Transitional Economy of Azerbaijan Research Paper

Transitional Economy of Azerbaijan - Research Paper Example One of the transitional economic systems can be identified as the currently practiced structure of Azerbaijan which legitimately began with the execution of ‘Law on Basic Economic Development’ since the year 1991 followed by the commencement of ‘Cost of Liberalization’ in the preceding year 1992. This transition escorted to hyperinflation rates in Azerbaijan which was recorded to be approximately 1.66% by the end of the year 1994. Subsequently, since, 1991 to 1994, the national income of the country had to witness a steep decline from USD 35,006 million (in 1991) to USD 1.031 million (in 1994). The radical decline in the growth rates was further learned to have a crucial effect on the agricultural and industrial output of the country which consequently increased the rate of unemployment within the economy (Baranick & Salayeva, 2005).   The economy of Azerbaijan The economy of Azerbaijan was able to retain its growth since the year 1995 after witnessing a s ubstantial decline in terms of its income level as well as its overall industrial output. The reforms in the economic conditions have taken place in the year 1995 when the government attempted to set up a widespread stabilization approach in its economic system with the support of International Monetary Fund (IMF) with respect to its Systematic Transformation Facility (STF). The increasing growth of the economy was immensely supported by the country’s persistence towards the stabilization of policies within the private and governmental institutions. As well as the IMF, The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have been identified as a few of the major prominent financial contributors in the developmental process of the economic conditions in Azerbaijan. With regards to the forecasting view of IMF towards the development of the country, it had been projected that Azerbaijan is quite likely to attain a sus tainable growth rate of around 7.1% by the year-end of 2012. It was also assumed by IMF that the inflation rate, likely to be witnessed by the country in its progress during 2012, would be around 10.3% (Mirzeyev, 2012).

Superfund Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Superfund - Research Paper Example The result is the superfund, specifically which is placing funding and aid to stop the toxins and chemicals from being dumped into various regions. The approach is one which is furthered by the pressured cleanups by corporations throughout the different regions. This paper will examine the approach which is being taken by the EPA and how this is linking to the superfund. Background of the Superfund The superfund was established in New York City in 1980. It consists of a program that is based on offering monetary support and initiatives to clean up toxic waste and chemicals that are hazardous around the area. The project began after it was noted that over 22,000 tons of toxic waste were dumped by Niagara Falls, New York, in the known Love Canal. The Love Canal was completed and purchased for the use of different environmental needs. However, corporations began to pile toxic waste and chemicals into the canal. After the inability to move the toxins, the corporations covered the canal a nd sold this to the city of New York for $1. After a certain period of time, an explosion resulted from the large amount of chemicals and toxins in the area. The Love Canal continues to be hazardous for the environmental area it surrounds and directly affects the land which one is in. The superfund was established to force companies to clean up these areas and to tax those who were not complying with the law. Today, over 1,000 sites have been cleaned with billions of dollars being spent. Over 70% of the funds are going to corporations that began to the toxic waste and chemical buildup. The money is combined with government initiatives and companies which are linked to the polluted sites (New York Times, 2011). The initiatives which began with the funds and the need to clean up various areas has continued with specific policies and procedures offered by the Environmental Protection Agency. The bill was originally introduced by a bipartisan leadership group of senators and passed by t he Senate with limiting measures for the cleanup. The House amended this and approved the final alternatives in 1980 through S.1341. However, it was also noted that the final bill and law was sidetracked and moved into different departments because of the other proposals taken earlier. In the Carter Administration, a similar bill was being passed, specifically which was based on toxic waste and oil spill cleanup. This bill had been bypassed during the time because of other political objectives which would not provide the right cleanup. The problem which arose then created Congress to approve the bill with limited measures from the past history, specifically to take care of the problem with the Love Canal without considering the overall task of the Superfund and the extra requirements and provisions from the final bill and law which would be passed. This has led to a variety of amendments as well as questions of responsibility, taxation and corporate responsibility linked to the main bill (Grad, 1982). The approach which was taken in 1980 and the outcomes have resulted in political economics that have become a part of the Superfund and initiatives which have been taken. The approach which is now being taken is to develop the activities as a space for the contaminated sites that are continuing to have waste, as opposed to being active in the continuous dumping of the

The Federal Government And The Three Strikes Law Criminology Essay

The Federal Government And The Three Strikes Law Criminology Essay Between 1993 and 1995, 26 states and the federal government passed the Three Strikes Law. Under this law, a person who is convicted of three felonies is given a mandatory 25-to-life sentence. A felony is defined as any crime punishable by 1 year or more in prison (Messerli, 2006). This law was passed in reaction to the murder of 12 year old, Polly Klass. She was kidnapped and murdered by a paroled repeat offender. Unlike the federal laws, the three-strikes laws vary by quite a bit from state to state. However, under all federal and state three-strikes law if someone is convicted of a crime three times, there is no judiciary discretion in sentencing these repeat offenders (Unknown). This means that in all cases the offender must go to jail for 25 years to life if convicted of three felonies, no matter the seriousness crime. Under the statute, a serious violent felony includes murder, manslaughter, sex offenses, kidnapping, robbery, and any offense punishable by 10 years or more which includes as an element the use of force or that, by its nature, involves a significant risk of force. The statute also enumerates certain non-qualifying felonies, including unarmed robbery offenses and arsons that posed no threat to human life (Unknown). The purpose of the three-strikes law is to put criminals out of society to keep them from committing future crimes (Roy, 2010). Pros and Cons While researching this topic I have found multiple pros and cons of the three strikes law. Some of the pros that were mentioned include: repeat offenders will stay in prison; can deter offenders who have had two felony convictions from committing another crime; and it only applies to convictions. The first pro of the Three Strikes law is that repeat offenders will stay in prison for at least 25 years after their third conviction. If criminals choose to continue to break the law then will have to pay for their crimes. These criminals will not have a fourth chance to break the law. The Three Strikes law is a way to ensure justice and to stop criminals from committing more crimes. According to Adam Gelb, director of the Pew Centers Public Safety Performance Project (2008), There is no question that putting violent and chronic offenders behind bars lowers the crime rate and provides punishment that is well deserved. The second pro of the Three Strikes law is that it might deter offenders who have been convicted two felonies from committing a third crime. This law is known by all, especially by criminals. Criminals will know the punishment before they decide to commit crimes. The hope is that this will discourage criminals from committing any crimes major and minor, from armed robbery and rape to burglary. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 43 percent of felony probationer and 62 percent of the parolees will be rearrested within three years after beginning supervision (Unknown, 2010). The third pro of the Three Strikes law is that it applies only to convictions. This law does not apply to arrests of a person is found not guilty. However, three convictions will send criminals to prison for 25 years to life. Chances are that these criminals have committed more than three crimes, but for whatever reason they were never convicted. There are also multiple arguments against the Three Strikes law. Some of the cons that were mentioned include: a one-size-fits all form of justice; it can be considered unjust depending on the particular crime; and it arguably violates the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Kitchen, 2009). The first con of the Three Strikes law is that some see this as a one size fits all form of justice (Kitchen, 2009). Some believe that this law destroys the flexibility of the courts and the judge. It is no longer up to the judge to decide if the offender can be rehabilitated. Under the Three Strikes law, the offender will automatically go to prison after the third conviction. Criminal rehabilitation has many positive benefits and can impact the lives of many inmates as well as their families (Wright, 2007). The second con of the Three Strikes law is that it can be considered unjust depending on the particular crime. In some cases the third conviction may not be a violent crime but if they are convicted of a third felony they would receive the same 25 years to life sentence as if the crime were a violent act. Some believe that this punishment does not fit the crime. If a newly convicted criminal has a record of two prior felony (serious crime) convictions, the judge had to impose the maximum sentence for the third crime (Driscoll, 2003). The third con of the Three Strikes law is that it arguably violates the Eighth Amendment. The Eight Amendment prohibits the use of Cruel and unjust punishment by the state. Many argue that certain clients prosecutions violate this amendment. According to N.C. Aizenman at the Washington Post (2008), when it comes to preventing repeat offenses by nonviolent criminals- who make up about half of the incarcerated population- alternative punishments such as community supervision and mandatory drug counseling that are far less expensive may prove just as or more effective than jail time. The fourth and final con of the Three Strikes Law is the expense. Prisons are already overcrowded and some argue that there is not enough room to house additional inmates. Prison is expensive. There are also trial and court fees that many times must be covered by the state and its taxpayers. It cost as average of $23,876 to imprison someone in 2005 (Aizenman, 2008). This includes costs for food, shelter, prison staff and many other items. Student Position In my opinion, this is a great program and the pros far outweigh the cons. People should refrain from breaking the law if they do not want to spend the next 25 years of their life if prison. There are many arguments that the Three Strikes law does not have any effect on the crime rate. However, most crimes are committed by previous felons. Without this law I believe that these criminals will continue to break the law until they are stopped. This law may be the only thing that will stop them. How many people need to get hurt before we have the right to put these criminals in prison where they belong? Conclusion According to Mike Reynolds (2006) Californias total crime rate in 1993, the year prior to adoption of Three Strikes, was fourth highest among all states. By 1999, Californias total crime rate dropped to 29th among the states. During the same period, Californias homicide rate dropped from fourth highest to 19th among the states. These statistics clearly suggest that Californias falling crime rate was not just part of a national trend, or a result of demographics or economic factors as opponents have suggested. 041106CACrimeRate

SEINFELD :: essays research papers

SEINFELD: THE UNTOLD STORY   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout Seinfeld’s eight-season stint on network television the show and its creator’s have stereotyped everything from young Puerto Rican boys to Jewish Priests. The main stereotype of this sit-com is the very florid portrayal of the generational age groups of the characters. The main characters represent the beginning of the Generation X culture. The parents and relatives of Jerry Seinfeld and that of George Costanza present the presence of the members of the Silent or GI generation. Throughout the television series we have seen the elderly as stereotypically helpless individuals with little or no purpose. The character’s Jerry Seinfeld, George Costanza, Elaine Benes, and Cosmo Kramer, represent the Generation X culture. These half-witted characters are often unreliable and uncaring about the society they live in. These characters often care about nothing more about life outside their own. The stereotype of these characters and the succes s of this very popular television show have contributed to the media’s wide usage of stereotyping generations. The article, â€Å"My Inner Shrimp,† can be directly correlated to George’s eccentric ego trips with his problems with shortness, unemployment, and baldness. George’s character is often portrayed as a very loud, very rambunctious person who is often seeking to be on top. Elderly: Helpless or Not   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the series we have seen the elderly characters of Seinfeld often being absent minded, senile, and often helpless. Jerry’s parents upon retirement moved to the sunny state of Florida to bask in their retirement. This proves to be a very common nomenclature among senior citizens. Throughout the nation many retired citizens have been moving eagerly across the country spending their hard earned money and moving to much more appealing climates. Throughout the show Jerry’s parents often try to impose money upon him even though he never request any money from his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Seinfeld often believe that Jerry is living a life of poverty and that he lives a very inadequate life. Throughout our nation the elderly have often saved and saved countless dollars so that they may have a better life and provide their children with the sustenance they need to live a very adequate life. Mr. and Mrs. Costanza are often portrayed as very senile indiv iduals. George’s parents often tend to exaggerate things outside the spectrum they should really include. One certain episode can attribute to there senility. During the Seinfeld’s visit of New York to see their son Jerry, the Costanza’s graciously ask the Seinfeld’s to accompany them to dinner at their home.

Expo 2012, Yeosu, South Korea

Williams Date: August, 18th, 2012 Subject: Final report on Grenades Booth at Yeses Expo 2012. The sky of Yeses was 11th up with spectacular fireworks at 9:20 p. M. On Sunday as the city celebrated the end of 93-day Yeses Expo 2012, which kicked off on May 12. Hundreds of spectators, participants and performers joined hands and danced in circles to mark the successful wrapping up of the event.The closing ceremony, which began at 7:30 p. M. Was attended by UN Secretary-General Ban Ski-moon and Prime Minister Kim Hang-ski. Who both commended the hosts for doing a sterling Job on the Expo. Yeses Expo 201 2 held under the theme â€Å"The Living Ocean and Coast† reached Its target of attracting 8 million visitors. 104 countries participated In the expo and each country, including Grenade aimed to highlight workable solutions for achieving sustainable development and co-excellences with the living ocean as seen through its underwater sculpture park display.Grenade's Participation In Expo 2012 Reflecting the Importance of Its relationship with the ocean, Grenade presented Its home through a visually impressive booth, informative exhibits, and friendly interaction. The general public was introduced to the Moline Underwater Sculpture Park, Nutmeg, Carnival, the yachting sector and Grenade as a tourist and business trading destination. The Grenadier Booth was very well received by the general public, Pips, and business participants, and was one of the most popular at Expo 2012.Participating countries were equally complimentary about the success of our booth and appreciative of its role in furthering the work in ocean conservation. Our presence at Expo 2012 was an excellent platform to promote links between Grenade and Korea through trade, investment, people-to-people and tourism contacts. 2,223,131 visitors toured Grenade's booth. In addition 65, PIP delegations, including 2 heads of state/government, 11 ministers, and senior officials and business delegations from abroad visited the booth.The Grenadier booth clearly demonstrated Its worth In terms of the violators numbers, confirming a strong Interest in our country by the general public. The key to the success of the booth was the innovative and iconic underwater sculpture marine park display which drew many people and reactions to the piece. This made Grenade's booth stand out from other participating countries in the Atlantic west pavilion by creating a conversation as to the purpose of the park. Thus, visitors were able to get a well-rounded and insightful view not only tot the sculpture but tot Grenade as a whole.Grenade also participated in Carom's Regional Day on July 30th. Six countries; Antigen & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenade, Guyana, SST. Kits & Nevis and Surname, participated in the days events. Minister Gillis Roberts represented Grenade and the Secretary General of CAROM, Mr.. La Ruche delivered the address on behalf of CAROM. Products Another important aspect to Grenade's booth wa s the Nutmeg and Nutmeg products. Many inquiries and request for information were made especially for De La Grenade products and Molehill's Nutmeg Spray and Cream.Many were given direct information on manufacturers and others information were written down whilst many left their business cards. Several visitors also requested information on the importation and distribution of nutmeg. The Nutmeg was prominently displayed in he glass cases available and all nutmeg bi products placed therein. It attracted large crowds who were given demonstrations on how to open, grate, it uses and other relevant information. Many have heard about it but never seen it and only know of it as the most expensive spice.Recommendations Grenade's booth was well traversed by thousands of visitors during its 3 month participation in the 2012 Expo. Keen interest was shown in Grenade as a travel / tourism destination and its products. Its charm and beauty captivated audiences who were introduced to images and inf ormation about Grenade. However, the theme could have been better presented in terms of the description given along with the photos. An important piece as the underwater sculpture should have clearly stated the purpose more than anything else. People who read it still had lots of question as to â€Å"why' was it done.Each piece should have had an inviting title. Instead of Just ‘Wickedest† the display could have read â€Å"From Despair to Hope† or â€Å"Ocean conservation through artificial coral reef†. The BIB was looking forward most to how each country â€Å"developed† the theme of the expo and although it was a masterpiece, he theme was not quite well explained as to how we were dealing with conservation of the ocean. During the Judging period, each BIB member spent no more than two minutes at the booths. Also, each booth operator should have had business cards by which they could be contacted.Many visitors have requested our contact information and it had to be written on scraps of paper. Visitors also had to write information on paper for us; even some were lost due the busy day to day operations from the booth. When a laptop was available, immediate responses went out to any queries. Those who requested information on De la Grenade product were handed out cards that were provided from Ms. La Grenade. One other slight hindrance was the slow response to information requested from Grenade. Albeit the difference in time. Feedback on important information was necessary for a smoother flowing operation.A thorough checklist should have been done for the required items needed for booth operators If Grenade is to participate at another expo, our Ministry should bring in the perspective booth operators earlier to assist with preparations including theme placement and checklist for required activities. Foreign Affairs should contact any diplomat representing Grenade in the Country in which the expo is to be held. Honorary Consul L ee was very disappointed that no one contacted him. He had to tint out trot the organizing committee it Grenade was represented at the Expo and contacted us directly.Before our Commissioner of section left an appointment was made to meet with Consul Lee. During the â€Å"meeting† at the MOVE Hotel, he expressed his disappointment concerning the situation and informed Mr.. Charles and myself hat he was not there on official government business since he was not informed of our participation through the right channels; but wanted to meet with us to talk about the expo and Grenade. Conclusion I worked well with the number of visitors to the booth and offered our â€Å"Grenadier warmth and welcoming smiles† to all. Questions were answered and relative information shared on manufacturers, tourism and Grenade.We shared our countries rich heritage, cultural diversity and openness for doing business with the Korea and the rest of the world Overall, I do believe that the Expo Co mmittee met its objectives in bringing the world together to highlight, promote and to create awareness of the important role that the ocean plays in every aspect of human lives The Organizing Committee of Expo 2012 must applauded for the way in which it delivered its messages about climate change, maritime resource development, and maritime environment preservation to the public in a fun and accessible manner.Our Government, especially the Environment, Ministry of Foreign Trade, and export development must also be commended for taking on this initiative for participating in EXPO 2012

Internal Factors Essay

Parents strategies( W1+ T2)| a) SO strategy Eastern & Oriental has a good brand name and well- known product among Malaysians. Brand equity is the value and strength of the brand that decides its worth. E&O is a strong and familiar company with their brand like hotels where is give some favourable positive strong and distinctive brand association in the public’s memory. Eastern & Oriental Berhad should strengthen their promotion method by using advertisement through mass media. E&O can use Malaysian Tourism Sector to improve their brand equity. Malaysian Tourism Sector is the one way to promote product and let people know their products. Populations in Malaysia increasing everydays, it gives E&O more opportunities with increasing the number of branches. Besides that, E&O can expand their business with make a good relationship between employee. Great relationship with employee can motivate workers to do great tasks and jobs. b) ST strategy As we know nature disaster is not under our controlled. We cannot control when nature disaster can occur. Eastern & Oriental can take this threat as a strength, where E&O may build many station or branches as alternative options. So that, when disaster nature happens, only station for that location are damaged but then, there are anothers branches. E&O have to build a good relationship between customers. So that, indirectly, customers will help E&O promote their products to relatives, friends and others. Top management of E&O should emphasize about relationships between customers and employees. Success of a company not only depends on the operating solely but also the efficiency of employees in the company. For E &O Berhad, their employees are most valuable asset toward the success of business. Beside the incentives that already be given to the employee such as rewards, E & O incentives for workers who perform on their performances accordance to standards such as reward or bonuses is one of the strategic method to motivate workers give full commitment in completing their jobs. Natural of human being, people tends to do their best if they will be rewarded. By using this method of management, an organization could get benefit in their production and thus increase the profit. c) WO Strategy Placing a good strategic can affect the frequency number of customers’ consumption towards company’s products. This is one of the factors which the company should have to be concern regarding sensitivity of customers that is risk assessment. E & O can analyze and do research of the environmental scanning in terms of the location which has uncertainty risk that it will be threat towards company’s activity performance such as earthquakes, rainfall region, high land and any other places that have high possibility in risk. As we know, nowadays people tends to use technologies most of the time. Purchasing groceries, monitor children and others transactions with the technology. So that, E & O must take this threats of technologies as a opportunities where it can ease E & O more. d) WT Strategy In order to avoid competition in hospitality industry, E & O could use a parent procedure or guidelines to overcome those threats. Parents procedure usually was a successful strategy that already approved by the performance of parents company. Thus by using parents procedure, E & O just not able to overcome the threats but also able to increasing company performance toward company objective. Ratio Analysis. Ratio| Formula| Answer| Current Ratio| Current AssetsCurrent Liabilities| E&O Berhad’s rich history and heritage, infused by its namesake, the E&O Hotel in Penang form the cornerstone for the Group’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. This is E&O’s guiding principle as they conduct their business in a manner that will enable them to contribute towards the preservation of the heritage, culture and arts within the communities they operate in. This is specially meaningful since George Town’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 as well as the recognition of the 127- years old E&O Hotel as a Penang heritage landmark. Demonstrate they commitment to and belief in CSR by conducting their business in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner while simultaneously balancing the interests of their diverse stakeholders. Preserving culture, heritage and arts During the financial year, a significant portion of the E&O Group’s limited available resources were allocated towards heritage and cultural activities supporting George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, consistent with the Group’s strong presence in Penang. This included supporting the month- long George Town Festival (GTF) which is organized by the Penang State Government, Municipal Council of Penang Island, George Town World Heritage Incorporated and Penang Global Tourism to commemorate the city’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage listing. The Group’s collaboration with The Actors Studio (TAS), Malaysia’s foremost performing arts group, to set up the Performing Arts Centre of Penang (penangpac) is seen as a positive step in providing penangites and the northern region with greater access to the arts. Other ongoing CSR initiatives include contributions to underprivileged communities, charities and non- governmental organisations as well as facilitating the Community Recycling Centre in their Seri Tanjung Pinang masterplanned seafront development as part of the â€Å"Green Our World† initiative where proceeds from the sale of recyclable items were donated to charity. The Group also contributed to the Chinese New Year Cultural and Heritage celebrations that were held Penang- state wide with the participation of local associations and schools in the core heritage zone. Transparency in the market place. In maintaining transparency and accountability to their stakeholders, the Group continually provides clear, transparent and timely information to the marketplace through regular press releases, roadshows, briefings, meetings and interviews with members of the media, investment community and analyst. Shareholders and invited participants like the Minority Stakeholder Watchdog Group (MSWG) are briefed directly on the company’s performance and plans at annual and extraordinary general meetings. Accessible in the public domain and regularly updated is the Group’s corporate information at www. easterandoriental.

Caffeine

Caffeine Caffeine, is it a helpful drug or a hazardous toxin? Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance. It is found in seeds, leaves or fruits in about 60 plants. Beverages with caffeine in them have been consumed since 2700B.C.. People all over the world consume caffeine every day. Many people have various ideas on the way caffeine affects the human body. Some experts say it prevents cancer while others say caffeine makes people more prone to cancer. You decide.In the article What You Should know About Caffeine, printed in the Information Food Council Foundation, states that caffeine has no relevance to many forms of cancer and other problems. These diseases include cardiovascular disease, fibrocystic breast diseases, reproductive function, behavior in children, birth defects and cancer.Studies at Vanderbuilt University show that the effects of caffeine on sleep varies greatly between individuals. Some people feel no effects while others reported reduced or poorer quality sleep.Caffeine H it - Artemis Lane, MelbourneThe article also states that caffeine has very little effect on blood pressure. Only people that are highly sensitive to caffeine, experience a short period of higher blood pressure then they normally have. In an experiment done by the Harvard Medical School in 1990 say that Caffeine has no direct link to infertility either. Nor does it have an effect on a pregnant woman and/or her unborn child. In addition all of the talk that says caffeine will stunt a child's growth is just rumors. Caffeine is said not to affect children any differently then it does adults.In another article entitled Coffee may not be so bad in Science News, November 25, 1995, the author thinks that caffeine is an energy booster for athletes. At Oregon Health Sciences University a research team studied six healthy young men. The men rode exercise bicycles while the scientists...

A Doll House Essays - A Dolls House, Memory Of The World Register

A Doll House Essays - A Dolls House, Memory Of The World Register A Doll House In Isben's A Doll House as in Glaspell's Trifles, the women in the play are seen as subordinates to their male counterparts. The men believe that the women are not capable of making difficult decisions, or thinking for themselves. They also fail to give importance to the women's jobs as homemakers. In the case of Trifles, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters discourse is seen as insignificant to the murder of Mr. Wright. In A Doll House, Nora chooses to abandon her duty as a wife and mother to find her own individuality. The men in both of the plays are responsible for their own fall, their false presumptions of women and patronizing ways are the main conflicts in the plays. The women in Trifles are seen as extensions of their husbands and therefore their husbands assume they can be left alone, as Mr. Hale says, "worrying over trifles." The play illustrates the life of a woman who has lost her individuality. She has lived isolated from society and her "hard" husband, who she eventually murders in an attempt to regain her freedom. Mrs. Wright, in her younger years, wore pretty clothes, sang in the choir, and had an overall flair for life. After she married Mr. Wright, she lived a detached rural life in a gloomy house. Mrs. Wright is forced to live the disrespected, subordinate role of a housewife while her husband makes the money. The men make many troublesome presumptions of women's roles in society. One was Mrs.Wright's wanting her apron so she will feel more natural, as if women who were not homemakers were unnatural. Another was leaving the women alone on the assumption that Mrs.Peters is married to the law and therefore would obey it. The evidence the men need is in the quilt that Mrs. Wright was sowing and in the dead bird found in the box. At first, the women are reluctant to conceal the evidence, but they finally identify with Mrs.Wright and hide the evidence that would implicate her in the murder of her husband. They too regain their identity in this meaningful experience. In A Doll House, Nora, the protagonist, has been treated as a "play thing" all her life by her father and then her husband, Torvald. She is thought to be fragile and incapable of resolving any serious problems. The pet names like lark, squirrel, and songbird further diminish her status. Nora, however, secretly borrows money form Krogstad to take Torvald away when he is sick. Krogstad eventually exposes Nora's secret gives her a miracle as well. She sees, for the first time in eight years, that Torvald has never taken her seriously and no longer loves her. Even after Nora tells him she is leaving, Torvald says, "Oh, you blind, incompetent child," again reluctant to accept the fact that she is strong and can persevere. Torvald is unwilling to see that Nora needs to educate herself and obtain her individuality, he can not do it for her. Both of the plays, A Doll House and Trifles , come from a feminist perspective. They deal with the relationships between men and women. The men in both of the plays view the women as secondary figures who could not understand problems in the real world. Their conflicts rest on their assumptions of the roles of women. In Trifles, the women prove to be valuable detectives, and in A Doll House, Nora relinquishes her stereotypical duties to achieve her personal goals.

African influence on Western Culture Essay Example for Free

African influence on Western Culture Essay ? Africa, a continent with a not so peaceful history, has always been mysterious and amazing, all at the same time. â€Å"Afri† was a Latin name used to refer to the Carthaginians who lived in Northern Africa from the 9th century B.C to the 7th century A.D when the last Punic culture was destroyed in the Arab conquest. Before I start recounting my general point of view on the topic above, I would like to share a brief opinion about multiculturalism. Some people refer to multiculturalism as a word that describes society where many different cultures live together in peace. But is it always like that? What about inherent racism and fear? Over the last few years, lots of people have been exploiting it in order to abuse other cultures and discriminate people who are different from them. In a normal world, they would be reprimanded and heavily fined. In most countries, that’s not the case and even the authorities do not care about them. On the other hand, all cultures deserve respect, including the African ones. Cultures have been developed over centuries to allow people to live together, reasonably and peacefully. Multiculturalism can mean a country accepting some practices it tends to object to, but it can also mean that a culture becomes exposed to other ways of living, which could have quite a bad impact on the other dwellers. In conclusion, we must learn that accepting people as they are is of great importance. It is important to respect each other, and one should know that living by moral standards is one irreplaceable thing. African influence on Western Culture. (2016, Nov 27).

Constraints to the Development of Alternative Energy Essay

Constraints to the Development of Alternative Energy - Essay Example The cause of the problem has already been identified: the increase in the emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons. Both the absence and increased volume of greenhouse gases are seen to be detrimental to the environment as less of it might cause negative temperature which disallows the earth to sustain life. On the other hand, increased volume of greenhouse gases is the primary source of global warming. Some greenhouse gases are emitted as a byproduct of some materials with significant use to our everyday life. The example of this is carbon. Energy sources are of paramount importance to our daily life. Since the industrial revolution, we have relied heavily on energy to run our transportation and communication and many other aspects of our needs and wants. For commercial purposes, the use of energy has been significant especially in terms of firms’ profit. It was also â€Å"the process of industrialisation that brought about the conversion of fossil fuels into power, heat and light, thereby releasing within a mere 250 years carbon that had lain dormant underground for millions of years†. â€Å"It is these fossil fuels that are responsible for the vast bulk of carbon output† â€Å"Fossil fuels, the energy of modernization, which constitute about 70 percent of global energy output, now threaten the survival of life on Earth† and people believe that â€Å"the key to survival lies in conserving energy and switching to carbon-free or, at least, low carbon sources†. ... On the other hand, increased volume of greenhouse gases is the primary source of global warming. Some greenhouse gases are emitted as byproduct of some materials with significant use to our everyday life. Example of this is carbon. Energy sources are of paramount importance to our daily life. Since the industrial revolution, we have relied heavily on energy to run our transportation and communication and many other aspects of our needs and wants. For commercial purposes, the use of energy has been significant especially in terms of firms' profit. It was also "the process of industrialization that brought about the conversion of fossil fuels into power, heat and light, thereby releasing within a mere 250 years carbon that had lain dormant underground for millions of years" (Blowers, p.208). "It is these fossil fuels that are responsible for the vast bulk of carbon output" (Blowers, p.210) "Fossil fuels, the energy of modernization, which constitute about 70 per cent of global energy output, now threaten the survival of life on Earth" and people believe that "the key to survival lies in conserving energy and switching to carbon free or, at least, low carbon sources" (Blowers, p.209). Two Approaches The government has two approaches against climate change: mitigation which is prevention of further changes and adaptation which is preparation for the possible effects of climate change. In this paper we would be dealing with the mitigation approach particularly the development of alternative sources of energy. "Mitigation strategies involve the reduction of greenhouse gas sources or the enhancement of sinks. Examples of mitigation strategies include switching from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources, improved energy efficiency and planting trees to

Innovative Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Innovative Behavior - Essay Example There will however be a gap between organizations intention or desire to be innovative and their actual behavior in being so. There may be difference in the extent and content of innovative behavior. This will be true of organizations big or small, but the question arises whether size of an organization has a correlation with innovative behavior of organizations. What are the circumstances in which forms of different sizes may differ in their innovative behaviour This paper attempts to answer these questions. The word innovation means a combination of two activities in an organisation, the process of generation of ideas through a creative process and the manner in which the successful commercialization of a selected idea as a successful product or service. In case of a process innovation it will mean the offering of a differentiated product in the market through successful use of the new innovative process innovation. Innovations are generally of two types, the radical innovation and incremental innovation, which basically are used to denote the degree of novelty. Schumpeter describes two types of innovations that occur in a capital economy. One is in which the major source of innovation is in small industries which are operating in a highly competitive market. The innovative behavior is driven by the visionary entrepreneur. ... klik (2003, p 3) suggests that both are likely to occur in the economy at the same time in different industries, depending on the level of maturity of the industry. In an industry that is new, innovation driven by entrepreneurs in small firms will be more predominant. Later as the industry matures the innovation behavior of large firms will be predominant. Trott ( 2002, p 18) describes 5 different types of innovation models to explain how innovation in firms occur. Broadly they are classified as linear and interactive models. In the linear model typically innovation is technology lead. Innovation occurs because of new opportunities thrown up by new technologies (technology pull). The second occurs based on the demands from the market. (market pull). The third described is one where innovation occurs because of both, a market pull and technology pull. The fourth recognizes the importance of linkages between technology, market, and customer needs. The final model described, the network model, is the one which fully takes into account the complete eco system under which innovation occurs. It takes into account external inputs like new technology development, competitors, research from academic institutions and research organizations, supply chain partners and customers, as well as the internal organizational functions and their behavior. These are the main factors to be considered if innovation is to be successfully managed. Interactions of functions within organization like marketing, R&D and finance, is important, but interaction of these functions and organizations with external environment is also important. At the management level company may be discussing strategic alliance with another company for developing innovative products; marketing will have to be

The Creation of a Trust Which Depicts the Formalities That Are Essay

The Creation of a Trust Which Depicts the Formalities That Are Required In the Dissemination of the Deceased Properties to the Beneficiaries - Essay Example In the paper, John drafts a will and appoints Tessa and Vincent as the trustees of his widow Susan and the two children.   On the death of John Susan accuses the trustees of breaching their mandates, therefore the following advice is going to be very important to determine whether Susan will be able to win the case and granted trust of the properties. It is notable will contained no express power; it simply stated that Tessa and Vincent were to hold the said properties until the opportune moment for them to grant them to the right beneficiaries who are the family. According to Target Holdings Ltd v Redferns, the right of the beneficiary is to have the trust administered in the best way it was intended in conformity with the general law and the trust instruments. Thus, according to law, the beneficiary will always be granted access to the will or deed and the accounts which are linked to the trust. Proper justifications are to be given to any shortcomings which may be pinpointed; ho wever, in this case, it is apparent that the trustees never informed the beneficiaries on the investments they had made. Thus, there is a breach of contract which makes them liable for the loss and any abnormalities which come about. It is evident that the trustees misapplied the money in their hands for their personal use. None of the beneficiaries is really aware of what is going on until when they make the claim and want to have the money for their own use. According to the case of Wallersteiner v Moir, the trustees are liable for any unnecessary delays and circumstantial impacts they may cause the beneficiaries. Susan is thus in the right position to sue the trustees and claim their authority inappropriate in managing the properties and accounts. There is a falsification impression which is created in the whole process. It is sufficient that the trustee is liable to a want of ordinary prudence. By the trustees delegating their duties to the Best Finance Company, they defied thei r obligations entirely. Besides that, there is no clear motive for them to surrender managerial roles of the will to this company which has questionable characters and performances.

Essay on Down Syndrome Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

On Down Syndrome - Essay Example The intellectual disability causes an individual to lag behind in his development of communication skills, social abilities and even his ability to take care of his own self in a proper manner. Teaching and support services for the individuals with intellectual disabilities is designed in a completely different manner and is targeted to meet their learning and problem solving requirements. Creative and interactive teaching ideas should be implemented in order to obtain maximum results. Visual, audio and interactive lesson methods should be applied and the difficult ideas and problems should be made comprehensive for the learners. American Association of Intellectual and Development Disabilities are directed towards support services and development support for such individuals (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 2012). Fig 1: An image of a Down Syndrome Child accompanied by teaching services personnel (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 2012). Down syndrome i s defined as a condition caused by a genetic defect which results in both physical and intellectual limitations in the affected individual. The normal number of chromosomes in an individual is 46 but in a Down syndrome individual the chromosome number is 47 instead (National Association for Down Syndrome 2012). It is considered as one of the most common syndromes present at birth called as congenital syndromes. One in every 700 births is estimated to be a child with Down syndrome. It has been observed that the possibility of developing Down syndrome increases as the maternal age increases at the time of conception. After the age of 35, the risk of Down syndrome in the child increase by many folds (Selikowitz 2008). The prevalence of Down syndrome in United States was estimated to be one in every 733 births by Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in the year 2010. Around 60,000 cases are diagnosed with Down syndrome annually (National Down Syndrome Society 2012). According to a study in the year 2007 carried out among 63000 babies in UAE, an approximate incidence of one Down syndrome case for every 449 new born babies was estimated. The study also highlighted the maternal age risk factor and showed that around 41 % of the UAE mothers had crossed the age of 35. This also showed that maternal age is a major etiological factor (Shaheen 2012). Fig 2: A representation of prevalence of Down Syndrome in the years 1979 – 2003 per 10,000 live births in United State (CDC.gov. 2011). Down syndrome presents in the individuals with a large range of variations in its characteristics and features. As discussed earlier, it is a chromosomal defect; hence every cell of the body’s each system is defective. Hence almost every system manifests with problems and pathologies. Around 120 different features for this syndrome have been described up till now but some children might manifest with only six or seven characteristic features. The characteristic features des cribing Down syndrome are visible in eyes, head and face. A Down syndrome individual has round face with a flat side profile, with brachycephaly (Flattened back of head). The eyes are slanted, small epicanthic folds which might give a false manifestation of squint or strabismus and the iris might show whitish spots called Brushfield spots. The neck of the young child has greater fat content at the back which is diminished with age and an adult individual will have a broader and smaller neck. Hands are shorter with usually

Microorganisms in Nature and Biotechnology Essay

Microorganisms in Nature and Biotechnology - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that a microorganism or microbe is an organism which is microscopic, usually too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microorganisms are very diverse including bacteria, fungi, archae, protists etc. They live in all parts of the biosphere where there is liquid water, including soil, hot springs, on the ocean floor, high in the atmosphere and deep inside the rocks within the Earth's crust. Microbes are critical to nutrient recycling in ecosystem, biochemical and ecological cycles. They also play a major role in precipitation and weather. Microbes are exploited in the fields of biotechnology, food technology, and genetic engineering. Even though most of the microorganisms are useful, a few are pathogenic too. A microorganism or microbe is an organism which is microscopic, usually too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microorganisms are very diverse including bacteria, fungi, archae, protists etc. They live in all parts of the biosphere where t here is liquid water, including soil, hot springs, on the ocean floor, high in the atmosphere and deep inside the rocks within the Earth's crust. Microbes are critical to nutrient recycling in ecosystem, biochemical and ecological cycles. They also play a major role in precipitation and weather. Microbes are exploited in the fields of biotechnology, food technology, and genetic engineering. Even though most of the microorganisms are useful, a few are pathogenic too. However, the recent developments of science have made the applications of microbes quite vital in the applied research of modern days.

The Creation of a Trust Which Depicts the Formalities That Are Essay

The Creation of a Trust Which Depicts the Formalities That Are Required In the Dissemination of the Deceased Properties to the Beneficiaries - Essay Example In the paper, John drafts a will and appoints Tessa and Vincent as the trustees of his widow Susan and the two children.   On the death of John Susan accuses the trustees of breaching their mandates, therefore the following advice is going to be very important to determine whether Susan will be able to win the case and granted trust of the properties. It is notable will contained no express power; it simply stated that Tessa and Vincent were to hold the said properties until the opportune moment for them to grant them to the right beneficiaries who are the family. According to Target Holdings Ltd v Redferns, the right of the beneficiary is to have the trust administered in the best way it was intended in conformity with the general law and the trust instruments. Thus, according to law, the beneficiary will always be granted access to the will or deed and the accounts which are linked to the trust. Proper justifications are to be given to any shortcomings which may be pinpointed; ho wever, in this case, it is apparent that the trustees never informed the beneficiaries on the investments they had made. Thus, there is a breach of contract which makes them liable for the loss and any abnormalities which come about. It is evident that the trustees misapplied the money in their hands for their personal use. None of the beneficiaries is really aware of what is going on until when they make the claim and want to have the money for their own use. According to the case of Wallersteiner v Moir, the trustees are liable for any unnecessary delays and circumstantial impacts they may cause the beneficiaries. Susan is thus in the right position to sue the trustees and claim their authority inappropriate in managing the properties and accounts. There is a falsification impression which is created in the whole process. It is sufficient that the trustee is liable to a want of ordinary prudence. By the trustees delegating their duties to the Best Finance Company, they defied thei r obligations entirely. Besides that, there is no clear motive for them to surrender managerial roles of the will to this company which has questionable characters and performances.

Microorganisms in Nature and Biotechnology Essay

Microorganisms in Nature and Biotechnology - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that a microorganism or microbe is an organism which is microscopic, usually too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microorganisms are very diverse including bacteria, fungi, archae, protists etc. They live in all parts of the biosphere where there is liquid water, including soil, hot springs, on the ocean floor, high in the atmosphere and deep inside the rocks within the Earth's crust. Microbes are critical to nutrient recycling in ecosystem, biochemical and ecological cycles. They also play a major role in precipitation and weather. Microbes are exploited in the fields of biotechnology, food technology, and genetic engineering. Even though most of the microorganisms are useful, a few are pathogenic too. A microorganism or microbe is an organism which is microscopic, usually too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microorganisms are very diverse including bacteria, fungi, archae, protists etc. They live in all parts of the biosphere where t here is liquid water, including soil, hot springs, on the ocean floor, high in the atmosphere and deep inside the rocks within the Earth's crust. Microbes are critical to nutrient recycling in ecosystem, biochemical and ecological cycles. They also play a major role in precipitation and weather. Microbes are exploited in the fields of biotechnology, food technology, and genetic engineering. Even though most of the microorganisms are useful, a few are pathogenic too. However, the recent developments of science have made the applications of microbes quite vital in the applied research of modern days.

Friction on the ramp Essay Example for Free

Friction on the ramp Essay As you can see from the graph, as h1 is increasing, the horizontal distance also increases. The graph is more or less a straight line because the horizontal distance travelled by the ball baring in each interval should more or less be around the same. However it didnt show that the y-component is directly proportional to the x-component. This could be of the inaccuracy of the equipment, measurement and air resistance when in travelling in the air and friction on the ramp. The accuracy of the meter ruler is quite poor when it comes to measuring the point at which the ball has landed. Therefore the uncertainties would be measuring precisely the point at which the ball baring had landed. It will be more or less i 1mm. The position for releasing the ball baring is another issue. If the ball is being released from a higher or lower position compared to the previous test, it will have an affect on the initial velocity when leaving the ramp. Higher velocity will result in a bigger horizontal component and therefore uncertainties would be more or less i 1mm. The total uncertainty would be i 2mm. The plastic ramp also creates a problem. The end of the ramp is difficult to maintain a precise horizontal position because of the bendiness of the plastic ramp. This is an important factor because it has an affect on the initial velocity and therefore will change the results. It will create a vertical acceleration if it bends resulting in an increase in the horizontal component. In theory, we have assumed that the air through which the projectile moves has no effect on its motion, a reasonable assumption at low speeds. However, for a greater speed, the disagreement between calculations and the actual motion of the projectile can be large because the air opposes the motion of the projectile. So, a bigger h1 means the projectile will be in the air for longer; therefore the air resistance will affect the projectile more and consequently will reduce horizontal distance travelled. I believe this is the reason that the line on the graph isnt directly proportional to the x and y components. Therefore in the absence of air resistance, I believe that the graph produced would be directly proportional to both x and y components. In order to calculate the theoretical range, we have to find the horizontal and vertical component separately. I can use the following equations to find out both of the horizontal and vertical components.

Implications For Maximising Pupil Learning Education Essay

Implications For Maximising Pupil Learning Education Essay Adults play an important role in extending and enhancing childrens learning. Research has shown that adult involvement, from both parents and teachers, is a key factor in improving childrens academic attainment as well as their behaviour towards learning (Desforges Abouchaar, 2003). The parents are the prime educators for a child until they reach the early years setting where teachers then begin to take on the main role of teaching. It is clear from research that both teachers and parents have important roles to play in the education of a child (Desforges Abouchaar, 2003 and Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2008). Although research has shown that teachers and parents have an impact on childrens education what is less clear is the impact that other classroom based staff and in particular teaching assistants have on their learning. Since 1997 the number of teaching assistants present in classrooms in the UK has trebled (Blatchford et al, 2012) and the number of teaching assistants has been steadily rising since the introduction of the SEN Code of Practice in 1994 which required additional support staff to assist with SEN children accessing mainstream schools (Blatchford et al, 2011). In 1998 the National Literacy Strategy (NLS) was introduced and a year later the National Numeracy Strategy (NNS) was launched. These drives involved significant input from teaching assistants and led to an increase in their responsibilities. Reports from Ofsted indicate that teaching assistants continue to play an important and effective role in the daily mathematics lessons and the literacy hour (Ofsted, 2003, pg. 4). This, therefore, highlights their value and effectiveness in delivering learning in schools. The introduction of the National Workforce Agreement (NWA), raising standards and tackling teacher workload, (Department for Education and Skills, 2003a) also aimed to raise standards and tackle the workload of teachers by increasing the number of teaching assistants in schools. This rapid increase in teaching assistant numbers in schools has been a cause of concern and research into the impact of teaching assistants on childrens learning has begun to become more evident. Most recently, the findings of the Deployment and Impact of Support Staff (DISS) project has raised concerns about the deployment of teaching assistants, their impact on childrens learning and has highlighted the need for further research (Blatchford et al, 2009a). The main assumption was that the increase in teaching assistant numbers would be beneficial to maximising pupil learning (Brown Harris, 2010 Blatchford et al, 2007). However, there is currently little systematic evidence available to confirm whether teaching assistants have a positive impact on pupil outcomes (Blatchford et al, 2011 and Alborz et al, 2009 and Rubie-Davies et al, 2010). The increasing and changing role of teaching assistants in classrooms is of importance as they have both a direct and indirect impact on childrens learning. This essay will focus on the role of teaching assistants and their impact on pupil learning. Firstly, this essay will define and review the role of the teaching assistant and what is meant by effective learning. It will then go on to critically review the current research on the impact of teaching assistants on individuals, the class as a whole and whether they are maximising or holding back pupil learning and progress. The Role of the Teaching Assistant It is apparent that there is confusion as to what the role of the teaching assistant is and there is still a lack of clarity and consensus as to how they should be utilised in schools (Blatchford et al, 2012 and Butt Lance, 2009). Teaching assistants have been prompted to take on more teaching roles in recent years and the publication of the Excellence and Enjoyment document in 2003 has encouraged the use of teaching assistants in teaching whole classes, which has added to the confusion of the role (Department for Education and Skills, 2003b). The Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) guide suggests that teaching assistants have four areas of work in supporting the school, the curriculum, the teacher and the pupil (DfEE, 2000). In 2001 the Secretary of State also suggested that the work of teaching assistants should include supervising classes, and working with small groups (HMI, 2002). In school X the definition of the role of the teaching assistant was defined as being to work alongside teachers in the classroom and help pupils with their learning on an individual or group basis (School X Role of the Teaching Assistant). The role of the teaching assistant has clearly moved from acting as a classroom helper to a direct role in supporting teaching and learning in the classroom (Vincett et al, 2005 Groom, 2006). The lack of coordination and training for teaching assistants was transformed in the DfES (2004) document which announced plans for vocational qualifications and introduced training for the higher level teaching assistant (HLTA)(Vincett et al, 2005). The HLTA responsibilities in school X were to plan and deliver learning activities under the direction of a teacher and assess, record and report on pupils progress (School X Role of the Higher Level Teaching Assistant). The range of responsibilities and the lack of clarity of what is involved in these different roles can create confusion. Teaching assistants work in a variety of roles in the clas sroom working directly with small groups, individuals and in some cases taking intervention programmes. The role of the teaching assistant and how they impact on the pupil ranges from school to school and although much of the research available suggests that teaching assistants are in fact hindering pupil progress there is some evidence that they are assisting and maximising pupil learning (Brown Harris, 2010). This essay will focus solely on the role of the teaching assistant and whether their presence maximises pupil learning. There are a variety of different terms used to describe staff that are in paid employment and assist in supporting the teacher; these include learning support assistant, paraprofessional, teaching assistant, and classroom support assistant. The DfEE states that teaching assistant is the preferred generic term (DfEE, 2000, p.3) and this essay will use the term teaching assistant to refer to all staff that support the class teacher. Effective Learning Learning is a complex and dynamic term as there are a number of different learning styles and theories about how we learn (Arthur Cremin, 2010). Learning is individual to every person and the consensus seems to be that it occurs when we assimilate knowledge through our experiences in life (Arthur Cremin, 2010 and Pritchard, 2009). The learning process does not necessarily take place in the classroom environment and it is a continuous process throughout our lives (Pritchard, 2009). Research suggests that everyone has a preferred learning style and this is the way in which we are able to learn most effectively (Pritchard, 2009). Therefore, for learning to be effective it needs to be presented in a number of different learning styles so that each individual has the opportunity to learn using their own preferred learning style. Provision also needs to be made for the sharing of ideas and concepts by the use of talk which is vital if effective learning is to take place (Arthur Cremin, 2010). In terms of learning, the three main things which were found to influence pupil progress were teaching skills, professional characteristics and the classroom climate (Haymcber, 2000). For learning to be effective in the classroom children need the opportunity in all of these areas to learn using their preferred learning style so teachers must be aware of the children in their class and use a range of strategies to promote effective learning. Essentially, effective learning can be defined in the context of this essay as being the most efficient way of concepts and knowledge being assimilated by the child. Reducing Teacher Workloads The primary expectation of the NWA was that the increase in teaching assistant numbers would release teachers from their clerical tasks so that they could focus on teaching and increasing standards (Blatchford et al, 2012). Butt Lance (2009) found that teachers agreed that their workloads had been reduced by 79% in 2009 due to the increase of teaching assistants who took over many of the clerical day to day tasks. Teachers were also found to consistently describe teaching assistants as having a positive effect on their job satisfaction (Webster et al, 2010). In school X the class teacher in Year 5 routinely commented on the benefits of having a teaching assistant in the classroom. She also described the teaching assistant as being worth her weight in gold. This was due to the amount of clerical work that the teaching assistant took away from the teachers role allowing her to do more teaching. This indicates that teachers are, therefore, able to concentrate more time on effective tea ching and planning for different learning styles which in turn maximises pupil learning. However, other research has not found this to be the case (HMI, 2002). HMI (2002) found that teachers workloads had actually increased as a result of having the responsibility for planning for the teaching assistant and managing them. In school X the teaching assistant in Year 6 was responsible for noting evidence of childrens talk for assessing pupil progress (APP) during the lesson. Although this allowed the teacher more freedom to focus his energies on teaching and planning for the lesson he also had to plan in extra time to meet with the teaching assistant so that they could discuss the progress and next steps for specific children. In this instance although the teaching assistant was meant to be freeing up time for the teacher by taking away some of the clerical tasks the teacher was, in fact, having to create extra time to review and reflect with the teaching assistant. Therefore, this see ms to go against the NWAs aim to reduce teachers workloads. The Presence of Teaching Assistants in the Classroom There is also research available that indicates that the presence of a teaching assistant in the classroom has a positive impact on pupil learning as they become more focused and there is a general reduction in the amount of teacher talk dealing with negative behaviour (Brown Harris, 2010 and Blatchford et al, 2009a and Bassett et al, 2011 and Webster et al, 2010). Blatchford et al (2007) found that more attention was paid to the teacher when a teaching assistant was present in the classroom. This in turn led to more individualised attention from the teacher when the teaching assistant was present and more on task behaviour. Although not directly related to maximising pupil learning it does suggest that when a teaching assistant is present in the classroom there is more on task behaviour which in turn leads to a better learning environment (Blatchford et al, 2007). In school X the class teacher felt that the role of the teaching assistant was primarily to deal with the behaviour of the most challenging pupils so that she could teach the rest of the class. In this scenario the teaching assistant was maximising learning for the rest of the class by allowing the teacher to continue teaching without any disruptions to the lesson. However, this is only one example of how teaching assistants are utilised in class and not all schools would necessarily use their teaching assistant in this way. Brown Harris (2010) also support the idea that teaching assistants increase attainment levels as they found a positive correlation between the increase in teaching assistants in schools and rising attainment levels. However, the study primarily looked at the relationship between expenditure on staff and changes in attainment without considering other external factors which may have influenced the results (Brown Harris, 2010). In contrast, Finn et al (2000) and Reynolds Muijs (2003) both reported that there was no effect on pupil learning when a teaching assistant was present in the classroom. It could be argued that although the presence of the teaching assistance has an impact on the learning environment how they are deployed and utilised in the lesson is what really impacts on maximising pupil learning. The Individual Child Although not always the case, teaching assistants are generally allocated to a particular individual on a one to one basis if they have SEN or behavioural issues (Webster et al, 2010). An overview of the literature by Farrell et al, (2010) suggests that teaching assistants can have a positive impact in raising academic achievement of groups of pupils with learning difficulties provided that they are deployed and trained effectively. Alborz et al, (2009) and Blatchford et al, (2009a) both support the suggestion that teaching assistants are essential for the integration of SEN pupils within mainstream schools. Alborz et al, (2009) found that out of the 14 studies four showed that teaching assistants have a positive impact on SEN in maintaining their engagement and supporting them with communicating with peers. This links into Maslows hierarchy of needs as the teaching assistant may be providing the child with the emotional support such as raising the childs confidence and self esteem. The teaching assistant therefore plays a vital role in the childs development as the child can only move onto the next stage of higher order learning once the other stages have been met (Maslow, 1943). In addition, Woolfson Truswell (2005) assessed the changes in attitudes of pupils rather than solely looking at attainment levels in a small scale sample and found that the teaching assistants enhanced the quality of learning experiences and had a positive impact on the personal and social development of the children. This can be explained partly by Maslows hierarchy of needs as the child is receiving the emotional support that they require to move on to higher order levels. Some children may find working in larger groups or speaking out in front of others difficult and the teaching assistant can help to support and encourage them to engage in the lesson. This, therefore, allows the child to access the lessons and in turn encourage their learning by becoming more confident in their o wn ideas. Teaching assistants also provide increased attention and promote a more active role in the interaction of questioning by the teacher. The teaching assistant can also increase whole class engagement during lessons and maximise the learning outcome of the lesson. In this way the teaching assistant is assisting in the scaffolding of the learning by providing a more knowledgeable other that the child can interact with (Bruner, 1986). This extended interaction between an adult and the pupil also provides an enhanced opportunity for learning. As Vygotsky says, what the child is able to do in collaboration today he will be able to do independently tomorrow (Vygotsky, 1978, p.  211). This supports the notion that by being supported by the teaching assistant and having the extended interaction they will be able to develop their learning so that eventually they will be able to carry out the task unaided. In contrast to this, Alborz et al, (2009) suggest that in some cases there was too much reliance on the teaching assistant and this undermined the opportunity for self determination. Much of the research available indicates a negative trend for those children that receive extra support compared to similar children who had less support (Blatchford et al, 2011 Giangreco Broer 2007 Giangreco et al, 2005). In this case it is difficult to determine what similar means especially as research has shown that everyone has a different learning style. Therefore, the research may have been comparing children who actually had different learning styles which may explain the trend. In other studies children who had one to one support were found to be over reliant on their teaching assistant for support and assistance with their work (Giangreco Broer, 2007 Giangreco et al, 2005). Vincett et al, (2005) went on to describe the relationship between the teaching assistant and the child as Velcro syn drome (Vincett et al, 2005, pg.5). The presence of the teaching assistant on a one to one basis may, lead to less effective learning as the presence of the teaching assistant reinforces to the child that they are different and are in need of additional support. Instead of maximising pupil learning it appears that working on a one to one basis reinforces to the child that they are only able to work at this one level. The lack of pupil progress can be explained by Bruners theory of scaffolding which is based on Vygotskys premise that learning is socially constructed (Vygotsky, 1978). The scaffolding process refers to the assistance of support that enables a child to complete a task which they are unable to manage by themselves (Bruner, 1986). It is important that the teaching assistant who is assisting the child in carrying out the task removes the support so that the child can function independently. It could be argued that although teaching assistants are providing the necessary sca ffolding for the child to complete the work they are unlikely to remove the support and allow the child to become independent as they are more concerned with the quantity of work that is produced rather than the process of learning. In some cases and particularly in school X the teaching assistants were more focused on the quantity of work that was completed rather than the learning and thinking skills that were taking place. During a maths lesson on mental subtraction strategies the teaching assistant advised a group of children to use the written method so that they could get through the work quicker. In this case the teaching assistant, although trying to be helpful, undermined the learning that the teacher was trying to promote. In this example the teaching assistant did not effectively maximise pupil learning but instead created a barrier to their learning by providing them with a quicker solution rather than scaffolding their learning. When children are working on a one to one basis with the teaching assistant there is also less contact time between the teacher and the child. The child working on a one to one basis is therefore missing out on important interactions with the teacher. Blatchford et al, (2009b) found that the amount of contact time with the teacher declined when teaching assistants were present. This may hinder academic progress as they are not getting the teacher talk which is very important in learning. However, those children that are assigned a teaching assistant are generally more in need of assistance than those who are not assigned one and this may explain why even with support they are not progressing as well. In addition, Fraser Meadows (2008) found that children view the role of a teaching assistant as useful and important to their learning because they help them with their work and are able to explain things more clearly to them. Fraser Meadows (2008) also found that those children who di d not work directly with the teaching assistant found that the teaching assistant improved the teaching in the classroom as it freed up the teacher to do more teaching with other groups. In a sense teaching assistants are maximising the learning for the other children in the class by allowing the teacher to focus more attention on the rest of the class. Webster et al, (2011) put forward the wider pedagogical role model to interpret results of teaching assistants and their impact on pupil progress. Teaching assistants can unintentionally separate the pupil from the teacher and although they receive interactions from the teaching assistant they are not always of the same quality as that of the teacher (Webster et al, 2011). In the study by Webster et al, (2011) teachers were found to open up talking situations and to provide an environment which allowed questioning whereas teaching assistants more commonly closed down talk. This is of great concern as Wilkinson Silliman (2000) point out To a great extent the language used by teachers and pupils in the classrooms determines what is learned and how learning takes place. (Wilkinson Silliman, 2000, pg.37) Teaching assistants are not as highly trained as teachers in the pedagogy of talk and these interactions and the quality of talk that children receive is very important in maximising l earning. Although there are clear benefits of assigning children to a teaching assistant so that they are able to access the curriculum, the support can sometimes be restrictive. It is clear that teaching assistants should be carefully considered when working on a one to one basis with a child and be well trained and deployed so that they can maximise the childs learning effectively and not unintentionally restrict their learning. Pedagogical Role Research has shown that teaching assistants are spending an increased amount of time in a direct pedagogical role with children in the classroom (Blatchford et al, 2011 and Blatchford et al, 2009a and Blatchford et al, 2009b and Butt Lance, 2009). Rubie-Davies et al, (2010) reviewed the nature of talk between teaching assistants and children and compared it with the nature of talk between teachers and children. The analysis was general and only included a small sample but it did show that there were some similarities in the type of talk experienced by children. However, it also showed there were some major differences in the type of talk. While teachers spent time explaining concepts and questioning children, teaching assistants tended to provide the pupils with the answers and in some cases completed the work for them (Rubie-Davies et al, 2010). In this case teaching assistants are not allowing the child to maximise their learning by building up their own thinking. The research als o indicates that that the dialogue between the teaching assistant and the pupil is more concerned with the communication of knowledge rather than allowing pupils to come up with their own thinking (Rubie-Davies et al, 2010). This dialogue does not allow the sharing and development of ideas which children require so that they can build their own personally constructed ideas. Teachers on the other hand tended to engage in more dialogic teaching which allows the pupil to engage in thinking (Rubie-Davies et al, 2010). Alexander (2008) has clearly stated that talk is arguably the true foundation of learning. (Alexander, 2008, pg.9) If this is the case then it is clear that teaching assistants need to be better trained in effective talk so that they are promoting learning through discussion of new ideas rather than closing down talk. During a science lesson in school X the teacher used higher order questioning to engage the children in dialogic talk. The teacher also scaffolded the talk b ut as the children began to come up with their own concepts and ideas he took on a more passive role in the talk. This links in with Bruners concept of scaffolding as understanding and learning can only be attained with the guidance of a more knowledgeable other, which in this case was the teacher (Bruner, 1986). On the other hand, the teaching assistant was more concerned with correcting the childrens misconceptions and gave them the answer to the question rather than letting them talk to each other and to eventually construct their own thinking. Group Work Teaching assistants that work with small groups allow the teacher to provide differentiated and targeted learning support in the classroom. This therefore allows all the children to maximise their learning as every group is being encouraged to achieve their potential. In many cases teaching assistants are generally found to be placed with the lower ability groups and these children spend less time being taught by a qualified teacher (Ofsted, 2010). A report by HMI (2002) stated its concern over the very common problem that the least qualified people are often working with the most demanding pupils and that teaching assistants are rarely used to support and challenge the higher attaining pupils. At school X the higher ability and middle ability groups worked periodically with a teaching assistant who had excellent subject knowledge in maths to extend their learning. The teaching assistant was therefore, maximising pupil learning by extending their knowledge further than the teacher wa s able to provide. When teaching assistants are well trained and are effectively deployed they seem to be effective in raising standards. Intervention Strategies Intervention strategies are frequently used in schools to assist children in attaining better attainment levels in the core subjects of English and Maths. These intervention strategies are most commonly run by teaching assistants. The Ofsted (2010) report indicates that teaching assistants who were well deployed and trained properly made a difference to pupil learning when they provided intervention programmes. Alborz et al, (2009) also agrees that teaching assistants make a positive contribution to maximising pupil learning in learning literacy and language. However, these surveys were of a small scale and are therefore not a fair representation of all teaching assistants. Intervention programmes are generally run during other foundation subjects and the children are therefore missing out on other areas of the curriculum so although the intervention programme may maximise their learning in that particular subject it actually prevents them from accessing other areas of the curriculum . At school X the children were removed from science to do their intervention programme for literacy. Despite the children getting better APP levels in literacy as a result of the intervention programme their APP levels in science dropped and this was most likely due to the fact that they were missing the majority of the science lessons for the literacy intervention programme. However, although their APP levels increased in literacy it could be argued that this was down to the teacher making sure that what was learnt during the intervention was then consolidated in the lesson to maximise the learning rather than solely the intervention run by the teaching assistant. The conceptual framework model (Todd Powell, 2004) can also be used to expand on this idea as the child does not have access to the whole curriculum and therefore does not have all the elements available to enhance their behaviour to learn. Without these in place the chid is therefore not able to maximise their learning . Intervention programmes are clearly important for those children who require additional support in English and Maths, as without them the children would not reach expected levels. Removing the children from the class for the intervention programme also means that the teaching in the class can focus on the ability range and deliver effective learning. In turn this maximises learning for the children in the class as the intervention programme reduces the class size, therefore creating an alternative to reducing class size (Reynolds Muijs, 2003). The smaller class allows the teacher to focus the teaching at the ability level in the class and therefore gives the children more direct and focused learning. It is clear that the most effective intervention strategies do not see intervention in isolation from the lesson but look to consolidate and develop what has been learnt in the intervention into the classroom (Ofsted, 2010). When teaching assistants are effectively prepared and deployed they are able to offer effective learning opportunities in intervention programmes. Conclusions Current research on the role of teaching assistants and pupil learning suggests that the presence of teaching assistants does not improve pupil learning. (Blatchford et al, 2007) However, Blatchford et al, (2007) warn that we should be careful not to suppose that teaching assistants do not have a role to play in pupil learning as it is not always easy to assess the subtle impacts on learning and the attitudes to learning that result from the teaching assistant being present. When teachers and teaching assistants work in partnership they are able to create an effective learning environment for children. It is important that with the changing role of teaching assistants to a direct pedagogical role that they are trained and deployed effectively so that they can successfully contribute to maximising pupil learning. It is evident that more research is needed in this field especially due to the increased number of teaching assistants present in classrooms. There also needs to be a more clearly defined boundaries between the role of the teaching assistant and the teacher as these boundaries are becoming more blurred (Butt Lance, 2009). In addition, teaching assistants and teachers need more non contact time to plan and reflect on lessons together so that they are able to clearly define and clarify the roles and responsibilities during the lesson (Butt Lance, 2009). It is also important to have the reflection as to what strategies are working in providing max imum learning and whether there are other strategies which may be more efficient. Finally, research and reviews have shown that the increase in teaching assistants needs to be carefully managed so that they can successfully fulfil their role and provide excellent learning opportunities for children. When teaching assistants are prepared and deployed effectively they are able to extend and develop childrens learning. However, whether they effectively maximise pupil learning is an ongoing debate. What is clear from the research is that teaching assistants are taking on a more pedagogical role and if they are to be effective in maximising pupil learning they need to be well trained in the pedagogy of teaching. Word count: 4692

Medieval Art :: Essays Papers

Medieval Art As far as I have seen through my research of medieval art, it is the art of the glorious days of kingdoms, knights, huge cathederals and wars. Historicians can not give dates for the medieval period but I understood that it is before renaissance at around 16th century, around 14th and 15th centuries but not before the 10th. Same as other art movements it is inevitably result of the events, beliefs and daily life of the period’s nations. Religion was obviously very important at that time. Many paintings are about Jesus, saints and angels. Frescos and carvings on chappels’ and cathederals’ walls and ceilings are still astonishingly detailed and realistic even for the viewer of our time. Architecture in the medieval is exaggurated. Because it is based on expressing the glory of god and the kings, huge buildings, castles and cathederals are ornamented with big arcs, frescos and carvings (Notre Damme in Paris is a good example). Animals such as lions and imaginary beasts like dragons and gargoyles were obviously popular among those times’ architects and artists. I think the key word for the period is â€Å"gothic† and it is based on ornamentation. I know that medieval art is effected by oriental and islamic art and the usage of ornamentation, dragons, miniature-like paintings are proofs for this. Scripts seem to be popular at medieval ages which I came up with several times in my research. They gave lots of information about the ages because they consisted of gothic lettered writings, ornamentations on the edges of papers, small paintings (generally religious and miniature like) and huge, decorated initials. One thing I noticed in most, maybe all, of the paintings is the lack of motion. A position of a figure or a situation was prefered. Figures seemed to be frozen, there is no feeling of act in art pieces. In paintings brush with ink seem to be most popular. Ornamentation, which I refered to in all of the branches of art at the

Fast Breeder Reactors Essay -- Nuclear Power Energy

Fast Breeder Reactors Abstract In this report I will investigate how different breeder reactors operate, the many problems addressed by the Fast Breeder Reactor, including efficiency and cost, the disadvantages of Fast Breeder Reactors, and working examples that have been constructed throughout the world. Introduction There is another type of modern nuclear energy, an interesting idea that will grow on you, so to speak. If one were to think of an â€Å"alternative† nuclear energy source, a pebble bed fission reactor or namely fusion reactors come to mind. The Liquid Metal Fast Breeder reactor (FBR) is the alternate â€Å"alternative† reactor. FBRs first went critical (became operational) in 1951 with the American experimental EBR-1 in Idaho. FBRs, in principle, produce more fissile material than they produce. Although they still need a blend of stable fertile material with fissile fuel, the fact that they convert this mix to a unified fissile material while generating electricity at the same time is the primary reason these reactors are appealing. The technology used for FBRs has been consistently researched in the US, USSR, France, UK, Germany, Japan, China, and India at different points in time beginning in 1949 with initial design work performed on the EBR-I in the US (Encarta-200 5). Asian countries currently lead the world in the effort being invested in this type of reactor. We could see a significant number of FBRs being built within the next 25 to 50 years, as the demand for fossil fuels increases with pollution and the constant and inefficient consumption of fossil fuel supplies by all nations. Are FBRs a viable energy source for California or the US? I will discuss the atomic process that FBRs use to operate, the problems the... ...Foundation. Retrieved July 28, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monju Nuclear Power Reactors. (2005). Nuclear Energy. In Encarta Reference Library 2005 [CD-ROM].Microsoft Corporation. Nuclear reactor. (2006). In Wikipedia [Web]. Wikimedia Foundation. Retrieved July 28, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reactor Fast Breeder Reactors: Do They Have the Juice? Breeder Reactors 11 Nuclear Waste and Breeder Reactors - Myth and Promise. Retrieved July 28, 2006, from agree.net Web site: http://www.agree.net/DefenseWatch/Nuclear%20Waste%20and%20Breeder%reactors.htm Shi, R. R. Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor. Retrieved July 20, 2006, Web site: http://www.nuc.berkeley.edu/thyd/ne161/shir/project5.html Superphenix. (2006). Superphenix. In Wikipedia [Web]. Wikimedia Foundation. Retrieved July 28, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superph%C3%A9nix

Bru Case Study

BRU World Cafe Note: All information in the case has been garnered from sources in the public domain. This case has been developed for purely academic purposes, and is not in any way the intended or actual plan of Bru World Cafe Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 0 About the Category/ Brand and Market Trend ? BRU is India’s largest coffee brand in terms of volume, with a portfolio of instant and roasted & ground (filter) coffee, Ice and Hot Cappuccino and out of home vending. BRU was the first coffee brand to go national with a variety of offerings suited for the varied and distinct taste palette of the Indian consumer. BRU Green Label Roast & Ground is the largest brand in the conventional coffee segment. BRU’s Hot Cappuccino and Ice Cappuccino are innovative products specially designed for the cafe going youth – to enjoy a great cup of cappuccino even at home. ? The brand enjoys very strong equity in the south and its awareness and associations in the non-south part of the country emanate from its roots as the authentic south Indian coffee brand. BRU strives to stimulate conversations over coffee livening up every shared moment ? A key trend, which has fuelled coffee consumption in India is â€Å"rise in conversations over coffee†, which means a direct correlation with increase in out of home consumption for coffee as there is an increasing trend to socialize in cafes (especially in 10 lakh plus towns). ? With more than 1500 coffee cafes in the country, up from 175 in 2002 (of these around 1000 have opened in the last 5 years), coffee has emerged as the most happening beverage category, estimated to be around 1000Crs (in End Consume Price (ECP) terms) in 2011. Valued at around US$185 million, the organized cafe market in India is estimated to be growing at a compound annual rate of 25%. Players from Barista Coffee Co. to Cafe Coffee Day are opening outlets practically every weekend. In the past couple of years we have also seen the entry of new players like Cafe Mocha and Gloria Jeans in the premium category. ? The gro wth [of cafes] has been triggered by rising youth spending, paucity of alternative hang-outs and an increasing number of new office complexes and colleges. The market has the potential to touch US$800 million to US$900 million with a total of 5,000 cafes by 2015. Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 1 ? This provides a unique opportunity to leverage the strength of well established brands in HUL’s beverage portfolio to create a service model that would allow building preference for these brands while also adding a sizeable turnover to HUL’s Foods business. Given the size and opportunity of the coffee cafe segment, BRU became the natural choice for leveraging this opportunity. ? With entry into cafes, BRU plays across the coffee category definition becoming a complete in-home and out-of-home coffee brand and also proactively drives â€Å"coffee experience† with direct consumer engagement. This is also an approach for the brand to contemporarise and premiumize by driving imagery through a futuristic segment. ? â€Å"Coffee Experience† model is an opportunity which can be utilized to deliver the dual objectives of : 1. Building expertise and coffee credentials for BRU in the coffee category and get an imagery rub-off on the in-home consumption portfolio. . Another important value driver identified for the category is, â€Å"Bringing out of home experiences in-home†. Cafes will provide a unique space and an exclusive retail channel to drive this opportunity. ? This segment holds immense potential given that the coffee consumption in India is still very low as compared to the rest of the world and the Indian market is just starting to heat u p with international players like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts announcing their entry here. BRU World Cafe Theme Great coffee is an experience. We bring it alive. When you step into BRU World Cafe, you step into the world of coffee – an experience that is visual, aural, olfactory and gustatory. Name Tagline : BRU World Cafe : Discover the World a cup at a time Cafes today are not about coffee. This theme lets us bring the coffee back to the cafe. It helps us to establish the coffee credentials and in future we can easily translate the out of Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 2 home experience in home. The consumer takeout after a visit to World Cafe: BRU knows coffee like no other Identity for the Cafe Target Audience Description Demographics: ? ? SEC A/B1 18 years + An audience on the move, who is looking for a unique experience while enjoying their favorite cup of coffee. And cafes also double up as their hangout joints or meeting places. Along with being an ardent coffee lover they are used to the good things in life, are welltraveled or well-read and exposed to the cultures and offerings of the world at large. Experience and Ambience BRU World Cafe is a traveler’s and coffee connoisseur’s haven. The coffee is served in many traditional styles evoking the palettes of coffee lovers. BRU scours the world to bring the finest coffees from a few prized plantations and stays true to their authenticity by brewing and serving them right. Additionally it provides a relaxed atmosphere with great coffee and vast menu offerings. On entering BRU World Cafe, you leave the hustle-bustle of the city behind. The interior is contemporary and bright, almost Mediterranean in its look and feel. The sounds are Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 3 nippets of music one would hear while traveling the globe whether it is the music of the Balkans, country music from the European greens of Italy and Spain or the Tibetan chants. Browse through the eclectic collection of books that give you insights & quaint facts about exotic destinations across the world or just switch off and chill out over your favorite pick from the comic series of Aestrix and Tintin. Coffee facts, stories, legends and myths and the interesting collage of visuals make up the way coffee arrives to you, becoming an integral part of the experience. It is a place for telling, sharing and creating your own personal story. The Business Challenge There are 7 BRU World Cafes which have opened as part of a pilot run in Mumbai across the western suburbs (Andheri (W), Malad, Bandra, Juhu and Versova) and another 3 are expected to go live within this year. The first cafe went live in February 2011 and the consumer response over the last 5-6 months across outlets has been very encouraging and very positive in terms of the overall experience, ambience, service and differentiation on providing an international coffee experience (best suited to Indian taste palette). Cafe revenue per day is calculated as number of bills in a day multiplied by the value per bill. So far the overall average bill value is 50% more than the assumptions made as per business case construct, however, the number of bills per day (very critical to ensure long term sustainable business) is only about 30% of the assumption (average of 30 to 40 bills per day per store – taken at an average across stores) 1. How do we increase footfalls (and therefore bill productivity) across the current set of Bru World Cafes without incurring extensive marketing spends? Suggest a marketing model for BRU World Cafe which involves not more than Rs. 0 lakh of annual spend including above the line and local store marketing and production/ fabrication cost of these activities. 2. Prioritize the channel mix with spends break-down and a calculation of return on marketing spend? How can this be made into a sustainable and repeatable model once BRU WORLD CAFE extends into other cities with i ncreasing returns of spends? 3. Given the proposition of BRU World Cafe, which is the one key marketing initiative, in-line with the BRU World Cafe identity which will be clearly differentiated from others and which will help further strengthen the BRU World Cafe differentiation. Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 4 The success of the pilot in Mumbai will determine future expansion of the BRU World Cafe mix so getting the above objective right is critical. Assume that all other levers of the business case construct are in place. The Communication Challenge Young people today have a far higher disposable income than about a decade ago. Quite naturally then every category these days is vying for their attention. And hence as a target audience youth are the most spoken to today by brands across a plethora of categories from chocolates to denims to mobile phones to fast food chains. Therefore the challenge of communication is to stand out of the clutter of youth brands and be heard by them. The Communication Task From a brand point of view it is important for BRU World Cafe to appropriate a strong positioning & differentiation to counter competition from the category and beyond. The task also includes resonating with him/her to make BRU World Cafe his/her cafe of preference. This is critical to increase footfalls and repeat visits which are ultimately crucial factors while considering future scaling up and expansion. The Communication Strategy Your task is to provide a comprehensive communication strategy that details what BRU World Cafe should do to build its brand & gear up for growth in an increasingly crowded cafe space. The strategy document must provide solutions in the following key areas: 1. Identify key challenges for the brand and its communication. 2. Sharply define who the target consumers should be and their key characteristics. 3. Identify the key consumer insights in the target group and how BRU World Cafe should work its offerings in line with the consumer needs. 4. Identify the right positioning and messaging platform for the brand. 5. What should be the brand voice across its offerings? 6. Identify the right communication message for the brand. Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 5 7. Identify the appropriate media vehicles to reach the target audience. ? Complete with channel mix, spends and detailed description on mechanics wherever necessary. 8. Outline the complete strategy for the use of new age media like social media, CRM, mobile phones, mobile applications etc. to be leveraged to resonate with this audience Methodology ? Cafe visits and study of the current consumer marketing and consumer engagement initiatives by existing players and evaluate them for effectiveness and efficiency. Establish key learning from best practices of competitors on spends and returns, driving awareness and footfalls in India (CCD, Barista, Costa Coffee, Gloria Jeans etc. ) and internationally e. g. – Starbucks. ? ? Study of no n-conventional media channels and relevance and use to drive the above objective. Study of trend and media methods to drive consumer awareness and engagement in the service and retail world which can be applied in this case. Success Criteria ? ? ? ? Depth of understanding of successful marketing techniques in this space Innovativeness of the â€Å"idea† and/ or â€Å"marketing approach† and the ability to create â€Å"buzz/ talkability†. Practical application and relevance (ease of execution) to reality. Impact and achievability within the given constraints Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 6 Rules & Regulations: Participation Rules: 1. Participating teams should comprise of only three members. 2. Only one entry per institute will be considered. Two stages of this event: Stage I: Submission of the written case solution. Stage II: Power point presentation of the shortlisted cases. Stage I: Process and rules for submission of the written case: 1. DraftFCB+Ulka Comstrat is a contest for Communication Strategy; hence students are requested to focus on the same. 2. Creative renditions are not necessary and will not be judged. 3. A detailed Media plan is also not required and will not be judged. 4. A synopsis of the case solution should be submitted as a word document in a minimum font size of 11 points and single line spacing. The document should not exceed 15 pages. 5. A written case solution on the case should be submitted either through email to [email  protected] com or by post to DraftFCB+Ulka Advertising, 4th floor, Nirmal, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021. 6. The last date for receipt of the submission is 6 pm on 23rd November 2011. 7. A shortlist of six teams shall be arrived at by evaluating the case solutions received. 8. The shortlist shall be declared on 28th November 2011 and posted on the website www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com and communicated to K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research. . The six shortlisted teams will be invited to make a power point presentation to a panel of judges on 10th December 2011 in Mumbai. Please remember: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Synopsis to be submitted as word document only. Font size should be minimum 11 The document should not exceed 15 pages The document should have a single line spacing Synopsis should be submitted on or before 6 pm on 23rd November 2 011 Stage II: Final power point presentation of the case: 1. Shortlisted teams are requested to reach the venue on 10th December 2011 at 12 noon sharp for the set-up and dry run. 2. Please get your power point presentations on a CD/Pen drive, rest of the equipment shall be provided at the venue. 3. The time limit for each presentation is 20 minutes and the students are requested to strictly adhere to the time-limit. A warning bell will ring after 15 minutes. 4. At the end of 20 minutes the team will be asked to stop the presentation. Comstrat 2011 Page 7 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com 5. Students are requested not to indicate their institute’s name on the slides or anytime during the presentation. 6. Stay and travel arrangements have to be made by the participants themselves. 7. The Comstrat is a contest for Communication Strategy; hence students are requested to focus on the same. 8. In the case presentation, creative renditions are not necessary and will not be judged. 9. Media plan for the same is also not required and will not be judged. 10. The solution must have only one approach and not multiple options. Key Dates to remember: Last date for written submission ? Shortlist of 6 teams for power point presentation ? Final Presentation ? 6 pm on 23rd November 2011 6 pm on 28th November 2011 12 noon on 10th December 2011 Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 8