Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder essays

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder essays Stress is an every-day aspect of our life. From day-to-day stressors such as raising children, dealing with careers, dealing with our significant others, driving in traffic, we are continually bombarded with actions and consequences that place stress in our lives. Many of us have come to accept these stressors as normal, and most of us have adapted, even though we may feel a need to take it one day at a time. Yet, in extreme cases, such as wars or other traumatic experiences, dealing with these stressors becomes a life-long ordeal. Persons dealing with severe stress reactions from traumatic experiences, such as wars, long after the incident occurred, have what is called Post-traumatic stress disorder. This anxiety disorder, affecting not only current and past war veterans but also those that have been exposed to any traumatic life event, has been studied in depth and forms of treatment, from group therapy to drug therapy, have been used to treat the maladies associated with this disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder is defined as the condition caused by extremely stressful experiences in which the person later experiences anxiety and irritability(Lahey). In addition, the website belonging to the National Center for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) further defined PTSD as a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terror incidents, serious accidents or violent person assaults like rape. The website goes on to explain that persons suffering from this disorder have trouble sleeping and feel detached from the rest of society. Also, the disorder can occur in conjunction with other psychophysical disorders such as depression, substance abuse, and problems with memory and cognition (www.ncptsd.org). In addition, social/family issues also ...

Free Online Public Schools for SC Students K-12

Free Online Public Schools for SC Students K-12 South Carolina offers resident students the opportunity to take online public school courses for free. In order to qualify for the list, schools must meet several qualifications: the classes must be available completely online, they must offer services to the students state of residence, and they must be funded by the government. Virtual schools may be charter schools, state-wide public programs, or private programs that receive government funding. Here is a list of no-cost online schools currently serving elementary and high school students in South Carolina. List of Alabama Online Charter Schools and Online Public Schools Insight School of South Carolina link is to national network of schoolsSouth Carolina Virtual School Bad link https://www.k12.com/participating-schools.html?statesouth-carolina About Online Charter Schools and Online Public Schools Many states now offer tuition-free online schools for resident students under a certain age,  often 21). Most virtual schools are charter schools; they receive government funding and are run by a private organization. Online charter schools are subject to fewer restrictions than traditional schools. However, they are reviewed regularly and must continue to meet state standards. Some states also offer their own online public schools. These virtual programs generally operate from a state office or a school district. State-wide public school programs vary. Some online public schools offer a limited number of remedial or advanced courses not available in brick-and-mortar public school campuses. Others offer full online diploma programs. A few states choose to fund â€Å"seats† for students in private online schools. The number of available seats may be limited and students are usually asked to apply through their public school guidance counselor. (See also: 4 Types of Online High Schools). Choosing a South Carolina Online Public School When choosing an online public school, look for an established program that is regionally accredited and has a track record of success. Be wary of new schools that are disorganized, are unaccredited, or have been the subject of public scrutiny. For more suggestions on evaluating virtual schools see: How to Choose an Online High School. How to Choose an Online High School http://distancelearn.about.com/od/virtualhighschools/a/OnlineHighQ.htm 4 Types of Online High Schools http://distancelearn.about.com/od/virtualhighschools/a/HS_Types.htm Online Charter School Basics http://distancelearn.about.com/od/virtualhighschools/a/CharterInfo.htm How to Find an Online Charter School http://distancelearn.about.com/od/virtualhighschools/a/CharterSchool.htm School Accreditation http://distancelearn.about.com/od/accreditationinfo/a/accreditation1.htm Regionally Accredited Online High Schools http://distancelearn.about.com/od/virtualhighschools/a/RAOnlineHS.htm Online High School Pros and Cons http://distancelearn.about.com/od/virtualhighschools/a/hsprosandcons.htm

Emergency Management (School Violence) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Emergency Management (School Violence) - Essay Example 00 students.† (When Kids Kill) Schools are supposed to be the mould where young generations are undergoing vigorous socially acceptable shaping processes. Though family plays a vital role in the shaping, because of the immense influences of peer group and teachers, schools contribute majority to the personality development. In olden days, schools were considered as a sacred place where the teachers were considered as the priests and the students as believers. But the modern trends showed that the sacredness of schools has been lost and violence like, social evils slowly establishing its roots in schools also. Gun battles in schools, harassment in buses, internet crimes, etc has increased a lot in the current century. A lot of psychological factors such as improper care from parents, child abusing, etc contributed to the increased rate of school crimes. The modern world has failed to give proper care to young generations at home and schools. Most of the parents have heavy workloads both at home and work places and hence they were getting little time for caring their children properly. Even from the infancy stages when the kids needed the mother’s love and care mostly, they are brought up under the control of Nannies. Compared to older generation, the modern parents are more self focused or selfish. They are not ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of their children. Thus the parent-children relationships have been damaged severely in the modern century. ‘Children who have been severely and repeatedly abused often become extremely aggressive. The mental world of these young killers is "all about me" Johnston says.†Theyre frustrated, angry, in some pain, not getting everything they want. They feel like victims. They have no concern about others -- they dont think about others. Its all about who they are and wha t they want." (What causes school killings?) Controlling of guns seems to be difficult in American social life. Just like smoking, everybody knows

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 14

Human Resource Management - Essay Example Curran (1990) reported on the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This was the first time that OSHA developed a policy that would "assure as far as possible safe and healthful working conditions for every woman and man in the nation" (p. 1010). The reason this act was created was because of a Supreme Court decision that workers had a right to refuse to follow a direct order from their employer if this order would put them into "imminent danger of lose of life or serious physical injury and not to suffer discriminatory action due to such refusal" (p. 1010). Today, these laws assist people in the workplace especially where there are dangerous chemicals or other dangerous materials. This was one example of protecting employees and to initiate something like this, the people involved would have to go through Human Resources to file their complaints. Another example of the need for safety is that of conflict in the workplace. There are always employees who do not get along well with each other and there needs to be a policy for conflict resolution. Weitzman and Weitzman (2006) take into consideration that "younger and middle-aged adults" have many "interpersonal challenges at work" (p. 45). They created a training to help in these situations. There are many different ways that employees can have conflict in the workplace and most have difficulty understanding what to do when they have these conflicts. What needs to happen in these researchers view is that they would need to understand and use interpersonal communication. They suggest that in order to do well with conflict, people must learn how to actively listen to others, change their perspectives in the situation in working with others. The researchers also suggest that when employees learn about conflict and they understand how the workplace works, they are able to better

Conventional gun control Essay Example for Free

Conventional gun control Essay Conventional gun control and punishment policies have done nothing to make American schools safer or American students more secure. Quite the contrary, such policies have been attended by increasingly violent school environments, students living in fear, and no means for protection. This essay will argue that a new research-based approach is needed. More specifically, because the available research clearly demonstrates that right-to carry laws lead to decreases in crime and cause criminal offenders to alter their criminal behavior, it is time for school districts across the country to begin issuing legal permits for guns to students. Costs of Gun Violence: Students and Society As a preliminary matter, in order to demonstrate why a new approach to school violence is necessary, it is important to understand the true costs associated with gun violence, schools, and students. The most common perception is that guns are responsible for physical injuries and deaths. To be sure, this is true. Such a perception, however, is too narrow and ignores the much broader spectrum of costs associated with gun violence and students. This analytical mistake, focusing too narrowly, has unfortunately crept into the public consciousness and made discussions too narrow in scope. As has been stated by a leading scholar in the field Victimization statistics indicate that gun violence is highly concentrated within a narrow sociodemographic slice of the population. Yet a consideration of economic costs suggests that the burden of gun violence is shared much more broadly across society, affecting taxes, residential choice, fear, and freedom of movement. (Cook Ludwig, 2002) What can be seen is a problem that is much more pervasive, and much broader in scope, then what has traditionally been defined as a threat to individual physical safety. This issue implicates a variety of social and economic issues as well as issues of personal safety and individual well-being. Where gun control policies, whether in school specifically or in society more generally, have failed to attain the desired results an extraordinarily broad spectrum of society has suffered. Society has suffered in the form of higher taxes in order to fund police staffing, judicial proceedings, and school as well as community programs to deal with violence in school. Society and individuals have also suffered because residential choice and freedom of movement has been constrained by fears of gun violence in certain communities or school districts. In short, the costs associated with gun violence in or near schools are much more severe than previously thought. More troubling, despite huge expenditures of money and effort, conventional approaches to the problem have failed miserably. Gun Control and Punishment: No Solution The most conventional approaches have proceeded as different types of gun control and punishment philosophies. These conventional approaches have been based on certain assumptions. First, with respect to gun control, those advocating gun control policies proceed upon the assumption that legal limitations and restrictions will necessarily result in less gun violence. Implicit in this assumption is the notion that gun control approaches will decrease access to guns by irresponsible students or individuals. A close examination of the relevant research, however, demonstrates quite clearly the falsity of such assumptions. In one comprehensive study, relying upon data submitted by the states, it was found that the statistical analysis of the 1999 state data provides no evidence that gun control reduces crime rates. Nor is there any evidence that lax gun laws in neighboring states contribute to higher crime rates. (Moorhouse Wanner, 2006) These conclusions are startling; they are startling because policymakers continue to advocate and implement a tremendous variety of gun control laws despite the empirical evidence that strongly suggests such laws are ineffectual. In addition to the emphasis on strong gun control laws, the aforementioned conventional approaches to gun violence in schools also tend rather uniformly to emphasize punishment as a penalty rather than more preventative approaches. Such punishment components of larger gun control laws and policies have manifested themselves in terms of no tolerance policies, the elimination of constitutional protections against otherwise illegal searches of students at school, and incarceration rather than education or counseling. In Colorado, for instance, the state legislator noting that Newspapers in the state reported almost daily on hand-gun-related incidents involving young people (Pipho, 1993) decided simply to follow the conventional approach without reviewing the aforementioned research data. The problems remain. What is needed is a departure from conventional gun control and punishment philosophies that have proven to be unsuccessful all across the country. American children, students who should be safe and secure at school, deserve more than political posturing that places them at continued risk of harm. A Novel Proposal: Legal Permits at Schools Ironically enough, the best way to safeguard students at school, and to eradicate the extraordinary costs associated with gun violence among and between students, may be to grant legal permits allowing students to carry concealed handguns to and from as well as at school. Such a proposal is ironic because conventional theories have always presupposed that more guns equals more violence. Again, however, the research demonstrates that this is clearly not the case. Conceal and carry laws, for example, have actually led to decreases in crime, both generally and with respect to violent crime, in places where such laws have been implemented. In fact, the available research has found that right-to-carry laws reduce violent crime rates, the reductions are greater in counties with proportionally higher urban populations, and the laws afford relatively greater protection to minorities and women. The latter groups are precisely those that are disproportionately victimized by violent crimes. Furthermore, Lott and Mustard find that criminals substitute nonconfrontational crimes such as burglary, auto theft, and larceny for robbery and assault. (Moorhouse Wanner, 2006) These findings are remarkable. Not only have right-to- carry laws, whether implemented through legal permits or otherwise, reduced violent crime rates but they have compelled criminals to alter their criminal behavior. Such findings support the main thesis of this paper; more specifically, because conventional gun control and punishment approaches have proven abysmal failures, a new approach is necessary. This new approach must incorporate certain realities. These realities are that different types of right-to-carry laws do, in fact, result in lower crime rates and in less violent types of crime being committed. The fear needs to be reversed. School districts, operating through local law enforcement and legislative officials, have a moral duty to consider these research findings and implement legal permit procedures to allow good students to carry guns for their protection. To be sure, such an approach would require careful planning, special gun safety education for students, and diligent monitoring. The fact that a new approach may be difficult to implement is no reason for clinging to unsuccessful conventional theories. In addition, because Federal and state laws also prohibit persons of any age from carrying guns without a permit and bringing a gun onto school property (Brezina Wright, 2000, p. 82), both state and federal agencies will have to work together to make such a new approach possible. Conclusion In the final analysis, the research is clear on several points. First, the costs associated with gun violence at schools are staggering and pervasive. Second, conventional gun control and punishment approaches to the problem have failed miserably. Third, because right-to-carry approaches have proven successful in reducing crime rates generally, it is time to incorporate such laws in American schools. References Brezina, T. , Wright, J. D. (2000). Going Armed in the School Zone. Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy, 15(4), 82. Retrieved April 8, 2009, from Questia database: http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=5001177255

The Atom Bomb :: essays research papers fc

The atom bomb is one of the most important discoveries in modern day science. Countless scientists worked relentlessly on the project and their efforts opened the door for present and future exploration of the atom.Just before the beginning of World War II, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Urged by Hungarian-born physicists Leo Szilard, Eugene Wingner, and Edward Teller, Einstein told Roosevelt about Nazi German efforts to purify Uranium-235 which might be used to build an atomic bomb. Shortly after that the United States Government began work on the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project was the code name for the United States effort to develop the atomic bomb before the Germans did. "The first successful experiments in splitting a uranium atom had been carried out in the autumn of 1938 at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin" Just after Einstein wrote his letter. So the race was on. Major General Wilhelm D. Styer called the Manhattan Project "the most important job in the war . . . an all-out effort to build an atomic bomb." It turned out to be the biggest development in warfare and science's biggest development this century.The most complicated issue to be addressed by the scientists working on the Manhattan Project was the production of ample amounts of enriched uranium to sustain a chain reaction. At the time, Uranium-235 was hard to extract. Of the Uranium ore mined, only about 1/500th of it ended up as Uranium metal. The Uranium metal is relatively rare, occurring in Uranium at a ratio of 1 to 139.Separating the one part Uranium-235 proved to be a challenge. No ordinary chemical extraction could separate the two isotopes. Only mechanical methods could effectively separate U-235 from U-238. Scientists at Columbia University solved this difficult problem.A massive enrichment plant was built at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. H. C. Urey and his associates and colleagues at Columbia University designed a system that worked on the principle of gaseous diffusion. After this process was completed, Ernest O. Lawrence from the university of California in Berkeley implemented a process i nvolving magnetic separation of the two isotopes. Finally, a gas centrifuge was used to further separate the Uranium-235 from the Uranium-238. The Uranium-238 is forced to the bottom because it had more mass than the Uranium-235. This Uranium was then transported to a laboratory headed by J. Robert Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer was the major force behind the Manhattan Project.

Ethics in Social Work

In psychology and social work, dual relationships and clinical boundaries are often common. They are often unclear and most times the professional has a difficult time noticing them developing. Ethical dilemmas are found in all professions, but are often different in type and solutions. They are hard to identify and even harder to make a clear decision. Dual relationships and clinical boundaries are one of the biggest ethical dilemmas social workers face because of the difficulties of finding the line between the professional role and the empathetic role a social worker plays.Social work is a profession that helps to solve complex human problems and create a more just and caring society. One of the foundations of social work is the focus on the strengths, as opposed to the shortcomings, of individuals, families and communities so that creative solutions for complex social problems can be found. The profession is characterized by a steadfast commitment to social justice in the service of empowering individuals, families and communities to meet their needs. Few professions offer many different types of employment opportunities.Social workers serve as counselors, in adoption, domestic violence, rehabilitation, hospice, mental health, youth, community development workers, public policy analysts, global rights workers; and in juvenile and adult justice systems, just to name a few. However, the main job of a social worker, however, is to help the client to reach a more stable environment, but to go about it a specific way dependent on the job the social worker held. Each job might come with different ethical problems, but social workers have to follow a strict code of ethics that have guidelines to help them make the correct decisions.The NASW, National Association of Social Work, is the largest group of professional social workers. It is the group that wrote the NASW code of ethics, which are followed by all social workers across the United States (NASW, 2008). Ethi cs are the underlying rules put in place to help society better function. Usually, they are hard to identify and can be interpreted in many different ways. Each person has their own ethical standards, which is why it’s necessary to have ethical codes that make it more general and help each professional make his or her own ethical decision.Ethics play a huge role into social work. Without an ethical background or a code of ethics it could harm not only a client, but also the social worker himself. The biggest struggle that comes along with ethics is the fact that each individual usually interprets them differently. Ethics is two things. First, ethics refers to right and wrong that advise what humans should do, in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. Ethics can refer to those standards that make humans refrain from rape, stealing, murder, assault, slander, and fraud.Ethical standards also include ideals relating to rights, such as th e right to life, the right to freedom from injury, and the right to privacy. Secondly, ethics refers to the study and development of one's ethical standards. As mentioned above, feelings, laws, and social norms can deviate from what is ethical; therefore it is necessary to constantly examine one's standards to ensure that they are reasonable. The NASW Code of Ethics was written to serve as a guide to the everyday professional conduct of social workers. It includes four sections.The first section, â€Å"Preamble,† summarizes the social work profession's mission and core values. The second section, â€Å"Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics,†Ã‚  provides an overview of the Code's main functions and a brief guide for dealing with ethical issues or dilemmas in social work practice. The third section,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Ethical Principles,† presents broad ethical principles, based on social work's core values, that inform social work practice. The final section, â€Å"Ethical S tandards,†Ã‚  includes specific ethical standards to guide social workers' conduct and to provide a basis for adjudication.The Code of Ethics, as used today, was approved  by the 1996 NASW Delegate Assembly and revised by the 1999 NASW Delegate Assembly. (NASW, 2008) The NASW code of ethics is used to help guide social workers when it comes to making ethical decisions in the field. It is used to help give every therapist and client the same treatment and ethical decisions. Usually, each profession has a different code of ethics due to the fact that each profession has a diverse set of ethical issues that come with it.Dual relationships or multiple relationships are interactions in which a client is treating a patient, but is also interacting with them in some other way. It can also be if a therapist is in a professional role with a person and promises to enter into another relationship in the future with that person or someone closely related to the individual. Dual roles re fer to two different roles and multiple roles are when more than two overlapping roles exist. For example if a therapist is treating their child’s teacher, their child’s friend, having sexual relations with the client, or are close to the client in some way.Dual relationships are against the APA ethics code and can cause harm to the patient in some cases. A therapist should never work with people who he or she might have to interact with on a causal level instead of a patient-therapist level, not only for the patient’s confidentiality, but also to help keep the therapist from giving preferential treatment (Barnett, Vasquez, Moorehead-Slaughter, Johnson, 2007) Dual relationships can also allow a therapist to misuse their power and influence. The practitioner is in a position to exploit the client for his or her own personal gain.The problem of the dual relationships and the second relationship, the counselor is now susceptible to other interests (personal, financ ial, or social) that he or she may put before the best interests of the client. Problems that arise usually occur when the professional boundaries are not clear to begin with. Therefore, boundaries should be included as part of the intake paperwork. The wording should be clear and specifically state the therapist's intentions. The therapist-client relationship is one that does not permit contact in a casual manner outside the therapy session.This includes work relationships, social conversations or any type of romantic or sexual contact. † The therapist can state something about not giving personal information to a client, as there is no need for them to know this kind of thing. If the client signs the consent form, a contract is in effect and should not be breached by either party. Not only does the therapist have to gauge the client and the way he or she processes things, but also what the client could take inappropriate.Although it may seem appropriate in a therapistâ€℠¢s eyes it could be inappropriate in the client’s eyes and vice versa. (Syme, 2003) The therapist has to keep a close eye on their actions and make sure their client is not seeing it differently than they are. There are three factors that counselors should consider. First, there is a greater risk of harm when the expectations of client and counselor are mismatched. When clients have one set of assumptions about the ground rules of the relationship, and the professional has a different set of assumptions, there is an increased chance of susceptibility.Another factor is that there is potential for divided loyalties and an associated loss of objectivity. Counselors who have personal, social or business relationships with their clients, are at risk because their self-interest may be involved and thus compromise the client's best interest. Finally, by the very nature of the counselor/client relationship, clients are more dependent, have less authority and are vulnerable. Due to th is power differential, it is the responsibility of the professional to ensure that the client in the relationship is not harmed.One key feature of boundary issues is a conflict of interest that harms clients. Conflicts of interest occur when professionals find themselves in a relationship that could prejudice or give the appearance of prejudicing their decision-making. Thus a counselor who provides services to a client with whom he would like to develop a sexual relationship faces a conflict of interest; the professional’s personal interests collide with his or her professional duty to avoid harming his or her client. Zur, American Psychological Association, 2007) Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment. Social workers should also inform clients when a real or potential conflict of interest arises and take reasonable steps to resolve the issue in a manner that makes th e clients’ interests primary and protects clients’ interests to the greatest extent possible. In some cases, protecting clients’ interests may require termination of the professional relationship with proper referral of the client (standard 1. 6[a]), NASW, 2008). The code goes on to say that â€Å"social workers should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client† (standard 1. 06[c], NASW, 2008). While treating someone in therapy, a counselor has to be careful about how their patient is going to interpret their actions and words. When a patient is in therapy, a lot of times they don’t have anyone around to support them and help them overcome their obstacles.That being said, it’s the job of the therapist to be that person for their client and help them to succeed. As a client gets closer to his or her therapist, sometimes the slightest of t hings can be taken in the wrong way. For example, as trust is built the slightest of things can trigger a client to see their therapist in a different light. As a counselor, a pat on the back, hand touch, ect can seem like nothing to you, but to the client can seem like a sexual advance. This an be detrimental to a client and can break all the trust the therapist had built up, putting the patient back to the beginning of the process (Smith, Fitzpatrick, 1995) When the psychologist and the patient develop an extracurricular relationship, this dual relationship can threaten the psychologist's ability to act impartially as a therapist and the patient's ability to receive proper treatment in their vulnerable state. If psychologists are not held accountable to prevent this type of behavior, they can harm the reputation of all clinical psychologists.Personal relationships imply a bias and the private relationship can cross over into therapy and treatment. The term â€Å"conflict of inter est† applies to dual relationships because no matter how objective a psychologist tries to be, their own emotions may taint their trained perceptions. Conflict of interest can be applied to a variety of situations, such as the psychologist should not treat a family member or close friend due to the possibility of favoritism or being non-objective, and could interfere with the treatment being given and received.The psychological ethical codes clearly prohibit the interaction of a personal relationship between the psychologist and the client. Dual relationships and clinical boundaries are one of the biggest ethical dilemmas social workers are faced with; trying to find the line between the professional role and the empathetic role a social worker plays. This being said, as a social worker it is important to distance the client, but also to build trust. It takes time to learn the boundaries and how to avoid crossing them.This is just one of the biggest challenges social workers h ave to overcome in their field. Reference Page: Barnett J, Lazarus A, Vasquez M, Moorehead-Slaughter O, Johnson W (2007) Boundary Issues and Multiple Relationships: Fantasy and Reality; Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38 (4) 401-410 doi: 10. 1037/0735-7028. 38. 4. 401 Herlihy, B and Corey G. (1992) Dual Relationships in Counseling. Alexandria, VA: American Association for Counseling Development Reamer, G. F. PhD (2011, October 13). Eye on Ethics Social Work Today, retrieved from http://www. socialworktoday. om/news/eoe_101311. shtml Smith, D. and Fitzpatrick, M. (1995) Patent-Therapist Boundary Issues: An Integrative Review of Theory and Research, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 26 (5), 499-506 doi: 10. 1037/0735-7028. 26. 5. 499 Syme, G (2003) Dual Relationships in Counseling and Psychotherapy: Exploring the Limits, London: Sage Publications Zur, O and American Psychological Association (2007) Boundaries in Psychotherapy Ethical and Clinical Explorat ions. Washington, DC : American Psychological Association http://www. socialworkers. org/pubs/code/code. asp

Exam Question and Answer on Market Segmentation

QUESTION AND ANSWER ON MARKET SEGMENTATION Salim Brommer is the Marketing Director of Ashkol Furniture Supplies, a medium-sized company which specializes in manufacturing office furniture. The company makes its products in India, so benefiting from relatively low labour costs. However, it has recently experienced intense competition from suppliers who have even lower cost bases. Salim has decided that his company will benefit if he focuses on those customers who can provide higher profit margins. He has decided to target domestic customers in Europe.Increasingly, private households, particularly those with computers, are converting spare rooms into office-style areas. Additionally there has been a noticeable trend towards working from home. This saves employers incurring the costs of office provision, and also employees save on travel and can also work at times convenient to themselves. However, Ashkol has no experience of dealing with these types of customers. The company now needs to develop a suitable marketing strategy to succeed in this new area and maintain a sustainable competitive advantage.Required: a. Using a suitable model of your choice, develop a marketing approach which Salim might use to enter this new market. b. Explain how Salim could select appropriate target markets and position his products so as to create and sustain competitive advantage. Suggested Answer Salim needs to develop a marketing strategy for entry into the domestic market in Europe. This can be achieved by looking at the factors that make up the marketing mix: product, price, place and promotion. Choosing a marketing mixThe design of the marketing mix should be decided on the basis of management intuition and judgment, together with information provided by market research. Elements in the marketing mix partly act as substitutes for each other and they must be integrated. The product needs to be positioned to appeal to the target customer. For example, Ashkol would struggle to de velop a luxury brand image if they set price at a low, penetration level. Product The physical product needs to be appropriate for the private household market.Office furniture may have a very different style to household furniture, so a different approach may need to be taken to the design of the product in order to make it appealing for the domestic buyer. A customer will only buy one of Salim’s products if they get a better deal from buying it than from buying any of the alternatives. This highlights that the nature of the products in the new range will need to meet the demands of the new target market. Areas to consider here are design (size, shape) and features. For example, it may need to be smaller and made of better quality material.The space available in domestic accommodation is likely to be quite restricted, so some standard items may not sell well simply because they are too large. Multi-purpose items, such as desks that incorporate filing drawers and PC monitor s tands may be required. Place Place deals with how the product is distributed, and how it reaches its customers. Establishing a suitable distribution system is going to be one of Salim’s largest tasks. His products are bulky and will therefore have to be transported by ship from India to Europe, probably in freight containers, which will impose a minimum economic scale of shipment.Distribution Channels Serious consideration will have to be given to how customers will be able to view, order and receive delivery of the products. Furniture showrooms are necessarily large areas and need to be in areas where customers will be attracted. Even if selling is by direct mail or over the Internet, there will be probably have to be a warehouse to receive bulk shipments from India, break them down and dispatch individual orders. All this has major cost implications perhaps offsetting the cost savings from cheaper labour.These considerations alone may push Salim towards a co-operative ventu re with a European agent who knows the market and is prepared to take on the selling and distribution task. Promotion involves arousing attention, generating interest, inspiring desire and initiating action. Marketing communication involved in this could be advertising, public relations, direct selling or sales promotion. A furniture showroom would be part of this but a wider approach will be needed. The target market is people working from home and the promotional methods used should be appropriate to this market.Types of promotion * Direct promotion via mailing lists may be appropriate, although because Salim has no experience in this market, he would probably have to buy the list which may make this an expensive option. * There are numerous home style magazines in which adverts can be placed. * The Internet is a vital part of the life of people working from home and its potential for promotion should be fully utilized, perhaps by setting up a dedicated website. Organising and des igning the marketing communication effort will almost certainly require input from someone familiar with the European market.Price is the final element of the marketing mix and is an important signal to customers about the product. It is important that the price should be competitive so Salim should investigate the prices being charged by competitors who have similar product ranges. Price should also indicate the quality of the product so Salim will need to decide if he wants to produce a deluxe range or a more basic model. Discounts and payment terms need to be considered as a potential way of attracting customers especially in the initial start up phase of the new product line. Part (b)Because of limited resources, competition and large markets, organisations are not usually able to sell with equal efficiency and success to every market segment. It is necessary to select target markets. A target market is a particularly attractive segment that will be served with a distinct market ing mix. While Salim’s products may have some application for commercial users, he intends to sell then to customers, who will view them as shopping goods. These goods have a higher unit value than convenience goods and are bought less frequently, usually after some thought and consideration have been expended.Salim should try to specify the segment of the customer market into which he wishes to sell his products with some care, since this will influence important decisions about all the elements of the marketing mix, including such things as product design, marketing communications, price and distribution methods. Kotler identified six steps: Step 1- Identify segmentation variables and segment the market Step 2- Develop segment profiles Steps 1 and 2 are in segmentation Step 3- Evaluate that attractiveness of each segment Step 4- Select the target segment(s)Steps 3 and 4 are in targeting Step 5- Identify positioning concepts for each target segment Step 6 – Select dev elop and communicate the chosen concept Steps 5 and 6 are in positioning Segmentation variables fall into a small number of categories. Geographical segmentation is very simple, but can usefully be combined with socio-demographic segmentation. Psychographic segmentation is not based on objective data so much as how people see themselves and their subjective feelings and attitudes towards a particular product or service, or towards life in general.The behavioural approach segments buyers into groups based on their attitudes to and use of the product, and the benefits they expect to receive. Both of these methods are most useful for convenience goods and are not, therefore likely to be very useful to Salim. Probably, the best segmentation approach for Salim is socio-demographic segmentation, which is based on social, economic and demographic variables such as education, income, occupation, family size and social class.Much work has already been done on this approach, in the ACORN syst em, for example, and Salim would be able to buy in the basic information he needs. Segment Validity A market segment will only be valid if it is worth designing and developing a unique marketing mix for that specific segment. Salim will have to be sure of several things about his chosen target market: Is it large enough to be profitable? Does this segment respond differently in the marketing mix than another segment? Can he reach the potential customers? Can the segment be reached profitably?Is the segment stable enough to justify resources being spent on it? Will it enable him to build on the company’s strengths? Internal Analysis It is important to assess company strengths when evaluating attractiveness and targeting a market. This can help determine the appropriate strategy; because once the attractiveness of each identified segment has been assessed it can be considered along with relative strengths to determine the potential advantages the organization would have. In thi s way, preferred segments can be targeted. Product PositioningIt is unlikely that Salim will be able to identify a market segment where there is no direct competitor, so it will be necessary to position the product line in such a way as to create of some form of product differentiation. The aim is to make the customer perceive the product as different from its competitors. An aid to this is to try to identify gaps in the market by considering the mix of the product attributes such as price, applications, users, occasions for use and specific aspects of quality may be drawn to refine knowledge of product position.

Should I Take the PSAT as a Sophomore

Should I Take the PSAT as a Sophomore SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Is it a good idea to take the PSAT as a sophomore?Here's a spoiler: Absolutely. Affirmative. A resounding yes. When you take the PSAT as an 11th grader, there are some pretty high stakes attached in the form of National Merit distinctions and scholarships. Therefore, it's definitely a good idea to do a trial run before you sit for the one thatcounts for so much. Let's talk about all the reasons it's a smart and strategic idea to sit for the PSAT as a sophomore. Reason 1: It's GoodPractice for the Junior-Year PSAT Once again, your junior-year PSAT scores might make you eligible for National Merit distinctions- such as Commended Scholar, Semifinalist, and Finalist- and even scholarshipsif you score in the top 1%. The types of questions and skills tested on the PSAT don't change too much from year to year, so taking it as a sophomore is a great way to familiarize yourself with the test. With this valuable, realistic testing experience and your own self-studying and prep, you'll be a pro by the time you sit for the PSAT again your junior year. If you're prepping throughout your freshman year and the summer after it, taking the PSAT during your sophomore year can be a good check-in and way to gauge your progress.If you're already scoring in the 95th percentile or above, you're in a good place to bring your scores up into the top 1% the following year. Your sophomore score report will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and show you what to focus on so you can bring your scores up over the top. It's especially smart to practice taking the PSAT as a sophomore if you are aiming for a qualifying National Merit score. The PSAT is also helpful to prepare you for the other hugely important test for college: the SAT. Reason 2: It's GoodPractice for the SAT The PSAT isa lot like the SAT. Your PSAT scores are meant to predict your SAT scores; as a result, the two tests are scored on a similar scale. While the PSAT is scored between 320 and 1520,with a range of 160-760 for both Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW), the SAT is scored between400 and 1600,with a range of 200-800 for both Math and EBRW. The range for PSAT scores is slightly lower to account for the fact that it's a somewhat easier test than the SAT.Though a perfect PSAT score predicts a strong SAT score, it's not necessarily directly comparable to a full 1600 on the SAT. Apart from a similar scoring system and no point deductions for wrong answers, the PSAT and SAT are similar in the skills they highlight.Both exams focus on understanding meaning in context, commanding evidence, and interpreting and applying data from graphs and charts. Instead of asking you to answer questions about stand-alone sentences, for example, the tests will ask you about longer passages and the relationships among sentences. Because of this, prepping for and taking the PSAT will directly help you do well on the SAT. You can even use your PSAT scores to predict your SAT scoresand set goals from there. If you're doing well already on the PSAT, you might want to try prepping for and even taking the SAT as a sophomoreas well. If you do well, you could get it out of the way altogether. If not, you could just retake ityour junior and senior year to try to continue improving your scores. It is possible to do very well on the SAT as a sophomore, and by preparing earlyyou'll be ahead of the curve and can ease your workload for junior year. Want to get a head start on the PSAT NMQST? We have the industry's leading PSAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today: Reason 3: It's Useful for AP Class Placement and Test Success In addition to predicting SAT scores, PSAT scores have some predictive correlation with your future AP test scores. As a result, some high schools use sophomore-year PSAT scores to determine students' readiness for AP classes and to approve AP course placement. It's a good idea to speak with your school counselor to see whether PSAT scores are a consideration in planning the following year's course schedule. Regardless of your school's requirements, your PSAT performance can personally reveal whether you're ready to take on AP; they can also help you determine where you need to do some more studying and prep to strengthen your skills for the following year. Show colleges you're on the right track. Reason 4: It Shows Colleges You're on the Right Track The last reason to take the PSAT as a sophomore isthe message it sends to colleges. Putting in the effort to take the PSAT as a sophomore signals to colleges that you're doing all you can to prepare for college throughout your high school career. You can even be directly added to contact lists if you so choose, based on the personal information and interests you indicated at the beginning of the test. Therefore, taking the PSAT in 10th grade is not just helpful to you in thepresent for improving your scores and for understanding your academic strengths and weaknesses- it also has long-reaching benefits in your future by demonstrating your overall readiness for college. Summary: Taking the PSAT as a Sophomore In sum, taking the PSAT in 10th grade can be avaluable testing experience and tell you where you need to improve for junior year,especially if you're aiming for National Merit. Just like the SAT, the PSAT is all about preparation. You can absolutely do well and improve your scores through practice, but this practice needs to be specific to your needs and concentrated on the areas you struggle with the most. Your 10th grade score report can help predict your future PSAT and SAT scores. In addition, it can be a helpful measure of how effective your studying has been so far. Basically, taking the PSAT in 10th grade is both predictiveand diagnostic: it tells you where you're headedandwhat weaknesses you canturn into strengths to achieve your junior-year goals. What's Next? Want to learn more about the PSAT?Check out ourexpert guides tolearn everything you need to know about the PSAT formatand how it's scored. Hundreds of students have downloadedthese free PSAT practice tests to boost their PSAT scores. This article hastwo official PSATpractice tests for you to download and the tips you need to know to use them effectively in your prep! Are you planning to take the SAT? This article explainswhy it's so important to start studying early and how to go about doing so. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also feature thousands of practice questions, 10 official SAT practice tests, and personal feedback on your essays from an expert instructor. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Odile Decq, French Architect for the 21st Century

Odile Decq, French Architect for the 21st Century Odile Decq (born July 18, 1955, in Laval, east of Brittany in France) and Benoà ®t Cornette have been called architectures first rock and roll couple. Attired in Gothic black, Decqs nontraditional personal appearance fit well with the couples curious delight in architectural experimentation with space, metals, and glass. After Cornette was killed in a 1998 automobile accident, Decq continued their rebellious architecture and urban planning business. On her own, Decq continues to win awards and commissions, proving to the world that she was always an equal partner and a talent in her own right. Plus shes kept the funky look and black attire all these years. Decq earned a Diploma in Architecture from the Ecole dArchitecture de Paris-La Villette UP6 (1978) and a Diploma in Urbanism and Planning from Institut dÉtudes Politiques de Paris (1979). She practiced in Paris alone and then in 1985 in partnership with Benoà ®t Cornette. After Cornettes death, Decq ran Odile Decq Benoà ®t Cornette Architectes-Urbanistes (ODBC Architects) for the next 15 years, rebranding herself in 2013 as Studio Odile Decq. Since 1992, Decq has maintained a relationship with Ecole Spà ©ciale dArchitecture in Paris as a teacher and director. In 2014, Decq was not intimidated to launch a new school of architecture. Called Confluence Institute for Innovation and Creative Strategies in Architecture and located in Lyon, France, the architecture program is built around the intersection of five thematic fields: neurosciences, new technologies, social action, visual art, and physics. The Confluence program, melding old and new topics of study, is a curriculum by and for the 21st century. Confluence is also an urban development project of Lyon, France, where the rivers Rhone and Saone join. Above and beyond all of the architecture designed and built by Odile Decq, the Confluence Institute may become her legacy. Decq claims to have no particular influence or master, but she does appreciate architects and their works, including Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe. She says ...they were inventing what they called the free plan, and I was interested in this idea and how you pass through a plan without having different articulated space.... Particular buildings that have influenced her thinking include Convent of La Tourette (Lyon France) by Le CorbusierLa Sagrada Familia (Barcelona, Spain) by Antoni Gaudà ­A concrete tower at the Jewish Museum (Berlin, Germany) by Daniel Libeskind Sometimes I am just impressed by buildings, and I am jealous about ideas expressed through these structures. Source of quotation: Odile Decq Interview, designboom, january 22, 2011 [Accessed July 14, 2013] Selected Architecture: 1990: Banque Populaire de lOuest (BPO) administration building, Rennes, France (ODBC)2004: L. Museum in Neuhaus, Austria2010: MACRO Museum of Contemporary Art, new wing, Rome, Italy2011: Phantom Restaurant, first restaurant in Garniers Paris Opà ©ra House2012: FRAC Bretagne, Museum for Contemporary Art, Les Fonds Rà ©gionaux dArt Contemporain (FRAC), Bretagne, France2015: Saint-Ange Residence, Seyssins, France2015: Confluence Institute School of Architecture, Lyon, France2016: Le Cargo, Paris In Her Own Words: I try to explain to young women that practicing architecture is really complicated and its very hard, but its possible. I discovered early on that to be an architect you have to have a little bit of talent and a maximum of determination and not focus on the complications.- A conversation with: Odile Decq, Architectural Record, June 2013,  © 2013 McGraw Hill Financial. All Rights Reserved. [Accessed July 9, 2013] Architecture, in a certain sense, is a war. Its a tough profession where you always have to fight. You have to have great stamina. I kept going because I started working as a team with Benoà ®t who helped, supported and pushed me to go my own way. He treated me as an equal, strengthened my own resolve to assert myself, follow my own inclination and be as I wanted to be. I also tell students and repeat at conferences that you need a good dose of recklessness to go down the road of architecture because if you are too aware of the difficulties the profession entails, you might never begin. You have to keep fighting but without really knowing what the fight is. Very often this recklessness is considered folly. Thats wrong; its pure recklessness – something that is socially acceptable for men, but not yet for women.- Interview with Odile Decq by Alessandra Orlandoni, The Plan Magazine, October 7 2005[theplan.it/J/index.php?optioncom_contentviewarticleid675%3Ainte%0Arvista-a-odile- decq-Itemid141langen accessed July 14, 2013] ...stay curious all your life. To discover, to think that the world is nourishing you, and not only architecture, but the world and society around you is nourishing you, so you have to be curious. You have to always be curious about what will happen in the world later, and to be hungry for life, and to enjoy even when its hard work....you have to be able to take risks. I want you to be courageous. I want you to have ideas, to take a position....- Odile Decq Interview, designboom, january 22, 2011 [Accessed July 14, 2013] Learn More: Odile Decq Benoà ®t Cornette by Clare Melhuish, Phaidon, 1998Architecture in France by Philip Jodidio, 2006 Additional Sources: Studio Odile Decq website at www.odiledecq.com/; RIBA International Fellows 2007 Citation, Odile Decq, RIBA website; Odile Decq Benoà ®t Cornette - ODBC : Architects by adrian welch / isabelle lomholt at e-architect; ODILE DECQ, BENOIT CORNETTE, Architectes, Urbanistes, Euran Global Culture Networks; Designer Bio, Beijing International Design Triennial 2011 [Websites accessed July 14, 2013]

Compare and contrast the potential advantages and disadvantages of the Essay

Compare and contrast the potential advantages and disadvantages of the formal rational approach to strategy development - Essay Example The approach is also structural with a top to down hierarchy for decision making and assumption of responsibility. While middle level managers implement decisions in the approach, full responsibility remains with the top organs of an organization’s structure. Developed strategies, from the approach, are also detailed, and cover wide scopes. One of the advantages of such a bureaucratic approach is cost effectiveness that arises from the organization because only necessary steps and necessary personnel are involved in the strategic development process. This makes it affordable and allows for utilization of saved resources in other areas of an organization’s needs. The formal approach is also associated with efficiency that could arise from focus on a few individuals in the process and continuous involvement of the individuals in the process, a factor that identifies benefits of specialization. Efficiency promises quality decisions for effective strategies towards supporti ng desired objectives. Related to the efficiency advantage is the speed with which the formal approach can yield desired strategies. with well defines structures and specific and specialized personnel, the decision making at the different stages of the approach are faster and are therefore able to respond to emergency needs. Other advantages of the bureaucratic approach are its stability and continuity. These are because the formal structure eliminates possible barriers such as internal resistance and it is easy to replace a member of decision-making team for sustainability of a strategy development process or a developed strategy. One of the disadvantages of the formal rational approach is its concentration of power in the hands of a few people, and this could be risky if the individuals lack necessary competence or have conflict of interest. The bureaucratic scope of the approach