Interpersonal/intercultural communication at the work place

Table of Contents Abstract Introduction Methodology Findings Discussion.  Intercultural communication Conclusions Works Cited Abstract This academic paper looks into interpersonal communication and the issues that affect it or are in play when it is present within the workplace. The paper tries to answer whether different cultures have an effect on interpersonal communication at the workplace and whether evolving processes that enlarge the culture by building on its strengths and functional elements have a positive impact.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Interpersonal/intercultural communication at the work place specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a result the research paper looks into how business owners can utilize interpersonal communication and the different cultures at work to both theirs and employees’ advantage to creating a conducive and motivated working environment Introduction The busines s under case study has been in existence for slightly more than one year. It is a general practitioner business engaged in medical consultation. Mr. Smith the owner of the PharmaMed General Practitioners, states that it is a fulfilling venture as for both him and his employees. Subsequently, he and his employees are able to interact with people of various and diverse cultures that come to seek solutions for a myriad of medical issues. The business has five employees both full time and part time. Communication models are very useful tools which enable us to come to terms with elusive or intricate concepts. Communication theory has engendered many models, most notably the transmission approach and the transactional approach Methodology Data for this study was obtained through interviewing the owner and proprietor of the business. A set of questions was prepared by the interviewer to guide in the obtaining of information about inter personal communication in an intercultural setting. T he interview was explained to the reasons of the interview and the need for the specific information being searched for (Samovar, Porter McDaniel 79). The findings were then later compiled and presented in a write up that clearly outlined intercultural/interpersonal communication and its benefits in the workplace.Advertising Looking for essay on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The research was based on finding out the impact of diversity in culture within the workplace. The research respondent (interviewee) was asked a number of questions in regards to communication issues he encounters on a day to day basis at his workplace. It was perceived that the interviewee had information at hand regarding his business organization and on the required questions as this had been explained before hand while scheduling for the interview. Findings The study found out that there is need for further study and research on multicultural placed business organizations. This is due to the fact that the work place today does not only contain people from the same culture but a diverse grouping. The study also found out that the client base is also culturally diversified and there is need for employees to be well informed on how to deal with various cultures (Novinger, 57). The academic study also found out that from the information obtained from the interviewee, most local clients were made up of various cultures and understanding them was not all that easy but the employees did their best to serve them. The research found out that the world today is faced with a myriad of issues stemming up from a misunderstanding of the multicultural workplace. Discussion.  Intercultural communication Cultures vary quite extensively as is the case shown by the case study here. Among the employees and also among those that come for services from the business. Previous studies suggest that being objective about cultu re is utterly impossible. This is attributed to the fact that one is surrounded by their own personal culture to a point that it feels like that is what is only there and everyone should adhere to it. It becomes rather hard for people to appreciate other cultures apart from their own (Neuliep 66). Therefore this brings out the need for intercultural compounded with interpersonal communication especially within the work place.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Interpersonal/intercultural communication at the work place specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, first one has to understand what intercultural communication is and entails. In today’s globalised world that is business oriented and driven overseas business trips and globalization are an integral part of many business organizations (Jandt 134). The skill of managing intercultural relations, and predicting intercultural issues should be an integral part for all business managers. The need for intercultural communication is driven by the astonishing levels of perception into the realities of this globalised world brought about by the diverse cultures. Each person has his or her own cultural value system, ways of doing things, beliefs, and preferences. When communicating with these people it is important to know what and how to say things, how to organize things, and what to take into account, or (expensive) mistakes might be made (Samovar, Porter McDaniel 133). To be able to set up an organization in this multicultural world a business manager should be able to identify and explain the importance of improved intercultural communication skills within businesses and be able to appreciate the advantages of a diversified workforce in their specific industry and other industries in the business world (Sarbaugh 121). In addition to this, an understanding business manager who is sensitive to existing cultural background of others esp ecially his employees, is able to adjust the suggestions one wants to make to the existing constraints and limitations that face the existence of an organization (Scollon Scollon 187). This creates a better working environment for employees. These elements underline the importance of being able to manage intercultural communication issues (Trenholm Jensen 97). As the world becomes increasingly globalised; and information communication technology erodes borders, intercultural communication becomes increasingly important for any manager, especially in the world of business (Samovar, Porter McDaniel 22).Advertising Looking for essay on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The key concept to retain in communication, is that no one component of communication – 1. The emotional [non-verbal]; 2.the cognitive [verbal] and 3.the philosophical [discourse] – functions in isolation for very long. Unless a handicap is present, an individual operates from all three sectors whenever he/she is communicating. Conclusions Intercultural communication is necessary at the workplace as a business manager is able to tap on the emotional strength of their employees to manage both their own and their clients anxiety as learning and change become more and more a part of life. Making use of interpersonal and intercultural communication helps the business to practice empathy and to see the world as others see it, and understand others’ behavior from their perspective. Development of new skills in studying cultural postulations; recognizing functional and dysfunctional postulations and surfacing developments that make bigger the culture by engaging its po tency and functional elements are vital elements for the business mix in today’s globalized business world. Works Cited Jandt, Fred. Intercultural communication: a global reader. Teller Road: SAGE, 2004. Print. Neuliep, James. Intercultural communication: a contextual approach. Teller Road: Sage, 2008. Print. Novinger, Tracy. Intercultural communication: a practical guide. El Paso: University of Texas Press, 2001. Print. 210 pages Samovar, Larry, Porter, Richard McDaniel, Edwin. Communication Between Cultures, New York: Cengage Learning, 2001. Print. Samovar, Larry, Porter, Richard McDaniel, Edwin. Intercultural Communication: A Reader. New York: Cengage Learning, 2008. Print. Sarbaugh, Luke. Intercultural communication. Piscataway Township: Transaction Publishers, 1988. Print. Scollon, Ronald, Scollon, Suzanne. Intercultural communication: a discourse approach San Francisco: Wiley-Blackwell, 2001. Print. Trenholm, Sarah, Jensen, Arthur. Interpersonal communication New Yo rk: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print. 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Importance of Stakeholders Essay Example

Importance of Stakeholders Essay Example Importance of Stakeholders Essay Importance of Stakeholders Essay The importance of stakeholders has increased over recent years. Previously, shareholders were deemed as the main consideration for organisations. After all, these are the people that invest in the company. This is known as stockholder theory and is closely associated with Milton Friedman (1970). Friedman believed that an organisations primary responsibility is to increase its profits for the benefit of shareholders. This was demonstrated in the Dodge v Ford Motor Company case in 1919. Henry Ford deemed that the company had made too much profit, and wanted to share these profits with the public (stakeholders potential customers) by reducing the cost of vehicles. However, shareholders challenged this development and won the case in the Supreme Court, when the court ruled that a business was for the purpose of making profit for its investors. This view has changed in the past 80+ years since this case. Whilst shareholders are an important element to an organisation, they are only one group of stakeholders that organisations have a duty to. It is now recognised that organisations have obligations to other groups that have a vested interest its operations. This change in thinking has led to the development of the stakeholder theory, advocated by Freeman (1984). This theory argues that there are a number of groups to whom businesses are accountable to when determining strategy and pursuing objective(s). The traditional belief is that only direct links to a business, such as shareholders, customers and employees have an input into organisational decisions. But as previously mentioned, stakeholders are not just internal to the organisation itself. When commenting on the importance of stakeholders, Halal (1996:64) referred to a stakeholder model of the organisation. This model views the organisation as a socio-economic system composing of various equally important groups, a view which links in with Freemans theory. Halal believes in the theory of the nature of the firm. In this theory, its stated that managers are dependent on stakeholders and have a need to combine the unique resource each stakeholder contributes, such as investor capital, talents of employees etc. This is a valid viewpoint and builds on the stakeholder theory by identifying the importance of such groups. An organisation that embraces the stakeholder theory is the ING group. In a speech at the Georgetown Business Ethics Institute in 2002, Ewald Krist, the CEO of ING stated: Greater influence is now put on organisations by external stakeholders, such as society itself. Shell fell foul of this in the early 1990s with its Brent Spar plant. The plant, decommissioned in 1991, was due to be dismantled by Shell and disposed of via Deepwater disposal. This created outrage from environmental groups with a belief that the seas should be kept clean. This led both Shell and the UK Government to look at alternate options, with Shell abandoning the deepwater plans in 1995. The plant was finally disposed of in 1999 after long discussions with various stakeholders, and the majority of the construction was used to form a new quay in Norway, a solution acceptable to environmental groups, along with other stakeholders. This showed that even large global companies had important stakeholders to answer to. Shareholders are still an extremely powerful stakeholder. Investors primarily concentrate on profit maximisation but this is not the most important consideration for other stakeholders such as customers, contractors or the local community. There have been numerous occurrences of shareholders ousting directors and chairmen. The most recent one occurred this month, when the chief executive of Deutsche Telecom, Kai-Uwe Ricke resigned after losing the support of key shareholders in the organisation (the German government and private equity firm, Blackstone). FT.com reported that support was lost due to poor results and plans to move 45,000 jobs to lower paid areas. This shows the difficulty in keeping all stakeholders happy. By moving the jobs, it should have increased the profitability of the organisation, and therefore would please shareholders. However, this conflicts with the unions viewpoint, which looks after the workforce and did not want to see profits increase at the expense of employees. Many organisations hit problems when trying to change their strategy. Even basic changes can be met with disdain from certain stakeholders, e. g.

Stink Bugs, Family Pentatomidae

Stink Bugs, Family Pentatomidae Whats more fun than a stink bug?! The insects of the family Pentatomidae do, indeed, stink. Spend a little time in your backyard or garden, and you are sure to encounter a stink bug sucking on your plants or sitting in wait of a caterpillar. About The name Pentatomidae, the stink bug family, comes from the Greek pente, meaning five and tomos, meaning section. Some entomologists say this refers to the 5-segmented antennae, while others believe it refers to the stink bugs body, which appears to have five sides or parts. Either way, adult stink bugs are easy to recognize, with wide bodies shaped like shields. A long, triangular scutellum characterizes an insect in the family Pentatomidae. Take a close look at a stink bug, and you will see the piercing, sucking mouthparts. Stink bug nymphs often resemble their adult counterparts but may lack the distinctive shield shape. Nymphs tend to stay close to the egg mass when they first emerge, but soon venture out in search of food. Look for masses of eggs on the undersides of leaves. Classification Kingdom - AnimaliaPhylum - ArthropodaClass - InsectaOrder - HemipteraFamily - Pentatomidae Diet To the gardener, stink bugs are a mixed blessing. As a group, stink bugs use their piercing, sucking mouthparts to feed on a variety of plants and insects. Most members of the family Pentatomidae suck sap from the fruiting parts of plants and can cause significant injury to the plants. Some damage foliage as well. However, predatory stink bugs overpower caterpillars or beetle larvae, keeping pest insects in check. A few stink bugs begin life as herbivores but become predators. Life Cycle Stink bugs, like all Hemipterans, undergo simple metamorphosis with three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The eggs are laid in groups, looking like neatly arranged rows of tiny barrels, on stems and the undersides of leaves. When nymphs emerge, they look similar to the adult stink bug but may appear rounder rather than shield-shaped. Nymphs go through five instars before becoming adults, usually in 4-5 weeks. The adult stink bug overwinters under boards, logs, or leaf litter. In some species, the nymphs may also overwinter. Special Adaptations and Defenses From the name stink bug, you can probably guess its most unique adaptation. Pentatomids expel a foul-smelling compound from special thoracic glands when threatened. In addition to deterring predators, this odor sends a chemical message to other stink bugs, alerting them to danger. These scent glands also play a role in attracting mates and even suppress attacks by harmful microorganisms. Range and Distribution Stink bugs live throughout the world, in fields, meadows, and yards. In North America, there are 250 species of stink bugs. Worldwide, entomologists describe over 4,700 species in nearly 900 genera.

The Pros and Cons of the No Child Left Behind Act Essay

The Pros and Cons of the No Child Left Behind Act - Essay Example Yet, along with the greater emphasis put on student performance has come nationwide accountability and the unethical measures that school districts have implemented to meet the new federal guidelines. The NCLB Act was designed primarily to aid poor, minority, and immigrant students by implementing testing standards and assuring no child was falling through the cracks and being left behind. To support this effort, the bill appropriated $650 million to be used by the states to instruct English language learners. This was a 50% increase in funding for these efforts over previous years (Crawford). In an era when education funding has suffered from so many cutbacks, the additional funding was a decided benefit for schools, especially with high immigrant populations. However, the new formula used to distribute the money resulted in the least populated states, such as North Dakota and Alaska, receiving a reduction in funding. This has resulted in fewer English Learner programs for Native Americans that are enrolled in public schools in these states (Crawford). The NCLB Act requires that all students be tested at regular intervals to measure their progress in Math and English. School district funding and administrative control are dependent on acceptable results of this testing. This approach is well intentioned and can benefit the student by holding the schools accountable to their purpose, teaching the students. While the results of this testing have been unimpressive for the general student population, it has benefited students in the lower grades that are enrolled in an English Language Learner program (National Center for Educational Statistics). While forcing the schools to produce results, especially among the most challenged students, the Act has also had unintended consequences in this area. Because school funding is based on these results, districts have been anxious to exploit loopholes that may exempt many students from the testing requirements. During the most recent reporting period it was reported that the scores of two mill ion students were omitted due to technicalities. These were the poorest performing students and it can be inferred that they were minority and immigrant students, the ones that NCLB was written to protect. (Bass, Dixon, and Feller). The NCLB has given the education system uniform guidelines and standards that can be used to compare our past performance and gauge the success of our schools. It helps to identify which programs work and which ones fail. The goal of testing all students fairly is a great advantage if implemented correctly. However, when school funding, bonuses, and school control depend on the results of these tests, it becomes known as High Stakes Testing. Teachers are put in a position to "teach the test" at the expense of other equally important material. Measuring student progress may become meaningless under the current guidelines as Armein and Berliner report, "... the harder teachers work to directly prepare students for a high-stakes test, the less likely the test will be valid for the purposes it was intended". It has also been reported that Latino students have been encouraged to drop out of school to avoid taking the test in a school's effort to raise overall test

Shoes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Shoes - Essay Example This paper explores the origin of shoes and some of the most groundbreaking inventions in the shoe industry. The origin of shoes dates back to about 40,000 years ago during the Middle Paleolithic age. Evidence points out that footwear was amongst the things that the ancient man made. The early man was compelled to device a means of protecting their feet from rugged terrains, jagged rocks and hot sand among other things that could hurt their feet (Yue & Yue, 1997). In early civilizations, sandals were the most common footwear among people. However, some communities such as Mesopotamia had shoes. In Mesopotamia, individuals who live in mountains around the boundary with Iran wore some kind of soft shoes made of wraparound leather. There was no marked distinction between the left and right shoes. Even by 1850, both the left and right pairs of shoes remained largely the same with most shoes having straight lasts. According to Yue and Yue (1997), the ancient shoe designs were in accordanc e with the surrounding environment of the inventor such as the conditions that people needed to be protected from as well as the available materials. Fast movement was essential for survival, thus â€Å"shoes needed to be light-weight but still strong enough for adequate protection† (Yue & Yue, 1997, p.9). Shoes needed to cover up the foot and have tight grip. In warm areas, people sought flat materials and tied them onto their feet soles while those in colder climates covered their feet and legs with animal skins tying them with thongs (Yue & Yue, 1997). Many of the shoes that rule the current world of fashion existed in the ancient periods. Different kinds of shoes from thick to thin existed in the antique world. To begin with, sandals are one of the most common footwear among early inhabitants of the planet earth. Sandal still remains common footwear in warm countries. The ancient Japanese had their version of sandal with a wooden sole called the geta. The geta was worn wi th socks known as tabi (Yue & Yue, 1997). Among the Indians was chappli, a tall knobbed sandal that was made from the hide of water buffalo with a wood and metal to keep the foot above the ground. Early Egyptians were associated with sandals that were basically made of plaited leaves of papyrus. Sandal making was a widely acknowledged practice among early Egyptians. The Egyptian sandals were unique in that they appeared as both left and right pair unlike most European shoes that had no differences. In Greece and Rome, the use of sandals was restricted with specific sandals being set for different occasions (Aswad & Meredith, 2003). In cold countries, moccasin was the most common type of shoes. Moccasin was simple and made of one round of leather sewed together and had laces that were also made of leather. Moccasin was common among Native Americans and ancient American pioneers. The ancient Romans have been associated with wooden soled shoes. Peasants across Europe have worn clogs as well as other shoes with wooden soles for a very long period of time. Similar to the Japanese geta, the thick wooden sole protected the foot from road fragments, mud, stones, and cold among others. Klompen were wooden shoes in Holland and still exist today. Pattens were worn until middle ages, during Victorian periods. Among the early French was sabot, a wooden sole shoe for factory employees and peasants. High heel shoes, which commonly rule the women’s fashion world, existed for both males and females in the ancient times. These include

Milk and Formula Essay Example for Free

Milk and Formula Essay There are many different types of formula feed and there are many different factors to take into account before choosing the right formula feed. * Health * Dietary needs * Age * Cost and preparation time of different formula milks. There are three different types of formula: * Cow’s milk-based formula * Hydrolysed protein formula * Soya-based formula Most babies can have cow’s milk-based formula, however there are some who have a health or dietary reason why they can’t. The different range of formula milks are described below. (information obtained from the baby centre website). Cow’s milk-based formula Most baby formula milks are based on cows milk, which is modified to resemble breastmilk as closely as possible. Manufacturers modify cows milk for babies by adjusting carbohydrate, protein, and fat levels and adding vitamins and minerals. There are also special types of formula manufactured for premature babies. The protein in milk can be broken down into curds (casein) and whey. The ratio of casein to whey can vary according to the type of baby formula milk. There are two main types: First-stage formula. These milks consist of mostly whey, with a casein:whey ratio of 40:60, which is about the same as breastmilk. They are suitable for babies from birth up to about a year, and are thought to be easier to digest. Second-stage formula. These milks consist of mostly casein, with a casein:whey ratio of 80:20. They take longer to digest and are often promoted as being for hungrier babies. Nutritionally, babies will only need first-stage formula, although we may decide to move the baby onto second-stage formula as they grow. It is important to be cautious when changing a baby’s milk. Switching from first to second-stage milk too early can give a baby constipation. Although many milk manufacturers market their second-stage milk as suitable from birth, it’s best to wait until the baby is at least four weeks old. If the baby doesn’t seem content with the formula we first started them on, the parents should talk to their health visitor before changing formulas. When the baby’s a year old, we can move them on from first or second-stage formula to cows milk. Cow’s milk is not recommended as a main drink for babies under the age of one because it’s low in iron and vitamin C. But we can use small amounts in cooking for the baby when they’ve started solids, or on their breakfast cereal. Hydrolysed-protein formula This is a formula milk which is specially designed for babies with an allergy or intolerance to cows milk. If a baby has a cow’s milk allergy, the protein in the milk will cause an allergic reaction. And if they have a intolerance to cow’s milk, they will have difficulty digesting the lactose, or sugar, in the milk. Hydrolysed-protein formula milks are based on cows milk and have the same nutritional value as standard formula milk. But the protein in the milk is hydrolysed, which means it is broken down so the baby is less likely to react to it. These milks are also generally lactose-free, so babies with an intolerance to cow’s milk can digest them easily. If you think a baby has a cows milk allergy or intolerance, see your doctor or health visitor. Your doctor will be able to prescribe a hydrolysed-protein formula for your baby. You can buy these from your pharmacy, too. You can also buy special lactose-free formulas, which your doctor may suggest that your baby has lactose intolerance. Soya-based formula Soya-based formula is made from soya beans. It is modified with vitamins, minerals and nutrients to make it suitable for formula milk. Only give your baby soya-based formula on the advice of your doctor, health visitor or paediatrician. Even though manufacturers market their soya formulas as suitable for babies from birth, health professionals dont recommend them for babies under six months. Its not recommended that your baby has soya formula if she has a cow’s milk allergy. Babies who are allergic to cows milk are often allergic to soya, too. There is also no evidence that changing to a soya-based formula can help to soothe your baby if she is unsettled or colicky. Your baby may be colicky because she’s intolerant to lactose, and so a lactose-free formula is best if this is the case. Ask your doctor or health visitor for advice if you think your baby has an allergy or intolerance to cow’s milk. There are no particular health benefits that your baby would get from soya formula compared to other formula milks. In fact, soya formula milks can actually damage your baby’s teeth over time, because they contain glucose syrup. If you do give your baby soya milk, you’ll have to take extra special care of her teeth. What kind of formula milk does an older baby need? There are cows milk formulas that are marketed for babies from six months, because they are high in iron which growing babies need. However, these milks are not nutritionally necessary. Your baby will be getting the iron and other nutrients she needs from her solid foods. There’s no need to switch to a different milk if your baby is happy with breastmilk or her usual formula. Milks marketed for older babies include: Follow-on milks These are milks with higher protein and mineral content than ordinary infant formula. They are sold as suitable for babies from six months old. Follow-on milks are advertised as more nutritious than cows milk, because they contain added iron, vitamins and minerals. However, bear in mind that cows milk is not a suitable drink for your baby until she’s a year old anyway. Goodnight milks These are follow-on milks with added cereal, which are marketed at parents as helping babies to sleep better at night. However, there’s no evidence that they help babies to settle at night or that they take longer to digest. Don’t give goodnight milk to your baby if she’s less than six months old because cereal isn’t suitable for younger babies. Also don’t give this milk to your baby if she is overweight. Growing-up milks Growing-up milks are marketed at parents as being better than cows milk because they contain added iron and other vitamins and minerals. They are promoted to be used for babies from about one year old. However, growing-up milk isn’t needed, as once your baby’s a year old she can have full-fat cows milk as her main drink. She’ll also be eating a varied and balanced diet, which should provide her with all the essential vitamins and minerals, without the need for growing-up milk. These extra formula milks are not really necessary at all. Your baby can get all she needs as she grows by having her standard formula milk alongside calcium-rich and iron-rich foods. You can then move your baby onto cow’s milk when she’s a year old. The only reason you may want to change your baby’s milk is if you’re raising her as a vegetarian. When your start her on solids from six months, you may find it difficult to find enough vegetarian foods that are rich in iron. So an iron-rich formula may be a good option.

A Potential Avian Influenza Pandemic Essay -- Biology Medical Biomedic

A Potential Avian Influenza Pandemic Avian influenza could potentially be the world's next pandemic. The virus that causes this disease can be transmitted to other birds and humans by bird secretions. Bird migrations, as well as today?s instant worldwide transportation, can spread the avian influenza virus at amazing speeds. The government would face a disease that could wipe out millions of people. Meanwhile, the economy would crash as money is spent eradicating the disease from the country. Poultry farmers would have to cull their birds to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. Perhaps the greatest concern about avian influenza is its potential to not only infect and kill many people, but to be used as a bioterrorism weapon. Avian influenza is rapidly becoming a great concern to health officials worldwide. The pathogen responsible for this disease is the avian influenza virus from the Orthomyxoviridae family. (University of Maryland, 2005) The H5N1 subtype, however, could potentially cause the most harm. Viruses are typically found in their natural reservoir, the bodies of wild fowl, although they do not always cause symptoms or illness in the birds. These viruses can be transmitted by various means to other birds and, as of 1997, humans. The 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong was the first time the avian influenza virus was noted to skip from bird to human. (CBC, 2005) Since then, health officials are becoming increasingly concerned with what avian influenza could mean in the near future. If an avian influenza pandemic were to occur, the government would face a deadly disease that would kill much of the population. There would be a catastrophic effect on the economy as the government must spend millions to erad icate disease and ... ...71805CIP/shtml International Herald Tribune. (2005, July). A flu nightmare. The IHT Online. July 15, 2005: http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2005/07/14/opinio n/edfllu.php Marwaan Macan-Markar. (2005, March) Bird flu to shake up Asian society. Asian Times. July 19, 2005: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/ GC01Ae01.html Stephen Smith. (2005, July) Avian flu found in migrating geese in China. The Boston Globe. July 15, 2005: http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/arti cles/2005/07/07/avian_flu_found_in_migrating_geese_in_china/ University of Maryland. (2005. n/a) Avian Influenza Virus. Avian Influenza Virus Program. July 25, 2005: http://www.agnr.umd.edu/avianflu/ World Health Organization. (2004, January) Avian Influenza- fact sheet. World Health Organization. July 25, 2005: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_01_15/e n/print.html

Johnson and Johnson Executive Summary Essay

The $10,000 investment made into Johnson and Johnson is a good investment to have in your portfolio. This is because of the stable nature of Johnson and Johnson and the growth trend of the company. Based on the JNJ 10-Ks for the last 5 years ended Jan. 1, 2012, the revenue trend is growing. Revenues have trended favorably from $61,095 in the year ended Jan. 2007 to $65,030 in the year ended Jan. 1, 2012. The company is also operating efficiently showing the more stable aspect of this investment by keeping costs of goods sold at an average percent of 29.94% for the five years ended Jan. 1, 2012. The company is also well leveraged for growth. A good measure of this leverage is the Debt Ratio, which is a measure of the total liabilities of a company in proportion to the total assets. The Debt Ratio will also expose the risks in the company’s debt-load by revealing the extent of assets that are financed with debt. The debt ratio for JNJ has trended from 2.00 in the year ended Dec. 28, 2008 to 2.01 Jan. 1, 2012 with an increase in the fiscal years ended Jan 2, 2011 and Jan 3 2010 to 2.22 and 2.15, respectively. These ratios show that the company has two assets for every one dollar of a liability the company has thereby showing that the company is financially stable and able to pay the obligations it has. Johnson and Johnson is also able to generate earnings from it’s invested capital. Return on asset (ROA) is a ratio that describes what earnings are generated from invested capital and is often referred to as return on investment. From the years ended Dec. 28, 2008 through Jan 2, 2011, the company has had a consistent ROA percentage of 15.25%, 12.95%, and 12.96%, respectively. The ROA percentage decreased to 8.51% in the year ended Jan. 1, 2012 because of continued additions of assets through acquisitions that will continue to generate growth in the future. Market perception is also a valuable indicator when determining sound investments. The price to earnings ratio is a valuation of a company’s current market share price compared to its per-share earnings. Generally, a higher P/E ratio suggests that an investor can expect higher earnings growth in the future. The price to earnings ratio has increased substantially to 18.53 in the fiscal year ended Jan. 1, 2012 from the 12.75 price to earnings ratio in the year ended Jan. 2, 2011, as shown in the table below. Lastly, most financially secure and stable companies offer dividends to their stockholders. A dividend is a distribution of cash, stock, or property in a portion of a company’s earnings. The cash dividends per share have trended favorably for investors looking to have a return on their investment from $1.62 in the year ended Dec. 28, 2007 to $2.25 for the year ended Jan. 1, 2012. In summary, Johnson and Johnson is continually investing into new consumer, pharmaceutical, and medical device fields which has created a large, well diversified company that is able to stay one step ahead of its competitors thereby creating a strong stable investment option for investors.

Holes Essay

There are many different challenges that Stanley Yelnats (the main character) from the bestselling novel Holes written by Louis Sachar has to over come. Stanley was first seen in the movie when a tilted shot of shoes hit him in the head and he fell on the ground portraying he was weak and a bit stupid. Stanley’s personality was also displayed when his mum was so shocked when the police came around to their house telling them Stanley had stolens, this shows that Stanley had never commited a crime before and wasn’t usually a trouble maker. The movie directed by Andrew Davis portrays everything the book does and it shows nearly all the insight into Stanley’s life that author describes in the book. There are many challenges but the main one is breaking the ‘curse’ that Stanley’s family has been stuck in for more than 100 years. This challenge shows many significant themes in this book like friendship, determination and fate. The main dispute for Stanley was breaking his family curse. Although he didn’t know if it was even real and that he had broken it , it was clear for the audience watching the movie that he had. The curse was put on his family more than 100 years ago when the first Yelnats, Elya Yelnats went to a fortune teller called Madame Zeroni. She made him a deal that he could have one of her small pigs if he carried Madame Zeroni up the mountain when he was done making the pig nice and fat so he could give it to the father of the girl of his dreams. When he noticed that the girl really was stupid like Madame Zeroni warmed him he decided to move from Lativia to America. However he forgot to carry Madame Zeroni up the mountain so she put a curse on his family forever. This was portrayed by a dissolve of Madame Zeroni repeating that she will put a curse on his family to Elya leaving Lativia. The low angle of Madame Zeroni’s face made it obvious that she was not kidding and very serious about the curse. When Stanely carried Hectoria Zeroni (a descendant of Madame Zeroni) up â€Å"God’s Thumb† which was also portrayed with a low angle making it look very commodious, he broke the family curse. This challenge portrayed many key ideas and themes and one of them was friendship. Zero (Hector Zeroni) and Stanley didn’t know eachother at all but due to them both being the ‘outcasts’ of the group they started to get to know eachother and Stanley started to teach Zero how to read and Zero helped dig Stanley holes so he wasn’t so tired and could teach him. These lessons however were then stopped by the Warden, who was introduced by a high angle on her boots which already made her look threating as you could compare it to some movies where the thief or cowboy’s boots got introduced before their face which usually portrayed they were a significant character that usually was there to cause harm. However this didn’t stop Zero and Stanley’s friendship growing, when Zero ran away form the camp as he had enough of it Stanley had to go and rescue his only close friend he had at the camp. This shows Stanley’s friendly love for Zero portrayed by the dissolving of Stanley walking through the dessert and than of the sun showing how hot it was. The soundtrack of mysterious music kept you guessing to see if Stanley would end up finding Zero or not. The orange overalls that all the boys at Camp Greenlake wore made Zero recognizable in the dessert. The audience knew that when the two boys rejoiced both of them were very content due to the soundtrack turning from mysterious to faster more lively music. Another key idea that the challenge portrayed was change. Change for Stanley, his family and Hector Zeroni. There were many unanswered questions that produced tension, secrecy through the entire movie but these questions were all answered when Stanley broke the curse. There was quite a journey to break the curse for Stanley and during this period his character changed dramatically. He used to a gullable, weak , little boy that couldn’t stand up for himself. But he turned into a strong, smart young adult that could even save someone’s life. His weak side was displayed through a high angle of Stanley searching for a camera in the shower, that he got told the Warden of the Camp had installed. This shows how gullable he was and believed everything the other boys in his hut said. As well as giving his findings in a hole to another boy who got a free day off as the Warden though he found it not Stanley. However when he was in the middle of the dessert. He saw â€Å"God’s Thumb† and took iniative. When Hector was to weak he carried him up and saved his life as he found water which the boys definitely needed as they were tired and dehydrated. When Stanley broke the curse it changed many other things mostly for his life and family. His dad finally created a way to make sweaty feet/shoes not smell and Stanley found his treasure that was buried for more than 100 years by Kissing Kate Barlow. This changed his entire lifestyle and he gave half of his treasure to Hector who used that to hire private investigastors and find his mum who he haden’t seen for more than 4 years. As you can see the main challenge definitely portrays some key ideas and themes. It displays the friendship betweeen Stanley Yelanats and Hector Zeroni which is definitely one of the most important friendship. Furthermore it explains how Stanley, Hector and both of their families changed. Stanleys personality changed showed everyone how much you can change due to your circumstances and enviroment around you. He teaches everyone a good lesson and I would definitly recommend this to any person my age.

Learn about the Famous Resort Country of Monaco

Learn about the Famous Resort Country of Monaco Population: 32,965 (July 2009 estimate)Capital: MonacoArea: 0.77 square miles (2 sq km)Bordering Country: FranceCoastline: 2.55 miles (4.1 km)Highest Point: Mont Agel at 460 feet (140 m)Lowest Point: Mediterranean SeaMonaco is a small European country located between southeastern France and the Mediterranean Sea. It is considered the second smallest country in the world (after Vatican City) by area. Monaco has only one official city which is its capital and is famous as being a resort area for some of the worlds richest people. Monte Carlo, an administrative area of Monaco, is the countrys most famous area due to its location on the French Riviera, its casino, the Monte Carlo Casino, and several beach and resort communities.History of MonacoMonaco was first founded in 1215 as a Genoan colony. It then came under the control of the House of Grimaldi in 1297 and remained independent until 1789. In that year, Monaco was annexed by France and was under French control until 1814. In 1815, Monaco became a protectorate of Sardinia under the Treaty of Vienna. It remained a protectorate until 1861 when the Franco-Monegasque Treaty established its independence but it remained under the guardianship of France.Monacos first constitution was put into effect in 1911 and in 1918 it signed a treaty with France which stated that its government would support French military, political and economic interests and that if the Grimaldi dynasty (which still controlled Monaco at the time) were to die out, the country would remain independent but be under French protection.Throughout the mid 1900s, Monaco was controlled by Prince Rainier III (who took over the throne on May 9, 1949). Prince Rainier is most famous for his marriage to American actress Grace Kelly in 1956 who was killed in a car accident near Monte Carlo in 1982.In 1962, Monaco established a new constitution and in 1993 it became a member of the United Nations. It then joined the Council of Europe in 2003. In April 2005, Prince Rainier III died. He was the longest serving monarch in Europe at the time. In July of the same year his son, Prince Albert II ascended the throne.Government of MonacoMonaco is considered a constitutional monarchy and its official name is the Principality of Monaco. It has an executive branch of government with a chief of state (Prince Albert II) and a head of government. It also has a legislative branch with a unicameral National Council and a judicial branch with a Supreme Court.Monaco is also divided into four quarters for local administration. The first of these is Monaco-Ville which is the old city of Monaco and sits on a headland in the Mediterranean. The other quarters are La Condamine on the countrys port, Fontvieille, which is a newly build area, and Monte Carlo which is Monacos largest residential and resort area.Economics and Land Use in MonacoA large part of Monacos economy is focused on tourism as it is a popular European resort area. In addition, Monaco is also a large banking center, has no income tax and has low taxes for its businesses. Ind ustries other than tourism in Monaco include construction and industrial and consumer products on a small scale. There is no large scale commercial agriculture in the country.Geography and Climate of MonacoMonaco is the worlds second smallest country by area and is surrounded on three sides by France and on one by the Mediterranean Sea. It is located only 11 miles (18 km) from Nice, France and is close to Italy as well. Most of Monacos topography is rugged and hilly and its coastal portions are rocky.Monacos climate is considered Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The average low temperature in January 47 °F (8 °C) and the average high temperature in July is 78 °F (26 °C).More Facts about Monaco Monaco is one of the most densely populated countries in the world Locals from Monaco are called Monà ©gasques Monà ©gasques are not allowed to enter Monte Carlos famous Monte Carlo Casino and visitors must show their foreign passports upon entry The French make up the largest part of Monacos populationReferencesCentral Intelligence Agency. (2010, March 18). CIA - The World Factbook - Monaco. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mn.htmlInfoplease. (n.d.). Monaco: History, Geography, Government, and Culture - Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0107792.htmlUnited States Department of State. (2010, March). Monaco (03/10). Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3397.htm

Independent and Dependent Variable Examples

Independent and Dependent Variable Examples The independent variable and dependent variable are examined in an experiment using the scientific method, so its important to know what they are and how to use them. Here are the definitions for independent and dependent variables, examples of each variable, and the explanation for how to graph them. Independent Variable The independent variable is the condition that you change in an experiment. It is the variable you control. It is called independent because its value does not depend on and is not affected by the state of any other variable in the experiment. Sometimes you may hear this variable called the controlled variable because it is the one that is changed. Do not confuse it with a control variable, which is a variable that is purposely held constant so that it cant affect the outcome of the experiment. Dependent Variable The dependent variable is the condition that you measure in an experiment. You are assessing how it responds to a change in the independent variable, so you can think of it as depending on the independent variable. Sometimes the dependent variable is called the responding variable. Independent and Dependent Variable Examples In a study to determine whether how long a student sleeps affects test scores, the independent variable is the length of time spent sleeping while the dependent variable is the test score.You want to compare brands of paper towels, to see which holds the most liquid. The independent variable in your experiment would be the brand of paper towel. The dependent variable would be the amount of liquid absorbed by a paper towel.In an experiment to determine how far people can see into the infrared part of the spectrum, the wavelength of light is the independent variable and whether the light is observed (the response) is the dependent variable.If you want to know whether caffeine affects your appetite, the presence/absence of the amount of caffeine would be the independent variable. How hungry you are would be the dependent variable.You want to determine whether a chemical is essential for rat nutrition, so you design an experiment. The presence/absence of the chemical is the independent v ariable. The health of the rat (whether it lives and can reproduce) is the dependent variable. If you determine the substance is necessary for proper nutrition, a follow-up experiment would be to determine how much of the chemical is needed. Here, the amount of chemical would be the independent variable and the rat health would be the dependent variable. How to Tell the Independent and Dependent Variable Apart If you are having a hard time identifying which variable is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable, remember the dependent variable is the one affected by a change in the independent variable. If you write out the variables in a sentence that shows cause and effect, the independent variable causes the effect on the dependent variable. If you have the variables in the wrong order, the sentence wont make sense. Independent variable causes an effect on the dependent variable. Example: How long you sleep (independent variable) affects your test score (dependent variable). This makes sense, but: Example: Your test score affects how long you sleep. This doesnt really make sense (unless you cant sleep because you are worried you failed a test, but that would be a whole other experiment). How to Plot Variables on a Graph There is a standard method for graphing the independent and dependent variable. The x-axis is the independent variable, while the y-axis is the dependent variable. You can use the DRY MIX acronym to help remember how to graph variables: DRY MIX DÂ   dependent variableRÂ   responding variableYÂ   graph on the vertical or y-axis MÂ   manipulated variableIÂ   independent variableXÂ   graph on the horizontal or x-axis Test your understanding with the scientific method quiz.

Explain how the twenties were and were not so roaring Essay

Explain how the twenties were and were not so roaring - Essay Example s facilitated by influx of money in to the economies by soldiers from US and Canada who had just returned from War hence the production industry was forced to expand to meet the increased demand of goods. In 1921, President Harding signed the Emergency Tariff of 1921 which was aimed at reducing the tax rates, reducing the national debt and protecting the interests of the farmers. Overconfidence in the boom economy contributed to stock price speculation and excessive credit in the economy which led to the stock market crash and the Great Depression. The federal expenditure was increased in order to create new job opportunities and help the industries which were collapsing. The roaring twenties saw the development of transport system and other communication technology advancements (Kenney 115). There was development of electricity manufacturing power and by 1929 all the main industries relied on electricity. Steam power provided much of the energy needs at the onset of 1920s but this was overtaken by electricity power as the decade progressed. Mechanization of manufacturing industries progressed through the roaring twenties where new processes and methods of production were implemented. The roaring twenties also experienced mass production in the automobile industry and mass broadcasting medium invention like the radio and television. Sound recording was later invented hence businesses conducted mass advertisements through these new mediums (Kenney 116). Massive government expenditure was invested in railway construction, electrification and upgrading the highways in the hope that these new infrastructure was reap benefits in future. Most of the local governments were in huge debts. Urbanization increased in cities and demand of white collar jobs was high. Most of the States ratified Nineteenth Amendment which gave women the right to vote thus further sparking a series of women movements who demanded more rights for women and Blacks. The twenties also were marked