Literature Review on Autism Spectrum Disorders Essay

Abstract Autism has become an increasing subject of interest, especially to researchers and medical professionals. This increase in interest is most likely due to the fact that autism is becoming an increasing problem in children, with the number of diagnoses doubling in just a four year period. In order to discover what may cause this disorder as well as finding effective ways to treat it, people must be informed and knowledgeable about autism. The current study discusses what ASD is, symptoms of this disorder, possible causes and risk factors, and methods of treatments and therapy, such as early intervention and sensory integration therapy. This study hypothesizes that sensory integration therapy will significantly improve grades and school performance in children with autism. Recently, it seems as if autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been receiving a great deal of attention by those who work in the medical field, researchers, education providers, and parents as well. This is due to the fact that the number of diagnoses has increased significantly. In just a four year period, the number of recorded diagnoses for these types of disorders has doubled (Keen & Ward, 2004). This substantial increase in the diagnoses of ASDs could be due to the fact that doctors and other health professionals are becoming more aware of the criteria for these disorders, and are beginning to have greater recognition of ASD in more able, high functioning children. In the past, there have been several cases where high functioning children were first diagnosed with ADHD, and later received an ASD diagnoses (Keen & Ward, 2004). With the recent awareness of autism spectrum disorders, a more clear criteria has developed for the diagnoses of these disorders. In broad terms, autism spectrum disorders is a group of developmental brain disorders, collectively called ASD. It is called autism spectrum disorder because the symptoms and levels of impairment for these disorders ranges  widely in each individual with an ASD. (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2011). In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, 2011), some higher functioning children may only be mildly impaired by his or hers symptoms, while other children who are low functioning may have more severely impaired by his or hers symptoms, causing them to be severely disabled. To diagnose an individual with ASD, one must meet the criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition – Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). Currently, there are five defined disorders that fall under the category of ASD. These disorders include autistic disorder (classic autism), Asperger’s disorder (Asperger’s syndrome), pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Rett’s disorder (Rett’s syndrome), and childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) (NIMH, 2011). However, this review will focus mostly on the more common disorders, classic autism and Asperger’s syndrome. The NIMH (2011) has identified some key symptoms seen in individuals with ASD. While symptoms do vary from one child to the next, the symptoms tend to fall into three main areas. These three areas include social impairment, communication difficulties, and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. Children with autism have trouble with social interactions and find it difficult to engage in everyday social interactions. Some of these problems with social interactions may include having trouble with making eye contact, have trouble listening to and responding to other people in their environment, and having trouble picking up on social cues and reading peoples emotions. Children with ASD may respond unusually or inappropriately when others show feelings of anger, sadness, distress, or affection (Kamps, Leonard, Vernon, Dugan, & Delquadri, 1992). Children with autism also suffer from several communication issues, such as failing or being slow to respond to verbal attempts to get their attention, developing language at a slower pace than others, repeating words or phrases that they hear, and using words that are strange or out of place, that do not really make sense to people other than the child and those close to the child whom are familiar with the child’s communication style. The last important symptom seen in children  with ASD is repetitive and stereotyped behavior. Many children with ASD tend to have odd, repetitive actions and behaviors that may be referred to as stereotyped behaviors. An example of a stereotyped behavior might be a simple gesture of the arm that is repeatedly done by the child. Children with autism often have one subject or interest that they tend to overly focus on. They tend to become obsessed with one particular subject, and will learn everything they can about the subject of interest. Because autistic children seem to display several repetitive behaviors and thoughts, a set routine is usually the best environment for a child with ASD (NIMH, 2011). While there have been many theories and suggestions of what may cause autism spectrum disorders, there is not one particular known cause of these disorders. A great deal of research has been done to examine possible causes of and risk factors for this disorder. Recently, there has been research on the hypotheses that maternal early life factors associated with hormone levels may have some correlation with being at risk of having a child with ASD. Ascherio, Lyall, Pauls, Santangelo, and Spiegelman (2011) conducted a study to see if they could find any relationships between certain maternal early life factors associated with hormone levels and the risk of having a child with an ASD. This study focuses on maternal early life factors, and how some of these reproductive and hormonal factors of mothers could put them at risk of having a child with ASD (Ascherio, Lyall, Pauls, Santangelo, & Spiegelman, 2011). The methods of this study included a cohort study with 61,596 women. Data was collected from these women, which included age of menarche (first menstrual cycle), characteristics of menstrual cycle during adolescence, use of birth control, specifically oral contraceptives, prior to have given birth, body shape, and body mass index (BMI). The results of this study showed relationships between higher BMI’s at age 18, early age at menarche, and longer use of oral contraceptives prior to first birth, and being at risk for having a child with ASD (Ascherio et al., 2011). Other risk factors for having a child with an ASD that have been studied include prenatal, or the period of time before the child is born, perinatal, or the period of delivery and immediately before and after delivery, and parental, or characteristics of the parents, factors. In a study done by  Hertz-Piccottio et al. (2010), the authors examine possible parental, prenatal and perinatal factors associated with ASD. The methods of this study was a case-control study, using a cohort of children in China. Cases came from six special education schools and two Preschool Autistic Children Special Education Institutions in Tianjin, China (Hertz-Piccottio et al., 2010). The parental risk factors that were studied included parental ages at delivery, ethnicity, occupation, education, marriage of a close relative, exposure to toxins, personality, and family medical history of different illnesses (Hertz-Piccottio et al., 2010, p. 1313). The prenatal risk factors that were examined in this study included maternal characteristics and behaviors during pregnancy, alcohol consumption, smoking and second hand smoke exposure, exposure to X-rays, attempt to terminate pregnancy, contact with toxins, emotional state, disease history, and medication history (Hertz-Piccottio et al., 2010, p. 1313). Some perinatal factors that were examined include infant gestational age at birth, fetal nuchal chord (umbilical chord wrapped around neck), cesarean delivery, and breech birth. Also included were newborn complications such as birth weight, delayed crying, and abnormal skin color due to an array of conditions such a hypoxia, apnoea, neonatal jaundice, and several other conditions (Hertz-Piccottio et al., 2010, p. 1313). The results of this study showed relationships between several of the factors examined and the risk of having a child with ASD. In relation to the prenatal risk factors studied, seven conditions during gestation were significantly associated with the risk of having a child with ASD, four of which showed the strongest relationship. The four prenatal risk factors that showed the strongest relationship included frequent maternal second-hand smoke exposure, chronic and acute medical conditions unrelated to pregnancy, maternal unhappy emotional state, and one or more gestational complications (Hertz-Piccottio et al., 2010, p. 1314). For the perinatal risk factors that were studied, seven characteristics at the time of delivery were significantly associated with autism. These characteristics include abnormal gestational age, including preterm and post-term, nuchal chord, cesarean delivery, delayed crying, newborn complications, apnoea, and neonatal jaundice (Hertz-Piccottio et al., 2010, p. 1314). For the parental characteristics studied, results showed that gravidity > 1 and advanced paternal age at delivery were  significantly associated with autism (Hertz-Piccottio et al., 2010, p. 1314). Other studies have also done research on possible perinatal, prenatal, and parental risk factors for autism. In a study done by Agerbo et al. (2005), the authors created a study in Denmark of children with ASD. This study focused on possible perinatal risk factors for autism, as well as the associations between parental psychiatric history and socioeconomic status and the risk of having a child with autism. The following perinatal factors were investigated in this study: birth weight, gestational at birth, weight for gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score at 5 minutes, fetal presentation, mode of delivery, pregnancy characteristics such as multiple gestation, and parental characteristics such as maternal smoking, maternal and paternal ages, maternal citizenship, and number of previous pregnancies. Other factors considered were parental psychiatric history, that is, if the parent had been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder prior to the date the child was diagnosed with autism, and socioeconomic factors, including maternal education and parental wealth (Agerbo et al., 2005). As we begin to understand more about what exactly autism spectrum disorders are, what may cause these disorders, and how to diagnose children more accurately and sooner, the next step in being proactive with ASD is studying different treatment methods and developing new methods of treatment that may be more effective. The biggest impairment for most children with ASD is the social impairments caused by these disorders. Developing treatments that may help children with an ASD learn how to better interact in social situations could possibly be the most useful type of treatment for these children. Researchers have been working on several different treatment methods for children with autism, especially treatments to help develop and improve social skills. In a study done by Koegel, Koegel, Hurley, and Frea (1992), the authors seek out to find a treatment to improve social skills in children with an ASD. This study assessed whether self-management could be used as a technique to improve extended responsiveness to verbal initiations from others, without the presence of a treatment provider. The methods of this study included four children, all of whom were diagnosed with autism.  The results of the study showed that children with autism who displayed severe deficits in social skills could learn to self-manage responsivity to others in multiple community settings (Koegel, Koegel, Hurley, & Frea, 1992). Another method of treatment that is being explored is the use of social robots for the therapy of children with ASD. In a study done by Werry, Dautenhahn, Ogden, and Harwin (2001) , the researchers developed a robotic agent that could help with therapy in children with autism. This study was called the AURORA project, which started in 1998. The results so far have been quite promising, and the social robot has proven to be a very useful tool for children with autism. It gives them the opportunity to practice social interactions and serves as a social mediator (Werry, Dautenhan, Ogden, & Harwin, 2001). The treatment of autism is not a simple process. There is no single therapy or method of treatment that can completely cure an individual with autism. However, there are an assortment of treatments and therapies that have proven to be effective in treating children with autism. Quite often, children with autism combine different treatment methods and therapies to improve different skills. Some of the more common approaches at treating autism in children include behavioral procedures, such as early intervention and discrete trial trainings, speech therapy, dietary approaches, and occupational therapy ( Watling, Deitz, Kanny, & McLaughlin, 1999). Early intervention, a behavioral analytic treatment for autism, is an intensive behavioral therapy that is started as soon as a child is diagnosed with autism, usually before age 5. This type of therapy is based on the principles of operant conditioning. In this type of treatment, therapists simplify children’s environment in order to maximize successes and minimize failures. For example, the therapist might break a behavior down into smaller units and teach each unit individually, eventually linking all of the units together, which may also be called chaining. Another method of simplification that a therapist may use is discrete trial format. Discrete trial format involves a one on one interaction with a therapist that is carefully planned out, in which the child receives short and clear instructions from the therapist, and is immediately reinforced for every  correct response. Another type of treatment for children with autism that is becoming more popular is occupational therapy. Occupational therapists are trained in teaching every day skills to help the individual being treated live as independently as possible. These skills can be very helpful to children with an ASD. One of the most well-known types of therapy occupational therapists use to help treat autism is sensory integration therapy. Those who practice this type of therapy hypothesize that the primary symptoms of autism are disturbances in sensory modulation. Consequently, children with autism have difficulties in social relating, communication, and language. Because children with autism have these disturbances in regulating sensory input appropriately, they suffer from several social and communication problems (Case-Smith & Bryan, 1999). The sensory integration approach attempts to stimulate and challenge the senses of the individual being treated (Cohn, 2001). A common symptom in individuals w ith autism is being either over stimulated under-stimulated by their environment. They often have trouble learning to combine and integrating their different senses. These sensory difficulties may be a cause of communication problems and social interaction problems in children with autism. Because they have such difficulty regulating their sensory systems, they tend to have trouble socializing and interacting with others. Some individuals with autism practice certain stereotyped behaviors, such as lining up toys or moving a toy back and forth on a table. This may be an attempt to try and regulate their sensory systems. The sensory integration approach aims to help children with autism improve their sensory processing and modulation. There are three elements typically included in this approach: helping parents better understand their child’s behavior, helping parents/teachers modify the child’s environment in order to meet his or hers sensory needs, and helping children organize responses to sensory input. However, each sensory integration therapy session is unique to the individual being treated. Occupational therapists must conside r different individuals’ unique needs and goals (Case-Smith & Bryan, 1999). Sensory integration therapy is the most used technique in occupational  therapy for the treatment of children with autism, with 95% of occupational therapists using this approach at least some of the time. The reason for its popularity in the treatment of autism is because of its proven efficacy in helping improve social interactions and communications. In a study done by Case-Smith and Bryan (1999) the authors found that sensory integration therapy can significantly increase mastery play, or the child’s interactions with the physical environment. They also found that sensory integration therapy significantly decreases non-engaged behaviors, or behaviors where the child is not interacting or minimally interacting with their environment. Examples of these behaviors include unfocused staring or aimless wandering. In a study by Cohn (2001), the author is concerned with parents’ perspectives of the sensory integration approach used in the treatment of their children. In t his study, the author found that sensory integration was successful in helping parents understand their children’s problems. While there is a great deal of research that has been done on the sensory integration approach as a treatment for children with autism and the efficacy of this treatment in improving certain social behaviors, there is not much literature on the effects of sensory integration therapy on grades and school performance of children with autism. In consideration to prior research in relation to autism and the treatment methods, the current study hypothesizes that sensory integration therapy will significantly improves grades and school performance in children with autism. Methods Participants Participants of this study will consist of young children with autism or another type of ASD, attending some type of day care or school for children with disabilities. Participants will be in the age group of 3 years old to 7 years old. There will be about 10-15 total participants. Materials This study will be a single-subject design, where each participant serves as his or hers own control group. The study will be conducted right after a break in school, such as winter break or summer break. When the students return from the break in school, they will attend school for three to four weeks without receiving any therapy or treatment. At the end of this period, grades will be assessed as well as general school performance such has  participation and behavior. After the three week period of no therapy, intervention will be initiated and children will all receive sensory integration therapy. Children will receive this therapy within the school for six to eight weeks. At the end of this intervention period, grades and school performance will be assessed again. Procedure The therapy sessions will take place in the day care or school building. Observations of the participants will be made in the classroom, both before the intervention period and during the intervention period. These observations will assess each child’s individual school performance, including things such as participation and class behaviors. Grades will also be assessed both before the intervention and during the intervention period. Students will return to school after their break and will not receive any therapy for three weeks. After the first three weeks, the intervention will be initiated and the children will each participate individually in a form of sensory integration therapy under the supervision of a trained occupational therapist. Each therapy session will be unique to the individual and his or hers unique needs or goals. At the end of the intervention period, grades will be assessed again. The grades and school performance of each child before the therapy was star ted will be compared with the grades and school performance assessed during and at the end of the therapy, using SPSS or some sort of statistical analysis program, to determine whether or not sensory integration therapy significantly improves grades and school performance in children with autism. References Agerbo, E., Eaton, W. W., Larsson, H. J., Madsen, K. M., Mortensen, P. B., Oleson, A. V., †¦Vestergaard, M. (2005). Risk factors for autism: Perinatal factors, parental psychiatric history, and socioeconomic status. American Journal of Epidemiology. 161(10), 916-925. doi:10.1093/aje/kwi123 Ascherio, A., Lyall, K., Pauls, D. L., Santangelo, S., & Spiegelman, D. (2011). Maternal early life factors associated with hormone levels and the risk of having a child with an autism spectrum disorder in the nurses health study II. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders,41, 618- 627. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1079-7 Case – Smith, J., & Bryan, T. (1999). The effects of occupational therapy with sensory integration emphasis on preschool-age children with autism. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 53, 489 – 497. Cohn, E. S. (2001). Parent perspectives of occupational therapy using a sensory integration approach. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, 285-294. Hertz- Picciotto, I., Lv, C. C., Miao, R. J., Qi, L., Tian, J., Xi, W., & Zhang, X. (2010) Prenatal and perinatal risk factors for autism in china. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 1311-1321. doi: 10.1007/s10803-010-0992-0 Kamps, D. M., Leonard, B. R., Vernon, S., Dugan, E. P., Delquadri, J. C., Gershon, B.,†¦Folk, L. (1992). Journal of Applied and Behavior Analysis, 25 (2), 281-288. Keen, D. & Ward, S. (2004). Autistic spectrum disorder a child population profile. The National Autistic Society, 8 (1), 39-48. Koegel, L. K., Koegel, R. L., Hurley, C., & Frea, W. (1992). Improving social skills and disruptive behavior in children with autism through self-management. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 341-353. Smith, Tristram. (1999). Outcome of early intervention for children with autism. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice,6, (1), 33-49. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. (2011). A parent’s guide to autism spectrum disorder (NIH Publication No. 11-5511). Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/a-parents-guide-to-autism-spectrum-disorder/complete-index.shtml#pub6 Watling, R., Deitz, J., Kanny, E. M., & McLaughlin, J. F. (1999). Current practice of occupational therapy for children with autism. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 53, 498–505. Werry, I., Dautenhahn, K., Ogden, B., & Harwin, W. (2001). Can social interaction skills be taught by a social agent? The role of a robotic mediator in autism therapy.

Comparative Essay: To Kill A Mockingbird and Martin Luther Kin Essay

Choose 2 of the texts we have studied and explain how each composer has successfully communicated their message to the responder. In the text To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and the ‘I have a dream’ speech by Martin Luther King Jnr, both composers have conveyed strong messages that are communicated through narrative and oral techniques. These messages of courage and prejudice and discrimination are what the composer thought is necessary to write in order to change social attitudes towards these issues. Both texts were written at a time when those who were oppressed were fighting for freedom and tolerance by those who discriminated. Atticus Finch shows a remarkable amount of moral courage by defending Tom Robinson in Court when accused of raping a white woman. This act takes courage, as Atticus already knows the small town of Maycomb has found Tom guilty. The intolerance and racism that has been widespread among southern society for hundreds of years may not be eliminated by this case, but Atticus will fight anyway. â€Å"†¦if I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head up in this town†¦I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again† This quote said by Atticus to Scout in an effort to teach Scout about social etiquette and morals. Atticus feels that he must have honesty in all sides of his life and that if he were to be false as a lawyer he would not be true to his family or friends. Having the children at the court case exposes them to the prejudice and hypocracy faced to those who a different to the majority. In the novel, coloured people are seen as dangerous and violent to those who are prejudiced. † I seen that black nigger†¦ruttin on my Mayella!†¦lived down yonder in that nigger-nest†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Bob Ewell says this when he gets carried away while accusing Tom Robinson. The quote demonstrates that Bob feels ‘Negroes’ are inferior savages that have no rights or feeling and is displayed when he uses language reserved for animals. By using Scout to narrate the story allows Harper Lee to expose the responder  to views and attitudes formed by minor with innocence. The audience learns about prejudice and discrimination as Scout learns. Through her eyes we see her father, Atticus, show moral courage as he defends a coloured man in court. The ending of the novel is cautiously optimistic as Atticus does not win the court case but still manages to have taught his children valuable life lessons. Martin Luther King Jnr stood up in front of a crowd, about 250, 000 followers who had gathered in Washington from around the world, and delivered a truly inspiring speech. The speech he gave that day on August 28th, 1963 became an anthem to those who were and still are being discriminated against. King knew of the risks he faced by standing up for himself and others in his position and what he did that day took courage and bravery. â€Å"†¦the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty†¦an exile in his own land†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This quote conveys that King felt that discrimination occurred in every aspect of a coloured persons life: personal, economic, political, religion and opportunity. â€Å"†¦lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood†. This phrase talks about everyone making an effort with the nation to stop racial prejudice and together form a peaceful and loving nation. The tone of the speech makes it almost ironic that America is the ‘land of opportunity’ and ‘liberty’, and that the ‘American Dream’ is equality and yet has colour restrictions and those who are racially different are discriminated against. King used many techniques to make his message as clear and precise as possible. These resources included call and response interaction with the audience; a ‘calm to storm’ delivery which begins in a slow professional manner before gradually reaching its dramatic climax; repetition; imagery used when, for example, he is contrasting between light and darkness (hope and imprisonment); and finally allusions such as religious or political. Both composers wrote their texts for the same purpose, to help change social  attitudes and to challenge the responder to employ tolerance and understanding. They achieved this by using various techniques to convey messages that help the audience ‘walk in someone else’s shoes’ for a brief moment of time. King leaves his audience with a feeling of hope and optimism for the future; Lee’s ending provides cautious optimism but it is still apparent. Both texts leave the audience with valuable knowledge and insight into a era of great prejudice and discrimination.

Golkonda Fort Essay

The 13th century Golconda Fort was built by the Kakatiya kings. In the 16th century, Golkonda was the capital and fortress city of the Qutb Shahi kingdom, near Hyderabad. The city was home to one of the most powerful Muslim sultanates in the region and was the center of a flourishing diamond trade. Golkonda was located 11 km west of the city of Hyderabad. According to a legend, the fort derives its name from Golla Konda, which is a Telugu word for Shepherd’s Hill. It is believed that a shepherdboy came across an idol on the hill. This led to the construction of a mud fort by the then Kakatiya dynasty ruler of the kingdom around the site. The city and fortress are built on a granite hill that is 120 meters (400 ft) high and is surrounded by massive crenelated ramparts. The beginnings of the fort date to 1143, when the Hindu Kakatiya dynasty ruled the area. The Kakatiya dynasty were followed by the state ofWarangal, which was later conquered by the Islamic Bahmani Sultanat. The fort became the capital of a major province in the Sultanate and after its collapse the capital of the Qutb Shahi kings. The fort finally fell into ruins after a siege and its fall to Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. After the collapse of the Bahmani Sultanat, Golkonda rose to prominence as the seat of the Qutb Shahi dynasty around 1507. Over a period of 62 years the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi kings into a massive fort of granite, extending around 5 km incircumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahis expanded the fort, whose 7 km outer wall enclosed the city. The state became a focal point for Shia Islam in India, for instance in the 17th century Bahraini clerics, Sheikh Ja`far bin Kamal al-Din and Sheikh Salih Al-Karzakani both emigrated to Golkonda.[4] The Qutb Shahi sultanate lasted until its conquest by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1687. The fortress held out against Aurangzeb for nine months, falling to the Mughals through treachery. Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as Bhaktha Ramadaasu, a devout Hindu who constructed Bhadrachalm temple without informing the sultan at that time Tana Shah, was kept in a jail located inside the fort. Golkonda consists of four distinct forts with a 10 km long outer wall with 87 semicircular bastions (some still mounted with cannons), eight gateways, and four drawbridges, with a number of royal apartments & halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables, etc. inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure into which we enter by the â€Å"Fateh Darwaza† studded with giant iron spikes near the south-eastern corner. At Fateh Darwaza can be experienced a fantastic acoustic effect, characteristic of he engineering marvels at Golkonda. A hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the ‘Bala Hisar’ pavilion, the highest point almost a kilometre away. This worked as a warning note to the royals in case of an attack. The whole of the Golconda Fort complex and its surrounding spreads across 11 km of total area, and discovering its every nook is an arduous task. A visit to the fort reveals the architectural beauty in many of the pavilions, gates, entrances and domes. Divided into four district forts, the architectural valour still gleams in each of the apartments, halls, temples, mosques, and even stables. The graceful gardens of the fort may have lost their fragrance, for which they were known 400 years ago Bala Hissar Gate is the main entrance to the fort located on the eastern side. It has a pointed arch bordered by rows of scroll work. The spandrels have yalis and decorated roundels. The area above the door has peacocks with ornate tails flanking an ornamental arched niche. The granite block lintel below has sculpted yalis flanking a disc. The design of peacocks and lions is a blend of Hindu – Muslim architecture. Toli Masjid, situated at Karwan, about 2 km from the Golkonda fort, was built in 1671 by Mir Musa Khan Mahaldar, royal architect of Abdullah Qutb Shah. The facade consists of five arches, each with lotus medallions in the spandrels. The central arch is slightly wider and more ornate. The mosque inside is divided into two halls, a transverse outer hall and an inner hall entered through triple arches. Much thought went in to building this gate. A few feet in front of the gate is a large wall. This prevented elephants and soldiers (during enemy attacks) from having a proper ramp to run and break the gate. The fort of Golconda is known for its magical acoustic system. The highest point of the fort is the â€Å"Bala Hissar†, which is located a kilometer away. The palaces, factories, water supply system and the famous â€Å"Rahban† cannon, within the fort are some of the major attractions. It is believed that there is a secret underground tunnel that leads from the â€Å"Durbar Hall† and ends in one of the palaces at the foot of the hill. The fort also contains the tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings. These tombs have Islamic architecture and are located about 1 km north of the outer wall of Golconda. They are encircled by beautiful gardens and numerous exquisitely carved stones. It is also believed that there was a secret tunnel to Charminar. The two individual pavilions on the outer side of Golconda are also major attractions of the fort. It is built on a point which is quite rocky. The â€Å"Kala Mandir† is also located in the fort. It can be seen from the king’s durbar (king’s court) which was on top of the Golconda Fort. The wonderful acoustic system of Golconda fort speaks volumes about the architecture of the fort. This majestic structure has beautiful palaces and an ingenious water supply system. Sadly, the unique architecture of the fort is now losing its charm. The ventilation of the fort is absolutely fabulous having exotic designs. They were so intricately designed that cool breeze could reach the interiors of the fort, providing a respite from the heat of summer.

Marketing strategy of Adidas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing strategy of Adidas - Essay Example The firm that is analyzed in the paper is Adidas, the largest sport manufacturer in Europe and has Puma and Nike as its major competitors. They have divided their whole range of products into two segments: Adidas Performance and Adidas Originals. Adidas performance aims to show the loyalty and devotion of the brand to athletes, while Adidas Originals are all about fashion and lifestyle. The definition stated by Philip Kotler is: â€Å"The science and art of exploring, creating, and delivering value to satisfy the needs of a target market at a profit. Marketing identifies unfulfilled needs and desires. It defines, measures and quantifies the size of the identified market and profit potential. It pinpoints which segments the company is capable of serving best and it designs and promotes the appropriate products and services†. Adidas have been since its inception looking for opportunities in the market by constant market analysis. It has been seen that they have been the company of many firsts and therefore a company who has been creating a niche in many sectors. They introduced Adidas originals to target the market that did not wear the sportswear as they had no relation with sports but then Adidas cashed in on the opportunity by releasing a line of casual wears which would ultimately establish them in the non-sport sector as well. Main points from the definition: science and art of exploring, creating, and delivering value to satisfy the needs of a target market at a profit.... The only new thing it has ventured into is the fashion and style apparel industry as well. It has done the promotion of its products by hiring clubs and sportsmen from different sports and countries to be their ambassadors.. As for their casuals line they have even hired sportsmen in this arena but used them to portray the use of Adidas besides the sports they play, in their routine lives. Task Two SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning method that is used by companies to identify their internal and external conditions in one go. Strength and weakness are utilized as internal analysis tools while the opportunity and threats are used for external analysis. The SWOT analysis for ADIDAS is as follows (Smit, 2000): Strength: Adidas is a very established brand. It has been in the market since 1949 producing the sportswear for the world to wear. Deliverance of the promise. Adidas is a premium brand that promises to offer the best quality and delivers the same. Brand Ambassadors. Adidas has a very long and powerful list of brand ambassadors that includes people from nearly all the sporting arenas. It has sponsorship for huge sporting events like NASCAR and the IPL recently held in India. It has also had major sponsorship for some of the famous Football events. Diversity in the product range. Excellent supplier relationships. They have never had any lawsuits in relation with child labor or poor working. Adidas has a very established network of distribution; their goods are sold worldwide. Weaknesses: They are very heavily reliant on the sports industry alone. This may prove to be a disadvantage at a point as they have to diversify into other sectors as well to increase their own portfolio and reduce risks. They are

MediSys_Case_Assignment Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MediSys_Case_Assignment - Case Study Example Common resources include public resources required by IntensCare team, but are prone exhaustion. 3. The president of the company has the rights of accessing all the information regarding the product being developed. The president can withdraw resources and exclude parts of the product that they consider unsuitable. 6.a) All members of the organization have chances of contributing towards decision making. The president recognizes that all members of the organization have chances to contribute towards decision-making and parallel development environment (Donnellon and Margolis 3). iii) Art Beaumont-He is the president and adopts a bureaucratic leadership style evidenced by the way he functionally organized the company when he was hired. He said that the management style of the company had become more of a command and control and emphasize on technical excellence (Donnellon and Margolis 3) iv) Aaron Garson-He is teamwork oriented and democratic. When he had an idea about patient monitoring system, he invited his friend Peter Fisher in the sales department and the two invited another friend from the software design. v) Bret O’Brien-He is democratic. He emailed other team members when he sensed a problem with fitting data displays and battery units into the customer size specs marketing provided (Donnellon and Margolis

Exploration of regional variations in guanxi among Chinese managers Thesis

Exploration of regional variations in guanxi among Chinese managers - Thesis Example Guanxi networks are of great importance in business and financial transactions, and hence the relevance of guanxi to management and understanding of business in China is extreme. According to Ramasamy and Goh (2006, p.130) â€Å"guanxi is the lifeblood of Chinese business communities, and frequently acts as a lubricant of business activities†. Guanxi is also considered as being â€Å"a channel of knowledge transfer† and two specific aspects of guanxi are related with such a channel - â€Å"trust and communication† (Ramasamy and Goh, 2006, p.130). Guanxi has also been related to the human resources management of firms that operate across China. Law and Jones (2009, p.313) revealed that various aspects of guanxi need to be clearly understood by HR managers in both Chinese and foreign firms. Guanxi has been related to other parts of business activity in China. In a study by Lee and Humphreys (2007), guanxi was found to be a critical factor affecting a firm’s supply chain management: in aspects of strategic purchasing, outsourcing, and supplier development (Lee and Humphreys, 2007, p.45). Though guanxi influences the development of various business activities in China, a differentiation has been identified â€Å"in the way guanxi is utilised in state-owned and foreign-invested enterprises† (Wood, Whiteley and Zhang, 2002, p.263). The study by Wood et al. (2002) found that guanxi is considered to be an important criterion but it seems to be more appreciated in state-owned enterprises rather than enterprises based on foreign capital. The above view is in accordance with that of Liu and Roos (2006, p.432) who noted that â€Å"the guanxi-driven paradigm remains a crucial factor in planning and managing effective working relationships when the Chinese partner i s one officially classified as â€Å"restricted†. In other words, guanxi influences the business activities in China – affecting also the decisions of Chinese managers – but this influence seems to be

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 69

Reflection - Essay Example Poor polythene waste management may form breeding spaces for harmful organisms such as mosquitoes that then cause malaria (European Commission, 2011). It also causes pollution to the environment since the material is not easily degradable. Animals may feed on polythene materials thereby causing an obstruction to their respiratory system, hence death. The toxic fumes from factories producing polythene also affect the people from the surrounding environment. Billions of polythene bags are disposed of globally on a daily basis. From a recent study, at least four polythene bags are used by each household in the world on a daily basis (Ankiro, Ikumawoyi, Olotu, & Olugunagba, 2012). It is, therefore, a critical matter for the world to realize the increasing trends of polythene usage and poor disposal that may lead to greater environmental problems in the future. There should, therefore, be a candid and rapid management programs to prevent such increasing trends. Reducing the use of polythene through selecting products that do not require packaging or using other packaging materials such as paper or glass can help reduce the harm caused by polythene bags. This will diminish the adverse health effects caused by poor polythene waste management. Refillable polythene containers can also be reused to reduce the number of polythene containers disposed. Most importantly, polythene containers can be recycled to and used to produce plastic mobile toilet, bins, waste baskets and other containers. Through this, the unnecessary disposing of such materials would be minimized since the containers will be considered valuable by the recyclers (Partha, 2008). Ankiro, A., Ikumawoyi, O., Olotu, Y., & Olugunagba, M. (2012). Environmental impact of polythene generation and disposal in Akure city, Nigeria. Global Journal of Science Frontier Research Agriculture and Biology, 12(3),

US government for the rich or for the poor Essay

US government for the rich or for the poor - Essay Example The expository by Valdas Anelauskas regarding the state of social affairs in the United States free market economy reveals several facts that profoundly try to establish that the US government is serving the interest of the rich while working against the poor.Central to X's arguments is the idea that US formulated tax laws are providing corporations opportunities to make enormous profits all the while pushing employees further into the quagmire of poverty and hopelessness.US economic policy is akin to providing business entities with benefits that are collectively called corporate welfare which I have learned upon further reading. This welfare consists of government programs that extend unique advantages or benefits to specific industries or companies. Corporate welfare includes direct grants to businesses, indirect commercial support to businesses and subsidized loans and insurance. These programs provide useful services to private industry such as research, insurance, statistics, l oans, and marketing support. In addition to spending programs, corporate welfare also includes barriers to trade that protect U.S. industries from foreign competition. The logic behind giving corporations such benefits is the hope that they will remain competitive in the local and global marketplace thereby ensuring the labor force with employment with the possibility of providing more because of the availability of more capital. Anelauskas provides many statistics on US tax disparities between the rich and the poor but the more telling one is corporate benefits amounting to $165 billion as opposed to the $50 billion given for social welfare (p. 283). Anelauskas reveals that the perceived benefits of the corporate welfare to the labor force did not materialize. It turns out that while corporations have slashed their taxes thru the different provisions of the law, they are actually using the money saved and even the subsidies received to enrich their top-ranking officials particularly the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The result is that CEOs are earning huge amounts of money that are hundreds and even thousands of times larger than what the average employee would earn. Instead of ensuring employment security and providing more employment opportunities, US corporations are actually conducting mass lay-offs on a grand scale and their CEOs even get paid with huge amounts of money for conducting such operations. Instead of the benefits of improved employment, US workers now face the possibility of employment termination more than ever, the decreasing availability of health and retirement benefits and lower compensation. Making matters worse is that while corporations are paying less and earning more, individuals are paying more to account for t he void left by the corporate tax cuts but are earning less. What is more undesirable is that individual taxpayer's money goes to corporate bank accounts. Aneulaskas argues that it is thru the actions of the US government that made this state of affairs possible. The US government even acts as a passive observer to the mass lay-offs and the scam of huge pay-offs that make the rich richer and the poor poorer. Is Aneulaskas right in claiming that the US government are actually serving the interests of the rich It is important to remember that the main basis why the US government formulated these give-aways to corporations is to help them stay financially viable in a rapidly globalizing marketplace. The US government would not want these corporations to go bankrupt or relocate their production and manufacturing facilities in countries with cheap labor and have their own labor force having little employment opportunities. Can we say therefore that the US government is not actually helping the rich but are actually more concerned with those of the average and meagre incomes I would have believed that such is the case if it were not for the obliviousness of the US govern

Discussing Darwins Evolutionary Theory through Using Monsters, Like Research Paper

Discussing Darwins Evolutionary Theory through Using Monsters, Like Werewolves - Research Paper Example The article is well-written, thorough, vivid, and easy to follow or understand. The author successfully conveys the evolution of people’s beliefs about monsters and how scientists, especially naturalists, tried to prove that monsters are not real, or merely products of a restless imagination. This essay evaluates the article in terms of content and purpose. The article is divided into three subtopics—The Slow Death of the Wolfman, Missing Links, and From Apes to Ape Men. As far back as 2,000 B.C., the idea of a werewolf has already existed. During the ancient period, images of monsters filled the imaginations of ordinary folks; many assumed that prehistory was characterized by a frightening environment of alive distorted body parts, moving around and joining together to form strange hybrids. No one during Darwin’s time believed in such an idea, but it was completely rational to look at the mysteries of the production of species—evolution or transmutation. Eventually, monsters have been regarded as probable links to the evolution of new species (Amigoni 36). If monsters were mutations or departures from the normal, then perhaps they were the answer to the question of species differences. This is the main point of the article. In terms of content, the article is clear-cut and explanatory, but not in a tedious, dull way. Although the author talks about a subject matter that is scientific, technical, and formal, he is able to keep the discussion appealing and fascinating by making his descriptions vivid or graphics. For instance, he describes how evolutionists of the 19th century look at the idea of monsters in this way (Regal 2): Others, though unwilling to accept mermaids, argued that even more, wondrous creatures existed as a result of evolution.  

Critical Thinking - Inductives & deductive reasoning Essay

Critical Thinking - Inductives & deductive reasoning - Essay Example The argument builds on likelihood of commonness between acquaintances in order to include an additional train that could be common for the two. The premise of this argument is the statement that gives details the close relationship involving the two ladies. The premises try to establish the commonness of the two girls. In this case, the girls are friends and moreover, both of them like fishing and climbing rocks. This argument is inductive because the premises present some evidence to support the truthfulness of the conclusion. Furthermore, nobody can determine its validity or invalidity. Only a comparison can be used to challenge the argument. The conclusion needs not to be certain. According to Teitelbaum & Wilensky (2013), this is a process of reasoning based on one or more statements in order to arrive to a logically certain conclusion. These types of reasoning need to connect premises with conclusion. Deductive reasoning relies on clear and true rules of logic to reach a necessarily true conclusion. In the argument, ‘’ there must be something incorrect with the engine of my truck’’ is the premise that needs to be ratified as true. In deductive logic, this premise will require to be supported with a conclusion that can either be validated or invalidated. In the argument, the conclusion is the fact that the truck’s engine failed to start. In this case, there are two outcomes of the logic: if the car fails to start, it implies that the premise is true, on the other hand, if the engine starts, therefore the premise is untrue. The reasoning illustrated above is a deductive reasoning. This is because the certainty of the conclusion can be established in order to validate or invalidate the premises. In this, someone just requires starting the car’s engine and thus the truth is

Tragedy of the Commons Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Tragedy of the Commons - Article Example The core ideas would not be out of place in a modern discussion because these serious issues have, if anything, grown even more pressing since the late 1960s. 2. The problem of over-population particularly in the Indian sub-continent and in parts of Africa springs to mind immediately. In China there has been a period of population limitation through the imposition of the one child policy, but this is being relaxed these days as China develops industrially and adopts more western ways. Pollution and waste disposal are still of concern. There appears to be one difference, however, and that is that the modern world has started to add these different effects together and see them as part of a single global issue, such as global warming, and unsustainable use of resources for example. There is more of a collective consciousness about it, in the West at least, and this is seen in events like the global climate conferences. 3. This article makes me reflect on the sobering fact that fifty years have passed since these problems were very clearly articulated, and yet very little has been done to address them. It makes me pessimistic about there ever being any serious or successful attempt to improve the condition of the world. After reading this article I am more open to coercive tactics than before, because I see how desperate the status quo is, how little progress is being made and how we need to do something

How I Can Make a Difference As A Scholar Essay Example for Free

How I Can Make a Difference As A Scholar Essay Each one has different capabilities to make a difference; difference that can change one’s family, school, community, country, and even the world. But before he can do a difference around him, he must first make a difference within himself. As a scholar of this prestigious university, the University of Bohol, I can also make a difference. But as I said, in order for me to make a difference in my surroundings, I must first make a difference within me. I was once a stranger in this university, seldom talks to anyone and even project a shy type of person, well in fact I’m not. I wasn’t then participative in school activities, even in our own department. Inside the classroom, I just stayed in one corner, scanned my notes and remained silent all those times. Those things happened before I tried to do something; something that would make my life different from before. It was different in the sense that I got out of my shell and began to explore the real world. I began by acquiring new friends that I believed would help me in my goal. I wasn’t wrong in having them since they really did the things I expect from them that would help me grow. They encouraged me to participate in the school activities because they thought that I would be of great help. I was inspired by their words and chose to accept the dare. I once participated in a sport contest during our department days, and fortunately, I won. I was one of the CBAians who brought the name of our department during the university days. I was really happy during that time. I then concluded that nothing is really impossible if you just tried. That was my first achievement in this university after I got out of my shell and that is also the first difference I made within myself. And since I have already made a difference in me, I will continue what I have begun. I will make a difference around me in my own unique ways. As the embodiment of the Trinity of Virtues (Scholarship, Character, and  Service) the University of Bohol stands for, we, as scholars, are obliged to act as a catalyst to difference. Not the negative one, but a positive difference for the betterment of our community. Upholding the first virtue of the university, SCHOLARSHIP, I will be responsible in my studies. Avoid unnecessary absences and never cut classes. I will study my lessons, not only during examinations, but every day to be prepared all the time. I will maintain my grades to avoid disappointment of my family and the persons behind this scholarship. CHARACTER: I will be a model to the students; specially the freshmen, through the way I speak, act, and move around. Obeying the rules in the school is the very first thing any student must do; wearing the prescribed uniform during uniform days and the proper Wednesday attire during wash days. Together with the ID, a student would really look as a student if he would just wear the proper uniform. I will also project as an Icon of Morality. I won’t indulge in any crime, neither practice any form of drug addiction, nor any forms of vices. As an epitome of SERVICE, I would participate in the school, or even outside the school, as the need arises. I would help in any form in any projects or programs of the university and involve myself in different community works. I will also take part in any volunteer works inside and outside the campus. These are just simple things all students can carry out to make a difference if they are just committed to do it. However, it can’t also be denied that as humans, we also commit mistakes; mistakes that might be a reason for discouragement. But through certain things, these mistakes might also help us grow as a student. To be successful in all our endeavors in life, we must not forget the Almighty God who is always behind every achievement we attain. We should put Him as the center of our lives, for without Him, we can do nothing. I am very much privileged to be one of the academic scholars in this  university. I will try my very best to perform the duties and responsibilities as a UB scholar. I will make a difference! Each one has different capabilities to make a difference; difference that can change one’s family, school, community, country, and even the world. But before he can do a difference around him, he must first make a difference within himself. As a scholar of this prestigious university, the University of Bohol, I can also make a difference. But as I said, in order for me to make a difference in my surroundings, I must first make a difference within me. I was once a stranger in this university, seldom talks to anyone and even project a shy type of person, well in fact I’m not. I wasn’t then participative in school activities, even in our own department. Inside the classroom, I just stayed in one corner, scanned my notes and remained silent all those times. Those things happened before I tried to do something; something that would make my life different from before. It was different in the sense that I got out of my shell and began to explore the real world. I began by acquiring new friends that I believed would help me in my goal. I wasn’t wrong in having them since they really did the things I expect from them that would help me grow. They encouraged me to participate in the school activities because they thought that I would be of great help. I was inspired by their words and chose to accept the dare. I once participated in a sport contest during our department days, and fortunately, I won. I was one of the CBAians who brought the name of our department during the university days. I was really happy during that time. I then concluded that nothing is really impossible if you just tried. That was my first achievement in this university after I got out of my shell and that is also the first difference I made within myself. And since I have already made a difference in me, I will continue what I have begun. I will make a difference around me in my own unique ways. As the embodiment of the Trinity of Virtues (Scholarship, Character, and Service) the University of Bohol stands for, we, as scholars, are obliged to act as a catalyst to difference. Not the negative one, but a positive difference for the betterment of our community. Upholding the first virtue of the university, SCHOLARSHIP, I will be responsible in my studies. Avoid unnecessary absences and never cut classes. I will study my lessons, not only during examinations, but every day to be prepared all the time. I will maintain my grades to avoid disappointment of my family and the persons behind this scholarship. CHARACTER: I will be a model to the students; specially the freshmen, through the way I speak, act, and move around. Obeying the rules in the school is the very first thing any student must do; wearing the prescribed uniform during uniform days and the proper Wednesday attire during wash days. Together with the ID, a student would really look as a student if he would just wear the proper uniform. I will also project as an Icon of Morality. I won’t indulge in any crime, neither practice any form of drug addiction, nor any forms of vices. As an epitome of SERVICE, I would participate in the school, or even outside the school, as the need arises. I would help in any form in any projects or programs of the university and involve myself in different community works. I will also take part in any volunteer works inside and outside the campus. These are just simple things all students can carry out to make a difference if they are just committed to do it. However, it can’t also be denied that as humans, we also commit mistakes; mistakes that might be a reason for discouragement. But through certain things, these mistakes might also help us grow as a student. To be successful in all our endeavors in life, we must not forget the Almighty God who is always behind every achievement we attain. We should put Him as the center of our lives, for without Him, we can do nothing. I am very much privileged to be one of the academic scholars in this university. I will try my very best to perform the duties and responsibilities as a UB scholar. I will make a difference!

Reflection on Personal Performance in Business Strategy Game

Reflection on Personal Performance in Business Strategy Game Business strategy games involving management process before confirming the decision to be made. Lesson learned taken from the business game, from the process and the content from the case (industry and situation condition of the business). Management Process Planning was the first process taken. Reading and understanding the relevant information was necessary and plays a significant role in planning process. Expectation was established in the planning, and followed stepping process until all aspects have been determined, including all distinctiveness in production (capacity, model, etc.), transportation (shipping), labor, etc. Planning is critical, and it was indicated in the business strategy games, in which it required quite some time to achieve an agreement. Time was also a factor should be considered, and it drove the discussion on the planning to obtain the agreement. Organizing was also needed in the game to obtain optimal process. One opinion was listened and it organized the discussion and the direction of the process toward certain strategy. Other opinion was taking in to consideration, whether support or as devil advocacy to the strategy. The process also managed by organizing the flow of discussion to center on the strategy with already decided to be focused on. One person plays role as organizer at one time became a source person or follower in the other time. This approach of organizing made the progress of the discussion in the one focal point that describes the strategy taken which leads to the decision. When a member played the role as organizer, then the member did directing the process and content according to the chosen strategy, and also can happened that the strategy can be changed according to the expected result and considering assumption of strategy of the competitors. Some times in the process, one or more member can have their drive going down. In this situation other member did motivated the team to keep up the winning spirit. Controlling was also involved in the process, by focus on one thing and sacrifices in other thing, align with the strategy. These four processes of management were implemented i n the process of gaining the final decision and in determining the content to be made (such as production/manufacturing, shipping, labor, price, etc.), in which the final decision was made by consensus. The experience in the game gives the learning point in practicing of implementing management process, planning, organizing, directing, and controlling. Within a given time, group should be able to do planning (including crafting the strategy, and establish the goal), organizing the process (including agreed on the road map of the process, listening and expressing opinion, and adjusting to the characteristics of the group), directing (including do and accept direction, motivating others, make or initiate decision), and controlling (to be aligned with strategy). Management Functions Strategy plays a critical role in the process, and aim to make the company have differentiation that creates competitive edge compare with the competitors. Decisions are determined align with the chosen strategy. Strategy such as increasing market share and or increasing price to obtain more profit, and or have a low cost production by moving the manufacturing to the low cost location, and or lowering the labor cost, and or increasing the quality of the product, etc., were became the issues discussed during the process. Any decision made in the process should be linked to the strategy and eventually to the expected result (goal). Marketing management initiatives plays important role in the process. Attention was put in the advertising or promotion program. The decision on the initiatives was made in relation with other initiatives, and initiative should be congruence to be able to reach expected impact. Operations management was also applied, in order to have efficient and low cost production, to be able to lower the price, or put emphasizing in better quality of product and therefore adjust the price to a higher number. Having different locations of manufacturing was also part of consideration in operation management, including the days needed for shipping, and inventory level. Financial management was critical. At the end of the day, the success of the strategy, whether the plan was achieved of not, was determined by facts and figures which was analyzed and interpreted in terms of financial. The situation or condition of the company was considering of profitable, safe or potentially bankrupt, and whether the strategy was effective or not was determined from numbers including financial ratios. Production plan and realization, exchange rate, labor cost, product sold or unsold, inventory level, price, etc. were contributed to the financial condition, and will be analyzed further for determining next strategy (for next run). Human Resource was also had major role in the decision process. Number of labor involved, salary and incentives, were several factors considered in human resource function. During the discussion it was also considered incentive factors as the factor that can boost the motivation of the employees, in which can increase the productivity and eventually proportionally can lower the cost. Experience in the business games told that the management functions will be more effective if it was take into consideration in integrated way. The strategy made was comprise of many functions of management, Working in Teams Team work was a factor that can smooth the progress of the practice toward a productive way. At one time one member took the role as leader, and expressed the idea or opinion which regarded as reference that was supported or argued by other members. The leader than guide or direct the process toward obtaining acceptable or best solution. Other member played role as follower, tried to understand point of view of the leader, and gave opinion to enrich the information for having the decision. In one process it can happened that the role of leader was switch from one member to another member, and lead the discussion toward the decision. Working in team in the business games demonstrated by listening to other opinions or ideas and, gave contribution to the group by doing analysis and expressing constructive argument and idea or opinion to the group. In the process of making group decision, group tried to obtain consensus, with all group members support the decision. Experience and Lesson Taken to Working Place In leading unit in the working place, it is important to have clear goals for the unit, which are determined in the process of performance planning that usually take place at the beginning of the year. The goals comprises of organization (unit) objective, and individual objective which should be clear and measurable (refer to SMART Goals principle) and cascaded from top to bottom, means that the goals are aligned from executive or manager position to staff position. Having a clear goals or expectations will make all employees within the unit know exactly what are expected to be achieved and will make the monitoring of performance become more effective, and eventually it will make the evaluation of the achievement more effective. Leader should be able to define the goals, which reflected what the unit wants to be, particularly for the respective year. For the unit, strategy than decided to define what is the best way to achieve the goals or answering how to get there. Leader should be able to determine the strategy, which should consider of having different way of doing rather than just following the same thing. Strategy should have put into consideration opportunities and obstacles that can potentially will be faced along the year. For the unit performance, flow of work, service level agreement, number of employee, training and development program that will have impact to the quality of work, compensation practice, etc. should be considered in order to have effective strategy. Every people in the organization have potential, and leader should put effort to unleash the potential of the individual and support them to perform in their work. Many initiatives of improvement or programs come from the people in the unit that can give positive impact to the unit. Motivation is needed to keep the work spirit not fall to the lower level. Leader should do coaching to ensure people in the unit understand and on track, make sure that people move to the same direction with same strategy. Every function of management can be implemented to achieve optimum result. Managing the operation implemented to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of work. Human resource management will help in ensuring what unit do are align with the business. Financial management can be implement whether in business or support function, for instance to measure Return on Investment of certain initiatives. As member of management team, we should contribute in a positive way by giving opinion and ideas, or doing what has been decided productively. Discussion should be conducted in conducive way, listen what other people say and express opinion to reach to the decision. When decision has been made, member should follow and committed to perform the decision in effectively. Success of the unit is also determined by the competency, performance, and contribution of the members. To have an optimum result, member should be able to look the purpose as unit purpose not individual purpose. This principle can create synergy between members in the team and can contribute more to the performance of the team. The business strategy games provide inspiration that can be applied in the working situation. Having competitors that can affect the result of one group convey the message that in establishing standard, one unit should not look into inside factors, but should also consider outside factors. The capability of the unit can be seen differently and will lead to different goals and strategy. Strategy can be different if the external condition is supportive and indicates opportunity and will be different if the external conditions are not accommodating. Macro and micro analysis can be conducted to have a more comprehensive analysis for obtaining effective and right decision.

Epidemiology in relation to health promotion

Epidemiology in relation to health promotion This assignment will define epidemiology, list and describe some of its main aspects and assess the significance of those aspects for their effect on health promotion. The example of lung cancer will be used throughout. Definition Epidemiology is the study of how diseases are distributed among populations and the factors that affect this distribution. Epidemiologists try to predict risk factors that may lead to a particular disease and identify strategies that could be used to prevent its occurrence. (Naidoo Wills 2008: 4) The following questions drive epidemiology: Who becomes sick or is most likely to be affected? Why do particular people become sick? When are people most likely to be affected? Where has the disease occurred or is most likely to occur? How effective are available treatments and preventative strategies? (Crichton Mulhall in Naidoo Wills 2008:74) Epidemiology has the following main aims: To describe patterns of disease in the population, or the disease distribution, across age, gender and geography. To indentify the aetiology, or determinant, of the disease: risk factors or prior events associated with the appearance of the disease or condition. To analyse frequency, or how many cases occur, over a given period. To provide the data needed for the planning of preventative measures and treatment. Epidemiology is concerned with rates: the focus is on groups rather than individuals and aims to highlight trends. (Naidoo Wills: 2008:74) Epidemiology has two main approaches: Descriptive Epidemiology is concerned with the patterns of distribution of disease according to people, place and time and uses mortality and morbidity statistics as well as population data. Analytical epidemiology explores cause and risk factors and asks why did it happen? Successful prevention rests on identifying risk factors which can be reduced or eliminated. (Hubley Copeman, 2008:40) History In the past epidemiology has helped to explain the transmission of diseases, such as cholera and measles, by discovering factors shared by individuals who became sick. Modern epidemiologists have contributed to an understanding of factors that influence the risk of heart disease and cancer, which account for most deaths in developed countries today. Epidemiology has established the causal association of cigarette smoking with heart disease and lung cancer; shown that AIDS is associated with certain sexual practices and demonstrated the value of mammography in reducing breast cancer mortality. (Sci Tech, 2009) Aspects of Epidemiology An aspect is a part or facet of a particular subject area. Aspects of epidemiology which will be assessed are as follows: mortality and morbidity rates, statistical analysis, cohort studies, correlation, causation and questionnaire/survey. Mortality and morbidity rates. Mortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths (in general, or due to a specific cause) in a population. Data is collected from the compulsory registration of death and its cause. Cause is the disease or injury which initiated the train of events leading to death. Information can be divided according to age, gender and cause. Morbidity rates are either the number of new cases of a disease (incidence) or all cases at a point in time (prevalence). Data is collected from hospitals and GPs and includes: cancer registrations, notification of infectious disease, sexually transmitted disease, HIV/AIDS and congenital anomalies. (Tones Green: 2008:45). A central tool of epidemiology is rate comparison: population data collected by census is used for this purpose. Lung cancer: figures confirm that lung cancer has an enormous impact on national mortality and currently accounts for 7% of all deaths and 22% of all deaths from cancer in the UK Incidence rates: Lung cancer UK Males Females Persons Number of new cases (UK 2006) 22,381 16,646 39,027 Rate per 100,000 population* 60.8 37.1 47.4 Number of deaths (UK 2007) 19,637 14,872 34,509 Rate per 100,000 population* 51.5 31.3 40.1 One-year survival rate (for patients diagnosed 2004-2006**, England) 27% 30% Five-year survival rate (for patients diagnosed 2001-2006**, England) 7% 9% (Cancer Research UK) Cohort studies A sample of people is followed overtime and their lifestyle and exposure to hazards and the incidence of disease is monitored. A cohort of people has a characteristic in common e.g. the same disease or the same employer. Causation The investigation of a relationship between one event and another by weighing up a body of evidence. A number of methods are used to investigate causation including cohort studies. Relative risk is the ratio of the rate of a disease to the number of those exposed to a risk factor. It indicates how likely it is that an individual exposed to a particular environmental or lifestyle factor will go on to develop a particular disease. Lung cancer The most famous example of a cohort study was the British Doctors cohort study. Dr Richard Doll enlisted forty thousand male Doctors and followed them for fifty years. The results published in the 1950s showed that many more Doctors who smoked went on to develop lung cancer than those who did not.. The study provided clear evidence for a causal link between smoking and lung cancer. (Hubley Copeman: 2008) . Correlation Correlation is a statistical measurement of the relationship between two variables. Lung cancer research has shown a correlation between smoking and social class with people of less affluent groups smoking more. Correlation has also been demonstrated between the smoking habits of close family members: young people are more likely to take up the habit if their parents smoke.(Ewles:2005) Questionnaire and survey A set of questions addressed to a statistically significant number of subjects as a way of gathering information. Lung Cancer: The 2005 general household survey indicated that manual workers start to smoke at an earlier age, with 48% of men and 40% of women in manual occupations regularly smoking by 16, compared with 33% of men and 28% of women in managerial and professional occupations. (Cancer Research UK) Statistical analysis Used to determine likelihoods or probabilities. Lung Cancer Statistical Analysis provides a wealth of data and information. Available smoking statistics include incidence of cancer linked to number of cigarettes smoked per day and history of smoking. Also smoking statistics by age, socio-economic group, ethnic group, geographical variations and children are published. As an example, this graph illustrates the prevalence of smoking by age over three decades and shows the decline following the linking of smoking with cancer and the subsequent health promotion programme. Today, tobacco consumption is recognised as the UKs single greatest cause of preventable illness and early death with more than 114,000 people dying each year from smoking-related diseases including cancers. Â   (Cancer research UK, 2009) Before the dangers of cigarette smoking were widely known, smoking prevalence varied little by socio-economic group. Today there are clear differences due to the differential decline in smoking by social class that occurred in the 1970s and 1980s. By 2007, 25% of adults in manual occupations smoked compared to 16% of those in non-manual occupations. (Cancer research UK) The influence of these aspects of epidemiology on health promotion using lung cancer and smoking as an example. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health promotion as the process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve their health. The mortality rates for cancer in general, and in particular lung cancer, highlight this as a health issue of significant importance and worthy of focus and resources. The Doll cohort study demonstrated the correlation between smoking and lung cancer. Naidoo Wills in Key Topics in Public Health say, The single most critical area for action to reduce cancer is smoking. It is estimated that 1 in 2 smokers will die of a smoking related illness. If current smokers can be encouraged to quit mortality will be reduced: discouraging young people from starting to smoke will reduce smoking-related deaths during the second half of the twenty-first century. (Cancer Research UK) Health promotion to reduce the levels of lung cancer has therefore focussed on smoking cessation. Health promotion strategies have three components: education, service improvement and advocacy. Using lung cancer and its correlation with smoking as the example again: Education involves increasing awareness of the risks, the benefits of quitting and practical ways of stopping. Service improvement involves actions of primary care such as clinics and availability of nicotine patches. Advocacy involves enforcement of controls such as laws preventing sale of cigarettes to under 18s and the ban on smoking in public places. (Hebley Copeman, 2008) Statistics show which groups are more likely to smoke and the greater degree of risk they face. The correlation between smoking and social class, indicated by the Household survey, highlighted that smoking rates are highest amongst manual workers. The need to target this group is recognised in the Government white paper Choosing Health: Making Healthier Choices Easier which sets a target for reduction of smoking prevalence in this group. Smoking is a key contributory factor to health inequalities between socio-economic groups in the UK and accounts for a major part of the differences in life expectancy between manual and non-manual groups and is a key focus of the current government. (Department of Health, 2009) Other current priorities are; the very young who are at risk of uptake and the problem of passive smoking. Evidence suggests a correlation between young people smoking and the smoking habits of their parents. People who start to smoke in their teens do so because they adopt the social pattern of their family. The habit quickly becomes an addiction, which is very difficult to break. It is easier to stop a young person from starting to smoke than getting someone to quit. Specific measures are in place to focus on the very young including the banning of sales to under 18s. This group is also highly influenced by advertising and as a result TV advertising has been outlawed. The effects of passive smoking on children, in particular, have been highlighted in a graphic T.V. campaign which demonstrates to parents the harm they are causing their children. Examples of other, current, health promotion initiatives aimed at smoking cessation include: * Point of sale promotion has been severely restricted. * In July 200, the advertising of cigarettes at sporting events, including Formula 1, was banned. * On July 1st 2007, it became illegal to smoke in a public place or workplace including pubs. * All cigarette packets must carry a health warning covering a specific percentage of the front and back of the packet. * Media campaigns have been graphic and disturbing. The fish hook advert highlighted the controlling nature of tobacco. Primary Care Trusts run cessation programmes, one to one support, group sessions, quit smoking helpline, education events in schools and provide free nicotine patches. The government levies ever increasing taxation on cigarettes to increase prices and give a financial incentive to individuals to quit. (Ewles, 2005:63) October 2009, MPs agreed a ban on cigarette vending machines. (BBC News, 2009) Annual no-smoking day. (Nosmokingday,2009) Epidemiological research also confirms the success, or otherwise, of health promotion strategies. Between 1970-2000, British men experienced the most rapid decrease in death rates from lung cancer in the world as a result of the success of the health promotion measures and smokers quitting the habit. (Ewles: 2005) Â  In the early 1900s, lung cancer was a rare disease causing fewer than 10 male deaths annually in every 100,000 men. By the 1950s, the lung cancer death rate had risen six-fold, prompting the first epidemiological study that linked tobacco smoking and lung cancer in Britain. By the 1980s, the death rate for lung cancer was over 100 per 100,000 men. From the early 1980s onwards, following extensive focus of efforts on smoking cessation, the male lung cancer mortality rates have fallen continuously. The striking mortality trends by age over the past fifty years for men in England and Wales are shown below: (Cancer Research UK) Conclusion By identifying factors that increase the risk of disease, epidemiologists provide crucial input into the formulation of public health policy. (Sci Tech, 2009) Measuring health is important for health promotion as it establishes priorities, assists in planning, enables prioritization of actions with high-risk groups, justifies use of resources and demonstrates the efficiency (or otherwise ) of health promotion initiatives. (Naidoo Wills, 2009). In many studies a categorical answer is never produced as there is never 100% proof of the outcomes, only evidence to suggest. For example, not everyone who smokes will contract lung cancer and some non-smokers do contract the disease. (Naidoo Wills, 2005) The epidemiological research which proved the link between smoking and lung cancer, and the subsequent health promotion strategies, have reduced the prevalence of smoking and consequently the incidence of lung cancer significantly over the last thirty years. Health promotion priorities and strategies are continually reviewed as new evidence to suggest is produced from ongoing epidemiological research.

Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues - Equal Rights Not Special Rights for Gays :: Persuasive Essay, Argumentative

Gays: Seeking Equal Rights Not Special Rights On October 6, 1998 two men took Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, about a mile outside of Laramie Wyoming. These men took him out to a split-rail fence, tortured him, then tied him put onto the fence, and left him for death. He was found late the next day by two bikers, 18 hours after the attack. When the bikers first saw Matthew tied to the fence, they thought that Matthew was a scarecrow, but realized that it was a person. Matthew remained in a coma until October 12, then died at 12:53 a.m. Matthew always was a peacemaker he wanted gays to be treated like everyone else not as a minority. Matthew once said, "If I could get two people--one straight, one gay--who hate each other to be respectful of each other, I would have done something good" (Miller). He wanted homosexuals and heterosexuals to see eye to eye, which almost seems impossible. Homosexuality has been common in many cultures throughout history, but not always known. When it came about in society many religions thought it as sinful. As a result, being gay or lesbian was a crime, punishable by death. In the twentieth century homosexuality took a turn around. As a result gay bashing became common in America. In November 13, 1986 on The Oprah Winfrey Show, a boy admitted that he and his friends hunted gay men down and beat them with baseball bats (Opposing View Points, "Homosexuals are an..."). It seems that this issue of discrimination of gays is too extreme. Society needs to know that homosexuals are fighting for civil rights, not special rights. They want to be treated equal in the workplace, in housing and in public accommodations. In November of 1992 Colorado tried to pass an amendment against homosexuals gaining special rights. The purpose of the amendment was to deny homosexuals special rights, through any of Colorado's state branches or departments or any of its agencies. When this amendment was passed civil liberties groups and gay rights groups around the nation called for a boycott of Colorado. Consequently, the state lost about $40 million in convention and tourist business. In 1994 the Colorado Supreme Court declared that the state's anti-gay rights measure, Amendment 2, was unconstitutional. Justice Anthony Kennedy states, "We must conclude that Amendment 2 classifies homosexuals not to further a proper legislative end but to make them unequal to everyone else.

Attack on Poland :: World War II History

Attack on Poland At daybreak on the first day of September, 1939, the residents of Poland awakened to grave news. A juggernaut force of tanks, guns, and countless grey-clad soldiers from nearby Germany had torn across the countryside and were making a total invasion of the Pole's homelands. Germany's actions on that fateful morning ignited a conflict that would spread like a wildfire, engulfing the entire globe in a great world war. This scenario is many people's conception of how World War II came about. In reality, the whole story is far more detailed and complex. The origins of war can be traced as far back as the end of the first World War in 1919, when the Treaty of Versailles placed responsibility for that terrible war squarely on Germany. Years later, in the Far East, Japanese ambition for territory led the nation to invade Manchuria and other parts of nearby China, causing hostilities to flare in the Pacific Rim. Great Britain, the United States, and many other nations of the world would all be drawn into battle in the years to come, and each nation had it's own reason for lending a hand in the struggle. Although Germany was the major player in World War II, the seeds of war had already been planted in the Far East years before conflict in Europe. On September 18, 1931, the powerful Japanese military forces began an invasion of the region known as Manchuria, an area belonging to mainland China. This action broke non-aggression treaties that had been signed earlier. It also was carried out by Japanese generals without the consent of the Japanese government. In spite of this, no one was ever punished for the actions. Soon after the assault on China, the Japanese government decided it had no choice but to support the occupation of Manchuria. By the next year the region had been completely cut off from China (Ienaga 60-64). Because of the Japanese offensive in China, the League of Nations held a vote in October to force Japan out of the captured territory. The vote was passed, 13 to 1, but Japan remained in control of Manchuria. A second vote, taken in February, 1933, a formal disapprova l of the Japanese occupation, was passed 42 to 1. Instead of expelling Japan from the area of Manchuria, it caused the nation to formally withdraw it's membership in the League of Nations the next month (Ienaga 66).

Causes And Solutions Of Juvenile Delinquency EDIT

I agree with this statement because if children are born in a family where they are not able to eat, or have to go to bed hungry, of course here is going to be some problems. When they are starving, they are going to be less focused on school. The growing rate of unemployment makes it difficult for parents to provide for their children. It also makes it easy for people to turn to a life of crime. One of these crimes is drug dealing and buying. When they live in an environment that has a supply of drugs and guns more than new textbook there is going be some problems.In a violent environment you are going to be more prone to be violent or a victim of violence. Whatever resources are more readily available in their neighborhood is the one they are more likely to pick up. So, if they have new guns and old textbooks, they might just pick up the new gun. When they are living in substandard housing, they might just feel substandard and depressed. They also are prone to have more environment al hazards in or near their neighborhood. All these previous things can have an effect on people's genetics or them personally.Psychological The author in this section wants his audience to know author problems can be passed on by parents and siblings through mental illness or behavior. There is a long list of people in jail right now that have some type of mental illness. It is probably over 50% of the jail population. The question that isn't asked in this article is: does the chicken come first or do the egg? In other words does the environment cause the mental illness or does the mental illness cause the environment. I think in a poor neighborhood it is a little bit of both.There are hazards and mental stress as well as trauma that come with living in a bad neighborhood. Believe that having to worry about safety and security can lead to mental stress, just as the article mentions. Bad neighborhoods also consist of many crimes, many of which are seen by nouns children. This causes trauma to innocent people and if trauma is left untreated, it can cause mental problems in the long run, although it may not be evident in the beginning. Furthermore, mental illness funding for the poor and general health funding for the poor has been on a steady cut over the last several decades.This leads to less and worst treatments for those that sometime need it the most. So, this becomes part of a contributing factor of the poor- having a higher crime rate across the board. This can lead to generations of mental illness that could have been prevented or at least Essen the problem. Social This part of the article talks about how you are treated in the family; whether a child is the first born, middle, or last child. This will all make a difference in how they are treated in the family and how they might be discriminate against.An example is that the oldest child usually has more responsibilities than their siblings. Therefore, they have more stress and may feel the need to do whatever they can to help the family- including turning to illegal work. The middle child is usually ignored, with most of the attention focused on the older and younger siblings. The younger sibling usually gets the most attention because they are the â€Å"baby' of the family. Parenting Styles Regardless of the social factors in a family, it can all come back to how parents raise their children.Some questions can determine aspects in a child's life such as: Does the child do what is asked of them with no reward or are they rewarded? Are actions (bad or good) explained by the parent when punishment is issued? Are parents holding their children accountable for their actions? Do parents take an active role in their children's lives, such as education? All this will make a difference in a child's behavior in the future. These very things can make a difference in whether a child becomes a juvenile delinquent or not.I believe that if parents are inconsistent with their children, punish them for minor issues, never give positive feedback, or do not take an active role in their children's lives, then they are negatively impacting their children and setting them up for failure. Personal: Sometimes, despite how great a child's family life is, there are still internal problems that a child can face. Though they may receive all the praise and eve from family, school, and friends, children can still become juvenile delinquents. One reason for this social problem is their personality.Everyone has a different set of personality and sometimes children are born naturally aggressive. Sometimes being easily angered or naturally irritable can cause problems in a child's life. No amount of tenderness or love from anyone can change this, in some cases. It is my opinion that natural aggression can cause violence and therefore make them commit crimes that other people who don't have the same similar problem would not do. Psychological The article states, â€Å"Statistics show tha t mental illnesses are one of the biggest reasons behind juvenile delinquency in America and other developed countries. To me, this is very believable because of how mental illnesses can affect a person. People with mental disabilities sometimes do not have the capacity to learn morals or empathy. An example is people who are psychopaths. This is not a learned disability. The English dictionary defines psychopath as: â€Å"a person with a psychopathic personality, which manifests as amoral and antisocial behavior, lack of ability to love or establish meaningful arsenal relationships, extreme egocentricity, failure to learn from experience, etc. This means that when a person lacks the ability to love, then they also are not able to form personal relationships. As humans, we are born with the need for companionship- it is a vital part of everyone's lives. Also, the lack of empathy will cause people to do bad things without feeling bad. An example is stealing. It is morally wrong and when someone steals, they should feel guilt. But a mentally ill person without empathy will not feel guilt. Peer Groups: This type of influence can greatly affect a child.The article states that parents should make sure their children hang out with people who belong to their â€Å"class† because it prevents jealousy. Jealousy between friends can cause several crimes in adolescents. This can be a good thing because if middle class children are hanging out with other middle class children, there is no one to be jealous of from a friend who has a richer family or a poor friend to be jealous of everyone else. However, this can also be a bad thing because if poor children are hanging out with other poor children, they may acquire bad habits those other poor children may have.One evident problem among families in the poverty line is the formations of gangs. These gangs can have negative effects in a child's life. They consist of negative and abusive behavior. Another peer group inf luence is peer rejection which can cause children to commit crimes because they feel they do not belong anywhere. I believe that a large part of an adolescence life is finding out who they are and where they belong. Society: Society affects what children see and also their environment. Social media is a powerful tool that society uses, and sometimes has negative impacts on teenagers. An example is bullying.Though bullying is extremely frowned upon, it still happens because many teenagers see more of this in the media than they do of people being kind and helping others. The news is always so quick to put out bad news than good news. Other things can spawn from something, like bullying, into labeling. An example of labeling is a child who is involved in bullying just by being there, though they actually never harmed anyone. This child may be labeled as criminal by circumstance and poor decision on who they hung out with. It will follow the child through the rest of heir lives and may even make them become an actual criminal.

Kyocera Case Study

B CASE ANALYSIS Kyocera Corporation Preface According to the footnotes on the initial page of this case study, it was written by Nancy Rothbard of the Harvard Business School for the purpose of discussion rather than for analyzing the handling of an administrative problem. The format is generalized and it gives a broad spectrum of information from which a student can extract pieces relevant to his or her area of study for a specific class. Since this case analysis is for a class in Strategic Cost Management, the main area of interest for this paper will be in the area of â€Å"cost management†.However, given the broad spectrum of information, the analysis is not limited only to cost management facts and issues, but also includes information that that is relative to other management topics. Rather than looking for a group of existing administrative problems, the focus is strategic in nature and addresses issues that could be problems in the future based on the status of the com pany at the time the case was written. The analysis includes information for the time period covered in the case study with a few references to Kyocera in the period of time after this case was written and up to the present.Introduction Kyocera Corporation was founded in Japan in 1959 as the Kyoto Ceramic Company. , Ltd. by Dr. Kazuo Inamori and seven colleagues. With Dr. Inamori providing strategic direction, the company grew from a small niche market player to an international conglomerate in a relatively short period of time. Within 30 years Kyocera was a world-class leader in their core product (electronics packaging) market. In addition, through mergers and creation of new business units Kyocera was able to successfully diversify into other areas of technical expertise.Seven product groups accounted for ninety-nine percent of Kyocera Corporation’s sales of approximately $2. 7 billion in 1990. (The additional 1% of sales was simply labeled â€Å"other† in the case study documentation. ) The products are divided among 80 companies in different geographical locations. The firm differentiated itself from competitors by providing world-class customer service. After establishing itself in a core product line and market, the firm was in a position to take the risk of entering additional markets, with additional products added to the mix. You can read also Thin Film Solar CellKyocera had a unique management system based on work cells called â€Å"amoebas† and a somewhat unique corporate philosophy and culture based on Dr. Inamori’s personal beliefs. The leaders of the company were very dedicated to the corporate philosophy and placed high value on making sure all newcomers were indoctrinated and accepted the corporate culture as well. The management philosophy, international business parameters, diversified product lines, corporate culture, and continued growth all have their challenges for the company. Some of these challenges are in the area of costing.Close examination reveals that there are both strengths and weaknesses in the way these business characteristics are handled by Kyocera. Corporate Profile/Background Key Personnel: †¢ Dr. Kazuo Inamori – Founder and architect of the firm’s business strategy. Dr. Inamori was a powerful force in the development and growth of the corporat ion. Without his leadership the company would likely not have grown as fast or been as diversified as it became by its thirtieth (30th) year in existence. †¢ Seven unnamed colleagues of Dr. Inamori who founded the company with him. They provided upfront capital, labor, and personal sacrifice to get the company started and on solid ground. Although these men had vision, they were no match for Dr. Inamori’s foresight, enthusiasm, and philosophical predisposition for success. †¢ Kinju Anjo (Vice Chairman) and Kensuke Itoh (Kyocera President) who stood in for Dr. Inamori when he could not be present at meetings. Kyocera’s Product Groups: Kyocera’s management referred to themselves as a high-tech solutions provider. This was because of the company’s focus on meeting the customer’s needs for specialized components.The list of products below is a testament to that high-tech solutions label. †¢ Electronic Components – The electronic c omponents product group provided discreet electronic components to industries that manufacture consumer electronics and to manufacturers who provided specialized products with stringent specifications to governments and industry. Chip capacitors, chip resistors, Hybrid IC’s, and quartz oscillators. In addition, thermal print-heads were included within the electronics components group. Most of these items are low-price, high-volume products. Semiconductor Parts – The semiconductor parts product group provided the substrates and components typically used in the more expensive integrated circuit packaging. These are used in expensive machinery that is used in industrial, military or other heavy duty applications where stringent specifications are desired. †¢ Electronic Equipment – The Electronic Equipment group manufactured and distributed communications and I/T (information technology) equipment in the form of computer peripherals, video conferencing systems, and memory for sale to manufacturers of computers and consumer electronics. Optical Instruments – The Optical Instruments product group made single-lens reflex cameras, 8 mm video camcorders, and compact cameras. †¢ Consumer Related Products – The Consumer Related Products group manufactured and sold jewelry, cutting tools, solar cells, dental and orthopedic implants, and ceramic knives. †¢ Industrial Ceramics – The Industrial Ceramics products group made pump and valve parts, semiconductor fabrications, Fiber-optic and optical communications equipment, and automotive parts. Ceramics Materials for Electronics – The Ceramic Materials for Electronics product group manufactured very specialized components for electronic systems. Glass for color TV’s, precision resistors, and thermal print-heads. Also ceramic substrates for specialized IC components were a product in this group. Management System: The management system at the Kyocera Corpora tion is very unique. It’s uniqueness is a result of the management ignoring standard management structure in other companies and developing a system to address problems that have been witnessed at other companies. i. e. runaway corporate bureaucracy. ) There were some inherent problems in the Kyocera management systems that manifested themselves as the company grew. (These are listed in the analysis section of this report. ) However, it is not likely that these problems would have merited scrapping the whole corporate structure, but implementation of minor changes could help improve profitability. The components of the management system are as follows: †¢ Amoebas – These components are profit centers with and average of 30 members.One official leader/motivator and very little or no other formal structure. The amoebas rated performance on a basis of hourly efficiency per month. This was calculate by dividing net profit before labor and taxes by the total labor hour s. †¢ Hans – These are smaller working groups that are under the Amoebas and do not have responsibilities as a profit center. †¢ Upper Management Reporting Structure – The upper management in each company or division would attend a series of meetings designed to update from the top down and provide status information from the bottom up. Company or Division Level Reporting Structure – The very top managers from each company or division would go to Kyoto or later Tokyo to update the headquarters level management personnel on the status of projects in their respective organizations. Corporate Philosophy/Culture †¢ Dr. Inamori’s Beliefs – The beliefs that are important in this analysis are the ones that were imported into the corporate philosophy and had the potential to affect the profitability or effectiveness of the company. For example, Dr.Inamori’s belief that a person should never give up when pursuing answers to technical p roblems is certainly admirable. However, when a project becomes unprofitable, it is sometimes wise to make a decision to cut the losses. Wisdom is the key to knowing when to give up. Dr. Inamori’s belief in Respect for the Divine and Love People serves as a motivational backdrop to the culture at Kyocera and has helped to make the company a success. (There is much more to cover on Inamori’s influence and it will be covered in the sections to follow. †¢ Centralized Management – Kyocera’s management system was very centralized in 1990 and the company was outgrowing the usefulness of such a system. With 80 companies and countless divisions, the old way of management meetings for reporting purposes was becoming unproductive and unmanageable. †¢ Problem Resolution – Problem resolution for transfer pricing and other issues was handled through the management system. No â€Å"final decisions† were forced on any organization, but the organi zations were expected to negotiated and solve problems among themselves.The problem was escalated up the chain of command until it reached Inamori himself. The information presented above and additional information in the the case study itself provide enough background for a person to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the corporation. Using this information one can do an analysis and make recommendations for improvement. Important Characteristics of the Kyocera Corporation The characteristics of the Kyocera Corporation listed below are important to the analysis of possible issues facing the company now and in the future. Continuous Growth – As Kyocera continues to grow issues will surface that are a result of the size and complexity of the corporation. The entire organization will no longer be able to report progress in management meeting the same way it has been done for the last 60 or so years. The reporting matrix will need to be re-vamped to allow more responsibilit y at the division or company management level with ultimate accountability for quarterly profits at that level as well. Also, costing and transfer pricing issues need to be handled as a team between organizations.Too much autonomy can be as detrimental to the organization as too little. A balance of power and decision making needs to be tempered with a team approach to making each company or division as profitable as possible. †¢ Diversification – One characteristic that is a result of Dr. Inamori’s risk taking philosophy is the diversification in the product line. The products are high-tech enough to be a good fit in the company, but different enough that the different divisions and companies that make up Kyocera don’t end up competing against one another in a way that is detrimental to the company as a whole. Kyocera is an International Corporation – Cost is a good reason why this is an important characteristic of the company. Being international a llows Kyocera to take advantage of labor savings associated with manufacturing in some countries, while selling products in countries that will bring in the most profit. Being international also gives Kyocera access to markets in differing countries without as many distribution headaches as other manufacturers. †¢ Minimization of Corporate Bureaucracy – Kyocera focuses on minimizing bureaucracy.This eliminates costs associated with red and gives the Amoebas the flexibility to manufacture at the lowest cost. †¢ Measurement System – The measurement system is good in some respects and bad in others. Production targets are set internally by the same group that is attempting to make its goal a reality. This is a concern due to the lack of standardization and potential for poor targeting. †¢ Never Give Up Mentality – Dr. Inamori’s â€Å"never give up† philosophy is both a strength and a weakness.It is good for sharpening the focus of work groups, but at the same time could encourage unwise decision-making. Strategic Cost Concerns – Early in it’s existence, Kyocera was focused on keeping sales, general, and administrative expenses below industry standards. However, the management reporting practice and philosophy, as well as lack of standardization of costing methods within divisions or companies may work against the company in the area of cost. – Retraining costs with the frequent break-up of Amoebas is a concern. Purchasing parts at market prices on the open market that are also made by Kyocera-owned companies is a problem. – The cost of monthly reporting meetings is minor, but may be a growing expense across the board (for all divisions and companies) as the organization grows. Kyocera’s Inherent Strengths Quality of Leadership: Kyocera had strong leader in Dr. Inamori. His philosophical outlook and decision making abilities set the tone for success at the company.This type of lea dership cannot be taught, but is inherent in an individual. Technical Expertise: The company’s technical expertise is due to their focus on individuality and specialization. This helps the company in the area of new product development. Diversified Product Line: The products are high-tech enough to be a good fit in the company, but different enough that the different divisions and companies that make up Kyocera don’t end up competing against one another in a way that is detrimental to the company as a whole.Reputation: Kyocera’s reputation for quality and getting the job done will help them retain earned market share. Tenacity: Tenacious competitors in business always fair better than those who give up easily. The spirit of tenacity at Kyocera earns them the respect of their customers Working Environment Positive Attitudes: The positive environment at Kyocera helps retain expertise with employee retention and it fosters a non-threatening creative environment. Au tonomy: The autonomy of the Amoebas fosters creativity and lack of bureaucracy costs.International Status: Being international allows Kyocera to take advantage of labor savings associated with manufacturing in some countries, while selling products in countries that will bring in the most profit. Being international also gives Kyocera access to markets in differing countries without as many distribution headaches as other manufacturers. Areas of Weakness Some Elements of the Corporate Structure Centralized Management: The corporation is getting too large to maintain the current management reporting structure.The complexity will slow decision-making and be costly. Autonomy: Retraining costs with the frequent break-up of Amoebas is a concern. Product Overlap among Companies or Divisions: Repetitiveness in product lines is costly due to the repetitive support structures. Measurement System: Top-down setting of goals for Amoebas would be more appropriate. This would ensure some standard ization among expectations placed on workers. Transfer-pricing: Kyocera to Kyocera pricing should be lower than open market-prices.This would help sister organizations be more competitive. Additional Analysis Threats from New Competitors: Kyocera will have to be aware of new competitors at all times in the high-tech marketplace. Each division or company in the corporation must be aware of who the players are in their market. It would hard for any one niche player to become threat to Kyocera as a whole since they are very diversified. Rivalry among competitors: Kyocera must be careful to make sure this does not take place within its own corporate umbrella.There is no immediate rivalry of outside competitors that is obvious in this case. Substitute Products: Kyocera does a good job of battling this by taking on tasks that nobody else wants or has the tenacity to tackle. Suppliers Power: In many cases this firm is their own supplier. It is unfortunate that sister divisions or companies do not work closer together and become a powerhouse together. Buyer or Customer Power: Ditto the comments above. Also the buyers from outside have their purchasing power/threat to Kyocera limited by Kyocera’s diversification.Value Creation: Inbound and outbound logistics are strengths in Kyocera due to their international presence. They provide their own marketing channel through salaried sales professionals and have the product base to support using outside channels when possible. Advertising, pricing, etc. are handled by the individual divisions and companies. Service activities fall in the other column that makes up 1% of sales on the product organization list. This column does provide value to the customers and the company to the tune of $27 million. Current and Future OpportunitiesRe-alignment of the reporting structure: By re-aligning the reporting structure Kyocera can save cost and improve communications in the corporation. High-Tech changes in the Macroenvironment: New opportunities to be first in the area of communications are coming available with the internet, cable, and wireless communications areas. Transfer-pricing changes: Kyocera to Kyocera pricing should be lower than open market-prices. This would help sister organizations be more competitive. Expense Reduction: Administrative costs could be reduced by realigning the reporting structure.Product Overlap among Companies or Divisions: By combining operations for overlapping product lines Kyocera can save support costs. Potential Threats Current High-Tech changes in the Macroenvironment: Technological change does not stand still. New communications products and technologies make old ones obsolete every day. Corporate Growth: Communications and repetitive costs may become issues. Repetitive organizations as a result of mergers and acquisitions should be analyzed and handled appropriately. This may mean dismantling some organizations to save money.Action Items to be considered Change the M anagement Reporting Structure: The management reporting structure change could improve communications and help reduce administrative expenses Combine Support Operations for Different Companies in the Same Product Group: Repetitive support structures cost money. By combining support operations expenses could be reduced. Establish new corporate transfer-pricing guidelines. Corporate Guidelines for transfer-pricing could help make some of the business units more competitive.Reduce the autonomy of the Amoebas: Amoebas do not need to be doing their own costing and profit or production target setting. Recommendations Establish new corporate transfer-pricing guidelines base on sound judgement and principles: Focus on competitiveness and provide special pricing to sister business units to help make them more competitive. Focus on cost reduction in the administrative expense area: Implement conference calling, eliminate as much travel as possible, and combine support operations for multiple units to produce cost savings.Reduce the autonomy of the Amoebas: The amoeba level is too low on the management structure to make decisions on production targets and profitability. Move costing up to a higher level and allow input on production and profit targets from the amoebas, but put accountability at the next level of management up. Bibliography Kyocera Corporation, Nancy Rothbard, Harvard Business School, Publishing Division. 1991. Document #9-491-078,. Revisioned July 1993.