Business Leader Essay

Business leaders have the ability to create opportunities, build products and systems, and inspire others to action. Please describe a time you created an opportunity, built a new product or system, or inspired others to act. The example you provide and elaborate upon may come from your professional endeavors, academic pursuits or civic engagements. I had my first taste of business activity when I just finished my high school. In that summer break, I was invited by three best friends to run a small business with a night market stall in a college zone nearby. We were so excited to take a tiny adventure independently as young adults. In the first several days, we tried our best with zealous cries of selling and lavish hospitality. However, due to the bleak business, the team was overcome by big frustration when we burned out our impulsive passion. Honestly speaking, the idea of giving up kept running in our mind. When the team sat down and started to talk about how to finish this littl e adventure properly, the sadness on our faces suddenly triggered my fighting spirit. As a future freshman at business school in xxx University, I didn’t feel resigned to terminate my first business trial without any hard effort yet. Meanwhile, I felt responsible for cheering them up as a good friend. Thus, I made a proposal and convinced them to have another try together. Firstly, we called off our regular attendance as venders, and took field observation for several days instead. We went to the night market respectively and talked to different venders every evening. Through communication with various venders, we learned some practical knowledge and skills, and further figured out our weaknesses and relevant solutions. Secondly, after taking personal conversations with some college students about their demands, I found out that our goods couldn’t meet their needs. Therefore, I optimized our purchase list and volunteered myself to take the duty of purchasing new goods. After several days of teamwork, we surprisingly noticed that our team spirit, confidence and passion had been revitalized, and restarted our business. As a result, our business began to make profit gradually. A month later, we not only sold out all of our goods, but also made a good profit, which was much mor e than our previous loss. Although it was a tiny business trial for about a month, I valued it as an opening show of my personal business world.

Business website design Essay

Here are the sections which are included in this proposal Introduction A brief statement about the company and what is required from the client Client requirements Here is what the client would require from the website in detail User needs A description of the target audience and what they require and expect Objectives The purpose of the website and what it hopes to achieve Explanations for Here is why specific options were chosen as opposed to others reason of treatment Proposed contents What the website compromises of Human resources The professionals which are required to produce the website Breakdown of Breakdown of the tasks within the project project Introduction Zak Autospare is a medium sized business based in Huddersfield. The main line of business is a wide range of car products from car parts to car audio. The business has a large amount of clients varying from mechanics to people with need of car parts. There are five workers at Zak Autospare, one of these being a manager and another the owner. The new website will advertise the business nationally as opposed to being only local at the moment, it will allow clients to purchase via the web, the main emphasis here will be upon car audio and car accessories such as alloy wheels, seats, steering wheels, etc. The website will be an advantage to Zak Autospare because as well as trading over the counter they can make extra sales via the website, most buyers would be people requiring parts they need for their car and then ordering them through the website and within a matter of days the will receive those particular products. Overall the website will bring forward new clients as well as new business ideas and possible expansion of the business to other towns and cities. Client Requirements The clients would require a website, which projects their dedication to providing and efficient service which delivers quality products. The website will reflect the businesses image of being a reliable service and having an excellent after sales service. It will also state the low prices and competitively priced products, which customers can enjoy for a cheap price. The client will require the following from the website: * The site will be created in HTML as opposed to Flash since everyone does not have Flash and maybe be reluctant to download it * The site will be linked to a searchable database (linked to current database using Microsoft ASP) to allow its users (customers) to use the website easily and efficiently * The database will also include a search facility starting with the user being able to input the type of car they have and from there being given a range of options leading to the relevant car part or product * The company logo will be used throughout the website to achieve recognition and a unique brand and name. This will be the same logo which is out on the shop itself * The site will have to incorporate many images, that are quickly downloaded therefore large web space * An effective shopping cart allowing the users (customers) to purchase products confidently and securely over the internet. * Personal email address to allow sufficient contact between the business and its electronic customers while also allowing the ability for customers to query desirable products. * Separate pages for each category, i. e. page for wheels, page for engine parts, page for car audio, etc User needs. The main users of the website will be people who own cars (Class C1, C2, D and possibly A and B, these would probably buy car audio since it does not require as much work as fitting in a car part) and possibly mechanics from car garages, here they will order when they require particular parts and are not available from elsewhere. The user needs have been investigated and researched by asking questions to existing customers and people who have used the internet to purchase parts and accessories for their car, the following are profiles of possible users and what they will require from this website. User 1: Name: Harpreet Singh Age: 21. Occupation: Student Car: Ford Fiesta XR2i Internet shopper: Yes From this user what was found was, this type of user required the website to have images for as many car parts and products possible. They would like for the car audio section to have an image of the product alongside a full specification list, this will allow the user to view the product as well as reading up on the features and options of the particular product. They would also like the option of having an image of a car and then being able to change the wheels to different types of alloys which in return would give them an idea of how the particular alloys would look on a car. One of this type of user category would have liked the option of being able to test the sound quality of CD players, this obviously would not be possible but what was found from this was that most buyers buy CD players and general car audio because of its brand and alongside this they would also rely on the features the system carries to ensure they are happy with the product they are about to purchase. The user would expect the prices of car audio and alloy wheels to be reasonable and possibly given the opportunity of being able to do price comparisons with other similar websites. User 2: Name: Robert Mason. Age: 28 Occupation: Auto Mechanic Car: Renault Laguna Internet shopper: Yes This type of user would expect a large range of parts for a majority of cars. He would also expect many electrical accessories such as speakers, stereos and all forms of wiring and fuses. Both of these users have excellent knowledge of the internet and they use it for information and shopping and would both expect transactions to be made securely and deliveries within reasonable times. Objectives The primary objective of the site is to introduce ZAK Autospare to a wider range of customers and to increase their customer base. The rest of the objectives are listed below: Allow regular customers and new customers to purchase through the internet, which in return will provide more sales   Show full description of products available with clear images, which are quickly downloaded with prices alongside   Since the business already has a logo, a new logo will not have to be created, this logo will be used through out the website to remind the user whose site they are on and reinforce this name, so that when they think of car parts and audio they think of Zak Autospare. An email facility to provide thorough contact between customers and business   Show the latest range of products, which will be updated regularly to ensure customers have a wide and latest range of products to choose from * Ensure customer satisfaction with product guarantees and the option of returning products with in 14 days with a receipt and the product being unused, this is all currently available from Zak Autospare Explanation of reasons for treatment The initial idea was to create the website in Flash but after discussion, the decision was made to crate it using HTML. Even though the website would probably look better produced in Flash, many people do not have Flash and these people may not wish to download Flash in order to view this website, so it would be a better idea to produce the website in HTML instead. The owner and manager are familiar with HTML, which gives them a greater understanding as to how the website operates. Alongside this, the cost of the producing the website in Flash would be higher than a normal HTML site. The website will be linked to Zak Autospare’s current database which is produced in Microsoft Access 97, the two shall be linked using Microsoft Asp’s, the scripts will be of searching (searching the website through the database) as well as adding (when an order is placed) and subtracting (when an order is removed or cancelled). The reason for using Asp is because this is used by many websites and is also known by the manager of Zak Autospare. The Asp creation is cheaper when linked to a HTML site opposed to a Flash site, so this will help keep costs low. This option is ideal since most sites are connected to Access databases with the use of Asp’s, rather than business owners linking sites to databases produced in SQL, etc. At first it was decided that the site would be named www. zakautospare. co. uk but after discussion it was decided that this name was slightly long winded and not very ‘snappy’, so it was decided that the site would be named www. zaks. co. uk, which was an excellent name, snappy and punchy whilst being short and easy to remember but unfortunately this name was already in use so as an alternative the name www.zaksshop. co. uk was decided to be suitable, this name is still snappy and seems more friendly and warm. However the logos used on the site would still be named Zak, since this is the sign outside the shop itself. Images will be order from product suppliers and companies, such as Pioneer will give images of all their products. On the site itself there will be images of the shop itself, since it is very attractive with various lights, etc. This will give the user a feel of the business they are dealing with.

Free Trade agreement Essay

There are many advantages and isadvantages of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and America, yet Canada is not getting much of a good deal, only in certain ways are Canadians at an advantage. Some advantages are: an increase in production, and better U. S-Canada relations. Some of the disadvantages are: diminished population growth, loss of Jobs, diminished sovereignty, and workers facing concessions on wages, working conditions, and living standards. To begin, an advantage to the FTA is an increase of production. Canadian businesses would increase production to keep up with American producers, so as not to be bought out. With more investment in Canadian businesses due to elimination of tariffs, Canadian industry will grow and expand, increasing production and efficiency (Bain Pg. 376). Another reason why the Free Trade Agreement is an advantage to Canada is that it helps relations between Canada and the U. S, because the two nations have not always seen eye to eye, they now have something to connect them. The FTA helps the two countries get on each other’s good side due to help from one another in business and trade. To sum it up, there are not very many reasons why the Free Trade Agreement is an advantage, but there are some. There are many reasons why the FTA is a disadvantage. Firstly, the population of Canada isn’t increasing like it should; because of the FTA our workers are going to America to get Jobs because America can offer more money to their workers because they have the money to do it, whereas Canadian businesses are lowering wages to make more money to try to keep up with the American production. Canadian workers follow the raw materials to America â€Å"The land of opportunity’ to get more money. Everyone leaves to America making our population not increase because if they stay here, the workers may not earn good oney, so they cannot spend it, so goods do not get produced. â€Å"The result: a downward economic spiral†(Finn Pg. 10). Another reason the FTA is a disadvantage is increased unemployment. Many American companies that have branch plants operating in Canada will become redundant and be shut down. These branch plants were established in Canada to provide shelter behind the tariff wall. Tariffs were not added to selling price of their products because they were behind the tariff wall. Under the FTA, there are no tariffs, so the branch becomes unnecessary, and the customers can be supplied equally well if not better and cheaply from one plant in he U. S. The closing of these branch plants results in many Canadian Jobs disappearing (Conklin Pg. 28). Also, many businesses that are owned completely by America, where there is a bigger market and more opportunity for growth, and there are no taxes to sell products to Canada from the U. S under the FTA. The moving and shutting down of these factories and plants creates more unemployment and less Job opportunities (Bowker Pg. 32). Many Canadians considering starting a business in Canada may be lured to America to start their business, because with the removal of ariffs, these companies can supply Canadian customers Just as easily from America while being nearer the larger American markets with the advantage of lower operating costs. This idea of starting businesses in the U. S instead of Canada, takes away Jobs from Canadian workers before even giving them a chance. Another reason for the FTA to be a disadvantage is Canada as a nation losing its sovereignty and independence. Ownership and control of Canadian industry and resources will gravitate towards the United-States under the Free Trade Agreement. Decision making for these industries will be transferred to the boardrooms in America. Economic power’s movement is usually followed by political power, so it is probable that Canada could face the eventual loss of political independence. Lastly, an example of the disadvantages of the FTA is Canadian workers facing concessions on wages, working conditions, and living standards (Conklin Pg. 30). Canada’s extensive social benefit programs like, health care system, unemployment insurance benefits, and family allowance, which do not exist on the same scale in the U. S, are vulnerable to attack as â€Å"unfair subsidies† to be reduced or eliminated. Which in turn would ncrease the cost of living for Canadians affected by the changes. Money would be needed to help pay for businesses without help, which could lower workers wages and have many workers losing their Jobs. The Americans are basically trying to assimilate the Canadians and take away their distinction and independence. So in summation, the FTA is not very advantageous because of Job loss, minimal population growth, disappearing sovereignty and worker concessions. Therefore, the disadvantages of the Free Trade Agreement outweigh those of the advantages, so Canada is not getting a very good deal.

Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Communication - Essay Example In its most basic definition, communication is the process in which an element (message) is transmitted from a source (speaker) to a listener through a channel. There are four levels of communication: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, and mass mediated. Related to this, the prefix â€Å"intra† means from within, thus, intrapersonal communication is communicating with the self. This is said to be the foundation of our communication skills. When one knows â€Å"thy self†, he or she will not have difficulty entering the next level of communication which is interpersonal communication. When a child is forbidden to socialize with neighbors, he or she will definitely have the tendencies to become shy and aloof and eventually becoming a loner. Interpersonal communication becomes very difficult to manage even at this point. Interpersonal communication can be divided into two: dyad (two persons) and small-group (three to seven). At this point, the basic communication pattern that exists is the transferring of information. This is called the asking-giving information process. Primarily, what people ask each other during the first meeting is somehow demographic: name, age, school enrolled in, course, etc. If person A has not been trained to see or socialize with others, it would be difficult to manage even the simplex dyad A would experience in school or any other place for that matter. The most perfect example of a group communication is what exists in the family. A family which is open and constantly communicating with one another can resolve problems faster. Public communication is coping through with what we need to do every day, say in the classroom, at the office during meetings, etc. On the other hand, mediated communication is one of the easiest ways to communicate with people who are from afar by the aid of technology. One of the dangers of mediated communication is that it is not a face to face communication unlike interpersonal and public commu nication. Sincerity in communication is very important, thus, non-verbal cues also play a very important role in communication. But why do people communicate? The answer could any be of the following functions of communication: utilitarian, therapeutic, recording-transmitting, and affective function of communication. According to Heath lecture, there are three meta-theories mentioned: rules, systems, and critical/cultural studies. I would like to discuss in this paper the meta-theory on rules. According to Heath, people learn to communicate because they have learned the rules of the game. At this case, communication is the game. As we all know, there are certain rules in communication. We must remember that there are six elements in communication: speaker, listener, message, channel, noise, and feedback. In order for communication to become successful, a correct feedback must be given by the listener. That is why, when the source of the message speaks, the receiver listens. That is the basic rule. We cannot talk at the same time, otherwise, we may not be able to resolve a thing. Furthermore, Heath added that people make strategic choices in their communication behavior because communication is a â€Å"game†, people learn its rules and strive to behave in ways that conform to those rules. A good example for that is when we are meeting a particular person for the first time. The very first thing we do is to ask information about this person. So he is Japanese. Would a hand shake be polite? The other person is Middle Eastern. What could be a polite or impolite gesture? When we learn something about the people we meet allow us to prepare ourselves with the mechanics of communication. Moreover, doing so will consequently put us out of trouble. Have you ever wondered

Preparation of accounts and Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Preparation of accounts and - Essay Example Moreover, the division has attracted a type of consumers that seem to be a niche market, thus creating stable demand for the products Cost of sales has been assumed to follow a pattern from its previous performance. For the home decorating division, cost of sales was pegged at 70 percent, for the household goods at 60 percent, and for the DIY goods at 40 percent. Cost of operations for 2010 also followed the historical pattern based on 2009 and 2008 statements, and assumed the same percentage against gross sales of previous years. Given these assumptions, the gross operating income and the income before tax was derived and computed for the year 2010. Since it was assumed that there was no revaluation occurring in 2010, the net income after tax for Metropole was projected to be at  £193,000. This income, compared to that of 2009 and 2008, is quite better than expected, given the bleak global economic outlook. Since there is an expected economic slowdown, the forecast decreased in sales will leave a bigger inventory of merchandise. Thus compared to 2009, the inventory for 2010 will be higher by about 10 percent. Trade receivables, on the other hand, will suffer a bit since receivables may not be collected on time. As a matter of fact, to push sales and in an effort to curtail inventory from piling up, sales on account are projected to rise giving more trade receivables to account for 2010. Thus, trade receivables account for 2010 ended with 80 percent higher than the previous year 2009. What will save the day for Metropole during the economic downturn in 2010 will be the highly profitable and stable DIY stores. This division is expected to deliver the cash for the company. Thus, it is also forecast that an increase in cash account is expected, and some of them will be treated as short term savings deposit. Given the volatile nature of the economy, investments are forecast to be put on hold, as the company observes the direction

HCI Reading Journal - Journal #2 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

HCI Reading Journal - Journal #2 - Research Paper Example However I must add that an interface goes beyond this. It might sound strange but I think I have some emotional attachment to my Smartphone its interface is so interactive and convenient that I sometimes feel incomplete without it. It has totally changed m experience in many ways. My nephew who is about 2 years is fond of me; he would jump at the sound of my voice. But that was before I realized that after the normal hug he would go straight for my phone and keep pressing the screen and motioning me to open an application that has an animation of a cat that would repeat any sound he makes. I could see he was excited and totally loved it. I thought this was normal but once we started this class I was able to understand the role played by design. According to Heim (2008), cognitive aspect of design determines the effectiveness of the interface. At this early age the kid was able to create a perception of the interface and consequently create an attachment. In essence, the interface was able to achieve its purpose due to the adequate thought put into its cognitive design. In my local town, there is an ATM boot that has three ATM machines placed in one row. The machines work alright and are very convenient. I did not see any problem in this setup until I read in Heims text about the consideration of public computers in relation to work space. In his argument, Heim (2008) postulates that design should consider the working space needed for a particular device. This opened my mind regarding the ATM machines; the working space is so small you literally can brush your shoulders when moving from one machine to another. This not only affects the comfort that should be accorded to a public computer but most importantly infringes on privacy. This is something that needs to be addressed in public computing devices that are used by hundreds of people in a

2-1-3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

2-1-3 - Essay Example heightened awareness of environmental problems such as climate change and the extreme dependence on economically unreliable supply of fossil fuels and their dwindling reserves. The European Union (EU) has been at the forefront of attempting to gradually adapt the concept of environmental sustainability. EU’s current target is to be able to supply 20% of its energy requirements through renewable energy by 2020 (European Commission 2010). EU’s gradual adoption of renewable energy as a significant resource as part of its total energy supply is an attempt to secure a long term supply of energy for its residents while at the same time reducing the negative effects of energy use on the environment by reducing the use of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are the primary cause of greenhouse emissions. Not only that, there is a finite supply of fossil fuels reserves which are being consumed at an accelerating rate. The fact that fossil fuels are the primary energy resource and provide the feedstock for almost all of the manufacturing industry at some stage of production calls for a need for the conservation of these resources and the search for alternates. The environmentally sustainable nature of renewable energy is inherently more economically stable and therefore will remain more affordable in the future compared to the unreliable and volatile fossil fuel market. One of the renewable energy initiatives the EU is promoting is the use of biofuels. A biofuel is any fuel that is obtained from a renewable biological resource, such as wood or as in the case of EU’s new and largest biofuel refinery situated in Britain, wheat. The biofuel energy model works on the principal that plants not only provide a renewable source of fuel compared to finite fossil fuel reserves, they also fit into the current carbon cycle and provide us with fuel by using carbon dioxide already present in the atmosphere instead of introducing more carbon by releasing it from fossil fuels. Other

Should priciples of justice in a community begin with the maximin Essay

Should priciples of justice in a community begin with the maximin assumption evident in John Rawls' work A theory of justice - Essay Example Rawls was primarily concerned with questions of how best social justice could be organized as a â€Å"basis structure† in a liberal and democratic society (Ibid: 6). For Rawls, his idea of justice was directed at how a societys main political, social, and economic institutions should cooperate together in distributing fundamental rights and duties to everyone in an ordered society (Ibid: 6). His objective of A Theory of Justice, published in 1971, was to provide an alternative solution to the then dominant utilitarian principle of justice, which held that, a society is â€Å"right and morally just,† if major institutions maximized what is intrinsically good, to the satisfaction of the vast majority of people in a society (Ibid: 21). In rejecting the utilitarian principle of utiltiy, Rawls set forth his conception of justice, which was egalitarian in nature. It would perhaps be helpful to look at some definitions of justice, before analyzing Rawlss conception of justice. The dictionary of legal theory define justice as the set of moral and political constrains on human interactions (Bix, 2004: 108). There have been significant debates about the nature and source of standards of justice, and some sceptical thinkers argued that standards of justice were grounded only in the conventional views of society, or in a communitys traditions (Ibid: 108). Other theories viewed the principles of justice as a general agreement among people under certain ideal conditions. A traditional view of justice described standards that are eternal and unchangeable, established by God, the nature of the universe, human nature, or some combination of these (Ibid). D.D.Raphael (2001:1), a theorist of justice, recognized justice as a complex concept that pervaded social thought, and is basic to law, ethics, and politics alike (Raphael:1). In social and political ethics,

Without middleware, the integration of application in distributed Term Paper - 1

Without middleware, the integration of application in distributed application environment is difficult - Term Paper Example This delay can cause increase in queuing time and can lead to slower system response and the system can even crash. Middleware acts as a broker between different software applications in the form of coded request processing. This paper examines the importance and role of Middleware in distributed computing. A literature review and case studies with examples from Middleware implementations are analyzed. The findings indicate that Middleware is very important in modern distributed computing environment considering the huge variety of third party applications. The paper concludes that it would be very difficult to integrate the vast variety of applications without Middleware applications. Middleware has been described as the software glue that integrates objects distributed across a large number of heterogeneous IT systems. It is also regarded as software that helps to make integration of application easy by providing standard program interfaces that act as hooks and software developers need to make their applications latch to these hooks. Middleware is called as software that allows different applications to talk with each other, exchange data and complete the transactions. Thus, Middleware acts as a broker between software applications. The software industry complexity has increased with new languages, platforms, operating systems, applications and their new versions being launched almost continuously and Middleware helps in the integration of these applications (Maximilien, et al, 2009). With thousands of developers and different flavors of software application, operating systems and platforms would not be able to process connectivity and compatibility requests from these entities. In other words, a web program written in Java would want to connect to another server program written in say VC++. There would be differences in syntax, procedures, calls, and sub routines and so on. It would not be possible for

Survey Sample Size Essay Example for Free

Survey Sample Size Essay This essay will have two parts one will discuss three different surveys and the second will be a survey that was performed by the author. The subjects of the surveys will be Entertainment, Political, and General. We will analyze the surveys that do not have the population that were surveyed. Introduction The entertainment survey will be a survey that was conducted by Universal UK, was conducted in the Britain, and is about the movies they have vivid memories pictures of in their mind. (Macnab, 2013) The Political survey was conducted by Gallup Wellbeing, is about older United States employees. (Ander, 2013) Number 3, the survey is from Gallup Wellbeing also and is about how female veterans rate their life. (Meyers Liu, 2013) Entertainment Survey Universal UK conducted this survey in order to decide which movies would sell the most if put on DVD’s. To describe the number of participants Macnab said, â€Å"The participants were people across Britain†, but no number is mentioned. (Macnab, 2013) Without the number of people surveyed, we cannot calculate if the participants were the correct amount. It was thought that the memory of the movies was considered as, â€Å"escapism†, but through the survey results, it was discovered that it was the reverse. As it showed the participants did not use the movies to escape life’s problems, but they were used to face them. (Macnab, 2013) It was as if the participants gained confidence during the viewing of the movie. Through doing the survey the company discovered the movies to use for DVD’s, and the ones that had an impact on changing people’s lives by giving them self-esteem and confidence . Confidence and raising self-esteem levels of the viewers helped some viewers improve their lives, which is why they remember the movie. . Political Survey The political survey researched Federal employees to compare the younger employees to the older employees and Federal Employees to Non-Federal employees. (Ander, 2013) The evaluation was to compare who thought; they used their strengths while on the job to do what they do best the most. (Ander, 2013) One hundred fifteen thousand (115,000) people participated which when divided in half (because there are both Federal Employees and Non-Federal Employees) gives us 57,500, which would not be an appropriate amount of participants per population. It is because of this class that this author can say the participants were not significant for the population. We have learned that the targeted survey group must be appropriate for the population results. If they researched this to the total population in the United States, the participating group should be at least 100,000 per group. This survey showed the results that the Federal employees who were 18-25 years old were the biggest percentage who said yes at 85.0%. (Ander, 2013) The Non-Federal employees results are participates 65 years and older were the biggest percentage who said, â€Å"Yes† at 86.0%. (Ander, 2013) This was unexpected because it was thought the older employees would have the higher percentage for both. The least satisfied for the Federal employees were the 65 years and older at a 77.4% and the least in the Non-Federal employees category were the 18-29 year old group at 82.1%. (Ander, 2013) This survey proved the Federal Government could help their older employees more and the Non-Federal employers could help their younger workers more. (Ander, 2013) General Survey The general survey is about female veterans of the U.S. military having a much better outlook on their lives then the Male veterans. The survey was composed of 353,561 Americans. (Meyers Liu, 2013) There were 48,690 respondents, which were affiliated with the military of the 353,561 participants. The results showed that female veterans rated their lives as, â€Å"thriving† were 54% while the male veterans at 44%. (Meyers Liu, 2013) The researchers say one of the reasons for the 10% gap is due to the optimistic view of females compared to the males. Based on the total sample of national adults, the researchers comment that they can say with 95% confidence that the margin of error is  ± 1 percentage points. (Meyers Liu, 2013) The sample size for this survey was appropriate for the population. Overview The first survey did not mention any numbers as for the survey size or the population, so there is no way to tell if the survey size is appropriate for the population. The second survey did mention 115,000-survey size, which is divided in half because there are two groups. This gives us a 57,500-survey size per group for the population. Using the population of the United States, we should have a 100,000 per group at the minimum. The third survey of the veteran females’ life satisfaction is the only one that has the correct amount of survey size. This survey size is353,561 of the population of military affiliates, which is a proper size per population. Application: Copy of Survey Application: Results Chart 1 This chart show the ages of the participants, the 35-44 age categories has the most participants, which is 30% of the total 20 people. The lowest percentages of participants are the two categories of 18-24 and 65-74 with a percentage of 10%. The people ages 35-44 are the largest group of people to watch the movie. Application: Results Chart 2 15%,30%,20%,35% This chart shows the number of participants that read the number of books 1, 2, 3 and the series of 4 books. As you can see, the participants that read the series are 7, and are the highest in percent’s also at 35%. This means that most of them read the series. The least of the participants (3) read only the first book at a percentage of 15%. . Application: Results Chart 3 50% of the participants thought the movie was only somewhat close to the book. 30% thought the movie was not Application: Surveys and Business The survey above could tell the movie directors that they should make the rest of the series closer to the books. The participants seem to think they could have made the movie more like the books. There was a lot of story line missing of which some was important to the story to be complete. Some of the participants said they were very disappointed, because for the books to be so good and the movie to be so bad there had to be something somewhere that missed the whole story’s meaning. Conclusion In conclusion, we have studied various surveys showing how some have not had a survey group that was the correct size for the population. In order for the data to be accurate, the researcher must have the proper sized survey group for the population they are researching. Statistics cannot be correct if the data is off.

The Health Care Provider And Faith Diversity Religion Essay

The Health Care Provider And Faith Diversity Religion Essay I have expanded my cultural experiences by relocating from the Midwest to the Phoenix metropolitan area. The facility where I work offers a fairly mixed spectrum of cultural diversity in an intimate and professional healthcare facility. Since several of my colleagues come from unique cultural backgrounds, I wanted to better understand their perspective on how their ways of life are accepted by or incorporated into todays health care practices. This paper includes interviews that focus on Buddhism, Shintoism, and the Navajo Indian. The first question I posed to Kamm was about the spiritual perspective on healing in the Buddhist way of life. She told me that this comes through an end of suffering through wisdom, acts of compassion, and peace. A person who shows great compassion is able to draw on inner strength to overcome pain. She continued by explaining, At a physical level, that person may suffer from pain, but their mental disposition is calm. His/her mental level is able to subdue the physical pain. Because of that persons mental disposition, the bodys immune system becomes more active to fight the disease. She elaborated further to say that sometimes it also means that a person is at peace in accepting physical pain or death in an optimal way, without suffering from it. A Buddhist prefers a calm and peaceful environment. I asked Kamm about the critical components of healing of a Buddhist. She explained that diet and exercise are critical components of healing or preventing disease. She also added that Buddhists pray and meditate regularly to promote relaxation and healing. If illness does occur, many believe that using the mind can help overcome it. Kamm stated, Everything constantly changes and change is the only constant. If certain events happen, people believe it is because a person has sowed those seeds that caused that event to occur. Kamm elaborated further by saying that following death, Buddhists prefer not to disturb the body for as long a time as possible. The first 49 days following a persons death are very important. It is during that time when many prayers are offered before the new life, reincarnation, begins. Kamm explained that reincarnation occurs over and over and a follower can be reborn as any living thing. Karma is important in reincarnation and is defined as an intentional mental, verbal, or physical action and this is very important to the Buddhist (Sayadaw, 2008). Good karma is based on showing compassion and doing the right thing; this helps determine how a person will be incarnated. If a person generates bad karma by hurting or killing others, negative consequences will occur in this or another lifetime (Karma and rebirth, n.d.). Kamm briefly reminisced when she said, The people cherish ancestry. During a specific time of the year, they take a vacation to go back home to pay respect for the dead. I asked Kamm to define what is important to a Buddhist person when cared for by health care providers with other spiritual beliefs. She explained that if a physician is very knowledgeable but not compassionate, their medicine is not very effective. The basis of trust comes with a commitment, a sense of responsibility, and a genuine sense of concern. She also added that Buddhist physicians treat their patient as if he/she was their own child. My second interviewee, Taki, grew up in Japan. In her early 20s she met her future husband, an American, who was temporarily working there. Following their marriage, she moved with him to the United States. Taki explained that in Japan, Shintoism is another way of life, not a religion. There is a great respect for nature and when Shintoists are close to nature they are close to their kami. Kami are spirits with supernatural powers they worship that are often depicted as a variety of objects in nature such as trees, rocks, and animals (Blanford, 2009). Taki elaborated further to say that there is a strong aspiration for purification in all aspects of their life and this can be observed through their rituals or in their way of thinking. Like Buddhist beliefs, when someone passes away Shintoists believe that the person is reincarnated. Taki explained the spiritual perspective on healing from the Shintoist perspective. Shinto followers are accepting of some of the difficult things that come their way because they believe it is the kamis way of getting their attention. She also told me that though they may seek medical attention at medical facility, they also use other methods for healing such as in the use of herbal remedies. According to Taki, Shinto followers are very accepting of the care they receive but they are more uncomfortable when it comes down to decisions regarding complex treatment. She continued by explaining that because they are very respectful of nature and following a natural path in life, this type of complex treatment goes against their beliefs in following a natural life. They also see the dying process as one goes against their aspiration for purity in life. Taki explained that a critical component on healing includes silent prayer to one of the kami requesting a favor. The Shinto people believe that kami want their people to be happy so they pray for good health, a good life. Taki continued by explaining that they also pray during major life events such as birth, marriage and death. Sometimes they write their prayer on a plaque and leave it at the shrine. She also noted that the Shinto people keep a small shrine in their home where offerings are made to a particular kami. In response to the question regarding what is important to the Shinto follower when cared for by health care providers, Taki explained that often, the Shintoists are advocates of a natural way of healing and typically are not in favor of artificial means to live. Some patients will rely on the doctor and will be very accepting of the results, no matter how serious. My final interview was conducted with Carmen, a Navajo Indian, who has lived her entire life in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Carmen explained that the Navajos also do not have a religion that traditionally worship a god. Their way of life, which stems from their sacred beginnings, serves as their belief system which strives for balance and harmony. Carmen went on to say that Navajos believe they are connected to the land and are relatives to every living thing. Their way of life is full of ceremonial rituals and traditions that connect them to their sacred past. Throughout our life we strive for holistic wellness for which many of our rituals are based, she explained. Carmen believes that illness occurs when a person has an imbalance between body, mind, and spirit. A Navajo healer might be sought out to diagnose this imbalance by interpreting dreams, star gazing, or understanding the vibrations in nature. Following that, a healing ceremony can be planned to assist the mind in healing the body. Carmen went on to tell me that the ceremonies are conducted in their ceremonial attire and include chants, which are a form of prayer. Several days are observed for holiness and the healing process to continue following the healing ceremony. Carmen elaborated on this further to say that during this time the person needs to avoid certain activities, one of which includes bathing. This shows evidence the Navajos seriousness for a deep desire for healing to occur. The Navajo may also use herbs for treatment or seek a medical doctor for some care. Carmen relayed that in the United States, there are hospitals specifically designed to integrate the Native American practice for healing with modern medicine. She happily reported that healing ceremonies are sometimes conducted on public land before any ground breaking for a health facility. A ceremonial hogan, a Native American family dwelling that faces the east, is included in some hospitals to accommodate this way of healing (Hogan: Dine (Navajo), n.d.). Carmen also noted that if a Navajo is hospitalized, Navajo healers are sometimes brought to the patients hospital room. Carmen admitted that the Navajo are often wary of the western medicine practice. She emphasized that they want their doctors to understand their beliefs. The Navajo would like to see more medical facilities consider the Native American way of life as plans for medical facilities are made. Carmen continued explaining that the Navajo find most facilities are too business like and cold which creates stress and anxiety. This often makes it difficult to regain wellness through harmony and balance. Collectively, the people interviewed all had a consistent message for how they value the care provided to them by health care providers whose spiritual beliefs were different from their own. The care they receive needs to align with their values which might include the medical team approach that respects their beliefs, a calm and serene environment, or incorporation of healing practices unique to their ways of life. They do not want healthcare workers to assume that what is important in western medicine is necessarily shared by all peoples. When patients see health care providers let go of their own beliefs, patients feel more comfortable in their care. A sense of trust develops. Patients have greater comfort knowing that their ways of life are understood, respected, and incorporated into their care. All of these efforts promote their healing process. The Christian philosophy of faith and healing often refers to Gods power to heal. Gods will is interpreted by some as being punished for their sins, or as a way to bring a person closer to God because of a lack of faith. Todays belief in healing integrates Gods will through faith with traditional medical practices. God has given people the ability to acquire knowledge and skill to pursue and employ scientific advances to help treat or cure diseases. However, in contrast to other faiths this may not include a belief in the same god or what is important in a persons life. In conclusion, I have learned a lot in gaining a better understanding of the beliefs and values of other cultures. It has significantly increased my awareness to never assume that the care I typically provide is in agreement with the beliefs and wishes of my patient. I am more aware of the importance to first understand my patients beliefs so I can assist in their healing process that respects their culture and best meets their needs.

The Knowledge Which Are Independent Of Our Culture Philosophy Essay

The Knowledge Which Are Independent Of Our Culture Philosophy Essay It is important to first establish that one cannot analyse beliefs and knowledge together, especially in relation to culture, thus they must be handled differently because they are both separate entities, in how they influence an individuals culture. Culture is the behaviour, and beliefs characteristic of an individual, particular, social ethnic group age group.  [1]   Culture is the society and values upon which one is raised. It is built upon customs, practices, beliefs and ideas that are instilled in an individual by influential parties such as parents from childhood. These are all derived from imagination, knowledge and cultural values which are developed over time depending on customs and beliefs. These then influence an individuals customs. Also, culture is divided into two, individual culture which is the way one Its the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. -Mohammed Ali  [2]   This is basically to say that once something is repeated to an individual over time especially by someone in authority over them, they begin to believe and practice the said affirmation. Belief is something that is perceived to be true by an individual but is not common to all individuals. According to Michael Woolman, belief is a tendency to accept principles one has always accepted regardless of evidence to the contrary.  [3]  Belief can be deemed fallacious because it is relative especially by people who do not share the same beliefs. Belief is also confidence in the truth of what we believe in and it is justified by its working.  [4]  Belief is also associated with action, ergo, one must practice what they believe in. If I try to doubt all my beliefs, one day I will find that there is at least one whose truth I cannot doubt Rene Descartes  [5]   Descartes basically means that you cannot doubt your beliefs for there is a reason you believed in the first place. Over time, beliefs evolve from being just mere beliefs and become part of an individuals belief system which is what people believe in, inspired by their culture. Therefore, we cannot have beliefs which are independent of our culture. Culture does not exist in a social vacuum but it inhabits a complex world where the attitudes and beliefs of those around an individual have a massive impact on every aspect of their lives. This means that culture, be it societal or individual is influenced by other beliefs from other cultures which end up an individual, depending on what the already present belief is and how closely related it is to the other culture. Culture determines behaviour, customs, values, habits and tradition and it meditates on every aspect of our lives and experiences.  [6]   There is a thin line between knowledge and belief in the sense that belief never leads to knowledge, but knowledge leads to belief. It is not possible for one to believe in something they do not know, however, it is possible to know something they do not believe in. For instance, in the late 1800s, the Kikuyu community of Kenya believed in naming people according to what they were good at, akin to the characteristics they exhibited. This is paradigm of a culture believing in something they know. On the other hand, one may possess full knowledge of what a religion other than their own stands for but may not believe in the tenets (the example of Islam).. According to Bastian Sue, Bammi Vivek , Howard Craig, Kitching Julian, Oberg Dennis, Wilkinson David and Salomon Manjula. knowledge is, a sub-category of belief and it is a claim that one accepts regardless of the degree of confidence, emotional intensity and sense of significance one may have. p This is to say that for one to know they must believe. This only applies to the statement Knowledge leads to belief as it may differ in regard to other statements or claims. This is justified because knowledge is information that is factual and based on the truth. Knowledge is the acquaintance of facts, truths and principles as a form of study or investigation also as to have a clear perception as of fact or truth.  [7]  Also, according to Plato, knowledge is justified as true belief. The greater our knowledge increases, the more our ignorance unfolds. John F Kennedy 3 This quote by J F Kennedy implies that as we learn more, our lack of knowledge expresses how ignorant we are. To some extent, knowledge and belief are somewhat alike in the sense that most of the time they are both based on perception and on what one is told rather that what one knows for a fact. After research, I realised that Knowledge does not have a clear definition of what it is but rather related words like teaching are used to express it. According to geek philosopher Aristotle The one exclusive sign of knowledge is the power of teaching. Among the Ways of Knowing (Woks), Knowledge by Authority and Perception are the most applicable when looking at knowledge in relation to culture. Knowledge by authority is when an individual knows something from someone older, knowledgeable and in authority over them so much so to influence them. For instance, parents and teachers. Authoritative knowledge is usually led by wisdom because such knowledge is thought to have been tested over time. However, it is important not to pass over the fact that authorities may also be wrong. Perception is the act  or  faculty  of  apprehending  by  means  ofthe  senses  or  of  the  mind;   cognition, understanding or the immediate  or  intuitive  recognition  or appreciation,  as  of  moral,  psychological,  or aesthetic  qualities:  insight;  intuition; discernment.  [8]  Knowledge by perception follows the empiricism view that all knowledge is derived from what is observed. This is one Way of Knowing under which belief is and this is because with perception, one makes an observation and sometimes, it may influence what the individual believes in. Belief is the confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof.  [9]  This implies that more often than not, what is believed cannot be proved. It may also not be the truth it could however be deep trust about something and they tend to buried deep within the subconscious with the result that they trigger automatic reactions and behaviours. We seldom question beliefs because we hold them to be truths which have been repeated over time such that they automatically become truths.  [10]  This then means that people internalise beliefs from the people around us when we are most vulnerable and this is when we are children. This way of thinking can be fallacious in that it is an error in reasoning. In this case, the question of whether or not we can have beliefs or knowledge that are independent of culture. It is the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief -Muhammad Ali  [11]   According to Famous boxer Muhammad Ali, when something is repeated and stressed to an individual then it becomes part of their belief s. The stressing and repetition of the belief not done by the believer but by another party who influences the believer to believe that what has been said is truth, thus making the belief part the believers conscience. The fact that sometimes, beliefs cannot be proved doesnt make them right, neither does it make them wrong because as much as there is no proof n its truth, there is no proof that it is false. For instance the statement I believe today is Wednesday is only true because it has been repeated to us over and over again to the extent that it is now true although it is not a statement that has be proved right or wrong theoretically and scientifically. Therefore, it is impossible to have beliefs which are independent of our culture because culture and belief work hand in hand to make an individuals values, traditions, values and habits therefore they cannot be separated and one cannot have beliefs which are independent of our culture. It is also important to note that the culture in question here is an individuals culture and not anothers culture, because one cannot believe in a culture that they do not practice because belief is backed by action. In conclusion, it is possible to have knowledge which is independent of our culture but it is not possible to have beliefs which are independent of our culture.

The Racial Contract Essay -- essays research papers

In The Racial Contract, it is argued that contemporary structures of white domination in the United States operate by means of an epistemology of ignorance for white people. White people inadvertently suffer from cognitive dysfunctions such that they cannot understand the racially (and racistly) structured world in which they live and, indeed, helped create. For Mills, while no person of any race is self-transparent, becoming a white person entails a particularly extreme form of self-opacity regarding issues of race that corresponds with a conspicuously bad or offensive misunderstanding of the world. Recently with the invasion of Iraq, the president has proven that white people believe that they are correct when that in any given conflict it must quell the conflict through force rather than understanding of the predicament. It must be astonishing to a lot of white Bush supporters to learn that the horrible conditions in Iraq would only be made worse when a foreign country whose lead er represents Christian ideals (which aren’t the prevailing consensus in Iraq), believes that Iraqis people need another conflicting force in a country ravaged by extreme racism. Because of the racialized moral psychology created by the racial contract, white people are ironically often unable to see race and racism. Although Mills does not make use of psychoanalysis, his work suggests both how and why psychoanalytic theory can be of help to critical race theory’s project of examining race for the purpose of challenging racism and white privilege. While the white cognitive dysfunction described by Mills sometimes operates preconsciously, his concept of the epistemology of ignorance also points to the vast pools of human thought inaccessible to consciousness, and thus unconscious. This refers not to a mere gap or empty space; rather, it is something that is actively, dynamically produced, and which stubbornly maintains its existence. This means that as unconscious entity, racism’s effectiveness is found in its ability to perpetuate itself as something invisible and unknowable. Most race theories that omit the unconscious operations of race and ra cism touches on only the tip of the iceberg that is white privilege. This is not to say that white privilege is only psychical. But the importance of the economic, political, geographical, and other aspects of white privilege should not le... ...stood, yet it was made illegal to possess. The fear of white Americans losing their jobs was a major contributing factor and unconsciously, people of Hispanic descent had become the perfect â€Å"scapegoat† for the irrational paranoia that existed during the time period. It is not a coincidence that the majority of people in the correctional system are black, but there is the hope that through the knowledge and respect of one another those grievous acts that divide people into skin color, race, ethnicity, and religion can find a common ground. Common ground as in laws that everyone can agree on, not just what the majority decrees as being justice. There isn’t any government that can achieve this because of the seemingly infinite amount of strife in the world which causes people to become refugees and flee to strange countries. The only way that I can perceive the extinction of unconscious racism is the development of science which can prevent hardships. A common enemy has historically been known to bring people together, whether that enemy is a shortage of food or lack of resources, the most basic needs of freedom and liberty bind all men together with a goal in a positive direction.

frost Essay -- essays research papers

The Road Not Taken In line one, Frost introduces the elements of his primary metaphor, the diverging roads. Lines two to three expresses the speaker's disappointment with his human limitations; he must make a choice. The choice is not easy, since "long I stood" before coming to a decision. Lines four and five examine the path as best the narrator can. However his vision is limited because the path bends and is covered over. These lines indicate that although the speaker would like to acquire more information, he is prevented from doing so because of the nature of his environment. In the following three lines, lines six through eight, the speaker indicates that the second path is a more attractive choice because it appears as though nobody has ventured down it recently. However, he remains ambivalent, since the traveled path is "just as fair.?Although the poet breaks for a new stanza after line 10, the comparison of the paths continues in lines nine through twelve. Here, the speaker state s that the paths are "really about the same." Neither path has been traveled lately. Although he's searching for a clear logical reason to choose a single path, not one presents itself. In lines thirteen through fifteen, the speaker makes his decision. He tries to rationalize that he will be able to traverse both paths one day. However, he is quick to dismiss his hopes. Ending line thirteen, the exclamation point conveys excitement, but that excitement is quickly undercut by the admission contained in the following lines. In the final four lines, the only stanza beginning with a new sentence, the tone clearly shifts. The speaker imagines himself in the future, discussing his life. What he suggests, here, though, appears to contradict what he has said earlier. At the end of the poem, in the future, he will claim that the paths were different from each other and that he, courageous, did not choose the conventional one. Frost's quarrel with the world is apparent in this poem. The speaker of this poem, presumable Frost himself, is forced to make a decision. Literally, he must choose a path in the woods. However, Frost's paths in the woods metaphorically describe the decisions that one must make in life. Frost is perturbed with the world because, like the speaker, he has to choose between two divergent paths. Each path appears to be suitable, yet, Fro... ... done something or spoken a word that indicates who he really is, there is no turning back, in cannot be undone. Once again at the end of the poem regret hangs over the traveler. He realizes that at the end of his life, somewhere ages and ages hence? he will have the regrets about having never gone back and traveling the road he did not take. Yet, he remains proud of his decision and recognizes that it was this path that he chose which helped him live the life he did. â€Å"I took the road less traveled by and that has made all the difference? To this man, the most important thing was that he did not have to follow the crowd and could stand independent and travel down the road he really wanted to. If he had not, he would not be the same man he is now. There are many equally valid meanings to this poem and Robert Frost may have intended this. He may have been trying to achieve a universal meaning. In other words, there is no real moral to the poem. There is simply a narrator who makes a decision in his life that changed the direction of his life. It allows all readers from all different experiences to relate to the poem and encourages each to peruse his own dreams and individuality. frost Essay -- essays research papers The Road Not Taken In line one, Frost introduces the elements of his primary metaphor, the diverging roads. Lines two to three expresses the speaker's disappointment with his human limitations; he must make a choice. The choice is not easy, since "long I stood" before coming to a decision. Lines four and five examine the path as best the narrator can. However his vision is limited because the path bends and is covered over. These lines indicate that although the speaker would like to acquire more information, he is prevented from doing so because of the nature of his environment. In the following three lines, lines six through eight, the speaker indicates that the second path is a more attractive choice because it appears as though nobody has ventured down it recently. However, he remains ambivalent, since the traveled path is "just as fair.?Although the poet breaks for a new stanza after line 10, the comparison of the paths continues in lines nine through twelve. Here, the speaker state s that the paths are "really about the same." Neither path has been traveled lately. Although he's searching for a clear logical reason to choose a single path, not one presents itself. In lines thirteen through fifteen, the speaker makes his decision. He tries to rationalize that he will be able to traverse both paths one day. However, he is quick to dismiss his hopes. Ending line thirteen, the exclamation point conveys excitement, but that excitement is quickly undercut by the admission contained in the following lines. In the final four lines, the only stanza beginning with a new sentence, the tone clearly shifts. The speaker imagines himself in the future, discussing his life. What he suggests, here, though, appears to contradict what he has said earlier. At the end of the poem, in the future, he will claim that the paths were different from each other and that he, courageous, did not choose the conventional one. Frost's quarrel with the world is apparent in this poem. The speaker of this poem, presumable Frost himself, is forced to make a decision. Literally, he must choose a path in the woods. However, Frost's paths in the woods metaphorically describe the decisions that one must make in life. Frost is perturbed with the world because, like the speaker, he has to choose between two divergent paths. Each path appears to be suitable, yet, Fro... ... done something or spoken a word that indicates who he really is, there is no turning back, in cannot be undone. Once again at the end of the poem regret hangs over the traveler. He realizes that at the end of his life, somewhere ages and ages hence? he will have the regrets about having never gone back and traveling the road he did not take. Yet, he remains proud of his decision and recognizes that it was this path that he chose which helped him live the life he did. â€Å"I took the road less traveled by and that has made all the difference? To this man, the most important thing was that he did not have to follow the crowd and could stand independent and travel down the road he really wanted to. If he had not, he would not be the same man he is now. There are many equally valid meanings to this poem and Robert Frost may have intended this. He may have been trying to achieve a universal meaning. In other words, there is no real moral to the poem. There is simply a narrator who makes a decision in his life that changed the direction of his life. It allows all readers from all different experiences to relate to the poem and encourages each to peruse his own dreams and individuality.