Perspectives on adult and worker’s education Free Essays

The ability to enhance higher literacy levels to adults and workers in the society forms a major step towards improved development and greater production at different levels of the society. Authors appear in agreement that workers and adult education must be embedded in society’s institutional frameworks that reduce their dependence but leverages economic development. It is the view of this paper that social democracy perspective is a better model because it strongly relies on institutionalization of workers adult education; a factor that largely provides them with a raised ground for competing with others. We will write a custom essay sample on Perspectives on adult and worker’s education or any similar topic only for you Order Now A strong evaluation of social democracy and neo-liberalism perspectives as well as how the two have shaped adult and workers education is further provided. Finally, a personal preference on the perspectives is outlined. Social democracy perspective According to Ingvar and Anne-Marie (2007), social democracy is an evolutionary perspective that has taken long to define and re-fit in different contexts. From a classic political spectrum, it can be considered a centre-left concept assuming a reformist socialism model. Consequently, it takes a gradual outlook in establishing a socialist mode of economy. At this point, social democracy should be seen to consist of two main building factors; democracy and socialism. First, it entails embracing values in the society, upholding freedom, and most importantly equity. People are directly involved in making decisions either directly or indirectly through their elected leaders. Unlike in neo-liberalism, Sullivan (2003) argues that democracy is a strong down-top management in a broad pyramidal model with no discrimination at any level. Socialism, on the other hand involves common ownership and planning based on institutions. Therefore, work by the people and society as a whole is considered central towards advancing independence and economic development. Social democracy in adult and workers’ education as Sullivan (2003) outlines reflect values that seek to create a highly enlightened community as a whole. Ingvar and Anne-Marie (2007) explain that social democracy reference to institutions greatly centralizes and harmonizes control and accessibility of services to the community. In New Zealand, the government took a bold shift from the competitive model in adult education to a social democratic one which created faster and better access especially to the working community (McLaughlin, 2003). One cannot fail to mention the essential role that social democracy has brought in essential services such as health and development in different regions. United States highly ranked democratic ideals and access to services by all is linked to effective representation and prioritization brought about by social democracy. Neo-liberalism perspective Neo-liberalism is an ideology with a wide and a highly changing orientation in different levels. Green (2003) argues that this ideology is a construct from classical economic theories which seek to empower private and individuals in leveraging economic development. Proponents of this view believe that through privatization the society is able to invoke higher levels and quality of services delivery to the society through market competition. Unlike it is currently known that key services such as education and healthcare are a prerogative of central government, neo-liberalism shifts their constitution and provision to private ownership. Moss (2008) notes in his publication that neo-liberalism is strongly entrenched on consideration of demand and supply of various services being provided. Though it was held as a strong factor within which both individual people and private entities would gather efforts to build competitive advantages in bid to win the market, Green (2003) argues that essential services with low demand may acutely lack in the community. Upon this realization, Moss (2008) adds that governments have evaded operating on a pure neo-liberal point of view to a mixed model which seeks to emphasize on individual competiveness and institutional progress. A Marxist operation is further employed to optimize outputs on effectual demand. This perspective further calls for optimization of technology and incentives as essential optimization forces. How these ideological perspectives have shaped adult and workers’ education and training Over the years, adult and worker’s education in different nations have taken varied perspectives with differing success rates. However, though selection of these perspectives and application in other areas such as industrial production appear easy, scholars remain highly divided over which one is better in adult and workers’ education. From a social democracy point of view, Sutch (1966) notes that adult and workers education is run non-competitively. Sutch (1966) further points out that a competitive model is highly restrictive and operates in a colonial model. Consequently, only a few people who have the resources would be able to access education in a competitive consideration. New Zealand strongly shifted to social democracy which gave the government full control of adult and workers education that strongly promoted access and encouraged more elderly people to further education. Williams (1980) strongly argued that adult and workers’ population constituted an important number in England which could be used to leverage development in the country at the height of the Cold War. Notably, with many people limited by resources availability as they worked in the low paying changing industries, advancing the dream of uniting Europe was at stake. In this case, the government introduced short two year courses that could allow adults and workers access to university degrees. Besides, open learning and recreational courses facilitated by the government made it possible to learn even after work and at night with or without qualifications (Alcock, Erskine and May, 2003). However, it is critical that social democracy is indirectly linked and partially shaped by the market forces to invoke the sense of high quality. In his publication, Green (2003) cites Neo-liberalism, as the main concept with ability to invoke high creativity and innovations in the 21st century. Upton (1986) further suggests that any education model that lacks direct market touch as a roadmap to failure. Neo-liberalism therefore creates a direct link between the market requirements and what the education offers. It is from this perspective’s application that Canaan and Shumar (2008) reports of the ability to tap young minds and entrenching them in the economic development demand that saw Japan strongly develop its industrial capacity. However, the workers and adults were greatly disadvantaged taking into consideration that they formed a significant proportion of the population. It is from this realization that largely saw New Zealand shift from a Neo-Liberalism approach to a social democratic orientation outlook (Holford, Jarvis and Griffin, 1998). As indicated earlier, many states are currently undergoing key restructuring as they seek to assume either a neo-liberal or social democratic perspective. However, as New Zealand experienced between 1980 and 1990 when it was shifting from a neo-liberal orientation to a social democratic perspective, McLaughlin (2003) emphasizes on the need for intrinsic understanding of either perspective for smooth running transition. Personal preferences on how adult and workers’ education should be shaped Adult population in the society must be seen as a viable force with great potential to leverage economic development in a country or economic region. As a result, any perspective driving their education system must be value driven with focus on empowerment. In her view, McLaughlin (2003) explains that though it is true that adult education lack long term advantages compared to the younger developing population, it remains a very critical factor in economic progression; reducing dependence and supporting higher quality development. It is from this consideration that social democracy in this paper is viewed to be superior in seeking to empower more workers and adult population in the community. It came out from the discussion placing workers and adults on the same learning platform with younger population set then at a losing end as they lack the ability to effectively compete. A social democracy perspective therefore gives them an important and elevated ground to sharpen their skills and leverage production in their areas of work. As McLaughlin (2003) conclusion and Alcock (003) argument indicate the Marxist perspective of neo-liberalism is indeed a scaring factor to the older generation. However, social democracy is both a strengthening factor and encouragement to the workers both socially and in their areas of work. By creating a platform for improvement leveraged by the government, the quality of work from them is anchored while the economy is expanded. Conclusion It is from the above discussion that this paper concludes by supporting the thesis statement, ‘the ability to enhance higher literacy levels to adults and workers in the society forms a major step towards improved development and greater production at different levels of the society. ’ The difference of the two perspectives came out to be strongly rooted in their mode of application. While social democracy is strongly people driven through democratic representation in institutional frameworks, neo-liberalism was found to be highly capitalistic. Social democracy was further found to have a broader capacity to support adult and workers education because they are encouraged and supported to support their immediate experiences. However, neo-liberalism perspective’s strong market orientation was found to not only scare adults and workers in pursuing education, but failed to invoke the needed incentives. It is therefore imperative that states and governments assume a social democracy orientation in leveraging their adult and worker’s education. How to cite Perspectives on adult and worker’s education, Papers

Marketing Entry Strategy International Expansion

Question: Discuss about the case study Marketing Entry Strategy for International Expansion. Answer: Introduction Corporations expand markets by use of various strategies, expansion can be domestic or it can be international in nature(Dev, 2007). International expansion can be achieved through multiple ways of distributorship, exporting, licensing, joint ventures, franchising and wholly-owned subsidiary. Some of the international expansion strategies are direct whereas others are indirect, each strategy has its own benefit and fallout. But corporations expanding directly internationally face several challenges which needs to be overcome. The report is regarding Rigel Technology which is a Singapore based company dealing with bathroom fittings and related products. The company wants to expand overseas into India hence is evaluating the various possible challenges and methods that can be adopted. India offers immense potential for expansion due to its demographics and robust population, it has a large consumer market and a rapid growing urban sector with real estate developments(Meyer, 2009). Company Introduction Rigel Technology (S) Pte limited is a Singapore based company set up in the year 1991. The company manufactures eco-friendly bathroom solutions based on latest technology in order to efficiently manage resources like water(Rigel, 2016). Rigel Technologies is a pioneer manufacturer of Sensor Sanitary Wares which enables water efficiency and advocacy in green building. There are three main categories of sensor valves produced flush valves for urinals and toilets, flow control valves for faucets. These valves are considered more hygienic in comparison to manually operated valves. The companys research and developmental facility is set up in Singapore itself, the company has marketing office in Malaysia and manufacturing plant in Luzhou and Ningbo in China. The company is present in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and is currently planning to expand to India. Challenges of International Entry Rigel Technologies is trying to expand its operations to India with its diversified range of products. the sensor sanitary wares that the company is trying to promote in the Indian markets might encounter major challenges. India offers immense potential for expansion but there are certain challenges that the company needs to overcome in order to successfully establish its business operations. Some of the prominent challenges that the company might face in India are; Government: India is a democratic country with a stable government. The political structure in India is suitable for establishing businesses as norms and regulations are well laid down by means of various acts and rules. However, the country political bodies have high level of political interference in businesses(Singh, 2006). Especially in foreign business set-up there is immense bureaucratic control and discrepancies due to which many large venture have failed to establish their operation in the country. Rigel needs to apply proper channels for entering India such that it is successfully able to operate in the country. Social Cultural: India has a divide amongst the urban and its rural sector which is quite large. Though their has been significant shift from rural to urban population yet a major part of the countrys population is rural based. The urban population have adopted westernized styles and methods but rural India lags way behind in this field. In terms of sanitization certain parts of the countrys population have access to healthy sanitation and bathroom facilities(Kumar, 2006). Rigel needs to form its target market such that it is able to sell its products aptly. The concept of flush valves is relatively unknown in the major market segment and the company might face major barriers in marketing them. Competitors: India has a large numbers of competitors in terms of bathroom fittings and sanitary fittings. There are large small and medium scale enterprises in entire country that caters to its own niche segment. The large payers in the bathroom fittings and sanitary wares market are Jaquar, Grohe, Bharat Impex and so on. Rigel needs to adopt a suitable strategy such that it is able to establish a competitive edge in the country(Tej Adidam, 2012). But very few companies are offering sensor sanitary ware which will allow the company to have an advantage over its competitors. Recommendation Rigel Technologies in order to establish their business in India needs to overcome its existing challenges such that it is able to successfully achieve a competitive edge in the market. The following recommendations will enable the company to overcome the challenges faced in the markets of India. Rigel Technologies need to overcome governmental and political barriers, by applying for permission to operate in a legitimate manner. The company needs to adapt to the various norms, requisites and demands as laid down by the Chambers of Commerce for foreign operators. The company needs to maintain its motivation levels and follow the stages for application appropriately without ruling out any procedure. Rigel Technologies needs to design its products and solutions that can fit in the Indian scenario. Though the urban areas of the country where bathroom fittings are mostly used are at par with global standards but the fittings sizes needs to be appropriately designed and formed by the company such that local plumbers are able to fit them. Rigel Technologies can introduce its sensor sanitary ware products ata later stage of entering the Indian markets. Rigel needs to innovate new products that match the Indian markets, this will enable the company establish a competitive edge. Initially the company can export its products to Indian markets at a low price. The exported products from China will be generating considerable market for its products and at a low cost, as cost of production in China is relatively low. The company can introduce the sensor sanitary wares in the market which will provide it with an edge over competitors. This will enable the company create a substantial market and establish core competency in Indian market, the company will also be able to make its brand presence felt through this technique. Entry Mode Rigel can enter India through the various entry modes available, but it needs to select the mode that aptly can be suited for the company. The various entry modes available to the company are exporting, distributorship, licensing, franchising, joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiary. The company can initially enter Indian markets by exporting its products to the country through a reliable distributor(Cavusgil, 2014). Post the company sees a market for its product in the country it can select joint venture mode of entry where it will search a company with which it can collaborate. Through joint venture mode of entry the company will have significant learning of the Indian markets, consumer lifestyles, their demographics, choice of products and so on. Once the learning curve in Indian market is completed for Rigel Technology, it can strategies to form a wholly owned subsidiary in India(Demirbag, 2010). References Cavusgil, S. K. (2014). International business. Retrieved from https://www.prenhall.com/behindthebook/0131738607/pdf/CKR_Why_We_Wrote_This_Book.pdf: Pearson Australia. Demirbag, M. M. (2010). Perceptions of institutional environment and entry mode. Management International Review, Retrieved fromhttps://raijmr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/3_16-21-Shilpa-Garg.pdf, 50(2), 207-240. Dev, C. B. (2007). Global brand expansion how to select a market entry strategy. Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, Retrieved fromhttps://scholarship.sha.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1769context=articles, 48(1), 13-27. Kumar, R. a. (2006). Doing business in India. Retrieved from https://www.palgrave.com/us/book/9781403967527: Palgrave Macmillan. Meyer, K. E. (2009). Institutions, resources, and entry strategies in emerging economies. Strategic management journal, Retrieved from https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/4217/1/Institutions,_resources_and_entry_strategies_(LSERO).pdf, 30(1), 61-80. Rigel, T. (2016). https://www.rigel.com.sg. Accessed on 25th July 2016. Singh, N. a. (2006). Political economy of federalism in India. OUP Catalogue, Retrieved from https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:--9chrhSpNMJ:https://www.cesifo-group.de/portal/page/portal/968433589D2C0D9FE04400144FAFBA7C+cd=4hl=enct=clnkgl=in. Tej Adidam, P. B. (2012). Competitive intelligence and firm's performance in emerging markets: an exploratory study in India. Journal of Business Industrial Marketing, Retrieved from https://www.indus.edu.pk/publication/Publication-3.pdf, 27(3), 242-254.

GECON 200 Essay Example

GECON 200 Essay Name: Instructor: Course: Date: We will write a custom essay sample on GECON 200 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on GECON 200 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on GECON 200 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer GECON 200 Torre, Pablo. Indianapolis will bid to host 2018 Super Bowl. Sports Illustrated. July 18, 2012. Web. Accessed on July 18, 2012.The City of Indianapolis struggled to clinch the hosting of the 2018 Super Bowl tournament amid renewed economic and public relations scandals and controversies. The city had hosted previous Super Bowl competitions but due to economic problems, had lost the qualifications to do so over a period of three years. Led by the Mayor Greg Ballard, the city expressed their interest in presenting a formal bid on Wednesday amid cheers from different stakeholders such as organizers who assisted in the planning of the February 5th games and other events leading up to it. The financial benefit that was expected from hosting the Super Bowl reached up to $152 million in direct economic impacts and other related benefits.The Mayor made an approximate that around 84 cents in every dollar for the tournament stayed in Indianapolis. A study on the economic impact of clinching t he tender to host the 2018 Super Bowl estimated that over 100,000 visitors would grace the city within the ten days before the games begun and over 200,000 visitors during the course of the tournament. The host committee chairperson Mark Miles said in a separate comment that corporate donations had exceeded $ 1.8 million that would be allocated to the games in 2018.Retrieved from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/07/18/indianapolis-super-bowl-2018-bid.ap/index.htmlFitzpatrick Dan Kapner Suzanne. Big Banks Prepare another Round of Cuts. Wall Street Journal. July 18, 2012. Web. Accessed on July 18, 2012.The Wall Street Journal ran an article on the proposed budget and expenditure cuts aimed at banks and other financial institutions. Global financial companies were preparing for downsizing programmes in the wake of unstable markets, shaky stock prices and skewed economic growth. Led by Credit Suisse Group AG and Bank Of America Corp., the drive to introduce new cost c uts was much later taken up by Citigroup and other financial institutions. Most notably was Goldman Sachs who made an outright admission that the economic times were dire and downsizing was critical to survival. Canadian biggest banks also took an inspection of the different ways in which their expenses could be lowered in the preparation of slower growth and profit margins. Analysis done by experts such as John Aiken predicted the grappling situation by most international banks needed a quick intervention which downsizing could easily offer. The head-count reduction was however not considered the first option that most banks had. Aiken mentioned that some banks were looking into fiscal measures such as altering their variable compensation structures to defer payments rather than cutting jobs.Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444097904577535180303693776.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection#articleTabs%3DarticleFareed Zakaria Tax and Spend. Times Magazin e. July 23, 2012. Web. Accessed on July 18, 2012.The issue of job creation featured in an article on Times Magazine on Monday that signaled the lower rates of job creation that were beginning to be acceptable by the populace. Over the month of June, around 80, 000 jobs were created which showed a slowing down in the economic recovery of USA. The past recessions were always accompanied by a spring back that featured growth in the employment rates. However, the rate of employment after recessions has been on a receding trend. In the 19th century, jobs were available in less than fifteen months of climbing out of recessions. However, in the 20th century, this period tended to stretch up to 39 months.Currently, the Times put the employment availability period after the 2008 recession at sixty months. This information was seconded by a study done by McKinsey. Fareed, in the article, attributed this phenomenon to two major forces: globalization and the spread of the Information Age. These two factors were cited as being responsible for the economic growth for many previously third world countries in Asia and South America. They have also expanded the economic activities within America. The downside to the impact that these two forces had was that they made it easier for capital-intensive economic growth that made wageworkers a last resort within America.Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2119336,00.htmlRandall W. Forsyth. The Euro’s Fate Barrons. July 14th 2012. Web. Accessed on July 18, 2012.Amid the recent events happening in Europe particularly the elections in Greece, the economic recession and the European Union leaders summit, the announcement by Airbus to establish its first production firm in the U.S. was perhaps the most surprising and intriguing. This was the first sign that the economic crisis that plagued Europe had finally begun taking its toll on domestic companies. In following the footsteps of BMW and Mercedes-Benz , Airbus was not only running away from the harsh economic conditions but also the waning power of the Euro. The best solution to aid the rising unemployment rates and deficits in growth would be through monetary reflation. By lowering the bar to have a cheaper Euro, Europe would still be able to retain its competitiveness in the international financial arena, end its debt crisis and salvage the Euro in one move. This proposed solution had been applied earlier in the last decade with excellent results that bolstered the rate from $1.60 to around $1.22. Debasing the Euro may therefore be the best solution that Europe has in surviving the tough economic times.Retrieved from http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424053111904184504577519232109403716.html?mod=BOL_hpp_cover#articleTabs_article%3D1Dean Hoff Meyer. Capital One repays consumers to end card probe. Richmond Times Dispatch. July 19, 2012. Web. Accessed on July 18, 2012Capital One was on Monday compelled to compensate its cus tomers over $120 million over federal charge claims that it tricked its shareholder into overspending on add-on services like credit monitoring and payment protection. Richmond’s largest private employer faced a charge against them presented by the court that had violated the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Act that was created to protect consumers from exploitative companies having hidden exorbitant fees. A large chunk of the compensation by Capital One was expected to go directly to the consumers. The McLean branch of Capital One was reported to have paid up to $150 million to consumers, $35 million to the Comptroller’s Office and $ 25 million to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.Richard Cordray, the director at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau commented in a press conference over the Capital One issue by saying that such problems were not isolated to Capital One and that he expected other companies to follow the same trend in compensating gullible cu stomers who were unfairly taxed or coerced out of their money. A representative at the Clear Point Credit Counseling Services also pointed out that there were no requirements for consumers to add services to qualify for loans or credit.Retrieved from http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/news/2012/jul/19/tdmain01-capital-one-repays-consumers-to-end-card–ar-2067611/Edward Wyatt. Despite Stronger Financial System, Report Cites Threats to U.S. Market Stability. New York Times. July 18, 2012. Web. Accessed on July 18, 2012 Among the biggest threats to the stability in the American financial markets was the uncertainness in the Euro zone countries, the fiscal uphill faced by America at the end of every fiscal year and a weakening federal regulatory panel. The assessment by the Financial Stability Oversight Council that was made up of regulatory heads forms the Exchange Commission. The Federal Reserve and other agencies painted a grim picture for the American economic future. The Council particularly mentioned cyber threat as an emerging threat as well as the fact that many financial institutions might have focused on complex trading strategies at the expense of their security that could result in losses due to a change in short-term interest rates. The council also cited certain financial market utilities as posing the largest threat and recommended the increased monitoring of these utilities. Most of them were clearing agencies that facilitate the operations of trades of financial instruments. Other outcomes of the study done included reforms for the money market funds that were expected to make the funds less susceptible to investors if they were to run losses. Greater customer protection and segregation of customer assets were other recommendations passed by the council. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/business/economy/report-cites-threats-to-market-stability.html?_r=1ref=business Helft Miguel. JC Penney CEO: It may get worse before it gets better. July 18, 2012. Web. Accessed on July 18, 2012In a conference at Fortune Brainstorm Tech, the JC Penney CEO, Ron Johnson predicted doom for one of America’s leading mobile and online application developer. The introduction of Ron Johnson as the head of Fortune Brainstorm Tech coincided with one of the worst times for the firm. The company had experienced setbacks in their marketing experiments that flopped dreadfully. The firm had also lost most of its customers by withdrawing the discounts and coupons that it previously offered. Sales had dropped sharply and the customer traffic to their stores had dipped significantly. In a rebuttal by critics, Johnson announced that he would stick to his plan of maintaining competitive prices in order to attract customers.Ron Johnson also mentioned the adjustments that were planned for regional stores. He announced the revamping of the technology infrastructure by installi ng an Oracle system that included an improved mobile checkout system and RFID tags that were expected to speed up purchases. However, even with these reforms, Johnson warned that the company might experience more losses before it fully recovered and recorded growth. Ron proposed a start-up approach that hinted the possibility of downsizing and a nod from the company board. He also negated claims that physical stores were being ousted by online retailing. Retrieved from http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/07/18/jc-penney-ron-johnson/ Paul R. La Monica. Will Facebook earnings be THAT bad? Money. June 18, 2012. Web. Accessed on July 18, 2012 The floating of shares by the world’s richest social networking site, Facebook was followed by predictions that the earnings from the shares would not be as rosy as expected. Basing their arguments on the behavior that the stock had in the two years since it debuted, most critics placed Facebook shares alongside similar flops such as Nokia, Yahoo and Hewlett- Packard. The Facebook shares went down more than 10% within a week and this was from a10percentage rise from its June low of $25.52 that triggered an alarm among economists on the future of its earnings. The sluggish global economy was one of the reasons for the dismal share performance that also affected other firms likewise. Facebook however had a problem with finding ways through which they could profit off mobile users even as the consequences of acquiring Instagram at exorbitant prices caught up with the compa ny. The poor performance in the stock market may be due to a realization that Facebook might have been a victim of too much publicity during its IPO period. However, the article stated that it might be too early to write off Facebook as a failure. On the contrary, the mistake lied in the way the IPO was poorly handled. The company will still be able to attract experts and invest in developers that will help it grow.Retrieved from http://buzz.money.cnn.com/2012/07/18/facebook-earnings/?iid=HP_MP_RiverLouboutin Christian. Duchess doesn’t need advice. People Magazine. May 24th, 2012. Web. Accessed on July 18, 2012Christian Louboutin commented on the sensational debate over whether the Duchess of Cambridge’s top-of-the-line fashion franchise might be in need of advice from top designers by pointing out the success that she has achieved so far by depending on her market skills. The thirty-year old duchess, Kate Middleton came into the international spotlight after launching the red-soled shoes that were posted at extravagant prices and purchased by prominent figures all over Europe. The sales figures for the branches of clothing lines, footwear and other fashion stalls that were owned by Miss Middleton showed a strong selling power even in the continuing economic instability in America and Europe. One of the stores, Debenhams adopted a cutomer-centered approach by meeting the customer’s needs and preferences especially on key events such as Christmas and Mother’s Day.The total investments by the royalty grew by 34.9% in the first quarter of 2012 and currently stand at 42%. The chief executive at Debenhams stated that their approach involved communication with customers alongside stocking great value increased their sales growth exponentially. Similar sentiments were echoed by the top leaders at Jenny Peckham. Kate Middleton became a significant economic figure in Europe after her economic activities were credited with giving the British economy over$1.6 billion boost through fashion sales.Retrieved from http://www.peoplemagazine.co.za/article.aspx?id=22325h=Louboutin:-Duchess-doesn%E2%80%99t-need-adviceChristopher S. Rugaber. US home construction makes slow, steady comeback. Daily News Record. July 18, 2012. Web. Accessed on July 18, 2012Within America, the general trend in the housing sector has been the increase I the erection of houses. This urgency to build housing facilities contributes to the long-awaited recovery that could boost the U.S. economy. Housing economists commented that the housing sector was expected to recover faster than it had. However, builders had started responding to buyers who were attracted by lower prices, lower mortgage rates and rising rents. This has increased the appeal for purchasing homes. The increased construction activities were reported to have coincided with higher stock prices for building firms and increased confidence in the housing sector.The bulk of the market was estima ted to be single-family homes who contributed the largest growth as was indicated by the highest number of permits taken since March 2010.This housing sector rejuvenation also influenced the Dow Jones industrial average which closed up at 103 point. The continued resurgence in the housing sector was predicted to benefit the flailing American economy that was weakened by lower consumer spending and slow employment rates.Retrieved from http://www.dnronline.com/hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-07-18-Housing%20Starts/id-93ebc4fd0d814560b100c0ffaa4e33f9 Preeti Kulkarni .Why top-up home loan is a better option in emergency. The Economic Times. July 18, 2012.Web. Accessed on July 18, 2012 The article Why top-up home loan is a better option in emergency discussed the hidden ramifications and benefits that a top-up home loan could have in times of an emergency. Most home loans are considered heaven-sent opportunities through which many people can own a h ouse. Most financial gurus also advice individuals to take out these kinds of loans. The problem however would arise when they needed money urgently. Preeti urged new home owners who were interested in taking up such kinds of loans to consider additional loan or top-up loans. Banks generally offer top-ups at lower rates than the actual loan. One of the benefits of top-ups cited in the article included the extension of such loans to the existing home loan borrowers. This meant that it was only offered to existing clients of certain banks that would explain the comfortable tenure of top-ups loans that would sometimes go up to 20 years. In considering a potential candidate for a top-up loan, the banks consider the value of the property, the repayment trend, the outstanding initial loan and the ability to repay the top-up loan before approving the loan.Retrieved from http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/personal-finance/loan-centre/home-loans/analysis/why-top-up-home-loan-is-a-better-opt ion-in-emergency/articleshow/15036450.cms

Buddhism †History Philosophy and Ideas -

Buddhism – History Philosophy and Ideas - Contents1. Introduction2. The place of Buddhism in context of other world religions3 History of Buddhism4.The three traditions of Buddhism4.1 Theravada4.2 Mahayana4.3 Vajrayana5 Ideas of Buddhism5.1 Four noble truths5.2 Noble Eightfold Path5.3 Nirvana6. Reference1. IntroductionThe teachings of Gautama Buddha, the prince Siddhartha, who lived 500 BCE in India, spread since the 200s over China. Reason for this dispersion can be found in the silk road. This road was a famous road for merchants and had influence even to Japan and Korea.Buddhism flourished in 700s and 800s until it was prohibited in China.Today Buddhism attract followers worldwide and is considered a major world religion. It is the fifth-largest religion in the world behind Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and traditional Chinese religion. Today there are around 350 million people practising this religion.Buddhism is even studied scientifically in the West. E.g. the meditation. Many long-term practising Buddhists, for instan ce, have been shown to have physically different brain structure, in areas associated with spiritual happiness or profound joy.The following paper will tackle the topic of Buddhism, its history philosophy and ideas. First of all I will explain the present status of Buddhism in context of other world religions. After that the history will be presented. In this chapter I tried to focus on the main parts of historyand give an overall outline. Therefore I used bullet point to cover up most of the facts.Chapter four deals with the three traditions of Buddhism. Differences and similarity in the three schools Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana are shown. The fifth chapter deals with the most important ideas of Buddhism. This paper focuses on the four noble truth, the Noble Eightfold Path and Nirvana.2. The place of Buddhism in context of other world religionsBuddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, a philosophy and a...

Customer Service Operations and Excellence Essay

Customer Service Operations and Excellence - Essay Example The same can be achieved through effective customer service operations. The concept of achieving excellence in service through effective customer service has now transcended to various fields in general and academic libraries in particular. Service institutions such as universities are mainly focused on providing optimum quality service to the students, by way of enhanced support services for education, as a means to retain students and improve their academic performance (Sander et al., 2000). Academic libraries exist purely to offer services to the students, which include a range of activities such as offering professional reference services to enable the students to effectively use the various resources that the library has to offer; respond to online queries for references; assist in information delivery services such as shelving and re-shelving books, periodicals etc., among many others (Hernon, Altman, 1996). This paper on customer service operations and excellence aims to discu ss and analyze the various issues related to the management of academic libraries, with the help of appropriate theories and models and conclude with recommendations for improving the services operations to achieve better results. Managing Libraries: Overview One of the primary objectives of libraries is to store and record detailed information about books, in order to serve the 'customer' i.e. students in a better manner. Academic libraries in particular, deals with preserving and recording comprehensive information with regard to scholarly publications as well as the primary resources which are used by the students for achieving scholarships. The libraries in general and academic libraries in particular have recently undergone significant changes over the past couple of years, especially with regard to the manner in which information is stored and dealt with. Such rapid transformations can be largely attributed to the fact that the development of information technology has penetra ted almost all aspects of human life, and academic libraries are no exception. Such changes has brought about a significant transformation in the manner in which libraries are governed, and managed; followed by changes in its organizational structure, skills sets required of library staff, as well as the range of facilities made available to the customers (Budd, 2005). Libraries across the globe are now increasingly accepting and accommodating such changes, in order to enhance their service quality. According to the management at University of California Library: â€Å"The continuing proliferation of formats, tools, services, and technologies has upended how we arrange, retrieve, and present our holdings. Our users expect simplicity and immediate reward and Amazon, Google, and iTunes are the standards against which we are judged (University of California Libraries, 2005, p. 7).† Considering the wide ranging transformations brought about by technology, the management of librar y services must be reviewed to accommodate and cope up with the changing times. However, it must be noted that despite the rapid changes which have penetrated almost all the aspects of management within academic libraries, customer services still remains the same and uninhibited. The key role of librarians still surrounds provision of optimum services to the users, by offering high quality services.

Ozone Depletion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ozone Depletion - Assignment Example Closer to the ground, in the troposphere, ozone is considered a pollutant with harmful effects on breathing and plants. However, the layer of â€Å"good† ozone lies in the stratosphere, between 20 to 40 kilometers from ground. It blocks most of the harmful ultraviolet rays that increase the risk of skin cancer, reduce yields in certain crops and also stress marine life from reaching the earth from sun (â€Å"Ozone - Good Up High Bad Nearby† 2009). The depletion of the ozone layer has been most noticeable over the Antarctic region where a â€Å"hole† is seasonally created every year in spring since late 1970s. This hole, actually a large area in the stratosphere with severely depleted ozone, grew to 26 million square kilometers in 1998 and its largest size recorded was in 2006 when it touched 29 million square kilometers (â€Å"Ozone hole maximum is up on 2007† 2008). The stratosphere above the Antarctic is crucial to maintaining the global average concentration of ozone layer. Ozone is unequally distributed around the globe and is concentrated near the poles (Is total ozone uniform over the globe?). The flow of winds to and from poles keeps the ozone in circulation globally. Depletion over the Antarctic, the area of highest concentration, contributes considerably to the net effect of overall ozone reduction in the atmosphere. It is also here that the thinning of this layer is most dramatic. Unlike other places, the chemicals, such as CFCs, that destroy ozone get trapped over the Antarctic during the dark winter through a unique phenomenon, the â€Å"polar vortex†, and become part of clouds that are unique to this region. Extreme cold also creates ice crystals in these clouds. During spring and summer, as the temperature warms, the ice crystals initiate reactions that break down the CFCs into more active chlorine molecules. These, in turn, break down the ozone molecules into oxygen (â€Å"Ozone Facts: What is the Ozone Hole?† 2009). As the ice

The delivery of adult social care is going through a period of Essay

The delivery of adult social care is going through a period of profound challengechallenge and change. Give a critique of the so - Essay Example The 2010 report of the Department of Health has assured additional funding of ?2 billion by 2014/15 but there had been programmes which funds were discontinued and without any clear direction as the Department seem to grapple with opposing demands as well as criticisms and evaluation outcomes. This paper will try to identify and evaluate relevant provisions of current adult social community care, critically analyse the current adult social care policy agenda and its impact on social work provisions, and critique the social care policy agenda and how it will impact on future social work provision with a focus on an adult with learning disability. It will also incorporate in the discussion the theories of normalisation, biological, social model/neo-liberal, social valorisation and person centred approach, medical model and social models. Discussion Government Initiatives The most recent effort of the government about social care is to address empowerment of communities and individuals to address local challenges. Adult social care policy applies the â€Å"putting people first† (PPF) approach that helps individuals become more independent, and in control of their own lives through their choices. This is called â€Å"self-directed support† where individuals choose their options for home care, hiring personal assistant, or use Adult Social Care (East Sussex County Council, 2010, P 1). High quality services are geared towards making people healthy and in-control of the kind of support they are provided. The Department of Health promotes in the system freedom with the aim to strengthen communities and individuals as autonomy replaces dependency. Another value promoted is fairness addressing the question â€Å"how do we pay for care?† (Department of Health, p 4). The government vies for clear, comprehensive and modern framework that considers both carers and adults who need support. The third value promoted is responsibility where Communities are e ncouraged to become innovative in creating networks of support for individuals. As the Department of Health suggested, â€Å"Care must again be about reinforcing personal and community resilience, reciprocity and responsibility, to prevent and postpone dependency and promote greater independence and choice,† (p 5). The main goals of PPF are: introduce self-directed support prevent problems through early intervention ensure availability of the different types if support for everyone help people use support networks (East Sussex County Council, 2010) . For social care workers, assessment and eligibility criteria may remain the same but changes may be in the care services and solutions that individuals may chose. Social workers involved in the process may include those working in Adult Social Care, voluntary or independent sector, or personal assistants. Carers are provided more involvement in decision-making through assessment of needs as well as planning for support. This will help the team or group involved in the importance of each contribution as well as understand the support the carer or social worker may need. The support plan involves an action plan that includes the list of things to do, by whom and a time table. The team of professionals will then have their roles defined. Additional funding for the future provides a cushion for policy-making and the implementation of improvement as well as redesigning of services to gain