World Civilization I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

World Civilization I - Essay Example There was also intimate association between the priests and the chieftains in Vedic India. In the society of Vedic India, there were also four major castes, that is, the Brahmins (priestly caste), the Ksatriyas (worrior caste), the Vaishyas (the farmer and tradesman caste), and the Shudras (servants and menial workers) (Indian History 205). Just like in the Vedic India, the societies in the Southeast Asia had also some structural features that acted as centers for political and military authority. Additionally, it is evident that the societies in the Southeast Asia also expanded like the territories in Vedic India. This is evidenced by the extension of the cities in the Southeast Asia to the surrounding areas. The demand for provision of defense in the Southeast Asia also led to the emergence of kingdoms like in the Vedic India which enhanced taxation. Just like castes in Vedic India, Southeast Asia had also empires such as Akkadians and Babylonians. Social distinction was also evident in Southeast Asia like in Vedic India. This is evidenced by the variation in the rate of punishment as a result of class distinction. Unlike Southeast Asia, the social structure of ancient China looks like that of Vedic India. This is evidenced by the social structure of China first having the kings and nobles in the highest level, then the lords and warriors, and finally the peasants in the lowest class. The roles of leaders in ancient China were also well stipulated. The kings led to government, the lords paid taxes to the kings as well as provided warriors to protect the land, and the peasants worked for the

Internal Functions and External Relationships - NWTB Essay Example for Free

Internal Functions and External Relationships NWTB Essay The ICT department is concerned with supporting the other functions of the organisation and the clients externally of the organisation. Its job is to ensure that ICT is being used as a support to help the other functions to operate as effectively as possible. Mr Povey has been involved in the implementation of standard kit throughout the NWTB as well as the organisations with whom they have a relationship externally. He has also been responsible for helping the clients (e.g. hotels, tourist attractions) to use ICT to effectively promote themselves and in turn the Northwest as a tourist destination. The NWTB is aiming for competitive advantage, e.g. they want tourists to visit the Northwest more than any other region in the UK. ICT can act as a tool to aid in the process of competitive advantage. The ICT departments role is to ensure that whilst ICT investment comes at a huge initial cost to the organisation, it is worthwhile, will provide value for money and is necessary in the long run to ensure stability and survival for the business in the future. Whether or not the ICT systems provide value for money will depend on how effective the systems are that are implemented and how well the user uses them. The ICT department are responsible for evaluating the systems in place and updating them as necessary to ensure they continue to support as opposed to hinder the operation of the organisations. The ICT department is split into 2 areas. The area responsible for maintenance of the current system and providing a service to the users within the organisation of the NWTB. This involves daily troubleshooting tasks like fixing broken machines and printers as well as maintenance of the network. It also involves the identification of training needs of those who use ICT within the NWTB as well as provision of training for those users. Secondly, the responsibility that Mr Povey has of promoting the effective use of ICT to destinations across the Northwest ensuring they can compete and provide tourists with excellent service e.g. by booking rooms or tickets on the internet or over the phone. This aspect of ICT falls mainly under the Operations function of the NWTB because it is this aspect of ICT that covers the providing of a service. The NWTB provides a service to its members e.g. the local hotels and tourist destinations, helping them to employ effective ICT systems, they in turn can provide a better, more competitive service to tourists. Mr Poveys role does not involve in any way the maintenance of the systems used by members, he simply acts as an advisor to members and can inform them of any funding they may apply for to help with purchasing ICT equipment. He does also help to identify training needs of members and organise training events. Some of the benefits of using ICT within the NWTB * Improved accuracy from basic typing of letters to automation of financial spreadsheets * Faster processing leading to faster responses e.g. e-mail communication between departments, purchase orders being completed using computers etc. * Information available for management that previously wouldnt have been available in time or may not have been in enough detail or as concise * Tighter control as a result of easily accessible financial information * Reduced costs as staff can be more productive with the support of ICT e.g. use of mail merge reduces the time and effort required for typing and sending a standard letter to a number of clients. * New sources of information to allow for improved marketing * Faster, more effective communication with regional and sub regional partners * Some of the benefits of using ICT to the NWTB members * Promotion can advertise to a wider audience not previously reached because of distance from the location, via Internet. * Sales improved marketing information results in increased sales. Ability to sell tickets and accept on-line booking improves sales as the business becomes available to a wider audience * Management information increased advanced ticket sales and bookings enables management to plan better and so be better prepared for requirements in terms of stock levels, number of staff needed, car parking issues etc. * Access to competitor information using the Internet management can research into what competitors are doing e.g. special offers and can compete with their own promotion ideas. * Production of promotional materials management can use their own systems to produce their own leaflets and flyers so saving money on printing costs * Financial Information management can store details in an automated spreadsheet making financial monitoring and planning quick and easy. * Data Storage management can store information about clients on a database which requires littler physical space and can be searched more quickly as opposed to sifting through a large paper based directory or file to find customer details. * Faster, more effective customer services customers can be dealt with quickly and efficiently if business data is stored on an easy to use system e.g. hotel booking systems. On some hotels customers can run up a bill using the bar, restaurant, leisure facilities etc if the business has a centralised computer based facility. Customers can see their billing information for a stay in the hotel on one printed sheet as opposed to keeping hold of a number of receipts. The customer is not required to pay for services individually as they pay for everything at the end. This can enhance the customers experience of staying in a hotel. Happy customers will usually spread the word and recommend a hotel to friends and relations as well as planning a return visit themselves. This all helps the businesses in their pursuit of competitive advantage. * More effective communication the businesses will be able to communicate with clients, suppliers, service providers etc via e-mail. How does ICT help NWTB to operate effectively? Suppose that there was a huge tourist event being organised in Southport. Then there are a number of jobs to be done within the NWTB to ensure the promotion and success of this event. The marketing department will carry out some research to establish the make-up of the target audience for the event and will then decide on the best methods of promotion for the event. For example, texting a large group of people, producing and displaying posters throughout the region, distributing flyers, sending leaflets directly to peoples houses, radio and TV advertising etc. ICT may be used to design a questionnaire to establish the target audience and those interested in attending the event. ICT may be used to input and analyse information about the potential audience The marketing department will have a large database with the details of people who have been to events in the past and will also have access to information about the make-up of households in the area. ICT may be used to access databases with peoples contact details and mail merge this with a standard letter to be sent to the households of the target audience. Marketing will need to speak to finance about the available budget for promotion and advertising. A spreadsheet may be used to calculate the amount of money available from the NWTB budget. A further spreadsheet may be created by the marketing department to allow them to keep track of all financial transactions that take place in relation to this particular event. This may also help them to make important decisions about how much to spend on aspects of the promotion. Information will be sent to local hotels and guesthouses about the event to inform them that there may be business to be gained from the event in that people who attend from outside the region will need somewhere to stay. This may be done using e-mail and attachments. Marketing will need to send copies of invoices and bills for the production of leaflets, posters etc. to the finance department so that the finance department can pay the bills. Administration will be responsible for word processing and sending the standard letter to households promoting the event. After the event the marketing department will need to evaluate the success of the event and its impact on the region. Was the event worthwhile to the region? They will need to collect and analyse information from a variety of sources to assess its impact. ICT will be useful at all stages in this complex evaluation process. What are the external relationships that NWTB has? Department for Culture, Media and Sport National Level DCMS champions good quality and service for tourists, from the UK and overseas. We encourage and help the tourism industry to improve what it has to offer for all our visitors and to promote a positive image abroad. Tourism Policy DCMS Ministers are very keen to modernise and reform the tourism industry, working more closely than before with the industry, and current tourism policy is focusing on improving structures, marketing, data, quality and skills, as follows: * The industry has formed a new body, the Tourism Alliance, to represent its views better to Government and catalyse actions to help delivery of policy objectives * VisitBritain was set up on 1 April 2003, bringing together the English Tourism Council (ETC) and the British Tourist Authority (BTA) * The relaunched body has a new and significant marketing role for England, including the development of e-tourism * Funding which previously went to Regional Tourist Boards via the ETC will now be channelled via the Regional Development Agencies * Major reviews on quality and data have been initiated, consulting the industry and others as appropriate * Industry and Government are working in close partnership on the skills agenda, and the Government is strongly supporting the establishment of a Sector Skills Council for Tourism Current policy as described above builds upon Tomorrows Tourism, the Governments 1999 strategy for the development of tourism in England. Good progress has already been made in delivering Tomorrows Tourism, which has also brought together a number of Government departments who are working closely with DCMS and the tourism industry to implement the strategy. Important areas not mentioned explicitly above, such as sustainable development of tourism and increasing access to tourism, are now considered as a matter of course in policy development and delivery. Support Structures In April 2003 the strengths and resources of the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourism Council were combined in one organisation, renamed VisitBritain. VisitBritain is responsible for promoting Britain overseas and England to the domestic market. Its key roles are to boost Britains income from tourism through professional and effective marketing, and to provide a framework within which the tourism industry can work in closer partnership. With its network of overseas offices, VisitBritain helps the over 120,000 tourism businesses in Britain reach overseas customers cost-effectively. For England, VisitBritain provides a central coordination role to make the most of the collective effort of all sectors promoting tourism in England to a domestic audience. A greater role in tourism for Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in England is a major strand of the Governments programme of tourism reform. Since 1 April 2003, the RDAs are playing a stronger part in the strategic leadership of tourism, working both individually and together with each other within the new national framework for tourism strategy and marketing. The Regional Tourist Boards are the RDAs natural partners and will be funded by the RDAs, for the next three years at least, at a level equivalent to the project funding they received in 2002-03 from the former English Tourism Council. This amounts to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½3.6 million per year. This arrangement excludes London, for which there are separate arrangements with the Greater London Authority. Regional Partners Other regions of the UK who all work together to help implememtn the strategy for the whole of the UK Sub Regional Partners regions that make up the Northwest. They share good practise and work together to promote the region as a whole. Lancashire Tourist Board Cheshire County Council North West Development Agency The Mersey Partnership Marketing Manchester Cumbria Tourist Board The NWTB also has a relationship with a number of smaller businesses within the sub regioanl partners e.g. small hotels, tourist attractions etc. The NWTB also has a relationship with all the organisations listed below as a business cannot function independently of these. The Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, Insurers, ISPs, Data service providers, Computer and communications equipment suppliers, Courier Services, Utilities, Local authority departments, Advertising Agencies, Printer Firms. How is information used in the NWTB? Operations: * Purchasing * Work Scheduling- The NWTB will use this daily as they need to gain up to date information from all organisations. They will need to know where employees are in case another job comes up that is more important. * Delivery- The NWTB would need to make sure its customers where kept up to date with the latest technology, however, it is then up to the organisation as to whether they would like to utilise the technology. With small businesses the NWTB often spearheads the idea for the introduction of ICT into the business for more effective and efficient productivity. This means they may often have to supply their clients with computers in order to give them the best deal on, often, a small budget. Marketing: * Market Trends- Systems for studying market trends need to record and present data as defined by the current user, whether it be number of tourists visiting one attraction, or what attractions are open at that present time. Price and performance trends are also covered. * Analysis of competitive activity- The NWTB will be trying to make the northwest the best tourist destination in order to improve its reputation. They are constantly in competition with the other regions in the country. Within the NWTB you can sub-section the industry into different attractions, e.g. Hotels in one category and entertainment complexes in another. These sub- categories are in each have their own levels of competition in the northwest. * Planning and analysis of promotional campaigns- This is vital to the efficient running of the NWTB, they target not only small businesses in the promotions, but also the larger more established organisations that have more power to bring more tourists. Sales: * Receiving and logging of customer orders * Invoice production * Customer details * Recording all sales visits and other sales activity The ICT department have an important role in designing, introducing, and developing e-commerce systems. E-commerce is one of many ways a client of the NWTB can become a much more successful firm without the need of expansion. It allows small firms to broaden horizons, they do however take a number of months to become profitable and implementing them often takes a lot of time and effort, however, in the market today it is very easy to provide e-commerce safely and securely. The sales department would also keep a list of customers and clients on record. They will use these to keep details like address, e-mail address, buying history, current sale status, and sales person dealt with in the transaction. Research and Design: * Product design- The design process would be carried out using CAD, this allows the design department to produce lots of designs very quickly, it also allows the drawings to be much more accurate. This process also allows designs to be inter-compatible. * Engineering design- Due to CAD the design process becomes much quicker, in the production of advertisements it becomes much easier to edit motion clips on a computer very quickly. On a static poster you can retouch the elements present within it. * Analysis of new developments Finance: * Sales, purchase and nominal ledgers * Credit control * Payroll * Payments in and out, including EFT * Budgets, projections and accounts * Historical financial records Finance has to be able to give instant statements on the financial situation in the company to the directors, on request. EFT stands for electronic funds transfer. It refers to any use of computers in making payments to organisations or individuals. It is a rapid way of transferring money, but raises doubts about security. These administrative applications are largely similar between one organisation and another. There is nonetheless an important task for ICT to advise on the particular software products to be obtained. Administration: * Personnel records and pension scheme- personnel records include, for each employee: name, home address and telephone number, NI number, employee number and department, DOB, sex, date of joining company, job history before joining company, job history since joining, training, qualifications and skills. * Legal and statutory matters * Insurance * External authorities and contractors * Board meetings and annual general meetings As with the finance department, many of the systems used are universal throughout many different companies. The advice of ICT is likely to be both helpful to users and able to support the organisations policies on standardisation. The ICT Department: One of the key roles of the ICT department is to explain the advantages that may be available for managers and their departments of making greater use of computer-based systems. The team needs to explain the structure and characteristics of ICT projects. Another important task of ICT is to devise and manage centralised systems in the following areas: * Procurement of computer equipment * Procurement of computing and communications equipment * Use of e-mail and other Internet access procedures * System development, testing and standardisation

The Suez Crisis Of 1956 Essay -- Arab-Israeli Conflict History Arabs I

The Suez Crisis of 1956 Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Among the most important foundations in the continuing Arab-Israeli conflict was the seeds that were sown in the aftermath of the 1956 Sinai Campaign, or the Suez Crisis. Whatever the operation is referred to as, its consequences involving both relations internal to the Middle East and with the world are impossible to ignore. Looked at simply as an objective event in history, one could note several key outcomes of the war. It marked the beginning of the end of British and French colonial leadership in the region, and the start of an increasingly high American and Soviet involvement. The war also proved to the Arab nations of the area that the Israeli military machine was not one to be taken lightly, a lesson which would be forgotten and retaught in the 1967 "Six Day War". The positive impact that the United Nations would have on ending the conflict, through Canada's idea of creating a UN peacekeeping force to help enforce the ceasefire, was another important outcome.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This paper, however, will not have the goal of examining these specific events in relation to the war, nor will it try to determine which factors were most significant. My aim will be to gain a more complete understanding of the effect of the crisis by reviewing key events of the war from two different perspectives: the Israeli and the Arab points of view, plus the experiences of the European powers as well. Through a brief comparison of both the coverage of the War by the differing authors and the varying interpretations seen throughout my study, I will be best able to make an informed evaluation on how the event was, and is today, seen in the political and historical forum. Comparison of Coverage   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The war, which was begun on October 29, 1956 when the Israelis moved their units into the Sinai peninsula, has had its origins traced back to many historical events. Which is the most important of these is a point of contention for the authors I have studied. There does seem to be for all parties involved a consensus that the ascent to power of Gamal Abdel Nasser to President of Eqypt in 1956 , and his move to nationalize the Suez Canal as the main precipitating factor in setting off the conflict.  Why Nasser did this, however, is where my various sources diverge.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Quite predictably, sources used from... ...tter idea of how the Egyptian army forces viewed and dealt with the crisis. To help in a general rounding of the Israeli view of the crisis, I used Yitzak Shamir's autobiography (Shamir, Yitzhak; "Summing Up"; London; Weidenfeld and Nicolson Press; 1994.), a man who was to play an integral role in the Arab-Israeli conflict as the Prime Minister of Israel in the 1980s. My search for an Israeli military perspective was quite arduous, but finally settled on the work of Chaim Herzog in "The Arab-Israeli Wars" (1982). As Herzog was a major-general in the crisis of 1956, he not only provided me with detailed information of the invasion itself, but of the various meanings and causes behind it. In trying to find Jewish academic sources, I eventually settled on the works of Itamar Rabinovich's "Seven Wars and One Peace Treaty" (1991), and M.E. Yapp's "The Near East Since the First World War" (1991). While Rabinovich was based in Tel Aviv and had stronger pro-Israeli views, Yapp, who was a professor in London, England, who's ideas were a little more moderate and yet, at least in this author's perspective, seemed to lean quite distinctly towards the Jewish State's cause.

Causes and efects of Obesity Essay

Obesity is a factor that increases risk developing a number of serious and potentially life – threatening disease. At present, obesity rates are rising in several developed countries such as the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Hungary. Around a quarter of these countries’s population is overweight. This essay will look at some of the causes and effects of obesity. Firstly, energy imbalance most often causes obesity. Energy imbalance is the excess of energy in over energy out. Energy in and energy out are the amount of calories the body obtains and uses, respectively. If the amount of energy in is greater than the amount of energy out, your body contains unnecessary calories. Unecessary calories is transformed into fat. The more fat you get, the more weight you gain. Overtime, obesity is inevitable. The other major cause of obesity is lack of physical activities. Sufficiently practicing of physical activities is one of the best way help burn unnecessary calories. Therefore, lacking of volume of physical activities leads to extra calories retained. As a result, obesity happens. For intances, many people hace jobs that involve too much desk sittng and no physical activities. They do not use all the energy provided by foods they eat, and the extra calories are stored as fat instead, which causes obesity. Obesity is a risk factor for many dangerous disease. However, there are two most fatal effects of obesity.  Firstly, obesity has been known as the main factor of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is literally the pressure on blood vessels caused by high workload of heart. The obese body contains fat tissue that needs oxygen and nutrients to live, which requires more blood. Therefore, the heart must pumps more blood through blood vessels, and vessels indure high pressure of blood. This causes high blood pressure. The other consequence of obesity is type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is medical condition which makes blood sugar level higher than normal. This is the  result of insulin resitance. Obesity can cause resistance to insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. When obesity causes insulin resistance, the blood sugar becomes eveluated. Even moderate obesity dramatically increases the risk of diabetes, such as blindness. To summarise, obesity derives from two major causes which are energy imbalance and lack of physical activities. Its effects are numberous but the most critical ones are high blood pressure and diabetes. People who are struggling with obesity should start to do more physical activities and have a balance diet in their daily life, so that they can lose weight and avoid obesity.

Environmental Psychology Article Analysis

Environmental psychology is a moderately new subfield of psychology. Understanding how individuals interact, perceive, and respond to the built and natural environment is the goal of environmental psychology (Veitch & Arkkelin, 1995). Overcrowding, climate, and pollution are some environmental factors that may definitely have a huge influence on human behavior. Natural disasters not only significantly affect an individual’s life but also a family’s life. Furthermore, understanding this substantial effect and ways to care for and heal the trauma of a natural disaster is an important goal for environmental psychologists (Veitch & Arkkelin, 1995). In August 2005, hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana (NOAA, 2007). The overwhelming aftermath left Louisiana in complete destruction, leaving thousands displaced and almost 2,000 lives lost (NOAA, 2007). In addition, children were lost as well as numerous children left without families. The psychological trauma brought on by this event is a subject that psychologists attempt to understand. Through the article â€Å"Traumatization through Separation: Loss of Family and Home as Childhood Catastrophes† by Ute Benz (2004) this understanding can begin to be met. Throughout this journey, the article will be analyzed for its significance to the trauma suffered in hurricane Katrina, how the people of Louisiana especially young children cope, and how this type of tragedy influences a person’s life. Article Summary. Anna Freud created a home for displaced children in 1940. These children were alienated from their families as a result of the German bombardment of London (Benz, 2004). These children were alienated not only from their families but also their environment. Through Anna Freud’s research during and after this time, she could better comprehend the needs and development of children, particularly during stressful times (2004). Separation from the home and family is one of the most distressing events that can occur in a child’s life. Benz (2004) explores the degree of distress and the amount of influence separation has on different age groups as well as asserting the significance of how caregivers respond and react to these children. The short and long-term effects are also investigated. Benz does this through the works of Anna Freud and Hans Keilson (2004). The article takes on a psychoanalytic approach and emphasizes the importance of separation and trauma in a child’s life along with how a child will function. Hurricane Katrina and Environmental Psychology. As stated above, the effects of hurricane Katrina were devastating. The trauma that the children of Louisiana suffered because of this huge disaster and family separation was extensive. The long-term effects can be theorized only at this point, as this event just occurred in August 2005. Although known that there are certain points in a child’s life in which separation is more distressing; aggression and guilt can occur including ambivalent feelings of love and hate as the cause of this (Benz, 2004). Environmental psychology can hold a momentous place in tying together the effects of an environmental cataclysm such as a hurricane to psychological influence and human behavior. It does not matter what researchers or scientists try to do, natural disasters will never be prevented; however, understanding what treatment plan is better for survivors of any disaster or the best course of action concerning how to respond to this type of situation is essential. Not only does one have to deal with losing friends and family members but also one has to deal with losing his or her home and becoming displaced. All of these situations can be very devastating and can have a major effect on people, especially a child. Conclusion The correlation between a natural disaster and the effects it has on one is brought together through environmental psychology. The perception of the interaction or the environment and event as well as the behavioral and psychological response to the environment lead environmental psychologists through their desire and research for understanding an individual’s behavior in regard to his or her surroundings. The work completed by Hans Keilson and Anna Freud contributed to the understanding of how the environment and the traumatic event of a child who has been separated from his or her family can have considerable psychological effects. The goal of environmental psychologists is to assist in the treatment and care as well as understanding displaced families, children, and an individual.

Free Essays on Roe vs Wade

There were many cases in History that have marked milestones on today’s society. There were some that have changed the way a lot of things were run in this world according to the constitution. I am a woman so the one case that is marked in my mind would have to be the Supreme Court case, Roe vs Wade. The legal case, decided in 1973 by the U.S. Supreme Court, that held restrictive state regulation of abortion to be unconstitutional. It was a 7–2 vote the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's decision that a Texas statute criminalizing abortion in most instances violated a woman's constitutional right of privacy, which the court found implicit in the liberty guarantee of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This meant that the women indeed did have a right to choose their future. The case began in 1970 when Jane Roe (a fictional name used to protect the identity of Norma McCorvey) instituted federal action against Henry Wade, the district attorney of Dallas county, Texas, where Roe resided. The court disagreed with Roe's assertion of an absolute right to terminate pregnancy in any way and at any time and attempted to balance a woman's right of privacy with a state's interest in regulating abortion. The court stated that only a â€Å"compelling state interest† justifies regulations limiting â€Å"fundamental rights† such as: privacy and that legislators must therefore draw statutes narrowly â€Å"to express the legitimate state interests at stake.† The court then attempted to balance the state's distinct compelling interests in the health of pregnant women and in the potential life of fetuses. It placed the point after which a state's compelling interest in the pregnant woman's health would allow it to regulate abortion â€Å"at approxi mately the end of the first trimester† of pregnancy. With regard to fetuses, the court located that point at â€Å"capability for meaningful life outside the mother's womb,† or viabili... Free Essays on Roe vs Wade Free Essays on Roe vs Wade There were many cases in History that have marked milestones on today’s society. There were some that have changed the way a lot of things were run in this world according to the constitution. I am a woman so the one case that is marked in my mind would have to be the Supreme Court case, Roe vs Wade. The legal case, decided in 1973 by the U.S. Supreme Court, that held restrictive state regulation of abortion to be unconstitutional. It was a 7–2 vote the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's decision that a Texas statute criminalizing abortion in most instances violated a woman's constitutional right of privacy, which the court found implicit in the liberty guarantee of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This meant that the women indeed did have a right to choose their future. The case began in 1970 when Jane Roe (a fictional name used to protect the identity of Norma McCorvey) instituted federal action against Henry Wade, the district attorney of Dallas county, Texas, where Roe resided. The court disagreed with Roe's assertion of an absolute right to terminate pregnancy in any way and at any time and attempted to balance a woman's right of privacy with a state's interest in regulating abortion. The court stated that only a â€Å"compelling state interest† justifies regulations limiting â€Å"fundamental rights† such as: privacy and that legislators must therefore draw statutes narrowly â€Å"to express the legitimate state interests at stake.† The court then attempted to balance the state's distinct compelling interests in the health of pregnant women and in the potential life of fetuses. It placed the point after which a state's compelling interest in the pregnant woman's health would allow it to regulate abortion â€Å"at approxi mately the end of the first trimester† of pregnancy. With regard to fetuses, the court located that point at â€Å"capability for meaningful life outside the mother's womb,† or viabili...

Homer essays

Homer essays As I explored the Museum of Fine Arts, I came upon a portrait that I enjoyed. As I looked at this work of art longer and longer, I decided I wanted to do my Fine Arts paper on "Driftwood" by Winslow Homer. The painting is located in the Gund Gallery and adjacent to the Fenway stairs. Being secluded because of a beam, much attention is drawn to this magnificent painting. It is especially protected due to its location. In the entrance across the hall sits a security guard watching over the gallery it presides in. This life-like picture spans 24 1/2 x 28 1/2 in. Its frame was wisely chosen and is gold in color. The frame complements the colors used in the canvas. The design of wavy lines in the frame gives not only the frame character, but also the portrait. The painting "Driftwood" takes place in Prout's Neck, Maine. "This is where Homer lived for twenty-seven years before he died. Homer painted "Driftwood" in 1909, the year before he died. This was the last work Homer ever completed (MFA, "Driftwood")." To sum up the painting, a man is trying to save a huge tree trunk that was washed up on rocks next to the raging sea. He looks very wet and the water is dangerously close to him. The trunk is extremely large and I doubt he will ever move the figure with just the rope he has in his hand. I believe that Homer is trying to express determination and the willingness to succeed by showing one man trying to save a very large tree trunk. He adds the stormy weather to show that the man will stop at nothing to do what he believes is right. This is an all out fight between man and nature and unfortunately, nature usually wins. Homer's work for the most part is nonobjective in its subject matter. The rough water shows the power of Mother Nature in a beautiful setting. The green-gray sky portrays a terrible storm hitting the shores. The only piece of this work that may possibly become objective is the fact that the man loc...

9 Spanish Verbs Based on Venir

9 Spanish Verbs Based on Venir Usually meaning to come, venir is one of the most common verbs in Spanish. Like many other verbs, venir can be combined with prefixes to expand its meaning. As you can see from the examples below, many of the words formed by combining venir with a prefix are related to English words that end in -vene. Thats because the English verbs come from the Latin verb venire, which is also the source of venir. Following are the most common verbs formed using the venir root along with examples of their use. Avenir Avenir typically means to reconcile, to get along, or to come to an agreement. It is frequently used in the reflexive form. Nos avenimos a firmar la Carta de la Paz, un documento que debemos fortalecer. (We came together to sign the Peace Letter, a document we ought to strengthen.)Tras largas negociaciones, los empresarios finalmente se avinieron con los sindicatos. (After lengthy negotiations, the business owners finally came to an agreement with the unions.) Contravenir Meanings of contravenir include to violate, to infringe, and to contravene. Este tipo de medidas contravenerà ­an el principio de libre circulacià ³n. (This kind of step violated the principle of free circulation.)Los usuarios que usen las computadoras de la biblioteca no contravendrn las leyes sobre derechos de autor o marcas registrada. (Library computer uses will not violate the laws about copyright or trademarks.) Convenir Although convenir can sometimes refer to convening, it more often refers to being suitable or agreeing. Los representantes convinieron en que debà ­an esperar hasta recibir mas informacià ³n. (The representatives agreed that they ought to wait until they receive more information.)Espero que el Congreso convenga, tambien aprobando el artà ­culo que se discute. (I hope that the Congress convenes, also approving the article under discussion.) Devinir Devenir is not related to the English verb divine but instead usually means to become or to happen. Cuando la mente deviene quiescente, el soplo deviene controlado. (When the mind quiets down, breathing becomes controlled.)No puedes devenir lo que no eres naturalmente. (You cant become what you naturally arent.) Intervenir Intervenir can refer to intervening, but it can also have a weaker meaning that refers just to participating in something. El Banco Central intervino cuando el tipo de cambio tocà ³ $2,98. (The Central Bank intervened when the exchange rate reached $2.98.)Los varones intervienen menos que las mujeres en el cuidado de los hijos. (The men participate less in the care of children than the women do.) Prevenir While prevenir often refers to preventing something, it can also refer to merely warning or even just expecting. Ambas vacunas previnieron la diseminacià ³n cloacal del virus de influenza aviar. (Both vaccines prevented the sewage-connected dissemination of the bird flu virus.)El gobierno no previno el desastre de Nueva Orleans. (The government did not anticipate the New Orleans disaster.) Provenir Provenir typically means to come from somewhere. Provengo de la ciudad de Talca en Chile. (I come from the city of Talca in Chile.)Como mi apellido indica, mi padre proviene de Alemania. (As my surname indicates, my father comes from Germany.) Sobrevenir Sobrevenir frequently refers to something coming or happening suddenly, although it can also refer to something that merely happens subsequent to something else. En la madrugada sobrevino el terremoto. (The earthquake came suddenly in the dawn.)Hay que identificar la probabilidad de que sobrevenga un tsunami. (It is necessary to determine the chance that a tsunami will occur.) Subvenir Subvenir is often translated as to pay or to defray; it typically refers to the payment for necessities. El populismo pretende que el estado subvenga a toda necesidad social tengan las personas. (Populism hopes that the state will provide for every social necessity that people have.)La madre subviene a todas las necesidades del nià ±o. (The mother pays for all the childs needs.) Conjugation of Verbs Based on Venir All these verbs are conjugated in the same way as  venir, which is irregular in nearly all its simple forms. For example, this is how prevenir is conjugated in the indicative present tense: yo prevengo, tà º previenes, usted/à ©l/ella previene, nosotros/nosotras prevenimos, vosotros/vosotras venà ­s, ellos/ellas previenen.

Cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 5

Cancer - Essay Example There are many different types of cancers originating in the human body owing to the different types of cells in the body. A few examples of cancers are skin cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer. Cancer is an abnormal multiplication of the cells which may originate in any cell of the human body owing to the lack regulatory processes and this pathological state can be treated by different treatment modalities (Kumar et al 2005). Under the microscope, cancer cells reveal different structural characteristics because of which they can be differentiated from the normal cells of the body. They are pleomorphic in nature, which means that they have a tendency to have a variable size and shape which is not in accordance with the normal cells. The cancer cells have different size and different shapes. Most of the cancer cells have large nuclei in comparison to the surrounding normal tissue cells and the nuclei of the cancerous cells contain abnormal number of chromosomes, a condition known as aneuploidy. The aneuploidy may occur due to a mutation or deletion of a chromosome. The cell membrane of the cancer cells produces surface enzymes which have the ability to damage the basement membrane of tissues. This characteristic assists in the spread of the cancer from its site of origin to the surrounding non-cancerous cells and damages them as well. The cancer cells show increased rate of mitosis. Mitosis is the process of the reproduction of the new cells and hence the cancer increases in its size and crosses its boundaries to spread out of its confines. The cancer cells have differences in metabolism in comparison to normal cells. Their metabolism is more anaerobic and therefore they may even combat hypoxic conditions. The cancer cells have the propensity to spread from the primary cancer site from where the tumor begins to grow to the adjacent normal tissues. This phenomenon is

Multiagent Systems research based Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Multiagent Systems research based - Essay Example The multi agent system looks at improving the production performance, increasing the schedule reliability and efficiency and keeping updated schedules. Software agent technology, which started in the early 1980s as a sub-field of artificial intelligence and has been a very dynamic field of research for about more than two decades, focuses its research mainly on aspects of multi-agent planning and distributed problem solving. Even though the agent technology research field is still heterogeneous it has set up itself as a major stream of computer science and artificial intelligence in particular. Multi-agent system is quite imperative for a ceramic tile company like Eco Tile factory, because it needs dynamic production processes to offer online programming to the customers and it would be able to manage real time response about their services and delivery times of required products through the process where design and other activities are done ahead of the production process. Like most other production units, production programming was one of the main problems of this company. The multi-agent system in Eco Tile turns to be a better structure for dealing with design and development of an application which should be flexible and adaptable to the environment. Multi agent technique seems to be appropriate for solving complicated problems that require intelligence. Here, Multi agent system provides a natural way to solve problems that are inherently distributed within the factory. Recently, multi agent system shows its trend towards the overt design and organization use where heterogeneous agents work together within distinct roles to attain individual and general goals. When emphasizing on team goals, organizations allow agents to work together with the help of individual agents to function properly and to perform the jobs that they are best appropriated for. When focusing on individual agent’s goal, organizations allow agents to perform

Over exceeding nutrients Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Over exceeding nutrients - Research Paper Example Moreover, high-saturated fat content have some side effects on the heart. Hunter avers that taking a balanced diet while being pregnant is important, but over exceeding or lack of nutrients causes severe damage and complications. Underweight or obese expectant women experience numerous difficulties while conceiving. Some of the nutrients that should be included in the diet in sustainable amounts include energy, protein, fibre, Folic acid, iron, vitamin A, C, D and calcium. Iannotti, Lora, Kenda Cunningham, and Marie Ruel. Improving Diet Quality and Micronutrient Nutrition: Homestead Food Production in Bangladesh. Washington, D.C: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), 2009. A home gardening program, Homestead Food Production (HFP), is described by the authors. The article indicates that the program has lead to an increase in the production of the macronutrient food and reduces the rate of nutritional diseases. According to Kohler, heat does not reduce the rate of nutrition unless it exceeds the optimum levels. Additionally, oxidation makes nutrition a bit less. For example: an apple that was cut in half and oxidized for an hour is different than if it was cut for about 2 hours. Martinez asserts that most people are oblivious about lack of enough nutrients in the body while ignoring the fact that excess of the nutrients in the body has profound detrimental impact on the health of the body. Consumption of excess calories leads to the accumulation of high amounts of fats leading to disorders such as heart disease, depression, cancer, sleep apnea, type 2 Diabetes and stroke. Excess proteins increase the risk of osteoporosis. Excess vitamins can lead to various defects such as birth defects in the unborn babies in the case of excess vitamin while excess vitamin B-6 can cause excess nerve damage. Some of the disorders

Sociology Research Proposal - Second part to Literature Review Essay

Sociology Research Proposal - Second part to Literature Review - Essay Example The American September 11, 2001 World Trade Centre tragedy was one of severe calamity which claimed many lives. The 9/11 event was followed by another act of terrorism on July 7 in London: A bombing in 2005 which claimed 56 lives. These two activities dominated much of media attention worldwide creating a linkage of a particular religious group in these two activities. The method by which media reporting of these terrorist activities is presented often portrays Islamic-based or Muslim groups in an unfavourable light, creating questions as to the credibility of reporting the events as being somewhat biased. Media reporting often fails to report terrorist activities with objectivity, leaving Australian citizens with a one-sided viewpoint regarding the Islamic faith as a whole, likely creating a level of unsubstantiated discrimination against this entire religious group. This proposed study is designed to examine the reporting methods and media portrayal of Islamic terrorist organizations which might be competently attributed to Australian social discrimination against Muslim individuals. It is proposed that this link can be established between media and Islamic discrimination through analysis of media content within the period followed by the September 11 and July 7 terrorist tragedies. The recent increase in global terrorist activities and the method by which terrorists have conducted many of their hostile activities have attracted attentions of individuals from media and society as a whole. Repetitive press linkage of one particular religious group has given rise to the interest behind this research. The aforementioned American and British tragedies have boosted the over-generalization of the Muslim community as a whole by the media worldwide. Even more specific, Australian media has taken an active interest in the portrayal of those in the Islamic faith as being generically linked to terrorist

Analysis of Biblical Perspective Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Analysis of Biblical Perspective - Essay Example When we try to help others for our own emotional fulfillment, the meaning of love is lost. On the other hand, we have to help others without the significant power over them and make sure that our help is done the way they need it, on their own terms. Quite naturally, such acts of love are apt to result in personal losses to the caregiver but one can be assured that they are worth the trouble as long as they are done as an expression of love to God. The perfect example for true love to God is set by saintly figures like Mother Teresa, who sacrificed their personal comforts and joy for the sake of providing a decent life for many extremely poor and sick people who had no one to look after them. When I think of being a caregiver, I hope to strive towards such a level of selfless love for others, even if I start it from simple acts of kindness in daily life. Apart from being vigilant to the needs of individuals and society in general, I would also like to make a pact with God through a n umber of such meaningful little acts of love that would fall into a specific pattern. However, I would also like to keep my work towards that as an issue between me and God, which needs constant self-reflection and prayerful communication with God. 2. The passage from Matthew 8:28-32 deals with the healing of two demon-possessed men. It describes how Jesus arrived with his disciples at Gadarenes where the two possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They are described as so violent that no one could pass through that way. They encountered Jesus violently, addressing him as â€Å"son of God† and asking him: â€Å"Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?† The spirits requested him to send them to a herd of pigs rearing nearby, and Jesus does exactly the same. The pigs rushed down the steep bank down the lake and they perish, whereof those who were tending them rushed to the town to inform others of this.  Ã‚  

Sociology Research Proposal - Second part to Literature Review Essay

Sociology Research Proposal - Second part to Literature Review - Essay Example The American September 11, 2001 World Trade Centre tragedy was one of severe calamity which claimed many lives. The 9/11 event was followed by another act of terrorism on July 7 in London: A bombing in 2005 which claimed 56 lives. These two activities dominated much of media attention worldwide creating a linkage of a particular religious group in these two activities. The method by which media reporting of these terrorist activities is presented often portrays Islamic-based or Muslim groups in an unfavourable light, creating questions as to the credibility of reporting the events as being somewhat biased. Media reporting often fails to report terrorist activities with objectivity, leaving Australian citizens with a one-sided viewpoint regarding the Islamic faith as a whole, likely creating a level of unsubstantiated discrimination against this entire religious group. This proposed study is designed to examine the reporting methods and media portrayal of Islamic terrorist organizations which might be competently attributed to Australian social discrimination against Muslim individuals. It is proposed that this link can be established between media and Islamic discrimination through analysis of media content within the period followed by the September 11 and July 7 terrorist tragedies. The recent increase in global terrorist activities and the method by which terrorists have conducted many of their hostile activities have attracted attentions of individuals from media and society as a whole. Repetitive press linkage of one particular religious group has given rise to the interest behind this research. The aforementioned American and British tragedies have boosted the over-generalization of the Muslim community as a whole by the media worldwide. Even more specific, Australian media has taken an active interest in the portrayal of those in the Islamic faith as being generically linked to terrorist

Human resource management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Human resource management - Essay Example An independent analysis of the online recruitment models at Price Waterhouse Coopers, Marks and Spencer and Barclay’s was conducted to determine whether these models are properly aligned to gain the best talent required. Marks and Spencer significantly emphasises the corporate culture that resides at the firm as a means of differentiating the business from competing retail recruiters. The website is constructed for extreme ease of navigation through the various informational pages, providing clear and distinct weblinks to explore the many diverse values portrayed by the organisation. On the â€Å"Our Values† page, Marks and Spencer clearly lists the core foundation of culture, including elements of trust, innovation, commitment, and quality of service (Marks and Spencer 2012). From this page, the candidate is able to navigate easily to learn of the many benefits of gaining employment with the firm, including employee discounts, receipt of bonus scheme outcomes, and pens ion opportunities for long-term reward (Marks and Spencer 2012). In every detail, this organisation wants the candidate to understand the dynamics of business operations and human resources philosophy at the organisation, providing ample information on leadership at the firm and the strong emphasis on diversity prevalent in this business model. No proverbial stone is left unturned in relation to providing comprehension of organisational culture and business mission and vision to assist the candidate in determining whether they would be a proper fit for this business model. The image portrayed by Marks and Spencer is one of leadership-based competence and one in which candidates should expect human resources models to contain much emphasis on social belonging and professional development. An independent candidate that prefers individualism rather than collective work groups, after assessing the sizeable basket of information about the company, might select a competitor with a more ce ntralised business model. However, the blend of knowledge portrayed on the corporate recruitment site leaves little to the imagination about what should be expected upon gaining employment. Barclays and Price Waterhouse Coopers take a different approach to the online recruitment process, with much less emphasis on transformational leadership and cultural development. As both of these companies operate in the financial sector, in generally centralised hierarchies, the content of these two recruitment websites are more professional-centric describing values associated with meeting strategic corporate goals rather than focusing on the interpersonal dynamic of inter-office relationship development. Offers Price Waterhouse Coopers, â€Å"Our culture is all about our people. The development of our people is key and though we are all driven by different aspirations, we share the same commitment to quality† (pwc.co.uk 2012, p.1). Price Waterhouse Coopers attempts to illustrate that h ard work is the cornerstone of meeting service needs and achieving long-term goals with much less emphasis on the psycho-social dynamic of employment. Though the website is easy to navigate with ample weblinks leading to job-related information, the focus of recruitment is navigation through many web pages describing domestic and international career positions with well-developed and thorough job descriptions. Barclay’s, as well, places much less emphasis on the dynamics of existing organisational cu

To Kill a Mockingbird Moral Essay Example for Free

To Kill a Mockingbird Moral Essay The depth behind this novel is too see how Scout has progressed throughout the course of two years. Slowly but surely, she realizes the life lessons that have been waiting for her all along. She does this with the help of her family and her community. One man importantly sticks out the most, and his name is Arthur Radley, but Scout and the children like to call him Boo. Lee incorporated Mr. Radley to really show Scout the important lessons of life through the experiences and the encounters she faces with him, while also helping her grow into maturity. In the beginning, Atticus says â€Å"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view –until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.† (Lee 30). Boo Radley helps Scout realize the lesson her father is trying to teach her in a copious amount of ways. First off, the children believe that Boo Radley is the child-eating monster, when in reality he is not. He turns out to be quite the opposite to Scouts suprise. Boo does this by leaving the pennies and bubblegum in the hollow of the tree for Scout and Jem as a gift, yet not revealing that it was him. Also, when Scout, Jem, and Dill all try to peep into the Radley house, Jem gets his pants stuck on the fence and Boo sews them back up for him. Surprised, yet still weary of Boo, Scout still hasnt completely walked around in Boos skin for her to see what a good person he is yet. When Miss Maudies house catches on fire that cold night, Boo comes up behind Scout and puts a blanket on her. Scout in fear pays no attention to the blanket and runs away. Even though Scout doesnt recognize the kind acts that Boo is paying her, all these things help her realize the lessons of the novel at the end. If it werent for Boo and his encounters with Scout, she wouldnt understand the meaning of stepping into someone else shoes, and seeing things from their point of view. The second lesson that Boo helps teach Scout is the meaning of a mockingbird, and how a mockingbird can be the personality and heart of a person. Mockingbirds are the only birds that Jem and Scout arent allowed to shoot with the rifle by Atticuss words because it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Miss Maudie explains this later by saying Mockingbirds dont do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They dont eat up peoples gardens, dont nest in corncribs, they dont do but one thing but sing their hearts out for us. Thats why its a sin to kill a mockingbird. (Lee 10). This correlates to when Bob Ewell tries to murder Jem and Scout, until Boo saves them and winds up killing Mr. Ewell himself. Later, the Sheiff explains that he does not want to make Boo out to be a hero or publicize him, so they use a cover story instead. The Sheriff knew this would be a bad idea because he is such a recluse, and doesnt want him to have to justify himself to the public and face ridicule. Atticus explains this to Scout, and she says she understands because it would be like shooting a mockingbird. At this point the maturity is shown and she has just applied one of the lessons, thanks to Boo Radley. She realizes that Boo has never actually harmed someone (opposite to the rumors) and has done nothing but looked out for her. She now realizes that people can be mockingbirds too. At the very end of the novel, when Scout walks Boo home across the street, she is standing on his porch. She remembers what her father said about standing in someone elses shoes and she says Just standing on the Radley porch was enough. (Lee 31). From his perspective she can see the town and her house right across the street from it. She realizes how he protected them and watched out for them. If it wasnt for Boo, she wouldve never started looking through the grown-up perspective. The lessons that Atticus was trying to teach her wouldnt have been applied, and Scout wouldnt know how a person could symbolize a mockingbird. She says to Atticus he was real nice and Atticus replies Most people are, Scout, once you finally see them. (Lee 31). Works Cited Page: To Kill a Mockingbird. Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013. To Kill a Mockingbird Study Guide Essays. To Kill a Mockingbird Study Guide Literature Essays. N.p., 1999. Web. 06 Feb. 2013. To Kill a Mockingbird. Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013

Employment Among Peoples With Disabilities Social Work Essay

Employment Among Peoples With Disabilities Social Work Essay Companies decisions to hire and retain employee can be influence of variety of factors. The study examines factors that influence companies decision to hire a person with disabilities in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. While not denying the fact that there are numerous factors contributing to the companies decisions to hire disabled people. According to the Department of Social Welfare Malaysia, persons with disability is any person who is unable to obtain for himself/herself, fully or partially, the normal requirements of an individual and / or is unable to participate fully in the community due to shortcomings either physically or mentally and whether it occurred since birth or later in life. There are six categories of disabilities that are identify and registered in the department that is first hearing disability including deaf and mute, second is vision disability including blind that is eyesight less than 3/60 for the good eye even with vision support equipment (eye glasses) and low visi on/partially sighted that is eyesight less 6/18 but equal or better than 3/60 for the good eye even with vision support equipment (eye glasses), third is physical disability such as Polio, Amputee, Muscular Dystrophy, Myopathy, Neuropathy, Osteogenesis Imperfecta and others, fourth is Cerebral Palsy such as Hemiplegia that is Cerebral palsy that affect half of the body, Diplegia that is Cerebral palsy that affect both legs and Quadriplegia that is Cerebral palsy that affect all limbs, fifth is learning disability that is Global Development Delay (for children age People with disabilities are often being socially excluded in our Malaysian Society (Malaysian Care Organisation). Negative attitudes towards persons with disabilities has been identified as a barrier them to particiapte fully in society (Hasnah Toran et al., 2009). Without a concerted effort and awareness from companies and public as well, there is no improvement for this people to participate fully in society. Malaysia passed the Person with Disability Act (PWDA) in 2008 as part of its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN convention). According to this Act, those persons with disabilities shall have equal access to public facilities, amenities, services and buildings, public transport, education, employment, information, communication and technology, cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport (www.thenutgraph.com). This Act as a basis for equalization of opportunities for person with disabilities, to eliminate discrimination and harrasment against them and to promote their full participation as equal citizens of this country (Zulfikri Osman, 2003). 1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT There are 15,409 PWDs registered with the State Welfare Services Department in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah as at July 2010, including those with physical or mental disabilities, hearing and vision impairment, cerebral palsy as well as intellectually challenged according to Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun in the Daily Express( 10 October 2010). According to her, there are many other PWDs out there have not registered to the department and urges to do so and the society must adapt to their needs and accord them the same right. There are some approaches and campaign done by government to improve the standard of living disabled persons. In general, the reaction of the private sector towards employment of disabled people may be due to misperception about people with disabilities. Hooi (2000a, p. 4) quotes Bathmavathi Krishnan, a senior disabled librarian in Kuala Lumpur: Most employers are reluctant to employ the disabled because of concerns regarding safety regulations, the need to modify premises such as installing ramps, disabled-friendly toilets and extra medical costs. Mariah Abdul Rahman (Hooi 2000a, p. 4) a web-lab manager in MIMOS Bhd, cites prejudice and the fear of uncertainty among employers as the main reasons why people with disabilities find it difficult to seek employment. In this era of globalization and digitization where competitive pressures of the new economy spill over into the lives of the rich, poor and disabled people, the need for a decent job is even more fundamental to a life of dignified existence: The work that we do has a crucial impact on our social and material well-being, in terms of income, class, status, influence, social relationships and personal identity (Barnes, Mercer Shakespeare 1999, p.1 10). The purpose of this study is to investigate companies attitudes towards employment of persons with disabilities in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah . 1.2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE 1) The objective of this study is to investigate factor that influence companies attitudes toward the employment of persons with disabilities. 2) To recommend suitable employee for the private company. 1.3 SCOPE OF STUDY The scope of the study covers a few selected Private companies in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Sembulan, Tanjung Aru, Lintas, Inanam and Likas). 1.4 SIGNIFICANT OF STUDY This study is significant because it seek to measure the companies opinions and view in hiring persons with disabilities. This study will benefit the government, disabled people, employers and local universities as there were few empirical studies in this area. Hence the findings from this study can be used by the government and employers to develop better effort in developing disabled people to live in better living conditions and in the workplace. 1.5 DEFINITION OF TERMS The terms used in the study are defined for ease of understanding 1.6.1 Disability person Those who have long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society (Social Welfare Department of Malaysia). Disability is defined according to the American Disability Act: 1) A person who has a physical of mental impairment, which substantially limits a major life activity, 2) Has record of that impairment that is used by the employer to discriminate against the individual, and 3) Is regarded by others as having such an impairment, whether impaired or not (this category includes AIDS/HIV) (Fersh Thomas, 1993; Spechler, 1996; Presidents Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, 1993). 1.6.2 Private Company Business firm in the private (non-public) sector of an economy, controlled and operated by private individuals (and not by civil servants or government-employees) (retrieved from businessdictionary on 18 October 2010). 1.6.3 Attitude` An attitude is a learned predisposition to behave in a consistent favorable or unfavorable way with respect to a given object (Schiffman Kanuk, 1994). Attitude is a combination of beliefs and feelings that influence behavior (Brostrand, 2006). author (Brostrand, 2006). While Triandis, Adampoulus, and Brinberg (1984) also defines attitude as an idea or belief is driven by feelings and produce a certain behavior in a social situation. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW Hiring People with Disabilities A 1994 study by Ford attempted to determine where employers received information about the ADA and their training in hiring people with disabilities. Participants were also asked what services they needed to employ people with severe disabilities and in what areas they were lacking information. Responses included lack of information about supported employment, disability, building modifications, employer benefits, laws, funding, rehabilitation technology devices and services, and service providers. When participants were asked whether they were able to provide the rehabilitation technology necessary to employ an individual with a disability, 74% said they were not. When asked to state why, 23% said lack of funds, 22% indicated lack of expertise, 19% did not know where to go for training, and 14% stated it was due to low priority, lack of time, lack of feedback, or personal constraints. Twenty-six percent of employers surveyed said they had never made a referral to a vocational rehabi litation agency for an employee with a disability. When asked why, 36% said they did not even know it was possible, 24% did not know where to refer to, 26% said it was not their job, and the remaining 14% stated it was not in their best interests or in the best interests of the employee with the disability (Ford, 13 1994). The results of this study indicate that employers need more information and assistance in employing people with disabilities. Employers Attitudes While some studies have explored the need employers have for information, other studies have investigated employers attitudes towards hiring people with disabilities. One study on employers attitudes made use of a scale developed by Kregel and Tomiyasu (1994) This scale measured the attitudes of 170 employers toward workers with disabilities and towards the ADA. The results of this study found that while 96% of the 170 employers interviewed knew of the ADA, only 36% said they would support mandated quotas for hiring people with disabilities. The employers were asked about their satisfaction and previous experience with people with disabilities in the workplace; 73% had previous experience. Of that 73%, 78% were satisfied with the performance of the worker with a disability, 11% were somewhat satisfied. Overall, this study found employers to have a positive attitude towards people with disabilities. The employers did acknowledge that in order for the transition into the workforce to be successful they needed to provide a good effort. On the other hand, employers did not feel they had to create jobs or employ persons with disabilities themselves. They did feel assistance would be necessary to hire a person with a disability, but few felt it would be too expensive. In addition, although these employers saw people with disabilities favorably, they believed the hiring of a person with a disability would depend on the extent or severity of the disability. The employers also expressed some personal concerns, which included fears of not being able to communicate with the employee and fear of the employee with a disability making special demands (Kregel Tomiyasu, 1994). Building Relationships Developing relationships between vocational rehabilitation agencies and employers will increase communication and benefit both. Employers will receive assistance in the logistics of hiring an individual with a disability and VR will more successfully place clients into open positions within those companies. Accommodation is one area where employers struggle to know what is necessary and how to implement it. When accommodating workers with disabilities it is important for companies to realize that they do not have to do it on their own. It is suggested that companies take a proactive approach. Some suggested guidelines are: 1) Designate a company representative to oversee ADA compliance. 2) Create and maintain cooperative relationships with other companies and community resources. 3) Ensure that all company policies are compatible with ADA prescriptions 4) Consult rehabilitation professionals to assist in the formulation and review of accommodation options, and preparation of work and non-work environments. (Mullins, Rumrill, Roessler, 1994, p. 16) Attitudes of Society and Employers Due to attitudes or society and, more specifically, employers, job placement and job development for individuals with a mental disability can be challenging in itself; add the concept of job development, and you have an even more complicated situation. In job placement, the job placement specialist works with individuals with mental illness in various types of vocational environments, finds out that they may be more like a salesperson attempting to sell a product to community employers. The product that the job placement specialist is promoting to community employers is his or her clients abilities and skills. The motivation for this action is that community employers have what rehabilitation professionals and their consumers want-a job in an integrated community setting. However, acquiring this vocational goal is not as easy as it sounds-get the job (University of Wisconsin-Stout, 1983). The placement to specialist needs to be persuasive, because if he or she is not able to promote their clients to employers in the community, the unemployment rate may stay the same or even worsen (Fabian Waterworth, 1993). In order for this event to take place, the job placement specialist must create a working relationship with the employer in order to create a positive working environment for his or her client. Malaysian empployers attitude A study by Zulfikri Osman (2003) on Malaysian employers attitudes toward hiring persons with disabilities found that Malaysian employers are found to be discriminative in hiring disabled workers. Jobs offered to disabled workers are normally for lower position. The Ministry of National Unity and Social Development thhrough its working group on legislation had drafted a proposed Act to be called Person with Disabilities Act. However, these federal initiatives, as important as they are, have not changed the way many employers feel about hiring the disabled people. The study also found that, those surveyed perceived their organizations had been unfair in offering jobs while at the same time do not provide special training programs tailored for disabled workers. On the positive side though, organizations gave the same benefits and salary schemes, equal opportunity for advancement and are socially responsible in term of employment oppotunity given to disabled workers. However, employers d o not really care about disabled people involvement in building. Moreover, organizations seemed to prefer normal prospective employees, during selection and recruitment, to disabled people. The cross tabulations revealed that the private sectors employment of disabled workers declined sharply. The three hypotheses were then tested and found that training and development policy and the legal and ethical environment were proven to have significant relationships with employers attitude individually. However, an organization unique workplace environment was not. Although the strengths of each relationship were not established the significance of two out of three, are thought to be good for future research and prediction on employers attitude. Finally, the findings raised the need for a review of existing legal provisions to ensure equal employment opportunity for all. A study by Noraini Mohd Salleh, Khalid Abdullah and Nor Aishah Buang (2001) on Job Opportunities for Special Needs Poplulation in Malaysia found that the special needs populations short comings or their handicapping factors were not the stumbling blocks of their career development and education has played a major role towards their success. Seven hundred fourthy six special needs individuals (blind, low vision, deaf, mentally retarded, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, epileptic, stutter, physically disabled, spastic, and with speech problems) with jobs were identified and some of the jobs undertaken by the special needs population are classified as: professional, semi-professional; skilled non-professional and unskilled non-professional. Hundred fourty government agencies and private companies were located. These employers or potential employers suggestions for their clients or potential clients training to be more specific and suitable for the job market; in line with the countrys nee ds; business bias; inclination towards industrialization: electronic, information technology; food and tailoring. A study by Prabha Ramakrishnan (2007) on Critical Factors Influencing Employment of Disabled Persons in Malaysia. There are four factors covered by the study that are namely, the organisational commitment to employment of disabled people, attitude attitude towards disabled workers, the organisational policies on disability, and the employment opportunities for the disabled people. The first three factors constitute the independent variables, and the last one, the dependent variable. The first variable organisational commitment to employment of disabled people. The second variable is attitude towards disabled workers. The third variable organisational policies on disability. Overall, these three independent variables significantly explain the variance in the dependent variable, i.e. employment opportunities for the disabled persons. The findings of this study show that the organisational commitment to the employment of disabled people is fairly favourable. This is indicated by a highe r organizational commitment by companies that employ disabled workers; it is also shown by a higher emphasis for training employees towards disability issues. However, there is no significant difference in the recruitment of disabled workers between organisations that employ no disabled persons and those that employ disabled persons. The overall attitude towards employment of disabled people is not actually favourable, although the co-workers perception of disabled staff is fairly favourable. While the organisational perception on the need for supervision of disabled employees is somewhat favourable, the organisations that currently employ disabled persons are of the opinion that greater supervision is needed. The general perception on the current organisational policy for employment of disabled persons is not really favourable, although organisations that employ disabled people perceive themselves to have a more favourable policy. Findings on the barriers to employment of disabled people indicate that Malaysian organisations perceive the lack of related experience in managing disability issues as the most significant barrier. Other barriers, in descending order, are the lack of education on disability topics, lack of required skill and training, cost of supervision of disabled workers, attitude towards and stereotyping of disabled workers, lack of knowledge about accommodation issues, cost of training for disabled employees, and the cost of accommodation for the disabled workers. Although the Malaysian government has provided incentives to the private sector and set quota for the public sector to improve the employment rate of disabled persons, overall research findings show that disability employment and opportunities for such employment is low in Malaysia. Ganapathy (Jayasooria 2000) in 1992 identified five reasons for low hiring of disabled persons in Malaysia; first reason is the absence of a nation-wide register of job seekers among disabled persons because the Government and voluntary agencies were not well coordinated, the second reason is the prejudice existing against disabled people, the third is the poor access to public facilities, the fourth reason is the restricted location of employment more concentrated than distributed, and, the fifth reason is reluctance of employers to modify or adapt machinery and facilities for disabled workers. 2.1 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK Independent variables Dependent variable Co-workers perception Companies attitudes Work performance Managements perception on the need for supervision Figure 1 INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Co-workers perception Co-workers perception towards disabled workers either favorably or non-favorably that affect on companies attitudes in hiring them. Work performance Work performance of disabled workers such as their skills and abilities in performing their task that affect on Companies attitudes. Managements perception on the need for supervision Managements perception on the need for supervision of disabled workers after hiring them that either favorably or non-favorably. DEPENDENT VARIABLE: COMPANIES ATTITUDES Companies attitude is referring to their opinions and views and what factors that influence them in hiring persons with disabilities. CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHOD 3.1 Research Design For the purpose of this study, the research design will be sample survey. The research demands for information from people in five places in Kota Kinabalu which are Sembulan, Likas and Tanjung Aru. It means the administration of questionnaires will be distributed to sample of selected company. Types of approaches being used is by a questionnaire survey. 3.2 Unit of Analysis As this study will address the companies attitudes towards employment persons with disabilities, unit analysis will be the employer and employee of the selected private companies. 3.3 Sample size The sample size for the purpose of this study is 50 respondents which taken randomly in that five places of selected private companies. 3.4 Sampling Technique Five places in selected area will be selected for closer analysis of companies attitudes towards employment of persons with disabilities. The type of sampling is random sampling technique to select the sample. The sampling frame for this study was produced by a compilation of names of corporations and smaller businesses from telephone directories and from the Labour Department List. A list of organisations was tabulated and a number was assigned to each organisation. The organisations were selected using the statistical random numbers table. 3.5 Research Measurement/instrument The variables and their measurement are outlined in the following sections. Co-workers perception Co-workers perception towards disabled workers either favorably or non-favorably that affect on companies attitudes in hiring them. It is interval scale; a set of statement can be developed to assess respondents perceptions. The respondents can agree or disagree using five-point Likert scale: strongly disagree= 1, disagree=2, neutral= 3, agree=4, strongly agree=5. Work performance Work performance of disabled workers such as their skills and abilities in performing their task that affect on Companies attitudes. The respondents can agree or disagree using five-point Likert scale: strongly disagree= 1, disagree=2, neutral= 3, agree=4, strongly agree=5. Managements perception on the need for supervision Managements perception on the need for supervision of disabled workers after hiring them that either favorably or non-favorably that affect on companies attitudes. strongly disagree= 1, disagree=2, neutral= 3, agree=4, strongly agree=5. 3.6 Data collection The data for this study will be collected thorough survey questionnaire. This method was chosen because it easier to deliver and collected. 3.7 Data Analysis For this study, data analysis was done by quantitative methods where statistical analysis was conducted in descriptive of statistic. Descriptive statistics methods were used to compute frequencies, measures of central tendency such as the mean, median and the mode and dispersion such as the range, the variance and the standard deviation. The data collected from the survey questionnaire were analysed using Statistical software tool (SPSS 17.0).

The Mogul Tale and the Little Theater in Haymarket Essay -- Mogul Tale

The Mogul Tale and the Little Theater in Haymarket The Little Theater in Haymarket was one of the more prominent venues in London during the latter half of the 18th century. Built and opened in 1720, the â€Å"Little† Theater, so it was called to distinguish it from the larger King’s opera house located nearby, was originally designated as a playhouse for French performers.2 Its proprietor John Potter obtained permission for its construction from the Lord Chamberlain Thomas Pelham with the help of the influential Duke of Montagu.1 True to its name the Little Theater’s original measurements were 48 feet wide and 136 feet long. It was reported to be at least three stories, with a basement, a gallery and several small shops in the front of the building.1 The seating arrangement, like most theaters during this time, consisted of long benches with no backs.2 Because of this the Little Theater could seat anywhere from 600 to almost 1500 patrons.1 Performance during the hot summer months required that their be a ventilation system to allow fresh air into the theater.2 Unlike other theaters in London, the Little Theater was not adorned with elaborately painted ceilings or walls.2 The Little Theater would undergo many changes during its hundred years as an entertainment venue, including three remodeling projects between 1739 and 1760 and an almost complete rebuilding in 1767.1 To better understand the success of the Little Theater, an overview of the summer theatrical seasons that began in the Restoration period is necessary. Before the Interregnum period in England, theaters in London operated nearly year round, and did not specify the â€Å"summer season† as a separate part of the theatrical year.1 When Charles II reinstate... ... lost some of its popularity due to some tensions between the members of the company that had affected performance.1 Colman decided to separate himself altogether from the Haymarket Company, and in 1820 the Little Theater was abandoned for the company’s new location at what is now the present day Theatre Royal, Haymarket. The last performance held at the Little Theater was on October 14, 1820.1    Notes 1. Burling, William J. Summer Theatre in London, 1661-1820, and the Rise of the Haymarket Theater. (New Jersey: Associated University Press, 2000), 21-215.    2. Hogan, Charles Beecher. The London Stage, 1776-1800: A Critical Introduction. (Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press, 1968), xliii, xlvii.    3. Stephen, Leslie and Sidney Lee, eds. The Dictionary of National Biography. (London: Oxford University Press, 1921), 424.

Philosophical Analysis Essay

History of the School National College of Science & Technology (NCST) was born in the historic and progressive Municipality of Dasmarià ±as, Cavite, Philippines in 1998. As a brainchild of a 23-year-old visionary entrepreneur in the person of Emerson B. Atanacio, NCST has slowly yet steadily carved its niche in the fast growing and very competitive educational arena not only in the province but in the entire CALABARZON region. With an initial enrollment of 550 students in 1998, the school has now increased tenfold from its original number as it now has a total population of 5,000 students in its conventional programs. The school has been faithful in its mission to provide industry responsive graduates. Thus, in 2005, it ventured into its â€Å"first institutionally developed† course offerings: the Certificate in Manufacturing Technology and the Diploma in Production Technology. Both curricular programs are under the Dual Training System where students are being trained in two avenues of learning – the school and the industry. With an initial enrollment of only 18 students in 2005, it has increased to 1,592 in 2008 and 1,026 as of August 2009. The university town of Dasmarià ±as is an inland town located some 32 kilometres south of Manila, and 27 kilometres south of Tagaytay City. As a rapidly developing municipality, it is situated along the western industrial corridor of the Laguna de Bay basin. It has an area of 234 hectares comprising 6.4 percent of the total area of the province of Cavite. It is bounded in the north and west by General Trias, in the northeast by Imus and east by General Mariano Alvarez and Carmona and in the south by Silang. The National College of Science and Technology (NCST) is one of the leading educational institutions in the vast growing locality of Dasmarià ±as, Cavite. NCST has chosen Cavite as its place of birth due to its strategic location having numerous technology-based industries and companies operating in the different techno parks within the province, which is in cognizant with the institutional commitment of serving the youth of CALABARZON. With its considerable resources, NCST is continuously engaged in the research and development of new courses as well as the enhancement of existing curricula and the further improvement of its facilities to support the various program offerings. Close linkage with the different business and industrial sector has brought forth enhanced training programs where students are simultaneously exposed to both academic and actual work environments ensuring that upon their graduation, they are equipped with employable skills, work knowledge and proper attitude. The NCST Campus is located along the stretch of Emilio Aguinaldo Highway and near the Congressional Avenue East in the university town of Dasmarià ±as, which is a strategic location, and makes it accessible to all parts of the provence of Cavite and of Manila. The campus itself has a two building, 4-storey structure, with fifty-seven (57) classrooms inclusive of fifteen (15) laboratories, all of which are fully air-conditioned. In order to give the students the relevant training required in their respective fields of study, a special laboratory for each course is provided and which include a network of four hundred (400) computer systems and was the existence of five (5) servers that guarantees 1:1 student/computer ratio. Furthermore, Internet access in the World Wide Web is also provided in order to familiarize the student with the sophistication of the information superhighway. Skills development is constantly upgraded to meet the challenging demands of the future. As such, technology-based courses in NCST are equipped with state-of-the-art technical equipment as well as the backing of personnel with technological expertise who ensure that a well-rounded and comprehensive training program, and responds to the demands of the industry for quality and productivity. II Philosophical Analysis The National College of Science & Technology (NCST) systems envision to become one of the nation’s leading industry-based educational institution with campuses in key areas around the Philippines. NCST will be a top choice for human resources of every industry. NCST aims to become the institute for nation building, where student excellence is not an extraordinary achievement but a daily way of life. NCST, in response to the commercial and industrial sectors’ need of highly professional and skilled manpower, provides advanced technology and industry-based education, and sets standard of proficiency and competency compatible to the demands of industry, enduring positive work values, competitiveness and quality among its graduates. They aim to contribute to the national development by providing functional and relevant education thereby producing quality and responsible graduates with a strong foundation in character, faith, and love of country. Our graduates will become the change agents who will make a difference for this nation. We will produce professionals, leaders, entrepreneurs or skilled workforce who will become assets to the society and productive citizens of our country. MISSION NCST undertakes the responsibility of providing the country with quality graduates who are trained with industry-responsive knowledge and skills and founded with underpinning values of faith, love of country and humanity, hope, justice, mutual respect and peace. Their academic community accepts the challenge to work hard as a team in the spirit of excellence to ascertain that our vision and mission turn into glorious reality. Furthermore, NCST has its’ core values such as MAKADIYOS ,the foremost value that seeks to experience a lasting relationship with GOD. It inspires the people of NCST with courage, spirit and confidence through faith, love and commitment to God Almighty. MAKABAYAN, this value to kindle the nationalistic spirit of the people. Such aspiration gives the people of NCST a mission and a sense of dedication to work with the best of their skills and abilities by promoting science and technology for the advancement of the nation. MAPAGMALASAKIT , this value promotes understanding of the student’s welfare – the NCST’s primary concern by providing caring environment and amenities conductive to learning. MAY PAGKAKAISA , this value lies on the relationship arising from the common interest, purposes and responsibilities of the people. With this, the people of NCST think, feel and act together towards the attainment of the school’s mission. MAKAKALIKASAN , this value harbors on the ideal of NCST of having a high regard for the preservation and conversation of the country’s environment and natural resources. Having exposed to the mission, vision and core values of NCST, I could say that the institution adapted various philosophy. First and the most dominated philosophy is the Progressivism, a philosophical belief that argues that education must be based on the fact that humans are by nature social and learn best in real-life activities with other people, since NCST aims to become the institute for nation building, where student excellence is not an extraordinary achievement but a daily way of life. The curriculum used by the school are somewhat related or has resemblance with progressivism wherein teachers should not only emphasize drill and practice, but should expose learners to activities that relate to the real life situations of students, emphasizing ‘Learning by doing’. Progressivists emphasize the study of the natural and social sciences. Teacher should introduce students to new scientific, technological, and social developments. To expand the personal experience of learners, learning should be related to present community life. Believing that people learn best from what they consider most relevant to their lives, the curriculum should centre on the experiences, interests, and abilities of students. In NCST they not just study mathematics, literature, science but also courses that require students ability to apply what they learned in the four corners of the classroom to the world outside the school courses like their TESDA courses Certificate in Manufacturing Technology, Diploma in Production Technology, etc. In NCST, students are encouraged to interact with one another and develop social virtues such as cooperation and tolerance for different points of view. The core value of being MAKADIYOS is also related to idealism because in idealism, the aim of education is to discover and develop individual’s abilities and full moral excellence in order to better serve society. On the other hand, their core value of MAKAKALIKASAN shows that they also adapted the philosophy of Naturalism or the love for nature. III Conclusion/ Summary NCST is an institution that aims to provide the country with quality graduates who are trained with industry-responsive knowledge and skills and founded with underpinning values of faith, love of country and humanity, hope, justice, mutual respect and peace. The educational philosophy of this institution such as Values Formation, where in they aim to build the character of every individual and emphasize mutual respect, we put forth our belief in transforming ordinary students to become extraordinary is highly recommendable. Another thing that is good in this institution is their love for nature for they believe that it is our common responsibility to give environmental consciousness, care and protection. They believe that we are all responsible and should take our place in the ecological balance and management and be part of the solution instead of becoming the problem. We should inspire and influence our community in the implementation of our environment programs. Their program which offers courses that develops practical skills is now a key for the students to immediately be hired or have works after their graduation. They continuously aims to develop practical skill enhancement programs to sustain competitiveness among their graduates, creating an avenue of cooperation between the industry experts and the academic community in crafting a more relevant curriculum and more industry-relevant skills pertaining to the technical training requirements of our students. To sum this up, their Values is their heart, their Environmental Concern and Protection represents their Soul, Theoretical Foundation represents their Mind and Practical Skills represents their Body.

Portfolio Management of Research Projects Essay

1 Introduction More and more, organizations rely on research projects in order to stay updated on new technologies, processes and practices on their fields. Through them, they remain ahead in the competition and sustain their competitive advantages. This is specially the case for organizations that are on the top of their industry and which other organizations follow closely to benchmark their strategic moves. This seems applicable for private organizations, however research and development also plays a big role in public organizations. In the last few decades there has been an increased belief that organized research and development could stimulate economic growth and contribute to improving economic welfare. Given this, governments provide research and development (R&D) funding in order to promote scientific and technological development. With the increased need for production of scientific and technological knowledge in the public sector, there has been an increase in R&D activities performed by private organizations in order to match these production needs. Whether they are of a public or private nature, organizations rely on projects as means to deliver results. This derives in the tendency to engage in several projects simultaneously. Organizations group these projects in portfolios which should be managed in order to decide its composition and strategic moves. This managerial task is known as Portfolio Management which applied to R&D projects is defined as:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"a dynamic decision process, whereby a business’s list of active new product (and R&D) projects is constantly updated and revised. In this process, new projects are evaluated, selected, and prioritized; existing projects may be accelerated, killed, or deprioritized,; and resources are allocated an reallocated to the active projects. The portfolio decision process is characterized by uncertain and changing information, dynamic opportunities, multiple goals and strategic considerations, interdependence among projects, and multiple decision-makers and locations† (Cooper, Edgett, & Kleinschmidt, 2001). Portfolio Management of Research Projects in the Public and Private Sectors The aim of the present thesis is to gain a better understanding on how this process is applied in both a public and a private setting. The thesis work focuses on the analysis of one public organization and two private organizations. While the sample may not be representative to completely understand the behaviour of organizations and their portfolio management, it provides an opportunity to model the process in these settings. The project is lead through a series of iterative literature review supported by interviews and document analysis. The research questions represent the point of reference to start the research. This project is approached with an open mind, which allows re-evaluating the initial assumptions of the thesis and gives flexibility to the researcher. A more in-depth description of the  methodology followed in this report can be found in the fourth chapter of this project. The motivation behind this master thesis developed from previous studies on project management of research projects. During these studies a less known topic came up: portfolio management of research projects. It appeared that, while it was a less known topic, it was not of less importance. Through discussions with professionals from both research institutions and industrial organizations, it became evident the relevance of the topic. I was motivated by this relevancy which is present in both the public and private sectors. 2 Trondheim, NTNU MSc in Project Management, Thesis 2 Problem Formulation This master thesis aims to present a description and comparison of the process of portfolio management of research projects undertaken in a public and a private organization. The major focus in this regard is to identify the commonalities and differences of the organizations’ practices with respect to portfolio management and obtain a better understanding on how the process works in both organizations. This understanding and thesis will hopefully be helpful for organizations that seriously consider R&D and for researches who will work on this topic in the future. There may be several research questions that can be studied in connection with portfolio management of research projects. I choose to consider some important research questions within the scope of this master thesis. The research questions are presented and explained below. 2.1 Research Questions The focus of the investigation behind this project is based on the following  questions: How do organizations perform the portfolio management process? How do organizations select which research projects should make up their company’s project portfolio? How do public and private organizations define success in research projects? What drives the difference across firms, if any? 3 Portfolio Management of Research Projects in the Public and Private Sectors The model is based on my assumption that organizational strategy plays a major role in the way an organization proceeds to lead the activities associated with managing its portfolio of research projects, which in turn have the main purpose of generating knowledge and possibly bring competitive advantages to the organization. Based on this understanding the research approach, as will be explained in a later section, was developed in order to study to what extent the model reflects reality. Though the terms strategy and knowledge are not explicitly mentioned in the research questions, both terms are underlying aspects that reflect on the research questions and hence this study. The research questions and research model are connected to each other and complement each other in such a way to highlight the topic this thesis. 2.3 Importance of Thesis As part of a previous project for the Specialization Course of the Master in Project Management at NTNU, I got acquainted with the challenges and  uncertainties associated with research projects. During the research phase and in discussions with interviewees from research institutions and industrial organizations, peers and professors it became evident that one area of interest in R&D for those developing in the R&D environment is the one related to portfolio management of such projects. While portfolio management is an important topic in the literature of Project Management, there are fewer investigations that link this topic with specifically research projects. This may be because only recently the interest in research projects has been growing and this discipline is now seen as a potential tool for business success and competitive advantage. It became clear that organizations rely more on projects as a means to deliver results. Organizations arrange projects in portfolios according to their goals and strategy. Research projects, which may be among the projects in the portfolio or be the sole elements of the portfolio as will be explained later, help organizations keep updated in new technologies, methodologies, processes, etc. However, in private organizations investing in Research projects, whether internally or externally obtained, may seem as an unnecessary expenditure given the focus on day to day processes. On the other hand, there are public 4 Trondheim, NTNU MSc in Project Management, Thesis  organizations specifically dedicated to generate or fund research projects in order to generate knowledge and development of public interest.  Either way, both private and public organizations that wish to remain competitive have a tendency to undertake research projects. The nature of both organizations may lead to different approaches on how to manage their portfolios. This could develop into managerial activities that while work on one setting may not be useful on the other and vice versa. Getting to understand how these managerial activities are performed in the public and  private settings can give future researchers and organizations interested in R&D projects an insight on some of the current practices in these settings. 2.4 Research Approach Once the importance of the topic was clarified the topic was better delimited through literature review and brief discussions with academics and professionals knowledgeable in the area. Literature review includes basic theory of portfolio management, research projects, portfolio management of research projects. Furthermore I used theories on portfolio evaluation and selection and tools and techniques for portfolio management. This general literature provides a framework within which I could look at and describe portfolio management of research projects. Portfolio management of research projects can be seen in two ways. One is when a company has a portfolio that includes all types of projects (IT, construction, R&D, etc.) and makes selection, resource allocation or termination decisions considering all of these projects. I will call this a Mixed Project Portfolio (Figure 2: Project portfolio), where Project (P) 1, 2†¦ N, coexist with Research Project (RP) 1, 2†¦ N. Figure 2: Project portfolio consisting of mixed projects The other way of looking at portfolio management of research projects can be when a company either undertakes only research projects or they simply manage them Yolanda Yebra Aguado 5 Portfolio Management of Research Projects in the Public and Private Sectors  independently of the projects which support day to day activities (IT, procurement, etc.) In this case, it is possible to talk about a Portfolio of Research Projects (Figure 3: Portfolio of research projects), in which activities of portfolio management are done only considering the interdependencies of research projects within the portfolio. Figure 3: Portfolio of research projects For purposes of this project, the focus is on this second way of looking at portfolio management, where the organizations’ portfolio consists only of research projects; hence the context of this study. This research study is based on an iterative process – a learning cycle – which helped refine the course of the study and further investigation. Based on this an interview guide was created; this interview represents the basis for the qualitative approach in this paper. The interview, as it will be explained later, is a semi-structured interview allowing the researcher to address the issue with an open mind as well as giving the opportunity to direct the interview in the desired direction or adding relevant topics. In addition to the interviews, document analysis is also used to support the topic. The analysis of the document is done adhering to the same premises and perspective of the interviews with the aim of finding important and relevant information. This process helped create a framework within which it was possible to operate in a flexible manner. Through this, the research questions were refined and fine-tuned in order to emphasise the main elements of the research topic. To complete the research, I present an analysis of the findings. Whenever comparisons are possible, they will be presented. Finally conclusions that resulted from the analysis will be drawn. Further information on the methodology followed for this project is explained in the following chapters. 6 Trondheim, NTNU MSc in Project Management, Thesis 2.5 Scope and Limitations The major limitation associated with this project comes from the amount of time dedicated to the investigation. The project is developed during the spring semester of 2011 as a master thesis for the Project Management program. Due to this time limitation, the number of cases to be analysed will be limited to three organizations. Though the sample may not be representative to fully understand the behaviour of organizations and their portfolio management, it provides an opportunity to look at some kind of pattern in organizations’ practices with respect to portfolio management of research projects. Furthermore, this thesis can be used as a base for further research in the matter; a stepping stone to go further. In the cases where specific literature regarding research and development projects was hard to find or of no access, general literature on portfolio management and project management is used as a source to discuss relevant issues. The same applies to models and tools consulted on the matter. Regardless of these limitations, I believe that a better understanding on the topic will be possible through this study to reach conclusions and provide a base or reference for academics, practitioners as well as general public who are interested in the topic. 3 Theoretical Background This chapter presents the theoretical background of the report. To begin  with, the concepts associated with the main topic Portfolio Management of Research Projects (PMRP) are presented. The objective of this is to get acquainted with them, to have a better understanding of what is discussed by different authors and to choose specific definitions to work with. Once the main topics and definitions are introduced, three main concepts related to PMRP are presented. The first one is the influence of Strategy in PMRP and why organizations choose to rely on strategy to support it. The next section deals with the Selection process and presents some methods and criteria for project evaluation and selection suggested by the literature available. The third concept is project Success, which is explored from an overall project management perspective and more particularly from a public and private organization perspective. The concept of success is looked at in order to understand what organizations perceive as successful and how it impacts their business in future strategy, project selection and other areas. 9 Portfolio Management of Research Projects in the Public and Private Sectors 3.1 Basic concepts of the Portfolio Management of Research Projects This section presents the definitions of the basic concepts associated with the report. First, I begin by briefly introducing the evolution of research and development projects and their nature. Next, the definition of portfolio management is presented. After these two presentations, other relevant topics are described. Finally the main topic of the research, portfolio management of Research projects, is introduced. 3.1.1 Research and Development Projects: a Private and Public Approach David et al. (2000) present a very comprehensive analysis of the development of R&D research in the US. According to the authors the end of the 19th century marked the beginning of organized research and development activities upon  the productive resources for societies. Since then, the percentage of national gross product directed by both private and public organizations towards increasing the scientific and technological knowledge has increased. The same study claims that during the 1930s, the  Ã¢â‚¬Å"total R&D expenditures in countries such as the US, the UK and Japan remained in the range between two-thirds and one-quarter of one percentage point of their respective national product figures.† (David, Hall, & Toole, 2000). Since then there was an increased belief that organized research and development could stimulate economic growth and contribute to improving economic welfare, which led governments to create public institutions supporting civilian science and engineering. This gave way to an expansion of government agency research programs in non-defence as well as military technologies, and established models for the performance of governmentfunded R&D by private sector contractors. With the increased need for public production of scientific and technological knowledge, there was an increase in R&D activities performed by private organizations in order to match this production needs. This is given that technology is the most crucial factor for the progress of a nation’s economic development and living standards (Chang & Hsu, 1997). In order to promote scientific and technological development, governments provide R&D funding. As a result, support for selective development of specific industries is provided through direct, project-oriented subsidies. Government policy concentrates resources on long-term R&D problems and on expensive basic research that could not be undertaken by industry. Whether they are of a public or private nature, organizations rely on projects as means to deliver results; this tends organizations to engage in several projects at a time. The nature of these projects varies from  marketing to IT, environmental issues, procurement, new product development and research and development (R&D). More and more, organizations rely on research projects (R&D, new product development, innovation) in order to stay updated on new technologies, processes and practices on their fields. This is how they remain ahead in the competition and sustain their competitive advantages. This is specially the case for organizations that are on the top of their industry and that influence other organizations to follow them closely to benchmark their strategic moves. In order to maintain competitive advantage, organizations need to develop successful product and process innovation (Archer & Ghasemzadeh, 1999; Mikkola, 2001) for what they turn to R&D projects to achieve this. However R&D projects have a very particular nature. Research projects are characterized for being associated with a high degree of uncertainty and unpredictability (Balachandra, K, & Pearson, 1996). Therefore, large scale R&D projects require large budgets and high risk and long term programs (Chang & Hsu, 1997). This is mostly due to the fact that the outcome of a research project, such as knowledge generation, is intangible and hard to measure through standard project evaluation. 3.1.2 Portfolio Management Given the importance of developing research projects, organizations are faced with the task of conforming portfolios of projects. For practical purposes, this report considers project portfolio as: â€Å"a group of projects that are carried out under the sponsorship and /or management of a particular organization† (Archer & Ghasemzadeh, 1999). The task of selecting which projects should be a part of the company’s project portfolio is an important activity in many organizations. It is presented in the following definition. Portfolio Management is defined as the strategic choices, resource allocation, project selection and balance of the pool of projects available for organizations to undertake (Cooper, Edgett, & Kleinschmidt, 2001; Linton D. & Walsh T., 2002; Wang & Hwang, 2005). However this activity is not an easy one to do. Managers find challenges in deciding which projects to undertake, how to allocate resources to them through their whole life cycle and how to balance the portfolio once projects are completed or have to be terminated. Project Portfolio Management (PPM) is a critical task in company performance. Some key questions to be considered before deciding to do project portfolio management are known as â€Å"Five Ws and One H† (The Enterprise Portfolio Management Council, 2009): Who can use the PPM process? Everyone from Chief executives, heads of department, managers, supervisors, portfolio, project and program managers, to systems engineers. What should PPM be used for? To manage multiple projects, programs, assets, software applications, resource allocation, products.  When should PPM be used? When there is more than one project or program or decisions must be taken when it comes to proposal ideas competing for a slot in the portfolio, whether projects or programs should go forward or terminated, resource allocation, strategic changes, mergers, acquisitions or joint ventures to mention some. Where is PPM used? In both profit and non-profit organizations, government agencies, universities, investment firms.  Why should PPM be used? To ensure that projects and programs are aligned with strategies, goals and business objectives, to communicate project and program details, to manage projects and programs as a whole. PPM is a holistic, systems approach to business projects. How to decide whether to use PPM or not? Conversations and discussions between executives, managers, project and program managers and experts are encouraged in order to assess the situation and define the business case. Screening, Selecting and Prioritization Reprioritiza tion of projects Allocation and reallocation of resources according to priority Figure 5 Managerial activities related to PPM, based on (Blichfeldt & Eskerod, 2007) p. 358. Literature on PPM has widely focused on these managerial activities of project screening, selection, prioritization, balancing and resource allocation, while most recently focus has shifted to actual day to day management of the portfolio. Theories and literature have gone from focusing on tools, techniques and methods to a more managerial approach of how the activity is actually done. Thus, this thesis studies documented techniques and methods PPM, but keeps in sight the importance of the actual activities undertaken by the institutions. 3.1.3 Portfolio Management of Research Projects Global market changes and the interest of business organizations to remain ahead of their industry, tend organizations to rethink their competitive  strategy more often than before. Firms that cannot supply innovative products faster than competitor, lose competitiveness. R&D projects are used as a source of strategy, because they help target the increasing complexity demanded by shorter life cycles of products and services that wish to remain ahead and up to date (Mikkola, 2001). Most importantly, organizations have an increasing interest in evaluating their R&D projects from a portfolio’s perspective; in which project selection, resource allocation and balancing remain the main activities to be performed. According to McNally (2007), managing R&D is considered as one of the three core business processes.  Perhaps the most comprehensive definition of Portfolio Management of Research Projects, and the one to be considered for this thesis, is given by Cooper, et al. (2001). The authors describe the term as: â€Å"a dynamic decision process, whereby a business’s list of active new product (and R&D) projects is constantly updated and revised. In this process, new projects are evaluated, selected, and prioritized; existing projects may be accelerated, killed, or deprioritized,; and resources are allocated and reallocated to the active projects. The portfolio decision process is characterized by uncertain and changing information, dynamic opportunities, multiple goals and strategic considerations, interdependence among projects, and multiple decision-makers and locations.† This is an important and critical task to be undertaken because it requires a considerable amount of human resources and opportunity costs incurred as projects go from the selection phase to the implementation. At the same time this is a difficult task because decision makers have to work relatively fast with little reliable and highly changing information. Therefore the selection and development of successful innovations has a high degree of risk associated with it (Nesse & Velde, 2010). In order to manage portfolios of research projects, organizations rely on different tools or techniques. Literature (Wang & Hwang, 2005) points that R&D portfolio decisions are hard to take given the nature of R&D projects and environment. On the one hand, R&D projects have long lead times, and on the other hand, market and technology are so dynamic that it makes information for portfolio management seem unavailable and unreliable. All organizations that wish to engage in R&D are faced with the problem of managing the portfolio of research projects, where projects have to fight for a limited pool of resources. At the same time project selection becomes a complicated task because the decision maker has to determine which new proposals should be funded, which existing projects should be continued and to what extent a resource should be involved in the selected project of the portfolio (Chien, 2002).