Saturday, August 31, 2019

Journalism Is Art

Journalism Is Art Journalism is defined as â€Å"writing that reflects superficial thought and research, a popular slant, and hurried composition conceived of as exemplifying topical newspaper or popular magazine writing as distinguished from scholar writing. † Art is defined as â€Å"the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance. † So how are the two related? Journalism and art are related by definition because of two things. First, they are related because they both require superficial thought.Without creativity or a critical thinking process the article is not going to be different from anyone else’s. What separates the New York Times journalist from a college newspaper journalist? It is not just pay. It is pure experience and creativity. Any good writing requires creative thinking. Each piece of writing is individualized by the character and creativity o f the writer Same with art. If everyone thought the same way then we wouldn’t have amazing paintings like the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Devinci or Starry Night by Vincent Van Gaugh that stands out from your local artist.Each artist has different styles of painting. An example would be modern art and scenery art. Each requires different strongholds in different areas of skill. Just like journalists, one writer may write amazing columns but when it comes to a hard news article they are not as strong. Secondly journalism and art is related by definition because they both have more than ordinary significance. Sylvia, who writes for the TAXI design network quotes, â€Å"When we are so deeply moved by an experience that we want to share it with others, we are where art begins. Art does not need to be â€Å"understood† or to be enjoyed.Like life itself, it can simply be experienced. Yet the more we understand what art can offer, the richer our experience of it will be. † T his statement can be related to journalism. As a journalist, we write about what moves us to share or inform others. Articles are not always written to be enjoyed. They are sometimes used to break the most horrid news. These types of articles just can only simply be experienced. This is part of the art of journalism. It is part of life. Good journalism as well as good art has impact on our life. An article may reveal secretes of the government and ddress problems that we should be aware of in our community. Art impacts our life the same way. The painting La Maja Desnuda by Spanish painter Francisco Goya raised much controversy in the late 1700’s. This painting was one of the first nude paintings depicting pubic hair on a woman. Goya was stripped of his position of a Spanish court painter after this painting was revealed. It impacted people, just like journalism. This semester I have had my first experience as a journalist. I am taking a newspaper print class and writing for t he school newspaper, The Bridge.When I first started the class I had no clue what I was getting into. Tight deadlines, different styles of articles, gathering information from sometimes non-willing sources, and the whole separate art of photojournalism were a shock to me. I perceive journalism as an art because of experience. Just like a painting it takes time, creative thought, and has different styles Many people argue that journalism is a dying art or not an art at all. I can agree with the fact that journalism is a dying art. Before television and radio, newspaper print was the only way of circulating the news other than by word of mouth.It is much different in this day and time. We now have television that have reporters report to us live news. A newspaper can not break the news live for its audience. Newspapers are finding it harder to be successful in this day and time. On the other side of this argument, people have more opportunity to write as a journalist because of intern et. It no longer binds us to local writing. A person in Kentucky can write an article for the New York Times and simply send it by e-mail in the matter of seconds. Some people do not think journalism is an art because they have not experienced it for themselves.Just like me, before I experienced journalism for myself I thought it was just like any other type of writing. These people think journalism is old fashioned and would much rather have their news delivered to them by television, bypassing reading an actual article because they want to be informed the easiest way possible. They believe televised media is more accurate and easier to be comprehended. We need to save the art of print journalism. When was the last time you seen a teenager reading an actual print of the newspaper when they were not in it?I think schools should make students read news papers to be informed of current issues in the community. This would better improve their reading skills and promote newspaper print. Journalism as an art will only die out if we let it. Work Cited â€Å"Art† Dictionary. com Random House, Inc. February 13, 2013. â€Å"Journalism†. Dictionary. com. Random House, Inc. February 13, 2013 Sylvia. â€Å"Visual Arts- More Than Ordinary Significance† designtaxi. com. TAXI design network August 16, 2005. Web February 3, 2013. â€Å"10 Most Famous Paintings of all Time. †touropia. com. Touropia. October 30, 2010 Web. February 3, 2013 .

Friday, August 30, 2019

Iom Report Impact on Nursing

Difference Between Nurses at the Associate vs. Baccalaureate Degree Level To this day there are three types of programs that exist to allow an individual to practice as an RN: the diploma, the Associate degree, and the Baccalaureate degree. The diploma route is a hospital based program that prepares an individual to sit for the NCLEX-RN. It is usually a two to three year program. It prepares the student for nursing jobs for delivering direct patient care in the hospital or other inpatient setting.The associate route RN is typically a two-year program that focuses on teaching the student technical nursing skills with basic education requirements in math, science, and English. It prepares the student for entry-level nursing jobs in hospitals and inpatient facilities. The baccalaureate route RN holds the higher level of education in nursing. It is achieved through a more rigorous educational study through research and evidence-based practices that prepares them for leadership and manage ment positions. In comparing the associate degree nurse vs. he baccalaureate degree nurse, in order to increase patient safety, the associate degree nurse should attain their baccalaureate degree for standardization in with our continually changing health care systems. In looking back in history, the associate degree of nursing (ADN) was designed by Mildred Montag in 1952 to help the nursing shortage as a collegiate alternative (Creasia and Friberg, 2011, p. 27). It started as a pilot project at seven sites that has now grown to be very successful and desirable when compared to the 4-year baccalaureate route.The 2-year associate degree route is sought out more for its cost effectiveness while achieving the same goal of being able to take the NCLEX-RN for licensure. Especially as studies from the Committee of the American Society of Nursing Service Administration noted that they saw no difference among beginning practitioners from BSN, ADN, or diploma programs (Schank and Stollenwerk , 1988, p. 254). The key word here is beginning practitioner, there is no difference between the performances of the two.However, if an individual desires to advance in their nursing career, the associate degree separates the baccalaureate degree holding RN from a higher position and pay for example in a managerial or supervisory role. The baccalaureate degree was intended by the ANA to be the entry point into professional nursing practice (ANA, 1965). Those who choose the BSN route are prepared to practice nursing in beginning leadership positions. In order to take on a leadership role, the baccalaureate holding nurse needs to have a more in depth education with skills in communication, leadership, and critical thinking.The inclusion of public health in the BSN program requires a nurse to be adequately knowledgeable to educate beyond the individual onto the communities and population. Not only is the BSN nurse able to communicate beyond the individual but also better able to collab orate with those holding higher educational degrees as well. Being able to communicate clearly the knowledge learned, through critical thinking based on evidence-based practices is what differentiates an associate degree from a baccalaureate degree nurse. Because of these qualities, it also affords them the ability to take on leadership roles.Higher education enables BSN nurses to go outside the small circle of practice. Studies have shown that patient outcomes can be attributed to higher levels of nursing education. More knowledge enhances the nurses’ concept of nursing as a profession to better adapt to a continually changing health care environment. More knowledge enhances the nurses’ concept of nursing as a profession to better adapt to a continually changing health care environment and by having experience in research of evidence-based practices gives the nurse a firm foundation. Their knowledge is broader to help promote positive patient outcomes (Spencer, 2008, p. 08). In one study they found a â€Å"10% increase in proportion of BSN nurses was associated with a 5% decrease in likelihood of death† (Ridley, 2008, p. 152). One aspect of the BSN student that the ADN student does not acquire is delving into evidence based practices. The BSN nurse, therefore, is transitioned from the basic clinical aspects of nursing from the individual patient onto a broader spectrum. Research enables the RN to become more reflective by evaluating past clinical experiences, honing in on critical thinking skills to help better understand our changing healthcare environment.In evaluating the table from the studies of the Examples of Activities included in the 1999 RN Practice Analysis with Average Frequencies of Performance (Smith, 2002, p. 493), I found that the tasks that required more critical thinking and collaboration with higher disciplinary teams, were slightly higher amongst the BSN group. The average of 3. 73(BSN) vs. 3. 40 (ADN) would consult wi th other health care providers about client care, average 3. 15 (BSN) vs. 2. 92 (ADN) would act as the clients advocate, and 0. 85 (BSN) vs. 0. 5 (ADN) would plan and develop a health promotion program based on a community assessment (Smith, 2002, p. 493). Many of the activities shown on the table reflect that there were not many differences among the ADN and BSN nurse. The BSN nurse has better communication skills would collaborate with other disciplinary teams and act more often as a patient advocate. Because the BSN nurse also has a more rich understanding of evidence based practices and research, he/she would be more likely assist in developing a health promotion program.In conclusion, even though it is more cost efficient in obtaining an associates degree or even diploma to qualify for RN licensure, the baccalaureate degree should be the standard goal. Our health care system is continually changing, it is the responsibility of the nurse to also strive to grow with our environme ntal changes by achieving higher education. Not only does the BSN nurse qualify for higher positions in the health care system, but it also produces better patient outcomes. References American Nurses Association. (1965). A position paper. New York, NY: American Nurses Association; 1965. Creasia, J.L. , & Friberg, E. (2011). Conceptual Foundations: The Bridge to Professional Nursing Practice, 5th Edition. , 2011. Pageburst Online. Web. 21 February 2013 . Ridley, R. T. (2008). The Relationship Between Nurse Education Level and Patient Safety: An Integrative Review. Journal of Nursing Education, 47, 149-156. Retrieved from http://ehis. ebscohost. com. library. gcu. edu:2048/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? sid=e2ae0a10-62a7-418b-ab46-32ad87faa068%40sessionmgr113&vid=4&hid=3 Schank, M. J. , & Stollenwerk, R. (1988, June 1, 1988). The Leadership/Management Role: A Differentiating Factor for ADN/BSN Programs?Journal of Nursing Education, 27, 253-257. Retrieved from http://ehis. ebscohost. com. l ibrary. gcu. edu:2048/eds/detail? sid=f2a65c9b-fb18-4dd4-ba84-717a1f32bb14%40sessionmgr4&vid=5&hid=102&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=rzh&AN=1988078948 Smith, J. E. (2002). Analysis of Differences in Entry-Level RN Practice by Educational Preparation. Journal of Nursing Education, 41, 491-494. Retrieved from http://ehis. ebscohost. com. library. gcu. edu:2048/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? sid=a9aecc8d-204c-4c13-b26c-12ce8475eea0%40sessionmgr111&vid=4&hid=4

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Mrs. Thomas: Holistic End of Life Care

Governors university Scenario A brief synopsis of the scenario explored in this paper will be forthcoming so the following observations and detail will have context. The key points in the scenario explored for Mrs.. Thomas, her husband and family are as follows. Mrs.. Thomas is a candidate for palliative care; In specifically hospice If she Is given a prognosis of six months or less. She has suffered breast cancer twice In the past year.A year ago she had a right mastectomy with removal of five auxiliary lymph nodes, with chemotherapy and radiation. Six months ago she had a second mastectomy on her left breast, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. After said treatment it was discovered that the cancer had metastasis's to her lungs and further surgery is not a feasible option. She has not been taking her pain medication as she does not want to procure an addiction problem. Her pain has Increased and she spends most of the time In bed crying.She had to leave her job, but has a small stipend via disability. She and her husband, a police officer, are struggling to make ends meet financially Her husband suffers from chronic depression that is being managed by medication, but he is resorting to take his medication often. He is a supportive and able caregiver however, he Is showing signs of caregiver strain and Job stress. In response Mrs.. Thomas Is worried that he Is becoming classical because of the circumstances of her condition and this In turn Is causing her further suffering. Core family support Is minimal.Mrs.. Thomas' close female relatives are dead from the very disease that is killing her. Because she is sick, she and her husband no longer socialize; she does not seek help from her female friends. Her sons live far away, and call often but they do not come to see her. Mrs.. Thomas is saddened that her sons are not here, but Quality of Life and Health Promotion This nurse believes that quality of life is defined individually for each patient. Each individ ual is unique and how they perceive life and what their life circumstances are define what is needed for end of life care.Quality of life during a time when aggressive treatment is no longer possible needs to be focused on comfort and support of the patient, caregivers and family. This nurse believes comfort (quality of life) includes the right to be free from pain, unless the patient chooses to experience main in trade for mental clarity. It includes the right to not participate in aggressive treatment or in clinical trials if the patient has no wish to do so. Quality of life to this nurse is helping the patient to do the best with the situation in life in which the patient finds themselves.It includes helping the patient with what he or she perceives as unfinished business and helping the patient conclude this business to the extent possible. Holistic end of life care includes care of all aspects of the patient (physical, social and spiritual) and care for those who love the one d ying?the family. The family is whatever blood or non-blood ties this entails; whatever â€Å"shape† of family the patient has at this time. This nurse believes that holistic end of life care encompasses not only physical comfort for the patient but promotion of healthy interactions for the patient with those who love and comfort them.These sensitivities are the goals of this nurse and if applied diligently may provide the best outcomes for the patient in this time of life. Strategies Four holistic nursing goals to begin to improve quality of life for Mrs.. Thomas, her husband and family are the nursing diagnoses: Pain Management, Addressing Anticipatory Grieving and Situational Low Self-Esteem, as well as, Altered Family Processes. First one must establish a rapport with the patient. By providing an open nonjudgmental conversation the nurse can encourage an open and realistic dialogue about what Mrs..Thomas is feeling. By reviewing past life experiences one can get to know th e patient and what interests her and establish trust. This trust is of most importance as all nursing care success depends on creating a team effort with the patient. Family involvement in this time needs to be proactive to help Mrs.. Thomas' mental state and via this her physical functional ability. Nurseries) A beginning conversation with Mrs.. Thomas needs to be about the importance of pain relief. By bringing the patient to an understanding of how this relief of pain will benefit those around her, Mrs..Thomas may be more likely to try the medication for said relief. This may be the initial hook with which one can get her to take said medication. The nurse must determine a comprehensive pain history, including frequency, duration and intensity using a scale dependent upon the patient's perception of pain throughout her life span. Zero pain for no pain; ten for the worst pain ever. This call gives the nurse a baseline from which to assess pain management. Her pain has been increas ing for the last six months and this nurse would designate that as chronic pain, perhaps with acute episodes.Also, the nurse must ask about and continue to monitor when said pain is occurring, as well as where and how much. Morning or when? Identifying precipitating factors of pain will help in its long term management. (Nurseries) Pain is what the patient says it is; we as nurses need to accept that premise. Within the realm of pain lie both physical and emotional response. Because Mrs.. Thomas is no longer seeking aggressive cancer treatment, he â€Å"variations of aggressive treatment† pain control will not be discussed.However, as her disease progresses it is most likely that her pain will increase. Which brings up another point?reluctance of the patient to report pain because of fear that the disease is worse or that the pain is deserved somehow. The nurse must also be aware of unmanageable side effects (like hallucination) which if experienced must be dealt with in a ma tter of fact fashion and by trying another medication regime. To address pain management with Mrs.. Thomas one must address her fear of addiction. By talking with Mrs..Thomas openly and honestly about the need for pain relief, it is hoped that she is lead to the conclusion that pain management and pain medication abuse are two different things. At the end of life, pain medication addiction is not an issue. This idea needs to be gently but openly professed. One could point to the relief of stress for her husband if she is not in pain; as well as the physical benefit (and hence mental benefit) of remaining pain free. If she remains pain free she will be more able to take care of herself and her activities of daily living.She will be able to live in this time instead of living in dread of each day. Once she is taking said pain medication it must be monitored, adjusted and changed as needed for optimal effect and to support the ability to participate in activities of daily living to the fullest as possible. Also discussing non-pharmacological comfort measures like massage and diversionary activities like music is in order. What does Mrs.. Thomas respond to; what does she like? What kinds of non-pharmacological pain intervention has worked for her in the past?Ask questions so that she can verbalize these things to help herself. Being able to relax will help her focus her attention. Encouragement of stress management skills and complimentary therapies (relaxation techniques, biofeedback, LAUGHTER, music, aromatherapy, acupressure, acupuncture and touch are a few) helps the patient to actively participate and enhances a sense of control. Heat and cold may also help by decreasing muscle spasms and inflammation. Pain makes stress, stress makes stiff muscles and increases self-focus which, unfortunately, increases pain.As the nurse interacts with the patient it is important that the patient comes up with ideas about care and becomes a proactive member of their healthcar e team. (Nurseries) Mrs.. Thomas is also suffering, â€Å"Anticipatory Grieving. This is related to loss of her physiological health and change in lifestyle. It is interconnected to the knowledge that she is going to die, for real, and most likely soon. This nursing diagnosis is needed because of her change in social activity level, her reluctance to tell her sons that she needs them?now.It is evidenced by her denial that she does need them and help and support in general from her friends. (Nurseries) Outcomes that are desired include the patient being able to feel her feelings and express them. By doing this she will hopefully come to the place where she is able to take one day t a time and continue her normal activities; even planning for the future. Being able to admit that she is dying, understanding and verbalizing the process is a beginning is done, she must feel supported in her grief work. One must beware of debilitating depression, the like of which is indicated by the sce nario.To address this the nurse must be frank and direct in asking questions about the patient's mind state. (Nurseries) Frequent visiting by the nursing team and care providers, family and social support of friends can help relieve feelings of isolation and abandonment. Her ones need to be contacted with a â€Å"for your information† talk about coming to see their mom (and dad) and possibly who could be of help with caregivers as it is needed. Mr.. Thomas is also a source to find out about who may be able to help with this care this, as well.The nursing diagnosis, â€Å"Situational Low Self-Esteem† is related to how Mrs.. Thomas feels about her disfiguring surgeries and subsequent treatment side effects (aliped, muscle wasting, and more) as well as feelings of self-doubt and lack of control in her life. It is about the doubt about being accepted by others–of still eyeing a human in the world. It is also about her anxiety and fear of her disease process. This is evidenced by her not taking responsibility for self-care (not taking pain medication; crying in bed all day. ) Acceptance of her situation is an outcome that is looked for.She needs to be able to develop mechanisms to cope with her problems and set realistic goals. What coping skills has she used in the past? She needs to be able to participate in her own life by learning to adapt. The nurse can help her through this process by asking proactive questions about how she feels and perceives her world. By getting her to voice where she's at, she will also perhaps start to voice how she can manage. (Nurseries) This diagnosis ties in with the aforementioned, â€Å"Anticipatory Grieving† diagnosis. By defining diagnosis and disease process beginning problem solving can occur.By anticipating what can happen, some measure of control can be taken. By working with Mrs.. Thomas and planning how daily activities can be managed, adaptation can occur. (Nurseries) Discussion about her roles in life, as a worker, spouse, and mother and problem solving about how to accomplish her goals for these roles may help reduce problems that interfere tit her self-esteem. It may help her to see how she can cluster activities at home to conserve energy but be productive. It may help her to be more able to reach out to those who love her for inclusion and support.The nurse must acknowledge troubles she is experiencing and validate the patient's reality; this opens the door to the patient being able to seek measures that are necessary to cope, like counseling, and support groups. The nurse should readily be able to supply information about said resources so as to facilitate the patient in procuring more support. If Mrs.. Thomas is n hospice the social worker of the interdisciplinary team can help facilitate and direct this work; but the nurse must always continue it during her visits. Holistic Nursing Plan Amongst personal revelation the nurse must explore who may be able to help Mrs ..Thomas with her activities of daily living. Her husband is doing the Job, but he is suffering from care giver strain and could use some help. It may be that the people she has cut herself off from socially miss her and would love the chance to be able to help in some way. Caregivers avenues and their affordability need to be explored before they are needed. These interactions; providing pain control, helping with grief and esteem issues, and helping the patient to discover what will work best to live disease state progresses, but before it is needed, preparation for a lesser level of self-care must be addressed.Medicare provides a â€Å"compassionate allowance† for hospice care for those of any age with a metastasis cancer with a prognosis of six months or less. She needs to apply for this care in the beginning of the nursing visits if she qualifies. To receive hospice care via Medicare she must be eligible for Medicare Part â€Å"A†, be certified as terminally ill a nd then apply for hospice care. This care would be in her home. By signing an election of benefits Mrs.. Thomas would be choosing hospice care in lieu of routine Medicare-covered benefits.Hospice would pay for pain medications and those required by her terminal diagnosis, as well as services included in the palliative plan of care. Often the hospice doctor confers with the patient's primary doctor and others on the hospice interdisciplinary team are included. (â€Å"Your Medicare benefits,† 2014) Hospice of Kits County provides an interdisciplinary team consisting of the doctor, the patient's primary provider and nurse practitioners, sitting nursing care, a medical social worker, a chaplain, a home health aide. Also provided are complementary services, which include massage and music therapies.Volunteers are also enlisted to help with such things as grocery shopping and the like or simply for company. These persons come to the patient's home for service. Hospice care differs with regional coverage. Durable medical equipment is also covered, so if Mrs.. Thomas is in need of a hospital bed, oxygen, bedside commode, wheel chair and so on, it will be provided at no cost to her family via Medicare coverage. Grief and loss counseling is also provided. â€Å"Hospice of kits,† ) Providers for home care must be explored as Mrs.. Thomas declines.Often the expense precludes coverage of duties in this way. Exploration of service providers and means of payment need to be explored as a way to cover Mrs.. Thomas' needs as she declines. Medicare covers the cost of a short term inpatient care in a Medicare approved hospice facility, or nursing home if the caregiver is suffering from caregiver strain (for up to five days) or if it is determined by the hospice physician that symptoms must be managed in an inpatient setting. Because Mrs.. Thomas has no Eng term care health insurance this care could be instrumental in providing for her final days. â€Å"Your Medicar e benefits,† 2014) The fourth nursing diagnosis, â€Å"Altered Family Processes† must be addressed for the holistic health of Mrs.. Thomas. This holistic care includes her husband as well as Mrs.. Thomas' sons and families. Situational crises can develop when a family member has a long term illness. There is a change in roles in caring for a parent and an anticipated loss of said parent. (Nurseries) Those involved need to learn to express feelings freely and demonstrate individual involvement. This individual involvement must include a problem solving process that promotes suitable solutions for the situation.Mrs.. Thomas' sons need to be contacted and requested to attend a family conference. If they are unable (because of finances or schedule) to attend then this could be accomplished via phone. They must understand the need of their mother to see them in person and will hopefully comply. The reality of the situation must be broached to them in a caring way. It may be that the Thomas' or Mrs.. Thomas can go and stay with them for more available for care and support of their mother. Speaking with family members in a caring, respectful manner and providing information both written and spoken helps promote feelings of empathy.It stimulates individual feelings of value and capability in ability to handle the present situation. In answering questions and providing information one can empower Mrs.. Thomas' loved ones. Identifying patterns of communication and interaction between family members is an important nursing intervention. It provides information about how active said communication is. It can also identify what problems may exist that interfere with the family in helping the patient and what problems there are in adjusting to the prognosis.Role expectations must be explored and how each individual sees the situation, in sharing these thoughts the family can promote understanding within its unit. Assessing the way members are expending their ene rgy with which to deal with the situation is needed so as to provide guidance in positive focus for the well-being of patient. Acknowledging the difficulty of the prognosis, as well as, encouraging appropriate expressions of anger helps resolution in the stages of grieving. The nurse must remain centered.Stressing the importance f continuing dialogue that is open and honest between the family members helps communication to remain open and thus facilitates problem resolution. Mr.. Thomas must be educated by the community health nurse as with regards to how anti- depressants need to maintain a certain blood level to be effective. If he is not taking them regularly this will not happen. To help achieve this goal, a pill box with days on it can be set up; perhaps an alarm set to the same time each day enlisted, so that he can remember to take his medication and thus be better able to function at this time.To provide holistic nursing care to Mrs.. Thomas her needs as a person must be add ressed. Physical, social and spiritual realms must be explored. Plans of action to provide for her physical care and the demise of her abilities must be explored; help must be sought out from the aforementioned sources. Method must be applied via nursing diagnosis and indications of said diagnosis. Desired outcomes must be planned, as well as nursing interventions to work toward these outcomes. Mrs.. Thomas must be approached with honesty and treated as a human being, with a life, in her time of need.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Marketing and research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing and research - Essay Example STOP D is a testing machine that is used to test if someone has PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). The machine was invented and put into implementation by a renowned clinical psychologist who has worked with PTSD patients for long. The machine works by estimating the level of trauma that a person has and the amount of distress that the person experiences, and then, calculates the PTSD of the person. The test is also able to know the right kind of medication necessary for the patient and the prescription without the psychologist having to be there in person. At the same time, the test also gives the evidence to concerning the choice of the particular medication and how to improve the recovery process (DR. Mulhall 2011). STOP D is computerized meaning that everything done is recorded in a computer and then, the computer does all the judgment using the artificial intelligence that is installed. Later the computer comes up with the best solution to the problem as detected. There are lots of advantages for the computerization of the machine. Each time the test is done the method is the same; this reduces any chance of error that might occur unlike in cases where humans were to perform the same test. Due to the computerization the test is fast and every record is recorded and given within a very short time unlike when the test was done by a person. The machine has a touch screen that is used by the patient to enter their details, and to access the medication (DR. Mulhall 2011). New products in the market such as STOP D may require a high amount of finances so as to create awareness amongst its target market. Further, looking at the product life cycle; STOP D is a newly introduced product in the market; it is most probably in its growth phase of product life cycle. This stage is characterized by high advertisements, and

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Interview Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Interview - Assignment Example The first question focused on how the manager would deal with dishonest workers in the organization. Malcolm responded by saying, â€Å"Many people apply assumptions whilst dealing with such cases. This is wrong. I would focus on the reasons behind the behavior, and deal with the case based on past experiences; then take action on the employees.† Secondly, I asked Malcolm what he would do if his boss did something unethical and he was aware of it. He answered by saying he would first assess their perception on ethics and being in power. It is at this point that he would advise them according to the ethical policy. The third question focused on the wits of the manager. I asked Malcolm how he would handle contradictory values that exist in the employee handbook that is the basis of operation of the organization. He responded, â€Å"That question is extremely tricky. However, as the manager, it is my role to put the organization in place. I will focus on the past experiences in the work place then decide the best measure based on the precedents.† From the interview, it is evident that Malcolm is not only a reasonable employee, but also an individual that adheres to the ethics of his profession. As argued by Becker, the most prevalent ethical dilemmas in the work place revolve around conflicts of interest, utilization of the organization’s resources and human resource (26). From the interview, it is evident that Malcolm faced these challenges and was able to handle them in an ethical manner. Malcolm believes that ethical issues are handled effectively in his work place as they follow strict protocol in dealing with these issues. The rules apply to all members regardless of their affiliation and status in the organization, which explains why in the interview, Malcolm attests to questioning his supervisor if they did contrary to the ethical guidelines. Becker continues to argue that the

Developing a Personal Leadership Style Research Paper

Developing a Personal Leadership Style - Research Paper Example This style is considered outmoded and inappropriate in the modern society overfilled with democratic points of view.  This type can be characterized as â€Å"one person rules†. It means, the decision-making process is conducted only by one certain person, and other participators of the process are obliged to act according to the demands of that person. Thus, a communication between the leader and inferiors develops only on the professional level. However, sometimes it is the only way of acting that can help achieve the target aims. For instance, the police officer that is giving the commands to the criminal, or the tutor that is telling the student to complete the certain task, utilize this style of headship. At the same time, Salin and Hoel (2010) argue that this type of headship leads to appearance of climate of fear, which can be a great pitfall on the way to goals’ achievement. Nevertheless, if the person needs this type to be developed, he or she should train the ability to establish certain tasks and be responsible for all the outcomes.Paternalistic This type can be characterized as cooperating with inferiors like father with children. The main advantage of this style is high level of trust between the person in charge and the participators of certain space. Nevertheless, this can also lead to the situation when several participators could become favorites while others may remain unheeded. This, in turn, can be the reason for many dismissals of the participators that simply wish to become more valuable.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Employmeny theraghy pf here Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Employmeny theraghy pf here - Research Paper Example According to Sills (2009), a respiratory practitioner, must have a degree in cardiopulmonary respiratory care. Therefore, as student pursing bachelor degree in medicine, specializing in respiratory care, I qualify for the position of a respiratory therapist. Also, having been working with the Agah Khan Hospital as an intern for three months as a nurse I have enough experience for the job. Research Process My research topic would be about respiratory therapy jobs. I would choose it because my interest is to one day work a respiratory therapist. I have decided to choose the topic as my area of study because, we have few respiratory practitioners and the numbers of people that lose life from such diseases are extremely many. This would help in saving peoples life. Factors that I would consider before looking for a job include time factor, my current position, date when I will complete my studies in the university and financial factors. I would check for different job vacancies on respir atory therapy. I would apply for different jobs advertised online in different companies’ websites. I would read more about respiratory practitioners on the websites and exactly what the companies require for recruitment. I would also visit different companies for enquiry about their next job intake. ... I would also consider my qualification and information that will market me to the recruiter. I would consider information about transferable skills from my past job experience and education. Information on how to present myself or first impression as well as how to be myself during the interview is extremely valuable. I would also learn on how to keep my answers positive and even turn the negative situations into learning situations. In consideration of the interview, I would avoid talking negatively about my previous employers. I would consider information about gaps of time out of work and school. Also, being honest, direct and truthful in the process of the interview about a certain situation in my previous job is extremely advantageous. Learn how to be positive about the situation and instead indicate what I learned. Accurate statements about abilities, skills, talents and interests are key information to consider in preparation of my interview. Information, on how to express my emotions non-verbally, body language and posture would be also critical information to consider. During the interview, a would consider the position offered by the company and give a short list on the positions I would like. Out of the ten positions listed, I would request for three positions. According to Chang (1999), the ten possible positions could be neonatal and pediatric intensive care, case management, sleeping disorder specialist, pulmonary research and science, surface and air transport specialist, intensive care, cardiovascular per fusionist, extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation, asthma specialists and cystic fibrosis. Depending on my capability and performance in class as well as interest I

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Mgt 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mgt 1 - Essay Example If employees feel that the increase in productivity will threaten their jobs due to innovation and mechanization, they may fail to engage in productivity improvement and other forms of cooperation. Employment security facilitates the implementation of the other high-performance management practices such as extensive training. An example of a practical experience is the case of the General Motors’ as it aimed at implementing new arrangement of work in its Saturn plant in which case the management guaranteed the employees their job security (Pfeffer and Veiga 40). Once employees have the assurance that their employment will not be interfered with, they tend to work harder and offer their knowledge and efforts to increase the productivity of the organization. Laying off of the employees that a company has spent resources training and developing their talents is a great loss as it opens unhealthy competition from the other closely-related firms. Employment security can be guarante ed by taking obligations with the workers unions, which intervene in case an employee is dismissed unlawfully. Firms may lay off their employees due to some financial strains, but the action leads to losses, as the company has to pay benefits, which consumes its finances leading to more strains. The biggest loss is to those companies that offer extensive training and development to their employees because they lose the talents and abilities of these workers (Pfeffer and Veiga 40). Job security helps in building the employee partnership in various organizations, especially in the long-term. Many firms will pursue short-term benefits at the expense of their employees job security. Such firms find themselves in difficult situations since their employees have low morale and are less productive leading to the company’s poor performance. When companies or

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Mental Disorder and crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Mental Disorder and crime - Essay Example If they are too broad they may result in unnecessary intervention’ (Wilson, 1995 as quoted in Healthcare Education Services, 2006). This quote from Wilson suggests the complications that mental health carers and the courts have when they attempt to apply a definition to mental illness. There is a distinction made between mental health and mental disorder. According to Healthcare Education Services (2006) mental health and mental illness have often been used interchangeably as 'mental health refers to thoughts, feelings, and actions of the individual, all aspects of life, including social, physical, spiritual and emotional, affect it' (p. 6). The term mental disorder implies that he person has a mental illness and also has some sort of disability and has often been used as a legal definition for a variety of mental illnesses. The Department of Health (2004) defines mental disorder as ‘an impairment of, or a disturbance in, the functioning of the mind or brain resulting fr om any disability or disorder of the mind or brain’ (p.3). This definition was refined from the original bill that was drafted in 1983 and said that mental disorder was, ‘†¦mental disorder means mental illness, arrested or incomplete development of mind, psychopathic disorder and any other disorder or disability of the mind’ (as quoted in Healthcare Education Services, 2006, p. 7). ... This definition will cover a variety of mental disorders and it can be relevant to the individual's fitness to plead guilty or not guilty, their sentencing or disposal, or the decision for the prosecutor to divert the sentence or prosecute the individual (The Crown Prosecution Service, 2010). This is the definition will be the one used for this paper because it is the one that comes from the courts. Definition of Crime The definition of crime is complex because its definition will relate to the individual's offense. Sammon (n.d.) states that the word crime is difficult to define because it covers a variety of acts that have nothing in common necessarily except that they are punishable by law if they are carried out by an individual. The easiest definition comes from the Oxford Dictionary (2011) which describes crime as a noun and defines it as 'an action or omission which constitutes offence and is punishable by law'. A crime can be anything from shoplifting to murder. Each offence h as its own definition in the court system. This is a simple definition and will be used in this paper to refer to generic crimes. Crime and General Mental Disorders The challenge for both of these definitions is the fact that everything about them is dependent on the circumstances in each situation. Many people believe that a defence that states that an individual who has a mental disorder should be excused for committing a crime because at the time of the crime, they had a mental breakdown due to a mental disorder. However, the empirical evidence does not support this idea. Sirotich (2008) reviewed several studies about crime and violence to see whether there is a correlation with mental illness. He found that most of the literature suggests that the best

Friday, August 23, 2019

Maryland sexual predators Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Maryland sexual predators - Essay Example In terms of the overall law, Maryland requires that sexual offenders that are going to live and work in the state register with the state and local government. Every year then, Maryland classifies the sexual predators along four classification lines: sexually violent predators, sexually violent offenders, child sexual offenders; and offenders. The most serious offenders, which are the majority of offenders in the first three categories, must register for life, and the rest must do so for ten years. In considering these regulations on registry, I personally support the institution of these statutes as they provide significant warning to parents and children of the threats that might be surrounding them. While it does open the offenders to social ostracism, it’s clear that these regulations are necessary to reduce and prevent these sexual offenses from occurring again. While the Maryland laws require adult sexual offenders to face these registry issues, the penalties for juvenile sexual offenders alters these laws. Kahn & Lafond (2006) detail Maryland’s complex punitive and treatment mechanisms for the adolescent sexual offenders. In these regards, the state indicates that generally juvenile sexual offenders are given more leniency than adult offenders in terms of punishment. In addition, juvenile offenders are required to undergo stringent rehabilitation mechanisms that target the individual’s dysfunctions and work to prepare them for entrance back into society. Within Maryland there are a great degree of sexual laws that vary in stringency, as a direct relation to the extent of the crime. For instance, statute 464B an individual is convicted in the third degree if a number of elements are committed (Maryland 464b’). The most notable of these elements includes the occurrence of sexual contact within another person against the ir will. The offender implements a weapon in the

Thursday, August 22, 2019

A great friendship Essay Example for Free

A great friendship Essay A great friendship is formed because of two reasons; First is to find out the similarities, Second is to respect the differences. Our friendship has both reasons.Our friendship is a priceless gift that cant be bought or sold, but to have an understanding friend is far more worth than gold. You are a gift wrapped in ribbons of thoughtfulness and trimmed with kisses and smiles, given by God to stay not just for a day, but for life. So I hope youll be always there when I needed you the most. I will be always here for you my friend. When you have a problem you can come to me and share what problem youve got. I wont promise to be your friend forever, because I wont live that long. But let me be your friend as long as I live. I hope you know I would not be the person I am today, without you. My friend. Read more: Example of speech about friendship essay There is a gift that gold cannot buy and a blessing thats rare and true. It is the gift of a wonderful friend like the friend that I have in you. Thank you, friend, for all the things that mean so much to me and for the concern and understanding you give abundantly. We gain and lose things every day. But trust me on one thing: You will never lose me. I will always be there as a friend. Friendship is like a tree. It is not measured on how tall it could be, but is on how deep the roots have grown. I do not think much, I do not think often, but when I think, I think of you. My Friend, Stay true and be patient in having me into your life. Always remember that Jovie Ann is always here for you my friend.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The Quality of Early Child Care and Children’s Development Essay Example for Free

The Quality of Early Child Care and Children’s Development Essay ABSTRACT—The past half-century saw dramatic changes in families that altered the daily experiences of many young children. As more mothers of young children entered the labor force, increasing numbers of young children spent substantial hours in various child-care settings. These changes gave rise to a large body of research on the impact of the quality of early child care on children’s development. However, a full understanding of the role of the quality of early child care requires consideration of the interplay among child care, family, workplace, and society. This article places what we know about the quality of early child care and children’s development in this larger ecological context, and suggests directions for future research and practice. The past half-century saw dramatic changes in families that altered the daily experiences of many young children. In 1970, only 24% of mothers with a young child (birth through age 3) were in the labor force; by 2000, this figure had risen to 57%. This growth in maternal employment was accompanied by changes in children’s daily experiences. By 2000, 80% of children under the age of 6 were in some form of nonparental care, spending an average of 40 hours a week in such care (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2003). Research on children’s experiences saw a parallel change that was equally dramatic. Early research in the field focused primarily on the question of whether child care (or maternal employment) per se was good or bad for children; current research asks questions about the relation between children’s development and variations in the quality and quantity of child care that they experience. The field also now recognizes varying types of child care, including center-based care, licensed or regulated home-based care by nonrelatives (family-childcare homes), and other home-based care, such as care by relatives or in-home sitters. There have been methodological advances as well. Early research was more likely to study small samples and examine correlations between child care and children’s outcomes at a single point in time; current research is more likely to involve large samples at multiple sites, to use experimental or quasi-experimental designs, and to follow participants over time. Perhaps the most important advance in child-care research has been theoretical. Early research tended to study the effects of child care in isolation from other significant aspects of children’s lives. Current research is more likely to be grounded in ecological systems theory, which considers children’s development in the context of the child-care system as well as the family system, and recognizes the links between these systems and the larger society. In this article, I focus on one segment of current research on early child care—the links between the quality of child care and children’s development—drawing on ecological systems theory to provide an overview of recent advances and to suggest directions for future research. ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS THEORY AND EARLY CHILD CARE Ecological systems theory places child development in an ecological perspective, in which an individual’s experience is nested within interconnected systems (Bronfenbrenner, 1989). Microsystems, such as families or child-care settings, are characterized by face-to-face connections among individuals. Mesosystems consist of two or more microsystems and the linkages or processes that combine or connect them. These mesosystems exist within the larger context of the exosystem, those settings in which the child does not directly participate but that influence the lives of parents and other adults in the child’s world, such as a parent’s workplace, educational institutions that train child-care teachers and providers, and government agencies that set regulations for child-care facilities or establish welfare-reform policies. The mesosystems and exosystems operate within the context of a macrosystem of societal and cultural beliefs and practices. Note that these systems are not static, but may change over time. The Mesosystem of Family Child Care Children inhabit both families and child-care microsystems, and these systems are linked. Parents select particular types of child care, of varying quality, for children of different ages—and these decisions vary with family structure, parental characteristics, geographical location, and other factors. Singer, Fuller, Keiley, and Wolf (1998) argued that child-care researchers must consider these selection effects if they are to accurately model the impact of child care on children’s development over time. 1 Through their selection of particular child-care arrangements, parents have an indirect impact on their children’s development (in addition to their direct impact within the family system). But this linkage between the family system and child-care system operates in both directions: The child-care system can also influence the family system. For example, Ahnert, Rickert, and Lamb (2000) described a particular mesosystem characterized by shared care; in this mesosystem, mothers adapted their interactions with their toddlers in response to the toddlers’ experiences in child care. The Exosystem The family child-care mesosystem operates within the larger context of the exosystem of parental employment—one of the primary functions of child care is to enable parents, particularly mothers, to work outside the home. Historically, the child-care system has developed in response to characteristics of parents’ employment . For instance, the current child-care system includes child-care centers, which tend to have operating hours that match those of parents who are working weekdays, as well as family-child-care homes and kith-and-kin care, which are more likely to meet the needs of parents who are working evenings, weekends, or variable hours. However, in industries that operate around the clock, particularly those with highly skilled workers such as hospitals, we are more likely to see on-site child-care centers, sick-child care,2 and other accommodations to parents’ employment needs. Another important aspect of the exosystem is government policies and regulations that affect both the demand for child care (such as welfare-reform efforts that require low-income mothers to seek employment) and the affordability of child care. Although the United States provides some child-care subsidies for families, many low- and moderate-income families do not have effective access to subsidies. 3 Given the links between the quality of care and the cost of care, it is not surprising that children in low-income families who are not in the higher-quality, government-subsidized programs tend to receive lower-quality child care than children in middle-income families (cf. Phillips, Voran, Kisker, Howes, Whitebook, 1994). In this way, the exosystem of government policies and regulations provides an important context for the operation of the family ! child-care mesosystem. THE QUALITY OF EARLY CHILD CARE AND CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT Using ecological systems theory as a framework, I turn now to the question of the relation between the quality of early child care and children’s development. I begin with a discussion of the concept of quality, and then move on to an overview of what researchers currently know about the role of the quality of early child care in children’s lives. What Is Quality? The underlying assumption of all definitions of quality is that a high quality early-child-care setting is one that supports optimal learning and development. However, quality has been measured in a variety of ways across different studies. Measures of child-care quality can be categorized as either structural or process indicators. Structural characteristics include the child:staff ratio (the number of children per teacher or provider), the group size (number of children in the setting), and the education and specialized training of teachers, providers, or directors. The features of structural quality can be regulated, and most states set minimum standards for at least some aspects of structural quality, at least in center-based care. Studies that assess structural quality are most useful in evaluating the impact of features that can be regulated. Although understanding the links between structural indicators of quality and children’s development is important, we also need to understand the mechanisms by which structural quality affects children’s development, which requires examining what actually happens in the early-care setting (i.e., the process). How do adults and children interact? What materials are available for the children, and how do adults support children’s use of those materials? Process quality refers to the nature of the care that children experience—the warmth, sensitivity, and responsiveness of the caregivers; the emotional tone of the setting; the activities available to children; the developmental appropriateness of activities; and the learning opportunities available to children. Unlike the features of structural quality, process quality is not subject to state or local regulations, and it is harder to measure. One of the more commonly used measures, the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS; Harms, Clifford, Cryer, 1998), assesses multiple aspects of process quality. Such multidimensional process measures tell us much more about the quality of care that children receive than do structural measures alone. Structural Indicators of Quality and Children’s Development What do we know about the links between the structural indicators of quality in early child care and children’s development? The research to date has found that better ratios (fewer children per adult) and more education or training for teachers are associated with higher language, cognitive, and social skills of the children cared for (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2003). However, many of the studies that have examined structural indicators have employed small samples (fewer than 100 children) or have not considered selection effects in their analyses, so studies that do not have these limitations are of particular importance. In an interesting study that assessed the links between structural quality, process quality, and children’s outcomes, the NICHD Early Child Care Research Network (2002) found that the relation between caregiver training and child-staff ratio, on the one hand, and children’s cognitive and social competence, on the other hand, was mediated by process quality— that is, higher levels of caregiver training and lower ratios of children to adults in child-care settings were associated with higher levels of process quality, which were, in turn, associated with children’s greater cognitive and social competence. Process Quality and Children’s Development Among studies published in the past 15 years, those that employed an ecological model4 consistently found that higher process quality is to greater language and cognitive competence, fewer behavior problems, and more social skills, particularly when multidimensional measures of quality, such as the ECERS, are used or quality is assessed at more than one point in time. For example, the Cost, Quality and Child Outcomes Study (Peisner-Feinberg, Burchinal, Clifford, 2001) found that higher process quality in preschool classrooms predicted fewer behavior problems 1 year later, and predicted higher language and math scores in kindergarten and second grade, although the magnitude of these associations declined over time. This same study also found a link between the child-care and family systems, such that the association between child-care quality and children’s school performance was moderated by mothers’ education; specifically, the association was stronger for children whose mothers had less education. BEYOND SELECTION EFFECTS I began this article with a discussion of the importance of considering children’s development from an ecological systems perspective, which considers the family ! child-care mesosystem as a context for children’s development. Many studies of child care now consider the role of selection effects by statistically controlling for family characteristics. However, other linkages within the mesosystem must also be considered if one is to adequately understand the role of child-care quality in children’s development. For instance, aspects of the family system, such as the mother’s education or depression, parenting practices, and family income, may have independent effects on children’s development. In fact, in a study of 1,100 children, the NICHD Early Child Care Research Network (2001) found that although the quality of early child care consistently predicted socio-emotional and cognitive-linguistic outcomes during the first 3 years of life, family factors were more consistent predictors of children’s development than quality of child care, or any other child-care factors examined. Research on the family child-care mesosystem is familiar territory for many psychologists. However, Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory calls attention to other influences on children’s development—the exosystem of parental employment and government policy and the macrosystem of societal beliefs about the desirability of maternal employment and the desired outcomes for children. For example, there is a complex interplay between parental employment, government policy, child care, and children’s development for low-income families. Government policy and the macrosystem of societal beliefs promote employment for low-income parents. However, low-income parents tend to have less education and fewer marketable skills compared with other parents, and are likely to be employed in sectors of the labor market where jobs are part-time or contingent (temporary), allow little flexibility for managing family demands, and offer few benefits. Work schedules are also likely to include hours outside of the typical Monday-through-Friday daytimes when childcare centers normally operate. Although government subsidies are available to some low-income families, most do not receive subsidies. As a result, children from low-income families are likely to be placed in lower-cost and lower-quality center care or informal care that is itself often of lower quality (cf. Henly Lyons, 2000). Viewing this ‘‘choice’’ as a selection effect leads one to interpret it as parental preference—but an ecological perspective suggests a different interpretation: Regardless of their individual preferences, low-income families’ choices are constrained by the operation of the exosystem of the workplace and government policy. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Current state-of-the-art research has provided clear evidence that the quality of early child care matters to children’s development. Children who attend higher-quality child-care settings have greater language and cognitive competence and greater social competence than children who receive lower-quality child care. However, several studies have documented the prevalence of mediocre or inadequate child care in the United States (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2003, pp. 53–54). In addition, the high-quality care that does exist is not equitably distributed—lower-income children are less likely than higher-income children to have access to it. The next step is to answer the question: How can we best raise the quality of early child care for all children? Ecological systems theory draws our attention to the importance of placing this question in the context of family processes, parental employment, governmental policies, and societal beliefs and goals when developing theoretical models and models for practice. We must integrate our societal goals of supporting healthy families, economic self-sufficiency, and women’s employment with our goals of supporting healthy development and school readiness for children, if we expect to advance research and practice in the area of early-child-care quality and children’s development. Recommended Reading Lamb, M.E. (1998). Nonparental child care: Context, quality, correlates. In W. Damon, I.E. Sigel, K.A. Renninger (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology: Vol. 4. Child psychology in practice (5th ed., pp. 73–134). New York: John Wiley Sons. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development, Board on Children, Youth, and Families. (2000). From neurons to neighborhoods: The science of early child development (J.P. Shonkoff D.A. Phillips, Eds.). Washington, DC: National Academy Press. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Board on Children, Youth, and Families, Committee on Family and Work Policies. (2003). (See References) Phillips, D.A., Voran, M.N., Kisker, E., Howes, C., Whitebook, M. (1994). (See References) REFERENCES Ahnert, L., Rickert, H., Lamb, M.E. (2000). Shared caregiving: Comparisons between home and child care settings. Developmental Psychology, 36, 339–351. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1989). Ecological systems theory. Annals of Child Development, 6, 187–249. Harms, T., Clifford, R.M., Cryer, D. (1998). Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale: Revised edition. New York: Teachers College Press. Henly, J.R., Lyons, S. (2000). The negotiation of child care and employment demands among low-income parents. Journal of Social Issues, 56, 683–706. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Board on Children, Youth, and Families, Committee on Family and Work Policies. (2003). Working families and growing kids: Caring for children and adolescents (E. Volume 13—Number 4 167 Nancy L. Marshall Smolensky J.A. Gootman, Eds.). Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Retrieved August 14, 2003, from http://www.nap.edu/openbook/ 0309087031/html/R1.html NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. (2001). Nonmaternal care and family factors in early development: An overview of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care. Applied Developmental Psychology, 22, 457–492. NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. (2002). Child-care structure! process! outcome: Direct and indirect effects of child-care quality on young children’s development. Psychological Science, 13, 199–206. Peisner-Feinberg, E.S., Burchinal, M.R., Clifford, R.M. (2001). The relation of preschool child-care quality to children’s cognitive and social developmental trajectories through second grade. Child Development, 72, 1534–1553. Phillips, D.A., Voran, M.N., Kisker, E., Howes, C., Whitebook, M. (1994). Child care for children in poverty: Opportunity or inequity? Child Development, 65, 472–492. Singer, J.D., Fuller, B., Keiley, M.K., Wolf, A. (1998). Early child-care selection: Variation by geographic location, maternal characteristics, and family structure. Developmental Psychology, 34, 1129–1144.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Description of the US Citizenship Process

Description of the US Citizenship Process   Jacob Hill   Citizenship isnt as simple as residence. There are many requirements beyond residence to qualify as a citizen of the United States. Some people have lived here for years and still arent qualified to vote because they are not yet citizens. Specific criterion have been set to acquire citizenship that involve things such as knowledge of basic United States history, fluent english, and many other things that will be discussed throughout this paper. Overall, as a born-in citizen, I will be discussing the other end of the spectrum and the advantages that citizens have over aliens. To become a citizen, there are a few processes an individual can take. One way is to be born in the United States, though you cant really choose this option. The other way is through naturalization. Naturalization is the established legal process that allows an individual to acquire citizenship in a new country. The naturalization process is different for every country, but in the United States of America, we like to make the process simple and overall easy. Whether this is a good thing is up to each person on their own to decide. To discuss the naturalization process, we first have to draw the lines as to who is a born-in citizen. Any person born in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or Guam is also a citizen from birth. There are a few more rules though. Children born on an American embassy anywhere in the world are also citizens; however, a child born on a foreign embassy on United States soil isnt a citizen. This means that in America we look at both where and to whom you are born to define your citizenship. Therefore, anyone born outside of those boundaries set has to go through the naturalization process before they can enjoy their life as a citizen of the United States of America. To begin the naturalization process an applicant needs to be qualified to apply. This requires a few extra boundaries. First of all, for any of this to matter, the applicant needs to be at least eighteen years of age. This is because before a person is eighteen their citizenship is based on their parents. If a person of age is wanting to file, they need to find out if their are eligible due to their residence or spouse. A person is eligible if they fit under any of these categories for qualification by residence. An applicant must: Have lawfully been admitted for permanent residence, have resided in the states for a minimum of five years with less than one full year of absence (or only three years if married to a citizen), have been physically present in the states for at least 30 months out of the last five years (they cannot be absent for more than 6 months at one time), and have lived in a single city or state for at least three months continually. If someone has achieved any of these, they are eligible to apply for citizenship by residence. To apply based on spousal qualifications, a person needs to follow similar guidelines. They need to have lived on United States soil for at least 3 years while married to a citizen. They need to have a legal union, and the spouse had to be a citizen for the full three years, minimum. They do not have to follow the residence laws if the applicants spouse is employed by any of the following organizations: The United States government (this includes all army, navy, marine corporations, or air force employees), American Research Institutes (must be recognized by the attorney general), a recognized religious organization, or certain public international organizations involving the United States. If an applicants spouse fits any of these requirements, then they are eligible for naturalization. Once they have found out whether they are eligible or not, they need to follow the steps to complete an application for citizenship. These can be acquired through a local courthouse or a public government building. This application needs to be accompanied by two photographs of the applicant, these pictures need to meet the standards set by the USCIS (The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). There are a few documents that are required as well as a fee for application and another fee for fingerprints. After an applicant completes all of these steps, they will receive an appointment letter from the USCIS. This is to get your fingerprinting done. Once this is done, they will set up an appointment for an interview. This interview includes a few questions about your background and about you as a person, to test the good moral character required. If the applicant is passed on, they will be given an English test to see how fluent they are. After completion of that test, they take a civics test. This is a general knowledge test of simple American history, things such as war knowledge, what wars we were involved in and why, what presidents were major models, and other questions along those lines. When the applicant has gone through all of this, they are still a few steps away from becoming a citizen. They first receive a decision. This decision comes from a member of the USCIS looking through the applicants profile and criminal history and seeing if they meet the standards for moral character. Upon examination, if there are any flaws, these will be brought up to the applicant for potential clearing up. After this, the member will look through the answers on the test, grade them, and see if they are qualified to receive a ceremony date. If they pass all tests and their moral character is in tact, they will be scheduled for a ceremony date. The ceremony is where the applicant finally officially becomes a United States citizen. This ceremony usually happens at the nearest courthouse, and includes a few more applicants. These dates are usually spread out so that there can be as many people as possible receiving their citizenship cards at the same time. When the applicant arrives at the courthouse, they are required to turn in their Permanent Resident Card. This is simply because once they are citizens they will not need it anymore. Once they do that, court is in session. In the court, they will all line up, pledge their allegiance to the United States, the usual way, and sit with the other applicants. Each individual will get up and give a speech for those in the court, usually family and friends are there to support them. They will discuss what they have been doing since they found out that they are eligible to receive their citizenship, and why they desired to be citizens of this great country. After everyone is done with their speeches, they move on as a group to the floor. They will all take the Oath of Allegiance. This is the final step to naturalization. It is the last leap to becoming a citizen, and after it is done, there is only one thing left to do, celebrate. It may be a simple process, but it is incredibly lengthy, not including the time that you have to have lived in the States. This process can really take a toll on a person, so it is a glorious time when the applicant finally receives that card. They can finally vote, and gain a United States passport. Above all, they have all the freedoms that a citizen has, and they are protected by the constitution. They can finally get a high end job, and will be respected as any other worker would be. It is difficult to get a job that isnt fast food or shelf-stocking when you arent a legal citizen, so that is a bonus. They finally gain the freedoms listed out in all of the Bill of Rights, and will be tried in court just the same as a born-in citizen would. There isnt any backlash for being a citizen in America, like there would be if you became a citizen of Cuba. The only thing that is an issue is the impossibility of dual citizenship. Here in America, there is a sort of moral code that says we believe a citizen in our country considers us their home, and having dual citizenship doesnt reflect that very well. Of course, in any case that a person truly does want to become a citizen, the process is a little bit more involved than it has been told in this paper. When a person wants to become a citizen, they dont already have the knowledge of what wars America has been in, and they surely dont know all of the presidents. There is studying to do, and along with that, the process nearly requires a lawyer who majors in legalization and immigration. The legal steps to becoming a citizen like finding out whether you are eligible, and how to display yourself to the interviewers. Also getting into the system takes a fine-tuned approach, so the best way to attack that is through someone who truly knows the system. Overall though, being a citizen of this amazing country is worth all the trouble, and the freedoms we have are the greatest we can expect from any country.

Charlemagne :: essays research papers

Charlemagne There was relatively little commerce in Western Europe. Roads, bridges, and the infrastructure generally were non-existent. Furthermore, the countryside was unsafe for travel due to a lack of organized law enforcement. Small villages had to take care of themselves; therefore, manufacturing was carried on only to the extent that was needed to supply local needs. In the little kingdoms or principalities, the lands over which a King ruled were regarded as no different from other property. Among the Franks, all sons were entitled to a share. Therefore, when a King died, each son became a King over his own little kingdom. Thus, many political units became small so there were no uniform laws or policies. This lack of unity made them vulnerable to enemies as well as conflict from within. Bullough points out that the loyalty of a warrior or subject to his chosen leader was not a light matter. The author does not contrast that concept of loyalty however, with our present ideas of loyalty to the homeland or institution. â€Å"The apprenticeship of a King† describes how Charlemagne gained power through conquest and diplomacy. In 768, King Pippin died and his kingdom was divided between his two sons. Charles, the elder, and the younger was Carloman. The author says that little is known of Charles’ boyhood. When he was of the right age, it is recorded that he worked eagerly at riding and hunting. It was the custom of the Franks to ride and be practiced in the use of arms and ways of hunting. We may reasonably infer that acquiring these skills formed a major part of his early education. Charles was not a â€Å"man of letters† and the author makes no attempt at explaining this other than to point out that literacy was considered unimportant at that time for anyone other than the clergy and Charles didn’t become interested in â€Å"letters† until later in life. Bullough explains a number of experiences in public duties and responsibilities, which were assigned to Charles by his father, thus, giving him an apprenticeship to rule the kingdom. For some reason tension between Charles and his brother began shortly after their accession. The author explains a number of conflicts. The younger brother died however, at the end of 771 and a number of prominent people in his kingdom offered allegiance to Charles. Bullough names and explains those subjects. The result was the re-uniting of those territories, which helped to establish the kingdom of the Franks.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Personal Narrative- High School and Church Youth Group Essay -- Person

Personal Narrative- High School and Church Youth Group The most distinguishing and memorable moment of my life was entering high school for the first time. I feel that the event of starting high school was the starting point of what kind of person I was going to become. Not only did I start going to a new kind of school, but I started attending the high school youth group at my church. I also had the privilege to start working on my first car. Without this experience, I feel that I would not be where I am right now. This memorable moment started with my transition to the high school youth group at church. Moving up to the high school group at my church was exciting yet frightening. Fortunately, I was welcomed with great joy and fellowship. I got involved in the activities very quickly. I made many friends, which gave me an incentive to actually go to church. I went on two mission trips before starting school. This helped me to see God work through me and through my youth group. Within our youth group, we had a youth choir called Deliverance. Because of my involvement in that ...

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Discussing Ethical Judgments in the Production of Knowledge in Both Art

Ethical judgements limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in both the arts and the natural sciences. Discuss. To a certain degree, ethics can be considered a matter of one’s heart, the source of emotional life, as well as their head, the center of a human being’s faculty of intellect and reasoning. Ethics, or moral philosophy, is a set of ideas that are systemized, defended, recommended in differentiating behaviour as either right or wrong prescribed by social and cultural taboos. It is divided into three categories: meta-ethics (way of determining truth through origin), normative ethics (arriving at moral standard regulating right and wrong) and applied ethics (how moral outcomes are accomplished in specific situations) 1. Such divisions often halt the advancement in knowledge within the arts and natural sciences. These morality-based restrictions directed towards the particular two areas of knowledge can be best understood with Sigmund Freud’s belief that the ethical parts of an individual’s unconsciousness controls majority of their behaviours in life reflect s the collective unconscious mind of human beings . If it is human nature to be partially conscious of our whole identity, then this behaviour of ours largely limits us from attaining an extensive amount of knowledge that could more likely help us find the answers we are often searching for. The societal and individual ethics govern the methods and dimensions in distribution of knowledge in both arts and natural science, whether it is by means of excessive limitation of these areas of knowledge, unrestricted facilitation of their advancement, or limiting them in moderation. Nevertheless, this basic conclusion within the world of ethical judgem... ...ations on Scientific Research : Scientific Freedom: An Anthology on Freedom of Scientific Research : Bloomsbury Academic. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Dec. 2013. . "The Ethical Limitations on Scientific Research : Scientific Freedom: An Anthology on Freedom of Scientific Research : Bloomsbury Academic." The Ethical Limitations on Scientific Research : Scientific Freedom: An Anthology on Freedom of Scientific Research : Bloomsbury Academic. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Dec. 2013. . Tolstoy, Leo, and Charles E. Moore. Leo Tolstoy: spiritual writings. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2006. Print. Tom & Jerry. Dir. Phil Roman. Perf. Richard Kind, Dana Hill, Anndi McAfee. Warner Bros., 2013. VHS Discussing Ethical Judgments in the Production of Knowledge in Both Art Ethical judgements limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in both the arts and the natural sciences. Discuss. To a certain degree, ethics can be considered a matter of one’s heart, the source of emotional life, as well as their head, the center of a human being’s faculty of intellect and reasoning. Ethics, or moral philosophy, is a set of ideas that are systemized, defended, recommended in differentiating behaviour as either right or wrong prescribed by social and cultural taboos. It is divided into three categories: meta-ethics (way of determining truth through origin), normative ethics (arriving at moral standard regulating right and wrong) and applied ethics (how moral outcomes are accomplished in specific situations) 1. Such divisions often halt the advancement in knowledge within the arts and natural sciences. These morality-based restrictions directed towards the particular two areas of knowledge can be best understood with Sigmund Freud’s belief that the ethical parts of an individual’s unconsciousness controls majority of their behaviours in life reflect s the collective unconscious mind of human beings . If it is human nature to be partially conscious of our whole identity, then this behaviour of ours largely limits us from attaining an extensive amount of knowledge that could more likely help us find the answers we are often searching for. The societal and individual ethics govern the methods and dimensions in distribution of knowledge in both arts and natural science, whether it is by means of excessive limitation of these areas of knowledge, unrestricted facilitation of their advancement, or limiting them in moderation. Nevertheless, this basic conclusion within the world of ethical judgem... ...ations on Scientific Research : Scientific Freedom: An Anthology on Freedom of Scientific Research : Bloomsbury Academic. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Dec. 2013. . "The Ethical Limitations on Scientific Research : Scientific Freedom: An Anthology on Freedom of Scientific Research : Bloomsbury Academic." The Ethical Limitations on Scientific Research : Scientific Freedom: An Anthology on Freedom of Scientific Research : Bloomsbury Academic. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Dec. 2013. . Tolstoy, Leo, and Charles E. Moore. Leo Tolstoy: spiritual writings. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2006. Print. Tom & Jerry. Dir. Phil Roman. Perf. Richard Kind, Dana Hill, Anndi McAfee. Warner Bros., 2013. VHS

Saturday, August 17, 2019

J.C. Penney: Creating America’s Favorite Store Essay

INTRODUCTION: In 2013, this department store has been celebrating being in business for 110 years. It also once lured its customers in with its famous discount pricing strategy and coupons. The retailer is J.C. Penney, a fixture at shopping malls across the country. In 2012, J.C. Penney rebranded itself by making the announcement that it wanted to become America’s favorite store by creating a specialty department store experience (JCP, 2013). Founder James Cash Penney began the company with a Golden Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated Fair and Square (JCP, n.d.). The well-known retailer has grown to nearly 1,100 stores and boasts a workforce of more than 116,000 full and part-time employees (Strand, 1998). JCP operates in the continental United States, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. Loyal consumers flocked to the giant big box store where it sold women, men, and children’s clothing along with jewelry and household items such as appliances and home furniture. Over the years, the giant retailer has polished its marketing finesse. JCP’s current catchy advertising line: â€Å"Creating America’s Favorite Store† (JCP, n.d.). In corporate America, there are four different market structures: pure competition, pure monopolistic, l responsibility, Decision making, oligopoly, and monopoly. J.C. Penney falls under the pure competition market structure which is defined as many sellers supplying identical products (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 7). J.C. Penney humble beginnings started as a dry foods store and branched out over the years as a successful chain department store competing against other stores such as Sears, Macy’s, and Dillard. J.C. Penney’s corporate culture includes social responsibility to its consumers, its employees, its suppliers, and to the environment. However, over the two several years, J.C. Penney has endured an economic downturn which began after the hiring of former Apple executive Ron Johnson in late 2011 and his subsequence firing in early 2013 (â€Å"J.C. Penney’s Chief Executive Ron Johnson Ousted,† 2013). Executives, such as Johnson, have the power to influence the purchasing power of consumers through several different variables such as product pricing, product design and packaging, product availability, and product promotion (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 3). This paper shall explore the company’s managerial economics decision which includes taking a look at its corporate social responsibility, consumer demand, the change in its pricing strategy over the past two years, attitudes toward risk, and the price elasticity of demand. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COMPANY: J.C. Penney sets high corporate social responsibility for itself. On the company’s official website, it lists the company’s social responsibility which includes establishing strong environmental responsibility. Under the company’s corporate governance, JCP touts itself as a stewardship to the environment and approved its core principles in 1991( JCP, 2013). Among some of JCP’s core principles include: continuing to review its operations practice in assessing its potential impact on the environment or related human health or safety issues; working with suppliers and merchandisers to develop packages and products that are environmental responsible and safe; and taking steps to reduce the use of non-renewable energy. Among some of the company’s recent progress include: making a conscious effort to reduce packaging and paper usage, setting up an elaborate waste management recycling program, and promoting energy conservation (JCP, 2013). JCP’s corporate social responsibility shows that the company follows the Triple Bottom Line concept shortened to TBL. This concept follows the three pillars: people, profit, and planet (Faragher, 2008). Author Jo Faragher (2008) explained in her article â€Å"Sustain To Gain†, that the triple bottom line means a â€Å"business is run not just on economic performance, but also on how it affects the community and the environment† (p. 20-22). Companies such as JCP find that they cannot operate while ignoring its responsibility to the environment. By being environmentally responsible, JCP’s actions may entice certain consumers who may only spend their money on companies that care about their community and the environment. Despite a long-standing and strong corporate governance, JCP profits spiraled in 2012 following a series of poor economic managerial decisions. 2012 SEC ANNUAL REPORT: The latest figures for J.C. Penney’s sales and profits are from 2008 to 2012. According to the company’s latest United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings for 2012, the report states that the company’s market price common stock has fluctuated substantially and may continue to fluctuate significantly (JCP, 2013). Below is a graph with values indicating the company’s struggle for profits in 2012 following the hiring of Ron Johnson. The former Apple executive launched a new pricing strategy following his appointment as CEO of J.C. Penney in late 2011. In its first quarter in 2012, the company’s profits lost $163 million dollars, sales skidded to 20%, and traffic to its stores decreased by 10% (Zmuda, 2012). By the end of 2012, the company net sales decreased by more than five million dollars compared to 2011 prior to Johnson’s appointment. Unfortunately for Johnson, his confusing pricing strategy did not catch on with loyal JCP shoppers. In addition, Johnson was stubborn and did not believe in conducting research with his new marketing strategy at a few select stores before he rolled it out to all the stores (Kumar, 2013). Johnson’s biggest cheerleader at the time of his appointment was William Ackman, Founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, LP. Ackman serves on the Board of Directors of JCP and owns 18% of the company as well as other derivatives that further would boost his exposure (Glazer, Lublin, & Mattioli, 2013). Below is a graph with figures showing JCP’s total net sales in 2012 which decreased by more than five million dollars versus in 2011 (JCP 2012 SEC, 2013). In this case, poor management decisions impacted the company’s profits. | | |2012 |2011 |2010 |2009 |2008 | |Total Net Sales: | |$12,985 |$17,260 |$17,759 |$17,556 |$18,486 | |Sales Percentage: | |-24.80% |-3% |1.20% |-5.00% |-6.90% | |Operating Income: | |-1,310 |-2 |832 |663 |1,135 | |Income loss | | | | | | | |Continuing operations | |-985 |-152 |378 |249 |567 | | | | | | | | | |($ in millions) | | | | | | | CONSUMER DEMAND AND PRICING STRATEGY: Former Apple executive Ron Johnson took the helm at J.C. Penney in late 2011. At the time, Johnson’s predecessor was Mike Ullman whom was fired after more than seven years at the top strategist for JCP (â€Å"J.C. Penney’s Chief Ron Johnson Ousted,† 2013). Johnson’s experience on paper looked great. He worked for Apple and Target and his appointment was considered a coup for JCP (Kumar, 2013). Ackman touted him as the man who would turn J.C. Penney’s stores into sellers of name-brand clothes with few discounts (Glazer, Lublin, & Mattioli, 2013). In the article â€Å"The Man Who Went Too Far At J.C. Penney†, author Nikhil Kumar (2013) stated that â€Å"for decades it has served the great American middle class, luring them in with discounts and coupons† (p. n/a). Johnson’s first action in changing JCP included eliminating the company’s old pricing strategy which he considered as fake prices because the company was constantly marking down prices (Kumar, 2013). Johnson eliminated the fake prices and called his new pricing strategy as fair and square. Here is an example of Johnson’s new pricing strategy. Instead of marking up a t-shirt at the price of $14 dollars and then slashing the price to $6 dollars with its markdowns and coupons, Johnson suggested to just marked the t-shirt at $7. Johnson explained that his new pricing policy not only simple, but fair and square (Kumar, 2013). Unfortunately, the new strategy did not meet with enthusiasm from loyal consumers. In managerial economics, the pricing strategy is important for consumers especially for loyal shoppers. A change in pricing also means a movement in the consumer demand curve (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 4.1). Pricing is considered a decision variable and plays a part in consumer demand (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 3). In managerial economics, decisions makers can follow a model called the utility-maximizing model of consumer demand. In the textbook â€Å"Managerial Economics†, author Evan J. Douglas (2012) explained this model as a way â€Å"individual consumers make decisions to buy products based on the expectation that the purchase will allow them to gain the most psychic satisfaction, or utility, from their limited incomes† (Ch. 3.1). Limited income is also another way of describing discretionary income, money that is available to consumers after paying the necessary expenditures such as mortgage, utility, and other bills. In the case of JCP, the company experienced a diminishing marginal utility. The marginal utility of a product means that as one product goes up, another product that is a substitute goes down (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 3.1). With the confusing pricing strategy, loyal shoppers and prospective shoppers turned elsewhere to shop such as Sears, Target, and Macy’s to achieve their satisfaction in spending their money. In managerial economics, consumer’s satisfaction is explained as the total utility. In describing this relationship between Product A which is JCP versus Product B, Sears, the graph will show the indifference curves to be convex which means as Product A goes down while Product B go up (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 3.1). Thus, the consumers’ total utility continued to achieve while JCP’s marginal utility diminished. Perhaps another mishaps of Johnson’s new pricing policy included using the concept of penetration pricing which is the practice of setting relatively low price to achieve more consumers’ sales, therefore in return, the end result is gaining more market shares (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 9.1). Before Johnson came on board, he believed that JCP’s old pricing policy devalued the company’s brand, but it also caused confusion because the company was constantly sending out flyers and coupons that added little to the shoppers’ experience (Kumar, 2013). In the end, Johnson’s risky move did not pay off and the company saw a decline in profits in 2012. ATTITUDES TOWARD RISK: Johnson’s mistake was not road-testing his pricing ideas plan before implementing it. Risk analysis is part of managerial economics. Johnson did not take into account adjusting for risk using the certainty equivalent factor looking at the decision and the amount of money that a decision-maker feels is equivalent to the expected value of a decision (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 2.1). There are several different attitudes toward risk running from the gamut of being risk neutral to an individual who is a risk seeker. Johnson’s attitude toward risk appeared to be more of a risk seeker defined as an individual who seeks a risky action because in return that risky action means a high rate of return (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 2). Another more transparent decision rule that should have been followed for Johnson was using the Maximin Decision Rule (MDR) which is the practice of choosing choose the alternative that has the highest maximum value and the lowest minimum outcome (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 2.2). Although it appeared that Johnson did not seek out an alternative to his plan, perhaps, his best practice should have involved following the MDR concept. PRICE ELASTICITY OF DEMAND: Along with the decision variables of product, pricing, placement, and promotion, in managerial economics, decision makers also need to consider the price elasticity of demand or PED. The sensitivity of quantity demand is known as the elasticity of demand. The price elasticity of demand is affected by prices where high prices suggest consumers would buy less of the product and lower prices mean consumers would buy more of the product (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 4). PED is influenced by a multitude of factors such as availability of substitutes, household income, consumer preferences, expected duration of price change, and the product’s share of a household’s income (Andreyeva, Long, & Brownell, 2010). According to the website www.About.com Economics: The higher the price elasticity, the more sensitive consumers are to price changes. A very high price elasticity suggests that when the price of a good goes up, consumers will buy a great deal less of it and when the price of that good goes down, consumers will buy a great deal more. A very low price elasticity implies just the opposite, that changes in price have little influence on demand (About.com Economics, 2013). In the case of JCP, the company witnessed the opposite with the price elasticity of demand. Even though Johnson’s new pricing ideas were meant to streamline the shopping experience for the consumers, the end result did not take place. Consumers did not understand nor did they liked the ideas. In the end, the faithful consumers abandoned the company and looked elsewhere to spend their money. Shoppers felt the new pricing ideas were confusing adn did not feel that they adhere to JCP’s The end result: profits suffered in 2012 with a 25% sales slumped compared to 2008 when the company brought in nearly $19 million dollars in total net sales (JCP, 2013). RECOMMENDATIONS: Steps have been taken to rectify the managerial decision makings that took place in late 2011. In less than two years, Johnson is out, along with his team of executives. The Board of Directors for JCP replaced Johnson earlier this year with his predecessor Mike Ulman (Kumar, 2013). Although Ulman received criticisms under his leadership, JCP and the Board of Directors returned to the old strategy In addition, the company returned to its popular pricing strategy that it abandoned in 2011 following the appointment of Johnson. That pricing strategy involved increasing prices of private label lines followed by slashing prices as a means of bringing up sales and margins (â€Å"Department Store JCPenney Revives Abandoned Pricing Strategy†, 2013). Companies tend to go back to the same marketing strategies that worked in the past. Prior to Johnson’s departure, he admitted that his bold, but risky pricing ideas were a mistake and acknowledged that ending the retailer’s markdown and couponing were a mistake that cost him company’s profits and his job. Before JCP commit to changing its marketing strategy, it needs to consider and perhaps ask consumers what they want. At times, decision makers forget to consider and ask consumers what they want versus just believing or thinking consumers want change. Johnson’s rejected retail industry procedures which included testing changes in limited stores before rolling them out to all the stores (Glazer, Lublin, & Mattioli, 2013). This was not the case for loyal shoppers. They wanted to feel that they were getting a bargain versus just paying for one simple price. These are necessary changes the company has implemented following the firing of Johnson in early 2013. JCP is now looking to regain its standing in the department stores war. At the helm is Ulman who lead the company for the past seven years prior to being replaced two years ago. During his time as CEO, JCP saw profits gain (JCP 2012 SEC, 2013). CONCLUSION: J.C. Penney is reinventing itself and wants consumers to remember that it is â€Å"Creating America’s Favorite Store†. It has a new CEO who was reinstated and returned to its old pricing plan. It is a company that has a strong corporate governance, but due to poor managerial economic decisions, J.C. Penney went through a spiral for nearly 18 months before the bleeding stop. The poor economic decisions led to profits loss along with low morale within the company (Kumar, 2013). In managerial economics, decisions such as pricing, product, placement, and promotion affect the consumers demand curve. JCP experienced it firsthand. References About.com Economics (2013). Price elasticity of demand. Retrieved on June 2, 2013 from http://economics.about.com/cs/micfrohelp/a/priceelasticity.htm Andreyeva, T., Long, M. W., M.P.H., & Brownell, K. D., PhD. (2010). The impact of food prices on consumption: A systematic review of research on the price elasticity of demand for food. American Journal of Public Health, 100(2), 216-22. Retrieved from ProQuest Central. doi: 903343408. Department store JC penney revives abandoned pricing strategy. (2013). Retail Week, Retrieved ProQuest Central. doi: 1324133045. Douglas, E. (2012). Managerial Economics (1st ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education. Faragher, J. (2008). Sustain to gain. Personnel Today, pp.20-22. Retrieved from ProQuest Central. doi: 229932707. Glazer, E., Lublin, J.S., & Mattioli, D. (2013, April 9). Penney backfires on ackman. Retrieved on June 2, 2013 from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324504704578412440293890624.ht