Bilingual Education Essay

Now, it seems to be universally accepted that increased education is a good thing. Thousands of colleges and millions of students spend vast amounts of time and money chasing pieces of paper. But what is the value of these qualifications? This essay will discuss whether education has been devalued. Supporters of education (usually teachers or educators, or those who have an interest in stopping people thinking for themselves) say that increased levels of education will open doors for students. Certificates, diplomas, and degrees are held up as a status symbol, a passport to a private club of money and power. However, the truly powerful are not those who have taken degrees, but people who have stood back and looked at what is really important in life. They have seen opportunity and followed dreams. These people are found in every part of society. Like many brilliant people, Einstein was a weak student at math. Like many successful businessmen, Bill Gates never completed college. Like many inventive and creative people, Edison never went to school. The greatest religious teachers do not have letters after their name, but have looked into their hearts for meaning. Similarly, the world’s political leaders do not have master’s degrees or doctorates. These are the people who shaped our century, and they are too busy with real life to spend time in the paper chase. Students in college are being sold an illusion. They are made to believe that self-understanding and society approval will come with the acquisition of a piece of paper. Instead of thinking for themselves, and finding their own personality and strengths, they are fitted like square pegs into round holes. The role of education is to prepare masses of people to operate at low levels of ability in a very limited and restricted range of activities. Some of these activities are more challenging than perhaps the assembly lines of the past, but still the ultimate purpose is equally uninteresting. More worryingly, despite the increased level of education, people are still not genuinely expected to think for themselves. In fact, the longer years of schooling make the job of brainwashing even easier. There is still a role for study, research, and education. However, we need to examine our emphasis on education for the sake of a piece of paper, and to learn the real meaning and revolutionary challenge of knowledge. mean by education from the outset. That might make it easier for you to sharpen your arguments against it. You need to better deal with the opposing arguments. It is true of course that some people become millionaires by dropping out of school to become entrepreneurs. But, if one looks at the average income of dropouts compared to the average income of people who graduate high school, and then compare those rates to the average income of people who graduate from university, we see quite clearly that better education leads, on average, to greater career success (you could even do research and cite sources, using empirical evidence to back up your points! ) Also, education, especially liberal arts (or even liberal science) tends to improve people, giving them a capacity for critical thought that makes them more interesting and worth listening to. You even seem to acknowledge, in your conclusion, that people who do well without formal education may yet be considered self-educated. So, perhaps you should define what you mean by education from the outset. That might make it easier for you to sharpen your arguments against it. I am not sure that I am following your argument here. Education is devalued because it is akin to brainwashing and drains people of the ability to think for themselves. Truly powerful people have never been to college. The role of education is to transform people into automatons performing a limited range of activities. As an argumentative essay, you’ll need to back up those opinions. Your examples can help, but Einstein did attend university and had a doctorate degree from the school of mathematics and natural sciences at Zurich University. I don’t think you can make the claim that Einstein had difficulty with math he was studying calculus at the age of twelve but he did have trouble with speech. Edison did not attend university, but at that time a mere 1% of the population attended college so the example loses impact. Bill Gates attended Harvard. He didn’t graduate, but he still considers his Harvard experience valuable (it is where he learned that there are people smarter than he is and met business partner Steve Ballmer). Besides, Harvard gave Gates an Honorary Degree in 2007. Gates also blows the theory that brilliant people struggle with math he scored near perfect on the SAT. Steve Jobs quite college after a semester (I know that you didn’t use him as an example, but I thought it was interesting Michael Dell is another computer guru who never finished college). Who are the world’s religious teachers and political leaders that you are referring to?. Here’s an article that I found interesting: http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/29445201/ It talks about different things than your essay, but I can see where everyone getting a college degree would devalue those degrees . . . forty is the new thirty and a college degree is the new high diploma, blah, blah, blah. With 68% of high school graduates in the US enrolling in collage (2008), do we have a future with an over-educated, under-employed workforce? I could also see the argument that not everyone is suited for college life and we, as a society, need auto mechanics, plumbers, and grocery store clerks.

Operations Management in Business Essay

In writing this assignment the template provided by the college has been used helping in completing the Assignment in the correct format. Information for this assignment has been collected from various sources such as academic pieces of writing from textbooks and lecture notes. Information on the company has been gathered from the organisations website, journal articles and government statistics. References will be provided at the end of the assignment under the referencing section. LO1: Understand the structure and aims of business organisations LO1.1 Explain the importance of operational management Operation management can be identified as a complete set of managerial activities employed by the organization to transform resource inputs into product and service outputs. So the resource inputs are the factors of production such as materials, parts, supplies, technologies, capital, human resources and information. The transformational process is that set of activities through which operations managements produces output that is value to a customer or client in the organization’s external environment. So the concept of adding value is critical to operations management. So when operations add value to the original cost of the resource inputs, where a business can generate profit or non profit org can provide public services  to the society. So no organization can be successful unless they manage their operations efficiently. An organization has to manage its operations in an effective manner so that customers will get a satisfactory output. Read more:  Operations Management Essay Why an operation manger position is important to Kingslice 1.To take capacity decisions: That is as operation manager, has to decide how much capacity will be needed and need to identity how flexible capacity should be. 2.To take facilities decisions: So operation manger has to decide where should facilities be located and also how many facilities will be needed and what size they should be. 3.To make workflow and technology decisions: Operation manger should decide what workflow layout would be best for Kingslice and also what technology should be used. 4.To make materials and inventory decisions: How often should inventory be ordered and how large should inventory levels be. 5.Have to make quality decisions: As a bread producing company how Kingslice can achieve best quality outputs and what level it should be. So as the operation manger in Kingslice it is really important to concentrate on productivity and profitability. So as the operation manager I have to look at Quality, Efficiency and Effectiveness issues in the company. †¢Quality Standard: As it is expected to produce various kinds of breads to meet customers’ needs it is very necessary to maintain standard quality in products. Eg: Wholemeal bread, White bread, Gluten-free bread. To ensure quality, the right ingredients must be bought at a reasonable price to be competitive among the rivals. So the Economic Order Quantity model will be an effective tool in this case. †¢Efficiency Standard: Should reduce wastage and need to produce the right amount of breads according to sales. It is very important that all the equipments need to be up to date according to new technology bakers should be well trained. †¢Effectiveness Standard: This will help Kingslice to generate more profit and will attract more investors in to the organization. So having skilful staffs and proper equipment will help to lift up the effectiveness in Kingslice. LO1.2 Explain the need to produce safely; on time; to cost; to quality and within the law Operational efficiency is the ability of an organization to deliver products or services to its customers in the most cost-effective manner possible while still ensuring the high quality of its product, service and support. To improve operational efficiency it’s important to analyze the current situation of the company, which occurs when the right combination of the people, process and technology come together to enhance the productivity and value of any business operations, while reducing the cost of routine. It is important for, Kingslice as bread producing company to, -Decrease operational cost and optimize efficiency -Manage and develop product quality and ensure regulatory compliance -Generate a real time demand driven sales and operational planning process âž ¢Safety Kingslice should guarantee that safety of all staffs. Staffs need to carry out a health and safety trainings which will be useful be more cautious at work and react efficiently to safety issues. Equipments should be service over period of time to prevent any danger. âž ¢Cost Minimising wastage will help Kingslice a lot. So the saved money saved could be used in other departments which lack facilities. Avoiding unnecessary cost will help the company to stay competitive. âž ¢Time Producing the bread on time will help Kingslice honouring its contacts to the retailers. By this act, other retailers can switch to Kingslice. âž ¢Quality Customer and retailers feedback need to be taken in to consideration seriously so that we can identify which areas need to improve the most. Having regular meetings with staffs is another form of feedback where ideas can be discussed as well as issues in how to improve quality. âž ¢Legislation To maintain our competiveness and reputation in the market Kingslice need to stick on to the law. Health and safety policy should be respected by giving the staffs the necessary equipments to work. There are laws that protect the environment; at Kingslice we should try to recycle waste. LO1.3 Explain the link between operations management and strategic planning Operations management deals with designs, management with products, processes, services and supply chains. It is considered that the acquisition, development and resources utilization that company needs to provide the goods and services to fulfil their customer’s needs. So basically it is the acquisition of resources and processes them into finished goods according to the customers’ wants and the business goal. Strategic planning is a method for a company planning the present based on the projections what will be needed in the future. So it is a road map to direct the business from where it is now where it will like to be Strategic planning gives a clear view on: †¢How resources should be allocated. †¢The issues need to be addressing. †¢The strengths and weaknesses. . Strategic Planning Process Link between Strategic Planning and Operation Management In Kingslice, as the operational manger should be able operate following operations strategies, †¢Ability to produce bread at low cost †¢Ability produce in accordance with specification and without error †¢Ability to do things quickly in response to customer demands and thereby offer short lead times between when customers orders a product and when they receive it. †¢Ability to deliver products in accordance with promises made to customers †¢Ability to change the volume of production †¢Ability to change the mix of different products Eg: Wholemeal bread, White bread †¢Ability to innovate and introduce new products Eg: Gluten-free bread, Multi-seed bread Applying the SWOT analysis in Kingslice, -Strengths: Get the best out of the staffs and equipping well trained staff and technology. -Weaknesses: Need to reduce the wastes and have to follow or standard recycling method. -Opportunities: Innovating products and change package design will help to increase the sales. -Threats: competitors and health and safety issues LO1.4 Produce a systems diagram to illustrate a typical business LO2: Understand the link between operations management and strategic planning LO2.1 Explain the ‘Three Es’ (economy, efficiency and effectiveness) In this 3 Es’ theory it is often referred to Value of Money. †¢Economy –Minimising the cost of resources (doing things at a low price) This covers financial side of work carried out. It is measured by considering the cost of resources consumed into value of output delivered. †¢Efficiency –Performing tasks with realistic attempt (doing things the right way) This can be measured in terms of the inputs required to generate the outputs. So if a task can be finished with less resources, the efficiency is been improved. †¢Effectiveness –The point to which objectives are met (doing the right things) This can be measured by setting up a target before a task begins and then evaluating whether the targets have been achieved not. †¢Integrating 3Es use of the resources in improving quality o f the products and the customer service in Subway So this 3Es are interrelated so as operations manger when dealing with improving quality and customer service its necessary to consider all 3. So I can suggest following, †¢Benchmarking against other rivals for indications as to whether we are â€Å"economic enough†, â€Å"efficient enough† and â€Å"effective enough†. †¢Comparing with other parts of our organization †¢Measuring and interpreting trends over a period of time †¢Aiming to continuous improvement So I would suggest following measures to improve above qualities in Subway, †¢Economy Performance Measures: Maintaining a cost per unit Comparing the actual cost input with planned input †¢Efficiency Performance Measures: Minimising the waste Make sure staffs well trained Equipment must be up to date †¢Effective Performance Measures: Storing the right amount of stocks Identifying the best selling meal depending on the location Identifying the target customer group Responding to customer feedbacks LO2.2Explain the tension between cost minimisation and quality maximisation. Cost minimisation aims to achieve the most cost efficient way of delivering goods and services achieve the essential level of quality. Customer is the main root in Tesco Plc, without them they cannot survive in the completive market. While offering good customer services and the good quality products need to have an idea about the cost minimization of the product as well. So in this case I realised major out flow of the company is marketing and branding cost. Therefore I have to identify better marketing and branding technique to drop overall Tesco marketing and branding cost for our products. But marketing is very vital to survive in this competitive market (ex.Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose) Thus have to look any alternation cost to reduce rather than cutting marketing cost. I came with an idea to reduce production cost at controlling, †¢Minimise the extra over time, †¢Minimise unnecessary utility expenses †¢Management ordering –then we can reduce transport cost and increase the sales in an efficient way. †¢Hence some Tesco expresses don’t have their own bake off it will be good move to build their own bake off to control waste, cost and provide high quality products. In the mean time I have given my attention to best customer services throughout our entire retail shops. By  advising all retail managers to look after extra satisfactory stock at any time and maintain all warehouse activities including production ,servicing and manage of chilled foods and grocery items while minimum of wastage and maximising customer satisfaction towards highest profitability margin while in according to control the safety features. To increase the customer services I manage to conduct, †¢Proper training programme to all our staff. †¢Evaluate the retail shops and individual staff by’’ mystery shopper’’ †¢Well experience new staff recruitment, LO2.3 Evaluate the significance of the five performance objectives that underpin operations management Strategy in a business organization is essentially about how the organization seeks to survive and prosper within its environment over the long-term. The decisions and actions taken within its operations have a direct impact on the basis on which an organization is able to do this. The way in which an organization secures, deploys and utilizes its resources will determine the extent to which it can successfully pursue specific performance objectives. Slack et al. (2004) argue that there are five operations strategies: 1 Cost: The ability to produce at low cost. 2 Quality: The ability to produce in accordance with specification and without error. 3 Speed: The ability to do things quickly in response to customer demands and thereby offer short lead times between when a customer orders a product or service and when they receive it. 4 Dependability: The ability to deliver products and services in accordance with promises made to customers (e.g. in a quotation or other published information). 5 Flexibility: The ability to change operations. Flexibility can comprise up to four aspects: †¢The ability to change the volume of production. †¢The ability to change the time taken to produce. †¢The ability to change the mix of different products or services produced. †¢The ability to innovate and introduce new products and services. Operations strategy has a vertical relationship in the corporate hierarchy with business and corporate strategies, and horizontally with the other functional strategies, most notably with marketing strategy. Operations strategy might come about in a top-down or a bottom-up process with regard to business and corporate strategies. Similarly, an operations strategy might be developed in response to market requirements (i.e. market-led) or be based on the capabilities of its operations. Slack et al. (2004: p.67) argue that an operations strategy concerns the pattern of strategic decisions and actions, which set the role, objectives, and activities of operations’. Their use of the term ‘pattern’ implies a consistency in strategic decisions and actions over time. LO3 Understand how to organise a typical production process LO3.1Explain linear programming Linear programming is the process of taking various linear inequalities relating to some situation, and finding the â€Å"best† value obtainable under those conditions. Let X be the number of items produced in Basic and Y be the number of items produced in Deluxe. Let P be the profit from both Basic and Deluxe. Then; 10X+ 15Y= P A maximum units of capital is 100. Then; 100≠¥4X+5Y——————requirement 1 Maximum labour availability is 60 hours Then; 60 ≠¥2X+4Y 30≠¥ X+2Y——————-requirement 2 The number of items of the products should be greater than or equals to zero. Then; Y≠¥0 and X≠¥0 Graphical method is used to solve the problem 3 points are available and the 4th point should be derived from the graph Point (0,15) , (0,0) and (25,0) is available , X=16.7 and Y= 6.7 substituting in P= 10x+15y P=167 + 100.5 =267.5 Therefore the maximum profit = 267.5 LO3.2 Evaluate critical path analysis and network planning Critical path analysis is a step by step technique for process planning. This is series of activities determining the earliest completion of the project and schedule network analysis techniques used to identify the schedule flexibility and the critical path of the project schedule network diagram. The critical path is the longest path (sequence of activities) in a project schedule network diagram. Because it is the longest path, it determines the duration of the project and hence the finish dates of the project given the start date. CPA requires careful planning so projects can run smoothly. Improve efficiency and cash flow, therefore materials can be ordered to arrive only as they are needed. Critical path analysis †¢May be used as part of the decision making process. †¢Enables a firm to plan and monitor operations. †¢Time related – identifies the maximum time for an operation to be completed. †¢Identify potential problems in implementing operation. †¢Identifies where and when resources (including human ones) are needed. The approach is in three parts. †¢Create the network – break the overall task down into discrete activities and then create a logical network showing the relationship between the activities in terms of what follows or precedes what. †¢Calculate the timings – make estimates of the time required for each activity and calculate the total time required for the project and the critical path – the path of activities which must happen to estimate if the project is to be completed on time. †¢Update and monitor progress – this is where critical path analysis is really important in areas such as constructions. Having  formed the network and made the estimates and initial calculations, the progress of the activities can be monitored and the whole network updated as work progresses, to ensure that the project completion is not delayed. Example- The following tasks, estimates and precedence have been agreed in a project. TaskActivityEstimated datesprecedence AWrite project initiation document3- BResearch site one4A CResearch site two2A DDocument requirements – site one6B EDocument requirement – site two5C FDefine non – functional requirements2A GDefine agreed requirements3D,E,F HWrite invitation to tender4G Total days29 So we can prepare a project network for this project. After that we can be able to identify which activities are on the critical path of the project. Observing this path we can be able to infer the estimated elapsed duration of the project. The project network for this project- Critical path = ABDG H = 3 + 4 + 6 + 3 + 4 = 20 days In order to complete to this project take 29 days normally but after applying  critical path can be able to finish this 20 days and we can save 9 days from this. LO3.3 Explain the need for operational planning and control Operational planning and control decisions involve arrangement and control of labour, materials, and capital input to produce the required quantity and quality of production most efficiently. Operational planning and control are based on forecasts of future demand for the output of the system. But even with the best possible forecasting and the most finely tuned operations system, demand cannot always be met with existing system capability in a given time period. †¢Unexpected market trends †¢new product developments †¢competitors’ actions Can throw the forecasts off and problems in the operations system can reduce capacity. At these times, shorter term managerial decisions must be made to allocate system capacity to meet demand.   Long term planning involves factors such as fixed capacity planning and product planning. These decisions will affect the organization in the long run. Medium and short term planning involves variable capacity planning, product forecasting, operations scheduling and inventory management. Operation manger organises the operations functioned be allocating responsibilities and creating structures. To ensure business will run smoothly in the long run following planning and controls have to take in to action âž ¢Routing: _ decides the quality and material type _organizing production control forms _investigating which part of the product need to produced or bought âž ¢Scheduling Preventing unnecessary delays and completing operations successfully and efficiently. _Master scheduling _Manufacture scheduling âž ¢Despatching How the process and operations are done through the route sheets. _Centralised Despatching _De-centralised Despatching âž ¢Follow up and expediting âž ¢Inspection LO4 Be able to apply relevant techniques to the production of an operational plan for a typical business LO4.1 Produce a set of clearly defined operational outcomes Companies achieve operational outcomes by reducing or avoiding costs. We can use SMART tool to define the outcomes †¢Specific: Clear and definite terms describing abilities, knowledge, values, attitudes and performance. †¢Measurable: It is feasible to get the data and data are accurate and reliable so it can be assed in more than one way. †¢Aggressive but Attainable: Has potential to move the organization forward. †¢Results-oriented: Describes what standards are expected from customers. †¢Time-bound: Describes where organization would like to be within a specific time period †¢As the Operations Manager at Curry’s, †¢When a customer orders for any particular product online it will be delivered next day, so as the operational manger if we can improve that same day service. It will enhance the quality of customer service provided by Curry’s. †¢Reviewing all the shifts and rescheduling the staff rota. So we can put more staff in the busy periods so it will help to provide excellent customer service because customers won’t be waiting in the long queues to get served. †¢Customer Returns have a bad effect on the business so as operation manger need to ensure the customer to remain faithful to Curry’s. Discount vouchers, Percentage discounts can be issued to the customer. This will satisfy customers. †¢Some customers experience problems in going through the catalogues. By having trained staffs, it is promising for them  to offer help to the customers who wish to use their assist in deciding which particular product the customers are looking for. †¢As the operation manger, need to compliance with budget and stability in curries. LO4.2 Produce a network plan and indicate the resultant critical path TaskActivityEstimated datesprecedence ASearch for suppliers and prepare storage10- BObtain quotation and get the approval 20A CPlace Order5B DInform The accountant 10C EReceive Goods20D G H FReceive invoice15A GChecking goods and acceptance5F, C HMake payment15A Total days LO4.3 Explain how quality could be defined and maintained Quality means different things to different organizations depending on the context. In curry’s quality is more likely to mean service excellence and customer care which is measured in terms of meeting customer expectations and customer satisfaction. http://www.iia.org.uk/en/Knowledge_Centre/Resource_Library/quality.cfm †¢how to ensure the overall quality standard in curry’s -Providing vision and direction to achieve results. -Making decisions using accurate data and facts. -Delivering value through the development of individuals -Managing process through an integrated approach -Increasing efficiency -Focusing on customers and anticipating future needs -Continuous improvement Quality management tools, standards and models -ISO 9000 series -Total quality management -Investors in people -Service excellence -Six sigma †¢To achieve quality standards in curry’s need to, -Provide quick response to customer feedbacks and problems -Have fully trained staffs -Revise supply chain of the products if products, defects higher than the returns expected per day. -Have up to date software’s and hardware’s to provide after sales services if required Conclusion and recommendation Operations management is a broad area of business management that involves labor relations, statistics, manufacturing control, and policy creation, among other things Being a good operation manager demands lots of hard work and dedication as he/she has to demonstrate how he/she manage scarce resources, time, cost, quality and so on. Planning and control has to be carefully monitored and in case the latter go out of hand it is impossible to keep the business on the right track Reference Investopedia. (2011). Operations Management. Available: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/operations-management.asp#ixzz1j2qL9mmN MIT Sloan School of Management. (2012). Operations Management. Available: http://sloan.mit.edu/omg/om-definition.php. Operations Management. (2012). Operations Management. Available: http://www.operationsmanager.com/operations-manager-fields/operations-management-careers/attachment/opmgmt_graphic/. Angell, Linda C., and Robert D. Klassen. â€Å"Integrating Environmental Issues into the Mainstream: An Agenda for Research in Operations Management.† Journal of Operations Management. August 1999. Weiss, Howard J., and Mark E. Gershon. Production and Operations Management. Allyn and Bacon, 1989. Bateman, Thomas S., and Carl P. Zeithaml. Management: Function and Strategy. Richard D. Irwin, 1990. Ashim G. (2009). Organisation’s External Environmental. Available: http://www.practical-management.com/Organization-Development/Organization-s-External-Environment.html. Slack, N., Chambers, S. and Johnston R. (2004) Operations Management (4th Edition), Harlow: Pearson Education. Basic Decision Making Tools. (2012). OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT. Available: http://www.masterclassmanagement.com/BusinessManagementCourse-BasicDecisionMakingTools.html Bailetti, A. J., & Litva, P. F. (1995). Integrating Customer Requirements into Product Designs. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 12(1), 3-15. Productivity Press. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VD5-3XX6S36-23/2/23228d6294be75b53b3295d8b9d9e2c8 Hart, C.W. (1996). Made to Order. Marketing Manage- ment, 5(2), 12–22. Marc L. Songini. (2000). Just-in-Time Manufacturing. Available: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/54131/Just_in_Time_Manufacturing?taxonomyId=126&pageNumber=2. Team quest 2010 http://www.teamquest.com/solutions/itil/service-delivery/capacity-management/index.htm Schniederjans, M. & Q. Cao. (2001). Analternative analysis of inventory costs of JIT and EOQ purchasing. InternationalJournal of Physical Distribution & Logistics, (31), 2, pp. 190-117. Duncan H. (2012). Project

Chapter 10 Flashcards Example for Free (#10)

Chapter 10 T/F Discussion boards are an earlier form of social networks. T/F Ryze was the first social network. T/F Orkut is the leading social network in Brazil. T/F Social networks blur the line between business and personal life. T/F A white label social network can also be called a corporate social network. T/F It is considered a best practice for companies to set up a profile on Facebook. T/F Large social networks are being threatened by niche social networks that cater to specific interests An online service where members can establish relationships Which social network made the mistake of alienating its early adopters by deleting suspicious accounts? Why is the Coca-Cola Facebook page different from other brand pages? The company shares the page administration with fans. What social network did not succeed in the U.S. but has been successful in other countries? Which of the following statements is false? People on social networks seek out brand relationships. Why are social networks so useful for businesses that sell to consumers? They are a great way to find and reach potential customers. According to the text, which is not considered a mistake on a LinkedIn profile? Completing a profile with as much detail as possible. One advantage of a white label social network is that It can be customized to suit the needs of a particular audience. What is the appeal of a private social network for a nonprofit? It provides a means for them to organize a cause without the distractions of a general social network. Why should firms consider investing in a presence on larger social networks? They set social media trends and have the largest audiences. What did Quantivo learn about targeting groups on LinkedIn? A group’s activity level is more important than its size. How does brand intelligence relate to social networks? It is a way to assess a company’s transparency online. Explain why marketers looking to reach a global audience must consider social networks beyond Facebook. Different social networks are popular in different countries, and a marketer needs to be aware of this when looking to reach and connect with specific international audiences. building relationships using discussion boards to converse about topics of shared interest An online meeting place for consumers and influencers to: to create, share and interact with content. Gangs 2 marketing ch. 15 yipyip HEP 3000 chapter 11 MGT exam 3 Marketing Chapter 7 quiz ch 8-9 Fountain Intro to Drugs and Behavior, Chapter 11: Caffeine (Practice questions) Marketing Test 2 company About StudyMoose Contact Careers Help Center Donate a Paper Legal Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Complaints We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy We will write a custom sample essay on

Effect of lowering temperature in tissue and organ preservation Research Paper

Effect of lowering temperature in tissue and organ preservation - Research Paper Example Enzymes in tissues and organs dissociate through inactivation because of cold-related propensities. Some enzymes are intrinsically affected by cooling. Reducing the temperature increases trans-membrane diffusion of solutes from minute ions to expanded molecules (Fuller et al., 2014). Hypothermic Machine Perfusion Preservation This preservation method was developed to enhance the quality and time of preservation of kidneys. The method allows the movement of oxygen to the tissues to enable ATP synthesis. The perfusion of the fluids aids in the transportation of oxygen through the fluids to essential areas of the organ (In Kirk, 2014). The perfusion process is positively impacted when the temperatures are regulated to certain limits. Even though the reduction of temperatures can have certain side effects, the preservation viability is immensely enhanced. Oxygen Persufflation The method employs gaseous oxygen in improving the viability of an organ for transplant. For instance, oxygen is bubbled through a vasculature that is then released through minute proliferations at the organ's surface. The method is effective in liver preservation because of its homogenous distribution of oxygen. The method has incredible capabilities of recovering the DCD organs (In Kirk, 2014). The two methods are critical in reducing the metabolic and chemical reactions that can otherwise affect the normal establishment of an organ. The flow of oxygen within the organ is the principal foundation of employed by the methods of preserving organs and tissues.

Blog Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 9

Blog - Essay Example Janissaries were a formidable fighting force of the Ottomans which gave the Ottomans enormous advantage over the European forces. Gradually, firearms, infantry drill, muskets, grenades and hand cannons were introduced which further strengthened the Janissary corps. However, the original organization was strong enough to adopt these advancements. There were infantry and cavalry soldiers. The infantry was divided into seven groups: janissaries, recruits, armorers, artillerymen, artillery carries, bombardiers and sewermen. All of these groups, formed by Turkish yongmen, were strong enough to provide the military with a tough corps. Hence, it is concluded that the military should have a robust organizational structure first of all, so that it is resilient enough to adopt newer ways, tools and equipment. Although, it is also true that without the introduction and adoption of firearms, muskets, and etcetera, the Janissaries would have ended up much sooner than they did, however, the import ance of organizational structure cannot be denied as with any other field of

State Development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

State Development - Assignment Example State can be and has been the key agent in development The concept of development has been used in different contexts over the course of time. It is often used for positive expressions pertaining to ‘good change’ or ‘progress’. However these two terms in themselves are intricate and need to be thoroughly understood. Refining it further, development may also be availed in the context of being a vision, a historical process of change in society and finally as an intentional process influenced by agencies and government. The aspect of change deliberates that development is a process. Development is a broad terminology and encompasses various subjects and may be used in diverse contexts but here we concentrate our meaning more towards the development of societies and individuals within societies. This process of development is influenced by an amalgamation of both social and political factors. What is more important to understand is that this process of change e ntails a wholesome approach, pertaining to a desirable change that occurs at all levels and is not confined to improvement in one aspect alone. It also goes a step further in that this process is continuous in nature and sustains by regular evaluations and a self-building practice. The smallest unit of this web starts at the level of an individual, while encompassing the society at large, simultaneously. It is individuals that ultimately make up a society. Therefore, change at a large scale is the reflection of change taking place at the smallest of levels. Hence, change in the thought process of an individual, their means of interaction; strategies that they use for making livelihood and their perception of themselves are what form the fundamentals of this change. This brings the fact that development entails both negative as well as positive features. Altogether, what one can at least decipher from this is that development is a product of multiple raw materials and hence can be sp oken of in multiple contexts. When speaking of development and capitalism working together two forms of development must be stressed upon namely; immanent and intentional development. The former states that development is inherently a process of self-building and growth occurring from within, without the influence of any extrinsic factors like policies. The latter, on the other hand involves the influence of policies and state agencies in giving rise to development. If we look at the start of the 19th century we realize that by its beginning capitalism had advanced into being a market society finally culminating into a global process. While when talking of development in the view of state the concept changes into being one that can be measured and analyzed statistically, hence more objectively. Therefore a developed society in this context is one that is modern and industrialized and not just rich in wealth but also one that is becoming economically stronger and striving towards gro wth and improvisation. This entails that GNP per capita is not only high but is always on the rise. This entails a set of characteristics which are mentioned as follows; the use of scientific knowledge, and its application rather than using traditional techniques. Another way of gauging the industrial development is by transition from olden subsistence farming to the commercial production of goods. Third is the evolution from the use of animal and plant power to the application of machines and last is the migration of individuals from villages to urban centers (Smelser 1968, pg126). Hence when we reflect upon the western industrialized countries what we realize is that they have undergone a process of development in their economy coupled with growth. The former includes an improved and augmented capacity and output while the latter implies an increasing GNP or GDP. This results in a higher income per capita. This modernization influences aspects relating to the quality of life by

Financial Reporting Theory Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Financial Reporting Theory Practice - Essay Example This essay describes the strategic management guidelines of the Morrisons company that have been developed with regard to analysing and writing up this essay. The goal of an essay's analysis is to determine the value of a company as expressed through its choices of strategy and structure. Firstly, the researcher states that such case analysis of a company is critical that it be systematic. The place of financial information is critical in the analysis and presentation of a case study analysis. Awareness of a company’s financial position at a given point in time represents the tangible outcomes of the company’s business strategies and structure. In summary, although Morrisons operated at a profit loss at the mid-way of the financial year for 2006, debt was down, team-work had been enhanced amongst the company, and International Standards for Financial Reporting had been adopted. The massive changes during the financial year, have tapped into environmental opportunities t o be exploited. It is anticipated that revues will increase over the forthcoming year, and future financial terms. It is recommended by the researcher of the essay that Morrisons focus on its alternative fuel sources supply of ethanol. As this leading company sets the standard for other manufacturers it would be in the interest of Morrisons to cultivate its ethanol to increase profits. Also, continued innovation in CSR will ensure Morrisons positive brand image, as well as cut costs in terms of time, money and employee, and of course, environmental impact.

Book Review on Jacob Riis' How the Other Half Lives Essay

Book Review on Jacob Riis' How the Other Half Lives - Essay Example He strongly believed that the upper society can make a strong impact to the lives of these impoverished people and that it was only possible through their support and contribution that the slums of New York could change shape and the people living there could be provided with the basic amenities of life. At the time when this book was written, camera with the flash technology were newly invented, therefore, Jacob A. Riis equipped his book with pictures of the slums because he felt that only words would not have the due impact which the pictures accompanying them would. The book talks about life in tenements. The tenements which were particularly what the author of the book hated about the life that he lived in the slums. In the following quotation from the book the author expresses his reasoning behind the animosity he held against the tenements; â€Å"In the tenements all the influences make for evil; because they are the hot-beds of the epidemics that carry death to rich and poor alike; nurseries of pauperism and crime that fill our jails and police courts†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Riis, 1890). The former statement shows what the author felt about the slums, he felt that the slums were where the crime began, where diseases started from and a breeding ground for many of the vices that existed in the country. The language used in the novel reflects the fact that it was written in the late nineteenth century, the author needs to be given credit for portraying the dialect of many of the minority groups living in the slums of New York with such perfection that while reading the book one feels that one is actually hearing the people of the slums talk instead of just reading. Moreover, the use of imagery is extremely impactful; one’s imagination can instantly picture the landscape and smell the different types of smells that the author has described in the book. The unhygienic feel gets so vivid n one’s memory that one actually feels appalled at the harsh realit ies of this world and the stark contrast that exists in the living standards of the people living not only in the same country but also in the same city. However, the difficulty with reading the book is that some of the sentences and paragraphs are so long that the author starts by talking about a particular thing and stretches it so much that by the time the paragraph ends he is talking about a different thing which makes it difficult for the reader to keep track of the stated facts. A very central point that has been stressed a lot in the book is that people of different nationalities come and settle in the tenements. These people as stated by the author make their way into metropolitans in search for a chance to make an impact on their lives and those of their families. The author states that if we try to compare the poor Americans to people of other nationalities who come to New York in order to earn and make their lives better, the foreigners make stronger progress in terms of work and careers because they come in search of opportunities and are quick to grab them whenever possible, as opposed to the Americans who would rather wait for the opportunity to come to them as expressed by the following quotation from the novel; â€Å"The poorest immigrant comes here with the purpose and ambition to better himself and, given half a chance, might be reasonably expected to make the most of it†

Research Proposal Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Proposal - Research Paper Example Prior to instigating any changes however, it is important to determine the perceptions, understanding and experiences of employees within the current appraisal system. In light of the research question, what constitutes an effective performance appraisal needs to be determined first, in order to appreciate, identify with and empathise with staff perceptions. Personal development is a necessary element for both personnel and organizational benefits, and performance appraisals are the best means of identifying the training needs of staff, as well as being a systematic mechanism for evaluating the standards of staff performance, determining salaries and advancements and detecting any factors that impinge on staff effectiveness. An effective appraisal system is one that considers cultural values (Feng, Foster & Heling), that is perceived by staff as being fair and acceptable, that is a reciprocal cooperation between staff and management and one that is appropriate to daily duties (Durais ingam & Skinner, 2005). Such a system fosters staff satisfaction and motivation. A number of factors other than performance appraisal methods must be considered when developing a new and effective system; other factors that might explain staff perceptions of personal appraisals are fairness and cultural awareness. Kavanagh, Benson & Brown (2007) discuss theoretical support for performance appraisal processes and explain that such support is evidenced in ‘control theory and social exchange theory’ (p.134). Process control theory proposes that staff perceptions of fairness are related to the degree of control each employee is able to employ within the process (Konovsky, 2000, p.493 cited in Kavanagh, Benson & Brown, 2007). Social exchange theory on the other hand, refers to ‘relationships that entail unspecified future obligations’ (Kavanagh, Benson & Brown, 2007, p. 134), wherein the way management treat employees is of significance. Fairness therefore, may be perceived in relation to the amount of control an employee has within the process and the way in which their appraiser handles the process. Any organization or company in England today would have employees from a diverse range of ethnic and racial backgrounds, and XXX is no exception. Such diversity impacts to a great extent on the appropriacy of the way in which the performance appraisal is carried out and therefore requires deep consideration as to how best accommodate diversity among the staff of XXX. As stated earlier XXX’s system of appraisal is based on the rating method which involves numerically rating a list of factors such as output and quality of work; such a method is easy to develop and administer but is also very subjective (Acas, 2003). There are a number of other appraisal methods available and each needs to be considered in relation to the findings ascertained within this study and before making any necessary changes. One such performance appraisal is base d on narrative reports, wherein the manager or supervisor is required to write a report or essay on what they consider as the strengths and weaknesses of a staff member; headings may be provided but subjectivity is imminent and results depend very much on the capabilities of the writer (Acas, 2003). Comparisons with objectives is another method of performance appra

Global warming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Global warming - Research Paper Example As stated, the temperature of the earth’s surface has been slowly but surely rising over the span of a few centuries. This increase in temperature, though assumed to have always been taking place, was first called to attention in the early 1800s. The first Industrial Revolution brought with it coal, railroads, and the cutting down of forests for various projects, all of which prompted the speeding up of greenhouse gas emissions (Weart, 2008). The second Industrial Revolution saw a similar change, and scientists began recording the slightest of changes to the earth’s temperature. However, in the past decade, it has been noted that this increase in temperature has only quickened with time. This is thought to be due to the advancement in technology that has allowed us to create more finite-dependable utilities. Due to global warming, various locations throughout the world are seeing changes to their weather and temperatures that they have never experienced before. While so me places are experiencing unfamiliar, and often unbearable, heat, other places are finding themselves bundling up in attempts to withstand the unusual and unseasonal chill. The greatest change in surface temperature can be found in Alaska and Greenland, where the Inuit tribes are discovering for the first time what it means to have a warm day in a land predominantly made of ice. Similarly, the weather conditions throughout the world have changed, bringing rain to places that are otherwise barren and dryer weather to locations that are more used to rain or snow. The cause of global warming takes place on earth, but the effects primarily take place in the atmosphere. When greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide emissions from deforestation, become trapped in the earth, the greenhouse effect comes as a result. These gases would normally be able to escape from the earth, but when they are unable to they remain close enough to the surface to cause dramatic changes in temperature. Carbon dioxide is the most harmful of these gases as it stays in the atmosphere for an increased amount of time, often exceeding many hundreds of years (Archer, 2007). Even a small buildup of carbon dioxide can cause a significant increase in temperature. The more emissions we allow to enter our atmosphere, the more carbon dioxide that remains. This buildup leads to increased temperatures, and thus global warming. Effects of Global Warming Though global warming is being experienced throughout the world, the most noticeable and drastic changes can be seen in locations where ice caps are great in quantity. As the earth’s temperature increasingly becomes warmer, these ice caps, such as those found in the Arctic, begin to melt. Contrary to popular belief, ice caps melt starting at the bottom, gradually losing size to their bases and slowly moving up as the ice caps become smaller. Approximately eleven percent of all landmass is glacial ice (Houghton, 2009), so the water levels are grea tly effected by the melting ice caps. The ramifications of these melting ice caps may not be immediately noticeable, but as they continue to melt, the sea levels continue to rise, which bring forth further problems. As the sea levels rise, the oceans expand. To make room for all of this excess water, the oceans have no choice but to spill over onto our landmasses, which can result in horrific flooding throughout the world. Any landmass that borders the oceans will be effected by

Body Fat and Eating Disorders Paper Essay Example for Free

Body Fat and Eating Disorders Paper Essay Obese people have an overall morality rate almost twice that of non obese people. They are more than three times as likely to develop diabetes. Obesity is associated with unhealthy cholesterol levels and impaired heart function. It is estimated that if all Americans had a healthy body composition, the incidence of coronary heart disease would drop by 25%. Other health risks associated with obesity include hypertension, many kinds of cancer, impaired immune function, gallbladder and kidney diseases, and bone and joint disorders. These risk from obesity increase with its severity, and they are much more likely to occur in people who are more than twice their desirable body weight. Body Fat The distribution of body fat is also an important indicator of future health. People who tend to gain weight in the abdominal area have risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke twice as high as those who tend to gain weight hip area. The reason for this increase risk is not entirely clear, but it appears that fat in the abdomen is more easily mobilized and sent into the bloodstream, increasing disease related blood fat levels. In addition to risking physical health, obesity can impair psychological health. Being perceived as fat can be the source of ridicule, ostracism, and sometimes discrimination from others; it can contribute to psychological problems such as depression and low self esteem. For some, the stigma associated with obesity can give rise to a negative body image, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. What Influence Behavior Obesity is an result of intricate interactions of biology, behavior, and environment. Recent hypothesis in the scientific community suggest the current obesity epidemic is being driven largely by environmental factors (high energy/ high fat foods, fast foods consumption, television watching, â€Å"super sized† portions) rather than biological ones. Individuals are bombarded with images and offers of high fat, high calorie, high palatable, convenient, and inexpensive foods. Today’s stressful lifestyles compound the effects of environmental factors by impairing weight loss efforts and by promoting fat storage. Health Problems Associated with Anorexia Nervosa, and Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge eating disorder. When it comes to Anorexia Nervosa, and the cycle of self starvation. The body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally. It can cause an abnormally slow heart rate, and low blood pressure. When it comes to Bulimia Nervosa, and the recurrent binge and purge cycles of bulimia can affect the entire digestive system ad can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions. Electrolytes imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death. When it comes to Binge eating disorder often result in the same health risk associated with clinical obesity. High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, secondary diabetes, gallbladder disease, and heart disease as a result of elevated triglyceride levels. Conclusion When it comes to eating disorders sometimes your regular medical doctor is not the best one for treating these disorders. You may need to seek the help of a psychologist, because there are usually some mental issues involved in eating disorders. References: Eating Disorders Health Consequences, By John M. Grohol, Psy.D, Jun.1, (2010), Retrieved from, www.psychcentral.com Health Risk of Excess Body Fat, n.a., n.d., Retrieved from, www.teach.valosta.edu Environmental and Life Influences on Obesity, By P.J. Brantley, V.H. Myers, H.J. Roy, Jan., (2005), Retrieved from, www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov

Customer satisfaction analysis of telecommunication company Vodafone

Customer satisfaction analysis of telecommunication company Vodafone Telecommunication sector is the largest one across UK and one of the major contributors in UKs economy. There are number of telecom players in UK telecom sector and among these players, Vodafone is the leader having 34% market share. The company launched every time new product/service in the market to delight its customers. Sometime the customers face number of issues or problems with the services for which the company has set up its separate customer care center (Deurinck, 2007). The customer care standards therefore play significant role if delivering services and satisfying the customer need. Therefore with this consideration the area of the research is to measure the satisfaction level of customers of Vodafone (Bloom, 2006). Further the research will identify the importance of customer care standards in telecommunication business and how to imply it into the business to retain the customer. The overall aim of this research will be to increase the business profitability and growth through high level of customer satisfaction. The research study is focusing towards the customer care in telecom sector to understand the problems faced by the customers of Vodafone. The following research objectives will be achieved in this research: To determine the key elements of customer care standards to be maintained for the purpose of delivery high satisfaction and retaining the customers in Vodafone. to understand the current level of satisfaction among the Vodafone customers with its services To determine the training and development needs to be fulfilled to deliver the services above customer expectations. To recommend the suitable strategies to Vodafone for improving the customer satisfaction level and increasing the loyalty of the customers 2. Research Methods: In order to achieve the above listed research objectives, an efficient research method needs to be designed. A research onion method has been used to design the research methodology for completing the above e research objectives. A special emphasis has bee given to the operational function of Vodafone, hence with such sensitivity, it is essential to critically review the available research methods to design the suitable framework. In the research onion process designed by Saunders et al (2003), the following layers exist and by removing out each layer, a suitable step is obtained. Integration of each part from the selection of available methods provides the appropriate research methodology. Research Purpose/Aim/Objective Research Approach Research Strategy Data Collection Sample Selection Data Analysis Validity/Reliability of the Data 3. Research Aims and Objectives: As mentioned earlier the aim of the research is to understand the satisfaction level of customers at Vodafone and customer care standards in Vodafone. 4. Research philosophy: Saunders et al, (2003) research philosophy is the technique to initiate the research by means of development thinking and the way in which the research want to conduct the research study. A researcher can make the choices among positivism, interpretivism and realism research philosophies. Positivism and realism research philosophy is not relevant in this research since both the philosophical approaches work on the behavioral studies; however this is the independent research where the satisfaction level of the customers will be tested. In this study there is no connection of the behavioral studies. Hence interpretivism research philosophy will be adopted to conduct this research work. Moreover the interpretivism research philosophy enables the researcher to determine and analyze the different variables. The discussion of the research findings is more exploratory with in-depth discussion. Therefore the interpretivism research philosophy is more relevant than the positivism and realism. The results of the study will be interpreted based on the real world findings by interviewing the customers at Vodafone. 5. Research Approach: The second layer of the research onion is research approach which enables the researcher to further make out the selection of data collection and data analysis methods. Also the right research approach enable the researcher to take further decided on line of action item that help the researcher to fulfil the research objectives in case any constraints occurs. A researcher therefore can make the selection among deductive, inductive and abductive research approaches. Since the philosophical approach is interpretivism which can be better aligned with the deductive research approach as per the argument provided by Saunders et al (2003). Deductive approach is useful where the data is collected from the external respondents and analyzed to improve the current state. Since the research is focusing towards the customer satisfaction level at Vodafone which will eventually increase the companys profitability. Looking at such usefulness the ab-ductiuve and inductive research approached are irre levant to use in this study. Further to justify the selection of deductive research approach, it is provided the base to verify the theoretical results with the primary findings. Hence the deductive research is relevant in this study. It will enable the researcher to establish the link between the evaluation of research objectives and summary findings which has been derived from the primary and secondary research. 6. Research Strategy: The third layer of the research onion includes the choices of research strategies. According to Saunders et al (2003), a researcher can make the selection between the qualitative and quantitative research strategy. In qualitative research, a thorough discussion in held with the qualitative data whiles the quantitative research methods is based more on the quantitative data. Qualitative research is more useful where the researcher wants to develop the opinion based on the small sample size. On the other hand the quantitative research is useful where the researcher wants to develop the opinion based on larger sample size. In-depth discussion analysis is used to achieve the aims and objectives in qualitative research methods, while the numeric analysis is conducted to achieve the aims and objective of the research. However, sometimes the researcher can also use the mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Since the researcher wants to collect the opinion of customers of Vod afone to understand their satisfaction level, therefore the quantitative as well as qualitative both the research strategies will be used in this research. 6.1 Qualitative Strategy: As per the opinion of Saunders et al (2003), the qualitative research is emphasized on exploring the key points and issues related to the research objectives. The qualitative research methods enable the research to determine the way to gain the insight from the research. Further it seeks the behaviour, value system, motivation, attitude and culture. A lot more approaches for example conducting primary research interviews, feedback, reports and other sources are searched out to get the right information. 6.2 Quantitative strategy: According to Saunders et al (2003), quantitative research methods enable the researcher to extract the information from the opinion of the target respondents and conducted a statistical analysis to test the opinion and develop the conclusion of the research. The quantitative data can be extracted using primary research, financial documents, ratio calculation for the purpose of understanding the company performance. It is essential to understand how company is developing the standards for resolving the customer issues for the increasing the loyalty and business profitability. Therefore it is separate method of collecting the information apart from the qualitative analysis. Under the qualitative and quantitative research strategies, the following data collection methods will be utilized. Data Collection using Primary Research: According to Saunders et al 2003, primary research for data collection is useful to collect the honest and real opinion to achieve the research objectives and draw the conclusion in more realistic way. In primary research, the researcher can collect the information through various methods such as surveys, interviews, observations. Hence it is purely based on the field research. Since, the research focuses on the customer satisfaction which will be analyzed by collecting the opinion from large set of Vodafone customers. Hence the survey method is more useful to collect the information. Under the quantitative research strategy, a structured questionnaire will be utilized to collect the information towards the satisfaction of the customer towards the Vodafone services. Interviews and observations are irrelevant in this research since it can be conducted only with smaller sample size which is irrelevant to draw the conclusion about the customer satisfaction with the Vodafone services. Th e survey will be conducted among large group of customers of Vodafone to measure their satisfaction level. Given below is the details of sampling method used and profile of the target respondents. Sampling: Sampling is required to define the method of selecting and defining the sample of target respondent from the universe. The research will use the random sampling method since the research is customer focused and large universe of customer available. The researcher therefore can identify the Vodafone customers only after proper screening. Simulation technique will be used to generate the random samples. Random sampling enables the researcher to reach the right target respondents where the universe is large though the incidence is also high (Banker and Morley, 2007). Since Vodafone is the largest provider of telecom services in UK, therefore the universe of people using Vodafone services will be very high. The following sample size will be used to collect the opinion of the customers towards satisfaction with the Vodafone services: Customers: 300 Target Respondents: Target respondents will be consumers of age more than 18 years who are the Vodafone customers and must be using for Vodafone services for minimum last six months. Research will conduct 50% of the surveys with female customers and remaining 50% with male customers. Survey Instrument: According to Saunders et al (2003), questionnaire is the best survey tool to collect the information. A researcher can use either the structured, semi structured or unstructured questionnaire. Structured questionnaire includes all close ended questions, semi structured questionnaire includes mix of close and open ended questions while unstructured questionnaire includes all open ended questions. The unstructured questionnaire is more regarded as discussion guide. The research strategy adopted by the researcher is mix of quantitative and qualitative research strategy. Primary research is used under the quantitative research methods, therefore the structured questionnaire will be utilised to collect the information. Secondary Research: In addition to the primary research, secondary research will be conducted to collect the information from various secondary sources such as company website, news articles, research reports, blogs, academic journals and web articles. Secondary data will be collected under the qualitative research strategy. Information collected through secondary research will used to develop the literature review in this research by reviewing the views from different authors in the context of customer satisfaction. 7. Data Analysis: Data analysis is the sensitive part of the research. Therefore it needs special emphasis while selecting the methods and tools for data analysis. The right selection of data analysis method enables the researcher to meet the desired level of outcome and achieve the research objective efficiently (Bush et al, 2008). The data will be collected in the line of research aim and research objective. Since both the qualitative and quantitative research strategies have been used to collect the information therefore the researcher will represent the qualitative information through discussion critical analysis while the data collected through quantitative method will be presented through graphs and discussion will be made. Moreover the quantitative data will be analyzed using statistical tools such as regression analysis and measures of central tendency (Bucklin, 2004). 8. Reliability and Validity of Data: It is essential for the researcher to maintain the reliability and validity of the data to ensure that the conclusion drawn from the research is academically and ethically appropriate and should not be biased or skewed towards a particular variable. In this view the research will ensure the reliability and validity if the data by suing valid sources of information. Pilot test will be conducted to ensure that the information collected though the instrument should not be biased and 100% accurate. Further the information collected through primary research will be cross checked through secondary information. Only academic journals and authenticated websites will be used to collect the information. 9. Peers Review and Suggestions for Improvement: I have administered the questionnaire among the peer group and after reviewing it, my peers have identified some issues in the questionnaire. Initially the feedback provided by peer group was to make the questionnaire in a proper sequence as per the recommendation of Deurinck (2007). Also some of the options in each question were not clear for example the service portfolio was incorrect. I made it clear by collecting the information from company website. I have included the likert scale questions and less of the dichotomous questions as per the suggestion provided by peer group. 10. Limitations Difficulties: There could be several limitations the researcher might face while conducting this research. Due to time constraint the sample size small to generate the consensus about the satisfaction with the services provided by Vodafone. Also it could not be the reflection of the whole customer base of Vodafone towards the satisfaction. The analysis and interpretation may not be 100% accurate and free from error. The random sampling approach will be used to define the samples which may not be of the quality which is expected as obtained by the complete enumeration survey as it is not possible due to financial and time constraint (Bucklin, 2004). 11. Conclusion: The area of the research is customer satisfaction towards the service offered by large telecom service provider Vodafone. In order to achieve the desired level of objectives and aim, qualitative and quantitative research methods have been used to collect the information. Interpretivism research philosophy will be used to generate the desired level of outcome. Primary and secondary data will be used to collect the information. Within the primary method, surveys will be administered among the customer of Vodafone to collect their opinion towards the Vodafone services (Deurinck, 2007). Appendix A Questionnaire Dear participant, my name is____________ and I am pursuing my _________________ from university. I am conducting a research study in UK telecom sector with emphasis on Vodafone to understand the satisfaction level of customers with the services provided by Vodafone and customer care standards maintained by the company to resolve the customer issues in the partial fulfillment of my degree. I ensure that the complete research work is conducted only for the academic purpose and will not be used for any commercial activity. I am assuring that the information provided by you will be used solely in this research and will not publish any where else I will be highly obliged for your participation in this survey. Would you wish to continue? Yes (Continue) No (Thanks for your time and terminate) Q1. Please select from the following which mobile connection do you have? Orange (TERMINATE) T-Mobile (TERMINATE) Sprint (TERMINATE) Verizon (TERMINATE) ATT (TERMINATE) Vodafone (CONTINUE) Q2. Please tell me which of the following telecom connection do you have? Post paid Pre paid Q3. Please rate the service provider based on the service offerings provided to you on the following scale? Excellent Good Average Poor Terrible Not Sure Q4. Please tell me which of the following offers influenced you to purchase the services from Vodafone? Price Network Service Brand Image VAS Expected Values Q5. Please tell me which of the following value added services are most satisfactory to you? SMS Packs Concession call rates Internet service Full talk time Q6. Please tell me how long have you used these services from Vodafone? > 1 Month 1-6 Months 6 M 1 Year Q7. Please rate your overall satisfaction level with the services provided by Vodafone? Very Satisfied Satisfied Neutral Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied Q8. Please rate the service provided by Vodafone on the following scale based on which you think the services are for value for money? Excellent Good Fair Poor Not Sure Q9. Please tell me what kind of issues you have faced so far for which you need to contact customer care/service department of Vodafone? Billing Related Activation/De-activation Information of VASs Network Problem Expected Values Q10. Please think about recent experience you had with Vodafone, how much satisfied are you with the customer care service from the company? Very Satisfied Satisfied Neutral Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied Q11. Please tell me how satisfied are you with the process of getting your queries resolved? Very Satisfied Satisfied Neutral Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied Thanks for your participation!

Effect of Alcohol on Reaction Times: Experiment

Effect of Alcohol on Reaction Times: Experiment The experiment tested whether alcohol had any effect on reaction time. Abstract Objective: The experiment tested whether alcohol had any effect on reaction time. Method: Subjects were required to identify the threshold at which a flickering light became constant (critical flicker fusion threshold) using a computerised flicker fusion system.   Frequency increased at a rate of 4 hertz per second.   Critical flicker fusion threshold is a well accepted and documented non-invasive measure of reaction time.   Ten female subjects were tested under control conditions and following ingestion of 2 units (80 mg) alcohol.   It was hypothesised that alcohol would cause an increase in reaction time, which would translate to a delay in recognising the critical flicker fusion threshold, thus higher frequency results. Results:   Ingestion of 2 units (80mg) of alcohol was associated with an increase in mean critical flicker fusion threshold from 14.6 hertz to 15.4 hertz (p Conclusion:   2 units of alcohol had the effect of increasing reaction time by an average of 0.2 seconds, which has serious implications for the consumption of alcohol prior to tasks involving complex motor skills such as driving. Introduction Alcohol and its effects Alcohol is believed to be the oldest drug used by humans, predating even the use of opium by 2000 years to around 8000 BC (Kerr, Hindmarch 1998).   Whilst legal age limits exist for the purchase of alcohol in the United Kingdom, it is widely regarded within the Western world as an acceptable drug. In recent household studies in the UK it was found that 75% of men and 60% of women consumed at least one alcoholic drink per week.   In addition, 40% of men and 23% of women were found to have exceeded the national recommendations on alcohol consumption within the previous week (Office for National Statistics 2005).   The Institute For Alcohol Studies ranks the United Kingdom as 9th in per capita consumption of pure alcohol within European Nations, with 9.6 litres of pure alcohol being consumed per capita in 2002 (Institute for Alcohol Studies 2005). Alcohol is known for its psychoactive effects, which include alterations in vision, motor tasks and skills such as car driving and flying.   In addition it is repeatedly shown, whether anecdotally or via scientific measurements, that a strong correlation exists between alcohol consumption and violence. Alcohol is known to be a contributory factor in road accidents, with 9% of casualties showing evidence of alcohol consumption, this figure rising to 31% when considering pedestrians (The Scottish Office Central Research Unit 1998).   Research carried out in the 1980s by the Transport Research Laboratory indicated that alcohol was involved in 35% of fatal road traffic accidents, with the figure falling slightly to 31.5% in a similar study completed in 2000 (Tunbridge, Keigan James 2001).  Ã‚   However neither of these reports explained why the association existed between alcohol and road traffic accidents, whether resulting in death or not.   Of import for this report is the association between alcohol and reaction time.   The majority of alcohol consumers can identify a slowing down of their faculties following alcohol consumption, regardless of claims to the contrary.  Ã‚   Research has shown that alcohol impairs the ability of individuals to carry out complex motor tasks. One example involved bus drivers being asked to drive a vehicle through a narrow space, or highlighting the fact that the gap was too narrow if necessary.   It was shown that alcohol consumption was correlated with a reduced ability to accurately guide the bus through the gap, coupled with an inability to accurately gauge the width of the gap.   Hence bus drivers who had consumed alcohol were more likely to judge a gap as to be wide enough when it was not, than those who had not consumed alcohol and whose spatial awareness remained intact (Rang, Dale Ritter 1999a). Recommended stopping distances at 30 miles per hour are 23 metres / 75 feet, of which 9 metres / 30 feet are the ‘thinking distance’.   This is based on an average reaction time of 0.7 seconds when the car is travelling at 44 feet / second.   Therefore if reaction times increase, stopping distances will do so also, with serious implications in an accident. It has been indicated by some research that low levels of alcohol consumption have very little effect on reaction time if attention could be focussed on a single objective (Jaaskelainen et al. 1996).   Where attention needs to be divided between task objectives, even low blood alcohol levels were found to impair performance.   This suggests that alcohol is not going to greatly impair reaction time during simple tasks, but complex tasks which require several aspects to the performance would be much more likely to be impaired.   This was further supported by the research of Bartholow et al which found that response times per se were relatively unaffected by the presence of alcohol but the ability to respond appropriately to tasks that required complex attention were (Bartholow et al. 2003).   Indeed the authors implicate alcohol in impairments of cognitive processing, rather than the motor responses that result from these processes.   They cite data from studies that have sho wn that alcohol acts to reduce the ability to respond to stimuli as well as interpret and process the correct relevance of these stimuli.   This inability to respond fully to cues from the environment is described as the attention-allocation model, as the brain is selective in which cues are actually attended to and processing within the brain.   Further research has indicated that alcohol can sometimes actually improve the ability of subjects to resist distraction from a task (Erblich, Earleywine 1995) but this is not in keeping with the majority of research. Given the existing data this experiment was designed to assess the ability of female subjects to respond to a change in a single form of stimulus.   There was no distraction, nor a divided attention focus required, in an effort to ensure that the effects of alcohol on reaction time, if any, were more obvious. Flicker fusion threshold The human eye is capable of distinguishing between intermittent stimuli such as flickering light, up to a threshold, which is usually around 16 Hertz.   The frequency at which the human eye is no longer able to distinguish individual stimuli is defined as the critical flicker fusion threshold.   It is at this frequency that the individual stimuli have fused to form a single continuous stimulus.   The flicker fusion threshold will vary between individuals depending on their eyesight, hence the use of a number os study participants.   It will also vary between an individual’s readings depending on their reaction time at each stage – ie the time at which they actually consciously register that the hitherto flickering stimulus has now become constant and are able to respond to this knowledge.   The purpose of this experiment was to use the measurement of critical flicker fusion threshold as a correlate to reaction time.   For this experiment the experimental hypothesis was that alcohol acts to increase the reaction time of female subjects. The null hypothesis was that alcohol has no effect on the reaction time of female subjects.   Thus it would be expected that an individual with a slower reaction time would give results indicating a higher critical flicker fusion threshold, measured in hertz.   In other words it would be expected that the frequency at which subjects indicated that the flickering light (for full details of methodology please see below) had fused into a single light would be higher under alcohol conditions than control.   This would not be due to an enhanced ability to differentiate between flickering and constant light, rather a delay in the ability for this change to register and be processed by the brain, and the subject to press the button. Method Ten female subjects aged from 18-35 years, with a body mass index of 19-28 were selected as part of an open experiment into the effect of alcohol on reaction time.   All subjects were informed of the purpose of the experiment prior to taking part and were required to complete medical questionnaires to exclude medication that might affect the results of the experiment.  Ã‚   Known negative effects of alcohol consumption were also excluded and subjects all had a history of regular alcohol consumption of at least 2 units, once per week. Subjects were required to refrain from eating or drinking for the 2 hours prior to each test, which took place on consecutive days, with the control (no alcohol) test taking place prior to the alcohol test.   The 2 hour nil by mouth regulation was put in place in an effort to standardise the absorption of the alcohol by reducing stomach contents to a more uniform amount, thus providing a similar surface area available for alcohol absorption in each study participant. On arriving at the test room subjects were required to complete a health and safety questionnaire and were again reminded of the aims and purposes of the experiment.   Subjects were free to leave at any time, and signed consent forms to allow their results to be used.   Following the initial briefing subjects were given a training briefing on the specialised equipment and allowed to take a small number of practise tests to familiarise themselves with the equipment requirements.   Following this training period a five-minute break was allowed. For the test itself each subject was required to drink 250ml of pure orange juice, with a five-minute timespan being allowed for the drink to be consumed.   Forty minutes after the drink had been consumed subjects critical flicker fusion threshold was tested using the Model 12021 Flicker Fusion System (Lafayette Instruments). This time scale was used as the 2 units of alcohol would have reached a peak blood alcohol concentration of approximately 80 mg/100 ml 45 minutes following ingestion (Wilson, Benjamin Sreenivasan 2003).   Assuming absorption and metabolism at the accepted 4 mmol/l per hour (Rang, Dale Ritter 1999b), the alcohol would be expected to have been removed completely from the body within 6 hours (Wilson, Benjamin Sreenivasan 2003). Subjects were requested to look in to the binocular eye piece at two white simultaneous lights.   The use of a separate light for each eye was used to prevent differences in eye focussing from causing conflicting critical flicker fusion thresholds. The initial flash frequency of 4 hertz was set to ascending at a rate of 4 hertz / second.   The subject was provided with a push button connected to a 1 metre cable and was required to push the button when the flickering ceased and the lights became fused to a single light emission.   The point at which the button was pressed was taken as the critical flicker fusion threshold.  Ã‚   Each subject was required to undertake ten reaction time recordings. The experimental procedures on day 2 were identical to day 1, except that 2 units of alcohol (vodka), approximately 80mg of pure alcohol, had been added to the 250ml of pure orange juice that the subjects were required to drink.   A further ten reaction time recordings were made using the flicker fusion system. Results Each subject was able to provide 10 reaction time recordings, which ranged from a minimum of 11.5 Hertz (subject 9, recording 6, no alcohol) to a maximum of 19.4 Hertz (subject 3, recording 8, with alcohol).   The mean for the control / no alcohol test was 14.6 + 3.6 Hertz.   The mean for the alcohol test was 15.4 + 4.0 Hertz. Tables 1 and 2 below show the individual reaction times of each subject participant on the two tests. Table 1. Reaction times of 5 female subjects with and without alcohol, as measured by critical flicker fusion threshold Subject 1 Subject 2 Subject 3 Subject 4 Subject 5 Reaction test number None Alcohol None Alcohol None Alcohol None Alcohol None Alcohol 1 15.0 17.2 14.3 16.9 18.2 18.1 13.4 17.5 12.5 13.1 2 14.1 13.6 15.5 17.2 17.9 19.3 14.4 14.9 12.9 12.5 3 16.2 16.2 15.8 16.7 16.5 18.5 14.8 14.5 12.3 12.8 4 13.6 16.1 16.3 17.9 17.7 17.9 14.3 14.8 12.8 12.6 5 12.5 14.3 14.9 15.5 16.9 18.9 14.9 13.5 12.4 12.4 6 13.8 15.5 15.7 16.1 17.4 18.3 14.1 14.6 12.6 12.9 7 12.0 14.8 15.4 18.5 16.0 17.6 15.1 14.9 13.1 13.5 8 11.8 12.9 14.8 17.1 17.3 19.4 15.3 15.1 13.9 13.2 9 12.9 12.7 15.7 16.7 18.0 17.9 13.3 13.5 12.8 12.6 10 13.0 15.8 15.0 17.8 16.7 18.9 16.7 14.7 14.1 11.9 Mean 13.5 14.9 15.3 17.0 17.3 18.5 14.6 14.8 12.9 12.8 Median 13.3 15.2 15.5 17.0 17.4 18.4 14.6 14.8 12.8 12.7 Table 2. Reaction times of 5 female subjects with and without alcohol, as measured by critical flicker fusion threshold Subject 6 Subject 7 Subject 8 Subject 9 Subject 10 Reaction test number None Alcohol None Alcohol None Alcohol None Alcohol None Alcohol 1 13.9 15.1 16.5 15.6 12.8 14.5 13.6 15.5 16.5 15.4 2 16.5 15.9 14.3 15.1 12.6 13.5 14.9 14.2 15.9 18.1 3 14.2 14.6 12.9 14.0 12.4 12.4 15.0 14.8 15.7 14.6 4 14.9 15.5 13.9 16.8 12.0 12.6 15.8 14.8 15.2 16.8 5 14.1 15.6 13.5 16.7 13.1 13.8 14.7 13.9 16.4 16.5 6 16.5 15.8 13.4 18.1 13.5 14.2 11.5 16.7 16.2 16.4 7 13.2 13.3 13.9 15.1 12.3 14.2 15.4 14.6 16.8 15.8 8 14.5 15.6 14.2 15.8 12.9 14.6 15.3 16.1 17.1 16.2 9

The Power of Slave Narratives Essay -- Analysis, Fredrick Douglass

The Power of Slave Narratives: The influence of Fredrick Douglass and his struggle for emancipation will always be a source of inspiration. Douglass’ history, as articulated in The Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, has a remained an influential element on those seeking liberation from oppression and has maintained a tangible position in African-American popular culture. Douglass demonstrates the availability of counter hegemonic ideologies but also provides a guide to achieving corporeal and racial agency. For Douglass, one avenue of liberation was reading. While a close reading of his narrative also suggests music was a fundamental component of his circumstances. A source of inspiration for this paper is Douglass’ retelling of learning his ABCs. Douglass recalls the moment when Mr. Auld scolds his wife, Mrs. Auld, for teaching Douglass. The reason why Douglass should not be educated is harrowing, â€Å"If you give a nigger an inch, he will take an ell. A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master--to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world† (Douglass 45). Consequently, this assertion of spoiling is caused by reading and literacy. Education gives Douglass the tools to question his existence resulting in a realization of oppression. Thus with the ability to read and write, he could escape by both literally and figuratively writing his own pass to freedom. From here Douglass realizes that the â€Å"...pathway from slavery to freedom...† was via education and that â€Å"...the argument which [Mr. Auld] so warmly waged, against my learning to read, only seemed to inspire me with a desire and determination to learn..† (Douglass 46). Passion and perseverance force Douglass to exchange ... ... Word: The recuperation of power and corporeal, spiritual, and racial agency circumvents social and political modes of oppression. Frequently scholars point towards the power of the word or Nommo as a means to communicate power and penetrate subjugation. Halifu Osumare in The Africanist Aesthetic and Global Hip-Hop critically examines Nommo as an avenue toward emancipation. As Osumare argues, â€Å"allows us to try on our possible identities because it exists, at least during the performance, outside the realities of power, and therefore provides a brief foray into a realm of the possible beyond establish social boundaries† (Osumare 83). Through Nommo, a type of emancipation manifested even if the body was still held in bondage. Once the word was sung, and the sound traveled between ear, mind, and mouth, no slave owner could own and control the power of the word.

Personal Goals :: essays research papers

I am a teacher in the Detroit Public School system. Being a teacher did not start out being the profession of choice. However, I do enjoy teaching. Pedagogy is in fact an art and a science. Being a pedagogue is most rewarding. Thus, pedagogy has its own unique complications. Technology has revolutionized the art of teaching. This revolution has presented a strange dichotomy in the field of education. Whatever teaching may have evolved into; it is and will remain a dichotomous field. The dichotomous or two sided existence in teaching is due to human factor. We are social beings. There are ways in which we receive and process information. In our reading it talks about learning styles in pathways of learning. We do have different learning styles. Within this complexity is the basis of the dichotomy. On one side we have the ascent of technology. On the other side there is the way we learn. My personal goal is to be a teacher able to identify, understand, and without prejudice respect the various learning styles. Prejudice is also talked about in "Ethical Reasoning". I believe it is not possible to be successful at teaching without understanding various learning styles. Our learning styles are affected or influenced by social and economic conditions. I believe that University Of Phoenix has the program to equip me with much of what is needed to become a better educator. The conditions in which to apply pedagogy is extreme. Lets briefly examine some of the conditions in which teachers must prevail. In my conclusion I hope to have demonstrated what my personal goals are. As a teacher in the Detroit Public School System; there is a great deal of planning that must take place. Planning to utilize building space, room capacity, teacher assignments, curriculum, security, and parent involvement must all be planned. This planning occurs in the beginning of each year. The planning stage is a critical part of the school programs. Planning establish the academic and social direction, and tenor of the school for the entire year. The Detroit Public Schools are dramatically affected by social trends, economic changes, demographic changes, cultural and political changes. In the upcoming paragraphs I will briefly discuss the impact of these external factors. Thus, we will address some of the many internal factors. After describing many of the external factors, I will briefly introduce the plans to address these factors.

Free Essays on Crime and Punishment - Suffering, Death, and Resurrectio

Crime and Punishment -   Suffering, Death, and Resurrection Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote the novel, Crime and Punishment, during a turbulent time in Russian history. Yet his work will speaks to any age. Dostoevsky   wrote to warn against what he considered the negative effects of the trend of nihilism and rational egoism. He advances this objective by employing themes of suffering, resurrection, and death--all of these currents running through a surprisingly benevolent universe.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If Dostoevsky's fellow Russian Marx was correct in stating that religion is the opiate of the people, then suffering is the proverbial needle that injects it into a person. Suffering is the dominant theme of this work. It twists and contorts itself into so many aspects of the story, that any other classification of it would simply not do it justice. Immediately following Raskolnikov's crime, he begins to suffer. The inadvertent death of Lizaveta is a crushing blow to his conscience. Dostoevsky is conveying his message: a wanton act will lead to a deluge of suffering. A theory is no protection fro...

Pharmacology Case Essay

The research is about the herb, Salvia divinorum wherein there are debates whether it should be made illegal or not, and its possible use as a tool for pharmacological research. Salvia divinorum (SD) is known for its hallucinogenic effects, but unlike other abused substances, SD has lower potential for abuse. The research was conducted through the internet, wherein respondents fill out survey questionnaire forms. The qualitative information gathered from this research would then be used as a basis whether the substance should be controlled or not, and if so, how it would be controlled.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The content of the research is sufficient, wherein it has detailed information of what Salvia dinorum is and what are its specific effects to the people. It also gave a detailed explanation on how it affects the people’s brain and why it is different from other hallucinogenic substances. It also showed the statistical results of the survey conducted, wherein the respondents gave their sides regarding the comparisons of SD to other commonly abused substances (Baggott & Erowid, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The research material given is really useful in a sense that it could be used as a tool for pharmacological purposes. It could also be a basis for deciding on whether the substance should be made legal or be controlled for public consumption. Since it promotes altered perception of reality as a hallucinogenic compound, it is possible that it could result to uncontrolled actions which could harm the user or other people. As the research presented, the substance is not as addictive as that of other abused substances. Through more research, further understanding of the matter could be established.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The primary limitation of the research is that it was conducted through the internet, and the responses of the respondents could not be qualitatively taken into consideration, since they could just generate an imaginary response. The research is limited to the respondents who have access to the internet, and those who weren’t able to check the material online will not be able to answer. Another limitation is that the respondents were mostly males, so we don’t really know much about the side of the females. If it was to be under random sampling, then the males and females should be properly represented, unless only the males are using SD.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The credibility of the author is quite convincing, since he’s a student of Neuroscience PhD program and already has authored several scientific articles and book chapters. Looking at his achievement, we are safe to assume that he is credible enough to give information about Salvia divinorum and the issues related to it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The intended audiences of the research are those who are in the pharmacology field, as well as the people who are using Salvia divinorum. They are the ones who are directly involved with the substance that is why it is necessary for them to be informed of things concerning Salvia divinorum. For the pharmacologists, they could use SD as a tool to develop new drugs and learn more about the human brain and how it works. For the users, they have to understand that as a hallucinogen, SD still pose some threats in their lives as well as the people around them. They have to be responsible enough to know when and where to use it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The significant features of this research are that there is not much information yet available when it comes to utilizing Salvia divinorum for medical purposes. This means that this is a pioneering research aiming to establish an understanding about this mind-boggling herb.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In our society, it is common knowledge that many substances are being abused because of their mind-altering hallucinogenic effects. A candidate for this is the Salvia divinorum, though researches show that it is not that addictive comparing to other substances. It has other uses, one of which is for medical purposes. We could harness this potential instead of treating it as something destructive. It is high time to use it to our advantage, and not our destruction. Reference: Baggott, M., & Erowid, E. F. (2004). A Survey of Salvia divinorum Users.  Ã‚   Retrieved February 24, 2008, from http://www.erowid.org/plants/salvia/salvia_survey1.shtml