Travel agents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Travel agents - Essay Example In this way, First Choice can offer discounts, but at the same time they will try selling through their First Choice Brochures as it is offering a greater profit. On the other hand, Althams and PR World are smaller setups with their presence in smaller areas. Companies like PR World relies on repeat orders from satisfied customers. They offer a personalized and customized service to its customers to take repeat orders. In this way, the loyal customers will be there. First Choice deals with tickets and bookings of various airlines and companies whereas PR World also deals with holiday package. In this way they are offering an additional service to its customers, giving them a higher value. Secondly, their service level and quality is better than the other two. This way, they can retain their customers. The First Choice offices have a high street presence which attracts more customers. This way they can offer a wider range of products to a greater number of people. But, Althams and PR World can accommodate customers in their narrow vicinity only, thus they have a narrow customer base to cater to. This difference leads the agents to have different target markets and different set of customers to work for. Ownership of business is another factor that contributes to the performance and working of the agency.

An analysis of Critical Race Theory

An analysis of Critical Race Theory Critical Race Theory (CRT) was pioneered in the mid- 1970s, by who is considered to be the God Father of CRT, Mr. Derrick Bell, a professor at the New York University School of Law. He was not only angered by what he viewed as the slow progress of racial reform in the United States, but he also held that the gains brought about by the civil rights laws of the 1960s were being eroded in the 1970s ( Discoverthenetworks.org). Mr. Bell saw how people were being mistreated and saw the need for change. Not caring how people saw him or what the said about him, he continued to move forward towards progress and the conception of Critical Race Theory. According to Professor Bell and his fellow Critical Race theorists, existing legal structures are, like American society at large, racist in their very construction. Critical Race Theory suggests that to combat this institutional racism, oppressed racial groups have both the right and the duty to decide for themselves, which laws are valid and are worth observing. Critical Race Theory also promotes the use of storytelling narratives in law-review articles to better reflect the oral traditions of black experience (Discoverthenetworks.org). Traditions can only be shared by people via word of mouth, storytelling back in the day. Bell set precedence so that others to come after can be better prepared when using the CRT. In Bells original publication he states three major arguments in his analyses of racial pattern in American Law, the Constitutional Contradiction, the Interest Convergence Principle, and the Price of Racial Remedies. In The Constitutional Contradiction, Bell argues that the framers of the Constitution chose the rewards of property over justice. With regard to the Interest Convergence, he maintains that whites will promote racial advances for blacks only when they also promote white self-interest. Finally, in The Price of Racial Remedies, Bell argues that whites will not support civil rights policies that may threaten white social status. Each of his arguments sheds a different light on the traditional racial discourse (english.turkcebilgi.com). These arguments Bell stated were to make sure that everyone knew and was aware and what was ahead of them in this struggle. One of the most recent publications using the CRT theory is Talking about Race Using Critical Race Theory: Recent Trends In The Journal Of Marital And Family Therapy (2004). Laureal and McDowell state that: CRT is a useful lens that can inform MFT practice in education, research, and therapy. For example, educators can use CRT to critique Eurocentric MFT curricula, integrate marginalized voices in course readings, and engage students in critical discussions about racism and social justice. We believe CRT holds significant promise for MFT by critically considering multiple identities, acknowledging sources of dominant ideologies, committing to social justice, creating space for marginalized voices, and spanning boundaries to build interdisciplinary knowledge of racial relationships (p.92) Another recent publication, Exploring possibilities through critical race theory: Exemplary pedagogical practices for Indigenous students (2003), McDonald states in this publication: I examine the contribution that critical race theory (Ladson-Billings, 1998, 1999, 2000) can make to understandings of the experiences of Indigenous students in Australian schools, which continue to be a site of both struggle and possibility for Indigenous people. Recent government reports (Department of Education Science and Training, 2002; Yunupingu, 1995) have concluded that there have been considerable improvements in the educational status of Indigenous Australians since the introduction of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy (Department of Employment Education and Training, 1989). However, inequities remain. These inequities are clearly evident in the area of secondary education. critical race theory should remind Australian researchers to draw on the specific experiential and subjugated knowledges of Indigenous Australians (Moreton-Robinson, 2000) expressed in academic scholarship, community discourses and in public expression through the arts t o examine the persistence of race and racism within Australian society, a persistence often denied in a society where a mania for formal equality contributes to the insidious denial of racism which infiltrates policy and political discourse (Jonas, 2002). These authors and publications give credit to the Critical Race Theory, for example with the Indigenous Students, because they are not treated equally with the non indigenous students. This can definitely be compared to Brown vs. Board of Education. CRT is concerned with the idea of inescapable and inherent racism. In the American legal system, as well as with the consistent application of racial subordination and discrimination in the practice of law, with the exception of interest-convergence issues, in which both the white majority and minorities profit from expansion of rights (as argued by Bell in Brown vs. Board of education and the Interest- Convergence Dilemma ( Harvard Law Review 1980) (retrieved from http://reachinformation.com/define/critical%20race%20theory.aspx). The fact that it is 2010 and there is still segregation in the world is a problem that should be an issue to every one, not just the indigenous people, because it is not fair to treat people differently just because they are not the same race as others. That is exactly what Mr. Bell and others fight for. The Journal of Marital and Family Therapy credits Critical Race Theory with: Therapists helping clients deal with individual acts of racism (Friedlander, 1999); encouraging clients of color to develop stories of strength and resistance (Killian, 2001; Milan Keiley, 2000); relying on the historic survival, resistance, and resilience of ancestors of color (Milan Keiley, 2000); openly discussing the history of race relationships and legal discrimination in the U.S, (Killian, 2001; Milan Keiley, 2000); using cultural genograms to uncover stories of strength and adversity (Milan Keiley, 2000).(McDonald p. 9). Being able to talk to someone and to express your concerns is a great outlet to have. The therapist needs to be well-informed and sensitive to the topic of race and racism as well, in order to help someone. This Critical Race Theory provides a foundational understanding to communication scholars in relation to the role race plays and its importance in societal issues. Scholars can take from history many examples of how race is depicted. Stories from people who are faced with the obstacle of racism will now have scholars have the chance to have their true story told, rights given and laws established. Other significant contributors to the critical race theory discourse from the 1980s to the present include Richard Delgado and Kimberlà © Williams Crenshaw. Delgado, in defense of Bells storytelling or narrative style, argues that people of color speak from an experience framed by racism. Delgado argues that the stories of people of color are born from a different frame of reference and therefore impart to them a voice that is different from the dominant culture of hegemonic whiteness and deserves to be heard. Critical race theorists believe that in order to appreciate the perspective of oppressed racial minorities, the voice of a particular contributor must be understood in terms of that individuals own narrative (www.english.turkcebilgi.com). Many people can not understand what African American people go through on a day to day basis. The same can be said for Jewish people, Arab people and other people who are not Caucasian. Our point of view, besides what is told to us through history, is all we have. Our voice often can only be expressed and explained through narratives. Kimberlà © Williams Crenshaw explains that the formal, legal embrace of equality was a major breakthrough in the challenge to social norm of white supremacy, but the removal of formal barriers, although symbolically significant to all and materially significant to some, will do little to alter the hierarchical relationship between blacks and whites ( Rossing, 2007) Yes there are laws in effect that can protect us from inequality. However, we have to take the opportunity, when it arrives and fight for what we believe. Other noteworthy contributors, in the legal field are Neil Gotanda, Cheryl I. Harris, Charles Lawrence III, Mari Matsuda, and Patricia J. Williams. Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, state similar themes when writing about CRT. According to http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Critical_race_theory 2003: A critique of liberalism Storytelling/counter storytelling and naming ones own reality Revisionist interpretations of American civil rights law and progress Applying insights from social science writing on race and racism to legal problems Structural determinism, how the structure of legal thought or culture influences its content The intersections of race, sex, and class Critical Race Theory has also been applied in education by one scholar Gloria Ladson-Billings. Critical race scholarship in education, has occurred in three waves. The first wave of studies emanated in the mid 1990s with the introduction of CRT to the field by Ladson-Billings and Tate. Parker and Solorzanos contributions followed soon thereafter. The second wave of scholarship occurred in the late 1990s and continued through about 2004. Younger scholars like Lynn, Duncan, and Yosso became key players. Dixson and Rousseau represent the third wave of new scholars who are attempting to re-introduce CRT to the field while creating stricter standards for how critical race theory in education is defined. Other noteworthy educators who have researched CRT are Laurence Parker, Daniel Solà ³rzano, William Tate, Yosso, Dixson, Rousseau, and Chapman (Tate 1997). Applications of the theory: Identify and analyze five studies that use this theory. Judge Alex Kozinski, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, writes Critical Race Theorists have constructed a philosophy which makes a valid exchange of ideas between the various disciplines unattainable. He writes, The radical multiculturalists views raise insuperable barriers to mutual understanding. Consider the Space Traders story. How does one have a meaningful dialogue with Derrick Bell? Because his thesis is utterly untestable, one quickly reaches a dead end after either accepting or rejecting his assertion that white Americans would cheerfully sell all blacks to the aliens. The story is also a poke in the eye of American Jews, particularly those who risked life and limb by actively participating in the civil rights protests of the 1960s. Bell clearly implies that this was done out of tawdry self-interest. Perhaps most galling is Bells insensitivity in making the symbol of Jewish hypocrisy the little girl who perished in the Holocaust as close to a saint as Jews have. A Jewish professor who invoked the name of Rosa Parks so derisively would be bitterly condemned and rightly so. (http://pediaview.com/openpedia/Critical_race_theory) Judge Kozinski, just states that fact the way CRT tries to be recognized, by way of story telling and narratives, does not give the theory and the speaker any substance because a persons word does not have much to any weight in the legal system. Judge Richard Posner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago has labeled critical race theorists and postmodernists the lunatic core of radical legal egalitarianism.' He writes, What is most arresting about critical race theory is thatit turns its back on the Western tradition of rational inquiry, forswearing analysis for narrative. Rather than marshal logical arguments and empirical data, critical race theorists tell stories fictional, science-fictional, quasi-fictional, autobiographical, anecdotal designed to expose the pervasive and debilitating racism of America today. By repudiating reasoned argumentation, the storytellers reinforce stereotypes about the intellectual capacities of nonwhites. (http://pediaview.com/openpedia/Critical_race_theory) Judge Posner suggests by his writings that anybody can tell a story and who knows what the truth could be. There is no proof that the narratives are real as they are telling their story, all we have to go by is our word. Another application of CRT has been associated to hate crime and hate speech legislation. In response to Justice Scalias  opinion in a paradigm hate speech   case, R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul (which addressed cross burning as an act of hate speech ), Mari Matsuda and Charles R. Lawrence III presented a critical race theory argument against Scalias opinion. While Scalia posits that speech is protected independent of content, Matsuda and Lawrence argue that historical and social context is paramount. When acts of speech are acts of intimidation and threaten violence, backed up by a historical force, then those words become a mechanism for social control and domination. Justice Scalia delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Chief Justice Rehnquist, Justice Kennedy, Justice Souter, and Justice Thomas joined. All 9 justices concurred in the judgment of the Court that citys ordinance was facially invalid under the First Amendment. (http://reachinformation.com/define/critical%20race%20theory.aspx) The symbolism of a burning cross, what it represents and the stories that follow, speaks volumes of what the intent is and because the Supreme Court was able to see that, and was able correctly, based on the history and the stories that were told, CRT was used to put that case of racism to history. The fourth application of the Critical Race Theory deals with how the community was able to take action when students were being treated unfairly. Larson (1997) presents an example of this phenomenon in a case study of White school administrators at a Midwestern high school. The administrators rigidly follow bureaucratic strategies of control by enacting disciplinary procedures against African American students despite growing evidence of racial tension due to outright prejudice by White teachers and tracking placements that stunted African American student progress and eventually caused the community to rise up and demand change (p.33). The school only feeds the problem of racism and unconsciously or not they are giving power to the majority students to act against them in anyway knowing no repercussions will be handed down. As parents they teach their children how to act, the race does not matter, but for a school to reinforce that attitude is outrageous. When communities rise up and demand change (Deyhle and Parker, p.33) and they are in one accord, the outcome will make a difference. The final application I would like to use is how Latino Immigrants were made to feel inferior. According to Ladson-Billings, the narrative that we are all immigrants blames Latino immigrants themselves for their marginalization by saying they do not work as hard as previous European immigrants. In this way, Ladson-Billings (in this volume) argues that CRT sees the official school curriculum as a culturally specific artifact designed to maintain a White supremacist master script(p. 36). Unfortunately, trying to make people inferior to another is what people in general do. One can say this started when white supremacist would talk down to people and in older times owned them as slaves. Some races of people now do that to make others seem better than others, when there is no need. Some can not stand for someone to be better than us. There is a need to TRY and break others down, just to make themselves feel better. The first criticism of the Critical Race Theory would be that, Critical Race theorists face the task of challenging deeply ingrained mental structures that categorize and define race to the disadvantage of blacks and other nonwhite groups' (Rossing p.6) Change is always hard to adjust to and when people are stuck in their ways, it is nearly impossible to get them to change their minds once it is already made up. Another criticism of CRT, many mainstream legal scholars of various ethnicities have criticized CRT for its use of narrative and storytelling. Judge Richard Posner   of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago has labeled critical race theorists and postmodernists the lunatic core of radical legal egalitarianism' ( http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Critical_race_theory). Judge Posner is basically saying Critical Race Theorist are crazy people who try from a far-reaching radical group trying to bring social justice to others. A third criticism would be Critical Race Theory also analyzes and challenges the terms that we associate with societys changing definitions of reality and truth (Rossing p.9). Because this theory is based on the exact words from people, there is the thought that crosses the minds of all is who is judging and wonders if they are telling the truth or making this up. Once doubt has entered your mind you will continue to second guess the decision that has been made from that point on. Critical Race Theory is a movement that studies and attempts to transform the relationship between race and power by examining the role of race and racism within the foundations of modern culture. As far back as the principles of Enlightenment thought that form the basis for many modern views of equality and law; as a movement, it has moved beyond law and has now become common in the academic disciplines of ethnic studies, political science and education (http://reachinformation.com/define/critical%20race%20theory.aspx). People who would not like this theory are people who think that we have laws and we need to abide by those laws down to the meaning without many different interpretations. When in court some lawyers and judges may not allow any un-written theories or studies that are not documented by court, giving a reason of how do we know this person is telling the truth? In reality, people misuse the system to get what they can gain, so who is to say that they are not telling the truth? The CRT Theory is useful for being able to tell my side of the story of how I have been mistreated if anyway. For example, a co-worker who was not of African American descent, who felt he could talk down to me, and could try and make me feel inferior to him, by making inappropriate jokes and making unethical decisions. If I was to make a complaint my job would have me write up a statement and participate in a possible meeting detailing what happened and how I was offended. .

Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre - Fire and Ice in the Characters Essay

Fire and Ice in the Characters of Jane Eyre Two of the main characters in Jane Eyre have a sense of fire and ice in their personalities, which is displayed through their emotions and their actions. Although, Edward Rochester seems cold and icy in the beginning of the book, his true trait of fire is reveled throughout the book as we get to know him better. St. John Rivers, who isn't introduced until the late chapters of the book, plays a important role of contrasting Rochester by way of ice. In the first chapters where Rochester was introduced, he seemed cold and icy both in his personality and his appearance. The first time Jane meets Rochester, she notices his coldness; "his full nostrils, denoting. I thought, choler; his grim mouth, chin, and jaw - yes, all three were very grim and no mistake." (77) As we learn more about Rochester and see him and his actions around Jane we come to find out that he has the warmness of fire within himself. After Rochester proposes to Jane he is constantly around her, kissing and holding her. On the night the terrible storm blew into town and past Thornfield hall, Rochester went to Jane's room, more than once, to check on her well being. Rochester wanted Jane to know how much he loved her, by buying her beautiful dresses and jewelry. He wanted to spend every waking moment of the day pampering and loving Jane, and he did. Rochester talked of all the places they would trav... ...e personality. Even though the personalities of Edward Rochester and St. John Rivers are opposites, they each have something that makes them similar in a way. Throughout Jane Eyre, we have seen these two characters change from showing one of their traits to showing a completely different trait. Rochester acted cold and icy when he was first introduced into the novel, and then his true personality of fire and warmness came out when he met Jane. St. John acted warm, when he took Jane into his home, but as we got to know him better we realized that his true trait is coldness. Thus in the novel, Jane Eyre, Edward Rochester represents fire, and St. John Rivers represents ice. Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre - Fire and Ice in the Characters Essay Fire and Ice in the Characters of Jane Eyre Two of the main characters in Jane Eyre have a sense of fire and ice in their personalities, which is displayed through their emotions and their actions. Although, Edward Rochester seems cold and icy in the beginning of the book, his true trait of fire is reveled throughout the book as we get to know him better. St. John Rivers, who isn't introduced until the late chapters of the book, plays a important role of contrasting Rochester by way of ice. In the first chapters where Rochester was introduced, he seemed cold and icy both in his personality and his appearance. The first time Jane meets Rochester, she notices his coldness; "his full nostrils, denoting. I thought, choler; his grim mouth, chin, and jaw - yes, all three were very grim and no mistake." (77) As we learn more about Rochester and see him and his actions around Jane we come to find out that he has the warmness of fire within himself. After Rochester proposes to Jane he is constantly around her, kissing and holding her. On the night the terrible storm blew into town and past Thornfield hall, Rochester went to Jane's room, more than once, to check on her well being. Rochester wanted Jane to know how much he loved her, by buying her beautiful dresses and jewelry. He wanted to spend every waking moment of the day pampering and loving Jane, and he did. Rochester talked of all the places they would trav... ...e personality. Even though the personalities of Edward Rochester and St. John Rivers are opposites, they each have something that makes them similar in a way. Throughout Jane Eyre, we have seen these two characters change from showing one of their traits to showing a completely different trait. Rochester acted cold and icy when he was first introduced into the novel, and then his true personality of fire and warmness came out when he met Jane. St. John acted warm, when he took Jane into his home, but as we got to know him better we realized that his true trait is coldness. Thus in the novel, Jane Eyre, Edward Rochester represents fire, and St. John Rivers represents ice.

Socio cultural and traditional practices on breastfeeding

It is a good established fact from assorted extended researches since old ages that suckling patterns have extended consequence on immature kid ‘s wellness and mortality particularly in developing states. â€Å" Assorted life-long effects such as impaired cognitive development, intelligence, strength, growing and development are associated with Undernutrition due to hapless breastfeeding patterns at the initial stage of kid ‘s life. † Harmonizing to WHO, major proportion of deceases under 5 old ages of age are associated with malnutrition. From assorted researches published in Lancet in the twelvemonth 2003, it is revealed that there would hold been a decrease of about 13 per centum of child deceases if the per centum of sole suckling up to six months reaches to 90 % and breastfeeding is continued thenceforth for around two old ages of age. India has a really high Infant Mortality Rate of 57 % and the major ground for this high mortality rate is malnutrition which is a common issue here. Uttar Pradesh ranks 2nd with Infant mortality rate of 81 per 1000 unrecorded births. National Family Health Survey study shows that Uttar Pradesh stands at 2nd place to Bihar in figure of malnutrition instances amongst kids less than 5 old ages of age. This substantiates why there are lower rates of kid endurance in Uttar Pradesh. The breastfeeding indexs for India ( harmonizing to WHO guidelines ) are far from the optimum mark. Harmonizing to the DLHS-3 in twelvemonth 2008, per centum of kids in India having suckling within an hr after birth is 40.5 and it is farther really low in UP with merely 15.4 % . Similarly, sole breastfeeding rate upto 5 months amongst Indian kids is 46.8 % while its lowest in UP with merely 19.4 % . A survey conducted by Sinha et.al reveals that in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu breastfeeding patterns and absten tion are greatly influenced by the societal, cultural and traditional patterns and coevals age difference. Through this survey, it is aimed to research the socio-cultural and traditional beliefs and patterns act uponing the breastfeeding patterns in rural portion of Uttar Pradesh ( India ) in order to do recommendation for effectual schemes to better suckling index. Study capable and method: The method used for this survey will be ethnographic qualitative research methodological analysis. This survey is proposed to be conducted in four small towns of UP, India. The survey population comprises of female parents of kids with age group of 0 to 23 months and their mother-in-laws. Besides a group of small town wellness commission members, ASHA workers and traditional birth attenders will be a portion of this survey. Triangulation of two research informations aggregation techniques i.e. FGDs and In-depth interviews will be preferred for informations aggregation. Data analysis will be done by integrating it in qualitative research packages such as NVivo or Atlas utilizing thematic analysis. This survey will be for merely a short continuance of 6 months with the attempts to accomplish the maximal consequences with minimum resources. The budget for this complete survey along with the airing of cardinal findings comes to US $ 41,087.Background:Introduction to the subject Breastfeeding patterns impacts well on the wellness of an baby and immature kid as he/she grows. Relation between the breastfeeding patterns with wellness and mortality rate of baby and immature kid is good established through assorted extended researches since old ages. It is the best alimentary and immune fluid the babe receives in its natural signifier which is most suited for babe ‘s metamorphosis. Particularly in developing states where hygiene and sanitation is one of the major concerns, sole chest eating helps in minimising the hazard of consumption of disease doing agents ( Anandaiah, R. et al. , 2000 ) . Adequate proportion of chest milk satisfies about all the nutritionary demand of an baby for atleast the first six months of babe ‘s life ( Reddy, S. 1995 ) . Children who are breastfed have better neurodevelopment results, and the continuance of suckling besides affects a kid ‘s intelligence. ( IBFAN et al. 2005 ) . Assorted researches have proved a positive impact of chest eating on baby and immature kid survival particularly among the population with elevated baby mortality and deprived socioeconomic status peculiarly among rural kids with hapless households and deficiency of safe imbibing H2O and sanitation installations ( Cited by Anandaiah, R. et al. , 2000 ; Palloni et al. , 1986 ; Retherford et Al in 1989 ) . A set of guidelines is recommended by WHO for infant eating patterns in developing states on the footing of assorted researches that provinces: â€Å" Breastfeeding should be initiated instantly after childbearing. Babies should have merely chest milk up to 4-6 months of age. At such immature ages, no other nutrients or liquids are recommended. Get downing at age of 6 months, equal and appropriate auxiliary nutrients should be added to the baby ‘s diet in order to supply sufficient foods for optimum growing. It is recommended that suckling continues, in combination with auxiliary nutrients, up to the 2nd birthday or beyond ( World Health Organization. 1991, P. 4 ) . † Situation/ Problem Analysis. Malnutrition during the initial stage of kid ‘s life leads to life-long serious growing and developmental effects and its consequence becomes about irreversible if occurs during the first two old ages of important stage of kid ‘s growing. The steep rise in malnutrition amongst kids during first two old ages of life reflects upon hapless infant eating patterns. Adequate and proper eating in the initial stage of kid ‘s life helps in forestalling malnutrition and ensures proper growing and development of kids. As per WHO study, malnutrition histories for more than half of all under five deceases. Improper eating had lead to two-third of all deceases under five old ages of age. As mentioned above researches published in Lancet in 2003 shows that 13-16 % child deceases can be prevented by increasing the coverage of sole breastfeeding for first six months to 90 % and so continued feeding for about two old ages ( BPNI, 2006 ) . Malnutrition being widespread in India, it is accountable for about 55 % of the kid mortality. It can be prevented by advancing sole chest eating upto 6 months and uninterrupted breastfeeding for 2 old ages and beyond as per the WHO guidelines for developing states and recommended by planetary public wellness ( Gupta, A. et al. , 2004 ) . In India babes are normally breastfed but the rate for early induction of chest eating and sole chest eating upto 6 months is rather low ( Oommen, A. et al. , 2009 ) . After birth about 49 % of the babes are given prelacteal provenders such as honey and farther sugar H2O ( normally used ) , apparent H2O, unreal milk, etc as per the cultural and traditional beliefs and rites. Around 20 % of babes are besides given solid nutrient addendum along with the chest milk during the first four to six months of the life. Some of the Key suckling Indexs of India as per DLHS-3 and its comparing with UP province is as below: Child feeding patterns as per DLHS-3 ( Year 2008 ) India ( % ) Uttar Pradesh ( % ) Rate of suckling within one hr in kids upto 3 old ages 40.5 15.4 Rate of sole breastfeeding for 0-5 months kids 46.8 19.4 Rate of sole breastfeeding for 6 months for kids of 6-35 months 25.5 8.2 Rate of 6-9 months kids having solid/semi-solid nutrient and chest milk 57.1 54.5 Indian cultural and traditional beliefs have strong influence on wellness related patterns of its population. A survey conducted by BPNI showed that due to the traditional and cultural belief ‘s influence, sole breastfeeding rate is low and the usage of supplying pre-lacteal provender is widespread. The above given figures reflects that infant eating patterns in India are far from range of recognized rates. ( Gupta, A. et al. , 2004 ) A survey was conducted by R. K. Sinha and A. Pradhan on cultural impact of suckling patterns and abstention in Uttar Pradesh and Tamilnadu, India. They found that in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu breastfeeding patterns and abstention are greatly influenced by societal, cultural and traditional patterns and coevals age difference ( Sinha, R. et al. , 2000 ) . I want to further research the socio-cultural and traditional beliefs and patterns act uponing the breastfeeding patterns in rural Uttar Pradesh ( India ) in order to do recommendation for effectual schemes to better suckling status/indicator. Research inquiry or hypothesis: What are the socio-cultural and traditional beliefs and patterns act uponing the breastfeeding patterns in rural portion of Uttar Pradesh ( India ) ?Already Known:India has a really high Infant Mortality Rate of 57 % . ( NFHS-III, Jan 2008 ) . Uttar Pradesh has 2nd highest Infant Mortality Rate of 81 per 1000 unrecorded births. It besides has highest less than five mortality rate. ( Indicus Analytical, 2008 ) Malnutrition is the most common cause of immature kid mortality in India accounting for approximately 55 % of entire child deceases. National Family Health Survey study shows that Uttar Pradesh stands at 2nd place to Bihar in figure of malnutrition instances amongst kids less than 5 old ages of age. This substantiates why there are lower rates of kid endurance in Uttar Pradesh. ( NRHM, 2010 ) As per District Level Household and Facility Survey indexs for the kid feeding patterns in Uttar Pradesh is highly hapless and unacceptable ( informations shown in table above )My Study Will Add:This survey aims to look into assorted single, experiential, socio-cultural and traditional beliefs and patterns ‘ influence on breastfeeding patterns By the results of the survey recommendations can be made for effectual schemes to better the position of chest eating in rural Uttar Pradesh, IndiaAim and aims:Purpose: This survey intends to research the socio-cultural and traditional beliefs and patterns act uponing the breastfeeding patterns in rural portion of Uttar Pradesh ( India ) in order to do recommendation for effectual schemes to better breastfeeding indexAims:To look into single, experiential, socio-cultural and traditional beliefs and patterns ‘ influence on breastfeeding patterns To urge effectual schemes sing the findings of the survey to better the position of chest eating in Uttar Pradesh, IndiaProposed research methodological analysis:The research method to be used to reply this research inquiry is qualitative research method.Study Design:â€Å" Ethnography is a qualitative research methodological analysis used for descriptive surveies of civilizations and people. † Hence, Ethnographic survey design will be used here to look into the socio-cultural and traditional beliefs and patterns act uponing the breastfeeding patterns as there is a call for inductive qualitative research to understand the socio-cultural and traditional beliefs related to suckling and research that identifies beliefs and patterns that may be hinderance for early induction of chest eating, foremilk eating and care of sole suckling harmonizing to WHO guidelines for developing states.Study Area:Uttar Pradesh province of India has a population of 90,415. Number of kids age 12-23 mo nths are 11,990 out of which 10,181 of these kids lives in rural portion of Uttar Pradesh. There are 62.5 % of married adult females who are non-literate ( non able to read and compose ) and 65.4 % of them reside in rural countries. Actually major proportion of Indian population resides in rural parts in smaller units called small towns where literacy rate is low particularly amongst females as compared to males. This survey is proposed to be conducted in two small towns of Barabanki and two small towns of Sultanpur territory of Uttar Pradesh ( Maps of Uttar Pradesh, 2010 ) .Study Population:India has cardinal authorities at national degree and farther province and local authorities. Within Local Government there are two bifurcations: ‘Panchayats ‘ ( rural ) and ‘Municipalities ‘ ( urban ) . The Panchayats are formed by locally available resources and is divided into â€Å" small town panchayets † , â€Å" panchayet samities † , and â€Å" terr itory panchayets † . An enterprise called National Rural Health Mission ( NRHM ) is started by wellness ministry to guarantee effectual health care at single, family, community, and wellness system degrees. National Rural Health Mission makes proviso of â€Å" ASHA or Accredited Social Health Activist for every 1000 people † . ASHA worker is chosen from small town and trained to work as a nexus between community and wellness system. ( NRHM, 2010 ) At small town degree there is a small town wellness commission. The survey population for this survey comprises of female parents of kids with age group of 0 to 23 months and their mother-in-laws. Besides a group of small town wellness commission members and traditional birth attenders will be a portion of this survey.Sampling Technique and Sample Size:Two qualitative research techniques will be used for this research survey. Focus Group Discussion: Focus Group Discussions will be done to be cognizant of the socio-cultural and traditional beliefs and patterns most prevailing among this population that is act uponing the breastfeeding patterns. Entire 12 FGD ‘s are proposed to be conducted with each dwelling of a little group of 6-8 members. In-depth interviews: Purposive and convenience trying method will be used for in-depth semi-structured interview. It is proposed that about 32 interviews will be conducted in four small towns ( eight interviews in each small town ) selected indiscriminately within Uttar Pradesh province. But farther alteration in Numberss can be applicable depending upon the impregnation point for the informations aggregation.Data Collection Method:A ‘question matrix ‘ will be developed at the really beginning of planing the information aggregation tool. â€Å" A inquiry matrix is a tabular array that allows you to put out the subjects ( frequently matching to the aims of your research ) , more item on the information required, the informations aggregation method, the beginning ( i.e. the participant / papers ) and, eventually, some bill of exchange inquiries. † ( Designing informations aggregation tools by Dr Rebecca King ) Data will be collected by triangulation of two informations aggregation techniques i.e. FGDs and In-depth interviews. Initially FGDs will be conducted followed by In-depth interviews as the subjects and cardinal findings emerged from FGD ‘s will be used for farther geographic expedition under the in-depth interviews. Field proving or navigation of the informations aggregation tools will be done to look into its pertinence and relevancy one time before originating the full-fledge survey. Focus Group Discussion: Three FGDs will be done for each small town selected indiscriminately with three different groups – female parents ‘ group, mother-in-laws ‘ group and the 3rd group consisting of few small town wellness commission members and traditional birth attenders. It will be arranged at topographic point where small town wellness commission meetings are held with their anterior permission. Altogether 12 FGDs will be done, each dwelling of 6-8 members. FGD ‘s will be conducted by adept qualitative research workers sooner from the same part as being good versed with local linguistic communication. Each FGD will prosecute two individuals ; facilitator and note taker. With informed consent voice recording equipment will be utilised to enter the FGDs along with the notes from the note taker who will concentrate on the of import subjects, issues to follow-up through an in-depth interview, organic structure linguistic communication and looks of partici pants. The estimated continuance for one FGD would be around two hours including the ice-breaker activity at the beginning of FGD. These FGDs will research the socio-cultural and traditional beliefs and patterns most prevailing among this population that is act uponing the breastfeeding patterns and is responsible for the lower chest feeding index in the province. Single FGD will be held in a twenty-four hours, followed by written text and interlingual rendition of informations collected on the same twenty-four hours. Accuracy of the quality of informations translated will be ensured by back cheque of the interlingual rendition. In-depth interviews: A semi structured questionnaire with unfastened ended inquiries will be developed to carry on the in-depth interviews utilizing the identified subjects and cardinal information from the FGD ‘s conducted and besides from the findings of relevant old researches/literature. An interview inquiry usher will be developed dwelling of general clear ended inquiries on the chief subject followed by a scope of examining inquiries based on that peculiar subject to be explored. Interviews will be done by sing the interviewees in their ain house clasp puting but taking attention that a complete interview can be held without an external disturbance/interference. A tape recording equipment ( verbatim ) and field notes will be collected. It is intended that entire 32 interviews will be conducted, spliting it every bit into 8 interviews for each of the four small towns under survey. Further bifurcation of these eight interviews for each small town is made between female pare nts, mother-in-laws, village wellness commission members, ASHA worker, traditional birth attenders, etc. It should be exhaustively considered that this is an estimated figure and it can alter based on the impregnation point of the informations retrieved. Interviews will last for 1 to 2 hours and it would be made certain that no more than 2 interviews will be done by each informations aggregation officer on a individual twenty-four hours so that collected informations can be transcribed sooner on the same twenty-four hours to maximise the retrieval of informations collected. During the procedure of the interview, ab initio the respondent will be made comfy, explained the purposes and aims of this survey, provided the information sheet and informed consent and eventually informed that they can halt at any clip if they wish and ask if they have any farther inquiry in their head. [ Green and Thorogood 2004: 97 ]Datas Analysis Plan:If possible informations will be transcribed on same twenty-four hours of informations aggregation in order to obtain a written ‘script ‘ of the FGD and interviews to analyze. Transcribed informations will be farther translated from local linguistic communication to English. This information will be incorporated into qualitative research informations package such as NVivo along with the natural information in the signifier of voice recording and farther reviewed by an expert research worker. The information of the transcript will farther be organised, indexed and chief subjects will be identified from it. A cryptograph y frame will be developed and the informations will be rearranged harmonizing to this cryptography frame. Further by incorporating expertness, reading of informations will be done and happening will be reported. Analytic method to be used here will be thematic analysis utilizing thematic webs.Potential hazards:Inappropriate clip for informations aggregation: Data will be collected from females due to its relevancy to the research survey. Women in rural countries are really much occupied by their family jobs and work. It is really hard for them to be available at a peculiar clip. Hence anterior assignment will be made and interviews and FGDs will be conducted at their convenience. Unsuitable topographic point for informations aggregation: Due to sensitiveness of the subject and to avoid any intervention or biased responses, FGDs will be conducted off from their place at a peculiar suited topographic point where the group of female participants can talk up/open up. For interviews it is hard for them to name up at a peculiar topographic point, hence it will be conducted by place visit but attention will be taken about avoiding any intervention by keeping privateness. Trouble in placing right age of kids and remembering the exact continuance: Due to take down literacy rate it is hard to remember or right place the age of their kids. Therefore local calendar, festivals, fasting months, raining or reaping seasons will be used to assist female parents remember right clip. Garbage to talk or halt the interview: Look at the sensitiveness of the subject ; it will take some clip for them to open up. In Indian society many rural adult females are still really submissive and would some clip garbage to talk on a peculiar sensitive point or would likely non like to farther go on the interview or treatment. In that instance the interview will be discontinued as per the involuntariness. Cultural stigma: In the Indian civilization adult females would non discourse on subject such as chest eating patterns with a male so lone female informations roll uping forces will be used. Data aggregation prejudice, misunderstanding and incorrect paraphrasing: Interviewers good versed with the local linguistic communication and civilization will be appointed to avoid such errors. Missing or uncomplete informations: The questionnaires will be reviewed by supervisor before go forthing small town or block so as to maintain a cheque on any lost or ill-defined informations. Refusal for entering the interview or FGD: It is expected that some respondents particularly adult females can decline to enter the FGD or interview harmonizing to Indian traditions. In that state of affairs note-taker will observe the treatment with the aid of another individual who facilitates the treatment easy and non hotfooting, reiterating the responses to do certain that the note-taker note everything and the transcripts will be reviewed by both to finish any lost informations. Early feedback by ongoing informations analysis will assist minimising the opportunities of reiterating the same errors in informations aggregation.Ethical and Gender Equity issues:At state degree: Ethical blessing will be sought from MoHFW, MCH and secretariat general. Besides a descriptive missive will be provided to local authorities and small town panchayet to acquire their permission for transporting out the survey. In the Interview on family degree: At the beginning, the participant/respondent ( female parent, mother-in-law, ASHA worker, traditional birth attender, small town wellness commission member ) will be explained rationale behind the survey and permission will be sought from the caput of the household and the adult females take parting. They will be ensured about the namelessness and privateness of their responses. If agreed, further their informed written and verbal consent will be taken. They will besides be informed that they can halt at any clip if they wish and ask if they have any farther inquiry in their head. The participant will so be interviewed in her house with no 1 else around to maintain the responses confidential. During the note pickings, each respondent will be given a figure and respondent ‘s designation will be noted down in separate sheet along with the codification to acknowledge them for finishing losing informations. By making this their namelessness will be maintained. After completing the interview, if the respondent asks for any information or aid, interviewer can assist with that and suggest referral when needed. In the Focus Group Discussion: Consent will be obtained from all the respondents for audio recording of the FGD, after explicating them the intent of the survey. On understanding the treatment will be recorded but in instance of refusal, which is expected, the note-taker will take notes on the treatment.Gender Equity:As this survey is related to female and child wellness, the major engagement of will be of female respondents. Although it will be taken attention of that gender equality is maintained by equal engagement of both groups in survey design, informations aggregation and supervising, information analysis, drumhead readying and airing.Dissemination Plan:To do certain that the result of this survey will be utilised to better the chest eating patterns and highly low index in the Uttar Pradesh, following stairss will be taken ; In order to hold better acceptableness and integrating of the findings in the bing national enterprise for bettering the chest eating patterns, MOH and authorities governments will be involved in the research planning and processing. It will ease the procedure of acquiring their averment to program and implement schemes and put the recommendations in to pattern. Aga Khan Health Service India is presently implementing a â€Å" Maitreya Project † funded by World Bank on ‘Social Capital: A slingshot for bettering infant feeding ‘ in Gujarat part. Findingss from this survey can assist in developing effectual schemes and can be incorporated in the bing undertaking and farther replicated in Uttar Pradesh and other similar provinces with low index There is a Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India and besides some NGO ‘s which are working for the baby and kid wellness which will be indulged in be aftering for better committedness to work on bettering this. On completion of this research, the consequence will be disseminated by: Summary of the cardinal findings will be distributed to UNICEF, WHO, MoHFW, BPNI, AKF, AKHSI, and assorted other administrations working for the baby and kid wellness in order to guarantee that they are made cognizant about the consequence of this survey. Transcripts of the survey results will be circulated in assorted institutes for community medical specialty and pediatric sections to portion the findings with the academic staff. Provision of the transcript of the research result will be made available to assorted libraries in MOH, UNICEF, modules of medical specialty and wellness institutes and besides to free databases to do certain that it can be assessed by pupils and wellness professionals. Seminars and Workshops will be conducted aiming assorted stakeholders such as NGOs, MOH, international organisations, and faculty members to show the research outcomes and to discourse the recommendations made for possible intercessions. Findingss will be shared in the regional workshop â€Å" Promoting Child Survival, Nutrition and Health by accomplishing optimum IYCF patterns † held in India every twelvemonth. Health Promotion squad will be encouraged to concentrate on the wrong socio-cultural and traditional beliefs and patterns act uponing the breastfeeding patterns through wellness instruction massages by mass-media and wellness consciousness runs. The airing program besides requires peculiar budget and clip reflected in the budget and activities timetable given below.Forces and stuffs:ParticularsNumber requiredSenior Researcher or Senior Research Manager 1 Research Coordinator 1 Field Supervisor for Research 2 Research Assistant 8 Research Trainer 1 Data entry/typing clerk 4 Administrator 1 Room and projector 1 Training Material 16 Refreshments 16 ten 6 yearss Flip Charts 8 Stationary sets ( Pens, pencils, sharpener, eraser, highlighter, cartridge holders, etc ) 8 Transcripts of the usher for carry oning FGDs 16 Transcripts of the usher for carry oning Interviews 35 Transcripts of written consent signifiers 40 Tape recording equipments 10 Field note books for taking notes 50 Bags for field staff 10 Envelops 50 Log Books 8 Computers 4 Printer 1 Printing documents 6 Ink Cartilage 2 Rental auto and fuel 2Human ResourcesTraining ResourcesMaterialsTravelingTimetable for the research:UndertakingsW1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 Literature reappraisal Search for Research squad Develop research protocol Data-collection tools development Pretesting data-collection tools Recruitment of Research squad Develop preparation Faculty Prepare developing Kit Traning agreements Train Field squad Booking for travell Pilot-testing field vist Purchase field demands Reaching the local governments Data aggregation Advancement studies Review the collected informations Feedback to the squad Datas Entry Translation Datas Analysis Report composing Drumhead authorship Drumhead distribution in cardinal stakeholders & A ; libraries Behavior Workshops/Seminars to circulate the findingsResearch Time-tableSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberJanuaryFebruaryBudgetBudget ClassPer Unit Cost in US $No.of Unit of measurementsBudget RequiredHUMAN RESOURCESSenior Researcher 3000 1 3000 Research Coordinator 2500 1 2500 Field Supervisor for Research 60 X 1 = 60 60 X 60 3600 Research Assistant 40X8 = 320 320 X 60 19200 Research Trainer 500 1 500 Data entry/typing clerks 150 X 4 = 600 600 X 3 1800 Administrator 1500 150 X 4 600Sub Total31200MATERIALS & A ; EQUIPMENTSStationary sets ( Pens, pencils, sharpener, eraser, highlighter, cartridge holders, etc ) 2 8 16 Transcripts of the usher for carry oning FGDs 0.5 16 8 Transcripts of the usher for Interviews 0.5 35 18 Transcripts of written consent signifiers 0.5 40 20 Tape recording equipments 20 10 200 Field note books for taking notes 1 50 50 Bags for field staff 5 10 50 Envelops ( for tapes and note book )A50 5 Log Book – day-to-day study to supervisorA8 8 Computers 300 4 1200 Printer 160 1 160 Printer documents box 10 6 60 Printer Ink Cartilage 50 2 100Sub Total1895Training COSTSTraining Room / projector 50 1X6X50 300 Training Material 5 16 80 Refreshments 6 16 ten 6 yearss 96 Training somersault chartsA8 16Sub Total492Travel COSTSCar lease and fuel 25 25 X 60 1500Sub Total1500Operating expense COSTSASub Total5000DISSEMINATION OF RESULTSASub Total1000GRAND TOTAL41087

Operations Management and Csr Essay

Why are operations the most vulnerable sector of any company when considering CSR? I. Introduction As globalization continues, the earth’s natural processes transform local problems into international issues along with the development of international commercial activities. Few communities are being left untouched by major environmental issues and social problems. As one of the most active and influential elements of the human society, the business world has been required, for several decades, to shoulder more responsibility by their consumers and society in general. The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) draws more and more attention from all sectors of society, and is considered as an issue that we cannot afford to ignore. As we take into account the increasingly serious environmental problems and social issues such as inequitable growth, corporate social responsibility can no longer be used as a slogan or a tool of self-glorification, but rather as a pressing task for all companies, who contribute to these problems. In a day and age when technology allows us to be informed in real time, strategies such as â€Å"green-washing† may only accelerate the deterioration of a company’s image. Consequently, the CSR should be treated as an issue that can be solved only by creating synergies between several functions within a company. From establishing product concepts or services to manufacturing, from delivering goods to recycling waste, every single step of the process may have an enormous impact on whether a company decides to become socially responsible. For this reason operations management is at the core of the CSR discussion, given that it involves the design and control of the production process. Though the principles of operations management and that of CSR have factors in common, such as reducing waste and energy saving, the traditional vision of cutting cost as more as possible conflict with the spirit of sharing value with all shareholders, making operations management the most vulnerable function when considering CSR. The objective for operations managers, increasing profits with less resource, can be quite affected by the value of corporate social responsibility. In this essay, we try to respond the question: Why are operations the most vulnerable sector of any company when considering CSR? After presenting several main concepts and the background of this problematic, we will give three reasons to answer the question above with analysis and examples. Finally, we will put forward our proposals and previsions then come to a conclusion. II. Concepts and background 1. Corporate social responsibility Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a concept firstly raised by Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) and developed in the USA. According to him, a businessman should, first of all, accumulate his capital, and then distribute his fortune to society. As he said: â€Å"Man who dies rich dies disgraced†¦If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes.† (Banerjee, 2007) After this initial definition, the concept of CSR drew more attention from both academic circles and the business world in the second half of the twentieth century. According to Howard R. Bowen, enterprises should make and practice the policies that aim to create values desired by the society (Bowen, 1953). On the contrary, Milton Friedman insisted that the only duty of corporations is to augment the fortune for their shareholders. Is his article on the New York Times in 1970, he said: â€Å"The social responsibility of business is to make profit.† Since the first decade of the twenty first century Concern from governments and appeals from non-government organizations put this issue under the spot light. In 2001, the European Commission defines the CSR as â€Å"the voluntary integration of social, environmental firms in their business operations and their relationships with all internal and external stakeholders (†¦) in order to fully comply with applicable legal requirements, invest in human capital and respect its environment (ecology and territory)† (European Commission, 2001). Moreover, we can observe a combination of concepts from corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. 2. Operations management Operations management is the activity of managing the resources which produce and deliver products and services. A close relation with products and main services makes the operations function central to all kinds of organizations. It is one of the three cores of business, with the marketing (including sales) function, and the product / service development. Rather than an isolated island within a company, the operations function is involved in a high degree of interaction with others. For example, it has to keep in touch with product development function to assure that the firm has the capabilities to manufacture the design of a new product. For the same reason, there is a synergy between operations function and marketing that helps match the sales power with production. (Nigel Slack et al., 2010) The importance of this integrated way of working has been known for long time, but it is the development of information system that makes it possible. Thanks to systems like Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), companies can, on one hand, facilitate the communication with their partners and suppliers, and promote the collaboration among functions. In order to compete in an ever-changing global economy, enterprises make an emphasis on the efficiency and productivity of their manufacturing process, aiming to maximize advantages on price, quality, as well as satisfaction of costumers. The important role of operations management in the company, and the influence it exerts to other echelons of the value chain, make it crucial for managers to consider when they think about environmental and social issues. 3. Background: evolutions on global market During the last three decades, we can observe that two elements are changing rapidly in the business world, the continuous development of international trade and production, and the wide use of the Internet. We cannot talk about CSR or operations management without considering these issues. International trade and production Once a business reaches a certain economic level, it usually aspires to reach an international level (Czinkota & Ronkainen, 2004). This sort of ambition will lead to a series of actions and changes in the strategy of the operations functions. For instance, problems in adaptation to the economic environment and culture in the target country, may cause repercussions on materials sourcing or the integration of products. Even a change of format or packaging requires coordination between the marketing department and the operations function. At the same time, trans-national delivery demands a higher degree of reliability and efficiency from the supply chain, demanding significant improvements of operations management. On the other hand, more and more multinationals locate their facilities in third world countries, raising environmental and social problems in the host country. While they benefit form relatively low cost of raw material, energy and labor, these industrial giants leave behind high levels of pollution ad cause a scarcity in resources (DeTienne & Lewis, 2005). Globalization has not eliminated the inequality between countries, but rather has aggravated the problem. Wider use of Internet First, the explosion of e-commerce has profoundly altered the way we do business. Especially when we talk about selling online, satisfaction of customers is no longer determined only by products themselves, but also deeply influenced by the performance of supply chain, manifesting mainly by issues of delivery and after sale service (Lannoo & Ankri, 2007). Whether taking care of these tasks internally, or outsourcing to third-party companies, companies and their operations function will be faced with unprecedented challenges and risks. Second, the Internet serves as a tool for all members of the society to be informed, to understand and even monitor a company. In many countries like France, annual reports of listed companies are now required to include a CSR report. Along with economic performances of these firms, their contribution to communities and the environment is also be available on their official web sites. In this case, managers have to take more voluntary and effective acti ons to fulfill their promises to the public. III. Major reasons for vulnerability 1. Outside pressures There is no doubt that some of companies give priority to value creation for all shareholders such as the Body Shop. However, in reality, most companies make an effort to achieve their CSR goals largely because of increasing pressures from all sectors of society. Some of these requirements are focusing on the production process and delivery of goods, and thus put tremendous stress on the operations function. First of all, we could compare Traditional and Modern views of Corporate Social Responsibility applied to Operational Management. Within the company, operational management works as an integration of several functions such as: Engineering or Manufacturing (Inventory, Planning, Material Flow, Quality etc.), Distribution (Suppliers, Transport), accounting etc.; with interrelated operations such as: Finance, Human Resources, Marketing and etc. This can be applied to any type of organization, regardless of its sector (Manufacturing, HealthCare, Wholesaling, Retail, Banking etc.) Modern CSR approach creates vulnerabilities to Operational Management because even seemingly insignificant change or disturbance in one participant (function) can influence whole loop of Supply Chain, which can therefore negatively influence company’s behavior in regards to Social Corporate Responsibility and even affect the goals for efficient Operations Management. There are eight possible competitive priorities (goals), which fall into four groups: In the event of such disturbance, most of companies tend to forget their tactics and strategies regarding CSR/ long-term or sustainability goals and use to short-term solutions, no matter what the price to the environment, society, employees, consumers or stakeholders. We have concluded that most important vulnerabilities within the Organization are: * New concepts and re-design (products and services) It is quite clear that creation of new concepts and re-design of products/services is crucial for every company. The first step or designing, creating new or modifying product is generating ideas which furthermore need to be properly tested, feasibility study conducted, no matter how great the ideas seems to be. The process is lengthy and complicated: Therefore, the re-design itself can become CSR problem due to: * Waste Management, additional energy consumption, recyclability * Social impact of the product and Customer Safety * Layoffs (employees and suppliers) in case of restructuring or failure. For example, Michelin has failed to launch its run-flat PAX tire, which could be driven while being damaged, at highway speeds, for a hundred miles or more. Unfortunately, in order to use these tires, the under-body of the cars would need to be redesigned, new equipment and new skills would need to be acquired by the mechanics. As Michelin failed to analyze complete consumption chain of this new concept, the production line had to be discontinued. This was not only a commercial fail, but looking from the CSR point of view, it also had negative social impact such as layoffs, the time and resources used up for R&D, Marketing and other operations which could have been used for more efficient and value-added products. (Harvard Business Review 2007) * Transportation/ Logistics The location of the headquarters/warehouse and any other business unit has an important impact on Operations management and is one of the most vulnerable points when considering CSR. Transportation can have significant environmental impact: business flights, employee commuting and the movement of goods may cause emissions and leaks, including air pollutants, greenhouse gases and water pollution. As transportation is unavoidable for a manufacturing firm, operations management helps to reduce the impact, however due to complexity of the interrelated operations it can become vulnerable. For example, Company A is a supplier of Raw Materials; Company B is a customer, which needs Raw Materials to manufacture goods. In the event of a raw material production delay in Company A, scheduled standard delivery might need to be re-scheduled to a special express dedicated delivery to the Company B because, let’s say, due to this delay and bad planning Company B will have a production stop. Such delivery would be considered inefficient, as it is costly, fuel inefficient, increases pollution, pressurizes truck driver, moving from standard procedures to special procedures, additional pressure and stress for employees from both companies etc. One may argue, that the production stop would cause more negative impact than the rushed delivery, however it is difficult to weight the impact, there is the need to address root causes. If the planning and security stock from both sides was well managed, the express delivery would not have been necessary. To conclude, no matter how efficient Logistics processes are created within the company, human error is unavoidable; therefore Operations Management becomes vulnerable when considering CSR. * Waste and Recycle One of the most tragic examples of an operational failure is Chernobyl disaster in 1986, polluting and creating toxicity and waste problems. Not only companies need to manage the basic production safety and reduce accident rate, but they also need to recycle as much possible, manage day-to-day waste safely and create lean product life cycle. However, these processes are subject to vulnerability when considering SCR as there could be a graver damage made by conducting these operations. Recycling Companies such as HP who organize the recycling of the old cartridges or companies such as Nespresso who collect used coffee capsules, shows a great example of how to reduce the environmental impact of its products. However as great as it might appear, many other aspects need to be taken into consideration, for example supply chain system needs to be created to collect and transport these used items, special environmentally friendly bags or boxes for the pick-up point’s needs to be produced. Remembering Michelin case, where it failed to analyses it’s complete consumption chain, HP and Nespresso had to find a way to encourage consumer to bring back their empty cartridges and capsules. In their cases, it is successful, however it is vulnerable and could become a failure if the participation level of consumer is low. Waste Most significant waste issue is well noticeable in chemical industry or any other industry where waste is hazardous or is non-recyclable or non-reusable. The solution would be to improve the operation processes and to avoid unnecessary waste, however this is proven to be impossible due to human error and especially in chemical industry where chemical reactions can create unusable waste. The hazardous waste management is controlled by the legislation and will be discussed later on in the essay. Not only materials are considered to be waste, but also energy and labor waste – companies try to be more efficient by implementing just-in-time and lean process, however there is a clear vulnerability when considering CSR: at what price do company’s adopt their just in time principles? Overcrowded and polluted roads would be most direct negative impacts, but there are also other social impacts, which will be discussed in more detail in â€Å"organization evolution† section. * Organizational evolution Performance Measure There is no doubt that Performance Measure is highly important in Operational Management as well as for any other part of the business, however measuring and setting standards have negative social consequences, especially for the employees. Reduction of costs and prices, increasing customer experience, quality conformance, the speed of delivery, reliability of delivery could cause serious stress and working hour’s fluctuations for the employees. An example of the employee struggle to meet the set performance level is making data look better than it is by leaving out certain information, some company’s set high un-reasonable standards or in some quarters the performance cannot be met due to external factors causing stress. Continuous Improvement Kaizen is a Japanese system promoting Continuous Improvement or in other worlds never ending journey of improvements. There are many approaches such as the Deming Cycle (Plan, Do, Act, Check), tools and techniques to conduct the Continuous Improvement process. The benefits for efficiency and profit are unquestionable, however when considering CSR we can find many vulnerabilities. A good example of Continuous Improvement is Business Process re-engineering (BPR) which is a way of reconfiguration of processes in an appropriate level to provide highest value to the customers and improving critical areas. However again, at what cost when considering CSR? As BPR requires organizational change which requires changes in staff attitudes and could possibly result in loss of positions for many, reduction of responsibilities for others, the fear for Hire and Fire. Also, as tasks become more efficient, they also become more repetitive and less challenging. (T.Hill 2005) To summarize: Main social considerations of operations management decisions 2. Outside Partners As the world continues to expand we are starting to understand the consequences that our development has not only on the environment but also on society. Due to this new consciousness we have seen the emergence of different attempts to confront these environmental and social issues. Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR is one of the most commonly used concepts within the business world. Historically CSR has been only partially integrated as a philanthropic effort. Little by little the environmental issues caused by everyday operations of a company have also integrated the concept of CSR. With this change in definition, companies have actively trying to reduce their impact on the environment and society. As an essential function of a company, Operations Managements is constantly affected by these decisions. If, for example, a company decides to reduce their packaging it will be the operations department that will have to manage this change. Suppliers When we consider the impacts on Operations Management when integrating CSR to a company, we must go farther and analyze the impact on all outside partners such as suppliers. When we decide to integrate a CSR action, especially within the manufacturing process we need our suppliers to integrate the same change on their process. As customers begin to become more conscientious about environmental and societal issues they are demanding companies to make many changes. Within the clothing industry this green movement was reflected by customers asking for organically grown cotton to be used in the manufacturing of products such as Nike. In this kind of situation we see how the responsibility immediately falls on the supplier to change their process. This sort of sudden changes leaves the operations function of a company quite vulnerable, as they have to trust that their suppliers will be able to change their process without increasing costs. When there is a synergy between a manufacture and its suppliers such changes can be made with collaborations. A great example of this is how the company Esquel managed to give their customer the organic cotton they needed by managing their whole supplier chain. Instead of just demanding their own suppliers to supply the needed product they worked with 1st and 2nd tier suppliers and built a sustainable procurement chain (H. Lee 2010). In the last few years we have seen how many manufacturing companies who have simply demanded certain changes to their suppliers, but do not think about make an effort to assist in this change, and most importantly they do not control the whole procurement chain. This was the case of Mattel who made it clear to its 1st tier suppliers that no lead paint could be used when manufacturing its products, yet it never thought of auditing its 2nd tier suppliers or furthermore the outsourced production its main supplier had. This type of opaque supply chain makes operations very vulnerable and can cause, like in Mattel’s case severe financial repercussions (N. Sun 2007). The new shared-value concept developed by Porter and Kramer has introduced the idea that by collaborating with all the actors in a value chain we can create value while still respecting CSR. A company that has been able to smoothly transition into this new shared-value concept is Toyota. The deep relation that exists between Toyota and its manufacturers has allowed them to naturally apply changes that create a win-win situation for them and its suppliers. The Toyota company culture naturally includes the idea of shared-value and has a long-term mentality (Spear Bowen 1999).

Picasso life and works essays

Picasso life and works essays Pablo Picasso Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, Spain on October 25, 1881. By the age of 15 he was already technically skilled in drawing and painting. Picasso's original style continuously evolved throughout his long career, and expanded the definition of what art could be. In addition to painting, he explored sculpture, ceramics and other art forms, and became one of the most influential artists of the 1900s. Paintings from Picasso's blue period, which was from 1901 to 1904, depicted forlorn people painted in shades of blue, evoking feelings of sadness and alienation. The suicide of a fellow painter, Carles Casagemas, had a profound effect on Picasso, and it has been said that the tragic event precipitated the adoption of a predominately somber blue palette. An example of Picassos blue period paintings is Woman with Bangs. This painting symbolizes Picassos production in this period. It is showing a dark-haired woman with downcast, unfocused eyes lost in a reverie. The simplicity of her surroundings and attire give emphasis to her face, with its expression of profound dejection. With his permanent return to France in 1904, Picassos colors gradually changed, evolving into the delicate pink and flesh tones of his Rose Period, which prevailed during the next two years. Picasso's rose period paintings took on a warmer more optimistic mood. An example of a painting done during his rose period is Mother and Child. This painting, which is more a drawing in oil, captures a tender moment between mother and child. Both in composition and in theme, the work is reminiscent of Renaissance paintings of the Madonna. Many Influences in Picassos life finally came together in a painting he ...

Government Funding Stem Cell Research Essay Example

Government Funding Stem Cell Research Essay Example Government Funding Stem Cell Research Essay Government Funding Stem Cell Research Essay Stem cell research is a comparatively new scientific discipline that is the beginning of much medical promise yet much contention every bit good. The type of root cells required. embryologic root cells. are merely gettable one manner: through the devastation of human embryos. In 1996. the Dickey-Wicker Amendment was passed. doing the authorities unable to fund any research where human embryos are created or destroyed. At first the amendment was a minor obstruction the authorities had to work about to still acquire the root cell scientists the money they needed. It wasn’t until August 23. 2010 that Judge Lamberth’s opinion halted all authorities support for root cell research. Today. root cell research does non have authorities financess as the research. though potentially life-saving. crosses moral and spiritual barriers that inhibit its growing as a scientific discipline and as a gateway towards future medical discoveries. With the opposing statements in head. I feel the authorities should fund root cell research as making so will assist rush up the research procedure and acquire us closer to salvaging lives and stoping human agony. There are two types of root cells. grownup root cells ( found in grownups ) and embryologic root cells ( found in embryos ) . Although both possess at least some ability to retroflex and develop into mature specialized cells. such as skin cells. bosom cells. or nervus cells. the grownup root cells are much less legion than embryologic and by and large much more limited in the types of cells they can organize. Embryonic root cells are pluripotent. intending that they can organize any sort of tissue and any type of cell. : Embryonic root cells are presently non used for medical interventions yet are the beginning of much medical promise in the close hereafter. Gettable merely through the devastation of human embryos. embryologic root cells can be viewed as life rescuers or the merchandises of life devastation. A type of grownup root cell. the haematopoietic root cell. is already widely used to handle leukaemia ; in fact. they are the lone sort of root cells presently used to handle diseases. Though past and current applications of root cell therapy with worlds may look a spot underwhelming. scientists around the Earth agree that root cell research is worth the attending and will convey much alleviation to victims of many diseases. The chief ground for authorities non to fund root cell research is that it financess or at least encourages the devastation of human embryos. Judge Lamberth severed the government’s loophole used to fund root cell research. appealing to the legion United States citizens who do non desire their revenue enhancement dollars traveling towards the devastation of human embryos. Judge Lamberth concludes that the fact that embryonic-stem-cell research involves multiple stairss does non intend that each measure is a separate piece of research’ that may be federally funded. provided the measure does non ensue in the devastation of an embryo’ ( Keiper ) . The issue here arises from the belief that human embryos are possible worlds. and hence. the devastation of human embryos should be considered the devastation of human life. Adam Keiper. the editor of the New Atlantis. provinces that presuming the incalculable moral significance of human life. was surely the purpose of the Dickey-Wicker Amendment. and should be the purpose of any nice society ( Keiper ) . He believes that the authorities should non fund root cell research regardless of which portion of the research it is funding ; such support of any research that involves the procedure of the devastation of human embryos. or possible human existences ( as some may see them ) . incentivizes merely that. With that in head. one’s place on the root cell research may be decided on merely weighing the possible lives saved by carry oning the research with the possible lives saved by non carry oning the research. That determination relies to a great extent on one’s ethical motives. spiritual beliefs. and whether or non human embryos should be considered possible worlds existences. Many embryos created through in-virto fertilisation ( IVF ) . a procedure that replicates construct. are neer used by the patients of the IVF Bankss ; they are spares and would neer go worlds without the consent of the parents of the embryo. or embryos. To reply the inquiry of whether or non human embryos should be considered possible human beings . one must first reply the inquiry: What makes a human? A simple reply to the inquiry would be anything that. under the right conditions. could go a human. However. the important measure in the development of a homo is the determination of the parent ; without parental consent. those trim embryos will neer go worlds. Therefore. the embryos have no hereafter as a individual and should non be seen as possible life. The parents of the unnecessary embryos have the option to donate the trim embryos to stem cell research or hold them discarded. Laura Bothwell is a doctorial campaigner in the history and moralss of public wellness and medical specialty in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University. She believes that it is a great gift to humanity that the embryos left over from the assisted reproduction rhythms can be used for research that has the possible to relieve human suffering ( Bothwell ) . Hundreds of 1000s of trim embryos in IVF Bankss have no hereafter as worlds. doing it unwise to non utilize them for root cell research. In which instance. the statement that the authorities is funding the devastation of possible human life is basically flawed. We need to halt worrying about the lives of those who will neer populate and get down concentrating on the lives of those already populating. In the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. the universe has been transformed from what it is today. Worlds are grown in mills with specific traits to make full specific functions in the society. Obviously. this is non the instance today. and most would hold that is a good thing. However. we are easy get downing to see that it may be possible. The possibility of turning our ain human existences is chilling to believe of. Looming deep in the heads of root cell research workers and scientists and anyone educated about the scientific discipline is the fright of what it may take to. Could it take us to going human applied scientists? Could it take to our humanity slip off as we wander into a life where no 1 is particular. where non God but we are the Godheads of human existences? It may non be a normally heard inquiry as most would label it implausible. Therefore. as I support the authorities funding root cell research. I besides understand the demand for it to be monitored. Traveling into the scientific discipline of root cells and still today we do non wholly know what will go of it in the distant hereafter. President [ Bush ] declared his purpose to call a President’s Council to supervise root cell research. to urge appropriate guidelines and ordinances. and to see medical and ethical branchings of biomedical innovation ( President’s Council on Bioethics ) . Another ground for the authorities to non fund root cell research is that making so would rush up the research while many. including those of the President’s Council on Bioethics. believe it should be monitored and restricted as to forestall it from acquiring out of manus. Stem cell research is like a fire. some people want to see it turn and turn out itself a beginning of heat. some people want to see it diminish until there is nil left ; most want to maintain it under control and prevent it from going a ramping hell. Moral quandary and deep inner-looming frights aside. root cell research has a promising potency that can non be ignored. Research workers believe that root cells can be used to handle a big assortment of diseases and organ failure. They could be used to make organ grafts that will non be rejected by the patient. Stem cells have the ability to salvage countless lives across the universe. They may be used in the intervention of neurological diseases. such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. They may be of import for presenting targeted cistron therapy. They have the ability to handle liver diseases and metabolic upsets such as Gaucher’s disease. Hematopoietic root cells are presently used in handling leukaemia. a sensible and good established and accepted method of intervention. Ruth Kirchstein. a former moving manager of the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) . notes that the ability to utilize root cells in disease interventions by simple organ transplant makes them a executable curative approach . and with limited supply of variety meats for grafts. root cells are progressively viewed as an attractive option for handling neglecting organs ( Kirchstein ) . If the lone cost of funding root cell research were the loss of embryos that had no hereafter human life possibility than the legion possible benefits of the research should render the cost insignificant. Stem cell research holds much promise yet is deprived of the support necessary to carry through this promise. If funded. within old ages we could be doing medical discoveries and salvaging more lives than of all time before. Luckily. modern scientific discipline has unlocked a new possibility. one that could set an terminal to moral and ethical differences and put an terminal to much human agony. In recent old ages scientists have made a new find. a new manner to research root cells. a manner to reprogram teguments cells to act merely as embryologic root cells ; they are called induced pluripotent root cells. This new method of geting root cells breaks no ethical barriers while still giving us entree to the life-saving potency of root cells. In November 2007 a research group in Japan and another in Wisconsin successfully created the induced luripotent root cells. Initially. the induced pluripotent root cells had a cancerous inclination that killed some of the mice in the first testing procedure. However. on November 30. 2007 Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University. the leader of the Nipponese research groups. eliminated the cancerous inclination. In the first procedure. six of the 36 mice injected with the cells died of tumours within 100 yearss. but in the 2nd procedure. no mice died ( Lewis ) . Not long after that achievement. scientists at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital in Boston created the induced pluripotent root cells from a human voluntary. adding to the grounds that supports tegument cell reprogramming as a promising agency of geting the valuable root cells. Andy Lewis. a research editor for the Ethics A ; Religious Liberty Commission. declares that The discovery of bring oning skin cells into pluripotent root cells is an reply to supplication of pro-life advocators. who have long desired an ethical medical solution to battle enfeebling diseases and unwellnesss in society ( Lewis ) . Induced pluripotent root cells. being classified as root cell research. should by all agencies be funded by the authorities as it poses no ethical issues and possesses the same potency as human embryologic root cells do. It is a solution that makes everyone happy. The authorities should fund root cell research. Spare embryos with no hereafter as worlds should be utilized to better the lives of those already life. If anything. the authorities should fund and promote the creative activity of induced pluripotent root cells. Stem cell research has excessively much potency to non fund. even with taking ethical and moral barriers into consideration. However. we must forestall ourselves from acquiring carried off ; we must supervise the research’s growing. maintain it controlled. and. most significantly. keep our humanity. We can be given to the fire. allow it glow brighter than of all time. allow it supply heat and comfort for society. but if we let our guard down. if we allow the fire to go bigger than us. a raging. untamable hell. we may neer be able to stamp it out. ?

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria The famed Lighthouse of Alexandria, called Pharos, was built around 250 B.C.  to help mariners navigate the harbor of Alexandria in Egypt. It was truly a marvel of engineering, standing at least 400 feet tall, making it one of the tallest structures in the ancient world. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was also solidly built, standing tall for over 1,500 years, until it was finally toppled by earthquakes around 1375 A.D.  The Lighthouse of Alexandria was exceptional and considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Purpose The city of Alexandria was founded in 332 B.C.  by Alexander the Great. Located in Egypt, just 20 miles west of the Nile River, Alexandria was perfectly situated to become a major Mediterranean port, helping the city to flourish. Soon, Alexandria became one of the most important cities of the ancient world, known far and wide for its famous library. The only stumbling block was that mariners found it difficult to avoid the rocks and shoals when approaching Alexandria’s harbor. To help with that, as well as to make a very grand statement, Ptolemy Soter (Alexander the Great’s successor) ordered a lighthouse to be built. This was to be the first building ever built solely to be a lighthouse. It was to take approximately 40 years for the Lighthouse at Alexandria to be built, finally being finished around 250 B.C. Architecture There’s a lot we don’t know about the Lighthouse of Alexandria, but we do know what it looked like. Since the Lighthouse was an icon of Alexandria, its image appeared in many places, including on ancient coins. Designed by Sostrates of Knidos, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was a strikingly tall structure. Located on the eastern end of the island of Pharos near the entrance of Alexandria’s harbor, the Lighthouse was soon itself called â€Å"Pharos.† The Lighthouse was at least 450 feet high and made of three sections. The bottommost section was square and held government offices and stables. The middle section was an octagon and held a balcony where tourists could sit, enjoy the view, and be served refreshments. The top section was cylindrical and held the fire that was continually lit to keep mariners safe. At the very top was a large statue of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Amazingly, inside this giant lighthouse was a spiraling ramp that led up to the top of the bottommost section. This allowed horses and wagons to carry supplies to the top sections. It is unknown what exactly was used to make the fire at the top of the Lighthouse. Wood was unlikely because it was scarce in the region. Whatever was used, the light was effective – mariners could easily see the light from miles away and could thus find their way safely to port. Destruction The Lighthouse of Alexandria stood for 1,500 years - an astounding number considering it was a hollowed out structure the height of a 40-story building. Interestingly, most lighthouses today resemble the shape and structure of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Ultimately, the Lighthouse outlived the Greek and Roman empires. It was then absorbed into the Arab empire, but its importance waned when Egypt’s capital was moved from Alexandria to Cairo. Having kept mariners safe for centuries, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was finally destroyed by an earthquake sometime around 1375 A.D. Some of its blocks were taken and used to build a castle for the sultan of Egypt; others fell into the ocean. In 1994, French archeologist Jean Yves Empereur, of the French National Research Center,  investigated the harbor of Alexandria and found at least a few of these blocks still in the water. Sources Curlee, Lynn. Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. New York: Atheneum Books, 2002.Silverberg, Robert. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. New York: Macmillan Company, 1970.

PEST and SWOT Analysis of Tesco Plc Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

PEST and SWOT Analysis of Tesco Plc - Case Study Example Recognizing that customer loyalty is not only cultivated through competitive pricing, Tesco also invests in training its employees and making them part of its success through the extension of high quality service together with their cheap products (Tesco-Counting on Customer Satisfaction n.d.). Looking at the value chain of Tesco, it can be seen that it is relatively more efficient in carrying out its outbound logistics, distribution, and customer service. Its efficiency in outbound logistics is justified by its mere scope and size. Tesco, as one of the world's largest retailer, is a very important customer to its supplier (Tesco Plc 2007). Thus, the company posses a high bargaining leverage, enabling it to get discounts which are not otherwise available to its smaller competitors. The company also enjoys economies of scale in distribution, advertising, administrative processes, and production. This enables Tesco to significantly reduce cost and generate high margins. As opposed to other players in the industry, Tesco's own brand is a source of large margins in its total revenue (Tesco Plc 2007). With this, it can be seen that the competitive advantage of Tesco is generated through its cost efficiency. The company uses its size and economies of scale throughout its value chain in order to significantly drive down its cost, allowing it to charge lower, if not the lowest price in the market (Tesco Plc 2007). However, the fact that the company does not just offer products at less than industry average prices but couples it with excellent service implies that it also takes effort in differentiating itself from its competitors. For Tesco, it is not just about the product but the shopping experience is also a key in cultivating customer patronage and loyalty. Through the value web analysis, it can be seen that the relationship of Tesco with its supplier and its customers are very much significant in the creation of a competitive advantage. Through the company's strategic alliance with its supplier, Tesco is able to bring down prices. On the other hand, the company's launching of the Loyalty Card allows it to know more about its customers for more specific target marketing. It becomes apparent that all these strategies are very much supportive of a cost advantage. Strategic advantage entails less procurement costs while target marketing becomes a key in cutting advertising costs (Tesco Plc 2007). 2. Macroenvironment PEST Analysis Political. In the political aspect, there has been a wide and rapid integration of economies into a global village through the creation of regional blocs and free trade zones like NAFTA and European Union. This change, which is largely brought about by the various policies put in place by the government authority facilitates the faster and easier influx of goods and services through the elimination of trade barriers and inflow of foreign direct investments through the increased capital mobility (Globalization: Threat or Opportunity 2007). Economic. The world has witnessed the rapid rise of traditionally developing economies like China, India, and Brazil. China, in particular has grown fastest among the different world economies in the last decade. This economic

Describe the neurophysiological bases of Alzheimers disease Essay

Describe the neurophysiological bases of Alzheimers disease - Essay Example Behavioural symptoms—such as psychosis, agitation, depression, and wandering—are common and impose tremendous strain on caregivers. Diagnosis is challenging because of the lack of biological markers, insidious onset, and need to exclude other causes of dementia. (Mental Health, 1) Dementia is a prominent healthcare issue for primary care physicians and specialist services. Over 90% of patients with dementia experience a â€Å"behaviour disturbance,† often referred to as behavioural or psychological signs in dementia in accordance with the recommendation of the International Psycho geriatric Association. These symptoms are distressing to patients and troublesome to carers and often precipitate admission to residential facilities. What is the evidence that any of the several drugs that are currently used to treat these symptoms are effective? Managing the behavioural and psychological signs of dementia is a major problem for healthcare professionals. Narcoleptic drugs are the mainstay of pharmacological treatment, although their use is justified largely on the basis of clinical anecdote, and they have many harmful side effects. These include Parkinsonism, drowsiness, tardive dyskinesia, falls, accelerated cognitive decline, and severe narcoleptic sensitivity reactions. It is therefore not surprising that the chief medical officer has recommended judicious use of these agents in patients with dementia. In 1990 Schneider published a landmark study showing the paucity of large, placebo controlled, double blind trials of narcoleptic agents in treating behavioural and psychological signs in dementia. Since then research in the subject has increased, but most treatment studies have used an open or active comparison design, a major methodological flaw given the high placebo response rates (40%). Two large multi-centre studies with