Thursday, January 23, 2020

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder In Veterans :: Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD

For more than twenty years, Patricia Dietz, a wife of a Vietnam veteran, has suffered along with her husband the effects of post traumatic stress disorder. She has stated that, "It has changed everything; it has affected the rest of his and her life." Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is when a person is haunted by his memories so badly that it affects not only the rest of his life, but others close to him as well. Any time there is a traumatic event, physical danger, or threat or personal danger, this disorder is able to appear in ones' life (USA Today Magazine). "A key factor is the persons' response to this event, whether it happens to them or they are witnesses to feelings of intense fear, helplessness, or horror" (USA Today Magazine). "To be classified as PTSD the symptoms must last longer than one month, and usually appear within six months to a year after the event" (USA Today Magazine). Jim Dwyer describes Traumatic memories as "frozen in time, waiting to thaw" (Block, Norris). "PTSD has become a common condition among the armed forces as well as the police, and it has spread throughout society" (Fitzpatrick). "After Vietnam, PTSD appeared and was rapidly taken over from the veterans" (Fitzpatrick). There are a large number of symptoms of PTSD. The Veterans symptoms can be identical to those symptoms experienced when the actual trauma was occurring (Panzarino). "[symptoms include] May be prone to insomnia, irritability, or outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, and an exaggerated startled response when shocked" (USA Today Magazine). Michael Wheeler, a Vietnam veteran, is divorced because of PTSD, he was having thoughts of suicide, he couldn't handle life, he thought he was going crazy (Block, Norris). More symptoms are night terrors (dreams), flashbacks, and recurrent/intrusive thoughts of traumatic events (USA Today Magazine). "Many PTSD sufferers develop depression and anxiety or obsessive/compulsive disorder, in addition to alcohol or drug problems" (USA Today Magazine). "Of all the Wars in which Americans have fought Vietnam was without a doubt the one in which soldiers experienced the greatest psychological difficulties" (Welsh 58). In the Vietnam war the enemy didn't have a uniform, they could be hidden in with some of your allies this caused a lot of confusion and led to the saying "I wasn't really sure what was going on," and is probably the key reason why there are so many PTSD sufferers (Welsh 58). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder In Veterans :: Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD For more than twenty years, Patricia Dietz, a wife of a Vietnam veteran, has suffered along with her husband the effects of post traumatic stress disorder. She has stated that, "It has changed everything; it has affected the rest of his and her life." Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is when a person is haunted by his memories so badly that it affects not only the rest of his life, but others close to him as well. Any time there is a traumatic event, physical danger, or threat or personal danger, this disorder is able to appear in ones' life (USA Today Magazine). "A key factor is the persons' response to this event, whether it happens to them or they are witnesses to feelings of intense fear, helplessness, or horror" (USA Today Magazine). "To be classified as PTSD the symptoms must last longer than one month, and usually appear within six months to a year after the event" (USA Today Magazine). Jim Dwyer describes Traumatic memories as "frozen in time, waiting to thaw" (Block, Norris). "PTSD has become a common condition among the armed forces as well as the police, and it has spread throughout society" (Fitzpatrick). "After Vietnam, PTSD appeared and was rapidly taken over from the veterans" (Fitzpatrick). There are a large number of symptoms of PTSD. The Veterans symptoms can be identical to those symptoms experienced when the actual trauma was occurring (Panzarino). "[symptoms include] May be prone to insomnia, irritability, or outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, and an exaggerated startled response when shocked" (USA Today Magazine). Michael Wheeler, a Vietnam veteran, is divorced because of PTSD, he was having thoughts of suicide, he couldn't handle life, he thought he was going crazy (Block, Norris). More symptoms are night terrors (dreams), flashbacks, and recurrent/intrusive thoughts of traumatic events (USA Today Magazine). "Many PTSD sufferers develop depression and anxiety or obsessive/compulsive disorder, in addition to alcohol or drug problems" (USA Today Magazine). "Of all the Wars in which Americans have fought Vietnam was without a doubt the one in which soldiers experienced the greatest psychological difficulties" (Welsh 58). In the Vietnam war the enemy didn't have a uniform, they could be hidden in with some of your allies this caused a lot of confusion and led to the saying "I wasn't really sure what was going on," and is probably the key reason why there are so many PTSD sufferers (Welsh 58).

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Segmentation, Targeting & Positioning

University of Zimbabwe Graduate School of Management *Marketing Ma*nagement Question: Kotler (1988) has stated that: â€Å"The heart of modern strategic marketing can be described as STP – segmenting, targeting and positioning. ’’ Discuss this statement using appropriate examples. Introduction Market segmentation By definition market segmentation is the division of a market into different groups of customers with similar needs. Or to express it in another way, market segmentation is the division of a mass market into identifiable and distinct groups or segments, and each has common characteristics and needs and displays similar response to marketing actions. ‘’In essence it is the process of dividing a varied and differing group of buyers or potential buyers into smaller groups, within which broadly similar patterns of buyers exist. ’’ (Wilson and Gilligan, 2007, p. 318). There are several ways in which companies can segment their markets. Just as you can divide an orange up into segments you can divide the population as a whole into different groups of people or segments that have something in common. Marketers therefore look for variables they can use to divide up the population. According to Kotler (1997) the commonly used variables are: Geographic segmentation, demographic segmentation, psychographic segmentation and behavioural segmentation. Products can be aimed at a lifestyle. People are grouped according to the way they lead their lives and the attitudes they share. For example, young professionals may drive a sports car because of the image they want to portray. Married parents might want the same things, but have to provide for their children, which is a large extra cost. They will need a family car to suit their lifestyle. Thus you will find a couple that has just married and have no children, will go for a Mazda 3, while older couples with three or so children will go for a Mazda BT-50 because it is bigger and can accommodate the whole family. However the range and variety of marketing decisions suggest that any attempt to use a single basis for segmentation may result in incorrect marketing decisions as well as a waste of resources. Thus increasingly today you will find marketing strategies combining two or more basis for segmentation of their market. TARGETING Once the firm is satisfied that the segments warrants attention there are various ways in which a firm can then target a market. The first is a single product offering. In other words, the marketer targets a single product offering at a single segment in a market with many segments. For example, British Airway’s Concorde is a high value product aimed specifically at business people and tourists willing to pay more for speed. Identifying marketing targets enables organisations to find opportunities and tap into them. It gives firms the information needed to focus on the buyers that are interested in what they have to offer. This saves both time and money in an ever-changing society. However if you pursue one segment of your target market and the demand for your product decreases, so will your financial strength. In essence, you are putting all your eggs in one basket. When your firm becomes well established in a particular market segment, it may be difficult for you to move to another segment. This may occur due to your market reputation or popularity. For example, if Lorimark HR Consultants becomes known for helping college graduates find jobs, unemployed professionals may perceive them as only having the expertise to serve that market. Another downside of target marketing may that a large segment of the population may be left out in the cold. Though demographics and segmentation might give an overall view of the intended market, consumer spending habits change greatly, depending on trends and economic factors. With society taking on more of a unisex lifestyle businesses should be careful when using for example gender to target market. An example of a product that was traditionally targeted at women and is now being targeted with variations in strategy at men is hair colouring. Men now pay particular attention to their hair in much the same way as woman. Thus target marketing should be done with extra care taking into account all factors that may have an effect on the organization’s profitability and the perception or position it wants to create in the market. POSITIONING Thus positioning is all about perception and is inextricably linked to segmentation. It cannot be defined until the market has been divided into unique segments, and target segments have been selected. As perception differs from person to person, so do the results of the positioning map. Positioning reflects the â€Å"place† a product occupies in a market or segment. A successful position has characteristics that are both differentiating and important to consumers and the characteristic may or may not reflect reality. A position is effectively built by communicating a consistent message to consumers about the product and where it fits into the market in terms of the features, performance, quality, conformance, durability, reliability, style and design — through advertising, brand name, and packaging and all the other elements of marketing mix. Kotler, 1997, p. 301) For years OK Zimbabwe has constantly and consistently bombarded the minds of consumers’ with the message ‘†¦. where your money buys you more. ’ Thereby creating in the mind of the consumer that OK has the best prices and your dollar with OK can take you a long way. Another example w ill be that of Colgate and Surf by Unilever, these products are stuck in the minds of consumers (positioned), such that if someone is buying any other toothpaste or washing powder, not necessarily Colgate or surf, they will still refer to the product as Colgate or surf respectively. It is ‘the’ product in mind of the consumers. That is positioning. What is our current position? What does the space look like – what are the most important dimensions in the category? What are the other products in that space and where are they? What are the gaps, unfilled positions or ‘holes’ in the category? Which dimensions are most important? How do these attitudes differ by market segment? What position do we want to have? Some of the positioning opportunities for a product include: Finding an unmet consumer needs – or at least one that is not being adequately met now by completion? Identifying product strength that is both unique and important. Determining how to correct a product weakness and thereby enhance a product’s appeal. For example Ponds â€Å"new and improved†. Changing consumer usage patterns to include different or additional uses for the product. Identifying market segments, which represent the best targets for a product. How do we create a new positioning? Physical product differences. Communications- finding a memorable and meaningful way to describe the Positioning is not what you do to a product; ‘positioning is what you do to the mind of the prospect’. (www. s-m-a-r-t. com/Exp_brandpros. ) Accessed 3 September 2009. Other questions that the marketer should contend with in terms of positioning are: whom do I have to defeat to own the position, do I have the resources to do it, can I persist until I get there and are my tactics supporting the positioning objectives I have set. The positioning map below will show how the motor industry positions their products in the market. Positioning map: +High (price) From the above positioning map it can be concluded that products tend to bunch in the high price/low economy (fast) sector and also in the low price/high economy sector. There is an opportunity in the low price/low economy (fast) sector. Maybe Hyundai or Kia can consider introducing a low cost sport saloon. However it is all down to the perception of the market about the product. Conclusion Undertaking a Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning process is probably one of the most important processes management should undertake both at the onset of a new offer creation as well as part of a periodic revision of the portfolio of offers and strategies used by organization. A market research is always the starting point in the STP process; otherwise the organizations resources will be misdirected. References: Aaker A. David, (1995). Strategic Market Management, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Armstrong J. Scott, (2006). Strategic Marketing Management – A Business Process Approach. Brand pros available at http/www. s-m-a-r-t. com/Exp_brandpros. Accessed 3 September 2009. Grahame Dowling, (2004). Creating Corporate Reputation. Identity, Image and performance. Oxford University Press Inc. Kotler P, (1997). Marketing Management, Analysis, Planning, Implementation and Control, 9TH Edition, Prentice Hall. Malcolm H. B. McDonald, (1996) Marketing Plans, How to prepare them how use them, 3rd Edition, Butterworth-Heinemann. Wilson and Gilligan

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Introduction Of Human Resource Management - 1576 Words

Introduction of Human Resource Management Escape to the Wild Assessment 2 - Human Resource Management: An Introduction Stephen Ward L000257274 Introductio Introduction At present there is currently no Human Resource Management department within the company of Escape to the Wild. This report will outline recommendations for the HRM functions which should be addressed and implemented along with the additional staff resources which should be recruited. Functions to be carried out by HRM department Human Resource Planning and Research In order for the company to continue to grow, the HR planning function will provide advice enabling the Senior Management Team to make the correct decisions in relation to the†¦show more content†¦A job description details the work duties and activities of employees. Job descriptions are a vital source of information to employees, managers, and HRM staff. Through the use of the job description, HRM staff can then determine how much employees should be paid for each position within the company. Compensation and benefits play a huge part in the recruitment and selection of employees as potential employees are generally attracted to organisations offering better compensation (pay) and benefits in exchange for work being carried out. These benefits might include flexible working hours, childcare and healthcare. Recruitment and Selection Recruitment is the function which will advertise positions in order to attract qualified applicants to fill job vacancies or future posts within the company. In the selection function, the most qualified applicants are selected for hiring from among those attracted to the organisation by the recruiting function. HRM staff will put in place policies and procedures which will enable managers to decide on the most suitable candidate to select. Staff Induction Induction will provide the first steps toward helping a new employee adjust themselves to the new job and the company. It is a method to acquaint new employees with particular aspects of their new job, including pay and benefit programmes, working hours, and company rules and expectations. Training and Development The training and

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Copyright Law Should Encourage Creativity And Innovation...

Introduction Longer copyright terms can prove beneficial for large mass media companies as evidenced by The Walt Disney Company’s lobbying for the Copyright Term Extension Act. This act, often dubbed the Mickey Mouse Protection Act, extended copyright protection for an additional twenty years in 1998. Consequently, Mickey Mouse is now set to enter the public domain on January 1, 2024. Disney will once again have the opportunity to lobby for extension and evade Mickey’s copyright expiration, thus preventing its most iconic character from entering the public domain. This holds pressing significance because lobbying for further extension legislation would likely occur within the next few years. The duration of copyright determines the length of protection. Limitations on this length exist to ensure works enter the public domain. Therefore, the length of protection is one of the most relevant and debated issues regarding copyright law. The proponents and opponents of c opyright term extension make compelling arguments, but both sides agree that copyright law should encourage creativity and innovation. If Disney is successful in once again lobbying for an extension of duration, a substantial number of works will fail to enter the public domain in a timely manner. This will, consequently, lead to a stifling of creativity and a suppression of innovation that could be detrimental to progress in the realms of science and the useful arts. Argument As stated, the proponents andShow MoreRelatedShould Media Law Protect Intellectual Property?1059 Words   |  5 PagesQ1: Should media law protect intellectual property? Why or why not? If media law should protect IP, how long should the protection be in force? Is it ethical to own ideas? Media Law covers media rights and is basically based on court decisions. The three general areas covered are print media, telecommunications and digital communications. Intellectual Property is defined as creations of the mind such as inventions like literary, artistic works, designs, symbols, names and images used in commerceRead MoreWhy Google s Digital Library Project Is A Violation Of International Copyright Law1129 Words   |  5 Pagesinternational copyright law and discuss the practical implications for legislature and some directions for the future research associated with digital library. However, the use of the books which are under the protection of copyright in this project create the conflicts between Google and the Author’s Guild Publishers (Prasad and Agarwala, 2008:253). Copyright law is a significant element to encourage the innovation and creativity, and it is also a main way to protect the economic right of copyright holdersRead MoreQuestions On Intellectual Property Rights1475 Words   |  6 PagesDebate Paper: Intellectual Property Rights The world that exists today was built on two things: innovation and the pursuit of one’s self interest. Our founding founders believed intellectual property to be a way to encourage innovation. Intellectual property (IP) is what ties these two building blocks together. IP is a property right that is granted by some form of government. The government strictly enforces individual property rights, which some believe tends to attract more investment, grows fasterRead MoreFan Art : Art Or Not?1535 Words   |  7 Pagesoriginal work of the artists there are several laws. One of such laws is called the Intellectual Property Law. Intellectual property includes the intangible assets like music, literature, visual art. This intellectual property law includes, copyright, patent, trademark, etc. But there are no laws as such to protect imagination. Though there are a few organizations today that protect the fan arts. We can’t take creativity away from the fans. We should, at the l east, accept their art as legitimate.Read MoreQuestions On Law And Property Law955 Words   |  4 Pages Running Head: Unit 5: Property Law, Property Law Student’s name: Unknown University of the People Patent of develop modified organisms Question: Scientists have isolated genes that cause particular diseases and modified genes that alter organisms for particular reasons (for example, to help beneficial plants and animals to survive under harsh conditions). Make an argument as to why businesses that develop modified organisms should be able to preserve their property rightsRead MoreThe Definition Of Uk Copyright Law1275 Words   |  6 PagesThe enduring fascination for people is that they want law to be flexible in the matter of copyright. This was clearly expressed by Ed Mayo, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus quoting UK copyright law is the oldest, but also the most out of date. Before addressing the question it’s important to look at the history and definition of UK Copyright law. It has grown from this beginning to form the main legal basis for the international publishing industry, which contributes so much to literature, learningRead MoreThe Protection Of The Citizens Intellectual Property1500 Words   |  6 Pagespieces of legislation in our nation’s history: copyright law. Copyright law guarantees that the rights to somebody’s works are held by the creator. This means that works that fall under copyright cannot be used, sold, or reproduced without the creator’s consent. This gives creators the security that their assets will not be stolen, and thus, creates and environment that encourages new innovation, and fosters artistic expression. However, copyright law today is deeply flawed, often achieving the oppositeRead MoreRIP A Remix Manifesto2036 Words   |  8 PagesRIP: A Remix Manifesto offers a convincing case for copyright reform raising the issues about the viscous control on the ownership of intellectual property against the free access to share ideas. Gaylor (2008) is passionate about the ridiculous copyright laws and their ongoing restrictive modifications in the USA that are demolishing the creativity of new ideas and innovations that these copyright laws were originally meant to protect. Gaylor (2008) uses his favourite artist ‘Girl Talk’ who samplesRead MoreArticle Review : Copy Right Laws1351 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Copy right laws I can say is one of the most important aspects of every conceived idea any one brings up. We can say a copy right is a legal right created by the law of a country that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights for its use and distribution. This is usually only for a limited time. The exclusive rights are not absolute but limited by limitations and exceptions to copyright law, including fair use. (Google, n.d).Theses laws are very important because they helpRead MoreFile Sharing And Its Effect On The Music Industry1433 Words   |  6 Pagesworld is hit by a new innovation very often. File-sharing relies on computers forming networks to transfer data from one system to another system on the network (Oberholzer†Gee Strumpf, 2010). It allows the users to search and download the content made available by each user connected to the network (Oberholzer-Gee Strumpf, 2010). File-sharing of unauthorized music began causing economic damage to the music in dustry. Technological advancements have weakened copyright laws by making file-sharing

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Human Failings in The Crucible by Arthur Miller Essay

Arthur Miller writes about the tragic results of human failings in his play, The Crucible. He presents characters from the past and infuses them with renewed vitality and color. Miller demonstrates the horrifying results of succumbing to personal motives and flaws as he writes the painful story of the Salem witch trials. Not only do the trials stem from human failings but also from neglect of moral and religious considerations of that time. Characters begin to overlook Puritan values of thrift and hope for salvation. Focusing on the flawed characters, they begin to exhibit land lust, envy of the miserable and self-preservation. Thomas Putnam establishes conflict by vying for land with other characters. From the outset, he is bitter and†¦show more content†¦She screams and writhes as, quot;Stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, [Parris] draw a needle out.quot; (Miller, ) Envy even pushes Abigail to inflict pain on herself. To frame Elizabeth, she resorts to extreme and desperate means of proof. She casts away all shreds of morality, religion, and common sense to pursue her treasure. Anne Putnam exposes similar motives for accusing Rebecca Nurse. Francis Nurse quotes the arrest warrant for his wife, quot;For the marvelous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnams babies.quot; (Miller, ) Goody Putnam envies the Nurses because they already have a large clan of offspring while they are left with one weak child. Envy and jealousy play a key role in Goody Putnams decision to blame Rebecca. To obtain vengeance, they accuse Rebecca in hopes to solve their own misfortune. The Putnams envy her success and instead of celebrating their happiness and cherishing their only child, they choose the immoral action and strike back at their scapegoat, Rebecca. Abigail plays a cruel trick on Proctor to try to resolve her envy, and the Putnams condemn Rebecca Nurse to death for some false hope in their lives. Envy encourages ordinary people to feel disappointed, but it encourages the ones without strong ethics to strike back and take revenge. In The Crucible, this revenge takes the form of unreasonable trials of innocent people.Show MoreRelatedThe Crucible by Arthur Miller1085 Words   |  5 Pagesthe society. Arthur Miller in ‘The Crucible,’ deals with the internal/external conflicts of protagonist John Proctor, during the witch trials of Salem; showing the effects of â€Å"an individual opposed to the will of the majority.† Through the mass hysteria caused by Abigail, corruption of justice and weakness of man; we see clearly the effects of fear and how Miller’s work translates into his own situation, during the introduction of McCarthyism. The most dominant outward human conflict betweenRead MoreEssay about Human Flaws in Arthur Millers The Crucible923 Words   |  4 PagesHuman Flaws in Arthur Millers The Crucible Many of the characters in Arthur Millers The Crucible have specific human flaws that cause the tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials. The Salem villagers exhibit failings, including greed, vengeance, and fear, which eventually lead to the downfall of their town. Many villagers, especially Abigail Williams, take advantage of the opportunity to seek vengeance on others through the trials. Greed for power and land often holds precedence when the hysteriaRead MoreAnalysis Of The Crucible 1364 Words   |  6 Pages Themes A theme in The Crucible is that a society ruled by theocracy and status based on religion is bound to fall apart. Salem s strict adherence to the Christian shurch is evident in everything the citizens do. They use measures of a person s knowledge and adherence to the religion as a means of judging their character and also their status in society. They believe God [was] provoked so grandly by such a petty cause (121), which is why the jails are packed (121). If the citizen didRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1639 Words   |  7 Pageslife. In his play The Crucible, Arthur Miller demonstrates the moral and societal differences between and consequences of different types of lies: A liar’s virtue is determined primarily by intention, and while some forms of dishonesty are more acceptable than others, truth under all circumstances is vital to true morality. Miller’s stance is a rational and realistic one and can be seen not only in his play, but also in media and polit ics. The time period in which The Crucible is set, during the timeRead MoreTragic Hero1598 Words   |  7 Pagesof the hero. This new tragic hero of Modernism is the anti-hero. Examples †¢ Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) of the Star Wars series †¢ Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII †¢ Creon from Antigone by Sophocles †¢ Eddie, from Arthur Miller s A View from the Bridge †¢ Ethan Frome from Edith Wharton s Ethan Frome †¢ Hamlet from Shakespeare s Hamlet †¢ Jack Bauer from the television series 24 †¢ James Gatz (Jay Gatsby) from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Read MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1310 Words   |  6 PagesIn The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the belief of witchcraft held poisonous consequences as accusations increase to devour the entire village. Since the Salem witch trials started, they heavily influenced the people and town of Salem. People of Salem were accused of being a witch on poor evidence. Such accusations of being a witch sacrificed many human lives. Even though the people of Salem realized that they were murdering the innocent, it does not make up for their deaths. The Puritan community ofRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller Essay1312 Words   |  6 PagesIn The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the belief of witchcraft held poisonous consequences as accusations increase to devour the entire village. Since the Salem witch trials started, they heavily influenced the people and town of Salem. People of Salem were accused of being a witch on poor evidence. Such accusations of being a witch sacrificed many human lives. Even though the people of Salem realized that they were murdering the innocent, it does not make up for their deaths. The Puritan community ofRead MoreDeath Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller1487 Words   |  6 Pages Arthur Miller is famous for many of his different play’s ranging from Death of a Salesman to The Crucible. His play’s all possess a certain type of character that relate not only to the common man but to those who are facing atrocities in society. The Crucible was a very impressive play that took place in Salem in early day America, mainly focusing on the witch trials and the early American thought. While it was heavily historically based, it was also based off of the times of currentRead More Tragic Hero in The Crucible Essay2240 Words   |  9 PagesTragic Hero in The Crucible What is a tragic hero? The most well known definition of a tragic hero comes from the great philosopher, Aristotle. When depicting a tragic hero, Aristotle states The change in the heros fortunes be not from misery to happiness, but on the contrary, from happiness to misery, and the cause of it must not lie in any wickedness but in some great error on his part.† In addition, he explains the four essential qualities that a tragic hero should possess, which areRead MoreSin : A Necessity Of Puritan Society1678 Words   |  7 PagesMistakes range from breaking the law, to failing a test, and even an accidental nuclear meltdown, but each mistake holds its own benefit to society, and the individual. In Puritan society, the mistakes of people are equivalent to sin. Puritans believe that sins have the potential to lead to the destruction of society. However, despite this belief, Puritan literature seems to suggest that sin serves a crucial function in society. Through the works of Arthur Miller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and John Winthrop

Friday, December 13, 2019

Usc Sosw 503 Assignment 1 Systems and Ecological Theory Free Essays

SOWK 503 – Fall 2012 Assignment #1: Article Critique 9/26/12 Julie Emmer LCSW CAP Abstract The purpose of this paper is to critically critique and evaluate the study: Parenting a Child With a Disibility: The Role of Social Support for African American Parents, written by Jung – Hwa Ha, Jan S. Greenburg, Marsha Mallick Seltzer. This paper will critically apply the Ecological Perspective and Systems Theory, to the social concern as it addressed in this study. We will write a custom essay sample on Usc Sosw 503 Assignment 1 Systems and Ecological Theory or any similar topic only for you Order Now This paper will accomplish this critique by assessing the hypothesis, evaluating the method of study, and critically discussing the results of the study in question by using the key concepts of the fore mentioned theories. Upon the completion of this paper, the reader will have a full understanding of the study, and how it may relate to field of Social Work using a Systems Theory perspective. Critique of: Parenting a Child With a Disability: The Role of Social Support for African American Parents Key Concepts of study The study Parenting a Child With a Disability: The Role of Social Support for African American Parents, was conducted as an expansion of the findings of previous studies. There have been a many studies that have examined the racial impact of the parents of disabled children; however, few have examined the influences that may affect an African American family raising a disabled child. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the following two areas of interest: (a) the impact of having a child with a disability on parents’ mental and physical health among urban-dwelling African Americans and (b) the extent to which positive and negative social interactions with family members other than the spouse moderate the impact of child’s disability on parental adaptation (Ha, Greenberg Mailick Seltzer, 2010). The authors’ motivation for this study is to provide empirical evidence to assist professionals in addressing possible needs when, supplying social services to this population or environment of lients. Important facts and concerns related to the social concern. The authors of this study referenced several previous studies that supported their theory of; family support from other than a spouse will attribute to wellbeing and equal homeostasis of the parent. Previous studies â€Å"suggest that extended families constitute a core social ne twork for African Americans and provide important financial and instrumental support (Ellison,1990). Furthermore, support from kin is related to happiness and life satisfaction among African Americans (Ellison, 1990). In addition, it is also suggested in this study that negative entropy (interactions) or lack of supra system (extended family) involvement may impact the parent in a negative manner. The reasoning of the focus on African American parents, is to assess the influence of having a disable child, and how it may affect the negative energy that is already experienced in the family system by oppression and discrimination. This study was conducted in urban areas in Milwaukee county Wisc. as a continuance of the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS; Brim, Ryff, Kessler, 2004). The African American Milwaukee sample provided a unique opportunity to address within-racial group differences in the impact of having a child with a disability. (Ha, Greenberg Mailick Seltzer, 2010). The sample group of the study was a group of 48 families with a disable child that is afflicted with one of the following disorders: autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or intellectual disability, or was ever afflicted with a long-term serious mental health problem. The comparison group of 144 was families consisting of at least 1 child and no children in the family system have a disability. Theory Concepts The systems approach attempts to view the world in terms of irreducibly and integrated systems. It focuses attention on the whole, as well as on the complex interrelationships among its constituent parts. The systems theory sees all of the aspects of a person and their environment as an individual system and an interrelated system. A social system is a special order of systems†¦ composed of persons or groups of persons who interact and influence each other’s behavior. â€Å"Within this order can be included persons families, organizations, communities, societies, and cultures† (Robbins, Chatterjee Canda, 2011). The systems theory allows us to examine the focal system from a micro, meso, or macro perspective. Keeping all of the individual systems autonomous, while still being able to conceptualize the interrelatedness of the systems together. Similar to the systems theory, the ecological theory embraces many of the same concepts, but has narrowed the focus, so that it does not include such a broad view of the system. The Ecological theory is an adaptive, evolutionary view of human beings in constant exchange interchange with all elements of their environment (Germain Gitterman, 1980, p. 5). The idea that person and the environment are inseparable and must be considered jointly, is primary assumption of this theory. The person and his or her environment form a unitary system in which each is dependent on the other and directly shapes each other. Application of theory and key concepts The sample of population of this study was derived from a population in the urban areas of Milwaukee. Even though this study did not disclose evidence concerning the ecosystem and the environment of the subjects, it would be fair to assume that they are victims of coercive and exploitive power. The reasoning for this assumption is the geographical location of this study, is known for having a high number of production plants and heavy pollution. The coercive power that is being afflicted is quantified in the study, with the fact, that the subjects do not reside in close proximity to any social services. This study was conducted to measure the affect of raising a child with a disability this environment. Further focus was placed on the effects of synergy from a supra system (family) on the focal system (parents), and the possible negative health effects derived from the lack of synergy. The results of this study were divided into two sections. The first section was to assess the effects having a child with a disability (sub system) has on the focal system. The negative energy from a sub system with a disability did have a negative effect on the focal system’s physical health, and homeostasis. The negative impact on the homeostasis of the focal system was attributed to physical impairments of the subjects. However, this was seen only in the older population that was studied and may have been caused by the rise in physical activities that is needed to care for a child with special needs and aging. This aspect supports the concept of adaptation of the focal system to achieve the goodness of fit in their habitat. The lack of mental health disorders in the focal system, may also indicate that entropy from resources in the environment or supra system, may cause the same amount of mental distress in the focal group as a whole. The second purpose of this study was to examine the effect of transactions between the supra system and the focal system. Specifically how the focal system’s homeostasis is affected by the exchange of positive, and negative energy, or entropy. The results of this study partially supported the hypothesis that positive energy transactions between the focal, and supra system is a predictor of the homeostasis of the focal system. The positive and negative mental affect is less when a system has positive energy transactions with the supra system, and in turn, leads to a balanced homeostasis and goodness of fit. In turn, the systems with entropy or negative energy transactions from the supra system are more likely to have reduced coping measures, and a reduced goodness of fit. Emerging patterns. Examination of this study from a systems perspective did yield an emerging pattern. I was able to access the importance, and interrelatedness of a system. This study provided empirical evidence that systems are interconnected. The transaction of energy from a sub or a supra system will affect the homeostasis of the focal system. This effect may be positive or negative, but none the less, it will affect the focal system. This study also provided evidence that a system will adapt to its environment to achieve a goodness of fit and equal homeostasis. The systems theory was able to help me assess the interrelatedness of the study; however, it did also help me to recognize the limitations of study. One such limitation is narrow focus of the study. I believe for the study to be effective, the authors would have needed to address social concerns, coercive power, and exploitive power, which may be affecting the focal system as a whole. Compressive summery Upon completion of this study I did possess a new knowledge and enlightenment concerning the African American parents of disabled children. This study demonstrated the negative effect on homeostasis and physical health, that is derived from negative energy transactions with the supra and sub systems. However, I am still left with questions concerning the effectiveness of this study. This study was performed in a nondiverse community on a very small sample size. Therefore, I believe that further study is needed, with the focus group living in diverse communities and being subjected to different environmental influences. Furthermore, this target sample was limited to children with mental disabilities, and to effectively assess this subject, the sample must be expanded to include physical disabilities. This study was in an environment that may be oppressed and suffering from systematic discrimination. I was amazed to read that the persons with disabled children were not afflicted with more mental disorders than the persons without disabled children. This aspect raises concern about the environment of the sample group. This study stated that this population is isolated from resources, and has a high unemployment rate as well. All of these factors will affect the wellbeing and homeostasis of a person. Therefore, I believe that further exploration is needed to assess the community stressors and influence on the overall wellbeing and homeostasis of the community. These influences should not be explored only for this study, but to also access need, and provide resources for this population. Resources Ha, J. , Greenberg, J. S. , Mailick Seltzer, M. (2010). Parenting a child with a disability: The role of social support for african american parents. The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 92(4), 405-411. Robbins, S. , Chatterjee, P. , Canda, E. (2011). Contempory human behaivior thoery. (3rd ed. , p. 38). Sadddle River, NJ: Allyn Bacon. Ellison, C. G. (1990). Family ties, Friendships, and Subjective Well-Being among Black Americans. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52(2), 298–310. Germain,C. B. Gitterman, A. (1980) The Life Model of Social Work Practice. New York: Columbia University Press. Green, R. (1999) Ecological Perspective an eclectic theoretical framework for social work practice (2nd ed. , p. 259-308). New York: Aldine DeGruyyer How to cite Usc Sosw 503 Assignment 1 Systems and Ecological Theory, Essay examples

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Applications Of Information In Technology - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss about the Applications Of Information In Technology. Answer: Introduction This report is about a creating a new e-commerce business which will be located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The new e-commerce business will be apparel business and name of the business will be ClickNWear.com. The online company is the platform for all the types of apparel purchases. It will provide good collection of high quality apparels at the affordable prices. There are some special products in ClickNWear.com and will not be accessible in any other online store. By the advanced marketing strategy, reasonable pricing policy and excellent customer service, the business will be most successful online business in future. Key objective of the business is to be largest supplier of the quality and fashionable apparels to the customers through online shopping (Oy, 2012). Products ClickNWear.com will provide quality apparel products to the customers at comparatively low prices. The business will offer exclusive range of apparel from the famous fashion stylists. Company will focus on the current fashion styles by focusing on the buying behavior of the consumers. It is observed that women are very aware for their fashion and clothing sense so key products of the business will be casual wear, business clothing, and formal wear. Moreover, online company will also provide some fixtures like scarves, caps and sunglasses etc. the pricing arrangements of the company will be affordable and it will keep reasonable prices on the famous products. Business statement The business statement of the company is to provide extensive range of fashion apparel to the consumers of the Saudi Arab based on the quality and style. Vision The vision of the company is to produce range of clothing products for all groups of customers i.e. men, women and kids. The range of fashion clothes will comprise all kinds of clothing products that will fulfill the demands and requirements of the customers. Objectives The main objective of the business is to distinguish itself from other online fashion companies. The primary aim of the business is to ensure the satisfaction and happiness of the customers with their purchasing. So, the products in all the shapes size will be provided to women. By the online medium, company will make the purchasing easy, efficient and affordable for the customers (Schnaars, 2010). E-commerce process ClickNWear.com is an online business that will provide quality clothing products to the customers. The key objective of e-commerce business is to provide the products to the customers so that they do not need to visit to the physical stores. There are some processes that will be adopted by the company while doing the business online. The e-commerce business process of ClickNWear.com is as follows: Receive the order- Customer will visit on the website and place the order. After receiving the order, the process will include confirming order, collecting payment, and post-process order. This will be the first step in the e-commerce process (Strauss Frost, 2014). Prepare package- After confirming the order, next step will be preparing the package. This process will include checking item in the stock, collecting item from the suppliers and packaging. Delivery- This is the third step in the e-commerce business process. Delivery team will send the package for delivery by the 3rd logistic suppliers. The payment will be received either by online mode or cash on delivery (Ho et al, 2011). After sales-support- the last step is providing customer support after the delivery of package. This process will include refund order, return item and warranty process. SWOT analysis Strength- Firstly, the strength of an e-commerce business is that it has capacity to address large base of customers for the clothing products. Second, the e-commerce will be operated and remain open all the time. Weakness- The weakness associated with the e-commerce business of clothing products is the intense dependence on technicality. Any kind of fault in server may prevent the access of the customers to the site. Along with this, dependence on irresponsible courier partner may also slow down the process of delivery that result the dissatisfaction of the customers. Opportunities- There is various opportunities associated with the new e-commerce business including an approach to an international platform of consumers. E-commerce business of clothing products can have various opportunities i.e. attracting advertisers, generating high returns on brands, approach to global platform of customers, generating high profits and creating organizational advertisements (Drummond, Ensor Ashford, 2012). Threats- The key e-commerce threats for clothing e-commerce business can be susceptibility to the online fraud. Protecting the information and account of buyer from hackers, and securing online transactions are the key challenges for ClickNWear.com to manage the e-commerce business. Building website Website provides easy and convenient way to the customers to shop the products without going to the stores. In the website, everyone can see online shopping portal and accessible products on it but user have to login by his or her username and password for purchasing or ordering the products. Unregistered people can also register by navigating to the registration page. Only admin of the website will have access to change the roles. Along with this, default developer can also be an admin. Once user will register the site then his or her default role will be User (Molenaar, 2012). Website format and design Sign up screen- The Sign up screen of the website will include the registration form and after filling this, the customer can browse in order to get details of the products. On this page, there will be a registration form by which customer will register on the site to become user. There will be the catalogue of products for the customers on the website. Homepage- Home screen of the website will include the products list and catalogue. The customers can browse the list of products that the website has on the homepage. Product Screen This page in the website will include the information about the products. The information will be related to company name, model number of the products prices, features, image and color of the products. This page will be some for both visitor as well as users. About us Screen This page will include all the information related to the company, website and owner. This page will be helpful for the customers and users to get relevant information about the owner of the business and products offered by the website. Users profile screen- Once user orders any item, they need to track their order. By this page, they will be able to check the ordered products and total price. Along with this, they will also be able to get the estimated delivery date of their products. E-commerce system functionality The website will have unique functionality in order to attract the customers. Some of the functions of website are discussed below: Product navigation Navigation system is the most significant element of the online store. By this intuitive navigation system, user will be able to browse among various categories and products quickly. The categories of the products will be found on the site and those will be systematized and give users the capability to quickly navigate between product categories (Vatrapu, 2014). Shopping cart The shopping cart will be on the screen in the counter process. The products in the users shopping cart will typically be showed in the matrix style. The objective is to show the items that the user will decide to buy. It will be highly functional feature that will provide a summary of things that the customers are buying (Xiaoming, 2010). System Design The design process includes changing the functional, informational, and system requirements recognized in the origination and implementation phases into combined design terms. The design phase will be used to script the programs in the improvement stage. The database designs will be created in various ways. By using top-down approach, designer will recognize and connect key program features and interfaces, and then enlarge the design outlines (Baig, Raza Farooq, 2011). One of the most used prototyping tool is contemporary design techniques that will build mock-up designs of the items i.e. database layouts, supplication screens and system architecture. End users, database managers, developers and system supervisors will evaluate and improve the prototyped designs in the iterative procedure until they chose a suitable design. Designers will cautiously document complete designs. The full certification will be helpful in improving the ability of the programmer to grow and change the programs after they placed in production. Along with this, documentation will be helpful for the management to ensure the final programs with the original goals and specifications. The company will create initial testing, implementation, conversion, and training plans during the design phase. For designing the website of ClickNWear.com: Database will be designed which can be utilized to manage all the necessities of the users, The key organization of the website will be planned, Main outline used for the website will be planned, Suitable software and hardware Software and functionality- For the website ClickNWear.com, there is the need of basic group of functionalities which will make the website different from the other websites. So, Customer Relationship management (CRM) software will be used to develop the website. The CRM solution will include some functionalities in the website development i.e. contact management, customer opportunity management, products management and order management. There are there key reasons of using Customer Relationship management (CRM) software in the website development. CRM enhance profitability, productivity and customer services of the online business. The CRM solution will be helpful for the online business by building and maintaining strong relationship with the customers (Onwutalobi, 2016). Hardware- In order to publish the website effectively, a cloud will be needed. While opting the cloud hosting, rent for the virtual server space will be given rather purchasing physical servers. The cloud server will allow computing resources to be dedicated for the website by providing temporarily access when required. Cloud servers will be beneficial for the business in terms of flexibility and scalability, cost-effectiveness and reliability (Sen, Bandyopadhyay, Hess, Jaisingh, 2008). Security issues In order to prevent from online threats, there are two types of securities in e-commerce for both customers and owners. One is physical security including tangible protection devices and other is logical security including protection of assets. Potential threat for website There can be some potential threat for the online clothing e-commerce website. E-commerce website includes internal networks that may interface with the World Wide Web. So, there will be some threats related to network and business process. Security issues Clothing e-commerce business may face issue related to security. There can be threat to the security of the network with the denial of service attack which can overwhelm the site. The security issues can be related to theft of customer personal financial information. Viruses Computer viruses and are the biggest threat for the e-commerce website. Viruses are external sources that can damage the files on the website. Virus can completely corrupt the computer system and interrupt the processes of website. This can also imitate the customers and permit wicked encryptions into the server operating in the website (Feigenbaum, Parkes Pennock, 2009). Fraud E-commerce website can be vulnerable to fraud from various internal and external sources. This can be included credit card fraud hackers, anything being arrived in the system by rogue employees etc. Recommendations In order to prevent from the threat of e-commerce website, it is important to take some effective actions by the company. ClickNWear.com will include some strategies in order to prevent from e-commerce threats. Protected e-commerce platform- Company will put e-commerce site on the platform that use secured oriented program language. The administration panel will be focused on the internal network and public facing servers. Set up system warnings for doubtful actions- Team will set an alert notice for several and doubtful operation coming from same IP address. This system alert will be helpful in multiple orders placed by same order by using various credit cards and phone numbers and this is a suspicious activity (Tassabehji, 2003). Providing safety training to employees- Employees in the company need to know how to protect the important data of the employees. Employees also need to be educated on the laws and policies that impact customer data and be trained on the actions required to keep the data safe. Marketing and advertising strategy Demographic ClickNWear.com will target the customers who have keen interest in fashion and clothing products and who are interested in online shopping. For this, male and female within the age of 18 to 30, full-time employees married or bachelor and customers with internet access will be targeted. Marketing method ClickNWear.com will use various marketing methods in order to attract the customers. it will include effective pricing, and proper delivery system to deliver the products as far as possible. Following marketing strategies will be used: Internet advertising, Direct marketing Strategic partnership Affiliation program, and Discount and coupon initiatives Social media Various social media channels will be used to promote the clothing website among the customers. There are some popular media tools i.e. FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn that will be effective way to make the customers aware. Showing advertisements related to the website on these websites will be helpful to attract the customers as they spend most of the time on social media platforms (Voola, Casimir, Carlson and Agnihotri, 2012). Local and Multichannel marketing The objective of ClickNWear.com is to provide quality and affordable clothing products to the customers. The marketing strategy will try to create awareness regarding the product offerings, grow the customer base and work in order to build referrals and loyalty. For this manner, various channels will be used. Web-based marketing will be used for the next year in order to generate awareness of the company and product information. The reason is that internet-based advertising is increasing these days as it is cost effective. Along with this, outdoor advertising will also be used for providing general awareness to the public at large and direct people to the website of the company (Stokes, 2011). Ethics While doing online business, there is need to adopt some ethical practices. Some of the ethical factors that will be adopted in the online business are described below: Core values- Code of ethics and guiding principles of the business will be adopted to provide quality services to the people. Security- business needs to secure the private data of the customers such as address, account number and debit and credit card information. Ethical web content- Business will avoid publishing misleading statements as wrong statements can give wrong ideas to the customers related to products (Burnwa, Kumar Das, 2013). Conclusion Based on the above discussion, the website will be designed to identify the needs of the customers for the clothing and fashion products accordingly and achieve profit in first years. While adopting the e-commerce, business needs to adopt right policies and procedures to measure and ensure the security and safety of business and privacy of consumer as well. . In conclusion, it can be said that E-commerce is the important factor for the success of the organization and by focusing on the factors that impact the decision making process of consumers, business would be able to attract more and more customers. References Baig, M. K., Raza, H., Farooq, U., (2011), E-Commerce Adoption: A Comparative Study of Sweden and Pakistan, Linkping Burnwa, A. P., Kumar, A., Das, S. K., (2013), Ethics of E-Commerce in Information and Communications Technologies: International Journal of Advanced Computer Research, 3(1) Drummond, G., Ensor, J. Ashford, R., (2012), Strategic Marketing: Planning and Control, (4th) London: Palgrave Macmillan Feigenbaum, J., Parkes, D. C., Pennock, D. M., (2009), Computational challenges in e-commerce. Communications of the ACM, 52(1), 70-74 Ho, L.H., Lu, M.H., Lee, C.P. and Peng, T.F., (2011), Exploration of Search Engine Optimization Technology Applied in, Internet Marketing: Advances in Information Sciences and Service Sciences, 3(7) Molenaar, C., (2012), E-marketing: applications of information in technology and the internet within marketing, Abingdon: Routledge Onwutalobi, A. C., (2016), Building an effective strategic E-commerce development plan for a startup company entering the Nigerian market, accessed on 26th February 2018 from https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/112134/Onwutalobi_Anthony-Claret.pdf?sequence=1 Oy, M. W., (2012), BUSINESS PLAN FOR A FASHION BRAND, accessed on 26th February 2018 https://images.template.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Fashion-Brand-Marketing-Business-Plan-Template.pdf Schnaars, S., (2010), Marketing strategy: a customer-driven approach, (5th) Huntington, New York: Free Press Sen, R., Bandyopadhyay,S., Hess, J. D. and Jaisingh, J., (2008), Pricing paid placements on search engine: Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, 9(1), pp. 33-50 Stokes, R., (2011), E-marketing: the essential guide to digital marketing, (4th), CapeTown: Quirk Education Strauss, J. Frost, R., (2014), E-marketing, (7th), Harlow: Pearson Tassabehji, R., (2003), Applying E-commerce in Business, Sage Publications Limited Vatrapu, S. R., (2014), Design and Implementation of E-Commerce Site for Online Shopping, accessed on 26th February 2018 https://opus.govst.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1079context=capstones Voola, R., Casimir, G., Carlson, J. and Agnihotri, M. A., (2012), the effects of market orientation, technological opportunism, and e-business adoption on performance: A moderated mediation analysis: Australasian Marketing Journal, 20(2): 136-146 Xiaoming, M., (2010), Study on Combining of E-commerce and E-marketing: Journal of Software, 5(5): 546-553