Evaluation Approach And Methodological Framework - 1554 Words

a. Evaluation approach and methodological framework Since the action plan is currently in the beginning phase, evaluation will deal with the plan’s structure and process, rather than its outcomes. Therefore, it will be a formative evaluation which can be also described as process evaluation; because it will focus on the ways of implementation and relation of programme theory with actual operations (Morra, 2009). Moreover, the evaluation will be comprehensive and inclusive enough to reflect all the concerns and developments in the member states. The evaluation will employ mostly qualitative and marginally quantitative methods to collect data, because the action plan is still in implementation phase and has not produced its outputs. Different methods will be used in order to gather data about different aspects of the evaluation. Below table summarizes the methods to be used in the evaluation: Evaluation subject Methods to be employed Coherence between the action plan and other policy documents of the European Union Document review Cohesiveness and adequacy of proposed actions for achieving the general aims of the plan Document review and literature review Current and potential implementation level of key actions Interviews and case studies Awareness and satisfaction levels of stakeholders Structured surveys Sustainability of the plan in terms of creating necessary tools and mechanisms which would serve general goals Interviews and case studies b. 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However, mixing methods for no good reason other than the sake of it can produce disjointed and unfocussed research, and can severely test the capabilities of researchers. I raise some cautionary issu es in this paper by critiquing the methodologyRead MoreThe Strengths and Weaknesses of the Scientist Practioner Approach1241 Words   |  5 PagesThe Strengths and Weaknesses of the Scientist – Practioner Approach The scientist-practitioner model was a term coined within the realm of American psychology. A conference held in Boulder, Colorado in 1949 concluded that clinical psychologists should be incorporating both a scientific and practical approach within their framework and training model. In his applied scientific theory, Shappiro (1985) viewed research and practice as being integrated, not dichotomised. He outlined the three featuresRead MoreRecruitment Is The Process Of Searching The Candidate For Employment Essay1009 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to Edwin B. 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The public health code of ethics and a systematic framework has been developed to guide the plans andRead MoreRequirements For Commission Management And Management960 Words   |  4 Pagesinternally by project staff or project externally. Cross-cutting issues The monitoring of cross-cutting issues like gender, etc. are integrated within the indicators on different levels (gender specific and etc.) and should be monitored within the framework of results. Another very important cross cutting issues is peace and conflict measures which requires a close monitoring and consideration in strategy and implementation. Monitoring of unintended results Our results specified in the indicators onRead MoreEssay on Lev Vygotsky and Social Development Theory1038 Words   |  5 Pagesshow him, and teach him how to write his alphabets. Evaluate While learning from Vygotskys Socio-cultural theory, it is important to consider evaluation from followers and critics of the theory. 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Psychological Research Report on Memory Essay - 1467 Words

ABSTRACT How is memory encoded and what methods can lead to greater recall? There have been many different models suggested for human memory and many different attempts at defining a specific method of encoding that will lead to greater recall. In this experiment subjects are asked to do a semantic task on a word related to them and an orthographic task in which they analyze the letter in the word. The results of the experiment indicate that the words which where encoded semantically and are related to the self have greater recall. INTRODUCTION In the last half century several theories have emerged with regard to the best model for human memory. In each of these models there was a specific way to help people recall words and†¦show more content†¦Low levels of processing include operations like counting the letters in words and higher levels of processing might include forming semantic relationships such as understanding what the words’ meaning is. According to Craig and Lockhart who formulated this theory memory recall would improve as the information is processed in greater depth. However it has been hard to define exactly what depth is and it has been found that there are other factors that make people remember things. (Zachmeister, E.B., Nyberg 1982) In further studies with human memory it has been found that information that is related to a person’s self is recalled better. This is called SRE or self-reference effect. There have been several explanations for this effect. One is that the self is thought of as a very elaborative memory structure and so when information is related to it is easier to recall because of its connection to that structure. It has also been thought that this might be because of the fact that a person is asked to evaluate a word and this improves recall. One proposition that has been proven experimentally is that the SRE exists because of better recall through organization. In any question where a word has to be related to oneself it has to be organized into one of at least two categories. Through doing this a person will be able to assist his recall of these words. (Klein, Stanley B. Kihlstrom, Jhon F. 1986) The present experiment is a replicationShow MoreRelatedA Split Personality: The Cause and Effects of Multiple Personality Disorder 1285 Words   |  6 PagesDisorder Multiple Personality Disorder, (also called Dissociative Identity Disorder) is an abnormal psychological phenomenon which has baffled psychologists and psychiatrists for years. It is a syndrome marked by the clear existence of two or more â€Å"personalities† (or identities) in a single person, each personality having separate memories, behaviors, physical attributes, and even different gender than the patient. 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Sustainable Communities Aerotropolis on Urban Growth

Question: Discuss about theSustainable Communitiesfor Aerotropolis on Urban Growth. Answer: Since the year of 1980, livability has emerged to be an important concept that explains the extent to which a specific place is suitable for the inhabitants to lead a healthy, normal life. Accordingly, as an inner suburb of Brisbane, Toowang possesses a variety of indicators that do enhance its livability factor, such as well-built infrastructure, high quality education, and tree cover. However, it is important to assess the livability of the suburb in terms of the presence of open, green space. It is important to note that some of the most livable cities of the world, such as the Hyde Park in London, or Central Park of New York, are known for open, green space as much as their well-developed infrastructure. Recent research reports have claimed that there is a close association between the structure and design of the cities, and the overall well-being of its inhabitants (Charles et al., 2015). The reports claimed that open green space is associated with reduced level of depression, stress level and anxiety among the residents, and improved health of the inhabitants. Hence, open green space is highly important in Toowang. Green space refers to the idea of having a great outdoor including open spaces as well as natural landscapes that can promote the health and overall well-being of the residents. The children are required to reside in areas which have accessible green spaces, as these green spaces aid in their overall mental and social development. Besides, the green space is also highly important as it helps in ensuring the overall health and well-being of a larger group of people- the older people, the children, and wealthy as well as poor people (Woodside et al., 2015). Besides, research also states that green space is also important in areas such as Toowang, as it can help the suburb generate huge income as well. It has been observed that various parks, located in the USA, France, and China feature cafes, restaurants as well as rental facilities that add up to the revenue of the government, and in turn help it to keep on funding the ongoing maintenance and upkeep. The government of Queensland, considering the importance of open green space, has already take initiatives to expand national parks, set up various marine parks, as well as implement plans to protect the green space from the urban sprawl. In fact it is important to note here that the strength here is that the Queensland government since 1990 had increased the total amount of land allotted to the national park estates from 3.8 million hectares to 8.1 million hectares (Callanan, 2016). Considering the shortfall in the urban green space in Toowang, the government is also planning to set up a variety of new parks such as the Kangaroo Points Cliff Park (Kozlowski Yusof, 2014). In fact, it is worthwhile to mention that Toowang already enjoys a diverse array of green spaces, such as ecology parks, boulevards, botanic gardens as well as community gardens. However, the weakness is that the area is gradually becoming more congested, with the rise in population, and hence the government must i nvest in setting up new public spaces to eliminate the chance of imbalance between nature and urban development. The urban green space can thus largely benefit the Toowang area. Being a suburb, it has not yet achieved much recognition, but the green space projects can help it in boosting its recognition and economy, while also helping it in the protection of habitats and preservation of biodiversity. Reference List: CALLANAN, J. (2016). Impact of aerotropolis on urban growth and related commercial activity. InPRRES 2016(pp. 1-6). Pacific Rim Real Estate Society. Charles-Edwards, E., Bell, M., Corcoran, J. (2015). Greening the Commute: Assessing the Impact of the Eleanor Schonell GreenBridge on Travel to the University of Queensland, Australia.Urban Policy and Research,33(1), 61-78. Kozlowski, M., Yusof, Y. M. (2016). The role of urban planning and design in responding to climate change: the Brisbane experience.International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management,8(1), 80-95. Woodside, A. G., Correia, A., Gnoth, J., Kozak, M., Fyall, A. (2015).Marketing Places and Spaces. Emerald Group Publishing.

The Civil War- The Road To Appomattox Essays - American Civil War

The Civil War- The Road To Appomattox Civil War ? The Road to Appomattox Civil War End of a Tragedy: The Road to Appomattox The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the events surrounding the end of the American Civil War. This war was a war of epic proportion. Never before and not since have so many Americans died in battle. The American Civil War was truly tragic in terms of human life. In this document, I will speak mainly around those involved on the battlefield in the closing days of the conflict. Also, reference will be made to the leading men behind the Union and Confederate forces. The war was beginning to end by January of 1865. By then, Federal (Federal was another name given to the Union Army) armies were spread throughout the Confederacy and the Confederate Army had shrunk extremely in size. In the year before, the North had lost an enormous amount of lives, but had more than enough to lose in comparison to the South. General Grant became known as the ?Butcher? , and many wanted to see him removed. But Lincoln stood firm with his General, and the war continued. This paper will follow the eve nts between the winter of 1864-65 and the surrender of The Confederate States of America. All of this will most certainly illustrate that April 9th, 1865 was indeed the end of a tragedy. CUTTING OFF THE SOUTH In September of 1864, General William T. Sherman and his army cleared the city of Atlanta of its civilian population then rested ever so briefly. It was from there that General Sherman and his army began its famous ?march to the sea?. The march covered a distance of 400 miles and was 60 miles wide on the way. For 32 days no news of him reached the North. He had cut himself off from his base of supplies, and his men lived on whatever they could get from the country through which they passed. On their route, the army destroyed anything and everything that they could not use but was presumed useable by the enemy. In view of this destruction, it is understandable that Sherman quoted ?war is hell? . Finally, on December 20, Sherman's men reached the city of Savannah and from there Sherman telegraphed to President Lincoln: ?I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton? . Grant had decided that the only way to win and finish the war would be to crunch with numbers. He knew that the Federal forces held more than a modest advantage in terms of men and supplies. This in mind, Grant directed Sherman to turn around now and start heading back toward Virginia. He immediately started making preparations to provide assistance to Sherman on the journey. General John M. Schofield and his men were to detach from the Army of the Cumberland, which had just embarrassingly defeated the Confederates at Nashville, and proceed toward North Carolina. His final destination was to be Goldsboro, which was roughly half the distance between Savannah and Richmond. This is where he and his 20,000 troops would meet Sherman and his 50,000 troops. Sherman began to move north in mid-January of 1865. The only hope of Confederate resistance would be by General P.G.T. Beaurgard. He was scraping together an army with every resource he could lay his hands on, but at best he would only be able to muster about 30,000 men. This by obvious mathematics would be no challenge to the combined forces of Schofield and Sherman, let alone Sherman. Sherman's plan was to march through South Carolina all the while confusing the enemy. His men would march in two ranks: One would travel northwest to give the impression of a press against Augusta and the other would march northeast toward Charleston. However the one true objective would be Columbia. Sherman's force arrived in Columbia on February 16th. The city was burned to the ground and great controversy was to arise. The Confederates claimed that Sherman's men set the fires ?deliberately, systematically, and atrociously? . However, Sherman claimed that the fires were

Free Essays on Farewell To Arms

Edmund Wilson, in an internet article, â€Å"Ernest Hemingway: Bourdon Gauge of Morale,† suggests that A Farewell to Arms is a tragedy of love and war . His purpose is to link the two different sides of the novel together in order to give readers a better understanding. Wilson supports this suggestion by showing examples throughout the book. No book gives the exactness of a foreigner in a war like this book does. Hemingway wrote this book â€Å"...long enough after the events for them to present themselves...† The characters are not tormented by the â€Å"dissonance between personal satisfaction and the suffering one shares with others...†, but as soon as we see the intimate relationship between the lovers we see that it is an â€Å"...idealized realationship...† A Farewell to Arms is a Romeo and Juliet. Catherine and Henry fall in love after she gets pregnant with his child and the romance blossoms from there when they leave in the middle of the night for Switzerland because it is a neutral country and Henry will be safe from the Italian Army which was going to capture him and kill him because he fled from the war. He concludes the article by telling the readers the intimacy of the relationship in the story. I thought that the article gave several excellent points in dealing with the love and war theme. Wilson tells how no other book captures the strangeness of an American in Europe during a war. I really felt that he made a really good point when he said that the Caporetto retreat was the finest part of the book because I enjoyed that part too and loved reading about all the misfortunes that he ran into. Wilson points out that Hemingway did not show any solid sense of character during the book. I learned that Hemingway makes it so that Catherine and Henry want to be with eachother forever, but its ironic when the child dies along with Catherine because a cesarian was supposed to be the safest and easiest way to go but it en... Free Essays on Farewell To Arms Free Essays on Farewell To Arms American Lit title = Expository Essay on A Farewell to Arms In Ernest Hemmingway's A Farewell to Arms, the protagonist, Frederic Henry is both dysfunctional and tragic. Throughout the story Henry lives up to this description of shear tragedy and dysfunction. The main elements that aid in making him both tragic and dysfunctional are: the fact that the love he and Catherine shared at the end of the book was doomed, this love was only "role-playing" to him at first, and he went AWOL on the Italian army. The first detail that contributes to making Henry a dysfunctional character is that he uses role-playing as a way of escaping the realization of the human mortality which is unveiled by the war. This role-playing begins on Henry and Catherine's third encounter. After this meeting the two become increasingly comfortable with their roles. It is as if their whole relationship is a "game". Neither one of them mistakes role-playing for a truly intimate relationship, but both recognize that it can be a useful device for satisfying certain emotional needs. This role-playing is a very dysfunctional characteristic of Frederic Henry. The second point that makes Henry a dysfunctional character is that he deserted the Italian army. Not only was this illegal but it could have cost him his life. Henry, although an American, had made a commitment to the Italian army, to protect and serve Italy. This characteristic alone is enough to make one dysfunctional, as it does to Henry. In addition to being a dysfunctional character, Henry is also a tragic character. The love that Henry gains for Catherine is pure tragedy. Although the relationship that Frederic and Catherine had started out to be only role-playing it turned into something much more, it became true love. This love was more than could be explained in words. Their love during an ugly war was not to be recreated or modeled even as much as throug... Free Essays on Farewell to Arms Edmund Wilson, in an internet article, â€Å"Ernest Hemingway: Bourdon Gauge of Morale,† suggests that A Farewell to Arms is a tragedy of love and war . His purpose is to link the two different sides of the novel together in order to give readers a better understanding. Wilson supports this suggestion by showing examples throughout the book. No book gives the exactness of a foreigner in a war like this book does. Hemingway wrote this book â€Å"...long enough after the events for them to present themselves...† The characters are not tormented by the â€Å"dissonance between personal satisfaction and the suffering one shares with others...†, but as soon as we see the intimate relationship between the lovers we see that it is an â€Å"...idealized realationship...† A Farewell to Arms is a Romeo and Juliet. Catherine and Henry fall in love after she gets pregnant with his child and the romance blossoms from there when they leave in the middle of the night for Switzerland because it is a neutral country and Henry will be safe from the Italian Army which was going to capture him and kill him because he fled from the war. He concludes the article by telling the readers the intimacy of the relationship in the story. I thought that the article gave several excellent points in dealing with the love and war theme. Wilson tells how no other book captures the strangeness of an American in Europe during a war. I really felt that he made a really good point when he said that the Caporetto retreat was the finest part of the book because I enjoyed that part too and loved reading about all the misfortunes that he ran into. Wilson points out that Hemingway did not show any solid sense of character during the book. I learned that Hemingway makes it so that Catherine and Henry want to be with eachother forever, but its ironic when the child dies along with Catherine because a cesarian was supposed to be the safest and easiest way to go but it en...

Encapsulation in Computer Programming

Encapsulation in Computer Programming Encapsulation in programming is the process of combining elements to create a new entity for the purpose of hiding or protecting information. In object-oriented programming, encapsulation is an attribute of object design. It means that all of the objects data is contained and hidden in the object and access to it is restricted to members of that class. Encapsulation in Programming Languages Programming languages arent quite so strict and allow differing levels of access to an objects data. C supports encapsulation and data hiding with user-defined types called classes. A class combines data and function into a single unit. The method of hiding details of a class is called abstraction. Classes can contain private, protected and public members. Although all the items in a class are private by default, programmers can change the access levels when needed. Three levels of access are available in both C and C# and an additional two in C#Â  only. They are: Public: All objects can access the data.Protected: Access is limited to members of the same class or descendants.Private: Access is limited to members of the same class.Internal: Access is limited to the current assembly. (C# only)Protected Internal: Access is limited to the current assembly or types derived from the containing class. (C# only) Advantages of Encapsulation The main advantage of using encapsulation is the security of the data. Benefits of encapsulation include: Encapsulation protects an object from unwanted access by clients.Encapsulation allows access to a level without revealing the complex details below that level.It reduces human errors.Simplifies the maintenance of the applicationMakes the application easier to understand. For the best encapsulation, object data should almost always be restricted to private or protected. If you choose to set the access level to public, make sure you understand the ramifications of the choice.

Israel and the Teva Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Israel and the Teva Company - Assignment Example Israel played a supportive role in Teva development. The government of Israel invested heavily in the education system. Therefore, over the years, I think that the country was able to equip its population with high technical skills which enabled them to work in different manufacturing companies. As a result, the company had qualified personnel at its disposal. These were people who had the necessary skills to steer growth and development of the company. In addition, the employees were well versed in different aspects that they need to consider in order for the business to penetrate the global market. Therefore, through little training by the US professors especially on the American culture, they were able to use the business models that were taught in school in order to penetrate the US market. Israel played a comforting role towards the growth of Teva Company. Although the expansion of any company in the overseas market is important in order to reduce the risks and uncertainties ass ociated with concentrating on a single market, every company must dominate a specific market before trying to capture other markets. Personally, I believe that Teva was able to gain comfort after segmenting the local market. The country gave support to the company’s products through ensuring that many of the prescribed drugs came from the company. The company received numerous contracts with government hospitals. This gave the firm confidence to explore the external market as it was assured of local support.

CONFERENCE AND EVENT MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

CONFERENCE AND EVENT MANAGEMENT - Essay Example These issues were however raised prior to the commencement of the 2009 annual event and were reported upon after the event, as will be highlighted within this report. Prior to the commencement of the 2009 event in Brisbane, media reports dominated the process of the refurbishment of the existing show grounds where the exhibition is housed on an annual basis, with a budget of $3 billion. This refurbishment includes inter alia the development of retail, commercial and residential infrastructure and development within the immediate grounds and vicinities, which in itself represents a significant contribution to the region in terms of both development, as well as the regional economy. Although this is not specific to the EKKA itself, it is seen as an initiative from within the EKKA camp and represents value to the region as a whole. From a historical perspective, the EKKA originally named The Brisbane Exhibition had its inaugural exhibition in 1876 with an attendance of 17,000 visitors (Mirosch, 2008). According to the media reports of the Brisbane Times and pertaining to the 2009 event, an approximate visitor turnout of 400,000 people attended the 2009 event (Brisbane Times). This turnout was however down on the preceding years figures by as much as 20%, represented by a significant turnout of over half a million people in 2008, according to media reports and resources. The show was still however deemed to be successful despite the reduced numbers in attendance, the media attributed the reduced turnout to the current financial situation as well as the impending swine flu situation. Attendance figures may well have an impact upon the sustainability of an exhibition, as well as the profitability of the event itself, dependent upon the expected income generated from admission or entrance fees, this will be addres sed further

Globalization of North America, South America and the Caribbean Essay Example for Free

Globalization of North America, South America and the Caribbean Essay Globalization is the result of a development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets (http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/globalization). Not everyone is a proponent of globalization. This is especially true for North America. Although the textbook says North Americans have become a highly affluent society by means of transforming the environment and by extending their global, economic, cultural and political reach, the fact remains, that many citizens of North America are not wealth by any stretch of the imagination. The same can also be said about Latin America. The affluence has spread so unevenly, particularly in the United States, that many of the previously middle class have lost their homes and many are now living in tent cities. Recent college graduates are finding it very difficult to obtain employment in their chosen field. Many people have been unemployed long enough that their unemployment benefits have run out. These people are considered to be not actively seeking employment – this is hardly a fair opinion to form. Much of this can be accounted to work being outsourced, mainly to places like Mexico, or even as far as India. â€Å"Multinational corporations are often accused of social injustice, unfair working conditions (including slave labor wages and poor living and working conditions), as well as a lack of concern for the environment, mismanagement of natural resources, and ecological damage. † http://www. manufacturing. net/articles/2010/06/the-pros-and-cons-of-globalization. However, there are some benefits of globalization. Some people argue that money is now able to flow freely across boundaries that were once limited. An article found in Forbes Magazine explained how Sony could sell a Playstation game console or TV just as easily in the United States as Tokyo. The same goes for Apple with its iPhones and other tech toys. (http://www. forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2011/09/10/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-side-of-globalization/). The textbook points out how uneven development is in Latin America. Frustrated workers, whether highly skilled or low skilled look to emigration as their only hope. Migrants frequently relocate to the United States, Europe and Japan looking for work. Remittances are sent back to their native countries, which results in billions of dollars annually directed to Latin America.

William Shakespeares Measure for Measure Essay -- Shakespeare measure

William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure The desires of the characters in Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure are not entirely clear, and are made ambivalent and ambiguous by the use of their language. Particularly in 3.1.52-153, when Isabella visits Claudio in prison, ambiguous lines and puns make it unclear whether Isabella desires Claudio’s death and whether he truly desires to be free of sin. These desires were further convoluted by viewing the current Folger Theatre production of the play. "Trade" (151) is one pun which illuminates ideas about Claudio's desires. Taken to mean an exchange, Isabella insinuates that Claudio's sin and death are like the title of the play, a measure taken for a measure, or rather a punishment that fits the crime. However, Freud's notion of the compulsion to repeat is evoked when the word is taken to mean a habit. Isabella insinuates Claudio's perpetual sinning earlier when she comments that Claudio's freedom would "offend [Angelo] still" (99) by continuing his behavior. The concept of the death drive as a desire to return to the womb also emerges when Isabella warns Claudio that accepting Angelo's offer "Would bark your honour from that trunk you bear / And leave you naked" (70-71), the image of debarking a tree becoming a form of regression. Claudio's response that he would "encounter darkness as a bride / And hug it in [his] arms" (82-3) is wholly ambivalent and ambiguous. It could be a straightforward admission to his desire for death, also showing that he readily accepts his punishment. Additionally falling under Freud's philosophy, it could instead be an admission of his compulsion to repeat: he would make love to death as his bride, just as he did to Juli... ... truly became emotional during his 15 line speech about the uncertainty of death. He was spotlighted during this passage, making it more like a soliloquy and therefore more honest. The audience was privy to his real fear of death and his desire to live, but then his pathetic supplication on his knees made my desire for him to die increase. What sin he refers to is of course unclear in the text as well as in the production, and literally holding that line above the characters’ heads made it even more uncertain who was truly the sinner: Claudio, Angelo, or Isabella? The audience was left feeling uncertain just as Claudio is about death, and Isabella is about her feelings towards whether her brother should die. Mostly this scene illuminates the universal desire for certainty, made even more apparent from the lighting change during Claudio’s soliloquy.

Globalization and Industrialized Countries Essay

As globalization ‘can be seen as being a condition resulting from a long history of international exploration, invasion and colonization, fuelled by economic, military, religious and political interests, and enabled through enormous developments in transport and communications technologies’ (Evans 1997:12). The industrialized environment has transformed drastically since the advent of globalization. Industrialized countries have undertaken extreme restructuring by modifying their means of communication and synchronization of work activities. Globalization has made it promise for companies to work on a real-time basis, whereby products and services are conveyed to the right place at the right time. Since then, globalization and information technology has propagated and has undergone significant improvements. Costs have sustained to decline as these new technologies have emerged. A business not supported by a network of computer systems (primary information technology) is more or less destined to fail, since it will be incapable to compete efficiently in today’s complex and dynamic environment (Aiki S. 1991). Companies are not the only ones who have gained from advances in modern information technology. Consumers and interest groups have created strategic alliances and now capable to coordinate their activities as well as exchange ideas and thoughts through a number of database and network systems (Collins J. C. , and J. I. Porras. 1991). For instance, owners of personal computers can subscribe to a computer network and without difficulty retrieve information on the products and corporations on line. Such information can also without problems be transmitted to other users. This huge use of technology by both consumers and companies affects, but the way business is run today. These consumer strategic alliances know no geographical limitations; oftentimes, they are global in nature, particularly among the industrialized nations. As companies can get in enormous profits from the better coordination, greater product elasticity, improved quality, leaner production, and more time-based competitiveness that information technology offers, they also facades the threat that can come from these consumers’ strategic alliances. For instance, corporations can no longer ignore consumer demands for constant product quality, reliability and respect for the environment, or timely delivery of services. As we move toward more and more advanced technologies, the labor force must be retrained. This training must not only expose workers to the technical matters adjoining the new process but also to the new focus of the organization. They have to be made responsive of the importance of advanced technology in improving work methods and in remaining competitive. Employee compulsion to the new process is imperative. Globalization by itself adds little or no value to an organization. There should be organizational as well as employee dedication to exploit the technology to the maximum (Scott, A. 1996). For instance, with ever-increasing use of computer-integrated manufacturing systems, and the stream of technical documentation that accompanies it, employees have to be skilled of recognizing the critical information at the right time. Once that information is recognized and properly interpreted, there must be an organizational dedication to use the information to make better decisions. Without this potential, the organization cannot take advantage from new technologies. Human resources’ management, therefore, will persist to be a critical factor in the survival of any organization (Schlossberg H. 1992). We sum up the influence of globalization on human resources as follows: †¢ Information technology transforms the mode of communication and work processes. †¢ Custom or standardized operations are replaced with skilled and multi-skilled workers. An extremely trained labor force is desired to manage information technology. †¢ Worker motivation and satisfaction might improve since workers are no longer restricted to routine operations, enjoy management powers, and can contribute to developments in their work processes. (Waters, M. 1995) Globalization also has an impact on the organization itself, as follows: †¢ Organizational reformation is required. This reformation makes the organization flat. Decision-making powers are decentralized. †¢ Communications are better and the organization is capable to make timely responses to its environment. †¢ Introduction of new products and services is improved and varieties of products can be efficiently introduced and marketed by the organization. †¢ The organization is competent to improve its efficiency, quality, and competitiveness. (Scott, A. 1997) Today’s advanced technology can, conversely, easily become a basic technology. A rapid increase of new technologies also brings rapid obsolescence of earlier technologies. Policies concerning technology must not be static; they must keep evolving. Stalk (1988) points out that â€Å"competitive advantage is a persistently moving target . . . The best competitors, the most thriving ones, know how to keep moving and always stay on the cutting edge. † Competitiveness A company should be able to evaluate potential new technologies quickly. The goal must be to remain competitive, and effective management of technology is a vital step in achieving this. With an increased focus on customer satisfaction, technology is a decisive means for achieving customer satisfaction. Browning (1990) notes that a learning organization â€Å"uses technology incessantly to refresh its knowledge of its customers’ wants and to work out new ways of satisfying them. † This commitment to be a learning organization needs vast resources, however. For example, Browning also points out that building a learning organization â€Å"necessitates new skills, clever people and capable machines. † Noticeably, technology and human resources should be used together for the organization to stay competitive (Cunningham, S. and Jacka, E. 1996). Barabba and Zaltman (1991) note that â€Å"hearing the accent of the market and making constructive use of it with respect to the voice of the firm is a learning progression. † Essentially, the voice of the market has to be interpreted into facts and tasks that will lead to suitable products or services to satisfy customer needs. This is related to the application of quality function deployment, whereby the organization expands its strategic plans to assure customer needs. Thus, a learning organization should also be a caring organization. As a caring organization, its major objective is to please its stock or stakeholders, its customers, and employees, and also to be collectively responsible. The traditional organization, with the focus on satisfying stockholders alone, is varying to this new form, with a sophisticated stakeholder group (Petrella, R. 1999). Thus, globalization and human resources’ management are recognized as key variables that facilitate an organization to improve its productivity, quality, and competitiveness. A critical constituent is the information technology, which offers both opportunities and challenges. The organization should show understanding to its environment via its policies, and be learning and caring organization, as time and reliability influence competitiveness. Finally, organizations should innovate and constantly move to achieve new targets, particularly in view of today’s rapidly developing new technologies (Shields, R. 1997).

Systematic Review Paper

The purpose of this meta-synthesis research was to synthesize a qualitative study performed to better understand the underlying reasons why only a fraction of cancer patients participate in cancer research trials. The attempt is to explore factors that influence participation in this type of study. Literature in the subject indicates poorly understood process of how patients are enrolled into clinical trials.This systematic review tries to improve the patient decision-making process in participating in cancer clinical trial and to provide Oncology nurses to treat patients with solid background utilizing evidence based practice (Biedrzycki, 2010). The study was conducted in hope to eliminate misconceptions on the negative feelings of cancer clinical trials. A common misconception is participation can cause harm instead of cure. The report clearly describes how the variation in research design and methods revealed low percentages of cancer patient participation in previous studies.An i nformation specialist assisted with the selection of relevant studies. Data selection was reviewed through PubMed. Patient participation and decision making were topics reviewed. A PRISMA-type flow chart elaborates on the multiple studies reviewed (Biedrzycki, 2010). The criteria for reviewing articles included articles published since 2004. Research from other countries was reviewed and was not confined to the United States.Literature reviewed through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) roadmap for Medical Research, fortified the research by emphasizing important aspects of human research participants and transforming this into clinical research. 62 articles met criteria and 24 articles did not meet the initial criteria. Articles beyond five years provided evidence of inaccurate representation of the current views on patients’ will to participate in clinical trials (Biedrzycki, 2010). The research article indicates the sample sizes ranged from 16 to more than 115000 whic h yield a median=162.The combined sample of participants includes gender, race, and age. Most participants were Caucasian. One study included only Asian women. Ages ranged from 50 to 64 years, median 57. 6 years. Cancer diagnoses were reported in 10 studies, six studies omitted reporting cancer as a diagnosis. Four studies reported advanced cancer. Six studies reported participation in phase I clinical trials. One study reported participation in a phase III clinical study. The rest of the studies did not report the phase of trials. There is no indication whether follow up was done with the original reporter to clarify missing information (Biedrzycki, 2010).The criteria used to appraise the research consisted of decision-making process, communication, educational interventions, perceptions, benefits and burdens, quality of life, reasons for declining participation, knowledge, relative health stock, timing of consent, satisfaction, and decisional regret. Most studies focused on decisi on making, however; thirteen studies described multiple aspects of cancer clinical trial participation. Some studies focused on the psychosocial consequences of clinical trial decision making.This data was appraised by several research team members (Biedrzycki, 2010). Decision-making instruments included the Llewellyn-Thomas, an unnamed instrument and the Homes-Rovner et al. Satisfaction with Decision Scale. Other instruments included the Understanding of Clinical Trials by Joffe et al. and The Decisional Regret Scale and the Karmonos Accrual Analysis System. Most studies did not report psychometric measures and almost all studies used one question to assess willingness, interest or knowledge about cancer clinical trials (Biedrzycki, 2010).Data analysis is presented in table format. Table 1 consists of factors reflecting the rigor of the studies reviewed. Table 2 consists of measures of decision making used in the studies reviewed and Table 3 lists strengths, limitations, and key po ints of the studies reviewed. The studies were mainly descriptive, consisting of mixed-methods design. Three studies tested an educational intervention and two studies used an experimental design. 50% of the studies did not report timing of the research in relation to the decision regarding clinical trial participation (Biedrzycki, 2010).During meta-analysis, response rates varied by type of measure and study design, only 50% reported response rates (range = 21% – 95%, median=71%. 29% declined participating because they had no interest and 24% declined with no reason given. One major reason people declined to participate was because they had no access or could not use a computer. Multiple time measures were conducted in decision regret, it was noted that responses were reduced (Biedrzycki, 2010). The process used to pool the data together was clinical trial decision making.The main factors influencing this process consist of patient, provider, and treatment. Two studies speci fically explored decision making by the patient. Education requirements impacted decision making since understanding the risks and benefits of clinical trials was the most important factor taken into consideration by the patient. Educational interventions were noted to have increased patient enrollment. (Biedrzycki, 2010). If the patient found the education from the provider to be coercive, treatment was considered a burden.Time and travel also posed an inconvenience on the patient since it adversely affected quality of life and therefore deterred patients from cancer clinical trials. On a positive note, studies reported factors associated with positive decision making outcomes. Positive decision making included being more spiritual, younger, and having more advanced cancer, and having a good understanding of the education received. Several other aspects were indicated as positive decision making outcomes when providers introduced user-friendly systems (Biedrzycki, 2010).The primary focus of the study was accepting or declining clinical trial participation. The secondary focus was decision-making and the silent variable was the influence on clinical trial participation. All criteria were elegantly spelled out in form of charts and tables. Figure 1 included factors associated with the decision to participate in a cancer clinical trial. Figure 2 revealed factors associated with a positive decision making outcome (Biedrzycki, 2010). A factor that was clearly noted as missing was a review on the process by which patients decide on whether or not to participate in clinical research trial.Components of the decision making preferences have not been determined. Consenting for a research process is autonomous and the current healthcare system does did not provide sufficient learning opportunities for the patient to acquire enough information to make an adequate informed consent. When the patient lacks this knowledge and the healthcare provider lacks the understanding o f the patient’s values, it is difficult for the patient to want to participate in clinical trials (Biedrzycki, 2010).The reviewers concluded that future research is needed for continuation of exploring the reasons for lack of cancer patients’ participation in clinical research trials. The need for sound construct for decision making can prepare nurses and healthcare workers to understand the cancer patient’s values and to provide education that may enhance knowledge and strengthen interventions, and improve cancer clinical trial participation (Biedrzycki, 2010).

Coso and Basel Essays

Coso and Basel Essays Coso and Basel Essay Coso and Basel Essay Financial Collapses and Regulations New England College of Business In an era of risky investments and failed financial institutions, additional importance is being placed on businesses implementing Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) plans. ERM is defined by the Institute of Internal Auditors (2012) as an approach designed to identify, quantify, respond to, and monitor the consequences of potential events implemented by management. Without an ERM plan, transparency to shareholders and internal accountability are nearly impossible to achieve. COSO and Basel are both reactive frameworks to increased regulatory changes that forced institutions to show more transparency to their financial reporting, in order to manage operational risks, mitigate the likelihood of a collapse, and ensure stability in volatile market conditions (Farnan 2004; Balin 2008); these measures increase confidence in investors. This comparative analysis of COSO and Basel seeks to indentify common measures that are necessary to form a functional ERM plan, the most important being the accountability of management and its communication with the Board (The New Basel Accord 2003). A Comparative Analysis of ERM Guidelines: COSO I/II and Basel I/II Introduction Due to the epidemic of failed financial systems seen over the past decade, agencies and private organizations (e. g. , Securities and Exchange Commission, NICE, etc. ) have set in place guidelines for the standardization of reporting and evaluating risk in an effort to eliminate surprise collapses in the future (NICE Systems Ltd. 2012). Alexander Campbell, Editor, Operational Risk Regulation, states that regulatory approaches are changing and requiring companies to streamline processes for monitoring internal risks at a company, such as fraud (NICE Systems Ltd. 2012). Common goals of organizing committees trying to tackle regulatory challenges are to improve communication between the board and management, increase shareholders confidence, and most importantly, for entities to thoroughly evaluate their liquidity so that in the event of a crisis, investors assets are secured (Bressac 2005; Decamps, Rochet, Roger 2003). This comparative analysis of COSO and Basel identifies the standards these documents set for institutions to maintain an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) plan, as well as the affects these documents shortcomings and constraints have on entities which apply either COSO or Basel. Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is defined by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) (2012) as an approach designed to identify, quantify, respond to, and monitor the consequences of potential events implemented by management. It is important for all parties affiliated with an institutions ERM plan to clearly identify and understand the events that impact a companys value in order for the entity to achieve its objectives (IIA 2012). The frameworks COSO and Basel both attempt to be reactive solutions to public events in which lack of an adequate ERM plan has contributed to a collapse of a major institution or market which had a detrimental affect on the public (Farnan 2004; Lall 2009). Both documents have been explored by many key opinion leaders in the financial industry, and while each provides a set of guidelines for developing successful ERM protocols, each also fails to be foolproof. Shaw (2006) provides the argument that while the COSO standard was groundbreaking at the time, it was not meant to be a marking guide for controls. Moreover, in regards to Pillar 3 of the Basel Accord which depicts methods of Value-At-Risk (VAR) calculations, Standard and Poors noted that although these VAR methods appear to offer mathematical precision†¦they are not a magic bullet (Lall 2009). COSO and Basel can be seen as a significant step forward for the times (Saurina and Persaud 2008). Basel In 1974, the Basel Committee of Banking Supervision (BCBS) was created (consisting of the G10 plus Luxembourg and Spain) in light of the challenges from an increasingly internationalized banking system (Lall 2009). In the 1980s, it became clear (post-Latin America Debt Crisis, 1982) that a process was needed regulate the international banking system to mitigate risk and manage losses (Lall 2009). The first Basel Accord and Basel II, referred to as Basel, is a method of risk management, specifically for financial institutions operating on a multi-national level, that sets minimum capital requirements (8% of adjusted assets (Decamps, Rochet, Roger 2003)) that these institutions must uphold to minimize the risk of a collapse in the international banking system (Lamy 2006). Basel I, the first international accord on bank capital was established in 1988, by the BCBS (Finance Development 2008), with the goal to arrive at significantly more risk-sensitive capital requirements with the primary objective in line with ensuring stability in the international banking system (Lamy 2006). In 2004, Basel II was introduced, with amendments in response to the Quantitative Impact Study, QIS 3, (published in May 2003), an increase in the amount of capital banks must set aside for high-risk exposures, and changes from feedback from banks on Basel I (Finance Development 2008; Lamy 2006). The Basel framework is focused on three pillars: a minimum capital adequacy requirement, supervisory review, and market discipline (Decamps, Rochet, Roger 2003). Basel I was highly criticized for having a one size fits all approach to formulating institutions risk-weighted assets (with insensitivity to emerging countries), in addition to unrealistic capital requirements that discouraged even reasonable risk taking (Kaufman 2003). In response to these critiques, BCSB began to draft Basel II, in which the amendments to Pillar I (310 out of ~350 pages of the document (Balin 2008)) were most notable. Balin (2008) describes the menu of various options that Basel II encompasses for Pillar I, which allow institutions to choose the most suitable options dependent on a series of factors (i. e. , size, rating, etc. ). The minimum capital requirement pillar focuses on the least amount of capital a bank must maintain to be protected from credit, operational, and market risks (Ahmed and Khalidi 2007). In Basel II, the highly critiqued credit risk requirements were modified to decrease the one size fits all stigma of Basel I (Kaufman 2003). Additionally, Basel II takes into account loopholes found in Basel I that enabled banks to maintain their desired level of risk while cosmetically assuaging to minimum capital adequacy requirements, which was done mainly through a transfer of assets to holding companies and subsidiaries (Balin 2008). Similar to COSO framework, the first pillar of Basel seeks to unite various types of risks into an overall evaluation of capital requirements to safeguard shareholders and investors. Pillar 2, the Supervisory Review, is meant to insure that banks have adequate capital to support all the risks in their business including, but not limited to, the calculations in Pillar 1 (Kaufman 2003). This Pillar clearly defines of obligations of supervisory oversight against extreme risk taking; of note in this Pillar is line 680, which states: Supervisors are expected to evaluate how well banks are assessing their capital needs relative to their risks and to intervene, where appropriate. This interaction is intended to foster an active dialogue between banks and supervisors such that when deficiencies are identified, prompt and decisive action can be taken to reduce risk or restore capital (The New Basel Capital Accord 2003). The four principles of Pillar 2 seek to hold the supervisors responsible for implicating processes, reviewing, setting expectations, and intervening when warranted in regard to management of capital risks (The New Basel Capital Accord 2003). Pillar 3 seeks to protect against changes in asset prices (market risk) (Balin 2008), which is an addition to the credit risk factors of Basel I. Using the Value-At-Risk (VAR) model, banks were able to determine the probability of a portfolios value decreasing by more than a set amount over a given time period (Lall 2009). Critics of the VAR model, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), claim that it fails to account for extreme market events and assumes that the processes generating market events were stable (Lall 2009). COSO In July 2002, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) was passed with the goals of increasing investor and public confidence in the post-Enron era and increasing management accountability, among others (Farnan 2004). Section 404 of SOX states that effective for some large companies, beginning December 31, 2004, a separate management report on internal control effectiveness and audit by the organizations external financial statement auditor is required (Farnan 2004). COSOs framework lays out a path for developing efficient operations and regulatory compliance methods, and has been established as the framework recommended by agencies such as the SEC for public companies to base their financial reporting on (Farnan 2004). The Committee of Sponsoring Organization of the Treadway Commissions (COSO) is comprised of five private organizations in the financial industry (COSO Web site 2012). The COSO organization was established in 1995 with the mission to provide thought leadership through the development of comprehensive frameworks and guidance on enterprise risk management, internal control and fraud deterrence, and attempts to enhance success and leadership, and minimize fraud in company reporting (COSO Web site 2012). Since its establishment, COSO has published frameworks aimed at helping publicly traded companies cope with tough new monitoring requirements mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Shaw 2006), and to help businesses manage risk, by looking at business units as an entire entity, designed to improve organizational performance and governance and to reduce the extent of fraud in organization (COSO Web site 2012). The COSO framework is a cube comprised of four (three in COSO I) company objectives perpendicular to eight (five in COSO I) factors that together form a risk assessment program for which companies can reduce risks by realizing the amount of capital needed for consequences (Bressac 2005). Similar to Basel, COSO dictates that the board is responsible for overseeing managements design and operation of ERM (Bressac 2005). One factor that COSO framework includes is the measurement of a companys risk appetite, the amount of risk, on a broad level, an entity is willing to accept in pursuit of value (Rittenberg and Martens 2012). Many objectives that management sets for their company (i. e. , increase market share, win competitive tenders) include a substantial amount of risk, and COSOs strategic decision-making framework allows managers to present the objectives in relation to appetite to the Board for approval (Rittenberg and Martens 2012). Conclusions Both COSO and Basel were drawn to effectively respond to new implications (Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Shaw 2006) and new laws capital requirements for banks (Lamy 2006), respectively), and each have principles that can help institutions manage ERM more effectively. For example, The New Basel Capital Accord (2003) clearly articulates that setting a minimum amount of available capital resources is a vital element of the strategic planning process, and the three pillars devise a plan to do this. Bressec (2005) claims that COSO II framework articulates a way for managers to effectively deal with the events that create uncertainty for entities and create responses to minimize potential losses. COSO and Basel were both released in the infancy stage and flawed. Samad-Khan (2005) observed that COSOs creditability is diminished because consequences are predicted to occur much more frequently than had been historically recorded in the past. Supporters acknowledge that Basel II has arcane ideas, but defend that its still a step in the right direction because it increases financial oversight and makes sure banks wont be doomed by crises of confidence (Coy 2008). It is important to note that while COSO and Basel offer much protection against quantitative risk assessments, they must be coupled with the knowledge and insight of senior risk managements to be most efficient (Lall 2009; Samad-Khan 2005). Moreover, both COSO and Basel also provide constraints that limit the amount of risks institutions can endure, sometimes excessively. Pall (2009) discusses one failure in Basel II as the ability for developed-nation banks to skew their reports to their desired results, at the expense of their smaller and emerging market competitors and, above all, systemic financial stability. Samad-Khan (2005) emphasizes that historical data is still the most reliable way for companies to determine the probability for risk to occur. Start-ups will not have this historical data, therefore may overestimate their probability of risk using the likelihood x impact = risk calculation (Samad-Khan 2005) and miss out on potentially positive opportunities. Others against the provisions claim that both documents (e. g. , Basel in the Emerging markets) implement concessions that constrain potential growth by overcompensating for potential consequences and depleting lending capital for banks, which in the 1930s contributed to the Great Depression (Coy 2008). Historical events depict the need for more stringent regulatory guidelines in this era of financial market uncertainty. The most important common factor of Basel and COSO are that each clearly states that it is managements responsibility to have a functional ERM plan in place, and be in communication with the Board about potential risks that the company faces (Bressec 2005; The New Basel Capital Accord 2003). Holding management accountable for the risks the business takes, while making sure that the Board is in agreement with managements plan creates a necessary harmony of a checks and balances system, in turn creating a safer landscape for shareholders and the public to place faith in. When properly executed,

35 High Paying Jobs Without Degrees that Pay a Salary of $55,000

35 High Paying Jobs Without Degrees that Pay  a Salary of $55,000 The good news from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is that workers with associate’s degrees or high school diplomas have potential careers to consider that come with  a median salary of $55,000! Here are 35 high paying jobs without degrees you can attain. 35. BoilermakersIf your aptitude runs to mechanical and plumbing repairs, you might enjoy assembly, installation, and repair of boilers and other containers.   The median salary is $56,560, you’ll learn on the job as an apprentice. This high paying job without a degree  has a projected 8,800 job openings in the next 6 years.34. First-line supervisors of correctional officersHave you always had an interest in law enforcement but for whatever reason not pursued the police academy? A supervisory position in a correctional institution may suit you- you’ll work with other officers and jail employers. The median salary is $57,840, training is moderate and on-the-job, and there are 18,000 expected job opening s through 2022.33. Electrical and electronics engineering techniciansThis is a great field for those who like to tinker and rebuild. as an engineering technician, you’d be designing, building, repairing, and maintaining electrical components, circuitry, and machinery for your staff colleagues. The median salary is $57,850, you’ll need an associate’s degree, and the right vocational program will help you hit the ground running with a job placement.32. Real-estate brokersIf you like people (and looking at sale and rental properties in your area!) and have a detail-oriented, organized approach, brokering real-estate transactions (like buying, selling, rentals, and loan arrangements) might be for you. The median wage is $58,350, and there are 16,100 projected job openings in this field.31. Purchasing agents (except wholesale, retail, and farm products)Being responsible for the ordering and acquisition of machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services for a business or an organization is a crucial role – the median salary is $58,760, your training on the job would be long-term, and there are 61,600 anticipated positions in the works.30. Computer network support specialistsEverybody loves a competent it person- if coding is your first or second language and you enjoy problem solving and maintenance, this could be a great match. The median salary is $59,090, and there are 39,600 projected job openings through 2022.29.  First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersIf you have experience with construction sites, supervising them and coordinating employees could net you a median salary of $59,700. There are 187,100 anticipated openings in the next few years.28. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigatorsPut your strong reading comprehension and interest in investigative processes to work as a reviewer of settled claims to against company practices and procedures. The median salary is $59,960, and there a re an expected 80,300 jobs in this field.27. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairersAnother excellent option for those who like to tinker and work with people- as a supervisor in this field, you’ll oversee  and coordinate a team of mechanics, installers, or repairers. Anticipate earning $60,250 in one of the 152,000 projected openings.26. Gas-plant operatorsIf you enjoy maintaining mechanical systems at work, this field would place you with utility companies to control compressors that monitor and support main pipelines. The median salary is $61,140, and in the next few years there should be 4,700 prospective jobs.25.  Aerospace engineering and operations techniciansThese engineers and mechanically-minded  employees operate and maintain equipment for developing, testing, and producing new aircraft. The median salary for a candidate with an associate’s degree is $61,000. More than 2,000 jobs are projected through 2022.24. Petroleum-pump-syst em operators, refinery operators, and gaugersThese positions, which only require a high school diploma or the equivalent, require you to operate or control petroleum refining or processing units. The median salary is $61,850, and there are 15,500 projected job openings through 2022.23. Web developersSpend your life online and think you can design a top-notch site that looks and runs efficiently? If you’re willing to get an associate’s degree, consider this career, where the median salary is $62,500  and there are a whopping  50,700 (!!) projected job openings through 2022.22. Subway and street car operatorsYou’re the one who the little kids will look at and wave to all day! Oh, you’ll technically be in charge of operating subways or elevated trains to transport passengers for a median salary of $62,730. you’ll need a high school diploma.21. Postmasters and mail superintendentsYou’ll be the planner behind the grand machine of the post off ice. in this position, you coordinate operations and  admin for  a post office, or help organize scheduling and duties of post office workers. There are 5,000 projected job openings over the next 6 years, and the median salary is $63,050.20.  Electrical-power line installers and repairersThis job, with comes with long-term on-the-job training, has a median salary of $63,350. It’s in demand, too, because there are a projected 49,900 jobs opening in the next 6 years.19.  Transportation inspectorsYou’re one of the final safety checks of anything from equipment to goods to make sure all is safe for long travel. This job comes with a median salary of $63,680, and you’ll need a high school diploma.18.  Gaming managersDo you look at the chaos of a casino and wonder who makes it run? A gaming manager, that’s who. In this job, you’ll direct and coordinate the workings of a casino. The median salary is $65,220, and you’ll need a high school diploma.17.  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologistsHere’s a great way to be a part of the healthcare industry, help people, and learn the inner workings of a complex system.MRI techs need an associate’s degree and receive a median annual  wage of $65,360. There are 11,300 jobs expected to open in the next 6 years.16.  Registered nurses (RN)Wait for it- there are a projected  1,052,600 (wow!) job openings for RNs expected through 2022! You’ll need an associate’s degree to become a nurse, which can involve anything from patient care to public education about health issues. The median salary is $65,470.15. Diagnostic medical sonographersHere’s another great way to enter the healthcare industry in a tech-forward way. In this job, you use equipment to directs sound waves to  assesses and diagnose patients. You’ll need an associate’s degree for this position, which comes with a median salary of $65,860. There are   35,30 0 jobs projected to open in the next 6 years.14. Power plant operatorsHere’s a position that comes with long-term on-the-job training. You’ll learn how to control, operate, and maintain the machines that generate electric power. Only a high school diploma is required, and this job comes with a median salary of $66,130.13. Funeral service directorsThe opportunity to run your own business (if you have the stomach for funeral services) and provide a valuable service to a grieving community could enable you to earn as much as $66,720; you’ll need an associate’s degree (and some business classes wouldn’t hurt). There may be as many 3,200 job openings available and minimal job training.12. Nuclear techniciansYou’ll need an associate’s degree for this important job, in which you’ll  assist physicists and engineers nuclear research and production. The median salary is  $69,060.11. Farmers, ranchers, other agricultural managersThe one is a job with great prospects- 150,200 are expected to open through 2022! These positions will require you to take a role in the  operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments. The median salary is  $69,300.10. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workersThis is a complicated-sounding way of saying middle management of a corporate sales force; your workload would likely include supervision of daily and weekly workforce activity, sales goals and company revenue. The median salary is $70,060, you’ll need a high school diploma or equivalent degree, and you could have more than 50 thousand job openings to choose from, with no necessary training prerequisites.9. Nuclear medicine technologistsThis job comes with a median salary of $70,180 and requires an associate’s degree. In this position, technologists  scan patient’s bodies to create images and administer  radioac tive drugs to patients undergoing scans.8. Dental hygienistsAspiring dental hygienists are required to provide dental cleanings, examine patients for oral ailments, and provide preventative care; they can earn as much as $70k with an associate’s degree (which should include any certifications required). There are more than 113,00 anticipated job openings.7. Power distributors and dispatchersThese positions involve, as you might expect, coordinating, regulating and distributing electricity or steam, which may involve working in a technical facility or plant. The median salary breaks $71k, you’ll be able to get long-term on-the-job training with your high school diploma or equivalent, and there are more than 3,000 prospective openings.6. Commercial pilotsAir travel may not be as glamorous as it once was, but being a commercial pilot- flying and navigating aircrafts on non-scheduled (aka fancy private planes) air-carrier routes, or helicopter trips- is a lucrative and exc iting career. You’ll need a commercial pilot certificate in addition to a high-school diploma or equivalent, but you could earn as much as $73k in any of the 14k positions available in the next few years.5. Detectives and criminal investigatorsAnother job not to go for just because it looks cool on tv- detectives and criminal investigators assist law enforcement and private citizens in tracking down suspected violations of laws, to prevent or solve crimes, or find and recover private property. The median salary is $74k, there will be nearly 28k potential job openings coming, and there’s moderate on-the-job training.4. Nuclear reactor operatorsIt is impossible for me not to acknowledge this was Homer Simpson’s job- but i’m sure smart people will find it challenging and exciting, too. If you enjoy technical and mechanical work around nuclear reactors, monitoring and operating equipment and its controls, and recording meticulous data, this could be a great f it. You should also be comfortable facing and implementing emergency procedures. Median salary is nearly $80,000, and you (and the other 2,299 applicants) will receive long-term on-the-job training.3. Elevator installers and repairersIf you happen to like elevators- or any electric or hydraulic systems maintenance, you could find yourself happy in this job- the $76,650 you could earn with your high school diploma might help too! Typically new repair techs start with an apprenticeship. there are more than 8,000 jobs in the forecast.2. Radiation therapistsIf you’re interested in a career in healthcare without the nearly decade-long investment of time, money, and your sanity, consider a radiation therapy career. You’ll be responsible for checking equipment, observing patients after their treatments, and documentation of sessions. The median salary is $77,560, you’ll need an associate’s degree, and you may find more than 8,400 jobs waiting upon graduation.1. Air-traffic controllersObviously, this is so highly paid because it’s so intense and stressful- you have to be alert and on-task constantly. You’d be monitoring and directing aircraft and earning up to $122,530- the highest of any occupation in which employees don’t have to have a bachelor’s degree. The on-the-job training is long-term and rigorous (but you’ll appreciate it when you can actually save money and retire like an old-school human being).

Caltural change of the organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Caltural change of the organization - Essay Example The organizational or cultural guidelines or expectations prescribe appropriate kinds of behavior that its employees should implement in particular situations. The following paragraphs will explain in detail how corporate cultural values controls the behavior of each organizational members towards one another from organizational values (Hill, 2001) Generally, top management officers could try to determine whether to continue with the current corporate culture or to change it. They may want to impose corporate values and standards of behavior in order to particularly reflect the objectives of the organization. In addition, there are generally standing internal cultures within the company’s workforce (Edsforth,2005) And, the interplay of post-industrial technologies, new organizational practices and wider social influences is effecting changes in corporate production and culture. This is debated that the deliberate reconstruction of corporate culture reconstructs the culture of the 20th century workplace(Casey, 2007). Furthermore, all the work groups within a corporation have their individual behavioral idiosyncrasies and communications that that influences the entire organization. Clearly, top management can willingly be infused outside culture into its work environment. For clarity, computer technicians usually have independently gained the expertise, language and behaviors of the organization, but the attendance of these technicians may affect the culture of the organization in its entirety. In the article How to make Life Changes Using Psychologist Kurt Lewin’s Unfreeze –Change – Freeze Method. Lose weight, change careers and more using this three step process(Goss, 2007) emphasized that most people hate change. But again, there is very popular saying that goes nothing in this world is permanent except change. For change compels

The Environment and Our Difficult Relationship with Fuel Essay

The Environment and Our Difficult Relationship with Fuel - Essay Example It expresses the rationality of Man and the objectivity of his choices. In terms of food, the choices we make can significantly impact our health, whether we choose to eat a low or high calorie diet, whether we prefer to eat hygienic home-cooked food over the junk food we eat in restaurants or whether we prefer to eat fresh food as opposed to frozen food. It is high time that we challenge our unconditional trust for the health claims on the products of food manufacturing companies including genetically modified food and our ignorance of what constitutes healthy food, the perception of which has lately been tarnished. A similar perspective is shared by Micheal Pollen as elucidated in his article â€Å"Unhappy Meals.† The tone of Pollen’s article is full of sarcasm at the evolved concept of healthy food, much to my liking, the author states â€Å"A health claim on a food product is a good indication that it’s not really food, and food is what you want to eat,† (Pollen, 1). ... 40). The very introduction of such health claims on manufactured food was nothing more than a profit maximizing technique employed to increase sales. This has led to a change in the consumption patterns and is â€Å"destroying the traditional food cultures,† (Pollen, p. 65). The fact that after the introduction of the 1977 Dietary Goals in the United States of America, majority of the food manufactured was low fat (since that was recommended by the nutritionists ), one would have expected an overall decrease in the level of obesity of the population in general, but is that what happened? Unfortunately not! This simple fact speaks volumes about the low – fat claims made by the food manufacturing companies. The flaw was also in the proposed nutritional plan. The food manufactured was low on fat but high on carbohydrates which resulted in the increased obesity (Pollen, p. 43). This shows us that the nutritional value of food and the nutritious diets proposed are mere exper iments, the results of which are not guaranteed. This does not mean that I am a proponent of consuming high levels of cholesterol; rather I feel a controlled diet is the healthiest way to leading a healthy life, as opposed to consuming products that claim to be healthy. The dichotomy of the researches surrounding the utility of Omega-3 fats is a live example of the supportive and contradictory empirical evidence to support such health claims (Pollen, p. 38). Similar researches are questioning the validity of the food pyramid we have been studying for years. In his book Gary Taubes seeks to clarify many of the prevalent notions people have about methods of

Quality of corporate governance within an organization (Shell Company) Essay

Quality of corporate governance within an organization (Shell Company) and the impact on organizations key stakeholder - Essay Example For a company to remain competitive it must practice good and quality governance principles so as be innovative and be able to adapt in order to meet new demands from its customers and grasp new opportunities that may arise in the market. Corporate behavior is known to influence behavior of shareholder who is owner of equity in the company. Use of quality corporate governance principles by the Shell Company management was studied and the effects of applying quality governance principles studied to determine whether they have any effect on its shareholders. Table of contents Abstract 3 Chapter 1 1.1 Introduction 4 1.2Objective of study 5 1.3 Overall research objective 5 1.4 Research hypothesis 5 CHAPTER 2 2.1 Literature review 5 2.2 Importance of quality corporate governance in an organization†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8 2.3 Role of stakeholders in corporate governance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..9 2.4 Principles of good corporate governance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦9 2.5 Corporate social responsibility (CSR)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.12 CHAPTER 3 3.0 Research methodology 13 3.1 Evaluating level of corporate governance in the shell company†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦14 3.2Analyzing the stakeholder†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦14 3.4Process of carrying out stakeholder-based approach†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..15 3.5 Accounting techniques / business techniques used†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.16 CHAPTER 4 4.0 Findings /results 15 4.1 Code of Ethics and ethical behavior†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦16 ... Its aim is to help to meet the worlds growing energy needs in an economically, socially and environmentally viable ways now and in future in a sustainable manner. This is will be achieved by working closely with its customers, partners and policies makers so as to advance in a more efficient and sustainable use of energy and natural resources. Its objective is to engage efficiently, responsibly and in a profitable manner in oil, oil products, gas, chemicals and in other businesses and also to participate in the search for other sources of energy and development so as to meet the evolving customer needs and the world’s growing demand for energy. Shell Company believes that oil and gas will be an integral part of global energy needs for economic development in decades to come and therefore has a role in ensuring that they extract and deliver their products profitably and in environmentally and socially responsible Objective of study Overall research objective The research object ive is to find out the effect of good quality corporate governance and its impact in organization (Shell Company) stakeholders. Research hypothesis Good and quality corporate governance is vital in management of an organization and has a significant effect on the stakeholders of the shell company CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW Generally corporate governance can be described as the relationships that exist between organization management, the board of directors, shareholders and other stakeholders that are involved in with the organization. Corporate governance provides a structure of framework through which objectives of the company are set. For a company to achieve

Evaluating Gujarat Tourism

Evaluating Gujarat Tourism EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Gujarat has all the ingredients to become one of Indias leading travel destinations natural beauty, rich heritage, ancient archaeological sites and a colourful culture as well. Yet, Gujarat tourism has not met success in comparison to destination branding success stories such as Kerala, Rajasthan, Goa, etc. The primary aim of this study was to study destination Gujarat and probe for the reasons behind this phenomenon. A secondary aim of this study was to explore destination branding as a concept by evaluating Gujarat tourism and in the process understand how domestic and foreign tourists choose destinations for travel. The literature review highlighted issues such as critical success factors behind destination brands, growth of destination brands on the internet and the main points of the current tourism policy of Gujarat. There was a lack of information on Gujarat Tourism and hence a research was conducted which had both qualitative and quantitative components. The results from this research were used to compare destination Gujarat with three other competing states. Finally, on the basis of the research findings and analysis it was recommended that Gujarat has the potential to become a top tourist destination if it manages to create a distinct identity and strong brand associations via effective marketing strategies. INTRODUCTION Since centuries Gujarat has been a vibrant melting pot of cultures, traditions and movements. It has also been blessed with a unique natural landscape and architecture which includes ruins of a long forgotten ancient Harappan civilization at Dholavira and Lothal to the abode of endangered wildlife like the Asiatic Lion and Wild Ass not found anywhere else in the world; from the holy town of Dwarka to the glorious Modhera Sun Temple built by the Solanki rulers. Yet, unlike rival tourist states such as Rajasthan, Kerela, Andhra Pradesh and Goa, Gujarat has still not been able to fulfill its tourist potential. Much of it is due to an inability to carve out a unique identity and develop offerings which attracts more tourists. The objective of the study ‘Understanding and Evaluating Gujarat Tourism is to understand Gujarat as an emerging tourist destination and on the basis of research suggest recommendations for it to be amongst the leading tourist destinations in India. The main reasons for choosing this topic as an area for study are: * Marketing destinations provides an immense challenge to any management student in my opinion. It is an extremely complex product which has a mix of natural beauty, heritage, culture, tradition, folkart, food, etc. The study provides an opportunity to understand and analyze the marketing of such a product * Most of the academic articles that I came across on destination branding were written in a global context. A few case studies have been written on successful tourist states such as Kerela, Uttarkhand, etc. There is no recent research as such done on Gujarat tourism or its marketing and branding initiatives * Around six years ago, research had been done in MICA on â€Å"How to attract foreign tourists to Gujarat†. However, this project was not academic in its outlook and much has changed the way communication flows since then LITERATURE REVIEW Destination Branding To understand, Gujarat as a tourist brand it is imperative to understand the concept of destination branding that has been looked upon by various academicians. Tourist Destinations Tourism destinations are products of history and culture. To some level, a successful tourist destination is one which can connect instantly with the cultural background of its potential tourist. If one looks at the meanings associated with a particular place, some of them are shared by the local community whereas others are shared by global cultural communities. For example, a place like Manali or Rishikesh attracts tourists from all over the world. Hence a tourism destination may generate certain internationally shared meanings which can constitute a standardized platform from which a culturally di ¬Ã¢â€š ¬erentiated market communication can take its point of departure and provide a distinct flavor. An effective portrayal and communication of these meanings is what ultimately helps the tourist decide one place over another. Concept of Destination Brands In todays age of globalization, intense competition between destinations is forcing various states to build a strong distinct destination brand which can help differentiate one state from another and attract tourists as well as investors. To create this unique identity and build the competitive edge , it is important to study the microenvironment, tourist behavior and trends, strategies adopted by other successful tourist destinations, evaluation of its own strengths and weaknesses, etc. as a basis for coming up with effective communication strategies. Hence the marketing of places has received more increased interest and become accordingly more sophisticated over the last three decades. Also from a marketers perspective, many have shied away from the topic- arguing that places are too complex to be included in branding discussions since they have too many stakeholders and too little management control; they have underdeveloped identities and are not perceived as brands by the general public. And yet, destination branding is one of todays hottest topics among place marketers from Switzerland and New Zealand to Hawaii and Costa Rica. (Piggott, 2001) As per the World Tourism Organisation, this century will mark the emergence of tourist destinations as fashion accessories. The choice of holiday destinations will help define the identity of the traveller and in an increasing homogenous world will set him apart from the hordes of other tourists (Lurham, 1998) As style and status indicators destinations can offer the same consumer benefits as other more highly branded lifestyle accoutrements such as cars, perfumes, watches and clothes. All are used to communicate, reflect and reinforce associations, statements and group memberships and in the same way tourists use their trips as expressive devices to communicate messages about themselves to peers and observers. Travel for leisure is often a highly involving experience, extensively planned, excitedly anticipated and fondly remembered. Souvenirs and props trigger and display those experiences photographs, videos and ‘wish you were there postcards are shared with friends and relatives, and logo emblazoned merchandise and luggage labels proclaim ‘ been there, done that to any observers who care to notice. (Clarke, 2000) So, what exactly is a brand ? In marketing terms a brand represents a unique combination of product characteristics and added values, both functional and non-functional, which have taken on a relevant meaning which is inextricably linked to that brand, awareness of which might be conscious or intuitive. (Macrae, Parkinson, Sheerman, 1995) Brand advantage is secured through communication which highlights the specific benefits of a product, culminating in an overall impression of a superior brand. The image the product creates in the consumers mind, how it is positioned, however is of more importance to its ultimate success than its actual characteristics. Brand managers position their brands so that they are perceived by the consumer to occupy a niche in the marketplace occupied by no other brand- thus, for marketers, the value of a successful brand lies in its potential to reduce substitutability. Brand managers differentiate their product by stressing attributes they claim will match their target markets needs more closely than other brands and then they create a product image consistent with the perceived self image of the targeted consumer segment (Schiffman Kanuk, 2000). When consumers make brand choices about the products including destinations- they are making lifestyle statements since they are buying into not only an image but also an emotional relationship. (Sheth, Mittal, Newman, 1999). Consumers have their own brand wardrobes from which they make selections to communicate, reflect and reinforce associations, statements and memberships; in effect, ‘ consumers enrobe themselves with brands, partly for what they do, but more for what they help express about their emotions, personalities and roles. (Chernatony, 1993) When one speaks about destination branding, a few attempts have been made at defining it. Some of these definitions include, ‘Destination branding is a process used to develop a unique identity and personality that is different from all competitive destinations. ‘Destination branding is selecting a consistent brand element mix to identify and distinguish a destination through positive image building. ‘Destination branding is about combining all things associated with the place (i.e., its products and services from various industries agriculture; tourism; sports; arts; investment; technology; education, etc.) that collaborate under one brand. Its aim is to capture the essence of the destination, in a unified manner, and can be consumed simultaneously at a symbolic and experiential level. It is then used to market those unique added values to consumer needs and sustaining its success in the face of competition. From the above we can infer that destinations behave just like products. Thus they also have a life cycle of their own during which they need to constantly stay relevant and salient if they are to remain successful destination brands. Tourism area life cycle shows the stages a destination goes through, from exploration to involvement to development to consolidation to stagnation to rejuvenation or decline (also known as the â€Å"tourism destination life cycle†) Just like product brands, image is all important and how a place is represented can inspire people to visit and revisit it. (Coshall, 2000) Never was the saying ‘accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative more true than in destination branding. Destination marketing requires foresight and planning but it is not an exact science and branding offers destination marketers an opportunity to communicate key place attributes to their intended audience. Branding can help bridge any gaps between a destinations strengths and potential visitors perceptions. Place reputations are not made in a vacuum and neither are tourist choices, so place marketers must establish how their destinations image compares with those of its key competitors. How the destination rates according to ‘wish you were here? appeal and celebrity value is critical. Do tourists regard it as a fashion accessory, a must see place on every aspirational travelers shopping list or as a fashion paux- somewhere with no conversational value and even less C:UsersMIHIRDesktop1.jpgstatus. The represents a celebrity matrix and illustrates a range of destination brands measured on the axes of emotional appeal and celebrity value. Obviously, how people relate to any destination brand depends on their own individual interests, opinions and experiences, and such On any positioning map, however, brand winners emerge as those places which are rich in emotional meaning, have great conversation value and hold high anticipation for potential tourists. By comparison, brand losers are places with little meaning, even less status, virtually no conversation value and zero anticipation for tourists. Problem places are those destinations which are talked about for the wrong reasons and, far from holding an emotional appeal, actively repel potential tourists. Places which currently offer little emotional pull face an uphill task if they are to ever become destination winners. Other destinations which do have emotional pull but currently have limited celebrity value hold huge untapped potential and could be tomorrows winner destination brands. The challenge for their marketers is to craft identities for these destinations which convey and build on their emotional appeal and which turn them into places with high celebrity value. The message here is that rich, strong destination brands seem clearly differentiated and have a sense of being somewhere worth visiting. Thus, today destination brand building is all about developing a rich, relevant brand personality. ‘Developing is the key word here as successful brands never stagnate; instead they reflect and respond to changes in consumers lives while the brands core values remain the same, its personality will continue to evolve. (Morgan, Pritchard, Pride, 2002) Over a period of time, any successful destination brand will have an emotional bond with its stakeholders and more importantly the tourists who have visited the destination as well as potential tourists. An excellent example of this, is Mumbai the commercial capital of India which has over decades has established its image as the ‘City of Dreams or the ‘City that never sleeps which reflects the impact and emotional connect it has built with one and all. To successfully create such an emotional attachment a destination brand has to be: * Credible * Deliverable * Differentiating * Convey powerful ideas * Enthusing for trade partners * Resonating with the consumer A destination which is currently building such a brand proposition around its stunning natural environment is New Zealand. (Harris, 2000) A geographically disadvantaged destination, New Zealand is in the process of building a strong brand to double the countrys foreign exchange receipts to more than 3 million pounds by 2005. Delving further into the concept of brand personality for a destination brand, one can say that a brands personality has both a head and a heart its head refers to the logical brand features, while its heart refers to its emotional benefits and associations. Brand propositions and communications can be based around either a brands head or its heart; head communications convey a brands rational values, while heart communications reveal its emotional values and associations. Brand benefit pyramids sum up consumer relationships with a brand and are frequently established during the consumer research process where consumers are usually asked to describe what features a destination offers and what the place means to them. (Morgan A, 2002) The brand pyramid can be instrumental in helping to distil the essence of a destination brands advertising proposition. This refers to the point at which consumers wants and the destinations benefits and features intersect any communication should then encapsulate the spirit of the brand. The Challenge of a Destination Brand Examples of countries being influenced by external pressures to adapt and change their marketing activities or whose marketing is seriously compromised by events outside their marketers control, highlight the fact that destinations are not a single product but composite products consisting of a bundle of different components, including accommodation and catering establishments; tourist attractions; arts, entertainment and cultural avenues; and the natural environment. (Buhalis, 2000) Destination marketers have relatively little control over these different aspects of their product and a diverse range of agencies and companies are partners in the task of crafting brand identities. These could include local and national government agencies, environmental groups and agencies, chambers of commerce, trade associations and civic groups. While packaged groups normally have an obvious core- so their advertisements can anchor themselves to product performance and attributes with destinations the situation is much less clear. (Morgan Pritchard, 1999) Yet destinations have very strong and pervasive associations for tourists which if skillfully orchestrated, can provide the basis for brand building. (Baloglu Brinberg, 1997)Todays tourists are not asking ‘what can we do on holiday?, but ‘who can we be on holiday?. They are increasingly looking less for escape and more discoveries and that creates an emotional connection which marketers can exploit through branding. The challenge beyond that is to make the destination brand live, so that visitors truly experience the brand values and feel the authenticity of a unique place Factors leading to successful tourist destinations At the core of any successful tourist brand, is a clear set of brand values emotional and functional, a robust brand identity, an attractive brand personality and an efficient and targeted communication strategy. Another critical factor that impacts the brand image of tourist places is the flavor and image of the local inhabitants. Studies have proved that a places image is more often than not shaped by the ‘typical local people and their culture. Destination image, similar to the image of products and services can be seen as a multi-item construct, implying that the sum of the attributes, are the elements of  ¬Ã‚ nal composite image. This comes in line with Gensch who argues that product image is evaluated by its attributes. So, basically destination images are the result of individual attributes plus a more holistic image. The following table contains some of the critical success factors identified for destination branding (Baker Cameron, 2008): Strategic orientation 1. Visitation statistics are included and the destinations main markets are quanti ¬Ã‚ ed and segmented 2. The main competition is identi ¬Ã‚ ed 3. Tourism trends are identi ¬Ã‚ ed 4. A long-term orientation is adopted 5. The importance of international competitiveness is recognised 6. The need for infrastructure improvements is highlighted 7. The need for integration with national/regional tourism plans is recognised 8. Residents attitudes to tourism are considered 9. Local cultures, values and lifestyles are considered 10. Wealth and job creation and quality of life for residents are primary aims 11. The issue of overcrowding is addressed 12. The issue of environmental problems is addressed 13. The issue of seasonality is addressed 14. The bene ¬Ã‚ t of tourism to the destination is quanti ¬Ã‚ ed 15. Scenarios are developed Destination identity and image 16. The need to develop brand identity is recognized 17. Brand associations are identified 18. The need for image development is recognised 19. Positioning is discussed 20. The need for coordination of industry promotional material is recognised 21. Recognition to ensuring the promises made in marketing communications are conveyed to visitors 22. New and innovative forms of communication channels are addressed 23. The need to improve branding and brand awareness is recognised 24. The importance of experiences to tourists as opposed to tangible propositions is recognised Stakeholder involvement 25. National government agencies are involved in planning 26. Local government agencies were involved in planning 27. The area tourist board/area tourist office was involved in planning 28. Local residents were involved in planning 29. Local businesses were involved in planning 30. The need to improve communication between stakeholders (public, private and residents) is recognized 31. Leadership is addressed to give greater guidance to stakeholders. Implementation, monitoring and review 32. The timescale for each task is included 33. The need for monitoring and review is established Evaluating destination brands The strategic brand analysis framework comprises three main parts: * Tourist analysis, * Competitor analysis * Self-analysis. First, a destination must conduct a systematic tourist analysis. It should focus on identifying relevant new trends and developing a thorough understanding of tourists motivation for travel. Secondly, a destination should also carry out a competitor analysis. A destination needs insights into the competitors advantages and disadvantages in order to improve its own competitiveness. For example, by capitalizing on perceived niche market opportunities that rival destinations have so far failed to respond to. Last but not the least; a destination should aim to identify its true position in the market through the systematic preparation of a critical self-analysis. Highlights of the Gujarat Tourism Policy 2003-10 Objectives With a view to accelerating the pace of economic activities through tourism, the Government of Gujarat had announced the tourism policy for a period from 2003 to 2010. As per this, the following were some the key objectives * To initiate event based tourism * Chalking out of tourist circuits * Attention to be paid to tourism related infrastructure * Adoption of innovative marketing techniques and promotional tools * Developing manpower in the area of tourism * More private public relationships * Facilitation through Government policies for quick development * District Administration should play a more proactive role in tourism activities Incentives to the private sector The policy envisages privatization and incentivisation of all competitive and commercial activities of the tourism corporation of Gujarat Limited. Under this strategy the following incentives will be made available to the private sector: * Tourism will be given status of industry * Incentive package for new tourism projects * Strengthening of infrastructure facilities * Effective mechanism to build coordination with central government, state government, local self-government and NGOs * Land acquisition various tourism projects * Loan facilities will extended for tourism related projects * Better incentive packages * A special paying guest scheme to compensate for inadequate accommodation facilities * Suitable schemes for marketing tourism products * Reputed consultants will be hired to develop master plans * Decentralizing the process of development of destinations * A single window clearance system for speedy clearance Mechanism for implementation of policy For implementation of the policy, it is essential on the part of the State Government to play a facilitative role by granting necessary permissions/clearances required by investors in a time bound manner. The facilities of Gujarat Industrial Promotion Board (GIPB) set up to grant necessary clearances on fast track basis under the system of Single Window Clearance will now be made applicable to Tourism Sector also. All projects having investment less than Rs 50 crore will be approved at the Government level and the projects having investment exceeding Rs 50 crore will be approved by GIPB. The Commissioner (Tourism) and Managing Director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat will act as the Secretariat of GIPB, for the purpose of investment in tourism projects. The Vision of the State Government for Tourism development For the growth of overall development of economic sector and social sector, the State is determined to develop tourism as a key growth sector. It has been decided by the State Government to provide condusive climate for this sector to grow and for the purpose, Tourism has been identified as the Engine of Growth. For the purpose, efforts will be made by way of promoting: * Hospitality Industry * Indirect Employment * Cultural Development * Infrastructure Development * Employment Opportunities * Sustenance of rich heritage of arts and crafts Proposed Marketing Strategy to attract tourists The State Government is keen to attract flow of tourists in the State and for the purpose, international fairs like Navratri festival, kite festival; etc will be arranged in the State from time to time. Further, the students of Gujarat shall be encouraged to develop an interest for communication through e-mail with the students and other persons abroad to interact with them about Gujarat and ultimately motivate them to visit Gujarat. Means to attract investment The policy promises for long term investment and business opportunities for national and international corporate bodies and private enterprises. The sectors like hospitality industry, eco-tourism, Viswa Gram Global village, Dinosaur theme park, Cruise trips with whale watch, Deep driving and snorkeling snorkeling of coral island, Golf Courses, Royal orient gauge conversion, Special Entertainment Zones, Wayside amenities, etc are the areas to attract further investment in Tourism Sector, leading ultimately to attract tourists flow. Relationship between Industrial Development and Tourism The massive flow of investment in industrial sector will increase the frequency of visits by executives of different industrial houses. Further, the investment in infrastructure sector in port and road, will also increase the international trade from Gujarat and particularly from the land locked states. All these developments are expected to play an important role to increase the flow of business tourists. Gujarat Tourism at a Glance Today Some of the emerging areas identified by Gujarat Tourism are as follows: Spiritual Tourism / Religious Tourism Many of Gujarats historical monuments represent the great religions of Asia Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Zoroastrianism and Sikkhism. Gujarat has two Jyotirlings ( Somnath and Dwarka ), two shakti peets ( Ambaji and Pavagarh ), Narmada river (one of the seven holiest for the Hindus) and Narayan Sarovar ( One of the five holy lakes in India ). Two of the five important Jain sites ( Palitana and Girnar ) are in Gujarat besides a host of popular Jain temples spread across the state at Shankeshwar, Tarangaji, Mehsana,etc. The Dargahs of Sarkhej and Unjha hold great importance for the Muslims of India. Also, in Gujarat are Sacred Iranshaw Fire Temple at Udavada, Navsari Atashbehram and Surat Atashbehram. All three hold utmost importance for the Parsi community in the country. A number of popular spiritual gurus such as Morari Bapu, Asharam Bapu and Rameshji Oza have ashrams spread across the states. These attract followers from all over the globe. Akshardham is also a very popular temple of the wealthy Swaminarayan sect. Medical / Well Being Tourism Medical tourism is seen having a particularly high growth potential because of the availability of high-quality, low cost surgeries at Gujarats hospitals. The large population of people of Gujarati origin in America, Europe and Africa can be a major growth driver for this segment of tourism. It is home to some of the finest world class hospitals in the world such as Apollo Hospitals, Wockhardt Hospitals, etc. Care has been taken to ensure such places are set throughout the state at places such as Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat, Karamsad, Nadiad, etc. Gujarat is also home to the ancient healing art of ayurveda and fine ayurvedic treatment has been made available to domestic as well as foreign tourists across the state. Archaeological and Heritage Tourism The archaeological zone of Champaner, Pavagadh has been acclaimed by UNESCO as the World Heritage Site1 because of its great mosques, temples, stepwells and forts. There are more than 400 archaeological sites in the Slate including some of the most substantial excavations of Indus Valley civilisation period at Lothal (near Ahmedabad), Surkotada and Dholavira Cultural Tourism Gujarat is the land of rich handicrafts like Patola weaving, khadi, bandhani, embroidery, block printing, rogan painting, matani pachhedi, namda, woodcrafts,etc. Gujrat also possesses a diverse mix of exotic communities from the camel riders of Kutch to the tribals of the hilly regions of Sabarkanta, Dangs, Chhota Udaipur, etc. Event-Based Tourism The Gujrat tourism department has created a variety of successful event properties such as Rann Mahotsav, Vibrant Gujarat, Modhera Dance Festival, International Kite Flying Festival, etc. With the celebration of festivals like Navaratri Mahotsav, Tarnetar Fair, Sharadotsav, Dangs Darbar and Kvant Fair the state intends to put the rich culture of Gujarat on the world map Business Tourism Today Gujarat has emerged as an immensely popular business destination and 55 SEZs in the state reflect the increase in business tourist, air traffic and road traffic Entertainment and Recreation Tourism Gujarat has a famous hill station in the form of Saputara. Its vast coastline of 1666km means that there are beautiful beaches all along the coast such as the one at Mandvi. Gujarat also has ample of theme parks, water parks and multiplexes too which provide entertainment. Wildlife Tourism For eco-tourists, the state offers opportunities to see a wide range of wildlife including the Asiatic lion and Indian wild ass, endangered antelopes, a variety of deer. etc. It has Indias first marine national park. Gujarat is also one of Indias most important areas for birdwatchers. Some Statistics Total of 33 Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) involving an investment of INR10.793 crore {USD 2.57billion) were signed at 2007 vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit (VGGIS). Tourism sector registered an increase of 47 % over the investments in 2005 VGG IS The domestic air-traffic in Gujarat increased from 1.21 million in 2005-06 to 1.93 million in 2006-07 and the international air-traffic increased from 0.13 million in 2006-07 to 0.33 million in 2006-07. The State witnessed total 12.34 million tourists during 2006 07 out of which 12.1 million were the domestic tourists and 0.20 million foreign tourists. The average contribution of tourism industry to the States GDP is close to 2.5 %, while the comparable for India is 5.3%. The average foreign tourist spend per person per day is close to USD 700 to 1050 in Gujarat. The total flow of tourist during the year 2006 07 was 12.34 million and recorded a growth of 15% over the previous year. Growth of 18.5 % was also observed in the foreign tourist inflow. With a number of more than 2 lakh foreign tourists in 2006-07 and around 1.75 lakhs in 2005-06. Recent tourist flows for the year 2008-09 suggest that the number has gone up 15.80 million tourists which include 12.2 million from with Gujarat, 3.2 million from other states and 2.9 lakh from foreign tourists. Ahmedabad, Ambaji and Dwarka are the major tourist destinations which invited the maximum number of tourists in Gujarat. These three destinations accounted for nearly 33% of tourist inflow. Almost 77.2% of the tourist flow in 2006- 07 was from within Gujarat. The Share of other states was 20.2%. The foreign tourists accounted for 2.68% in the total tourist inflow. During the 2006-07 season, the majority of tourist visit for the business purpose (53%) in the state, subsequently followed by religious visit (35%). 8% of the tourist visit for the leisure purpose, which is showing an increasing trend. Value Chain Analysis The tourism value chain concentrates on meeting and exceeding visitors expectations of the internal quality of a destination. Those aspects of a destination that involve every step from pre-visit image, marketing and after sales care and commitment. Each stage of t