Introduction to Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Introduction to Psychology - Essay Example Neurons have three structural classifications which are Dendrites, Cell body, and the Axon. The bushy Dendrite fibers are shaggy subdivisions of a neuron that receive information and conduct it towards the cell body. From there the axon fibers forward the information to other neurons or to muscles or glands. The axon has terminal fibers at its end and the message passes through these fibers from one neuron to next. After the information reaches the axon, it then moves down in the form of an electrical signal which is called action potential. Unlike the short dendrites, axons are sometimes very long projecting several feet throughout the body. When the electrical impulse reaches the end of an axon, the information is then transmitted across the synaptic gap to the dendrites of the neighboring neuron. Synapse or synaptic gap is the gap between axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite and cell body of receiving neuron. Sometimes, the electrical signal can bridge the gap between the neurons instantaneously and continue along its path. Otherwise, neurotransmitters send the information from one neuron to the next. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that navigate the synaptic space between neurons. As the sending neuron releases the neurotransmitter, it then travels through the synapse and moves on to the receptor sites on the receiving neurons and thus it influences the neuron to produce a neural impulse. Each neuron in the Each neuron in the brain is itself a tiny gadget that has intricate functions. From hundred and thousands of other neurons, it receives signals on its dendrites and cell body. Some of these signals are excitatory, somewhat like pushing a neuron's accelerator. Other signals are inhibitory, more like pushing its break. A particular level of stimulation called the threshold is needed to activate a neural impulse. If the excitatory signals outvote the inhibitory signals and they are more than a minimum intensity, the collective signals give rise to an action potential. The action potential transmits down the axon, which branches into junctions with thousands of other neurons and with the body's muscles and glands. The release of neurotransmitters is activated when the action potential reaches the terminal branches of the axon. The neurotransmitter molecules take less than a second to cross the synaptic gap and attaching to receptor sited of receiving neurons. The neurotransmitter releases minute channels at the receiving site in an instant, allowing the electrically charged atoms to enter the receiving neuron and thus exciting or inhibiting its speediness to fire. Excess neurotransmitters are absorbed by the sending neuron in a procedure known as reuptake. Neurons have three structural and functional classifications. On a structural basis the neurons are classified as Multipolar neurons, Bipolar neurons and Unipolar neurons. Multipolar neurons have one axon and several dendrites. Brain and spinal cord neurons are generally multipolar neurons. Bipolar neurons have one axon and one dendrite. These neurons are mostly found the retina of the eye, the olfactory area and the inner ear. Neurons with just one process extending from the cell body are known as unipolar neurons. In that one process, one part acts as an axon and other part functions as a dendrite. On functional basis neurons are classified as Sensory, Motor, and inter Neurons. Sensory Neurons also called the efferent neurons takes impulses from the sense receptors in the skin, the sense organs and the large

Group Excluded from International Human Rights

Group Excluded from International Human Rights Human Rights Human rights, as explained by the great English philosopher and thinker John Locke, are natural and unalienable rights (life, liberty, and property) inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, sex, color, religion or language. All men are created equal, everyone is entitled to the human rights without any discrimination. Most human rights are guaranteed by the Constitution, state laws, and international treaties. International human rights law promotes and protects human rights by laying certain pressure upon governments. But even though there are many laws created to protect everyones human rights, certain people are being excluded from their rights by different levels of government, such as the poor homeless whose liberty is limited by the state government, Zapatistas whose life and property is taken by the Mexican National Government, and French Muslims whose freedom of religion is violated by the French National Government. Los Angeles is once a beautiful and luxurious heaven. But now Los Angeles state government is fighting war, a war with its own citizens living inside the state. Fortress Los Angeles: The Militarization of Urban Space (Davis, 1), this is the title Davis gave to his research paper, but it is also his feeling toward the state of Los Angeles. Everywhere in the city is the frontline of war. Stop building toilets, special designed bus benches, fancy garbage to protect fishheads and stale French fires, and outdoor sprinklers, those are all policy decision made by the government to fight the citys war on the poor homeless. They tried their best to eliminate or remove homeless from the city by violating the human rights that homeless should be entitled to. But while the government is violating the human rights, they claim that they are promoting human rights by protecting people from danger, but they exclude homeless from the definition of word people. Collective human rights, those are what government is claiming about. They always try to protect majoritys rights by excluding certain peoples human rights. Rights and Human Rights, huge differences, but government never recognizes it, they just called them human rights regardless of the differences. They make the policy that will discriminate and deny the liberty of homeless to protect majority from possible danger. The government should not define homeless as dangerous just because some homeless people are dangerous and harmful. For public-housing tenants and inhabitants of narcotic-enforcement zones, the loss of freedom is the price of security (Davis, 6) As stated by the author Mike Davis, one of the three primary human rights, liberty is taken by the government from the homeless to ensure other peoples safety from possible danger, this should not be called collective human rights, but the power of government to protect people who make profit for the government. Similarly, people, especially children, in Central and S outh America are excluded from the protection of human rights imposed by the law. Their organs will be taken without their permission and sold to other rich countries, leave them with a horrible body for the rest of their life. The organ-stealing stories were told, remembered, and circulated because they were true at that indeterminate level between the real, the surreal and the uncanny (Scheper-Hughes, 36) Even though organ stealing is so wide spread and known by everyone, Government never tried to stop it, or maybe it is even promoting it to make profit. So it is clear that poor homeless is excluded totally from the protection of government for their human rights, even if the constitution, and international laws expressly guarantee everyone will be treated equally by the government. Only liberty is taken by the state government from homeless, but in some area even life and property is taken by the national government. On New Years Day, 1994, Zapatista rebels in Chiapas, Mexico, confronted the Mexican government with demands for basic human rights (Messer, 319). That is the start of the revolution inside the border of Mexico and the reason why Zapatistas fight against the Mexican government. People in Chiapas were discriminated against, their only property, land is also taken by the government. With nothing to lose, they started revolution, and created a border within the Mexican border. In the video, a place called Chiapas, the life of Chiapas people was presented. They were poor before revolution, but with the land they own, they can still live. But the Mexican government took the land from them to develop modern cities which cause Chiapas people to be abused by riches. Again, it is the problem of collective human rights conflicting with individual human rights. This time national government claims that they are protecting the benefit and rights of people inside Chiapas while taking away everythi ng they own and force people there to become terrorists. Maybe war is not a right choice, but it is Chiapas peoples only choice. Without revolution, they are all going to die due to the poor condition there. Collective Human Rights, as claimed by the national government, is just a joke. Without individual human rights, no collective human rights can be achieved. Without those lands, all Chiapas people are going to hunger to die, then what would be the use of collective human rights toward the dead people? Life, liberty and property, only those three primary human rights being protected well, then other things can be done by the government. Similar conditions occur in the process of progress. People and place which are being progressed have lost many. People would lose the right to their every day practice because the land is taken by the government. They are forced to change their diet which causes new diseases to appear in the local places, and reduce the health condition of the lo cal people. Overall, the available data seem to indicate that the dietary changes that are linked to involvement in the world-market economy have tended to lower rather than raise the nutritional levels of the affected tribal peoples (Bodley, 3) Progress is great thing, but with great prices. Freedom of choosing food and life of local people are taken during the process of progress. So individual rights should be considered first, and then collective rights can be done. So again, even though the international treaties lay down the obligation of protecting everyones human rights upon governments, some people are excluded from them because of collective human rights. Similar problem, but different salutation has occurred in France, this time it involves freedom of religion. Muslims in the France is always treated different, not only because of their religion, but also because of their dressing. So French government created laws that banned any Muslims to wear headscarves that have religious meanings. The reasons French government gave for this law is that For many non-Muslim French, they (headscarves) represent multiple dangers to the Republic: the oppression of women, urban violence, international terrorism, and the general refusal of Muslim immigrants to integrate into the broader society (Bowen, 31). So this seems to be a problem about collective human rights and individual human rights, but is it? It is not. A republic can exist with symbols of different religion. Freedom of religion, this should be guaranteed by any kind of republic. So this time there is no collective human rights involving at all. It is purely that French government taking away rights from Muslims without any legitimate reason. Liberty, one of the three primary human rights is vi olated by the French government. Not only that, the law they make actually may create diversity inside the nation since only Muslims are treated differently by the government. So with all those violations, Muslims in French are forced to change their way of life. They stop going to Mosques and practicing their religious activities. While all those rights are being violated, French government is still claiming they are promoting rights of the citizen living inside the republic. France is now outlawing Muslims and treats Muslims not as citizens of France, but a group of people who may cause diversity and terrorism inside France. French Republic is the official name of France, but is it a true republic? Before French government stop outlawing certain group of people inside the nation, France is never a true republic. So again individual human rights should always be the primary thing any government should think about before imposing laws or making decision. But there are always some pl aces where law cannot reach, thus create exclusion or discrimination. Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments of constitution created as the supreme law of the land to protect human rights in U.S. and other countries have similar laws. Above all, international human rights law is created to ensure everyones rights in the whole world. But it only lays down the obligation upon the government, if government will not enforce it, then human rights of people will not be protected. French Muslims, Zapatistas, and urban homeless are the examples of government exclusion. So even though every government claim that everyone will be treated equally and everyones human rights will be protected by the government, some people are not under the protection of government and suffering. Work Cited Bodley, John. The Price of Progress. Victims of Progress 1998, 137-151 Bowen, John. Muslims and Citizens. Boston Review Feb/Mar. 2004: 31-35. Davis, Mike. Fortress Los Angeles: The Militarization of Urban Space. City of Quartz, Fortress LA Messer, Ellen. Anthropologists in a World with and without Human Rights. Exotic No More: Anthropology on the Front Lines. Ed. Jeremy MacClancy. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2002. 319-337 Scheper-Hughes. Nancy. Min(d)ing the Body: On the Trail of Organ-Stealing Rumors. Exotic No More: Anthropology on the Front Lines. Ed. Jeremy MacClancy. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2002. 33-63 A Place Called Chiapas. 2006. online video clip. Google Video. Accessed on 05 December, 2009.

Their Eyes Were Watching God :: essays research papers

From the time Janie was a child she had problems fitting in with her peers. This was partly because of her nice clothing, wonderful complexion, and long beautiful hair. Janie's grandmother encouraged her to be different from her peers. She wanted to make up for her past mistakes raising children by having Janie become the person that she never was able to be.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During Janie's early childhood she plays with the grandchildren of Ms. Washburn. It isn't until Janie is six years old that she realizes that she is black and different from Ms. Washburn's grandchildren. When Janie starts to attend school she is treated differently. Her classmates do not give Janie a chance to be friendly instead they decide Janie considers herself better than they are. This attitude causes Janie to make no friends at school.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Janie is sixteen years old her grandmother marries her off to a potato farmer named Logan Killicks. Janie's grandmother feels that Janie needs to be married to a man that can take care of her so that she isn't wasted on someone who can not support her. The marriage to Logan does not work out for Janie. Logan sees her as a spoiled child who needs to learn to be a farm wife. Logan becomes one of the many people who do not give Janie a chance to be herself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During her marriage to Logan Janie meets Joe Starks and runs off with him. Janie desperately wants Joe to be the one person to understand her and love her. However, what Joe sees in Janie is that she has class and he wants to make her one of his possessions. Janie's marriage to Joe looks ideal to many of the townspeople but on the inside she is very unhappy and still yearning to be loved.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Joe dies many years later Janie meets a younger man named Tea Cake. She leaves the small town to Eatonville with him and they are married. It is with Tea Cake that Janie is finally happy. Living with him in the muck with the migrant workers Janie is able to discover her self, what she can do, and how fulfilling true love is.

Compensation Consultants Essay

Compensation consultants are now becoming a popular tool to assist company in managing their compensation program and corporate governance strategies. However, there are both pros and cons in using compensation consultants. On one hand, there are some clear benefits; firstly, compensation consultants can provide expert knowledge, for example, insight and advice on trends in executive compensation, an assessment of executive compensation relative to executive performance; and insight and advice on the level and mix of pay and benefits (Conyon, 2007). Although, compensation consultants are viewed as external third parties providing solutions of optimal efficient managerial compensation contracts to align the benefits of both the employee and employer in the most fair and unbiased way. They have the ability to help the firm maximize shareholder’s value by designing compensation schemes that more closely align the interests of managers with shareholders since they can bring breadth and depth of experienced from handling similar problems and benchmarking comparable (peer group) firms especially when there is high information asymmetry between different parties. Other benefits include cost reduction in recruiting/rewarding process and efficient allocation of resources by taking the tasks away from human resource, compensation committee and shareholders who may not have the knowledge and experience in determining senior executive pay package. On the other hand, there are some drawbacks in hiring compensation consultants. Firstly, compensation consultants face potential conflicts of interest that can lead to higher recommended levels of CEO pay, including the desires to cross-sell services and to secure repeat business. Evidence shows that US CEOs receive about 18% more total compensation, and Canadian CEOs receive about 33% more, when their executive compensation consultant also provides other services to the firm (Murphy & Sandino, 2010). They are more likely to help executives by pushing for higher compensations in hope of being rewarded with more consultants services with the company as such firms that hire compensation consultants are more likely to have higher CEO compensation levels than those that have not hired a consultant (Voulgaris, et al. 2010) (Goh & Gupta, 2010). However, contrary to the study of Murphy & Sandino 2010, some scholars found that the potential conflict of interest between the firm and consultant is not a primary driver of excessive CEO pay. Their explanation is that opposing incentives to maintain consultants’ credibility or safeguards put in place by compensation committees limit actions taken with regard to cross-selling incentives (Cadman, et al. , 2010). Secondly, consultant fees can be substantial; thus, the company should weigh the costs/benefits to determine whether hiring a consultant is appropriate. Thus, in my view, compensation consultants may not be part of agency problems but rather a solution to the problem of designing an optimal executive pay contract that aligns the interests of both the employee and employer if the firm can strengthen and promote transparency in its hiring process to maximize shareholder’s values.

Differences in Socioeconomic Status

Three social factors that most impact the scenario are social stratification, socioeconomic status, and class differences. Social stratification ranks individuals and families on the basis of their income, education, occupation, wealth, and power in society. This social stratification can be seem in the eighth grade boys that showed up at the Valentine’s Day dance with the rented tuxes that their parents had agreed to and paid for. These parents are mentioned to be among the more affluent in the community. Socioeconomic status is determined by a family’s income and wealth. This is demonstrated in the students that did not have the money to rent the tuxedos and the rumored limo. These students being from a different socioeconomic background and could not afford the expensive attire. Class differences are demonstrated because of some students wanting to boycott the dance because they were told only the nerds and the geeks would show up in anything less of a tux or formal dress. Their parents do not have extra money to spend on such elaborate things. The other students express behaviors and dress standards far from what the school has seen before. A variable solution to the Differences in Socioeconomic Status scenario would be for the school administration to intervene the situation. They could decide to make it mandatory that only a certain type of dress will be considered acceptable for the Valentine’s Day dance. They could change it to where all students would be able to afford the required attire. This way all students would feel equal. Also the kids that wanted to rent the limo would probably change their mind because of it not being such a formal event. It would seem sort of silly to rent a limo for a casual Valentine’s Day dance. This issue of what attire should be addressed in a school assembly to let all students know of the dress code for the dance. This way it will not be such an issue in the years to come afterwards. Students will already know what to expect and be prepared for it.

Love in Different Cultures of the World

Love in Different Cultures of the World Analysis of the Word In most cultures of the world, love is something that is highly cherished. As Anker (2004) notes, most of the world’s cultures lay a lot of emphasis on love. The culture from which this word was taken is not different. Swahili culture is found along the coast of Kenya and Tanzania, which are two neighboring countries in Africa. Penda has a very strong cultural sense and it raises emotions whenever it is mentioned. The word may not find its rightful meaning in English due to the meaning that is attached to it by this society. It is something that is almost worshipped, even though it is not always the case. It finds its closest meaning in the word love. The sentence ‘nakupenda kipenzi’ is a heavily loaded word. It is an expression of a deep passion, a strong sense of adoration and the need to be together always. In a normal English phrase, it would translate to ‘I love you my love’. Taken in its real context, it is beyond this Engli sh word. The love is close to worship.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Love in Different Cultures of the World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The society in which this word was taken value romance. They value relationships between couples. They generated other words to describe the feeling that two individuals would develop towards each other when in love and the best word that came out among the rest was penda. In pronunciation, the word should come out in a hushed up tone, with a sense of romance. Penda should be the right pronunciation. The first syllable should come out with a flat intonation, followed by a falling intonation just to bring emotions attached to the word. The love for romance saw them restrict the use of the word hence limiting its use to express the feelings between two lovers and one’s love for the country. Chomsky (1973) says that this society strongly believed that the word could only be used to show one is ready to sacrifice his or her life for the sake of that which he or she is expressing his or her feelings. The word penda was used selectively and in rare occasions. In fact, Gouran, Wiethoff and Doelger (1994) report that the society never tolerated people who misused the word. The word was meant for special occasions to express strong and genuine convictions towards certain people, one’s country or something of value. As Meyer and Bock (1992) note, in its original context, this word could only be used when talking about issues that the society in general valued. This meant that it could not be used in reference to things the society considered childish or of lesser value (Andriacco, 2001). Words such as ‘Sara anapenda doli’ (Sara loves dolls), would therefore lack meaning. This is because the society never valued this item and it was something that was associated with young children who were taken not to know what love really meant.Adver tising Looking for essay on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This word was used to express the deepest feelings. Schutz (1958) lamented that English vocabulary is limited of words. As used in the sentence ‘Charles na Joan wanapendana’ (Charles and Joan are in love), this sentence expresses the strong bond built out of a strong feeling of the need to belong together. The sentence, Wale ni wapendanao (Those are lovers) has this emotional touch but from an observer’s standpoint. This is the same meaning of the sentence, ‘naipenda nchi yangu’ (I love my country). Patriotism was then a cherished virtue in the society. Patriots of war were generously rewarded for their contribution in protecting the society. In many societies, just like in this society, love for ones country was a virtue that was encouraged because it was only through this that an individual would be in a p osition to defend the country if need would arise (Zueschner, 1997). For that matter, the word has the correct traditional meaning. As time went by, this society started mingling with other societies. New things that never existed before came into existence. Words had to be developed to express the new feeling or name new objects (Stern, Weinrib, 1978). There was need to expand the meaning of existing words to accommodate the diversified culture due to interactivity of many cultures in this cosmopolitan region. The word had to take a relaxed meaning. It had to be used to express the feeling of liking. As Tannen (1990) notes, the word was diluted along the way. Sentences such as Alex anapenda Manchester United (Alex loves Manchester United FC), and Solomoni apenda kuzuru. (Solomoni loves tours and travels) gained acceptance. The society had to relax its meaning of this word (Trenholm, 1995). In the current society, the word has assumed quite a liberal meaning. Although it remains a single word expressing love or adoration in the best way possible, the word can now be used to express simple liking of things within the society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Love in Different Cultures of the World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The two sentences, Solomoni apenda kuzuru. (Solomoni loves tours and travels), Waamerika wanapenda amani (Americans love peace), and Napenda chai. (I love tea), reflect this. The sentences show a liking of an item but not to the point of adoration. References Andriacco, D. (2001). Screen saved: Peril and promise of media in ministry. Cincinnati, OH: Saint Anthony Messenger Press Franciscan Communications. Anker, R. M. (2004). Catching light: Looking for God in the movies. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. Chomsky, N. (1973). Focus on the learner. Rowley, Massachusetts: Newbury House Gouran, D., Wiethoff, G., Doelger, J. (1994). Mastering communication(2nd ed). Boston: Allyn an d Bacon. Meyer, A., Bock, K. (1992). The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon: Blocking or partial activation? Memory Cognition, 20(1), 715-726. Schutz, W. (1958). Firo: A three-dimensional theory of interpersonal behavior. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.Advertising Looking for essay on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Stern, H., Weinrib, A. (1978). Language teaching and linguistics: Surveys. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Tannen, D. (1990). You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. New York: William Morrow. Trenholm, S. (1995). Thinking through communication: An Introduction to the study of human communication. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Zueschner, R. (1997). Communicating Today. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Maitai J. (2011). An ins in Sentence Nakupenda kipenzi. (I love you my love)  Source: Maitai J. (2011). An in-depth analysis of Swahili culture. Nairobi. McMillan Publishers Limited. (p. 25) Napenda chai. (I love tea)  Source: Maitai J. (2011). An in-depth analysis of Swahili culture. Nairobi. McMillan Publishers Limited. (p. 31) Charles na Joan wanapendana. (Charles and Joan are in love).  Source: Maitai J. (2011). An in-depth analysis of Swahili culture. Nairobi. McMillan Publishers Limited. (p. 21) Alex anapenda Manchester United. (Alex loves Manchest er United FC)  Source: Maitai J. (2011). An in-depth analysis of Swahili culture. Nairobi. McMillan Publishers Limited. (p. 45) Solomoni apenda kuzuru. (Solomoni loves tours and travels)  Source: Maitai J. (2011). An in-depth analysis of Swahili culture. Nairobi. McMillan Publishers Limited. (p. 78) Isaac anapenda siasa. (Isaac loves politics)  Source: Maitai J. (2011). An in-depth analysis of Swahili culture. Nairobi. McMillan Publishers Limited. (p. 23) Waamerika wanapenda amani. (Americans loves peace)  Source: Maitai J. (2011). An in-depth analysis of Swahili culture. Nairobi. McMillan Publishers Limited. (p. 78) Sara anapenda doli. (Sara loves dolls)  Source: Maitai J. (2011). An in-depth analysis of Swahili culture. Nairobi. McMillan Publishers Limited. (p. 19) Wale ni wapendanao. (Those are lovers)  Source: Maitai J. (2011). An in-depth analysis of Swahili culture. Nairobi. McMillan Publishers Limited. (p. 71) Naipeda nchi yangu. (I love my country)  Source: Maitai J. (2011). An in-depth analysis of Swahili culture. Nairobi. McMillan Publishers Limited. (p. 63)

The Process of Patent Assignment

The Process of Patent Assignment Assignment has two related meanings in the world of inventing and patenting. For trademarks,  an assignment  is a transfer of ownership of a trademark application or trademark registration from one entity to another, and for patents, an assignment involves the sale and transfer of ownership of a patent by the assignor to the assignee. The assignee is the entity that is the recipient of a transfer of a patent application, patent, trademark application, or trademark registration from its owner on record, the assignor. In patent assignments, the assignor will make an instant profit off of selling its patent, while the assignee gets rights to royalties and all future profits from the invention. You can assign the ownership of a patent application or patent. For all U.S. patents, assignments are recorded with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Assignment Services Division to keep the title clear  to pending patent applications and patents;  assignments can be searched on the USPTO website. Assignments arent always a voluntary transaction. For instance, an employee invention may be mandatorily assigned by an employee to the employer because of the contract that the employee has signed. For this reason, there are a number of laws and regulations surrounding patent assignments  that govern how the patent is handled and who owns individual patents. In contrast to patent licensing, an assignment is an irrevocable and permanent transfer of ownership. How to Apply Whether youre hoping to change ownership to another entity or party through assignment or hoping to change the name of a patent while its pending approval, you need to fill out an official Patent Assignment Recordation Coversheet by completing online forms at the USPTOs Assignment Recordation Branch website. This online system, known as the Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS), can be used to submit your cover sheet and supporting legal documentation online, which the USPTO will then process. If you are unsure about whether your patent has been granted an assignment, you can search  the database of all recorded patent assignment information, which dates back to 1980. For patents earlier than 1980, you can go to the National Archives and Records Administration and request a copy of accompanying paperwork. How Long It Takes and Why According to the USPTO, getting a patent can take up to three years, so if youre hoping to start making money off of a new invention, selling the patent for your product and applying for a patent assignment may be the fastest way to actually see a return of investment on your new creation. Although the patent application assignment wont get your patent faster, it can assure the inventor and assignee are protected when it comes to ownership and rights. As a result, an assignment may be appropriate where the patent owner prefers to receive a lump-sum price at the time of the assignment rather than collecting royalties. Since a patent prevents other manufacturers from re-creating and selling your original concept, both you and the assignee would benefit from ensuring that once the invention becomes officially patented, it belongs to the right individual and no one else.

Funnel Beaker Culture - First Farmers of Scandinavia

Funnel Beaker Culture - First Farmers of Scandinavia The Funnel Beaker Culture is the name of the first farming society in northern Europe and Scandinavia. There are several names for this culture and related cultures: Funnel Beaker Culture is abbreviated FBC, but it is also known by its German name Tricherrandbecher or Trichterbecher (abbreviated TRB) and in some academic texts it is simply recorded as Early Neolithic 1. Dates for the TRB/FBC vary depending on the exact region, but the period generally lasted between 4100-2800 calendar years BC (cal BC), and the culture was based in western, central and northern Germany, the eastern Netherlands, southern Scandinavia, and most parts of Poland. The FBC history is one of a slow transition from a Mesolithic subsistence system based strictly on hunting and gathering to one of full-fledged farming of domesticated wheat, barley, legumes, and herding of domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats. Distinguishing Traits The main distinguishing trait for FBC is a pottery form called funnel beaker, a handle-less drinking vessel shaped like a funnel. These were hand-built from local clay and decorated with modeling, stamping, incising, and impressing. Elaborate flint and groundstone axes and jewelry made of amber are also in Funnel Beaker assemblages. TRB/FBC also brought the first use of the wheel and plow in the region, the production of wool from sheep and goats, and the increased use of animals for specialized tasks. The FBC were also involved in extensive trade outside of the region, for large flint tools from flint mines, and for the latter adoption of other domestic plants (such as poppy) and animals (cattle). Gradual Adoption The exact date of the entry of domesticated plants and animals from the near east (via the Balkans) into northern Europe and Scandinavia varies with the region. The first sheep and goats were introduced into northwestern Germany 4,100-4200 cal BC, along with TRB pottery. By 3950 cal BC those traits were introduced into Zealand. Before the advent of the TRB, the region was occupied by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, and, by all appearances, the change from Mesolithic lifeways to Neolithic farming practices was a slow one, with full-time agriculture taking between several decades to nearly 1,000 years to be fully adopted. The Funnel Beaker culture represents a massive economic shift from almost total dependence on wild resources to a diet based on tended cereals and domestic animals, and it was accompanied by a newly sedentary mode of life in complex settlements, the erection of elaborate monuments, and the use of pottery and polished stone tools. As with the Linearbandkeramic in central Europe, there is some  debate about whether the change was caused by migrants into the region or adoption of new techniques by the local Mesolithic people: it was likely a little of both. Farming and sedentism led to population increases and as the FBC societies became more complex they also became socially stratified. Changing Landuse Practices One important piece of the TRB/FBC in northern Europe involved a drastic change in land use. The darkly forested woodlands of the region were environmentally impacted by the new farmers expanding their cereal fields and pastured areas and by timber exploitation for building construction. The most important impact of these was the construction of pasturages. The use of deep forest for cattle foraging is not unknown  and is practiced even today in some places in Britain, but the TRB people in northern Europe and Scandinavia deforested some areas for this purpose. Cattle came to play a prominent role in the switch to permanent farming in the temperate zones: they served as a food storage mechanism, surviving on fodder to produce milk and meat for their humans over the winter. Plant Use Cereals used by TRB/FBC were mostly emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum) and naked barley (Hordeum vulgare) and lesser amounts of free-threshing wheat (T. aestivum/durum/turgidum), einkorn wheat (T. monococcum), and spelt (Triticum spelta). Flax (Linum usitatissimum), peas (Pisum sativum) and other pulses, and poppy (Papaver somniferum) as an oil plant. Their diets continued to include gathered foods such as hazelnut (Corylus), crab apple (Malus, sloe plums (Prunus spinosa), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), and blackberry (R. frruticosus). Depending on the region, some FBC harvested fat hen (Chenopodium album), acorn (Quercus), water chestnut (Trapa natans), and hawthorn (Crataegus). Funnel Beaker Life   The new northern farmers lived in villages made up of small short-term houses made of poles. But there were public structures in the villages, in the form of ditched enclosures. These enclosures were circular to oval systems made up of ditches and banks, and they varied in size and shape  but included few buildings within the ditches. A gradual change in burial customs is in evidence at TRB sites. The earliest forms associated with TRB are substantial burial monuments which were communal burials: they began as individual graves, but were reopened again and again for later burials. Eventually, the wooden supports of the original chambers were replaced with stone, creating impressive passage graves with central chambers and roofs made of glacial boulders, some covered with earth or small stones. Thousands of megalithic tombs were created in this fashion. Flintbek The introduction of the wheel into northern Europe and Scandinavia occurred during the FBC. That evidence was found at the archaeological site of Flintbek, located in the Schleswig-Holstein region of northern Germany, about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the Baltic coast near the town of Kiel. The site is a cemetery containing at least 88 Neolithic and Bronze Age burials. The overall Flintbek site is that of a long, loosely connected chain of grave mounds, or barrows, approximately 4 km (3 mi) long and .5 km (.3 mi) wide, roughly following a narrow ridge formed by a glacial ground moraine. The most prominent feature of the site is Flintbek LA 3, a 53x19 m (174-62 ft) mound, surrounded by a curb of boulders. A set of cart tracks were found beneath the most-recent half of the barrow, consisting of a pair of ruts from a wagon fitted with wheels. The tracks (direct-dated to 3650-3335 cal BC) lead from the edge to the center of the mound, ending at the central location of Dolmen IV, the last burial construction at the site. Scholars believe these were laid down by wheels rather than tracks from a drag cart, due to the wavy impressions in the longitudinal sections. A Few Funnel Beaker Sites Poland: Dabki 9 Sweden: Almhov Denmark: Havnelev, Lisbjerg-Skole, Sarup Germany: Flintbek, Oldenburg-Danau, Rastorf, Wangels, Wolkenwehe, Triwalk, Albersdorf-Dieksknà ¶ll, Huntedorf, Hude, Flà ¶geln-Eekhà ¶ltjen Switzerland: Niederwil Sources Bakker JA, Kruk J, Lanting AE, and Milisauskas S. 1999. The earliest evidence of wheeled vehicles in Europe and the Near East. Antiquity 73(282):778-790.Gron KJ, Montgomery J, Nielsen PO, Nowell GM, Peterkin JL, Sà ¸rensen L, and Rowley-Conwy P. 2016. Strontium isotope evidence of early Funnel Beaker Culture movement of cattle. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 6:248-251.Gron KJ, and Rowley-Conwy P. 2017. Herbivore diets and the anthropogenic environment of early farming in southern Scandinavia. The Holocene 27(1):98-109.Hinz M, Feeser I, Sjà ¶gren K-G, and Mà ¼ller J. 2012. Demography and the intensity of cultural activities: an evaluation of Funnel Beaker Societies (4200–2800  cal BC). Journal of Archaeological Science 39(10):3331-3340.Jansen D, and Nelle O. 2014. The Neolithic woodland – archaeoanthracology of six Funnel Beaker sites in the lowlands of Germany. Journal of Archaeological Science 51:154-163.Kirleis W, and Fischer E. 2014. Neolithic cultiv ation of tetraploid free threshing wheat in Denmark and Northern Germany: implications for crop diversity and societal dynamics of the Funnel Beaker Culture. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 23(1):81-96. Kirleis W, Klooß S, Kroll H, and Mà ¼ller J. 2012. Crop growing and gathering in the northern German Neolithic: a review supplemented by new results. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 21(3):221-242.Mischka D. 2011. The Neolithic burial sequence at Flintbek LA 3, north Germany, and its cart tracks: a precise chronology. Antiquity 85(329):742-758.Skoglund P, Malmstrà ¶m H, Raghavan M, Storà ¥ J, Hall P, Willerslev E, Gilbert MTP, Gà ¶therstrà ¶m A, and Jakobsson M. 2012. Origins and genetic legacy of Neolithic farmers and hunter-gatherers in Europe. Science 336:466-469.

What are the roots of the present crisis of the euro Essay

What are the roots of the present crisis of the euro - Essay Example There are good promises about integrating the euro zone into one currency policy. One of the reasons why there are many countries engaged themselves into this one-currency policy is to substantially address the need of their economy to rise up above any other. However, behind all of these promises are some limitations that need to be taken into consideration (Provopoulos, 2010). One of the limitations is the substantial loss of the ability of a participating nation to set its individual domestic monetary policy. Another is losing its ability to change the nominal exchange rate of its currency. It is therefore clear that with the optimum currency area policy; there could be no significant contribution of uniting the euro especially with the presence of weaker economies because the euro’s market strength would eventually be dragged down (McGuinness, 2010). Another main reason why the euro crisis comes into a significant issue in the euro zone is the failure of Stability and Grow th Pact to ensure fiscal discipline (Provolous, 2010). This is clear in the case of Greece in which its debt to GDP ratio had risen to 12.6 per cent which is extremely above the required maximum of only 3 per cent. This resulted to the bail-outs of Greece and Irish Republic which has become the major topic in the recent euro crisis (BBC News, 2011). The Greek government is promising a good opportunity for everyone. This entices investors to invest in its economy and in return the government substantially does its best in the process. However, this led to increase in government spending which made it highly covered with debt. Tax is an important financial source of the government. However, it would be impractical to increase tax rate because this would only encourage investors to go to countries with low taxation rate. The worst case scenario is that this would just only encourage investors to falsify financial information just to save them from paying high tax rate. This is the reas on why the Government especially in the case of Greece to result to borrowing just to meet its obligation. In reality, it is hard to redistribute wealth by increasing tax. This would only result to other complex problems that would help aggravate the situation. However, in reality it is not only Greece doing this same strategy but it includes Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain. These countries are also known for overspending and borrowing for many decades just like Greece. Considering that these countries would be unable to pay their debt, and then the present crisis of the euro will be persistent and could hardly challenge the US dollar as the leading currency in the world. Government expenditure therefore is the leading driving force allowing the rise in the share of government spending. This is evident in the case of some European countries in which government spending increased from 43 percent to 50 percent (Provolous, 2010). It is therefore important that investments in high-va lue added sectors should be maintained and this can only be realised by the reduction of bureaucracy and rigidities in the labour, product and service markets (Provolous, 2010). Another root cause can be traced to the problems underlying a one-size-fits-all monetary policy. One significant problem is the issue of political and cultural differences among participating European countries (Hughes, 2010; Provolous). Unlike with the United States, there is no central fiscal authority in the euro area. This central fiscal authority is viewed to significantly contribute to redistribute fiscal resources. Furthermore, unlike in the United States, cultural differences particularly in the language make labour a less mobile in euro area. Labour is particularly important in the euro area. However, this is continuously challenged by the cheap labour in China. This significantly increases the chance of investors to gain more in China. Thus, this leaves behind the euro area. Specifically, it was ve ry clear that it reduced its employment

MANAGMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

MANAGMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY - Assignment Example (2002) stated that contrary to the standard business of product and services, customer satisfaction is intangible and challenging to measure but it is a fundamental aspect of the hospitality business. The industry involves offering an environment that mimics the customer’s comfort zone in terms of accommodation and catering as well as communication. Health and safety must be guaranteed for customers and employees to ensure accomplishment of customer expectations in the hospitality industry are perceived with greater intensity than for many other products and services (David, 2009). Garden, (2008) observed that modern technology has enhanced customer feedback mechanisms, such as the application of mobile technology for customers to place a request and to give instantaneous feedback with regards to the services offered. According to Marshall & Johnston (2009), customers are rational in their evaluation and may give positive remarks where least expected or fail to give credit whe re it is highly anticipated. Hammond et al. (2006) proposes a point of involvement and feedback check whereby employees and customers are offered a chance to indicate if they are satisfied with the health and safety measures that have been put in place within the organization at all levels of the supply chain. Electronic devices can be installed in the various facilities available for customers and employees for them to key in anonymously their views regarding their perceptions with regard to their health and safety. These include food, water and environmental safety in relation to facilities such as kitchen, toilet, bathroom, and bed or water dispenser among others. Whenever an issue is detected, it is electronically transmitted directly into the management’s notification system. Zheng (2004) observed that constant monitoring of the implementation of health and safety standards is necessary for effective improvements whenever changes are needed. Popper (2004) noted that heal th and safety surveys enhance an organizations capacity to retain and also attract potential customers as well as to retain employees. This is accomplished through well designed and implemented study questions that allow real trend exploration. Such surveys provide useful information regarding the necessary amendments to improve health and safety standards. CODEX ELEMENTARIOS was developed by the UN to control risks in 1962. It developed the hazard assessment system called HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control; Point). Health and safety study helps in risk analysis to determine if there is high risk (Critical Control Point), medium risk or low risk (control points). It is important to help in the analysis of the intensity or severity of risk and frequency of occurrence (Kotler et al. 2002). 3.0 Research Question Are employees and customers exposed to risks that may affect their well-being? 3.1 Research Philosophy, Approach and Strategy This research will be based on the genera l understanding that workers and customers are rational and will offer a true reflection of their feelings regarding their health and safety in the organization. It is assumed that they clearly understand what they need and are also capable of evaluating whether their expectations have been met. It is also expected that employees and customers will be ready to sacrifice 5 minutes of their time to

Defining perfomance measures in Saudi Aramco Medical Services Essay

Defining perfomance measures in Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization - Essay Example Action Plan 18 Saudi Aramco 18 5.2. Gantt Chart of the Action Plan 19 6.Analysis and Recommendations 20 Conclusion 23 Works Cited 24 Introduction The performance measures of an organization quantitatively display the important facets of the products and/or services rendered by the organization to its customer(s). Performance measures of an organization are one of the effective tools to identify its role and importance in the marketplace. Moreover, the process also helps the organization to recognize its present performance, customer satisfaction level to identify the prospects of achievement of the organizational objectives. Furthermore, performance measurement is a statistical control of the organization which initiates future initiatives for developing the products/services for its customers. Hence, it can be affirmed that measuring the performances of an organization fundamentally concentrates on the process of collecting and accounting the information about the productivity of it s workforce along with the quality of services rendered (â€Å"What are Performance Measures†). The performance measures of an organization should classify the risks to be determined by the process along with the information source and required time for the measurement. Subsequently, all measurements should be accomplished in an objective-oriented way being convenient to reduce outside influences over the employee performances. This particular strategy is quite likely to motivate the usage of more efficient cost effective methods towards augmenting the productivity of the overall organization (â€Å"Performance Measures†). Thesis Statement The paper intends to focus on the performance measures of Saudi Aramco Medical Service Organization (SAMSO). The paper also reflects the organizational profile with its various values, mission and vision. Moreover, the study also intends to highlight the key strategies and accomplishments with regard to develop suggestions for the en hancement of the performance of SAMSO. With this concern, the detail organizational profile has been discussed along with its value, mission and vision statements. The performance measurement method and the key strategies of SAMSO have also been critically analyzed with rational recommendations throughout the study of the paper. 1. Organization Profile a. Name of the Organisation SAMSO is a multifaceted medical service provider which is operated as a privately owned health-care division that serves the large number of Saudi Aramco Global Oil Enterprise’s employees (around 54000) and their families (â€Å"Corporate Citizenship Report 2010†). b. Operations of the Organization Saudi Aramco commenced its medical hospitality unit in the year 1933 and constructed its first separate health-care center in Dhahran in 1955 known as ‘Dhahran Health Centre’. In the present day context, Saudi Aramco operates to serve as one of the modernized health service providing or ganizations among the Middle East Countries. The health care unit of the organization provides its services throughout the city of Dhahran as well as other neighboring cities of the Eastern Saudi Arabia region (Al-Ghamdi). c. Number of Employees of the Organization Currently the organization provides its health-care service with the assistance of around 7334 employees (â€Å"Corporate Citizenship Report 2010†). d. Department My department is the Medical Support Services Department in SAMSO of which Medical Patient Processing & Records Division is part of. SAMSO operates with a total of five

Lukes the Prodigal Son and Hollywoods Perception of the Gospel Essay

Lukes the Prodigal Son and Hollywoods Perception of the Gospel - Essay Example Here, at his execution, Jesus is tempted by an alluring image of a peaceful and pleasant life with Mary Magdelene to try to get him to refuse the sacrifice he must make. The carpenter Jesus of Nazareth, tormented by the temptations of demons, the guilt of making crosses for the Romans, pity for men and the world, and the constant call of God, sets out to find what God wills for him. But as his mission nears fulfillment, he must face the greatest temptation: the normal life of a good man. This movie is actually not based on the Gospels, but on Nikos Kazantzakis' novel of the same name. But in a sense, whether it is a movie or a novel, this ideology of a common and insignificant life is more of modern conception of self-help motives driven by (apparently) hazard free market economy. Jesus is shown at the outset as a lonely, masochistic soul full of self-contempt, tempted to leave the cross for the life of an ordinary man who knows the felicities of marriage, sex, and family: this is th e "last temptation" that nearly wrenches away the meaning of his sacrifice. But here is a perception that invokes the feeling of a common man who wants the world to be ideally trouble free and simple. Alternately, Godspell (1973) written and directed by David Greene based on the novel by John-Michael Tebelak is a modern-day version of the gospels, opening with John the Baptist

Interpersonal Management Skills Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Interpersonal Management Skills - Coursework Example Leaders are expected to understand personalities of the people they lead. Interpersonal intelligence helps a person to deal with their emotions. It enables people to appreciate what they feel. Once a person is able to understand what s/he is going through, s/he is able to make wise decisions. Such a person will in turn appreciate others who are living around him or her. With interpersonal intelligence, one can understand other people and properly respond to their feelings. Responding to others needs is achieved when one fully understands their emotions (Fabian, Not dated). Self management skills enable a person to be positive about other people. In such a case, a leader will take time to address concerns of other people. A good leader will take time to inspire workers through encouragement. This promotes confidence of other people and boosts their morale. People with a proper interpersonal intelligence will relate with others showing a lot of understanding and concern. Management ski lls like these are important because managers encounter many people who have different expectations. Interpersonal intelligence helps a person to get along with others well during interaction. ... This ensures that people are able to live without commotion while they are living together in an organization. Attributes of a person are shaped by intelligence of people if they are able to deal with each other and to control their emotions. Behaviours of people are modulated by their better understanding of their inner feelings. Personal intelligence is manifested in the implementation of thoughts a person has about a situation or a condition. Managers should learn intrapersonal and interpersonal management skills so that they can choose the words they can speak to specified people. These skills are effective because they determine the choice of thoughts to release as actions or words (Fabian, Not dated). Statements from emotional intelligence intrapersonal intelligence that can reflect my strengths are: first, I have emotional resilience; this means that I withstand pressure and stress if they befall me, I regain my strength and continue with life. I am in full control of my feeli ngs. Second, I have personal power, and I am personally effective in control of my behaviour. Through this ability, I can choose what to do and when to do it. My behaviour is manageable because I have ability to avoid what I do not think worthwhile. The third statement of emotional intelligence intrapersonal intelligence I can say about myself is that I am flexible. This helps me to adapt to changes in the environment in which I live in. Sometimes these changes in the environment may not be predicted. This statement is a manifestation that I can respond to changes without struggling to make consultation. For example, at one time I am expected to perform roles as a mother of my children and at some other times I am supposed to behave as a wife to someone. These roles I manage because

Maths Coursework Investigating Borders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Maths Coursework Investigating Borders - Essay Example Here we observe that the second row gives the number of white squares added at each level, and the third row is a constant, that is, 4. Now we will first find the formula for the white squares and after that the formula for the total squares. Subtracting from the total squares the number of white squares we will get the number of black squares. Let us find the pattern in counting all the squares. In Pattern 1 we can see first two rows contain 1+3=4 squares. If we consider the last two rows then they also contain 1+3=4 squares. We are counting the three squares in the middle row two times so we have to subtract them from the total to get the total number of squares in the pattern. So we get In Pattern 2 the first three rows contain 1+3+5=9 squares. Similarly the last three rows contain 9 squares. We are counting the five squares in the middle row two times so we have to subtract them to get the total number of squares in the pattern. So we

Interpersonal Management Skills Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Interpersonal Management Skills - Coursework Example Leaders are expected to understand personalities of the people they lead. Interpersonal intelligence helps a person to deal with their emotions. It enables people to appreciate what they feel. Once a person is able to understand what s/he is going through, s/he is able to make wise decisions. Such a person will in turn appreciate others who are living around him or her. With interpersonal intelligence, one can understand other people and properly respond to their feelings. Responding to others needs is achieved when one fully understands their emotions (Fabian, Not dated). Self management skills enable a person to be positive about other people. In such a case, a leader will take time to address concerns of other people. A good leader will take time to inspire workers through encouragement. This promotes confidence of other people and boosts their morale. People with a proper interpersonal intelligence will relate with others showing a lot of understanding and concern. Management ski lls like these are important because managers encounter many people who have different expectations. Interpersonal intelligence helps a person to get along with others well during interaction. ... This ensures that people are able to live without commotion while they are living together in an organization. Attributes of a person are shaped by intelligence of people if they are able to deal with each other and to control their emotions. Behaviours of people are modulated by their better understanding of their inner feelings. Personal intelligence is manifested in the implementation of thoughts a person has about a situation or a condition. Managers should learn intrapersonal and interpersonal management skills so that they can choose the words they can speak to specified people. These skills are effective because they determine the choice of thoughts to release as actions or words (Fabian, Not dated). Statements from emotional intelligence intrapersonal intelligence that can reflect my strengths are: first, I have emotional resilience; this means that I withstand pressure and stress if they befall me, I regain my strength and continue with life. I am in full control of my feeli ngs. Second, I have personal power, and I am personally effective in control of my behaviour. Through this ability, I can choose what to do and when to do it. My behaviour is manageable because I have ability to avoid what I do not think worthwhile. The third statement of emotional intelligence intrapersonal intelligence I can say about myself is that I am flexible. This helps me to adapt to changes in the environment in which I live in. Sometimes these changes in the environment may not be predicted. This statement is a manifestation that I can respond to changes without struggling to make consultation. For example, at one time I am expected to perform roles as a mother of my children and at some other times I am supposed to behave as a wife to someone. These roles I manage because

Langford, Galileo, Science and the Church Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Langford, Galileo, Science and the Church - Essay Example The Catholic Church faced another threat from the scientist's arguments- one of the demystification of Christ. This was "The man Jesus as the personal, visibleonly way to the actuality of redemption [p.201], not realizing that knowledge was a precursor to salvation simply and succinctly through the Holy Scriptures. The knowledge of Christ was what followers sought. And this was coveted by Churchmen- that the knowledge of Christ = salvation. St.Thomas Aquinas would have earlier stated that one need not have been smart to come to understanding of this. What is needed for an introduction but a name. It would have gone something like: "Jesus meet follower A." It doesn't take much to make an acquaintance. What proves valuable is what kind of relationship ensues. For example, such as Master to Teacher, Parent to Child, Creator to the Created and ideally of Friend to Friend. Galileo's groundbreaking views of the universe were demystified with science and religion working together. Whereas the author of this book deemed the church cautious, this reluctance to accept the fated duo (Science and the church) delegated the Catholic Church to play the role, in a sense, of a magician who vowed never to divulge his tricks. Galileo's ment

Effects Domestic Violence Has On Old People Social Work Essay

Effects Domestic Violence Has On Old People Social Work Essay Introduction Domestic violence Domestic abuse as earlier discussed is a form of abuse which is leveled against members of a family or people who have an intimate relationship. There are different forms of domestic violence and these include emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, economic deprivation or intimidation. Very few cases of domestic abuse are reported due to fear of reprisal from the perpetrator. This makes it difficult to ascertain the exact number of victims of domestic abuse. However, in the US, 10% or 32 million people are affected by domestic abuse. Phases of domestic violence There are three major faces of domestic violence and these are the honeymoon, tension building and acting-out phases. The honeymoon phase is the first phase and the perpetrator of violence apologizes and gives affection after committing a violent act. She or he feels sad and remorseful after committing violence. The next stage is the tension building stage and in this stage, the victims begin building fear and have tension whenever the batterer becomes angry. There is poor communication and victims try to calm perpetrators down in order to avoid confrontations which may turn violent. The third stage is the acting out phase and in this stage, the perpetrator hardly feels remorse for violent acts. The batterer becomes abusive and violent, in attempts to dominate over the victim. Violence against the elderly There has been an increase in cases of violence against the elderly. The abuse of the elderly has grown into a criminal justice and public health concern due to increase in cases. The elderly are seen as vulnerable and weak, and this makes them easy targets for perpetrators of elderly violence. Various forms of elderly violence will be discussed and these include physical abuse, economic abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse. It is important to note that a few cases of elderly abuse take place unintentionally, and are usually as a result of attempts to protect the elderly people. In such cases, the elderly may be forced to join homes or relieve themselves of responsibilities which other members of society view as too difficult to them. They may be forced to delegate leadership in companies or political systems due to the perception that they are too old to effectively perform their duties. This may leave them feeling depressed, isolated and demoralized (Cohn et. al., 2002). However , most of the cases of elderly abuse are done intentionally in order to have dominance over the perceived weaker age group. Causes of domestic and elderly abuse There are different theories which explain reasons which drive people to commit these types of violence. Some of them will be discussed below; Psychological theory Psychological disorders account for the largest proportion of domestic violence cases. In fact, more than 81% of cases of domestic violence are linked to psychological disorders especially the psychopathology disorders (Dutton, 2006). Psychopathology disorders affect the mental and personality behaviors of victims. People with this disorder exhibit poor impulse control, bursts of anger and low self esteem. People with psychopathology disorders are likely to project their anger at people around them, and these are family members, spouses and the elderly. This leads to domestic and elderly abuse in the long run if people with these disorders do not seek treatment. Social theory There are different social theories which explain domestic violence. These theories explain that socialization and the environment may influence a person to commit domestic abuse. For instance, social learning is seen to be one of the factors which lead to abuse. Social learning involves imitation of actions of people around us. If a family experiences domestic abuse, children who are raised in such a family may commit abuse in future since they view it as normal in family settings (Shipway, 2004). Stress is also another factor which may lead to commission of domestic violence. When a person has stress, she or he may project their anger at those around them. Spouses, children, the elderly and other family members may suffer from domestic violence if stressed people project their anger on them. Resource and dependency theories These theories explain reasons which make women susceptible to domestic abuse stay in abusive marriages. They explain that in cases where the wife or husband is dependent on the other spouse for economic well-being, it is difficult for them to leave abusive marriages. Victims are unable to leave since they believe that they cannot survive without the assistance of the other spouse. This is especially seen in relationships where one spouse has greater power than the other. This makes it possible for him or her to manipulate the other partner into living with domestic abuse. Power and control Many abusive relationships occur after one partner or family member attempts to dominate over the other. Spouses, especially men, use violence as a means of dominating over the other partner. Such dominance may arise out of low self esteem, childhood experiences, insecurity, and stress, resentment towards women or men amongst other causes. Spouses who are bullied accept themselves as victims and the cycle of violence continues, until it is broken by separation, divorce or rehabilitation. This is also seen amongst the elderly, and some people abuse them as a means of control and dominance over them. Forms of domestic and elderly abuse Physical abuse This is a form of abuse where the perpetrator physically assaults or intimidates her or his victim. It may involve actions such as punching, striking, pulling, slapping, pushing, exposure to heat or cold, head-butting, strangling, kicking, whipping and others. These acts are performed to cause pain, intimidation or injury to the victim. Both domestic abuse and elderly abuse feature physical abuse since in both cases, the victims are perceived to be powerless by the perpetrators, and this allows them to physically dominate over them. Emotional abuse According to Johnson (2005), this abuse is meant to calculatingly injure the emotions of the victim. It includes humiliating victims publicly or privately, withholding information, controlling the victim, blackmail, isolation from family and friends or verbal abuse. This form of abuse may be difficult to detect and victims may realize that their partners dominate over them or control them only through the intervention of third parties. Victims who undergo emotional abuse may suffer from eating disorders, drug abuse or may attempt suicide. Emotional abuse is common in both domestic and in cases of elderly abuse. Economic abuse In this form of abuse, the perpetrator withholds resources or money from the victim in attempts to control their actions. Usually, the perpetrator has control over the resources and money, and withholding it is meant to force the victim to perform what the perpetrator wants in order to have access to the resources. This form of abuse is common in families where one spouse is economically dependent on the other. It is also common in cases where the elderly are dependent on their children or other people economically. The person who holds the resources deliberately manipulates victims into performing what she or he wants in order for them to have access to these resources. This creates dominance over them. Sexual abuse This is a form of abuse in which a person is forced to engage in sexual acts against their consent. This includes rape, degrading sexual activities and unsafe or unwanted sexual activities. Sexual abuse is more common in domestic violence than in cases of elderly violence although the latter has become common over the years. This form of abuse, just like physical abuse, is meant to dominate over the victim. How to prevent domestic and elderly abuse There are various steps which should be taken to reduce cases of domestic abuse and abuse against the elderly. These will be briefly discussed below; Legislation Legislation is a very effective deterrent to crime. Harsh sentences deter potential perpetrators of crime and reduce crime levels. Since domestic violence and violence against the elderly is a crime, harsh legislation should act as a deterrent to crime. Lawmakers should pass laws which give long prison sentences to people convicted of all forms of violence (Neil John, 2000). This will reduce the overall violence crime levels. Rehabilitation Rehabilitation can effectively treat people who have mental disorders which make them commit violence. Rehabilitation can also make a person who commits violent acts against others realize the harmful impacts to victims, and stop the vice (Hamel Nicholls, 2007). People who practice any form of abuse should be advised to seek counseling or rehabilitation aimed at encouraging them to change their attitude towards violence. This will enable them to be accepted back into society and to live with other members of society in harmony. Social services Governments should offer social services free of charge to victims of domestic and elderly abuse. According to Wilcox (2006), these services should include legal, medical, psychological and financial services which will ensure that they recover from the abuse and that the perpetrator is arrested and charged with the offence. The government should ensure that these victims reside in a safe place free from any form of violence. Public awareness campaigns This is among the most effective tools of fighting violence in society. The government and civil society should organize campaigns which are aimed at increasing awareness on domestic violence and violence against the elderly. These campaigns should encourage people to report such cases to law enforcement agencies. The campaigns should also provide potential victims with information about where they can access help in case they experience these forms of violence.

Lady Macbeth Responsible For Duncans Death Essay -- essays research pa

ohn Keating English Honors Lady Macbeth Must Take Some Blame for Her Husband’s Destruction In Macbeth, a play written by Shakespeare, Lady Macbeth is partially responsible for the destruction of her husband. Lady Macbeth is not a monster without feelings, however she is tricky and cunning when she influences Macbeth to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth’s ability to influence her husband leads the audience to believe that she is the primary cause for the destruction of Macbeth. The audience is also led to believe that Lady Macbeth is responsible because she makes up the details of the plan to kill Duncan, while Macbeth was considering not even going through with the murder. Although Macbeth had the thought of killing Duncan, he would not have acted on that thought unless Lady Macbeth persuaded him. Lady Macbeth is sly person, able to manipulate her husband, and this ability to manipulate Macbeth makes her partially responsible for the destruction of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth knows that her husband is too kind to kill Duncan without her help she fears â€Å"thy nature; / It is too full o’th’ milk of human kindness / to catch the nearest way† (I.v.16-18). She is very much aware of the fact that she needs to push Macbeth to kill Duncan or else he will not do it. We see Macbeth’s hesitance to murder the king when he lists reasons not to kill Duncan in Act 1, when he says, â€Å"He’s here in double trust: / First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, / Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, /...

Macbeth: Natural Vs. Unnatural :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In different periods of time, the lives of humans and nature were thought to have a connection, and this is emphasized in William Shakespeare's play MacBeth. In this play, unnatural events in nature foreshadow bad or unnatural occurrences in the lives of humans. Through out the play, Shakespeare continuously proves this point.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Ross said "As sparrows eagles or the hare the lion" (I.ii.35), it proves this theory. Common knowledge says that sparrows do not classify as eagles does a hare classify as a lion. They may have similarities, such as they are both birds or mammals, but they are opposites. After the quote is spoken, Ross reveals that the Thane of Cawdor has betrayed his country and Macbeth shall take his place. Macbeth becoming the Thane of Cawdor was an unusual event and not expected.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Macbeth finds the dagger in front of him, it alludes to this point even more. The foreshadowing of Macbeth's choice becomes evident when he says, "Nature seems dead" (II.i.50) For nature to seem dead would be the complete opposite of living because nature is thought to be continuously growing and changing, not dying. This is an unnatural event, that again foreshadows something bad, which is Duncan's death. Other unnatural occurrences happened prior to Duncan's death but were not explained until afterwards. When the old man says "'Tis unnatural / Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last A falcon tow'ring in her pride of place, was by a mousing hawk killed" (II.iv.10-13), it also proves the connection between unnatural events and humans. An owl tends to eat mice and hunt at night, a hawk is not it's usual meal. This strange event occurred prior to Duncan's death, which told of things to come. Another quote spoken by Ross, also foreshadows Duncan's death: "And Duncan's horses?. turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make way with man kind" And the old man responded with "'Tis said they eat each other'/" (II.

Importance of Understanding Cultural, Ethnic, and Gender Differences Essay

The United States is and will continue to be a very diverse place. More than 8 million legal immigrants came to the U. S. between 1981 and 1990, and an undetermined number of undocumented immigrants enter the United States each year. In addition, the United States includes people of many religions, languages, economic groups, and other cultural groups. In order to be a successful manager in today’s very diverse society a manager needs to be open and understanding of cultural differences, different ethnicities, and gender differences among employees. Diversity is the presence of people from a wide range of backgrounds all possessing different traits. Some possible contributors to diversity include but are not limited to differences in age, race, ethnic origin, culture, physical abilities, religion and sexual orientation. As the text book states, ‘bringing diverse workers into an organization is seldom a seamless transition. ’ People tend to prejudge and place stereotypes or generalized beliefs that all members of a group possess the same characteristics from different cultures, race, or sex; this must be overcome. To be effective, managers and employees need to recognize, respect, and capitalize on each other’s differences. By being diverse in its employees, a business has a better opportunity for new ideas and growth potential. As discussed this week in class, when the department head turned down the Jamaican friend for the position, even though he seemed better qualified, it showed stereotyping and prejudices can have a negative effect in the workplace. The situation made for an uncomfortable, even negative environment in the workplace. By the department head’s negative behavior it caused a barrier for productivity and potentially harmed working relationships. It is essential in today’s business world for managers and professionals to understand the importance of cultural, ethnical and gender differences to make a positive work environment possible. While performing the ball and sock experiment, I was put outside of my comfort zone and was forced to see what it was like in someone else’s shoes. I found the lefty experiment to be awkward and difficult. I started in the early morning as I was getting ready for work. The seemingly thoughtless tasks that I completed every morning such as showering, brushing my teeth and hair, and eating breakfast now became hard and tedious. I continued the experiment when I returned home from work. Preparing dinner as a lefty was virtually impossible and almost dangerous. Most tasks as a lefty were manageable after some time and practice, but operating a knife was not. I am sure that with a little time and patience these tasks could have become easier to me. I can see how it could be frustrating living as a lefty in a right handed world. This is the same concept as being from a different culture, ethnicity, and gender then those in your workplace. Although the transition into a new company can be difficult, with time and some adjustment it is possible. I can relate the ball in the sock experiment to the importance of understanding cultural, ethnic, and gender differences in the work place because adjusting to something that we are not accustomed to can be challenging. It is important to understand that people we come into contact with everyday come from a background that we may not know much about. It can be difficult to adjust when meeting new people or entering a new work environment. I believe an organizations success can be attributed to its ability to embrace diversity and appreciate the benefits. A workplace who supports diversity can supply an assortment of solutions to problems. A diverse workplace can facilitate a broader service range. It can allow a company to provide their service to those all around the world. I think the most significant benefit to supporting diversity in the workplace is the inspiration it gives to all of its employees to perform to their greatest capacity. Diversity allows employees to come together to accomplish a common goal as a team. Employees will feel comfortable to share their viewpoints and ideas to execute a goal or solve a problem. I believe diversity opens the door for workplaces to achieve higher productivity, result in higher profits, and benefit the community. Diversity may not be something that people are familiar with and may even have a difficult time adjusting to, which is similar to trying to using your opposite hand in daily tasks. I believe understanding diversity will show employees the importance of it in the workplace and how it can enhance the quality of work.

Skoog Solution of Chapter 15

Crouch Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 6th ed. Chapter 15 Instructor’s Manual CHAPTER 15 15-1. In a fluorescence emission spectrum, the excitation wavelength is held constant and the emission intensity is measured as a function of the emission wavelength. In an excitation spectrum, the emission is measured at one wavelength while the excitation wavelengths are scanned. The excitation spectrum closely resembles an absorption spectrum since the emission intensity is usually proportional to the absorbance of the molecule. 15-2. a) Fluorescence is the process in which a molecule, excited by the absorption of radiation, emits a photon while undergoing a transition from an excited singlet electronic state to a lower state of the same spin multiplicity (e. g. , a singlet > singlet transition).Phosphorescence is the process in which a molecule, excited by the absorption of radiation, emits a photon while undergoing a transition from an excited triplet state to a lower state of a different spin multiplicity (e. g. , a triplet > singlet transition). (c) Resonance fluorescence is observed when an excited species emits radiation of he same frequency at used to cause the excitation. (d) A singlet state is one in which the spins of the electrons of an atom or molecule are all paired so there is no net spin angular momentum (e) A triplet state is one in which the spins of the electrons of an atom or molecule are unpaired so that their spin angular moments add to give a net non-zero moment. (f) Vibrational relaxation is the process by which a molecule loses its excess vibrational energy without emitting radiation. 1 Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 6th ed. (g) Chapter 15Internal conversion is the intermolecular process in which a molecule crosses to a lower electronic state with emitting radiation. (h) External conversion is a radiationless process in which a molecule loses electronic energy while transferring that energy to the solvent or another solute. (i) I ntersystem crossing is the process in which a molecule in one spin state changes to another spin state with nearly the same total energy (e. g. , singlet > triplet). (j) Predissociation occurs when a molecule changes from a higher electronic state to n upper vibrational level of a lower electronic state in which the vibrational energy is great enough to rupture the bond. (k) Dissociation occurs when radiation promotes a molecule directly to a state with sufficient vibrational energy for a bond to break. (l) Quantum yield is the fraction of excited molecules undergoing the process of interest. For example, the quantum yield of fluorescence is the fraction of molecules which have absorbed radiation that fluoresce.Chemiluminescence is a process by which radiation is produced as a result of a chemical reaction. 5-3. For spectrofluorometry, the analytical signal F is proportional to the source intensity P0 and the transducer sensitivity. In spectrophotometry, the absorbance A is proporti onal to the ratio of P0 to P. Increasing P0 or the transducer sensitivity to P0 produces a corresponding increase in P or the sensitivity to P. Thus the ratio does not change. As a result, the sensitivity of fluorescence can be increased by increasing P0 or transducer sensitivity, but the that of absorbance does not change. 2 Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 6th ed. Chapter 15 5-4. (a) Fluorescein because of its greater structural rigidity due to the bridging –O– groups. (b) o,o’-Dihdroxyazobenzene because the –N=N– group provides rigidity that is absent in the –NH–NH– group. 15-5. Compounds that fluoresce have structures that slow the rate of nonradiative relaxation to the point where there is time for fluorescence to occur. Compounds that do not fluoresce have structures that permit rapid relaxation by nonradiative processes. 15-6. The triplet state has a long lifetime and is very susceptible to collisional deactivation.T hus, most phosphorescence measurements are made at low temperature in a rigid matrix or in solutions containing micelles or cyclodextrin molecules. Also, electronic methods must be used to discriminate phosphorescence from fluorescence. Not as many molecules give good phosphorescence signals as fluorescence signals. As a result, the experimental requirements to measure phosphorescence are more difficult than those to measure fluorescence and the applications are not as large.3 Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 6th ed. 15-7. Chapter 15 4 Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 6th ed. 5-8. Chapter 15 15-9. Q = quinine ppm Q in diluted sample = 100 ppm ? 245 = 196 125 mass Q = 196 mg Q 500 mL ? 100 mL ? = 490 mg Q 10 mL solution 20 mL 3 5 Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 6th ed. 15-10. cQ = A1csVs (448)(50 ppm)(10. 0 mL) = = 145. 45 ppm ( A2 ? A1 )VQ ( 525 ? 448) (20. 0 mL) Chapter 15 145. 45 ppm ? 1 mg quinine 1 g solution ? ? 1000 mL = 145. 45 mg quinine 3 1 mL 1 ? 10 g solution 0. 225 g Q ? 100% = 3. 43% 4. 236 g tablet 15-11. Assume that the luminescent intensity L is proportional to cx, the concentration of iron in the original sample.Then, L1 = kcxVx / Vt where Vx and Vt are the volume of sample and of the final solution, and k is a proportionality constant. For the solution after addition of Vs mL of a standard of concentration cs, the luminescence L2 is L2 = kcxVx / Vt + kcsVs / Vt Dividing the second equation by the first yields, after rearrangement, cx = L1csVs (14. 3)(3. 58 ? 10? 5 )(1. 00) = = 1. 35 ? 10? 5 M ( L2 ? L1 )Vx (33. 3 ? 14. 3)(2. 00) 15-12. Assume that the luminescence intensity L is proportional to the partial pressure of S* . 2 We may then write L = k[S* ] 2 and K = S* ][H 2 O]4 2 [SO 2 ]2 [H 2 ]4 where the bracketed terms are all partial pressures and k and K are constants.The two equations can be combined to give after rearrangement 6 Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 6th ed. Chapter 15 [SO 2 ] = [H 2 O]2 [H 2 ]2 L kK In a hydr ogen-rich flame, the pressure of H2O and H2 should be more or less constant. Thus, [SO 2 ] = k ? L where k? = 1 kK 15-13. The fluorescent center is the rigid quinoline ring, which is rich in ? electrons. 15-14. From Equation 15-7, we can write F = 2. 303 ? f K bcP0 = 2. 303 ? K cP0 ? 0 Dividing both sides by the lifetime ? yields F = 2. 303K bcP0 ? ?0 Since K? , ? , b, ? 0 and P0 are constants, we can write F ? = Kc where K is a compilation of all the constants in the previous equation. 7 Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 6th ed. 15-15. (a) Chapter 15 (b) (c) The corrected fluorescence Fcorr would be Fcorr = F? 0/? , where F is the observed fluorescence, ? 0 is the lifetime for [Cl–] = 0. 00, and ? is the observed lifetime. The results are in the spreadsheet. 8 Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 6th ed. Chapter 15 9

New Product Development Essay

This literature review shall be reviewing journal articles that discuss the importance of the Fuzzy Front End Phase to the processes involving the development of new products. It would first give an overview of the role the Fuzzy Front End Phase has on new product development. The factors and characteristics of the said phase would also be presented to gain a better understanding of the topic at hand. Afterwards, it would review the different articles written about the topic using three perspectives: (1) organizational; (2) environmental; and finally, (3) individual. Of the aforementioned perspectives, this literature review would focus on the third one, the individual. A number of authors have recognized the important role that the fuzzy front end phase has on new product development (Ottenbacher, Shaw and Ermen 2006; Drexkler 2006). The study of Reid and Brenanti (2004) was one of the researches that give importance to the role of the fuzzy front end phase in ensuring the success of the whole process of new product development. In technology-based enterprises, transforming different forms of technologies into new products and processes is one of the greatest challenges. It is then within the said process of innovating these technologies that the early phase of the FFE (Fuzzy Front End) is said to have the greatest impact not just to the process but also to the result as it would significantly affect the design and the costs of the said project. Unfortunately however, this particular stage according to both Herstatt and Verworn (2004) is the least well-structured part of the whole innovation process, looking at both theory and practice. Herstatt and Verworn (2001), Kim and Wilemon (2002) and Kohn (2006) all recognize the fact that the competitive nature of today’s society are pushing for the development of innovative and unique products in a faster pace yet at a lesser cost. Manufacturing firms, without a doubt, are developing new products and it is because of this that they give so much importance to the New Product Development Processes. However, despite the tremendous focus to this particular stage, Herstatt and Verworn (2000) note that failure rates remain high. As a result, many researchers as well as practitioners within the manufacturing industry are in constant search of finding ways by which they could make the New Product Development Process successful. One of the greatest opportunities to improve the stage, as indicated by some of the researchers such as Herstatt and Verworn (2000) is through the fuzzy front end or the pre-development phase. Moreover, Herstatt and Verworn (2000) developed a causal model in order to pave the way for a better understanding of the fuzzy front end phase and its role in ensuring the success of new product development. Figure 1. The Four Important Front End Factors (Herstatt and Verworn 2000) Looking from the model presented above, one could see the four important front end factors that help in the improvement of communication and at the same time, reduce the deviations that the firms may encounter during the execution of their project. In the same manner, the factors could also help in increasing the efficiency and satisfaction of the research and development (R&D) managers with regard to the project. Herstatt and Verworn (2000) list the following as the factors that are very important to the fuzzy front end phase: (1) interdisciplinary idea generation and selection; (2) reduction of market uncertainty; (3) reduction of technical uncertainty; and finally, (4) intensity of initial planning. The first factor mentioned by Herstatt and Verworn (2000) was interdisciplinary idea generation and selection. According to the authors, this includes the process of incorporating different functions into the generation and selection of new product ideas. It is usually a combination of the identification of an organization’s need problem or opportunity together and the purpose they have in order to satisfy these. Afterwards, they go directly to the reduction of uncertainties since these are already usually present with the first factor. The second factor is the reduction of market uncertainty. According to Herstatt and Verworn (2000), this particular factor refers to the knowledge that organizations have about their target markets and customers as well as the needs of their users. Furthermore, Ottenbacher, Shaw and Ermen (2006) assert that this knowledge could help them understand the attractiveness of their new products based on the perspective of their market and how they could continuously develop the said product. Through the fuzzy front end phase, manufacturing firms that are involved in the development of new products are able to reduce the uncertainties of their projects. However, Herstatt and Verworn (2000) stress the need to look into technical uncertainties during the fuzzy front end phase rather than giving too much emphasis on the market. This is because of the fact that it is through this knowledge that they will be able to identify whether or not they have the necessary technology and requirements to make their projects feasible. Lastly, the factor initial planning must be considered in order to guarantee the success of new product development. According to the authors and developers of the causal model, this factor helps in translating the overall project goals into a series of activities, properly allocating the resources for each phase (Belliveau, Griffin and Somermeyer 2007; De Jong and Vermeulen 2006). Likewise, Koen et al (2001; 2002) views the fuzzy front end as a phase wherein a set of activities happen that are essential to the process of New Product Development or NPD. They describe these activities as something chaotic, unpredictable and unstructured, something that Kim and Wilemon (2002) concur with. Kim and Wilemon (2002) describes the FFE phase as something filled with fuzziness, ambiguity and uncertainty. In fact, stages are often performed in an environment where there are many unknown factors. In the same manner, the information to be used for decision making are rather more informal and approximate rather than quantitative, formal and precise. Fuzziness, for Kim and Wilemon (2002) usually comes out from a firm’s uncertainty regarding their technical capabilities in making a certain project or product feasible. It also comes from their lack of knowledge with regard to the requirements of their customers, their markets, the resources required of them, the ability of the company in pursuing this project, taking into consideration their capabilities and limits. Aside from being the phase wherein these uncertainties are identified, the fuzzy front end helps in the elimination of these risks in order to ensure the success of the next development processes. In summary, the fuzzy front end phase of product innovation is generally concerned with the development of certain concepts regarding the product that is essential to its innovation and development (Audretsch and Acs, 1991). The development of a clear product concept during the FFE stage allows the different enterprises to clearly understand factors essential to the development of products which include time, costs, required technical expertise, the formation of the right development team, market potential and positioning, risk and organizational fit. It generally helps in avoiding decisions that are costly and risky (Beck, et al. , n. d. ). Although it generally contributes to the successes of the whole process concerning new product development, the FFE stage is not spared from limitations and advantages. Processes involved in the fuzzy front end phase of product innovation generally face different delays especially those related with costs. During this particular phase, different activities are usually carried out during under different conditions. Unfortunately, there are barriers that exist in every situation, hampering the success of these activities. The following are the barriers to the FFE phase: (1) lack of vision, (2) lack of perceived urgency. (3) lack of formalization, (4) lack of effective project leadership, (4) ineffective communication processes and finally, (5) ineffective people conducting the work associated with the Fuzzy Front End phase of product innovation. The Fuzzy Front End Phase: An Environmental Perspective This part, as the heading implies would discuss the Fuzzy Front End Phase and its importance based on the environmental perspective. It would look into the views and researches conducted by scholars who had been long been respected in the field: (1) Herstatt and Verworn; (2) Khurana and Rosenthal; (3) Kim and Wilemon; (4) Reid and Brentani; (5) Koen; (6) Garcia and Calantone among others. According to Brentani and Reid (2004), the environmental perspective has been one of the most important approaches in studying fuzzy front end as an essential part of new product development and innovation. Brentani and Reid (2004) defines the environmental perspective as that which views three aspects (industry, institutional and country) as impacting innovation. The idea that the fuzzy front end involves processes of information gathering and adoption from the environment is based on the assumption that the environmental external to the firm is the primary source of new ideas for discontinuous innovations that even in-house ideas ultimately have some input from external sources (Brentani and Reid 2004). Eldredge and Gould (1972), on the other hand, note that according to the first perspective, innovation processes fail to continue because of certain phenomena affecting the environmental level. They further state that †¦ While organizational species change little during most of their history, random events can foster rapid speciation, thereby punctuating or interrupting this stability and resulting in concentrated periods of change and new paths of evolution. Authors who come from the environmental perspective of the fuzzy front end phase usually looks into innovation coming from a macro-level. The usually make use of the historical industrial analyses in order to examine the long-run nature and economic impact of failed innovations, Brentani and Reid (2004) mention. Furthermore, the environmental perspective promotes the idea that companies must be able to exhibit an advantage over the other members of the industry in order to stay alive despite the presence of a fierce competition. In order to establish this advantage, they must be able to produce products at a faster rate using technologies that only they have. Moreover, it is also due to this that firms are encouraged to first look into their environment of operation before actually proceeding on to the development of new products (Griffin, Hoffman, Price and Vojak 2007; Montoya-Weiss and O’Driscoll 2007). Because of this, firms once again innovate depending on what their environment requires of them. Quinn (1985, in Brentani and Reid 2004) says: Technology tends to advance through a series of random insights frequently triggered by gratuitous interactions between the discoverer and the outside world. These interactions provide the new combinations of old elements. . . The accelerated world of today demands manufacturing firms to be more competent in terms of the production of new products and at the same time, speed up their development processes (Griffiths-Hemans and Grover 2006; Zhang, Lim, Cao 2004). All organizations nowadays have recognized the importance of innovation in order to become successful today, tomorrow and in the near future (Resources for Success 2006). However, new product development for technologically advanced industries is facing many difficulties and uncertainties. Furthermore, the environment perspective of analyzing the fuzzy front end phase of new product development must also pay attention to what kind of products that a manufacturing firm must be able to produce. The study of Koen (2006) will be presented towards the latter part of this section that could give a better understanding of the different kinds of products and the appropriate FFE process that could be used for this. Garcia and Calantone (2002) and Broring and Leker (2007), on the other hand, note that the different strategies being used by the manufacturing firms must be positively related with their organizational structure which must then be patterned after the competitive environment of the industry to which they belong to. Brentani and Reid (2004) further states that in order to understand the fuzzy front end phase using this perspective, one must understand that the environment plays a very important role in the decisions made by individuals who are exposed to early information regarding technology. It is because of this that Kim and Wilemon (2002) give importance to the introduction of technologically challenging products at the right time as one of the so-called success factor for firms living in today’s world wherein innovation becomes more important. An example of this would be companies that are being threatened by a situation wherein a competitor is on the verge of taking away its business due to the introduction of a new product. Failure to respond to the competitor’s action could mean the loss of a certain firm’s market share and profits. Undoubtedly, the importance of the fuzzy front end phase is once again highlighted. Kim and Wilemon (n. d. ) concur with the claims of various researchers that the fuzzy front end phase is a topic that is usually neglected in the literature discussing new product development. This is because of the fact that scholars would usually focus on the efficiency of the firms’ processes rather than examining the fuzzy front end phase which is said to be important in cutting down cycle time. Thus, the said phase is given much importance in terms of its ability to make a critical contribution to the success of new products (Weissenberger-Eibl and Koch 2007). According to Kim and Wilemon (n. d. ), the following are the prime goals that are usually addressed in the fuzzy front end phase: (1) selecting the right opportunity; (2) producing a well-defined product concept; and finally, (3) clarifying customer and project requirements before the actual development of the new product. It is then because of this that developers who are well experienced in the entire process are becoming more attracted to investing considerable time and money in this stage to ensure that the project is feasible. Kohn (2006) shares the same view with Kim and Wilemon (2002). According to the said author, for members of the mature industries that are exposed to fierce competition, the processes regarding new product development gains tremendous importance. This is due to the fact that they are in faced with challenges of producing new, unique products at a shorter period of time and at lower costs. However, the new product development process fails to guarantee the firms as it is said to cause both time delays and substantial increases in cost. As a result, more and more researchers are giving more importance to an early phase where the functions and other factors related to the development of new products would be examined and analyzed. Khurana and Rosenthal (1997) also mentioned some of these factors in their discussion of the fuzzy front end process in order to give an in depth analysis on how this could help in ensuring the success of new product development. All the activities included in the fuzzy front end phase of product development are individual activities which are logically related to each other. The description provided for the process should be analyzed based on concepts such as product ideas, market analysis and technology options. Because of this, it is but proper to understand the relationships that exist between the different activities involved in the fuzzy front end phase of product development. The main focus should be placed on product strategy and portfolio plans. Focusing on these two would ensure that the development of the product jives with that of the capabilities and competencies of the companies developing them yet at the same time, recognizing limitations such as roles, communications and finally, culture. The aforementioned elements thus can be seen as having played very important roles as they serve as preconditions or foundations for the many activities that a certain enterprise would undergo as part of their new product development process. As a result, companies implemented a phase-review management system to define and serve as guidance for these project-specific activities (Wycoff, 2003). Companies usually begin working on new product opportunities, usually referred to as pre-phase zero when they begin to see an opportunity for their businesses. If they see that the exploration for this opportunity could be beneficial to their businesses, they then assign a small group which may or may not include suppliers to join forces in the development of the product’s concept and definition (this is where phase zero then begins). Phase one immediately happens after phase zero. It is in this particular phase wherein the enterprises examine the feasibility of their project (at the business and technical level). It is also in this particular phase wherein these companies start preparing and planning for their NPD (new product development) project. The development team then identifies the new product, how it could be developed and the rationale for the business proceeding behind it. The fuzzy front end phase then ends upon the completion of this phase wherein the team presents the business case and the business units involve would then choose between the commitment to fund, staff and launch the project or kill it (Montoya-Weiss and O’Driscoll 2007). Khurana and Rosenthal (1997) also give importance to activities which are product-specific and must be present during the fuzzy front end phase. Product-specific front-end activities are essential in making product concepts clear. At the same time, it also gives specific definitions to both product and market requirements; it also aids in the development of plans, schedules and estimates how much resources does one product need. However, the limiting factor that is associated with these elements is the fact that they could not create detailed designs and other specifications for the product and its other parts (Broring and Leker 2007). Generally, Khurana and Rosenthal (1997) defines product concept as one of the basic steps wherein (1) customer needs, (2) market segments, (3) competitive situations, (4) business prospects and (5) alignment with existing business and technology plans are identified. Studies made states that the different product concepts must be clearly defined so that the managers could identify the opportunities that could be beneficial for their companies. They must be able to identify and understand what their consumers need and at the same time, recognize the available technologies and applications that they could use in satisfying these wants and needs. In illustrating intangible products, one could sketch a three-dimensional of such products to be able to understand and identify the wants and needs of the consumers. Herstatt and Verworn (2000) also recognize the presence of these factors as a vital part of the causal model they developed in order to understand the fuzzy front end phase as an essential aspect of the new product development process. As seen from the aforementioned discussion, Herstatt and Verworn adopted the factors of the fuzzy front end phase as presented by Khurana and Rosenthal (1997). According to the authors, these factors are an essential part of the fuzzy front end phase in order to ensure the success of New Product Development. Basically, the identification of these would help the companies pinpoint their needs as an organization and the manner by which these could be achieved. In this manner, they will be able to identify the product that they have to produce in order to stay alive despite being in the midst of competition. Aside from this, the fuzzy front end phase also helps organizations in determining their market and technical uncertainties. This would help them understand their target markets, their customers and their needs, the potential of their products vis-a-vis the market, and finally, the attractiveness of their product when introduced to the market. On the other hand, it could also give them a better understanding of the capabilities and limitations they have as a company. This is because both market pull and technology push are becoming more important to recent times. Traditionally, most products were distinguished as either driven by the customer (or markets), also known as market pull or affected by recent technological advancements, also referred to as technology push. Bretani and Reid (2004) stresses on this matter by identifying two kinds of technology: (1) generic technologies and (2) application technologies. Generic technologies are defined as those required to manufacture the products and are held widely by all participants that get involved in the industry. On the other hand, application technologies are those that distinguish the organization from the competition and that are developed systematically within the firm building on generic technologies.