Native American Historical and Political Development Essay Example

Native American Historical and Political Development Essay Name: Instructor: Course: Date: We will write a custom essay sample on Native American Historical and Political Development specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Native American Historical and Political Development specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Native American Historical and Political Development specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Native American Historical and Political Development Native American pottery is a form of art that has existed for at least 700 centuries within the Americas. Pottery can be defined as any objects that are made of fired clay ceramics. Ceramics are commonly used as practical cooking vessels, serving and preservation vessels, burial urns, sculptures, musical instruments, ceremonial items, censers, and countless other art forms. Since they are resilient, ceramic items have been a vital source of information in learning more about Pre-Columbian indigenous cultures. The earliest ceramics discovered in the Americas were discovered in the lower Amazon Basin around the Caverna de Pedra Pintada areas that were dated back to about 5,000 years (Ferguson et al 13). Some of the shards at this location were tempered using mollusk shells that allowed the ceramics to be carbon dated. From the engravings, it was evident that the first ceramic-making cultures were shellfish-gatherers and fishers. Ceramics next surfaced across northern South America and then later in the western part of South America. As of this period (4530BCE), the primary purpose of ceramic objects was to store food (Ferguson et al 23). Historical background of pottery and ceramics The communities of Mesoamerica and South America were generally modern with the European Christian period. Both tribes were quickly eliminated by the Spanish invasion following on the journeys of discovery done by Columbus. The vanquishers instantly found themselves in disagreements with the native inhabitants. The clergy sought to convert people to Christianity, and they used less aggressive techniques entrenched in religion in order to destroy a whole culture gradually. The two principal empires, the Aztecs of Mesoamerica and the Incas of Peru exhibited agricultural activities and promoted architecture and art. The monuments discovered later were extremely extraordinary even though they were developed by highly primitive societies (Ferguson et al 21). Early Pre-Columbian Civilizations Several pre-Columbian societies existed over several periods, and they served to transmit the skill of pottery and that of making ceramics to the next generation, up to what it is today. Analyzing the lineage and progress of these communities from the past to the present will give more insight on their unique skills, artwork and cultural practices. The Chavin tribe that existed around 1400 to 300 BC was perhaps the most ancient tribe to exist in America (Schurr et al 177). Evidence of pottery and other crafts existed, but these were mostly limited to the temple galleries indicating that they held a religious significance. By 2000 BCE, pottery and ceramic making was popular in Central America, although modern techniques and machinery such as the potter’s wheel and glazing were not used. The two main methods of fashioning pots were to use bare hands or made inside molds and finished using fine polychrome (Ferguson et al 15). The Moche tribe that came up from 100-700 AD was more aggressive in their ceramics and pottery skills. Their pottery was immensely influential in illustrating different societal figures such as priests, lords and even warriors. Through these discovered pottery, most archeologists have been able to study the level of complexity of the Moche society. These artists engaged in documenting pre-Columbian accomplishments through realism and pictorials. There were even instances of erotic pottery. The Nazca tribe came up from 200to 800 AD to introduce aspects of color and complex designs to pottery in a fashion that contrasted the restrained styles typical of Moche ceramics (Schurr et al 178). The last regime to propagate the pottery tradition significantly was the Huari-Tiahuanaco hegemony that created pottery characterized by audacious designs, richer colors and solid constructions. This pottery style ultimately overshadowed the other earlier forms of pottery making to become the most domi nant type that spread throughout most of America. Many pre-Columbian civilizations set up permanent urban communities where they practiced agriculture and developed intricate societal hierarchies. The oldest mound complex in the Americas, the Watson Brake and other archaic sites were constructed by pre-ceramic societies. Throughout the various studies among different cultures and different periods, it is notable that each society had some pottery or ceramics that they created, especially in cases where the society was involved in agriculture. The Native Americans developed their own techniques of pottery and ceramics in a manner similar to that of other societies throughout the world. Many of the Native American communities used ceramics and pottery even before the Europeans first inhabited the Americas. While some hunter-gatherer tribes did not delve so much into this unique pottery, the communities that engaged in farming had various uses for the Native American ceramics (Ferguson et al 67). As the Native Americans were relocated across the continent by Europeans, they were able to transport their Native American ceramics on the journey. Many of the communities ultimately appeared to have lost their indigenous pottery as they were pressed further away from their initial native regions. The southwestern Indians were the most advantageous group in that they were able to salvage most of their artwork including pottery and other ceramics. Some of their striking ceramic works comprised of wedding vases with double spouts and other colorful ceramics that had distinctive designs. Various communities had their own techniques and patterns of creating the Native American ceramics (Fash Luja?n 18). Some of the methods including kiln firing the pottery but almost each community had its own unique pattern and method of finishing the ceramics (Ferguson et al 34). The common aspect among all the communities was that their ceramics were all hand made. Even presently, the few existing Native Americans still hold the ability to create ceramics using their skillful hands. Most of these artists have become very famous, as their works on Native American culture have been displayed in famous galleries and shows. Therefore, while most indigenous Indians lost their land during the relocation process, they were still able to preserve much of their traditions and skills including Native American pottery (Kampen-O’Riley 37). The decorative ceramic ornaments and other pottery items carried with them a vast amount of knowledge on the social and religious values within the pre-Columbian societies. These people had transcended from the essential subsistence life into complex and creative groups within the harsh life of the wildness. These pre-Columbian societies held some of the initial sources of early inventiveness, imagination, and functionality. Apart from religious and social significance, the ceramics and pottery were very important in running the economy through trading activities and negotiation sessions among communities (Ferguson et al 345). Colonization of the New World and loss of Pre-Columbian Culture Pottery and other works of art largely disappeared after the entry of Europeans into Native America. The loss of a larger part of the Western hemisphere led to several administrative, physical and cultural changes for the Native Americans who inhabited the land. The religious and cultural arrogance exhibited by the Europeans was largely to blame for the great disappearance of most elements of pre-Columbian cultures (Kampen-O’Riley 22). Settlers who inhabited the Americas failed to see anything of value in pre-Columbian America and instead sought to impose their own traditions, cultures and norms onto the natives. This was a major cause of the loss of cultural practices such as pottery. Concerning the loss of cultural elements among the Native Americans, Europeans played a major role in ensuring they were eliminated from any historical records. Through their own cultural arrogance, Europeans were able to dismiss the historical existence of Native Americans as being recreated and falsified. To that extent, they considered these natives as having lived in an unhistorical state. Disease outbreaks were another major cause of cultural loss (Bulmer-Thomas et al 18). While Europeans were used to keeping their livestock in close quarters, the Native Americans quickly contracted and died from epidemics and this thinned out the number of artists that could pass on the tradition of making ceramics and other similar products (Ferguson et al 11). Significance of Ceramics and Pottery Religious importance When evaluating non-western art, it is imperative to bear in mind that the objects being viewed were created for exceptionally precise functions. While art professionals normally discuss these works of art in terms of strictly aesthetics, at a stage, it becomes necessary to comprehend the significance of the works of art to the communities who created them (Young-Sa?nchez Denise 16). Almost without exemption, Pre-Columbian art has a heavy religious significance naturally. The ceramics and pottery that have been conserved were mostly temple architecture and items, burial art, and artifacts from sports events that were ultimately religious. Ordinarily, placing ethnographic objects in an inert museum environment makes people forget their original utilities. The Maya sculptor who cautiously molded away on a lump of clay to create a figure did not expect it to be locked away in an art gallery. When people assess these artifacts, detached from their intended place and time, they conclude that they lacked religious significance. Ancient religious occurrences can only be inferred from archaeological materials (Young-Sa?nchez Denise 15). Several clay sculptures discovered in graves may offer little or no proof that they were relevant in religious occasions during the Pre-Classic periods of Ticoman and Zacatenco. It is likely, though, that baked earth figures of females were supposed to symbolize an agricultural idol, a deity of the crops. Two-headed clay figurines unearthed at Tlatilco had a high likelihood of depicting a paranormal being. The same conclusion can be said of the clay idols of a fire god shaped as an old man. The pyramid of Cuicuilco near Mexico is one of the most fascinating monuments that may also have religious meaning. The monument illustrated the main aspects of the Mexican pyramids and this made it seem likely to be a religious shrine, signified by a temple erected on the platform and enclosed by tombs (Young-Sa?nchez Denise 11). Such architecture would have obviously been supervised and organized by several priests. An example is the preoccupation with the afterlife and death itself. Therefore, the ceramics developed by the societies included skulls and devil figurines signified religious activities using these ceramics. The religious significance of pre-Columbian ceramics, that is presently accepted, was initially misinterpreted. In fact, their secular value was the main criteria used when assessing them and this made most of them fail the value test. For many years, Mexican cultivators had been discovering antique ceramic pots and other physical artifacts while cultivating their farms. In the past, collectors considered them useless and even amusing. Because of the low monetary value, they were usually destroyed and discarded. Ordinary household uses Among Pre-Columbian tribes, the vessels used by most households were mainly made of earthenware. These vessels were created in various traditional forms, including globular, ovoid, and cylindrical and double-chambered forms with diverse handles and spouts. These artifacts were used as household utensils, funerary objects, cooking pots, and ritual objects and water jugs. Their form, purpose, and embellishment differentiated the vessels amongst pre-Columbian communities. Zoomorphic and anthropomorphic vessels naturally suggested ritual and funerary use were decorated by more unique and complicated adornments than household earthenware. Although many cultures borrow different elements from each other, each culture developed their vessels having their own particulars and iconography. While most artifacts can be easily categorized as having religious or household significance, some are more difficult to place. Stirrup spout vessels were the main ceramics used that consisted of a handle, and a spout. The immense numbers of existing stirrup spout vessels were suspected to be necessary for funerary purposes. However, the evidence of the wear and tear pointed towards utilitarian purposes within the household (Young-Sa?nchez Denise 24). Conclusion The Pre-Columbian era was marked with a significant contribution by several tribes to the archeological pool that mainly concentrated on ceramics and pottery. The lack of proper writing systems among Pre-Columbian cultures prompted the development of pottery and ceramics as a channel through which history could be recorded. Through these artifacts, the tribes could express and transfer their knowledge to the rest of the world surrounding astronomy, philosophy, cosmology and even religion. The political influences that interfered with the development of these civilizations may have been inconsiderate and unfair but their actions were crucial in dispersing these cultures to different parts of the world where they would have otherwise not reached. Work Cited Bulmer-Thomas, V, John H. Coatsworth, and Conde R. Corte?s. The Cambridge Economic History of Latin America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Print. Fash, William L, Luja?n L. Lo?pez. The Art of Urbanism: How Mesoamerican Kingdoms Represented Themselves in Architecture and Imagery. Washington, D.C: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 2009. Print. Ferguson, Jeffrey R.; Siegel, Peter E.; Descantes, Christophe; Glascock, Michael D. Pre-Columbian Pottery in the West Indies: Compositional Change in Context. Journal of Caribbean Archeology. 2008. Kampen-O’Riley, Michael. Art Beyond the West: The Arts of Africa, India and Southeast Asia, China, Japan and Korea, the Pacific, and the Americas. New York: H.N. Abrams, 2002. Print. Schurr, Theodore G. Coastal Waves and Island Hopping: A Genetic View of Caribbean Prehistory and New World Colonization. Island Shores, Distant Pasts: Archaeological and Biological Approaches to the Pre-Columbian Settlement of the Caribbean. 2010: 177-197. Print Young-Sa?nchez, Margaret, Denise P. Schaan. Marajo?: Ancient Ceramics from the Mouth of the Amazon. Denver, CO: Mayer Center for Pre-Columbian Spanish Colonial Art at the Denver Art Museum, 2011. Print.

Conflict and Resolution Concepts

Conflict and Resolution Concepts Introduction In any organization or setting where people are working together, a conflict is inevitable and for healthy relations among workers there has to be a certain measure of disagreements. However, the conflict is not a problem although how we deal with it makes the difference. Therefore, the success of any organization is not depended on the lack of conflicts but on the process applied to resolve them.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Conflict and Resolution Concepts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More While resolving employees’ grievances, it is important to give unlimited attention to their grievances and address the conflict effectively. This ensures that every employee is satisfied and comfortable with their job hence better productivity. This paper seeks to address the sources of the clashes, cultural issues contributing to the conflict, information required to deal with the disagreements as well as t he best method of addressing the same. Sources of conflict In the case of the XYZ-Company, it is possible that the interpersonal squabble that is seen among the employees is caused by prejudice. The company has just merged with another foreign company in an attempt to access the global market. The conflict could be arising due to differences in cultural and organizational behaviors since the organizations had different working settings. Employees from the foreign country may feel like they are being sidelined in the decision making process for the management of their company has been taken over by the XYZ-company. Equally, the latter could be undermining employees of the acquired company by enforcing their rules and organizational. Cultural issues contributing to the conflict In such a case where two companies have merged to form a single company, there are a number of things that must be considered in order to have a harmonious transition. To avoid conflicts, the management must le arn and respect the other company’s way of doing things. Acquiring a company along with its employees means taking over an existing social setting. Effecting change in the way people interact is quite a challenge. Employees from either of the two companies may want to feel superior to the each other hence giving rise to a supremacy contest. Another underlying issue could arise from the remuneration procedure. The two companies may have different strategies with regards to wages and salaries and a change in the pay package may affect the workers of the acquired company.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The conflict may have been influenced by organizational differences either small or large. The employees may be disagreeing over their different cultural or organizational values, motivations, perceptions, idea or desires (Segal Smith, 2013). Humans have a natural urge of seeking to feel needed since everyone wants to feel nurtured, supported and understood (Masters Albright, 2002). Professional and personal relationships can therefore be greatly affected by how much we feel safe and comfortable in our place of work. Different cultural settings express someone’s worth in different ways. Some of the cultural aspects that could be affecting the merged company could be a language barrier. This creates an â€Å"us /them† situation hence causing isolation which can be detrimental to the company. Information needed to solve the problem In order to effectively address the conflict issues in the XYZ-company, a conflict consultant will require some amount of information. Most of the conflicts in an organization arise from lack of equity in company’s resource allocations (Masters Albright, 2002). Therefore, it would be of great importance to interrogate how the company distributes its resources among its workers. Another aspect t hat needs to be examined is the manner in which the company governs its employees. Employees will rebel if the management is not treating them in a manner that assures their security and safety. As a conflict consultant, I would try and identify the ethnic differences between the employees of the two companies. This will assist me in dealing with the two parties’ identity crisis. The most effective method of addressing the problem To deal with the conflicts arising in the XYZ-company, my best recommendation would be the emotional awareness conflict resolution skill. In an organization, people of different personalities are interacting and expected to work together in harmony. The same people have different ideas and perceptions on everything they do together or individually. The emotional awareness skill helps individuals to understand themselves and also understand others (Segal Smith, 2013). This creates the conducing environment for harmony where mutual understanding is t he common factor. By understanding how a person feels and why he feels that way enables him or her to communicate effectively and resolve disagreements in a sober perspective. Conclusion This paper has discussed some of the possible underlying sources of the conflicts arising in the XYZ Company as influenced by its merging with a foreign company. Prejudice and cultural diversity have been mentioned as the most prominent causes of the conflict. The paper also goes ahead to discuss the cultural issues that may be causing or contributing to the conflict.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Conflict and Resolution Concepts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Organizational behaviors, values and perceptions have been cited as the greatest contributors to the cultural difference between the workers. This assumption is drawn from the fact that the company acquired a foreign company hence merging with foreign workers. In addition, this essay has identified some the information required in order to thoroughly address the conflict in the company. Emotional awareness has been recommended as the most effective method of addressing the conflict issue in XYZ. References Masters, M., F. Albright, R., R. (2002). The Complete Guide to Conflict Resolution in the Workplace. New York, NY: AMACOM. Segal, J. smith, M. (2013). Conflict Resolution Skills. Web.

Issues of politics and administration dichotomy Assignment

Issues of politics and administration dichotomy - Assignment Example In our study of public administration, politics and government are to different terms but are interrelated. As a matter of fact, they are interwoven and knotted to each other in a manner that one becomes almost meaningless without the other. We cannot talk about politics without mentioning administration and we cannot talk about administration without mentioning politics. To understand politics is the key in understanding public administration. As politics is the formulation of public policy, administration on the other hand is carrying out such policy. So as for me, to deal with these two separately will be impractical and not workable. Politics can stand for the public interest as it is about the activities of an interest group which can penetrate the whole fabric of government. In this sense, government becomes the organization, machinery or agency through which a political unit exercises authority and performs functions. In my observation, public administration works in a highly political environment. This is because under the bureaucratic structure of the government, the administrator cannot achieve the objectives of his organization without any political intervention. For example, appropriation in carrying out the goals of any government institution must be authorized by the legislature. In this case, the administrator should strive to win the support and approval of the legislature for the program of his administration. The use of the politics – administration dichotomy as a way to advance in the study of public administration can be advantageous and disadvantageous at the same time. It is an advantage for us to separate politics from administration to maintain the trust of the public. This is done by suppressing the prevalence of influence of any political group in government administration. This way, the interest of the people is guarded against the interest of the political group. For example, in the process of

Discuss the idea of good and evil in the poem of John Milton and Essay

Discuss the idea of good and evil in the poem of John Milton and Alexander Pope - Essay Example Pope’s essays on man can be considered to have not as much radical potential as Milton’s epic; however, the importance of this lies in its understanding of the Augustan age’s ideas of good and evil. This paper shall argue that the ideas that are discussed in these works derive from a transitional phase in English history and look at them during the course of it. In Book 1of Paradise Lost, Milton introduces a list of the fallen angels and presents their leader, Satan. The book shows the fallen angels lying in Hell, in council. There is a description of the various pagan gods that Milton considers evil in the book and they are referred to in the same breath as the fallen angels. In the midst of this scene, one finds that the figure of Satan is presented not just as a devil but also as a revolutionary who has rebelled against God. His standing at the head of the group of devils, inciting a continuing war against the Christian god is in the vein of a revolutionary wa ging war against a tyrant. This can be seen in the following lines- For who can think submission? War then, war Open or understood, must be resolved! (Milton 22) It is in such instances that Milton’s project to â€Å"justify the ways of God to men† (4) fails and the fissures in such a project are made visible. Satan is however, also not considered as a figure that one must seek to emulate as he seeks to corrupt innocent beings in order to satisfy his own need for power. This can be seen in his desire to change the course of God’s plan for Adam and Eve. One can thus say that the ideas of good and evil are problematized in the work of Milton. Both are not seen as separate watertight categories but overlapping ones that often overlap. While this may not always be a conscious decision on the part of the writer, the subtextual tension between these two categories plays itself out for the ambivalence to be created. Many consider this to be tensions that Milton himself faced following the Restoration in England. Having once been a supporter of a republic, Milton later supported monarchy and this ambivalence in his own mind can be seen in the way he reacts to the challenges of portraying the character of Satan. In his sonnets, Milton engages with ideas of good and evil that are much less political, in a certain sense. For instance, in the first sonnet, he talks of how he as a poet is a servant of the Muse of the Nightingale and the idea of love- Whether the Muse, or Love call thee his mate, Both them I serve, and of their train am I (Milton). The role of a poet is thus, like the nightingale, to serve love and to love is what is to be considered good. This makes the idea of evil the opposite of love, or hate. The idea of serving an omniscient and omnipotent master as good can also be seen in the seventh sonnet where he says, It shall be still in strictest measure even To that same lot however mean or high, Toward which time leads me and the will of heaven. All is, if I have grace to use it so, As ever in my great taskmaster's eye (Milton). To obey the will of God is what he considers to be virtue or goodness, in this sonnet and this is similar to the philosophy of life that he expounds in Paradise Lost. Pope too, in his work Essays on Man, talks of the need to obey God. For him, questioning the word of God as

Jesus Christ as viewed by the Muslims, Christians and the Jews Essay

Jesus Christ as viewed by the Muslims, Christians and the Jews - Essay Example Christianity, Islam and Judaism are three types of religions in which Jesus plays a different role as perceived by the believers. All the three religions know Jesus very well but they have a very different way of referring to Him. Likewise, the role that Jesus portrays in each of the religion is very much different, although all such roles are important. Let us view the theme how each religion views Jesus Christ according to their religious beliefs. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are three types of religions in which Jesus plays a different role as perceived by the believers. All the three religions know Jesus very well but they have a very different way of referring to Him. Likewise, the role that Jesus portrays in each of the religion is very much different, although all such roles are important. Let us view the theme how each religion views Jesus Christ according to their religious beliefs.

Factors Impacting on Nursing Care Quality

Factors Impacting on Nursing Care Quality Introduction Nurses play an indispensable front-line role in patient care within the NHS. However, issues such as role ambiguity, management concerns, training deficiencies, and a limited evidence-base raise serious questions about the quality of health care nurses dispense. This essay considers some of these issues. Role Ambiguity Although nurses offer a wide variety of patient care services, there is considerable ambiguity about specific work responsibilities in some areas of nursing (Goll-McGee, 1999; Rask Hallberg, 2000; Hinsby et al, 2004; Dickens et al, 2005; Needham et al, 05; Sekula, 2005). Forensic psychiatric care is a good example. In a comprehensive survey of nurse’s views about their job responsibilities, Rask and Hallberg (2000) found significant differences between licensed mental health nurses and registered nurses in the emphasis attached to key nursing roles, such as assessment, medical tasks (e.g. giving medication), and actions relating to patients ‘daily living activities’. Nurses often feel uncertain about whether they can undertake certain tasks autonomously without incurring the wrath of doctors. For example, much has been written about nurse-initiated thrombolysis for cardiac patients (Rawles, 1994; Smallwood, 2000; Smallwood et al, 2004; Kelly, 2004). Patients pres enting at an A E unit with cardiac symptoms may benefit from nurse-administered thrombolysis prior to formal medical screening. This would include performing an electrocardiogram and administering a thrombolytic agent via a standard protocol. Although nurse-induced thrombolysis may significantly reduce door-to-needle times, until recently there was no precise definition of this role in nursing literature. Nurses are often unsure precisely what roles they are expected to perform to deal with problems like teenage pregnancy and STD transmission (Campbell, 2004). This situation is confounded by the fact that sexual health needs vary considerably across specific patient groups (e.g. HIV incidence is significantly high and access to health access seemingly more limited amongst African/immigrant communities) (DOH, 2001, 2002; 2005a, 2005b; also see Erwin et al, 2002). The net effect of this haziness is that nurses may not always be entire certain of their role at critical moments, or may feel too stressed out, in situations where immediate patient care is paramount. Workload, Time Management Training Issues The issue of work-related stress (Ewers et al, 2002) is directly implicated in workload time management. It is no secret that nursing staff in the UK can be overworked at times (Kilfedder et al, 2001; Hinsby Baker, 2004; Hughes Umeh, 2005). A major reason for this is the severe time constraints created by the multiplicity of tasks nurses are required to perform. The Nursing Stress Scale (Plant et al, 1992; Tyler Cushway, 1995), a standard measure of work stress experienced by nurses incorporates workload as one of several separate and distinct sources of stress, highlighting the importance of this factor in nursing care. The workload problem was emphasised in a recent article about school nursing (Martell, 2005). School nurses are heavily under resourced but yet face an arduous workload, more so for those working in the pubic sector. Staff shortages and a multiplicity of responsibilities means that not enough time is spent on health promotion and in the classroom. More than half o f school nurses report feeling ‘emotionally drained’, and work excess hours on a daily basis, several times a week. The level of stress seems to vary considerable across different nursing fields. A recent study found that registered nurses report higher levels of stress compared with psychiatric nurses especially in the absence of social support (Hughes Umeh, 2005). Then there is the issue of training. Nurses in the UK receive extensive training before being employed to work on the ‘frontline’ (Campbell, 2004). However, questions have been raised about the adequacy of existing nursing education in various aspects of patient care. For example, although it has been suggested that nurses can play a crucial role in evaluating and caring for victims of sexual assault, nurses in the UK currently receive no formal training in this area (Dinsdale, 2005). Another area of training deficiency is in HIV prevention. Although the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) appr oves specific training courses for nurses in this area, universities and colleges are not compelled to offer them, â€Å"Pre-registration training for nurses does not include mandatory education relating to sexual health services. Nurses working in sexual health gain post-basic education in an ad-hoc manner through working in the specialty, and by undertaking specialist post-registration courses (Campbell, 2004, p.169). Nurses often receive limited (if any) training in the care of specific patient groups. For example, few nurses have special knowledge of the health care needs of ethnic minorities communities (DOH, 2000b; Andalo, 2004). Those who by chance spend some time working in such communities may gain some of the necessary expertise, but otherwise most nurses may be uninformed in this area. School nursing is another area in which training needs are not being met (Harrison, 2004; Martell, 2005). Martell (2005) reports that school nurses often have limited access to essential training for their role. Research Evidence-based practice As with other branches of health care there is increasing emphasis in nursing care on evidence-based practice (Lewis Latney, 2003; Thompson et al, 2004; Ring et al, 2005). Feasible evidence-based practice requires an adequate evidence base (Lewis Latney, 2003). However scientific literature in certain areas of nursing care is often patchy, delaying the development of appropriate ‘best practice’ statements that will ensure consistency in the quality of care nurses dispense across all sectors of the NHS and private sector (Hoskins, 2000; Serrant-Green, 2004). The importance of evidence-based ‘best practice’ guidelines cannot be overstated. The Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development Unit (NMPDU) emphasises their importance in achieving consistent care delivery across nursing sectors. Unfortunately, even where best-practice guidelines have been widely developed for nursing care, as is the case with NHS Scotland, implementation is often slow and inconsisten t (Ring et al, 2005). Nurses rarely refer to an evidence base when making decisions about patient care (Thompson et al, 2004). For example, midwifes often fail to offer antenatal HIV testing to women for ethnic minority backgrounds, to avoid appearing discriminatory (Gibb et al, 1998), even though such testing is a standard recommendation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), DOH, and Nurse Agencies National Minimum Standards (DOH, 1994, 2000a). Guideline execution can be hampered by many factors including resource deficiencies, lack of training, resistance to change, lack of emphasis or prioritisation, absence of local nurse ‘leaders’ who can champion best-practice ideology, and resistance to change. Fulbrook (2003) notes that nursing knowledge and care often derives from more experiential and in-depth one-to-one interactions with patients, rather than formal scientific doctrine. Thus, it is questionable whether existing best practice statements, wh ich are rooted in positivist literature, are indeed appropriate for nursing care. Conclusion The quality of nursing care patients receive may often be compromised by workload issues, training deficiencies, a paucity of an adequate research evidence base, inconsistent implementation of clinical guidelines, and poorly defined job responsibilities. It appears these problems are rather more pressing in the public compared with private sector. A recent study of the work-related perceptions of nurses working in non-NHS facilities found that nurses in this sector reported greater levels of support, cohesion, job clarity and physical comfort (Dickens et al, 2005). However, they also indicated greater work pressure. There appears to be significant variation across various nursing specialties in the importance attached to key aspects of nursing care, such as patient assessment. Furthermore, certain nursing domains, for example school nursing, suffer from severe staff shortages, a multiplicity of responsibilities, and significant training issues. Overall, nursing care in the UK appears to lack the support it needs to meet expectations. References Andalo, D. (2004) How to sell. Nursing Standard, 18, pp.14-17. Campbell, P. (2004) The role of nurses in sexual and reproductive health. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 30, pp.169-170. Department of Health (1994) Guidelines for Offering Voluntary named HIV Anti- Body Testing to Women receiving Antenatal Care. London, Department of Health. Department of Health (2000a) Nurse Agencies National Minimum Standards: Nurse Agencies Regulations.London, Department of Health. Department of Health (2000b) Black and ethnic nurses midwives and health visitors leading change a report of the Mary Seacole leadership award the first five years. London, Department of Health. Department of Health (2001) The National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV. London, Department of Health. Department of Health (2002) The National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV: Implementation Action Plan. London, Department of Health. Department of Health (2005a) Integrating the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV with Primary Medical Care Contracting. London, Department of Health. Department of Health (2005b) HIV and AIDS in African Communities: A Framework for Better Prevention and Care. London, Department of Health. Dickens, G., Sugarman, P. Rogers, G. (2005) Nurses’ perceptions of the working environment: a UK independent sector study. Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. 12, pp.297-302. Dinsdale, P. (2005) Pioneering nurse-led assault service. Nursing Standard, 19, p.9. Erwin, J., Morgan, M., Britten, N., Gray, K. Peters, B. (2002) Pathways to HIV testing and care by black African and white patients in London, Sexually TransmittedInfections, 78, 37-39. Ewers, P., Bradshaw, T., McGovern, J. Ewers, B. (2002) Does training in psychosocial interventions reduce burnout rates in forensic nurses? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 37, pp.470-476. Fulbrook, P. (2003) Developing best practice in critical acre nursing: knowledge, evidence and practice. Nursing Critical Care, 8, pp.96-102.Gibb, D.M., MacDonagh, S.E., Gupta, R., Tookey, P.A., Peckham, C.S. Ades, A.E.(1998) Factors affecting uptake of antenatal HIV testing in London: results of a multicentre study. British Medical Journal, 316, pp.259-261. Goll-McGee, B. (1999) The role of the clinical forensic nurse in critical acre. Critical Care in Nursing Quarterly. 22, pp.8-18. Gray-Toft, P. Anderson, J.G. (1981) The nursing stress scale: development ofan instrument. Journal of Behavioural Assessment. 3, pp.11-23. Hinsby, K. Baker, M. (2004) Patient and nurse accounts of violent incidents in a medium secure unit. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 11, pp.341-347. Hughes, H. Umeh, K. (2005) Work stress differentials between psychiatric and general nurses. British Journal of Nursing. 14, pp.802-808. Kilfedder, C.J., Power, K.G. Wells, T.J. (2001) Burnout in psychiatric nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 34, pp.383-396. Harrison, S. (2004) School nurses pivotal to achieving health targets. Nursing Standard, 19, p.7.

The Free Will of Macbeth Essay -- Macbeth essays

The Free Will of Macbeth      Ã‚   Destiny "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." (William Jennings Bryan) Are we in control of our own destiny, our own fate, or are our lives really already planned and mapped out for us? Does Macbeth willfully choose evil in order to achieve his "destiny"? Or, is his "destiny" doomed by the witches' prophecies? Macbeth may not have made any of his same choices, if the three Weird sisters hadn't come to him. In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, Macbeth is no pawn of fate. Although Macbeth was destined to become king, the path he chose to take to achieve his aspiration of obtaining the throne was of his own free will. Macbeth knew exactly what he was doing in order to attain his destiny of becoming king. Although Macbeth was skeptical about the witches' predictions he later learned as the play progressed that destiny truly determined his future.    The prophecy of the witches was that Macbeth would become king. Nowhere did the witches predict the following events in Macbeth's life before he reached the throne. The prophecy of Macbeth becoming Thane of Cawdor had already come true, enhancing Macbeth's aspirations of becoming king. The second prophecy would certainly come true for him, but he has to choose how to get there. Macbeth was destined for the throne, however obtaining that destiny was completely up to him. Killing Duncan seemed to be the only way for him, even though he knew it was wrong. Macbeth was well-aware his actions were immoral and unjust, and he continued with the murders anyway. He contemplates the reasons for why it would be wrong to kill Duncan, showing he could have ... ...rely different way if he had not already been told his future. The witches could have very well enhanced Macbeth's desires he had held up inside him, causing him to make such evil and terrible choices. Macbeth believed that there was a destiny, for he was so threatened by Banquo's destiny of being father to a whole line of kings, that he had Banquo murdered. As the play progressed, Macbeth learned that his destiny ultimately forms his future.    All Macbeth's actions were choices to attain his destiny, but they were nonetheless choices of his own free will. Macbeth was destined to become king; however, destiny doesn't come along with the choices made to achieve that destiny. Macbeth knew what he was doing.    Work Cited Shakespeare, William.   Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul  Ã‚   Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992.  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Historical Foundations in the Field of Psychology Essay

Abstract This final assignment is a reflective paper in which the historical, philosophical, and empirical foundations of the field of learning in psychology and its applications will be discussed. Additionally, there will be a discussion of the ways that history has helped to shape important contemporary learning theories and issues. Lastly, the paper will provide an explanation of how specific topics and information such as instrumental conditioning techniques and the usefulness of different learning styles may impact my personal and professional life and how the different aspects of the ield of learning have added value to my body of knowledge as a student and future professional in the field of psychology. Historical Foundations Of the Field of Learning & Shaping Important Contemporary Issues It is a natural course of action for the field of learning to fall under the umbrella of the field of psychology. A branch of philosophy and science, the field of learning, Just as the field of psychology, was created through the movements of empiricism and rationalism, along with the development of evolution theory (Terry, 2009). These movements fostered interest in scientific investigation thus giving way to pistemology, which means, theory of knowledge. Questions concerning nature and nurture sparked interest in how we came to have knowledge, which is the main tenet of the field of learning (Terry, 2009). In the field of psychology, the learning theories provide a way to explain how we learn and attain knowledge; how we think. While philosophers agreed with the basic definition of knowledge and learning, which is defined as the acquisition of knowledge, their opinions varied in how acquisition occurs (Terry, 2009). Descartes suggested that although we learn, other sources of knowledge exist. He introduced the ideas of nativism and rationalism. He proposed that we have innate knowledge of our ideas of God, infinity, and perfecton (Terry, 2009). Also, that other knowledge is derived by a reasoning, logical, and intuiting mind (Terry, 2009). Additioally, this knowledge is present and independent of particular experiences with the world (Terry, 2009). Therefore, he believed in the process of learning, but he didn’t believe that all knowledge had to be learned. However, John Locke introduced the idea that knowledge is actually learned through our experiences, and through use of our senses, which is the idea of empiricism (Terry, 2009). This phenomenon is later known as cause and effect. The ideas of Descartes and Locke influenced researchers toward an empirical view of learning through seeking out how knowledge is acquired through what is experienced in the environment. This gave way to the scientific methods of association learning, conditioning, and verbal learning (Terry, 2009). Each of the historical thoughts on learning is continuous and useful in some way today. There are modern theories that have built upon the ideas of conditioning and behavior modifications, etc. One (2006), provide a modern approach to treating phobias, as well as other anxiety isorders. Their research starts with the traditional premise that what can be learned can be unlearned, and possibly prevented (Mineka ; Zinbarg, 2006). However, they support modern criticism that traditional learning approaches do not adequately account for the diverse factors involved in the origins of people’s anxieties. To support this claim they provide an example of two clients with phobias of dogs. The phobias were developed due to experiencing attacks by dogs. The first client actually was out walking her pet dog when she was attacked and later developed an infection due to the bite. However, the second client only experienced her clothes being torn before the owner was able to grab the dog before any serious injury occurred, although both clients developed phobias (Mineka & Zinbarg). They argue that traditional learning approaches do not adeqatly explain why the client that was not bitten developed the phobia as well. Additionally, they provide another concern that traditional views do not explain why many individuals that have had traumatic experiences do not develop phobias. Furthermore, they go on to say that contemporary learning approaches are better grounded in the theories and ethods of experimental psychology, and they provide more comprehensive formulations of the etiology of anxiety disorders. Also, that they provide a more explicit analysis of factors promoting or inhibiting the deeopment of different anziety disorders (Mineka & Zinbarg). With that being said, there have indeed been great advancements in the field of learning and psychology, along with growing technological advances. Learning involves observable changes in behavior; objective evidence, and traditional researchers such as Pavlov, Watson and Skinner have paved the way for providing a scientific foundation for psychology and learning. Psychology is a science because it is objective and quantifiable. Learning and memory themselves are not observed directly; they are processes that occur in the nervous system (Terry, pg. 5, 2009). Therefore, contemporary research has taken advantage of the use of PET scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look at brain functions to explain behaviors ( Raichle, 1994). These modern avenues of research have allowed researchers to become a step closer to relating psychological theory to brain functions and research. For example, todays research may include brain scans and case studies of brain damaged soldiers. Even mor e so, recent research on post traumatic stress disorder examines the use of exposure therapy on preventing the reoccurenc of PTSD (Massad et. l, 2006). This research is most interesting because the researchers examine the understanding of reducing fear responses because associations with the stimuli are not unlearned. Their research concludes that unless exposure treatment regimens are maximized the risk of renewal of PTSD is high (Massad et. al, 2006). Such advances are very important to the quality of life that our existence depends upon. Knowledge is necessary for our daily lives even more so now than ever. This very research can be instrumental in a military soldiers life as we are currently in war time. The topics in the field of learning that have had the most impact on me personally include learned taste aversions and the development of specific phobias For probably will not cause the child to cry. However, through the pairing of the needle with the unpleasant sensation of having a vaccination the sight of the nurser may come to elicit symptoms of fear and anxiety, even if the child is not receiving a vaccination. I personally found this interesting Just because I am a mom and it is interesting to use such information while rearing children. The second type of learning that I found interesting in the behaviorist tradition is instrumental or operant, conditioning. This type of learning requires that an organism operate on the environment to achieve a goal (Terry, 2009). So then, behaviors are learned as a function of the consequences of those behaviors. Of course, this type of reinforcement is useful in the classroom as well as rearing children. Additionally, social learning theory focuses on observational learning, and modeling. Social learning researchers are concerned with how expectations, memory, and awareness influence the learning process (Berk, 2008).

Profane Language in Music and MTVs Essay

We often hear from parents how difficult it is to raise children with good values. Although family plays a crucial role, environment still plays the dominant role in affecting a child’s attitude and perception. Included in this environment, and perhaps the most influential, is media. Specifically, as television becomes part of every home, people have become accustomed to watching television programs, and letting children watch on their own, without parental guidance. In this case, it is possible for children to learn from TV and imitate what they see and hear from it, thus making it more difficult for parents to identify sources and explanation for their children’s attitude. While it is the responsibility of parents to monitor their children’s behavior, media should likewise assume its role in censoring television shows that incorporate the use of profane or foul language.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the government agency under the Congress in the United States responsible for regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. As such, it is also responsible to ensure that laws regarding television program requirements are being applied. For instance, in 1990, Congress enacted the Children’s Television Act (CTA) in order to increase the amount of educational and informational programming available on television. This act requires each broadcast television station to serve the educational and informational needs of children through its programming activities. Moreover, it also limits the amount of time devoted to commercial matter during children’s programs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Given that such rules on children’s programming exist, we may cite instances when the FCC may have been too lax in its campaign to serve the educational and informational needs of children, or to censor television programs in general. For instance, we may cite the phenomenal hit that music videos have among teenagers and even children under the age of thirteen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Two elements of profanity are embedded in music videos: first, the music itself, and second, the video used to interpret the music. In music, we see a direct misuse of the language while in videos, there is the indirect misuse of the language through gestures that convey violence, sex, and other taboo themes. Suffice to mention, we may include the video as part of non-verbal language.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The history of American music accounts for a number of songs being banned from radio stations or states due to their obscene, profane, or racist lyrics. Among the songs included Jethro Tull’s â€Å"Locomotive Breath† which was pulled off by record executives for its lyric that said, â€Å"and the all time winner has got him by the balls.† Another one is John Lennon’s song, â€Å"Woman is the Nigger of the World† which was banned by radio stations for its racist context. Then, there was also John Denver’s hit song â€Å"Rocky Mountain High,† which suggested drug abuse.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sometime in 1985, there were also moves to ban the MTV station from the local cable in Emporia, Virginia, and also in Hartford Connecticut for fear that it induced a â€Å"temporary state of insanity† (Bridgberg 1985) over patients in the Institute of Living Hospital. Hospital spokesperson Robert Fagan added that MTV is â€Å"too inciting† (Fagan 1985) and â€Å"can potentially cause hallucinations† (Mark 2003). Moreover, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence forbid playing of â€Å"Danny Boy† and other secular songs during funeral masses.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although this history of banning songs and the MTV station aroused protests from music fans in general—those who believe that music should not be censored for it mirrors the souls of the artists—a lot of banning should still be done specially these days since many artists today are producing music with either direct or subliminal contexts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With the phenomenal hit of music videos and rap and hip hop music come music artists like Akon, T-Pain, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, etc. who impart subliminal messages resulting in profanity in their music. For instance, Akon’s song, I Wanna Love You which has another version that alters the word â€Å"love† with the f-word, simply presents obscenity that should be censored for young listeners and viewers of the video. Another example is T-Pain’s I’m in Love with a Stripper, which talks about one man’s feelings for a stripper. Sexual undertones such as   â€Å"Teddy bend her ass down is bout to see this sexy girl in my bed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  are included in the song.    In addition, there is also Snoop Dogg’s Drop it Like it’s Hot, which suggests violence and killing with a â€Å"hot† gun. Unlike other songs, however, which do not contain a good message, the song is in narrative form, ending with a message to gangsters regarding being caught and paying the price of killing, as suggested in the line, â€Å"You’re family’s crying, now you on the news.† Also another artist that uses profane language is Eminem. In most of his music, Eminem utters the word â€Å"fuck† a lot of times, and introduces violence, although just like Snoop Dogg in Drop it Like it’s Hot, Eminem generally imparts message regarding the consequences of violence and doing bad things.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It follows that when these songs appear as music videos, they feature sexy women in lingeries or bikinis, either dancing or lying in bed. As children listen to the songs on TV, they consciously and subconsciously absorb these languages and the images incorporated in the songs. This could be the reason why a lot of Americans are fond of using the f-word nowadays because we hear it almost everywhere, specially from media sources such as the television.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even though the modern generation has learned to accept this kind of music and the present market promotes it, there should still be a limitation as to the amount of profane language contained in a song. Basically, it is the duty of the government to ban these songs to protect the innocence of children. However, every artist should also remember to bear the responsibility of incorporating good message into their songs instead of the negative themes mentioned such as sex and violence. The rampant use of these two themes should be limited to a certain degree if we want to pursue peace and maintain society’s decency.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Also, most often, the victims of artists who abuse their power to self-expression are women. In a lot of MTVs, women are portrayed as sex objects or sex interests of the artist. From this, we can judge that the purpose is truly devastating. Therefore, the Church, schools, feminists, and parents should work hand-in-hand and protest against the proliferation of this kind of music and MTVs before it corrupts the minds of our children. Works Cited Music Sponsorship in the U.S.A. John Mark Ministries. Last updated 13 December 2007. 17 December 2007 . Children’s Television Rules. Federal Communications Commission. 22 May 2003. 17 December 2007 . FCC Chairman Reed Hundt Encourages Parents and Activists to Watch, Critique, and Report on New Kids’ TV Shows. In FC News. Washington: Federal Communications Commission. 4 September 1997. 17 December 2007 .

Maos Hundred Flowers Campaign in China

Mao's Hundred Flowers Campaign in China In late 1956, just seven years after the Red Army prevailed in Chinas Civil War, Chairman of the Communist Party Mao Zedong announced that the government wanted to hear citizens true opinions about the regime. He  sought to promote the development of a new Chinese culture, and said in a speech that Criticism of the bureaucracy is pushing the government towards the better. This was a shock to the Chinese people since the Communist Party had always previously cracked down on any citizen bold enough to criticize the party or its officials. The Liberalization Movement Mao named this liberalization movement the Hundred Flowers Campaign, after a traditional poem: Let a hundred flowers bloom/Let a hundred schools of thought contend. Despite, the Chairmans urging, however, the response among the Chinese people was muted. They did not truly believe that they could criticize the government without repercussions. Premier Zhou Enlai had received only a handful of letters from prominent intellectuals,  containing very minor and cautious critiques of the government. By the spring of 1957, communist officials changed their tone.  Mao announced that criticism of the government was not just allowed but preferred, and began to directly pressure some leading intellectuals to send in their constructive criticism. Reassured that the government truly wanted to hear the truth, by May and early June  of that year,  university professors and other scholars were sending in millions of letters containing increasingly assertive suggestions and criticisms.  Students and other citizens also held criticism meetings and rallies, put up posters, and published articles in magazines calling for reform. Lack of Intellectual Freedom Among the issues targeted by the people during the Hundred Flowers Campaign were the lack of intellectual freedom, the harshness of previous crack-downs on  opposition leaders,  the close adherence to Soviet ideas, and the much higher standard of living enjoyed by Party leaders versus the ordinary citizens.  This flood of vociferous criticism seems to have taken Mao and Zhou by surprise. Mao, in particular, saw it as a threat to the regime; he felt that the opinions being voiced were no longer constructive criticism, but were harmful and uncontrollable. Halt to the Campaign On June 8, 1957, Chairman Mao called a halt to the Hundred Flowers Campaign.  He announced that it was time to pluck the poisonous weeds from the bed of flowers. Hundreds of intellectuals and students were rounded up, including pro-democracy activists Luo Longqi and Zhang Bojun, and were forced to publicly confess that they had organized a secret conspiracy against socialism. The crackdown sent hundreds of leading Chinese thinkers to labor camps for re-education or to prison. The brief experiment with freedom of speech was  over. The Debate Historians continue to debate whether Mao genuinely wanted to hear suggestions on governance, in the beginning, or whether the Hundred Flowers Campaign was a trap all along.  Certainly, Mao had been shocked and appalled by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchevs speech, publicized on March 18, 1956, in which Khrushchev denounced former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin for building a cult of personality, and ruling through suspicion, fear, and terror. Mao may have wanted to gauge whether intellectuals in his own country viewed him the same way. It is also possible, however, that Mao and more particularly Zhou were truly seeking new  paths for developing Chinas culture and arts under the communist model. Whatever the case, in the aftermath of the Hundred Flowers Campaign, Mao stated that he had flushed the snakes out of their caves.  The rest of 1957 was devoted to an Anti-Rightest Campaign, in which the government ruthlessly crushed all dissent.

Intercultural Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Intercultural - Essay Example Interviewee: There are a lot of festivals in Russia but let me single out Maslenitsa. This is the pure Russian holiday which refers you back to the times of pagan. It is celebratory pre-Lenten tradition of Russia and habitually referred to as the pancake week. Every day of pancake week has a customary activity. Kids make themselves busy by playing games while the elders cook huge stacks of pancakes. The festival also consists of snowball fights, riding on swings, masquerades, sledding, and sleigh rides. In the festival, image of Maslenitsa is also burnt to usher in spring and return of the sun. Interviewee: Yes, I do enjoy life in America a lot. Things are just wonderful here. The most attractive part is that America has many diverse groups of people who live happily with one another and they have the right to condemn what is going wrong in government. Interviewee: Americans prefer more personal space as opposed to Russians. Russians like "close talkers" and they cannot move away when you are conversing, you can close in on Russians. Repeating "Im sorry" can make you appear untrusted in Russian culture. Just apologize once and then let actions show you mean it. This is not the case in

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Strategic management - Essay Example Strategic analysis of Johnston Press Plc business enviroment using PESTLE and SWOT analysis; PESTLE Political. Besley (2008) emphasized the company’s political environment is stable. The United Kingdom government is one of the most stable and easily predictable governments in the world today. Economic. Economically, the year 2010 is characterized by retrenchment. The company’s Limerick plant at Leader Print Ltd has finally closed shop after several years of trying to keep its revenues higher than the company’s daily operating expenses. Social. Gibson sings (2010) The company has been in the forefront of the United Kingdom society. The society has been used to reading the news from the Johnston Press printing plants for several years. In fact, Johnston Press is the second largest printing company in the United Kingdom today. Technological. The company has incorporated digital advertising as one of its biggest revenue generators. Digital advertising and publishing has many advantages. One such advantage is the company’s borderless sales probabilities. Clients from any part of the world can visit the company’s website and patronise the company’s publishing and other related services. Legal. The company has been complying with all the employments laws, work-related laws and other statutes. Environmental. The company continues to adhere to the environmental laws of the United Kingdom. The company does not pollute the country’s pristine rivers with its printing company’s waste products. SWOT Strengths. Johnston, (2010) reiterated during 2010, advertising categories and geographic market segments have performed profitably well. Property advertising has bounced back to a 9.5 percent growth from the 2009 accounting period’s property advertising debacle. Consequently, house sales have started to increase as compared to the 2009 house sales. Understandably, the 2009 low house was had been triggered by the Unit ed States-based financial crisis. Further, cost reduction that included a reduction from 5,640 heads to only 5,417 heads, has augmented the company’s profitability ratio. The company’s single editing process has increase production performance. The company’s newspaper titles include Batley News, Halifax Courier, Glasgow South and Eastwood Extra, Carrick Gazette, and Isle of Man Courier. Weaknesses. Johnston (2010) emphasized the company’s print advertising industry is been set to second place. The Johnston Plc’s print advertising has been losing to the new and innovative digital advertising market segment. The economic debacle has cut the company’s advertising revenue by a significant percentage. Opportunities. Johnston (2010) explained the company should focus on increasing digital sales performance, the internet and computer technology has metamorphosed the printing business into the digital age. In fact, the company’s digital sales growth had increased by ten percent during 2010 when compared to the digital sales growth in 2009. The company should increase its focus on selling of its display inventories. The early part of 2010 shows a slow but sure recovery from the debilitating crunch of the prior year’s unprofitable economic depression. Threats. Johnston (2010) theorized the lack of any influential increase in the economic activity in the Republic of Ireland threatens the company’s plans to increase it overall sales performance. Using Porter's five forces