Tesco’s Success Story

Tesco's success story Some of the key reasons for  Tesco’s  success include: Tesco  has been particularly successful because of its powerful brand. It has a reputation for value, low prices and for being customer focused. Its brand equity and associations have helped the company to expand into new sectors and markets. Tesco  has also been strong in public relations, advertising and building profile in catchment areas on a local level. This local approach to marketing appears to be a key driver for success. Tesco  has a good range of products, including own label products.It seeks to provide excellent customer service, and ensure high levels of customer satisfaction. The own label products have helped strengthen profits for the group, and it broad appeal through good, better, best (finest ranges) caters for the widest consumer audience. Aggressive overseas expansion has helped to keep profits high. The organisation has expanded into Eastern Europe, emerging nations su ch as China and South Korea and even the US, through mid market supermarkets known as, â€Å"fresh and easy†.Its strategy of being close to the customer has been assisted in the UK specifically, when  Tesco  developed different formats for shopping (convenience, metro, express, superstores). It has been the best retailer for format delivery and obtaining some of the best retail positions. It gained a first mover advantage when it launched  Tesco. com, which is one of the biggest and most successful online retailers. This part of the business continues to grow market share and has provided a channel to sell non-food items and other areas of the business including finance.Information technology has revolutionized the retailer, not only in stock-control and distribution worldwide, but also in terms supplier management. It has enabled better I) retailer-manufacturer innovation ii)  shorterning  of decision making and greater knowledge sharing. Tesco  is one of the mos t advanced companies in consumer understanding aided by IT (e. g. Dunhumby  and  Tesco  Clubcard  data). Consumer data has i) shaped product offerings ii) ranges iii) given  Tesco  a better understanding of consumer segments and shopping profiles and iv) helped marketing to build loyalty and develop promotion offerings that suit target groups.This level of sophistication has helpedTesco  to remain leader within the UK market. Suppliers are internationally sourced, and  Tesco  gains scale economies from its large buying volumes. This has enabled the company to keep prices down and supported its low price strategy aimed at the broad consumer market. However, the company has been criticized for its management of suppliers and clashes with the farmers union. There has been growing opposition to the supermarket because of its size, and the government (through the Monopolies and Mergers Commission) has been involved in ensuring competitive markets in the UK.Recent acquis itions such as T;amp;S stores, have led to a high concentration, with only few dominant players within the market. The organisation has a diversified product portfolio, which includes telecommunications, finance, insurance, which provides cross and up sell opportunities to customers. Profits have been invested to support research and development, and its aggressive international expansion plans. Read more:  http://www. businessteacher. org. uk/business-resources/case-study-database/tesco-case-study/#ixzz2B9gukB98

Canadian Culture Essay

Canada is located in the northern portion of the continent of North America, extending, in general, from the 49th parallel northward to the islands of the Arctic Ocean. Its eastern and western boundaries are the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans respectively. Its land area totals 3,851,809 square miles (9,976,185 square kilometers). The easternmost portion of the country is a riverine and maritime environment, consisting of the provinces of Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. The central portion of the country, in its southern areas, is primarily boreal forest (the provinces of Ontario and Quebec). This forest region extends across the entire country from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains through to the Atlantic coast, and is dominated by coniferous trees. These variations have had important social and cultural effects. The largest segment of the population resides in the central Carolinian region, which has the richest and most varied agricultural land and, because the Great Lakes waterway system dominates the central portion of the country, is also where most of the major manufacturing is located. The savanna or prairie region is more sparsely populated, with several large urban centers in a network across the region, which is dominated by grain farming, cattle and other livestock production, and more recently, oil and natural gas extraction. The two coastal regions, which have some agricultural production, are best characterized by the dominance of port cities through which import and export goods move. In the northern section of the center of the country, also sparsely populated, resource extraction of minerals and lumber, has predominated. The effect of this concentration of the population, employment, and productive power in the central region of the country has been the concentration of political power in this region, as well as the development over time of intense regional rivalries and disparities in quality of life. Equally important, as employment in the center came to dominate gross national production, immigration has tended to flow into the center. This has created a diverse cultural mix in the central region of the country, while the prairie and the eastern maritime region have stabilized ethnically and culturally. The consequence of these diverse geographies has been the development of a rhetoric of regional cultures: Prairie, Maritime, Central, and because of its special isolation, West Coast. A final differentiation is between urban and rural. Local cultural identity is often marked by expressions of contrasting values in which rural residents characterize themselves as harder working, more honest, and more deeply committed to community cooperation, in contrast to urban dwellers [pic] Canada who are characterized by rural residents as greedy, dishonest, arrogant, and self-interested. Urban dwellers express their own identities as more modern and forward looking, more sophisticated, and more liberal in their overall social values, and perceive rural residents as conservative, overdependent on outmoded traditions, unsophisticated, and simple minded. This distinction is most explicit in Quebec, but also plays a key role in political, social, and cultural contentions in Ontario. Demography . The official population at the last census calculation, in 1996, was 29,672,000, an increase over the previous census in 1991 of about 6 percent in five years. The previous five-year increase was almost 7 percent. There has been a slowing population increase in Canada over the last several decades, fueled in part by a decline in the crude birthrate. This slowing of growth has been offset somewhat by an increase in immigration over the last two decades of the twentieth century, coupled with a slowing of emigration. Statistics Canada, the government Census management organization, is projecting a population increase of as much as 8 percent between 2001 and 2005, mostly through increased immigration. Language Canada is bilingual, with English and French as the official languages. English takes precedence in statutory proceedings outside of Quebec, with English versions of all statutes serving as the final arbiter in disputes over interpretation. As of 1996, the proportion of Canadians reporting English as their mother tongue was just under 60 percent while those reporting French as their mother tongue was slightly less than 24 percent. The percentage of native English speakers had risen over the previous decade, while that of French speakers had declined. At the same time, about 17 percent of all Canadians could speak both official languages, though this is a regionalized phenomenon. In those provinces with the largest number of native French speakers (Quebec and New Brunswick), 38 percent and 33 percent respectively were bilingual, numbers that had been increasing steadily over the previous twenty years. In contrast, Ontario, which accounts for more than 30 percent of the total population of Canada, had an English-French bilingualism rate of about 12 percent. This is in part a result of the immigration patterns over time, which sees the majority of all immigrants gravitating to Ontario, and in part because all official and commercial services in Ontario are conducted in English, even though French is available by law, if not by practice. English-French bilingualism is less important in the everyday lives of those living outside of Quebec and New Brunswick. First Nations language groups make up a significant, if small, portion of the nonofficial bilingual speakers in Canada, a fact with political and cultural importance as First Nations groups assert greater and more compelling claims on political and cultural sovereignty. The three largest First Nations languages in 1996 were Cree, Inuktitut, and Ojibway, though incomplete census data on First Nations peoples continues to plague assessments of the extent and importance of these mother tongues. Immigration and cultures Changing immigration patterns following World War II affected linguistic affiliation. In the period, from 1961 to 1970, for example, only 54 percent of immigrants had a nonofficial language as mother tongue, with more than two-thirds of this group born in Europe. Almost a quarter of them reported Italian, German, or Greek as mother tongue. In contrast, 80 percent of the 1,039,000 immigrants who came to Canada between 1991 and 1996 reported a nonofficial language as mother tongue, with over half from Asia and the Middle East. Chinese was the mother tongue of just under 25 percent, while Arabic, Punjabi, Tagalog, Tamil, and Persian together accounted for about 20 percent. In 1971, the three largest nonofficial mother tongue groups were German, Italian, and Ukrainian, reflecting patterns of non-English and non-French immigration that have remained relatively constant through most of the twentieth century. In the period ending in 1996, this had changed, with the rank order shifting to Chinese, Italian, and German. This is reflected in regional concentrations, with Italians concentrated heavily in Ontario, Germans in both Ontario and the Prairie regions, and Chinese and other Asians most heavily represented in southern Ontario and in British Columbia. A gradual decline in out-migration from Europe, coupled with political changes in China and throughout Asia, leading to increased out-migration from these areas, is changing the ethnic and linguistic makeup of Canada. It should be stressed, however, that these changes are concentrated in two or three key urban centers, while linguistic affiliation elsewhere in the country remains stable. This is likely to change in the early twenty-first century as an aging cohort of European immigrants declines and out-migration from Europe continues to decrease. These shifts will come to have increasingly important cultural effects as immigrants from Asia and, most recently, from certain areas throughout the continent of Africa, come to influence the political and social life of the core urban centers in which they settle. Symbolism. This is an area of considerable dispute in Canada, in large part because of the country’s longstanding history of biculturalism (English and French) and perhaps most importantly because of its proximity to the United States, whose symbolic and rhetorical influence is both unavoidable and openly resisted. Ethnic and cultural diversity in Canada, in which different cultural groups were expected to maintain their distinctiveness rather than subsume it to some larger national culture, which is the historical effect of the English-French biculturalism built into the Canadian confederation, means that national symbols in Canada tend to be either somewhat superficial or regionalized. There are, however, certain symbols that are deployed at both official and unofficial events and functions which are generally shared across the entire country, and can be seen as general cultural symbols, even if their uses may not always be serious. The core values that inform these symbols are cooperation, industriousness, and patience—that is, a kind of national politeness. The Canadian symbolic order is dominated by a concern for order and stability, which marks Canadian identity as something communal rather than individualistic. Canada throughout its history might best be described as a nation of nations. Two European colonial powers dominate the history of Canada and its emergence as a nation: France and Great Britain. In time Britain emerged as the dominant political and cultural force in Canada, but that emergence exemplifies the sense of compromise and cooperation on which Canadian social identity is founded. While Britain, and later English Canada, came to be and remain the most powerful part of the Canadian cultural landscape, this dominance and power exists in a system of joint cultural identity, with French Canada, in Quebec and in other parts of eastern Canada, remaining a singular and distinctive cultural entity in its own right. This complex antagonism, which has been a thread throughout Canada’s emergence as a nation, has also led to a particular kind of nation. Most important, the development of the Canadian nation, however uneven the power of the English and the French, has been characterized by discussion, planning, and compromise. The gradual opening of all of Canada to European control, and its coming together in 1867 as a national entity, was not the result of war or revolution but instead, of negotiation and reconciliation. It was an orderly transition managed almost like a business venture, through which Canada obtained a degree of sovereignty and Great Britain continued to hold Canada’s allegiance as a member of the British Empire. When, in the early 1980s Canada would take the final step towards political independence by adopting its own constitution, it would do so through negotiation as well, and again, the antagonism between English and French Canada, which resulted in the Government of Quebec refusing to sign the constitutional enabling agreement would provide both the drama of the moment, and its fundamental character, one of compromise and collaboration. Leading up to and following the emergence of Canada as an independent political state in 1867, English Canada and English identity dominated the political and cultural landscape. The remaining French presence, in Quebec and throughout the eastern part of the country, while a strong cultural entity in itself, exercised only limited influence and effect at the national level. English symbols, the English language, and the values of loyalty to the English crown prevailed throughout the nation as the core underpinnings of national identity. The dominance of English Canada in terms of national identity, especially in a federal system in which binationalism and biculturalism were enshrined in the founding legislation of the country, exercised a powerful effect on ethnic relations, but that effect was not ethnic homogenization. Instead, the dominance of English Canada served as a major locus of ongoing tension between the two national identities of Canada, a tension which, in he period from the 1960s onward, has come to be expressed in growing French-Canadian nationalism and so far unsuccessful attempts on the part of French Canada to secede from the Canadian confederation. This tension—which is built into the principles of the confederation itself, which recognizes the duality of Canadian national identity— while regularly threatening the unity of the federation, has also had a mollifying effect on ethnic divisions more generally. The main exception to this has been the relationship between the dominant Fren ch-English state and aboriginal peoples. Colonial relations with indigenous ethnic groups worldwide have often been marked by violent conquest. While violence did play a role in these relationships in Canada, more often than not aboriginal peoples simply had their ethnic and cultural identities erased. The use of forced schooling, including the removal of children from their families, for example, sought to annul aboriginal cultural identities Food in Daily Life . The agricultural and ethnic richness of Canada has led to two distinctive characteristics of everyday food consumption. The first is its scale. Canadians are â€Å"big eaters,† with meat portions in particular dominating the Canadian meal. There are generally three regular meals in a given day. Breakfast, often large and important in rural areas, but less so in urban areas, is most often not eaten in a group. Lunch, at midday, is most often a snack in urban areas, but remains a substantial meal in rural centers. Dinner, the final formal meal of the day, is also the meal most likely to be eaten by a residential group as a whole, and it is the largest and the most socially important meal of the day. It is the meal most often used as a social event or to which invitations to nonfamily members are extended, in contrast with lunch which is often, for adults, shared with coworkers. Meat plays a key role in all three of the formal meals, but with increasing importance at breakfast and dinner. Dinner should have some special, and most often, large, meat portion as its key component. Each of these three meals can be, and often are, very substantial. There are general rules concerning appropriate foods for each meal, rules that can be quite complex. For example, pork can figure in each meal, but only particular kinds of pork would be considered appropriate. Pork at breakfast may appear as bacon, or sausage, in small portions. Both of these products are made with the least valuable portion of the pig. At lunch, pork may appear in a sandwich in the form of processed meats, also made from the least valuable portion of the pig. For dinner, pork appears in large and more highly valued forms, such as roasts or hams, which require often elaborate preparation and which are presented to diners in a way that highlights their value and size. The other main feature of Canadian food is diversity. The complex ethnic landscape of Canada and the tendency of ethnic groups to retain a dual cultural orientation have meant that Canadian cuisine is quite diverse in its content, with many ethnic dishes seen as somehow quintessentially Canadian as well. Whether pizza or chow mein, cabbage rolls or plum pudding, Canadian cuisine is best characterized as eclectic rather than consistent in content. There are a small number of food items that are considered distinctively Canadian, such as maple syrup, but overall the Canadian diet is drawn from a panoply of ethnic sources. Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Ceremonial food does not generally differ greatly in content from everyday foods. What distinguishes food in ceremonial settings, such as state dinners, is not the type of food but the amount of food served and the complexity of its presentation and consumption. Ceremonial dinners are often made up of a long list of dishes served in a rigid sequence, eaten with utensils specified for each portion, and presented in often elaborate arrangement either generally, on the table as a whole, or in the particular portions placed on each diner’s plate. The same general consideration applies to meals for more private special occasions, such as those marking important religious holidays such as Christmas. The number of discrete dishes is usually quite large, the preparation of each is often specialized and involved, and portions consumed are more often than not greater than what one would consume under other circumstances. These more private special occasion meals often involve entire extended families sharing in both preparing and eating the meal. There is another special meal worth mentioning, the potluck. Potluck† is derived from the word potlatch, a special occasion of many West Coast First Nations peoples. The potluck involves each guest preparing and bringing a dish to the event, to be shared by all the diners. The key component of this particular kind of meal is food sharing among friends as opposed to food making for family. In general, potluck meals are meals shared by friends or coworkers. They express the symbolic im portance of the meal as a part of the moral geography of social relations among nonkin, but distinguish this meal as an act of food sharing rather than an act of food preparation. That is, the potluck meal expresses a sense of community and kindness, while the family meal expresses a sense of service, duty, and family solidarity. Basic Economy. Canada is a resource rich, but land and people poor, country. While physically vast, there are geographic limitations on where people can live such that most of the population is located around the Great Lakes, and in the Saint Lawrence River Valley. This has meant, however, that the natural resources throughout the country can be exploited more fully. Key to Canada’s basic economy is its role as a resource base, not only for its own manufacturing, but for export as well. Minerals and ore, forestry products, and in particular in the twentieth century, oil and gas, have been the foundation of the Canadian economy since European conquest of the area. Farming is also key to the Canadian economy, although most of Canada’s agricultural production The single largest area of economic growth in Canada since the 1970s has been in the â€Å"service† sector, the part of the economy which provides services rather than goods for sale. r Trade. Canada exports around the world, but its most important export and import trading partner is the United States. The manufacturing and export of large equipment, and in particular farm equipment, is the second largest component of Canadian manufacturing and trade. At the same time, Canada remains a major resource exporter. In particular, Canada exports raw materials such as petro-chemi cals and oil, minerals and ores, and forestry products. Division of Labor. Labor in Canada is unevenly divided between skilled professional, skilled manufacturing, and general unskilled such as service workers. With increased manufacturing efficiency, the skilled manufacturing labor force has declined in size, though not in economic impact, while the general unskilled labor force has increased; at the same time skilled professionals—whether doctors, computer programmers, and other new economy professionals—has also increased. Access to different jobs is determined in part by education and training and in part by social networks.

Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory

In the twentieth century, Sigmund Freud, had been labeled as the father of psychoanalysis. Working with many great theorists in his lifetime, they helped him expand his thinking too create many theories of his own, one in particular, the psychoanalytic theory. Even though many theorists did not agree with his theory, because of his addiction to cocaine, many believe he was one of the greatest. Sigmund Freud was born in Moravia in May 6, 1856 into Jewish parents. In 1860 his family migrated to Vienna, where he resided for about eighty years.He then left Vienna moving to London after the Nazis overran Austria. Since when he was young, Freud wanted to be a scientist. In 1873, Freud enters the medical school of University of Vienna, graduating eight years later. (Hall, 1970) In 1886 He married to Martha Bernays and opened his own practice. (Wollheim, 1971) After studying and working with Jean Charcot a French psychiatrist and Joseph Breuer a Viennese physician, Freud realized that Charco t’s hypnosis treatment was not impressive and Breuer’s conservative view on sexual conflict where the cause of hysteria left Freud working alone.Working alone helped Freud form the foundation of psychoanalytic theory. (Hall, 1970) Psychoanalytic theory is the belief that a dynamic struggle takes place within the human psych between unconscious forces. That’s where the structure of personality takes place. The structure of personality is made up of three main mental entities, Id, Ego, and Superego. Id operates only in the unconscious mind containing basic animal drives as instinctual impulses, hunger, thirst, sex, and aggression.Id follows the pressure principle and demand for instant gratification. Ego represents reason and good sense. Id organizes the ways to handle the delay of gratification by coping with frustration by operating in the reality of principles, seeking to satisfy instinctual demands in way that are practical and socially acceptable. Ego attends to avoid social disapproval. Superego is the interval moral guardian or conscience. Develops by internalizing the moral teachings of parents or other significant others.The ego has to make the compromise between the id and superego. (Quigley, 1998) In the end, balance and interactions of these three parts is determined by our behavior and our ability to meet the life challenges we face. To understand it better in a criminology way an example of the theory would be John is at the mall and sees the diamond on a ring shine right on him and his id thinks, â€Å"I’d like to go and snatch it right off the show case. The ego then says, â€Å"Wait there’s not enough people, you’re in a plain site, let’s wait for the room to get busy. † The superego then says, â€Å"Wait, you can’t do that, you can pay for it. † In 1880s Sigmund Freud started experimenting with cocaine. He believed that cocaine lifted his spirit when he was at a low period i n his life. Freud stated that with brilliant success he was able to observe the effects cocaine took on him when he used small doses, regularly for depression and against indigestion. Cocaine) Because of this experimenting stage many has challenge Freud psychoanalytic theory. In practically, Darwin, who critisized Freud theory because it was generated by confusions arising Freud long standing use of cocaine. (Freud, 2010) Also, Breuer, a mentor and friend, disagree with Freud when it came to talking treatment for hysteria because sexual desires lay at the bottom of all these hysterical neuroses and like stated before Breuer was conservative towards the subject. (Boeree, 1997)In 1939, Sigmund Freud died of cancer to the mouth and jaw, after battling it for almost 20 years. Some of Freud's ideas are tied to his culture and era; other ideas are not easily testable. Some may even of Freud's own personality and experiences. But Freud was a great observer of the human condition, and enoug h of what he said has meaning today that he will be a part of personality textbooks for years to come. Even when theorists come up with dramatically different ideas about how we work, they compare their ideas with Freud's.

Introduction to Organisations and Management Assignment - 1

Introduction to Organisations and Management - Assignment Example Management involves coordinating and overseeing the work activities of others so that their activities are completed efficiently and effectively. The first and foremost responsibility of a good manager is creating an atmosphere in which people from different disciplines and departments in the organization can form teams for successful accomplishments of projects. Moreover the work of each individual and teams need to be observed closely so that they may be recognized for their efforts if their work is up to the standards or they may be helped in improving the quality of their work. The next job is to improve efficiency of individuals and teams through employ development programs, stress management drills and achieving the right combination of teams according to the nature of the project. There are certain steps involved in the management and organization and the success lies with the correct execution of these steps. These steps include planning, organizing, leading and controlling. An organization is a deliberate arrangement of people to accomplish some specific purpose. Organizations have a distinct purpose which is achieved by the correct composition of people who carry out the assigned tasks following a specified structure. In the present scenario, a good organization should have flexible work arrangements, employee work teams and open communication systems with a healthy organizational culture. Organizations are changing because the world around them has changed and is continuing to change. These economic, societal and technological changes have created an environment in which the organizations have to adopt new and innovative organizational techniques and objectives to achieve success. An analysis of two companies based on flexible work arrangements, employee work teams, communication systems and organizational culture is presented in the following pages. Organizational Design and Structure The organizational structure is critical for a company as well as for its employees. The success or failure of a company depends highly on the organizational structure of the company. Moreover a good organizational structure gives provides better opportunities to the employees to progress, hence the success of individuals as well as company depends on the organizational structure. Organizational structure essentially means the way in which a company makes use of its resources, human resources in particular. The organizational structure of the company determines the chain of command in a company by setting a framework in which individuals are generally divided into groups who report to certain individuals in the management. A successful organizational structure is the one which is flexible and can adapt to the changing trends and conditions. The classic rigid styles of organizational structure in which individuals are divided into certain departments and each department performs a specific function are diminishing now. The new organizational struc tures are based on the changing market trends, global competition and the arrival of technology. The objective behind a flexible organizational structure is to make it capable of aligning with the changing trends so that it may create new opportunities. In order to create new products or services and to target new consumer

Revenue Recognition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Revenue Recognition - Essay Example Although it may initially seem counterintuitive to adopt the practices for revenue recognition stated in EITF 00-21,it is clearly the next step in establishing the company as a leader not only in the aircraft transport field but as a pioneer in the adoption of enhanced accounting guidelines is concerned. One must understand that although accounting revenues and profit will decrease, the company’s financial position is not affected. Although the recognized revenue for the current year and the subsequent restatement of the previous financial statements will result in a decrease of our stated revenues and profit, under the astute eye of the investment community it will clearly be perceived as an act that further solidifies the company as a leader in the industry. Additionally a lot of our current year revenue losses will be offset by additional revenue being recognized from contracts obtained during the previous four years of operations. Under our current accounting methods the fractional interest contracts are immediately recognized as revenue in its totality for the current accounting period. The monthly management revenue stream and the hourly usage incomes are both recognized as well as related expenses as they are incurred. In the industry, a lot of different revenue recognition practices are utilized. For example just like our current accounting practices, some companies record revenue on initial sale of fractional interest at the time of sale. There are other companies that account the revenue from programs similar to operating leases whereas other companies spread the income over the term of the agreement. As a result, the following three options were being analyzed by management: A) Revenue attributable to the initial sale of the fractional interest should be recognized at the time of sale. The other attributes of the program, namely the

STRUCTURAL DESIGN Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

STRUCTURAL DESIGN - Essay Example Proper engineering design is required for all structural work as inferior designs have resulted to many catastrophic accidents such as the collapse of buildings, bridges underground tunnels, roofs and other structures. These collapse lead to heavy loses in terms of materials, finances and loss of lives. It is therefore important to consider all aspects of a building especially in terms of applied loads so as to design a sufficient structure to resist these forces. There are many design consideration that must be taken into account when designing the structural details of any building. After the structural design, the buildings are then constructed. There are many types of materials that are used in the building construction industry. Some of the most common construction material includes wood, steel/iron, masonry and concrete. Plastics are now gaining importance in building and construction especially for interiors design or supporting at points where minimum load resistance is required. The foundation: this structural element supports the whole building. It carries the whole load of the building and distributes the stress to soil or rock layer beneath it. The foundation must be well constructed in order to aid in support of whole structure. Most of the foundation elements are made using reinforced concrete, metal or Masonry. Concrete is highly preferred due to it durability and ability to withstand heavy compressive forces. The type of foundation is greatly determined by type of soil, the size of the building, ground water present and other special design considerations. Some of the common types of foundations include; Different foundations have got different footings. The type, size and materials used for construction of the footing depend upon the type of soil and the load bearing capacity of that soil. The main types of footing commonly used include; The main structural elements used for most of the floors are

Lyndon Johnson and how he handle the Tet offensive Research Paper

Lyndon Johnson and how he handle the Tet offensive - Research Paper Example Johnson the president of United States. His domestic public support for the war waned leading to his abandonment of re-election in the 1968 elections. As for Giap the North Vietnamese army general â€Å"they were not able to destroy enemy forces but the offensive sent shudders through vital points† (Willbanks, 2008, p. 66). However, the question we need to ask ourselves is: why was the Tet offensive carried out in the first place and how did Lyndon Johnson handle it? Americans under General William Westmoreland took troops to Vietnam for continuity of its foreign policy of containing the spread of communism and for nation building just like Lyndon’s predecessor John Kennedy. North Vietnam under General Giap wanted to win the war fast and weaken South Vietnam military and at the same time provoke an uprising that would see the overthrow of government which was under Thieu. However, they underestimated the military power of allied forces hence the defeat. Many criticisms have been leveled against Johnson on the way he handled the whole affair. The doves believed American should not have been involved in the war in the first place while the hawks supported the effort. This paper will argue that Johnson was guided by his domestic as well as foreign policy when handling the offensive. He only had two options: leave his domestic program of â€Å"Great Society† and get involved in war thus risk losing all programs at home or seek peace and let the communists win the war but this option would have rendered him a coward. He could not have the â€Å"guns and butter† as Eisenhower used to say (Bringham, 2008, p. 119). He had an option of granting Westmoreland more troops to finish the war but this would have resulted into full-scale war attracting China and Soviet Union into the war. On the other hand, withdrawing the troops and seek peace but this would definitely result in defeat. The withdrawal of the troops in the end gave North Vietnam the edge and when war finally ended in 1975, South Vietnam was under control of the communists. Background Tet Offensive of 1968 was carried out in the midst of Vietnam War. The war was an extension of the cold war between two superpowers: U.S and U.S.S.R after the Second World War. Though the two nations collaborated against common enemies such as Japanese and Germany, it was clear that the two had tense relations filled with suspicions and lack of trust. The two super powers had very divergent political ideals; the U.S wanted states to free and democratic under capitalism form of government while the U.S.S.R viewed capitalism as a source of all evil and the cause of world war in the first place. It thus wanted to eliminate capitalism and replace it with communism hence the beginning of cold war. The cold war shaped U.S foreign policy for decades to come with Harry S. Truman’s doctrine of containment being the guide. It was meant to contain the spread of communism by using U.S funds to promote economic development in affected nations especially Europe and South Eastern Asia. A developed nation which takes care of the well-being of its people and lets them determine their future by electing a democratic government would combat communism spread. U.S.S.R on the other hand, was bent of spreading communism especially to border countries for security reasons. Various indirect wars were fought in the struggle for dominance

Reflective Journals on real ear measurment and prescription rules Essay

Reflective Journals on real ear measurment and prescription rules - Essay Example But patient response/opinion should also be in parallel with that of the audiologist in order to reach target. A cooperative patient will of course yield successful results whilst a patient in denial will not. A good fit is an important benefit to patients and that the use of REM recognizes the differences between coupler and real-ear measurements. In addition, patient benefit is greater when the target is well-matched. The baseline measure is useful when the patient will want to change aid later on. REM also shows the effects of fine tuning and provides graphical confirmation to the audiologist that the intended prescription/processing strategy have been implemented by the hearing aid software. Real ear measurement ensures the audiologist will be able to understand the whole process. REM is also helpful during counselling of patient and their family members about what they can and cannot hear. It will verify the function of advanced features like directional microphone and even nois e reduction features. Therefore, the audiologist should be adept about REM. During the lectures and readings, I also learned considerations for adults and children patients due to different approaches to real ear measurement. It was suggested that normal hearing in infants are uncertain (Ching et al, 2001). There are also acoustical differences between the ear canals of children and adults that affect the audiometric data as well as the hearing aid amplification. The audiologist should be aware of this when faced with a child or adult patient. To minimize or eliminate mistakes in prescribing amplification, the audiologist should base thresholds in sound pressure level at the tympanic membrane. Measurement errors are seen to be fewer for adults, especially those with average ear canal size and resonance. Children are also more restless during probe tube

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 13

Project Management - Essay Example An ineffective project planning can lead to a lot of risk management since, the processes such as monitoring and coordination lacks much seriousness. Therefore, importance of project management in organizations is a vital factor in the realization of the firm’s objectives and targets. A good project management leads to the business services of an organization gaining a lot of advantage, which appears through good attainment of goals, utilization of optimal resources and the making of informed business decisions. Another importance is that, a competitive advantage takes toll through an energized workforce through the execution and collaboration of a business culture, which, ensures the customers are satisfied fully. A well planned and a systematic project management plan can create a source of the organization’s tangible profits. Another importance is that, top management is able to attain exact and accurate timely data for the purposes of making informed decisions in business related matters. The project management cycle undergoes a five-step approach; they are initiation, planning, execution, monitoring/control and closure. Initiation is a process involving the giving of an overview of how the project looks like, and the strategy implemented in the organizations plan. This is done to achieve the desired results and in addition, it is where a project manager is appointed to guide the rest of project members due to his or her experience and skills. Planning is the second step, which includes risk assessment alongside defining the system used in order complete the plan. Execution and control are the third and fourth step respectively, which involves planning a solution used for the implementation of solving problems noted in the requirements of a project. Closure, which is the fifth and last step, involves a manager ensuring the

Global Warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Global Warming - Essay Example Scientific reports claim that the very origin of global warming was somewhere in mid-20th century. They argue that that during and around 1970s, environmental degradation was on the rise. The rise in degradation resulted in huge concentration of carbon in the atmosphere which eventually rose into a universal issue. With different agencies and organizations such as United Nations Environmental Program and Intergovernmental for Climate Change all scrambling for the publicity brought about by global warming, the issue soon scaled to an international problem. Skeptical science, however, disagrees with this claim, arguing that environmental degradation and global warming are natural and can only be stopped through natural practices.Scientific reports claim that the very origin of global warming was somewhere in mid-20th century. They argue that that during and around 1970s, environmental degradation was on the rise. The rise in degradation resulted in huge concentration of carbon in the a tmosphere which eventually rose into a universal issue. With different agencies and organizations such as United Nations Environmental Program and Intergovernmental for Climate Change all scrambling for the publicity brought about by global warming, the issue soon scaled to an international problem. Skeptical science, however, disagrees with this claim, arguing that environmental degradation and global warming are natural and can only be stopped through natural practices.   Media, organizations and agencies use conflicting ideas. The conflicting ideas merge into one to create a problem. Giving different data about the same information all from reputable sources, for instance stirs restlessness. People tend to look for more information in this case. In the midst of the confusion of looking for a new idea, people easily believe whatever is talked more about and that has direct effects on them. For instance, as the IPCC report 2013 claim that global warming reduced amicably, skeptica l science argues that the decade between 2000 to2009 was the hottest. People believed IPCC since the arguments from skeptical science did not directly affect their health.Global warming can just be an avenue through which the whole environmentalists strive to keep standard environmental conditions.  

Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State Essay Example for Free

Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State Essay This article argues that the first domestic institution in human history was not the family but the matrilineal clan. Engels here follows Lewis H. Morgans thesis as outlined in his major book, Ancient Society. Morgan was an American business lawyer who championed the land rights of Native Americans and became adopted as an honorary member of the Seneca Iroquois tribe. Traditionally, the Iroquois had lived in communal longhouses based on matrilineal descent and matrilocal residence, an arrangement giving women much solidarity and power. When nonhuman primate society and earliest human society, identifying sexual competition and the jealousy of the male as the vital issue that needed to be overcome to allow the emergence of the oldest form of family involving group marriage. Primitive communism was based in the matrilineal clan where women lived with their classificatory sisters – applying the principle that my sister’s child is my child. This kinship solidarity empowered women to take action against uncooperative males. Engels identified the world historic defeat of the female sex – the switch from what he called mother-right to father-right – with the onset of farming and pastoralism. This shift from matrilocality to patrilocality manifested itself in mens increased control in the home. Engels wrote: The man took command in the home also. The book begins with an extensive discussion of Ancient Society which describes the major stages of human development as commonly understood in Engels time. In contrast to other contemporary essays on the subject, Engels emphasizes the importance not of primitive psychological development but rather of social relations of power and control over material resources, sometimes related to the d evelopment of new technologies. Morgan, whose account of prehistory Engels largely accepts as given, focuses primarily on the first two stages  of Savagery and Barbarism but only ventures as far as the transition into Civilization. The terms Savagery and Barbarism as used by Morgan were meant to be objective and not terms of derision or disparagement as they might be assumed to be then or now. The Pairing Family, first indications of pairing are found in families where the husband has one primary wife. Inbreeding is practically eradicated by the prevention of a marriage between two family members who were even just remotely related, while relationships also start to approach monogamy. Property and economics begin to play a larger part in the family, as a pairing family had responsibility for the ownership of specific goods and property. Polygamy is still common amongst men, but no longer amongst women since their fidelity would ensure the child’s legitimacy. Women have a superior role in the family as keepers of the household and guardians of legitimacy. The pairing family is the form characteristic of the lower stages of barbarism. However, at this point, when the man died his inheritance was still given to his gens, rather than to his offspring. Engels refers to this economic advantage for men coupled with the womans lack of rights to lay claim to possessions for herself or her children (who became hers after a separation) as the overthrow of mother-right which was the world historical defeat of the female sex. For Engels, ownership of property created the first significant division between men and women in which the woman was inferior. It develops from the pairing family, as we have already shown, during the time of transition from the middle to the higher stage of barbarism. Its final victory is one of the signs of beginning civilization. It is founded on male supremacy for the pronounced purpose of breeding children of indisputable paternal lineage. The latter is required, because these children shall later on inherit the fortune of their father. The monogamous family is distinguished from the pairing family by the far greater durability of wedlock, which can no longer be dissolved at the pleasure of either party. As a rule, it is only the man who can still dissolve it and cast off his wife.

Decriminalizing Prostitution Essay Example for Free

Decriminalizing Prostitution Essay The oldest profession in the world, also known as, prostitution is one of the most controversial debates that many people have. Should it be legal, should it be illegal, are the women just selling their bodies because they have low self-esteem? Well, let’s discuss the pros and cons to decriminalizing prostitution. Where brothels are present and their outcome of business. Let’s focus on the positive side of decriminalizing prostitution, as mentioned one of the pros would be that it can be an economic means to a person in need of financial assistance. Just like every other job prostitution is a way of making a living, you have supply and demand, just as a cable man will come to your house and fix your T. V. a prostitute will give that companion to the person needing it. A second pro would be that it can minimize human trafficking, usually when something is illegal or inaccessible we want it more, making any means necessary to achieve it, this is true for human traffickers that sell humans for various reasons, mainly sex. If we can already make humans readily available for intimate reasons than we can naturally see trafficking coming to a halt. Another pro I can see with decriminalizing prostitution is reduction in violence within the prostitute community. Many prostitutes are raped, abused, and murdered. If we were to help protect these workers then maybe they would be less afraid to seek help from the police and the police would better protect them. Because prostitution is illegal many prostitutes that are raped or otherwise abused aren’t going to the police for fear that they will be arrested. The final pro is if we decriminalize prostitution then both the Johns and the prostitutes would have to get monthly checks for AIDS/HIV and all other STD’s. Enforcing this might ensure that we are putting an end to spreading diseases across the nation. We have discussed some pros now let’s discuss some cons, I can’t see many cons with decriminalizing prostitution but one of them would be the moral aspect of it. I can see how many crimes against these women would become a problem within society. Prostitution is seen as wrong and immoral, so I am not sure if a sex work professional would ever be seen as a the same as a teacher, CEO, or banker. The last con I can see is that the drug industry would sky rocket, as more and more prostitutes are trading sexual favors for drugs, I can see that drugs would now be spread more vastly across the plains. Just as corrupt as any company could be, prostitution and drugs are commonly known to be a hand in hand occurrence. This could become a problem in the future for police officials to get a hold of if taken out of control and not monitored correctly. In the United States there is only one state where prostitution is legal, which is Nevada. There are only 17 counties in Nevada that allow brothels in their counties, any county that exceeds 400,000 residents are not allowed to have a brothel. While it is a high paying profession and due to the recession it has seen its bad days, prostitution in Nevada is still a very popular and highly sought out job because of its high pay day. The working girls in a brothel have to be tested once a week for STD’s such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, and once a month for AIDS and HIV. They must also use a condom for ALL transactions and report their tax earnings to the county, so basically the county is their pimp. At the end of the day whether it is moral or not, it is the choice of the men and women who are choosing to sell themselves for money. We should not judge those who chose that profession as a means of making ends meet. Many people do what they have to do to provide for themselves and their families. There are prostitutes who do it solely for the money, some to upkeep their drug habits and some because they just plainly like sex.

Globalisation and Workplace Diversity

Globalisation and Workplace Diversity The ability to conduct business internationally is an absolute necessity if you hope to remain competitive in todays marketplace. Globalization, has served to stabilize business and financial markets in such a dramatic fashion that many industrialists have yet to reach an understanding of the depth and breadth of the impact it has had on lowering political, financial, and economic volatility. Business globalisation [Def.] refers to a business expanding its sales and their assets over the national boundaries, involving a surge in capital, labour, goods and services. Andrew Jones, 2009, Dictionary of Globalisation, Coca cola is a perfect example, as they have profitably expanded their business in the global consumer market. Coca cola has used various tactics to achieve this. To reduce their production costs, they have established transnational corporations. They have also focused on product branding and positioning, and revised their prices according to the competition. In the past two decades, globalisation has greatly increased. It has had a significant impact on the management of businesses. Globalisation [Def.], as defined by the OECD is The geographic dispersion of industrial and service activities, for example research and development, sourcing of inputs, production and distribution, and the cross-border networking of companies, for example through joint ventures and the sharing of assets (OECD) Globalisation is making the economy of the world increasingly interdependent. This can be seen in the growth of trade, increase in flow of capital and also a boost in Multinational economic activity. For their macroeconomic health, world economies depend on each other. (September 2009, Globalization. Oxford English Dictionary Online ) Glimpse of the Past Globalisation over time Globalisation is not a new phenomenon. In reality, it has slowly and gradually been making its way in the world economy since the dawn of time. Until the recent times its impact has not been visible. The Chief Economist of the World Bank, Nick Stern, divided the expansion of globalisation into three phases: Phase One: initiated in 1870 and ended during the 1920s and 1930s(interwar period), with a descent into global protectionism. This was a time of speedy growth in the international trade. This growth was increased by the economic policies that aimed to liberalise the flow of trade, and also by the rapid development in technology, this reduced the costs, such as of transportation. Phase Two: After the Second World War, the second phase of globalisation was aided by a rise in the world trade and also the reconstruction of the economy. The establishment of new international economic institutions, supported this expansion. In order to promote stability in the monetary system, provide a sound basis for multilateral trade and to help restore economic activity, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank were created. Their aim was to promote economic co-operation between nations. Phase Three: The current wave of globalization is demonstrated by a quick rise in the ratio of trade to GDP for many countries and also by a continuous increase in the flow of capital between countries and the trade of goods and services. http://tutor2u.net/economics/revision-notes/a2-macro-globalisation-introduction.html Main Motivations and Drivers for Globalisation Hamish McRae has argued, Business is the main driver of globalization! (Hamish McRae) A large motivator of globalisation is the desire of MNCs to enhance their profits and returns. Globalisation is also driven by the enthusiastic approach that individual national governments have, to take full advantage of the wider macroeconomic and social benefits that are a result of increased trade of goods, services and the rapid increase in the flow of financial capital. The main drivers of globalisation are as follows: Technological change especially in communications technology. Example: UK taking their business and data to India due to cheaper skilled labour. There has been a massive reduction in the cost of transmitting and communication information- this is a huge factor responsible for the growth of trade using internet technology. Quick and low costing transportation it also includes shipping containers also known as ISO containers. This reduction causes the prices of the manufacturers to come down, and make competing with the local manufacturer uncomplicated and trouble-free. The low costs are as a direct result of the advances in transport technology. The speed and reliability of the transport, makes new and developing markets in the grasps of companies all around the globe. Deregulation of global financial markets the abolition of numerous rules and regulations, for instance, rules concerning foreign ownership (removed from UK in the 1800s). Privatisation also took place, as a result businesses were now open to purchase and/or take-over. This allowed businesses in one country to buy those in another. For example, many UK utilities are owned by French and US businesses. Removal of capital exchange controls the opening up of the capital markets facilitates direct foreign investments. It also encourages freer flow of money across the borders. Free trade numerous barriers to trade have either been removed or relaxed because of regional groupings such as the European Union (EU), where as some have been removed by the WTO making trade cheaper and more attractive. Changes in consumer tastes and willingness to try foreign goods resulting from the arrival of the global satellite the awareness among the consumers has increased. Advancement of the global consumer market; world demand and taste have greatly merged to global demand for numerous products. The second most recognized word in the English language is Coke. Americanization is often seen as a backlash against globalisation. As the products become for and more identifiable, comparatively cheaper and of higher quality it gives a boost to the global consumer. Effects of Globalisation on Businesses The effects of globalization vary from country to country, region to region and of course from business to business. Communications infrastructure is of high importance to modern business, but all countries do not have access to it. There is also the non-traded sector i.e. goods and services that cannot be imported or exported. For example, domestic services are provided where the house is; a clean house cannot be exported. Competition Foreign businesses buy into the domestic market. Deregulation opens up the markets to competition- it encourages innovation and creation of new markets hence challenging the traditional market leaders. Meeting consumer expectations and tastes The high awareness and exposure of the consumers, their high incomes results in them having greater and higher expectations hence forcing the businesses to meet their standard. Economies of scale Selling in the global market allows enormous economies of scale, though not all businesses benefit from it. Choice of location Businesses can now operate from cheaper and more efficient. UK has been seen as an attractive location specifically for financial services. Many businesses have located in UK, boosting their economy and also providing increased competition for the domestic businesses. The increased movement of businesses and jobs has forced the governments to compete with each other to provide attractive and low costing locations. Example Ireland offers Tax Holidays to relocating businesses. Multinational and multicultural management This is one of the biggest challenges faced by businesses and their managers. A multinational business environment is complex and has more variables, thus difficult to manage. A multicultural employment policy results in employees of various nationalities, languages, cultures and religions, in various offices across the globe. Globalization of markets The importance of national borders grows less. Markets are stretching across the border and the MNCs are well placed to take full advantage of this. Globalisation is directly proportional to the economic growth of a country, as it eventually contributes positively in reducing any countrys poverty level. (http://ishrathusain.iba.edu.pk/speeches/globalization/Impact_of_globalization_Mahboobul_Haq.pdf) A- International Regional Institutions, Policies, Governance B Domestic Policies, Institutions Governance Diversity Explained When used in business terminology, Diversity [Def.] refers to a company that has hired a diverse workforce. In the employees they have men, women, and people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. In the global market such a company can understand the market conditions and demographics in a much better way. They can then use this information and equip themselves to thrive. A company that has a diverse workforce is more likely to improve its productivity and their employees are more satisfied, than a company with a limited workforce. The federal and state laws in the US, prohibits the companies to discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity when hiring or assigning employees. Workplace Diversity Diversity in the workplace results in many benefits as well as challenges. Benefits Communication is a key element for the successful running of a diverse company. Along with diversity come substantial benefits. Such as: Better decision making Improvement in problem solving Greater innovation and inspiration for creativity Recognition of the employees talents This leads to: Improved product development Successful marketing Employees having a sense of belonging Greater commitment and loyalty of the workers Challenges Management faces numerous problems in managing a diverse workforce. Many organizational theorists have raised their concerns over the motivation and management of a diverse workforce. Diverse organizational work environment should be considered as low context cultures. Many challenges are to be faced by the management. Such as: Miscommunication within the organization Interpretation of messages can vary from person to person since no two people have the same experience of events Cultural bias including prejudice and discrimination Assimilation UN Global Compact and Global Businesses The UN Global Compact focuses on human rights, labour, and the environment and anti-corruption laws. They have universal consensus and have been derived from: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights The International Labour Organizations Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development The United Nations Convention Against Corruption Companies are asked to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption. Human Rights Businesses should support, respect and protect the internationally proclaimed human rights; and making sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses. Labour Businesses should uphold the freedom of association; they should focus on the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour; abolition of child labour; and eliminate discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. Environment They should maintain a precautionary approach towards environmental challenges; take on initiatives to promote environmental responsibility; and promote the progress and circulation of environmentally friendly technologies. Anti-Corruption Businesses should get together and work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery. Challenges of Globalisation and Diversity (John Manzoni (2005) The basic challenge that is faced by economic globalisation is to make the global system deliver economic growth more consistently and equitably, as the best way to reduce global inequality and poverty. Globalisation is faced with both region- and subject-specific challenges. The performance of the industrial countries determines Global growth. Their attitudes towards globalisation shall act as a key to the future of the global economy. Thus the governments need to step up and support the right policies; help people deal with the consequences of economic change; and come through on the promises of trade, aid, and also of strengthening the international economic system. In Asia, South Korea had led the way, China and India are also headed on the path to sustainable growth, and it is expected to continue to spread. Fierce competition for markets and talent, scrutiny and in some cases public doubt, the expectations of investors and the market pressures for sustained competitive performance. All these issues will remain challenges, some ever intensified by globalisation. In addition to these familiar themes there are new challenges driven by the changes that are taking place in the global economy. Absence of a framework of global rules No global framework of rules and regulations exists to match the global nature of business. The companies are required to operate by the laws of the country that they are located in. Organization and management of companies Companies must apply delegation of authority, to establish who is responsible for what and to ensure that everyone understands the framework of standards within which they are to do their job. Cultural diversity This is related to cultures and values. Historically business is monocultured. But now it is impossible to do business in this way. Locals have to employed in senior staff roles so that they may bridge the cultural divide. Corporate responsibility for the externalities associated with business activity This issues is certainly not a new one, but has been intensified by globalisation. Conclusion and Recommendations In the 21st century, globalisation is changing the international framework conditions and, consequently, the fundamental conditions as well. Globalisation presents a number of new challenges, for example: The fight against international terrorism Relations between the West and the Muslim World Problems in the area of energy and the environment Conflicts and the suppression of human rights The prospects for continued global growth The fight against poverty, especially in Africa More non-state actors on the international scene The world is moving in the direction of a global network and the new challenges are to be addressed accordingly. This requires strong partnerships and presence worldwide. In the age of globalisation, it is the objective of businesses to contribute decisively to furthering their interests on the international scene and to enable them to pursue a policy internationally that will help foster broad and committing international cooperation regarding the challenges presented by globalisation. The businesses must focus sharply on the challenges presented by globalisation For example terrorism, relations between the West and the Muslim World, new challenges with respect to energy and the environment, global competition, poverty reduction). Must establish open and strong partnerships in domestics markets as well as abroad Implying, among other things, enhanced co-operation with civil society, enterprises, organizations and ministries. They must be present in the hot spots of globalization Implying, among other things, proposals for new embassies and the reinforcement of existing missions. Some argue that globalization is driven by technology, and that it represents an unstoppable force. Perhaps in the long run. We cannot take it for granted that the world will continue down the road of globalization, greater prosperity, and greater democracy. Political, cultural and religious forces play the dominant role in shaping the future of globalization. The world and the economic system we live in are highly imperfect. There is much that needs to be done to make it work better. But as we do that, we should maintain a perspective that reflects what Winston Churchill said of democracy (Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried): The pro-market, pro-globalization approach is the worst economic policy, except for all the others that have been tried In conclusion globalisation creates an opportunity for businesses to expand revenue streams, diversify risk and increase brand equity. Many companies have successfully expanded their business as a response to the drivers of globalisation. There has also been a noticed development in the global strategies of companies as a response to globalisation.

Osmosis In A Potato :: Papers

Osmosis In A Potato Intro: ====== My biology coursework is based round the osmosis process that takes place in potatoes. Osmosis is the intake of a salt solution through a selectively permeable membrane. The strength of a salt solution can have a dramatic difference on the amount the potato can take in, and how it reacts. Here is an example of a selectively permeable membraneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Salt Solution [IMAGE][IMAGE] Strong Weak [IMAGE] Strong Weak Salt Solution [IMAGE] Variables: An fundamental necessity in my biology experiment is to decide which variable I am going to use and modify. A variable is an aspect of the experiment which can be modified in order to change the outcome of the entire osmosis experiment. Below are the variables I have available * Temperature * Solution Strength * Size Of Potato * Weight Of Potato After a lot of careful deliberation I have decided to use the solution strength as my variable. I chose this because it enables me to witness the effect different strengths of solution have on osmosis. Method: To carry out my experiment successfully I will need to stick to the diagram belowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. [IMAGE] Firstly, I will take 6 test tubes with different strength salt solutions and add them to a test tube rack. I will then cut up a potato and measure them to make sure they are the required size, for this experiment I have chosen 1.0cm. I will then add two measurements of potato into each test tube. The test tube will then be left over night in a fuming cupboard, and results will be taken the next morning. Fair Test: To make sure my experiment is fair I will stand by the following guidelinesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ * Use the same sized test tube. * Make sure each strength is measured exactly. * Make sure each piece of potato is exactly the same size as the next.

Personal Strengths and Weaknesses Essay -- essays research papers

Everyone is embedded with things that make them unique. As individuals we each bring soemthing new, creative, and different to the table. This brings to to discuss personal strengths and weaknessess within myself and my everyday living. Personal strengths are areas where we tend to excel, and seem to express above average. Personal Weaknesses to me are areas where we would like to excel but seem to still need improvement. If I can, let me share with you my strengths and weaknesses and see how they effect my everyday being.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lets begin with my personal strengths. To me these are areas where I think I excel and have the most experience. Being an effective communicator is one of the best traits that I think a person can carry. Effective communication consists of being able to speak clearly and professionally, while being knowleadgeable at the same time. I also have to ensure that the message that is being communicated is easy to understand and that my message covers all the facts and pertinent information. Communication has become one of the key parts to being successful in work life and in my personal life. Communication is key to my marriage and any relationship that I build within a team, workplace, and even with my small child. Being an effective communicator is definetely a strong point for me. Possessing the skills to be a leader is also a bright area for me. I learned at an early age that I love to be in charge and that taking initiative to get things done has a very positive out look. Being that I have learned my limitations and what is best for me, I do better as a leader and not a follower. Being a leader takes an outgoing personality, and a person that loves to work an be around people. It also takes good decision making skills and the ability to work well under pressure sometimes. I am truly a people person and feel that I have the traits that it takes to lead a group to the moon if need be. Which leads me into being a team player. I believe that team work is always a great asset to any work or personal group and being a team player is one of my stronger attributes. Being a team player means being able to work well with others, to offer assistance to others in need, and to be very open to new ideas and other peoples opinions. Being a team player to me falls right into place with being a people person and being able to wo... ...d, the bad, and the indifferent I feel that overall I am a great person and that I have many great qualities. As with anyone I have areas that I would surely like to be stronger in but only time will tell. I am starting to realize that the only way that I can change my weaknesses into strong points is to accept the fact that I have troubles in these areas and that they need to be fixed. Observering how my behaviors and weaker points affect others and my lifestyle will help me to develop a plan to fix these weak points beneath the surface. I think that once a person sits back and evaluates what their personal strengths and weaknesses are then a positive self evaluation can be made. Just from putting this paper together I have evaluated some things about myself that I havent touched base with in a long time. A persons strengths and weaknesses help to make up who they are and no one person is alike. I think that it is always important to know who you are and what you are made of and what better way than to evaluate the things that you can attribute and also the things that you work on to possible make you a better person.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Analysis of Hazlitts Article on Travel :: Literary Analysis Travel Essays Papers

Analysis of Hazlitt's Article on Travel Hazlitt's article on travel advocates the benefits of solo travel within one's own country. His affection for travel is strong. He calls going on a journey "one of the pleasantest things in the world". Hazlitt stresses that solitude while on a journey is a must, saying "nature is company enough for me", and "I am never less alone than when alone". Hazlitt insists that sharing in the experience of nature with a companion takes away from the sensory experience of it. He asserts bluntly: "I cannot see the wit of walking and talking at the same time". He believes conversation distracts from the scenery, and that nature does not need to be discussed, only experienced. To tale about the scene while experiencing it diminishes it and takes away from its immediate beauty. Scenery is not to be negotiated. Everyone will have their own unique experience of nature, and since each experience is personal it is futile to compare experiences. Hazlitt says: "The continual comparing of notes interferes with the involuntary impression of things upon the mind, and hurts the sentiment". His view opposes that of Alphonse Frankenstein, who urges Victor to take a family tour of the Chamounix, insisting that companionship in the experience compounds its remedial value. But Hazlitt seeks freedom from fellow men when he journeys. He says "the soul of a j ourney is liberty...to think, feel, do, just as one pleases". When experiencing nature in solitude, Hazlitt is able to appreciate it to its full extent by becoming one with nature. He says "when i am in the country i wish to vegetate like the country". A journey should be a time of freedom and peace, away from all things associated with city life. When travelling alone you are " a creature of the moment...free of all ties". A journey can provide "a little breathing space" to refresh and revitalize a person. When on a journey, Hazlitt says he begins "to feel, think and be myself again". He finds joy in living while in nature: "Give me the clear blue sky over my head, and the green turf beneath my feet...I laugh, I run, I leap, I sing for joy". Hazlitt's language describes the experience as being cathartic, like a return to the innocence of childhood. Hazlitt says the freedom found in nature comes from being away from people, and allowing the mind to rest.

Research: Video Games Essay

Read the following introductions and select the best one for this report. Introduction A Introduction The purpose of this project is to introduce our group’s two conceptual designs. We have included the following sketches for each car: 3 dimensional view, elevation, plan, front, rear and interior view. Also, we have included a discussion of how the designs meet the criteria given in the project outline. The cars could be suitable for short trips in busy areas. Introduction B 1.0 Introduction With the rise in global warming and increasing pollution levels, it is becoming essential to find a viable alternative to the internal combustion engine petrol powered car. The aim of this project was to create two designs for a fuel cell powered car, the main criteria being environmental friendliness in terms of both emissions and materials. This report presents the designs for two such cars, each of which includes the following components: engine, fuel, wheels, accessories, safety features and materials. Car A is aimed at the upper end of the market, while Car B is a mid-range vehicle suitable for family use. A description of the design and an analysis of operational efficiency for each car are followed by a comparison of the two designs. Finally, the most cost efficient design is recommended. Select the best introduction for this report. How to Write a Research Paper Introduction One of the most important areas of any project is the research paper introduction that defines the standard and the quality of the project right from the very outset. You have to pack in lots of important information within a short space which can be difficult for students. Here are a few guidelines to help you write a proper introduction for the paper. Provide A Problem Definition: Your research paper introduction will be the first time that your problem is described and not just treated as a subject. It is very important that you are precise and compact in your definition. The sample introduction is not a place to write a complex thesis or go on about every single possibility associated in the problem. On the other hand, you cannot limit the problem to a few words. A proper research paper introduction should define the problem in one or two sentences through keywords that are essential to the context of the project. This is extremely important for scientific papers. Research Paper Introduction Example If you read about how to write a research proposal than these 2 next items will be easier for you to understand: Give A Structured Review: When you are writing your research paper introduction, you should be building it around a specific outline that provides an overall review of the paper. Your introduction would be different from an abstract in some aspects but it still needs to highlight all the possibilities of the project. If there are any primary limitations to your work, you can also mention that in brief within the introduction. Sometimes the final project can turn out a bit different from initial planning. It is advised to write your research paper introduction towards the end of your work so there are no contradictions with the conclusion. Include All The Proper Sources to a Sample Introduction: Some of the best research paper introduction samples include primary resources supporting the argument or research of the problem. You should search for similar resources from your local library and on the net to put on your paper. When you are mentioning a source, cross check it if is from a credible site and if the information is correct. It is better to develop a sample research paper introduction based on well known portals for sources rather than individual and independent websites. You should only mention those sources that closely highlight your specific theme of research. Sample Research Paper Introduction Introduction for a research paper Common Sample Introduction Mistakes: One of the many ways students mess up their research paper introduction samples is by making simple and common mistakes. The first thing to keep in mind is the word limit, usually restricted to fifty words. If you go on talking about the project, it should count as an error on your part so you need to be concise. You should also proof read your introduction quite a few times to avoid making any grammatical or sentence construction errors. Your research paper introduction should be optimized for keywords that are distributed in the main body of the project and deal with the essential context of research. Students focus a lot on content and guidelines but tend to ignore basic outlines of the introduction or abstract, getting lesser grades. If you work upon these research paper introduction guidelines, you would surely come up with a professional quality paper as your assignment. Author of an article. What impact does playing video games have on children or adolescents? The most widely used â€Å"positive† impact video games are said to have on children is that they may improve a player’s manual dexterity and computer literacy. Ever-improving technology also provides players with better graphics that give a more â€Å"realistic† virtual playing experience. This quality makes the video game industry a powerful force in many adolescent lives. However, numerous studies show that video games, especially ones with violent content, adversely affect a teen’s aggressive behavior. Part of the increase in aggressive behavior is linked to the amount of time children are allowed to play video games. In one study by Walsh (2000), a majority of teens admitted that their parents do not impose a time limit on the number of hours they are allowed to play video games. The study also showed that most parents are unaware of the content or the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating (see below) of the video games their children play. In another study conducted by Gentile, Lynch, Linder & Walsh (2004, p.6) â€Å"adolescent girls played video games for an average of 5 hours a week whereas boys averaged 13 hours a week†. The authors also stated that teens who play violent video games for extended periods of time show the following behaviors: 1. Tend to be more aggressive 2. Are more prone to confrontation with their teachers 3. May engage in fights with their peers 4. See a decline in school achievements. (Gentile et al, 2004). Another negative impact is that players are rewarded for their violent acts. The interactive quality of video games differs from passively viewing television or movies because it allows players to become active participants in the game’s script. Players benefit from engaging in acts of violence and are then able to move to the game’s next level. Gentile & Anderson (2003) state that playing video games may increase aggressive behavior because violent acts are continually repeated throughout the video game. This method of repetition has long been considered an effective teaching method in reinforcing learning patterns. Video games also encourage players to identify with and role play their favorite characters. This is referred to as a â€Å"first-person† video game (Anderson & Dill, 2000, p. 788) because players are able to make decisions affecting the actions of the character they are imitating. After a limited amount of time playing a violent video game, a player can â€Å"automatically prime aggressive thoughts† (Bushman & Anderson, 2002, p. 1680). The researchers concluded that players who had prior experience playing violent video games responded with an increased level of aggressionwhen they encountered confrontation (Bushman & Anderson, 2002). In a Joint Statement (2000) before the Congressional Public Health Summit, a number of American medical associations — the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Family Physicians and American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry — caution parents about violence in the media and its negative effect on children. Their report states that exposure to violent media can elevate aggressive feelings and thoughts, especially in children. These effects on aggressive behavior can be long-term. Although fewer studies have been conducted on interactive video games, evidence suggests that playing violent video games may have a more dramatic influence on the behavior of children and adolescents (Joint Statement, 2000). Tips on managing your child’s media consumption Because of the popularity of video games, completely eliminating them from your child’s life might be difficult. But there are a number of suggestions for decreasing the negative impact that they might have on your child. Here are a few tips: * Know the rating of the video games your child plays (see below). * Do not install video game equipment in your child’s bedroom. * Set limits on how often and how long your child is allowed to play video games. * Monitor all of your child’s media consumption — video games, television, movies and Internet. * Supervise your child’s Internet use — there are now many â€Å"video games† available for playing online. * Take the time to discuss with your children the games they are playing or other media they are watching. Ask your children how they feel about what they observe in these video games, television programs or movies. This is an opportunity to share your feelings and grow closer with your child. * Share with other parents information about certain games or ideas for helping each other in parenting. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA). The major video game manufacturers created this board after concerned groups and parents applied pressure over the content of video games. Similar to the movie industry’s rating system, all major game companies now submit their new products for rating to specially trained raters at the ESRB. The ESRB rates over 1,000 games per year. The ESRB looks at a number of factors when rating games. In particular, it considers the amount of violence, sex, controversial language and substance abuse found in a game. Based on its developed guidelines, the ESRB then gives an age recommendation and content descriptor to each game submitted. The following are the rating symbols currently in use, according to the ESRB Web site. Early Childhood (EC): Content should be suitable for children 3 years and older and contain no objectional material. Everyone (E): Content suitable for persons ages 6 and older. The game may contain minimal violence and some â€Å"comic mischief.† Teen (T): Content suitable for persons ages 13 and older. Content is more violent than (E) rating and contains mild or strong language, and/or suggestive themes. Mature (M): Content suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Content definitely has more mature sexual themes, intense violence and stronger language. Adults Only (AO): Content suitable only for adults and may contain graphic sex and/or violence. Adult Only products are not intended for persons under the age of 18. Rating Pending (RP): Game has been submitted to the ESRB and is awaiting a final rating. The ESRB Web site has more details about this rating system, as well as the â€Å"content descriptors† that are used in conjunction with the ratings on game packaging. The site is also useful for parents who want to search for the rating of a particular game. References Bushman, B. & Anderson, C. (2002). Violent Video Games and Hostile Expectations: A Test of the General Aggression Model. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28, 1679-1686. Gentile, D. A. & Anderson, C. A. (2003). Violent video games: The newest media violence hazard. In D. A. Gentile (Ed.), Media violence and children. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishing. Gentile, D. A., Lynch, P., Linder, J. & Walsh, D. (2004). The effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors, and school performance. Journal of Adolescence, 27, 5-22. Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children: Congressional Public Health Summit. (July 26, 2000.) Available:http://www.aap.org/advocacy/ releases/jstmtevc.htm, Accessed 9/2004 Walsh, D. (2000). Interactive violence and children: Testimony submitted to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate. (March 21, 2000.) Available:http://commerce.senate.gov/ hearings/0321wal1.pdf (Acrobat), Accessed 9/2004 The gamer community had a near-miss this week in Ohio, when a 15-year-old boy collapsed after playing â€Å"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3† for up to five days straight. The Columbus teen was rushed to the hospital with severe dehydration, where he recovered, according to a report from TV station WCMH on Aug. 7. Players who delve too deeply into their electronic worlds can face various health risks, ranging from deep vein thrombosis, or blood clots, to severe dehydration. For instance, in July, a Taiwanese teenager was found dead after sitting for 40 hours in an Internet cafe playing â€Å"Diablo 3.† At the time, doctors speculated he died from a heart attack caused by a blood clot that formed during the long session. And last summer, a 20-year-old man from the U.K. died from a blood clot after spending 12-hour sessions on his Xbox. His father told â€Å"The Sun† newspaper, â€Å"He lived for his Xbox. I never dreamed he was in any danger.† [10 Easy Paths to Self Destruction] While these are extreme cases, they are a reminder that sitting at a computer or console for days, whether it’s for â€Å"World of Warcraft† or for work, isn’t healthy for anyone. But psychologists who study video games and kids say parents needn’t worry about the amount of time spent gaming, unless screen time starts to affect school, health or social life. (And, of course, a stint of tens of hours gaming is likely to negatively affect schoolwork and lead to social woes.) That said, researchers remain concerned about the effects of violent content in video games, which have been linked by many studies to aggressive behavior. Too much screen time? These days, screens of one kind or another occupy youth for 50 hours a week, a 2010 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation reports. â€Å"It’s a full-time job plus 10 hours of overtime, and that’s the average,† said Douglas Gentile, a psychologist and director of the Media Research Lab at Iowa State University. Video-gaming consumed nine weekly hours for teens, the Kaiser survey found, while a Harris Poll conducted for Gentile during the same period reported 13 hours a week spent gaming on computers and consoles. While some kids can shoot ’em up for hours, for others, too much time gaming leads to poor school performance. Recent studies have finally linked the cause and effect, showing that gaming displaces after-school academic activities such as homework and reading. A 2010 study from researchers at Denison University in Ohio, published in the journal Psychological Science, compared two groups of boys that had never owned gaming systems. They gave one group a system right away, but withheld games from the other group for four months. Boys who received the video-game system first had more teacher-reported learning problems and significantly lower reading and writing scores than the other boys. Problems in school are relatively easy for parents to fix: Limit screen time — of course, if you can get the controller out of his or her hands. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than one to two hours per day in front of any electronics. Violent games and aggression What’s harder to control is violent content in video games. The Pew Research Center reported in 2008 that more than 90 percent of games rated as appropriate for children 10 years or older contained violence, including games rated â€Å"E† for everyone. (Most researchers define violence as the ability of a player to intentionally harm others in a game.) Now most researchers will agree that video games can help as well as harm. For example, educational games boost learning, and action games can improve vision and spatial skills. Video games have also been used successfully to teach children self-care skills for asthma and diabetes. And then there’s the primary reason people play video games: They’re relaxing. Gentile thinks the flickering screen and varying sound levels trigger a primitive brain response. â€Å"One of the reasons I think we find television and video games so relaxing is they provide the attention for you. It forces you to orient to the media. You don’t have to work to pay attention like you do in [a] classroom lecture,† said Gentile. But a preponderance of evidence links violent video games to an increase in aggressive behavior in teens. The behavior wasn’t violent crime, like school shootings, but small yet hurtful offenses like teasing, name-calling, rumor-spreading and fist fights. In a review of 130 studies of kids and teens, Iowa State University researchers found that violent video games increased the likelihood of aggression and decreased empathy. The meta-analysis appeared in 2010 in the journal Psychological Bulletin. [5 Ways to Foster Self-Compassion in Your Teen] Which teens are vulnerable? Of course, repeated exposure to violence in any environment has a deleterious effect, Gentile noted. â€Å"Seeing violence anywhere increases the risks that a child might become involved in aggression, whether as a perpetrator or a victim,† he said. But video games are phenomenal teachers. Players get immediate feedback and rewards for punishing competitors. And not only do games reward hostility, they train your brain to respond to real-life problems with aggression, research indicates. In fact, games can prime teens to react to slights with name-calling or pushing, instead of choosing to avoid confrontation. â€Å"So when I get bumped in the hallway, I don’t assume it’s an accident anymore,† explained Gentile. â€Å"What comes to mind first is to retaliate in some way. Those aren’t the only options you have, but we never think of them because what we see over and over in the media is ‘You killed my monster, now you must die.'† But psychologist Patrick Markey’s research suggests just some teens are susceptible to these effects. Markey found people withcertain personality traits — those who are highly neurotic, less agreeable and less conscientious — are those more likely to become hostile from gaming. The 2010 study appeared in the journal Review of General Psychology. â€Å"The truth of the matter is that most people can handle this media, but for some people with a select predisposition, these people might be a little more aggressive, more prone to an argument here and there,† said Markey, a professor at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. â€Å"The most interesting part is there is really no research that suggests video games have a different effect than TV or movies. It has empirically never been shown,† said Markey. â€Å"Any media is supposed to engage us emotionally, and video games are a form of media, a form of art even.† Recreational Gaming If all this hoopla surrounding a seemingly innocent pastime has you baffled, count me in. For people who view it as a source of entertainment, or even as a recreational activity, gaming spells out pure pleasure. Some may even wish to classify it as a brain workout. Human callowness is what leads us into making these hasty categories, for all that is pleasurable, is bound to suck our sanity in a whirlpool of addictions.  » When we speak of any recreational activity, we usually think of sharing, and online gaming is not too different. Gaming communities, at times, happen to be very closely bonded, with some interactions leading to lifelong relationships. Now, there certainly wouldn’t be this kind of outrage over youngsters bonding over sessions of football, isn’t it?  » Critics of gaming blame the overdose of violence that forms an integral part of certain games to the unruly behavior in players. But barring a few games, which indeed have a mature rating, the others do qualify as safe indulgences.  » Online gaming usually involves multiplayer games, and cooperation with partner players becomes an integral part of it. There is a distinct possibility of people bonding across countries and cultures, united by a common passion for gaming.  » One aspect which simply cannot be ignored is the positive effects of gaming on the player’s self-esteem. As the level of the games escalates, it calls for enhanced levels of skills, and surmounting these challenges gives the player a sense of achievement, and leads to confidence building.  » There are games which are meant to be enjoyed by the family, and when played together, they make for a few hours well-spent, and bring the members of the family closer, just as any other family activity would do.  » Games are looked at by some to be an outlet for their negative emotions. Pent-up frustration and anger makes way for a calmer mind when people play these games as a form of recreation, which otherwise would have had a negative effect on their relationships. Addictive Gaming So, where does it go wrong for online gaming, and why are they blamed for causing harm to young and old minds alike? The answer lies in the fine line which separates indulgence and overindulgence. It happens to people who blur the demarcation between games and life. When we think of gamers, the first image that comes to our mind is that of a nerd, holed up in a room, hunched up in front of a computer screen with fingers furiously tapping on a keyboard/joystick. These people have no clue whatsoever about what goes on around them; they lose all track of time, forget their hunger and personal hygiene, all for the sake of a mere game.  » The aftereffects of being excessive are for everyone to see. Since such people are usually isolated for extended periods, their confidence usually deserts them once they are not in the company of a computer. Frequent mood swings and temper issues are not unknown.  » Family members of such addicts are often heard lamenting about the amount of time these people give to their obsession, which strangely enough, makes them more rebellious.  » Lack of social interaction also leads to extreme awkwardness when they find themselves in the company of actual people. To say that they suffer from social phobias would not be an overstatement.  » Getting involved with the wrong kind of people online can inculcate wrong values in a person. They may refuse to respect people or use profanity, which leads them to be ostracized from society. At the very least, it does have some negative impact on their communication skills.  » As with any addiction, this one too will push players to cross any limit to protect their obsession. Parental interference in preventing this addiction is usually unwelcome, and we have had some disastrous examples of violence as a result of this.  » Certain games with their prejudiced notions on genders and races actually influence an addicted gamer’s mind. They tend to carry these prejudices into their real life, adversely affecting their existing relationships. Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-does-online-gaming-affect-social-interactions.html Question QUESTION: 1. Do playing online games affect the academic performances of your students? 2. What do you observe to the students who are very active in playing online games? What their behavior? 3. How will you work as a counselor to stop them in playing online games, or just to lessen it? 4. How do you handle students who are not motivated to study instead they choose to devote their attention in playing online games? 5. What do you think are the reasons why they get hook in playing online games? 6. As an educator, what are the positive and negative effects of online games to your students? 7. What will be the effect to them if they continue to play those games? ANSWER: Hi Harold, Many of the video games out these days are very well done. That includes online games. They can be very alluring and once you get involved they can be very absorptive. Many of them are fun and very realistic. They should be treated like any activity and done in moderation. They can be huge time wasters so anyone playing them should be aware of that. As a counselor I wouldn’t discourage playing games. I would ask the person how involved they are how they interact with them. If they spend too much time, I would advise they look at that behavior. If I had a student who what adicted to playing games, I would treat it like all adictions. People can get hooked into these games because they provide a challenge; they are very realistic; and they are an opportunity to â€Å"pour† yourself into something. The positives are that they are an excellent change of behavior if you need that. The negative are that someone can let them get out of control and control their life. They can spend too much time playing. They can loose sleep. They can get addicted. I do not believe there is any long-term affects to playing the game itself. They are very real but they are not reality. If someone confuses them with reality, they have a worse problem then playing the game and that should be addressed. The long-term affects might be the residual behavior arising out of abusing them such as addiction, sleeplessness, other social problems related to too much activity. If you need further info or clarification, please write again. Graig :>) ———- FOLLOW-UP ———- QUESTION: 1. In your own words, how do you define online games or video games? 2. what can you say to those people or students who are playing online games?observation about thier manners and behavior? Case For Several research studies have been conducted that indicate video game addiction is real in around 10% of gamers who meet criteria for video game addiction. Grà ¼sser et al (2007) found that pathological gamers differed from regular gamers in terms of daily time spent playing, and had higher â€Å"expected relief of withdrawal symptoms when gaming,† and higher â€Å"craving due to the expectation of a positive outcome of gaming.† These are all characteristics which mirror those of of substance dependence. Skoric et al (2009) showed that video game addiction is independent of simply how much time is spent playing, and how engaged children are with the game. In their study, addiction tendencies were negatively related to scholastic performance, while no such relationship was found for either time spent playing games or for video game engagement. A similar pattern of video game addiction being negatively related to scholastic performance was previously found in a separate study by Chiu et al (2004). Charlton’s (2002) factor analysis provided support for computer addiction as a unique concept. This research demonstrated the importance of recognizing the specific characteristics of computer addiction, rather than simply adapting measures of pathological gambling, which are likely to overestimate the occurrence of computer addiction. Recognition of video game addiction would allow support services to be integrated into community addiction settings, and specific training to be provided to staff. This is particularly important given the high incidence of concurrent disorders among those with video game addiction. Case Against Video game playing may have several advantages. Proficiency in video games can develop the self esteem of the player. It can develop eye-hand coordination, and can have other educational features. More sophisticated games can help players to develop other skills, and recent developments have built in aspects of physical exercise — although this may have limited appeal to gamers. The reality of popular culture is that we are more and more dependent on technology. A generation ago, computers were complicated and difficult to use, but modern computers are more user-friendly, and are relatively easy and enjoyable for the majority of people to use. Video games allow people to have positive experiences of using computers, that can provide transferable skills for using computers for a variety of purposes. Bearing in mind the potential positive effects of video game playing, to label the activity an addiction without sufficient evidence and interpretive guidelines about what constitutes addiction (as opposed to benign or positive game playing) could deter many children and their parents who could possibly benefit from video games. This would be a mistake. There is wide variation in video games, and although some appear to have harmful effects, particularly through the promotion of violence and other anti-social behaviors, this is a function of the content of specific games, rather than a characteristic of video games per se. Video games as a medium have equal potential to develop positive social skills, or to provide benign forms of entertainment — although these may not be as easily marketable to kids. As with other addictions, there is a risk that a label like video game addiction could be used too liberally, without paying attention to other concurrent or underlying conditions, such as attentional problems, autism spectrum disorders, depression and anxiety disorders. These conditions have different treatments which might more effectively help the excessive game player. And video game addiction is vulnerable to the same criticism that all behavioral addictions are — that addictions are a chemical problem resulting from the intake of addictive substances, not a pattern of behavior. Where It Stands The APA is not saying that video game addiction does not exist, nor that it is not addiction, but simply that they are looking at the issue and won’t make a decision until the next edition of the DSM comes out in 2013. In the same release in which they withdrew their recommendation that video game addiction be recognized, the APA expressed serious concern about the consequences of excessive video game playing in children, stating: â€Å"Psychiatrists are concerned about the wellbeing of children who spend so much time with video games that they fail to develop friendships, get appropriate outdoor exercise or suffer in their schoolwork. Certainly a child who spends an excessive amount of time playing video games may be exposed to violence and may be at higher risks for behavioral and other health problems.† Therefore, whether or not video game addiction is acknowledged as a real addiction, or even as a mental health problem in and of itself, the APA is clear that excessive video game playing in children can be unhealthy, and can lead to other problems.