to control any group. Borrowing from the traits approach to leadership, some of my physical traits have greatly contributed to my leadership positions. Being tall and well built has always been a way in which people have opted to give me legitimate power in many groups. The most recent is the position of chairmanship of a group of a minority represented in the school. Through this power, I was able to bring about changes among the minority students, empowering them to occupy executive positions in the school’s students’ council. This way,

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Technical writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Technical writing - Essay Example We are looking into the matter, and are fully aware of the staff members from whose email accounts the messages originated. We are in the process of confirming the identities of the culprits. But to ensure such practice does not occur again, the e-mail account owners will be fined. Furthermore, to prevent such practices from continuing, a new company policy regarding email policy has been constituted. With the new email policy coming in effect on 25 January, 2012, it is mandatory on the employees to save their emails in their systems to prevent future mishaps. Employees are requested to log out from their accounts when they are not present on their desks. This is to prevent abuse of the emails from another party. In case of such an occurrence, the account owner will be held responsible. I am hopeful that your experience in working with our company has been pleasurable. In order to ensure that the working environment stays so, and both the company and the employee benefit from this environment, a specific issue needs to be addressed. It has been brought to my notice that you have been failing to comply with the company’s attendance policy and have been taking leave from work a little too often without any prior notification. Also, that you have been lacking punctuality and have been occasionally found leaving office earlier than the official timings. Your previous and current efforts regarding punctuality and attendance are greatly appreciated. However for the future, it is advised that the issue be taken more seriously as it can result in termination from employment or heavy fine infliction. In view of your current performance, you need to exhibit strict punctuality with regard to office timings and other provisions of the ‘Employee Code of Conduct’. Certain exceptions are still allowed in case of emergency. Moreover, to assure that 100 percent attendance is maintained, it has officially been decided that

Monday, August 26, 2019

Business - Organizational Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business - Organizational Communication - Essay Example Organizational communication takes place horizontally, downward and upward. Downward communication takes place from executive and managerial levels to the other staff through formal channels like organizational charts, policy manuals and rules and regulations. Upward communication takes place from the members of staff to the managers, and mainly, inform of a request or a complaint. Horizontal communication flows among colleagues, especially in a meeting, where they share information, discuss issues of common interest and resolve problems. The paragraphs below discuss the importance of organizational change and issues involved by managers in creating effective organizational communication. Organizational communication is highly essential because it improves the relationship between employees and managers in an organization. This is because; it becomes extremely hard for employees to perform their work effectively without proper communication from the manager. The manager should use th e correct channels of communication, and know what he expects from the communication channel used. Indeed, most management issues arise in organizations due to ineffective communication. Proper communication system minimizes misunderstanding and misrepresentation (Smith & Turner, 1995). Organizational communication is a key tool for motivation among the employees since it improves the employees’ morale. Lack of communication or inappropriate communication in every organization causes conflicts between the employees and managers. Inappropriate communication issue is one of the major causes of conflict in the work places and eventually leads to low morale for the employees. Therefore, managers should state clearly to employees on what should be done, how perfectly it should be done, and what can be done to improve the performance. The manager can do this by clarifying to the employees the relationship between personal and company’s objectives, and incorporate the interes t of the two. Effective communication within an organization leads to productivity increase. Proper communication enhances good human relation in every company because it encourages suggestions and ideas from workers and employees. Importantly, the organization is encouraged to implement the suggestions, and this increases production at a remarkably low cost. Organizational communication enables employees to submit their comments, work reports, suggestions and grievances to the management. Speedy and effective communication is highly essential because procedures and policies should be clear to avoid confusion, delays and misunderstandings, and; therefore, harmony is established in all departments, and among all people. Written communication is better in an organization than oral communication. Communication in written form should be clear and concise to avoid misinterpretation. Written communication can be used for future reference because it provides a permanent record and gives a chance to employees on writing down their suggestions and comments. Organizational communication is essential since it allows rationalization. Simply, the management clarifies and explains instructions in a way that employees can comprehend, using downward communication. On the other hand, upward communication in an organization enables workers to air their views to the management. If an employee identifies a problem in motivation, for instance, he or she may use upward

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Socio-Political Factors And Mental Health Essay

Socio-Political Factors And Mental Health - Essay Example Some of these factors include race, culture, ethnicity, gender, social class, and other similar factors. This double burden is referred to as double stigma (Corrigan et al. 2004; Rowe 2005). The double stigma does not only perpetuate the self-depreciation that patients experiences, but it also fortifies the public stigma that is manifested in the forms of discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping against mentally ill patients. In this effect, double stigma heightens the negative impact of the stigma that mentally ill patients experience. Recognising the seriousness of the condition, this study will answer the question how socio-political factors may influence mental health? In attempting to answer the question, the study will focus only on one socio-political factor – ethnicity. This acts as a form of limitation and the focus needed in addressing the query of the study. Ethnicity is now used to indicate, â€Å"the different and unequal experiences of social groups with spec ific social attributes such as language, religion, and dress codes† (Giddens & Sutton 2010, p. 136). Ethnicity is necessary because it is one of the foundations of a person’s worldview (Sue & Sue 2003; Sumari & Jalal 2008). The motivation behind choosing ethnicity over other socio-political factors is the fact that one of the key aspects of contemporary society is pluralism and ethnicity is its concrete reality. In a pluralistic society, there is the increasing tendency that the minority group is viewed from the perspective of the majority group as they cohabit within the same physical space. This creates pressure since there are mark distinctions among ethnic groups. In this regard, ethnicity is pivotal in mental health because of the double stigma that patients in the minority group are experiencing. Its negative impact will continue if it is not consciously addressed. In addressing the problem of this study, the answer is drawn both from the experience of the service user and scholarly journals and books dealing with the issue of ethnicity and mental health. The Response Mental health practitioners have the ethical and moral obligation to respect the cultural context from where the patient is coming (Trimble & Fisher 2006). The increasing multicultural diversity of patients with mental illness increases the responsibility of mental health practitioners in providing the venue wherein the patient’s cultural heritage is included as an integral component in formulating accessible and quality therapy for the patient (Sue & Sue 2003). Nonetheless, it has been observed, there appears to be a gap between the theoretical knowledge of the role of ethnicity and the empirical belief justifying that health care providers have to respect the reality of ethnicity since some practitioners are reluctant to modify their current practices to accommodate ethnicity (Griner & Smith 2006). This situation amplifies the double stigma among ethnic groups. The Wes tern Approach of Self-Disclosure. PA, an Asian and one of the patients in the Community Health Centre, shares, â€Å"I do not understand why I have to tell somebody my fears, my thoughts, my delusions.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Colonial Medicine Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Colonial Medicine - Assignment Example Money had to be made, and the men, especially, were determined to make themselves and their families financially free. Women, on the other hand, were in charge of caring for the children. Almost every two years, a new child would be born to a woman, making her be responsible for caring for children pretty much her entire adult life. Women even began taking care of the children before the adult years. For instance, when Rebecca Lukens came home from the boarding school that she attended to get a top-of-the-line education, she was home caring for her six younger siblings at sixteen years of age. While some were owners of large farms and plantations, and while there were others who tended to family duties, others went to school to get an education on a wide variety of things, such as apprenticeships and obtaining medical degrees (Gustaitis). According to the article titled, â€Å"Iron Woman† one could draw the conclusion that men primarily were doctors. Women primarily were nurses, and they worked with midwifery, helping other women deliver their children. For instance, the husband of Rebecca Lukens, Charles Lloyd Lukens, studied to become a physician and practiced for quite some time before he decided that he’d go into the iron business along with Rebecca’s father (Gustaitis). During those times, women did not primarily work, as their duties were primarily in the home. However, when their husbands died, leaving them widows, these women were able to inherit all of the estate, the business, and any other financial means that their husbands left behind. Not to mention, they possessed legal rights (Gustaitis). In 1840, Rebecca was the sole owner of her business, and she had done well enough that she be became a very successful CEO. Her iron business thrived until her death, and it even is thriving today. As a matter of fact, in the year 1996, Rebecca was entered into the business hall of fame (Gustaitis). This

Friday, August 23, 2019

Write an annotation entry consisting of a Citation, a brief Summary, Essay - 6

Write an annotation entry consisting of a Citation, a brief Summary, and a short paragraph Evaluation of the text below - Essay Example w implementation in the American society by exposing the flaws in the present justice system, which is crucial for ensuring equality in law application in the future. Goodman and Gonzà ¡lez present a scenario in which the police in Ferguson, Missouri apply the law discriminatively. Critically dissecting the text, racial discrimination is perpetuated using the very justice system that is expected to protect all citizens of the United States. There is overt discrimination in the manner in which the police handle individuals of different racial backgrounds, with the blacks facing the wrath of the law. It is my belief that a just legal system should ensure that laws are applied equal to all people irrespective of their races or ethnicity. Assessing the presentation, several questions emerge. Are African Americans inherently inclined to crime? Is the police department practicing racism under the cover of law implementation? Nonetheless, the voices in the in the presentation offers a cred ible argument by citing the U.S. Justice Department confirmation discrimination in the police and city courts in Ferguson, Missour. The presentation is inspiring as it hints at a possibility of improving the law to ensure a better society devoid of racial discrimination in future. Goodman , Amy and Juan Gonzà ¡lez. Michelle Alexander: Ferguson Shows Why Criminal Justice System of "Racial Control" Should Be Undone. A daily independent global news hour, Wednesday, March 4, 2015. Accessed March 12, 2015.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Purity in its Sense Essay Example for Free

Purity in its Sense Essay Puritans have established a very conservative culture that seeks to impose on its believers a way of life that strictly adheres to God’s biblical laws. Small mistakes are virtuously corrected but a sin such as adultery merits the disdain of the whole community. Despite the Puritan principle that one must continually cleanse himself through following the rules of conduct that society has structured, it has not taken into consideration that forgiveness is a strong dictate of God in order for one to truly deserve his kingdom.    Senseless yet purifying are the morals of Puritans even for men and women who had gone astray.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the book, The Scarlett Letter, its author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, sought to show the foolishness of Puritans to follow God’s laws while the community is prone to misjudgments on people’s characters. It has led to their minister’s, Arthur Dimmesdale’s, hypocrisy in dealing with his own fear of being ostracized by society. This social stigma has also brought forth Roger Chillingworth’s idea of revenge against the preacher and his wife as he tries to do so without embarrassing himself as a man fooled by Hester. It has condemned Hester Prynne to a life of misery and shame because of her adulterous relationship with a man whose identity was hidden from the public. It has likewise shunned her daughter, Pearl, and given harsh scrutiny to the actions of such an innocent child. These misjudgments were all part of the author’s critique of how Puritans can blindingly follow a very â€Å"moral† life when it actually pushes people towards immorality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dimmesdale hid behind the cloak of his position in society to avoid the social injustices that he would have gotten if he honestly proclaimed his wrong acts. Arthur Dimmesdale was highly revered by everyone because of his ministry of humility and kindness.   However, the Puritans were so blinded by his stature and seemingly wise image that they could not understand that he was actually giving his sermons based on his own dealings with sin. Instead of revealing the truth, he had succumbed to the mental torture of his guilt.   He was driven to punish himself privately to endure the mask that he had created to avoid being outcasted. The moral code of Puritans had turned him into a prisoner of his own secrets.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although the author lacked enough description of the town’s reaction to Dimmesdale’s revelation of his immoral mistakes, readers are still led to believe that Puritans did not have any discrimination on one’s gender when sin was the topic.   The first chapters of the novel were explicit in showing how the people were thirsting for Hester’s revelation as to who was her lover and that all were waiting to give their own judgments on the mysterious person. There were many instances wherein the people had asked for her lover’s name so that he shall also share Hester’s punishment. The scarlett letter on Hester’s clothing is proof that the community disdains not only her act of infidelity but also her loyalty to a co-sinner by not divulging his identity publicly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, Dimmesdale still seems to have gotten a lighter treatment from society because his declaration of the truth was still twisted by some people at the end of the story.   Instead of getting angry, the shocked community had different views on what had transpired and were focused on explaining Dimmesdale’s death instead of his immoral acts.   These may probably be because he was well-respected and had already passed away and not because he was male. It is very ironical that he, the preacher, became free to be happy only when he was able to finally declare the truth which released him from the confining binds of a Puritan society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Roger Chillington decided to avoid the Puritan society’s condescension by hiding his true personality in the guise of a doctor instead of a husband seeking revenge on his unfaithful wife and her lover. Although his embarrassment really did not have anything to do with his own wrongdoing, it drove him to seek revenge deceitfully and thus pushed him to immoral acts too. There is also the probability that Puritan culture was so conservative that a man of knowledge such as he felt tied down in his thirst for information that could further his career. Instead of criticizing a husband’s intentional abandonment of his wife in pursuit of something earthly such as knowledge, the community absolved him by the sheer adulterous act of Hester.   This may seem that in some principles, the Puritan society can actually be more biased when it comes to the male gender.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Despite society’s burning scrutiny of Hester because of her mistake, she seems to show that her grasp of God’s love is clearer compared to those who have condemned her. Shunned as one who does not know how to obey God’s will, people looked down at her and tended to view her as a sinner who did not understand what God was asking of her.   Her reflections throughout the story show how much she has taken each embarrassing glance and condescending remark as her way of penance to purify herself in the eyes of God. The strength of her own faith was able to make her endure all that society had to spit on her shamelessly. In embracing the true teachings of a Puritan life, she was able to recognize her daughter, Pearl, as a unique gift from her God that could help achieve her happiness despite society’s snub. Despite her mistakes, she was able to rely on God’s teachings to pursue a selfless life of serving her daughter and others through kind acts of charity instead of giving in to the temptation to join a cult that would go against her Puritan community. She had a better grasp of what it meant to be a Puritan compared to all of those who were busy adhering to every rule of their society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pearl was the subject of intense hatred because she was the symbol of the immoral deeds of her parents. Puritans, despite their profession of love for God, had forgotten that Pearl was innocent of any of the crimes committed by her father and mother.   The child was seen as wild in the eyes of the community and they were bent on separating her from Hester because she needed to be protected from her mother’s seemingly twisted view of faith. The Puritans took it upon themselves to decide upon the lives of Hester and Pearl making it look like it was their moral obligation to ensure that Pearl learned their faith better.   The community’s judgmental nature showed that they were willing to play god in the life of a guiltless child but it was the girl’s unique and powerful innocence that drove both her parents to strive for atonement for their previous sins. The Puritans perceived Pearl as the bad fruit of sin but it was this child that made Hester tightly hold on to her faith despite the odds against them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Puritans strived so hard to maintain clean souls by taking very conservative principles based on their Christian beliefs. However, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel totally criticized this aspect of Puritan life by showing how the lack of understanding of their faith has led them to misjudge sinners instead of truly showing compassion as Christ did when He was alive. The author attacks the Puritan culture’s sense of propriety by showing how real sinners can actually be more devoted to preserving God’s will on earth.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Writing From Macbeths Point Of View - GCSE Essay Example for Free

Writing From Macbeths Point Of View GCSE Essay Was that a dagger swimming into the cold chambers of my imagination? Or am I just a lunatic? The answers lingered in my brain, spiralling out of control, making me faint, as I inhaled the black starless sky. The deep careless thoughts caressed my body; as the cold air embraced my white speckled soul. The dagger pierced its way into my thoughts, allowing darkness to fill my soul. I felt myself fighting above the surface, as if I were drowning, being pulled back from underneath. Am I drowning in my sins? Or the sea made tears of sorrow, after the deed is done. It was as if the shackles made of daggers tightened its grip, every time I tried to scream for help, devouring my soul even further into the deep, dark thoughts, I had once forbidden myself from. My heart, severely at unease, smashed itself against its cage. Lady Macbeth is not right. I shall not let it be right. Such thoughts were never right. How dare she question my love, my manhood, my pride? With these very hands, I stripped this kingdom of war, and yet she belittles me with her little games. If that does not make me a man, then I do not know what does. I did not become Thane of Cawdor by chance. I earned this, with every ounce of manhood I have. I sought victory in war, and found it, yet I cannot find victory in the battle of my thoughts. I penetrated my sword through the neck of an enemy, and smeared my fists in warm, rose red blood. I could easy do the same to gain what I lust. Yet she asks if I am a man? Such a question shall bring me both victory and death. I closed my eyes. Darkness crept behind my eyelids, causing me to shiver with guilt. I felt like my lungs gave up on my body, my breath uneven, I tried to discard the thoughts of encouragement, yet they crept behind me, lurking behind me. I am a man, a host and a shadow. I should not be allowing my deepest desires to overtake the palms, which had saved the man I wish to put to rest. My brain ran in circles restlessly, revisiting the bitter ambition that sank to the bottom of my stomach, burdening me. It creeps over my innocent soul, trying to cover it with dark colours. As if the devil had gifted me, possessing my beliefs and my ideology. It enveloped me, into a world of fear, letting the numbing pain of culpability seep into my body. I need more. More is needed to be a manto be more than a mana King. I’m dancing to the devils tunes, and I know they will laugh. The devils tunes resembled that of what the witches had said, racing through my brains repeatedly. The realisation of my gullible soul brought in fears that I could not handle. I was in my dark zone and could not break free the chains of destruction. Why did they have to plant the seed of hope into my heart? It is now sprouting, being watered by my ambition. T he water droplets fell one by one, as I held my head, strong yet wearily, hanging across the edge of the balcony; with every drop I wished it washed the dirty thoughts that encaged me from being faultless Macbeth. Yet I yearned to be King Macbeth. A King of kindness, a King of just and a King of sympathy. But in doing so will result in my status, my pain and my death to be intensified by the wrath of God. Going against the King, was like going against God. But I do not agree with the natural order. It was just utter nonsense from my perspective. Surely it will come back to sting me, where it hurts most for it is written in my destiny, written to bring shred my dream of a long life, into mere pieces of a shameful king. I cannot defend myself from this urge. If I am a man, I will do it. I am a man. A man with the contaminated desires planted in his mind, by evil. But will I be a man after it? Let’s find out.

Fiat Changing Business Environment Marketing Essay

Fiat Changing Business Environment Marketing Essay ABSTRACT This report focus on the FIAT group and analysis of its external business environment. It outlines the companys background in terms of its history and product services, with major strategic milestones and key competitors. The operations in some of the tools used for the external analysis are the pestel and porters. As a result, strategic directions are proposed that will assist the FIAT group in sustaining and developing a successful performance in order to keep and improve its market positions globally. This report is also concluded of list of recommendation for the FIAT group. CONTENTS 1 ABSTRACT 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 INTERNAL ENVIRONMNET 2.2 EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT 3. MICRO-ENVIRONMENT KEY COMPETITORS CUSTOMERS SUPPLIERS PUBLIC PRODUCT AND SERVICES 4. MACRO-ENVIRONMENT POLITICAL INFLUENCE ECONOMIC INFLUENCE SOCIAL INFLUENCE TECHNOLOGICAL INFLUENCE ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE LEGAL INFLUENCE 5. COMPANY BACKGROUND MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT OF FIAT GROUP HISTORY 6. SWOT ANALYSIS 7. RECOMENDATION 8. CONCLUSION 9. REFERNCES 2. INTRODUCTION: Business Strategy is seen as one of the most important areas within Fiat group. It can also be defined as per Johnson Scholes and Whittington (2008, p.3) as the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term, which achieves advantage in a changing environment through its configuration of resources and competences with the aim of fulfilling stakeholders expectations. As can be seen, strategy is a complex field and inevitably connected to Fiat companies success or failure. Thus it is vital for the organisation to constantly evaluate and adapt its strategy in order to be successful (Grant 2005 p.7) External and Internal Strategic Analysis of Fiat Group: This part focuses on fiats performance by analysing both the external and internal environment of the company. External environmental forces refer to the macro-environment, the industry or sector, and the competitors that affect an organisation (Johnson, Scholes and Whittington, 2008). Equally important as the external environmental scanning is the analysis of a companys internal environment to identify its strength and weaknesses (Hunger and Wheelen, 2009).This is also referred to as strategic capability which is defined as the resources and competence of an organisation needed for it to survive and prosper (Johnson. Scholes and Whittington 2008, p.95) for this analysis, the focus is on the car industry in the UK market in general, and the small car sector in particular Business environment encompasses all those factors that affect a companys operations, and includes customers, competitors, stakeholders, suppliers, industry trends, regulations, other government activities, social and economic factors and technological developments. (Business dictionary, 2010). Basically business environment is segregated in between two categories Internal environment External environment 2.1 Internal Environment: There are various components which particularly change the behaviour of employees. Events, Conditions and  factors  within an organization are few of them.  Their  activities  and  choices are under influence. Factors that are frequently considered part of the internal environment include the  organizations  mission statement,  leadership  styles, and its  organizational culture. Internal factor which occur inside the company are management, manpower, row material, machine, money. 2.2 External Environment: EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT is factor essentially outside the control of organizational members. Conditions, trends, and forces are few enlisted factors. External environmental scans are conducted in operations to identify and analyse important factors in the external environment. This analysis is often a critical aspect in all business or strategic plans. External environment are classified into two major parts: 1. Micro-environment 2. Macro-environment MICRO-ENVIRONMENT: KEY COMPETITIONERS: Fiats key competitors are the French companies Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroen, and the German Volkswagen AG (Hoovers, 2010). Volkswagen (VW) is Europes number one carmaker with an annual production of more than six million car, trucks, and vans. The company operates in 153 countries and aim at position itself as the global economic and environmental leader among automobile manufacturers (Volkswagen Group, 2010) PSA Peugeot Citroen is present in 160 countries, and is currently focusing on its development in high-potential markets such as China, Latin America and Russia. On 2009 the company produced more than 3 million vehicles (Peugeot Citroen, 2010). Renault is present in 118 countries in sold more than 2 million vehicles in 2009 (Renault, 2010). Main competitors in UK are Ford and Toyota. CUSTOMERS: Customers play an important role in business environment. They are the key monitors on whose basis an organisation acts upon. They are the relation in between different business enterprises who purchase the services and products to their satisfaction (Collin English dictionary, HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000) SUPPLIERS:   Affiliations with the companies that supply your business with goods and services,(Grant, Scholes 2007). As a growing company, Fiat group focus on one of their factor of suppliers: price. And price is considered important when you are selecting suppliers to assist you as you grow your business. A cleric service which act as a substitute providing goods and raw materials available to achieve the need of demand proposed by the company. PUBLIC: Public are the targeted market components or individual who persuades interest in the business or the products and services. They capitalise shares in market. They may be directly or indirectly active to open market (Collins Thesaurus of the English Language   Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002). PRODUCTS AND SERVICES: The Fiat Group is subdivided in different business units (automobiles representing the biggest business unit according to worldwide revenues (Fiat Group, 2010). The Automobile business unit produces and sells cars globally under the Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Fiat professional (light commercial vehicles) and Abarth brands. Additionally, Mascerati and Ferrari are also part of the Fiat Group (Fiat Group, 2010). MACRO-ENVIRONMENT: PESTEL Analysis The macro-environment can be determined by using the PESTEL analysis. The PESTEL framework is an analysis tool that outlines factors affecting the companys strategy, and allows the identification of key drivers of change (Johnson, Schnson, and Whittington, 2008). Political influences: Government regulation: the UK and the EU have the strictest regulation concerning emissions. Issues with emissions are highly volatile; as if the manufacturer does not abide by the standards it will translate into higher running cost for the customers and likely to discourage them from buying. Economic Influences: Recession resulted in increased unemployment and lower purchasing power of customers. Increased interest rates in bank loans for consumers. Rising prices of raw material, especially for steel (Star, 2010). Rising fuel prices. Social influences: Change in consumers buying pattern due to the recession: customers of more aware of the struggling car market and strive for better deals (e.g. Fiat 500 is priced with a high premium above the industry average for such a car). Small car image and partly bad reputation of brand name. Technological Influences: Innovative technology deriving from the Japanese and German car market. Rapid, high-quality inventions and developments from competitors, especially from key players like BMW , Volkswagen , Mercedes, etc Eclectic-car (e.g. from Renault- Nissan) are not produced by Fiat yet. Environmental Influences: Environmental awareness of customers coupled with tough government regulations construct a tough market for Fiat, as all main competitors aim at producing eco-friendly cars with low of CO2. The peak oil scenario will affect the whole automotive industry, as oil is a finite resource. Legal Influences: EU competition laws. Although Fiat is known as a producer of eco-friendly cars ( Automobiles Review 2010) tougher car emission laws could lead to increased production costs of cars. 5. COMPANY BACKGROUND: FIAT is a word wide operating Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial and industrial group based in Turin in the Piedmont region. All though the FIAT group is present in many countries around the globe, its market position is especially strong in Europe and Latin America. EUROPE: Leading automaker in EU. Faced sales decrease in 2008 due to economic environment. Current market shares in UK is 4.02% USA: Moderate market shares in US (until) recent alliance with Chrysler last year and Canada market. These two markets are currently considered as the biggest auto market in the whole world. ASIA: No significant market establishment of Fiat in this market. Some key players in this market are Suzuki and Tata motors. The Asian market is also an emerging market and is untapped market for Fiat. LATIN AMERICA: Exceptional high sales in Latin America specially Brazil. Fiat market share in Brazil is 25.5% as of may 2010. (Auto trends, 2010; fiat 2010; European motors news, 2010) 5.1 MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT OF FIAT GROUP: FIATs mission statement says: FIAT| is an automotive-focused industrial group and design and manufactures automobiles, trucks, wheel loaders, excavators, telehandlers, tractors and combine harvesters. In terms of its vision, the FIAT group, states Innovation has an important place among the FIAT groups core values and beliefs. Because the only way to meet the challenges of the future is to be innovative; innovative in everywhere and in every way. FIATs aim is to strike the balance in experience, creative and technology (FIAT group 2010). 5.2. HISTORY The FIAT group (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino), establishment in the year 1899 was one of the founders of the European Automobile Industry. It was developed under leadership of Giovanni Agnelli and made a successful presence in the Italian market as well as the international market. The FIAT group is now managed by Serigo Marchionne, who is the CEO presently. The Agnelli Family still controls FIAT by owning 30% of the shares for the FIAT group. Right from the start, the company had a strong propensity for the international expansion and innovation. The company expanded outside Italy in 1908 when FIAT Automobile Co. was founded in the United States. In the meantime, Fiat also expanded to new sectors. In 1958 production started growing enormously and Fiat set up new manufacturing plants aboard. In the 1990s the company escalated its expansion into international markets to cope with crisis, and achieved over 60% of its turnover outside Italy. Because of aggression competition, Fiat concentrated on developing markets and was prompted as an innovation brand at affordable prices. Today Fiats products are sold in more than 190 countries around the world (Fiat, 2010). Although the Fait Group engaged in many sectors, it redefined its core business area in 2003 by again focusing on the traditional automotive sector. As a consequence, certain business no longer considered strategic such as the Aviation and Insurance Sectors were sol d (CSR Globe, 2010). The company returned to their first mission: to produce attractive, stylish cars with improved quality and exciting engines, accessible, focusing on a continuous overhaul of its products, on technological research and constructive relationship with the customer (Fiat, 2010). In terms of its revenues and trading profit, the Fiat group is currently facing some severe decline as shown in figure 3. Revenues declined from almost 60 million down to 50 million Euros in 2009, and trading profit even declined to less than one third compared to 2008 (Fiat Group, 2010). SWOT ANALYSIS: A SWOT analysis explores the relationship between the between the environmental influences and the strategic capabilities of an organisation when compared with its competitors. (Johnson, Scholes and Whittington, 2008, p.118). With the help of the SWOT Analysis tool, it is possible to identify the strategic fit between the organisations internal and external capabilities and accordingly determining alternative strategies. By doing a SWOT analysis for the FIAT group, the companys strengths, opportunities, weakness and threats can be outlined. SWOT Analysis for Fiat Strength: With a brand name established over a decade, Fiat is known for its strong hold in the small cars segments and excellence engine technology. It also enjoys a huge brand portfolio including Ferrari, Mascerati, Alfa Romeo and Lancia (Fiat UK, 2010). According to the SMMT data survey, the UK market has shifted towards the small cars recently (SMMT UK, 2010). Fiat has the potential of producing innovative products, which has been the companys driving force since the very beginning. Fiat is the only automaker offering highly fuel-efficient cars and has the lowest CO2 emissions in Europe at 127.8g/km (Automobile Review, 2010) compared to the key players. Thus, Fiat is an organisation highly committed to environment sustainability and making a difference. Fiat stands 8th in the ethical ranking in the automotive industry, which pushes the brand image and reputation (CSR International 2010). WEAKNESS: Fiats main focus on small cars segment only has been the reason for its low market share in UK/Europe. As an approach to increase their sales, Toyota is focusing on building consumer confidence. Whereas Fiat focuses on new innovations and introduction of technology, but to an extent it fails to consider what their customers expect. Opportunities: The Asian economy still has a lot of untapped potential, which FIAT can look into. Recent alliance with Chrysler who has appointed 130 dealers in US to represent FIAT is a good opportunity for the Fiat brand to market itself (Just Auto, 2010). Due to Fiats innovative technologies, there is an opportunity for it to tap other markets as well as develop new market segments. Threats: Toyota and Ford remain two of the strong competitors for Fiat. With Toyota launching at least 18 new models in the European market 2009, it poses a major threat to Fiats market share. Toyota currently has a market share of approximately 5.01% in the Uk( Mad UK, 2010). The recession has reduced the purchasing power of the customers in the last couple of years, which has resulted in a drop in demand for new cars. Recommendation: After conducting the different environmental analysis for fiat group, it is now possible to recommend strategic options available to the company. In general, it is recommended for the Fiat group to follow which adapt differentiation and low price relative to competitors. This combination will help the company the gaining a strong competitive advantage. Fiat could move towards a low cost focus strategy in the emerging Asian markets. At the same time it can further tap the US market. This will also increase Fiats market share globally. By applying the hybrid strategy, the Fiat group is also able to capture the untapped Asian market with its cost and fuel efficient cars like Punto, 500C, Grande Punto, Linea etc. By focusing on improving its market share, Fiat will be able to gain economies of sale by cost savings. This is turn will provide resources to finance its RD sector, which will give way for new highly efficient products for the markets, thus generating higher margins which will again increase Fiats market share. Fiat could also move towards offering low cost cars to its customers by expanding in the emerging Asian markets. It may also be recommended to tap the US market (untapped). It should expand its activities in RD (Research and Development). The above strategies will help the Fiat group increase its market share not only in the UK but globally. It will also increase its economics of scale. Recommendation can also be given for the strategic development of particular products in the UK market. The GE-McKinsey Matrix for the Fiat Automobile Group in the UK, and its application to the strategy guidelines based on the directional policy matrix, also allow for the recommendation of future strategies. As a result of this analysis, the following strategies can be recommended: For the Fiat 500, product investment and growth are required because the market is growing and if the business unit continues to invest in the market, it should see itself sustaining its growth. For the Fit Bravo, selective growth would be useful, as this would allow Fiat to be more focused on the needs of the market. For the Fiat multipla, the harvest /divest path can be recommended, as this would allow Fiat to keep their existing market share and diversify in due course. CONCLUSION: This report focused on the Fiat Group and its current performance. An external and internal environmental analysis was conducted critically, which allowed for the recommendation to Fiat. Based on the various strategic analyses done in this report, it can be suggested that the Fiat Group needs to adopt new strategies for the future. If the above mentioned recommendation combined and implemented successfully, they will not only help to sustain and improve the companys business performance, but also improve its market position compared to key competitors in the automotive industry. With the rapid changes in technology and innovations, it is important for the Fiat group to be customer focused.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The American Christian Holocausts Essay -- Holocaust History

The American Christian Holocausts As a high school student I was always annoyed by students who would ask: Why do we have to learn this stuff [history] anyway? We learn history so we don't repeat our mistakes. This is the common answer that my teachers, my father, and just about any other adult would give. This answer made perfect sense to me then, and I easily accepted it. In high school, students learn about the Nazi-Holocaust, and rightfully so. Information abounds regarding this topic. However, my teachers never taught me that our country has a Holocaust of its own (actually there are two; one killing 40 to 60,000,000 Africans, and one killing 100,000,000 Native Red Peoples). Hitler himself often expressed his admiration for the expediency in which the American Christians removed the Native Americans and gave them mass graves like the one in Wounded Knee, South Dakota. Have you ever heard the words American Holocaust(s) before? As I read about history I was drawn to the Indian Wars. One day I began reading Dee Brown's book "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee." I was shocked by what I read. I had never been taught these things, yet this history seemed so important and unparalleled in American history. Recently, I picked up Brown's book and read it a second time. Finally, the words shook me from the sleep in which we Americans love to overindulge; the sleep of denial, materialism, and hedonism. The thoughts and images evoked in Brown's book came back and my heart filled with an indescribable feeling of painful anger again. I thought to myself, I'm glad that is all over with, I don't know what I would have done if I had been alive then. The words of William McPherson of the Washington Post regarding Brown's book reassured... ...rican flag and peace medals by Abraham Lincoln and Colonel A. B. Greenwood in Washington only a year earlier and was told that as long as the American flag was above them, no one would be harmed). The braves present surrounded the women and children gathered under the flag. At 8:00 am more than 700 cavalry men under the command of Colonel John M. Chivington and Major Scott J. Anthony, rode in and fired on the huddled Indians from two directions. After the initial charge the US soldiers dismounted and continued the indiscriminate killing of men, women, and children. During the killing unspeakable atrocities and mutilations were committed by the soldiers. Accounts from two white men, John S. Smith and Lieutenant James Connor, described the acts of dehumanization." According to John S. Smith, Colonel Chivington knew these Indians to be peaceful before the massacre.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Parliament works best when the government controls both houses. :: essays research papers

Even before federation, our country had adopted and used a Democratic system of government. Democracy has played a major role in our system of government as it has developed over the decades since it was brought to Australian shores by the English and the first democratic parliaments were created. Over time Democracy has grown stronger as this system became the foundation of our society. Democracy in our government must also have an efficient system for it to function properly otherwise the disagreements in parliament and different views on issues in Australia would tear our government apart. But how far can we go in our government before its Efficiency begins to affect our Democracy. A balance of Democracy vs. Efficiency has been engulfed in our Parliaments with Australia having a bicameral system. However it is very well possible for this to favour a more efficient system if the government manages gains control of both Houses. Democracy can be easily defined as a â€Å"rule of government by the people, and for the people†. Whilst incorporating the principles of majority rule, the protection of minority rights, equal participation, fair and frequent elections and the rule of law. This is done through elected representatives by the public. In our government we have political parties (interest groups) of people acting in politics to secure goals which they think are important and nearly always acting on behalf of other people whom they say think these goals are important too. The common complexity of this is that these goals often clash with other political party’s that have other issues and views. The biggest example of this is the clash between the Liberal Party and the Australian Labour Party. The goal of Democracy is to let the people have there say and for the representatives to decide on the best decision for the Commonwealth and the people. A definition of Efficiency can be described as productive whilst using the minimum waste or effort. In relation to politics, our system is an efficient and working government. Our Legislative sector of government has proven itself as a working system in our commonwealth and has had no major issues with its process. In most cases after elections the party with the majority in the lower house which has formed government usually does not have control of the upper house. The control usually hangs with the smaller parties and independents and they hold the balance of power which can decide the fate of bills that have been sent from the lower house.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Sports and the Business World Essay -- essays research papers

Sports and the Business World   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the wide world of sports, teams will try and find a way to better market themselves in the nation to make more revenue. There are many ways to market your team but in the newer generation teams have been taking a different approach. Most teams will advertise there big sports star in trying to have people buy there gear, buy tickets, or simply support their team. But the most effective way to market your team is getting to the kids first. In advertising for a younger generation, you will tie the kids in more at an earlier age and hopefully will stay with the team throughout the years.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Reaching tomorrow’s fans, teams seek long-term benefits from marketing to kids and teens. Youth Marketing is one of the most popular ways that sports are using to market their teams. Television has become the main source of marketing pro teams, as some teams have their own T.V show. The New York Jets launched â€Å"Generation Jets,† a weekly half-hour show for children that uses animated characters, Jets players and New York landmarks to teach life lessons. A few of the lessons featured in season one-preparation, patience, and faith- might also be the keys to success for pro teams that are marketing to kids and teenagers. In airing this show the Jets targeted kids six to eleven years old, in hoping that the kids would watch it before they realize what’s cool. â€Å"Generation Jets† is more than a TV show, it became the opening for a comprehensive kids marketing effort that has seen the team launch a dedicated Web site, create themed mer chandise, and re-brand its community relations activities and kids club. Case in point: Like many teams, the Arizona Cardinals have a kids club through which members receive specially created newsletters and team merchandise. Many marketers figure that kids clubs are a sort of necessary evil, a way to create some connection with children and teenagers who probably aren’t going to buy full-price tickets for years to come.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For pro teams, getting fans while they’re still young is probably the most important now than ever because of well-established competing forces like the Internet, video games and action sports. The way teams are going about it, varies from team to team. The range of tactics includes everything from scheduling ... ...g to attract four to five year olds. To attract those youngsters, Reebok markets kids-only for kids’ only styles, creates kid targeted retail displays and steals a few tricks from kid’s breakfast cereal. Reeboks main focus is it tries to mirror its kid targeted advertising with retail displays to help young kids make the connection from TV spots to the product in stores. Sales at stores with those displays consistently outstrip sales at merchants without them. On the other hand Nike which is a high profile athletic apparel and footwear company was having trouble positioning themselves successfully with youths. The youths have been more attracted to newer brands such as Volcom or old school with Adidas that is making a comeback because kids watch more and more TV and extreme sports are becoming more and more popular each day. In trying to get the kids back to supporting NIKE, NIKE came out with a contest that had a youths compete in skate and bike jumping. At this event the kids were video taped and the best ones moved on. Also, NIKE was giving out their branded materials in seeking to get the consumer back. This event was highly attended and NIKE was able to increase its brand.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Problem realization Essay

One problem I have had in the recent past has been concerned with making the decision on where to pursue my higher education. Getting an understanding of the problem involved not just realizing that I wanted to attend college, but also understanding how my grades and experiences may aid me in (or barring me from) attending certain of the better colleges. On one level, the problem could be identified inside myself, as I was happy to have reached my senior year of high school and was not particularly eager to embark on another four years of studies. However, as I did not want to enter the working world with only a high school diploma, the problem became an inner struggle whose outcome depended on an analysis of the pros and cons of going to college (Dombroski, 2000). The problem involved the realization that my future depended on the choice I would make concerning college. Information gathering became a significant part of what aided my understanding of the problem. On one level, information gathering was a simple as keeping my eyes and ears open, as teachers and parents were intent on letting me realize how crucial the decision to go to college was. Other forms of information gathering involved viewing brochures, visiting campuses and browsing the websites of universities that offered studies in the disciplines I was interested in. It also involved the understanding of how my monetary status would also affect my ability to attend colleges, even if I could easily get into them. Another important aspect of the information gathering, therefore, involved research into scholarship opportunities, student loans, and a gauging of the types of jobs into which I could conceivably enter upon achieving a degree in my various preferred areas. Upon reading and reviewing all the areas mentioned above, the solution became clear. College was a necessity, and with careful planning it was a viable choice (Dombroski, 2000). As the previous aspects of my critical thinking about college occurred in the summer before my senior year in high school, I found that there were still a few things I could do to alleviate some of the burdens of getting into college. I was able to implement a more structured study plan, as I realized that improved grades would not only help me get more acceptances into my preferred colleges, but they would also give me a better chance of getting scholarships. Another aspect of the solution involved taking classes that would count as some of the prerequisites of the college classes I hoped to take. I was also able to enroll myself in a few more extra curricular activities, in order to appear more attractive to admissions committees at the universities that interested me. Being in college now has given me the opportunity to evaluate how effective my senior-year plan was. Upon considering it, I reflect that the plan was a rather effective one. I was able to get into a good college that offers the area of study in which I am interested. Because I planned in advance to take classes that would count as prerequisites to my intended major courses, I was also able to enroll in classes that were sufficiently advanced in order to allow me to graduate on time. While I was not able to garner full scholarships from the college to support my studies, my grades did help me to get some financial assistance that has reduced the amount of money I have had to borrow for school. Therefore, while that aspect of the plan did not work one hundred percent, the decision to improve my grades is no doubt still one that granted me monetary returns. Finally, my decision to enroll in a variety of extra-curricular activities also appears, in retrospect, to have been a good decision. As I was careful not to over-enroll in these activities, my involvement in them was sufficiently impressive without betraying any evidence of over-commitment. Therefore, I believe that decision was also one that has enabled me to be on this path to success. Furthermore, my involvement in such activities, along with my determination to do well academically in my final year of high school, taught me some valuable time management skills that have been very useful during my time in college (Dodd & Sundheim, 2005). Creativity is most widely utilized in balancing my work, activities and social life with the large course-work load I have each semester. Even though I possess very good organizational skills, I do consider myself as having tolerance for messiness and disorder to some degree. The type of messiness to which I refer is allowing some amount of non-uniformity in my time table. Therefore, while a great deal of my day is scheduled and planned out (such as classes, work time, and some study time) a lot of my day is still left uncommitted. Therefore, I make decisions on what to do at those times on the spur of the moment rather than ahead of time. On a few occasions this has left me with the dilemma of having to choose between sleep and studying for a test. The fact that I have chosen to forego sleep demonstrates my willingness to take risks in the area of sleep deprivation and not with my grades (Dodd & Sundheim, 2005). Mental blocks are mainly an issue for me where it comes to difficult analytical (such as mathematical) task and classes. I have not had very much luck in performing well in such classes—however, taking some such classes has been necessary in the pursuit of my degree. In order to avoid these mental blocks I try to research methods of visualizing the abstract, analytical ideas that are put forth in such tasks. I use the internet and other resources to find where people have succeeded in making such abstracts concrete. This allows me to relax a bit more when such topics are broached. My method of brainstorming happens to occur in close relation to my attempts to be receptive to my senses. When faced with the problem named above of balancing studying/homework with social life, not only to I pay attention to my desires to go out and socialize, but also to the nagging sense of having a pile of work that needs attention. Therefore, I pay attention not only to my sense of adventure and desire for enjoyment, but also my common sense that tells me how much work I can conceivably handle in the amount of time I have allotted (Dodd & Sundheim, 2005). References Dodd, P. & D. Sundheim. The 25 best time management tools and techniques. Peak Performance Press. Dombroski, T. W. (2000). Creative problem solving: the door to individual success and change. Lincoln: iUniverse.

Friday, August 16, 2019

The management team at Aldus Corporation

The management team at Aldus Corporation was considering a possible reorganization of its existing marketing strategies in order to suit the needs of the market more effectively. Initially, the success of the product had been based on strategic alliances with large corporations such as Apple and IBM.These strategic alliances had facilitated access to a large distribution network. The product’s marketing potential had also been enhanced through technical support which had helped both the business executive and the professional graphics designer to make the most of the software.However this was a single product strategy which was no longer viable because the needs of the two market segments were diverging. For example, the market segment that consisted of business executives required greater user-friendliness while the market segment that consisted of professional graphics designers required a greater range of functionalities.Therefore, the management team at Aldus had to formul ate strategies that would enable the existing organizational structure at Aldus to customize PageMaker to a greater extent to the needs of both segments.Although the proposed reorganization presented several difficult challenges, it was a viable one in light of the fact that both consumer segments were critical to maintaining Aldus’s profit potential.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

A Human Service Professional Essay

A human service professional, plays a major role in society, working side-by-side with various professionals, and assumes a wide range of roles to assist individuals, groups, organizations and communities. Although human service professionals do not necessarily do in depth and psychotherapy, they are well-equipped to facilitate client change and growth typically by working directly or indirectly with clients around concrete tasks, objectives, and goals. A counselor, broker, advocate, case manager, community planner and behavior specialists are just few of the roles of a human service professional. (Lincoln University) Personal values, beliefs, prejudices and stereotypes can help the helping process when the client and the human service professional share the same idea or belief. The human service professional may be able to add to what the client feels or knows or enlighten the client in a positive way because of their personal knowledge or experience. On the other hand it could harm the helping process if beliefs are different. In this case study if the human service professional has any negative feelings about homosexuality, then Todd and Reggie may not receive the full help they are in search of. Although the focus is on getting themselves together, they came in as a couple with some relationship issues that they need to work on. If I were the human service professional on this case, I would be a little uncomfortable with the whole situation. Not only are they homosexual men but this is an interracial relationship. I personally do not fully agree with black and whites dating, although I am not racist. I also know that morally it is wrong to be in a same sex relationship but I do have a few acquaintances that are homosexual. After the initial negative thoughts have run through my mind I will be able to push that aside and get down to business. Honestly my biggest worry would be how they are treated by friends and family because those are the people who are most important and it seems as though those people are not there for Todd or Reggie. Given the situation that I’m the human service professional for Todd and Reggie I would ask Todd to tell me about his self, since he is more open than Reggie. Getting to know more about Todd is important because it gives me a look inside his life as far as where he came from to how he got to this point. I want to know about his relationship with his mom and why he feels she is emotionally abusive to him. This important because it â€Å"drives him to drink† and is one of the issues he is currently dealing with including substance abuse of cocaine. I would ask him how his sessions go with his psychiatrist and maybe get contact info to speak with the psychiatrist about Todd’s bipolar disorder. This is vital to know because he made need additional assistance controlling his disease. As for Reggie I would also ask him to tell me about his self. How he ended up in jail to the point where he is now, gives me a look into his life. It also helps me figure out what needs to be avoided to keep him in good terms with his parole officer. I also want to know why his estranged sisters will not speak to him. This is important because Reggie needs closure. If not speak to him for anything else, at least share with him the memory of his mother’s last days. I want to talk about his progress in the â€Å"STARS† program. Since he has not found a job yet, that may be something I need to assist him with. We also need to discuss why he has been violent toward Todd. For him to come with his partner to this meeting means he cares for Todd and wants help, so understanding their relationship will be helpful in helping them maintain one. Finally we should talk about why Reggie is uncomfortable with Todd’s behavior in public. This is important because he may be having issues coming to terms with his sexuality and if so, I need to help him overcome this feeling. Together I want to ask them about their relationship and what they want to come out of it. This is important because if they want to stay together as stated, both parties must be on the same page. Todd may have to accommodate to Reggie by toning down his behavior in public while Reggie will have to consider substance abuse counseling. Potential ethical issues with this case is the sexuality of the clients but Human service professionals provide services without discrimination or preference based on age, ethnicity, culture, race, disability, gender,  religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. Also obtaining or sharing information with Todd’s psychiatrist Human service professionals protect the integrity, safety, and security of client records. All written client information that is shared with other professionals, except in the course of professional supervision, must have the client’s prior written consent. A legal issue is the fact that Reggie is physical with Todd and although it was the past, if it happened again I must keep in mind If it is suspected that danger or harm may occur to the client or to others as a result of a client’s behavior, the human service professional acts in an appropriate and professional manner to protect the safety of those individuals. This may involve seeking consultation, supervision, and/or breaking the confidentiality of the relationship. Also Reggie smokes marijuana which is not good for urine tests with his parole officer along with Todd’s cocaine use. Human service professionals protect the client’s right to privacy and confidentiality except when such confidentiality would cause harm to the client or others, when agency guidelines state otherwise, or under other stated conditions (e.g., local, state, or federal laws). Professionals inform clients of the limits of confidentiality prior to the onset of the helping relationship. (NOHS, 2009) For Todd and Reggie I would recommend that they go to rehab because they both have addictions that need to be dealt with in order to move forward in the relationship and just life in general.