Principles of Economics

Paper Individual decision making is either you do, or you do not. Most people are rational beings basing their decisions on a formula, benefits versus cost. Are the benefits of buying a $1000 television worth it? Are the marginal benefits worth the marginal cost? Just this morning, I was faced with such a scenario. I was invited over to a friend’s house to try a new video game. I did not go, however, because I knew that I had to read several chapters for my class and write a paper.The benefits were that I would have some time to hang out with my friends and enjoy some much needed free time. The cost would’ve been that I could have not gotten all of my reading done and possibly been late on my assignment. My rational thought was that I would spend the day doing my reading and assignment and then get some free time later. Taking care of my responsibilities now would allow me to enjoy my free time later knowing that I had everything else, which was important, finished. Rat ionally, I would not have made a different decision.Economists have created an economic model that almost all businesses, government policy makers and entrepreneurs base their decisions on. Using these models, these people make their decisions based on how that decision will affect the economy. These models are for by economists based on analyses which are composed of: a hypothesis, assumptions, and simplifying. Analyses are done between consumers and businesses and how the two interact with each other. Will consumers buy certain products from these businesses?This analysis also includes assumptions that consumers will buy products to maximize their own profits. These assumptions are somewhat simplified and are not always accurate or do not apply to all consumers. This goes back to the first of the three economic ideas: people are rational. Each economy has three problems to solve: 1. What will be produced? 2. How will the goods and services be produced? 3. Who will receive those go ods and services? There are two main ways for each society to organize their economies: centrally planned economy and market economy.Centrally planned economies are of a lower caliber quality, because the government decides who, what, and how products will be handled. This however does not meet the consumers wants, only the needs. Market economies are quite different from centrally planned. Market economies base their who, what, and how answers on the consumers. This gives the consumers more choice and power on their buying habits. In a market economy, products will tend to have higher quality and higher probability of satisfying the consumers.This does, however, target the more willing and capable buyers. There is a third economic system that was brought about in the nineteenth century: a mixed economy. This mixed economy is a combination of both centrally planned and market economies. This allows for the answers to â€Å"who, what, and how? † to be decided by consumers but in which the government has a significant role in the allocation of resources. Simply explained, social interactions change from one economic system to another.A centrally planned economy restricts free will as far as the questions who, what, and how. Perhaps leaving the society a little less satiated. A market economy will allow for higher paying jobs, better quality products, but targets only a certain demographic. A mixed economy attempts to combine both systems and allow for high quality products, high paying jobs for skilled workers, and allow products to be distributed to all demographics.Resources Hubbard, R. G. , & O'Brien, A. P. (2010). Economics. Principles of Economics Paper Individual decision making is either you do, or you do not. Most people are rational beings basing their decisions on a formula, benefits versus cost. Are the benefits of buying a $1000 television worth it? Are the marginal benefits worth the marginal cost? Just this morning, I was faced with such a scenario. I was invited over to a friend’s house to try a new video game. I did not go, however, because I knew that I had to read several chapters for my class and write a paper.The benefits were that I would have some time to hang out with my friends and enjoy some much needed free time. The cost would’ve been that I could have not gotten all of my reading done and possibly been late on my assignment. My rational thought was that I would spend the day doing my reading and assignment and then get some free time later. Taking care of my responsibilities now would allow me to enjoy my free time later knowing that I had everything else, which was important, finished. Rat ionally, I would not have made a different decision.Economists have created an economic model that almost all businesses, government policy makers and entrepreneurs base their decisions on. Using these models, these people make their decisions based on how that decision will affect the economy. These models are for by economists based on analyses which are composed of: a hypothesis, assumptions, and simplifying. Analyses are done between consumers and businesses and how the two interact with each other. Will consumers buy certain products from these businesses?This analysis also includes assumptions that consumers will buy products to maximize their own profits. These assumptions are somewhat simplified and are not always accurate or do not apply to all consumers. This goes back to the first of the three economic ideas: people are rational. Each economy has three problems to solve: 1. What will be produced? 2. How will the goods and services be produced? 3. Who will receive those go ods and services? There are two main ways for each society to organize their economies: centrally planned economy and market economy.Centrally planned economies are of a lower caliber quality, because the government decides who, what, and how products will be handled. This however does not meet the consumers wants, only the needs. Market economies are quite different from centrally planned. Market economies base their who, what, and how answers on the consumers. This gives the consumers more choice and power on their buying habits. In a market economy, products will tend to have higher quality and higher probability of satisfying the consumers.This does, however, target the more willing and capable buyers. There is a third economic system that was brought about in the nineteenth century: a mixed economy. This mixed economy is a combination of both centrally planned and market economies. This allows for the answers to â€Å"who, what, and how? † to be decided by consumers but in which the government has a significant role in the allocation of resources. Simply explained, social interactions change from one economic system to another.A centrally planned economy restricts free will as far as the questions who, what, and how. Perhaps leaving the society a little less satiated. A market economy will allow for higher paying jobs, better quality products, but targets only a certain demographic. A mixed economy attempts to combine both systems and allow for high quality products, high paying jobs for skilled workers, and allow products to be distributed to all demographics.Resources Hubbard, R. G. , & O'Brien, A. P. (2010). Economics.

Communication and relationship building Essay

Explain why effective communication is important in developing positive relationships with children, young people and adults. Children need to feel safe, secure and comfortable to make separation from their parents easier. When they are emotionally secure they will be more confident and involved in the play and activities around them. Likewise, parents need to feel that their children are happy and cared for according to their needs. People will feel valued as individuals if they think their views and opinions matter. If we know their interests and listen to them they are more likely to initiate conversations themselves, thereby improving their language development. Conversations and research build language skills which are vital to learning, and also developing social skills, as social interaction is essential to our wellbeing If people feel a sense of belonging and inclusion they will flourish, if they feel supported and understood they are more likely to trust you, be open with you and tell you how they feel. Children are less likely to behave in an unwanted manner if we are able to effectively understan d individual’s development needs and expectations, thereby being able to plan more accurately to meet these needs. Children need to feel safe, secure and comfortable to make separation from their parents easier. When they are emotionally secure they will be more confident and involved in the play and activities around them. Likewise, parents need to feel that their children are happy and cared for according to their needs. People will feel valued as individuals if they think their views and opinions matter. If we know their interests and listen to them they are more likely to initiate conversations themselves, thereby improving their language development. Conversations and research build language skills which are vital to learning, and also developing social skills, as social interaction is essential to our wellbeing If people feel a sense of belonging and inclusion they will flourish, if they feel supported and understood they are more likely to trust you, be open with you and tell you how they feel. Children are less likely to behave in an unwanted manner if we are able to effectively understan d individual’s  development needs and expectations, thereby being able to plan more accurately to meet these needs. 2.1. Explain the skills needed to communicate with children and young people. Empathic listening – being able to see things from another person’s point of view and understand how they may feel Patience – allowing people time, especially children, to find the words to express themselves, without interrupting them Concentration – giving your full attention to the individual so they know you are interested in them and what they have to say Observation – Body language, facial expressions and tone of voice can help to identify how people are feeling Consideration – consider the other person’s needs such as speech and language disorders, earring aids Enthusiasm – give the impression that you are excited to talk to them, that they are important to you Reflection – Paraphrasing and restating the feelings and words of the individual Positive body language – Especially if talking to younger children, come down to their level to avoid coming across as intimidating and maintaining eye contact Honesty â €“ Always be truthful with responses, but appropriate to age and stage of child, never make promises, as you may not be able to keep them 00Empathic listening – being able to see things from another person’s point of view and understand how they may feel Patience – allowing people time, especially children, to find the words to express themselves, without interrupting them Concentration – giving your full attention to the individual so they know you are interested in them and what they have to say Observation – Body language, facial expressions and tone of voice can help to identify how people are feeling Consideration – consider the other person’s needs such as speech and language disorders, earring aids Enthusiasm – give the impression that you are excited to talk to them, that they are important to you Reflection – Paraphrasing and restating the feelings and words of the individual Positive body language – Especially if talking to younger children, come down to their level to avoid coming across as intimidating and maintaining eye contact Honesty – Always be truthful with responses, but appropriate to age and stage of child, never make promises, as you may not be able to keep them 2.2. Explain how to adapt communication with children and young people for: †¢Ã‚  the age of the child or young person Keep language simple, appropriate to age and developmental stage Make sure children understand what is expected of them Remain formal, to ensure there is no misunderstanding as to your role as carer †¢ the context of the communication During playtime or lunchtime you can talk to the children in a more social tone, but still maintaining the professional carer to child relationship. Children will often ask me my â€Å"real name†, to which I reply â€Å"but Mrs Bell is my real name†. During classroom activities children need to be focused and distractions need to be dealt with swiftly and efficiently before the interrupt the other children. †¢ communication differences. Consider the needs of the individual, ie if they are hearing impaired, face them and maintain eye contact so that lip reading is possible. They may have speech and hearing difficulties in which case you may need additional training for example in sign language. 2.3. Explain the main differences between communicating with adults and communicating with children and young people. -129600146195When communicating with children it is important to keep the relationship formal whilst at school, they need to see you as a carer. Children need to be communicated with very clearly and precisely, so there can be no double meaning. It is also vital to make sure that children understand exactly what we mean. The vocabulary and facial expressions you use need to be appropriate to the age and stage of development of the child/ren you are talking to. When dealing with children you should never offer physical contact towards them, which can prove hard as younger children will often want to hold your ha nd or cuddle When communicating with children it is important to keep the relationship formal whilst at school, they need to see you as a carer. Children need to be communicated with very clearly and precisely, so there can be no double meaning. It is also vital to make sure that children understand exactly what we mean. The vocabulary and facial expressions you use need to be appropriate to the age and stage of development of the child/ren you are talking to. When dealing with children you should never offer physical contact towards them, which can prove hard as younger children will often want to hold your hand or cuddle you. 2.4. Explain how to adapt communication to meet different communication needs of adults. -12960046000You may have to deal with adults for whom English is a second language, in which case you may need to have translator present, especially if the information may be difficult to explain. Some adults you encounter may have difficulty communicating due to dysfluency (stutter), you will need to show patience and understanding, giving them time and not interrupting or finishing words sentences for them. Some adults you encounter may have hearing difficulties, you may find that you have to maintain eye contact to enable them to lip read. 0You may have to deal with adults for whom English is a second language, in which case you may need to have translator present, especially if the information may be difficult to explain. Some adults you encounter may have difficulty communicating due to dysfluency (stutter), you will need to show patience and understanding, giving them time and not interrup ting or finishing words sentences for them. Some adults you encounter may have hearing difficulties, you may find that you have to maintain eye contact to enable them to lip read. 2.5. Explain how to manage disagreements with children, young people and When dealing with disagreements between children it is important to get both sides of the story and try to get the children to listen to how the other is feeling. You should try to help the children to think about ways to resolve the issue themselves, rather than laying down the law, so that they can use these skills again in the future. If a problem occurs with a parent you should find a more private area for discussions regarding the issue. Remain friendly and approachable, speak clearly with good eye contact, and ensure that you listen and be sympathetic to their views and feelings. Always be respectful of religious and cultural beliefs. It may be necessary for you to explain why certain behaviours are not acceptable within a school environment even though the child may be able to do this at home. When dealing with disagreements between children it is important to get both sides of the story and try to get the children to listen to how the other is feeling. You should try to help the children to think about ways to resolve the issue themselves, rather than laying down the law, so that they can use these skills again in the future. If a   occurs with a parent you should find a more private area for discussions regarding the issue. Remain friendly and approachable, speak clearly with good eye contact, and ensure that you listen and be sympathetic to their views and feelings. Always be respectful of religious and cultural beliefs. It may be necessary for you to explain why certain behaviours are not acceptable within a school environment even though the child may be able to do this at home. Explain the principles of relationship building with children, young people and adults. Principles of relationship building with children, young people and adults Your explanation or example of how the principle promotes relationship building: Communicate effectively Make sure there are no distractions when speaking with people, this will put them at easy and help to make them feel important. Get your thoughts together before hand so that you are sure of what you want to say. Speak clearly and appropriately for the age/developmental stage of the individual concerned. Being fair and consistent We must listen to what is being said, not jump to conclusions, just because someone has previous behaved in a particular way, does not mean they will always do so. We have to be consistent in the way that we behave too, if we are excitable one day and withdrawn the next, nobody will know what is expected of them on a day to day basis. Showing respect and courtesy If we are courteous and show respect, they will learn to treat us and others with the same respect and courtesy. If we use manners and our voices tones are warm and courteous children and young people will develop positive relationships with us and others. We all need to feel that we are of equal importance. Valuing and respecting individuality We all have individual strengths, talents and attitudes, and will excel in different areas, we need to show that we are comfortable with everybody’s individuality, accepting people for who they are and not who we expect them to be. Interests should be acknowledged and built upon. Confidentiality as appropriate Personal information will be passed on to you via other professionals or through parents to enable to best care for the child during their time with you, it is important to maintain confidentiality in these cases to maintain the trust between yourself and individuals concerned. No parents wants their child to be a source for gossip or bullying. Explain how different social, professional and cultural contexts may affect relationships and the way people communicate. -29045108585Depending upon the context in which you are working will determine how you should adapt your communication. If you are in a meeting with other professional bodies your language and behave should be more formal than it would be during your normal daily routine. In the today’s world of technology communication is becoming more impersonal, by e-mail or text, this can be detrimental to relationships as tone of voice and body language are key elements to effective communication. The way we respond to others ie the speed in which we respond to emails or phone messages and also how attentive we seem when speaking to someone can also affect the building of a relationship. Culturally our views and opinions of other people’s behaviour can affect relationships, this can be purely down to a lack of understanding and acceptance of each other’s background and cultural differences. In our society it is concerned rude or shows a lack of confidence not to maintain eye contact whilst communicating with others, although in other countries it is socially unacceptable to look another person in the eye when speaking to them. Likewise in some countries women are not permitted to speak to any other man than their husbands, you may find this socially unacceptable, but you would need to be mindful of other people life styles, otherwise relations could breakdown. Depending upon the context in which you are working will determine how you should adapt your communication. If you are in a meeting with other professional bodies your language and behave should be more formal than it would be during your normal daily routine. In the today’s world of technology communication is becoming more impersonal, by e-mail or text, this can be detrimental to relationships as tone of voice and body language are key elements to effective communication. The way we respond to others ie the speed in which we respond to emails or phone messages and also how attentive we seem   speaking to someone can also affect the building of a relationship. Culturally our views and opinions of other people’s behaviour can affect relationships, this can be purely down to a lack of understanding and acceptance of each other’s background and cultural differences. In our society it is concerned rude or shows a lack of confidence not to maintain eye contact whilst communicating with others, although in other countries it is socially unacceptable to look another person in the eye when speaking to them. Likewise in some countries women are not permitted to speak to any other man than their husbands, you may find this socially unacceptable, but you would need to be mindful of other people life styles, otherwise relations could breakdown. 3.1. Summarise the main points of legislation and procedures covering confidentiality, data protection and the disclosure of information. -15120016105Current legislation is important as it affects the practices that schools operate under. It is important to acknowledge the individualism of every child and their basis human rights. Data Protection Act 1998 – Aims to prevent the disclosure of personal and confidential information without the consent of the person involved, or the parents if the person is under 16 years of age. The Children Act 2004 – Lays down guidelines for all who are involved in looking after children with 5 basic outcomes; to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being. Every Child Matters – green paper that came into effect after the case of Victoria Climbie which highlights the need for professional services involved with children to share information with each other. All information must be: processed fairly and lawfully, used only for the purpose for which it was gathered, adequate, relevant and not excessive, accurate and kept up to date where necessary, kept for no longer than necessary, processed in line with the individual’s rights, kept secure and not transferred outside the European Union without adequate protection. 0Current legislation is important as it affects the practices that schools operate under. It is important to acknowledge the individualism of every child and their basis human rights. Data Protection Act 1998 – Aims to prevent the disclosure of personal and confidential information without the consent of the person involved, or the parents if  the person is under 16 years of age. The Children Act 2004 – Lays down guidelines for all who are involved in looking after children with 5 basic outcomes; to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being. Ev ery Child Matters – green paper that came into effect after the case of Victoria Climbie which highlights the need for professional services involved with children to share information with each other. All information must be: processed fairly and lawfully, used only for the purpose for which it was gathered, adequate, relevant and not excessive, accurate and kept up to date where necessary, kept for no longer than necessary, processed in line with the individual’s rights, kept secure and not transferred outside the European Union without adequate protection. 3.2. Explain the importance of reassuring children, young people and adults of the confidentiality of shared information and the limits of this. To assure children that they will not be put at risk of being teased or bullied by other pupils because of personal information being divulged unnecessarily.Grown-ups need to know that their children will be safe from playground gossip and their home details will be kept safe. Parents need to know that the school is giving the best care and support possible to their child and that any medical/developmental issues are only shared with the people who need to know. You may attend meetings and be told confidential information, you may need to inform others of your obligations, for example if another parent asks questions about a particular child. Parental consent is need to disclose information to other professionals, although schools have a duty of care and legal obligation to disclose information if the child is at risk or injury or harm. The parents or child should be kept information as to how, what, why and with whom the information will be shared. To assure children that they will not be put at risk of being teased or bullied by other pupils because of personal information being divulged unnecessarily.Grown-ups need to know that their children will be safe from playground gossip and their home details will be kept safe. Parents need to know that the school is giving the best care and support possible to their child and that any medical/developmental issues are only shared with the people who need to know. You may attend meetings  and be told confidential information, you may need to inform others of your obligations, for example if another parent asks questions about a particular child. Parental consent is need to disclose information to other professionals, although schools have a duty of care and legal obligation to disclose information if the child is at risk or injury or harm. The parents or child should be kept information as to how, what, why and with whom the information will be shared. Personal information must not be shared without the consent of the parents of a child under the age of 16. You could, however, be put into a position where someone confides personal information to you when it is necessary for you to share this information. If you believe that the child or young person could come to harm if the information is not shared you do not need to seek consent. Information must be shared if failure to do so may result in a crime being committed or not detected and will also include if consent were sort it may lead to interference with a potential investigation.You must also share information if there is a statutory duty or Court Order in force. Personal information must not be shared without the consent of the parents of a child under the age of 16. You could, however, be put into a position where someone confides personal information to you when it is necessary for you to share this information. If you believe that the child or young person could come to harm if the information is not shared you do not need to seek consent. Information must be shared if failure to do so may result in a crime being committed or not detected and will also include if consent were sort it may lead to interference with a potential investigation.You must also share information if there is a statutory duty or Court Order in force.

Brain Tumour Glioblastoma Multiforme Problem Health And Social Care Essay

GBM normally affects people who older than 50 old ages old although the disease can happen in patients from all age group [ 2,25,28 ] . Patients suffer ictus, concern, ocular perturbation and sometimes personality alterations which can do great emotional hurt [ 25,30,31 ] . The average endurance of GBM patients is hapless, with about 12 to 14 months [ 7 ] . At this minute, the exact causes of GBM still remain vague to the scientists. Figure 1 GBM tumor is normally found in frontal and temporal lobe. Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //ebsco.smartimagebase.com/brain-tumor/view-item? ItemID=4027 Accumulative Word Count: 131 Possible Treatments Surgery Surgery is normally the initial measure to handle GBM by taking every bit much tumor as possible. It is non healing but aims to cut down the tumor ‘s size every bit much as possible so that other therapies right after the surgery can be more effectual. Furthermore, surgical resection Acts of the Apostless to alleviate hydrops by debulking tumor every bit good as being a alleviative intervention for neurologic symptoms such as ictus activity [ 7 ] . The surgery includes standard surgical process craniotomy which removes a subdivision of skull to expose the encephalon underneath in order to unclutter the tumor. Besides, patients may choose to undergo optical maser microsurgery or supersonic aspiration to hold their tumors removed. 2 1 3 4 Figure 2 Craniotomy hypertext transfer protocol: //ebsco.smartimagebase.com/surgical-craniotomy/view-item? ItemID=40345 Accumulative Word Count: 242 Radiation Therapy Normally, radiation therapy ( RT ) is administered instantly after surgery. It works chiefly by damaging the Deoxyribonucleic acid of tumor cells, killing any residuary tumor cells after surgical remotion of the tumour [ 3-6,32 ] . A research has shown that the average endurance clip has increased from 17 hebdomads ( treated with conventional attention ) to 37.5 hebdomads when the GBM patients were treated with RT entirely while combination of BNCU ( carmustine ) and RT produced a 40.5 hebdomad average endurance [ 11 ] . Table 1 Randomized surveies of post-operative radiation compared with no radiation therapy in malignant gliomaa [ 23 ] Study [ Ref. ] Study group Radiation dose Gy/ no. of fraction No. of patients randomized ( analyzed ) Median endurance ( hebdomads ) Overall endurance P value Shapiro et al. , 1976 [ 62 ] Connecticut RT + CT – 60 16 ( 16 ) 17 ( 17 ) 30 44.5 NR Not important Andersen, 1978 [ 1 ] Surgery entirely RT – 45/25 57 ( 57 ) 51 ( 51 ) 15b 23b †¹0.005 Survival at 6 months Walker et al. , 1978 [ 78 ] vitamin D Surgery entirely RT – 50-60/25-35 42 ( 31 ) 93 ( 68 ) 14c 36c 0.001 Walker et al. , 1980 [ 79 ] vitamin D Connecticut RT – 60/30-35 111 ( 111 ) 118 ( 118 ) 31 37 0.003 Kristiansen et al. , 1981 [ 36 ] vitamin D Surgery entirely RT + / – Connecticut – 45/25 38 ( 38 ) 80 ( 80 ) 23 47 NR Significant Sandberg-Wollheim et al. , 1991 [ 60 ] Connecticut RT + CT – 58/27 87 ( 87 ) 84 ( 84 ) 42 62 0.028 a CT, chemotherapy ; NR, non reported ; RT, radiation therapy. B Calculated from survival curve. 500 Multi-arm survey that included a radiation plus chemotherapy arm. For both surveies by Walker et al. , merely information from the radiation entirely arm are shown in Table 2. Kristiansen et Al. reported combined informations from the radiation entirely arm and the radiation plus chemotherapy arm. In each of these surveies, there was a important survival benefit favouring radiation plus chemotherapy compared with no radiation therapy but no important difference in endurance between radiation entirely and radiation plus chemotherapy ( informations non shown ) . degree Celsiuss Merely consequences for the evaluable patients were reported ( 31 patients in the surgery entirely arm and 68 patients in the RT arm ) . Accumulative Word Count: 329 RT is normally administered through external beam radiation but internal radiation called Brachytherapy is besides possible. Each manner differs in how the radiation beginnings are delivered to the tumour [ 4-6,32 ] . Using IMRT ( Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy ) , a machine such as additive gas pedal delivers precise high-energy radiation doses ( eg: X raies ) to the tumor accurately and kills the affected cells [ 6,33 ] . Most patients will have the intervention for five to seven hebdomads [ 6,32,34 ] . Typically, around 6000 to 6500 units of radiation are delivered over seven hebdomads [ 6 ] . In contrast, brachytherapy topographic point the radiation beginnings every bit near as possible to the targeted cells in shorter clip comparison to external radiation. It consists of radioactive implants in the signifier of catheters or seeds which has impermanent radioactive beginnings in the tumor [ 8 ] . Figure 3 Brachythrapy hypertext transfer protocol: //ebsco.smartimagebase.com/brachytherapy/view-item? ItemID=24923 Besides, stereotactic radiosurgery, a noninvasive method of presenting an intense and focused dosage of radiation to a little country can be used for GBM excessively. Treatment dose is individualized but the typical dosage is about 2500 units of radiation per intervention [ 6 ] . Other signifiers of radiation intervention such as installing of inflatable balloon incorporating liquid radiation or interpolation of monoclonal antibodies tagged with radioactive substances may be used [ 8 ] . Accumulative Word Count: 519 Chemotherapy Chemotherapy may be given after surgical resection and radiation. In this therapy, chemotherapeutic drugs play an of import function in impacting retroflexing cells by damaging the Deoxyribonucleic acid of these cells. The most normally used drugs are carmustine ( BNCU ) , lomustine ( CCNU ) , temozolomide ( Temodar ) and procarbazine. They are classified as alkylating agents which are DNA-damaging drugs. These drugs alkylate the Deoxyribonucleic acid in the tumor cells, doing the dual strands to be cross-linked to each other in an inappropriate manner. This thereby, blocks DNA reproduction and bit by bit leads to cell decease [ 4,5,8 ] . Soon, Gliadel Wafer – a biodegradable wafer soaked with BNCU is prevailing among the interventions. This is done by engrafting wafers in the pit after surgical remotion of the tumor. The wafers so easy let go of high concentrations of BCNU straight into the tumour country over a period of 2-3 hebdomads. Gliadel does non supply a remedy for GBM but is believed to be capable of protracting endurance. Apart from that, temozolomide is more frequently administered orally on monthly rhythm for 6-12 months after surgery and radiation as a care therapy [ 6,8,28,29 ] . Traditional chemotherapy drugs can be effectual, but most of them do non separate between healthy and tumour cells, thereby forestalling the disposal of high doses to kill the unnatural cells. What is more, their generalised toxicity can do terrible side effects. Targeted therapy drugs like Avastin ( bevacizumab ) are more precise than some chemotherapy drugs and tend to hold fewer side effects. It has been approved by FDA in 2009 as a new biologic drug to handle GBM. Avastin acts chiefly as an angiogenesis inhibitors by decelerating the growing of new blood vass environing the tumor. It selectively blocks VEGF to suppress the activation of VEGF receptors tyrosine kinases VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 [ 13-15 ] . There are some surveies to turn out that approximately 20-30 % patients with GBM do react to the drugs [ 27 ] . Accumulative Word Count: 823 A Graph 1 Kaplan-Meier endurance curves for patients treated with steroids and ( A ) resective surgery merely, ( B ) resective surgery and radiation therapy and ( C ) resective surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. [ 12 ] Bacillus C Accumulative Word Count: 848 Social and Economic Deductions The trouble to digest with the side effects of the medicines such as sleepiness and hair loss may do GBM patients to experience down and hurt. They may be easy frustrated by concerns they suffer often or experience suffering and hopeless after the diagnosing [ 34 ] . This could take to serious societal impact and would worry the people around them. Furthermore, most of the patients find it hard to return to work due to decrease in productiveness. A study has shown that with 91 % patients were employed before diagnosing, merely 33 % of them continue working after interventions. While health professionals who were still working experience employment alterations such as taking leave of absence to be with their loved 1s for interventions or taking on extra paid work might experience stressed and have to fight difficult to get by with the tough life [ 9 ] . In order to run a normal life, patients require undergo a plentifulness of interventions including hospitalization after surgery which would do great fiscal load. It is estimated that cost of GBM interventions ranged from ˆ10 893 to ˆ125 275 [ 22 ] . Trouble of obtaining insurance makes the status even worse. Drugs that are necessary for GBM interventions are expensive and are normally administered over long period of clip. All this becomes a beginning of depression which affects non merely the patients but their households and friends [ 9 ] . The return of GBM after conventional therapy is inevitable. This so creates unstoppable medical crisis every bit good as fiscal hurt to the patients and their households. Accumulative Word Count: 1084 Benefits and Hazards I believe a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy is the most effectual intervention for GBM presently. In malice of its forecast has remained hapless for the last few decennaries, patients do acquire better after adhering to this standard therapy. Although GBM can non be cured, the patients had have their survival clip prolonged, acquiring a opportunity to pass their last few months with their loved 1s in a meaningful manner [ 34 ] . Nevertheless, the interventions do enforce distressing side effects to human wellness. Despite killing tumour cells, alkylating agents used are considered toxic, ensuing in suppression or lowering of blood counts. They have been associated with important sickness, hair loss, weariness and sterility [ 5 ] . High doses of BNCU may take to damage and marking of the lungs while procarbazine can do raging concern, purging and numbness. Hence, doses of drugs administered have to be carefully monitored by doctor to avoid taking to unwanted effects. Recently invented drugs temozolomide, has comparatively mild side effects but they are still inevitable [ 6 ] . Meanwhile, hazard of developing acute leukaemia old ages subsequently is increased when patients are exposed to alkylating agents [ 5 ] . Avastin, a freshly developed drug, provides a more effectual therapy for GBM. However, it potentially creates fatal toxicity, doing the late closed surgical lesion interruptions down. Some claim that the development of toxicity by avastin may shorten endurance in some patients when it is added to radiotherapy and temozolomide. Thus, researches on the effectivity and safety of use of avastin should be carried on continually until desirable consequences are obtained [ 20 ] . In add-on, the return of the tumor is ineluctable, with the average endurance rate of patients who relapse runing from 3-6 months despite aggressive intervention [ 10 ] . Patients may develop the feeling that the medicines are useless or may give up because of the intolerable side effects and the unstoppable backsliding of disease. This will take to non-adherence to therapy and increase the hazard of mortality. However, in my sentiment, the multimodal treatments I discuss above are still considered the best solution for GBM as they outweigh the hazards by protracting the patients ‘ survival clip. Accumulative Word Count: 1432 Alternate Treatments Gene therapy Another promising attack of handling GBM is cistron therapy. Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir ( HSV-tk/GCV ) has evolved as a cytotoxic cistron therapy. In this instance, recombinant adenoviral vectors are used to give favorable consequences. Adenoviral HSV-tk ( AdHSV-tk ) is able to assail the residuary dividing tumour cells while go forthing the non-dividing nerve cells unharmed. What ‘s more, it can destruct the malignant neoplastic disease cells through bystander- consequence [ 19 ] . HSV-tk first converts GCV to GCV-monophosphate [ 16,17 ] . Then, cellular kinases farther convert this merchandise to GCV-triphosphate which is a hapless substrate for uninterrupted DNA elongation due to the lacking of 3 ‘ hydroxyl group that is needed to organize phosphodiester bond in chain-elongation-reaction. Ultimately, nonfunctional Deoxyribonucleic acid fragments are formed, triping programmed cell death in malignant neoplastic disease cells [ 18 ] . Nowadays, AdH SV-tk /GCV is going preferred comparisons to conventional radiation therapy and chemotherapy due to its fewer inauspicious effects. Figure 4 The rule of HSV-tk/GCV cistron therapy. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.gtmb.org/VOL4A/GTMBVOL4AHTML/23_Adachi_files/image001.gif Accumulative Word Count: 1575 Table 2 Surveies by Sandmair et Al. and Immonen et Al. demo a singular protraction of endurance in patients treated with AdHSV-tk [ 19 ] . Patients Vector Phase Gene Transfer Method Adverse Effectss Survival ( Months ) Response Brain Tumour Glioblastoma Multiforme Problem Health And Social Care Essay GBM normally affects people who older than 50 old ages old although the disease can happen in patients from all age group [ 2,25,28 ] . Patients suffer ictus, concern, ocular perturbation and sometimes personality alterations which can do great emotional hurt [ 25,30,31 ] . The average endurance of GBM patients is hapless, with about 12 to 14 months [ 7 ] . At this minute, the exact causes of GBM still remain vague to the scientists. Figure 1 GBM tumor is normally found in frontal and temporal lobe. Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //ebsco.smartimagebase.com/brain-tumor/view-item? ItemID=4027 Accumulative Word Count: 131 Possible Treatments Surgery Surgery is normally the initial measure to handle GBM by taking every bit much tumor as possible. It is non healing but aims to cut down the tumor ‘s size every bit much as possible so that other therapies right after the surgery can be more effectual. Furthermore, surgical resection Acts of the Apostless to alleviate hydrops by debulking tumor every bit good as being a alleviative intervention for neurologic symptoms such as ictus activity [ 7 ] . The surgery includes standard surgical process craniotomy which removes a subdivision of skull to expose the encephalon underneath in order to unclutter the tumor. Besides, patients may choose to undergo optical maser microsurgery or supersonic aspiration to hold their tumors removed. 2 1 3 4 Figure 2 Craniotomy hypertext transfer protocol: //ebsco.smartimagebase.com/surgical-craniotomy/view-item? ItemID=40345 Accumulative Word Count: 242 Radiation Therapy Normally, radiation therapy ( RT ) is administered instantly after surgery. It works chiefly by damaging the Deoxyribonucleic acid of tumor cells, killing any residuary tumor cells after surgical remotion of the tumour [ 3-6,32 ] . A research has shown that the average endurance clip has increased from 17 hebdomads ( treated with conventional attention ) to 37.5 hebdomads when the GBM patients were treated with RT entirely while combination of BNCU ( carmustine ) and RT produced a 40.5 hebdomad average endurance [ 11 ] . Table 1 Randomized surveies of post-operative radiation compared with no radiation therapy in malignant gliomaa [ 23 ] Study [ Ref. ] Study group Radiation dose Gy/ no. of fraction No. of patients randomized ( analyzed ) Median endurance ( hebdomads ) Overall endurance P value Shapiro et al. , 1976 [ 62 ] Connecticut RT + CT – 60 16 ( 16 ) 17 ( 17 ) 30 44.5 NR Not important Andersen, 1978 [ 1 ] Surgery entirely RT – 45/25 57 ( 57 ) 51 ( 51 ) 15b 23b †¹0.005 Survival at 6 months Walker et al. , 1978 [ 78 ] vitamin D Surgery entirely RT – 50-60/25-35 42 ( 31 ) 93 ( 68 ) 14c 36c 0.001 Walker et al. , 1980 [ 79 ] vitamin D Connecticut RT – 60/30-35 111 ( 111 ) 118 ( 118 ) 31 37 0.003 Kristiansen et al. , 1981 [ 36 ] vitamin D Surgery entirely RT + / – Connecticut – 45/25 38 ( 38 ) 80 ( 80 ) 23 47 NR Significant Sandberg-Wollheim et al. , 1991 [ 60 ] Connecticut RT + CT – 58/27 87 ( 87 ) 84 ( 84 ) 42 62 0.028 a CT, chemotherapy ; NR, non reported ; RT, radiation therapy. B Calculated from survival curve. 500 Multi-arm survey that included a radiation plus chemotherapy arm. For both surveies by Walker et al. , merely information from the radiation entirely arm are shown in Table 2. Kristiansen et Al. reported combined informations from the radiation entirely arm and the radiation plus chemotherapy arm. In each of these surveies, there was a important survival benefit favouring radiation plus chemotherapy compared with no radiation therapy but no important difference in endurance between radiation entirely and radiation plus chemotherapy ( informations non shown ) . degree Celsiuss Merely consequences for the evaluable patients were reported ( 31 patients in the surgery entirely arm and 68 patients in the RT arm ) . Accumulative Word Count: 329 RT is normally administered through external beam radiation but internal radiation called Brachytherapy is besides possible. Each manner differs in how the radiation beginnings are delivered to the tumour [ 4-6,32 ] . Using IMRT ( Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy ) , a machine such as additive gas pedal delivers precise high-energy radiation doses ( eg: X raies ) to the tumor accurately and kills the affected cells [ 6,33 ] . Most patients will have the intervention for five to seven hebdomads [ 6,32,34 ] . Typically, around 6000 to 6500 units of radiation are delivered over seven hebdomads [ 6 ] . In contrast, brachytherapy topographic point the radiation beginnings every bit near as possible to the targeted cells in shorter clip comparison to external radiation. It consists of radioactive implants in the signifier of catheters or seeds which has impermanent radioactive beginnings in the tumor [ 8 ] . Figure 3 Brachythrapy hypertext transfer protocol: //ebsco.smartimagebase.com/brachytherapy/view-item? ItemID=24923 Besides, stereotactic radiosurgery, a noninvasive method of presenting an intense and focused dosage of radiation to a little country can be used for GBM excessively. Treatment dose is individualized but the typical dosage is about 2500 units of radiation per intervention [ 6 ] . Other signifiers of radiation intervention such as installing of inflatable balloon incorporating liquid radiation or interpolation of monoclonal antibodies tagged with radioactive substances may be used [ 8 ] . Accumulative Word Count: 519 Chemotherapy Chemotherapy may be given after surgical resection and radiation. In this therapy, chemotherapeutic drugs play an of import function in impacting retroflexing cells by damaging the Deoxyribonucleic acid of these cells. The most normally used drugs are carmustine ( BNCU ) , lomustine ( CCNU ) , temozolomide ( Temodar ) and procarbazine. They are classified as alkylating agents which are DNA-damaging drugs. These drugs alkylate the Deoxyribonucleic acid in the tumor cells, doing the dual strands to be cross-linked to each other in an inappropriate manner. This thereby, blocks DNA reproduction and bit by bit leads to cell decease [ 4,5,8 ] . Soon, Gliadel Wafer – a biodegradable wafer soaked with BNCU is prevailing among the interventions. This is done by engrafting wafers in the pit after surgical remotion of the tumor. The wafers so easy let go of high concentrations of BCNU straight into the tumour country over a period of 2-3 hebdomads. Gliadel does non supply a remedy for GBM but is believed to be capable of protracting endurance. Apart from that, temozolomide is more frequently administered orally on monthly rhythm for 6-12 months after surgery and radiation as a care therapy [ 6,8,28,29 ] . Traditional chemotherapy drugs can be effectual, but most of them do non separate between healthy and tumour cells, thereby forestalling the disposal of high doses to kill the unnatural cells. What is more, their generalised toxicity can do terrible side effects. Targeted therapy drugs like Avastin ( bevacizumab ) are more precise than some chemotherapy drugs and tend to hold fewer side effects. It has been approved by FDA in 2009 as a new biologic drug to handle GBM. Avastin acts chiefly as an angiogenesis inhibitors by decelerating the growing of new blood vass environing the tumor. It selectively blocks VEGF to suppress the activation of VEGF receptors tyrosine kinases VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 [ 13-15 ] . There are some surveies to turn out that approximately 20-30 % patients with GBM do react to the drugs [ 27 ] . Accumulative Word Count: 823 A Graph 1 Kaplan-Meier endurance curves for patients treated with steroids and ( A ) resective surgery merely, ( B ) resective surgery and radiation therapy and ( C ) resective surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. [ 12 ] Bacillus C Accumulative Word Count: 848 Social and Economic Deductions The trouble to digest with the side effects of the medicines such as sleepiness and hair loss may do GBM patients to experience down and hurt. They may be easy frustrated by concerns they suffer often or experience suffering and hopeless after the diagnosing [ 34 ] . This could take to serious societal impact and would worry the people around them. Furthermore, most of the patients find it hard to return to work due to decrease in productiveness. A study has shown that with 91 % patients were employed before diagnosing, merely 33 % of them continue working after interventions. While health professionals who were still working experience employment alterations such as taking leave of absence to be with their loved 1s for interventions or taking on extra paid work might experience stressed and have to fight difficult to get by with the tough life [ 9 ] . In order to run a normal life, patients require undergo a plentifulness of interventions including hospitalization after surgery which would do great fiscal load. It is estimated that cost of GBM interventions ranged from ˆ10 893 to ˆ125 275 [ 22 ] . Trouble of obtaining insurance makes the status even worse. Drugs that are necessary for GBM interventions are expensive and are normally administered over long period of clip. All this becomes a beginning of depression which affects non merely the patients but their households and friends [ 9 ] . The return of GBM after conventional therapy is inevitable. This so creates unstoppable medical crisis every bit good as fiscal hurt to the patients and their households. Accumulative Word Count: 1084 Benefits and Hazards I believe a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy is the most effectual intervention for GBM presently. In malice of its forecast has remained hapless for the last few decennaries, patients do acquire better after adhering to this standard therapy. Although GBM can non be cured, the patients had have their survival clip prolonged, acquiring a opportunity to pass their last few months with their loved 1s in a meaningful manner [ 34 ] . Nevertheless, the interventions do enforce distressing side effects to human wellness. Despite killing tumour cells, alkylating agents used are considered toxic, ensuing in suppression or lowering of blood counts. They have been associated with important sickness, hair loss, weariness and sterility [ 5 ] . High doses of BNCU may take to damage and marking of the lungs while procarbazine can do raging concern, purging and numbness. Hence, doses of drugs administered have to be carefully monitored by doctor to avoid taking to unwanted effects. Recently invented drugs temozolomide, has comparatively mild side effects but they are still inevitable [ 6 ] . Meanwhile, hazard of developing acute leukaemia old ages subsequently is increased when patients are exposed to alkylating agents [ 5 ] . Avastin, a freshly developed drug, provides a more effectual therapy for GBM. However, it potentially creates fatal toxicity, doing the late closed surgical lesion interruptions down. Some claim that the development of toxicity by avastin may shorten endurance in some patients when it is added to radiotherapy and temozolomide. Thus, researches on the effectivity and safety of use of avastin should be carried on continually until desirable consequences are obtained [ 20 ] . In add-on, the return of the tumor is ineluctable, with the average endurance rate of patients who relapse runing from 3-6 months despite aggressive intervention [ 10 ] . Patients may develop the feeling that the medicines are useless or may give up because of the intolerable side effects and the unstoppable backsliding of disease. This will take to non-adherence to therapy and increase the hazard of mortality. However, in my sentiment, the multimodal treatments I discuss above are still considered the best solution for GBM as they outweigh the hazards by protracting the patients ‘ survival clip. Accumulative Word Count: 1432 Alternate Treatments Gene therapy Another promising attack of handling GBM is cistron therapy. Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir ( HSV-tk/GCV ) has evolved as a cytotoxic cistron therapy. In this instance, recombinant adenoviral vectors are used to give favorable consequences. Adenoviral HSV-tk ( AdHSV-tk ) is able to assail the residuary dividing tumour cells while go forthing the non-dividing nerve cells unharmed. What ‘s more, it can destruct the malignant neoplastic disease cells through bystander- consequence [ 19 ] . HSV-tk first converts GCV to GCV-monophosphate [ 16,17 ] . Then, cellular kinases farther convert this merchandise to GCV-triphosphate which is a hapless substrate for uninterrupted DNA elongation due to the lacking of 3 ‘ hydroxyl group that is needed to organize phosphodiester bond in chain-elongation-reaction. Ultimately, nonfunctional Deoxyribonucleic acid fragments are formed, triping programmed cell death in malignant neoplastic disease cells [ 18 ] . Nowadays, AdH SV-tk /GCV is going preferred comparisons to conventional radiation therapy and chemotherapy due to its fewer inauspicious effects. Figure 4 The rule of HSV-tk/GCV cistron therapy. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.gtmb.org/VOL4A/GTMBVOL4AHTML/23_Adachi_files/image001.gif Accumulative Word Count: 1575 Table 2 Surveies by Sandmair et Al. and Immonen et Al. demo a singular protraction of endurance in patients treated with AdHSV-tk [ 19 ] . Patients Vector Phase Gene Transfer Method Adverse Effectss Survival ( Months ) Response

SAGE analysis in six major issues in youth sports Essay

SAGE analysis in six major issues in youth sports - Essay Example It will mainly discuss how these issues are generated and why it becomes a conflict for society. (Smith, Smoll and Ptacek)These areas include; In spite of the above mentioned problems, the youth sports program is focused and determined to do a great deal of good for families and children in the area. The first thing they have done in order to counter this issues is the mare fact of acknowledging that this issues do exist and everybody in the youth sport fraternity has to confront these problems. (Houlihan)The other strategy is to understand the important role the youth sports play in the society, and identify and understand the powerful psychological pressure these sports exert on families, children, and the community. Sport is a freely or a voluntarily chosen activity, that is governed by rules activities that involve competition and physical challenging in a mutual challenge to achieve a goal or excellence. Participants are required to abide by the rules of the sport, and produce excellent results at the end. (Richard Thorpe)Some rules may be manipulated and changed to fit new conditions of the game, or due to introduction of better ways of officiating the sport so as to keep the game challenging, and in a way keep and promote fair play within the bounds of decency as far as the game is concerned. This whole idea of physical challenge and excellence in terms of results leads to a number of issues. Ethics issues are defined as conflicts of rights and responsibilities, conflicts of preferred consequences or conflicts of values. (Houlihan)In sports, they are known as sports ethics issues which mostly arise from sports related moral conflicts. Generally, ethics is the study of values theories and principles that are invoked so as to justify one’s choice over another. Ethical theories display categories of moral relativism and moral absolutism beliefs in explaining the world. (Catherine Marshall)Management may be defined as the operation and

Library Media Center Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Library Media Center - Essay Example Information technology enabled libraries to expand their horizons by gaining access to diverse sources of information, which are always ready for updates due to rapid changes of the modern times. Consequently, libraries gained trust from the users of the new generation, who used to have doubt on published resources which can only be timely at the time of their publication. Additionally, extensive sharing has enabled libraries to save costs from spending library budgets due to the explosion in published output (Tanvir, 2005). However, due to the rise of the utilization of information technology in libraries, some students have began to make decisions on which school to go to based on a school library's computer services (Capron, 2002) This has created overwhelming advantages for the large universities over small universities which are still in the process of adapting the latest technology in their school libraries. Hence, the bandwagon of information technology in libraries have somehow deprived small universities from expanding technology services as potential incoming students tend to prefer universities which have already adapted to the latest technological advances. Consequently, this case applies to all libraries as most users prefer "wired" libraries than conventional ones. Hence, the increased reliance on information technology has generated a disadvantage for most conventional libraries. Moreover, as libraries tend to prefer online output of modern resources, conservative library users who still favor the use of books and journals are disadvantaged as the possibility of gaining access to published output of modern sources have become limited. If I were to assume management of a school library center in a school with little or no technological infrastructure, where would you begin your efforts to upgrade computer resources Which library related technology should receive first priority If I were to assume management of a school library center with little or no technological infrastructure, I would begin my efforts in upgrading computer resources by providing an ample amount space for a computer laboratory consisting computers with modern operating systems. Then, the first pace of adapting information technology should begin in providing internet access to this laboratory. Internet access should receive the first priority in school library centers. This is because access to the internet will enable students to get hold of online sources of information of different fields, some of which are rare to find in publications. Also, students can somehow be assured that the information on the internet is updated, as compared to the information disseminated in published resources. For instance, modern lifestyle and the latest technological advances, which may take a year before entering the pages of a published output, can instantly appear on web pages within a matter of minutes or hours. Additionally, most reliable information sources have initiated the World Wide Web, as their internal information service. For example, the European research center CERN uses the Internet in order to disseminate latest research findings to the public (Book, 1994). Hence, as the Internet rapidly spread in the academia, it will serve as a strong source of information in school library

Hume on Suicide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hume on Suicide - Essay Example This paper will begin with the statement that life is the most mysterious thing that humans can face. It is given to us and we have no opportunity to choose to be born or not to be born. The question is if humans have a right to get rid of their life or if a woman, who gifted this life, can take it away? If a person kills him/herself, it is called a suicide, if someone takes the life of another person, it is called a murder. From day to day you can hear in the news about many cases of suicide among people of different age and the question is if these acts can be considered as a human’s right to be a master of his/her life, or as a crime. Nobody can state for sure, if a person have right to commit a suicide and to get rid of the dearest that was given to him. There is an philosophy that suicide is a method to demonstrate to the God the power of humans in a short and strict form. The issue is very controversial and was discussed by many famous philosophers. David Hume is among t hem. He devoted the whole essay â€Å"Of Suicide† to this issue. The reception of Hume's views The unique and controversial idea presented by Hume is that there is no person in this world who will commit suicide if he considers his life to be valuable. Thus, according to Hume, a person has a right to commit a suicide: â€Å"to restore men to their native liberty, by examining all the common arguments against suicide, and showing that, that action may be free from every imputation of guilt or blame; according to the sentiments of all the ancient philosophers† (Essays on suicide and the immortality of the soul. p.3). If to consider this statement from the point of view of social issues and values, the supporters of it can be accused in the misrepresentation of God and religion as well as in immorality. Children are taught in school that only morally weak individuals can commit suicide as suicide is the easiest way to solve the problem. â€Å"Hume’s recent critics read him differently, however, as if his observations concerning the fragility of human life are intended to show (positively) that we have a low value in God’s eyes† (Holden 2005, p.203). Hume states that there are several stages before committing a suicide. A person usually feels disorder and weakness, apathy and stupidity (Muller, 1997). These are signals for the mind that it is time to finish the life. Not all the people in the modern society would agree with Hume on the aspect. According to him, each person who has such problems is a potential suicide committer. Nobody will deny that we always can find a reason for stress and problems are waiting for us every second, thus it is a usual thing to feel such symptoms. Hume also underlined that changes that could occur in life, would bring the unexpected results for sure. Thus, the question is if the changes only push to suicide or vice versa. Let’s imagine person who is about to commit a suicide. He or she is i n the last stage and suddenly the fortune proposes him or her a present, winning the lottery. It is interesting whether this can serve as a reverse point for a person and if it can make him change his mind. Philosophy, religion and everyday life Holden states: †Hume presents arguments for the moral permissibility of suicide that could readily be generalized to license any action, murder not excepted. But no one thinks that murder is permissible, so we have a clear reduction of Hume’s reasoning† (Holden 2005, p.190). However, Hume does not consider a suicide to be a murder. According to Hume, it is unfair to consider the suicide to be a crime. He considered material and animal world and comes to the conclusion that all the things inevitably return to their basic state. This argument is also very controversial. Politicians and the law as well as religion dictate what the citizens should do and how they should behave in the society. In reality each country has its la w and unwritten rules of behavior, the picture of the world, which form the mentality (Flew, 1986).

Social determinants of health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social determinants of health - Essay Example The reason for such a step was to annul the mounting disparities that were arising in the health status of people all over the world. The Commission observed that these disparities were primarily due to the differences in the living conditions of the people as well as the resources they had access to. According to the Commission, inequity is recognized as unfair or unjust disparities that exist in health status that can be averted and so can be solved (Who Regional Office for the Eastern Medi, 2008). The WHO defines social determinants of health as the social conditions in which people live and can have an impact on their health. The factors that influence the possibility of people living a healthy life include poverty, food insecurity, social exclusion, education, poor housing and poor employment (Farrell, McAvoy, Wilde, & Agency, 2008). Structural determinants trace their origin to the socioeconomic and political conditions at both the national and international scale. Such determinants are connected to elements that are governed by sheer power and authority with respect to the ownership and distribution of resources as well as the status and reputation associated with it. These relationships are required to promote health and prosperity in the area. The economic conditions of the country as well as the political, historical and environmental conditions are some of the determinants of health. These determinants are mirrored in the social determinants, which are defined as the living conditions of the people which may influence their lives (Who Regional Office for the Eastern Medi, 2008). Health inequities arise as a result of the marginalization, paucity and bigotry that a certain class of people is subject to. The situation does not exist in developing countries solely. In relatively advanced countries such as Australia, where people have access to, and a greater

Marketing Plan for SBA in developing sounds for mobile games Assignment - 1

Marketing Plan for SBA in developing sounds for mobile games applications - Assignment Example The marketing options to support the diversification strategy are examined in some detail and particular attention is focussed on a promotional and communications strategy designed to build profile and relationships with key market players. These strategies include direct marketing, business-to-business advertising and media relations. SBA now wants to protect itself from the impact of a possible downturn in its core business by diversifying into a new market. It has identified the potentially lucrative mobile games market as a possible opportunity whereby it could create and market music/sound for application in such games. The purpose of this marketing plan is to assist the management committee in reaching a business decision on possible diversification by presenting a detailed and factual analysis of the market situation and by recommending strategies for exploiting any identified market opportunities. Whilst there is a wealth of information and market data on the mobile gaming industry per se there is a dearth of information and market data on the ‘sub market’ of music/ sound supply to this industry. Consequently it will be necessary for the management committee to authorise some primary research in this area to ensure that business decisions are taken on the basis of authenticated data. A mobile game is a video game played on a mobile device such as a mobile Phone or handheld computer. This does not include games played on Handheld video game systems such as PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS are not classified as mobile gaming devices in the context of this plan. (Wikipedia, 2009) The mobile gaming market is growing steadily. The number of worldwide gamers has increased from about 55 million in 2005 to about 183 million in 2008. Global revenue from mobile gaming in 2008 was $6.9bn and is expected to grow to $18 billion by 2014 (Roberts, B. 2009). â€Å"Given

History Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

History - Term Paper Example New Confucianism became the dominant political ideology for nearly 1,000 years to come. In fact, the rise of money economy along with new systems of landholding and taxation that took over in the middle of the Song Dynasty changed the Chinese economy throughout its history† (232). During the Song Dynasty, â€Å"the severe restrictions on women began to appear, and with the rise of Neo-Confucianism, women’s roles began to diminish and to receive strict definition. The boundary of activities for women revolved merely within the family’s needs† (Tierney, 232). II. Discussion â€Å"The feudal China made women more submissive to men† (Fan, 196). It was during this time women stayed at home, took care of the household chores, bear children, reared and nurtured them. â€Å"This became the most significant role of women who were merely associated as men’s attachments, slaves and possessions† (Fan, 196). â€Å"Footbinding became the ultimate to ol to deny women the physical expression of freedom† (Fan, 196). It became a symbol of oppression as women because victims of physical and psychological abuses. â€Å"More often than not, a woman accepted her own physical castration and acknowledged herself as inferior and accepted the negative roles of femininity. Footbinding was therefore the pre-eminent symbol of sexual oppression† (Fan, 196). The late nineteenth century was the period when anti-footbinding campaigns began in China. It was during the visit of Helen Snow to Yan’an in 1939 when she noticed that most of the women in that area, including peasants had bound feet. It was during this time when equality between men and women was declared by women’s associations. The rationale behind the practice of foot-binding among Chinese women is that â€Å"it marked the beginning of the womanhood of a young girl† (Rosanlee, 143). It became a family affair and not just a private occasion as the mothe r of the young girl sought the â€Å"divine blessings prior to the commencement of footbinding† (Rosanlee, 143). It became a part of the family’s heritage, as the â€Å"technique of footbinding varied not just from different regions, but from different families as well, and was sort of knowledge and work that was passed on from mothers to daughters and from aunts to nieces† (Rosanlee, 143). â€Å"Correct attire was a sign of civility of Wen, the woman’s needlework and artifacts, whose meaning encompasses not only literary patterns of artifacts and clothing† (Rosanlee, 144). In the seventeenth century, â€Å"footbinding in China was regarded as: First: an expression of Chinese wen civility; Second: a marker of ethnic boundaries separating the Han from the Manchu; and Third: an ornament of the body that is the correct concealment of the female body† (Rosanlee, 144). III. Conclusion Chiu Chin became a symbol of freedom and liberation among Chin ese women. â€Å"Towards the end of her short life, she became one of the most passionate and influential among revolutionaries and was beheaded by the still-ruling Manchus when she was only 31 years of age. Before her death, she fought valiantly for the rights of the women, the poor and the oppressed†

A woman's beauty put down or power source Essay

A woman's beauty put down or power source - Essay Example The author investigates the present state of the issue and reveals that even the advantages, which women have in comparison to men, for example, their beauty an sex appeal, do not bring any visible benefits to the representatives of fair sex. â€Å"For close to two centuries it has become a convention to attribute beauty to only one of the two sexes: the sex which however fair is always second. Associating beauty with women has put beauty even further on the defensive, morally.† (Sontag 154) The first essential factor that was addressed by feminists is sexualization. The author emphasizes the role of mass media that actively promotes the image of a sexy woman is considered to be the one of the main factors, which contributes to the attitude towards women as towards the toys, which are created specially to have sex with men. The nude woman’s body can be seen everywhere: in the advertising, newspapers, in video clips. Beauty competitions also contribute to the formation o f the attitude towards women as towards objects. Women want to be sexy, but their sexuality finally turns to be a problem for them, a something they can be blamed for. To have sex is still a shame for women and normal for men. â€Å"Hence, when we are discussing women, we are generally discussing the sex interest common to both men and women, and this disturbs our point of view. The fact is that sex interest is a common possession that the unit in human life, even more than among lower animals, is always a male and a female bound together by love. Just as a body can function in sleep or under the influence of a narcotic, for a time seemingly independent of the mind, so a man or a woman can live for a time in seeming independence of the opposite sex; but from any biological point of view, such a separate existence of male and female is only a transient effort† (Barnes 3). The images of slim female bodies with a perfect look are everywhere: on

Promote Equality and Inclusion in Health Essay Example for Free

Promote Equality and Inclusion in Health Essay 1.1 Explain what is meant by * Diversity * Equality * Inclusion Diversity basically means difference. Diversity is about understanding that everyone has things in common but also that everyone is different. Diversity is about embracing those differences because if everything and everyone was the same then life would be boaring. Some examples of diversity are listed below: see more:identify which legislation and codes of practice relating to equality diversity and discrimination * Gender * Race * Culture * Beliefs * Ability * Talent * Personality * Age Equality means that everyone has the right to be treated equally and appropriate for their individual needs. Inclusion is every individuals human right, the aim of inclusion is to embrace everyone irrespective of their differences i.e. sex, race disability, race, religion etc. Everyone should have equal access and opportunities. 1.2 Describe the potential effects of discrimination The effects of discrimination show differently for different people, the effects could fall into the physical or psychological categories. Some potential effects of discrimination are: * Anger * Humiliation * Low self esteem * Frustration * Feelings of hopelessness * Fear * Isolation * Weight loss * Weight gain * Loss of drive/motivation * Increased behaviors * Non participation * Lack of education 1.3 Explain how inclusive practice promotes equality and supports diversity Inclusive practices are about making sure that there are no barriers that exclude people or inhibit them from fully participating in all aspects of everyday life in society. Inclusive practices is about constantly challenging areas of society that discriminate against people that are different, ask asking questions like â€Å"what changes need to happen so that everone can participate no matter what differences them may have?†, then doing whatever it takes to make them changes happen. 2.1Explain how legislation and codes of practice relating to equality, diversity and discrimination apply to own work role. The regulatory bodies that exist in the uk have codes of practice, these codes exist for the benefit of both employers and their workforce, they have been designed to improve the quality of services that people receive in the health and social care field. Below are a few requirements set out in codes of practice that apply to my work role in health and social care: * Protect the rights and promote the interests of people and their careers – this is to include * The respect for individuality * The respect for equal opportunities * The respect for diversity * The respect for dignity * The respect for privacy * To establish and maintain the trust of people and their careers – this is to include * No neglect * No abusing * No exploiting * Non forming of improper personal relationships * No discrimination * Don’t abuse trust of confidentiality * No unnecessary risks should be taken * To uphold public trust and confidence in the social care services – this is to include * Maintaining confidentiality * Using effective communication * Honoring commitments * Declaring conflicts of interest * Non acceptance of gifts * Promote the independence of people while protecting them from danger – this is to include * Recognizing the right to take risks * Following risk assessments * Minimizing risks * Informing others of risk assessments * Respect the rights of people while seeking to ensure that their behavior does not cause harm to themselves or other people – this is to include * Maintenance of rights * Challenging dangerous behavior * Reporting dangerous behavior * Following safe practice * Reporting unsafe practice * Help people to make complaints * Follow health and safety regs * Using power responsibly * Be accountable for the quality of one’s own work and to take responsibility for improving knowledge and skills – this is to include * Meeting standards * Maintaining records * Informing employers of personal difficulties If we follow these codes of practice, then my role as a health and social care worker will be greatly improved, and the way in which I support my service users will ensure that their rights and their support levels are met. 3.3 Describe how to challenge discrimination in a way that promotes change If I was to witness discrimination whether it is sexual, racial or any other form of discrimination, I would challenge it immediately, I could do this by firstly reporting the incident and recording the facts. I would report it to my line manager as they have more power to help change take place. If colleagues were not treating all service users fairly or promoting diversity I could challenge them in a professional manner, I could tell them than their actions are offending not only myself but they are inflicting a form of abuse on the service users themselves, I could advise them that their words and actions could be subject to disciplinary actions . By actively promoting diversity and equality in my work place I could help change people’s mind and their actions and in doing so I would have helped promote change in my work place

Abortion Essay Example for Free

Abortion Essay Abortion is the deliberate ending of a life after fertilisation. For many years the morality of abortion has been disputed with many religions condemning women from having an abortion. Abortion also goes against many ethical theories, such as Rule utilitarianism and Bentham’s Utilitarianism. A religion that is strongly against abortion is Christianity. In Christianity it is believed that life is given by God and he only has the right to end it. The Christian holy book, the bible, forbids intentionally destroying a foetus. It is argued that humans have no authority over the taking of a life as God is the creator and giver of life. Christians believe that human life begins as conception, making abortion wrong as it is murder of an innocent life. Humans are born with the potentiality of becoming an adult, and Christian Church is strongly against the taking of the human’s life as it seen as ‘playing God’. Christianity rejects the taking of an innocent life as it is considered a grave sin as it goes against the Ten Commandments which says ‘Thou shalt not kill’. This makes a foetus a person that not be murdered. Another religion against abortion is Islam. Islam forbids abortion as it seen as ending life, similar to that of Christianity. Islam also forbids the abortion f a severely disable foetus as it is still seen as a human and therefore has the potentiality of becoming an adult. Many women have an abortion as they feel they will not be able to provide for the child. The Qur’an, the Muslim holy book, says that the family must have trust in Allah as he will help them, thus making abortion wrong in the Islamic faith : ‘Kill not your offspring for fear of poverty’, Qur’an 17:32. There are many ethical theories that are against abortion. One of which being rule utilitarianism. A rule utilitarian would be against abortion, as their basis for moral-decision making is following general rules. Killing is wrong and therefore a rule utilitarian would be against it, as rule utilitarianism focuses on keeping rules even if it does not serve ‘the greatest happiness’. Bentham’s utilitarianism would be against abortion. When applying his Hedonic Calculus to an example of a 15 year old, who is considering having an abortion it would be considered wrong to have one. After having the child the girl would feel intense pleasure and happiness and this would override the pain and regret she would feel is she had had the abortion. The richness f not having the abortion would be that the girl would feel the joys of being a mother and the extent of having the child would be the baby’s life would be, bringing pleasure and happiness to family and friends. To conclude, religions such as Christianity and Islam are strongly against abortion on the grounds of abortion is a way of ‘playing God’. Also a rule utilitarian would be strongly against abortion as abortion does not follow the general rule that killing a life is murder. Bentham’s utilitarianism would be also reject abortion when applied to his Hedonic Calculus, as more pleasure would come from having the baby than killing it.

Business Analysis of British Airways (BA)

Business Analysis of British Airways (BA) British Airways plc provides air services operations both at international and domestic level. Its major business is commercial flight. It also caters to various services like cargo freight, mail services and other auxiliary services all over the world. Mainly it runs its business in United States and Europe. It is situated in Harmondsworth, Middlesex, employing 42,755 people all over. It is emerging to be competitive and sustain its integrity as the best airlines which stress superior customer service. It has 300 destinations throughout the world; this extent of operations offers customers with world-class services at various destinations. Its customers range from explorers to executive. The aim of this report is to enable readers to comprehend strategic review and analysis of British Airways by explaining: History of British Airways Current strategic situation Potential Strategic options Recommended strategic direction with rationale Identification of critical success factors Performance measurement criteria The procedure used to compile this report is mainly extensive reading of various text books on corporate strategy, online journal articles and company’s website. All the information, surveys and experimentations included are taken through proper referencing from standard sources. II. Main Body 1. History of British Airways British Airways which originated as Aircraft Transport and Travel started its maiden daily international scheduled air services between London and Paris after World War 1. In 1939, UK government merged British Airways and Imperial Airways to form British Overseas Airways, which became a state owned company. BOAC’s main operation was long haul services and British European Airways was established to serve continental European and domestic market. Both BOAC and BEA expanded their business geographically over a period of time and BOAC started its flights to New York (1946), Japan (1948), Chicago (1954) and west coast of the US (1957). At the same time BEA expanded its network to Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester. In 1970, BEA started its charter airline services, BEA air tours. BAOC and BEA were merged together in 1972 under British Airways Board and in 1974 British Airways was formed. In 1976, British Airways started its first supersonic passenger service jointly with Air France. British Airways was privatised in 1987 and was merged with British Caledonian. In 2002, British Airways CitiExpress was formed by merging British Regional Airlines and Brymon Airways which were wholly owned subsidiaries. Other two wholly owned subsidiaries of British Airways, British Airways Regional and Manx Airlines were also merged with British Airways CitiExpress making it a single entirely owned regional subsidiary airline. In 2003, British Airways sold Dba, its German subsidiary to a German based low cost airline Verwaltungsgesellschaft. Same year British Airways Holidays introduced its first program after re-integrating with British Airways. In 2004, to clear their debt, British Airways sold their 18.6% of stake in Australian airline Qantas for  £1.1billion and also sold their London Eye to Tussauds  £95 million. In 2006, British Airways CitiExpress was renamed as BA Connect and the same year, they sold 14.6% stake in an Indian based business services Provider VVNS Holdings. British Airways also sold its Travel Clinic business to MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad). Meanwhile British Airways came to an agreement with Maley Hungarian Airlines for code sharing on each other’s flights. They also started a flight from London to Calgary, Canada. At the same time they acquired American Airline’s Stake in Iberia Airlines. In 2007, British Airways started flights from London to New quay in UK and also they announced their intention of their investment in 777-200 ERs which were scheduled for delivery in 2009.In 2006 they also sold their regional operations of BA connect to an European regional airlines Flybe. At the same time, British Airways launched its new subsidiary, BA CityFlyer in Lodon city Airport. BA CityFlyer was expected to operate 250 flights a week from the Docklands airport to six UK and European destinations. In May 2007, British Airways placed an order for eight airbus A320 family aircraft which were scheduled to be delivered between 2008 and 2010. Same month they announced their decision to replace 14 oldest Boeing 737’s with Airbus A319 aircraft, but they were also de-listed from New York Stock Exchange in the same month. British Airways launched their services from Paris and Brussels to New York in January 2008 and in April, 2008 from London to New York. Each week British Airways operated 62 flights from Gatwick and 55 flights from Heathrow. To make best of EU-US Aviation agreement, that allowed carriers to fly between any destinations in the EU and US, British Airways started their first commercial flight inJune 2008 from Paris to New York under a new subsidiary airline â€Å"OpenSkies† In July 2008, British Airways bought L’Avion, a French airline, which expected to be integrated with OpenSkies by early 2009. In the same month British Airways and Iberia, a Spain based airline group held talks for the merger of two companies. 2. Current strategic situation 2.1 Internal analysis British Airways deals with the operations of domestic and international scheduled air services for freight and mail, carrying passengers and various supplementary services. The company mainly function in the America and Europe. Company’s operations are also spread across Australia, Middle East, East Asia, India and Africa. Its head office is located in Harmondsworth, Middlesex. As on March 31, 2008 it employed 42,377 people. British airways had 245 aircraft in service at the end of March 2008 in comparison to 242 in March 2007. During the financial year ended March 2008,  £8,753 million (approximately $17,572.3 million) revenue was recorded which was 3.1% increase over 2007,  £8,75 million (approximately $1,756.6 million) was the operating profit which was 57.4% increase over 2007,  £680 million (approximately $1,365.2 million) was the net profit in comparison to  £290 million (approximately $582 million) net profit in 2007. Airlines business and Non-Airlines business are the two segments in which the company has divided its business. Cargo operations, main scheduled passengers and revenue from ancillary services comprises airlines business. In addition to scheduled services, chartered services are also provided by company’s passenger transportation services at both domestic and international level. It’s among the largest scheduled international passenger airlines in the world with airline route network of 300 destinations. More than 33 million passengers travelled through British Airways in FY2008. BA Connect is a wholly owned subsidiary of British airways which operates on regional (UK) routes. Heathrow International Airport is the company’s principal base, where it carries 41% (approx) of airport passengers. Gatwick, London is its second base of operations. It maintains hangers, operates offices and other support services at Gatwick, Heathrow and other UK airports. Space and desks under lease or license is also occupied by the company throughout the UK including Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham. During the financial year ended March 31, 2008, 805,000 tons of cargo was carried by its cargo transportation services to destinations in the America, Europe and other parts of the world. Passenger aircrafts carries the majority of cargo, while the remaining is carried on part-chartered freighter aircraft or leased. A range of services to other air lines is also provided by British Airways like airframe maintenance, consultancy services, cargo handling and computer and communication services. Non-airline businesses comprise mainly Airmiles Travel Promotions (the UKs famous travel loyalty scheme provider) and BA Holidays (company’s subsidiary which offers sightseeing, transfer options, hotels and cars across 250 destinations over the world). 2.2 External Analysis We will briefly analyse the external analysis of British Airways based on â€Å"Porters five forces analysis† and PESTEL analysis. 2.2.0 Porter’s five forces analysis :http://www.themanager.org/Models/p5f.htm Competitor’s rivalry within the industry High. Rivalry is high due to power of buyers and threats of substitutes. It’s the only force which determines industry attractiveness. They compete with other airlines on the same city-pair routes, from charter services, from other modes of transport and from charter services. Virgin Atlantic, easy jet and other European airlines are in tough competition with British Airways as there is a free market for domestic flights operating in the whole of Europe. These airlines are free to decide the fares and operate on any route. There is competition not only in the air but also on ground as well, for instance a 17% decrease in rail journey times between London and Manchester in 2004 and 2007 led to 20% growth in the train’s share in total market. British airways introduced a corporate responsibility centre stage that helps the company to stand out from the other competitors. Threats of new entrants Low. Competitor’s mergers and acquisitions also have the potential to effect their revenue and market position. Very high cost is required by new entrants to start. British Airways have invested a huge amount on infrastructure, computers and online services. Therefore initial investment required to start up this business is very high. Further, its brand name and strong market position reduces the threat of new entrants. Bargaining power of suppliers High. Main suppliers of airline industry are for fuel, in-flight services and aircraft. The cost of changing suppliers proves very high in airlines business. The suppliers generally have a powerful brand in Airlines industry. For instance, like British Airways have Boeing and Airbus aircrafts, therefore they need to avail the services and maintenance of aircrafts from them. Bargaining power of buyers High. British Airways customers do don’t have any control over the prices or they lack bargaining power. However, they are very powerful as very high competition prevails in the airlines market. Their top competitors include Ryanair Holdings plc, Ryanair, Air France KLM, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Lufthansa etc and many times these airlines provide competitive offers to the customers with very low prices. Threat of substitutes Medium. The airlines industry has suffered a high loss of customer confidence after September 11, 2001 disaster in New York. There is no direct replacement available for airlines for long/overseas journeys. Coaches, Trains or ship/ferries can be used for short journeys. Rapid development of technology can be an indirect substitute of air transportation. According to International AirTransport Authority, Corporate Air Travel Survey 2002, for last 12 months â€Å"no frills/low cost† airlines were used by 1/3 of all business travellers basically for cost benefit. Further, video conferencing was used by 37% to save money and travel time. PESTEL The beginning of the new millennium has made the airlines industry witness the most difficult time it has ever faced. Political instability and unprecedented crisis have resulted from terrorist attacks in September 11, 2001 in New York and July 7, 2005 in London together with wars in Iraq. These incidents resulted in new security regulations from the US and EU and customer travelling confidence have also reduced. Economic factors are of vital importance. Fourth quarter of 2008 showed a 2.0% lower GDP than fourth quarter of 2007. This is mainly due to the recent credit crises and thereby economic slowdown. Company showed an operating profit of  £89 million as on 31st December’2008, which is 88% down compared to 2007. Further,  £70 million was the loss before tax for the same period and fuel cost went up by 48.4% to  £2,244 million. It is mainly due to economic weakness and fall in the value of sterling. Impacts of social factors vary from country to country. Size of potential market and customer’s needs are affected by them. Demographic changes have led to the growth of â€Å"grey† market which is incurring more expenses on travelling and leisure. Tastes, fashions and lifestyle are also changing. So as to maximize its capability to operate and plan in a most effective scheduling and routes possible, British airways is using route planning software. Use of standard technology will minimize cost and provide quality service to freight customers and passengers. (Gomm, 2005). Technology also enables to reduce the personal costs like automated check-in processes and e-ticketing and thereby enables the airlines to offer standard services with less human resource. BA is the first airline to introduce a unique technological system called â€Å"Microwave Landing Technology†, which increases the rate of safe landing during low visibility by 20%. Power of Trade Union is an important legal factor affecting British Airways. British Airways is aware of the consequences caused by Trade Unions (August 2004 and August 2005 strike actions). Factors which British Airways must consider are legal regulations on customer rights, employee rights and rise in ecological and environmental issues. 2.3 SWOT British Airways which has strong international operations network with 300 destinations across the world has its own strengths and weaknesses. Here is the SWOT analysis which helps to understand their business scenario better. Positive Negative INTERNAl Strengths Weakness Strong geographical presence at international level High employee productivity High Service Quality Large Airport Presence Strong operating performance first-rate new fleet of aircrafts Use of High end technology Competitive and quality customer service Bad performance at key markets in terms of revenue growth High Debt of the company Highly Dependent on Fuel Lack of effective marketing strategyEXTERNAlOpportunityThreats Growing global tourism industry and an increase in international travellers Growing air cargo industry EU-US aviation agreement Buracratic systems and management poor decision making Drastic change in technology and customer behaviour Intense competition from low cost airlines Increase in fuel cost Economic slowdown due to credit crunch 2.4. Current strategy â€Å"One Destination seeks to ensure our customers fly confident that, together, we are acting responsibly to take care of the world we live in.† is the vision of British Airways. Their corporate responsibility vision is to become the world’s most responsible airline and they have developed guiding principles describing what they are doing to achieve this goal. Leading the industry towards finding innovative solution is their determination. They plan to continually review how they fly, what they fly and what they buy to become the most responsible and efficient airlines in the world. The British Airways has developed a strategy where their main concern is to establish themselves in Terminal 5 and also acquire new aircrafts depending upon their financial performance by March 2010. They have adopted an approach to truly deliver this vision, uniting all areas of the organisation, divided into 4 major pillars:EnvironmentThey aim to minimise their impact on the environment, including their contribution to air quality, waste, climate change and noise. British Airways was the first airline to report its environmental performance in 1992 since they recognise the impact they have on our planet while delivering socially and economically vital service of air transport. So as to become the world’s most responsible airline, their environment strategy aims to minimise and manage the environmental impacts. Main focus: How they fly Efficient operation to minimise their impact on environment. What they fly Adopting recent technology including alternative fuels, airframes andengines to minimise their impact. What they buy Using economic tools like emissions trading for fully reflecting the cost oftheir environmental impact. Goals across these areas are: By 2010 landfill by zero waste in the UK. By 2025 they aim to improve the carbon efficiency by 25% reducing the carbon dioxidefrom 111 to 83 grammes per passenger per kilometre. By 2015* average noise per flight to reduce by 15%†¢By 2050 their net CO2 emissions to reduce by 50%*measured as the network average quota count (QC) for combined landing and take-off cycle. Comprehensive plan developed to achieve the Goals†¢Climate change British Airways overall strategy is to ensure maximum contributionto their share of global carbon dioxide emission reductions by 2050†¢Waste Focus on recycling, reducing, reusing and responsible waste disposal. Noise Their impact on the local communities nearby airport to be reduced. Air quality Air quality for communities nearby airport to be improved. Community Providing support to local communities in the country where British Airways operate is the main belief of the company. Conservation projects, small individual programmes, 120 international communities and various charities were helped by BA’s support. London Benchmarking Group reported British Airways direct and in-kind donations of  £5.7m last year. British Airways offer variety of support like cargo space, funding, fund raising events, merchandise, free flights and excess baggage. Their main concerns for support are Sustainable Tourism and Heritage, Education and Youth Development, Environment and Supporting employees. Marketplace British Airways suppliers and customers are involved in one destination in their marketplace pillar, to facilitate building up more sustainable business and to persuade dedication to corporate responsibility. Issue covered by their marketplace pillar comprises: How they fly Reliable customer What they buy Responsible procurement What they fly Sustainable products and services Goals across these areas are: 10% of customers to be encouraged to counterbalance their carbon on ba.com by 2012. By 2012 100% of their strategic suppliers to be audited for ethical practices. Corporate responsibility to be used as a decision criteria by 75% of corporate customersby 2010. Workplace British Airways aim to provide a work environment that engages, develops, motivates and support their colleagues. Encouraging employees to be committed to Corporate Responsibility is the main aim of British Airways workplace As employees plays a vital role in making up the airline and they need them onboard One destination. This commitment is not only going to help them deliver a great place to work, rather it will also ensure quality customer service in the industry. Issues covered by their workplace pillar comprise: How they fly Responsible colleague What they buy Tools to do the job What they fly Invest in people Our goals across these areas are: Every year British Airways 50% employees donate money to charity through ‘Pay Roll Giving’. Every year British Airways 50% employees donate time to communities and charities. 75% of employees committed to delivering our corporate responsibility goals by 2010 British Airways have recognized performance objectives to evaluate their development in each of these four sections. British Airways aim to deliver its corporate responsibility strategy by a programme plan developed including over 80 programme level activities and hundreds individual projects. Business Plan BP10Bring Terminal 5 aliveIn order to improve the operational performance and enhance customer experience British Airways main concern is successful delivery of terminal 5 at Heathrow base. Terminal 5 denote their sole biggest challenge and change. British Airways â€Å"Fit for 5† programme was set to be accomplished in the 1st year, which involved essential agreement modification and implementation on highly superior work performance all over the Heathrow terminals. BA Basics and Brilliance The British Airways board aims to offer â€Å"Brilliance† in its activities and deliver the â€Å"BA Basics† constantly. Business Plan 10 (BP10) primarily focuses on baggage performance and punctuality with additional plans to recover â€Å"BA Basics† in various areas for the long term. British Airways aims to offer â€Å"Brilliance† to their customers in numerous vital areas such as their customer services, Terminal 5, ba.com, their premium customer experience and their network and schedule from London. Competitive cost base Main priority of BP 10 is cost control; they expect savings from various areas of business too. The need to decrease considerable deficit position and resolution of pension’s problem is predominantly acknowledged in BP10. It’s quite difficult for them to achieve a competitive cost base if they are to accomplish their growth and investment plans. Invest in growth In the first year of the plan they campaign to commence a competition for the new long haul aircraft, if the pension’s deficit satisfactorily resolves. In order to meet their explicit growth plans they intended to secure first of these aircrafts in 2009, whilst the replacement of fleet will be started by 2011 with the second batch. The strategic significance of the operations in London and Gatwick airport is recognized in BP10. The key to British Airways network development programme from London airport is the operations maintenance of BA Connect’s London city, as part of British Airways regional business sale to Flybe. BP10 enablers The vital aspect behind implementation of BP10 is constant engagement and participation of British Airways’ people. A major segment of British Airways broader communication strategy was local face-to-face communication as it was accepted to be the most effectual engagement. The second major possibility for change in the business remained IT. British Airways investment plans in this sector comprised constant advancements in the functionality and usability of ba.com, Terminal 5, encouraging a variety of departmental change programmes and automating corporate processes plus simplifying services by use of employee self service. 3. Potential Strategic options After going through BA’s vision, goal and their current strategy, we are of the opinion that BA’s current strategy is very competitive and will definitely help British Airways to achieve their goals. In addition to the above strategy, we also have identified few more potential strategic options which could be helpful for BA’s further growth. The accessibility to enormous products and services creates an opportunity to exploit them appropriately. Making the most of global variations and technological trends serves as a potential opportunity to work with. The potential strategic options which British Airways could utilize for further development of business could be Virtual reality, which may serve as an innovative simulation, share expertise and attaining network software. Some of the potential strategic options for British Airways are discussed below:Global tourismThere are many factors which have a very strong influence on the airline industry and one of them is trends in global tourism industry. As per the World Tourism Organization survey, approximately 898 million international tourists travelled globally in 2007 which is 6% higher than the previous year (846 million- 2006). As per the Tourism Satellite Account research which is done by World Travel and Tourism council, it is been predicted that world travel and tourism will grow at an average rate of 4.3% per annum for the period of 2008-2017 and will generate $13 trillion for that period. Rising Air Cargo Industry There is a tremendous growth in the Air Cargo market and the volume of the business is doubling in every 10 years time. As per the International Civil Aviation Organization, the cargo business is expected to grow at an average rate of 6.5% per annum in next 20 years. Approximately 22.17 million tons of freight was carried throughout the world and it is expected to grow up to 60million in 2017. In 2008, BA transported 805000 tons of goods and these numbers will increase tremendously in coming years due to its operations presence in most part of the world and will be benefited by the growing trend in cargo market. Open Skies Agreement Open Skies aviation agreement between EU and US is an air transport agreement, which allows airlines of both EU and US to fly between any points among EU, US and non EU countries like Switzerland. This is the replacement for the previous agreement made between US and each European country. To take advantage of this agreement, British Airways started new subsidiary airlines â€Å"OpenSkies† and for the first time it started to fly direct flights from continental Europe to the US. The first flight of open skies was on June 2008, from Paris to New York. The new agreement has enabled British Airways to increase its operations in the key regions. Several Strategic options can also be identified with the help of the Ansoff Matrix analysis discussed below. Ansoff Matrix Market Penetration Market penetration strategy involves consolidating and protecting/building the existing product/services in the existing market. It occurs when a company with its existing product penetrates a market. This strategy starts with the existing customers of the organization. This strategy can be used to increase sales without losing focus on their existing product/services. British Airways can penetrate in the market through their joint business agreement with Iberia and American airways thereby gaining competitors customers, by upgrading the quality of their services and also increasing the frequency of the flights in the existing market. It is comparatively cheaper to retain existing customers than finding new ones. Product Development Product development strategy emphasises on building a new product with existing and new capabilities beyond current expectations in the existing market. In the present scenario of economic downturn, it is quite difficult to introduce new product considering the cost involved in developing new product and it is risky to predict customer reaction too. British airways have already invested a huge amount in setting up its infrastructure especially in Terminal 5. They should rather emphasise on maintaining and upgrading the quality of present services. Market Development Market development strategy focuses on finding new segments, territories, new uses of existing market with existing product/services. British Airways may go for new market development considering the current strategic situation of the market. However, as the company already operates in more than 300 destinations therefore we would recommend them to concentrate on maintaining the quality of services at the existing markets thereby further build up its position. Diversification Diversification concentrates on developing a new product in new market with existing and new capabilities beyond current expectations. Since British Airways have numerous services operating almost all over the world, it would involve high degree of uncertainty and financial risk to go for diversification. Mergers and acquisitions could be an important alternative for further growth. However the current financial situation of British Airways does not allow the same as they have already invested a huge amount on its current projects and it might prove to be difficult and risky too. Although British Airways may consider this decision once the company’s position is strengthened and there is potential for growth and acquisition in the market. It may be a useful strategy in order to attain fast market growth. Thus the strategy which we would advise British Airways is to concentrate on existing market and existing services and accomplishing its ongoing investment project. So as to achieve further growth in the market British Airways should make the best possible use of its investment projects and strengthen its brand name by providing new offers to the current customers and appealing to new niche market. 4. Recommended strategic direction with rationale After discussing the current strategy and potential strategic options for British Airways, we would like to further recommend the following strategic directions:Develop opportunitiesBritish Airways should try to continue their business tie-ups in the new market once they regain their financial stability. Though BA’s talks on merger with Quantas Airways Limited failed, they need to strengthen their existing joint business with Quantas to have a good hold on the Australian market. They need to concentrate on Asian and Middle East market which has a high potential for growth. Distributing the risk British Airways should concentrate on their Cargo industry which has got a great potential. They should also try to reach more markets through code sharing with other airlines which is a cost effective option. Manipulating strengths British Airways have got a very strong base in Heathrow Airport, UK. BA’s Terminal 5 presence will help them to maintain high standard of service as it will enable them to handle increased volumes of customers and baggage. Upgrading Customer experience They should focus on providing better facilities like T5 lounge, which provides premium customers better comfort and luxury like a private members club. They should strengthen their customer base by constantly upgrading their flight schedules, offering better competitive packages for customers and being competitive with the facilities provided on board so as to attract more customers and thereby creating an opportunity for increasing revenue. Controlling cost of expansion plan British Airways has been moderately successful by following its effective strategies. Currently, we would advise BA to control its expenditure on buying new fleets and expanding to new destinations. They also need to reduce the cost of high aircraft utilization so as to minimize environmental risks. Services British Airways needs to concentrate on providing value for money to the customers. There is an intense competition in the market from Virgin Airlines, Singapore Air, KLM, Quantas and Emirates who also fly in the same route. They might lose their customers if they do not provide something unique from their competitors. These days the number of low cost airlines is increasing through out the world in both domestic and international market. Hence, cost effective and better services should be provided. Passenger friendly airports It is of extreme importance for passengers to feel that their purchasing needs are met. British Airways should aim to establish an image of a major international hub with standard facilities.