Victory speech

Good evening America†¦. I stand here before you, overwhelmed by the final verdict of our unique nation. I, Paris Hilton am the first female candidate to have won the position of Presidency in this great country of ours. I have achieved the unthinkable! Once again, America has demonstrated her ability to be different. While, I know, the pressure I expect to face in the coming years will be a lot, I promise that I will deliver on the trust and faith all of you have reposed in me. The Democrats have always striven hard to win and I symbolize them and thank them for the support they have given me. The last President, Barack Obama, America's first African-American President, as some of us here know, has given me support throughout my campaign. I thank him for this†¦ My fellow Americans, I promise you that I will bring success but not without some hiccups. BE STRONG and TRUST me, for those who do not, in time I will hopefully prove to you that I am the right person to burden all these responsibilities on. I believe that a country should be run and managed just like we American women manage our houses – orderly, neat, clean and well planned. I want to make changes in our internal policies to ensure that this understanding of mine is effectively executed. The revenue department also should be run the way I run my household budgets – Americans, we must learn to spend only what we earn – this is the only answer to our deficit balance of payments problem. The White House has been standing for the last two centuries and for the first time in its history; I am going to use my redecoration budget on the out side rather than the inside. I plan to make a historical change. I have decided, as some of you know, that the White House is going to be painted pink. Many people will object but please do understand that this is necessary. It is befitting for a woman President to create the correct ambience for all the people who visit her. My father and mother tried to discourage me in the beginning but seeing my determination supported me through thick and thin. Thank you dad, thank you mom, I hope I don't let you down now. I promise I will behave this time. I would like to thank Michelle, my designer for the outstanding evening gowns that she created. The dresses went a long way in attracting big crowds. People were curious to see how I would look at every event. The media was fantastic in portraying my pictures in the best light. The swimsuits that I auctioned helped me get money for my campaign. I must also thank Diana, my hair stylist for her unstinting support. The new styles she created were ones that the public personally adored. Their hard work has paid off and helped me win this hard-fought campaign Throughout my campaign all 17 of my dogs travelled with me across this vast nation. There were many difficulties they faced but they did not falter even once. They ate what was given to them and never complained about lack of sleep or comfort. Without them, I could never have fought so long or so strong. This brings me to the pet licensing policy and one of the first things to address is that an American will be allowed to keep a maximum of twenty animals in the house, without a licence. Before I started campaigning I had acted in some movies and none of them were great hits. Therefore another policy that I have decided to make is that every movie I act in must run in every theatre tax-free everyday. This must continue for one month†¦ I will not endorse anybody driving under the influence of alcohol because after the experience of being in jail for drunken driving, I realise that it is no fun. Teenagers and adults – listen to your President – don't drink and drive. However, this experience has not gone in vain. I appreciate the problems prisoners face in jail. The inmate's orange clothing is poorly designed. It made me look fat and clashed horribly with my hair. I hope during my term as President, I can address some of these issues. I propose to invite some of the world's top designers to suggest new designs for the inmate's clothing. A lot of people wondered why a successful fashion socialite and struggling singer like myself should run for the office of the nation's President. I would like to take this opportunity to explain one of the most important reasons for this decision. Most of you know that I have grown up in the lap of luxury and have never had to work for a living. However, some months ago, my grandfather decided to pledge his wealth to charity. My Porsche, BMW and Mercedes were repossessed. I was even evicted from my Fifth Avenue apartment in New York. This is why I had to stand for elections – to earn the salary that the President is paid with free accommodation and transportation thrown in. Come, my countrymen and join me to create a new page in history. Let us all work together in harmony to create a more fashionable and enjoyable TOMORROW. And for tonight†¦. LET†S PARTY!!

Hinduism, Buddhism, and the Human Condition Essay

Hinduism and Buddhism are both eastern traditions with much to say about the human condition as well as the reason human beings exist at all. In some ways they are different while also being similar in other ways. In this essay, those differences will be discussed and the similarities examined for their message. In conclusion, we will examine what these two faiths offer to the human beings of the twenty-first century. According to Hinduism, at the most basic level, the purpose of life is to perform one’s social duty and live the exemplary life of the householder by marrying, having children, providing for them and observing the rituals required by the gods. Later, the Upanishads claimed that the purpose of life is to achieve unity with Brahman, the divine essence of all life. Humans were not to pursue worldly goods but choose a life of asceticism and seek enlightenment. This view is similar to what Buddhists believe the goal of life should be and they also share an explanation of the human condition. Both Buddhism and Hinduism cite worldly attachment and ignorance of the true self as the causes of human suffering which occurs in unending cycles (samsara or the wheel of death and rebirth) until we finally free ourselves from our own blindness. [ 3 ] Buddhism teaches that the reason for being a human is that it gives a soul a chance to finally achieve enlightenment, describing in detail what other varieties of conscious beings must endure because they do not have an opportunity to gain merit or to perform dharma. The human being is a singular entity that may achieve enlightenment and become a Buddha through good works, right living, and meditation. [ 1 ] Hinduism, on the other hand, teaches that human beings exist to uphold the structure of dharma and perform the tasks strictly assigned (as described by Krishna in the Mahabharata) to them by their caste. Atman puts on one body and performs that function assigned at birth and then sheds that body when it gets old and dies and puts on a new one, repeating the process endlessly. The Upanishads, the final Vedic scripture, changed that to reflect the search of atman to be reunited with the universal soul through enlightenment. [ 3 ] Buddhism in the twenty-first century is still applicable in such a fast paced and confusing world. Despite all of our advanced science and technology, we understand even less our reason for existing and we know more than ever just how big the universe is and how uncaring. These circumstances drive people to seek out spirituality even today in order to achieve the basic comfort required for them to conduct their daily lives. The recent episodes of tremendous violence have placed an unsavory patina of stifling ignorance over the religions of Christianity and Islam as they continue to carry on like demented spinsters in the decaying finery of their former glory with no intention of acknowledging the catastrophe of their current circumstances. Buddhism, with its sterling values of moderation, peace, and detachment from the impermanent things of this world, now appears dignified and splendid as the ancient beauty of Asia to modern seekers. No longer do we seek judgment and rigid, inexplicable rules from our God, with the hellfire and damnation that once drove us onward. We crave logic and sense from our world and in those circumstances, this faith tells us that lusting after expensive cars and clothes which we do not need will make us miserable. That is easy to understand. That makes sense. Use only what you need. Be compassionate to others, be charitable, avoid violence, and respect all life. All these things are self-evident in their truth. If all people acted this way, we would not feel so violent and conflicted and we would be without suffering. These ideas are not ambiguous and do not require us to submit to a priesthood or clergy which may become corrupt and abusive. We only need to read, for ourselves, the teachings of Buddha and reflect on our own conduct. The same can be said for Hinduism, although because of the near-global distaste of the oppressive caste system and the shameful practice of Sati, or widow-burning, as well as the curse of untouchability, Hindus in India are convulsed with their own reforms of belief. Yoga, however, has seen a tremendous rise in popularity in the West because of the need for a system that brings mind, body, and spirit into harmonious alignment. The tranquility offered by gurus who accept all backgrounds and beliefs in the search for God is a powerful lure for modern people whose lives are often chaotic. There has been a long trend historically away from the mysteries of a powerful and omnipotent priesthood towards a more personal, private, and intimate relationship with the divine. The ancient beliefs of Asia were first seeded among a patient and adaptable people who have endured for thousands of years and therefore are well-suited to weather the spiritual storms of mankind. For these reasons, both Hinduism and Buddhism will remain relevant for ages to come. Resources utilized: 1. World Scripture (Unknown). Buddhism: Chapter 7 The Human Condition. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.unification.net/ws/intch7.htm. [Last Accessed 11/22/2012]. 2. Ananda W.P. Guruge (2000). Buddhism in Modern Life. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma3/modern.html. [Last Accessed 11/22/2012]. 3. Shaheen Emmanuel Lakhan, MS, PhD (2009). The Human Being in The Eye of the Hindu. [ONLINE] Available at: http://hinduism.about.com/cs/basics/a/aa120803a.htm. [Last Accessed 11/22/2012]. 4. Dr. Neria H. Hebbar (2002). Modern Hinduism. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=1494. [Last Accessed 11/22/2012].

Betlehem Day Care Center Case Study

Case Literature July 30, 2011 EM 4008 : School Strategic Management GREGORIO CYRUS R. ELEJORDE FLORDELIZA C. NAVIDAD Professor Masterand Case Study l. Information Title of organization : Betlehem Day Care Center Foundation Incorporation (BDCCFI) Description: The Day Care Center is an outreach project of the Cebu Archdiocesan Prison apostolate (CAPA) For 14 years now. Location : White Road , Inayawan, cebu City Management Staff: Founder: Fr. Giovanni (John) Iacono This center is currently being run by one head teacher, secretary, permanent casual volunteers, one coordinator and four teachers all under the guidance of one Catholic priest, Fr. Iacono. Organizational Chart Mission: The Bethlehem Day Care Center provides daycare service and other support service to the children of scavengers at the landfill site: 360 families residing in our houses, in Dumlog, Talisay. The average family is 4-6 persons (eventually we will have about 3,000 family members in our Village) 38 houses (built with the help of Habitat for Humanity) in Inayawan, Cebu Providing children with an educational foundation as toddlers encourages them and increases their chance in getting into elementary school. With education, these children develop into productive individuals, contributing the poverty alleviation and community building. No amount of money can ever be enough to help one child have a brighter future. No efforts are too many to help a child to go to school and improve his knowledge for the future. No pain is too big to bear if it gives a person dignity. No humiliation should stop anybody from helping the needy. Our facility currently accommodates children from families near the dumpsite area. These children, ages three to six, are sons and daughters of scavengers at the landfill site at Inayawan, Cebu City, Philippines. These children scavengers earn 50 to 100 pesos a day. As part of its program and service, we offer daycare sessions, scholarships to 10 students, a supplemental feeding program, uniforms, medical services and Basic Moral Christian values and Basic Ecclesial Communities formation among the parents of the Daycare Children. The center offers the above services free of charge. Objectives †¢ To assist less privilege families who are not able to provide their children with opportunities to develop a strong foundation of spirituality and values of the society where they live. †¢ To aid in the development of the child? s mental, communication and creative abilities, confidence, self expression and discipline adapted to their stage of growth and development. †¢ To enable the child to understand and relate positively to his/her parents and other adults in the family and his/her social environment. To provide the pre-school child with opportunities to improve and maintain health through supplemental feeding. †¢ To provide custodial care for the child during the absence of the parents/guardian when no better substitute arrangement is available at home. †¢ Crime prevention. †¢ Reduced mortality rate among children. Program and Services: The Bethlehem Day Care Center program includes: †¢ Physical caring, supplemental feeding. †¢ Motor skills development. †¢ Value inculcation, human relations. †¢ Language development, cognitive adoptive skills. †¢ Creative experience, mental stimulation. Spirituality. †¢ Personal and social skills. The day care service integrates these components needed in providing substitute parenting for the pre-school child. More than just watching over the child and keeping him/her protected from physical harm, substitute mothering includes mental stimulation and value inculcation. Group activities are also facilitated to encourage socialization among the children, as well as teach basic knowledge and skills of daily living. Supplemental feeding is included in the program to correct food deficiencies and ensure that the nutritional needs of the child are met. Uniforms, school accessories and medical care are also provided for the children who attend the day care services. The center offers Basic Moral Christian values and Basic Ecclesial Communities Formation among the parents of the Daycare Children. About 130 parents attend this activity twice a year. II. Organizational Problem A. Nature of the Problem 1. Why should Betlehem Day Care Center Foundation Inc. (BDCCFI) be established and operated in White Road, Inayawan, Cebu City ? Fr. John Iacono , an Australian priest, first visited the Philippines in the 1980s as a missionary priest. One of his many duties was to provide pastoral care for the prisoners in the city jails in Cebu City. He found that a large proportion of prisoners originated from a small region of Cebu known as Inayawan where there was a tip site known as Smokey Mountain (not to be confused with Smokey Mountain in Manila) where families scavenged for daily subsistence. He found that small children, some as young as 3 years old, were forced to work there on the tip site to earn a few pesos to help the family buy food . (photo of rubbish tip). Inayawan is a local word meaning unwanted, unloved, rejected ie a dumpsite. About this time, he met another Catholic Priest, Fr. Heinz Kuluke, an SVD, missionary priest from Germany , who also knew of Smokey Mountain at Inayawan. Initially the authorities denied that these places existed in Cebu but one evening Fr Heinz followed a rubbish truck which ended up at Inayawan. There he found about 200 families living in cardboard and tin sheds and living from scavenging on the tip. For a month he lived and worked side by side with the families to work out ways to help them. He was witness to some of the 20 annual child deaths caused by sickness, infections and malnutrition. In 1992, he set up a Day Care Centre for children which worked for about a month before attendance started to fall. He found that parents could not earn enough to feed their families if the children were not scavenging too. Following discussions between the two priests, it was agreed to give each child some rice to take home after school each afternoon to compensate for the food which they could not provide by scavenging. From that point on the project flourished. The Betlehem Day Care Center Foundation Inc. BDCCFI) was established in White Road, Inayawan, Cebu City, Philippines with its core purpose to continually provide for the center. B. Serious Problems 1. How the Betlehem Day Care Center Foundation Inc can sustain the maintenance in implementing and operating its program and services with free of charge to the most disadvantage children of scavengers in the community if the org anization are facing with serious problems and needs ? (see the datas ) Needs : 1. Physical Facility| *Land area, buildings and furnitures| 2. Technological Facility| *Computer, Electric fan, T. V. and etc. 3. Construction Materials| *Plywood, cement etc| 4. Volunteer Needs| *Medical personnel: doctors, nurses, health teaching professionals, dentists (withg dental chair), person adept at community building and teaching Basic Moral Christian Values| 5. Donation needs /Cash assistance| * P 45,000. 00/ month is needed for manpower at the Betlehem Day Care| 6. Other Expenses( incurred for the implementation of their program and services )| Supplemental feeding program to the daycare children Provision of medical services Assistance formation of Basic EcclesialCommunities Conduct of Basic Moral Christian Values both to the children and their parents Total monthly expenses are approximately P100,000. 00 Financing of more housing – costing 90,000 -100,000 pesos per house. | IV. Key Elements for solutions to the Problems Before : The day care center was first opened in 1993 in a rented room at Laray, Inayawan. In 1995, the day care moved to another location on White Road. Sitting on 350 square meters, the facility was composed of a main â€Å"nipa† (palm leaves) –roofed building which housed two classrooms, and an annex teacher’s quarters and dirty kitchen. The facility, however, was cramped for the school’s attendees and the parents took turns helping our in the school’s maintenance. The area was also easily flooded when it rained, since it was located beside a creek. A. BCA is made up of everyday Australians who are committed to making a difference to the world. Through BCA , members have been touched by the grace and humbleness of many disadvantaged people whom they have met. They feel privileged to be involved; it has resulted in their own lives being enriched as well as making a difference to others. The Board of Directors includes the following:   FR JOHN IACONO PatronFr John Iacono has lived and worked in the Philippines since 1982 (except for a few years in Australia ). Among his many early missionary tasks, was to offer pastoral care to prisoners. This work led him to the local rubbish tips where he became committed to helping the many marginalized families who lived there. His dream to open a Day Care Centre for the children of these families to break the poverty cycle has come true twice! The first centre opened in 1992 and the second more permanent one in January 2004; [see History]. Over 1500 children have attended the Centres and all have gone onto attend Primary and High School. He is the first link in our work in the Philippines . [ see FJ background ] RON NATOLI ChairmanRon has had extensive experience in the building trade for over 40 years. He saw the need to help after his first visit to Cebu , with his wife Maria, in August 2001 and has not stopped since! Commencing with fund raising for the Day Care Centre, he has been a stalwart supporter and visionary to Bethlehem and all its related projects. ROS BRADLEY SecretaryRos has always had a keen interest in overseas development programs. Using her experience from working at The Fred Hollows Foundation, she has been an unswerving supporter of Bethlehem from its early days and is enjoying progressing the formation of BCA. LANCE BROOKSLance started Communities for Communities (C4C) 3 years ago. C4C is about building, experiencing and celebrating community within our own communities as well as reaching out and helping other communities. His wide variety of local fun(d) raising activities as well as helping to build 9 schools on the Burmese/Thai border express these exact sentiments. C4C is now supporting the S. Pio Village. VICKI KASSOUF Vicki is unstoppable! Forever the pilgrim, Vicki travels widely for her studies and research, but always adds a positive contribution to meetings and assists enthusiastically with fundraising events. JOE EL-KHOURY Joe is an experienced and widely acclaimed teacher at St Aloysius College. He has visited the Philippines twice, both times as a pilgrim as opposed to a tourist; as a result he is tota| Welcome to  Bethlehem Communities Australia (BCA)! Thank you for taking the time to visit our site. Bethlehem Communities Australia is an exciting organisation  striving to help disadvantaged communities have a better way of life. We believe that poverty can be removed. And like Nelson Mandela, we believe that ‘overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity†¦. it is an act of justice. We work with Indigenous partners in small disadvantaged communities, by means of many different initiatives, resulting in communities that are run for the people, by the people. Bethlehem Communities Australias Mission is to contribute to the  relief of poverty in disadvantaged and marginalised communitiesin the Philippines and other developing countries, and to facilitate their transformation and development by providing: | early childhood development initiatives,| affordable and appropriate housing,| | programs that establish sustainable incomes. | | initiatives that form and strengthen Christian-based values within families and communities| B. Enter Ron and Maria Natoli with both their building expertise and boundless energy After their first life changing visit in August 2001, they (and their family) set about he lping Fr. John to raise funds to build a new day Care Centre. Along with many Australian supporters over $400,000 was raised. First the land was bought, followed by the building of a sturdier and more permanent concrete structure which was able to cater for all of the children of Inayawan, (approximately 160 children). Fr Johns dream had come true! The new Bethlehem Day Care Centre opened in January 2004 with much fanfare. It was here that the Australian group first met the celebrated University of the Visayas Choir who have become part of BCA life. C. With the help of Australian benefactors, CAPA started construction of a 1,084-square meter building just few meters away from the previous day care center. The center is now completed and operational and presently serving 160 children. D. BDC provides the land (3. 5 hectares were previously donated). Our families live there rent-free with 15 years to pay for the cost of the house. After the house is paid for, the family can buy the land. E, Cash Donations or assistance through credit cards, cheque, money order or cash from Betlehem Communities Australia (BCA) members and supporters worldwide. These cash donations from the BCA members and supporters have a greater part on the success of the Betlehem Day care Center program and services. (see the attached donation form and contact no. ) C4C visit to cebu a huge success! Lance Brooks, CEO of Communities for Communities (C4C) recently returned from a very successful trip to Cebu . Lance and 22 others left Sydney on 7 th October, for 8 days; the group was keen to see the reality of their fundraising efforts and to work side by side with Habitat for Humanity and the home partners of San Pio Village (SPV) in building their homes. Their ‘hands on visit and working with the people have truly enriched their lives, plus during their visit they assisted in building 9 home The Bethlehem Day Care Foundation Inc (BDCCFI) was established in the Philippines with its core purpose to continually provide for the Centre. Bethlehem means House of Bread and this is their focus: to provide spiritual and material food for the future of the most disadvantaged children. The Gospel Motto is, I assure you , as often as you did it to the least of my brothers, you did it to me. Matthew 25: 46) V. Positive outcomes from the Building of the Day Care Centre include: | Over 1500 children have attended the Centre since the first one opened in 1992. | | All have gone onto attend Primary and High School| | the number of jail inmates originating from Smokey Mountain has decreased| | child mortality in the area has reduced dramatically (for the past two years no children have died)| | parents participate in the running of the Day Care Centre and as a result have learnt about hygiene, moral and Christian values. | Bethlehem Day Care Centre is an approved NGO. It is now Incorporated Foundation. Its website is www. bdcc. cjb. net| | The organization Cebu Archdiocesan Prison Apostolate (CAPA) was set up. Its mission is to assist prisoners and their welfare. With the full backing of Cardinal Vidal, CAPA is integrated into Cebu Caritas and is a non profit registered NGO. Its outreach program is the Inayawan dumpsite where it focuses on education as the key to improvement. Over 200 (new) families still scavenge there. CAPA is one of BCAs partners in the S. Pio Program| The community seems to have gained valuable benefits with the completion and continued maintenance of the Bethlehem Day Care Center. While their parents work all day at the dumpsite, children are left under protective custody of trained teachers, keeping them away from the hazards of the dumpsite, providing them with healthy and valuable education. Statistics at the Pardo Police Station also show that the rate of crime has decreased by 95% since the center was established. Keeping the children out of the streets seems to be a factor in the crime prevention. Since 2001, many Australians have visited Cebu as part of the Bethlehem awareness program witnessing the inherent problems of poverty. Their visits always include Inawayan and the Day Care Centre. The heightened interest and commitment has resulted in the more formal development of Bethlehem Communities Australia (BCA) which became Incorporated in June 2005.

Discussion 2 Week 7 New Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion 2 Week 7 New - Assignment Example Even with cooperating firms, game theory helps in safeguarding their prospects from being taken advantage of regarding own prices viz-a-viz â€Å"added value." This is a strategy used by airlines to charge higher prices for seats to travel during peak seasons, during holidays and/or during certain yearly/crucial events to certain parts of the world, for instance, the Muslims’ travel to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage. This pricing strategy often lowers the demand for the airlines tickets by limiting the number of those that can afford such expensive fares (Doganis, 2005). However, the strategy generally increases profits to such firms. In this strategy, customers are charged differently based on their willingness to pay viz-a-viz the extent of service offered. Travelling in First class seats cost usually costs more, double or multiple times the cost of other seats due to the added comfort like superior services and/or added special snacks/features (Belobaba, Odoni, & Barnhart, 2009). It is more a profit maximizing strategy than a demand related

Redicovering the atom, how many pennies For Chemirsty Class Lab Report

Redicovering the atom, how many pennies For Chemirsty Class - Lab Report Example It is done using a beaker of pennies and the main objective is to find the weight of one penny using the Millikan’s experiment. This is done using the principals behind the Millikan’s experiment in which Millikan was able to determine the charge of an electron by using the oil drop experiment. The experiment is to take place inside a lab and various measurements are recorded. After this the data is manipulated using Microsoft spreadsheet to get the overall mass of one penny. This is done in an experiment that looks like a game performed by 15 students. The experiment is similar to the experiment that was done by Millikan to determine the charge of one electron without knowing the number of electrons that were there in the oil drop. This experiment also finds the mass of one penny without knowing the number of pennies in the beaker. This experiment was done by 15 students who volunteered to take part in the experiment. Each student was provided with an empty beaker that was later filled with pennies. A balance is also needed to be used in measuring the weights of the can with the pennies as the experiment goes on. In the experiment, the 15 students each grab a handful of pennies without knowing the total number that they have grabbed. After grabbing the pennies, the mass of the pennies that they grabbed is measured to find the total mass of the handful. Then a table is drawn and the mass of the handful collected by the students are recorded. The masses are arranged from the largest to the smallest. Then subtract each mass from the corresponding greater mass and find the difference. After this get the smallest difference that is close to 2 and not in the range of 0.5, 0.5 and so on. After this make a table of the difference in mass of the pennies and the integers that is found. The gradient of the graph gives the mass of one penny To get the smallest number, the differences with the smallest number greater than 2 is used. Those

The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks ( summary of part 2 of the book) Essay

The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks ( summary of part 2 of the book) - Essay Example Due to the fact that at its peak around 20,000 test tubes a week were being produced at Tuskeegee, it was at this juncture that the idea of personhood began to be diminished within the eyes of the researchers. HeLa became less and less of a person and more of a resource and a medical material rather than evidence of an original human being that gave rise to such cells. As with previous chapters within the book, the author runs between analyzing the medical research that is being carried out on the â€Å"still living† cells of Henrietta while contrasting this with the life that her children and family she left behind experienced. Although the medical experimentation was continuing and advancing, Henrietta’s family was experiencing trauma as a direct result of the lack of a mother. The children bounced from one location to the next, at one location the 2 year old girl was sexually abused, until they finally were reunited with Bobette and moved in with her. The author juxt aposes this personal story with the fact that HeLa was beginning to experience a great deal of discussion in the media of that time as news articles began to be published. Due to the fact that doctor-patient confidentiality was becoming an issue at the time, the patient was merely referred to in the news stories as Helen L. The author further uses this personal commentary to discuss the grave site of Henrietta. She juxtaposes the fact that the tomb itself is unmarked with the fact that the only remainder of Henrietta still in this world is her children and the cells which have continued to be kept, monitored, and multiplied. Chapters 18 and 19 tell the dual stories of trouble that the scientists faced with contaminated cell lines and the personal problems that Henrietta’s children were experiencing; no doubt as a function of her early passing (Skloot 129). Firstly, the medical experiments revealed that at some point, some of the cells in question had been contaminated with ot her lines; this meant that the rigor of the research was called into question and the researchers must go back and trace the mutations as a function of this contamination. Furthermore, the author juxtaposes these research issues with the fact that Henrietta’s children began to experience major issues of their own. The book proceeds to tell the story of the way in which HeLa’s cells have been found in 18 cell lines that have been used for cancer research. This revelation is juxtaposed with the personal story of Rebecca’s meeting with the Lacks family in early 2000. As she discusses the result of the experiments and the way in which HeLa’s cells have been used, the Lacks family is angry. First they are angry at the fact that Henrietta’s cells have been taken according to them â€Å"without her consent† and second they are angry due to the fact that they believe a great deal of money has been made on the sale of her cells. As such, the family d emands a share of that money. The darker side of humanity is herein presented as the medical advancement that has been made possible through the use of Henrietta’s cells is broken down as a function of its money making potential to the surviving family members. The analysis continues to depict a family that is not only interested in the overall privacy of their family but also worried by the fact that they

Risk Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Risk Management - Essay Example Previously, the safety culture at BP had presented a cause for concern with the Texas City Refinery explosion and other events presenting an adverse image. Toney Hayward, the former CEO of BP, had tried to enhance safety at BP when he took office at a time when BP faced three criminal investigations. However, it would appear that the managerial decision-making processes at BP remained flawed as managers continued to take risks in efforts directed towards trying to manage costs and delays while neglecting safety. Although it is likely that a blowout preventer with a flawed design contributed to the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, the managerial emphasis on costs and delays caused BP subcontractors to become negligent. BP managers refused Halliburton recommendations to use twenty-one centralisers and proceeded to cement the well using only six centralisers. Halliburton used cement that did not pass its own laboratory tests to cement the well and this contributed to the flow of hydrocarb ons into the well. Transocean crew did not take adequate notice of the kick in the well that pointed to a loss of well control and proceeded to release gases from the well on to the rig through the mud gas separator instead of diverting the gas away from the rig. In addition, inadequate maintenance of the blowout preventer was to contribute to events. Because bonuses presented to BP project managers depended on completing projects close to budgeted costs and schedule, the wrong emphasis had persisted. It is likely that independent verification of managerial decision-making emphasising safety from a command that is distinct from the project management command at BP under a Chief Safety Officer reporting directly to the CEO at BP will help present the correct emphasis. BP did have a safety director at the time of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, but it will appear that this safety director lacked powers, a separate chain of command and a capacity for working effectively to give effe ct to his mandate. The new CEO at BP has promised to create a safety division at BP with sweeping powers. BP project managers should now receive bonuses that emphasise correctness of their managerial decision-making for a project instead of receiving rewards for trying to complete a job within budget and schedule while taking risks with safety. In addition, it will make sense for BP to try to contribute towards helping to improve the design and reliability of superior technology for offshore operations, including subsea blowout preventers. Contents Introduction 1 What Went Wrong? An Analysis of BP’s Approach to Risk Management that Influenced the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster 3 A Reasoned Discussion about How BP Should Progress in the Future with Regard to Risk Management 15 Conclusion 19 Bibliography / References 22 List of Figures Figure 1: Typical Subsea Blowout Preventer Stack 7 Figure 2: Deepwater Drilling with Subsea Blowout Preventer 8 (This page intentionally left bla nk) Introduction The word â€Å"risk† refers to the possibility of loss, injury or harm, and it is unfortunately true that it is not possible to assign absolute certainty to the occurrence of any one event because there will always be some level of uncertainty associated with the outcome of events (Bonham, 2008, Pp. 183 –

Living Waters for Thirsty Souls Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Living Waters for Thirsty Souls - Essay Example Living water for thirsty souls: unleashing the power of exegetical preaching is comprehensive with example sermons to demonstrate every stride of this method (McMickle 46). Interaction and Dialog with these Concerns from Individual Experience I have attended sermons more than a few times when I visit a chapel. I have listened to sermons that were sometimes distorted and proposed something impractical at some instances. As I read â€Å"Living Water for Thirsty Souls: Unleashing the Power of Exegetical Preaching† I found out that these preachers did not use a line of attack that could make whatever they were preaching as practical and realistic as possible. They tried too hard to make things fit into some contexts that made people wonder whether the examples that were provided really applied to what was in the scripture. After reading the book, I learnt that almost all the sermons that I had attended did not utilize even a quarter of what McMickle come up with in his approach (M cMickle 65). The sermons had no type of limitations. This made the preachers to go out of context and confuse the individuals attending the sermon, me included. The preachers sometimes totally lost the audience's attention to the sermon by going out of topic and confusing it even further by not going back to what they had been initially preaching. This hindered me personally from getting any type of lesson from the sermon, which, I felt, was quite unfair to me, as well as to the congregation. I believe that â€Å"Living Water for Thirsty Souls: Unleashing the Power of Exegetical Preaching† is valuable when it uses the strategy of putting limits to the sermon, so that they can fit well with whatever the scriptures say. A lesson can be learnt from the sermon effectively, and at the same time without struggles to learn something from the sermons offered by priests (McMickle 76). In most of the sermons that I attended, sometimes I would find myself lost among the literature that was being presented for a particular sermon. This is because the preacher would read from the literature that was not related to the sermon at all. This is not good for any sermon because I felt that literature presented toward the congregation ought to be relevant and related to the sermon as a whole. I felt at most of the sermons I attended that I had not learnt anything because of the literature ignorance and the lack of its proper presentation. The literature should be totally in line with the sermon being presented to the congregation. For the better comprehension and easier understanding of the literature it must be explained in depth (McMickle 87). During sermons, a number of preachers utilize a number of expressions and words that have different meanings; sometimes I felt that sermons were misinterpreted. I attended sermons and found it hard sometimes to follow it because of the language that was utilized in the sermons, or the manner the preacher interpreted the scriptures to us. The interpretations would not fit the context of the literature of the scriptures. This made me spend time on trying to figure out why the preacher had come to such an interpretation instead of concentrating on the message that was being passed on by the preacher. I believe that preachers ought to utilize good interpretations and even

Labor Unions Power, Past and Present Research Proposal

Labor Unions Power, Past and Present - Research Proposal Example This observation is illustrated by many critics amid facts that American educational system is ailing and in serious crisis. Researcher will review studies on labor union and contextualized it with a specific high school in San Antonio, Texas. It will also delve how union affected the group of teachers that are affiliated with Reserve Training center as well as propose how to strategize teachers’ union performance to optimize its roles, values, and morals toward genuine education development to partly contribute in resolving the national crisis in education. Researcher will make use of narrative and positivist interpretivism in unraveling the issue at hand using secondary resources from journals, books and online websites. Towards the end, the researcher will also present some recommendations relating to teachers’ union performance management to uphold quality education. In so doing, researcher will also take into account opinions of staunch critics of the labor union w hich perceived teachers union as monolithic for espousing self-interest and thus they advocated about improving the educational system by relinquishing it from the reign of teachers’ union control (Moe, 2006). ... In 1885 to 1886, municipal legislation for labor rights was seriously considered by lawmakers. Their first raging demand was to enjoy an 8-hour job and just compensation. The achievement of major feat is commemorated annually in Labor Day celebration as tribute for those who have contributed for the well-being of American laborers (Isaac and Griffin, 1989). Many of these rights and welfare of century of struggles are now reflected in the annals of legislation and state policies relating to labor. The labor laws basically aimed at affording protection to workers’ full employment and equal opportunities regardless of sex, race and creed as well as provide regulation of employee and workers relations. After centuries of struggle, labor forces recently are increasingly concern on protecting their rights either founded on constitutional principles, ideological influence or institutional motivations. This is because the country, which has evolved into a multi-ethnic and multicultura l nation, is molded with social structures and practices that are sometimes contrary to workers’ rights or are threatening its welfare. As the civilization evolved, economic borders expand and system complicates, there are historical conjectures which polarized labor union movement and consequentially resulted to emergence of new alliances. This implies serious understanding about the motivations that caused division: self-interest, institutional, or by principles. Some sociologist perceived that although there were leaders of federation of union that are either ideologically and were equipped with organizational expansion but whose management were

As You Like It - the Play Essay Example for Free

As You Like It the Play Essay As You Like It is considered by many to be one of Shakespeares greatest comedies, and the heroine, Rosalind, is praised as one of his most inspiring characters and has more lines than any of Shakespeares female characters. Rosalind, the daughter of a banished duke falls in love with Orlando the disinherited son of one of the dukes friends. When she is banished from the court by her usurping uncle, Duke Frederick , Rosalind switches genders and as Ganymede travels with her loyal cousin Celia and the jester Touchstone to the Forest of Arden, where her father and his friends live in exile. Observations on life and love follow (including love, aging, the natural world, and death) friends are made, and families are reunited. By the plays end Ganymede, once again Rosalind, marries her Orlando. Two other sets of lovers are also wed, one of them Celia and Orlandos mean older brother Oliver . As Oliver becomes a gentler, kinder young man so the Duke conveniently changes his ways and turns to religion and so that the exiled Duke, father of Rosalind, can rule once again. All the world s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts As You Like It (Act II, Scene VII). Can one desire too much of a good thing? . As You Like It (Act IV, Scene I). True is it that we have seen better days. As You Like It Act II, Scene VII). For ever and a day. As You Like It (Act IV, Scene I). The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool. (Act V, Scene I). The play is fictitious, but shakespeare is said to have taken the traits if rosalind from Rosalynde by thomas lodge. One of Shakespeares early plays, As You Like It (1598-1599), is a stock romantic comedy that was familiar to Elizabethan audiences as an exemplar of Christian comedy. Although the play does include two offstage spiritual conversions, the Christian designation does not refer to religion itself. Instead, it denotes the restoration and regeneration of society through the affirmation of certain Christian values such as brotherly love, marital union, tolerance for different viewpoints, and optimism about life at large. The plot is very simple: the resolution of the dramatic problem in the warped attitudes of two evil brothers toward good brothers, and related obstacles to marriage for several couples in the play (most notably Rosalind and Orlando) are easily overcome, and a happy ending is never in doubt. On one level, the play was clearly intended by Shakespeare as a simple, diverting amusement; several scenes in As You Like It are essentially skits made up of songs and joking banter. But on a somewhat deeper level, the play provides opportunities for its main characters to discuss a host of subjects (love, aging, the natural world, and death) from their particular points of view. At its center, As You Like It presents us with the respective worldviews of Jaques, a chronically melancholy pessimist preoccupied with the negative aspects of life, and Rosalind, the plays Christian heroine, who recognizes lifes difficulties but holds fast to a positive attitude that is kind, playful, and, above all, wise. In the end, the enjoyment that we receive from the plays comedy is reinforced and validated by a humanistic Christian philosophy gently woven into the text by a benevolent Shakespeare.

Consumer buying behaviour in Thailand

Consumer buying behaviour in Thailand The telephone took four decades to reach 50 million people The Internet has managed this within four years as digital technologies provide such efficient channels for business and consumer interaction transactions The Internet has changed people lifestyle; it became apart of people daily life. They use internet to replace their common activities such as E-mail instead of writing letter, MSN chat and Skype instead of using telephone, YouTube instead of watching TV. Therefore, many organisations tried to use Internet as a new way to reach their customers which called E-marketing. E-marketing is a new marketing strategy using to reach many consumers at low cost. It can be used to interact with customer 24hrs a day, 7days a week without any additional cost. Consumer can get information about products any times, any places. According to Seock and Norton (2007), consumer channel choices for shopping had been widened because of diffusion of the Internet: causing everything that happens to sales in electronic form or what it realized as online shopping. 84 per cent of global consumers have experience purchasing over the internet (Nielsen, 2008). Number of Thais internet usage rate is increasing everyday. There are many internet service providers offer high speed internet. Most of Thais are familiar with using internet in playing game, social network like Facebook, twitter but number of online purchasing is very low. Comparing between European and Western to Thai, the number of online purchasing is very different. Online purchasing is still very limited for Thais. They are not familiar with buying things online. Thai consumers love to see and touch and feel the product before making any purchasing decision. With brand name product, consumers seem to have a high involvement because its impossible for them to buy without seeing the real product. They also have very limited knowledge to buy thing online as they are afraid to share important information online such as their bank account, there personal data or their credit card number. At the same time, the number of Thai website that offers online service is very rare. Therefore there is opportunity to introduce this service for Thais. This research attempts at learning why Thais consumer do not want to buying brand name online. The aim of this research is to learn what Thai consumer perception toward buying brand name online is and what factors effect their decision making. What Thai consumers characteristic make a brand name online shopping. The area of this research will focus mainly on Thai consumers in Thailand. The research objective will be divided into five main areas: To investigate Thai consumer buying making decision toward online shopping. To investigate Thai consumers experience on shopping online. To investigate Thai consumers perception toward buying brand name online. To identify the most important factors in the buying decision making on online shopping in Thailand To investigate Thai consumer demographic characteristic who make online shopping. In research methodology, we will try to achieve the objective by using quantitative research through online questionnaire. The result of research will help researcher in order to achieve the objective that has been set and help us to determine Thai consumer behavior and perception toward buying online. Literature Review In this part, the researcher would like to divide into two parts: The first part will explain a character of consumer behavior towards high involvement such as buying brand name product, what factors effect them to buy online, and consumers perception toward brand. The second part will clarify the characteristic of online marketing in Thailand. Involvement Some products, such as high-performance car seem inherently involving because of their complexity, risk and cost, while others, such as toothpaste seem uninvolving by comparison because of their familiarity, low risk and low cost Laakasonen (1994) Therefore, buying brand name online is like a high-performance car because is too complex (untouchable product) and risky (fake product), this will make consumer spend more time in order to search information before making a decision. Moreover, a consumers level of involvement depends on their individual interests, value of products, needs, which attract or motivate them. Involvement is commonly defined as the consumers personal interest in buying or using an item from a given product field, an approach which nicely summarizes the personal, product and situational components of the relationship (Evan et al,. 2009). Factor Customer satisfaction seems to be a key major to influence consumer-buying decision. Customer satisfaction can be the most important reason for customers deciding to make a repeat purchase, and telling their friends about their satisfaction (Palmer 2000). If online shop can make customers believed that their shop has good quality product, secure, and friendly, this would help their shop gain more new customers. Not only online shops give customer a good quality product, but they should also give them equity. Oliver (1997) defined equity as a fairness, rightness or deservingness judgment that consumers make in reference to what others receive; it is also considered as an important determinant of satisfaction. With these product quality and equity, this would make customers satisfy and motivate them to make a repurchase. Brand Brand image seems to be an important for online market area because brand helps consumer make buying decision and it creates a credibility of online shop. Rio del B. et al. (2001) defined brand as the set of associations and behaviors on the part of a brands customers, channel membersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and that gives that brand a strong, sustainable, and differential advantage over competitors. In Thailand, the customers perception toward brand product equate to high price, which in turn dampens their willingness to make decision toward buying brand name online. Online market It seems to be that now the market channel has been classified into two main channels that are online channels and offline channels or we called traditional channels. Offline channels, consumers reduce of risk on shopping because they can have a physical interaction with products, when compared to online channels. According to Brown et al. (2003), Whilst shopping online allows the exchanging of value and productà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ by using computer as a medium of transaction transference. In Thailand, it seems to be that now Thai consumers still like to buy products from offline channel or in shopping mall due to online channel still do not have a good credibility. Thai online retailer should have to create credibility and trust to consumer in order to make them believe that Thai online channel is secure (Mict 2010). It seems to be that in Thailand, many of online retailers seem not to register for doing their business compare to Western country. Moreover, Thailand online payment still unsecure, this make Thai online consumers do not want to take risk on payment that is why they prefer to touch and see product before making buying decision. The key concerns that consumers have over the online purchasing trends are security of the privacy or financial which relatively unsecure once online payment has been made, such as credit card fraud (Harridge 2006). Moreover, Roman and Cuestas (2008) stated that security on online transaction is need to be strict as to gain trust i n the mind of shoppers regarding their online financial transaction made with the site will be safe form unauthorized access. Research Question This research has focused on four main research questions as follows: Who are online stores target customers in Thailand? What is the perception of Thai customers toward online shopping? What factors affect Thai consumers purchasing decisions? Which is the most important factor that influences Thai consumers purchasing brand name online? Research Method Research method helps online retailer know which strategies they should use to influence consumer buying decision. Research method can be classified into two types that are Quantitative research and Qualitative research. Both of them have different pros and cons, which researcher will discuss more in detail later on. Data can be collected in variety of ways, in different settings-field or lab-and from different sources. Choosing methodology is up to what paradigms the researcher adopts. There are two main paradigms or philosophies, which are positivist and phenomological (Collis and Hussey, 2003). The alternative terms for positivist are quantitative, objectivist, experimentalist, and traditionalist. The other terms for phenomenological are qualitative, subjectivist, humanistic, and interprevist. There are several data collection methods, each with their own advantage and disadvantages. The research method that researcher will use is Quantitative research, focusing on the survey method. Now, researcher should think about what types of questionnaire should be used, such as mail questionnaire, electronic questionnaire, and personal questionnaire. In this report, due to time limitation, it seems to be that the used of electronic questionnaire or online questionnaire will be more suitable and take less time, cost, and can expand very quickly in order to collect data than other quantitative research. After researcher has chosen a specific method, researcher will make a questionnaire by using pilot test in to make sure that all questions can be understand by respondent. If questionnaires have any errors or respondents hard to understand, researcher can improve before using to the target audiences. Researcher has specific target to make a research that is a Thai consumer age between 18 and 35 years old and compare between teenager (18-27) and middle age (28-35). A sample size that researcher expect to have is minimum 100 respondents, the questionnaire will be distributed through email and social networks to 200 respondent who have use internet. In order to make data collection, we will use both primary and secondary data. The secondary data will used on book, journal, article, and commercial online database provide from the website (Mintel, or Google Shcolar). Website offering information for a fee, almost every industry association, government agency, business publication, and news medium offers free information to those tenacious enough to find their website (Armstrong and Kotler 2009). The use of secondary provides a good start for research and define problem and objective. This helps researcher in order to find an objective for consumer buying decision and perception toward online brand name in Thailand. Secondary data helps researcher to better understand and indicated what has been missing form the current online business in Thailand. Moreover, it helps researcher to develop hypotheses and objective of the study. For primary data, a survey research has been chosen as a method of conducting a research, because survey was available to large number of population. As a time limitation, using questionnaire can help researcher save time and cost. After we already collect data from questionnaire, then we can identify that questionnaire is validity, reliability, and genalisability or not. Roadblock There might have some limitations when make a research, due to limit of time and budget cost. Moreover, the respondents are required to have a computer access to be able to take part in this research. Discussion To sum up, researcher believed that this research will help us to know more about Thai consumers behavior and perception toward online brand name store. The use of secondary data helps researcher can set a research question in order to collect a primary data. However, researcher has to select which research method would like to use in order to collect primary data. As a result, a good method in this report is Quantitative research by using questionnaire to collect primary data. By using questionnaire, it will help researcher to collect data and can analyses about Thai consumers. Due to time limitation of research, the used of questionnaire will helps us to save cost and time. The questionnaire has been sent to 200 via e-mail and social network in order to collect minimum 100 respondents. Researcher believed that the primary data that we collect can help to do finding and analyses on Thai consumers buying behavior and perception toward online brand name. Moreover, to learn more what f actor can influence Thai consumer in order to purchase brand name online.

Essay --

Final Examination (2) Discuss the three approaches to property valuation. What is the process of each? When might it be better to use one approach over the other? The three approaches to property valuation are: comparable sales approach (market data approach); income approach; and cost summation approach. Comparable sales approach is determined by using recent sales of similar properties to the one being assessed. This estimates true property value by comparing the property that is in question to others that have been recently sold and then making the adjustments as needed. The idea is that you need to find market areas that have relative or same economic status. Once this process is done then you can group the â€Å"parcels† in different categories, i.e. size, year it was built, the size of the lot, etc. The book says that the property that is not sold is compared to similar property that a market value can be observed and then infers a value. (LJJ, 155) It is common in jurisdictions to assess parcels as a percentage or fraction of the full market value. In theory it does not make a difference if the full value or fractioned value is assessed, the outcome should be the same. When using fractional assessment you need to use a higher tax rate than using market value assessment. This seems to make taxpayers more comfortable but can lead to problems if different fractions are used in the same jurisdiction. Another problem is that this approach requires a large number of sales and can be time consuming if done annually or for the first time. This approach is great for residential properties. The income approach converts the future returns from ownership of a â€Å"parcel† into their present value equivalent. This approach can be done by c... ...edit of the issuing government. This non-guaranteed bond is backed by a certain business-like government activity and not a larger government entity that has taxing powers. Some revenue bonds can have lower interest rates than obligation bonds. If for example a water district with a excellent history of borrowing may have a lower interest rate than a general obligation bond with a declining property tax and low personal income. (LJJ, 492) Unlike obligation bonds these types of bonds generally do not need or require a popular vote and are repaid by the users f the service. This means that no tax dollars are directly used which is considered a good thing. The more costly of the two bonds are revenue bonds because they generally have higher interest rates. If there was a default on the general obligation bonds then taxes would have to be raised which is less popular.

Free Beowulf Essays: Shared Values †Then and Now :: Epic Beowulf essays

Beowulf:   Shared Values – Then and Now  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The values and characteristics which were held ideal in the epic Beowulf can still be found in today's culture if one knows where to look.   Gangs have become commonplace almost everywhere in the world. The similarities between modern gangs and tribes of ancient anglo-saxon warriors is quite pronounced. To many gang members being part of the gang is like a status quo. The gang member believes he or she is now part of a larger family. Many would-be gang members look up to gangs as if they are a role-model of some sort, wanting to someday be a part of this elite group who inspires fear in many people. Almost always, gang members believe that they must always be showing just how 'bad' they are. They will stop at almost nothing to outdo a rival gang's outrageous feat or even a friendly gang member's boasting. Law matters very little to these gang members, they make their own laws to follow. Gang member are rarely seen by themselves as they are fearful to travel alone through life's 'wilderness' without the comfort of knowing their friends are there to back them. However, gangs are very visible in packs. When roaming together they walk and talk as if they fear no one and nothing. They want the world to know just how 'bad' they are. When traveling together, no boast is too far-fetched. It doesn't matter whether or not it is true, only that the rest of the world believe it. Gangs are almost always at war with rival gangs. They rarely is ever believe in treaties between one and another but would much rather fight it out to prove which gang is superior. There are no restrictions against weapons and daggers, chains, guns, spikes, and brass knuckles are very common. It is very unlikely for a gang member to not be carrying at least two weapons at all times. Gang members often like to personalize their weapons too. For instance, brass knuckles may have the gang member's initials engraved in them to show possession, or a favorite gun or dagger may be intimately named. Such weapons are often highly valued and if lost will be sought after intensively by the distraught party. Gangs often carry with them superstitions. Perhaps the most prominent one is the fact that many gang members will not go into battle without their favorite weapon.

American Treatment of the Indian Tribes Essay -- essays research paper

American Treatment of the Indian Tribes The American Indian lived a life being one with nature. In their way, they understood the ecological demands of the land and knew that if they took care of the land the land would take care of them. They possessed an untouched wisdom living in harmony with the environment. They hunted the land for buffalo, which provided food and clothing for the ages to come. In time they would almost become non existent at the hands of the â€Å"white† man. They would come to lose their land, lose the buffalo and lose their self being and their way of life. Towards the end of the 1800s the Indian territories were reduced by about 95 percent. The U.S. government along with greedy white settlers was the main reason behind this loss of land. The government placed treaty upon treaty on the Native Americans and would not uphold to any of them. Some treaties were made to guarantee safety and permanent reserve for the Indians, but they were not followed through. In most cases the Indians were driven off the land by white settlers looking for gold or rich farmlands. The U. S. government broke some of the treaties by expanding through the promised lands looking for valuable minerals and making way for the expansion of the railways. The U.S. Government in seeking rights to control the land and its natural resources reverted to â€Å"legal† manipulation. In cases were they were met with resistance, the Army was called in to settle the score. The relocation of the Indians from lands east of the Mississippi River to the West represents a dark phase in American history. In the first treaties signed, there were promises of stability for the Indians. One of these sagas is known as the â€Å"Trail of Tears†. This relates to the removal of the Cherokee Indians by the U.S. Army from their native lands in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. During the journey they were held in camps and then forced to travel over 1,000 miles during adverse weather. This trail led them to the Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma. This was a catalyst towards the devastation of the American Indian culture... ...mises such as owning their land â€Å"as long waters run and the grass shall grow.† The Indians would have continued to live "until the end of time" if the white settlers had not intervened. The white settlers created conditions that threatened the existence of the Indians. By the late 1800s, most of the tribes had now been almost completely abolished. The Indians were either beaten into submission or succumbed to the many contagious diseases brought on by the settlers. By the start of the 1900s there were less than one quarter million Native American Indians in the country. These numbers dwindled from over half a million in the early 1880s and over five million since Columbus first set foot on these lands. Most of the Indians now were living in the small reservations. Beaten, tired and humiliated, they lived in poverty, alcoholism, and unemployment. They were now forced to live off the government as wards of the state. Once the rulers of the West they now a lost culture, having lost their identities and sense of being. Although the freedom of their ancient way of life has been lost, the religion, culture, legends, and spirit of the Native American Indian will always endure.

Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese”

The gentle, tone in Oliver’s poem â€Å"Wild Geese† is extremely encouraging, speaking straight to the reader. In this particular poem, the lines don’t rhyme, however it is still harmonious in not only rhythm but repetition as well. Take note of the rhythm in the lines starting with the word â€Å"You†: â€Å"You do not have to be good,† â€Å"You do not have to walk,† â€Å"You only have to let. † This rhythm is also heard in the lines starting with the word â€Å"Meanwhile†: â€Å"Meanwhile the world goes on,† â€Å"Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles,† â€Å"Meanwhile the wild geese. The reiteration of the words â€Å"You† and â€Å"Meanwhile† presents a soft rhythmic element to the writers expression. It attracts readers with its tenderness while also inspiring the understanding with what this poem really means. The metaphors Oliver uses are hardly ever unexpected. She uses a comprehensible d ialect in its place. It may not seem too convincing, yet it makes an absolute piece become meaningful and worthwhile. It is not complicated to picture wild geese flying across the atmosphere.However, it is flattering when sitting alongside the scenery of sun and rain â€Å"moving across the landscapes over prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. † Oliver uses this identical representation in order to illustrate humanity reaching out to those that are feeling completely alone. Once more, this is not very complicated, but a fascinating metaphor. Oliver may be considered a poet of irony; however there is no way her work can be considered to be â€Å"boring. Her established word choice contains traditional gracefulness while at the same time adding modern thoughts about both nature and the human race. I feel the first line in the poem â€Å"Wild Geese† is probably the most memorable and intentional of the entire sonnet. The second and third line seems t o prove this by maintaining the perception that one can choose whether they want to be a â€Å"good† person. The second line â€Å"you do not have to walk on your knees,† gives meaning to one exhibiting worshiping.The third line â€Å"for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting† is implied as the agony along with the motivation to be penalized for their corrupt actions. The fourth and fifth lines â€Å"you only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves,† include the opening association of man to nature. While the first three lines tell you what you do not have to do, these two lines explain what you only have to do. The sixth line draws readers especially into this poem. The words â€Å"tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine,† make an exceptionally moving demand.This calls attention to human desolation and displays strong enthusiasm to share stories of it with predominantly the reader. The lines seven to elev en imply that anguish is precisely a human characteristic. The seventh line explains that while mankind may wait around and mourn their misfortune and discouraging situations, â€Å"the world goes on. † The â€Å"world† here, nevertheless, belongs to the environment. The eight through eleventh line tell us that â€Å"meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. The eleventh and twelfth lines say, â€Å"Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. † So far, the poem has addressed the environment in somewhat broad expressions, but in these lines, a specific animal is identified. Like the sun, rain, and landscapes, the wild geese are going about their business, unconscious to man’s desolation. The representation of geese flying â€Å"high in the clean blue air† is a pleasing setting. If we paid more attention t o everything that is going on in nature, humankind could greatly benefit from this.Line fourteen states â€Å"Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,† is directed towards the reader. Although most of the time Oliver may not personally know her readers, she says that â€Å"whoever you are,† if â€Å"you† are lonely and despairing, this poem is for â€Å"you. † Lines fifteen and sixteen state, â€Å"the word offers itself to your imagination, calls you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting. † Even though, the word â€Å"harsh† usually refers to a negative implication, here it seems to imply simply piercing and firm.In these two lines, Oliver uncovers the process by which individuals relate to the environment. The concluding lines, seventeen and eighteen, state â€Å"over and over announcing your place in the family of things,† this assures the readers that they are not all alone in their lonesomeness. Oliver entails that our world is u nyielding about welcoming people to it. Here the â€Å"family† is made up of all of nature—the sun and rain, rivers and mountains, and every member of the animal kingdom. One needs only to have an interesting imagination in order to fit in with society.

Bullying Speech Essay

Hello I’m Maddi Beeson as many of you know and I wanted to talk to you about a very important issue at our school. There is the problem of bullying and I would like to say something about it which will hopefully change things. Starting off with this poem I had found on the internet which is a very inspiring poem about bullying. It is called: To This Day- for the bullied and the beautiful by Shane Koyczan. When I was a kid I used to think that pork chops and karate chops Were the same thing I thought they were both pork chops And because my grandmother thought it was cute And because they were my favorite She let me keep doing it Not really a big deal One day Before I realized fat kids are not designed to climb trees I fell out of a tree And bruised the right side of my body I didn’t want to tell my grandmother about it Because I was afraid I’d get in trouble For playing somewhere that I shouldn’t have been A few days later the gym teacher noticed the bruise And I got sent to the principal’s office From there I was sent to another small room With a really nice lady Who asked me all kinds of questions About my life at home I saw no reason to lie As far as I was concerned. Life was pretty good I told her, â€Å"Whenever I’m sad My grandmother gives me karate chops† This led to a full scale investigation And I was removed from the house for three days Until they finally decided to ask how I got the bruises News of this silly little story quickly spread through the school And I earned my first nickname Pork Chop To this day I hate pork chops I’m not the only kid Who grew up this way Surrounded by people who used to say That rhyme about sticks and stones As if broken bones Hurt more than the names we got called And we got called them all So we grew up believing no one Would ever fall in love with us That we’d be lonely forever That we’d never meet someone To make us feel like the sun Was something they built for us In their tool shed So broken heart strings bled the blues As we tried to empty ourselves. So we would feel nothing Don’t tell me that hurts less than a broken bone That an ingrown life Is something surgeons can cut away That there’s no way for it to metastasize It does She was eight years old Our first day of grade three When she got called ugly We both got moved to the back of the class So we would stop get bombarded by spit balls But the school halls were a battleground Where we found ourselves outnumbered day after wretched day We used to stay inside for recess Because outside was worse Outside we’d have to rehearse running away Or learn to stay still like statues giving no clues that we were there In grade five they taped a sign to her desk That read beware of dog To this day Despite a loving husband She doesn’t think she’s beautiful Because of a birthmark That takes up a little less than half of her face Kids used to say she looks like a wrong answer That someone tried to erase But couldn’t quite get the job done And they’ll never understand That she’s raising two kids Whose definition of beauty Begins with the word mom Because they see her heart Before they see her skin Because she’s only ever always been amazing He Was a broken branch Grafted onto a different family tree Adopted Not because his parents opted for a different destiny He was three when he became a mixed drink Of one part left alone And two parts tragedy Started therapy in 8th grade Had a personality made up of tests and pills Lived like the up hills were mountains And the down hills were cliffs Four fifths suicidal A tidal wave of anti depressants And an adolescence of being called popper One part because of the pills Ninety nine parts because of the cruelty He tried to kill himself in grade ten When a kid who could still go home to mom and dad Had the audacity to tell him â€Å"get over it† as if depression Is something that can be remedied By any of the contents found in a first aid kit To this day He is a stick of TNT lit from both ends Could describe to you in detail the way the sky bends In the moments before it’s about to fall And despite an army of friends Who all call him an inspiration He remains a conversation piece between pe ople Who can’t understand Sometimes becoming drug free Has less to do with addiction And more to do with sanity We weren’t the only kids who grew up this way To this day Kids are still being called names The classics were Hey stupid Hey spaz Seems like each school has an arsenal of names Getting updated every year And if a kid breaks in a school And no one around chooses to hear Do they make a sound? Are they just the background noise Of a soundtrack stuck on repeat When people say things like Kids can be cruel? Every school was a big top circus tent And the pecking order went From acrobats to lion tamers From clowns to carnies All of these were miles ahead of who we were We were freaks Lobster claw boys and bearded ladies Oddities Juggling depression and loneliness playing solitaire spin the bottle Trying to kiss the wounded parts of ourselves and heal But at night While the others slept We kept

Children of Divorce

Statistics show that each year, over 1 million American children suffer the decision made by their parents to end their relationship (Amato, 2001). Divorce may be a solution to a discordant marriage, however, for many children and their parents, tensions continue and the entire divorce process is a long, searing experience (Amato, 2001). Divorce ends the established order of family, friends, finances, work and in some cases health and well being (Amato, 2001). Divorce is the termination of the family unit, and thus, it is often characterized by painful losses. Psychologists rate divorce as one of the most stressful events in life, just below the death of a spouse (Pedro-Carroll & Cowen, 1985). Divorce has been compared to getting in a life boat. The lifeboat may be the chance to escape from the terrible situation, but abandoning the ship holds little appeal because of the enormous uncertainties (Pedro-Carroll & Cowen, 1985). To a child who is unable to envision possible good outcomes this can be very overwhelming. Decisions to end a relationship can be traumatic, chaotic, and filled with contradictory emotions (Amato, 2001). Research shows that children from divorce families are on â€Å"average† somewhat worse off than children who have lived in intact families (Amato, 2001). Children in divorce homes may have more difficulty in school, more behavior problems, more negative self-concepts, more problems with peers and more trouble getting along with their parents (Amato, 2001). With this research there needs to be an examination of what factors in divorcing families contribute to the children having difficulties and what the factors are that contribute to children’s adaptation. Children’s reactions to the decision of their parents dissolution of marriage depends on three factors (Sarrazin & Cyr, 2007). These factors consist of the quality of their relationship with each of their parents before the separation, the intensity and duration of the parental conflict, and the parents’ ability to focus on the needs of the children (Sarrazin & Cyr, 2007). Divorce itself is usually not the first major change in the affected child’s life. Parental conflict before the separation often leads to internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, even in preschoolers (Sarrazin & Cyr, 2007). Children may â€Å"blame themselves for the deterioration in their parent’s relationship† (Downs, Moore, & McFadden, 2009). After the divorce children may feel that their parents have less time for them (Downs, Moore, & McFadden, 2009). Other contributing factors include increased stress, economic loss, and loss of former supports and resources (Downs, et al. , 2009). When risks are reduced or overcome children will fare better. It is important for parents to be able to support their children through divorce. Sanders and Wolchik (2011) have identified the following actions parents can do to enhance a child’s adjustment to divorce: * Prior to the separation, it may be helpful for both parents to discuss the impending divorce at a level appropriate for the child * Be available to answer questions; Read age appropriate books on divorce with your child * Reassure the child divorce is not his or her fault and let the child know that you will both continue to love him. Put child's needs first * Do not argue with other parent in front of child. * Do not expect your child to meet your emotional needs * Be consistent in your parenting; Make visitations regular and predictable Parents who are struggling themselves through the divorce may fail to be aware of these enhancements. The Wisconsin court system, when filing for divorce requires parents to attend a co-parenting class. Wisconsin has seen success in utilizing this requirement for divorcing parents with children, it often assists in the mediation process and serves as a wake-up call to parents who are not fully aware of the effects that divorce has on their children. These co-parenting classes are ways in which parents can develop effect ways to assist their children from having adverse affects from the divorce proceeds and receive supportive information of where they can receive additional help. Parents who lack the ability to support their children through this difficult situation because of their lack of parental competence or poor adjustment to the situation may have to depend on outside interventions for assisting in this process. Given that divorce has negative effects for children, the utilization of effective prevention programs has great significance in changing the outcomes of these children (Sander & Wolchik, 2011). Children of Divorce Intervention Program (CODIP) is an award winning curriculum that has helped thousands of children in the US. Since 1982 CODIP has helped children understand and accept their feelings and perceptions regarding their parents’ separation (Pedro-Carroll & Cowen, 1985). The goals of the program is to minimize the emotional and behavioral problems that divorce children face, increase children’s ability to identify and express their feelings, reduce children’s anxiety, and build confidence (Pedro-Carroll, & Cowen, 1985). Individuals involved in this program have positive, supportive group environments with peers in school settings, a reduced desire to blame themselves, increase their coping skills and ability to solve problems, and have enhanced positive perceptions of themselves (Lowenstein, 2006). School personnel, community members, or parents can refer children to the program. Group leaders trained in this method will conduct group sessions that target different age ranges giving the correct information and skill-building activities (Lowenstein, 2006). Children may also be referred to therapy to help them adjust to divorce. Activities that are creative and play-based can engage children and help them safely express their thoughts and feelings. Therapy can take on the form of child-focused, residential parent-focused, nonresidential parent-focused and combined residential parent and child-focused therapy (Sanders & Wolchik, 2011). Child-focused programs target skills to cope with stressful divorce-related events, emotional expression skills, and interpersonal resources (e. g. parent-child relationship quality) (Sanders & Wolchik, 2011). Parent-focused programs target factors like parent-child relationship quality, discipline, anger management, and the quality and quantity of contact with nonresidential parents (Sanders & Wolchik, 2011). There is no evidence that doing a combination of child-focused programs and parent-focused programs leads to more success than doing one (Sanders & Wolchik, 2011). In order for therapy services to ef fectively treat children of divorce, a number of key issues need to be addressed. Therapy needs to address developing effective coping skills, facilitating the appropriate expression of feelings, clarifying divorce-related misconceptions, expressing anger through appropriate outlets, disengaging from parental conflict, eliminating self blame, and enhancing positive perceptions of self (Lowenstein, 2006). Studies indicate that active coping that includes problem solving and positive thinking enhances resilience among children (Lowenstein, 2006). Interventions that help children identify their unique strengths further acilitate children’s healthy adjustment (Lowenstein, 2006). Helping children express feelings of anger about the divorce through appropriate outlets is another important treatment goal. When parental conflict has been high prior to divorce and continues after divorce an effective intervention needs to involve an integrated family therapy approach (Amato, 2001). This therapy approach will assist children from disengaging from parental conflict. M any therapeutic agencies in Milwaukee are embracing therapy that is more engaging, innovative, and immersed in play to assist children of divorce. The decision to divorce is a decision being made for the children, they have no voice. Parents make the decision and children react. The court system has taken a step in the right direction by requiring parents to take a co-parenting class. Parents struggling through their own issues and fear with this change in their life often times are incapable of supporting their children the way they need. It is important that through the pain or anger parents have over their marriage ending that they see things through their child’s eyes.References Amato, P. (2001) Children of divorce in the 1990s:An update of the Amato and Keith (1991) meta analysis. Journal of Family Psychology, 15, 355-70. Downs, S., Moore, E., & McFadden, E. (2009). Child Welfare and Family Services; Policies and Practice, 8th edition. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Lebow, J. & Rekart, K. (2006) Integrated family therapy for high-conflict divorce with disputes over child custody and visitation. Family Process, 46, 79- 91 Lowenstein, L. (2006). Creative Interventions for Children of Divorce. Toronto: Champion Press. Pedro-Carroll, J.L. & Cowen, E.L. (1985). The Children of Divorce Intervention Program: An investigation of the efficacy of a school-based prevention program. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53(5), 603-611. Sander, I. & Wolchik, S. (2011) Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development. Sarrazin, J. & Cyr, F. (2007) Parental conflicts and their damaging effects on children. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 47, 77-93.

Dissertation on Teamwork and Customer Service Quality Essay

1.0 INTRODUCTION This chapter includes the background of the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, objectives of the study, research questions, and scope of the study, significance of the study, limitations of the study and operational definition of terms. 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Phil (2002) team working is a group of people who work together towards a shared and meaningful outcomes in ways that combine their individual skills and abilities and for which they are all responsible. He added that a real team does not just happen but an organization has to work at it, create it, maintain and sustain it for the development and provision of quality standards and expectations to the customers. Organizations need teamwork in order to promote innovation and synergy, improve their goal achievement, promote professional development of team members, achieve time reduction targets and get cross-boundary ownership of tasks and problems. Ronald (2004) argues that customer service depends on the expectations of the individual customer. However, all attempts to define customer service tend to focus on the relationships at the buyer/seller interface. He further added that to achieve the customer service levels expected, an organization need to ensure that for each of these two categories: the systems, measurements and the people are in place to respond to each customer group or market. Juran (2000) says that quality is the degree of excellence that is fitness for the purpose. It can also mean the degree in which customer requirements are met. Quality is built at every stage and teams solve problems where everyone is responsible for the quality of the product. A customer is a person or an organization that buys goods or services from the shop, business, etc on a regular basis. Woods et al (2001) assert that customer service quality as the satisfaction of the agreed customer requirements. This means that the total customer service quality is the mobilization of the whole organization to achieve quality, continuously and economically. National curriculum Development Centre is an arm of the Ministry of Education and sports responsible for the Inter-alia development of curricula and related materials for various levels of education. The National curriculum Development Centre was established by NCDC act chapter 135, laws of Uganda Revised Edition 2000 whose history is decree No 7 of 1973. Baale(2010) a curriculum specialist in math for secondary at NCDC, team working is very crucial in the development and review of curriculum that result into the satisfaction of parents, stakeholders, learners, teachers and the general public. He emphasized that team work cannot be avoided when developing curriculum as it includes a panel composed of members from different areas such as subject specialists, practicing teachers, teachers associations, UNEB representative, ESA representative, teacher trainers especially from some Universities and employers or parents. Team work comes when a subject curriculum is being developed. In this case a panel of 18 members from various institutions sits and develops the curriculum. Baseline survey is conducted from parents, teachers and sometimes from learners which result into child based curriculum. Then pilot study of selected teachers from few schools is done and cluster meetings held by teachers who carried out pilot study. The education system preparation trains all teachers about the developed curriculum and NCDC specifies instructional materials to the ministry of education that are purchased and sent to schools where implementation starts. In a period of 5- 10 years the developed curriculum is supposed to be reviewed. Enyutu (2005) stated that available test results from a wide variety of sources had demonstrated prior to the curriculum review that a majority of Ugandan children entering primary school were failing to achieve adequate literacy and numeric standards. Dropout rates were high with only 22% of the 1997 P1 cohort progressing through to P7 in 2003. NAPE test results in 2003 indicated that only approximately 20% of P6 students achieved basic standards of literacy. The combination of these two pieces of information suggested that of the 1997 P1 entry cohort, only 4-5% achieved basic literacy. NAPE testing also revealed very large and unacceptable regional differentials particularly between Kampala and the north of Uganda. Bearing in mind the enormous efforts and the substantial investments in primary education made by the government of Uganda with strong support from its development partners over the past 10 -15 years, these outcomes were disappointing. In all cases the proposals in these related areas have been discussed with senior staff in the Ministry of education and sports departments concerned and with the agencies and development partners directly involved in primary education in Uganda and there has been a very large measure of agreement on the way ahead. Nevertheless, the primary review team did conclude that there were significant flaws in the current primary curriculum and a failure to provide both sufficient time and an adequate syllabus concentration on the achievement of early literacy and numeracy in lower primary grades was by far the most important problem that needed to be addressed. Failure to achieve basic literacy and numeracy in any language in lower primary grades inevitably has a devastating impact on educational quality and student performance in all other subjects. Failure to achieve early literacy was clearly the issue of greatest concern to parents and the wider community that emerged from the primary curriculum review research. It was also perceived to be one of the major causes of drop- outs. National Curriculum Development Centre seems to be using teamwork when executing its functions. It is against this ground that the researcher will investigate how teamwork at NCDC meets customer requirements. 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Many organizations are focusing on teamwork as a measure to improve the quality of their services delivered through brainstorming, innovation and creativity. Amidst these efforts results are not achieved due to poor coordination, lack of commitment by top management and limited funds. To address these short comings of teamwork visa-a-vie customer service quality in non profit making institutions one needs to access the level of involvement of all stakeholders in order to achieve overall performance levels (Tony 2005). NAPE (2003) report shows poor performance of children in literacy and numeracy skills in either local languages or in English due to insufficient orientation, training and support provided to teachers before the implementation of the curriculum. School supervision by the district inspectorate outside urban areas was almost everywhere insufficient to ensure good school management, the effective delivery of curriculum and regular teacher attendance. Therefore it is the interest of the researcher to know whether customer service quality is achieved through teamwork. 1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The purpose of the study will be to examine the impact of team work on customer service quality using National Curriculum Development Centre located at Kyambogo as a case study. 1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: The research objectives will be: i. To find out the benefits of using team work in organizations ii. To examine the appropriate team work techniques used in organizations to achieve customer service quality iii. To establish the level of customer service quality at National curriculum Development Centre 1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS i. Are there benefits of team work gained by National curriculum Development Centre? ii. What team work techniques does National curriculum Development Centre use to achieve customer service quality? iii. What is the level of customer service quality at National curriculum Development Centre? 1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY The scope of the study will cover the subject, time, geographical and sample scope. 1.6.1 The subject Scope: The research will be limited to the impact of team work on one hand as the independent variable and customer service quality as the dependent variable. It will also focus on the achievements of team work at NCDC towards the development of curriculum for educational institutions in the country. 1.6.2 The Geographical Scope: The study will be carried out at National Curriculum Development Centre which is located at Kyambogo near Banda Trading centre off Kampala-Jinja road. NCDC will be an ideal case study because its core values include Respect and Team work, availability of well documented data, commitment to quality and Excellence. 1.6.3 The Time Scope The study will consider an operational time frame of a period of 2 years i.e. from the year 2010 to date. 1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: The study is expected to be beneficial in the following ways: i. The study guides planners and policy makers in making factual decisions on serving customers which ensures that all the customers, shareholders and management needs are met satisfactorily. ii. To the academicians, this research gives recommendations for future research and may act as a reference for the entire world regarding contributions of team work on performance of organizations. iii. The study helps the government and customers to identify how team working at NCDC develop curriculum that is relevant to the future career of the learners. 1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS: Team work is working together towards a shared and meaningful out come in ways that combine their individual skills and abilities and for which they are all responsible. Customer service is the satisfaction of agreed customer requirements. Quality is the degree of excellence that is the extent to which something is fit for its purpose. CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 INTRODUCTION This chapter consists of what other people have said about the researched problem. The researcher therefore reviews some of the related literature for the better insight of the problem. The chapter includes definition of key terms, impact of team work on customer service quality, benefits of team work in organizations, team work techniques and the level of customer service quality. 2.1 DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS Team work is a group of people who work together towards a shared and meaningful out come in ways that combine their individual skills and abilities and for which they are all responsible Phil (2002) .He added that real team does not just happen but an organization has to work at it, create it, maintain and sustain it for the development and provision of quality standards and expectations to customers. Ronald (2004) argues that customer service depends on the expectations of each individual customer. However, all attempts to define customer service tend to focus on the relationships at the buyer/seller interface. He further added that to achieve customer service levels expected an organization need to ensure that for each of these categories; the systems, measurement and people are in place to respond to each customer group or market. Michael (1999) stated quality as satisfying customers’ and stakeholders’ needs by means of sufficient mutually agreed deliverables that ,meet all the agreed requirements and specifications every time, on time and in affordable manner. It can also mean meeting the requirements of the deliverables that satisfy the needs which have been identified and agreed upon by customers, stakeholders and contractors. 2.2 IMPACT OF TEAM WORK ON CUSTOMER SERVICE QUALITY According to Baguley (2002), team work has a great impact on customer service quality. He raised the following points; Efficiency: Team working is important if people are to continue to be efficient members of the organization. Efficiency is whereby employee’s performance is improved up to the standards of the organizational goals. Team working helps employees to achieve maximum efficiency in their current jobs. It also helps the organization to meet its targets for developing and keeping people with the right skills to meet future needs. It applies to all levels of employees in an organization that is the strategic level, tactical level and operational level. Improved customer service: Team working involves different members of the organization working together and combining their individual skills and abilities to come up with something that is either a product or a service that will be highly accepted by the customers (Baguley, 2002). Innovation and Creativity: Sometimes teams of employees work together to develop new products or services through contributing and combining their different ideas and skills. This helps organizations to have new services for customers that eventually improve on its performance and create and sustain customers (Baguley, 2002). Allan Woods et al (2001) stated that team working requires meetings of teams, sections or departments to understand clearly who does what and ensure reliability which is the single most important aspect of delivering outstanding customer service. The teams organize themselves to take the advantage of the individual skills team members bring with them, work together as a group in ways that bring out the best results and every member of the team must be accountable to each other for the success of the whole team. Team working makes it possible to define and insist upon the maintenance of the standards on behalf of the customers and clients as most of the times customers do not specify their needs by referring to the teams’ attitudes or reliability standards but complain bitterly when the team falls below their perceived standards. Michiel and Harold (1997) observed that cross functional teams are used in new product development to shorten development cycle times, improve quality and reduce development costs. These goals are attained because the functional areas perform their tasks in groups rather than each functional area performing its task and passing the project off to the next functional area and the key functional groups usually design engineering, manufacturing, quality assurance, purchasing and marketing work on the new product and development simultaneously. Baguley (2002) said that team working involves integrating individual skills like problem solving, communication, inter personal skills, decision-making and functional skills for the desired out comes. He further added that a good executive team provides a model for everybody in the organization that encourages cooperation and commonality of purpose at all levels of the organization. An assembly team, erection team, machine shop team add value by creating tangible out comes or products which are specific and clearly defined by others and such products meet the expectations of customers. Bradfield et al (1998) are of the view that direct competition is one of the factors that make companies form development teams. They further stated that to be effective, production has to provide a means by which an organization can focus its resources to meet the needs of their chosen customers efficiently. First it is important to know where you are starting from, second is the decision on where you wish to go in future and the outcome should be a commitment by the organization to a deliberate policy on which customers to serve with products or offerings. Woods et al (2001) further observed that the essence of team working skills lies in good communication and open approach to people and ideas and that all communication skills should be used in promoting good customer service. They also noted that for any organization to meet the needs of customers there is need for team work to obtain feedback from customers and colleagues (both within and outside the organization) as well as about the need to establish planning cycles. Each cycle of planning and doing should therefore reduce the amount of uncertainties being faced and obtain feedback not simply from planning but by doing. Adair (1990) argues that innovation calls for a special form of creativity which he called team creativity. He said that all organizations are teams or at least they are potentially so. For effective production and marketing of goods and services these days, delivery on time, at the required quality and at a competitive price calls for a high performance team work. But to improve these existing products or to develop new products and services requires a different order of teamwork (team creativity). Organizations that practice team creativity will survive and prosper while those that do not will decline and disappear. All employees need to participate as each person at work has approximately 10,000 million brain cells, together with a full range of mental faculties, analyzing, synthesizing and valuing abilities. In all of us these processes can take place intentionally on a conscious plane of thought and also less intentionally in our un conscious minds, giving us insights, intuitions, brain waves, gut feelings, intimations and the occasional pear of a genuinely new idea. As a general principle people with a â€Å"hands- on† involvement in any product or service providing they have a modicum of interest in their work will tend to have new ideas for doing it better. The important thing from the motivational perspective is the feeling of being really part of the enterprise with a full share of responsibility in developing the quality of the product or service. Developing a quality team takes hard work because development of team skills, time and patience is not something you can decide to have one day, then achieve overnight. The entire organization is part of the same team working toward meeting the requirements of its customers. Whether management, front line or behind the scenes employees, everyone’s work contributes to the end result. There are also specific work unit teams (departmental) with specific goals and assignments. Teams working together can and should be responsible for identifying problems not previously recognized; finding the root causes of problems; suggesting who should work on problems; solving manpower assignments and scheduling improvements; and providing communication throughout the organization. To be effective, teams in the workplace must develop standards and skills, and then implement ongoing training and coaching to ensure they are put into practice (Anand, 1997).