Monday, December 30, 2019

The Ethical and Theological Implications of Human Cloning...

The Ethical and Theological Implications of Human Cloning Introduction Advances in science and technology have often caused revolutionary changes in the way society views the world. When computers were first invented, they were used to calculate ballistics tables; today they perform a myriad of functions unimagined at their conception. Space travel changed the way mankind viewed itself in terms of a larger context, the universe. In 1978, the first test tube baby was born in England making it apparent for the first time that babies could be conceived outside a mother’s womb. Each of these events caused much commotion, and each advance has presented society with new challenges; however, no scientific area has been more debated†¦show more content†¦In this way, cloning has changed the potentials for reproduction; males could potentially not be required in the creation of children. It is important to note, however, that cloning of a human has yet to be accomplished. While it would be naive to say that it will never be done, so far this problem of biotechnology has been left undone. The Process of Cloning Before any discussion about cloning can be started, it is necessary to explain, albeit in a simplified version, the scientific process that cloning entails.* Every cell in any given organism contains exactly the same genetic material or DNA. Each human DNA is composed of two pairs of twenty-three chromosomes. In the process of natural reproduction, when an egg and sperm are joined, they fuse to form a single cell called a zygote that has a new genetic makeup--the sperm and the egg each contributing one set of chromosomes. Thus, the genetic material found in an embryo is a combination of the DNA from the mother and the father. When this initial new cell is formed, certain proteins give the signal that it is time for the zygote to divide and produce exact replicas of itself. From the single cell stage, this division occurs in a doubling manner so that in a matter of hours there are eight cells present. Until this eight-cell stage occurs, cells are all the same. After that point, however, different cells begin toShow MoreRelatedGenetic Engineering : Medical Perfection Or Playing God1280 Words   |  6 PagesThesis Statement â€Å"Genetic engineering differs from cloning in key ways. Whereas cloning produces genetically exact copies of organisms, genetic engineering refers to processes in which scientists manipulate genes to create purposefully different versions of organisms—and, in some cases, entirely new living things†, duplication of genetic cells is known as human cloning. Development of genetic engineering biotechnologies undermines the natural autonomy of life. Does genetic engineering interfereRead MoreThe Ethical Implications Of Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy1399 Words   |  6 Pagesresearch. However, the use of human embryos is an ethical concern among researchers around the world. There are several benefits for embryonic stem cells therapy. Embryonic stem cells are beneficial to researchers due to their unique ability to replicate themselves and make specialized cells for any tissue in the body. These cells serve as a potential to cure various diseases and disabilities that thr eaten the survival of humankind. Since the early 1960’s, there have been ethical deliberations behind theRead MoreThe Ethical Debate Concerning Cloning Essay6336 Words   |  26 PagesThe Ethical Debate Concerning Cloning In the year that has elapsed since the announcement of Dollys birth, there has been much discussion of the ethical implications of cloning humans. Although the simple use of the word clone may have negative connotations, many people have resigned themselves to the idea of cloning cows that produce more milk or using a cloned mouse for use in controlled experimentation. However,Read More Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Essay4185 Words   |  17 PagesHuman Embryonic Stem Cell Research Many scientists believe that research on human embryonic stem cells, components of human embryos created in laboratories, will eventually yield cures to a number of devastating human conditions including juvenile diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries. On August 9, 2001, President George W. Bush announced he would permit federally funded research on existing stem cells lines derived from human embryos. He prohibited the federal funding of researchRead More Cloning Essay3051 Words   |  13 Pages Shortly after the announcement that British scientists had successfully cloned a sheep, Dolly, cloning humans has recently become a possibility that seems much more feasible in todays society. The word clone has been applied to cells as well as to organisms, so that a group of cells stemming from a single cell is also called a clone. Usually the members of a clone are identical in their inherited characteristics that is, in their genes except for any differences caused by mutation. Identical twinsRead MoreThe Moral Implications of Cloning2012 Words   |  9 PagesOutside the lab where the cloning had actually taken place, most of us thought it could never happen. Oh we would say that perhaps at some point in the distant future, cloning might become feasible through the use of sophisticated biotechnologies far beyond those available to us now. But what we really believed, deep in our hearts, was that this one biological feat we could never master. Dr. Lee M. Silver, 1997. On February 23, 1997, Doctor Ian Wilmut successfully cloned the worlds first mammalRead MoreEthics3978 Words   |  16 Pagesanalytical skills in carefully analyzing both sides of the situation and determining a course of action that would have the best outcome for each side. In unit 3, I encountered another situation where I needed to analyze a situation and determine what ethical reasoning best described the best possible outcome with the web RSS feed article â€Å"Marriott Workers Keep Benefits despite Cuts†. From the Washington Post: For my discussion, post I chose a story from the Washington Post titled â€Å"Marriott WorkersRead MoreThe Ethics of Genetic Engineering Essay2933 Words   |  12 PagesBioethics Outline: It is my belief that genetic engineering has promise to better mankind, and it is our ethical obligation to research it but not exploit it. There is a need to have a morally correct legislation that guides the way science develops this. Outline: I. Social a) Personal Privacy i. Individual rights b) Society i. Implication on society II. Religious a) Religious concerns b) Different religion views III. Medical Benefits a) What are they b) WhatRead MoreEssay about The Morals and Ethics of Genetic Engineering3310 Words   |  14 Pagesgenetic engineering is very complex and much more difficult than it would seem. First, an organism with the desired trait is located and selected. Cellular DNA is extracted from this organism to transplant the desired trait into the new organism. Gene cloning follows, with the locating and copying of the desired trait. The new gene(s), called a transgene is delivered into cells of the recipient organism, or transformation. The most common transformation method utilizes bacteria that naturally engineerRead MoreCh 1 Need for Ethics8650 Words   |  35 PagesThinking Critically About Ethical Issues, Seventh Edition By: Ruggiero  © The McGraw−Hill Companies, 2008 I THE CONTEXT CHAPTER ONE THE NEED FOR ETHICS Why do we need ethics? We have laws to protect people’s rights. If the laws are enforced, what need have we of further rules? Ethics is the study of the choices people make regarding right and wrong. Each of us makes dozens of moral choices daily. Will we go to work or call in sick? Follow the research protocol or violate it? Put quotes around

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome And The Future Generation - 877 Words

FAS better known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can be prevented in any case. Women who openly drink alcohol or take drugs while knowing they are pregnant should in fact be found as a criminal. A law was put into effect this previous July in Tennessee stating that in the case you took drugs or drank while pregnant, you will be charged as a criminal and will be thrown into jail. Merrill Miller (2014) wrote the article What Are Mothers to Do? How a New Tennessee Law Criminalizes Pregnancy and Promotes Religion. This article further explains the law of criminalizing women who openly use drugs including alcohol while pregnant. This law was put into effect to show how narcotics are becoming an issue and our future generation is now paying for it. Tennessee decided to put up a law trying to protect tax payers and the future generation from facing issues with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. A case was showed where a 26 year old woman Mallory Loyola was the first charged with this law after traces of met hamphetamine were found in her urine shortly after having her child. She was arrested and thrown in jail not ever spending a day with her new born baby. Fetal Alcohol syndrome is not the only thing women have to worry about while on drugs. If they let Mallory go home with her child while on meth, it could easily affect the home life and still destroy the child s life without it being in their system. Case studies also shown by (Miller, 2014) is even though a women is charged with assaultingShow MoreRelatedEvolution By Natural Selection Is A Theory Created By Charles Darwin1415 Words   |  6 PagesHewitt 1 Kyle Hewitt Period 3 5/3/15 A World Full of Mutations We live in a world full of mutations. These mutations are sources of variation, and are essential to our survival. As generations of organisms progress, we develop mutations that help us to adapt to the world around us. This is called evolution. Evolution by natural selection is a theory created by Charles Darwin in which he states that organisms evolve over time and develop certain characteristics, and the beneficial characteristicsRead MoreHumanity Has Always Yielded To The Pressure Of Different1128 Words   |  5 Pagesany forms of substance abuse. Alcohol is not the last one on the list of theses destructive substances. It is the â€Å"companion† of any significant event occurring in the life of modern people or even an everyday way to relax and get away from all the difficulties. People relax and forget that they are supposed to think not only about their health but also about the health of their offspring. This especially concerns women, as they are the ones to deliver the next generation into the world. A woman’s organismRead MoreFetal Alcohol Syndrome ( Fas )1404 Words   |  6 Pagesdisorders is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). According to Feldman (2009), Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a disorder that is induced by pregnant women who have consumed alcohol during the duration of their pregnancy, possibly resulting in mental deformity and delayed the growth of the child. Some characteristics of FAS include growth deficiency and central nervous system dysfunction (Mattson, 2006). Although the child may not be diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, if the child was exposed to alcohol duringRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol During Pregnancy On Children1041 Words   |  5 PagesAlcohol is a TERATOGEN, meaning that it will cause developmental damage to a FETUS or EMBRYO. The degree to which a TERATOGEN wreaks havoc on an unborn child largely depends on four factors: dosage, heredity, age, and additional negative factors. The most vulnerable prenata l period is during the stage of embryonic development, which occurs between the third and eighth weeks of pregnancy. Once alcohol penetrates the PLACENTA and enters the fetal bloodstream it hinders the neurons inside the child’sRead MoreThe Problem Of Being Born Addicted937 Words   |  4 PagesAnother common fetal addiction is alcohol. Studies show that more than ten percent of women in the United States consume alcoholic beverages during pregnancy, while one in every fifty, also in the United States, binge drink while expecting (babycenter.com). The unborn babies of each of these women are at risk for alcohol-related effects. When you consume alcohol, it enters your bloodstream rather quickly, crosses the placenta, and finally reaches the fetus. The fetus will break down the alcohol it has justRead MoreAlcohol Abuse Within Native American Societies Essay1303 Words   |  6 Pagesimmensely by it. Since the coming of the Englishmen and the introduction of new knowledge and tools Native people have been trying to hold on to their own culture and their own way of life. Unfortunately with them came new items for consumption, alcohol was one of the main ingredients to the internal downfall of Native populations. Native American populations suffer greatly due to the ongoing epidemic of substance abuse and dependence; some things are being done about the problems people are havingRead MoreMaternal Obesity Induce Offspring with Risk of Cardiovascular Disease1700 Words   |  7 Pages2007). Pre-pregnancy obesity significantly ascended between 1980 and 2000, and presents a rising pattern in the future years (Fig.1). Obesity during pregnancy induces unfavourable outcomes later in life for both mother and fetuses, lead to changes in physiology and metabolism of the women and offspring. In consequence, it does not only cause maternal diseases but also expose the next generation with an increased risk of disease development. This review specifically examines the impact of maternal obesityRead MoreEssay on Alcoholism and Pine Ridge Indian Reservation2231 Words   |  9 Pagesat the hands of this disease. Alcohol and alcoholism have been part of societies for centuries. This habit was brought over to the new world when the first settlers landed on the shores of what was to become America. Furthermore, in bringing alcohol to this new land an entire nation of Native American Indians were introduced to a product that has affected them more negatively than any other to date, and continues to suffer from today and probably well into the future. Pine Ridge Indian ReservationRead MorePrevention of Alcohol Abuse Among Pregnant Women1306 Words   |  5 PagesPrevention of Alcohol abuse among pregnant women Introduction The drug abuse menace has been indicated to be one of the leading factors that negatively affect people at whatever stage of life right from the fetus stage to the fully grown baby and the adulthood. Of greater interest in this case is the persistent and ever increasing abuse of alcohol among other substances among pregnant women and teenagers in particular. There are repercussions that come with the alcohol abuse and there is thereforeRead MoreEssay on The Negative Effects of Alcoholism2566 Words   |  11 PagesNobody wants to grow up to be a drunk. Although drinking alcohol may be enjoyable in social situations and it looks cool, it is a terrible addiction and is considered a type of drug abuse. Mothers expecting a child can really harm the child by consuming alcohol. Alcohol can cause the body to make terrible decisions such as drunk driving which not only puts the drinker in danger, but also puts everyone else in danger. The abuse of alcoholic beverages can cause a person to b ecome an alcoholic. Underage

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Cross Cultural Communication Free Essays

Cross-Cultural Communication â€Å"Communication in health care is a complex issue. Language and cultural barriers complicate the situation. Language is the framework in which the world view of a culture is molded, and it describes the boundaries and perspectives of a cultural system. We will write a custom essay sample on Cross Cultural Communication or any similar topic only for you Order Now A language barrier disarms a communicant’s ability to assess meanings, intent, emotions, and reactions and creates a state of dependency on the individual who holds the keys to the entire process† (Putsch, 1985, para. 1 ). It is common for Patients in minority populations to receive a lower quality of care. Much of this is contributed to cultural communication barriers. Part of the solution maybe to incorporate the six principles of cross-cultural communication in order to communicate effectively. Differences in worldviews, values, and communication styles can all contribute to misunderstandings. We must also take into consideration that most breakdowns in communication are often attributed to cultural differences. This may lead a person to use caution when speaking to someone that does not share their cultural beliefs. This includes non-verbal as well as verbal communication. Cross cultural communication also requires an understanding of a groups â€Å"do’s and taboos† and is respectful of them. This may include removing your shoes before entering ones home or understanding cultural meal etiquette. If you frequently communicate with a certain cultural group or race of people, learning about their variations in communication style will increase your understanding of that group. This is particular important when it comes to health care. I found interest in the cultural differences of Muslim Americans (part of Middle Eastern culture). When considering the healthcare needs of American Muslim patients, require open minded views from health care providers when it comes to religious practice, rituals, and traditions. Religious values and beliefs are important to this community. They are a major influence in their health care practices, expectations of health care and medical decision making. Muslims see God as the dictator and controller of health. They believe that God decides who develops certain types of cancer, who survives the ordeal and who succumbs to the disease. Their belief that a particular illness is a disease of fate greatly influences how they seek healthcare, if at all. This is because some feel they are destined to suffer while others put all of their faith in prayer. This is why it is crucial for health care providers to be sensitive to the religious beliefs of Muslim Americans. Making an effort to accommodate Muslim patients can be crucial to their health. It will increase the trust they have for the health care community. This will encourage them to seek health care, as well as be compliant to medical treatments. Certain things to consider are customs such fasting during Ramadan and their adherence to dietary restrictions. It is also important to be sensitive to the needs of females in this community. It is not acceptable for them to be examined by a male doctor. Given them a choice when it comes to gender will encourage them to seek needed health care. Proper communication skills are key to improving the health care needs of many. This includes disease awareness, along with the prevention and spread of illness. References Padela, A. , Gunter, K. , Killawi, A. (2011, June). Meeting the Healthcare Needs of American Muslims. I. S. P. U. , (), . Retrieved from http://www. ispu. org Putsch, R. W. (1985, December). The Special Case of Interpreters in Health Care. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 254(23), . Retrieved from How to cite Cross Cultural Communication, Essay examples Cross Cultural Communication Free Essays In Beyond Culture (1976) he progressed further towards n Integral vision of culture. THE SILENT LANGUAGE People communicate through a whole range of behavior that is unexamined, taken for granted. This process takes place outside conscious awareness and in juxtaposition to words. We will write a custom essay sample on Cross Cultural Communication or any similar topic only for you Order Now What people do is frequently more important than what they say. Nonetheless, people of European heritage live In a â€Å"word world† and tend not to perceive the relevance of communication through the language of behavior. Even though language molds thinking, other cultural systems have a pervasive effect on how the world is perceived, how the self is experienced, and how life itself is organized. Culture may be defined as â€Å"the way of life of a people, the sum of their learned behavior patterns, attitudes and material things. † Culture controls behavior in deep and persisting ways, many of which are outside awareness and therefore beyond conscious control of the Individual. Hall attempts to bring those patterns to awareness. He develops a method for the analysis of culture, through defining the basic units of culture, Its bullying blocks or â€Å"Isolates,† and then tying these isolates into a biological base so they can be compared among cultures, moving up to build a unified theory of culture. The Silent Language outlines a theory of culture and a theory of how culture came into being. Its key message is that we must learn to understand the out-of-awareness aspects of communication, our cultural unconscious. The books ultimate purpose Is to â€Å"reveal the broad extent to which culture controls our lives. † Culture hides more than It reveals and It hides most effectively from its own participants. The real challenge is not to understand foreign cultures but to understand one’s own, to make what we take for granted stand out in perspective. This can be achieved mainly through exposing oneself to foreign ways, wrought the shock of contrast and difference. Culture is not one thing, but many. Hall identifies ten primary kinds of human activity he labels Primary Message Systems. Each Is rooted in biology, can be examined by Itself, and gears Into the overall network of culture: 1 ) Interaction, 2) Association, 3) Subsistence, 4) Bisexuality (cultural differentiation between men and women: concepts of masculinity and femininity tend to be regarded as â€Å"human nature,† but vary widely from one culture to the next), 5) Territoriality, 6) Temporarily, 7) Learning and Acquisition (culture is hared behavior; most culture is acquired and therefore cannot be taught; language is first acquired, then taught; learning, a key adaptive mechanism, came into its own different cultures acquire culture in a culturally specific way, they learn how to learn differently; in the process of learning they acquire a set of tacit conditions and assumptions in which learning is embedded), 8) Play, 9) Defense, and 10) Exploitation (use of materials, development of physical extensions to the body to meet environmental conditions). Culture is a complex series of interrelated a ctivities, tit roots buried in the past, in infra-culture, behavior that preceded culture but later became elaborated by humans into culture. According to Hall’s theory, culture operates on three levels: formal, informal, and technical. While one of these modes of behavior dominates, all three are present in any given situation. Formal activities are taught by precept and admonition, through a process charged with emotion: the learner tries, makes a mistake, and is corrected. The main agent of informal learning is a model used for imitation. Whole clusters are learned at a time, usually without awareness that they are being learned at all or that here are patterns or rules governing them. Technical learning is usually transmitted in explicit form from a teacher to a student. Some societies are predominantly formal in their behavior, and invest tradition with an enormous weight. Americans have emphasized the informal at the expense of the formal. The informal is made up of activities and mannerisms that were once learned, but that are done automatically. Technical behavior is fully conscious behavior. Science is largely technical. When violations of a formal mode occur, they are accompanied by a tide of emotion. Formal yester are characterized by a great tenacity. The formal tends to change slowly, almost imperceptibly. The formal, informal and technical exist in a relationship of continuous change. Regarding change, different cultures are analogous to different species in the sense that some of them, being more adaptive than others, have a greater capacity for survival. Taken at any given point, culture seems to be made up of formal behavior patterns that constitute a core around which there are certain informal adaptations, and which is supported by a series of technical props. Change is a complex circular process. It proceeds from formal to informal to technical to new formal. Small informal adaptations are continually being made in daily life. These adaptations, when successful, eventually become decentralized as improvements, and these accumulate imperceptibly until they are suddenly acclaimed as â€Å"break- through. † All change originates in the out-of-awareness nature of the informal. Culture is communication and communication is culture. Since most of what is known about communication has been learned from the study of language, Hall projects some principles of language (language as it is spoken, not written, writing being a humiliation of a symbolization) into other less elaborated and specialized communication systems. He devises a common terminology for all forms of communication, including language. Every message can be broken down into three parts: sets, what you perceive first (for example, words); isolates, the components that make up the sets (sounds); and patterns, the way in which sets are strung together in order to give them meaning (grammar, syntax). A set is a group of two or more constituent components that is perceived as separate from other events. They are the first things to be observed, their number is unlimited, n which they are used. There are formal, informal and technical sets. Formal sets, for example, are things that people take for granted and which seem natural: words, buildings, governments, families, the months of the year, etc. A large part of the vocabulary of a culture is devoted to sets. Sets are valued, assigned to categories (which reveal patterns), and treated differently (formally, informally, and technically) in different cultures. By themselves, sets are neutral. In patterns, they take on complex meanings. The second element, the isolate, proves to be a tricky one. Hall encounters some faculties identifying precisely the constituents of cultural sets. He alludes to the isolate as â€Å"an illusive abstraction, almost a phantom† and speaks of â€Å"cultural indeterminacy’: â€Å"when working with cultural data, one can only be precise on one analytical level at a time and then only for a moment. † (Might this be a result of the projection of rules that apply specifically to language into less complex communication systems? ). The principle of indeterminacy can be extended to the whole theory of culture: the more precise the observer is on one level, the less precise he/she will be on any other. Patterns are those implicit rules by means of which sets are arranged so that they take on meaning. They determine experience, channeling people’s senses and thoughts. They are cultural, shared by a group. There is no such thing as â€Å"experience† in the abstract, as a mode separate and distinct from culture. This leads to a principle of relativity in culture: there is no experience independent of culture against which culture can be measured. The idea that people are bound by hidden cultural rules and not masters of their fate usually encounters resistance. These rules are so constant that they are not recognized as rules at all. Patterns are ruled by laws of order, selection, and congruence. There are formal, informal, and technical patterns. In the case of informal patterns, when a rule is made explicit, â€Å"put into words,† it is recognized immediately by others in the same culture since it has already been acquired. Informal patterns are learned by selecting a model and copying her/him; formal patterns are learned by precept and admonition; technical ones are spelled out. The handling of time is one of the key elements of culture. Americans tend to think of time as something fixed in nature. Their view of time is characterized by correctness, linearity, necessity for scheduling, and orientation toward the future. Formal sets of time include days, hours, minutes, weeks, months, seasons, years, etc. Formal isolates include ordering (e. G. Days of the week), cyclist, valuation (time should not be wasted), tangibility (time as commodity), duration, and depth. The vocabulary of informal time (minutes, seconds, years) is often identical with that of technical and formal time. The context usually tells the hearer wha t level of discourse is being used. Informal isolates include urgency (related to the impression of time assign rapidly or slowly), monochromes (doing one thing at a time†American culture is characteristically monochromatic), activity (distinction between active and dormant phases, whether one is busy or not; some cultures are agric, agency- something new would seem to exceed that of almost any other culture in the world today. It is necessary to an economy like ours. In these informal isolates, one finds the building blocks that make the values and driving forces of a culture visas–visas time. The handling of time is revealing of how unconscious implicit patterns work in a ultra, and how tenaciously people hold on to them. They exist like the air around Space is organized differently in each culture. In Latin America, for example, the interaction distance is much less than in the US. People cannot talk comfortably with each other unless they are very close to the dista nce that evokes either sexual or hostile feelings in North America. Every living thing has a physical boundary that separates it from its external environment. There is a second boundary outside this physical one: the organism’s territory. The act of laying claim to and defending a territory is termed irritability, which is highly elaborated in humans, and greatly differentiated from culture to culture. Culture is not only imposed upon humanity, it is humanity in a greatly expanded sense. Culture is the link between human beings and the means they have of interacting with others. By broadening their understanding of the forces that make up and control their lives, people could learn where they are and who they are. It should rekindle their interest in life, free them from the groove of habit, and prevent them from being pushed around by the more voracious, predatory, and opportunistic f their fellow humans. Bringing to awareness what has been taken for granted should contribute to increased self-knowledge and decreased alienation. THE HIDDEN DIMENSION The subject of this book is space as a system of communication. It deals with people’s perception and use of personal, social, architectural, and urban spaces. â€Å"Proteomics† is the term coined by Hall for the interrelated observations and theories of the use of space as a specialized elaboration of culture. As in The Silent Language, the main thesis of this work borrows from Benjamin Lee Wharf’s idea of language (language incentive not Just as a medium of expressing thought, but as a major element in the formation of thought) and applies it to all human behavior, to all culture. Proximity research confirms, according to Hall, that people from different cultures inhabit different sensory worlds, so that experience as it is perceived through one set of culturally patterned sensory screens is quite different from experience perceived through another. Different cultural systems are rooted in biology and physiology. Humans are distinguished from other animals by virtue of what Hall terms â€Å"extensions† of their organism. Extensions improve and specialize certain functions. The computer is an extension of certain functions of the brain, the telephone extends the voice, the wheel extends the legs and feet, language extends experience in time and space, and writing extends language. These extensions have been developed to such a degree that we are apt to forget that humanness is rooted in animal nature. Extensions have taken over, and are rapidly replacing nature. The relationship one in which both humans and their environment participate in molding each other. Humans are in a position of creating the worlds in which they live, which determine hat kind of an organism they will be. This is a disturbing thought in view of how little is known about human nature. Comparative studies of animals help to show how people’s space requirements are influenced by their environment. Territoriality is behavior by which an organism lays claim to an area and defends it against members of its own species. Among other functions, it ensures the propagation of the species by regulating density. In addition to territory that is identified with a particular plot of ground, each animal is surrounded by a series of bubbles or irregularly shaped balloons. Some mechanisms (personal and social distances) are observed during interactions of members of the same species, others when individuals of different species meet (flight, critical, and attack distances). Personal distance is the normal spacing that non-contact animals maintain with their fellows. Social distance is a psychological distance that contains a group, maintaining a bond. Hall points to the need to reconsider Malthusian’ doctrine that relates population to food supply. In the light of evidence from the study of crabs, stickleback fish, deer, and muskrats, he supports the thesis that increase and crease in animal populations are controlled by physiological mechanisms that respond to density. As the number of animals on a given area increases, stress builds up until it triggers an endocrine reaction that lowers the fertility rate, increases susceptibility to disease, and collapses the population. Predators would not play a decisive role in controlling population, but develop a subtle symbiosis with their prey, providing a constant environmental pressure that contributes to improve the species. Hall describes experiments carried out on rats (by ideologist John Calhoun) that comment the role of stress from crowding as a factor in population control. Rats under extreme conditions of population density develop what is termed a behavioral â€Å"sink†: severe disruptions of courting, sex behavior, reproduction, nest building, care of the young, territoriality, and social organization, as well as physiological effects. The dramatic results of crowding range from aggression through various forms of abnormal behavior to mass die-off. The stress generated by crowding has been an efficient device in the service of evolution because it employs the forces of interspecies, rather than interspecies, competition. In the case of humans, the shift by our ancestors from reliance on smell to reliance on vision as a result of environmental pressures (shift from groundswell to arboreal life) endowed them with a greater capacity to withstand crowding. (This shift redefined the human situation. The human ability to plan has been made possible because the eye takes in a larger sweep; it codes more complex data and thus encourages abstract thinking. ) Hall goes on to examine the nature of the human receptor systems, and how the information received from them is modified by culture. People’s relationship to their environment is a function of their sensory apparatus and how this apparatus is conditioned to respond. There are visual, auditory, olfactory, kinesthesia, tactile and high capacity of the skin to emit and detect radiant heat and thus communicate emotional states and chemically influence other people’s emotions, temperature having a great deal to do with how we experience crowding. According to Hall, we live an increasingly insulated, automated, sensory-deprived life in manufactured environments; urban spaces (of North America in the ‘ass) â€Å"provide little excitement r visual variation and virtually no opportunity to build a repertoire of visual experiences. It would appear that many people are synthetically deprived and even cramped. † Perception of space is closely related with the sense of self. People can be considered as having visual, kinesthesia, tactile, and thermal aspects of their selves, which may be either inhibited or encouraged to develop by their environment. Vision, the last of the senses to evolve, is by far the most complex. Vision is synthesis. It is not passive but active, a transaction between a person and her/his environment. A person learns while he sees and what he learns influences what he sees. There is a visual field (retinal image) and a visual world (what is perceived). Sensory data from other sources, such as body (kinesthesia) feedback, are used to correct the visual field. Vision as a synthetic process means there is no stable, uniform â€Å"reality’ that is recorded on a passive visual receptor system. Perceptual worlds vary between people and between cultures. This influences their manner of orienting themselves in space, and how they get around. Art can be a rich source of data on human perception. The art of a culture reveals a retreat deal about the perceptual world of that culture. The artist provides the reader, listener or viewer with properly selected cues that are not only congruent with the events depicted but consistent with the unspoken language and culture of the audience. Artists help order the cultural universe. By studying the art of the past it is possible to learn something from our own responses about the nature and organization of our visual systems and expectations, as well as develop some notion of what the perceptual world of early people may have been like. Among several examples, Hall discuses the early Egyptian experience of space. Their preoccupation was more with the correct orientation and alignment of religious and ceremonial structures to the cosmos than with enclosed space per SE. The Western idea of a religious edifice is that it communicates spatially. Chapels are small and intimate while cathedrals are awe-inspiring and remind one of the cosmos by virtue of the space they enclose. Hall discusses several moments in the evolution of Western visual arts since the Renaissance in terms of the distinction between the visual world and the visual field, between what one knows to be present and what one sees. Literature can also be a key to perception. Hall promotes the use of literary texts as data (rather than simply as descriptions) on how space has been experienced and perceived in different cultural contexts. There are three proximity levels: infrastructural (rooted in the past, applied to behavior on lower organizational levels that underlie culture, such as territoriality, spacing, and population control), preternatural (related to the senses, the physiological base shared by all human beings, to which culture gives structure and meaning), and of monoculture has three aspects: fixed-feature, simplified-feature, and informal. Fixed-feature spaces are one of the basic ways of organizing the activities of individuals and groups. They include material manifestations as well as hidden, internalized designs that govern behavior. Fixed-feature patterns include buildings, the layout of towns and cities, and the internal spatial organization of houses. Americans have become dependent on the uniform grid pattern of their cities. Western systems stress the lines, which they name. In Japan, the intersections but not the streets are named. Houses instead of being related in space are related in time and numbered in the order in which they are built. The Japanese pattern emphasizes hierarchies that grow around centers. † People carry around initializations of fixed-feature space, which is the mold into which a great deal of behavior is cast. In discussing exemplified-feature space, Hall distinguishes between suspicious spaces (which tend to keep people apart, such as railway waiting rooms) and sociopaths spaces, which tend to bring people together (tables at a sidewalk cafe ©). The structuring of exemplified-features can have a profound effect on behavior. Distinctions between fixed-feature space and simplified-feature space, and between goofball and sociopaths spaces, vary from culture to culture. Informal space refers to personal and social distance among humans. Hall distinguishes four distances kept by people in social situations, each with a close and a far phase: intimate, personal, social, and public. These communicate not only internalized proximity patterns, but also how people feel toward each other. People sense distance as other animals do. They are surrounded by a series of expanding and contracting fields. Their perception of space is not passive but dynamic, related to action†what can be done in a given space. This proximity behavior occurs out of awareness, is culturally conditioned and entirely arbitrary. Hall provides a classification of distances (which applies to an American, middle-class, healthy adult population of â€Å"mainly natives of the northeastern seaboard† in the ‘ass): a) Intimate distance -close phase (CAP): the distance of love-making and wrestling, comforting and protecting -far phase (UP): 6 to 18 inches; b) Personal distance: the distance consistently separating the members of a noncombatant species, a small sphere or bubble that the organism maintains between itself and others -CAP: 1 _ to 2 _ feet -UP: _ to 4 feet; c) Social distance: the distance of impersonal business, the phases communicating degrees of involvement and formality -CAP: 4 to 7 feet -UP: 7 to 12 feet; d) Public distance -CAP: 12 to 25 feet -UP: 25 feet or more. Hall moves on to compare the proximity patterns for people of different cultures. Such comparative analysis is intended to serve a double purpose: first, to shed light on our own out-of-awareness patterns and, by means of this , to contribute to improved design of living and working structures and cities; and second, to contribute to intercultural understanding. Proximity patterns play a role in humans memorable to displayed behavior in lower life forms: they simultaneously consolidate the group and isolate it from others by reinforcing integrator identity and making intercrop communication more difficult. In the US, space is used to classify people and activities (e. G. Corner office), whereas important in America; in England it means nothing. In regard to the need of walls as a screen to the ego, Americans would be placed somewhere between the Germans and the English. â€Å"When an American wants to be alone he goes into a room and shuts the door†he depends on architectural features for screening†¦ The English . Eave in effect internalized a set of barriers, which they erect and which others are supposed to recognize. † The French, like other Mediterranean cultures, pack together more closely than northern Europeans, the English and Americans. Crowded living means higher sensory involvement. â€Å"The French are more inv olved with each other. The layout of their offices, homes, towns, cities, and countryside is such as to keep them involved. † For the French, â€Å"the city is something from which to derive satisfaction. † Hall emphasizes the different size of cars. American cars prevent the overlapping of private spheres inside the car and isolate the traveler from the kinesthesia experiencing of the road. There are two major European systems for patterning space. The â€Å"radiating star,† which occurs in France and Spain, is sociopaths. The â€Å"grid,† originating in the Middle East, adopted by the Romans and carried to England at the time of Caesar, is suspicious. The radiating star connects all points and systems. This pattern of flow from and into a series of interlocking centers touches all facets of French life. In Japanese culture, the concept of a center that can be approached from any direction is an important theme. Furniture tends to be located in the center of a room. American rooms can seem bare to them because the centers are bare. To Americans the walls of a house are fixed; in Japan they are semi- fixed. A house and the zone immediately surrounding it are considered as one structure. Westerners think of space as the distance between objects, as â€Å"empty. † The Japanese are trained to give meaning to spaces, to perceive the shape and arrangement of spaces, for which they have the word ma. In their perception of space, the Japanese integrate vision with other senses. A Japanese garden involves a visual and kinesthesia experience of space. Hall describes the concept of privacy in the Arab world as opposed to American culture. Pushing and shoving in public places is characteristic of Middle Eastern culture. They have no concept of a private zone outside the body. The ego is hidden inside the body. It is possible that population and environmental pressures (the desert) have resulted in a cultural adaptation to high density. Olfactory plays an important role in interaction. Arab upper middle-middle class homes, however, are enormous by Western standards. They avoid partitions because Arabs do not like to be alone. They do not mind being crowded by people, but have a high sensitivity to architectural crowding. Arabs look each other in the eye when talking with an intensity that makes most Americans uncomfortable. The implosion of the world population into cities is creating a series of lethal behavioral sinks. The growth of both the number of cars and population creates a chaotic situation without self-correcting features. In America, it is necessary to consider the cultural differences between minority groups and the dominant culture, which are basic and have to do with such core values as the use and structuring of space, time, and materials. In the major cities of the US, people of very different cultures are in contact with each other in dangerously high maintain distinct identities for several generations. Hall suggests the introduction of â€Å"design features that will counteract the ill effects of the sink but not destroy the (ethnic) enclave in the process. † This means designing spaces that will maintain a healthy density, a healthy interaction rate, and a continuing sense of ethnic identification. Psychologists, anthropologists, and ideologists should be part of city planning departments. Scale is a key factor in planning towns, neighborhoods, and sousing developments. Crowding is linked with physical and social pathologies, illness and crime. The degree to which peoples are essentially involved with each other and how they use time determine not only at what point they are crowded but the methods for relieving crowding as well. Time and the way it is handled have much to do with the structuring of space. Monochromatic time is characteristic of low-involvement people, who compartmentalize time; polyphonic people, who are more involved, tend to have several operations going at the same time. Density requirements are different. The Italian piazza and he Spanish plaza serve both involvement and polyphonic functions, whereas the American Main Street reflects both a different structuring of time and a lesser degree of involvement. City planners have built lawlessness into urban ethnic enclaves by letting them turn into sinks. They should consider reinforcing the human need to belong to a social group akin to the old neighborhood where one is known, has a place, and people have a sense of responsibility to each other. Apart from the enclaves, everything in American cities is suspicious, driving people apart and alienating them from each other. Cars play a significant role in this. They consume space in which people could meet. They create sensory deprivation, insulating people from their environment and from human contact. City planning of the future should find methods for computing and measuring human scale and involvement ratios; make constructive use of the ethnic enclave, reinforcing positive aspects of each culture that provide identity and strength; conserve large outdoor spaces; and preserve useful, satisfying old buildings and neighborhoods. The Hidden Dimension emphasizes that virtually everything that people are and do is associated with the experience of space. The sense of space is molded and patterned by culture. According to Hall, Americans suffer from an â€Å"a-cultural bias†. They direct their attention more toward content (function) than toward structure (form), and the importance of culture is minimized; â€Å"†¦ We have consistently failed to recognize the reality of different cultures within our national boundaries. † In the ‘ass and ‘ass people feared economic cycles; today (sass) we should be alarmed by population cycles. Western people have developed extensions of themselves and then proceeded to screen their senses, ignoring their animal nature, so that they loud get more people into smaller places. Hall compares the situation with the overcrowding of cities in the Middle Ages, which was punctuated by disastrous plagues. Animal studies show the operation of an endocrine control system that regulates the population. Animals stressed from overcrowding suffer from exactly the same diseases as humans: circulatory and heart diseases. Animal studies show that crowding is neither good nor bad per SE, but rather that overpopulation and distances lead to population collapse. In order to solve urban problems we must begin by questioning our basic assumptions concerning the relationship between people and their environment. They should be considered as parts of an interrelated system. The central point of this book is that people cannot divest themselves from their own culture. Even if small fragments of culture are brought to awareness, they cannot be changed because they are very personally experienced and because people cannot act or interact at all in any meaningful way except through the medium of culture. People and their extensions constitute an interrelated system. Their relationship is a continuation and a specialized form of the relationship of organisms in general to heir environment. The ethnic crisis, the urban crisis, and the education crisis are interrelated. They are facets of a larger crisis, a natural growth of humans having developed a new dimension†the cultural dimension†most of which is hidden from view. BEYOND CULTURE There are two main crises in the world today. The most visible is the population/ environment crisis. There is also the crisis of humankind’s relationship to its extensions, institutions, ideas, as well as the relationships between individuals and groups. There are no technical solutions for these crises. Solutions are related to power. The future depends on the ability to transcend the limits of individual cultures. To do so, people must first recognize and accept the hidden dimensions of unconscious culture. Unless human beings can learn to pull together and regulate consumption and production patterns, they are headed for disaster. In order to cooperate, they must know each other’s ways of thinking. People are unnecessarily hard on themselves; they waste their talents. The human species has not begun to tap its potential. Pessimism is reinforced by folklore, religion, philosophies, and institutions. Once people began evolving their extensions, they got caught in what Hall terms extension transference; they became alienated and incapable of controlling the monsters they created. Humans have advanced at the expense of that part of themselves that has been extended, and as a consequence have ended up repressing human nature in many forms, failing to develop important aspects of their capabilities. This process results in emptiness, frustration, and displaced anger. Part of the problem lies in the tension between creativity and diversity and the specific limiting needs of institutions, which have evolved as specialized solutions to specific problems. The only way to escape the hidden constraints of covert culture is cultural literacy, to involve oneself consciously with the parts of life one takes for granted. Beneath the clearly perceived, explicit culture, lies a whole other world, which, when understood, will change our view of human nature. Western people have created chaos by denying that part of themselves that integrates while enshrining the parts that fragment experience. There are many different legitimate ways of thinking. The West values, above all others, the linear system called â€Å"logic,† inherited from the Greeks, and considered synonymous with the How to cite Cross Cultural Communication, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Roman Collusiums Essay Example For Students

Roman Collusiums Essay Architecture of the ancient Roman Empire is considered one of the mostimpressive of all time. The city of Rome once was home to more than one millionresidents in the early centuries AD1. The Romans had a fine selection ofbuilding monuments in the city of Rome including the forums for civic services,temples of worship, and amphitheaters for recreation and play. The Romans madegreat use and pioneered great architecture mechanisms including arches, columns,and even mechanical elements in pulleys and early elevators. However, when onetends to think of great buildings, one building stands out in Rome. Thisbuilding is the Flavian Amphitheatre, or better known as the Colosseum. Whendiscussing such a great monument such as the Colosseum, it is very important torealize the time, place, and culture in wish it stood to fully understand bothits form and function. In the beginnings, Rome was both influenced by theEtruscans of the North and Greeks of Italy and South but had its basic rootsfrom a l ong time of Samnite domination2. The Etruscans were that of aninteresting type as described by Peter Quennell: The Etruscanscombined apassionate devotion to the ordinary pleasures of life with a haunting fear ofdeath. They were cruel, too, and deeply superstitioustheir victims wereordered to fight among themselves until the last had fallen. The Etruscans wouldhave a strong impression in Roman lifestyles and philosophies. For example, thepurple robe worn by leaders would be later adopted by the Romans. They also werethe influence which brought gladiatorial battles of sacrifice into the Romanculture. This was a time of blood thirsty humans who loved the site of battle. Even an early christian named Alypius proclaimed that he took away withhim a mad passion which prodded him not only to return (to gladatior events)with those by whom he had first been forced in, but even ahead of them anddragging in others.3 This was a time of paganism, which meant sacrificeand death. Early christians were persecuted for their beliefs in the first fewcenturies. Clearly in Rome, the focus was not only on religion or the emporer,but we have a focus on leisure and activities. It is said that of athree-hundred and sixty-five day year that one-hundred and fifty days werecelebrated as regular holidays, with over ninety days given up to games4. Thistype of lifestyle would dominate the cities and architecture of the Romans forsome time to come. The people of Rome enjoyed theatres, battles, races, baths,comical events, and of course the game of death. There were many forums,temples, and many amphitheaters in the history of Rome, however only a few standout even today. The Col osseum is the greatest standing building of Rome, and oneof the most recognized worldwide architectural achievements to this day. Theamphitheater is a type of architecture that was without Greek precedents. Thismakes sense since its primary purpose was to hold gladitiator fights and brutalshows which were banned in Athens at the time. Such events held in Romanamphitheaters were horseracing, gymnastics, mock cavalry battles, footraces,prizefighting, wrestling, fights between animals, between men, animals and men,and even naumachiae, or mock sea battles5. One of the first amphitheaters wasthe Pompeian amphitheater of Pompeii of 30 BC. Like the Colosseum, it was ovalin plan. It was supported on great masses of solid earth pierced by a broadcorridor at each end. Stone seats were added at one time but most spectators saton the earth or wooden chairs. Although this amphitheater was a greatinnovation, it would be eclipsed by the Flavian Amphitheater, better known asthe Colosseum. The great building although fitting and plain in design to itssurroundings of Rome still stood out due to its sheer monstrosity and ovalshape. Although the site viewed today is still a marvel, back in the days of itsprime it was a spectacular site that would be difficult to apprehend with onlywordsTVK1. TVK2 The city which held the great structure was full of greatexamples of the use of arches, columns from every order, and of course sheersize. When traveling the city to the Colosseum the whole area had been paved andrailed off. The approach was taken by cobbled slabs of lava, and then oneentered an area paved with travertine more than five thousand feet wide andsurrounded by huge boundary stones6. To a spectator at the time the Colosseumfrom the outside is described by the romantic poet Johann Wolggang von Goethe:When one looks at it all else seems little; the edifice is so vast, that onecannot hold the image of it in ones soul- in memory we think it smaller, andthen return to it again to f ind it every time greater than before. As one lookedat it from the city, there were many sights to behold, but the Colosseum stoodout 19 centuries ago, and still does to this date. At the end of the EmperorNero and the triumph of the Flavians every effort was made to forget the timesof the Julio-Claudians (of which Julius Caesars family) and move to newertimes. The focus of arhictecture and buildings shifted from the emperorscreations to the publics buildings. The next prominent emperor was Vespasian. His first contribution to the public was an enormous forum with a temple ofPeace in it.7 His greatest feat was the beginning of the construction of theColosseum for games purposes around 72 AD. Titus succeeded theever-joking Vespasian and completed his fathers dream around 79-80 AD. Thededication of the Colesseum was a lavish gladiator show that lasted for exactlyone-hundred days in which over nine thousand animals were killed.8 A typical dayat the Colesseum show usually started with a bloodless comic relief battle,often times with dwarfs, women, or cripples battling with wooden objects. A tubawould sound and the main events would begin. The gladiator fights were the mostpopular and prominent fights. These featured two highly trained men battling forcourage, strength, and dignity. They would often rather take a blow and standstrong than wimper and run in defense. The people were in love with gladiatorsmuch like todays sport heroes. It is written that famous women would even leavethei r husbands for famous gladiators which were known to be very scarred andugly by Roman standards.9 The gladiator fight was a ruthless blood-riddenspectacle which usually ended in death by the loser who begged for mercy and waschosen to die by the present emperor or crowd cheers of 45,000 hysterical fans. Propaganda In Art EssayIt was designed purely for the benefit of the audience, to keep them calm andcontent as the violent spectacle unfolded below. It was a roof. The roof of theColleseum was one that was retractable and much like a sailor. So much in fact,sailors who lived in a nearby town managed the velarium, or colored awning. Thiswas a remarkable feat considering that most stadiums now days are still notfully enclosed (such as the Cowboys stadium). The use of the corbels on theuppermost deck and the use of a pulley system brought about this feat ofingenious. Some archeologists thought that the roof was non-existent or was aweb of ropes, but it is now believed to be made from masts and pulleys. Themasts would hold horizontal masts on which to pull the awning over. It isbelieved that it did not cover the whole structure, but at least the mostimportant seatings of the emperor for the whole day.14 Hebrew prisoners andslaves of the time employed the building of the Colesseum. All the details ofthe actual construction are unknown, but it is based upon a barrel-vaultedscheme that circles around. The builders used tavertine blocks to construct aframework of piers, arches, and linked walls and vaults. The cement posts godeep into the ground to support the great weight. The lower level vaults wereconstructed of tufa or pumice. On the upper floors the walls were built withbrick and concrete (utilizing volcanic sand to dry). Travertine was used tosurround the outside and was held in place by iron clamps. 15 The experience ofbeing outside the Colosseum was plain except for the added statues. The outsideof the building was paved with boundaries and roads. One could make out thehundreds of semicircles and arches. The arches increased upwards from Truscan,Doric, and Corinthian columns to the Corinthian Pillars and wall of the fourthdeck. The outside was a brilliant travertine that must have been a spectacularsight. Next to the building one would feel he is nothing but a little gnatcompared to the great building. To get inside one must enter their gate, andproceed up the stairway to the designated level much like a modern stadium. Since there were 80 entrances, many people could occupy the great Amphitheater. Inside the Coloseum the arena floor was wooden and covered with sand to soak theblood. There was a great podium made of marble on the sidelines housed thedignitaries. Above that were marble seats for distinguished private citizens. The second held the middle class, the third held slaves and foreigners, and thefourth levels were for women and the poor who sat on wooden seats.16 The greatvelarium was multicolored and must have been a specticle on the inside of theColosseum when raised. This would also shadow and protect the fans from nature. The arches allowed for great ventilation, stability, and passageways to keep thecrowd comfortable all day. On a whole the Colosseum is symbolized by its sizewhich represents the greatness of Rome. The name may be attributed to its size,or some believe to the colossal statue of Nero nicknamed the crownedcolossus that was nearby. With all of the circular motifs used by thearches, and of the building itself, some believe it symbolizes the sun. Thisalso makes sense considering part of the Colosseum was built from the GoldenHouse of Nero, also known as the solar statue, or sun statue. Many symbols usedin the Colosseum were of Pagan descendent. This included the sacrifices, purplerobes, battle-axes, and hammers of the Etruscan Pagans. The cross was erected tocommemorate the early Christians who are believed to have died here (althoughthere is no evidence to support this belief). The great arch beside the Coliseumwas erected in the third century in honor of Constantine, although much of its decoration was pilfered from monuments to other emperors. Since one of thesymbols was of the sun, the arches created natural and splendid light andshadows as shown in the picture. Much poetry has been written of the light,shadows, and even smoke from the arches of the Colosseum. When it was not noonthe light would create long shadows and yet have bright instances whichaccentuate the arches and columns in the bright light. It shows an alternatingnatural pattern of shadows. One of the first natural changes of the Colosseumcame in 320 when lightning struck and damaged the building. In 422 it wasdamaged by an earthquake. However Theodosius II and Valentitian III repaired itonly to be again damaged by an earthquake in 508. After the sixth century thecity of Rome and the Coleseum went downhill because of some devastatingdisasters. Towards the end of the sixth century grass was starting to growrampant at the Colosseum. Arts and Painting

Friday, November 29, 2019

Marketing Strategies for Certain Markets

Sanguine mangers characterized by a keenness of understanding of market forces know quite well what to expect when launching a new product in a new market that is characterized by a multicultural environment.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Strategies for Certain Markets specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They know that issues such as cultural differences, product branding, norms, values, beliefs, perceptions, distribution channels, communication strategies, market expectations, and satisfied customer differentiate one market from the another (Kang, ND). Success in one market, as has been evident in the US market may not translate to success in the Japanese, South African, or the South American markets. Each market uniquely defines itself by a myriad of issues such as cultural differences and marketing communications as noted above. Therefore, a marketing plan devised by the successful marketer must integ rate strategies focusing a specific audience. That is the case with Uniland multi-national cooperation. Uniland has successfully marketed its new product in the US market and has aggressively set down marketing plans to take the product further, labeled as Orange homecare medical product, into the global market particularly the South American, South African, and the Japanese markets. Different markets are uniquely characterized by different marketing strategies due to different cultural backgrounds, consumer tastes, consumer behavior, reactions, and consumer perceptions about new products (Kang, n.d). Marketing a new product in the US may demand less sophisticated distribution and marketing channels than can be demanded by marketing a similar product in the Japanese, South African, and the South American markets. A solid knowledge about the new market is indispensable to successfully penetrate and launch the new product (Cronin, 2000). In the modern age of e-marketing, the marketing manager in the new markets could establish a connection element that plays a key role in reaching the target market. Effective communication strategies, e-commerce strategies, could effectively enable the marketing manager to strategically mobilize the target audience to establish a strong connection with them (Arikan, 2008).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The most important consideration in designing marketing strategies for foreign markets that differentiates them with the local US market revolves around culture and brand perceptions carried in the brand message. The American audience may perceive and connect a brand message to their cultural settings differently from the way the Japanese and other markets could. The brand message is a critical component in marketing in these audiences. Multicultural environments always feel connected to a brand’s message that is delivered through media devices such mobile phones among others. A brand message should critically reflect the cultural settings of the target audience and should explicitly reflect their culture at all levels of product marketing. Therefore, the marketing manager should strategically tailor the new product to reflect the cultural settings of the new markets. That is because in the new e-commerce age, while firms find the e-platform as a strategic tool in reaching target audiences in real time, brand messages have the potential to mobilize a big market share leading to higher profits and strong product position. On the other hand, wrongly branded messages tailored for specific audiences lead to wrong perceptions and loss of market (Arikan, 2008). In conclusion, while a prospective manager searching for opportunities in new markets may use e-commerce tools such as the internet to get instant access to new markets, the need to inculcate a culture as a driving force in formulating new marketing strategies is overly indispensable. References Arikan, A. (2008). Multi-channel Marketing: Metrics and Methods for a Successful  Business. New Jersey: Sybex Publishers. Cronin, M. (2000). Unchained Value: The New Logic of Digital Business. Harvard: Harvard Business School Press.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Strategies for Certain Markets specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Kang, J. (n.d). Marketing in a Multicultural Environment: Understanding Asian  Consumers. The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Hong Kong. Web. This essay on Marketing Strategies for Certain Markets was written and submitted by user Jazmin Lott to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Proposal for redesigning the selection and assessment process for Graduate Recvruitment The WritePass Journal

Proposal for redesigning the selection and assessment process for Graduate Recvruitment Introduction Proposal for redesigning the selection and assessment process for Graduate Recvruitment ). In other words, companies need to know they are looking for. Studies conducted in Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) have indicated a low refusal rate and a higher retention rate (Stewart Knowles, 2000). Perhaps then there is something to be learned about their recruitment strategies and process, as further research has shown that through assessment centre type approaches to recruitment, applicants are likely to form a negative opinion of the company if the assessment procedure is not effectively run with the correct feedback and information given to the candidates (Griffiths, 2011). There is clearly something to be learned therefore from the processes used by SME’s. In the SME research, a proposed application procedure was used that consisted of three sections. The first was assessing the company and the needs thereof, whilst the second was rating skills desired in potential candidates on a numerical scale determining importance with the final section using assessment criteria to determine if a particular candidate possessed the skills in relation to the second sections criteria. There is some debate around the importance of references at this stage of the selection process, however studies reveal that the vast majority of larger companies used these in the initial phase of recruitment to gain information about the personal qualities and honesty of the individual. Of the SME’s surveyed in the research, only about half made use of ability, literacy, personality or numeracy tests in the initial assessment. Interpersonal qualities, teamwork and leadership abilities were also considered. The highly technical nature of the field of data-communication makes general intelligence assessment desirable and the product-moment correlation between the Raven’s Matrices and the CPAB indicate that this is a generally effective measure of assessment. Whilst research has shown that generally leadership ability is not a highly ranked skill in terms of desirability amongst the SME’s, therefore the lower product-moment correlation may not be of overt significance. However, with that being said, if this is a personal preference of the company that their graduates possess higher leadership ability, this should be represented in the product-moment correlation. The success of an applicant in these tests is a separate indicator to the application forms, references and initial screening mentioned above.   With the data provided by HAL, there was a clear agreement between the outcomes of the second phase of interviews and the outcomes of the objective testing criteria. High Refusal and Turnover Rates There is some indication through research that the refusal and retention rate of a company may be directly related to the assessment and recruitment procedure itself. As the initial assessments and interview processes if conducted poorly can lead to a negative opinion of the recruiting company which in turn can lead to a higher refusal rate. Whilst the initial interviews and screening process see a large number of applicants, if it impossible to tell who the final graduates will be and therefore careful consideration of giving the correct impression needs to be made. There is likelihood that if a graduate is not impressed with HAL, they will not take the position being offered. Almost 40% of applicants surveyed felt that the application and assessment procedures did not allow them to showcase their particular skills, nor did it demonstrate any relationship with the job position applied for. Limited or no feedback given during or after the assessment also contributed to the formation of this opinion. The development of a favorable opinion was also significantly affected by the participation in the process by senior levels of management (Griffiths, 2011). It is clear from the research that making a good first impression on the applicants is important in order to reduce the refusal rate. In addition to amending the initial application process, or possibly outsourcing it to a recruitment company, there needs to be a strong involvement by the company creating a link between the job applied for and the application procedure/criteria. Areas of possible improvement to this extent definitely include the second phase of the process i.e. the first interviews. More time should be put aside for the preparation and execution of these interviews to allow for maximum graduate assessment exercise. In making the first phase of assessment i.e. the initial application more thorough, the interviewers will be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates beforehand a nd prepare accordingly to illicit the required information through preparation. It is also worth noting that this second phase of the recruitment process may also be handled by a graduate recruitment company who will then interview potential candidates on behalf of HAL to provide a shorter list of potential candidates for interview therefore resolving the time and budget concerns surrounding the recruitment process in the initial phases. There is a clear discrepancy between the various product-measure correlation data variables and it is likely that this has something to do with the refusal rate and ultimately the turnover of the staff. Importantly, there is no clear correlation between the proficiency levels demonstrated by candidates in the objective assessment tests and the salaries offered to those candidates in their first year. Whilst the personnel director does give weight to the overall opinion of the selection panel in deciding on the salary to be offered to particular candidates, it is clear that not enough weight is given to the outcomes of these general intelligence rating tests. Although not necessarily conclusive, when working in a highly technical environment, these technical or intelligence related skills may rank more highly than interpersonal skills or leadership abilities and this should be factored in accordingly. Likewise, for candidates interviewing for a managerial position that is not heavily dependent on technical or intellectual ability, more weight should be given to the outcome of the leadership assessment, as well as interpersonal and management related skills. It is clear from the data provided that there is no such correlation as the product-measure value is unusually low between the outcome of this test and the salary offered in year A and year B. Whilst it is fairly evident that the success or failure of the training provided to the incoming graduates may heavily depend on the recruitment process itself determining the potential caliber of successful applicants which will directly influence the outcome of these training programs. There is however another indication on the given data that may suggest a possible reason for the less than satisfactory outcome of these training courses and this is that perhaps these are not the correct training courses for the graduates to be undertaking. There is a clear correlation on the data between the psychometric tests, however this does not translate into success in the training courses. Arguably, the analytical skills required for the technicalities of data communication hardware and software are transferrable skills and this should translate well through vocational training courses. If not, there are conceivably two possible reasons why namely, the graduates employed are not being proper ly assessed in terms of determining their transferable skill set or the vocational training is not appropriate for the employers and employees needs. By reassessment of the kinds of training provided, it may be possible to improve the outcome of these training courses, as well as streamlining the training to cut back training expenses. There may exist alternative solutions to the current training modules. High turnover rates with staff is a complicated issue to address, however if one assesses the data given that two thirds of the staff leaving HAL were due to dissatisfaction or better opportunities elsewhere. This is not difficult to conceive when looking to other data such as the stagnant promotion channels and salary advancement. In order to improve retention rates, HAL will need to improve their strategies for salary increase and promotion. Although promotion is difficult to predict, because often it requires staff changes, salary increase strategies can be planned well in advance and factored into the budgeting. Although there is a general policy of even distribution, to offer a higher salary to a graduate without increase potential may well dampen the motivation of those employees leading to higher turnover rates. Recommendations Complete Overhaul of the Initial Application Procedure and Criteria Due to the concern over the budget of graduate recruitment process to the company, it may be the best option to outsource the initial phase of recruitment to a graduate recruitment company. Considering the amount of work that is necessary to determine the objectives of the company and design a recruitment strategy in accordance thereof and then later the time that will be needed to effectively assess the candidates in line with those objectives, it may be simpler and more cost effective to outsource this part of the recruitment process. Fortunately, the number of graduates required begins with a very large pool of applicants and the impersonal nature of the first phase of assessment can be conducted by a third party without experiencing any potential backlash. Thereafter, HAL will be given a smaller pool of candidates to assess which they can do more effectively as they will have time and budget unspent from having outsourced this initial phase. Key involvement by senior employees and an overall assessment taking into account the different requirements of the jobs specified will ensure that there is a good overall assessment of candidates. Reassessment of Weighting of Specific Criteria in Various Employment Roles HAL needs to determine the various important criteria for the various roles available in the company, as with different roles, there are different personal requirements and when dealing with interpersonal dependant roles such as management and a diametrically opposed technical role, one cannot weight skills of equal value to either. Therefore in more technical positions, psychometric testing and technical skills assessment will carry more weight, whereas in a management or sales position these will be of less significance, yielding to interpersonal and sales ability. Correlation Between Skills and Reward As a product of the reassessment of the criteria for employment roles, so surely there must be a correlation between these skills and the salary offered to the graduates. This will assist in lowering the refusal rate of the graduates offered positions as the graduates will be compensated according to individual skill and not according to an overall general criterion that may not be relevant. In addition, there must be careful considerations of budgetary requirements in so deciding, as in order to reduce turnover there must be the opportunity for salary increase. Reassessment of Vocational Training Whilst it is not clear what the cause of failure of the candidates in the training courses is, it is clear that there is the possibility of inappropriate training being given that is not necessarily relevant to the needs of the employees. It is necessary to determine the cause of the failure of candidates in these training courses and to develop a strategy to minimize the cost and maximize the output of these candidates. There is the possibility however that in employing a higher level of candidate made possible through reevaluation of the recruitment process that this problem may resolve itself, however this is unlikely. Time Frame Time Period Action Required Key Players 5 – 10 Days Meet with Recruitment Agency to discuss the objectives and assessment criteria for the role.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Director of Personnel HAL  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Recruitment Agency 90 Days Phase 1: Recruitment Period – where the positions are advertised and applications are received.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Recruitment Agency  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Graduate Applicants 10 – 15 Days Assessment Period for Phase 1 – Making a selection of 600 – 700 applicants out of the entire application bundle received.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Recruitment Agency 15 – 20 Days Phase 2: Initial Interviews with potential candidates to assess their suitability for the roles and to determine the skill sets.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Recruitment Agency  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Graduate Applicants 2 – 5 Days Assessment of the outcomes of the interviews with HAL and handing over of the applicable information and desirable candidates  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Recruitment Agency  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   HAL 20 – 30 Days Phase 3: Invitation to visit HAL offices, including a tour of the facilities, psychometric testing, skills analysis, leadership abilities and second round of interviewing  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   HAL  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Graduate Applicants 10 Days Assessment Period for Phase 3 – weighting of various criteria by the selection panel and short listing of desirable candidates according to rating criteria  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   HAL Selection Panel 5 Days Personnel director consulting the selection panel and finance department  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   HAL Personnel Director 5 Days Issuing of letters of appointment and rejection to all participants in Phase 3  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   HAL Personnel Director Deadline for acceptance or decline of offer  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Graduate Applicants Bibliography Jim Stewart Vanessa Knowles, (2000),’Graduate recruitment and selection practices in small businesses’, Career Development International, 5(1) pp. 21 – 38 Neal Schmidt (2012) The Oxford Handbook of Personnel Assessment and Selection Oxford: Oxford University Press Nicola Griffiths (2011) ‘Assessment Centres for Graduate Recruitment: The Graduate Experience’ [online] [cited 25 May 2012] Accessed on berkshire.co.uk/content/berkshire/assessment-centres-for-graduate-recruitment.pdf Tony Keenan (1995), ‘Graduate Recruitment in Britain: A Survey of Selection Methods Used by Organization’ Journal of Organizational Behavior, 16(4) Teresa Dahlberg, Tiffany Barnes, Audrey Rorrer Eve Powell, (), ‘Improving Retention and Graduate Recruitment through Immersive Research Experiences for Undergraduates’ [online] [cited 25 May 2012] Accessed on http://laurencairco.com/papers/sigcse.pdf High Fliers (2012) ‘The Graduate Market in 2012: Annual review of graduate vacancies starting salaries at Britain’s leading employers’ [online] [cited 25 May 2012] Accessed on highfliers.co.uk/download/GMReport12.pdf

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Australia - Essay Example Australian government reforms introduced at various points in time has been also contributed to the economic development of this country. In addition sectors such as Mining sector have played a major role in ensuring a good economic growth in Australia. Australia GDP growth Australia gross domestic product rose by 2.6 percent in 2008. Export and the banking industries have also greatly contributed to the impressive economic growth. This paper therefore aims to make an analysis of the economic and cultural situation in Australia and examine the various factors that have contributed the positive growth in Australia. As already seen in paper one Australia is one of the world’s biggest markets and therefore entering Australia for investment requires a lot of hard-work. Before a company ventures into business in Australia it must first of all come up with clear and logical marketing objectives and strategies that will enable the company successfully venture into Australian market. As discussed in paper one new companies that want to enter into the Australian markets are likely to face a number of challenges that include competition from other companies producing similar products and the challenge of familiarizing their company to Australians and ensure that Australians are made aware of the company and its product before it is officially launched. In addition it should also be able to come up with strategies that it can employ to gain control of the product through exports and distribution. New companies must therefore anaylse their marketing objectives and strategies and ensure that measur es taken will enable them successfully enter in Australia as well as continue to remain in the Australian market. This paper will therefore explore the various strategies that the company will employ when venturing into business and come up with mechanisms it intends to use to overcome the possible challenges it is likely to face in order to successfully enter the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Land Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Land Law - Essay Example Therefore, it is important to now that Under (Law of Property Act 1925 s 199(1)(ii)(a)), the occupant(s) of the property have major interests ‘since it is implicit in Williams & Glyn’s Bank v Boland [1981] AC 487, Midland Bank v Dobson [1986] 1 FLR 171 and Lloyds Bank v Rosset [1991] 1 AC 107 that the beneficial interest (of the third parties) under this trust precedes the court order’ (Milney, 1997). It is an important consideration that belief involved in proprietary estoppel cases can be in any rights in and over the property. Tom, another third party, through a properly executed deed, was given exclusive possession over a cottage in the property for a period of six years. In simpler words, the said cottage was given on lease to Tom by the sole registered owner, Simon. The deed is a legal contact between the two parties with specified terms and conditions. The contractual obligations are legally binding on the two parties. When the property is transferred or sold to another person, the liabilities and other encumbrances, unless discounted, are also carried forward, without affecting the rights of the people, especially those who are leased part of the property through proper legal deals. According to LRA 2002(c.9) Section 12(8), ‘registration with possessory title has the same effect as registration with absolute title, except that it does not affect the enforcement of any estate, right or interest adverse to, or in derogation of, the proprietor’s title subsisting at the time of registration or then capable of arising’ (www.opsi.gov.uk). Simon had also given right of way over his driveway to his neighbour Nora, for ‘as long as you live’. This law of easement primarily provides a right to use a piece of land by the neighbours for performing specific functions. The most popular easement is ‘right to

Monday, November 18, 2019

Which Way, Natural Selection or Intelligent Design Essay

Which Way, Natural Selection or Intelligent Design - Essay Example Looking from the position of the ontological complexity, the two ideas include the existence of the different forms of life, however, in the case with the intelligent design the designer and the material employed in the design  have to be included (Muggy 1). In addition, a problem arises regarding the intelligent designer origin. Since, this creator has a greater capability and more complexity than even the capabilities of the current human beings. This poses a question, are humans supposed to be designed? However, in regards of the dynamic complexity of a human life, both theories tend to agree on the reproductive capabilities of all the organisms, though this is not very clear in the intelligent design theory. On the other hand, the natural selection implies that there is a biological process which accounts for the observed similarities amongst offsprings and their parent organisms (Roderick 1). Indeed, it is easier to believe this since this phenomenon can be observed in many of the organisms, this further implies that there should be a particular activity that allows such functioning. However, the intelligent design theory postulates the presence of the design processes which are outside of whatever goes on during the reproduction. In regards to the explanatory power, the evolutionary theory also takes the lead. Due to the fossil records, the gaps between the species are completed. Indeed, fossils point out at the transitional period which a particular organism passes to another state as indicated in the Charles Darwin theory. However, the intelligent design does not account for the transitional fossils, thus, with the discovery of more fossils, the weaknesses of the intelligent design are laid bare. By and large, the... This essay stresses that a problem arises regarding the intelligent designer origin. Since, this creator has a greater capability and more complexity than even the capabilities of the current human beings. This poses a question, are humans supposed to be designed? However, in regards of the dynamic complexity of a human life, both theories tend to agree on the reproductive capabilities of all the organisms, though this is not very clear in the intelligent design theory. On the other hand, the natural selection implies that there is a biological process which accounts for the observed similarities amongst offsprings and their parent organisms. Indeed, it is easier to believe this since this phenomenon can be observed in many of the organisms, this further implies that there should be a particular activity that allows such functioning. This paper makes a conclusion that in regards to the explanatory power, the evolutionary theory also takes the lead. Due to the fossil records, the gaps between the species are completed. Indeed, fossils point out at the transitional period which a particular organism passes to another state as indicated in the Charles Darwin theory. The intelligent design does not account for the transitional fossils, thus, with the discovery of more fossils, the weaknesses of the intelligent design are laid bare. By and large, the intelligent design argument on irreducible complexity, that is contrary to the evolution principle, does not explain the reason why some forms of life exhibit similar characteristics and some organisms have parts in common, but perform different duties. Indeed this gives support to the evolution theory

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Social Workers Knowledge Of The Law Social Work Essay

Social Workers Knowledge Of The Law Social Work Essay I want to be a social worker, not a lawyer Robert Johns p.1 The aim of this assignment is to consider the importance of law for social workers and discuss the professional skills and values which underpin social work practice in England and Wales today. I will firstly look at how law frames social work practiceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. The relationship between the law and social work practice is complex. Although an in-depth understanding of how the law affects every day social work practice is essential, it also involves much more than just learning the legal rules. Constant reflection and critical analysis of your own values and practice of social work are required to be an effective practitioner (block 1 p130). However, Jeremy Roche argues that although the law provides a framework it cannot tell social workers what to do in every circumstance. The law cannot always resolve the dilemmas and tensions that face social workers everyday. Above all, the law cannot substitute for sound professional practice. (Robert Johns p.7) How the law is made The Law provides a framework for practice which grants the social worker with powers to take appropriate action. A starting point for understanding the legal framework is Statute law which is one of the main sources of law and is contained in an Act of Parliament. The Children Act 1989 is an example of statute law. The language of statutes can sometimes appear confusing for example the meaning of significant harm is not described in detail in the Children Act 1989 and can therefore be open to interpretation. A social worker will therefore have to provide evidence that the child is likely to suffer from significant harm and such decisions will be made jointly with legal advisers and managers (block 1 p.51) Case law is the second source of law which is developed by the courts from judgments made on cases brought before them (block 1 p.51). An example of case law that has an impact on society is the case of Diane Pretty who had a terminal illness causing a physical disability and she wished to have the right to choose when to die with the help of her husband. Dianes argument was that the right to life contained within Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) also implied a right to die (block 1 p.52). However, her application was rejected by the court who stated that Article 2 was not concerned with the quality of life. (block 1 p.52. Although the language of statutes can be difficult to understand, there are two words which will help social workers to interpret statutes and they are duties and power. Legislation provides social workers with certain powers as well as duties that social workers are legally bound to fulfil. An example of this is shown in the case study of Masie when her need for a service requires as assessment as decisions will be influenced by not only the social workers commitment to values and best practice but by the legal duties and powers. However, it can be frustrating when it is clear that a service is needed for a service user but there is insufficient money to provide that particular resource. A further example of the importance for social workers to have a thorough knowledge of the law in order that they can make decisions on appropriate legislation is shown in the case study of the Clarke family (p 82 of block 1 book) where the social worker attends the family home on an arranged visit and finds Emily (mother) under the influence of alcohol while the children were playing with cutlery in the kitchen. This is clearly an issue of child protection as the children are likely to suffer significant harm if they remain in the care of their mother. It therefore makes it a duty for the local authority to investigate and provide services as well as having the power to protect the children. How the law underpins social work practice: The law which underpins social work practice was radically redrawn in the 1980s following a series of scandals for example the events in Cleveland where social workers were accused of an over-readiness of taking children into care and the fact that the parents felt totally undermined and were not afforded proper rights to present their views. Interestingly the Cleveland Report also acknowledged the dilemma of child protection work namely that social workers are damned if they do, and damned if they dont (Robert Johns p.10) As a consequence of the events in Cleveland, many key principles such as the accountability of social workers to the law are now enshrined in the Children Act 1989, and according to Robert Johns, social workers welcomed the clarity this would have (word better) Values Principles Throughout my reading and my experience as a social work student I have learnt that before we can even think about working anti-oppressively within the law we need to look at our own experiences. Everyone has values and principles which shape our behaviour and perceptions of the world and it therefore important that social workers reflect on their values as their decisions will have a direct affect on the services they provide when practicing. (p126 block 1) Although social work values underpin decision making when working with service users, there are also values embedded in legislation which support social work values. However, there maybe areas of conflict or tension between legal values and social work values, particularly when a service user is deemed to be entitled to certain community services look at page 129 and expandà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. There are also areas of the law that social workers may find difficult to address, for example, the Diane Petty case which I discussed earlier, where a commitment to social work values could mean respecting Dianes wishes. In order to demonstrate my own professional development as a social work student, I will briefly look at how the legislation underpins the assessment of children in need and discuss the importance social work values while completing an assessment. A child in need assessment should provide a clear understanding of the childs needs and is based on the provision of the Children Act 1989 and 2004, the principle that underpins the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (Department of Health, et al 2000), Working Together (Department of Health, 1991), and Every Child Matters which provides the legislative foundation on which policy and guidance has been built to inform social work practice in assessment. The social workers knowledge of the law and service provisions can be critical in empowering service users (Block 1 p20). It is essential for the social worker to work in a way that is both anti-oppressive and which recognises cultural perspectives. Anti-oppressive practice means recognising power imbalances and working towards the promotion of change to redress the balance of power. (Dalrymple and Burke 2003, p.15). Social workers have to make decisions in their everyday practice based on their own values and good practice is about involving service users through all stages of the assessment, inviting them to meetings, informing them of their rights and options as well as working in a way that is accountable (Thompson 2006). This would also support social work value D Value, recognise and respect the diversity, expertise and experience of individuals, families, carers, groups and communities (GSCC, 2002). It was interesting to note that Jane Aldgate (in Law and Social work book) looks at both the strengths and weaknesses of the assessment framework and although acknowledges that the shared language between professionals is undoubtedly a strength, Calder and Hackett, 2003 (in law in social work) criticise that the omission of risk as a separate category can lead to professionals underestimating risks when completing an assessment. Conclusion The law provides a framework to guide and assist social workers in making crucial decisions and preventing anti-discriminatory practice as well as providing a framework of legal rights for service users. Principles of social justice and human rights are fundamental to social work and without an in-depth understanding of the law and how it affects social work practice, it would be impossible to practice effectively. Throughout my experience as a social work student together with my research and reading for this assignment it has become clear that in order to comply with the General Social Care Council Codes of Practice (2002) social workers must view the law as an integral part of their role.