Macbeth Apperance vs Reality

?The world is governed more by appearances than by realities. Throughout society people are judged based on their appearance. This is unfortunate because appearance can be deceiving. In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth appearances are not what they seem. Some people may change because they think that their true self does not fit in society while others pretend to be something they are not. In the theme of appearance versus reality Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have an image but as the time passes by their true personalities began to show. Macbeth portrays himself differently from his true inner self.He pretends to be a strong and intelligent person but from inside he is weak and indecisive. When Macbeth first confronts the witches’ prophecies he says, â€Å"Come what may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day† (1. 3. 152-153). Macbeth is leaving his future to ‘chance’. He wants to appear noble and strong but in the end he refutes his statement by killing Duncan and Banquo to get to the throne. Also, when Lady Macbeth explains the plan to Macbeth he asks â€Å"If we should fail? † (1. 7. 59). He is still afraid of the consequences of his actions. His actions look pungent but he does not have any reason to kill Duncan.Macbeth has a debate within himself to murder King Duncan or to spare his life. Macbeth hesitation to kill Duncan proves in realty he is a weak man. Lady Macbeth represents herself as a beautiful and powerful woman in society but she is as weak as her husband Macbeth. To convince Macbeth to follow the plan she says â€Å"I have given suck, and know how tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn† (1. 7. 54-58). Macbeth asks for her help, but she responds by being harsh to him to keep up her appearances.Even when Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost, instead of he lping him, she tells him to go to bed and stop imagining weird things. Lady Macbeth appears heartless toward others. However, one night a gentlewomen and a doctor see her sleep waking and mumbling â€Å"Out, damned spot! Out, I say! † (5. 1. 25). She appears to be wide awake but she is unconsciously revealing her true self. Her guilty conscious leads to her downfall through suicide. In this scene her appearance crumbles. She seemed powerful and unsympathetic, but in reality her guilt of Duncan’s murder driver her crazy proving she has become weak.In Macbeth the theme of appearance versus reality is shown through the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. They both revealed a fictitious picture of their personality even though on the inside they are different people. Macbeth’s indecisive personality leads to his destruction. The iron lady, Lady Macbeth appears to be a tough woman, who feels no guilt. But in the ending she shatters to pieces because of her guilt- ridden conscious. No matter what one appears to be reality will defeat appearance. People can put disguise on reality for time being but in the end truth reveals itself.

Improving Patient Identification With Barcode Health And Social Care Essay

Today ‘s engineering affects the bringing of attention and patient safety in different health care puting. Due to the increasing mistakes in the health care environment, the Joint Commission and other health care organisations mandated ways to better proper and safer patient designation. The usage of saloon codification scanning engineering gave a large spring of bettering mistakes in the healthcare field. Nowadays, the barcode scanning can be seen in patient ‘ wristbands, medical records and laboratory faux pass or requisitions. With this turning engineering, a little pilot survey utilizing barcode scanning was initiated in an ICU scene in a local infirmary. The barcode scanning was used to accurately and expeditiously place patients when taking blood glucose fingerstick at the bedside. This survey will demo how it improves the truth and efficiency in executing the undertaking. Even at the terminal, there are defects that were identified in the survey. There is a two per centum mistake in scanning the barcode wristband in the survey. But the countries of betterment were identified. The bedside nurse necessitate to verify the medical record figure scanned and must fit what is in the armband. With this technique, 87.5 % of the bedside nurse find this technique a much accurate and efficient in taking blood sugar fingerstick in the ICU scene. The nurses besides need to mensurate its efficiency in placing patients right utilizing barcode scanning technique. Time is measured between manually come ining MRN versus scanning a barcoded wristband. It is found that 100 % of the eight bedside nurses find it more faster technique than manually come ining the MRN in the Surestep glucometer.IntroductionPatient safety encompasses bar of mistakes and errors of action and judgement, doing mistakes seeable and extenuating the effects of mistake. â€Å" In 1997, a survey of 1,000 hospitalized patients in a big instruction infirmary found 177 of these patients receive d inappropriate attention that resulted in serious inauspicious events † ( Barach, 2003 ) . It is a turning grounds of the figure of medical mistakes throughout the health care system in the United States and this became a signal to the health care system that betterment in patient safety and bringing of attention is needed with the usage of engineering. As we all know, engineering plays an of import function in bettering the bringing of attention in any hospital scenes. There had been an increasing job in the health care environment when it comes with medicine mistake. It is going a serious public wellness menace. Harmonizing to a landmark 1999 Institute of Medicine study, between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans die yearly due to medical errors ( Kohn, et Al ) . As portion of its on-going attempts and duty to better patient safety, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) ruled on April 4, 2004, to do barcodes compulsory on the labels of 1000s of human medicines and biological merchandises by the twelvemonth 2006 † ( Kohn, et. Al ) . The FDA expected that the opinion will assist forestall about 500,000 inauspicious events and transfusion mistakes over the 20 old ages that follow, at a cost nest eggs of $ 93 billion. Although the opinion makes the National Drug Code ( NDC ) -format barcodes compulsory merely on medicine packaging produced by drug providers, there is hope that this policy and recommendation will convey approximately technological promotions in prescription ordination, drug dispensing, and medicine disposal across all weaponries of the state ‘s wellness attention sys tem. â€Å" A critical method for suppliers of attention to cut down inauspicious events associated with medicine mistakes is to concentrate on the ways of bettering the system of presenting attention. In order to prolong and better upon established degree of attention, it is critical that wellness attention installations evaluate options to incorporate information systems as a mechanisms to extinguish preventable medicine mistakes † ( Patel, 2004 ) and even procedural mistakes such as look intoing blood sugar at the bedside. As we can see the usage of medicine barcode engineering grows, the wellness attention establishments will necessitate to be cognizant of related alterations in accreditation and conformity policies. These are of import and necessary to follow within several regulative organisations, including the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations ( JCAHO ) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance ( NCQA ) .The Support of the health care accreditation and other organisationsUnder the conditions of The Joint Commission ( antecedently JCAHO ) and other accreditations, the heathcare organisation is now faced with increasing force per unit area to proactively look and turn to medical mistakes that can go on in any wellness attention scenes. In July 2002, the Joint Commission called national attending to the basic beginning of mistake by set uping right patient designation as one of the six National Patient Goals of 2002 and â€Å" by January 2004 would impact the organisation ‘s accreditation and position. The ends included more accurate patient designation, enhanced communicating among wellness attention suppliers, decrease or riddance of wrong-site, wrong-patient, and incorrect process surgeries, and betterments to identify equipment such as clinical dismay systems † ( Mello, M. , Kelly & A ; Brennan, T. , 2005 ) . This accreditation organic structure has given accent on medical disposal, it is besides of import in any other facets of patient attention bringing. They support the proper designation and safe bringing of attention in different countries and activities in healthcare scenes.Taking Technology with Patient Safety and SecurityPatient security is further enhanced with engineering. It is besides of import to include and place staff employees that are administrating medicines, trials, or processs. These non merely offer an of import ( and clip salvaging ) record of the provider/patient interaction, but they besides provide an excess cheque to assist avoid mistakes or errors. Much of the of import engineering to accomplish these consequences already exists. Even more is in development-especially as infirmaries move toward the electronic medical record and its particular consideration. Again, infirmaries and other wellness attention scenes now are mandated by jurisprudence to be compliant with the HIPAA jurisprudence and electronic medical information. But the world remains: infirmaries must equilibrate these chances with bottom line fiscal considerations. Finding the solution will necessitate careful choice of a package supplier who can run into current and future demands of the provider-who will spouse with the supplier for today and the hereafter. The picks environing this chance will change wider but the bets have ne'er been higher or the wagess for patient safety are much more compelling. What is the current pattern? â€Å" Patient safety and medicine disposal safety are of import infirmary precedences. General enterprises designed to better safety include following a institutional civilization conducive to safe patterns, optimising substructure and clinical patterns to take beginnings of mistakes and analyzing mistakes that occur to find the beginning and possible ways to forestall mistakes † ( Cumming, et. al. , 2005 ) . Before and even until now, nurses are used of visually look intoing the medical specialty and following the five patients ‘ right. Today ‘s nursing working force is burdened with increasing larger patients ‘ tonss and much more sicker and higher sharp-sightedness patient degrees than of all time before together with multiple co-morbidities. Everyone agrees that guaranting patient safety is a top precedence for health care suppliers. The first measure lies in accurately placing the patient. Every practicing nurse is taught that the first precaution against medical mistake or positive patient designation by looking at the 5 rights: right medicine, right clip, right patient, right dosage and right path. This sounds easy but frequently are missed and doing an mistake. Technology is supplying some outstanding progresss in this country, but more demands to be done. Balancing the demand for patient privateness and security nowadayss some particular challenges, but the two truly do work in concert-when a supplier uses a system that will suit and turn with its turning demands. Bar-coded wristbands are most good when establishments such as infirmaries assign barcodes to their merchandise such as medicine, blood merchandises, research lab trials and processs. Patients traditionally receive the all important wristband during the admittances procedure. Again, a cost-efficient solution that can suit saloon coded wristbands can assist in accurately identify patients in supplying patient attention in the infirmary scene. Increasingly, suppliers are seeing the bar-coded carpus set as an of import patient safety cheque: scanning the set will assist guarantee right patient designation for medicine disposal, lab work, transfusions, proving and other processs.The Bar Coding TechniqueBar codification engineerings are now being utilized for other wellness attention applications outside of medicine disposal. The saloon codification was found in 1974 and was used ab initio in the nutrient industry. It was in 1991 when the first saloon codification appeared in a medicine b undle. â€Å" In 2004, the FDA issued a concluding regulation necessitating saloon codifications on most prescription and non prescription drugs normally used in the infirmary to cut down the hazard of medicine mistakes † ( Churchill, 2005 ) . Bar coding engineering can efficaciously look at medicines in two degrees. â€Å" First, the usage of saloon codifications on medicine packaging can guarantee appropriate usage of medicines. Second, saloon codifications can be used as alone patient identifiers † ( Patel, 2004 ) to patients. Bar-code enabled bedside nurses to decently corroborate patient designation and accurately execute bedside undertakings from medicine disposal, lab work and every bit simple as fingerstick cheque at the bedside. This will enable the nurse to verify the right patient, right medicine, right process, and right blood glucose fingerstick cheque. In kernel, â€Å" barcode engineering is a replacing for a traditional keyboard informations entry. It requires a transition of an identifier to a symbolic representation-the barcode-that can so be printed on, or affix to, an point, later read by a light beginning and fed into a computing machine † ( Grotting, et Al, 2002 ) . Standard barcodes are like the 1s we see in food market shops or like our licence home bases.The Advantages of Barcode ScaningThe usage of barcode engineering brings a figure of valuable advantages to the health care environment. Bar codification scanning is much more accurate than the human oculus or the flick of a finger. â€Å" Trials have shown that barcoded information has an truth rate of 1 mistake per 10,000,000 characters. Compare that to identify board entry mistake rate of 1 mistake per 100 characters. † ( Grotting, et Al, 2002 ) . The barcode scanning engineering gives chance to diminish or forestall mistakes in garnering informations while executing it in a fraction of a clip alternatively of making things manually. Another advantage is its easiness of usage. Participants can get the hang the equipment in shorter sum of clip. It besides accrued through a standardisation of codifications or patterns that is a good developed engineering. The barcode engineering gets better every clip and provides truth and efficiency. It is believed that implementing this technique in the wellness attention puting can supply fiscal benefits in add-on to clinical results. There will be preventable longer length of stay and lessening cost in the infirmary stay. With this technique, â€Å" 1000000s of dollars per twelvemonth, non including malpractice costs, readmissions and judicial proceeding costs, or the costs of hurts to patients ( Grotting, et Al, 2002 ) † will be saved. Litigation entirely can be financially burthening to the infirmary. â€Å" On norm, jury awards for medicine mistakes reached $ 636,844 per award in 2000 † ( Jury Verdict Research Group, 2000 ) .Factors that affects the Barcode ScanningThere factors that affects engineering such as barcode scanning. The detector factors, human factors, system architecture factors are some of the factors and can go challenges. For sensor factors or a barcode scanner, one should look at the design. Every detector is identified by a baseline measuring mistake that can be portion in the technology, design, type and intent of the detector. It is dependent upon the preciseness and truth of it. It is needed to guarantee that high quality detector informations and equipment is used to present a all right preciseness and truth. It is of import to see that we have to utilize for the medical demands of the patients in the health care puting. The quality of industry demands to reflect the trust in the detector fabrication procedure. Besides, every merchandise, every detector needs to be calibrated. It is common that overtime, any merchandise, will diminish its truth. Therefore, it needs to be calibrated. The detector and merchandise must be dependable when in usage. Any wellness monitoring system involves human participants. This can be the patient, health professional or wellness attention suppliers such as nurses. It is necessary for every participant to transport out specific functions in utilizing new equipment. The participants need to swear and hold assurance on the new equipment for it to go successful. They should believe on its â€Å" individuality ( genuineness ) , duty ( executing the function when expected ) , competency ( executing the function right ) , and motive ( willingness to execute the function ) † ( Sriram, et. Al, 2002 ) . Since there are a batch of policies that a infirmary or wellness attention puting to follow with, one should see that wellness information are sensitive. Every wellness attention supplier whether they are physicians or nurses are required to follow with HIPAA privateness policies. Therefore, a system should guarantee that no leak sing patient information will go on and must be dependable. It should non be weak that could interrupt healthcare information. It is of import to see its unity and exposures.The Barcode Pilot Study in ICU PutingBing a quality betterment representative of our unit, I was able to place some lacks in the inaccuracy in placing patients during bedside blood sugar monitoring. It was two old ages ago when bedside intensive attention unit nurses are still come ining medical record figure in the Surestep glucometer to accurately place patients. It gave an thought to make a little undertaking for the unit. Not all infirmaries are utilizing saloon codifications in plac ing their patients. It was besides two old ages ago when the infirmary where I am working started saloon codifications in patient armbands to increase proper designation of patients particularly in executing lab trial. This is a first measure in bettering in accurately placing patients in our infirmary. I have worked in other infirmaries and most of the infirmaries I ‘ve worked at are utilizing a glucometer that scans the barcodes in the patient ‘s armbands. The glucometer that was used in the other scenes are the same glucometer used in my infirmary. Therefore, I started a little undertaking in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit to fly a barcode scanning in obtaining blood sugar fingerstick to our intensive attention unit patient population.The Objective of the StudyFirst, I discussed with my co-Shared Governance members about the thought. I have presented to them why I am making the undertaking. This undertaking will increase the truth and efficiency of obtaining blood g lucose fingerstick at the bedside. The patient populations we are looking at are patient with Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Open Hearts patients. Both of these populations require an every one hr fingerstick. With the current process we have in the ICU, the bedside nurses are still manually come ining the medical record figure of the patient whenever a blood sugar fingerstick is needed. The sum of clip and the sum of mistake is higher when the bedside nurses are making this. After discoursing the undertaking with the Shared Governance of the unit and our nurse director and got their consensus, I started looking at how to roll up the information.Data Collection of the UndertakingThere will be two portion of the survey: measurement truth and mensurating efficiency. I compared the old protocol of taking blood glucose fingerstick and wrote a different protocol for the undertaking. This will assist the ICU nurses follow the instructions ( see attachment # 1 ) . I used a little pilot survey t hat can roll up 50 informations. The information will be within one hebdomad or until 50 informations are collected. The participants will come in in the generated templet for the survey ( see attachment # 2 ) . The end is to hold 50 samples of MRN barcode scanning during fingerstick cheques. The armband of the patient has a preprinted barcodes. This can be utilized in the undertaking. There is no excess cost for developing a barcoded wristband. It is already in the infirmary acknowledging system of a patient ; hence, we will be utilizing this for the undertaking. There will be no added cost to the budget of the unit. The participants, all nurses of the displacement was given instructions and inservice of the undertaking. They will foremost do certain the patient is right campaigner for the survey. They can be the Diabetic Ketoacidosis ( DKA ) and unfastened bosom patients. Both of this population requires every hr fingerstick because of the insulin trickle that is running.Surveying the Bedside NursesAfter roll uping 50 informations for the undertaking, a study was given to every participant. It asked for different things: What type of patient population used? Was the usage of saloon codification scanning much more efficient that the manually come ining MRN? Was the usage of saloon pod scanning much more accurate in placing patients that manually come ining MRN? Would you urge utilizing this new method than the old one? ( See Attachment # 3 )MethodologyI will look at garnering 50 informations from the bedside nurses. Besides, I will be supplying a study signifier for the bedside nurse to compare t he current process versus the new barcode scanning technique ( see attachment # 3 ) . There will be no extra cost for purchasing the equipment to make the undertaking. The glucometer, Surestep, has a capableness of barcode scanning. Therefore, the excess characteristic of the equipment is already in the machine and merely necessitate to be utilized to execute this little undertaking. The undertaking will run for a hebdomad get downing February 24th until 50 informations is collected. All bedside nurses on all displacements were inserviced in the entrance undertaking. It was discussed with them what patient population that can be portion of the survey. Merely the unfastened bosom patients and Diabetic Ketoacidosis are the patient population allowed at this clip because of their every hr fingerstick. They were instructed that that every patients who participated in this survey must hold a barcoded wristband. They besides need to do certain that there is imprinted medical record figure ( MRN ) on it. The wristbands must non hold any wear or rupture prior to the scanning. If they find that any of the wristbands has any mark of wear or tear, they were asked to replace them. This will forestall any inaccurate consequences that can impact the survey.Scaning the Patient and Completing Survey FormEach operator will acquire a templet to come in the consequence of the surve y ( see Attachment # 2 ) . They will foremost set the day of the month, clip, operator ‘s initial, existent MRN, scanned MRN, and enter YES or NO if the scanned MRN matched the imprinted MRN. If non, they will necessitate to reiterate the process, but must go forth a remark how many times it scanned falsely. This aggregation will go on until 50 informations is collected. Every bedside nurse ( operator ) must finish the study signifier at the terminal of their displacement. All the signifiers will be placed in an envelope provided.Analysis of the UndertakingThe undertaking ran from February 24 until March 2. It was about a hebdomad of proving 50 barcode scanning of armbands anterior taking blood glucose fingerstick. With the 50 informations collected and compared with manually entered MRN and saloon codification scanned, one information did non scan the MRN right. It was at the 2nd scan when the scanned barcode matched the imprinted barcode in the patient ‘s wristband. Therefore, there was a two per centum opportunity of scanning a barcoded wristband with inaccurate MRN. The operator was asked if there is any tear or ill-defined barcode in the armband of the patient. The operator stated that there was no tear or ill-defined barcodes in the wristband. What caused this inaccuracy? There were entire of eight bedside nurses ( operator ) in making this undertaking. All of the bedside nurses completed the study. Here is the dislocation of their consequences: 100 % of the 50 informations collected has barcoded wristbands with the same MRN that is imprinted, 25 % of the patient population was an unfastened bosom patients and the 75 % was Diabetic Ketoacidosis patient, 7 out of 8 bedside nurses felt that it is still accurate to barcode scan the MRN, 8 out of 8 bedside nurses felt that it is faster to scan the MRN than manually come ining it, in conclusion, 8 out of 8 nurses want to urge this new barcode scanning technique in come ining the MRN than manually come ining every individual figure in the machine. Even with the one mistake from the 50 informations collected, there was a back up program for it. The bedside nurse still needs to compare the scanned MRN with the patient ‘s wristband to guarantee the proper patient designation during the simple blood glucose monitoring at the bedside.Credence of the UndertakingThe undertaking was successful because of the willingness of the nurses to be involved in the survey. They do non hold to travel through a long preparation to utilize the equipment. They are familiar with the glucometer. Sometimes deficiency of engagement and involvement from the participants can add to the defect of the survey. â€Å" We learned that prosecuting nurses early helps them to avoid inauspicious incidents and engineering related emphasis † ( Weckman, H. , & A ; Janzen, S. , 2009 ) . These nurses are first-class beginning of thoughts and suggestions on how to better any portion of the procedure. It is believed that â€Å" careful hearing to the nurse s ‘ remarks was crucialaˆÂ ¦because the engineering alterations in pattern have the possible to make a ripple consequence in other facets of their work flow † ( Weckman, H. , & A ; Janzen, S. , 2009 ) . The Surgical Intensive Unit accepted this new barcode scanning technique in come ining MRN in the Surestep glucometer. They felt that it is accurate and faster in come ining MRN comparison in utilizing their fingertips. The other unit started to inquire if they can use the technique to their unit, based on the infirmary ‘s policy, it needed to be approved by the research lab forces who are assigned in garnering informations for the glucometer. I presented the undertaking to her and she rejected the undertaking to be shared to the other unit. She said that there is a high per centum of mistake that can go on. It is 10 times more blood glucose fingerstick that is taken daily in the infirmary. If there is a two per centum mistake, it will hold an equivalent of 10 inaccurate MRN scanned. This is merely a day-to-day blood glucose monitoring. What more if is translated to monthly and annually? They wanted to name the seller if the wristband barcode is the right barcode for the glucom eter. There are different sizes and formats of barcoding and his must be one of the insufficiencies of the technique. Even with the rejection of the research lab forces to hold it dispersed in other unit, the nurses in the Surgical ICU are satisfied with the new technique. Therefore, the barcode scanning technique was merely done in Surgical Intensive Unit with the blessing of the unit ‘s nurse director. The bedside nurses in this unit urge this and prefer to make this technique because it takes less clip than manually come ining them.DecisionProblems with scanning arose ab initio because the usage of multiple barcode formats, sizes and location. The quality of the barcode scanner reader can hold an impact on the truth of its usage. Is the quality of the printed barcoded wristband impacting its scanning capableness? It can besides be a human factor. Human factors can go on and go a barrier in the proper and successful execution of a undertaking. It can alter its truth in scann ing a medical record figure ( MRN ) . But the inquiry still exists is it better than the old technique? With the study consequences, 100 % of the bedside nurses prefer to transport out the new technique. They are cognizant of the mistake and defects in the system, but they learned that they need to verify the scanned MRN with the imprinted MRN in the patient ‘s wristband. In summing up, in implementing a barcode engineering truly helps in bettering healthcare bringing to our patients. Many of the infirmaries are now utilizing barcode scanning in the patient ‘s wristband, medicine disposal, laboratory trial and even little process such as blood sugar fingerstick. These betterments can consequences to improved satisfaction in the patients every bit good as the bedside nurses. All of us personally want safe wellness attention, and most assuredly we want to do certain that our patients have safe attention. Safe attention means a attention that is administered without mistakes and injury. Mistake or injury agencies anything that can hold a negative impact on the patient ‘s well being. Everyone deserves a quality attention. To me, it means excellence or has high criterions. Within this subject, we can state that safe and quality can be interchangeable. However, the accent is on safety and the end is to better our wellness attention bringing system.Managerial DeductionsHarmonizing to Richard Paoletti, manager of pharmaceutics services at Lancaster General Hospital, barcoding execution is non a stand-alone enterprise ; it is a cultural alteration ( Kaufman, 2008 ) . It is proven in an experimental survey in some infirmaries that it gives a cost economy of 1000000s of dollars to the organisations. The cost of the barcode scanning machines depends on the es tablishment size. The care, waiters, and standardization are needed to be considered when taking a new equipment or machine in any installation. For this undertaking, excess machines or stuffs are non needed because the Surestep glucometer has it capableness of scanning a barcode. The standardization of the machine can be sent to the seller. What will be the preparation cost? There will be a minimum preparation cost since this will go on at the existent bedside nursing attention for patients who are necessitating blood sugar monitoring. A voluntary will be mensurating the clip utilizing a stop watch during the survey. There is a minimum cost for this undertaking but will be â€Å" avoiding cost associated with handling patients who suffer from preventable medicine mistakes such as length of stay or increased intensive attention unit length of stay † ( Cummings, et. al. , 2005 ) . Barcode engineering will be a criterion of attention few old ages from now. Therefore, â€Å" infirmaries should get down be aftering, budgeting, measuring engineering and fixing infirmary substructure † ( Cummings, et. al. , 2005 ) in run intoing the demands in barcode engineering related to healthcare system.

Malaysian Economy Essay

The Malaysian economy is expected to strengthen further and projected to grow at a faster rate of 4.5% to 5.5% in 2013 supported by improving exports and strong domestic demand. In the Economic Report 2012/2013 released by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) last Friday, it said the assumption was based on the global growth that will pick up especially during the second-half of 2013 (2H13). It said that it was also premised upon the expectation of an improvement in the resolution of a debt crisis in the euro-area and stronger growth in the economies of Malaysia’s major trading partners. The Economic Report 2012/2013 was released in conjunction with the national Budget 2013 that was presented by the prime minister last Friday. It said that given that the domestic economy is expected to strengthen further in 2013; inflation is estimated to increase moderately mitigated by further capacity expansion in the economy. On the supply side, growth in 2013 is expected to be broad-based supported by expansion in all sectors of the economy. Of significance, the external trade-related industries are envisaged to benefit from stronger global growth, particularly during the 2H13. It said that the services and manufacturing sectors are expected to contribute 4.2 percentage points to the gross domestic product growth. MoF said that the prospects in the services sector are expected to remain upbeat in 2013, with the accelerated implementation with major initiatives under the National Key Result Areas and continued investment in the seven services subsectors under the National Key Economic Areas. It said that these initiatives are expected to drive the wholesale and retail trade, finance and insurance, and communication subsectors, which are expected to grow 6.8%, 5.2% and 8.2% (2012 :5.7%; 4.2%; 9.3%) respectively. On the value-added of the manufacturing sector, MoF said that it is expected to grow 4.9%, (2012 :4.2%) with export oriented industries expected to  benefit from the higher growth of global trade, while domestic oriented industries expand in line with better consumer sentiment and business confidence. MoF said that the electrical and electronic (E&E) subsector is expected to grow further, driven by higher demand for electronic equipment and parts as well as semiconductors in line with recovery in advanced economies. On the agricultural sector, MoF said that it is expected to grow 2.4% (2012:0.6%) following the recovery in the output of plantation commodities. MoF said that the production of crude palm oil is envisaged to rebound 2.5% to 18.9 million tonnes (2012: -2.5%; 18.4 million tonnes) on account of expanded matured areas to 4.44 million hectares (2012: 4.38 million hectares). On the mining sector, the report said that it is expected to expand 2.7% (2012: 1.5%) on account of higher production of crude oil and natural gas. â€Å"Production of crude oil is projected to increase 3.6% to 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) (2012: 1.6%; 579,000 bpd) due to higher regional demand,† said MoF. It added that several new oil fields are expected to start production in 2013, contributing to higher production of crude oil. On the construction sector, MoF said that it is envisaged to expand strongly at 11.2% (2012: 15.5%) with all the subsectors registering steady growth. On the domestic demand, MoF said that it is expected to grow at 5.6% (2012: 9.4%) and will remain the main driver of growth in 2013 underpinned by strong private sector expenditure. The report added that private consumption is projected to expand 5.7% (2012: 7%) on account of higher disposable income arising from better employment outlook, firm commodity prices and the wealth effect from the stable performance on the stock market following strong domestic economic activities. On private investment, Malaysia is expected to post a strong growth of 13.3% in 2013 (2012: 11.7%) attributed to the ongoing implementation of the Economic Transformation Programme projects. MoF said that public investment will continue to support growth and is expected to expand 4.2% in 2013 (2012: 15.9%) driven by higher capital outlays by the non-financial public enterprises (NFPE’s) and development expenditure by the federal government. It said that capital of the NFPEs will focus on the upstream oil and gas, transport, communication and utility industries. It added that in line with the expansion in domestic economic activities, national income in current prices is expected to increase 7.8% in 2013. The report also said that gross national savings is expected to expand strongly by 11.1%, with the private sector accounting 72.3% of total savings. On the balance of payments, MoF said that it is projected to remain favourable with current account continuing to record a higher surplus of RM71.9 billion or 7.3% of the gross national income. It said that the surplus in the goods account is projected to expand RM126.5 billion. â€Å"In 2013, exports are estimated to grow 3.9% (2012: 2.4%) supported by higher commodity exports and improving global E&E demand. The MoF said that inline with increased domestic activity as as to meet increased inputs for the manufacturing sector, imports are projected to grow at a faster rate of 5.2% (2012: 6.5%). On the services account, the report said that it is expected to improve with a lower deficit of RM8.2 billion driven by large surplus in the travel account, following expectations higher tourist arrivals. MoF said that other components in the services account are expected to remain a deficit.

Assessment item 1 - Individual assignment Essay

Assessment item 1 - Individual assignment - Essay Example Though times have changed and organizations getting less hierarchical, yet importance of understanding legal requirements in employment relationship remain intact. The only difference is while earlier, they were transactional in nature, now they have turned more relational today. However, laws still guide the managers through their way to recruitment, selection, labor and procedural justice, compensation and other human resource functions. Legislation in employment does not follow at the time of recruitment and selection alone; they pave the way for successful and hassle-free work bargain and also extend after the human resource selection in maintaining the informal relationship according to the formal regulations. These legislations span across aspects such as providing equal opportunity rights, diversity management, accounting for health and safety of employees, relations at workplace, wage and child-related laws and illegitimate discrimination (Nankervis et al. 2009:153). Gillilan d (1993:696) assert that inclusion of laws into recruitment and selection process imparts fairness and objectivity to the entire function. Serving as a means to establish tenets of equity, laws put in place provide for substantial distributive and procedural justice in the organization which helps develop the attitude of employees and also infuse motivation in them. Evidence of fulfillment of labor and compensation laws discards the feeling of inequity between inputs and outputs and establishes symbiotic relationship between employers and employees. Elaborating further on the positive perception, implementation of procedural justice gains more grounds if legal requirements are duly complied within an organization. In the presence of proper regulations, employees tend to believe that they have a voice and an equal opportunity in affecting the decision making process and use of procedures to arrive at conclusions or verdicts. In exercising the procedural justice, if laws are in place, it obligates employers to account or justify for any of the repercussions. Legal provision of creating a two-way communication channel and justification lowers down the negative effect associated with the negative consequence. As such, laws also help develop interpersonal relations between employers, employees and related parties as they tend to involve the components of procedures, decision making and communication in recruitment and selection. Realizing the importance of legal requirements in work place settings, HR managers are now making increased use of psychometric tests in selecting apt candidates from applicants’ pool. Wolf & Jenkins (2006:201) opine that this exercise is guided more on a defensive note than a pre-requisite staffing practice. Use of different tests do provide equal opportunity rights to applicants of varied intellect, education and capabilities, but more importantly, these tests serve as evidence that organization had been fair and justified in its r ecruitment process when there were no clear job descriptions or specifications. External environment and

Interview essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Interview - Essay Example The little musical device doesn’t just help him relax but also helps him become more focused when he is indulging in athletic activities such as boxing or training at the gym. Eric has owned the iPod for over three year now and no matter how old it gets he continues to cherish the music player he received as a Christmas present. It was in a way a tool to fit in with his peers better as he only wanted it because all his friends had iPods too. Eric hopes to become either a pharmacist or a doctor in the future. At the moment Front Range is a choice he has made for general study. He enrolled at Front Range because it is close to his home and the cost of classes is quite low. In order to pay for his classes he also works at Target. His hobbies further define his personality i.e. he is mainly interested in physical activity based activities such as swimming, boxing, weight lifting, running and spending time with his friends. For the sake of fun he also took a trip to Alaska and Utah at one point. Eric would like to someday visit England or France. Since he is from Louisville, Colorado, he’s not used to big cities and does not appreciate them very much. Eric is more comfortable in places where he is able to feel connected to nature. He has a very curious nature and likes experiencing new

WHAT IS FEMINISM AND HOW MIGHT IT INFORM POLITICAL ANALYSIS Essay

WHAT IS FEMINISM AND HOW MIGHT IT INFORM POLITICAL ANALYSIS - Essay Example Having identified and adopted as basic, the need for a greater recognition of the woman, certain grey areas still exist among feminist. Issues like roots of inequality, best approach to attain equality, the criterion or criteria to serve as basis for evaluating gender related issues, probably all of these differences emanate from increasing pressures for women to be aligned to traditions which may have originated as a result of the male dominated society. A particular school of thought with liberal inclinations believe that both sexes should be considered as equals socially, socio-politically and economically, without regards to whatever differences there might be when physiological analyses are made. The elimination of a society where certain groups dominate as elites is the driving force behind certain radical feminists. Still there are the modern feminists whose primary concern is centered on the right of women on the integrity and autonomy of their bodies as pertaining reproducti ve health rights that incorporates abortion rights, contraceptives use right maternity cares etc; rights of women at workplace that entails the right to maternity leave and equal pay; the right to be protected from violence within and outside a domestic relationship such as wife battering, sexual harassment and rape, ultimately encompassing all other kinds of discriminations that arise as a result of gender differences. With feminism, the advocates, through grass root mobilization intend to cross boundaries that are based on social status, race culture and religion, with the definition of an effective feminist movement as one that deals with issues which are universally recognized as detrimental to the women folk consisting of rape, prostitution and incest while at the same time addressing issues which may not be obtainable everywhere at the same time like Bureaucracies that seeks to impede the advancement of women beyond certain levels in the corporate world, as it obtains in the w est, female "circumcision" otherwise known as female genital mutilation observable in parts of Africa, and the middle-east. Feminists also abhor the scenario where women are viewed primarily as sexual objects neither do they appreciate patriarchy (2) and oppression against women (3) the core of the different kinds of feminism that obtained today is, the general well being of the women that takes into consideration their rights, interests and every other issue as it relates to them. The different feminist types have advanced different ideologies. Egalitarian and protectionist distinctions in feminism has been postulated by certain feminist who argue that while equality of both male and female gender is the primary pursuit of egalitarian feminism, the use of legal means to shield women against abuses such as masculinist (4) employment and divorce laws. Yet there are other schools of thought among feminist with a more radical approach who believe there is no clear cut distinction in fe minism and argue that without a legal framework in the first place egalitarian feminism would fail considering that it would need the law for a successful campaign. Within the radical feminist, advocates of separatism have also been observed whose major campaign thrust is the complete separation of human beings in the society based on gender differences. The definition and classification of a human being along gender lines is seen by yet another class of feminist as constructions of the society.

The Aesthetic and Economic Characteristics of the Film Europe Movement Essay

The Aesthetic and Economic Characteristics of the Film Europe Movement - Essay Example The researcher states that thereafter gradually & quite naturally, the ‘American influence’ begun to overflow in diverse domains. It slowly initiated to engulf spectrums such as art, theatre, culture, music, films. The next step was to classify those apparently ‘nonpolitical’ artistic components at par with the lines of the grand old American maneuver. This cultural autocracy created a stir amongst the enlightened & elitist in Europe. Film corporations like the Metro Goldwyn Mayer had already infiltrated the economies of third world nations like India by 1920. While American film corporations’ encashed rich dividends from colonial markets, the European heavyweights were coerced to remain at a bay. This naturally sprouted a furor across the cultural horizon. The European mavericks & thespians felt that a cultural reincarnation was long overdue. German filmmakers like Dupont, Eichberg & Bolvary, plunged into the galaxy of filmdom, with the aim to break the American jinx. Their unbridled apathy against US monopoly led them to the shores of Britain, from where they churned out numerous path-breaking films. This unique film movement came to be known as the ‘Film Europe Movement’, & gained massive popularity throughout the European peninsula. The noble ideals of combating capitalist aggression with socialist principles augured magically with the masses. ‘Film Europe’ managed to successfully batter up American aggression, intertwined with egalitarian theologies. The concluding research deals with the Film Europe Movement with E.A. DuPont’s English film ‘Piccadilly’ juxtaposing the center stage. The culmination of the First World War had precisely ravaged up the economies of France & Italy. They were in no position to stifle or even stand a chance against the ever-expanding ‘American menace’. The calculating American theorists embarked on their global economic conquest, & by 191 7, had South America, Australia, Asia Minor & vast territories of Africa amidst their grasp.  

Human Rights and Women Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Rights and Women - Essay Example Women were therefore sexually exploited. Until quite recently, women were relegated to the background in respect of social and economic status, education, politics, health and non - recognition of her unpaid work at home in domestic food production, etc. Until quite recently even in Great Britain, a women's property was considered to belong to her husband. American Women were denied their civil right of suffrage until 1920. In 1960 Women got together to obtain legal equality with men. After the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, women obtained many gains in employment. In 1970, efforts were made by women to change the unfair practices and attitudes towards women in society. In 1970, the U.S. Supreme Court passed a landmark judgment in the case US V Virginia. The Supreme Court decided that Sex Discrimination is unconstitutional unless the state can advance an exceedingly persuasive justification. (Microsoft Corporation, Encarta article Women's Rights, Katrin Schultheiss) The atrocities against women are universal in their prevalence, as attested to by the fact that in the World Human Rights Conference held at Vienna in 1993, special mention was made of these issues.

Lewis and Clark Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Lewis and Clark - Essay Example ("Lewis and Clark Bicentennial," 2001) The expedition marked a key event in the course of the nation’s history. This is acknowledged during the bicentennial celebrations of the event that transpired in 2005. On the occasion of the event, a government commissioned Bicentennial Council was set up to educate the public as well as to promote research on the event. The Federal Interagency Lewis and Clark working group is another testimony to its importance. This essay will argue that Lewis & Clark Expedition played a key role in shaping the subsequent history, culture and geopolitics of the nation. In the early days of the American republic, literature pertaining to natural history was an esteemed medium of information. It combined scientific and spiritualist approaches to the study of American geography. The copious descriptions and classifications contained therein served as essential tools to â€Å"contain the immensity and incomprehensibility of American nature, a subject Amer icans knew little about.† (Lewis, 2004) The early accounts of the discoveries in western expanses were crucial for forging in people a sense of rootedness to their land. It encouraged early republic Americans †to celebrate the complexity of the natural world, and by extension God, through an intimate understanding of its products. This scientific-spiritualist approach crossed boundaries of class and education, jumped denominational lines, and assuaged guilty consciences over the racial genocide that accompanied expansion across the continent.† (Lewis, 2004) Hence, it is clear that Lewis & Clark has a profound socio-cultural relevance. One of the other achievements of the expedition was its completion of an overland journey through and across river systems in Missouri. By virtue of this feat, vast unchartered tracts of the West were opened up. The pioneers extended their interest well and beyond cartography. For example, they collected samples and specimens of plant s and animals – some of which they’ve never encountered before. They actively studied the culture and social structure of native Indian tribes that they happened to pass by. The comprehensiveness of the expedition is highlighted by the fact that basic civil administration tasks were also performed. These include conducting diplomatic councils, forming trading relationships with tribes and recorded weather data. It is not unfair to claim that the team led by Lewis and Clark went beyond the obligations of their contract. This is attested by the fact that the team created Camp River Dubois on the Wood River at the confluence of the two great rivers, Mississippi and Missouri, north of St. Louis. The captains then â€Å"recruited young woodsmen and enlisted soldiers who volunteered from nearby army outposts. Over the winter, they prepared the men, whom they called the Corps of Discovery, for the frontier.† (Conry, 2004) The team led by Lewis and Clark spent twenty ei ght months exploring, studying and recording the magnificent American landscape beyond erstwhile frontiers. It is a landmark event in American history because it captures the essence of challenges to westward expansion. For example, one area of challenge is on account of international diplomacy, where American

The Role of Consumer Behavior in Marketing Decisions Essay - 1

The Role of Consumer Behavior in Marketing Decisions - Essay Example Even though Starbucks has positioned itself as a high end coffee shop, it still depends on its consumers to uphold the image. ‘Product use is often of great interest to the marketer, because this may influence how a product is best positioned or how we can encourage increased consumption’ (Perner, n.d). Thus for the purpose of this paper, consumer behavior will be studied through an interview with five selected people and the result of the interview will help generate an understanding of the current image and positioning of Starbucks among its buyers. Findings of the Interview Through the interview with the five people who had at some point of their lives bought Starbucks, it was found that Starbucks is a brand that many people aspire for. The interviewees for this report belong to the medium income group. Mostly people visit Starbucks on a weekly basis or even on a once biweekly basis. The consumers studied for this report where people who loved coffee and had it almost daily. Most of them have coffee machines at home or a local coffee shop where they go daily. Starbucks is not a daily option for these people since it is a premium brand where products are priced high as compared to the competition. In the time of recession, the price of the product plays a great factor in the buying decision. However, the people interviewed love Starbucks and wished they could go there more often. They visit Starbucks when they want to relax and have a good time. When asked to define the personality of Starbucks as a person, animal or tree; varied interesting responses were received that included a brown grizzly loving bear, a brownie, a warm lover and even Oprah Winfrey for her loving nature and bright smile. Even though the consumers loved the brand, most said that they would be apprehensive if the brand introduced a contrary product such as its own iPad or mobile phone. One of the customers however said, why not. He said that Starbucks has also been successful at developing new products and given its success in developing new products, it can also be successful in making iPads. According to him, if Google can launch the Andriod, Starbucks can also launch a totally different product. A few of the consumers said that if the product was related to food or coffee such as coffee soap, they would be willing to consider buying the product. Discussion The findings of the interview match with the current knowledge that has been gathered through reviewing literature available on Starbucks and by understanding it in light of the marketing theories available. Starbuck is one of the most preferred brands in terms of coffee because of the positioning of the brand. The consumers prefer the image of Starbucks as it sells the best coffee in the country according to the consumers. Along with the good taste of Starbucks’ products, the consumers love the customer service of the shop. They even compare the customer service to a warm lover who attracts people through the love it instills in the customers. One important thing that the consumer survey helped us to find was the impact of recession on the buying behavior of the consumer. Since recession has impacted everyone, people are more conscious of where they spend their

Fashion marketing 3750 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Fashion marketing 3750 - Essay Example Introduction There are many theories and concepts that have been developed and applied to the field of marketing over time. This paper mainly focuses on the marketing mix although, at some point, it gives a reflection on other aspects of marketing. The main focus is with put on fashion marketing. People like fashion. Every human being wants to feel part of the present dispensation in terms of fashion. It is when the appropriate marketing strategies with the good mix is put in place that people get to understand what is new and fashionable thereby pushing them to go for the products. In the UK, clothing is the second largest retail sector. This is the sector that can be said to be the stronghold of fashion. It is where fashion begins. One can even say that this is where fashion ends. Therefore, when discussing fashion, clothing comes into mind. As such, these products have to be marketed adequately in order to inform the customers about them, how they can get them, where they can obta in them and at what price they are able to obtain them. The Marketing Concept Marketing is the analysis, planning, implementing and control of carefully devised programs designed to create voluntary exchanges of value with objective markets for the intent of achieving organizational goals. It is a managerial process which aims at achieving the objectives of any organization which wants to relate to its client in the most effective manner (Allen, McQuarrie, & Barr, 1998). This may be achieved by creating a high level of satisfaction in customers through improved budgets, buying better equipment, improving or renovating the building and by charging lower prices on products and services. Therefore, marketing in the field of fashion should be seen to be a deliberate attempt to bring about the said exchanges of value with clients in the field of fashion. Marketing is above advertising what services are offered. However, it is also a progression by which research is assembled to inform in stitutional objectives and the tactical actions required to attain those objectives. At one point, marketing was a concept that was completely unknown to the public sector, possibly because the term was directly related with thoughts of selling. New changes in the communal sector have sited a great deal of prominence on arms-length associations and trading or quasi-trading associations. The modifications have also permitted managers more freedom to choose where they should get the services they need, or if they should be service providers themselves. Hence marketing has developed into a more important issue (MacDaniel, 1998). It has become vital for bosses in the public sector to expand marketing skills so as to vend services and thoughts to their stakeholders, consumers, executives and staff. Managers have had to reason critically about how best to inform potential clients about the services that they can offer and how to make sure these services meet customer requirements. In the fashion sector, this has destined increased importance on service to the public, on ascertaining the needs and ensuring that those desires are met. These are all issues close to the hearts of marketing professionals. A lot of managers are finding themselves occupied with facets of marketing. Whereas, some will find it as a new experience that will be pleasant, depending on one’s personality and earlier experience. Marketing relies a lot on planning the

No to Gmo Essay Example for Free

No to Gmo Essay No to GMO Genetically modified foods are foods or plants that have been modified by researchers and scientists to improve the growth and development process. This idea was first introduced in 1982 and now has become widespread in use, especially in the US. This technology is sometimes referred to as â€Å"gene technology† or â€Å"genetic engineering† (WHO). All genetically modified foods are produced in a laboratory to â€Å"enhance its biological feature† (Godiff). This is not healthy. GM foods have the potential to pose major health risks for humans. The three major issues of concern for human health are allergenicity, gene transfer, and outcrossing. Genetically modified foods also pose risks to the environment, such as the possibility of species extinction (WHO). These foods are being produced because they seem to be advantageous. They seem to bring promise of lower prices and better quality. The whole purpose of genetically modified food(s) is to improve crop production by resisting unwanted insect damage, viral infections, and tolerating certain herbicides; however, this is not the result of GM foods (WHO). Cost, safety, property rights, and potential environmental danger all must be properly addressed and assessed. But perhaps they are being addressed in all the wrong ways. One of the biggest overall concerns, aside from human health, is for the environment. First, there is a fear that the GMO’s may â€Å"escape† and introduce the engineered genes into wild populations (WHO). This means the modified genes could alter plants and animals that were not meant to be altered. This leads into another big issue, insects that may not be pests will become susceptible to the gene product, causing death throughout various insect populations. That might mean the very insects that help plant growth and provide essential nutrients, will die off. A study showed that the pollen from genetically modified corn caused high death rates in monarch butterfly caterpillars (Godiff). Monarch butterflies are already a near threatened species. If we continue to grow these crops, we could risk endangering not only the magnificent Monarch butterfly, but other species as well. This is a big problem. The first of the major concerns for human health is allergenicity. Allergenicity is a problem because there are possibilities that a new allergen could be pr oduced along with the new gene, meaning that it could produce even more things to be allergic to (Godiff). Because so many people are allergic to  different types of food, this seems to raise the most concern. Not only is it bad that allergenicity is a concern, it is even worse that there is no reliable way to test the product for allergies (Pusztai). The next two areas of concern surround gene transfer and outcrossing. And they are a lot more complicated. Gene transfer is when genes from the GM food product transfer to cells of the body. This could result in serious adverse effects. This would be extremely bad if genes with an antibiotic resistance were to be transferred into the human body. Once they were transferred it would cause antibiotic resistance, which would lead to the body not being able to fight off certain pathogens. Once the body is not able to fight off the pathogens, it could lead to a weakened immune system and ultimately not getting better. This is hard work in the medical field going to waste. Outcrossing, the second important area of concern, is â€Å"the movement of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related species in the wild† (WHO). This is an issue because seeds can easily be transferred from one place to another- by wind, water, and certain animals. The pollen from the genetically modified crops could also be transferred to the conventional crops. This ultimately means that our conventional crops may become contaminated, and mixed with the GMC’s. Farmers will have no way of knowing if this happens. So, one pro posed way to fix this is to adopt regulations such as separation of the fields between GM crops and conventional crops (WHO). Genetically modified crops and conventional crops cannot co-exist. Really, in general, there is no end to the controversy over genetically modified crops or GMO’s. Each of these foods must be assessed on â€Å"case-to-case† basis. These studies cannot be generalized and cannot be taken lightly. Greenpeace said, â€Å"Scientific concerns about the safety of GM foods are clearly real† (Meikle) There is a study that showed the toxin levels are not only extremely evident but also extremely unpredictable (Pusztai). In all honesty, while these may be the major and most important areas of debate, they are not the only ones. In fact, there could be countless adverse health effects that we do not even know about yet. These products must undergo more testing and stricter regulations. We, like the European Union, need to enforce and place more emphasis on testing GM foods. Perhaps not to the extreme, as they are, like violent protesting and activist raids. We do not want to destroy years of fieldwork, but we do need to do something, before it gets out of hand  (Curry). There is not nearly enough information on genetically modified foods for them to be considered safe. There is no information on the long-term effects. Finally, labeling genetically modified foods. This should hit home the most. We should know what we are eating. We should want to know what we are eating. If the product is made with genetically modified corn, it should say so on the ingredients list. Otherwise it should be labeled no GMO’s. This is so important, just for everyday purposes, so that we can consciously decide and make educated decisions on the foods we are eating and what we are supporting. How are we supposed to stop the mass production of GMC’s if we are buying them? Buying foods that are made with GMO’s is only showing support for the very thing we do not want. This is essential for ourselves and our family. In conclusion, genetically modified foods are bad news. There is not enough information on them to really know whether or not they are okay. And there is certainly not any information on what they could do to our health in the future. Until there is, the skepticism will remain. Genetically modified foods need to be further researched and labeled in the market. But as of right now, they seem to be causing a lot of problems and also have the potential to cause many more. Human health and the environment are at risk. Genetically modified foods aren’t worth it. Once there is more research and tests done, there may be reason to further review it. But right now the answer is no. Bibliography 20 Questions on Genetically Modified (GM) Foods. World Health Organization . Web. 12 Mar. 2013.http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/ 20questions/en/. Curry, Andrew. Seeds of Conflict. Discover Magazine. (2013): n. page. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. http://discovermagazine.com/2013/april/16-seeds-of-conflict. Godiff, Lewis. Genetically Modified Foods. Science and Technology Journal. (2012): Web. 12 Mar. 2013.http://scienceandtechnologyjournal.wordpress.com/ 2012/03/16/genetically modified-foods/. Meike, James. Journal to Publish GM Foods Report. Guardian. (1999): Web. 26 Feb. 2013. http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/1999/oct/05/gm.food. Pusztai, Arpad. Genetically Modified Foods: Are They a Risk to Human/Animal Health?. actionbioscience. n. page. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. http://www.actionbioscience.org/ biotechnology/ pusztai.html?print.

Biological Control as a Pest Management Strategy

Biological Control as a Pest Management Strategy Several researches were carried out by different organisations in Mauritius to implement biological control in Mauritius as a component of our local Integrated Pest Management strategies. However, it can still be observed that most of the natural enemies which have been introduced over the past few years are unable to match up with their expected efficacy on the field. Only a portion of the introduced natural enemies are very efficient in pest control and maintaining their level of infestation below the economic threshold level, for example, natural enemies used in sugar cane field are very effective and necessitates no pesticide and herbicide use to control pests thus, reducing the cost of sugar cane production. However, those vegetables planters in Mauritius that are aware of the principles of biological control tend to misjudge the use of biological control as a method of pest management, they are both right and wrong in certain ways. Based on the data collected during this research, it can be clearly seen that the efficacy of natural enemies differ from region to region. Depending on the natural enemy species, some are more effective in certain regions compared to others. Some natural enemies have the potential of being a very good effective biological control, however, it is seen that their performance on field is not sufficiently satisfactory. Before implementing a new biological control programme, several procedures are followed so as to choose the best performing natural enemies. Threats to natural enemies’ efficacy are present in many forms. The biggest threat and most common one is the application and overuse of chemicals such as pesticides and insecticides. Based on the survey data obtained, it is seen that most farmers apply pesticide every week. The use of chemical pesticides has increased significantly during the past 10 years. The application and pesticide residuals are severe threats to natural enemies, most especially parasitic wasps, flies and predators. A good example would be planter N01 where a sample of Plutella xylostella (L) was collected to evaluate the parasitoid Cotesia plutellae. The farmer makes use of selective pesticides and applies a minimum amount on his infected plants and the rate of pesticide application is every 2 weeks. The efficacy of Cotesia plutellae in his field was seen to be as much as 50% that is, half of the larvae evaluated were parasitized by the wasp. On the other hand, another sample of Plutella xylostella (L) was collected on planter’s W02 field and the efficacy of Cotesia plutellae evaluated was found to be much lower than the N01 sample, 16% respectively. From the survey data, it was seen that planter W02 makes use or a larger selection of chemicals and applies them every week, the rate of pesticide application is twice as more for planter W02 than for N01.Another interesting observation made while carrying out the survey. It was the way some of the planters prepare their pesticide solution, some of them clearly use much more pesticide than the amount recommended. Some of them tend to mix several pesticides together and made a pesticide â€Å"cocktail† out of them, making the final solution have a broader spectrum. Though the prepared pesticide cocktail solution might be effective against the pest, but it also has a negative impact on natural enemies present on the field or the surrounding fields. Due to the â€Å"cocktail effect†, it is possible that chemicals in the mixture might interact to produce an increase in its toxicity. This might be a reason for the low efficacy of natural enemies. Farmer A may be taking good measures of IPM and using less chemicals, but the overuse and misuse of pesticides by the other nearby farmer(s) will sure affect biological control on farmer’s A field. Another case encountered with high natural enemy efficacy is with sample W01 which consisted of Aphis gossypi collected a Saint Martin, a village situated in the West of Mauritius. The efficacy of the parasitoid wasp Lysiphlebus testaceipes was of 48%. The sample was collected on a calabash plant. What was most interesting was that calabash was not the planter’s main crop, only a few trees were planted at the corner of the field and let to grow without taking care of and no pesticide and other chemical application. This might be why the efficacy of the parasitoid was relatively high. A very important cause of biological control failure is the planter’s attitude and knowledge about natural enemies and biological control. Most farmers surveyed had very good knowledge about the pest threat they usually face, they also can identify the damage causing pest and use appropriate measures. On the contrary, it was found that most of them (97%) do not have any knowledge on biologi cal control, they did not know the existence of beneficial organism controlling damage causing ones. For this reason, they cannot be expected to recognise and adopt conservative measures to preserve natural enemies, such as formerly mentioned, reduce pesticide use, habitat management and modify biological and ecological aspects to enhance natural enemies such as elimination of secondary enemies. It is believed that sensitisation by the responsible authorities is important to the planters so as to improve the overall IPM in Mauritius. On the other hand, even if proper sensitisation is made to all planters, it might still be quite challenging to increase the natural enemy efficacy. Most planters in Mauritius have a mindset that makes them disbelief in something they do not see with their own eyes. Also, farmers won’t be willing to abandon their traditions which were passed on to them by their parents and grandparents. The use of chemicals in Mauritian agriculture is far from being regulated. Farmers say that their budget are often limited and that they cannot take risks of trying something new due to the fear of it not being a success and of losing everything. This is due to the fact that biological control does not completely eliminate the pest population but in fact it only reduces the pest level to a minimum acceptable level. This is usually unacceptable to the farmer who wants to see his field entirely free of any pest. If no proper conservative measures and natural enemy monitoring are applied, another pest outbreak may occur inflicting losses to planters. These are reasons why planters in Mauritius prefer to use pesticides as a method of pest control. Also, though most planters are not willing to change their traditional way of pest control, some of them are sometimes willing to adopt new IPM strategies in order to control pests, such as the use of bait traps and sticky traps, but those traps also act against natural enemies, mostly tiny parasitic wasps. Some good agricultural practices also can contribute in biological control failure, for example, crop rotation is a good way of reducing pest population, but if the host plant essential for the pest survival is not available, neither will be the pest or their respective natural enemy. The use of pest resistant varieties is also a good way to avoid pest outbreaks but is the crop is too resistant to pests, biological control will be very hard to establish if no other sources of habitat and food are present. Another aspect having an effect on natural enemy efficacy evaluated during this research was the climatic factor in the different regions that is mainly the microclimate present in the different sites selected for sample collection. It was found that climate change has an impact on insect phenology and the distribution of phytophagus insects especially Lepidoptera. This explains the rapid development and vast distribution of the pest Plutella xylostella throughout Mauritius. In the chi square test done and presented in table 3.8 in the previous chapter, it was found that the p-value to be less than 0.05 for the natural enemy Cotesia plutella, meaning that the efficacy of the parasitoid is dependent to the climatic factor in different region. In fact, both the hymenoptera parasitoid evaluated was seen to be dependent on climatic factors compared to the other natural enemies evaluated in the chi square test (Refer to Appendix 1). This describes the difference in efficacy of the parasite around Mauritius. It was found by Nofemela, 2004 that the parasitoid Cotesia plutellae can develop on a wide range of temperatures (8.14oC – 33oC), thus, another deduction that can be made about the efficacy of Cotesia plutellae is that the parasitoid density present in the different regions is not the same. In all cases of planter interviewed, it is found that the planters noticed an increase in temperature and in change in rainfall pattern and intensity. The planters also mentioned that the warmer it is, the more the risk of a pest outbreak, for this reason, they usually apply more pesticides in summer. It is concluded a changing (warming) climate and use of chemicals in agriculture are directly and positively related. Despite the fact that some pests became resistant to pesticides and other chemicals, farmers still apply pesticides knowing that no results will be seen. To some extent, climate change will be responsib le for the increasing overuse of chemicals and agriculture which can in turn lead to a decrease in biological control efficacy. A change in insect phenology might also affect the host and natural enemy synchrony, a fail in synchronisation with the host life cycle might cause drastic decline in biological control for reproductive failure. Other factors which was seen to affect the efficacy of natural enemies was the coexistence of the pest with other organisms which provide protection to the pest against natural enemies. The two species of mealy bug studied, the Paracoccus marginatus and the Icerya seychellarum were seen to coexist with ants in all the pest samples collected. The ants harvest a substance called honeydew from them which is secreted by the mealy bugs, and in return they provide protection against natural enemies, mostly predators. The efficacy of the Paracoccus marginatus predator Exochomus laeviusculus might not be the same on the field than the one evaluated in the lab, on the field, especially on papaya trees where the Paracoccus marginatus samples were collected the mealy bugs were found to be compacted on the trees, stems and fruit, like a large white cottony lump. A waxy texture was present on all the mealy bug colonies, this may explain why the pest is being hard to control. The waxy substance pr events chemicals to penetrate into the colony layer and natural enemies can only feed on the lonely nymphs wondering around with no protection. Also several species of ladybugs and other predators like spiders and sparrows were seen on the same tree. Such cases might generate a competition among predators and the efficacy of a selected predator for example the coccinelid Exochomus laeviusculus may not be the same compared to a scenario where the coccinelid is the only predator preying on the pest. A very low parasitism rate was recorded for the parasitoid Cryptochetum monophlebi biological control of the pest Icerya seychellarum, this might be because of the presence of ants, chemicals present in that particular environment, but also, the Cryptochetum monophlebi being the order Diptera. It is known that Dipterans are the favourite food of lizards and some other insectivorous reptiles. Due to the presence of those reptiles on tree fruits, it can be a reason why the efficacy of the parasitoid is too low. The efficacy of the ladybug Nephaspis bicolor, predator of Aleurodicus dispersus was also evaluated in the lab and its efficacy, just like other natural enemies evaluated was seen to vary from region to region. However the efficacy was seen to be very low, although no ants were present where the Aleurodicus disperses sample were collected, the efficacy of the Nephaspis bicolor was as low as for the Exochomus laeviusculus. Coccinellid are more effective when several of them are present, for an efficient biological control using ladybugs, a high population must be available and maintained in the field throughout the crop cycle on which the pest is present. When no food is present, the ladybug beetle will tend to move away to another area where the pest is present or find another sources of food so as for them not starve to death. If only a few are present, they will only prey on a fewer amount of pests, making no differences to the pest population, also, they might get eaten up by bird s or lizards present on the field. However both the ladybugs evaluated are independent to the climatic factor present in the regions in which they were collected (P > 0.05). It means that the regions from which they were collected does not have an effect on their efficacy. Another aspect of IPM for sustainable pest control would be the use of biopesticides, such as microbial pesticides and botanical pesticides. Only 32% of all the planters interviewed know about the availability of this kind of pesticide. Most of them think they are expensive and ineffective. However, since biopesticides are not manufactured locally, the price of the biopesticides is almost the same as for chemical pesticides. This is a reason why planters prefer to buy chemical pesticide and don’t take the risk of purchasing something they are not sure about. Planters also think it is troublesome to prepare their own botanical pesticides using locally available plants such as neem and citronella and much more. Botanical pesticides do not harm the environment and the efficacy of natural enemies will be sure to be boosted if more planters adopt the use of biopesticides. Another interesting observation made while processing the results obtain. It was that the efficacy of natural enemies evaluated in the different agro ecological zones selected does not differ greatly. The efficacies are in the range of 15.8% to 20.2% respectively. It can be concluded that the natural enemies evaluated have a good adaptability to the local climate, which is a major characteristic for being a good natural enemy as failure to adapt to the climate and environmental factors is among the factors in biological control failure. Nevertheless, it is observed the average efficacy is lower in super humid regions compared to sub humid regions. As mentioned earlier, this might be due to the practices of the planters on their farm and also the difference in temperature, causing changes in both the natural enemy and the host pest’s phenology. In crops producing fields in Mauritius, it was deducted that the use of natural enemies is effective to certain extent, but not as effective to be able to control a pest by themselves. This was the case in every area investigated regardless of the land use diversities. The land use also can prove to be very determining in biological control. An example would be the pest Aleurodicus disperses, the sample (CO5) was collected in Vacoas where the citrus trees were in a field situated in a residential area. The trees were found on the road side and were heavily infected near the stem and underneath the leaves. The beetle Nephaspis bicolor was scarce and very difficult to count. On the other hand, sample CO8 of Aleurodicus disperses was collected at Ripailles, the trees were found in a field surrounded by other vegetable fields and sugarcane. The tree was rich in ladybug population, and the beetle Nephaspis bicolor could be easily collected. This proves that land use and vegetative cover h as an impact on the presence of natural enemies. For example, maize areas have a positive effect on ladybug density present and thus, this explains the low pesticide use in maize crops (Zhou, 2014). Vegetative covered areas provide food and shelter for natural enemies. A region of high vegetative cover will tend to have greater densities of natural enemies compared to a region of low vegetative cover or bare land with no vegetation at all. Other crops or trees have abilities to attract some natural enemies, so planting those trees on the field will tend to enhance biological control. Some farmers, especially large scale farmers often wipe out their field to remove everything left after harvesting, this also is a very bad approach if we want biological control to succeed. With no vegetation to provide shelter, the beneficial organisms will tend to move to another habitat or die out. A good monitoring schedule must be setup in order to ensure the status of natural enemies and their efficacy must be evaluated regularly. This is mainly to make sure that biological control is going on smoothly and whether human intervention is needed to provide a boost to the natural enemies in order to increase their performance. However, none of these seem to be present on the field where the evaluations were carried out. Although a very good method of foreign exploration and introduction of natural enemies were done by local organisations, no further monitoring programs are carried out. In some areas of the country, for example Saint Martin, Surinam and Belle Mare, in all which a pest sample was collected, several small planters are present ad a few large scale planters. Their field are close to each other and can be combined together to form a very large area for crop production. The efficacy of the respective natural enemies was very low compared to other areas. The reason might be because each and every farmer makes use of their own type of pesticides in their own personal ways. And pesticides being applied to such a large area will surely cause toxicity to the land and water resources found nearby. Such a large amount of pesticide application decreases the density of the available natural enemies. A lower natural enemy density and failure to reproduce will lead to a fewer amount of parasitized or preyed pest. Ladybug beetles tend to be very good pest destroyer as both the larvae and adults are voracious eater. However, a very interesting observation was made on a papaya tree infested with mealy bugs. Several species of ladybugs were present on the tree. Some unusual activities were observed. A ladybug larva was seen feeding on another ladybug larva which was of a different species. Cannibalism might also be a factor of low efficacy among coccinelid. This is an issue of host specificity and competition among pest predators. Concerning the parasitoids evaluated no cases of hyperparasitism, multiparasitism or superparasitism was detected.

The Struggle for Equality: Native-Americans and Asian-Americans

The Struggle for Equality: Native-Americans and Asian-Americans The struggle for equality has been going on since the first European settlers immigrated to the United States. Globalization and Imperialism forced the indigenous peoples of the United States, and also immigrants from other countries, to endure extreme cultural changes. Both the experiences of the Native Americans and the Asian Americans are similar in the attempts by the dominant white culture to affect a total cultural transformation of their way of life. Both groups were considered inferior, dealt with segregation, discrimination, and the rationalization of economic and social exploitations. Native Americans and Asian Americans both suffered restriction of education that was intended to change and control their beliefs and behaviors, in addition to forced internment and relocation. Both groups struggled to preserve their cultures and languages, to be accepted and to receive the liberties that are the right of citizens of the United States. The liberties Americans expect, freedom f rom discrimination, citizenship, the right to sit on a jury, the right to vote, to receive an equal education were for many years denied them. In both cases, fear and greed were the prevailing attitudes that guided those policies of intolerance. From the onset, both the Native Americans and Asian Americans were viewed as inferior to whites and uncivilized. The 1700s classification of Native Americans by Congress as domestic foreigners (Spring, 2010) denied citizenship based upon the Bering Strait Theory that they had crossed over from Asia on the land bridge, and therefore were not white . This was the justification for the classification that all people of Asiatic decent, called collectively by European Americans Mongolians, were not to be considered white and was the basis for the Naturalization Act of 1790 which denied both Native Americans and Asian Americans citizenship. The general view of the Native Americans was a filthy (in the moral sense) savage who not only did not avoid personal pleasure, they enjoyed sex, allowed their women power, were lazy and did not discipline their children. Asian Americans fared no better. Spring (2010) states that in the 1870s in California the Asians were considered an inferior race, barbarians, and any mixing of the races would be the lowest, most vile degraded of our race, and the result of that amalgamation would be a hybrid of the most despicable, a mongrel of the most detestable that has ever afflicted the earth (p. 72) he went on to say that California Representative Romualdo Pacheco maintained, Chinaman [is] a lithe, sinewy creature, with muscles like iron, and almost devoid of nerves and sensibilities. His ancestors have also bequested to him the most hideous immoralities. They are as natural to him as the yellow hue of his skin and are so shocking and horrible that their character cannot even be hinted (p.73). The mind-set of non-European cultures not being white and needing to be civilized, was part of the belief system that the English colonists brought with them that held they were culturally and racially superior. This was used as the validation for taking over the lands of the Native Americans and the forced relocation of the various tribes. Ostensibly, for their own good, the reality was that the land was desired by settlers. This is similar to the Japanese Americans losing their homes and possessions during their internment in concentration camps during World War II. Additionally it was this same not white argument that was used in the 1920s to deny Asian Indians citizenship, and was combined with restrictive court rulings to deny owning land. It was over 160 years after the Naturalization Act that the United States Government acknowledged that naturalized citizenship should not be restricted to whites with the passing of the McCarran-Walter Act in 1952. The political system headed by European-Americans believed that to preserve the survival of the country it was necessary that other groups repudiate their native religions and ways of life, and accept middle class America with its accompanying customs. The hope was to accomplish this by total deculturalization and assimilation through education. It was during the latter part of the nineteenth century that the major policy of the United States Government became one of destroying the customs of the Indians, replacing their languages with English and instilling in them an allegiance to the U.S. Government. The Japanese faced these same tribulations in Hawaii in 1914. Wanting to preserve their culture and language, the local Japanese communities had opened private schools for their children to attend after public school. Spring (2010) explains, they were criticized by local white leaders for hindering the Americanization of Japanese American children and a Territorial Government report f rom that time states, All Americans must be taught to read and write and think in one language; this is a primary condition to the growth which all nations expect of us and which we demand of ourselves (as sited in Hawkins, 1995, p.35). The idea of cultural assimilation combined with the restriction of education was meant to keep other cultures and ethnic groups in line. Both Native Americans and Asian Americans were experiencing segregation or being denied an adequate education. It was not until the civil rights movement that strides were made to redress the deficiencies in schooling, have the schools provide positive images, and reverse the efforts by federal and state governments to destroy the language and cultures of different ethnic groups. The Japanese were, at this time, at a great disadvantage as they were still reeling from the effects of anti-Japanese movies made during World War II and had been villainized by all other cultural groups as a result. The outcome of that polarization of popular opinion was that the Chinese Americans were able to overcome the image of the Chinese opium den deviant which had energized discrimination and segregation. The American Indians wish to be in charge of their own educat ion and re-establish their cultural heritage and languages was made difficult by the attempts in the 1940s and 1950s to end the official status of the tribes. This was not in line with the Indians desires as it would mean dispersal into the general population (Spring, 2010). Banding together into the Pan-Indian movement the tribes in the 1960s led demonstrations to call attention to the plight of the Native Americans and garner political support. At this time, the image of Asian Americans had evolved to the point where they were considered the model minority(Spring, 2010). Regarded by the European Americans as model students who worked hard and got good grades, they were used as poster children to hold up against the African Americans and Hispanics for not working towards the model minority image. Despite strides made by both groups discrimination in education has continued. With a new inflow of immigrants to the United States, multicultural education ranging from bilingual education to instruction in a variety of cultures was proposed. All ethnic groups were expected to benefit from these policies. Unfortunately, the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act which mandated standardized tests to measure achievement, tied to school funding, put an end to that hope. If instructors hoped to ensure the students would be prepared for the high stakes tests that had became mandated than the material needed to be standardized. Sadly, these government created tests create uniformity in knowledge and make a single culture the norm of schooling. (Spring, 2010, p.133)

Fight Club - When Does Life Have No Purpose? :: essays research papers

David Fincher’s Fight Club is a narrated movie that explains the journey of the narrator’s mid-life crisis; the movie begins with the ending scene, a microscopic view of a gun inside of the narrator’s mouth. All of the particles and germs are very visible to give the viewer an idea of what to expect. This scene suggests a dirty, winding, and emotional journey that the narrator will take. The narrator at first finds himself with insomnia. At the same time he is obsessed with consumer goods–he buys complete sets of everything. He works for a major automobile company as an agent who decides whether the cost of a recall is cheap enough to make profit. His job significantly sets up his depressed life. Day after day he travels to examine cars in accidents with remains of human dead burned to the seats. It is his job by which he feels so burdened, and he seems to try to get away from it by buying furniture. The story revolves around these three examples. The gun is full of bacteria; furniture is bought by money, a dirty obsession, and his job deals with car accidents. The Narrator has surrounded himself with consumer goods to occupy and satisfy himself, but when they can no longer satisfy him he breaks down emotionally. Although David Fincher put significance on soap as being a major part of the movie, it doesn’t relate to every instance that it should. In this movie, soap is used to cleanse the body of luxury goods. Fight Club is all about eliminating things that aren’t necessary. Soap cleanses, and several times soap is not used. When they are fighting in the fight club, blood is a dominant image. It is a sign of being able to let go of all your material goods, if you can let go of your physical health. Here soap has no significance; The Narrator, however, uses soap in what could be his possible financial future. By selling this highly profitable soap he can make an easy living, but it would change nothing in his life. The significance of soap with fighting, therefore, is not easily visible. This is what makes visible the fact that fighting releases anger. If blood is noteworthy and is not to be cleaned off, then it is accepted. The narrator soon finds himself with a severe case of insomnia. He describes it: â€Å"with insomnia, nothing is real.

The Designer Drug: Ecstasy :: MDMA Drugs Essays

The Designer Drug: Ecstasy MDMA, otherwise known as the designer drug ecstasy, X, XTC, Adam (MDMA), Eve (MDEA), E rolls and many others generic terms, is a street drug that most people associate with a feeling of physical stimulation. This drug has a normal dose of about 50 to 300mg and can vary in color and shape depending on the maker. Most bootleg drug producers like to put a trademark stamp on the pill, which consists of many different designs. MDMA is administered orally and is absorbed through the gastrointestinal track where it travels up to the brain, which results in a high within about an hour. The high from one pill can last up to six hours. After administration of the drug is when the brain begins the release of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. A pill of ecstasy can also include other substances like amphetamine, ephedrine, caffeine, ketamine and sometimes substances that are unidentifiable to chemists. This can cause side effects that are beyond the scope of this research. What we do know is that MDMA is an organic molecule, which enables the molecules of MDMA to inhibit some of the neurotransmitters in the brain. Let us take a deeper look into that chemistry. The chemistry of ecstasy, which we will refer to as MDMA, has been researched, by scientists, since the late sixties and what they have uncovered is very interesting. Scientists have found that, overall; MDMA begins with an organic root and ends up being a potentially dangerous drug, 3,4-methylenedioxy-n- methylamphetamine. MDMA is based from an oil called safrole, which is derived from the sassafras root. Many pharmacologists and illegal manufacturers have used safrole as a starting material for many medicines and drugs because it is easily accessible and inexpensive. Therefore, it is not surprising that this is the base for MDMA. As for most organic molecules MDMA consists of H (hydrogen), N (nitrogen), CH3 (a methyl group) and oxygen atoms, which ends up making C11H15NO2. All of these molecules, including the base of the safrole, are organic which makes MDMA an organic molecule. When combined to make MDMA they act like an amphetamine (look almost identical to methamphetamine in there chemical brake down) to the body with its psychedelic reaction, which is why MDMA is usually classified as an amphetamine. When examining the MDMA molecules scientists found that the MDMA has two types of molecules that

Leadership Reflections: Building Relationships in the Workplace Essay

Based on assigned readings in Module 5 (â€Å"Colorado State University,† 2012), this journal entry reviews the author’s strategies as a change management consultant for building and improving relationships in client organizations. The discussion then considers the effectiveness of these strategies relative to the author’s workplace environment including the author’s approach for mitigating relationship issues in the event the strategies prove ineffective. Strategies for Building and Improving Relationships The effectiveness of a political navigator depends on strong interpersonal relationships built through competent communication and respectful action (Cialdini, 2001; Gilley, 2006; Lewicki, Barry, & Saunders, 2006). As Cummings and Worley (2009) observe, â€Å"Establishing a healthy relationship at the onset makes it more likely that the client’s desired outcomes will be achieved . . .† (p. 81). Therefore, as a consultant, the author predominantly relies on two sets of sequentially reinforcing strategies for initiating and creating synergistic client relationships. Strategies for Initiating Client Engagement The first set comprises four â€Å"initiating† strategies for influencing positive client engagement: displaying an engaging personality, identifying with clients, developing mutual interests, and practicing reciprocity. Displaying an engaging friendly personality – a prerequisite for building relationships (Cialdini, 2001; Gilley, 2006) – creates initial positive perceptions and helps establish personal rapport. Identifying with clients on their level (Gilley, 2006) by altering personal communication style, language, dress, and behaviors to match with their cultural norms, reinforces perceptions of the author’s willingness to ackn... ...anizations (pp. 2-4). Greenwood Village, CO: Author Cummings, T., & Worley, C. (2009). Organizational development & change (9th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Gilley, J. (2006). The manager as politician. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. Kouzes J., & Posner, B. (2007). The leadership challenge (4th ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Lewicki, J. R., Barry, B., & Saunders, M. D. (2006). Negotiation: Readings, Exercises and Cases (5th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill. Schein, E. (2004). Organizational culture and leadership (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Senge, P. (2006). The fifth discipline: The art & practice of the learning organization (revised ed.). New York: Random House. Vecchio, R. (Ed.). (2007). Leadership: Understanding the dynamics of power and influence in organizations (2nd ed.). Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.