5 Stages of Grief

Kubler-Ross Model of 5 Stages of Death Daniel Redwood, D. C. (1995) mentioned the 5 stages of death was introduced by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in the book On Death and Dying (1956). The 5 stages of death is also known as Kubler-Ross Model. According to this model, there are 5 stages that a person will face when he or she is going through death or is about to lose someone they love or have just lost their loved ones. The 5 stages are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and the final stage is Acceptance (as citied in Elisabeth K. B. , 1956).The 5 stages will be further explained as below. The first stage is ‘Denial’. In this stage, people who are about to die or have lost their loved ones will be very numb and they will find that there is no purpose in life. Besides that, during this stage, one will not be able to focus in their life and will usually lose their hope. Through being in denial, one will be able to cope and thus making survival to be possible once again. Being in the denial stage also protects them from being overwhelm with the anxiety that they are about to die or have lost their loved ones.Another important reason why one will be in this stage, is because they are unable to accept the reality that they are about to die or have lost their loved ones ( Elisabeth K. B. , 1956). The second stage of death is ‘Anger’. In the ‘Anger’ stage, one will usually be feeling very angry because they got that particular sickness or because they have lost their loved ones. They feel angry because they feel it’s not fair for them to fall sick or for their loved ones to fall sick. This is mainly due to the reason of belief that they have lived a balanced and healthy life. Therefore, they should not easily fall sick and face death.During this stage, the person will usually have a targeted person to release their anger. Usually, the person who is facing death due to some terminal illness will release their anger towards the doctor who is treating them, immediate family members or the person who is taking care of them. According to Axelrod, J. (2006), doctors usually becomes the targeted person because the doctor was not able to find a cure or treatment for the illness that the person is facing. This may be due to the stereotype that doctors should be able to treat and cure all of their patient’s sickness.Family members and the immediate person who is taking care of the person who is facing death becomes the targeted person because the person who is facing death will usually be filled with anger and disappointment due to the fact that they are about to leave their loved ones and not be able to ever see them again. After the ‘Anger’ stage, comes the ‘Bargaining’ stage. According to Elisabeth, K. B. (1956), just before we are about to lose our loved ones, the bargaining stage comes in the form of ‘doing anything and everything’ to spare the life of your loved ones, so that we are able to see them survive and continue living.The bargaining usually involves spirituality, where one will look towards a higher Being for miracle to take place. After a loss, bargaining will appear in the form of â€Å"What if.. † or â€Å"If only.. † statements. This is because, we would wish if we could have return to the past and change things so that we would not have lost our loved ones. The next stage is ‘Depression’. Elisabeth, K. B. (1956) mentioned right after the ‘Bargaining’ stage, we will step into the present state. Feeling of emptiness, sorrow and grief will be very deep and at times unbearable.During this stage, one will feel as though this depression will always be there. Elisabeth, K. B. (1956) also state that the stage of depression is normal when one has lost their loved ones. Finally, we will go through the ‘Acceptance’ stage. During this stage, we have finally accepted the reality and able to live in the present. We may not like the reality, however we have learned to accept. We have finally made a way to be able to continue living our life and move on. Instead of denying the past, one will be able to change, grow and continue living

Psychology Analysis on Disney Character Essay

Extra Credit The fictional character I chose to diagnose is Donkey from Shrek. Donkey is a hyperactive, talkative, funny and sensitive donkey with buckteeth. He enjoys singing, senseless chatter and usually speaks Ebonics. He also proves to be rather annoying to those around him. Donkey has a sweet tooth as well. He enjoys parfait, cake and other pastries of the sort. Some of Donkey’s quirks include acrophobia, which is a fear of heights. He is also colorblind and suffers from hypochondria; this is a fear of illness. Donkey is impatient and has a short attention span too. In my opinion, Donkey has bipolar disorder. Often through out the movie he shows multiple signs of hyperactivity, elation, irritability, flights of ideas, rapid thinking and speaking, and moderate reckless behavior. Donkey showed signs of hyperactivity from the moment he was able to speak. When he was hit with some of that pixie dust, he attained the ability of speech and flight. Even though the ability for him to fly did not last very long, he still retained the talking part. Once he realized he was able to talk permanently, that was his way out of every situation he got into. Donkey’s hyperactivity comes from the fact that he was always locked up in a cage and was taken care of by an old woman who treated him very poorly. Since he got his freedom he showed his true colors and abused the fact that he was able to talk or do as he pleases. Throughout the movie, Shrek would get very aggravated with him because he just would not shut up or stop moving. He could not hold still for five seconds. Donkey shows signs of elation and euphoria as well. No matter what you do to him or how bad you do it, Donkey always looks at the bright side of things and pretends as if nothing ever happened. Either that or he is just an oblivious animal. This sense of euphoria adds on to his hyperactivity. Since he is always happy and hyperactive, it is hard to get his attention therefore making it an ordeal for others to talk to him because he would just dose off into his own little world mid conversation and act as if he just won the mega-millions. Donkey does not get irritated very often, but when he does, he actually becomes quite persistent. After Shrek and Donkey deliver Fiona to Lord Farquaad, Donkey follows Shrek to his fairy tale character free swamp and attempts to live there. Shrek then mentions that he will build a fort around his swamp and Donkey becomes more and more irritated as Shrek wants to be left alone. While Donkey is outside he takes the initiative to build his own fort therefore dividing Shrek’s land. When Shrek comes back out he questions Donkey’s decision and they start arguing. As the conversation persists, Donkey becomes more and more aggressive with Shrek leading them to become physical to start shoving each other. In my opinion, Donkey is showing signs of irritability because it seems to me that nothing ever went his way. Furthermore, he was always told what to do and was treated insignificantly and undermined. Since Donkey is always so hyperactive and on the move, he does not allow himself or for his brain to process his thoughts or actions. You can pretty much compare Donkey to a puppy with new chew toy or a cat with a ball of yarn. Since he feels this euphoria and hyperactivity, he is happy. When you are happy you tend to be more relaxed and your sense of awareness goes down a level, therefore causing Donkey to have rapid thinking and speaking. Aside from euphoria, hyperactivity, irritability, and rapid thinking and speaking Donkey also has flights of ideas. Sometimes he would become so happy and coiled up from one event that he does not think about the future. This leads him to come up with ideas that seem rational and foolproof in his mind but in reality it is very dangerous, stupid and nearly impossible. Because of the fact that he is so happy and looks mostly on the bright side of things, he does not consider the consequences, therefore putting himself and others in danger. Through out the movie, Donkey does not show much sign of reckless behavior either. The most reckless thing he has done is speak to a dragon while Shrek  tried to infiltrate the castle and save the princess. If this situation was looked upon by professionals they would say that Donkey has to be admitted into a mental institution. If you were to ask Donkey how he felt about his actions, I believe he would see it completely normal and would not find any problems. I believe this reckless behavior also generates from his symptoms of hyperactivity, rapid thinking and speaking and euphoria. Additionally, after Shrek attempts to stop the marriage of Fiona and Farquaad, Donkey comes flying in with the same dragon he was talking to earlier in the movie. It just so happens to be that the dragon is a female dragon. At the end of the movie, when all the antagonists are defeated, Shrek and Fiona go off to the swamp and get married with all their fairy tail creature friends. Again, Donkey comes flying in with his girlfriend dragon, but this time they come in with little baby fire breathing flying Donkeys. To me this would be a reckless thing to do because; well for one he is a donkey and she is a dragon. I would imagine the difficulty to conceive children. Overall, I believe Donkey’s most vital symptoms are hyperactivity, euphoria, and rapid speaking and thinking. In my opinion, these major symptoms trigger Donkey’s minor symptoms that are flights of ideas, reckless behavior, and irritability. If the major symptoms were treated or worked upon then Donkey would have an easier time controlling his minor symptoms. I think that if there was a way to develop some sort physical program for Donkey to take part in, it would help him with his hyperactivity and rapid thinking and speaking but would most likely increase his sense of euphoria. The physical program would be meant for Donkey to spend his energy. Therefore, this would make him tired and he would no longer be hyperactive to the degree he was before he did any physical activity. Furthermore, it would lessen the intensity of his rapid thinking and speaking because when you have no energy or are tired then you seem to be slowed down and more calm. This would essentially lead Donkey to learn how to control his urges of hyperactivity and make him think of what he is actually going to do.

Meghalaya's Living Bridges Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Meghalaya's Living Bridges - Research Paper Example Normal bridges are not viable in this region, as they would be damaged easily by rain of such magnitude. The living bridge gain strength with time and survive for a number of years. These bridges are strong and sturdy and can support even more than 50 people at once (BBC Series Web). Living bridges are only found in Meghalaya region and can hardly been seen in any other part of the world. This is considered unique and attracts a many people from various parts of the world. Actually, the Meghalaya community has been advised to continue nurturing the living bridges since they are a strong tourist attraction. The purpose of the living bridge is for people to go across rivers and streams during the rainy season that is estimated to be 25 meters. In addition, this region has many rivers that are fast flowing .Small rivers and streams rise above their normal height and become impassable on rainy season. These living bridges act as a solution to crossing such streams and bridges (BBC Series Web). These living bridges are complex in nature but managed and maintained by skillful biological engineering of roots of rubber

Analysis of online community Thesis Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Analysis of online community - Thesis Proposal Example But it is vital that all of us ask this from ourselves. Is this all really for the ‘good’? Should we keep allowing eradication of family and moral values in the name of technology? It is time we start considering the real issues that we face from technology. In this paper we will discuss Facebook and why how much popular it is among the young generation of today. We will also discuss the problems social networking in general and Facebook in particular is causing to the society. Facebook is posing great danger to human society and is destroying the youth by engaging them in futile activities and hindering intellectual development of younger generation. The internet age has provided the world with newer activities. It has contributed to a change in daily life. People prefer to use internet technology to communicate with each other instead of meeting people in person. Now the generation that has been born in the age of technology generally prefers to communicate through internet. This generation is also technology oriented therefore they want to make their lives easier. Companies have made use of this technology to cater to this market. Many online games and social networking sites have come up in order to provide entertainment to the people that are technology oriented. In this wave of internet activities many social networking sites have also come up and the most famous social networking site of today is Facebook. The social networking site has 700 million users worldwide (Paul para 1). This number shows how popular the networking site is throughout the world. It has attracted people through its unique feature. People can upload and share pictures, and the status sharing feature is particularly famous among the young people. It has actually given the young generation everything they wanted. They can talk to their friends share pictures and upload videos. It has actually catered to the demands of the younger generation and

Sustainable Marketing Campaign for one of the products of 3M Research Paper

Sustainable Marketing Campaign for one of the products of 3M - Research Paper Example Within the healthcare sector, 3M Conglomerate has numerous products, including the 3M Ultrathon insect repellent, which will be the focus of this sustainable marketing plan. For this particular case, the marketing strategy will focus on the new 3M Ultrathon Scented insect Repellent. Target Market The new Ultrathon Scented insect repellent will be targeted at a select segment through methods of differentiation. While insect repellents do not have a specific point of differentiation as their use is broad and general, this particular product will be targeted at people who feel that the scent of the insect repellent is important to interaction. The provision of a desirable scent will, therefore, make the current Ultrathon product more useful for this segment of people, especially with regards to women home-keepers and groups travelling outdoors for group activities. The product will be marketed to the Midwestern region of the United States in geographical terms. The marketing of the prod uct will focus on the Midwestern region because there is a high use of insecticides in the region. The promotion focus will be on the rural and urban areas with a higher possibility to exploit the market in urban areas because of the product’s new attractive scent. Sales should also be strong in the rural areas of the Midwest because it will attract more users to a Scented version of the Scented Ultrathon insect repellent, while also bringing in new clients who will be attracted by a Scented insect repellent. In terms of demographics, important factors will include family cycle, income, and age. The marketing campaign will target both male and female consumers aged between eighteen and forty because they are most likely to be involved in outdoor activities and starting a family. In addition, this age group has more affinity for worn scents than the older demographics. This age group is also likely to be either single or starting a family, while single people in the region are increasing because they wait longer prior to committing to marriage. The marketing campaign will focus its advertising on this group since they have more tendencies to purchase items for personal care, such as colognes and perfumed sprays. In addition, individuals who earn below $20,000 annually rarely use insect repellents and, for this reason, the marketing campaign will be aimed at those who are aged between eighteen and forty with income levels that are above $20,000. Finally, with regards to psychographic segmentation, this will not be as crucial as the other discussed segmentation criteria for the target market. However, the marketing campaign could target customers by focusing on their values and lifestyle, which should be brought to the forefront of the marketing strategy. The lifestyles of the age group discussed above lean towards healthy living, and they are very insistent on environmental protection (Garoogian 76). They also enjoy activities that involve the outdoors wi th the major activities for recreation being fishing and hunting. They also enjoy outdoor sport, boating, golfing, hiking, and camping. For 3M Ultrathon Scented, the

What are the preceptions of barriers of the nurse practitioner as the Thesis - 2

What are the preceptions of barriers of the nurse practitioner as the primary care provider in long term care facilities - Thesis Example The profession of registered nurse comprises the largest number of healthcare positions, and the field continues to be in high demand. This large number of individuals can often lead people to think they are so numerous, they are easily placed and replaced. Along with the large number of professionals in this field comes the incorrect implication that the training and duties are simplistic. This is of course, incorrect. The training to become a registered nurse is intense and difficult. The degrees required for this profession include a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree, and an acceptable nursing program degree. This training can take about four years for the bachelor’s, two or three years for an associate’s degree, and three years for the nursing program. In other words, it’s possible to spend more years in school to become a registered nurse than a doctor. Registered nurses, in a clinic or outpatient care setting, are responsible for organizing the numerous files for different patients. While this may sound dull, it is essential to the health of the patient and the efficiency of the office. Beyond the desk, the nurse can initiate the care of the patient by taking blood, accepting urine samples, and doing various other tasks that will allow the doctor to know where to start. The nurse may help read the results and aid in the diagnosis of the patient as well. A licensed practical nurse (LPN) differs from a registered nurse in the educational background of the nurse as well as the responsibilities employed by her. A brief overview of the job requisites include collecting bodily fluids from the patient, observing the patient, preparing the patient for injections before subsequently administering the injection, the insertion of catheters, and other means by which bodily fluids are obtained. In addition, licensed practical nurses help the patient in a variety of daily grooming

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN CONTEMPORARY NURSING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN CONTEMPORARY NURSING - Essay Example In spite of this, relevant studies indicate that the nursing profession has inconsistently continued to define social justice (Browne 2008, p. 83-85; Judy et al. 2010, p. E3-4), a critical concept that has introduced discrepancies between professional expectations and competence within practice. This paper will critically analyze the concept of social justice within the nursing profession by analyzing related literature and debate on policy concerns and forces that affect social justice within the practice. Also, the paper will analyse the application of nursing professional values in relation to social justice. As identified in the introductory section, the concept of social justice within the nursing practice is surrounded by inconsistencies that cut across nursing expectations and practice. A study conducted by Pfitzinger (2013, p.1) involving the review of literature published on PubMed and CINAHL databases revealed that a majority of currently published articles related to social justice within nursing lacked a defined action plan and had inconsistencies within the definition of the notion of ‘social justice’. Additionally, those that have action plans were unable to guide clearly nurses on how to engage in acts related to social justice. The education system is challenged with inadequate instructional methods that prepare the engagement and integration of concepts of social justice in nursing due to the uncertainty of the topic within practice (Browne & Tarlier 2008, p.85; Judy et al. 2010, p.E1-9). With the existence of such confusion, nurses are not expected to deal accurately with the vice of social injustice within the practice. Interestingly, pressure is mounting on instructors regarding the introduction of social justice concepts within the classroom setting with the looming confusion of defining the concept (Boutain 2005, p.405). Pfitzinger (2013, p.1) clearly explains the

Plagiarism and integrity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Plagiarism and integrity - Essay Example In short, the education that they are paying for and the years of their life that they are sacrificing are ultimately wasted if this is a habitual trait that will be exhibited again and again. Yet, there are many reasons for why low academic integrity are noted within various individuals. As such, the following analysis will briefly present some of these reasons and causes and help the reader to come to a more informed understanding for why academic integrity is so vitally important and what motivates individuals to cheat the system and to cheat their own education. One of the core reasons for why individuals display a low level of academic integrity has to do with the fact that they are simply lazy to learn the required material or perform the required task (East and Donnelly 3). Although it is true that laziness is not a vital or fundamental flaw, allowing it to dictate how one displays levels of honesty or academic integrity is most certainly a core flaw. Another reason for why low levels of academic integrity are exhibited has to do with an individual that might have a very low level of familiarity or comfort with a given subject. For instance, an international student that struggles with English as a second language may be tempted to plagiarize as a means of performing a very difficult task easily (Mahmud and Bretig 438). Last but not least, an individual may be tempted to exhibit a low level of academic integrity in the eventuality that they have put an assignment off to the very last minute; so much so that the only recourse for accompli shing it within the time period in question is to cheat and present someone else’s work as their own (Spain 154). In essence, there are many reasons for why students cheat; however, none of them are more noble than another and none of them can be excused. As such, it is necessary to ensure that all

The Effectiveness of Organizational Actions, Structures, and Research Paper

The Effectiveness of Organizational Actions, Structures, and Multiagency Involvement in Response to Homeland Security - Research Paper Example Terrorism is definitely a serious issue for the super power America as it has faced one of the most devastating terrorist attacks in century (Bullock et al, 2012 p. xv). Positioning statement The department of the Homeland security( DHS) was founded by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296) signed on November 25, 2002 with departments from 22 different government agencies initiating official operations on March1, 2003. The DHS has since then underwent a series of restructurings and reorganizations with the aim to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. This section will deal with the actions taken by the US government in tackling the counter terrorism aspect and its subsequent development of a strong base structure with the involvement of the multilateral agencies engaged in tackling the counter terrorism issue. Literature Review Background of the problem The aspect of terrorism is a transnational threat that entails potential risks to the global interests of United State s’ manifested and developed from the international and the domestic surroundings. The core theme of the United States efforts in addressing these transnational issues is to detect, deter and defeat the terrorist faction, primarily the Al Qaeda (Painter, 2011, p. 8). Supporting evidence The Obama administration recognized the significance of the home ground jihadist threat in two of its recent strategy documents. In June 2011, the administration announced the National strategy for the counter terrorism which focused on the Al Qaeda, its affiliates and its adherents. Obama’s top counter terrorism advisor John Brennan publicly described that homeland security is the primary area of emphasis with respect to counterterrorism efforts. In August 2011, the Obama administration released a strategy for combating the violent extremism revolving around the counter action of the radicalization of all types of potential terrorists. The domestic focus of the policy was the protection of the civil rights, federal cooperation with the local leaders in the private and the public sectors. In 2004, Congress passed the project Bio Shield in order to encourage the private sector to develop certain biological counter measures to protect the lethal effects of the biological menace done by the terrorist attacks (Painter, 2011, pp. 8-10). The National Counterterrorism Center is the primary organization for the integration and analyzing the processes involved with terrorism. The system provides all source intelligence support to the government wide counter terrorism activities and establishment of the information technology systems and architectures and infrastructure between the NCTC and the other agencies. The NCTC serves as the chief advisor to the Director of National Intelligence on the international organizations for the strategic operation planning of the counter terrorism (Counterterrorism, n.d., p.3). In the fall of 2001, the anthrax incidents induced the potentia l biological attacks against the nation. In January 2001, President Bush declared a supplementary appropriation with an amount of around $ 1 billion to tighten the states’ capabilities of the bio-terrorism. Developments were made by the states in the utilization of

ESBL positive Escherichia coli and Klebsiella interaction with human Literature review

ESBL positive Escherichia coli and Klebsiella interaction with human urothelial cells - Literature review Example Acute uncomplicated urinary infection occurs when it presents as acute cystitis (Rubin, Shapiro, Andriole, Davis, & Stamm, 1992). Individuals with acute cystitis may also have non-obstructive pyelonephritis. Asymptomatic bacterial infection also occurs, where a urine specimen will show the presence of infective bacteria, but no symptoms of the urinary tract infection are observed. The infection can be recurrent because the source of the infection is harboured within the urinary tract. Complicated urinary tract infections occur in individuals who have abnormalities in the genitourinary tract. In women, increased volume of residual urine, bladder diverticulitis, and cystoceles contribute to the recurrence of UTI. For older males, benign prostate hypertrophy with urethral obstruction, chronic bacterial prostatitis, and turbulent urine flow often lead to urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infection has also been found to be a function of genetic predisposition and higher frequency of abnormalities in genitourinary organs (Raz, et al., 2000). UTI is common in the elderly population. Aside from age-related genitourinary abnormalities, the increase in urinary infections in elderly population is attributed to the use of indwelling devices like catheters (Nicolle, 2001). Clinical manifestations of symptomatic UTI are bladder infection, irritation of lower tract including incontinence, dysuria, urgency to urinate, suprapubic pain, and fever (Bentley, Bradley, High, Schoenbaum, Taler, & Yoshikawa, 2000). In patients with indwelling catheters, symptoms could include costovertebral angle tenderness that is more associated with pyelonephritis and fever even when there are no genitourinary symptoms (Orr, et al., 1996). The symptoms are associated with trauma due to insertion of the device or the infection from several microorganisms of the biofilm coating the catheter surface. 1.2. Enterobacteriaceae Enterobacteriaceae are Gram-negative rods that mostly grow well at 37Â °C and are facultatively anaerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative (Health Protection Agency, 2010). They are widely distributed in different habitats, and may be found in animals, plants, soil, and water. Several genera of Enterobacteriaceae are involved in the development of human diseases. Common genera include species of Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Morganella morganii, Proteus, Providencia, Salmonella, Serratia, Shigella and Yersinia (Health Protection Agency, 2010). 1.3. Escherichia coli The most important infective organism in UTI is Escherichia coli, but other Enterobacteriaceae species like Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Enterobacter also cause UTI. Proteus mirabilis, and Providencia stuartii and Morganella morganii, which are urease producers, are also common. Other species identified in patients with UTI are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enterococci, group B streptococci and coagulase-negative staphylococci. Yeast strains Candida albicans, C. tropica lis, C. glabrata, and C. parapsilosis have also been isolated mostly from patients with indwelling catheters, and diabetes mellitus (Nicolle, Urinary tract pathogens in complicated urinary infecion and in the elderly, 2001). E. coli originating from an individual’s intestinal tract is the most common source of UTI (Russo & Johnson, 2003). In the United States alone, 6-8 million cases of uncomplicated cystitis and almost 130,000 sepsis cases are attributed to community-acquired UTIs due

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Essay Example for Free

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Essay Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is a personality disorder which is characterized by a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency (Taber, 1968). This pattern begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts. Individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder attempt to maintain a sense of control through painstaking attention to rules, trivial details, procedures, lists, schedules, or form to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost (Criterion 1). OCPD and OCD are often confused as they are thought of as being similar. There is, however, a great difference between the two conditions. A person with OCD experience tremendous anxiety related to specific preoccupations, which are perceived as threatening. Within the condition OCPD it is one’s dysfunctional philosophy which produces anxiety, anguish and frustration (Phillipson). History of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: Back in the early 1900s, Freud observed and treated patients with OCPD. From his findings, he noted, â€Å"persons with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are characterized by the three ‘peculiarities’ of orderliness [which include cleanliness and conscientiousness], parsimony, and obstinacy. † He also called it, â€Å"a neurosis connected with difficulties at the anal phase in psychosexual development,† and made a distinction between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which he referred to as a â€Å"symptomatic neurosis† and OCPD, which he referred to as a â€Å"character neurosis† (Skodol Gunderson, 2009). In 1918, Ernest Jones went on to describe someone afflicted with OCPD as being overly concerned with money, cleanliness, and time. The observations from these men were important at the time, because not much was known about this disorder. Literature begot the term â€Å"anal character†, combining the character (personality) neurosis (anxiety), and according to Freud, OCPD begins development in the anal phase of development (Skodal Gunderson, 2009). Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder tends to occur in families, so genes may be involved. A person’s childhood and environment may also play roles. As with all personality disorders, the person must be at least 18 years old before they can be diagnosed. OCPD is approximately twice as prevalent in males then females, and occurs in about 1 percent of the general population. It is seen in 3 to 10 percent of psychiatric outpatients. Like most personality disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder typically will decrease in intensity with age, with many people experiencing few of the most extreme symptoms by the time they are in the 40s or 50s. Their ability to work with others is equally affected, since they have symptoms perfectionism. This perfectionism may interfere with the person’s ability to complete tasks, because their standards are so rigid. People with this disorder may emotionally withdraw when they are not able to control a situation. This can interfere with their ability to solve problems and form close relationships. Personality disorders such as Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder are typically diagnosed by a trained mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. Psychological test that may help diagnose this condition include: †¢The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Disorders (SCID II) †¢The Schedule for Non-Adaptive and Adaptive Personality (SNAP) Treatment options for Obsessive-Compulsion Personality Disorder include medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Prozac) may help reduce some of the anxiety and depression from this disorder. However, talk therapy (psychotherapy) is thought to be the most effective treatment for this condition. †¢Psychodynamic psychotherapy helps patients understand their thoughts and feelings. †¢Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can also help. In some cases, medications combined with talk therapy may be the more effective than either treatment alone. Hospitalization is rarely needed for people with this disorder, unless an extreme or severe stressor or stressful life event occurs which increases the compulsive behaviors to an extent where regular daily activities are halted or present possible risks of harm to the patient. Many support groups exist within communities throughout the world which are devoted to helping individuals with this disorder share their common experiences and feelings. Such support groups are recommended to individuals suffering from this disorder, especially if they found therapy unhelpful or too expensive. Many people with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder don’t seek treatment. People with personality disorders, in general, do not often seek out treatment until the disorder starts to significantly interfere or otherwise impact a person’s life. I think that the outlook for people with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder tends to be better than that for other personality disorders. The four major complications for OCPD are: anxiety, depression, difficulty moving forward in career situations and difficulties in relationships. I strongly believe that being informed about this condition’s manifestations, people can better seek appropriate treatment.

What is budget system in an organisation

What is budget system in an organisation In this high competition market place today, every company need a planning and control tool to act faster to increase competitive advantage. Budget is the tool to plan, monitor and control daily activities to meet organisation goal with effectively and efficiently. The toolkit will help you plan, develop and use budgets effectively in your organisation. If you have a sound understanding of the principles of budgeting, you will be well on the way to sound financial management. If you use this toolkit in conjunction with other toolkits, as indicated, you will increase the capacity of your organisation to manage its finances effectively. You will also increase its ability to survive through foresight and planning. In this assignment is to discuss what is budget system in an organisation, how the organisation uses it as tool to plan and control company expenses and expected revenue. We have chosen to make a case study about the budget process in London Biscuits Sdn Berhad. We will discuss budgeting system in this company and how to improve effectiveness of existing system. London Biscuits Sdn Berhad is a home grown Malaysian company. Main products are corn base snacks and layer cake. London Biscuits product can be found in Malaysia and 65 markets, worldwide. Its main oversea markets are China, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam and Middle East country. As a pioneer in the cake products segment locally, London Biscuits has fine-tuned the process of making cakes with long shelf life, of 8-12 months, without refrigeration. Budget What is budget; according to business dictionary define as estimate of cost, revenue and resources over a specified period, reflecting a managements reading of future financial condition. The CIMA definition of budget is a quantitative statement, for a defined period of time, which may include planned revenues, expenses, asset, liabilities and cash flows (Dyson, 1997). In other words, budgeting is the process of translating financial resources into human purposes (Wildavsky, 1986). Budgeting is also viewed as a process of identifying, gathering, summarising and communicating financial information of an Organizations future activities. Blumentritt (2006) further explained that budgeting processes include a review and study of the prior periods financial results, projections for sales, operating expenses (fixed, variable, and semi-variable) and Financing expenses, examination of proposals for capital expenditures, and means of rolling up and rationalizing figures from different functional departments to ensure they meet company-wide profit expectations. Hence, budget is a statement of financial position that an organisation would like to achieve. A well planned budget can lead company to achieve company goal successfully. It is managerial control tool to plan and control future expenses, profit and resources allocation in a certain period normally in 1 year advance. In order to have a realistic and good budget, there are few factor need to be considered before we draw up: Assign right person to draw up the budget. The person in change need to heavily involve in the entire exercise. Predictive ability is the must. He or she need to clear about organisation activities as well as the possible income and expenditure. Clear channel of communicate, authority and responsibity Objective and procedure or guidelines of budget must be clear can be implemented in the budget. Accounting generated accurate, reliable and timely information Compatibility and understandility of information Support at all levels of the organisation, upper, middle and lower Budgets consider external factors, such as market trends, economic conditions, and the like. allow for changing circumstances History of budget The budget only is used for governmental setting during agriculture ware. In industrial wave, budget had been use in large company as management control tool to plan and control their business. In 1960, budget is recognized as effective way to centralize company operation under top management. When come into information wave, high expectation from customer, competitors not only from own country but is worldwide comparison, decentralise the business is one of solution in order for company can react faster. When business management style change from centralize to decentralise, company need to change budget system to meet company objective. Hence, traditional budgeting like incremental budget be replace to zero base budgeting and other modern budgeting is begin implement to follow company direction. Method of budget also change from top down (centralise) to bottom up budgeting (decentralise). The order new budgeting system like rolling budget, balance score card, activity base budgeting and beyond budgeting are start implement in some company to improve effective and efficiency of organisation. Purpose of budget As planning tool Budgeting plan and allocate fund to achieve company goal. Manager need to formulate business strategies to achieve company goal with arrange resource allocation e.g machinery, fund, staff changes, scheduling production and operating company in advance. Mean that budget use as tool to link company objective with company resource to allow for thinking how to make operations and resource more productive and efficiently. Budget is a plan to provide the overall picture to manager for status of company resource, expected income and expenses. It is a better money management skill by creating structured plan. Thurs, manager can prevent problem before they arise. All financial statements should be written in terms of the budget so that it is easier to be transparent and accountable and to ensure that no money is spent on costs that you have not budgeted for. So manager have not establishes guidelines in the form of a road map to proceed in the right direction. Communication tool Budgeting process is involving every departments in a organisation. Team work is required to completed a budget. In other word, budget as aids coordination between departments to attain efficiency and productivity. Indirectly budgeting process can improves working realationships. It as coordination of top management with media and lower lever at organisation. Delegation tool Improves managerial decision making because emphasis is on future events and associated opportunities Encourages delegation of responsibility and enables managers to focus more on the specifics of their plans and how realistic the plans are, and how such plans Monitor and control Budget is allows management to monitor, control, and direct activities within the company. Manager can compare budget plan with actual result and points out deviations. Investigation and corrective action will be taken. Therefore, management can aware of problem faced by lower levels. action can be taken earlier before result worse. Motivation Employees participate in the budgeting process able to motivating them to perform in line with the company goal. The feeling in involvement in the process able to enhance motivation. Additionally, expected profit or cost reduction planned in the budget may motivate manager to achive. And those meeting budget target, incentive will given as motivational device. The budget planning and control process The budget process used by a company should suit its needs, be consistent with its organisation structure and take into account human resource. The budgetary process establishes goal ad policies, formulate, limits, enumerate resource need, examines specific requirements provide flexibit, incoparates and consider constraints. ( ) Hence, budget process is start from the company goal with determines the overall or strategic goals and strategic of business, which are then translated into specific long term goals, annual budgets, and operation plans. Setting financial goals is the starting point in the budgeting process. Examples: earnings growth, cost minimization, sales, prod volume, return investment and quality. Once short term goal of company had been set, manager need analysing available resources, forecasting profit and expected cost à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. manager can base on history or past experience to estimate cost like capital cost, staffing cost, operation cost and organisation cost. And estimate revenue like usually is generate from sales income. Therefore, sales budget is first budget to be plan then following with cost budget. Those estimate figure will be put in the budget format according to company needed. Finally compare revenue and expense projections. First draf of budget will sudmit to top management to obtain approval. Top manager will evaluate the budget with company objective. If budget is realistic and meet the company goal or target. It will be implemented, distributed and coordinated among different functional department. If budget is rejected, necessary adjustments to the budget, check your calculations once again and resubmit for approval again. The budget is the most important tool you have for monitoring the finances of your organisation, project or department. You use the budget to monitor income and expenditure to see whether or not you are on target; report how you are doing financially to your staff, board and donors;do cash flow projections and make financial decisions.() Comparisons of actual income and expenditure against the budgeted income and expenditure need to be done regularly. Variance report need to be prepare if any. There are 2 variance result: Interpreting the result: Favourable = actual is better than planned then it is a positive variance Adverse= actual is worse than planned then it is a negative variance Investigate and corrective action need to be taken. Budget process in London Biscuit ( LB) London Biscuit top management group will start to plan the next year budget on every year end. That top management group include CEO, COO and head of department. They will have the pre budget meeting to set the next year target or short term objective need to meet by next year. Target and short term objective are link to company goal. For example, LB plans to open new market at USA. So short term objective will be develop new product and survey the USA market. Therefore, company may decide to spend more money to invest at RD and having market survey for USA food market. They will only set the target to organisation, and let staffs collect relevant information will influence next year target. Therefore, method of budget in LB is bottom up budgeting. Finance department is department to lead and compile budget to master budget. Same with common company, budget will start from sales budget. Sales team start with constructing prognoses and environment analysis. They need to include the objective or target had been set by top management. For example they may need to achieve 10% of total sales growth on next year. Sales department at LB is delegate base on area sales. Account dept will help to provide sales history for past few years to predict future sales performance. Statistical analysis will be performed by each area sales managers. Simple calculation Statistical analysis can be averages based on past sales to identify trends that can be extrapolated into the future. This is call incremental budgeting. In this case, top management is set yearly target for sales dept is 10% of inscreasment of total sales. Hence, managers will base on past year record and forecasting 10% increase sales figure. After sales budget be approved by sales director, it will be distribute to related department to continue plan the expenses will be incur to procure estimate sales figure. There are 2 type of main organisation expense; operation cost and administration cost. In LB there are few dept in charge of operation cost: Production, engineering, QA and QC and supply chain departments. Production budget included unit of product need to be produced to meet sales target qty. Example: budgeted sales volume on Jan 2011 is 10,000 carton of pie cake, production manager need to base on this figure to estimate how many direct labour, machinery cost, utilises cost and so on. QA QC need budgeting how many instruments to support production output checking before pass the output to shipment. Common instrument include in the LBs QA QC is pass sticker, scale and manpower needed as well. Supply Chain manager budgeting direct material cost base on budgeted sales target. The required raw materials are computed to meet the production schedule which planned base on the sales target. According to policy of LB, less than 5 % of raw material inventory can be planned. SCM manager is considering the material pricing increase factor during budgeting. Administration cost are non-operational costs and will include things such as marketing, human resources, rents and vehicle costs as well as general administration HR admin manager in LB prepare the indirect labour budgeting. It includes training cost estimation, general overhead, office maintenance cost à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Account manager budgeting the general office cost like IT is one of supported dept in the LB. IT manage handle all the IT intructment. He need to budget those equipment like computer, printer or other related need. After all the departmental budget and sales budget is done, finance dept as accountable to compile these budgets into master budget. Finance controller will compare revenue and expense projections and verify budgeted result in line with the LB short term objective. In case finance controller found that any contingency budgeted result, department manager is request to revise and submit budget again. Else, master budget will submit to CEO and COO for final approval. Once Master budget is approved, it will distribute, communicate and implemented in LB. Each department manager need to explain detail to subordinates and monitor the result from time to time. Budget control in LB Finance department and department managers take important role in controlling parts. Each department managers are assigning as budget committee. Quarterly management meeting will be held in LB for follow up and monitor budgeting purpose. Finance controller need to liaising between the budget committee and managers responsible for budget preparation. Finance controller is core person in the budgeting control as he have to provide training to budget committee, ensure budget dateline is meet and dealing with budget problem. According to finance controller at LB the reason why budget meeting only held quarterly is some department manager like sales manager will be outstation and seldom in the office to join the meeting. But department managers need to submit monthly report every early of the month to finance department. Account department also will provide history of income and expenses to finance department for verify purpose. Master budget in Lb is break into monthly report. They call it as Monthly Budget value report. This report includes all budgeted and actual income and expenses in a month. Comparison of actual and budgeted figure need to be shown in the standard format which fix by finance controller. This shows you, month by month, where you are over-spending, under-spending or on target. For that variance more than RM5000, explanation and variance report needed. This report outline the cause of significant variance, propose remedial action and any other significant matter. An analysing report provided finance controller base on variance report to analysing and foresee what impact for master budgets is. Current financial status Analysis of budget changes Financial position to date In month financial position Trend analysis by month Main cause of variance Estimate end of year position Suggestion action or corrective action In some cases that prove the budgeted figure is unrealistic, budget is request to revise. First month Year-to-date Budget Actual Budget Actual Revenue Sales Cost recovery Interest from investment Total income Expenditure Project 1 Project 2 Directorate Operational costs Organisational costs Staffing costs Total expenditure That department budget with significant deviation will be issue short cause letter and variance report from finance depart. They need to follow the action plan and act accordingly. Audit will be held from time to time from finance dept to ensure they are complying accordingly. Budget system Types of budget Marketing Budget The marketing budget is an estimate of the funds needed for promotion, advertising, and public relations in order to market the product or service. Project Budget The project budget is a prediction of the costs associated with a particular company project. These costs include labor, materials, and other related expenses. The project budget is often broken down into specific tasks, with task budgets assigned to each. Budgets can be classified according to Time, Function, and Flexibility. ACCORDING TO TIME: 1. Long Term Budget 2. Short Term Budget 3. Current Budget 4. Rolling budget ACCORDING TO FUNCTION: 1. Sales Budget 2. Production Budget 3. Cost of Production Budget 4. Purchase Budget 5. Personnel budget 6. R D Budget 7. Capital Expenditure Budget 8. Cash Budget 9. Master Budget ACCORDING TO FLEXIBILITY: 1. Fixed Budget 2. Flexible Budget Cotrolling A budget Budgetary control is defined by CIMA as the establishment of budgets relating the responsibilities of executives to the requirements of a policy, and the continuous comparison of actual with budgeted results, either to secure by individual action the objective of that policy, or to provide a basis for its revision. Budgetary control is a system of controlling costs and resources which includes comparing actual performance with the budgeted performance and subsequently acting upon the actual results to minimise variance and achieve maximum returns. In essence, budgetary control is purported to ensure that the activities carried out are providing the desired results. Monitored using variance analysis Good Writing a budget require target to be set- every1 know what need to achive, concentrates wokers mind on what gas to be done Depart have to communicate Problem can be identifiend before it is too late unacceptable By comparing a bugest wuth the actually happened a bunisess can identify weak area. Useful tools in allocting resoures e.g machinery, employee, makinf staff changes, scheduling prod and operating business Their creation can also be used as a motivational tool. The plan can be used as a means of evaluation and control as well as a resource for information and decision-making. A Bad Inaccurate unrealistic budgets will be ingoned It can restrict business activity which may lose the firm business If budgets are impose upon people there is little incentive for them to stick to target If 1 of dept not focus to B, whole master b will be effected. Lack of training Long lead to plan The signs of budget weaknesses must be spotted so that corrective action may be taken. Such signs include: Managerial goals are off target or unrealistic. There is management indecisiveness. The budget takes too long to prepare. Budget preparers are unfamiliar with the operations being budgeted and do not seek such information. Budget preparers should visit the actual operations firsthand. Budget preparers do not keep current. The budget is prepared using different methods each year. The What and Why of Budgeting / 15 Exhibit 1.3 XYZ Company Divisional Performance Evaluation Net Income Net Sales There is a lack of raw information going into the budgeting process. There is a lack of communication between those involved in budgeting and operating personnel. The budget is formulated without input from those affected by it. This will likely result in budgeting errors. Further, budget preparers do not go into the operations field. Managers do not know how their budget allowances have been assigned or what the components of their charges are. If managers do not understand the information, they will not perform their functions properly. The budget document is excessively long, confusing, or filled with unnecessary information. There may be inadequate narrative data to explain the numbers. Managers are ignoring their budgets because they appear unusable and unrealistic. Managers feel they are not getting anything out of the budget process. Changes are made to the budget too frequently. Significant unfavorable variances are not investigated and corrected. These variances may also not be considered in deriving budgeted figures for next period. Further, a large variance between actual and budgeted figures, either positive or negative, that repeatedly occurs is an indicator of poor budgeting. Perhaps the budgeted figures were unrealistic. Another problem is that after variances are identified, it is too late to correct their causes. Further, variance reporting may be too infrequent. There is a mismatching of products or services. A budget can be disadvantageous because: A budget promotes gamesmanship in that those managers who significantly inflate requests, knowing they will be reduced, are in effect rewarded by getting what they probably really wanted. A budget may reward managers who set modest goals and penalize those who set ambitious goals that are missed. There is judgment and subjectivity in the budgeting process. The What and Why of Budgeting / 19 Managers may consider that budgets redirect their flexibility to adjust to changing conditions. A budget does not consider quality and customer service. Conclusion Activity Duration Future-proof the council 10 days Define the required outcomes and their relationships 15 days Define measures and set bases and targets 20 days Assess risks and allocate rewards at the corporate level 10 days Total 55 days Recommends Understandable and attainable. Flexibility and innovation is needed to allow for unexpected contingencies. Provide more opportunities for staff to join. Sometimes it is necessary to have two different budgets for your organisation. One as the ideal budget that you would like to have and a second one as a minimum budget of the money that is absolutely necessary for your organisation to survive. Often when your draw up the ideal budget, your are not yet sure that your will get all the money your need and a minimum budget will help you to decide which costs can be cut, if your dont manage to raise the necessary funds. A computer should be used to make quick and accurate calculations, keep track of projects instantly, and make proper comparisons. Shortened planning and budgeting cycles.Ć¦Ãƒâ€žÃ¢â‚¬ ¦ Enabled better decision making.Ć¦Ãƒâ€žÃ¢â‚¬ ¦ Reduced total cost of the processes.Ć¦Ãƒâ€žÃ¢â‚¬ ¦ Improved credibility and quality of outputs.Ć¦Ãƒâ€žÃ¢â‚¬ ¦ Planned and relocated budgets based on material events.Ć¦Ãƒâ€žÃ¢â‚¬ ¦ Increased user participation with frequent real-time updates.Ć¦Ãƒâ€žÃ¢â‚¬ ¦ Raised ownership and accountabilityĆ¦Ãƒâ€žÃ¢â‚¬ ¦ Aligned individual, department and business unit plans with company ojb. There are a number of advantages to budgeting and budgetary control:  · Compels management to think about the future, which is probably the most important feature of a budgetary planning and control system. Forces management to look ahead, to set out detailed plans for achieving the targets for each department, operation and (ideally) each manager, to anticipate and give the organisation purpose and direction.  · Promotes coordination and communication.  · Clearly defines areas of responsibility. Requires managers of budget centres to be made responsible for the achievement of budget targets for the operations under their personal control.  · Provides a basis for performance appraisal (variance analysis). A budget is basically a yardstick against which actual performance is measured and assessed. Control is provided by comparisons of actual results against budget plan. Departures from budget can then be investigated and the reasons for the differences can be divided into controllable and non-controllable factors.  · Enables remedial action to be taken as variances emerge.  · Motivates employees by participating in the setting of budgets.  · Improves the allocation of scarce resources.  · Economises management time by using the management by exception principle. Problems in budgeting Whilst budgets may be an essential part of any marketing activity they do have a number of disadvantages, particularly in perception terms.  · Budgets can be seen as pressure devices imposed by management, thus resulting in: a) bad labour relations b) inaccurate record-keeping.  · Departmental conflict arises due to: a) disputes over resource allocation b) departments blaming each other if targets are not attained.  · It is difficult to reconcile personal/individual and corporate goals.  · Waste may arise as managers adopt the view, we had better spend it or we will lose it. This is often coupled with empire building in order to enhance the prestige of a department. Responsibility versus controlling, i.e. some costs are under the influence of more than one person, e.g. power costs.  · Managers may overestimate costs so that they will not be blamed in the future should they overspend. Conclusion 2. Dyson, J. R., 1997. Accounting for Non-Accounting Students. 4th ed. London: Pearson Professional Limited.

Importance Of Energy Conservation Planning Construction Essay

Importance Of Energy Conservation Planning Construction Essay Background of the Problem In recent years, the number of buildings constructed using energy-saving designs hasincreased due to the increasing awareness of the benefits of energy conservation, both economic and environment. The recent rapid advances in computer technology have facilitated the development of energy-saving building designs by allowing detailed simulations, involving the incorporation of many energy-saving building techniques and features, to be conducted in the design stage. These techniques have been widely studied in terms of their design potential, however, there are very few studies concerning the actual post-construction performance of the design features and whether the overall building design does in fact provide significant energy savings. Energy conservation has been the utmost importance focus of agencies. It is the goal of this plan to reduce energy consumption to a minimum of 5-7% in all the borough facilities. The general approach presented in this draft depends on the cooperation and active participation of borough staff in the creation and implementation of a conservation strategy for two reasons: 1) staff have the knowledge and experience with specific facilities/operations to propose effective solutions and 2) staff support is essential for successful implementation. The plan would require a close working relationship and cooperation of borough staff. Time and resource demands on staff should be kept to a minimum and should not interfere with normal duties. Conservation plan should include an initial education component to inform staff of the existing energy use and trends for each facility and to describe the conservation plan and goals. Staff will be asked to help identify conservation strategies that can achieve that goal without unduly impairing existing operations and efficiencies. One or more meetings will be necessary to discuss staff ideas and agree on one or more conservation strategies. The coordinator and/or commission may be able to help implement strategies. Finally, energy usage should be documented to provide regular feedback to staff of each facility to judge success and allow adjustments. Energy conservation is considered a worthwhile goal because it conserves natural resources. The examples of CSDOC and Hyperion suggest that reductions in energy use can also lead to increased ability to comply with air emissions regulations. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which is released by all wastewater treatment and bio-solids management processes. Converting bio-solids to fuel achieves. Substantial benefit from the wastes before carbon dioxide is ultimately released. In addition, non-renewable energy sources are replaced by renewable energy from wastewater. Goals of the Plan The initial aim of this plan is to have 1% savings in energy consumption in all of the office buildings (until such time when these buildings can conduct an energy conservation feasibility study to indicate more precise benchmarks/metrics). To support energy efficiencies at this location, energy conservation groups have partnered with the owners of these buildings. To this end, the owners shall adapt the goal of a 1% savings in energy until such time as an energy conservation feasibility study can be completed. In the meantime, energy conservation groups will conduct periodic utility awareness sessions with staff. As a minimum, these sessions will encourage the following actions, when practical: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Turn off lights when leaving the office, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Turn off outside lights during the day, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Turn off computers/monitors and office equipment at the end of the day, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Have TBPC set thermostats at 75-76 degrees in warm weather and 68-69 degrees in cool weather, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Keep blinds/curtains closed during hot summer days and open on sunny winter days, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Ensure heating and air conditioning vents are not blocked, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Ensure water faucets are completely closed, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Report water leaks immediately, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Use standby function on copiers, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Recycle paper. These sessions shall run for the first quarter of the year. At the end of each fiscal quarter, the Agency Energy Conservation Manager will coordinate with the representatives of each organization to compile and review the utility rates and costs for the buildings fair share portion of the said area for the previous quarter. The Agency Energy Conservation Manager will review the usage and expenditures incurred to determine if they vary abnormally. If so, a review will be conducted immediately to determine the cause. Another goal of this plan is to have a 2% increase in average fuel mileage for the fleet of three agency vehicles. The agencys goal for reducing vehicle fuel costs will be centered on miles per gallon (MPG) efficiency. In MPG Efficiency, our goal is to increase the fleet average mpg efficiency by 2% over the FY 2005 average of 6.25. This will be accomplished by emphasizing the agency vehicle preventive maintenance program and by increasing awareness of fuel efficient driving habits. To increase driver awareness of fuel efficient driving habits, each vehicle will have a copy of the fuel efficiency goals which include the following common sense guidelines: do not leave vehicle idling while stopped, no rapid acceleration from a standstill, maintain adequate tire pressures at all times, maintain engine tune-up and filter replacement recommended by manufacturer, make sure that transmission overdrive is working properly, Drive at 10% below the posted speed limit on major thoroughfares. Further, the energy conservation group will encourage staff to consolidate trips, when practical, to reduce overall fleet mileage by scheduling routine pickups/deliveries well in advance. Evaluation Evaluating a facility for energy efficiencies and adopting an energy conservation plan often result in increased treatment efficiency, along with the potential for increased treatment capacity, an increased ability to meet effluent limitations, reduced OM requirements, and reduced energy costs. The main requirement on the part of the tenants of these buildings is a commitment to spend the initial time needed to evaluate the system, to follow through with the development of an energy conservation plan, and to implement the plans recommendations. A number of U.S. facilities, including the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) and the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) in the San Francisco Bay area, have developed and implemented energy conservation and management plans (Taylor 2005, Cohn 2005). These plans typically have the goal of reducing energy costs by a specified percentage. The key components of an effective energy management plan are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Creating a system to track energy usage and costs à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Performing energy audits of major operations à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Upgrading equipment, systems, and controls, including facility and collection system improvements to increase energy efficiency à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Developing a cost-effective electric supply purchasing strategy à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Optimizing load profiles by shifting operations where possible à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Developing in-house energy management training for operators Action Items Action Steps Timeline Creating a system to track energy usage and costs Gaining an understanding of where the energy is being used. Month 1 Performing Energy Audits of Major Operation Periodic Checking of Energy allocation Month 1 Upgrade of Equipments, Facilities, etc. Installing high-efficiency influent and effluent pumps, high-efficiency motors, and variable-frequency drives Discontinuing second-stage activated-sludge mixing Months 2-4 Upgrade of Equipments, Facilities, etc. Adding plastic balls to prevent heat loss and evaporation losses in the oxygen production vaporizer pit Tying in pipes on gas recirculation blowers to allow one blower to service two mixing tanks Months 2-4 There is still significant energy-saving potential in the public sector. For example, energy consumption by municipalities and institutions varies widely. The Government is insisting on the need for public administration to be cost-effective so that public money is used prudently. As a major procurer of energy-efficient products and as a large building administrator, the public sector can help to develop and promote the markets for energy-efficient products and solutions, including through the procurement of energy services. A recent study shows that there are a number of barriers to energy savings in the municipal sector. These have to do with economic management and organisation, lack of knowledge, and behaviour, among other factors. The municipal reform can help to break down these barriers. The new requirements for energy labelling of buildings will include a requirement for regular labelling of all public buildings, regardless of size. The energy labels of public buildings must be accessible to the public. Energy consumption be must regularly published on the Internet so that it is possible to conduct benchmarking between institutions. At the same time, suppliers of energy-efficient equipment and providers of energy services will have access to up-to-date information on market opportunities, which in turn will support the realisation of the savings potential. Although significant efforts have been made in recent years to increase the use of energy-efficient appliances, electricity consumption for appliances, etc. is still increasing as a result of more devices and more equipment being used. There are still large potentials for energy savings, and there is a need to expand and develop the initiative with regards to apparatus categories and effective interventions. Most appliances have a relatively short lifetime. Significant savings can therefore be achieved quickly if energy-efficient appliances are chosen when old ones are replaced. Such appliances are usually not much more expensive, but can result in significant energy savings and hence economic gains. Well-functioning markets for energy savings and energy-efficient products require easy access to relevant information. Transparency is therefore a keyword in the future energy-conservation drive. Information on energy consumption and on possible savings must be readily accessible to citizens and enterprises. It is also essential that the information initiative is coordinated and that there is consistency between general and more targeted information and campaign activities. At the same time, as part of the on-going energy conservation effort, general information and behaviour modification must be provided on energy conservation, for instance through educational programs for schools, etc. Although the primary objective with price-sensitive electricity consumption is not to achieve electricity savings, it nevertheless contributes to supply security in the short term and to the evening out of peak loads in electricity consumption. An initiative for price-sensitive electricity consumption has aspects in common with an initiative for increased energy efficiency. Intelligent appliances that react to prices will also be more energy efficient. Advanced meters are necessary for price-sensitive electricity consumption, as well as for providing information on the composition of the electricity consumption with a view to energy efficiency. Energy efficiency and price-sensitive electricity consumption should therefore be more closely linked, with respect to both consultancy and to the technological design of meters and appliances. It is essential that the promotion of energy conservation be well-organised and that the funds available be used as efficiently as possible. The point of departure for organising future initiatives is the desire for balanced and yet effective action that pays back in the short term. The target is that enterprises and energy consumers experience that energy saving results in economic gains and a reasonable return on investment that would not otherwise be achieved. The Government considers it essential that the organisation of the energy conservation drive reflect the priorities set for energy saving. The organisation must support the market-oriented strategy and the initiatives described in the action plan. It is important that the funds made available result in the highest possible profitable savings. Conclusion Energy conservation and emission reduction is essential to suitable development and economic development in harmony with the environment. Building the government management mechanism of energy conservation and emission reduction has become an important task of government reforms. Study the retraining factors of energy conservation and emission reduction, and propose legal guarantees, management innovation, technology innovation, service system construction and upgrading of industrial structure are the critical factors to energy conservation and emission reduction management mechanisms performance. Then discuss the critical factors deeply. Improve the special legislation; department law linkage and strengthening law enforcement supervision are essential to providing legal guarantees for energy conservation and emission reduction; comprehensive evaluation system and strict control system are essential to management innovation; policy guide and comprehensive utilization is essential to technology innovation; positive policy guide for development of consultation industry is the main task of energy conservation and emission reduction service system construction; high and new technology industries, elimination of outdated production capacity and development of recycling economy are useful for upgrading of industrial structure. Construction and consummation of energy conservation and emission reduction relevant law could provide measures for government to solve the problem of energy dissipation and environment pollution. The construction and consummation of law related to energy conservation and emission reduction is system engineering. All of the work must be based on the present laws and regulations. Then refine these further. And the refining works must be in connection with the actual need and based on thorough investigation. If necessary, new laws and regulations could come into existence. The construction and consummation must follow in proper sequence, and then could provide a solid legal security foundation. Today, our government have more than twenty law related to environment and resources protection. For example, Law on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution, Air Pollution Control Law, Law on the Pretension and Control of Noise Pollution, Law on the Pretension and Control of Solid Waste Pollution, Cleaner Production Promotion Law , Law of Environmental Impact Assessment and so on. But these laws and regulations couldnt meet the need of energy conservation and emission legal security. Although there is an energy conservation and emission reduction legal security framework, there arent special laws and regulations related relevant industry and special type of enterprises energy conservation and emission reduction control. And there arent effective legal means to closely restraint on enterprises disposal of pollutants and energy consumption. So, it is necessary to set some corresponding laws and regulations for special industry and enterprises in aspect of saving energy, recycling eco nomic and pollution prevention. For example, the British has many special laws and regulations, Alkali Act, Industry development Environment Act, Clean Air Amendment, Fume Emission Act, Environmental Protection Act, Water Act, and Water Industry Act and so on. Reinforce the supervision and control measures, then the energy conservation and emission reduction works could carry on effectively and orderly. Determine the responsibility of the establishment units according to the energy conservation and emission reduction plan and tasks. Strictly examine the achievement of there goals. And during the above process, the comprehensive utilizations of resources should be the focus. At last, its useful and essential to collect the suggestions of various establishment units. And optimize the energy conservation and emission reduction management system according to the suggestions and the feedback information of management systems control activities. So the innovation of energy conservation and emission reduction management system would go forward for ever.

The Setting of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay -- Litera

The setting of The Great Gatsby is one of the most influential components of the novel. Perhaps the most significant places in the novel are the West and East Eggs. In the story, the eggs are described by Nick, the narrator, as, â€Å"†¦a pair of enormous eggs, identical in contour and separated only by a courtesy bay† (Fitzgerald 9). However, the appearance of the two eggs is almost all they have in common as Nick point out when he says, â€Å"To the wingless a more arresting phenomenon is their dissimilarity in every particular except shape and size† (Fitzgerald 9). As the story progresses, the dissimilarities between the two eggs begin to emerge, yet there is always a faint, common element among the two. The setting affects the events of the story and the clashing characters according to where the scene takes place, and which area each character is from, influencing the characters’ attitudes, background, and current lifestyle and values. The two main homes that are described in the eggs are Gatsby’s and the Buchanan’s. Gatsby’s house is described as, â€Å"†¦a factual imitation of the Hà ´tel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new†¦ and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden† (Fitzgerald 9). Gatsby’s mansion is garish and is used as an attempt to win Daisy’s attention and affection. His home is the site of lavish parties where denizens of both eggs gather. The parties at Gatsby’s house last all night and many come and go, â€Å"†¦like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars† (Fitzgerald 43). Gatsby has dozens of crates of food delivered, caterers, and orchestras for his parties. These parties are not a rare occasion, though; he has them at least ever two weeks or so. Li... ...s among their inhabitants, especially when Nick takes the reader to visit the homes of Jay Gatsby and Tom and Daisy Buchanan. The eggs also serve to represent two contrasting types of wealth: newly gained and inherited. Along with the opposing types of wealth come opposing attitudes, which greatly contribute to the story. All of the factors of the setting of The Great Gatsby affect the events of the story and the characters that make up the story considerably. Work Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 2013. Print. The Setting of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay -- Litera The setting of The Great Gatsby is one of the most influential components of the novel. Perhaps the most significant places in the novel are the West and East Eggs. In the story, the eggs are described by Nick, the narrator, as, â€Å"†¦a pair of enormous eggs, identical in contour and separated only by a courtesy bay† (Fitzgerald 9). However, the appearance of the two eggs is almost all they have in common as Nick point out when he says, â€Å"To the wingless a more arresting phenomenon is their dissimilarity in every particular except shape and size† (Fitzgerald 9). As the story progresses, the dissimilarities between the two eggs begin to emerge, yet there is always a faint, common element among the two. The setting affects the events of the story and the clashing characters according to where the scene takes place, and which area each character is from, influencing the characters’ attitudes, background, and current lifestyle and values. The two main homes that are described in the eggs are Gatsby’s and the Buchanan’s. Gatsby’s house is described as, â€Å"†¦a factual imitation of the Hà ´tel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new†¦ and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden† (Fitzgerald 9). Gatsby’s mansion is garish and is used as an attempt to win Daisy’s attention and affection. His home is the site of lavish parties where denizens of both eggs gather. The parties at Gatsby’s house last all night and many come and go, â€Å"†¦like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars† (Fitzgerald 43). Gatsby has dozens of crates of food delivered, caterers, and orchestras for his parties. These parties are not a rare occasion, though; he has them at least ever two weeks or so. Li... ...s among their inhabitants, especially when Nick takes the reader to visit the homes of Jay Gatsby and Tom and Daisy Buchanan. The eggs also serve to represent two contrasting types of wealth: newly gained and inherited. Along with the opposing types of wealth come opposing attitudes, which greatly contribute to the story. All of the factors of the setting of The Great Gatsby affect the events of the story and the characters that make up the story considerably. Work Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 2013. Print.

Essay --

Introduction Antibiotic is important in defending disease causing bacteria, pathogens and virus. Antibiotic resistance or drug or antimicrobial resistance means the ability of microorganism to defend against the effect caused by antibiotic. According to World Health Organization (2006), aquaculture involves cultivating aquatic animals and plants in a restricted environment. Chatterjee and Haldar (2012) reported that almost one-third of the total fish supply in the world is contributed by aquaculture for domestic consumption. Annually, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture has reported that aquaculture possesses an average increase of 8.3%. The development of antibiotic resistance bacteria is due to the usage of antibiotic in the feeds and immersion therapy (McPhearson, DePoala, Zywno, Motes Jr, & Guarino, 1991). The examples of antibiotic resistance bacteria that can be found in aquaculture water discharge are Aeromonas hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio vulnificus and Plesiomonas shi gelloides (Hernandez Serrano, 2005). When human handle and consume these aquatic organisms, they may be exposed to some diseases which results in public health issue. Vibrio vulnificus Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) is a Gram-negative, motile and rod-shaped bacterium that lives freely in estuarine, marine and freshwater environment associated with aquatic animals. It can be isolated from water, sediments and seafood from seawater and aquaculture water (Jones & Oliver, 2009). Higher concentration of V. vulnificus can be found during summer when water temperature increases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). Hence, V. vulnificus is also termed as halophiles as they are found in salty and high temperature environme... ...d-development-of-rapid-and-accurate-identification-methods-2155-9910.S1-002.pdf Hernandez Serrano, P. (2005). Responsible use of antibiotics in aquaculture. Retrieved form ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/a0282e/a0282e00.pdf McPhearson, R. M., DePoala, A., Zywno, S. R., Motes Jr., M. L., & Guarino, A. M. (1991). Antibiotic resistance in gram-negative bacteria from cultured catfish and aquaculture ponds. Aquaculture, 99, 203-211. Morris, J. G. (2013). Vibrio vulnificus infections. Retrieved from http://www.uptodate.com/contents/vibrio-vulnificus-infections Todar, K. (2009). The microbial world. Retrieved from http://textbookofbacteriology.net/themicrobialworld/homepage.html World Health Organization. (2006). Antimicrobial use in aquaculture and antimicrobial resistance. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/topics/foodborne_diseases/aquaculture_ rep_13_16june2006%20.pdf

Finding Hercules in Much Ado About Nothing :: Much Ado About Nothing Essays

William Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers of all time, uses Hercules as a persona of excellence throughout his play, "Much Ado About Nothing".   Hercules, in Greek mythology, is a hero known for his strength, courage and legendary adventures.   This gives the impression that Shakespeare liked the tales of Hercules.      In order for us to understand what he meant by using Hercules' name and amount of background would need to be known. The first time Shakespeare uses Hercules name is with his character Benedick.   This takes place in Act two, Scene One: Benedick:  Ã‚   "...I would not marry her though she were endowed with all that Adam had left him before he transgress'd.   She would have made Hercules have turn'd spit, yea, and have cleft his club to make the fire too."   Shakespeare uses this to connect with the one of the tales of Hercules.   When a centaur (part man and horse) by the name of Nessus captured Deianeira, Hercules shot the centaur with a poisoned arrow.   With the centaur's dying breath he gave Deianeira a vial of his poisoned blood telling her she could use it to rekindle Hercules' love for her if it ever faded.   Hercules fell in love and married Deianeira (Hercules second wife).   One day when she felt that his love was fading, she made him a robe that was dipped in the blood of the centaur.   When Hercules received the gift from his wife he was overjoyed and put it on, almost immediately his skin started to burn and he caught on fire.   The club that is mentioned is Hercules' weapon.   Benedick says Beatrice would harm him, even if he used a weapon, he wouldn't be able to stop her, even though she may not mean any harm. Shortly after Benedick spoke of Hercules, Don Pedro mentions his name but for good use instead of the unhappy end of Hercules. Don Pedro:  Ã‚   "...I will in the interim undertake one of Hercules' labours, which is, to bring Signior Benedick and the Lady Beatrice into a mountain of affection th' one with th' other.   I would fain have it a match, and I doubt not but to fashion it if you three will but minister such assistance as I shall give you direction.

Sentencing

Thinking about the issue of punishment gives rise to a number of questions, the most fundamental of which is, why should offenders be punished? And what are the objectives for the punishment. Some of the objectives are deterrence, retribution, restitution, rehabilitation, and the reason for such punishment. Deterrence is most effective at stopping crime that is planned or premeditated. Sometimes the goal is to deter the individual from repeating the behavior; other times it is to deter others from engaging in a similar behavior. An â€Å"eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth† punishment applied with the belief that offenders should suffer similarly to their victims this is the retribution punishment. Restitution is applied with the belief that offenders should repay their victim’s loss in money or services. The offenders should pay back to the victim for crimes that he has made to change a person life. He has to see that he cannot get away with committing crimes. Rehabilitation is used more frequently with juveniles; it is applied with the hopes of helping the person resolve his disorder or disease that may contribute to crime. The punishment is their so that the person can choose more of a better life in which he decides to live, or he may choose a better path. The concept of punishment has been theorized by moral philosophers, social theorists, and criminologists, When a court imposes a punishment on an offender, it often tries to balance the sorts of reasons for punishment noted earlier, but sometimes certain purposes of punishment dominate other purposes The third perspective on punishment is offered by criminologists and policy makers, who focus on penalties for offenses and policy concerns relevant to the punishment of offenders. There are differences in the state and federal punishments laws of punishment such as with the federal laws the penalties and range from long or short prison sentences in federal prison to include fines. Federal laws are enforced by the United States Government Agencies and also passed by the United States Government Agencies. There are criminal laws involved, usually dealing with crimes against the government and laws that just provide fines. State laws are those that are passed and enforced by the state. They cannot contradict the Federal laws and apply only to the specific state. The state enforcement agencies also have a duty to insure that Federal laws are not being broken. Most criminal laws are state created and penalties include fines and short or long prison sentences. Probation is a sentence with certain conditions that must be followed. If any of the conditions, such as no drug use, are violated, your probation officer will notify the court or prosecutor. The size and cost of America’s prison system has skyrocketed during the last few decades, largely as a result of laws and policies that put more offenders behind bars and keep them there longer. Yet recidivism rates remain stubbornly high, and crime still is a major public concern. State policy makers across the nation are asking whether soaring prison budgets are the best path to public safety. The federal prison population has reached record levels, that a high proportion of prisoners are non-violent drug offenders, and that racial disparities in sentencing and the proportion of lower-level drug offenders are increasing. Sentencing disparities is sentencing offenders in which those committing the same crime receive different sentences. Sentencing disparities are usually based on race, gender, region, or socioeconomic status and there are some grapple with this problem that must be solve. Many of the studies concluded that race had a direct effect on the in-out decision (in other words, the decision concerning whether the offender should be punished in a penal institution or out in the community) and that this effect remained even after the inclusion of controls for prior record and crime seriousness. Benefits of sentence-reduction programs, such as good-time laws and early parole release, include promotion of discipline within prisons (because inmates are motivated to engage in good behavior in order to earn or avoid losing good time) and the reduction of prison overcrowding. It is said that most offenders are released from prison before serving their full sentences and that indeterminate sentences produce gross sentencing disparities because they allow judges too much discretion.

Colonial Politics and Democracy

Democracy is a much contested concept. Its notion differs with reference to the type of government a state employs. But in general sense, democracy pertains to a type of government in which the role and the involvement of every individual are very significant. The term democracy actually is derived from the Greek word demos which means ‘people’, and from kratos which means ‘rule’. In other words, democracy entails a form of government that is ruled by the people themselves. (Tilly, 2007)It is said that democratization has been one of the impending features of globalization. (Ray & Kaarbo, 2004) Regarding this, states and nations are beginning to patronize the underlying and the basic principles of democracy. But prior to the concept of globalization, colonial politics had been one of the first mechanisms used to promote democracy.  (Andrews, 2001)Some defined features of colonial politics that help the rise and institutionalization of democracy to other st ates and nations in the world include the idea that ‘power and authority’ should not be bestowed to a single person for that person has this tendency of abusing his obtained power and authority. Conversely, those countries who abide by the principles of democracy divided or distributed both power and authority to three branches of the government, namely: the executive, legislature and judiciary.Through this structure, checks and balances are very much possible. Another defining mark of colonial politics is the method of ‘governorship’ wherein power and authority is distributed among the elected or delegated governors. These governors rule state provinces. Lastly, the process of election is inherent in a democratic form of government. In this method, every citizen has the right to vote for whom he or she thinks fit to rule.  (Lijphart, 1999)The significance of these features of colonial politics really contributed to the rise of democracy. They show that t he role and involvement of every individual are the integral part of democracy. Hence, it should be first arranged and managed by the government in order for the state to function as really democratic.Reference:Andrews, C. M. (2001). Colonial Self-Government, 1652-1689. Adamant Media Corporation.Lijphart, A. (1999). Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six Countries. Yale University Press.Ray, J. L., & Kaarbo, J. (2004). Global Politics (8th ed ed.). Houghton Mifflin Company.Tilly, C. (2007). Democracy (First ed ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Marketing an Introduction Essay

Micro environment Marketing management their job is to build strong relationships with customers by creating customer value and satisfaction. But marketing managers cannot do this alone. Marketing success will require building relationships with other company departments, suppliers , marketing intermediaries , customers , competitors and various publics. The company Marketing managers must work closely with other company departments. Other departments have an impact on the marketing departments plans and actions. All of these functions must â€Å"think consumer†. Suppliers Suppliers form an important link in the company’s overall customer value delivery system. They provide the resources needed by the company to produce its goods and services. Supplier problems can seriously affect marketing. Rising supply costs may force price increases that can harm the company’s sales volume. Marketers build strong relationships with its suppliers. Marketing intermediaries Marketing intermediaries help the company to promote , sell and distribute its products to final buyers. Includes resellers , physical distribution firms , marketing services agencies and financial intermediaries. * Resellers : distribution channel firms that help the company find customers or make sales for them. These include wholesalers and retailers who buy and resell merchandise. * Physical distribution firms : Help the company to stock and move goods from their points of origin to their destinations. * Marketing services agencies : Marketing research firms , advertising agencies , media firms , and marketing consulting firms. * Financial intermediaries : Banks , credit companies , insurance companies and other financial institutions or insurance institutions against the risks associated with the buying and selling of goods. Today’s marketers know the importance of working with their intermediaries as partners. Competitors A company must provide greater customer value and satisfaction than its competitors do. Marketers need to do more than simply adapt to the needs of their customers. You need a strategy as a firm. Publics Public is any group that has an actual or potential interest in or impact on an organization’s ability to achieve its objectives. There are seven types of publics 1) Financial publics : This group influences the company’s ability to obtain funds 2) Media publics : This group carries news , features and editorial opinion. 3) Government publics : Management must take government developments into account. (Product safety , truth in advertising and other matters) 4) Citizen-action public : A company’s marketing decisions may be questioned by consumer organizations , environmental groups , minority groups and others. PR can help to stay in touch with consumers and citizen groups 5) Local publics : Relation with neighborhood residents and community organizations. 6) General public : The general public and their opinions and the company and their products 7) Internal publics : Workers , managers , volunteers and the board of directors. Customers Customers are the most important actors in the company’s micro environment. The main point is to serve the consumer and make them your customer. 1) Consumer market : Households and individuals 2) Business market :buy goods or services for further processing. 3) reseller markets : Buy goods or services to resell it at a profit 4) Government markets : Buy goods or services to produce publics services or transfer the goods to those who need them. 5) International markets : Buyers in other countries could be consumers , business , resellers and governments. Macro environment External factors that may be a threat to a company. There are 6 macro environmental elements: Demographic Demography is the study of human populations in terms of size , density , location , age , gender , race , occupation and other statistics. Demography has a huge impact on marketing because it involves people and people make up markets. The world ‘s large and highly diverse population poses both opportunities and challenges. Marketers have to keep a close watch on the demographic trends and developments in their markets , at home and abroad. Generations : * Baby boomers : Born between 1946-1964. One of the most powerful forces shaping the marketing environment. They have had many good years but now with a sharp decline in stock prices and home values , many baby boomers are now spending more carefully and planning to work longer. * Generation X : Born between 1965-1976. They lie in the shadow of the baby boomers. Not materialistic. First generation of parental divorce and working moms. â€Å"The MTV generation†. They are spending more carefully. Many companies are focusing one Generation X als target segment. * Millennials/Generation Y : Born between 1977-2000 This group includes several age cohorts – Tweens (9-12) – Teens (13-18) – Young adults (19-32) With a big purchase power they are an attractive market for business. This generation is fluent with the digital technology. They don’t embrace technology , it is a way of life. Generational Marketing : Do marketers have to make different products for each generation ? Defining people by their birthdate may be less effective than segmenting them by their lifestyle , life stage or the common values they seek in products they buy. The traditional household has disappeared and marketers must increasingly consider the special needs of non-traditional households , because they are now growing more rapidly than traditional households. Each group has distinctive needs and buying habits. Geographic shifts : People move all the time. Such population shifts interest marketers because people in different regions buy differently. (Migration from North to South , East to West , City to suburban areas etc) Better educated population : The rising number of well educated people will increase the demand for quality products , books , magazines, travel , personal computers and internet services. Increasing diversity : Countries vary in their ethnic and racial make up. One nation has just one culture and another nation has loads of cultures within their own culture. Marketers have to take that in account nowadays. They make products to one or more groups. But it can also be differences in your sexual orientation that marketers take in account. Another diversity segment is for adults with disabilities. Marketers take advantage of opportunities in fast growing segments. Economic Environment Consists of factors that affect consumer purchasing power and spending patterns. Marketers must pay close attention to major trends and consumer spending patterns. Nations vary greatly in their levels and distribution of income. Some countries have industrial economies , which constitute rich markets for many different kinds of goods. Subsistence economies : They consume most of their own agricultural and industrial goods. In between are developing economies which can offer outstanding marketing oppurtunities for the right kind of products. Changes in income and spending : People could spend loads of money until the economic crisis showed up. The economic meltdown has been psychologically wrenching after a quarter century of prosperity. People live back to basic and adopted their lifestyle , and their spending pattern. Marketers are now trying to give people good quality for a good and fair price. Marketers should pay attention to income distribution as well as income levels. Changing consumer spending patterns : Consumers of different income levels have different spending patterns. Engel’s law : When the income increases , the percentage spent on food declines , the percentage spent on housing remains constant and the percentage spent on most other categories and that devoted to savings increase. Natural Environment Involves the natural resources that are needed as inputs by marketers or that are affected by marketing activities. Environmental concerns have grown the last three decades. Global warming is a hot issue. Marketers should be aware of several trends in the natural environment. First involves growing shortages of raw material such as water pollution and air pollution. Second is increased pollution : The industry will amost always damage the quality of the natural environment ( Chemical and nuclear wastes) Third trend is increased government intervention in natural resource management. One government cares more than the other. Today companies are developing strategies and practices that support environmental sustainability an effort to create a world economy that the planet can support indefinitely. The consumer responds with an increasing demand for environmental responsible products. Other companies are developing recyclable or biodegradable packaging , recycled materials and components , better pollution controls , and more energy-efficient operations. Technological environment The technological environment is perhaps the most dramatic force now , shaping our destiny. Technology has created miracles with medicines , surgery , electronics and internet. But also horrors as nuclear weapons m chemical weapons and assault rifles. The technological environment changes rapidly. New technologies creates new markets and opportunities. However every new technology replaces an old one. Marketers should keep themselves up to date or soon their products will be outdated. As products and technology become more complex , the public needs to know that these are safe. Thus the government agencies investigate and ban potentially unsafe products. Political and Social Environment Marketing decisions are strong affected by developments in the political environment. It consists laws , government agencies and pressure groups that influence or limit various organizations and individuals in a given society