Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Decline in Trade Unionism and Strike Activity Coursework

Decline in Trade Unionism and Strike Activity - Coursework Example For decades, trade unions have played an important role in Europe as organizations that work to provide common goals for workers, offering traditional functions to its members such as collective bargaining, organized strikes, and support for unfair dismissal. In the UK, for example, the â€Å"Trade Union Congress† (TUC), which is an organization of British trade unions, was founded in 1868, and has since then, become a powerful institution in industrial relations.Trade unions have been commonly associated with strike-related activities since the 11900s but the instances of trade unions and strikes has evolved and changed dramatically since this period (Aligisakis, 1997). Participation in trade unions and strike activity are considered to be two important aspects of industrial relations in any country.   In the majority of European countries, trade unionism and the level of strike activities has experienced a continuous decline since the 1980s. Over the last three decades, a series of global changes have weakened the power of trade unions. These changes are responsible for the decline in trade unionism and fall in strikes, and the reasons for these changes will be explored in this paper. Attempts will also be made to examine whether any relation exists between the decline in trade union membership and strikes. Before embarking on discussing the issues mentioned above, one should look at the trend in trade unionism as well as strikes in European countries, particularly in Germany, France, Great Britain, and Sweden, as this is essential in finding out the relationship between the decline in trade union membership and strikes. These countries have been chosen as they represent the widest spectrum of industrial relations.

Monday, October 28, 2019

WAN Protocols Case Essay Example for Free

WAN Protocols Case Essay WAN Protocols are the standardised method of sending data between computers. The protocol will determine how the data is compressed, the error checking to be used, how the sending device will indicate that all data is sent, how the receiving device will declare its received everything. The WAN protocols are found in The Internet Protocol Suite. They are shown below in the diagram showing where they lie in the 4 layer TCP/IP Model. Sometimes, the TCP/IP protocol will be extended to include the physical layer also, but this is fairly uncommon and all protocols will work over all medias. Just like the OSI model, each protocol must pass the data down the layers to send out information and then send up the layer to receive information. So for example, the File Transfer Protocol will pass its data down to TCP which will pass it down to IT, which will pass it down to Ethernet which will place it on a physical media such as coaxial cable. To receive the data back, it must travel back through the stacks back to FTP. Each of the protocols on each stack will have its own set of tasks that it must carry out before sending the data on. Using this set group of protocols ensures that computers are capable of communicating between each other and therefore allows compatibility across devices. It is only when manufacturers stray away from these set protocols that compatibility problems will occur. Figure 1 The Protocols and their Relationship with the TCP/IP Model The OSI Model The TCP/IP Protocol suite does not directly map to the OSI model as TCP/IP relies on four layers and the OSI model uses 7. The top three layers of the OSI model map straight to the Application, Presentation and the Session layers of the TCP/IP Suite. Most of the protocols mentioned on this information sheet are found at the application layer of the OSI model; FTP, HTTP, SNMP, Telnet are all found here. The transport layer, containing UTP and TCP is the same on both models. The network layer is the actual Internet Protocol, as well as a few older alternatives such as X.25. The data link layer is the same and are the protocols controlling the actual transfer onto the physical line which is the physical layer that does not appear on the TCP/IP model as it does not care about the physical hardware. The TCP/IP Model squishes the top three layers of the OSI Model onto a single layer. Figure 2 Protocols and their Relationships with the OSI Model Evaluation of Protocols Almost all of the protocols of the past couple of decades are still in use in one way or another. Many have gained popularity as they surpass the capabilities of their older equivalents and some are a lot less common than they used to be. As the uses of WANs become more complicated, so must the protocols being used to provide the services expected. In general, older versions of protocols have been phased out and replaced by updated versions with new capabilities for the WANs they are placed on. HTTP is the standard method of transferring all sorts of webpage across the web. To do this it must reach across to servers to ask for data and then present it using whatever protocol the page is displayed in. For example, a HTML page must be displayed in HTML. A page linking to a zip file will require an unzip based program to handle it. FTP is an unsecured method of transferring files across the network. It is not considered a good method for secure documents to be sent as any security that has been added can very easily be decrypted and the contents can easily be viewed. All information sent along with the file, for example: passwords or destination are not encrypted and are sent in standard text. This means that anybody with access to the network could pull the file down and check its contents. It sends the file without checking with the other computer if the entire file has been received. Some clients will add an extra level on top of the FTP file that can calculate and check for file completion but this has to be enforced by both clients and is infrequently used. FTP is not really suitable for regular business situations. FTP replaces Simple File Transfer Protocol. Telnet is a method of connecting two computers together via a remote connection. Usually, the connection is aimed at a headless server. Once the connection is established using Telnet software, the user has access as though they are in front of that computer. SSH has vastly replaced Telnet because of its security problems across networks that are untrusted. Telnet is frequently used in troubleshooting situations where the required software is not available on both computers. Telnet is generally not used so much by businesses anymore as it has been superseded by SSH in most secure network situations. SMTP is a text based protocol where everything in the email is bundled together and sent. The email is sent to a remote server which pushes the email down to the specific DNS. It relies on DNS to find the correct domain name for the recipient and then filters to find the correct username at that domain. As it is a push protocol and not a pull protocol like POP3 or IMAP, it usually requires other protocols to work alongside it. SMPT does not however, have a successor and is considered a staple protocol in the TCP/IP Protocol family. SNMP is the network management protocol. It relies on a systems being managed by other systems. A piece of software called an agent runs on the user computers and this sends information back to the managing systems via SNMP. The system is designed to monitor available resources and to keep a check on how the users computers are acting. When this protocol was first developed i.e. SNMPv1, its role was simple just to simply monitor the network. It included no security or integrity to ensure that the data being requested was from the correct computers and hadnt been tampered with in transit apart from an unencrypted password and so was constantly criticized for its security problems. SNMPv2 improved slightly on this issue, and enhanced security was also added. The ability to talk between two managing systems also added the ability to check the integrity of the data being sent as it was possible to check past behaviour against new behaviour. The newest version, SNMPv3 which was released in 2004, adds this extra layer of security for managements piece of mind. This means that it is the securest version to date and is therefore considered industry standard with all old versions being deemed obsolete. NNTP is the standard protocol for reading and posting Usenet submissions. The last update was in 2006 and this further improved the protocol and ensures that it stays the standard method of accessing newsgroups. This protocol is popular with the types of businesses that require access the news posting sites these are particularly popular with computing based businesses. The IMAP protocol is capable only reading and so is not a viable alternative. X.25 is a packet switching protocol that predates IP. It is still found in situations where an extremely reliable system is required such as EPOS systems that allow businesses to take debit and credit cards. It is also popular in the developing world where it the cheapest and most reliable method of connecting to the internet. It is much slower than IP as it requires all of its packets to be received before moving the packets again. IP is the current industry standard packet switching method and was designed in 1981. It is a network level protocol that splits data into packets, addresses them and sends them forward. IP works closely with TCP to ensure that the data packets are received correctly as it sends the packets without ensuring they are received. All other protocols will work through IP as it converts upper layer data into packets. IPv4 is the current version in use, but users are being encouraged to move towards IPv6 as it allows more addresses to be used.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Practice of Law Will Allow Me to Mobilize Individuals and Communiti

The Practice of Law Will Allow Me to Mobilize Individuals and Communities Rowing is God's sport. The crisp early morning air, mist-shrouded hills, shells gliding silently on the glassy surface, oars slicing in unison. For casual observers, time slows and they become immersed in art. An ardent rower, I experience this beauty, but I also know that strength, courage and endurance command the shell, as in life. Silence. White knuckles and callused palms suffocate the oar. In anticipation, my breathing, even my pumping heart stops. Then the horn sounds. Adrenaline rips through my torso. I pull, and keep pulling, sinews stretched to breaking, every muscle screaming to quit. Concentrating only on the starting dock, I surge forward relentlessly. That dock is my beacon. I left home at sixteen. My single mother's drinking had become intolerable. Regina, my twin, was pregnant; her drug-addict boyfriend moved in. The starting horn had sounded. High school races by when you have to study, make a living, do chores, play guitar in a band, and still maintain a social life. But the independence gave me strength. There were some ironies. I had no curfew, but there wasn't much to do in Artesia, New Mexico. As my own guardian, I could sign sick slips and grade reports, and attend PTA events. I earned two varsity letters, the maximum AP credits, and enough wages to escape debt. Disregarding warnings that "fifty cents and a humanities degree could only buy a cup of coffee," I selected political science and economics, impelled by a seemingly instinctive curiosity to study the two edifices of our society. Taking to reading like breathing, I devoured Marx, Mill, Keynes, and Smith, oblivious to my r... ...ities, and setting mechanisms for coordinating these efforts nationwide, so that populations can pull themselves up by their bootstraps. I want to fight poverty and social inequity on a large scale. My plans include obtaining a law degree with a concentration in public interest law, gaining broad policy experience as a legislative advisor and eventually leading my own anti-poverty agency. But I dream of running for elected office, and winning-politics has the power to mobilize individuals, communities and nations. But who am I to dream such things? Why will I succeed? Because I am passionate? Maybe. Because I live my life like I row? Possibly. The real reason is that there will always be a part of me, Regina cleaved from the same flesh, for whom poverty is a daily struggle. Regina is my beacon. I see her in the eyes of every person I try to help.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Article Review of Leaderships Is a Conversation Essay

Boris Groysberg is a Professor of Business Administration in the Organizational Behavior unit at the Harvard Business School. He currently teaches Managing Human Capital course in the second year elective course of the MBA program and in several Executive Education programs. Michael Slind is a writer, editor, and communication consultant of talk, inc: How Trusted Leaders Use Conversation to Power Their Organization (Harvard Business Review Press, 2012). As the phrase â€Å"Leadership is a Conversation† implies, this article focuses on how leaders should communicate with their employees. In the new business world, smart leader engage with employees in a way that is similar to an ordinary person-to-person conversation. These can be easily achievable by using the model of leadership that the authors developed called â€Å"organizational conversation†. There are four essential elements to this model; they are intimacy, interactivity, inclusion and intentionality. SUMMARY The author’s premise in this article is that one-way directive communication is no more effective in today’s business world and that it should be replaced by two – way conversation. They then propose a new model of leadership that they developed which they call â€Å"organizational conversation†. The benefits of using â€Å"organizational conversation† are that it allows leaders to â€Å"retain or recapture some of the qualities – operational Flexibility, high levels of employee engagement, tight strategic alignment – that enable start-ups to out-perform better established rivals. †(pg. 78). The authors then go on to explain the four interrelated elements of â€Å"organizational conversation†. The first element is intimacy. In this element the authors explained that leaders need to gain the trust of their employees. They then continue to say that mental and emotional closeness is all that is needed and one what to achieve it is to â€Å"step down from their corporate perches and then step up to the challenge of communicating personally and transparently with people. †(pg. 78). Then they explain the three ways to manifest intimacy, gain trust, listen well and get personal. The second element is interactivity. The authors begin by defining a conversation and by stating that in order to apply this element, leaders should communicate with employees in a more open and accepting way to promote a more â€Å"open and fluid† dialogue between the two people. They also state that interacting with employees will strengthen the intimacy between employer and employees and one way to do so is by changing the channel of communication within an organization from a one sided channel like a broadcast to a two-way channel like a blog or â€Å"TelePresence†. The third element is inclusion. Here the authors explain that a conversation is an â€Å"equal opportunity endeavor† because it allows employees to share ownership of the substance of the discussion. This gives employees the chance to put their hearts and souls into contributing their own ideas instead of just agreeing with others. They then explain the 3 new roles that committed employees can adopt once the spirit of inclusion is added into the company, which are brand ambassadors, thought leaders and story tellers. The final element is intentionality. While the first three elements concentrates on opening the flow of ideas, intentionality is focused on bringing the discussion to a single vision of what the discussion is for. The authors believe that this will help employees from all levels of the company hierarchy to gain a general understanding on where the company stands in its competitive environment. The authors then conclude the article by stating that the flow of conversation is out of control and that smart leaders learn how to use conversation to their benefit by managing the flow of information in an honest fashion. One-way communication has become an antique but people will listen to conversation that is intimate, interactive, inclusive and intentional. CRITUQUE In the article, Groysberg and Slind give several examples of how business communications are dealt with in our current world. However, some of the points raised are questionable. Such as that of Athenahealth where the company entrusts secret documents to all their workers and hence makes them all â€Å"insiders†. This is worrying, as to deem all employees as responsible is a clear generalisation. They are sure to be several bad apples in any company, waiting to spill their company secrets to a competitor. Athenahealth’s idea requires a high level of trust which is not possibly attainable in a world where white collar crime is rampant. Practices like these might lead to companies losing revenue as ideas are stolen by other companies. Therefore, communications between the top brass and the employees should be amiable and open, but not to the extent where company secrets are divulged easily. In addition to that, the authors also cite examples of ways to broaden communications with employees such as the case of Cisco using its Tele-Presence product which enables people to have video conferences which are close to real conversations. The users are able to see eye to eye and are able to have almost life-like conversations through their computer. Another is the Kingfisher plc. , which held a â€Å"bazaar of ideas† with the idea to link up several previously separate divisions. These ideas may be all well and good for industry giants such as Cisco and Kingfisher. But for smaller companies, which make up most of the bulk of business, these ideas are not feasible as they are too expensive. Cisco’s Tele-Presence for instance, is US$21,600, which is a large amount of money, especially for a head of a small business or a upstart company. Kingfisher’s â€Å"bazaar of ideas† meanwhile, involved them renting a building in Barcelona, and one can only imagine how much that would cost , considering that Kingfisher made it a compulsory event for all their retail managers. Groysberg and Slind give good examples, but unfortunately , they are not suitable for all except those at the very crux of the business world However, the article also gives some positive points. Groysberg and Slind persuade managers to have personal conversations with their employees and not just bark instructions to them. This is a style of communication where managers not only give information to their workers but also they gather new knowledge and the views of their employees. This two-way communication style is a far cry from the older style of business communications where communications were only one-way, from top to bottom. When an employee’s opinion on company policy is sought by their superiors, he is sure to feel wanted by the company. Concurrently, his job enthusiasm will also increase. As the saying goes, a happy employee is a productive employee. Gryosberg and Slind also talk about mental and emotional proximity being of vital importance in business conversation. The point conveyed is that as physical communication is not always feasible, with both employees and managers having too much to do in their hand, mental and emotional proximity, the key to build a bond between the two parties. These two elements are components of conversational intimacy. Conversational intimacy is the building of a relationship through conversation. It requires good body language and listening skills for a manager to achieve an intimate relationship with his underlings. The example in the article of the president and CEO of Duke Energy, James E. Rodgers, is a classic case in point. Rodgers created a grading system for employees to grade him. When he found out that employees commented negatively on his internal communications skills, Rodgers set out doing the exercise more often while improving himself at the same time. The number of those who still thought he did not improve gradually decreased. When employees saw him make an effort, they saw that Rodgers was trying to approach them, and his listening to their comments showed them that their opinion mattered. This created an intimate bond between them. Hence, other employers can use this method to help foster good relations between themselves and their employees CONCLUSION Generally, this article gives a good insight towards the how modern business communications should be conducted.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Dealing with various types of emergency procedures Essay

The following sets out the principles for dealing with various types of emergency procedures within schools & is given as guidance only. Fire & other emergencies In the event of fire & other emergencies (such as gas leak, flood & bomb scare) buildings need to be evacuated quickly but safely. In all schools there should be clear, detailed procedures on evacuation which must be displayed in each area of the school. These procedures should give information on: How to raise the alarm in the event of an emergency. What to do if you hear the fire alarm. The nearest assembly point – this may be a playground, sports field or even a nearby evacuation centre/safety perimeter following instructions from police. Registers should be available so staff can account for the safety & whereabouts of all the children. The route you should take – this should include a plan of the route from each room or area of the school, detailing the nearest fire exits. No staff or children should be allowed to stop to collect personal belongings or put on coats. Must not re-enter the building until you have been informed it is safe to do so. Security There should be security in place in schools to minimise the risks to children. As a teaching assistant, you must know what these are & follow the procedures at all times. These procedures should include: Security locks on doors. Signing in procedures/visitor badges (you should be able to identify all visitors to the school by badges. If unsure about someone you see on the school grounds, always report your concern to someone higher). Procedures for collection of younger children. Registration. Missing children While security measures should minimise the risk of children going missing, it is vitally important that you follow the school guidelines. As a teaching assistant, you may be asked to accompany children on school visits & to supervise a group of children. All staff present on such visits should make regular checks that all children are present. Some schools may require all the children to wear hi-visibility vests or other items which make them easily identifiable during school outings. On discovering children are missing, you must take the following immediate action: Report to the teacher responsible. Ensure the presence & safety of the other children by checking the register. Check all surrounding areas from where the child/Children have gone missing, whether it is in the school grounds or during an outing. Inform the child/children’s parents.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Alex Fergusons managing style Essay Example

Alex Fergusons managing style Essay Example Alex Fergusons managing style Paper Alex Fergusons managing style Paper The main roles of Alex Ferguson are to educate players, teaching players to learn and maintain new skills and techniques, also needs to match the appropriate training methods with the ability and experience of the players, give opportunities to practice new skills, demonstrate effectively and to know when to use certain skills for certain situations.  Also he is to make sure players are physically able to play the sport, develop players components of fitness. Also he is meant to man manage his team by demonstrating good leadership skills and direct players effectively, be well organized and give clear instructions, ensure players are playing to the best of their ability and reaching their full potential, manage the development of players effectively.  He also needs to act as a role model for his players to earn and maintain trust and respect, be influential in a positive way, and be reliable and behaved. In his role as a manger he needs to act as a friend by being there for players when needed, make sure players keep their feet on the ground, and act as a friend to motivate players.  Alex Ferguson is very good at managing his players as he demonstrates good leadership skills and directs his players effectively. He is a very well organized manager and gives clear instructions to his player. Alex Ferguson is a good role model as he is respected through the whole world of football because of his achievements and is influential on his team in a positive way. He has a fierce competitive spirit and a temper to match. Players have described the Ferguson hairdryer when he blasts them in a head-to-head tongue-lashing. But he has the ability to measure the qualities of the players he has nurtured and as the club became wealthy expensive players he has brought in, and with these high profile players he has a taken a my way or the highway attitude with these players. The Skills and techniques Alex Ferguson uses to be successful generally involve communication skills, verbal communication characterized by the use of a spoken word. He would be able to change the tone, pace and volume of their speech to suit the situation. He would also use non Verbal communication skills which include sending messages via body language, facial expressions and gestures.  His organisational skills need to be good for his sessions to be successful, these also include analysing, problem solving, evaluation, time-management, sport specific skills. Sir Alex Fergusons coaching technique is autocratic and has an extrovert personality and tells his players exactly what he wants from them. He is very knowledgeable in his sport. Alex Ferguson is a disciplinarian and has showed this on a few occasions. Alex Ferguson tells the players what he wants out of them during a training session and stop and starts when need be. Alex Ferguson is a good communicator as he communicates very well with his players and he is also very well organized. He also knows how to bring out the best in young stars for example players like Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, and Wayne Rooney. Both Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wengers roles as a coach and manager are similar with regards to educating a player and training players, this is due to the fact that they have similar responsibilities when it comes to training their players and making them physically able to play in their respective sport. With regards to educating players, they both have had young players with star potential and have been able to nurture and mentor them in a similar way to ensure they reach their potential. They are both also good role models for their players despite the fact that they were both not extremely successful as a player. Both coaches are well organized and both analyse, time manage, evaluate performances and solve tactical problems very well. They also both have good knowledge of the sport. Sir Alex Ferguson has more experience and is a major disciplinarian unlike Arsene Wenger an example of this is Alex Ferguson will sell players despite their ability if they think they are bigger than the club e.g. David Beckham, Eric Cantona and Ruud Van Nistlerooy, but Arsene Wenger failed to do the same with Thierry Henry. Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson have different coaching styles and technique with Arsene Wenger having the laid back laissez fair approach and Sir Alex Ferguson having the in your face autocratic approach, by the success of the two managers it seems that Alex Fergusons style of managing a team is better due to the more success he has had than Arsene Wenger in his managerial career. The strengths of Arsene Wengers managing style is players have got freedom to express themselves, his teams are well organized, his players trust his approach to training and his transfer policy, players learn technique and how to play by themselves due to the way he does his training session.  The weaknesses of Arsene Wengers managing style is some players will under perform because they think they are bigger than the club and feel their place in the team is safe, players may feel they can get away with anything. Changes Arsene Wenger could make to his managing style is  Be more disciplined to his players and take more of a autocratic style of coaching his team, also dont let them get away with things and make players feel like there fighting for there places in the team even if they are stars. Strengths of Alex Ferguson managing styles are everyone knows where they stand Every player in his squad will know where they stand and know that no one is bigger than the club, players dont get bigger than club, Most players dont get to arrogant and if they get bigger than the club he will let them go, everyone believes in his ability no one will question his authority as he has won everything and is highly respected throughout the world and his teams are well organized. Weaknesses of Alex Fergusons managing style are he loses some of his big players due to his management style and letting them know he is boss, some players may get slightly scared of his personality and his status.  Changes Alex Ferguson could make are not very many because he is so successful but he could be less strict and be slightly more democratic with his coaching style in order to keep his star players.

Monday, October 21, 2019

The Top 25 Grammatical Terms

The Top 25 Grammatical Terms Nouns and verbs, active and passive voice, direct and indirect objects, compound and complex sentences: youve probably heard these terms before. Some you still remember, and others- well, others may not be quite as familiar to you as they used to be. If youre in the mood to brush up on your grammar, this page is for you: brief definitions and examples of the most common grammatical terms. What I know about grammar is its infinite power. To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence.(Joan Didion) How to Review the Top Grammatical Terms If you want to learn more about any of these terms, click on the word to visit a glossary page. There youll find an expanded definition and several more examples, along with links to articles that examine related grammatical concepts in more detail. Put these concepts to work in basic sentence structures. A word of caution: learning (or relearning) these grammatical terms wont by itself make you a better writer. But reviewing these terms should deepen your understanding of how words are arranged in English to create sentences. And that understanding should eventually help you become a more versatile and confident writer. Active Voice Active voice is a type of sentence or clause in which the subject performs or causes the action expressed by the verb. Contrast with Passive Voice.(See also: Practice in Changing Verbs From Passive to Active.)Example:A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.(Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, 1991) Adjective An adjective is the  part of speech (or word class) that modifies a noun or a pronoun.(See also: Adding Adjectives and Adverbs to the Basic Sentence Unit.)Example:Send this pestilent, traitorous, cow-hearted, yeasty codpiece to the brig.(Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, 2007) Adverb An adverb is the part of speech that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb.(See also: Practice in Turning Adjectives Into Adverbs.)Example:There I was, standing there in the church, and for the first time in my whole life I realized I totally and utterly loved one person.(Charles to Carrie in Four Weddings and a Funeral, 1994) Clause A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. A clause may be either a sentence (independent clause) or a sentence-like construction included within another sentence (that is, a  dependent clause).Example:Dont ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause].(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993) Complex Sentence A  complex sentence is a sentence that contains at least one independent clause and one dependent clause.(See also: Sentence-Imitation Exercise: Complex Sentences.)Example:Dont ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause].(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993) Compound Sentence A  compound sentence is a sentence that contains at least two independent clauses, often joined by a conjunction.(See also: Sentence-Imitation Exercise: Compound Sentences.)Example:I cant compete with you physically [independent clause], and youre no match for my brains [independent clause].(Vizzini in The Princess Bride, 1987) Conjunction A conjunction is the part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.(See also: coordinating conjunction, subordinating conjunction, correlative conjunction, and conjunctive adverb.)Example:I cant compete with you physically, and youre no match for my brains.(Vizzini in The Princess Bride, 1987) Declarative Sentence A  declarative sentence is a sentence that makes a statement.(See also: Practice in Forming Declarative Sentences.)Example:A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.(Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, 1991) Dependent Clause A dependent clause is a group of words that begins with a relative pronoun or a subordinating conjunction. A dependent clause has both a subject and a verb but (unlike an independent clause) cannot stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a subordinate clause.(See also: Building Sentences with Adverb Clauses.)Example:Dont ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause].(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993) Direct Object A  direct object is a  noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb.Example:All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my brothers.(Sophia in The Color Purple, 1985) Exclamatory Sentence An exclamatory sentence is a sentence that expresses strong feelings by making an exclamation.Example:God! Look at that thing! You wouldve gone straight to the bottom!(Jack Dawson looking at Roses ring in Titanic, 1997) Imperative Sentence An imperative sentence is a sentence that gives advice or instructions or that expresses a request or a command.Example:Send this pestilent, traitorous, cow-hearted, yeasty codpiece to the brig.(Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, 2007) Independent Clause An independent clause is a group of words made up of a subject and a predicate. An independent clause (unlike a dependent clause) can stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a main clause.Example:Dont ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause].(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993) Indirect Object An indirect object is a  noun or pronoun that indicates to whom or for whom the action of a verb in a sentence is performed.(See also: Practice in Identifying Indirect Objects.)Example:Its a family motto. Are you ready, Jerry? I want to make sure youre ready, brother. Here it is: Show me the money.(Rod Tidwell to Jerry McGuire in Jerry McGuire, 1996) Interrogative Sentence An interrogative sentence is a sentence that asks a question.(See also: Practice in Forming Interrogative Sentences.)Example:What is the name of the Lone Rangers nephews horse?(Mr. Parker in A Christmas Story, 1983) Noun A noun is the  part of speech that is used to name a person, place, thing, quality, or action and can function as the subject or object of a verb, the object of a preposition, or an appositive.(See also: Practice in Identifying Nouns.)Example:Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash.(Harry Burns in When Harry Met Sally, 1989) Passive Voice Passive voice is a type of sentence or clause in which the subject receives the action of the verb. Contrast with Active Voice.Example:Any attempt by you to create a climate of fear and panic among the populace must be deemed by us an act of insurrection.(First Elder to Jor-El in Superman, 1978) Predicate A predicate is one of the two main parts of a sentence or clause, modifying the subject and including the verb, objects, or phrases governed by the verb.(See also: What Is a Predicate?)Example:I dont ever remember feeling this awake.(Thelma Dickinson in Thelma and Louise, 1991) Prepositional Phrase A prepositional phrase is a  group of words made up of a preposition, its object, and any of the objects modifiers.(See also: Adding Prepositional Phrases to the Basic Sentence Unit.)Example:A long time ago, my ancestor Paikea came to this place on the back of a whale. Since then, in every generation of my family, the first born son has carried his name and become the leader of our tribe.(Paikea in Whale Rider, 2002) Pronoun A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun.(See also: Using the Different Forms of Pronouns.)Example:A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.(Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, 1991) Sentence A sentence is a word or (more commonly) a group of words that expresses a complete idea. Conventionally, a sentence includes a subject and a verb. It begins with a capital letter and concludes with a mark of end punctuation.(See also: Exercise in Identifying Sentences by Function.​)Example:I dont ever remember feeling this awake.(Thelma Dickinson in Thelma and Louise, 1991) Simple Sentence A simple sentence is a sentence with only one independent clause (also known as a main clause).Example:I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.(Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, 1991) Subject A subject is the part of a sentence that indicates what it is about.(See also: What Is the Subject of a Sentence?)Example:I dont ever remember feeling this awake.(Thelma Dickinson in Thelma and Louise, 1991) Tense Tense is the time of a verbs action or state of being, such as past, present, and future.(See also: Forming the Past Tense of Regular Verbs.)Example:Years ago, you served [past tense] my father in the Clone Wars; now he begs [present tense] you to help him in his struggle against the Empire.(Princess Leia to General Kenobi in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, 1977) Verb A verb is the part of speech that describes an action or occurrence or indicates a state of being.Example:Send this pestilent, traitorous, cow-hearted, yeasty codpiece to the brig.(Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, 2007)

Sunday, October 20, 2019

How to Answer the Biggest Challenge Interview Question

How to Answer the Biggest Challenge Interview Question Part of the interview process is taking a frank look at challenges you’ve faced in your previous jobs. The interviewer is trying to figure out how you would approach problem solving in your new role, and see if there are any red flags. (Hint: â€Å"Dealing with the stupid people around me† is never gonna be your ideal answer when asked about previous challenges in your professional life.) If the interviewer does ask you a question like, â€Å"What’s the most difficult part of being a [current job title]?† or â€Å"What was the toughest part of your last job?† here are ways you can frame it to make yourself look awesome.DO think about this beforehand.It’s a common enough question that the interviewer can reasonably expect you to be ready to think on your feet. If you need a review on some of the most common interview questions, head over to this article on the most common interview questions.DON’T pretend your career has been a breeze u p to this point.It can seem tempting to make it look like you handled every issue with the ease of Roger Federer returning a serve–but making it seem like you never had any challenges or struggles won’t make you look like some kind of suave champ. It’ll make the interviewer think you’re a) not taking the question seriously; b) can’t think on your feet; or worse, c) being dishonest.DO tailor your answer to fit the job description of the position for which you’re interviewing.Unless you’re making a big career change or applying for a big stretch position, chances are your previous experiences will work nicely with the needs here. Before the interview, review the tasks and responsibilities associated with this job, and dig back in your mental archive for similar issues you’ve tackled in your current or previous jobs. Try to avoid purely personal anecdotes (about family or friend conflicts). The interviewer isn’t interviewin g a buddy, he or she is looking for a strong employee.DO be specific about why your challenges were challenges.You want to show off your problem-solving process, so offer as much context as possible so that the interviewer can see how you’re connecting your past with your present (and ideally your future) professional self. Also, sum up with what you learned from the experience. (Example: After we got through the event totally shorthanded, I developed a â€Å"Plan B† coverage system that meant we always had backup in case we found ourselves in another crunch.)DO make sure your anecdotes show you in a positive light.You don’t get bonus points for brutal honesty here. If you were facing a challenge because of a mistake or because you dropped a ball, that’s not the one to highlight here. Focus on situations where your actions made you a hero (small h, no kitten rescuing necessary), not situations that featured you digging out of a hole you made yourself. Tho ugh even heroics aren’t necessary- if you were part of a team that had to solve an issue, and you took charge of any part of the process, that’s fine too. You want to demonstrate strong leadership and problem solving, whatever you choose to highlight.DON’T panic if you don’t have a very long work history.If you’re just out of school or are otherwise just starting out, this question can be daunting- how would you have had work challenges if you haven’t really worked yet? In this case, it’s totally fine to use an example from your education, or your volunteer work, or other activities (sports, extracurriculars, etc.). Again, though, make sure you tie it to your professional life, and especially the job description. Make sure it demonstrates your leadership skills, not your failures.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Whitney Laning - Working for the Community and Being a Leader Essay

Whitney Laning - Working for the Community and Being a Leader - Essay Example The only way this can happen is if the community itself is full of trained volunteers ready and willing to move in and knowledgeable about basic field practices for rescue and triage. This is the concern of many fire chiefs throughout the country and one that was shared with community leader Whitney Laning more than a year ago. Unlike many, though, Laning took action, learning what kind of help firefighters needed to provide the community with greater safety and moving forward to organize this support. For the past year, Laning has worked tirelessly to bring together the Rowlett Citizen Corps Council (RCCC), a nonprofit group dedicated to finding funding for the CERT program and equipment, and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in the city. He was working to make the community a safer place for both citizens and emergency respondents, but his efforts were recently recognized in a big way. Laning was named one of the Five Outstanding Young Texans at a special black tie ceremony held in the state capital. According to him, the primary program is the CERT program. This organization functions during normal emergency situations by providing canteen services to the firefighters – giving them cool drinks, food to help them keep up their strength and a cool place to rest when fighting a long-term fire. However, those trained in the CERT program are also able to jump in and lend a hand when required at times when emergency personnel are overwhelmed. Fire Chief Larry Wright states, If we had a large scale disaster like a tornado come through here, it could be 24-72 hours before we received any kind of state of federal assistance. That’s where these citizens will be able to make a real difference. Laning’s leadership in these programs has been instrumental in obtaining the multiple awards and recognitions each program has received to date, according to Greg and Lisa Peoples, the Junior Chamber of Commerce members who nominated Laning for the award.   According to a written statement by them, Whitney is the co-author of the bylaws, shaped the mission statement, teaches the CERT courses and serves as a spokesperson, fundraiser and grant writer for CERT.

Housing Fabric Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Housing Fabric - Essay Example However, the sense of place suggested by CABE has also encouraged designs with strong references to local vernacular styles. Numerous issues therefore impact on design and construction today. It is imperative at this juncture that we understand what some certain things are all about Sustainable construction can or is defined as "the process of creating and responsibly managing a healthy built environment based on two factors which are resource efficient and ecological principles". The aim of Sustainable designed buildings is to reduce the effect of their impact on our environment through energy and resource efficiency. The following principles are included: Healthful Interior Environment. All possible measures are to be taken to ensure that materials and building systems do not emit toxic substances and gasses into the interior atmosphere. Additional measures are to be taken to clean and revitalize interior air with filtration and plantings. Three principles of an environmental architecture include: Energy Efficiency. All possible measures are to be taken to ensure that the building's use of energy is minimal. Cooling, heating and lighting systems are to use methods and products that conserve or eliminate energy use. Environmental Form. ... All possible measures are to be taken to relate the form and plan of the design to the site, the region and the climate. Measures are to be taken to "heal" and augment the ecology of the site. Accommodations are to be made for recycling and energy efficiency. Measures are to be taken to relate the form of building to a harmonious relationship between the inhabitants and nature. (Thomas A. Fisher, AIA, November, 1992). Energy EfficiencyEconomic (saving money), ecological (reducing resource exploitation and emissions) and social (reducing fuel poverty) Are the benefits derived from the energy-efficient sitting and design of buildings. An explicit energy strategy should be possessed by every new development ideal. Throughout the design process, energy assessment conservation measures can be done early through computer energy simulations.Many alternative concepts for building form, envelope and landscaping, focusing on minimizing peak energy loads, demand and consumption etc are collaborated by the expanded design team. In energy conservation, and their construction costs, computer energy simulation is used to assess their effectiveness. Simulations are made use of to refine designs and properly ensure that energy-conservation and capital cost goals are met; and to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements. Architecture and construction of new housing in the UK can be vitally dissimilar to t raditional housing, as demonstrated by the three case studies that have been shown above, including Abode Newhall in Harlow, Ashley Vale Self-build in Bristol, Great Bow Yard in Langport Somerset. These case studies have sustainable, low-energy and ecological features. They have also encouraged design with strong references to local

Friday, October 18, 2019

Who Are the Main Players in the Industry of Media and Communication Essay

Who Are the Main Players in the Industry of Media and Communication - Essay Example The government will need to be paid taxes and ensure the content of the films is acceptable according to the number of years of the content observers know as audiences. The acceptance of the government is more of a blessing for the process than a bother as it will mean smoothening of the barriers to the industry (Mathur and Mathur, 2009). For a long time, the Bollywood films were only available through videos and this limited the number of people able to obtain a copy and even that copy was easily destroyed. These days, however, the film industry has moved towards digitalization obtaining their own channels which have ensured that people across the world are able to watch as many films as possible. The films once released are placed on different internet sites where people can watch them online which are very convenient for most people (Wadley, 2013). All those ways are in addition to them being shown on cinemas on wide screens. With these strategies being placed, they have ensured that their distribution and consumption has expanded and continues to do so. In as far as production is concerned, actors and actresses have been joining the industry day and night which would explain the high number of Indian movies which are even more than the American ones. The primary consumers of the Indian films are the tourists and the people of other nations. People in India are still dwelling on watching the movies in cinema and undermining as well as underappreciating their own talent. This leaves the primary consumers to be the international media and people. It is an open secret that the fame of the Indian films has spread far and wide and the western nations are seeking the directors to offer them locations to shoot their films at a discount. Research indicates that nations such as France, Australia, Canada, Ireland and the even USA. The growing interest in Bollywood films and their popularity is what makes people increase their consumerism level (Mathur and Mathur, 2009). The films are loved because of their comics and humour as well as the incorporation of dance.  Ã‚  

The Inclusion of Children With Learning Difficulties in Mainstream Essay

The Inclusion of Children With Learning Difficulties in Mainstream Classrooms is Fine in Theory - Essay Example In Ireland the government has taken initiative towards the development of inclusive education in mainstream schools which has yielded mixed results. Background The move into inclusive education was initiated by parents of children with SEN who were concerned with the availability of appropriate institutions for their children. As a result, the Republic of Ireland signed an EU Council of Ministers Charter which led to the promotion of inclusion in schools by the Department of Education. In 1992, the Green Paper on Education highlighted the need to develop educational systems that were inclusive and provided those that were socially, physically, mentally or economically disadvantaged with equal opportunities. The Report of the Special Education Review Committee in 1993 laid the groundwork for inclusive education in Ireland. The reports proposed seven principles for the future of inclusive education which included; all children have a right to suitable education, the needs of the child should be the first priority while considering the route of education, the parents of children with SEN should be allowed to take an active part in decisions about their child’s education, a range of services that include education in a regular school with additional support, Special educational needs should be provided in ordinary schools unless individual circumstances make it impractical, only in extreme cases should it be necessary for the child to live away from home to receive suitable education and the state should provide the resources required to enable children with special educational needs to receive education according to their needs. In accordance with these principles, the White Paper on Education Charting our... This report approves that theoretically speaking inclusive education is an ideal system to integrate students with special needs into the mainstream. Inclusive education not only results in better academic performance by such students but also increased social interaction and rehabilitation for them. Inclusive education results in students in SEN receiving the same education and environment that regular students and thus preparing them for the real word and enabling them from the beginning. This helps adjustment in real life and greater chances of success in the future; it also helps in maintaining social relationships with other children and learning socially acceptable norms of behavior. It also increases a sense of belonging and decreases discrimination. This essay makes a conclusion that Inclusive education for children with special needs is a concept that works in practical life as well but like most other concepts it needs proper regulation and structure. In Ireland, although there is legislation and regulation schools need to be committed to inclusive education and cater to the needs of the students. Teachers need to get professional training and maintain positive attitudes. There should be greater collaboration among schools and other agencies as well as parent and school collaboration. Children should be taught to include their SEN counterparts and view them as their own. Inclusive education is a successful way of integrating special children in society although there are many challenges need to be overcome.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Primate evolution Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Primate evolution - Assignment Example The shortening of arms also occurs and its significance is to make running smooth because balance is maintained (Gebo and Severson 11). Cranial development is a notable anatomical occurrence. The size and capacity of the brain vary across the various evolutionary groups. Primates developed a larger cranial capacity as compared to their immediate predecessors. For instance, Homo habilis had an approximate cranial capacity of 600 cubic centimeters while Homo erectus had a brain capacity that ranged between 800 and 1100 cubic centimeters. The increase in the brain capacity was a continuous process throughout the evolution stages. The toes and fingers of the early primates were sensitive. The earliest forms had nails with a claw-like modification making hunting achievable. The nails also served as protective gear against external aggression. The forelimbs and the hind limbs had an opposable finger and an opposable toe respectively. The opposable finger makes it easy to grasp objects and food. Since some primates navigated trees, the opposable fingers and toes made the grasping of tree branches easy thus enabling movement along trees. The early forms of man had an optically based anatomy characterized by forward facing eyes. Among human beings, the eyes face the sides of the skull. The forward facing eyes gave the primates a three-dimensional view of their environment. The vision is stereoscopic. Therefore, the primates had a larger field of vision overlapping before their

Sportsmanship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sportsmanship - Essay Example Normally, this character is because of the notion that their wealth is because of their superiority. The use of the term snob is to describe people that have the habit of portraying or rather showing their wealth through the purchase of luxury commodities. However, this definition rarely comes in use for the snob for it acts as a double-way. This means that the person who flaunts by the purchase of the expensive commodities can initiate the acts of a snob. A snob has the attitude of feeling more superior. The attitude is as compared to other people and upon a person portraying their wealth; they get to feel jealous and snob the person to show that they do not acknowledge that wealth. Another manner of understanding a snob is viewing the individual as one that has a great sense of social insecurity (Baggel). A snob benefits most when a particular issue becomes less secure in comparison to the general state that it ought to be. Reviewing the term nerd and comprehending the definition is effective in differentiating from a snob. A nerd is a highly intellectual person but despite this level of intellect, the person has a problem socializing and thus deemed socially impaired. A nerd has the reputation of spending a large amount of time carrying out unpopular activities. The activities that the nerd engages in are highly technical and because of this behavior that nerds have few friends except for people that operate in the same circle of activities as they do. People have always engaged in fun activities that do not involve high amounts of thinking. However, nerds are the opposite and operate in highly sensible manners that have many people uncomfortable and thus do not associate with them. A snob has one of the highest levels of self-esteem in society, and this is because he/she aims to prove his superiority over other people (Baggel). However, the nerd has very low self-esteem and is shy in the actions that he

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Primate evolution Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Primate evolution - Assignment Example The shortening of arms also occurs and its significance is to make running smooth because balance is maintained (Gebo and Severson 11). Cranial development is a notable anatomical occurrence. The size and capacity of the brain vary across the various evolutionary groups. Primates developed a larger cranial capacity as compared to their immediate predecessors. For instance, Homo habilis had an approximate cranial capacity of 600 cubic centimeters while Homo erectus had a brain capacity that ranged between 800 and 1100 cubic centimeters. The increase in the brain capacity was a continuous process throughout the evolution stages. The toes and fingers of the early primates were sensitive. The earliest forms had nails with a claw-like modification making hunting achievable. The nails also served as protective gear against external aggression. The forelimbs and the hind limbs had an opposable finger and an opposable toe respectively. The opposable finger makes it easy to grasp objects and food. Since some primates navigated trees, the opposable fingers and toes made the grasping of tree branches easy thus enabling movement along trees. The early forms of man had an optically based anatomy characterized by forward facing eyes. Among human beings, the eyes face the sides of the skull. The forward facing eyes gave the primates a three-dimensional view of their environment. The vision is stereoscopic. Therefore, the primates had a larger field of vision overlapping before their

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Ice on rock Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ice on rock - Essay Example Andy very beautifully mentions that the very thing which brings this work to life is the one which causes its death, i.e., water. The main materials required are a number of icicles in solid condition, liquid glue and a sturdy rock. First and foremost, get familiar with the environment, the rivers and the rocks, and collect plenty of suitable icicles likely to be found just at the boundary of the shore of the river. The zigzag flow of the river needs to be depicted by the structure. Design it in such a way as to give an illusion of the icicles flowing through the rock. Create the structure with bare hands, as gloves stick to the icicles and moreover, the hands don’t have the sensitivity to handle them with gloves on. Start with the thickest icicles and the middle of the rock. Decrease the thickness gradually as you reach the top of the rock. Next, pick one icicle and dip its tip in the liquid glue. Now, carefully stick it to one side of the rock. By gluing the icicles from end to end, and navigating from one end of the rock to the other for each ‘wave’ of icicles, complete almost the whole structure, just leaving out the bends. Carefully notice the size of the icicle required for the bend, and break it with your teeth.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Global Warming Report Essay Example for Free

Global Warming Report Essay Over the past few decades scientist have been observing a warming trend in the over all temperature of the earth. Although the earth has been known to go through warm and cold periods, it seems that we humans are causing the earth to heat up this time. The greenhouse effect is causing the earth to go through this warming trend that we call global warming. The greenhouse effect is caused when the infrared radiation from the sun is absorbed in atmospheric gasses such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, and methane. All of these gasses escape slowly from the atmosphere, therefore the heat stays here longer in a short of warm airy blanket. Without the occurrence of the greenhouse effect scientist say that the earths average temperature would be around 30 degrees C. or 50 degrees F. There are many greenhouse gasses that can trap the infrared rays of the sun. Carbon dioxide can be released into the atmosphere in several ways, the bulk of it is produced by car exhaust, deforestation, and the burning of fossil fuels. It is a colorless, odorless, non flammable gas, and it is also the most prominent greenhouse gas in earths atmosphere. CO2 is recycled through the earths atmosphere using the process photosynthesis, which makes most life on earth possible. Another greenhouse gas is methane and it is one of the most common gasses in the universe. methane is colorless odorless gas that is lighter than air and is produced by organic decay. Deposits of methane can usually be found in areas where lots of natural decay takes place, such as swamps, and land fills. Each year we add 350-500 million tons of methane to the atmosphere through mining, raising livestock, rice cultivation, and landfills. In fact a cow can release up to a half pound of methane into the air everyday. Nitrous oxide is another colorless and greenhouse gas, however it does smell sweet. It is mostly used medically because it deadens pain, because of this it is called laughing gas. It is released naturally from oceans and by bacteria is soil. It is important to reduce our emissions because nitrous oxide we release today will still be trapped in the atmosphere 100 years from now. The set of greenhouse gasses are fluorocarbons, that is a general term for any group of synthetic organic compounds that have fluorine and carbon. These can be found in aerosol cans, refrigerators, and air conditioners. When fluorocarbons are released into the atmosphere they breakdown molecules of the earths ozone layer. The effects of global warming are also good for human beings, because it could increase food production. The most important factor in crop production is climate, and global warming would facilitate a better climate for the growth of more crops. It would also create much more space for businesses were there was once ice and harsh climate. Also without global warming the earth temperature would be about 30 degrees F. n average. With global warming there would be far fewer deaths from cold exposer. If global warming caused enough arctic melt then shippers would have many new shortcut routes to take from place to place. After glacier melt we would have access to many new mining areas. However global warming will also have some large negative effects. Such as health concerns, scientist predict that there will be ma ny more deaths from diseases that are irritated by heat, including heart attacks and heatstroke. Another downside to global warming is the amount of flooding that will occur with coastal cities. Scientist have predicted that about a sixth of the country will be under water after global warming has taken full effect. The Maldive Islands are a nation of 1190 islands that are home to over 200,000 people. These islands are only 1. 5 meters above sea level and if global warming occurs then all of those people will have to be relocated. There are many things that we as human beings can do to help prevent global warming from happening. We can start to take advantage of all the different types of renewable energy instead of burning fossil fuels that pollute the atmosphere in multiple ways. There are many types of clean, efficient, renewable energy sources. There are many energy sources that the earth has provided for us that we need to take advantage of. We need to build more wind turbines, hydro electric plants, and solar power plants. Another way of producing clean energy include using fission through nuclear power to create a clean renewable energy source. Government can also be doing there part by funding research about global warming and raising awareness about how individuals can be doing there part to reduce pollution. In conclusion, Global warming is a very serious thing, it can affect the orld in many different ways. We just need to decide which effects help or harm the world the most and then make an educated choice as to which ones the earth can handle while taking the least amount of stress, and having the best long term effect. Patrick Michaels, The Satanic Gasses Henry Willis, Earths Future Climate Fred Singer, Hot Talk and Cold Science Ronald Bailey, Gl obal Warming and Other Eco Myths

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Sexually Abused Child in Foster Care Setting | Case Study

Sexually Abused Child in Foster Care Setting | Case Study The sexually abused child in the foster setting Current researchers believe the majority of children entering the foster system have been traumatized physically and emotionally and now require care the foster system was not originally created address[1]. Additionally, foster children are reported to have â€Å"three to seven times as many acute and chronic health conditions, developmental delays and emotional adjustment problems† as their non-foster peers[2]. The care provided in foster care is of critical importance, as research emphasizes the remaking of an attachment based relationship, such as the foster parent-child relationship, is the focal emotional need during the foster experience[3]. When a child has been sexually abused, the care required is of paramount importance, however, a careful and comprehensive assessment of the child is required as childhood sexual abuse affects different children completely differently, displaying a range of symptoms or lack thereof[4]. Cicchetti and Toth[5] emphasize the individual di fferences that abuse has on individuals is most often based on the child’s level of functioning at the time of the sexual abuse, such that the sexual abuse and/or other forms of concurrent child abuse will be interpreted by one child differently from another. As the child matures, the abuse will also carry different meanings, therefore Cicchetti and Toth[6] tell us that [foster] caregivers must readily adapt to the changing issues the child is dealing with and manner in which he/she relates. This essay will present a brief case study followed by an examination of the foster parent skills, qualities and understanding needed to engage in a relationship with a child who has been sexually abused, critically reflecting on actions taken with the child. For purposes of this paper, the child discussed is an adolescent who suffered repeated sexual abuse in an intra-familial setting. Issues relating specifically to infants, preschool or younger children victimized by sexual abuse and placed in a foster care setting are considered beyond the current scope of this essay. Additionally, issues pertaining to the legalities implicit in a childhood sexual abuse case, abuse by an extra-familial individual or issues pertaining to abduction and violence perpetrated upon a child in conjunction with sexual abuse are considered beyond the scope of this essay. Case study J is a 14-year-old female who was repeatedly sexually abused by her step-father from the age of five years. J’s mother was an alcoholic and unable to hold a job. J’s step-father threatened that he’d kill her mother and J if she told anyone. J remained silent for the first eight years, displaying a variety of emotional and physical problem that doctors and school officials put off to developmental disturbances. When J finally told her mother when she was 13 years-old, her mother said it was because J was such a pretty girl and to just go along with it because after all, he provided for them all and they’d be on the street otherwise. When J was called to the principal’s office for disruptive and aggressive behaviour towards a boy who made sexual advances to her in the hallway, J finally told her principal what was going on at home and family service and police officials were called in. J was removed from the home and placed in foster care. J was 15 by the time she was placed in this writer’s foster care. J exhibited many of the common mannerisms common to adolescent females victimized by intra-familial sexual abuse including adopting sexually promiscuous and extremely flirtatious behaviour with other males, engaging in self-injurious behaviour such as cutting coupled with distancing herself from trusting authority figures. Also noted by this writer were J’s frequent depressive episodes and affect. It was important to note, consistent with current research, that the British child welfare authority over two-thirds met current diagnostic criteria for at least one or more psychiatric disorders[7], emphasizing that older individuals in foster care have a higher rate of lifetime and past year psychiatric disorders, frequently onset prior to the initiation of the foster situation. Fostering J Consistent with research by Yancey[8] an appropriate combination of mentoring and role-modelling for J was an integral part of her fostering. Role modelling does not necessarily necessitate personal interaction, whereas mentoring also includes deliberate support, guidance and an effort to help shape the adolescent, as in the case of J where she had not developed the appropriate skills with which to weather difficult periods in her life or make sense of what had happened to her in real world terms[9]  and examine the skills, qualities and understanding needed to engage in a relationship with that child. J’s brain anatomy was modified by the repetitive abuse, accounting for much of her depression and other personality disorders[10] through the L-HPA axis impact[11]. Explaining this to J in terms she would understand was difficult as she was not overtly trusting of authority or parental figures; the information only seemed to fuel her rage at her role of helpless victim and further emphasize her own role in the abuse process rather than appropriate placement of blame externally on her step-father. Similarly, research highlights the persistence of depression and other emotional areas of dysfunction up to and extending beyond five years following childhood sexual abuse[12]. Given the goal of foster placement as the reunification of the family unit[13] occasional visitation with J’s mother caused greater depressive episodes and more dramatic episodes of self-injurious behaviour, which is consistent with the literature stating further abuser contact within five years can be used to predict higher levels of depression in the abused child[14]. Significant mentoring with J focused on building her sense of self-esteem and orienting her towards healing her own inner hurt child, mothering it in ways that were not provided to her in her critical early childhood years. For example, it was important to help J search for solutions and focus on how to overcome her current issues and for her to admit problems exist with her normal day to day actions. Rather than nurture her child’s mind questioning â€Å"why† did this happen to me, this writer had to stress that she is responsible for her own thoughts, feelings and behaviour at this point in her life and as it moves forward, that she can construct her own destiny, especially since she is within years of adulthood[15]. It was difficult explaining that her sexually aggressive behaviour was not considered normal, but an affect of her abuse[16] as she continued to seek the physical intimacy with a male as an expression of their love for her rather than simply sexual gratif ication[17], still replaying her step-father’s verbal expressions of his love for her, how attractive she was, etc. Given J’s level of problems with attachment relationships, it was instrumental working with her coming from the transactional analysis framework emphasizing relations needs both current and in the archaic ego, emphasizing J’s need for security and protection experienced within a relationship[18]. One of the most difficult issues relative to providing care for J was to nurture her commitment to positive change, as considered a fundamental principle of transactional analysis based integrative therapy[19] as J demonstrated oppositional and defiant behaviours on a regular basis. J’s continual behaviour issues emphasized the need for working with her as a role model and mentor rather than being directly confrontational with her regarding her dysfunctional behaviour or inappropriate thinking. This emphasized keeping control of J’s life in her hands, considered by research as critical for survivors of sexual abuse[20]. Research demonstrates that combining therapy in the foster setting can reduce stress for the child and caregiver, increase the development of positive attachment relationships and corresponds with an increase in positive behavioural change[21]. While the interaction with J was a positive, albeit difficult one, upon reflection, however, one major change would have been to mutually establish J’s goals for growth into an integrated and intact adult. This would have helped establish a foundation and framework for working together. Bibliography Alfaro, Jose, Fein, Edith, Fine, Paul, Halfon, Neal, Irwin, Martin, Nickman, Steven, Pilowsky, Daniel K., Rosenfeld, Alvin A., Saletsky, Ronald, Simms, Mark D. Thorpe, Marilyn. Foster Care: An Update. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1997. Auslander, Wendy F., McMillen, J. Curtis, Munson, Michelle R., Ollie, Marcia T., Scott, Lionel D., Spitznagel, Edward L. Zima, Bonnie, T. Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders Among Older Youths in the Foster Care System. Journal of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2005. Baird, Frank. A Narrative Context for Conversations with Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Progress – Family Systems Research and Therapy, 1996. Black, James E., Haight, Wendy L. Kagle, Jill Doner. Understanding and Supporting Parent-Child Relationships during Foster Care Visits: Attachment theory and Research. Social Work, 2003. Chamberlain, Patricia, Fisher, Philip A., Gunnar, Megan R. Reid, John B. Preventive Intervention for Maltreated Children: Impact on Children’s Behaviour, Neuroendocrine Activity, and Foster Parent Functioning. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2000. Cicchetti, Diane Toth, Sheree L. A Developmental Psychopathology Perspective on Child Abuse and Neglect. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1995. Erskine, Richard G. A Gestalt Therapy Approach to Shame and Self-Righteousness: Theory and Methods. The British Gestalt Journal, 1995. Green, Arthur H. Child Sexual Abuse: Immediate and Long-Term Effects and Intervention. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1993. Oates, R. Kim, O’Toole, Brian L., Swanston, Heather Tebbutt, Jennifer. Five Years after Child Sexual Abuse: Persisting Dysfunction and Problems of Prediction. Journal of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1997. O’Reilly-Knapp, Marye Erskine, Richard G. Core Concepts of an Integrative Transactional Analysis. Transactional Journal, 2003. Temple, Susannah. Transactional Analysis Philosophy, Principles and Practice. Temple Index of Functional Fluency, 2006. Retrieved from: http://www.functionalfluency.com/articles_resources/Philosophy_Principles_Practice.pdf Cited 10 September 2007. Yancey, Antoinette, K. Building Positive Self-Image in Adolescents in Foster Care. Adolescence, 1998. Footnotes [1] J. Alfaro, E. Fein, P. Fine, N. Halfon, M. Irwin, S. Nickman, D. J. Pilowsky, A. A. Rosenfeld, R. Saletzky, M. D. Sims M. Thorpe, Foster Care: AN Update, Journal of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. [2] Alfaro et al. [3] Alfaro et al. [4] A. H. Green. Child Sexual Abuse: Immediate and Long-Term Effects and Intervention. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1993. [5] D. Cicchetti S. L. Toth. A developmental psychopathology perspective on child abuse and neglect. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1995. [6] Cicchetti Toth. [7] W. F. Auslander, J. C. McMillen, M. R. Munson, M. T. Ollie, L. D. Scott, E. L. Spitznagel B. T. Zima. Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders among Older Youths in the Foster Care System. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. [8] A. K. Yancey. Building Positive Self-Image in Adolescents in Foster Care. Adolescence, 1998. [9] Yancey. [10] J. E. Black, W. L. Haight J. D. Kagle. Understanding and Supporting Parent-Child Relationships during Foster Care Visits: Attachment Theory and Research. Social Work, 2003. [11] P. Chamberlain, P. A. Fisher, M. R. Gunnar J. B. Reid. Preventive Intervention for Maltreated Preschool Children: Impact on Children’s Behavior, Neuroendocrine Activity, and Foster Parent Functioning. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2000. The limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis shows different responses on maltreated children, disabling their ability to regulate their emotions appropriately following the developmental disruption. [12] R. K. Oates, B. L. O’Toole, H. Swanston J. Tebbutt. Five Years after Child Sexual Abuse: Persisting Dysfunction and Problems of Prediction. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1997. [13] Black, Haight Kagle. [14] Oates et al. [15] S. Temple. Transactional Analysis Philosophy, Principles and Practice. Temple Index of Functional Fluency. Retrieved from http://www.functionalfluency.com/articles_resources/Philosophy_Principles_Practice, 2006. [16] A. H. Green. Child Sexual Abuse: Immediate and Long-Term Effects and Intervention. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1993. [17] Green. [18] M. O’Reilly-Knapp R. G. Erskine. Core Concepts of an Integrative Transactional Analysis. Institute for Integrative Psychotherapy. Retrieved from: http://www.integrativetherapy.com/en/articles.php?id=40. [19] O’Reilly-Knapp Erskine. [20] F. Bard. A Narrative Context for Conversations with Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Progress – Family Systems Research and Therapy, 1996. [21] Chamberlain et al.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Essay -- English Literature

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens "David Copperfield" charts a little boy's wretched childhood and his progress to a successful novelist and his finding true love along the way. The author made a romantic effort to be realistic and thus captured the essence of all parts of human life in the pages of this book. David Copperfield is the main character of the novel, but he is not the hero of the novel. David, a fatherless child born in a little village in Victorian England is deeply attached to his mother and his nurse Peggotty. His world turns upside down when his mother marries a man by the name of Murdstone. The pain that his stepfather and his "murdering woman of a sister" inflict upon David leads to his untimely loss of innocence. David is sent to "Salem House" a school where he is forced to live under the brutal regime of Mr. Creakle. Soon he loses his beloved mother and is "provided for" by his stepfather to work as a labourer at a warehouse in London. David feels his "hopes of growing up to be a learned and distinguished man crushed" in his bosom. Disguste...

Friday, October 11, 2019

A Dream Shattered or Still a Big Potential Essay

A DREAM SHATTERED OR STILL A BIG POTENTIAL: A CASE STUDY OF TATA NANO Abstract Keeping the potential of Indian Automobile Industry in mind, a few years back, around 2006 Ratan Tata conceived the idea of a tiny car with even a tinier price tag for rapidly growing middle class segment. Tata Nano was seen as a triumph of home grown engineering ; as making a product which encapsulates the dreams of millions of Indians with all the elements of mix i.e. safety, engineering, design, efficiency, style at a price tag of one lakh was in itself a challenge. The intense media scrutiny about the few cases of Nano catching fire brought a remarkable dent in Nano sales and shattered the customers’ confidence in car. Since then Nano is struggling hard to regain its strong image in the eyes of its customers as still the huge potential of middle segment is unexplored. The discussion arises about the turnaround strategies of Nano keeping in view its initial launch success, a few quality failures and distorted perceptions in the minds of its customers. This discussion will further add to the design of strategies for future new products which are well strategized for success with clear and defined conceivable about the costs, and market segments but fail due to a few small but significant mistakes. Keywords: Product Development,, USP (unique selling preposition), Buzz marketing, Communication Complacency, Strategic Repositioning, Resurrection. *This case study is developed during the resurrection phase of Tata Nano in March 2012 for classroom discussion as a perfect illustration for analyzing various aspects in the launch of an innovative product,,its market acceptance , Changing people perceptions etc. National Conference on Emerging Challenges for Sustainable Business 2012 1087 A Dream Shattered or Still A Big Potential: A Case Study of Tata Nano Introduction Just a few months back, India overtook Brazil as the sixth largest passenger vehicle manufacturer in the world (Wikipedia Automobile industry). This proves the fact that the Indian Automobile Industry is moving at a fast pace. India is a growing market for Hatchbacks, Sedans, SUVs MUVs, Crossovers and MPVs. Among these small cars have emerged as a clear winner. In fact the country has become a leading centre in producing small cars. Keeping this potential of Indian Automobile Industry in mind , a few years back, around 2006 Ratan Tata conceived the idea of a tiny car with even a tinier price tag for rapidly growing middle class segment. Tata Nano achieved instant success when it was introduced as world’s cheapest car in the year 2009. Tata Nano was seen as a triumph of home grown engineering ; as making a product which encapsulates the dreams of millions of Indians with all the elements of mix i.e. safety, engineering, design, efficiency, style at a price tag of one lakh was in itself a challenge. And Tata’s seemed to fulfill all the promises to its customers by offering Nano. Majority of Indian population belong to middle class, when it comes to purchasing cars they look for the affordable vehicles. Few studies related to consumer buying behavior show that if an individual belonging to middle class wants to own a car then he can easily shell out `1 lac to `1.5 lakh. Thus, while buying a car, price tag becomes a prime factor. Though pricing is the prime factor, performance, style and durability also matter. So, Nano essentially being a dream project for Tatas, satisfied very competently all the criteria’s of a successful launch ,that is, tiny price tag, performance, design, style, brand, welcoming customers, mileage, space, interiors, looks, elegance and so on. But the irony started when the safest acclaimed car of Tata’s caught in flames while its way back from showroom to home. The intense media scrutiny about the few cases of Nano catching fire brought a remarkable dent in Nano sales and shattered the customers’ confidence in car. Since then Nano is struggling hard to regain its strong image in the eyes of its customers as still the huge potential of middle segment is unexplored. National Conference on Emerging Challenges for Sustainable Business 2012 1088 A Dream Shattered or Still A Big Potential: A Case Study of Tata Nano The discussion arises about the turnaround strategies of Nano keeping in view its initial launch success, a few quality failures and distorted perceptions in the minds of its customers. This discussion will further add to the design of strategies for future new products which are well strategized for success with clear and defined conceival about the costs, and market segments but fail due to a few small but significant mistakes. This discussion can further continue for strategic repositioning and turnaround of products accepted well in their initial stages of ‘PLC’ but matured very shortly due to certain significant marketing mistakes. Conceiving of the Idea The idea conceived about Nano was a dare dream of Tatas’ not because of its unbelievably affordable price but also because of the promise it held for providing safe personal mobility to a huge section of the Indian two wheeler riding population. It was an entirely new product Source: Statistics by Society of Indian Autommobile Manufacturers segment with a whole different dimension of its need to contain costs within a preset target of `1 lakh. The Nano price was the only certainty at the time idea was conceived . And then starting from a clean sheet of paper , the car was designed and developed keeping manufacturing costs, material costs and production costs at lowest possible level along with maintaining its character, style, adorable looks and finished quality. National Conference on Emerging Challenges for Sustainable Business 2012 1089 A Dream Shattered or Still A Big Potential: A Case Study of Tata Nano Problems in the Product Development Phase Ride for Tatas in the production of Nano had been anything but smooth. Tata built a Nano plant in West Bengal but was forced out in Oct., 2008 due to violent protest from farmers .This event resulted in the temporary delay in the production along with causing a huge loss of infrastructure costs of a plant almost ready for car production. Another plant was built at Sanand in Gujrat where the production finally started. These initial bottlenecks in the production somewhere affected the enthusiasm about the project and resulted in limited early availability which caused pre-bookings and lottery deliveries. This priced out many buyers negatively snatching out the momentum from the market. Almost from the start the project was plagued by problems and were magnified by intense media involvement. Most Awaited launch When India’s Tata Motors launched Nano in 2009, the concept of the world’s cheapest car in one of the fast growing vehicles markets seems pre-destined for success. At its launch , car buying dynamics seemed to be undergoing a subtle change. Tata dealers were flooded with queries from prospective buyers. People mainly middle class were anxiously waiting for it. Being the world’s cheapest car, Tata Nano had an edge over its competitors in terms of its pricing , which helped Tata to register decent sales figures initially. While choosing between Maruti Suzuki 800 and Tata Nano, people gave letter more weightage in terms of price and design. Its biggest USP (unique selling preposition ) was its attractive looks at lowest price. In March 2009, when Tata was launched it got advance bookings upto 2,00,000 cars but it went through lottery route to give the first 1,00,000 nanos to its lucky customers. Nano became the most coveted thing for two wheeler riders and Tata was so confident about its product that it did’nt go into any marketing plan for Nano. Its intense hype was itself doing its buzz marketing1. So, Tata got busy in producing Nanos to fulfill its intense demand but at the same time being very complacent about the market and customers perceptions of the car. 1. Buzz marketing is word of mouth recommendations by its existing users National Conference on Emerging Challenges for Sustainable Business 2012 1090 A Dream Shattered or Still A Big Potential: A Case Study of Tata Nano Sudden No-No for Nano Among all this hype when the new emerged middle segment of car owners were enjoying their ride in their sparkling stylish Nanos , first case of Nano catching fire was reported in March, 2010 while its trip from showroom to customer’s house. Another incident quoted the car went on flames soon after the driver reported a spark from the rear side of the car. The assurance of Tata’s cheapest car being safest proved ironical and the media which was giving intense scrutiny to the project did its job well during the bad times also. The security failure of the car completely broke the trust of the customers in Nano. A drastic decrease in sales was noticed in November 2010 (from 9000 units to 509 units per month) when company called its existing customers to install the safety devices in the car. So with in a year the brainchild of Tatas started seeming like a failure as its sales went nearly half within a year. Sales were far off the target of 25000 cars a month and the Nano plant with an annual capacity of 250000 cars kept producing only 8000 units a month till March 2011. Table 1: Sales Excerpts (From July 2009 to March 2012) Month and year Nano units sold July 2009 2475 Dec 2009 4001 March 2010 4710 April 2010 3525 July 2010 9000 Nov 2010 509 Dec 2010 5784 Source: various websites of Tata motors Month and year Jan 2011 April 2011 July 2011 Dec 2011 Jan 2012 Feb 2012 Mar 2012 Nano units sold 6703 10012 3260 7466 7723 9217 10475 National Conference on Emerging Challenges for Sustainable Business 2012 1091 A Dream Shattered or Still A Big Potential: A Case Study of Tata Nano Tata Nano Performance vs Automobile Industry Production (Passenger Vehicles) Industrial Scanning and analysis showed that the passenger vehicles production in the country was growing tremendously ( Fig. 3), but Nano sales showed a mixed trend till the mid of 2011 (Fig 2). The company took to replace the starter motors in the older models and launched a new model in 2012 but replacing of the parts could also affect the further sales of new model as well said , ‘Indian customers do not forgive easily’. So, there was a great challenge for Tata to retain its brand image. Inappropriate Market Positioning: Cheaper vs Affordable After the several months of disappointing sales of Nano, it became clear by the end of 2011that its cheapest tag has actually shunned its sales . The status conscious customer didn’t want to get associated with its ‘cheap’ tag and rather opted for slightly pricier rivals . Nobody wanted to be caught with a tag of ‘poor man’s car. So rather being a functional step above a motorcycle it became known as a cut-price car. Crucially car has struggled to find a core market. The overwhelming interest in the car brought all the mixed segments of the customers in the market. So, a distinctive strategy was missing to give a correct positioning and segmentation to the extremely distinctive product. Communication complacency Tatas relied heavily on the publicity rather than a definitely designed communication strategy. There was huge involvement from media, industry and public at large . Rather than leveraging this publicity Tata became complacent about the communication. It became the first car to be launched at zero cost of advertising with a huge success. The publicity generated was far greater than what could be generated through any conventional campaign. Tatas plea was that problem was not of the complacency. Because the Nano plant had to move from West Bengal to Gujarat, production timelines were difficult to maintain. With not enough cars being made, the company felt it didn’t have to advertise or even set up efficient distribution channels. But the hype about the car died down, and the stories about the fires gained prominence. National Conference on Emerging Challenges for Sustainable Business 2012 1093 A Dream Shattered or Still A Big Potential: A Case Study of Tata Nano On the hindsight, apart from being delayed, the first ads were not the most appropriate .They showcased couples ensconced in Nanos , While those on two wheelers stared at them balefully. It seemed to be just for people who have to stretch themselves to buy a car; rather it could have been for housewife or a youngster who had just turned 18. But the advertising focused at parity level. Tata seemed to ratify the media story about it being a Garibrath rather than a cool car. Another ad in the early 2011 also projected the same image featuring a girl in a decidedly rustic setting awaiting the family Nano. Initial ads of Tata Nano: Khushion ki Chabi Such mistakes by Tatas actually fuelled the perception of a poor man’s car. The car is too much of an emotional purchase . It’s the second biggest achievement after a house and the cheapest tag proved disastrous for Nano. Resurrection by Tatas Nano is the dream of Tatas and seeing the market flooded with so many small cars Tatas still see a huge potential in Nano and is seeming to undo its mistakes in the past. As quoted by Ratan Tata on the eve of Auto expo 2012 , ‘Nano is not a flop. We have lost an early opportunity due to mistakes in positioning and marketing the product.’ The new marketing campaign by Tata is all set to change the perception from a Garib rath to a cool car as it allows young to be so whimsical with the cool car that they can drive the several kilometers for a cup of perfect tea! Road to Lal Tippa National Conference on Emerging Challenges for Sustainable Business 2012 1094 A Dream Shattered or Still A Big Potential: A Case Study of Tata Nano Tata is going to launch Tata Nano CNG by the end of 2012. The company has given the car a new makeover by additional features like new interiors, a powerful gasoline engine, better fuel efficiency and attractive colors like champagne gold and papaya orange. Another initiative is offering Tata Nano happiness guarantee which more than doubles the car’s warranty from 18 months to four years insisting on its reliability. Offering fast track financing for buyers with loan approvals in 48 hours and reducing down payments to just `15000 is another measure. Tata is planning to enter new global market such as Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia and Bangladesh with Nano. The 2012 version of Nano was unveiled by the Tata in the end of 2011 and now as the fiscal year ended in March, the new efforts to promote the 2012 Nano in the Indian market have started paying off. After July 2011 till March 2012 Tata Nano has registered an increase in sales and crossed the 10000 mark at the end of the fiscal year 2011-12 (March 2012, 10475 units, Table1). The lovely Nano is a big beneficial car in small package and its value is being recognized gradually by the customers. Hence, with the conviction in mind that the potential of Nano market remains as vast as it was originally predicted; Tata is moving with some strong steps in the market as it is also planning to launch a diesel variant of Nano in near future which will prove a value preposition for its customers. Long way ahead Nano has to go a long way in realizing its dream of 20,000 plus units per month that would get its plant in the western state of Gujarat running full throttle which is presently moving at the level of around 10000 units per month. Hailed as a showpiece of innovation spawned from and targeted at the emerging upper middle class ; Nano is working hard to undo its mistakes in the past. As small car segment is having very strong potential, there is a flood of small car brands in the Indian market. It has to face strong competition from its near rivals such as Bajaj’s RE 60 , Maruti Suzuki Cervo ( approx. ` 1.5 lakh) , Maruti Alto and slightly pricier options Hyundai Santro, newly launched Hyundai Eon etc. Nano faces rising competition from used car segment National Conference on Emerging Challenges for Sustainable Business 2012 1095 A Dream Shattered or Still A Big Potential: A Case Study of Tata Nano also. Apart from the strong competitors, high inflation and slow economic growth also put another challenges for Tata Nano. Tata is doing hard to resurrect the product segment by intensive reliability engineering, advertising innovations for repositioning and strong distribution and service facilities to recollect the trust of its customers. Let’s see how Nano makes its makers proud amidst conflicting perceptions of customers, the immense competition and rising inflation by maintaining expected performance at its tiniest tag!!! Questions 1. What do you think were the reasons due to which Nano was such a welcome launch more than any other car launch in the industry previously? 2. As Cheapest car being its USP (Unique selling Preposition), how it went against the sales performance of Nano subsequently. Give key reasons. 3. â€Å"Intense Media attention about the product went for and against it also.† Elaborate . 4. How the changed perceptions about the car impacted its sales? Also give other key reasons for such a vast variation in its sales performance. 5. Despite the various resurrection efforts by Tata what potential do you see of Nano in rapidly growing small car segment in coming years in the view of rising competition in the segment? References: ‘Auto Expo 2012: Tata Nano is not a flop, just an opportunity wasted: Ratan Tata’, Economic Times, Jan 6, 2012. ‘No Takers: Is the Tata Nano Running Out of Gas?’, India Knowledge@Wharton, January 27, 2011 Buddiraja S. , ‘ Case Analysis in Marketing Management’, Tata Mcgraw hills, New Delhi. Dhingra Mayank, ‘Marketing Case Study: Tata Nano — Document Transcript’,( Aug 2009), Slideshare. India Today/ Business/Story New Delhi ,Jan 6 2012. Kotlar Phillip , ‘Marketing Management: a South Asian Perspective’ 13th Edition , Pearson Education,New Delhi. Statistics by Society of Indian Mobile Manufacturers ,http://www.siamindia.com/scripts/market-share.aspx Economic Times ,’World’s cheapest car’ tag backfires’, ,24 Jan, 2012 Web Sources: www.tatamotors.com/media/press-releases.php?id=732 www.zigwheels.com/tata-nano/ www.iol.co.za/business/business-news/home-sales-of-world-s-cheapest-car-backfire -1.1219524 Various websites of Tata Motors National Conference on Emerging Challenges for Sustainable Business 2012 1096