The Effects Of Music Therapy On Different Stages Of...

Abstract: Individuals who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease suffer from a loss of memories due to the deterioration of the brain’s wiring. Music therapy, although only deeply researched and experimented on during the past decade or so, has ignited new possibilities for treating agitation and anxiety in moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease. This essay investigates how effects of music therapy of different cultures help alleviate different stages of Alzheimer’s disease through autobiographical memory renewal. By reducing stress and enhancing cognitive function, music therapy enhances memory capacities for autobiographical and episodic memory. Because of the safe methods of musical intervention, individualistic countries such as the United States, Iceland, and France and collectivistic cultures such as Japan all devoted extensive efforts to experiment through case studies. Findings suggested that music therapy is effective in that familiar songs are ex cellent stimuli for reminiscence of the past that lead to cognitive rejuvenation or re-stimulation. Data from all the case studies of musical interventions demonstrate that reminiscence and stress can be reduced to elevate mood and happiness, a means of rediscovering life’s meaning. However, music therapy’s effects in the long-term has yet to be determined—whether it permanently enhances or not. However, music therapy’s existing capabilities can also be potentially useful to treat depression, Parkinson’s disease andShow MoreRelatedA Research Study On Alzheimer s Disease1339 Words   |  6 Pagesare a couple types of dementia. This research paper is about Alzheimer s Disease (AD) which is a specific type of dementia that is closely related to aging. AD accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases. AD usually affects people 65 and older, but it can start in rare cases around 40 to 50. 5.3 million people in America have been diagnosed with AD, and almost two thirds of the population that has been diagnosed are women (Alzheimer s Association, 2015). Learning about AD can help people understandRead MoreIs Music Therapy A Effective Therapy?3299 Words   |  14 Pages Abstract Music could be referred to as a universal language, for instance it has more purposeful values than just for listening and people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy interaction with it every day worldwide. Throughout this research project music will be shown to work as an effective therapy and demonstrate how interaction with it can improve quality of life in Alzheimer s sufferers. Alzheimer s disease is only one of many forms of dementia which causes irreversible decline of the brainRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Alzheimer s Disease2254 Words   |  10 Pagescommon is that they’re aware of who they are and what they want to accomplish, well for the most part that is. There are many people living in this world with a disease called Alzheimer’s, which is a very deadly and mysterious disease. Alzheimer’s is a type of Dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. This disease is a progressive cognitive disorder that deteriorates brain cells e ventually to the point of destroying them. This kind of deterioration leads to memory loss asRead MoreAlzheimer s And The Most Relevant Cause Of Dementia1496 Words   |  6 Pages Alzheimer’s, the most relevant cause of Dementia, is a disease that affects as many as 4.5 million Americans per year (WebMD 2005-2014). Alzheimer’s is a disease that is an irremediable, continuous brain neuron degenerative disease that can be asymptomatic at first and then overtime becomes symptomatic. Alzheimer’s is a gradual disease that advances in three phases: mild, then moderate, and, finally, severe (1). Symptoms appear after the age of 60 and include: the slow destruction of memory andRead MoreMusic And How It Can Heal People1632 Words   |  7 PagesMusic and how it can heal people is becoming a widely global trend. This is due to experts in music that have devoted their time and effort in developing new ways to use their expertise. One of the ways that they have discovered is the use of music as a therapy. Nowadays, Music Therapists have been added as a profession and are now breaking down the walls of silence and affliction of depression anxiety, autism, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson s disease. Music therapy can be define as music performanceRead MoreThe Healing Power Of Music1612 Words   |  7 PagesThe Healing Power of Music The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, defines Alzheimer’s as being the most common form of dementia, occurring in 60% to 80% of people suffering from symptoms of dementia (Clair Tomaino, 2016). The foundation also states that it is an irreversible disease that progresses over time, destroying cognitive functions such as: memory, learning, and language skills. Furthermore it may alter behaviors and mood, cause disorientation, as well as agitation (Clair TomainoRead MoreMusic Therapy Is Effective Or Not?925 Words   |  4 Pagesor do anything without listening to music. From elevator music, to exercise in the gym, to background music in restaurants, to the radio in the car, we cannot escape music. It is such an overlooked yet essential part of our daily lives, but what is unknown by many is that music is also used very deliberately in the lives of others. Many hospitals use music therapy to help treat their stroke patients, premature infants, those diagnosed w ith Alzheimer s disease, etc. One might wonder why physiciansRead MoreSenior Project Paper: Music Therapy used on Alzheimers Patients2826 Words   |  12 Pagesï » ¿Courtney Everette Ms. Askue August 26, 2014 English IV Music Therapy Introduction: Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve observed people playing music around me. My family is musically inclined, which I believe is the reason I’ve been drawn to it. In 2006, I began taking guitar lessons but I never had much interest in playing. Things changed in 2009, and I wished to be different. I wanted to be good at something so I began to teach myself guitar and have stuck with the guitar until now. In 2010Read MoreThe Studies Of Music And How It May Not Help The Alzheimer s Disease1675 Words   |  7 PagesIn order to understand how the studies of music and how it may or may not help the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) one would need the background of it. AD is a progressive neurological disease that leads to deterioration in cognitive abilities. People with AD encounter a progressive decline in their neurological capabilities, which manifest in language deficits, among other cognitive difficulties. The main failures in speech include naming difficulties, verb al fluency deficit, comprehension problemsRead MoreNeurological Disorders2518 Words   |  11 PagesGuides section of the Center for Writing Excellence. Thank you for using WritePoint. Running Head: NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS [Unless a trade name, an acronym, or in the running head, do not use all capitals in academic writing] Neurological Disorders: Effects on the Brain and Behavior Quintina Brown Dr. Ariel Gonzalez University of Phoenix July 26, 2010 Neurological disorders are disorders of the nervous system. The disorders are said to result from infections in the brain or spinal cord that lead

Canadian Literature American Literature - 1548 Words

Before Canada gained its own independence and was known specifically as â€Å"Canada†, it was a land that was ripe for explorers. This large piece of land was largely undiscovered to the Europeans and these European adventurers saw it as their mission to chart these new territories (Sugars and Moss, 110). However, as time went on, the focus and appeal shifted away from exploring an unknown land and instead, the focus shifted to inhabiting that land instead. Colonies were growing in numbers and so was the settler population. However, there was still concerns about immigrating into Canada due to its status as a new country and its undeveloped culture. It was still a daunting new land with too many unforeseeable risks for any outsiders and it would be considered a large gamble for one to leave their home country. As a result, during this time period before the Confederation (suitably named the â€Å"pre-Confederation period†), much of the literature that is considered Cana dian literature were written for outside audiences. Writers began to write about their experiences living in Canada and were enticing readers to emigrate as well. The methods that were used to attract these readers, although, ranged vastly for each writer and vastly differed in how effective they were. One such writer for example, Mary Ann Shadd, wrote â€Å"A Plea for Emigration† as a pamphlet that was filled with overly positive virtues of Canada; while another writer, Susanna Moodie, wrote â€Å"Roughing It in the Bush† as aShow MoreRelatedEssay Studying Literature754 Words   |  4 Pagesprovinces, those in Ontario should study only Canadian literature in grade twelve English courses. Although there are many existing writers in different cultures, it is important for Ontario students to first become familiar with Canadian literature before moving on. It is believed that students should focus on their Canadian culture - despite being surrounded by other cultures- p romote and establish their own writers, and encourage younger Canadian authors. Pupils currently enrolled in EnglishRead MoreGrade 12 Ontario Students Studying Canadian Literature(U1A6)662 Words   |  3 PagesGrade 12 Ontario Students Studying Canadian Literature This essay proves that graduating students in Ontario should only study literature in a Grade 12 English course. While good writers exist in all cultures, Ontario students should only study literature written by Canadian writers. This is because all Ontario students should become familiar with literature from our province. Three reasons for this are; the need to focus on our own Canadian culture and despite being surrounded by many other culturesRead MoreCanadian Literature in Grade 12 978 Words   |  4 PagesOntario students should be exposed to new literature, particularly Canadian literature. Students need this exposure to Canadian literature to become more familiar with the literature of their country; through literature, we are able to focus on our Canadian culture while being surrounded by other cultures, we promote new, younger authors, and we become aware of the mosaic that is Canadian culture. Exposing high school students in Ontario to more Canadian literature would allow them to develop a deeperRead More Children’s Literature through an Americanized Scope1232 Words   |  5 Pages‘Other’ Places in Children’s Literature.† Stewart claims that multicultural texts are significant, and that diverse perspectives in conjunction with western existence and beliefs are poignant to a young student’s education. But multicultural literature is dismal, in regards to works about other places and experiences by non-westerners with a lack of the â€Å"other† and its representations in the western canon. Stewart presents asymmetrical arguments on the two North American authors and their texts asRead MoreLiterature Review : Canadian Prevention Plan768 Words   |  4 PagesReview of the Literature The literature on the military soldiers in association with PTSD, TBI, depression, and substance abuse is extensive. Yet, there are less conclusive studies with the topics shown above and AD. Also, a majority of the literary research with military personnel are mostly on U.S. soldiers. There are only a few studies showing Canadian statistics of AD and mental health disorders. Fortunately, the Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia association has a section of research on the militaryRead MoreThe European Union ( Eu ) And North American Free Trade Agreement1086 Words   |  5 PagesThe European Union (EU) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) both consists of twenty-seven countries that makes it the largest trading bloc in the world. Based on the 2008 figure, the value of the exports of goods/services from European Union to NAFTA was 639. One billion Canadian dollars while the import of goods/services to the European Union from the NAFTA was amounted to 513.9 billion Cana dian dollars. Two trade blocs are also highly interdependent by the means of FDI. In 2007, theRead MoreMilitary Sexual Trauma ( Mst )1269 Words   |  6 Pages Since 2000 over 134 complaints of sexual assault per year have been reported to Canadian military police (Mercier Castonguay, 2014). This data was attained through the Access to Information Act but its accuracy remains to be determined. Military sexual trauma (MST) is defined as, sexual harassment, pressured into sexual activities, having been unable to give consent, or any variation of unwanted verbal or physical sexual acts experienced during military service (U.S. Department of Veteran AffairsRead MoreThe Sea is My Brother by Jack Kerouack Essay552 Words   |  3 Pagesavailable options. These were the forms of war literatures that soldiers used to express and share their feelings with their loved ones at home, as well as record the horrors of war in subjective portrayal of events. Military personnaels felt the most con nected and close ot home, through readiging about it in letters. Today, many of these letters, poems and stories are shared and amoung history. More than history books are able to do, war literature captures the essence of wars and transmits emotionalRead MoreThe Effects Of Physical Inactivity On College Students920 Words   |  4 Pagesphysical inactivity is one of the main contributors to the increased risk of weight gain and prevalence of overweight and obese individuals in this population. Also approximately 66% of Americans are overweight or obese (Ebben Brudzynski, 2008). These high percentage rates may be due to the fact that 85% of Americans do not participate in regular vigorous exercise. Furthermore, physical activity levels decline throughout the life cycle with the largest rate of decline in young adulthood periods (GreeneRead MoreThere Are Multiple Barriers That Prevent Recent Immigrants1543 Words   |  7 Pagesby Canadian authors. There were twenty-three results, of which two articles were selected for analysis. 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Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 8~9 Free Essays

string(49) " gig in choppers is flying oil rigs in the Gulf\." 8 The Humiliation of the Pilot As a Passenger Once on the plane, Tucker unfolded the letter from the mysterious doctor and read it again. Dear Mr. Case: I have become aware of your recent difficulties and I believe I have a proposition that will be of great benefit to us both. We will write a custom essay sample on Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 8~9 or any similar topic only for you Order Now My wife and I are missionaries on Alualu, a rather remote atoll at the north-western tip of the Micronesian crescent. Since we are out of the normal shipping lanes and we are the sole medical provider for the people of the island, we maintain our own aircraft for the transport of medical supplies. We have recently procured a Lear 45 for this purpose, but our former pilot has been called to the mainland on personal business for an indefinite time. In short, Mr. Case, given your experience flying small jets and our unique requirements, we feel that this would be a perfect opportunity for us both. We are not concerned with the status of your license, only that you can perform in the pilot’s seat and fulfill a need that can only be described as dire. If you are willing to honor a long-term contract, we will provide you with room and board on the island, pay you $2,000 a week, as well as a generous bonus upon completion of the contract. As a gesture of our sincerity, I am enclosing an open airline ticket and a cashier’s check for $3,000 for traveling expenses. Contact us by e-mail with your arrival time in Truk and my wife will meet you there to discuss the conditions of your employment and pro vide transportation to Alualu. You’ll find a room reserved for you at the Paradise Inn. Sincerely, Sebastian Curtis, M.D. [email protected] Why me? Tuck wondered. He’d crashed a jet, lost his job and probably his sex life, was charged with multiple crimes, then a letter and a check arrived from nowhere to bail him out, but only if he was willing to abandon everything and move to a Pacific island. It could turn out to be a good job, but if it had been his decision, he’d still be lingering over it in a motel room with Dusty Lemon. It was as if some combination of ironic luck and Jake Skye had been sent along to make the decision for him. Not so strange, he thought. The same combination had put him in the pilot’s seat in the first place. Tuck had grown up in Elsinore, California, northeast of San Diego, the only son of the owner of the Denmark Silverware Corporation. He had an unremarkable childhood, was a mediocre athlete, and spent most of his adolescence surfing in San Diego and chasing girls, one of whom he finally caught. Zoophilia Gold was the daughter of his father’s lawyer, a lovely girl made shy by a cruel first name. Tuck and Zoo enjoyed a brief romance, which was put on hold when Tuck’s father sent him off to college in Texas so he could learn to make decisions and someday take over the family business. His motivation excised by the job guarantee, Tuck made passing grades until his college career was cut short by an emergency call from his mother. â€Å"Come home. Your father’s dead.† Tuck made the drive in two days, stopping only for gas, to use the bathroom, and to call Zoophilia, who informed him that his mother had married his father’s brother and his uncle had taken over Denmark Silver-ware. Tuck screeched into Elsinore in a blind rage and ran over Zoophilia’s father as he was leaving Tuck’s mother’s house. The death was declared an accident, but during the investigation a policeman informed Tuck that although he had no proof, he suspected that the riding accident that killed Tuck’s father might not have been an accident, especially since Tuck’s father had been allergic to horses. Tuck was sure that his uncle had set the whole thing up, but he couldn’t bring himself to confront his mother or her new husband. In the meantime, Zoophilia, stricken with grief over her father’s death, overdosed on Prozac and drowned in her hot tub, and her brother, who had been away at college also, returned promising to kill Tucker or at least sue him into oblivion for the deaths of his father and sister. While trying to come to a decision on a course of action, Tucker met a brace of Texas brunettes in a Pacific Beach bar who insisted he ride back with them to the Lone Star state. Disinherited, depressed, and clueless, Tucker took the ride as far as a small suburban airport outside of Houston, where the girls asked him if he’d ever been nude skydiving. At that point, not really caring if he lived or died, he crawled into the back of a Beechcraft with them. They left him scraped, bruised, and stranded on the tarmac in a jockstrap and a parachute harness, shivering with adrenaline. Jake Skye found him wandering around the hangars wearing the parachute canopy as a toga. It had been a tough year. â€Å"Let me guess,† Jake said. â€Å"Margie and Randy Sue?† â€Å"Yeah,† Tucker said. â€Å"How’d you know?† â€Å"They do it all the time. Daddies with money – Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Petroleum. Hope you didn’t cut up that canopy. You can get a grand for it used.† â€Å"They’re gone, then?† â€Å"An hour ago. Said something about going to London. Where are your clothes?† â€Å"In their car.† â€Å"Come with me.† Jake gave Tucker a job washing airplanes, then taught him to fly a Cessna 172 and enrolled him in flight school. Tucker got his twin-engine hours in six months, helping Jake ferry Texas businessmen around the state in a leased Beech Duke. Jake turned the flying over to Tuck as soon as he passed his 135 commercial certification. â€Å"I can fly anything,† Jake said, â€Å"but unless it’s helicopters, I’d rather wrench. Only steady gig in choppers is flying oil rigs in the Gulf. You read "Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 8~9" in category "Essay examples" Had too many friends tip off into the drink. You fly, I’ll do the maintenance, we split the cash.† Another six months and Jake was offered a job by the Mary Jean Cosmetics Corporation. Jake took the job on the condition that Tucker could copilot until he had his Lear hours (he described Tuck as a â€Å"little lost lamb† and the makeup magnate relented). Mary Jean did her own flying, but once Tucker was qualified, she turned the controls over to him full-time. â€Å"Some members of the board have pointed out that my time would be better spent taking care of business instead of flying. Besides, it’s not ladylike. How’d you like a job?† Luck. The training he’d received would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and he’d gotten most of it for free. He had become a new person, and it had all started with a bizarre streak of bad luck followed by an op-portunity and Jake Skye’s intervention. Maybe it would work out for the better this time too. At least this time no one had been killed. 9 Cult of the Autopilot: A History Lesson The pilot said, â€Å"The local time is 9:00 A.M. The temperature is 90 degrees. Thank you for flying Continental and enjoy your stay in Truk.† Then he laughed menacingly. Tuck stepped out of the plane and felt the palpable weight of the air in his lungs. It smelled green, fecund, as if vegetation was growing, dying, rotting, and giving off a gas too thick to breathe. He followed a line of passengers to the terminal, a long, low, cinderblock building – nothing more really than a tin roof on pillars – teeming with brown people; short, stoutly built people, men in jeans or old dress slacks and T-shirts, women in long floral cotton dresses with puff shoulders, their hair held in buns atop their heads by tortoiseshell combs. Tuck waited, sweating, at one end of the terminal while young men shoved the baggage through a curtain onto a plywood ramp. Natives re-trieved their baggage, mainly coolers wrapped with packing tape, and walked by the customs officer’s counter without pausing. He looked for a tourist, to see how they were treated, but there were none. The customs officer glared at him. Tucker hoped there was nothing illegal in his pack. The airport here looked like a weigh station for a death camp; he didn’t want to see the jail. He fingered the roll of bills in his pocket, thinking, Bribe. The pack came sliding through the curtain. Tucker moved through the pall of islanders and pulled the pack onto his shoulders, then walked to the customs counter and plopped it down in front of the officer. â€Å"Passport,† the officer said. He was fat and wore a brass button uniform with dime store flip-flops on his feet. Tuck handed him his passport. â€Å"How long will you be staying?† â€Å"Not long. I’m not sure. A day maybe.† â€Å"No flights for three days.† The officer stamped the passport and handed it back to Tucker. â€Å"There’s a ten-dollar departure fee.† â€Å"That’s it?† Tucker was amazed. No inspection, no bribe. Luck again. â€Å"Take your bag.† â€Å"Right.† Tucker scooped up the pack and headed for an exit sign, hand-painted on plywood. He walked out of the airport and was blinded by the sun. â€Å"Hey, you dive?† A man’s voice. Tuck squinted and a thin, leathery islander in a Bruins hockey jersey stood in front of him. He had six teeth, two of them gold. â€Å"No,† Tucker said. â€Å"Why you come if you no dive?† â€Å"I’m here on business.† Tucker dropped his pack and tried to breathe. He was soaked with sweat. Ten seconds in this sun and he wanted to dive into the shade like a roach under a stove. â€Å"Where you stay?† This guy looked criminal, just an eye patch short of a pirate. Tucker didn’t want to tell him anything. â€Å"How do I get to the Paradise Inn?† The pirate called to a teenager who was sitting in the shade watching a score of beat-up Japanese cars with blackened windows jockeying for position in the dirt street. â€Å"Rindi! Paradise.† The younger man, dressed like a Compton rapper – oversized shorts, football jersey, baseball cap reversed over a blue bandanna – came over and grabbed Tucker’s pack. Tuck kept one hand on an arm strap and fought the kid for control. â€Å"You go with him,† the pirate said. â€Å"He take you Paradise.† â€Å"Come on, Holmes,† the kid said. â€Å"My car air-conditioned. Tucker let go of the pack and the kid whisked it away through the jostle of cars to an old Honda Civic with a cellophane back window and bailing wire holding the passenger door shut. Tuck follow him, stepping quickly between the cars, each one lurching forward as if to hit him as he passed. He looked for the driver’s expressions, but the windshields were all blacked out with plastic film. The kid threw Tuck’s pack in the hatchback, then unwired the door and held it open. Tucker climbed in, feeling, once again, com pletely at the mercy of Lady Luck. Now I get to see the place where they rob and kill the white guys, he thought. As they drove, Tuck looked out on the lagoon. Even through the tinted window the blue of the lagoon shone as if illuminated from below. Island women in scuba masks waded shoulder deep; their floral dresses flowing around them made them look like multicolored jellyfish. Each carried a short steel spear slung from a piece of surgical tubing. Large plastic buckets floated on the surface in which the women were depositing their catch. â€Å"What are they hunting?† Tuck asked the driver. â€Å"Octopus, urchin, small fish. Mostly octopus. Hey, where you from in United States?† â€Å"I grew up in California.† The kid lit up. â€Å"California! You have Crips there, right?† â€Å"Yeah, there’s gangs.† â€Å"I’m a Crip,† the kid said, pointing to his blue bandanna with pride. â€Å"Me and my homies find any Bloods here, we gonna pop a nine on ’em.† Tucker was amazed. On the side of the road a beautiful little girl in a flowered dress was drinking from a green coconut. Here in the car there was a gang war going on. He said, â€Å"Where are the Bloods?† Rindi shook his head sadly. â€Å"Nobody want to be Bloods. Only Crips on Truk. But if we see one, we gonna bust a cap on ’em.† He pulled back a towel on the seat to reveal a beat-up Daisy air pistol. Tuck made a mental note not to wear a red bandanna and accidentally fill the Blood shortage. He had no desire to be killed or wounded over a glorified game of cowboys and Indians. â€Å"How far to the hotel?† â€Å"This it,† Rindi said, wrenching the Honda across the road into a dusty parking lot. The Paradise Inn was a two-story, crumbling stucco building with a crown of rusting rebar beckoning skyward for a third floor that would never be built. Tuck let the boy, Rindi, carry his pack to an upstairs room: mint green cinder block over brown linoleum, a beat-up metal desk, smoke-stained floral curtains, a twin bed with a torn 1950s bedspread, the smell of mildew and insecticide. Rindi put the pack in the doorless closet and cranked the little window air conditioner to high. â€Å"Too late for shower. Water come on again four to six.† Tuck glanced into the bathroom. Mistake. An exotic-looking or ange thing was growing on the shower curtain. He said, â€Å"Where can I get a beer?† Rindi grinned. â€Å"We have lounge. Budweiser, ‘king of beers.’ MTV on satellite.† He cocked his wrists and performed a gangsta rap move that looked as if he’d contracted a rhythmic cerebral palsy. â€Å"Yo, G, we chill with the phattest jams? Snoop, Ice, Public Enemy.† â€Å"Oh, good,† Tuck said. â€Å"We can do a drive-by later. How do I get to the lounge?† â€Å"Down steps, outside, go right.† He paused, looking concerned. â€Å"We have to shoot out driver’s side. Other window not go down.† â€Å"We’ll manage.† Tuck flipped the kid a dollar and left the room, proud to be an American. An unconscious island man marked the entrance to the lounge. Tuck stepped over him and pushed his way through the black glass door into a cool, dark, smoke-hazed room lit by a silent television tuned to nothing and a flickering neon BUDWEISER sign. A shadow stood behind the bar; two more sat in front of it. Tuck could see eyes in the dark – maybe people sitting at tables, maybe nocturnal vermin. A voice: â€Å"A fellow American here to buy a beer for his countryman.† The voice had come from one of the shadows at the bar. Tuck squinted into the dark and saw a large white man, about fifty, in a sweat-stained dress shirt. He was smiling, a jowly yellow smile under drink-dulled eyes. Tuck smiled back. Anyone that didn’t speak broken English was, at this point, his friend. â€Å"What are you drinkin’, pardner?† Tuck always went Texan when he was being friendly. â€Å"What you drink here.† He held up two fingers to the bartender, then held his hand out to shake. â€Å"Jefferson Pardee, editor in chief of the Truk Star.† â€Å"Tucker Case.† Tuck sat down on the stool next to the big man. The bartender placed two sweating Budweiser cans in front of them and waited. â€Å"Run a tab,† Pardee said. Then to Tuck: â€Å"I assume you’re a diver?† â€Å"Why would you assume that?† â€Å"It’s the only reason Americans come here, other than Peace Corps or Navy CAT team members. And if you don’t mind my saying, you don’t look idealistic enough to be Peace Corps or stupid enough to be Navy.† â€Å"I’m a pilot.† It felt good saying it. He’d always liked saying it. He didn’t realize how terrified he’d been that he’d never be able to say it again. â€Å"I’m supposed to meet someone from another island about a job.† â€Å"Not a missionary air outfit, I hope.† â€Å"It’s for a missionary doctor. Why?† â€Å"Son, those people do a great job, but you can only get so much out of those old planes they fly. Fifty-year-old Beech 18s and DC3s. Sooner or later you’re going into the drink. But I suppose if you’re flying for God†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I’ll be flying a new Learjet.† Pardee almost dropped his beer. â€Å"Bullshit.† Tuck was tempted to pull out the letter and slam it on the bar, but thought better of it. â€Å"That’s what they said.† Pardee put a big hairy forearm on the bar and leaned into Tuck. He smelled like a hangover. â€Å"What island and what church?† â€Å"Alualu,† Tuck said. â€Å"A Dr. Curtis.† Pardee nodded and sat back on his stool. â€Å"No-man’s Island.† â€Å"What’s that mean?† â€Å"It doesn’t belong to anyone. Do you know anything about Micronesia?† â€Å"Just that you have gangs but no regular indoor plumbing.† â€Å"Well, depending on how you look at it, Truk can be a hellhole. That’s what happens when you give Coke cans to a coconut culture. But it’s not all that way. There are two thousand islands in the Micronesian crescent, running almost all the way from Hawaii to New Guinea. Magellan landed here first, on his first voyage around the world. The Spanish claimed them, then the Germans, then the Japanese. We took them from the Japanese during the war. There are seventy sunken Japanese ships in Truk’s lagoon alone. That’s why the divers come.† â€Å"So what’s this have to do with where I’m going?† â€Å"I’m getting to that. Until fifteen years ago, Micronesia was a U.S. protectorate, except for Alualu. Because it’s at the westernmost tip of the crescent, we left it out of the surrender agreement with the Japanese. It kind of got lost in the shuffle. So Alualu was never an American territory, and when the Federated States of Micronesia declared independence, they didn’t include Alualu.† â€Å"So what’s that mean?† Tuck was getting impatient. This was the longest lecture he’d endured since flight school. â€Å"In short, no mother government, no foreign aid, no nothing. Alualu belongs to whoever lives on it. It’s off the shipping lanes, and it’s a raised atoll, only one small island, not a group of islands around a lagoon, so there’s not enough copra to make it worth the trip for the collector boats. Since the war, when there was an airstrip there, no one goes there.† â€Å"Maybe that’s why they need the jet?† â€Å"Son, I came here in ’66 with the Peace Corps and I’ve never left. I’ve seen a lot of missionaries throw a lot of money at a lot of problems, but I’ve never seen a church that was willing to spring for a Learjet.† Tuck wanted to beat his head on the bar just to feel his tiny brain rattle. Of course it was too good to be true. He’d known that instinctively. He should have known that as soon as he’d seen the money they were offering him – him, Tucker Case, the biggest fuckup in the world. Tuck drained his beer and signaled for two more. â€Å"So what do you know about this Curtis?† â€Å"I’ve heard of him. There’s not much news out here and he made some about twenty years back. He went batshit at the airport in Yap after he couldn’t get anyone to evacuate a sick kid off the island. Frankly, I’m sur-prised he’s still out there. I heard the church pulled out on him. Cargo cults give Christians the willies.† Tuck knew he was being lured in. He’d met guys like Pardee in airport hotel bars all over the U.S.: lonely businessmen, usually salesmen, who would talk to anyone about anything just for the company. They learned how to make you ask questions that required long windy answers. He’d felt sympathetic toward them ever since he’d played Willie Loman in Miss Patterson’s third-grade class production of Death of a Salesman. Pardee just needed to talk. â€Å"What’s a cargo cult?† Tuck asked. Pardee smiled. â€Å"They’ve been in the islands since the Spanish landed in the 1500s and traded steel tools and beads to the natives for food and water. They’re still around.† Pardee took a long pull on his beer, set it down, and resumed. â€Å"These islands were all populated by people from somewhere else. The stories of the heroic ancestors coming across the sea in canoes are part of their reli-gions. The ancestors brought everything they need from across the sea. All of a sudden, guys show up with new cool stuff. Instant ancestors, instant gods from across the sea, bearing gifts. They incorporated the newcomers into their religions. Sometimes it might be fifty years before another ship showed up, but every time they used a machete, they thought about the return of the gods bearing cargo.† â€Å"So there are still people waiting for the Spanish to return with steel tools.† Pardee laughed. â€Å"No. Except for missionaries, these islands didn’t get much attention from the modern world until World War II. All of a sudden, Allied forces are coming in and building airstrips and bribing the islanders with things so they would resist the Japanese. Manna from the heavens. American flyers brought in all sorts of good stuff. Then the war ended and the good stuff stopped coming. â€Å"Years later anthropologists and missionaries are finding little altars built to airplanes. The islanders are still waiting for the ships from the sky to return and save them. Myths get built around single pilots who are supposed to bring great armies to the islands to chase out the French, or the British, or whatever imperial government holds the island. The British outlawed the cargo cults on some Melanesian islands and jailed the leaders. Bad idea, of course. They were instant martyrs. The missionaries railed against the new religions, trying to use reason to kill faith, so some islanders started claiming their pilots were Jesus. Drove the missionaries nuts. Natives putting little propellers on their crucifixes, drawing pictures of Christ in a flight helmet. Bottom line is the cargo cults are still around, and I hear that one of the strongest is on Alualu.† â€Å"Are the natives dangerous?† Tuck asked. â€Å"Not because of their religion, no.† â€Å"What’s that mean?† â€Å"These people are warriors, Mr. Case. They forget that most of the time, but sometimes when they’re drinking, a thousand years of warrior tradition can rear its head, even on the more modernized islands like Truk. And there are people in these islands who still remember the taste of human flesh – if you get my meaning. Tastes like Spam, I hear. The natives love Spam.† â€Å"Spam? You’re kidding.† â€Å"Nope. That’s what Spam stands for: Shaped Protein Approximating Man.† Tucker smiled, realizing he’d been had. Pardee let loose an explosive laugh and slapped Tuck on the shoulder. â€Å"Look, my friend, I’ve got to get to the office. A paper to put out, you know. But watch yourself. And don’t be surprised if your Learjet is actually a beat-up Cessna.† â€Å"Thanks,† Tucker said, shaking the big man’s hand. â€Å"You going to be around for few days?† Pardee asked. â€Å"I’m not sure.† â€Å"Well, just a word of advice† – Pardee lowered his voice and leaned into Tucker conspiratorially – â€Å"don’t go out at night by yourself. Nothing you’re going to see is worth your life.† â€Å"I can take care of myself, but thanks.† â€Å"Just so,† Pardee said. He turned and lumbered out of the bar. Tuck paid the bartender and headed out into the heat and to his room, where he stripped naked and lay on the tattered bedspread, letting the air conditioner blow over him with a welcome chill. Maybe this won’t be so bad, he thought. He was going to end up on an island where God was a pilot. What a great way to get babes! Then he looked down at his withered member, stitched and scarred as if it had been patched from the Frankenstein monster. A wave of anxiety passed through him, bringing sweat to his skin even in the electric chill. He realized that he had really never done anything in his adult life that had not – even at some subconscious level – been part of a strategy to im-press women. He would have never worked so hard to become a pilot if it hadn’t been for Jake’s insistence that â€Å"Chicks dig pilots.† Why fly? Why get out of bed in the morning? Why do anything? He rolled over to bury his face in the pillow and pinned a live cockroach to the spread with his cheek. How to cite Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 8~9, Essay examples

Corporate Strategy Sab Miller free essay sample

These three generic strategies are defined along two dimensions: strategic scope and strategic strength. Strategic scope is a demand-side dimension (Michael E. Porter specialized in this strategy) and it looks at the size and composition of the market you intend to target. Strategic strength is a supply-side dimension and looks at the strength or core competency of the firm. In particular he identified two competencies that he felt were most important: product differentiation and product cost (efficiency).In his 1980 classic Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors, Porter simplifies the scheme by reducing it down to the three best strategies. They are cost leadership, differentiation, and market segmentation (or focus). Market segmentation is narrow in scope while both cost leadership and differentiation are relatively broad in market scope. Empirical research on the profit impact of marketing strategy indicated that firms with a high market share were often quite profitable, but so were many firms with low market share. We will write a custom essay sample on Corporate Strategy Sab Miller or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The least profitable firms were those with moderate market share. This was sometimes referred to as the hole in the middle problem. Porter’s explanation of this is that firms with high market share were successful because they pursued a cost leadership strategy and firms with low market share were successful because they used market segmentation to focus on a small but profitable market niche. Firms in the middle were less profitable because they did not have a viable generic strategy. Porter suggested combining multiple strategies is successful in only one case.Combining a market segmentation strategy with a product differentiation strategy was seen as an effective way of matching a firm’s product strategy (supply side) to the characteristics of your target market segments (demand side). But combinations like cost leadership with product differentiation were seen as hard (but not impossible) to implement due to the potential for conflict between cost minimization and the additional cost of value-added differentiation, Porter (1980). Differentiate Strategy Differentiate the products in some way in order to compete successfully.Examples of the successful use of a differentiation strategy are Hero Honda, Asian Paints, HLL, Nike athletic shoes, Perstorp Bio Products, Apple Computer, and Mercedes-Benz automobiles, Porter (2008). A differentiation strategy is appropriate where the target customer segment is not price-sensitive, the market is competitive or saturated, customers have very specific needs which are possibly under-served, and the firm has unique resources and capabilities which enable it to satisfy these needs in ways that are difficult to copy.These could include patents or other Intellectual Property (IP), unique technical expertise (e. g. Apples design skil ls or Pixars animation prowess), talented personnel (e. g. a sports teams star players or a brokerage firms star traders), or innovative processes. Successful brand management also results in perceived uniqueness even when the physical product is the same as competitors. This way, Chiquita was able to brand bananas, Starbucks could brand coffee, and Nike could brand sneakers. Fashion brands rely heavily on this form of image differentiation, Porter (2008).Variants on the Differentiation Strategy The shareholder value model holds that the timing of the use of specialized knowledge can create a differentiation advantage as long as the knowledge remains unique. This model suggests that customers buy products or services from an organization to have access to its unique knowledge. The advantage is static, rather than dynamic, because the purchase is a one-time event, Porter (2008). The unlimited resources model utilizes a large base of resources that allows an organization to outlast competitors by practicing a differentiation strategy.An organization with greater resources can manage risk and sustain profits more easily than one with fewer resources. This deep-pocket strategy provides a short-term advantage only. If a firm lacks the capacity for continual innovation, it will not sustain its competitive position over time, Porter (2008). The Toyota Prius It is unquestionable that alternative fuel vehicles are the future of global motoring. The urgency to protect our planet and its non renewable fuels grows and it is even more pressing; consumers are recognising the need to conserve what is left of our precious resources.

Sonicflood free essay sample

This self-titled album is Sonicfloods 1999 debut, andsince then the band has influenced the world with their Christian music. Thisaint old-school worship, though! The 12 tracks are sung and played witha passion for God. Many churches and youth groups use this electric guitar-basedalbum for worship because the lyrics are heartfelt. Besides great lyrics,the group also comes through with exceptional instrumentals. Some of the greatson this CD are: The Heart of Worship, I Want to Know You,My Refuge and I Could Sing of Your Love Forever. Allthese songs make up for one that isnt that great. Something About ThatName, originally performed by the Gaithers, is boring and long. This songis performed with Kevin Max of dc Talk, and should have been cut, though thelyrics are top-notch. I hope this one flaw doesnt keep anyone frombuying Sonicflood. It is still worth every penny, and I highlyrecommend it to everyone!

Free Essays on Turkish Revolution

Under the rules of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the Ottoman Empire was going into a trouble at the years after mid-1870s. The majority of citizens were supporting Sultan Hamid II because he was also a religious leader for Muslims. Because of Hamid's Arab devotion, he had an enmity to west. Although there were good economic conditions with west in these years, Hamid had never changed his mind about hostility to west. Because of Hamid's hostility, the Ottoman Empire could not kept in step with technological developments in West. In developing world, regressions of the Ottoman Empire yielded the end of approximately one-thousand years old Ottoman Empire who had territories in 3 continents and lost most of them in a short time except Anatolia. Because of the occupations Anatolian people wanted to fight with enemies but the Ottoman Empire did not have power to fight. For that reason the citizens gathered together and fought against to enemies. After their success they realized the Turkish Revol ution and changed the regime. So the most important cause of the Turkish Revolution was the weakness of the Ottoman Empire. Refusing the idea of modernizing started the regression of the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Hamid II was nursing a grudge to west from past. Although he rarely interested in western technology or some western products, he had never given up his hostility manners to west. While countries was developing in science and military, the Ottoman Empire started to perceive advanced western countries threat over them. The Turkish intellectuals who are inspired from west and some other developed countries like China, were accusing Sultan Abdul Hamid II because of the Ottoman Empire's backwardness in contrast to the developed countries. Meanwhile Sultan Abdul Hamid II annulled the constitution since 1876 and he started to manage the country with his own rules and the intellectuals did not like this situation. Sultan Abdul Hamid II had n... Free Essays on Turkish Revolution Free Essays on Turkish Revolution Under the rules of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the Ottoman Empire was going into a trouble at the years after mid-1870s. The majority of citizens were supporting Sultan Hamid II because he was also a religious leader for Muslims. Because of Hamid's Arab devotion, he had an enmity to west. Although there were good economic conditions with west in these years, Hamid had never changed his mind about hostility to west. Because of Hamid's hostility, the Ottoman Empire could not kept in step with technological developments in West. In developing world, regressions of the Ottoman Empire yielded the end of approximately one-thousand years old Ottoman Empire who had territories in 3 continents and lost most of them in a short time except Anatolia. Because of the occupations Anatolian people wanted to fight with enemies but the Ottoman Empire did not have power to fight. For that reason the citizens gathered together and fought against to enemies. After their success they realized the Turkish Revol ution and changed the regime. So the most important cause of the Turkish Revolution was the weakness of the Ottoman Empire. Refusing the idea of modernizing started the regression of the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Hamid II was nursing a grudge to west from past. Although he rarely interested in western technology or some western products, he had never given up his hostility manners to west. While countries was developing in science and military, the Ottoman Empire started to perceive advanced western countries threat over them. The Turkish intellectuals who are inspired from west and some other developed countries like China, were accusing Sultan Abdul Hamid II because of the Ottoman Empire's backwardness in contrast to the developed countries. Meanwhile Sultan Abdul Hamid II annulled the constitution since 1876 and he started to manage the country with his own rules and the intellectuals did not like this situation. Sultan Abdul Hamid II had n...

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

Wal-Mart - Essay Example Wal-Mart has experienced heavy criticism at the hands of several groups and individuals, which include labor unions, workers, and organizations that are smaller in size, environmentalist and organizations. During the period of 2006, Wal-Mart was criticized by the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy as they believed that the company was paying 20% less to their employees as compared to the salaries paid by employers of other retail outlets (F. Cascio 1). During the period of 2001, the organization was criticized for paying $800/year less than the poverty line set at $14,630 by the federal government (Hansen 1). Before the death of Sam Walton, the company was operating a total of 1,714 and supercenters and Sam Clubs and the organization has employed 371,000 individuals and was earning a profit of 1.6 billion (Friedman 1). After his demise, the number of stores decreased to 1,647 stores and 1,066 Supercenters, an additional 500 Sam Clubs, and the organization experienced a total profit of $6.6 billion with an increase in number of employees to 1.3 million (Friedman 1). On the surface it seems that the company is performing quite well, but with the death of Walton came in issues regarding unfair labor practices and labor unions forming to clash against Wal-Mart. One of the issues experienced by Wal-Mart is in the area of labor relations. Employees claim that they are paid less than the amount of contribution they make to make the business successful. Wal-Mart itself agrees that its wages are quite competitive and it is one way through which it is saving its cost. As a CEO of Wal-Mart, I would have made changes in this corner. Several changes such as better feedback to employees and fringe benefits can be forwarded to employees to replace the issue of decreased hourly wages. In the field of public relations, the organization needs to ensure that a positive image is created regarding the company. The

Stateless nation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Stateless nation - Essay Example In essence, the Catalonia community has a similar surface area and population as Switzerland. The nation’s history is ancient with Phoenicians, Romans, and Greeks all leaving a mark on the community. The nation was united with Castile in the 15th century through marriage of the two communities’ royal families, although the union resulted in a confederate state that had different languages, laws, and parliaments. The Catalonia community has been involved in various wars over the centuries, losing the Harvester War in 1640, which forced it to give up part of its northern territory to France, as well as the 18th century’s Spanish Succession War that they lost and lost their institutions and right to use their language in official channels (Payne 29). The state structure of Catalonia was ended, and assimilation with Spain began until the 20th century. However, their national conscience was re-awakened in the early 20th century as Europe found itself in a wave of nati onalism (Payne 30). While it started as a movement focused on the Catalan culture and their literary and political richness, the re-awakening soon became a regionalist movement that sought increased autonomy from Spain. Prior to the Spanish Civil War of the mid to late 1930s, Catalonia was, at various times, self-ruled, and they twice proclaimed a Catalan Republic. The victory of General Franco at the end of the decade, however, began what is one of the Catalonia nation’s darkest periods. It is essential to understand the dictatorship of General Franco, in order to understand modern Catalonia. Although Franco’s regime was harsh on majority of Spaniards, Catalonia suffered what can only be described as an attempt to annihilate them systematically and cruelly. It was during this period that their cultural rights were repressed collectively and individually, including banning of the Catalan language, punishment for any expression of their culture, and public officials pub licly denying regarding their identity (Payne 30). Democracy, which was institutionalized in 1975, started a period of recuperation for the language, culture, and institutions of the Catalonia. At present, the nation is enjoying self-governance at a level that was only possible during the advent of the Bourbon Dynasty some three hundred years ago (Alba 23). Substantial responsibilities have been placed in an autonomous Catalan parliament and government, especially in fields like policing, healthcare, culture, and education. Spain, therefore, after Belgium and Germany, is the EU’s most decentralized state, consisting of Catalonia, Navarre, and Basque. To understand the identity of Catalonia, their language is vital. Surviving over three hundred years of repression has not dulled their literary scene with over 8 million people still using the Catalan language across all societal levels. The language is used in Valencia, Catalonia, Balearic Islands, Andorra, Aragon, Southern Fra nce, and Alguer in Italy. In fact, the language is more popular than some languages with official status in the EU, such as Maltese, Lithuanian, Danish, Slovenian, Slovak, and Finnish. However, the language is not recognized by national institutions in Spain and the EU, despite the prevalence of magazines, newspapers, and TV and radio channels in Catalan (Alba 24). Still, the language is weaker in the Spanish bi-lingual society and continues to face numerous threats. Catalonia, apart from its tradition of literature, has also

LEARNING STYEL ENGLISH Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

LEARNING STYEL ENGLISH - Essay Example n easy job especially as it requires a lot of patience and practice but it can be made easier and the goal can be achieved quickly if the teaching style is made according to the learning style of an individual and this is what Strategic Inventory Learning Language is all about. Learning of language in the best way can be done by first recognizing our own learning style and then working on that pattern. Learning styles can be observed by an individual or simply by the learning style checklist. Mostly our learning styles are developed at very early stages may be at pre-school time or elementary school years. I found out from the learning style checklist that I am a Visual Learner meaning that my learning abilities are best with the aid of pictures, graphs and images. I believe this is because from the very beginning of my schooling my parents and teachers emphasized on teaching me through practical means rather than just reading books. Usually our learning styles are at sub-conscious level therefore before working to improve learning abilities it is important to recognize our style. A strategic inventory for language learning is a formalized tool that answers the question of what method is best for one particular learner, or group of learners, to learn a foreign language. According to the author Strategic Inventory Learning Language is grouped into five strategies which are memory strategy, cognitive strategy, compensation strategy, meta-cognitive strategy, affective strategy and social strategy (Griffiths and Parr 251). Usually we follow one or two of the strategies sub-consciously. To realize our strategy we can observe our learning and studying habits or simply fill the SILL questionnaire. I found out that my sub-conscious SILL is Cognitive Strategies; which is that I read for pleasure in English to increase my vocabulary and to ensure quick and right sentence formation, also I try to find patterns in English which enables me to easily converse in the language.

Health Disparities Between Maoris and Non-Maoris

Health Disparities Between Maoris and Non-Maoris Introduction The first inhabitants of New Zealand came from the islands nearby. The locals or what they call themselves, Maoris, travelled across the pacific some thousand years ago. It was also thought that the Maoris arrived in the island by groups. The initial meetings between the pakehas (the whites) and the Maori’s was recorded to have been in the 1700’s headed by James Cook, an expedition coming from Britain. In the middle of the 1800’s, an agreement was written between the British colony and the local settlers in the form of the Treaty of Waitangi. Agreed and signed by Maori chiefs and individuals that stood in behalf of the British crown. This agreement came about as the mediating factor between the foreigners and in particular the protection of the interests of Maori’s. The treaty gave way to more migrants from Britain up to a point where pakeha’s already outnumber the locals. With new methods of living introduced by the whites, the locals were not able to adapt easily constituting the increase in Maori death rates. It was believed firearms and new contagious illnesses were among the top cause of mortality for the locals. Moreover, history is telling us that after New Zealand was colonized, locals were losing their lands which contributed much of the Maori’s health issues. It was noted that incidence of death was not as high as compared to those indigenous groups who were able to get hold and not surrender their lands as in the case of the Tongans and Samoans. (Kunitz, 1994) The various challenges the Maori people faced were not limited to confiscation of their lands. This included putting restrictions with their rights and discouraging the use of Maori language in the area of study which paved way to adding more insult to the health of the Maori’s. The signed Treaty of Waitangi has its main purpose which is to protect the rights of the locals of New Zealand particularly the Maori’s. However, realization of the main purpose of the treaty remained only in writing which resulted in disparities in health access between the whites and the Maori’s. In this paper, I will be discussing the disparity and how it has put the Maori’s in the disadvantage which was clearly the opposite intention of the Treaty of Waitangi. The aim here is to better understand the Maori’s and where they are coming from so we, the future health care providers in this country, would be able to perform our duties properly. Health Disparities Various studies have been done and scholars cited numerous reasons why there are inequalities particularly in health between the pakeha’s and the Maori’s. Genetic factors and environmental influences are among the suspects for the disparity but really does not play as the key variables when it comes to public health concerns. For the purpose of this study, we try to dissect the â€Å"nongenetic† factors for the disparities in health between the pakeha’s and the Maoris. These include socioeconomic variables, lifestyle, discrimination, and accessibility to health care. Noting that, although, these may be four areas to consider, they are all somewhat correlated with each other. Socioeconomic Factor The loss of land by most of the Maori’s constituted to their poor status. The locals have lost their ability to care for their lands which led to low production of fruit crops. Inability to rear animals such as pigs, sheep and cows due to lack of space also contributed to their lessening power to trade. Without much power in trade resulted to low income which forced them to live in the outskirts where there is limited supply of the basic needs. As a result, the Maori’s, being unable to acquire the necessities in life, were subjected to poor health conditions. Lifestyle Tobacco use and alcohol consumption were introduced to the locals by the colonizers to help pass time or to keep them pre-occupied. However, with their poor state of life, Maori’s resorted more to these vices to combat depression. Unknowingly, it had grown in them and fell slave to these addictive elements. Excessive intake of these products created more problems for the Maori’s. They became more depressed and elicited unruly behaviours which certainly did not help in promoting good health practices. The lack of knowledge with proper food preparations also added to the Maori health issues. Maori’s also believed that when an individual has gained weight that it is a sign of being healthy. Unfortunately, with the wrong perception, high rate of obesity and cardiovascular related diseases are not uncommon to them. Discrimination The locals or the Maoris have been long a subject to racism and have experienced discrimination at all levels for most of their lives. The incidence happening within the health care areas, may it be conscious and unintentional attitudes of people providing health care, have caused the Maoris to be doubtful when seeking medical assistance until it is already in its worst stage. Maoris also have encountered disempowerment coming from health care professionals. GP’s were reported to not likely support when it comes to measures to prevent health conditions to Maoris as compared to the non-Maoris. Access to Health Care Living in far flung areas not only inhibits the Maori’s accessibility to health care but it also limits them in getting proper assistance from any health care provider. Still in connection with the socioeconomic factor, some, if not most, of the Maori’s are still illiterate when it comes to using the internet due to either lack of service in the area or the lack of capability to get the service. Transportation also plays an important role when it comes to accessing health care. Most Maoris do not have the means for them to bring themselves to the nearest health care institution. Mostly happening, if a person coming from a specific cultural minority will seek medical assistance, one would want to find out if there is a medical staff of the same cultural background so it would be easy to convey their real condition. Being able to talk to an individual of the same culture will help ease the patient in opening his or her issues. Combating Disparities In recent time, a health disparity model has been formulated by the government under the Ministry of Health. This is to address the issues pertaining to inequalities in health for Maori’s. This model recognises the root of the disparities in a community and outlines procedures than can be performed to combat situations that cause the disparities. Areas that the model wants to achieve include finding ways on how to improve an individual/family income, the importance of employment, providing education and health access for the locals. In this model, it is also addresses Maori’s to have more control in the land/communities they are currently living in. It is also supported that health services including disability assistance be given when necessary. An example of this is when a local is disadvantaged due to sickness or disability will be provided sufficient income assistance and support against social, ethnic and racial discrimination. (Ministry of Health, 2002) Case 1 A case study was done about a Maori banker who sought medical attention as he was not feeling well. During consultation, the GP was not able to get the whole picture about the status of his patient. The GP tried to explain his thoughts about the situation and asked for further details. The patient started to get frustrated. The patient mentioned that she went to a urupa (graveyard) and smoked and thought it could be the reason of his condition. The GP, having no idea of the significance asked for its relevance. The banker revealed that graveyards are considered sacred and that by smoking in it is against their culture. The GP elicited if the patient had any idea on how to fix it. After a sigh, the patient replied that he needed a priest. For the GP, although he knew the act had nothing to do about his condition, out of respect of the individuals’ belief, he acknowledged about the violation of their culture and that he would be able to give medicine to take care of his breathle ssness. In this case, the Maori patient really believed that the cause of his being unwell is rooted from him violating the Maori culture. Although the GP could have easily corrected the wrong notion, it would have been really difficult to have an argument especially if it contradicts ones cultural beliefs as it would mean for them as a sign of disrespect. The GP in this case was able to show signs that he respected their cultural system while presenting complementary solution from modern medicine which in turn helped hastens the intervention. The GP being comfortable with the disease attribution of the patient and by following the culture protocols while offering supportive assistance to deal with the patient’s breathlessness gave way for the Maori patient to be also comfortable in accepting treatment for both Maori and modern method of treating the condition. Case 2 Another case involving a 47 year old man of Maori descent who have encountered an injury from a crash at his work place as a driver. The health provider handling the patient had difficulty because the man is rude and unfriendly when they initially spoke on the phone. The issue was then brought up in a team meeting. Fortunately, one member is also a Maori who then suggested that a personal meeting is necessary between the health provider, his employer, client and his family. The meeting was then set and everyone was present including the clients’ employer and whanau. During the meeting, the patient spoke that it was his first time to meet most who were in attendance. The patient also expressed his dismay about the different treatment plan suggested by different providers and that there was no clear information on when he is able to return to work. The patient is also concerned about the rehabilitation process as it might interfere with his duties in their cultural group. In this case, since all the variables that can be affected during the procedure were all present, it made easy to formulate a care plan. By doing this, a fast and significant recovery was experienced sooner than expected since everyone was motivated and at the same time very cooperative performing the planned care. Conclusion As a future health care provider in New Zealand, understanding the Maori’s is very critical in providing health service and somehow will help fulfil what the Treaty of Waitangi is really for. Our aim as health care practitioners is not to change an individuals’ beliefs or customs. We should be advocates particularly to the disadvantaged for them to have control of their lives and be able to improve their ways of living most specially with their health. We should then encourage Maori’s to look after their health and be able to support their own well-being. Caring for them is not limited to those who are sick only but also to their whanau where making right choices about maintaining good health practices should be inculcated fully. In order to be successful with such model, the Maori’s and health care providers should be able to access the necessary resources. It should also be readily available, accepted and is in line with the maori culture. As most of us do, it is a must that we trust our own health care provider to let them handle any of our health conditions. Same with the Maori’s, if they are satisfied and accept the treatment given then it gives them confidence that the health care provider understands where they are coming from and what they really need. For this, it is a must for all health care providers to increase their knowledge about the history of the Maori culture and better understand what the real intentions of the Treaty of Waitangi. This move will definitely make the health care provider be culturally competent and be able to effectively communicate with Maori individuals and their whanau. In addition, this will also encourage patients to seek help early and be able to provide pertinent clinical details. Bibliography Kunitz, S. J. (1994). Disease and Social Diversity: The European Impact on the Health of Non-Europeans. New York: Oxford University Press Inc. Mà ¤uri Ora Associates. (2006, October). Best health outcomes for Maori: Practice Implications. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from Medical Council of New Zealand: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/News-and-Publications/Statements/Best-health-outcomes-for-Maori.pdf Ministry of Health. (2002). Reducing Inequalities in Health. Wellington: Ministry of Health.

Voice, Imagery, Symbols and Theme in Snows of Kilimanjaro Essay

Voice, Imagery, Symbols and Theme in Snows of Killamanjaro The Snows of Kilimanjaro, a short story by Ernest Hemingway, is a brilliant study of a man's final hours precluding death.   The story centers around Harry and his wife, waiting for a plane to come and take him to a doctor or hospital.   Thus begins a stream of passages that takes the reader along with Harry while he drifts in and out of consciousness, moving from one life to the next.   The obvious theme is death and dying, but the home theme is Harry's return to his past, and his journey to the present.   Hemingway uses animal imagery in the story to reflect the dying theme, and to show two distinct sides of Harry, and his passing from life to death .   The story opens with Harry discussing his dying leg and the smell that the infection or gangrene creates. He reflects on the three big birds (vultures) waiting in the horizon   "Look at them," he said.   "now is it sight or is it scent that brings them like that?"   His use of adjectives to describe the birds and their waiting for him to die projects a feeling of death, and sets the tone for the story, using words such as "obscene" and "shadow"   and "sail" to correlate the emergence of the birds with the ascent of death.  Ã‚   "...as he looked out past the shade onto the glare of the plane there were three of the big birds squatted obscenely, while in the sky a dozen more sailed, making quick moving shadows as they passed."  Ã‚   His introduction of various animals that are typically associated with death and dying into the story at intervals replicate the passing phases of the death process.   "They've been there since the looked out past the shade onto the glare of the plane there were three of the big birds squatted obs... ...y were out.."   The Snows of Kilimanjaro is a powerful story, beautifully written, chronicling one mans journey from life to death.   It's a step by step process, with each step brilliantly depicted in a small passing of time.   "It moved up closer to him still and now he could not speak to it, and when it saw he could not speak it came a little closer, and now he tried to send it away without speaking, but it moved in on him so its weight was all upon his chest, and while it crouched there he could not move, or speak.."   At the end of the story the animal emerges again, this time serving as the call to Harry's death.   "Just then the hyena stopped whimpering in the night and started to make a strange, human, almost crying sound. The woman heard it and stirred uneasily."  Ã‚   Works Cited: Hemingway, Ernest. "The Snows of Kilimanjaro." Baym, et al. 2: 1687-1704.

Dental hygienist Essay

The passage I read is called â€Å"I have finally found what I wanted to be when I grew up.† It is a personal success story about Shelia S. Webster’s journey to becoming a registered nurse. This passage is very relatable to what I want to be when I grow up because I would like to become a Pediatric Nurse. Being a Pediatric Nurse means that you devote your knowledge and skills to caring for children from infancy to late teen years, and their families. In this passage Shelia writes about how much work and time it took for her to become a nurse. Shelia first started in the medical field as a labor and delivery staff nurse in 1993, but a few factors of this job quickly had Shelia second guessing her career (Webster). One factor that made her job less appealing was the stress of working in a high risk environment (Webster). The second factor was the late hours, between work and school she hardly had any time to herself (Webster). The third factor that made Shelia want to change her career was the restricting care she could provide in her facility (Webster). All of that stress was making her reach her breaking point (Webster). While still in school, her first step to her career was signing up for the legal nurse consulting seminar and before the semester was over she knew that nursing was the job for her (Webster). She was willing to do anything to get herself into the nursing program, to achieve this she became a claims analyst at a malpractice insurance carrier (Webster). She was determined to learn as much as she could at the insurance company and set up an independent LNC (Legal Nursing Consulting) practice in about two years (Webster). Her second step was to take a pilot test, and it was an eye opener for her (Webster). The pilot test is like a pre-test to help Shelia get an understanding of what the final exam will be like. Reality set in fast and she was determined to do the best she could on the final exam. When it was time for her to take the Legal Nursing Consulting exam she did not hesitate to show her strengths. She was prepared for the exam due to the practice she got from the pilot test, and was completely confident in herself (Webster). In 1998 she got her Legal Nursing Consulting license and said â€Å"I am very proud to have those initials in front of my last name for the rest of my life.† (Webster) There are a few reasons why Shelia’s story  relates to my life. When I started my junior year of high school I went to the career center for dental assisting. I was expecting to go to enroll into Columbus State Community College, get a major in Dental Hygiene, and then get my Dental Hygienist license in two years. However, after the last two years of being in the Dental Assisting program, like Shelia, I knew I did not want to be what I thought I wanted to be. I am going in a new direction, to major in nursing. One reason is, since I was young I always took extra concern for people’s wellbeing and would like to make a career out of it. I would also like to expand my nursing and become a Pediatrician. The second reason why Shelia’s story is relatable to mine is that I am great with little kids and I think that being a Pediatrician would be a good career for me. At 19 years old, looking for a place to start my career, I applied at the local daycare called â€Å"Bloom Latch Key.† It is a morning and afternoon program for grade school children to come to if they are too young to stay home by themselves to wait for the bus, or for the bus to drop them off at their houses. Finally, the third reason why Shelia’s story is relatable to my life is because I am getting a job as a child care provider to get my career started like Shelia worked as a labor and delivery staff member while going to school to become a nurse. While I am working for the Bloom Latch Key, I am furthering my communication skills with children and becoming more sociable with them by helping them with their homework and interacting with them on the playground. To become a Pediatric Nurse I will need an additional four to six years of schooling and take training classes throughout my career. For example; researchers find new diseases every day, so to keep the parents up to date with the proper knowledge nurses take additional classes to learn about the newly founded diseases. Once I become a Pediatric nurse I will be making about 48,000 dollars salary as a starter and work my way up to 68,000 dollars a year. Similar to Shelia, I am working very hard to achieve my goal in life, to become a Pediatric Nurse. I will do so by continuing my job at the Bloom Latch Key and building social skills with the children. I will also continue to work hard in school and do whatever it takes to become a Pediatric Nurse. Work Cited â€Å"Personal Success Stories – American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC).† Personal Success Stories – American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC). N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013.

Free Essays on The Famine

In Ireland, a large section of the population was dependant on agriculture and the potato crop. The Great Famine was the result of successive crop failures and the insufficient and ineffective relief for stopping the outbreak of starvation and disease. The famine is considered by many to be the most tragic and significant event in Irish history and one of the worst human disasters of the nineteenth century. Ireland depended on the potato as a staple crop after 1800. Population increased rapidly and reached eight million by 1841, two-thirds of whom relied on agriculture. The Irish depended on the potato and the failure of the potato crop in 1845 was disastrous. The crop failed again in 1846, 1847, and 1848. By 1851, the population of Ireland had been reduced by more than two million due to starvation, disease, and emigration to Britain and North America. Potato blight was no stranger to Ireland before 1845. There was a famine in 1741 that killed one quarter of a million people. Ireland struggled through crop failures and subsistence crisis throughout the nineteenth century, including fourteen partial and complete famines between 1816 and 1842. From 1845 until 1848 the people endured one bad harvest after another. The regularity of famine was enough to reduce the population of Ireland by about two-and-a-half million. The wet summers of the Irish climate helped spread the blight. The harvest failed four years in a row and the peasants had no reserve to fall back on (Taylor, 1962). The famine, together with the accompanying plagues, became known as the Great Famine to the British, The Great Hunger to the Irish middle class, and the Great Starvation to the Irish peasantry. The famine began in 1845 with the blighting and failures of the potato crop, the peoples' principal means of nourishment. The potato blight fungus, phytophthora infestans, attacked potatoes causing them to rot in the ground, rendering them inedible. After the blight st... Free Essays on The Famine Free Essays on The Famine In Ireland, a large section of the population was dependant on agriculture and the potato crop. The Great Famine was the result of successive crop failures and the insufficient and ineffective relief for stopping the outbreak of starvation and disease. The famine is considered by many to be the most tragic and significant event in Irish history and one of the worst human disasters of the nineteenth century. Ireland depended on the potato as a staple crop after 1800. Population increased rapidly and reached eight million by 1841, two-thirds of whom relied on agriculture. The Irish depended on the potato and the failure of the potato crop in 1845 was disastrous. The crop failed again in 1846, 1847, and 1848. By 1851, the population of Ireland had been reduced by more than two million due to starvation, disease, and emigration to Britain and North America. Potato blight was no stranger to Ireland before 1845. There was a famine in 1741 that killed one quarter of a million people. Ireland struggled through crop failures and subsistence crisis throughout the nineteenth century, including fourteen partial and complete famines between 1816 and 1842. From 1845 until 1848 the people endured one bad harvest after another. The regularity of famine was enough to reduce the population of Ireland by about two-and-a-half million. The wet summers of the Irish climate helped spread the blight. The harvest failed four years in a row and the peasants had no reserve to fall back on (Taylor, 1962). The famine, together with the accompanying plagues, became known as the Great Famine to the British, The Great Hunger to the Irish middle class, and the Great Starvation to the Irish peasantry. The famine began in 1845 with the blighting and failures of the potato crop, the peoples' principal means of nourishment. The potato blight fungus, phytophthora infestans, attacked potatoes causing them to rot in the ground, rendering them inedible. After the blight st...

Free Essays on Stigmata

A stigmata is a spontaneous manifestation of bloody wounds on a person's hands, feet, and side, similar to wounds of the crucified Jesus Christ. Writers about stigmata episodes, categorize them as either divine or mystical, external or internal. â€Å"Over 300 have been recorded and are regarded as a truly coveted experience in ones spiritual acceptance.† (Britanica 293) A Stigmata consists of five classic points where wounds appear: the side, both hands and both feet. Traditionally these are known as the Five Wounds or the Sacred Wounds of our Lord, because they are the marks that occurred at the time of His Crucifixion. Some people are said to suffer the Passion of Christ which includes the agony at Gethsemane which had the tears or sweating of blood, scourging at the pillar, the crowning of thorns, beatings, the shoulder sound from carrying the Cross, and the Five Wounds inflicted during the Crucifixion itself. With the stigmata we have to be very discerning and very careful. â€Å"It is true that psychosomatic effects can take place in people when they are in an hysterical state or whatever†. (Harrison, 3.) Even some cases have been documented where people induced this phenomenon by their own will. However, that doesn't discard the validity of the phenomenon in the context of a real mystical experience. Catholics have a very sound foundation of sacramentality which means that God sets aside, blesses and utilizes material reality to manifest a greater spiritual reality, so that we believe in the seven sacraments of the Church where material reality is a sign of the spiritual immense infinite reality. Having that as a foundation, we can also understand that the signs of the Passion of Christ in the flesh of a living person can be a radical call to conversion and to death and rebirth to others. To see this is for us an icon of the suffering that Christ endured for our salvation. It is, if you will, without down grading it by using ... Free Essays on Stigmata Free Essays on Stigmata A stigmata is a spontaneous manifestation of bloody wounds on a person's hands, feet, and side, similar to wounds of the crucified Jesus Christ. Writers about stigmata episodes, categorize them as either divine or mystical, external or internal. â€Å"Over 300 have been recorded and are regarded as a truly coveted experience in ones spiritual acceptance.† (Britanica 293) A Stigmata consists of five classic points where wounds appear: the side, both hands and both feet. Traditionally these are known as the Five Wounds or the Sacred Wounds of our Lord, because they are the marks that occurred at the time of His Crucifixion. Some people are said to suffer the Passion of Christ which includes the agony at Gethsemane which had the tears or sweating of blood, scourging at the pillar, the crowning of thorns, beatings, the shoulder sound from carrying the Cross, and the Five Wounds inflicted during the Crucifixion itself. With the stigmata we have to be very discerning and very careful. â€Å"It is true that psychosomatic effects can take place in people when they are in an hysterical state or whatever†. (Harrison, 3.) Even some cases have been documented where people induced this phenomenon by their own will. However, that doesn't discard the validity of the phenomenon in the context of a real mystical experience. Catholics have a very sound foundation of sacramentality which means that God sets aside, blesses and utilizes material reality to manifest a greater spiritual reality, so that we believe in the seven sacraments of the Church where material reality is a sign of the spiritual immense infinite reality. Having that as a foundation, we can also understand that the signs of the Passion of Christ in the flesh of a living person can be a radical call to conversion and to death and rebirth to others. To see this is for us an icon of the suffering that Christ endured for our salvation. It is, if you will, without down grading it by using ...

United States History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

United States History - Essay Example Furthermore, the events of those horrific years marred not only the countries overseas, but our own country as well. Even though the United States played a more passive role during the Holocaust years, we were still involved in the era as much as Germany had been. World War II had already been underway when the Holocaust reared its ugly head, having started in 1939, approximately when the more rash events of the Holocaust began taking place. In 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, forcing the United States into the war. Only four days later did Hitler declare war on the United States (Bluhm, 2008), making not only the war the business of the United States, but the Holocaust as well. Prior to our involvement in World War II, the United States had merely watched the world burn, bidding its time until its military troops were called to the front lines. It was because of our reluctance to be a part of the war that many people believed that we did nothing to stand in the war of the Holocaust, or the progression of the war itself. However, with the sudden attack on Pearl Harbor and the war raging across the globe, it is almost no wonder that the United States wanted very little to do with the events, though this was no reason for them to stand aside and watch everything else fall. Also, after the first World War, America had adopted a policy of Isolationism, which would prevent them from involving themselves in the conflicts of other countries (Wexler, 2007).

Theory of Motivation Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Theory of Motivation - Term Paper Example This paper is an attempt to understand theory of motivations. The evolution of the various theories of motivation is addressed. A specific theory is chosen and explained in detail along with explaining how a manager could use the theory in the workplace to improve the performance. Overview of Theory of Motivation Theories of motivation have evolved over the years initially only focusing on physiological needs (scientific management school of thought) to the most recent ones which focus on cognitive needs (human relations and neo human relations approach). The evolution of the theories of motivation can be best understood by analysing the thought process behind the individual theories of motivation. Scientific Management School of Thought The main idea or thought process behind the very first theories of motivation was that humans are â€Å"rational beings† motivated by physiological needs (mainly by materialistic gains). Frederick Winslow Taylor’s theory is one of the m ajor theories from this school of thought and like many other theories of its time, Taylor’s theory also assumed that employees work to satisfy economic needs, and hence money is the only motivator. This theory did not focus on emotional needs but only limited employee motivation to pay. Human Relations School of Thought Next step in the evolution of theories of motivation was the shift in focus to social needs. ... that fulfilled social needs, than money. Neo Human Relations School of Thought The neo-human relations school of thought was introduced by Abraham Maslow along with Frederick Herzberg wherein the focus now shifted to the employee’s psychological needs. Maslow in his hierarchy of needs theory proposed that employees are motivated to fulfil specific needs and these needs can be hierarchically classified into 5 groups: physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, ego and esteem needs, and self-actualization. He argued that the needs must be satisfied as per the hierarchical order. An employee will move to higher order needs only after fulfilling the lower order need. Herzberg, on the other hand, proposed a two factor theory that said that there were factors which presence would motivate the employees, and factors which absence would de-motivate the employees. This theory will be discussed in detail in the next section. Herzberg's Two Factor Theory Herzberg in his two factor t heory argued that there were two certain sets of factors that would affect the employee’s performance. He called one as the motivators which would have a direct positive impact on motivation and would result in hard work from the employees. The second one were the hygiene factors which presence would not have any impact on motivation but their absence would de-motivate the employees and result in poor performance. Some of the motivators that Herzberg listed were advancement, responsibility, recognition, achievement and work. Some of the hygiene factors that Herzberg mentioned are salary, working conditions, company policies, relationship with co-workers, etc. According to this theory, motivated and de-motivated are entirely two different concepts and not the

Rights of self petitioning applicants Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6750 words

Rights of self petitioning applicants - Thesis Example ...............................23 5.4.3 Personal Responsibility & Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act....................................................................24 5.4.4 Illegal Reformation & Immigration Responsibility Act...........24 5.4.5 Women Immigrants Safe Harbor Act.......................................24-25 5.5 Battered Women Immigrants Not Covered by VAWA........................25-29 CHAPTER 6: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION.........................................30-31 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Legal status of foreign-born population, 2002 ABSTRACT Violence against women has been a problem plaguing society since time immemorial. In the American society, this issue came to the fore in the advent of the civil movements in the 1980s when women had the opportunity to gather together and confer with each other. Thus, were born legislations protecting women from violence, including violence which occurs within the confines of their own homes. The most remarkable of these laws was the 1994 Violent Against Women Act (VAWA hereafter) which was subsequently reauthorized first in 2000 and then in 2005. This law was remarkable not only for the financial assistance it gave to women victims but also the circumvention of prior laws which require women immigrants married to US nationals or permanent residents to wait for a period of two years before jointly applying with their spouses for permanent residence. Statistics show that violence against women is more prevalent in the case of women immigrants than in US born women. The US is multiracial country - a melting pot of various ethnic origins and people coming from various cultures. There are, to date, about 34 million people, more or less, in the country who are foreign-born and many of...This law was remarkable not only for the financial assistance it gave to women victims but also the circumvention of prior laws which require women immigrants married to US nationals or permanent residents to wait for a period of two years before jointly applying with their spouses for permanent residence. Statistics show that violence against women is more prevalent in the case of women immigrants than in US born women. The US is multiracial country - a melting pot of various ethnic origins and people coming from various cultures. There are, to date, about 34 million people, more or less, in the country who are foreign-born and many of these are women immigrants who suffer at the hands of people who exploit and abuse them because of their immigration status and their social isolation brought about by their foreign surroundings, language deficiency, economic dependency, cultural ethnicity. Many of them are undocumented immigrants who came into the country without proper documentation. Since the VAWA provisions on battered immigrant women are specific only to a particular type of women immigrants, the implication is that many of these battered women are left out in the cold with no hope of aid from the government. Violence against women is a societal ill long been present but has only been recently acknowledged.

The Story of an Hour Essay Example for Free

The Story of an Hour Essay Mallard is feeling, and how the to contradict each other. An irony of fate occurs when there is difference in what a character realizes what they want and how they are treated in the end. Mrs. Mallard in this short story is the abyss of irony of fate. â€Å"When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease – of joy that kills† (Chopin 170). Mrs. Mallard spends the first half of the short story feeling intense guilt and sadness with the news that her husband has died. Later on in the story Mrs. Mallard realizes that she is now free, without her husband she can do what she wants. When Mrs. Mallard has finally come to terms with her husband’s death and learned that it is a good thing, her husband walks in the door. Mrs. Mallard sees her husband alive and drops dead of a heart attack. Mrs. Mallard truly lives up to the irony of fate because instead of her husband being dead and her being free, Mrs. Mallard dies and her husband is the one who is alive and free. The metaphor, simile, and the irony of fate that Kate Chopin uses in The Story of an Hour help the reader follow Mrs. Mallard on her journey from grief to joy. The metaphor helps the reader understand the sadness she is feeling. The simile shows how Mrs. Mallard is dealing with her grief after hearing the news of her husband’s death. The irony of fate shows how after accepting that her husband’s death means freedom to her, she dies and it shows the reader the irony in it all. The three literary devices help illustrate the journey Mrs. Mallard takes when learning of her husband’s death. The simile and metaphor illustrate her sadness and then the irony of fate illustrates how her acceptance and joy of her husband’s death is her true end.

Economic Globalization And Offshore Sourcing Management Essay

Economic Globalization And Offshore Sourcing Management Essay In tune with increased economic globalization and offshore sourcing, global supply chain management is becoming a vital subject for many businesses and Somerset Furniture is one of the companies facing the challenges when set up its global supply chain. The business strategy constitutes overall direction to achieve corporate objectives and goals in long term, but supply chain strategy focuses on driving down operational costs, streamlining procedures and maximizing efficiencies. However, most companies have wonderful business strategies but most of them are unlikely designed a seamless supply chain strategy which can result in great failure when doing business overseas. In this case study, Somersets current approach to manage its supply chain resulted in poor business performance, the visible hazards and other negative factors frustrated Somerset included poor logistics management, ineffective order system and inventory management as well as inconsistency of product quality. In adopting a value chain, Somerset must incorporate and execute a robust supply chain management strategy for best-fit suppliers selection, further establish on how to work with supply partners, distributors, suppliers, customers or even customers customers as a way to remain competitive. Otherwise, the company will not survive. As the marketplace changes rapidly and becomes very competitive, it is critical that Somerset reinforces existing relationships and work together internally and externally. That being said, a well-practiced supply chain strategy results in value creation for the whole organization. In a nutshell, supply chains have shifted from a cost focus to a customer focus, until currently to a strategic focus, scrutinizing the success of a strategy is just as good as the companys capabilities to fully and properly execute all. A great supply chain strategic approach, connected with operational excellence, can provide success for not only the company in crisis but also its partners and customers. 1. Introduction Somerset Furniture is an established ornate residential home wood furniture company with over 50 years history in USA, renowned for producing quality and affordable furniture with a practical range of innovative design. To cope with the fast growing U.S. market, Somerset has developed its marketing strategy by introducing new product lines every few years and successfully gained creditable reputation during the last half of the twentieth century. The company was a pioneer in furniture manufacturing processes and in applying TQM principles to furniture manufacturing. However, Somerset soon faced with thorny problems emerging in mid-1990s, such as stiffer competition, high labour rates, diminishing profits. As a result, the company downsized the domestic manufacturing facility and labour force through outsourcing several internal furniture product lines to China manufacturers, this led to be very successful in reducing costs and increasing profits initially. By 2000, Somerset closed entire manufacturing facility in the United States and outsourced all of its manufacturing to suppliers in China and then set up global supply chain, at which a series of chain-reacting problems raised and affected business. The primary focus of this paper is to find out outsourcing solution and rectify the global supply chain strategy to be very competitive. The evaluation of Somersets approach on managing current supply chain both from strategic and tactical viewpoint will be addressed in Chapter 2. The subsequent Chapter 3 and 4 respectively describes the new strategic supply chain approach and then explains the transformational requirements for changing Somerset supply chain effectively and efficiently. The conclusion will be made in Chapter 5 outlining the study points for readers. Evaluation of Somerset Furniture Companys Approach to Managing Supply Chain from both strategic and tactical viewpoints. Somersets Existing Global Supply Chain Process Map Figure 2.1 Somersets Global Supply Chain Logistic Flowchart Source: Adapted from Fawcett, Ellram and Ogden (2007, p.218) Foreign Competition While Somerset formulated a good strategic marketing plan for continually launching new product lines every few years during half of the twentieth century, simultaneously, experienced the positive effects of applying the TQM in its furniture manufacturing and popularly is known as high-quality yet affordable wooden furniture provider in domestic market. However, since the mid-1990s, the company suffered from the stiffer competition, high labour rate and decreasing profits. To get out of this situation, Somerset started outsourcing several furniture product lines to China that helped benefit from cost-effective and reduced operating costs. Another strategy was reducing the manufacturing facility and labour force, to keep the low costs in line with the pace of outsourcing. It was very successful initially in reducing costs and increasing profits for the company. By 2000, Somerset decided to set up global supply chain and closed entire manufacturing facility in the United States by outsourcing all of its manufacturing to suppliers in China. Shipments of Raw Materials and Inconsistency of Product Quality Somersets global supply chain facilitates the wood shipments from the United States and South America to manufacturing plants in China. This shipment itinerary takes a long time to arrive China, therell be unexpected delays for processing shipment which incurs customer complaints and orders cancellation. Despite of long shipping time, the costs of shipment to the final destination and the raw material from US and South America are apparently high that reduced the profits. As the manufacturing plants employed Chinese workers to produce products by hand in China, it will cause discrepancies in product dimension and quality. Customers would ask for exchange or refund as the quality is not assured by hand-made. Poor Distribution Network and Transportation Management The finished furniture products are shipped by containers from Hong Kong or Shanghai to Norfolk, Virginia, once arrived, the containers are transported by truck to Somerset warehouses in Randolph Country, where all of retailers stores located and installed the furniture to prevent from damage during transport. Ineffective Order Management It is found that therere some critical flaws exist internally within Somersets global supply chain on its order processing and fulfillment system. Somerset processes orders weekly and biweekly and it takes 7-14 days to developing demand forecast and 12 -25 days for processing order which amount totally 22 to 45 days for purchase order to eventually complete. It requires another 60 days to produce product by hand when going into production. Poor Transportation Management As required by Chinese logistics, all finished furniture items have to be transported from the manufacturing plants to Chinese ports, which can take up to several weeks depending on trucking availability and schedules. Since 9/11, random security checks of containers will delay shipment for another one to three weeks and the trip overseas to Norfolk takes 28 days. Hence, from China to Norfolk port, it can take more than two months delivery time. Thereafter, clearing US customs can take another one to two weeks before local workers take another 1-3 days to unload containers and transfer the furniture onto truck to Somersets warehouse in Randolph County. Ineffective Inventory Management The variability of supply chain estimated is up to 40% for schedule deferment. Due to Somersets innovative conception to introducing new products frequently, it resulted in substantial excess inventories left over in warehouse where the obsolete furniture occupy precious space and increase high disposal and storage costs. Somerset proudly stands behind its products and customers can get a warranty period of 1 year from the date of purchase. It brought a serious problem for parts replacement, because China supplier is only able to provide these parts which are in production, but most of the parts are not produced anymore after 1-year guarantee period. Poor Product Quality Although quality auditors are employed by Chinese suppliers to perform quality audit every few weeks, Somerset still encounters several quality issues. Consequently, Somerset has to inspect every piece of furniture it receives from China due to retailers and customers complaints. 3. Development Justification of New Strategic Supply Chain Approach to be used by Somerset Foreign Competition Owing to fierce competition, Somerset has to close its entire US manufacturing facility and outsource all of its manufacturing to China to reduce costs and increases profits for the company. Outsourcing has become a common strategy that is adopted by all US companies and managing supply chains has now become a trend due to globalisation. It is felt that Somerset should have an outsourcing strategy which will continue to evaluate alternate low-cost furniture manufacturing plants around Asia or other regions. Depending on just low-cost China manufacturers which product its products by hand may not be a viable long term solution for its overall corporate or supply chain strategy. 3.2 Shipment of Raw Materials Consistency of Product Quality Somersets shipment of wood from the United States and South America to manufacturing plants in China is a costly and time-consuming process. Raw materials should be sourced from within China or from neighbouring countries around manufacturing facility to ensure low cost and better efficiency in materials movement. The China manufacturing plant produced all furniture products by hand, which is not only time-consuming, taking 60 days to finished the production, but also cause inconsistency of products quality. It is thus recommended that China manufacturing plant be ISO9000 certified, to provide Quality Assurance and invest in partial or fully automated machine to manufacture some of these furniture products so as to cut down the production lead-time and provide better consistency in products quality. In the meantime, the leader should take action of outsourcing another manufacturer in China to replace the current one, because the current plant may not have enough capital to purchase all necessary expensive equipment. Furthermore, the conversion from undeveloped factory to a qualified lean manufacturing facility cannot take place in one day since it is viewed as a long term transformation. Therefore, Somerset should outsource the production base to other China furniture manufacturing facilities, which comprise the following competencies: Lean manufacturing system implementation Lean manufacturing results in significant cost savings over a two to three year period. Specifically, manufacturing companies report significant reduction in raw materials, in-process inventories, setup costs, throughput times, direct labor costs, indirect labor costs, staff, overdue orders, tooling costs, quality costs, and the cost of bringing new designs on line (Swamidass 2002) ISO9000 certification Flexibility (refers to modification, design, machine, production lines and time flexibilities) Capacity (in terms of space, labor, equipment, IT and materials) 3.3 Better Distribution Network Transportation Management According to Chopra Meindl (2010), with regards to movement of products from factory to customer, there are six distinct distribution network designs for company to select one of them, as shown below: Manufacturer storage with direct shipping Manufacturer storage with direct shipping and in-transit merge Distributor storage with package carrier delivery Distributor storage with last-mile delivery Manufacturer/distributor storage with customer pickup Retail storage with customer pickup Somerset can select one of above distribution network to help in improving its distribution network. Choosing the manufacturer storage with direct shipping will help to eliminate the movement of furniture from Somerset warehouse to retail stores. This will have the advantages of better customers experience and lower inventory costs. Installation of hardware can therefore also be done at customers house instead of at retail stores. However, it has the disadvantages of higher transportation costs (because of increased distance and disaggregate shipping) and requiring investment in information infrastructure to integrate manufacturer and retailer. Another improvement in transportation is to eliminate export of raw materials from US to China by sourcing these materials from China or its neighbouring countries. This not only saves transportation time but also costs of materials. Purchasing department of Somerset will thus have the task to source for these new raw materials around Asia. 3.4 Effective Order Management The order processing and fulfillment system in Somersets global supply chain is too long and it is suspected that Somerset and Chinese manufacturing plant may not have the necessary information technology to enable the rapid sharing of demand and supply data. Per Harrison Hoek (2002), they mention that integration of demand and supply data so that an increasingly accurate picture is obtained about the nature of business processes, markets and consumers, can provide increasing competitive advantage. Figure 3.1 shows a conceptual model of how supply chain processes (supply, source, make, distribute and sell) are integrated together in order to meet end customer demand (cited by Harrison Hoek 2002, p.14): Figure 3.1 Integrating demand and supply chains Source: Harrison Hoek (2002, p.14) Another solution is to ensure that Somerset utilizes software for order processing which will automatically route for approval and issue purchase order in an efficient manner. There should also be policy in place to ensure that the approval routes are short and approving manager does not take too long to approve it. 3.5 Better Transportation Management Apparently, the Chinese logistics arrangement, depending on trucking availability and containers, causes wide times variability in shipment of finished furniture items from China ports to Norfolk. It is really critical for Somerset to have a good logistics/transportation manager to understand the root causes, select work with the Chinese suppliers to reduce this time and wide-variability to avoid delay shipment to customers. Langley et al. (2009) recommends proactive management approach to identify and solve transportation problems by reducing the number of carriers, negotiating with carriers, establishing carrier contracts with prescribed service levels, and modifying loading procedures. Hence, Somerset can negotiate and establish new contracts with Chinese suppliers or carriers to ensure that the finished products can depart China ports consistently at a shorter lead-time. In fact, Somerset should establish contracts with all transportation modes to ensure the required transportation service level and lead-times predictability. Other means of improvement and cost-effectiveness can be done through consolidating shipments and monitoring transportation service quality. 3.6 Effective Inventory Management It is highly recommended that Somerset adopts Just-In-Time (JIT) and Lean thinking concepts, as discussed by Harrison Hoek (2002), that can reduce delay, waste and inventory costs. Long-standing approaches to material control, such as reorder point stock control (ROP), economic order quantities (EOQ) and material requirements planning (MRP) can be made far more responsive by the application of JIT principle whereas lean thinking seeks perfection by gradually reducing waste from each of below four areas: Specifying value from the customer perspective Identifying the value stream ( through time-based mapping) Making the product flow through the supply network (by applying JIT principles) Letting the customer pull (through pull scheduling) Somerset may also adopt vendor-managed inventory (VMI) where it takes responsibility for monitoring sales and inventory in the retailers process. This information is used to trigger replenishment orders. As VMI is facilitated by willingness to share data, the use of integrated systems, and standard procedures, it is made more difficult by such factors as long replenishment lead times, inaccurate data, and unwillingness by either party to invest in systems support. Murphy Wood (2008) highlights tracking technology, radio-frequency identification (RFID) to keep track of inventory, which can further improve the efficiency in the supply chain network. 3.7 Better Product Quality The fact that Somerset has to inspect every piece of furniture it receives from China proves that China manufacturing plant must be ISO9000 certified and implement Quality Assurance System in-house. In addition, this will avoid the need to get quality auditors who are employed by Chinese suppliers to perform quality audit. A Quality Improvement Team should be formed in the China manufacturing plant and be trained so as to improve quality on a continual-basis. Somerset can also assist in the implementation of lean manufacturing for its outsourced China manufacturing plant or introduce Lean Six Sigma methodology to effectively control the process for better consistency in products quality. The requirements for the successful implementation of lean manufacturing, as per Swamidass (2002), are: All levels in the plant, from the production worker to the president must be educated in lean production philosophy and concepts. Top management must be totally committed to this venture and provide necessary leadership. Everyone must be involved in the change, and the internal customer must be empowered to play a vital role in this evolutional process. Everyone in the plant must understand that cost, not price, determines profit. The customer determines price, the plant determines the cost. Everyone must be committed to the elimination of waste. This is fundamental for becoming lean. The concept of standardization must be taught to everyone and applied to documentation, methods, processes as well as system metrics. 4. Evaluation Transformation Required In order to change the Somersets Supply Chain Philosophy from its traditionally position of functional independence to an integrated single entity, top management of Somerset has to ensure that conflicting functional objectives along the supply chain are reconciled and balanced. According to Barnes (2001), supply chain management requires a new approach to systems: integration is the key. Somerset must better manage its supply chain effectively through adapting the six building blocks for effective supply chain management (Harrison Hoek 2002) as follows: Develop a supply chain strategy Elements to be incorporated are: Customer service requirements Plant and distribution centre network design Inventory management Outsourcing and third-party logistics relationships Business processes Organizational design and training requirements Performance metrics and goals Gather supply chain information Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to facilitate the flow of information across their organization Develop effective partnerships and alliances Collaborative approach with key suppliers and customers for better decisions in procurement, production, inventory and fulfillment. Pilot new supply chain solutions Piloting initiatives on a small scale reduces risk and can encourage buy-in from others within the organization or supply chain. Elements to be included in any pilot projects are: Involvement of key stakeholders, suppliers, customers and employees. Selection of scope and environment Identification of critical success factors Organise for supply chain performance Organisational change for cross-functional instead of functionally based structures. Develop measurement system for supply chain performance Cross-supply chain instead of function focused measures: On time in full, outbound On time in full, inbound Internal defect rates New product introduction rate Cost reduction Order to delivery lead time Fiscal flexibility Somerset can also consider the proposal by Heinrich Betts (2003) to transform companys supply chain into adaptive business network. This new business model joins companies as partners, into an adaptable and flexible set of business relationships such that each company is able to respond more swiftly into changing market conditions and leverage the networks cumulative ability to: Plan and anticipate demand and supply. Execute plans efficiently and effectively. Sense events that affect the plans as those events occur, and analyze them for impact. Respond to and learn from ever-changing business conditions. Somerset can then move to an adaptive business network in four steps, as in Figure 4.1: Figure 4.1 The Four Steps of an Adaptive Business Network Step 1 Visibility: Sharing of information with partner companies. Many routine business processes with partners standardized. Information posted for common view on portal. Greater insight into business process and data accuracy problems. Step 2 Community: Moving day-to-day transactions to the portal. Establishment of minimum and maximum control thresholds. Reduction of inventory. Time savings via mechanizing transactions. Step 3 Collaboration: Sharing of customer demand data with members. Targeted replenishment of supplies. Responsibility transferred to supply replenishment vendors. Ability to reallocate inventory to fulfill maximum number of orders. Step 4 Adaptability: Time required for many tasks greatly decreased. Many tasks completely eliminated. Inventory and working capital dramatically reduced. New alliances, products, and revenue opportunities possible. Source: Heinrich Betts (2003, p.80) Harrison Hoek (2002) illustrates a number of transitional forces that need to be harnessed to give momentum to the change project, as structured in Figure 4.2 below: Figure 4.2 Transition forces Source: Harrison Hoek (2002, p.267) These 5 forces are described briefly as follows: Viability of current performance level Consider in light of market changes such as: Demographics Time-stressed customers One-to-one marketing The marketplace becomes the marketspace Perceived pay-off benefits from targeted performance Reap the potential benefits of e-business and benchmarking of improvement projects to quantify the potential benefits of making a change. Belief and enthusiasm Ability of project manager to communicate belief in the change process with enthusiasm. Ability to manage change Ability to plan the change, organizing the resources needed to make the change and managing the application of those resources in order to achieve the necessary outcome. Ability to operate in the new environment People in the organization must have the right skills, tools and techniques to operate the new process. The management of the new process will require a new set of performance measures to be in place so that its efficiency and effectiveness can be assessed. Specifically, there are several action items that are required to progressively (from Stage 1 to 3) change Somersets supply chain network to be effective and efficient, as illustrated in Table 4.1 below: Table 4.1 Action Items Required To Change Somersets Supply Chain Network Item Action Item Action To Be Taken Remarks 1 Foreign Competition Outsourced to China manufacturing plants Re-evaluate its capabilitycapacity Done 2 Shipment of Raw Materials from US Source raw materials in neighbouring countries of China Stage 1 3 Poor Distribution Network Manufacturer storage with direct shipping to customers Stage 3 4 Ineffective Order Management Integrating demand and supply data using technology Stage 2 5 Poor Transportation Management Re-negotiate new contracts with all transportation modes Stage 2 6 Ineffective Inventory Management Implement JIT approach and pull system scheduling Stage 3 7 Poor Product Quality Get China manufacturing plant ISO9000 certified Stage 1 However, the implementation of change in business is often frustrating and difficult, particularly in supply chains as it has to be undertaken in a coordinated manner across and between several organizations. It is therefore important to gain agreement from the top level of all companies involved before wide-scale changes can be made. 5. Conclusion In this case study, Somersets approach to manage its supply chain resulted in poor business performance. The visible hazards and other negative factors frustrated Somerset included poor logistics management, ineffective order system and inventory management as well as inconsistency of product quality. In adopting a value chain, Somerset must incorporate and execute a robust supply chain management strategy for best-fit suppliers selection, further establish on how to work with supply partners, distributors, suppliers, customers or even customers customers as a way to remain competitive. Otherwise, the company will not survive. In addition, top management of Somerset has to lead and motivate not only all internal functional teams, but also external suppliers and partners, to work as an integrated entity in the new strategic supply chain network, so as to achieve the overall corporate objectives. In a nutshell, supply chains have shifted from a cost focus to a customer focus, until currently to a strategic focus, scrutinizing the success of a strategy is just as good as the companys capabilities to fully and properly execute all. A great supply chain strategic approach, connected with operational excellence, can provide success for not only the company in crisis but also its partners and customers.