Non traditional health care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Non traditional health care - Essay Example Therefore, there is no uniform approach towards non-traditional healthcare as each form envisages a different set of applications in the course of treatment. This explains why some forms of non-traditional healthcare are acceptable in some places and not others. Non-traditional methods are also based on different knowledge and belief systems that guide the processes of treatment. These belief and knowledge systems may connote the causes of disease and how to tackle treatment. Essentially, several non-traditional healthcare processes are used in different parts of the world; examples of these forms are acupuncture, folk remedies, and naturopathic medicine among others. I live in a community of Native Americans, Asian and Dutch; there are a few acupuncture and naturopathic clinics in my area. The document provides the findings of a research on the availability of non-traditional healthcare in my area of residence. The findings will be centered on the prevalence of non-traditional healt hcare forms namely, acupuncture and naturopathic clinics in my community. Naturopathic clinics in my area use natural interventions to restore health. Naturopathic medicine involves the applications based on nature to replenish the health of people. As a result, majority of the naturopathic clinics in this area are based on the natural operations that are applied in a diversity of ways to restore health. On a broad plane, naturopathic medicine and care as offered in these clinics involve treatment, prevention along with optimal health. Naturopathic medicine, therefore, offers a wide array of health services that are all centered on guaranteeing the health of individuals. Naturopathic treatment is a distinct health care practice that focuses on treatment, optimal wellness and prevention, treatment via the application of therapeutic methods and substances which encourage individual healing processes (Hechtman, 2012). Broadly though, naturopathic

Case stduy of Campus response to a student gunman. by Kelly J Essay

Case stduy of Campus response to a student gunman. by Kelly J. Asmussen , John W. Creswell - Essay Example The credibility of the study is highly supported by its research method: the qualitative case analysis; a relevant incident ‘in the campus of a public university, cited in a Midwestern City’ (case study, 338) is analytically presented and explained aiming to highlight the various aspects of student gun violence but also to provide information regarding the measures that are most appropriate for the limitation of the phenomenon – as these measures have been applied on the University involved in the specific case study. The examination of the article’s sections – in terms of structure, content and language used – has led to the assumption that the particular study can be quite valuable for legislators, educators and community leaders – helping them to understand the emergent character of the problem and propose appropriate plans of action. However, the conclusion section of the paper has been rather discouraging regarding the above perspe ctive – emphasizing on the lack of interest by the educational and local authorities in regard to the prevention of such incidents. However, even under these terms, the existence of studies like the one under evaluation proves that the expansion of violence in educational units across USA has attracted the attention of the academia. As for the level at which the authors of this study have contributed to the achievement of the above target, this can be identified by referring to the characteristics and the content of their study and by evaluating its credibility – taking into consideration the relevant rules of academic research. Evaluation of the article The study of Asmussen and Creswell highlights a quite important problem: the increase of violence in university campuses across USA; reference is made specifically to the student gun violence. The particular study can be characterized as quite valuable, mostly because it deals with a problem, which is avoided by most a cademic researchers – an issue also notified in the study under examination. The importance of the study – meaning especially its contribution in the particular field – can be identified and understood by referring to its content but also to its structure; the theme chosen should be also evaluated – compared to other, most common, themes of academic research. On the other hand, the research methodology employed should be evaluated, as of its appropriateness taking into consideration the fact that the literature in regard to the issue under discussion – and the research methods which are most appropriate for such studies – is quite limited, a problem also highlighted by the authors. The development of the above tasks would allow the evaluation of the following facts: a) whether the study has been appropriately structured, b) whether the research methods chosen were the most appropriate, c) which were the most critical challenges that the auth ors had to face and d) whether the authors managed or not to achieve their aims – as these aims are included in the research questions on which the study under

The Origins Of Theatre And Playwrights English Literature Essay

The Origins Of Theatre And Playwrights English Literature Essay This essay aims to discuss the effectiveness of political theatre in causing social change, looking specifically at the practice of the contemporary political playwright Augusto Boal including the influence of social theorist Karl Marx on Boals work and how Marxism affected Boals style of theatre. This essay will begin by looking at the origins of theatre and how it has been used since then as a medium of promoting political thought. However, in order to understand political theatre we must first be able to understand what is mean by politics, the Oxford Reference Dictionary (1991:647) describes something political as affecting the State or its Government; of public affairs. From this definition we are able to deduce that political theatre is theatre that is produced in order to affect or influence the community and those in power with regard to public affairs. This type of theatre has been used and enjoyed since the very beginning of theatre as we know it today, which began in Ancie nt Greece in the celebration of the festival of Dionysos, the God of ecstasy. The festival included prayer and procession as well as singing and dancing, there may also have been groups of performers who would answer each other through the medium of song or dance. It is believed that it was Thespis who stood out and performed first without the chorus, and thus creating what we understand to be a protagonist. (GREEK THEATRE 1) Competitions then began to take place during the festivals in which playwrights would enter their plays to be performed, either a tragedy, or a comedy and satyr play. The Greek playwrights would present the audience with ideas to think about and reflect over; during the plays a Parabasis, or stepping aside would take place, this was an opportunity for the playwright to comment upon the state of city affairs or anything else that he so wished. Aristophanes thought that, the dramatist should not only offer pleasure but should, besides that, be a teacher of morali ty and a political advisor.(in Boal 2008:xiii) In his plays, Aristophanes would satirise the most important people of the day, in between the scenes the chorus would perform short, satirical pieces of song and dance always attacking well known individuals by name, for example he ridiculed the demagogue Kleon in his play Babylonians. However, a plays success depended on the funding from the wealthy aristocracy ay the time, the choragus therefore the plays produced may be seen to reflect the view of the choregus rather than that of the playwright, because without them a play would not have the funding to be performed. Greek society was much controlled by the economic minority, the Bourgeoisie, but nothing was done to change this. This state of affairs in Ancient Greece is very similar to the social situation that Karl Marx was fighting against when he introduced his communist manifesto; the alternative to capitalism. Marx believed that human beings have been conditioned throughout his tory to behave a certain way by economic institutions and that in order for an equal society without a social hierarchy then the proletariat must seize power from the bourgeoisie through a social revolution and place everything in collective ownership. In his book Theatre of the Oppressed Augusto Boal writes how Marx believed that art is a key way of offering knowledge, but this knowledge is conveyed from the perspective of the artist, social surroundings or whoever provides sponsorship or payment. Mainly, it is the part of society that maintains economic power that holds control over any means of communication. Bordwell and Thompson (in Woodson, no date) back this up: Each art form is controlled, not by the artists, but by larger social institutions. In a capitalist society, an artist may believe he or she is using the art form for personal expression, but he or she is actually producing merchandise of a kind acceptable to the society. It is only from the arrival of Karl Marx and his theories on socialism that playwrights and practitioners have begun to use theatre as a means for change. Bertolt Brecht was greatly influenced by the Marxist theory because he too wanted to create change, the major goal of the historical avant-garde was to challenge the institution of bourgeois art (Kistenberg 1995:29); Pescator described Brechts work as a Marxist-based analysis of social relations. Brecht agreed with Marx that it was the capitalists that created the bourgeois society, and that drama can be used as a medium of didacticism. It was from this belief that Brecht adopted Piscators form of avant-garde theatre known as epic theatre. Epic theatre has many parallels with Cartesian tradition in which people are encouraged into rational thought; it underlines the socio-political content of drama rather than trying to manipulate the emotions of the audience. Brecht stated that there must be a transformation of psychological confl ict into historic condition (in Basuki no date) in theatre in order to release the self and to create rational thought. This Cartesian belief is needed so that neither the audience nor the actor tries to empathise with the action and characters on stage and are able to view the action with a critical mind. In order to do this Brecht proposed that theatre needed to give to the audience a process of alienation because alienation is necessary to all understanding (Brecht in Basuki no date) so that they are able to form an opinion unfettered by empathy. The term Brecht used to describe this distancing of the audience is Verfremdungseffekt, which when translated, means alienation. In a description about epic theatre Brecht gives an explanation about the difference between a spectator watching dramatic theatre and one watching epic theatre: The dramatic theatres spectator says: Yes, I have felt like that too-Just like me-Its only natural-Itll never change-The suffering of this man appals me, because they are inescapable-Thats great art; it all seems the most obvious thing in the world-I weep when they weep, I laugh when they laugh. The epic theatres spectator says: Id never have thought it-thats not the way-Thats extraordinary, hardly believable-Its got to stop-The sufferings of this man appal me, because they are unnecessary-Thats great art: nothing obvious in it-I laugh when they weep, I weep when they laugh (Brecht in Basuki no date) This quote from Brecht shows us how he intended epic theatre to work and its popularity among playwrights and directors is a great example of how successful epic theatre is as a form of didacticism. However, in Brechts plays the separation between the stage and the audience is still present. The spectator is persuaded to think the thoughts and opinions that presented to them through the action on stage because it is the playwrights who condemns the characters or the events that have taken place; the audiences thoughts are merely pointed in the right direction by the dramatist (OPPRESSED xx) Augusto Boal, though highly influenced by the likes of Marx and Brecht took the format of epic theatre to a new level. He found ways of combining Marxist theory with new ways of writing and analysis. He believed that in order to liberate the audience from the constraints of stage and spectator, they themselves must be part of what is happening on stage To transform is to be transformed.(Boal 2008: xxi) and thus becoming spect-actors. From this belief Boal created the Theatre of the Oppressed in which the audience are asked to intercede, and suggest the next course of action for the actors to perform or actually perform themselves, whilst the actors assist and persuade the audience to take the role of a spect-actor. For example, in forum theatre, the actors perform a short play with which ends with unresolved oppression and then it is performed again but this time the spect-actor is able to become involved and suggest ways to fix the oppression. Boal saw the spectators invasion of the stage as a symbolic moment in their transformation, This invasion is a symbolic trespass. It symbolises all the acts of trespass we have to commit in order to free ourselves from what oppresses us. (Boal 2008:xxi) By doing this the spect-actor is made aware of what he needs to do in order to change the situation in his real social setting, and by breaking down the wall between spectator and acto r, Boal also breaks the wall between the oppressor and the oppressed. (BOAL ESSAY) English Theatre company Cardboard citizens is one of the leading producers of Forum Theatre in the UK, this company is made up of homeless people or those at risk of becoming homeless. Cardboard Citizens tour the UK, performing for other Homeless people, and as it states on their website, aiming to problem-solve together. (CARDBOARD WEBSITE) Although this is an excellent way of trying to create social change, it may be the case that the company perform to an audience who are already aware of the situation being presented to them, and are therefore preaching to the converted. In The Transparent Closet: Gay Theatre for Straight Audiences, Richard Hall (in Kistenberg 1995:76) suggests: Theatre is inefficient as an instrument for social change. It either speaks to those already in support of its views, or to those who are so secure in their power that they dont mind hearing themselves abused, as long as the abuse is entertaining. Although theatre is an excellent form of communication, it is unable to access the parts of society in which people do not watch theatre that is seen to be anything other than mainstream entertainment i.e. Musicals etc. This then stops the theatre from being its most effective. As well as this, political theatre may become an outlet for people to confirm their opinions, for example, David Hares play Stuff Happens was written as a reaction to the Iraq War, somebody who has negative beliefs about this event may watch the play just so their opinions are confirmed. This again may stop the theatre from being at its most effective. Although Cardboard Citizens use of forum theatre has helped many homeless peoples situations and is working to gain understanding of the struggles homeless people encounter, Elizabeth Burns states that the audience view themselves as part of a performance rather than performance as part of their lives (in Kistenberg 1995:32) She believes that the audience are me rely props for the actors and that because they are in a state of being neither fully part of the performance nor full separate then it isnt much different from their usual role as spectator. If this is the case then the spectators of Cardboard Citizens performances, even if they were able to present their theatre to a much wider and varied kind of audience, would not be much changed by what they have seen. Boals next step in creating social change could be seen to have a great impact on society, he generated a form of theatre named Legislative Theatre in which theatre is used to create an active and practical change in society. Boal ran for election and was voted in to be one of 42 vereadores  of Rio, (BOAL ESSAY) he used his new political position to create Legislative Theatre. In this type of theatre Boal attempted To use theatre within a political system to create a truer from of democracy (Boal 2008:i) This type of theatre uses all the techniques of the theatre of the oppressed in order to create new laws, Boal would take his theatre to the streets of Rio and asked the people what they thought of certain issues then proposed his findings to the council chamber. In this way he was able to put forward laws to be passed that had a significant impact on the people of Rio, for example, one law that was passed was one which protected the witnesses of crimes. (LEGISLATIVE THEATRE 104). Theatre is not just about entertaining the masses; it provides a means in which to get a message across. Although all of theatre could be said to be political in a broader sense, it is political theatre that has been established as designing a theatre that is left wing and that expresses the need for radical change. Political theatre has thrived under oppressive governments as a means of communicating political opinions; however this has not always been the case. In spite of how seemingly political Greek theatre appears the censorship of the plays provides evidence towards the fact that it was not and it did little to challenge and change the social hierarchy of the time because it was controlled by the people in power. Greek theatre started by being interactive and an open form of communication; however the right to speak was taken away when the citizens were split into chorus and audience. It is seemingly ironic then that it was someone speaking out of turn that first created this form of theatre but by being made to be the audience the rest were stifled. Looking back at how political theatre has developed over the years it is clear of the relevance of each individual practitioner at the respective times in which they were writing, for example, in the years of extreme censorship by the Bourgeoisie when Brecht was writing he was one of the first practitioners to use theatre to make people aware of their situation therefore enlightening them because it was the first time they had been shown the truth. However now, in the 21st Century when people are able to access, via the means of the internet for example, all types of imformation without censorship they are given the opportunity through practices such as Boals to actively change society. Boals Legislative Theatre encapsulates the aim of political theatre. As Brecht used Epic theatre in order to create social change, Boal took his format and physically created change through the placement of new laws. This is ultimately the aim of political theatre, to release the oppressed from the op pressor. Conclusion. Zortman (2) says that The avant-garde artists were denounced as breeders of the proletarian world revolution Quotes 356 / 1403words.

Globalization and Regional Institutions Essay examples -- international

In the field of human rights, the issues surrounding globalization are widely debated. Some argue that globalization is a scourge that destroys the unique and multifaceted cultures of the world; while others argue that it spreads universal ideals, such as the concept of human rights. Regional organizations fit into the idea of globalization by creating unifying ties between nations; sharing values, trade, and promoting a strengthened identity. The two most well-known and influential regional organizations are the European Union (EU), and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). While these two are the largest, they inspired many smaller organizations; a process which has increased the liberalization of international trade (Ardalan, 2). Regional organizations are distinct from the ideas of a supranational government or the formation of a nation-state, although common policies may be implemented through the enforcement of treaties; each state ultimately maintains governmental control (Ardalan, 5). Regional organizations, refers to organizations that extend across regional areas, they often have strong ties to political and economic areas, and can influence the member states within their boundaries. Globalization denotes both a process and an outcome, created by the sharing of values and technological advances shared internationally. Relationships between member-states are enhanced, such as by the advent of a common currency, such as 18 states of the European Union that use the Euro (European Commission). Values are spread throughout regional organizations, once again we can look to the European Union, to see how socialized schooling once found in some member countries was dissolved to conform to the desired standard, ... ...peace operations. Global Governance, 19(3), 377+. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.wlu.ca/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA341129378&v=2. 1&u=wate18005&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=7ba9d7d00b335ed7392305169958 593b Legler, T. F. (2012). The shifting sands of regional governance: the case of Inter-American democracy promotion. Politics & Policy, 40(5), 848+. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.wlu.ca/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA309727752&v=2.1&u= wate18005&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=820ae530c5fee2f671440f99e21dbb46 Nagheli, S., Nagheli, E., & Sadeghi, B. (2013). The impact of foreign direct investment and regional integration on poverty reduction case study: D8 countries. Advances in Environmental Biology, 1412+. Retrieved from: http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.wlu.ca/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA347003716&v=2.1&u= wate18005&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=c7dfc8771eaf17febe13d068035b0240 Globalization and Regional Institutions Essay examples -- international In the field of human rights, the issues surrounding globalization are widely debated. Some argue that globalization is a scourge that destroys the unique and multifaceted cultures of the world; while others argue that it spreads universal ideals, such as the concept of human rights. Regional organizations fit into the idea of globalization by creating unifying ties between nations; sharing values, trade, and promoting a strengthened identity. The two most well-known and influential regional organizations are the European Union (EU), and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). While these two are the largest, they inspired many smaller organizations; a process which has increased the liberalization of international trade (Ardalan, 2). Regional organizations are distinct from the ideas of a supranational government or the formation of a nation-state, although common policies may be implemented through the enforcement of treaties; each state ultimately maintains governmental control (Ardalan, 5). Regional organizations, refers to organizations that extend across regional areas, they often have strong ties to political and economic areas, and can influence the member states within their boundaries. Globalization denotes both a process and an outcome, created by the sharing of values and technological advances shared internationally. Relationships between member-states are enhanced, such as by the advent of a common currency, such as 18 states of the European Union that use the Euro (European Commission). Values are spread throughout regional organizations, once again we can look to the European Union, to see how socialized schooling once found in some member countries was dissolved to conform to the desired standard, ... ...peace operations. Global Governance, 19(3), 377+. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.wlu.ca/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA341129378&v=2. 1&u=wate18005&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=7ba9d7d00b335ed7392305169958 593b Legler, T. F. (2012). The shifting sands of regional governance: the case of Inter-American democracy promotion. Politics & Policy, 40(5), 848+. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.wlu.ca/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA309727752&v=2.1&u= wate18005&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=820ae530c5fee2f671440f99e21dbb46 Nagheli, S., Nagheli, E., & Sadeghi, B. (2013). The impact of foreign direct investment and regional integration on poverty reduction case study: D8 countries. Advances in Environmental Biology, 1412+. Retrieved from: http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.wlu.ca/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA347003716&v=2.1&u= wate18005&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=c7dfc8771eaf17febe13d068035b0240

Hunger Games essay Essay

The Hunger Games is a fictional book, which establishes the relationship between the protagonist Katniss, and the protagonist Peeta. Katniss is a 16 year old girl who lives in District twelve, Panem. She is the sole provider for her family and competes in the Hunger Games, a game where two people from each of the twelve districts are chosen to fight to the death. Peeta is a 16 year old boy who is also from District Twelve who competes in the Hunger Games with Katniss. Throughout the book there is great debate on whether Katniss and Peeta are in love, or not in love. Katniss pretends to be in love with Peeta because it helps her in the Games, and it is an act of survival. Peeta on the other hand is deeply in love with Katniss. Throughout the book Katniss often finds herself making multiple references back to her friend, Gale, who has been her best friend for years. She wonders what life would be like with Gale. Katniss pretends to be in love with Peeta. She sees it as her only way of survival in the Games. When she and Peeta are in an affectionate state, the Capitol audience is entertained. This results in her and Peeta getting both food and messages from their mentor Haymitch and their sponsors. Luckily, they entertain the audience enough to survive the games but towards the end of the book Peeta says to Katniss, â€Å"It was all for the games, how you acted. † (Pg. 372) This is legitimate proof that Katniss only pretended to be in love with Peeta. Based on much evidence from the book, it is revealed that Peeta is deeply in love with Katniss. Prior to the beginning of the Games, both Katniss and Peeta had to take part in a pre-game interview. In Peeta’s interview, he tells the audience how winning the games would not help his situation because he is deeply in love with Katniss. Katniss was not happy with Peeta’s statement, but later in the book calmly asks him, â€Å"Peeta, you said at the interview you’d had a crush on me forever. When did forever start? † (Pg. 300) Peeta responded, â€Å"Oh let’s see. I guess the first day of school. We were five. You had on a red plaid dress and your hair†¦ it was in two braids instead of one. My father pointed your out. † (Pg. 300) This is the most heart-felt moment between the two; however Katniss only asked Peeta the question because she knew she had to keep entertaining the audience. Her strategy to manipulate Peeta’s emotions was a great advantage to her game. Katniss often makes references back to her friend Gale, her long time best friend that is back home in District Twelve. She has mixed feelings about him because when Katniss was about to leave for the games, Gale was saying good bye to Katniss and was cut short with the slamming of a door. There are many misinterpretations about what Gale was trying to say to Katniss. Most people, including Katniss, think that he was about to say â€Å"I love you. † This unfinished sentence disturbs Katniss during the games when she has mixed feelings about Peeta. Katniss thinks to herself, â€Å"Gale’s not my boyfriend, but would he be, if I opened that door? † (Pg. 280) Any person who is truly in love would not be thinking about other men in this way. Throughout the Hunger Games there is great talk on whether Katniss and Peeta are in love, or not. Katniss pretends to be in love with Peeta because it helps her in the Games, and she uses it as an act of survival. Peeta on the other hand, is deeply in love with Katniss. During the book Katniss often finds herself making multiple mentions back to her friend, Gale, who has been her best friend and hunting buddy for years. She wonders what life would be like if she was with him. Too conclude, Katniss and Peeta are not meant to be. They have completely different individualities and although it may seem that their pretend love is mutual, it is not.

Key Success Factors in Online Ventures

The chaotic development of the Internet has left many attempts to route commerce through it stranded. Icons of the brick-and mortar age have often been the most hapless victims, floundering in vain attempts to attract the attention of browsers, and to deliver value. This makes the eminent online success of Office Depot especially worthy of study.The business-to-business model has been especially difficult for middle-aged industrial and corporate buyers to comprehend. Those who have never learnt to write in code feel threatened by the very mention of a web site, and take refuge in the exaggerated risks of buying online (Tillinghast, 2002). The first key success factor of Office Depot lies in the simplicity of design of its web site, requiring no familiarity with computers or programming to place orders, pay for them, and to receive supplies.Office Depot, by virtue of the variety of products and services on offer, tempts customers to become frequent web site visitors (Office Depot, 200 6). Office supplies for coffee are positioned in the upper left quadrant where it is likely to catch first attention. The lay out is inviting, and is bound to generate curiosity and interest even in the minds of skeptical browsers. Overall, Office Depot scores through a web site, which is akin to the shop windows of the most popular retail outlet in the physical world.A third success factor is that Office Depot makes it easy to return goods purchased on incorrect impulses, even arranging to pick them up at the door (Johnson, not dated). This must alleviate natural fears about making buying decisions without seeing and feeling products, and meets most objections of electronic commerce head-on.Office Depot respects customer choice, emphasizing the availability of trusted brands (Office Depot, 2006). Generic products, new brands, and the most established ones such as Hewlett-Packard are offered with even prominence. This is in contrast to the online business forays of some others, whic h are blatant efforts to promote particular brands at the cost of customer degrees of freedom.Broadly, Office Depot has succeeded in online business, because it has put customer needs ahead of technological innovation in electronic communication, ensuring that the Internet serves business needs rather than dictate terms to it.Lessons from the Office Depot Online SuccessConventional marketing promoted the targeting of relatively narrow segments. This made sense as long as a business offered its products and services within the confines of a segregated area. An over-riding feature of the Internet is that the whole world becomes a single market place. Conventional marketing which is highly focused on a spatially limited segment pays the costs of existence on the World Wide Web, but without the attendant market potential and size benefits. We can learn from the success of Office Depot that online marketing has to address clusters (Payne, 2002) rather than narrow segments. Office Depot d efines its customers as enterprises of all sizes, from the small to large corporations, and has combined its Internet foray with international operations. It is therefore able to use the full power of the medium.The Internet makes the Process element of the Marketing Mix (Payne, 2002) a key determinant of success. Office Depot has a prominent promise on the web site of deliveries, without extra charge, within one business day. The enormous planning and investment efforts made to make this promise come true over incredibly large numbers of transactions everyday, has to be appreciated if anyone wishes to repeat the Office Depot success story. Perhaps the facility of the medium makes other enterprises offer commitments which they are not geared to meet, leaving customers disillusioned. There is a large and complex operation of logistics behind the Office Depot success, to keep adequate inventories of such a large number of items within a day’s reach of all customers.The sophisti cation of online business tempts many enterprises to segregate Internet operations from conventional business. A lesson from Office Depot is that the medium should be integrated in to the mainstream in manners which lend synergy (Johnson, not dated). Office Depot treats customers on its web site just as it would if some one walked in to one of their conventional stores.Finally, Office Depot enhances its physical and generic products with useful services (Johnson, not dated). The articles and discussions on small business and commercial resources must be particularly valuable for customers.Competitive Advantage in MarketspaceScale matters in marketspace (Johnson, not dated). Office Depot is successful because of the breadth of its product and service offers, because of the vast territory it serves, and the sheer weight of over a billion dollars of revenue, which is growing rapidly as well. These dimensions act as barriers to new entrants, and strengthen the company’s competiti ve strength from day to day.Marketspace is first about customer needs, and not about the elegance and creativity of software engineers. Other enterprises have web sites with flash, multi-media, and other features which delight programmers, but which take time to load, and can even scare away customers. Web sites should have clear objectives (Tillinghast, 2002), and serve the business, rather than drive it. It is important for enterprises to avoid being overwhelmed by the aura of the Internet, and to keep it tightly within the reins of customer needs.Limits to Online Business Success and the Office Deport ExperienceThere are 5 important limitations to online business in general, and to the foregoing account of the success of Office Depot in this regard: firstly, credit card and related payment frauds plague most electronic commerce ventures. The case does not mention the actual experience of Office Depot in this regard, and even if the company has not suffered any significant losses in this regard, it remains vulnerable for the future.Secondly, products such as copiers and facsimile machines may require considerable product demonstration and after-sales-service, which the online business model is not geared to provide. The decision-making for pins and staples is certainly not the same as for equipment such as filing cabinets: Office Depot runs the risk of building revenues faster in low value-addition lines, as opposed to modern office products of the future.Thirdly, Office Depot has tasted success during the halcyon years of a global economic boom. The serious fixed cost growth which it has encountered in terms of warehousing and logistics could become a serious drag on profitability during a future economic downturn.Fourthly, the practice of offering products in kiosks which are not available or offered online, may rebound on the company. Customers may move away from the company’s web site once they realize that more choice is available in real stores. Finally, the Office Depot experience lacks universal relevance. Many competitors, and companies in other lines of business may realize better returns from conventional business channels, and failures if they copy the high fixed cost and infrastructure-intensive online business model of Office Depot.ReferencesJohnson, W. C. (not dated) Case 13: Office Depot Goes Online-E-Service Quality, publication details not availablePayne, A. (2002) Services Marketing, Prentice-HallTillinghast, T. (2002) Tactical Guide to Internet Marketing, Xlibris CorporationOffice Depot, (2006) Company website, retrieved January 16th 2007 from: http://www.officedepot.com/

The Rise of Technology in the Two Decades

The Rise of Technology in the Two Decades Free Online Research Papers The contexts of teaching have changed since the last century. The classroom has evolved from the humble one room schoolhouse to a virtual classroom. With this enormous change come changes in the role of the teacher. What we have seen is the phenomenal rise of technology in the two decades; it has taken place against a complex backdrop of cultural and social change, advances in technology and shifts in educational theory and practice. We see new tensions, new requirements, new pressures and changes in the environment socially, economical and technological, this has led to modified teaching jobs. In my experiences students have become more difficult, less motivated, more requiring, more inclined to defend their rights than to fulfill their duty. The administration or the educational authorities are making more pressure for greater accountability. Bodies such as the Adult Learning Inspectorate (FE) and the Quality Assurance Agency (HE) oversee standards and assessments, and incorporate both inclusive learning and teaching strategies, and effective use of information and learning technologies (ILT), within their remit. There it seems less and less social recognition of the teaching job†¦ The question is are teachers prepared for these changes and pressures? The traditional picture I have of the teacher as the â€Å"Master of the knowledge† with an institutional power is disappearing. What we see now is a new style of teachers: leadership style seems more appropriate to respond to those challenges. This implies new competencies: the emotional competencies. Those ch anges remind us that the teaching act is not only a cognitive action but also and first a social and affective action where emotions interfere in the class and work atmosphere. Education, along with all public services in the UK, also faces calls for greater accountability, Accountability that in essence is a positive and productive step but in the larger frame of things damages the profession as ones actions stereotype the whole profession and not to mention taint it. Different educational disciplines enjoy various learning styles, delivery techniques, Resources and Support. Flexible Learning requires support but no teaching, Distance learning requires Resources and support but not 100% teaching, Practical Professions like medicine and accountancy require Teaching as well practical learning opportunities. What the article is stressing time and time again is that there is no denying that the future and existence of HE and teaching is intertwined and that there is no substitute to the teacher in such learning environments all other supporting profession and resources and technologies are important and have their place but the human presence in HE shows no sign of diminishing no matter how strong, professional, research proven, quality focused the proposal may be. On the contrary there is a greater need for experienced and Un-experienced practitioners to be trained on a standardized platform which may be beneficial to them and to the institution as sometimes a change process may be required to benefit institutional needs and enhance sustainability. Another issue which forces Education establishments to focus on is the volume of service it has to provide and commit to as each year the no of applications in HE are increasing. This leads to the subject of cost to be discussed, to counter this the role of a teacher is carried out by supporting professionals through personalized teaching. The cost of specialist teachers personalized delivery compared to a supporting professionals cost is tremendously higher hence more and more supporting teachers roles are being created to counter and keep under control the ballooning cost. Another theory for all parties involved is that the word â€Å"Teacher† is over emphasised, the important thing is that â€Å"is effective learning being accomplished† because that is the main issue here and Priority. As described from different points of view but the statement remains the same that Education, teaching, delivery, core competencies, Resources and practice are evolving, with the introduction and expansion of the e-learning components and supporting teacher roles in all professions the road to the future is a very uncertain one. Conclusion The changes which have taken place in recent years and which continue to shape the educational landscape of the UK Higher Education sector pose many new challenges for teaching staff. Nonetheless, perhaps because of rather than in spite of these challenges, it is evident that there are unique opportunities for the enhancement of teaching and learning in the higher education sector. The current emphasis on student-centred teaching, on promoting inclusion, and developing criticality all contribute towards improving the student experience and towards maximising learning potential. It is anticipated that the present trend towards collaborative learning which emphasizes key skills (such as ICT, communication and numeracy) will hopefully address a concern expressed by employers for many years by ensuring that graduates are better-prepared for the workplace. In conclusion I would state that various changes would occur when a fundamental shift in education is required and hence the future we need to be careful of how we implement strategies and policies when in HE as it importance to any nation is Paramount. Research Papers on The Rise of Technology in the Two DecadesStandardized TestingThree Concepts of PsychodynamicOpen Architechture a white paperThe Project Managment Office SystemComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andPETSTEL analysis of IndiaAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males