Identity and Self Branding Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 14

Identity and Self Branding - Research Paper Example Subculture and personal experience tend to shape ones way of life because it defines consistency of one’s life circle based on cultures and social life. As Muslim, I grew up from a humble background of a family of three. Muslim life like any other has a distinction on responsibilities based on ones gender. Being the first born son and the only son in the family, a lot of responsibilities was bestowed on me. In our culture sons are considered the pillars of the family and are deemed to be providers and protectors as fathers in their marriage lives. Sons are viewed as a way of insurance to the parents since they are believed to in the future take care of their parents. Moreover, families with the higher number of sons than daughters help cut on financial needs as well protecting the family’s honor. The clarity of gender as the subculture is viewed differently according to different tribes in Muslim. There are tribes that value females than males and vice versa. The male qualities shaped my understanding and instilled the knowledge of self-awareness as far as gender is concerned. Religion in my tribe and probably the entire Muslim culture is taken with a lot of concern. Every child in my household was dedicated to prayers that took place at specific times throughout the day. Parents designate duties according to gender where sons were to be taught by their father and daughters by their mothers. My father had great knowledge and understanding of Koran and shared a lot about religion with me. Religious education due to the existence of Maktab was also taught in schools which placed emphasis in the mastering of the procedures and rituals of prayer. Religion provided me with the appropriate skills of understanding the need for obedience and respect for Allah. This further instilled a positive assumption about me by my elders and friends. There are breakdowns of how each life stage was built based on the family type.

Police Corruption Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Police Corruption - Research Paper Example ainly due to what is known as the â€Å"blue code of silence.† This code of silence is the unwritten code by which police believe that it is better to not report unethical and criminal conduct by ones’ police brethren for a variety of reasons. Some of the reasons are that the police feel a sense of solidarity with one another, a sense of kinship and brotherhood, and this makes it difficult to report a fellow officer. Other reasons are that the culture of individual police forces encourages this silence by tacitly instilling, from the first day of training, the importance of developing this code of silence. Another reason is that police see one another as all dealing with the same level of corrupt citizenry, with breeds sympathy with one another and distrust of the citizens, which also makes it less likely to report misbehavior – the citizen probably â€Å"had it coming.† Still another reason is that there is a sense of fear that is instilled into the offic ers, as officers see whistle-blowers suffering social, psychological and career consequences from their willingness to report, and these officers do not want the same to happen to them. Consequently, it is difficult to measure the level of corruption, because police are not likely to report each other. It is further difficult to measure the level of corruption, due to the fact that individual police forces are reluctant to report corruption within their ranks, because the citizens put pressure on corrupt forces, which makes it more difficult to do their jobs. That said, corruption has been investigated and there has been successful policing of the police by independent agencies that gather knowledge about the forces and are able to use this knowledge to obtain convictions against police who engage in criminal behavior. Police corruption can run the gamut, from accepting gifts and gratuities, to using excessive force or drinking on the job. Wright (2010) has classified the types of corruptions that can

The Buddhist Five Precepts In A Nutshell Philosophy Essay

The Buddhist Five Precepts In A Nutshell Philosophy Essay Many of us know that negative emotions and behaviour are unwholesome and lead to suffering, and that, in contrast, positive emotions and behaviour are wholesome and lead to happiness. Yet, even with this knowledge, few of us are dedicated practitioners, following the Buddhist Five Precepts faithfully and sincerely on a daily basis. In other words, there is a gap between knowledge and practice. The purpose of Dharma education is not the accumulation of knowledge, but the use and application of knowledge to bring about change within us. The teachings of Dharma help us develop a good heart and true happiness for the benefit of ourselves as well as for others. True happiness requires training and a certain degree of inner discipline. We need to train the intellect and feelings, as well as the heart and mind. In this process we undergo a transformation of our attitudes, and our entire outlook, as well as our approach to living. Buddhism provides the framework and guidance to work towards this transformation. However, such transformation does not come naturally. As human beings, we have many negative mental traits; we need to address and counteract each of these and there is no easy way out. We are unlike computers, where a simple push of a keyboard button can delete a negative trait from our mind. As humans, we need to apply a variety of approaches and methods, such as observing the precepts, meditation and so forth to deal with our varied and complex negative mental traits. Observing the Five Precepts is one of the very basic methods, a set of guiding principles with which to counteract our negative traits. The Five Precepts also help to guide our bodily actions, our speech and our mental attitudes. It is a systematic means of actualising our aim of purifying our body, speech and mind. The process of transformation requires commitment and perseverance. We need to constantly apply various techniques and take time to familiarise ourselves with the practices. Determination and inner discip line are important qualities we need to develop if we are to bring about successful transformation. The training process encompasses faith, understanding, practice, experience and realisation. First, we need to have a certain degree of faith to enter the path. We need to have faith that the Five Precepts will lead us to happiness and that we can uphold them. Next, we need to learn the value of upholding the precepts, and how this can be accomplished by understanding their contents and principles. Learning the precepts helps us to understand the importance of becoming more ethical in our behavior and increasing our mental discipline. Subsequently, we transform this knowledge into action, that is, keeping the precepts sincerely on a daily basis. Determination and inner discipline are very important in upholding the precepts. By learning, understanding and upholding the precepts, we change our perception of the world, and most importantly of ourselves. As a result, our interactions with others and the way we conduct our daily lives will become positive, fruitful and light. Such experi ence and realisation will further enhance our understanding and faith in the precepts. In the beginning, positive changes may be very minor. The negative influences that we have held for so long within our minds remain strong, leading us to continue to violate the precepts. We have to be patient with ourselves and keep working at it. Little by little, our life will come into alignment with wisdom. With growing wisdom, we will become more mindful (aware) of our thoughts and actions. Negative actions that we once committed with little or no awareness are suddenly revealed to us. As a result, it becomes easier to maintain the precepts. Just like learning to ride a bicycle, we will fall often. However, with constant practice, we will get there eventually. Observing the Five Precepts is an ethical discipline which will require constant effort from ourselves, as old negative habits are replaced with new, positive ones. We need to work with ourselves and be patient. No one saves us but ourselves, and the Buddha merely guides the way! 3.1 THE BUDDHIST FIVE PRECEPTS IN A NUTSHELL The Five Precepts were recommended by the Buddha for anyone who wishes to lead a life of peace, while also contributing to the happiness of family and society. The Five Precepts are voluntarily observed by lay Buddhists; they are not commandments that have to be strictly abided by. They form the basis of universal morality outlined in the Noble Eightfold Path, which is very important, especially when one is beginning to follow the Buddhist way. WHAT ARE THE FIVE PRECEPTS? THE FIRST PRECEPT: ABSTAIN FROM KILLING Respect Life, Not Kill and Being Compassionate I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking life, so that I will practise compassion by protecting and benefiting all life. THE SECOND PRECEPT: ABSTAIN FROM STEALING Respect Personal Property, Not Steal and Being Generous I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking what is not given, so that I will practise generosity by sharing and giving away my material and spiritual wealth. THE THIRD PRECEPT: ABSTAIN FROM SEXUAL MISCONDUCT Respect Personal Relationships, Not Indulge the Senses and To Be Content I undertake the training rule to abstain from misconduct regarding objects and subjects of sense pleasures, especially adultery, so that I will practices contentment and channel my energies towards spiritual development. THE FOURTH PRECEPT: ABSTAIN FROM UNTRUTHFUL SPEECH Respect Truth, Not Lying and Being Truthful in Speech I undertake the training rule to abstain from false speech, and other unwholesome modes of speech, so that I will communicate positively. THE FIFTH PRECEPT: ABSTAIN FROM CONSUMING INTOXICATING DRINKS AND DRUGS Respect Mental and Physical Well-being, Not Taking Intoxicants and Being Mindful I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking alcohol, and that which causes intoxication, so that I will be more healthy and not break the precepts through loss of mindfulness. 2.1.1 The First Precept: ABSTAIN FROM KILLING I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking life The pali word panna means that which breathes. A living being is one that has breath and consciousness, including human beings, animals and insects. Plants are excluded as they do not have consciousness.This precept prohibits the killing of living beings. In broader terms, it should also be understood to prohibit injuring, maiming, and torturing a living being. Conditions Under Which A Violation Is Considered to Have Occurred à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Object: The fact and presence of a living being, human or animal à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Knowledge: The knowledge that the object is a living being à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Intention: The intent or resolution to kill à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The Act: The act of killing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Consequence: A resulting death Exceptions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ By accident no intention The act of killing can take place through action of the body, or speech, such as commanding someone to kill, resulting in the death of a living being. The key factor for the violation of this precept is intention. The mental factor is the propeller while the body only functions as the channel for actualising the intent to kill. A complete act of killing constituting a full violation of the precept needs to involve the five conditions stated earlier. Let us first look at the first condition: Object. There is violation only when a living being is present and one perceives it as a living being. Here is a straightforward example to illustrate this idea. In a demonstration or riot where mobs are very angry with a political leader, they might burn the photos and/ or slash the statue of the political leader. In this case, there is no killing as the rioters only perceive the photo or statue as a living being. Intending to kill one being and killing another by mistake also does not constitute a full transgression. The second condition, Knowledge, denotes that killing occurs only when the killer is aware that the object of his action is a living being, not a photo or statue. So, if we step on an insect we do not see, the knowledge (awareness) of a living being is not there and hence full violation has not occurred. The third condition, Intention, ensures that the taking of life is intentional. There is no violation if there is no intent to kill, for example accidentally killing a fly when we try to keep it away. The fourth condition holds that the action must be directed towards killing and the fifth, that the being (human or animal) dies as a result of this action. Full violation of the precept is not deemed to have happened if there is no resulting death. Underlying Motivations for Killing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Greed à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Hatred à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Delusion An example of killing motivated primarily by greed is killing for material gain, such as hunting; or to gain enjoyment, such as fishing or eating seafood. Killing motivated by hatred is evident in cases of vicious murder out of strong aversion, cruelty, or jealousy. Killing motivated by delusion can be seen in the case of animal sacrifices in certain religious practices, or in holy wars, where one kills followers of other religious beliefs, and believing that to be a sacred act. How the Precept is Violated à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Committed by oneself à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ By commanding or instructing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Rejoicing in the act The precept could be violated by taking a life, or by commanding someone else to do so verbally or with gestures. A common example of instructing someone else to kill on our behalf is by ordering live seafood in a restaurant. Sometimes we may rejoice in the act of killing, for example, rejoicing in the murder of someone we do not like. When reading the news that an enemy has been killed, we must be careful not to rejoice in it. The Intensity / Severity of Violation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Spiritual Nobility of the victim à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Size of animal à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Type of animal There is a difference between killing a human being and an animal. Killing a human being is certainly a more serious violation than killing an animal. Within the category of humans, it is a more serious violation to kill ones parent or benefactor, than a stranger. In the case of animals, the severity of violation is said to be proportional to the size of the animal, that is, killing a larger animal is more reprehensible than killing a small animal (such as a tiny insect). It also matters if the animals are domesticated or wild, and if they have a gentle or vicious temperament. Of all killings, the most culpable is the killing of an arahant/arahantini (a fully liberated being), and of ones parents. The Purpose of the this Precept à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ To respect life à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ To have compassion The purpose of this precept is to respect all living beings. In doing so, we learn to be kind and compassionate to all living beings and live in harmony with them. By upholding the precept of not killing, we give all living creatures security and freedom from danger. Quotes from Scriptures Giving up killing, we abstain from taking the life of any living being; laying aside stick and sword, modest and merciful, he lives kind and compassionate to all living beings. (DN.1) There is the case where a disciple of the noble ones, abandoning the taking of life, abstains from taking life. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the first gift, the first great gift original, long- standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning that is not open to suspicion, will never be open to suspicion, and is unfaulted by knowledgeable contemplatives and priests. (AN8.39) The First Mindfulness Training by Thich Nhat Hanh Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life. Thich Nhat Hanh has extended the First Precept of not killing humans and animals (sentient beings) to the protection of plants and minerals, which are technically not sentient beings though they are part of nature. The essence of observing this precept is to respect life, cultivate loving kindness and to live in harmony with our ecosystem and environment. In view of the consumerist world we live in, driven often by greed, this mindfulness training can help in our reflection on how we live, and how our actions contribute to harming our environment and the planet. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE FIRST PRECEPT What is the Buddhist perspective on suicide? Chan Master Sheng Yen: According to the Buddhist teaching of cause and effect, since one has not realised the truth of all phenomena, or is not liberated from life and death, suicide is pointless. When ones karmic retribution is not exhausted, death by suicide only leads to another cycle of rebirth. This is why Buddhists do not support suicide, and instead, encourage constructive living, using this life to diligently practise good, thus changing the present and the future for the better. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama: Some people commit suicide; they seem to think that there is suffering simply because there is the human life, and that by cutting off the life there will be nothingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ But, according to the Buddhist viewpoint, thats not the case; your consciousness will continue. Even if you take your own life, this life, you will have to take another body that again will be the basis of suffering. If you really want to get rid of all your suffering, all the difficulties you experience in your life, you have to get rid of the fundamental cause (greed, hatred and delusion) that gives rise to the aggregates that are the basis of all suffering. Killing yourself isnt going to solve your problem. Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda: Taking ones own life under any circumstances is morally and spiritually wrong. Taking ones own life owing to frustration or disappointment only causes greater suffering. Suicide is a cowardly way to end ones problems of life. A person cannot commit suicide if his mind is pure and tranquil. If one leaves this world with a confused and frustrated mind, it is most unlikely that he would be born again in a better condition. Suicide is an unwholesome or unskillful act since it is encouraged by a mind filled with greed, hatred and delusion. Those who commit suicide have not learnt how to face their problems, how to face the facts of life, and how to use their mind in a proper manner. Such people have not been able to understand the nature of life and worldly conditions. Ven. S. Dhammika, Good Question Good Answer, 2008, p26: When one person murders another they might do it out of fear, anger, fury, greed or some other negative emotions. When a person kills himself or herself they might do it for very similar reasons or because of other negative emotions like despair or frustration. So whereas murder is the result of negative emotions directed towards another, suicide is the result of negative emotions directed towards oneself, and therefore would be breaking the Precept. However, someone who is contemplating suicide or has attempted suicide does not need to be told that what they are doing is wrong. They need our support and our understanding. We have to help them understand that killing themselves is perpetuating their problem, surrendering to it, not solving it. To keep the precept of not killing, must we be vegetarian? There are various opinions among the different Buddhist traditions with regards to this question. The Buddha, himself, was not a vegetarian. Traditionally, Theravadin monastics live on alms food; they receive whatever is put into their alms bowl. In other words, they have no control over their diet. However, in the Jivaka Sutta (MN 55), it is mentioned that the Buddha only allowed meat to be taken on the condition that it is pure in three aspects that the monastic: 1. did not see the animal being killed 2. did not hear the cry of the animal being killed 3. did not suspect that the animal was killed specifically for the monk/nun Although these conditions technically apply only to monastics, they are often used as a reasonable guide by devout lay people. The Mahayanists relate these three types of purified meat to the nurturing of compassion. If we see the suffering of the dying animal, we should be compassionate towards them and try to relieve their suffering. It is against the principle of compassion if we do not help them, and indeed, even go ahead to consume their meat. Exceptions have also appeared in Tibetan Buddhism. In Tibet, people traditionally lived as nomads and it was, and probably still is, difficult to grow vegetables in the high altitudes, making it difficult to be vegetarian. Hence, monastics from the Theravadin and Tibetan traditions are generally not vegetarian. When Buddhism spread to China, the idea of compassion was developed further in the Chinese Mahayanist tradition, and the Bodhisattva vow of not taking meat was strongly emphasised and made compulsory. Chinese Mahayanist monastics are therefore vegetarian, and so are many devotees who have taken the Bodhisattva precepts. Today, more and more Theravadin monastics are encouraging vegetarianism, and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama also encourages Tibetan monastics living outside Tibet, and who have control over their diet, to be vegetarian. In my opinion, vegetarianism should be encouraged, but not imposed on others. Are we not contributing to killing by eating meat? Isnt the meat in restaurants and supermarkets killed for our consumption? Let us look at the example of poultry farming. In the old days, chickens were allowed to roam freely and grow in a natural environment. They were only sent for slaughter when naturally fully grown. In other words, the production of meat was not human-controlled but based on the natural growth of the animals. Today, driven by demand in capitalist economies, poultry is produced in controlled high-tech conditions. Poultry and other animals are now raised in large-scale factory farms, deprived of natural conditions which allow them to move around and seek food freely in a natural environment. They are fed solely by humans and/or machines and kept in cages or pens, just big enough for them to stand in, day and night. Driven by human greed, some poultry farmers, for example, speed up the growth of the chickens to generate more income, causing tremendous pain and suffering to the poultry. By creating longer days and shorter nights with the use of indoor lighting, the animals are misled into eating more often than normal. Under these factory farming conditions, these animals suffer greatly. Some reports say these animals attack each other, pecking out of frustration and wounding their mates, causing each other to bleed and suffer. To prevent them from attacking each other, farmers cut their beaks off, inflicting even more pain and suffering to the poor chickens. During festive seasons, there is massive slaughter of animals to satisfy the sensual pleasures of humans. So, if we look deeply into the consumption of meat, we could be indirectly contributing to the act of killing, because the production of meat today is dependent on demand in the market. Therefore, if we can reduce our meat consumption, it will certainly reduce the demand for meat, and thereby minimising animal slaughter. If we are truly concerned for the well-being of animals and not wanting to contribute to the cruelty of modern industrial farming, we will naturally develop a kind heart and compassion towards animals. The practice of the First Precept to abstain from killing is a celebration of life. We do not support any act of killing, and we can extend it further by teaching others not to. Being mindful of what we eat and what we buy, and making an effort in our diet are ways of preventing killing. Many Buddhists find that as they develop in their spiritual path, they have a natural tendency to become vegetarian. By doing so, they live up to the Buddhas teaching on loving kindness. This energy of loving kindness brings feelings of safety, health and joy to them and all sentient beings. What did the Buddha say about vegetarianism? (Taken from Ven. Sangye Khadros article, Mandala Magazine, June 2007) There is a lot of debate within Buddhism about this issue. There are some Buddhists who are vegetarian (no meat or fish), and some who are vegans (no animal products at all, including dairy products and eggs). And there are some Buddhists who do eat meat. What did the Buddha himself say about eating meat? Well, it seems that he said different things at different times. This may sound like he contradicted himself, but the Tibetans say that the Buddha was a very skilful teacher who understood the minds and needs of his listeners and would teach them accordingly. So to some, the Buddha said it was okay to eat meat, provided that they did not kill the animal themselves, or order it to be killed. But to others, the Buddha said that if you are a follower of the bodhisattva path, and truly compassionate, you should not eat meat. To these people he spoke of the harmful consequences of doing so. In fact, there is an entire chapter in the Lankavatara Sutra (a Mahayana sutra which has been translated into English) in which the Buddha spoke very strongly against meat-eating. So as I understand it, the Buddha did not actually forbid his followers to eat meat, but left it up to each person to decide this issue for him/herself. In a way, that was compassionate of the Buddha, because some people live in places and conditions where it would be extremely difficult to abstain from meat, and if they had to be vegetarian in order to be Buddhist, they probably would not be able to do it. Also, some people are unable to be strictly vegetarian because of their physical make-up or their health. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is an example of this. He tried to be vegetarian, but his health suffered and his doctors advised him to eat meat. But I am sure he eats as little as possible, because in his teachings he often encourages people (especially the Tibetans, who are quite fond of meat) to either give up or at least cut down on the consumption of meat. His advice seems to be working, because I have noticed in the last few years an increase in the number of Tibetans who have given up meat, as well as Tibetan-run organisations promoting vegetarianism. I even heard that Sera Monastery in South India is a meat- free zone! Is abortion a form of killing? Isnt it better to end a pregnancy if the couple is not ready? Abortion is medically defined as the expulsion of a not yet viable foetus in humans as well as animals before the end of pregnancy, during which the foetus is not capable of maintaining an independent existence. Is abortion a form of killing? To answer this question, we need to understand when life begins. According to Buddhist teachings, the existence of a human being begins from the minds first arising, that is, from the first moment of the existence of consciousness in a foetus. In other words, life begins from the moment of conception, when an egg is fertilised by a sperm. Hence, abortion is indeed a form of killing. However, according to Buddhism, abortion is allowed only in situations where it is the most humane alternative; for example, in order to save the life of the mother. But let us be honest, most abortions are performed simply because the pregnancy is inconvenient, or an embarrassment (pre-marital pregnancy or the result of adultery). These are very poor reasons for the destruction of a life. Abortion is never a good solution to unwanted pregnancies. Prevention is better than cure. Education is the long term solution. Educating couples on sexual responsibility is a better option than destroying a life. Couples entering into sexual activity should think carefully beforehand. Are they ready to bring a new life into this world? Are they financially ready to bring up the child? Sexual activity should not be carried out without long term commitment; that is, if pregnancy occurs, the couple must be responsible for their act of bringing a new life into the world. What if a woman is raped? A child conceived as a result of rape is entitled to live and be loved just as any other child. The baby (foetus) is innocent. He or she should not be killed simply because their biological father committed a crime. In dealing with unwanted pregnancy, the child could be given away or adopted by others. How should I deal with an infestation of ants or cockroaches? Our intention is not to kill. We try our best to bring the least harm to all living creatures. We can avoid using harmful pesticides by using organic/natural ones that do not kill the creatures. For example, fresh pandan (pandanus) leaves are good for keeping cockroaches away without killing them. We also need to be aware of actions that may invite pests into our house. Some people have the habit of leaving dishes and cutlery in the basin after meals. Some wash the dishes only when there are no more clean plates and spoons in the cupboard. This will certainly invite ants and cockroaches into their homes. When their house is infected with ants and cockroaches, they start spraying pesticides. We need to be mindful and responsible for our actions. If we make an effort to keep our environment clean and dry, and keeping food out of reach, it will certainly reduce the incidence of pests. At other times when it is unavoidable, we just need to be patient and tolerant. With mindfulness and pe rseverance, we can do our best to minimise harm to living creatures. Refer to Appendix 1 (p87) for tips on how to keep insects away without killing them. Some detractors say, You Buddhists are too concerned about ants and bugs. (Taken from Ven. S. Dhammika, Good Question Good Answer, p25) Buddhists try to develop a compassion that is undiscriminating and all-embracing. We see the world as a unified whole where each thing and creature has its place and function. We believe that before we destroy or upset natures delicate balance, we should be very careful. Where emphasis has been on exploiting nature to the full, squeezing every last drop out of it without putting anything back, conquering and subduing it, nature has revolted. The air is becoming poisoned, the rivers polluted and dead, so many animals and plants are heading for extinction, the slopes of the mountains are barren and eroded. Even the climate is changing. If people were a little less anxious to crush, destroy and kill, this terrible situation might not have arisen. We should strive to develop a little more respect for all life. And this is what the First Precept is about. What if we are practicing non-violence and someone breaks into our house and threatens us? What should we do? It all depends on your level of cultivation. If you are an experienced practitioner who practises non-violence in your daily life, the chances are you will be more likely to react calmly and intelligently without harming anyone. The compassion one generates could influence the intruder to be less violent. But in order to be able to react in an intelligent and non-violent way, our day-to-day training is important. It may take years to develop. If you wait till a crisis happens, it will be too late. And at that crucial moment, even if you know all the teachings to embrace compassion, to be non- violent, it is only intellectual knowledge. Since it is not an intrinsic part of your being, you may not be able to act in a non-violent manner. The self-centred cherishing attitude, the fear and anger in you will likely obstruct you from acting that way. Hence, it is important to transform our knowledge into practice and to embrace loving kindness and compassion in our daily life. Here is the story of a practising Buddhist reacting in a non-violent way when confronted with a robber. Home Intrusion and the Protection by the Triple Gems (The following article is extracted from the Buddhist Society of Western Australia Newsletter, Feb/Mar issue, 2010) On that fateful night of 19 January 2010, a masked intruder armed with a knife, garden fork and a hammer walked into my house through an unlocked door around 9 p.m. I was cooking in my kitchen and happened to turn around to be confronted by this strange looking masked man standing about 4 feet away holding up his weapons. Extreme terror came over me. I let out two blood curdling screams in quick succession. In a split second, I went into denial as I stared into his face to see if it was my husband, Sunny dressed up like that to frighten me. Hearing the screams, Sunny came flying into the kitchen to investigate. The intruder ordered both of us to lie down on the kitchen floor and not to look at him. He told us to just look at his feet to know where he was. As we went down on the floor, Sunny started chanting om mani padme hum, the Buddha of Compassions mantra, and I joined him in chanting quietly under our breaths. At that point I was shaking with fear. Thoughts of being robbed, bashed senseless, raped or even killed ran amok in my mind. Minutes later a calmness came over me. I even questioned myself then as to why I was feeling so calm. The first thing I said to the intruder was We are peaceful people. Just tell us what you want and we will give it to you but please do not harm us. His reply to that was, I am also a peaceful person. If you do as I tell you, I will not harm you. That was cold comfort to us as he was the one holding the weapons and looked quite agitated and menacing. He added, I want money. My wife is pregnant and I am homeless. To that Sunny said, I have $50 in my wallet. When he opened the wallet, he only found a $20 note. So then I gave him my purse which contained $30. At that point I thought he would ask us to drive him to the nearest ATM to get more cash and then will probably finish us off, but surprisingly there were no demands from him for more cash or anything else. He was quite happy with the $50 cash, mobile phone and our car. He said he would return the car keys another day and leave them in our letter box. He later changed his mind, saying he would drive to Warwick Station and leave the keys under the car seat. During our half hour ordeal, he apologised numerous times and asked for forgiveness. Twice he sounded as though he was about to cry for putting us throug

Eighteenth Century Philosophers: A Comparison :: European Europe History

Eighteenth Century Philosophers: A Comparison The "Enlightenment" or the "Age of Realization" was an age of great advancement and reform for all of Europe and beyond. Great advancements were being made in the fields of science, philosophy, mathematics, and logic. Most people attribute these achievements to the social critics of that time, also known as the philosophes. These philosophes were controversial thinkers and pioneered the intellectual movements of the 1700's. They stood up for what they believed in, although they were constantly criticized and censured by many other people. Such philosophers include Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, and Voltaire. Although their beliefs violently contradicted, they were all working to change what they thought was wrong with their present government. They were four men who disagreed about almost everything, and yet they were working towards a common goal. This is how the Age of Enlightenment became a reality. Rene Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. He was born in La Haye, France (now called Descartes) in 1595. Unlike some other Enlightenment thinkers, he relied on logic and math in his reasoning. He was educated at the Jesuit College of La Fleche. It is thought that his most important influence was a man named Isaac Beeckman. It was with this man that Descartes discussed math, philosophy, and physics. This man was his friend and trusted colleague. In 1618 Descartes served in the army of Prince Maurice of Nassau. It was Descartes theory that stated, "the discovery of proper method is the key to furthering scientific advancement." Descartes was responsible for a number of very influential works including Rules for the Direction of Mind, Le Monde (The World), Discourse on Method, Meditationes de Prima Philosophia (Meditations on the First Philosophy), The Principles of Philosophy, and Les Passions de l'ame (Passions of the Soul.) He coined the phrase, "Cogito E rgo Sum," in English meaning, "I Think Therefore I Am." Although Descartes died in Stockholm in1650, his words have lived on for many centuries and will survive through many more. Thomas Hobbes was born in London, England in 1588. He was educated at Oxford University in England where he studied the classics. In 1651, Hobbes wrote his most famous book, Leviathan. In this book he argued that most people were born evil and could not be trusted to govern themselves. He thought that a ruler needed to have complete control over his people to govern efficiently.

Disorder/Illness of hand

The hand of a man is one of most active organs of the body. It consists of various parts such as bones, muscles, fingers, thumbs, nerves and skin all of which can be affected by different forms of ailments. Common disorders in the hands include injuries, ganglia, and infections, ailments of the nerves, blood vessels, skin, osteoarthritis and tendonitis. Injuries can result to fractures on part of the bone, rupturing of ligaments and even dislocations (David, 2004). The largest part of the hand is composed of fingers.Disorders in this part of the hand may occur on the joints as a result of strained activity or due an infection of arthritis. The curling of the fingertip which leads to failure of the fingertip to straighten is known as the mallet finger. In most cases, this disorder results from an injury which leads to tearing of the tendon from the bone. This condition is treated by placing the affected finger in a straight position and maintaining it for some time to let the conditio n heal. Button-hole deformity is a disorder which affects the joint of the middle finger.The finger bends in a fixed position in the direction of the palm. In addition the outermost finger tends to portray an excessive bending in the direction away from the palm. This disorder is caused by the rheumatoid arthritis infection. The swelling on the finger joints forming cysts is known as osteoarthritis of the hand causes painful swellings on affected the part of the hand (David, 2004). Ganglion is another disorder which presents itself in form of gelatinous swellings which appear on the back of the palm or wrist.They develop into firm shaped swellings which protrude above the surface of the skin. Even though they are painless, ganglia causes a lot of discomfort on the patient which limits efficient use of hands. Infection disorders may be related to bacterial and viral infections. Common bacterial infections on the hand cause abscess or swellings. These may occur on parts with injured c ells such as wounds and bites. Application of antibiotic prevents the possibilities of getting these kinds of infections. Infections of the soft pulp tissue of the fingertip are known as felon.This causes swelling leading to death of surrounding tissues. The common viral infection on hand results in Herpetic Whitlow which is caused by the infection of herpes which spreads to hands forming fluid-filled blisters on the skin of the fingers. This disorder however disappears with treatment of herpes infection. Osteoarthritis presents itself through the extension of the bones over the outermost joints. This leads to formation of painful swelling on the finger joints. Joints between the fingers are not affected by the condition.The affected joints may be misaligned forming a crooked hand. Erosive osteoarthritis forms a swelling around the affected tissues. Sometimes the bands of the fibrous tissue (tendons) along the palms may tighten forming a claw like hand. This is known as palmar fibro matosis. It is treated trough injection of corticosteroid into the tendons. Severe cases may require a corrective surgery. This condition has been found to have hereditary characteristics and in most cases it affects men over the age of 45 years (Taylor, 2008).Numbness on hand is caused by the cutting of supply of blood or compression of the nerves at the wrist due to the bending of the wrist. This mostly happens when one is sleeping. Numbness as a result of compression of the nerves is referred to as Carpal Turner Syndrome (David, 2004). One is advised to keep the hand straight to prevent the development of this condition. Concisely, most of the ailments of the hands lead to a restriction on the use of the affected hands. Seeking of proper medical attention is necessary to rectify any condition in time.

Were the American Colonists Justified in Waging War?

Tymyr Wilson 11/20/12 Mr. Jones U. S HIST. Were the American colonists justified in waging war and breaking away from Britain ? The colonists were in every right, aspect and mind not only justified but also it was about time that they stood of and actually take action against the British. The choice of going to war with them, was the only choice that they had.All diplimatical options that they had ceased to stand a chance against the tyrant Britain. From the very beginning when the colonists felt upset against their mother country and the way that they went about the law making, up until the beginning of the war, they tried all diplimatical options that they had by sending letters. When they didn’t work then they had no other means but to declare war. It was said and is very true, that the British gave a lot to the colonists and we see such helpings as in the French and Indian war.The British gave up a lot of troops and money and numerous others in fighting that war that the l east that the colonist could do is to pay the taxes. Well they do have a good right to say that since they were the contributing factor in the colonists being safe from the French and Indians. The people in the end should go about daily lives and pay the normal taxes but you do have to draw the line somewhere. The American colonists were justified in waging war and breaking away from Britain because of unjust laws, a King of tyranny, and both violating searches and officials.These things outraged the colonists in different ways. Forcing them to unite together and rebel against Britain, hence leading to Revolutionary War. First off, Parliament imposed many unjust laws they believed that Britain had the right to impose laws to regulate trade. However contrast the introduction of The Stamp Act was purely to gain revenue. The Stamp Act particularly affected lawyers merchants, and editors, as well as the general public parliament can make laws to bind us in all cases. The colonists wishe d to have a leader of respect who could look out for prosperity.The colonists argued that they were unfairly taxed without representation. In contrary there are many different views, concerning the causes of the Revolutionary War. The colonists felt that their privacy was offended and they were being treated inhumane fashion. Intolerable King oppressed the colonists. over the duration of time, there were many occurrences of injuries unlawful seizures. For example once the Sons Of Liberty used mob violence. Stamp agents resigned The Stamp Act was repealed. Parliament asserted with The Delatory Act. They felt it could pass numerous laws to keep control.

Overcoming Speaking Anxiety When Speaking French

Overcoming Speaking Anxiety When Speaking French Shyness apart, if you feel nervous when speaking French, its probably due to a lack of confidence in your skills: you dont feel you have the grammar, vocabulary, and/or pronunciation needed in order to express yourself. The obvious solution is to improve your French, and this site is filled with resources to help you do just that. Beyond lessons and learning, however, there are other ways to increase your confidence and feel more comfortable speaking French. We All Make Mistakes First of all, you should know that most people are forgiving of mistakes in their native language.* Think about it - when a non-native speaker addresses you in English, are you really thinking what a dummy, his sentence is all out of order, and thats the wrong verb, and the less said about his pronunciation the better? Or do you try to meet him halfway, ignoring or perhaps mentally correcting mistakes in order to understand what he is working so hard to say? For most of us, its the latter, because we appreciate the effort people make to communicate. In my experience, the French much prefer that you speak to them in broken French, rather than being asked to speak to you in broken English - because theyre just as anxious about their English! So dont let fear of how you speak French stop you. Prepare Yourself If youre going to ask a question or buy a train ticket, think about what you want to say and how to say it before your turn comes. Try to anticipate what questions you might be asked and what additional information might be needed. Talk About Yourself Whether youre interested in current events, wine, or traveling around Alsace, read about those topics and make a list of the words and phrases that crop up repeatedly. And if you find that youre regularly getting pulled into discussions about tennis or movies, try to learn some of that vocabulary too. Practice Every Chance You Get Speaking French is like playing the piano or making bread - the more you do it, the more comfortable it feels and the easier it gets. Join the Alliance franà §aise, take a class, or place a classified ad to find someone to chat with regularly, even if s/he isnt fluent or native, but just another nervous French speaker like you. Even introverts can make friends - and have to if you are serious about improving your French. As you practice, youll gradually feel more comfortable and confident. Just Do It Finally, just try to relax, have fun, and remember why youre learning French in the first place. Its all about communication, so get out there and speak!

4 Tips to Sneak Soft Skills in Your Resume

4 Tips to Sneak Soft Skills in Your Resume What should your resume looks like? There are plenty of standard resume tips and resume best practices  out there, but only a few provides actionable tips.  Here are some savvy tips you can incorporate soft skills into your resume. It’s often easier to just list your last five positions than to think of creative ways to sell your personality, but consider these steps to include soft skills into your resume! 1. Use Soft Skills Mentioned in the Job PostingWhen in doubt, always harvest from the ad that told you the job was available! Odds are they’ll mention â€Å"detailsWhenever you’re stuck, think of the STAR method- â€Å"Situation, Task, Action, Result†- to back up what you did, how you did it, and why it matters.Situation:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"As the medical clinic’s head receptionist†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Tasks:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"†¦responsibilities included maintaining schedules, administering paperwork, filing appointment records†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Action:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"â € ¦.and developing a systematized approach to the coordination of care between offices.†Result:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"This coordinating system has now been adopted by all five clinics in the building and facilitates clearer communication and speedier medical care across the clinic.†4. Highlight Your Leadership QualitiesEmphasize the roles in which you’ve supervised others, developed flagship protocols or policies, or headlined important projects! Once again, make sure you have  specific examples to support each instance. If you make it to the interview, you’ll want to illustrate your claims  with quantitative experience.

Applications of Total Quality Management Essay Example for Free

Applications of Total Quality Management Essay Total Quality Management (TQM) is a philosophy of management that strives to make the best use of all available resources and opportunities through continuous improvement. TQM means achieving quality in terms of all functions of the enterprise. Many researchers attempted to analyze how IT and TQM can jointly add value to organizations and the purpose of this first post on TQM is to evaluate the practicality of TQM in an IT service. In this evaluation, a balance of the service management needs with the reality of bottom-line effectiveness is provided. The post also provides a list of critical success factors to consider in a change management initiative engaged by an IT service. The essence of quality is to do it right the first time, and to satisfy customer requirements every time by involving everyone in the organization. The works of Crosby and his colleagues on the evolution of TQM cut across all pervasive philosophies of management. TQM has been a key business improvement strategy since the 1970s, as it has been deemed essential for improving efficiency and competitiveness. TQM aims to achieve an overall effectiveness which is higher than the individual outputs from the sub-systems such as design, planning, production, distribution, customer focus strategy, quality tools and employee involvement. This philosophy of management strives to make the best use of all available resources and opportunities through continuous improvement. As a management philosophy, TQM makes use of particular set of principles, practices, and techniques to expand business and profits and provides a bypass to enhanced productivity by avoiding rework, rejects, waste, customer complaints, and high cost. This can be achieved by emphasizing the organization’s commitment from data-driven, problem-solving approaches to quality accruing. The five basic pillars of TQM are : a) top management commitment for quality enhancement, b) customer centric advancements of processes and building a long-lasting trustworthy relationship between the organization and the customer, c) relentless development by setting goals and deadlines, d) benchmarking with several specific tools and quality-adding techniques, and e) strengthening the employee base by concentrating at any stage of a process on quality, where customer satisfaction is stationed. Table 1 provides a summary of the key dimensions that constitute TQM. 1. Top management leadership : Top management commitment is one of the major determinants of successful TQM implementation. Top management has to be the first in applying and stimulating the TQM approach, and they have to accept the maximum responsibility for the product and service offering. Top management also has to provide the necessary leadership to motivate all employees. 2. Customer relationships : The needs of customers and consumers and their satisfaction should always be in the mind of all employees. It is necessary to identify these needs and their level of satisfaction. 3. Supplier relationships : Quality is a more important factor than price in selecting suppliers. Long-term relationship with suppliers has to be established and the company has to collaborate with suppliers to help improve the quality of products/services. 4. Workforce management : Workforce management has to be guided by the principles of: training, empowerment of workers and teamwork. Adequate plans of personnel recruitment and training have to be implemented and workers need the necessary skills to participate in the improvement process. 5. Product design process : All departments have to participate in the design process and work together to achieve a design that satisfies the requirements of the customer, which should be according to the technical, technological and cost constraints of the company. 6. Process flow management : Housekeeping along the lines of the 5S concept. Statistical and non-statistical improvement instruments should be applied as appropriate. Processes need to be mistake proof. Self-inspection undertaken using clear work instructions. The process has to be maintained under statistical control. 7. Quality data and reporting : Quality information has to be readily available and the information should be part of the visible management system. Records about quality indicators have to be kept, including scrap, rework, and cost of quality. TQM and Change Management Initiative for IT Performance : A business firm achieves world-class status when it has successfully developed operational capabilities through TQM to support the entire company in gaining a sustained overall performance over its competitors. Although there is insufficient statistical evidence to conclude significant simple relationships between TQM and IT services quality performance, many studies investigated the notion that TQM practices provide approaches to improve the economic position in the service sectors in general. Both IT and TQM had, and will continue to have a significant impact on most organizations. I only regret the lack of empirical research on the relationship between the two and how they both relate to business performance. Applications of Total Quality Management. (2016, Nov 15).

Speech to inform and speech to persuade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Speech to inform and speech to persuade - Essay Example Fad diet constitutes simple diets that contain one or very few elements like cabbage and cottage cheese. Other than weight loss, there are other reasons why people would stick on fad food and these include taking a certain food to cure some diseases, some ignoring some food believing the food is harmful to his/her health, eating certain food to fulfill some lifestyle, being lazy or tired to prepare proper meal at home (Lappe , 23-77). This work tends to elaborate the disadvantages of fad diets. However, it is worth mentioning that this kind of diet also has got its good side. For instance, fast foods save a lot of time as well as effort to cook. The food is also cost saving since one does not incur the costs of cooking through buying the ingredients, fuel, serving utensils, and others. Instead, one walks to the nearby restaurant and picks the favorite fast food. It is convenient since there are no long lines to be served. It is considered reliable since one can get the same kind of food once he/ she makes an order thus there are no surprises or strange tastes experienced. Fast food is regarded fresh due to high turn over. Consequently, fresh food is made to cater for the high number of customers. Sometimes one is left with no choice but to pick the fast foods, for instance, when one is on a tight schedule. In this case, one is advised to pick healthier foods like the salads, bread products, lean meat, and boiled food instead of fried ones. One should avoid carbonic drinks as much as possible and instead order plain water, juices or milk containing low fats. The disadvantages of fad food include containing high sugar, fats or oil, salt and calories yet this are elements considered unhealthy when taken in high quantity as they cause complications like obesity, high blood pressure, among other ailments. Some fast foods contain high bacteria which are harmful to human life. Most fast

Effects of the Riots on the Families Research Paper

Effects of the Riots on the Families - Research Paper Example While many people feel that riots create physical damage to the society, some people confess to suffer psychologically many years after the incident. Sometimes street riots lead to physical injury or death (Ulin 756). Innocently walking pedestrian plunged into a rioting mob. This person has no idea what caused the riot, what the rioters demand or when will the rioting end. The pedestrian has to accept his situation by joining the mob or face lynch from them. On the other end, anti riot police would be chasing the rioting mob in the streets. It is unfortunate that the pedestrian found in the rioting mix would register a bullet wound from police who are resisting their move. The situation suddenly condemns the family of the pedestrian to doom. The breadwinner can no longer support the family because of his inability to perform tasks, which generated income to the family. The situation of that family moves from a bad condition to a worst condition because the pedestrian could not surviv e to help the family out of its difficulties. It is hard to believe sudden twist of events in ones life. A family might not believe the sudden lose of person they loved. Thinking about the last moment shared rekindles sweet memories in life and then bitter regrets about the events that led to death (Hillsbery 56). Family members of the pedestrians have to accept the ugly truth that they have lost the person they loved. Thinking too much about certain condition may lead to mental problems. Some people show attribute of withdrawal from societal activities because they feel that life cannot be that cruel. Several factors may instigate behavior change in a family. Different people respond differently to situations they face. A condition that led to death of a family member might influence other members positively or negatively. For instance, failure to accept death may make a family member to show repulsive characteristics to occurrences in the society. Street families face difficult si tuation during riots. A riot displaces street families from their normal activities (Smith 212). When a street riot occur no one know where to run to, or what items to save or leave. The state of confusion would culminate in lose of property or injury. Life is precious to every human being; however, some conditions make life meaningless. Losing a property that a person has struggled to acquire for many years is an experience that a person may not forget. Many people have confessed that they have failed to face such situations, which occur after a riot. They are unable to believe that their world had crumpled after a short duration. How does a person start building a business firm that he built for ten or fifteen years? The thought of starting from grass is difficult to comprehend and it might remain to haunt an individual for the better part of his life. Sometimes police quelling riots succeed in arresting rioting individuals. The sentences preferred against that individual would in fluence the family of this individual because the family will have to accept that the individual is no longer a good person but a criminal. Families break because partners in those families have failed to yield to a common interest. It is difficult to admit that a trusted partner is among hooligans in the streets. Some people find it hard to accept rejection associated with humiliating effects of riots and end up committing

Strategic management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Strategic management - Case Study Example Joe’s has been the best option for many people because recent trends indicate people opting to purchase groceries from grocery stores rather than supermarkets. Over the years, Joe’s traders have managed to create a great customer relations who have come to trust the chain store with all their consumer needs. Also, the chain store has specialized in the area that was vacant, and it is feeling the gap. Joe’s store should, therefore, be slow and steady in its growth so as maintain quality at the same time. The company has followed the strategy clock by first offering goods at low prices, being a store selling both drugs and groceries at the same time then introducing new items such Hawaiian shirts. The next step is focused differentiation. The company is highly sustainable since it addresses issues at the market at the same time evading threats. Since the enterprise is the best ranked, it certainly meets the demands of its consumers. The management tactic is certainly feasible since it has only a few adjustments need to be

Explain the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics Essay

Explain the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics using examples of both to help illustrate your explanation - Essay Example Some of these functions include the standard deviation, median, means, kurtosis, and skew among others. This follows that for the cases of descriptive statistics the population parameters of intrinsic interest are estimated. For instance, calculation of the sample mean and standard deviation act as fundamental instruments or indicators, which are used in estimating the population mean and standard deviation respectively (SELKIRK, 2008). In most cases, these parameters have been cited to be biased in comparison with the ideal estimators; however, an element of utility in estimating the population parameters is attributed to them. Similarly, the descriptive statistics in most cases intends to describe a big chunk of data by providing a summary charts and tables; however, it does not attempt to make any relevant conclusion about the population attributed to the samples. This forms the distinctive feature of descriptive statistics (BLANK, 2008). For instance, a sample of 30 is selected randomly from a population of 300 and the parameters such as means and standard deviation calculated (CONWAY, 2003). These parameters will be used in approximating the population estimators and consequently used in graphs and charts to provide a summary of the data. This is uninformative. On the other hand, from the meaning of the word inference, inferential statistics is the process of reaching a conclusion regarding a parameter. In essence, inferential statistics is characterized by use of functions of the sample data, which help in drawing an inference that concerns a hypothesis regarding a certain population parameter. Some of the classic inferential statistics include z, t, and F-ratio among others. For the case of the hypothesis, we have both the null and alternative hypothesis. In this case, the expected value is immensely influenced by the sample size

(Social) Health service needs of young people (aged 1830) attending Essay

(Social) Health service needs of young people (aged 1830) attending social care services (at ACCESS) in the Cottonera area ( in Malta) - Essay Example Literature in the realm of research performed on the advances in social healthcare and their use would be quite numerous and diverse in their content and methodology. In the different separate studies located, only few would have spanned a time beyond a decade. The majority of research pieces, which focus on the inclusion of theoretical and technological advances in the sales and marking process, would actually focus on the overall social segments through fundamental health and caring levels. The fact that there is not very many-advanced research items specifically directed toward the social strategy and healthcare in the context of Social Health service needs of young people (aged 18-30) attending social care services (at ACCESS) in the Cottonera area in Malta would be the focus of this proposal. Malta's average population density is almost 1282 person per square km, which is very high. It also has a huge number of unemployed people and school dropouts surviving only on social benefits. They have the lowest educational achievement rates and ambitions in the region. There are also high levels of absence and truancy among the students. This results in most of the people living in mediocre and insufficient housing conditions. The Cottonera locality is among the utmost population density regions having a gradually aging population as most couples leave the locality for a better life elsewhere. Their total fertility rate is low at 1.37 and there has been a downward inclination in the total number of childbirths in the past 10 years. The proportion of children under 15 is rapidly declining while the proportion of people above 65 is increasing. Their unemployment rate, which is 53.9%, is also very high. Also the rate of participation of women in the workforce is lower than that of men. In order to eliminate these challenges, the Maltese government needs to prevent poverty and harbor the potential of it young people and children. ACCESS attempts to address these intricate social and cultural issues in a holistic, multidisciplinary, community based and client-centered method. Among the responsibilities of ACCESS is to create equal opportunities for people with less privileged backgrounds so as to reduce poverty and social barring between generations. It also promotes public engagement between the residents, which helps to tackle the downbeat self-image held by the different community members who take themselves to be failures. It intervenes at different steps in the life of the people through services and projects in order to break the sequence resulting in reproduction by successive generations of parents' position having limited opportunities and social elimination. The ACCESS staff

Chicago Police Department Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chicago Police Department - Essay Example The Chicago PD’s first strength is the fact that it has something of a monopoly in its field. When a person wants to take recourse to the legal system for a crime, their only recourse is to the Chicago PD, and by law they are the only group that provide many of the services they do. This means that the Chicago PD does not need to fear competition from any other group or organization providing similar services. The Chicago PD’s second major strength is in another vein, recognisability and marketing. The Police Department is so well known and intrinsically connected to their services in public knowledge that they have no need to spend many resources on marketing simply to let people know they exist and what their services are. Chicago PD’s widespread recognition can, however, be as much of a weakness as it is a strength. While Chicago Police Department is incredibly well known, but as mentioned above its reputation is formed as much by media as anything else, and thus misinformation and messages the Chicago PD do not want to be connected to can be at least as well known as things it wants to be connected to. One of the best ways for the Chicago PD to minimize this weakness is to work with community groups to spread the message that the Chicago PD wants, and actively fight against misrepresentation in media. The Chicago police department’s second main weakness is the fact that it relies heavily on crime reporting to be able to do its job effectively (). The Chicago PD thus must make itself as accessible as possible in order to find true criminals rather than just those who are afraid of the police. The Chicago PD can fight this as much as possible by minimizing the degree to which they attack people who are reporting crimes. Though it is responsible for finding criminals equally, allowing people of questionable immigration status or who might be involved in crime themselves to report crime allows them to respond more universally to crime. The Chicago Police Department has a wide array of opportunities to better fulfill its mission statement. One of the biggest ones revolves around the fact that by its very nature members of the police department have to be in constant contact with the members of the community in which they live. This means that if the Chicago PD can successfully realign itself to focus on community outreach, it can more easily cure the problems of a community rather than just treat the symptoms (Chicago PD 1993). The second major opportunity for the Chicago PD is that technology of policing is constantly advancing, and often at a rate much faster than the forces police are trying to fight (ie. Criminals). This means that if the Police Department successfully identifies trains and begins use of new and emerging technologies it can accomplish its mission with increasing efficiency, as it often does not have to fight competition with access to the same emergent technologies (Sims 2011). The biggest threats to the Chicago PD is the growing trend of people failing to report crimes and settle things using criminal activity, especially gang violence. This undermines the whole system under which the police force works, and

(Social) Health service needs of young people (aged 1830) attending Essay

(Social) Health service needs of young people (aged 1830) attending social care services (at ACCESS) in the Cottonera area ( in Malta) - Essay Example Literature in the realm of research performed on the advances in social healthcare and their use would be quite numerous and diverse in their content and methodology. In the different separate studies located, only few would have spanned a time beyond a decade. The majority of research pieces, which focus on the inclusion of theoretical and technological advances in the sales and marking process, would actually focus on the overall social segments through fundamental health and caring levels. The fact that there is not very many-advanced research items specifically directed toward the social strategy and healthcare in the context of Social Health service needs of young people (aged 18-30) attending social care services (at ACCESS) in the Cottonera area in Malta would be the focus of this proposal. Malta's average population density is almost 1282 person per square km, which is very high. It also has a huge number of unemployed people and school dropouts surviving only on social benefits. They have the lowest educational achievement rates and ambitions in the region. There are also high levels of absence and truancy among the students. This results in most of the people living in mediocre and insufficient housing conditions. The Cottonera locality is among the utmost population density regions having a gradually aging population as most couples leave the locality for a better life elsewhere. Their total fertility rate is low at 1.37 and there has been a downward inclination in the total number of childbirths in the past 10 years. The proportion of children under 15 is rapidly declining while the proportion of people above 65 is increasing. Their unemployment rate, which is 53.9%, is also very high. Also the rate of participation of women in the workforce is lower than that of men. In order to eliminate these challenges, the Maltese government needs to prevent poverty and harbor the potential of it young people and children. ACCESS attempts to address these intricate social and cultural issues in a holistic, multidisciplinary, community based and client-centered method. Among the responsibilities of ACCESS is to create equal opportunities for people with less privileged backgrounds so as to reduce poverty and social barring between generations. It also promotes public engagement between the residents, which helps to tackle the downbeat self-image held by the different community members who take themselves to be failures. It intervenes at different steps in the life of the people through services and projects in order to break the sequence resulting in reproduction by successive generations of parents' position having limited opportunities and social elimination. The ACCESS staff

Chronology in ‘A Rose for Emily’ Essay Example for Free

Chronology in ‘A Rose for Emily’ Essay William Faulkner takes into account the ever-complicated concept of time in â€Å"A Rose for Emily†. It is a manifestation his contemplation on the nature of time. It lacks a standard chronology. Faulkner ensnare almost three quarters of century in a few page story. He does it superbly by avoiding a proper chronological order. Faulkner skillfully put the story up to demonstrate the indefinable and intangible character of time. He constructs it in such a subtle manner that it is hard to detect any chronological order of the plot. Time does not flow in a linear direction but take a circular direction with the progress of story. Fault consciously or unconsciously does not concern himself with specific dates. A handful of explicit dates are cited in the story. But these indications reveal as plenty of information about the linear chronology of the vents. For example, it is quite clear that remittance of Emily’s taxes by Colonel Sartoris takes place in 1894. It is further provided that he is dead for the last ten years and this the time Emily meets the new aldermen. Story further discloses that Emily died at 74. This hint capacitates us to construct a linear chronology of the events. The linear sequence of events in Emily’s life is as follow; Section 4 illustrates her birth during civil war. Section 2 describes a joint ride with her father in an old wagon. Her father dies. Homer Barron appears on the scene and an amorous affairs starts with Emily in section 3. She purchases male lavatory set and outfits for him in section 4. We are again forced to revert back to section 3 when town people degrade him and reverted back and summon her cousin. Section 4 is marked with the arrival of cousins and departure of Homer from the town. He returns back after the exit of her cousins. We again slip back to section 3 where Emily purchase poison from a local vendor and Homer disappears in the next section. Section 2 illustrate stink from her house indicating his death and four aldermen are shown sprinkling water on her grave. Faulkner has used a novel narrative technique as story starts with Emily’s funeral (the end) and concludes with the finding of Homer’s rotten dead body. Faulkner’s concept of time and its effective utilization does not weaken the story but it is the most obvious strength of its plot, construction and thematic expressions. Although presentation of time in this manner is mostly related is subject to philosophical orientation of the author but it had deep impact on the plot. He merges past into present and present into past and this feature of the story captivates the reader. â€Å"Faulkner gives the story a chronology, but as with so many of his stories, we have to sort it out† (McGlynn 461); Furthermore, it hinders the formulation of reader’s judgment about Emily till the end. The effects of this non-linear chronology on the story are beautifully summed up by McGlynn (1969). He says that â€Å"A chronology of ‘A Rose for Emily’ is useful for at least two reasons: it makes the plot more easily comprehensible, and it helps clarify the function of time in the story† (461). By evading a clear and linear chronological order of events, Faulkner attempts to provide his reader a riddle comprised of various bits. However, he provides clues to facilitate this puzzle-solving. The motive behind this exercise seems to involve his reader more deeply in the story. So above-mentioned arguments and supported evidence clearly suggest that time is not present in a simple chronological way in the story but it is manifested in random manner and plot flows with the flow of the consciousness of the narrator and does not follow the rules and principle of chronological time. Works Cited Faulkner, William. 1970. A rose for Emily. Columbus; Merrill. McGlynn, Paul D. 1969. William Faulkner: An Interpretation; The Chronology of A Rose for Emily, Studies in Short Fiction. 6.

SWOT and PESTEL Analysis of Nokia

SWOT and PESTEL Analysis of Nokia Introduction: Nokia is the one of the big giant in the world. It is leading the market 1992. In very beginning Nokia century start with Fredrik Idestams paper mill on the banks of the Nokianvirta River. From 1865 to 1967, the company would become a major industrial power; but it merge with a cable company and a rubber firm to start the new Nokia Corporation to path of electronics. The newly establish Nokia Corporation was ideally placed for a leading role in the early development of mobile communications. As European telecommunications markets were easy to access and mobile networks became universal, Nokia lead the way with some legend products. In 1992, Nokia determined to go ahead with telecommunications business. This was possibly the most vital strategic decision in its history. As acceptance of the GSM pattern grew, new CEO Jorma Ollila makes Nokia the leader of the mobile telephone industry worldwide. Nokias keep continues involvement with 3G, mobile multiplayer gaming, multimedia devices an d also look ahead for the future. Nokia sells its billionth mobile phone as the third generation of mobile technology emerges. Even the though Nokia main business is producing and sell mobile phone. In addition, it got Navteq section, which produce sat nav .it also sell networking technology, call Nokia Simence network. Nokia sell their networking technology to countries. However, Nokia is not only player in the market, there are many companies, particularly the main competitors are Apple , Blackberry, Samsung, Motorola, HTC etc. in the these competitor Apple is the main rival . This report is on the base of UK mobile market. Here we are going to illustrate about Nokia and its closest competitor Apple. SWOT and PESTEL analysis SWOT stand for strength, weakness, opportunity and threat. (See appendices 2) Here strength and weakness is measured as internal factors. Opportunity and threat is external factors. The work of Kenneth Andrews (1971, p47)  [i]  has been especially influential in popularizing the idea that good strategy means ensuring a fit between the external situations a firm faces (Threats and opportunities) and its own internal qualities or characteristics (strengths and weaknesses).Manufacturing strategy can be seen as reflecting this idea of fit in functional terms. Those two factors can come from any environment elements which include PESTEL. PESTEL indicate macro environment or external factors. PESTEL means political, economical, societal, technological, ecological and legal. PESTEL analysis briefly describe about external factor. In this section the SWOT and PSTEL analysis will done to show Nokias competitive position against Apple. First of all Nokia has a strong brand name all over UK, which giving them the dominating power over other brand. Secondly it got wide range of product to target loots of segments in the market. However Apple got strong image in people mind and replacing the Nokia eventually. But it got a weakness of having only one model for serve all type of customer. Nokia phone is very user friendly then other phone. On the other hand App le phone is pretty much technical oriented, which find bit complicated. In terms of distribution channel Nokia got an extended distribution channel than any other brand, where Apple got less distribution channel compare to Nokia. After sell service is superior in Apple then Nokia. In terms of product Apple product are more robust then Nokia. Nokia got strong financial background which help to do innovation and change the model very frequent. There is lots discussion going on about green house effect. Nokia has responded to this situation positively. Nokia is now continuously developing their product, which is environment friendly. The devices shown here introduce eco innovations, and solutions for a greener lifestyle, this practice is will implement more widely in future. They using energy efficient technology in the device and production, they using 100% recyclable bag and device recycle option. Very remarkable change is elimination of user manual and providing that in the device. According to the corresponded of Nokia corporation Petteri Alinikula, Nokia has reduce its power consuming by 65%, which is about one third of the total use, by using recyclable materials and new efficient way of production. And Nokia has become eco friendly company. Nokia phone price is higher than other which is one of their weaknesses. Its got long time waiting in service, which make longer downtime. In contrast Apple got very low service time which gives them some differentiation over their competitor, to compete with other rival brand. Nokia got some highly technical model, which come out with slower performance and not user friendly. Nokia still got very wide market and it market all over the world, which gives them more scope to target more segments then their competitor. Because they got bigger market share they easily reduce price and get competitive advantage. At the same time Apple got little market in worldwide, but it has the opportunity to have big global market, which able to get more economy of scale and also more profitability. telecommunication market is growing rapidly global , which one the door of huge opportunity of future profitability, through excessive communication and aggressive advertising Nokia can still get the highest position in the market. For Apple it is a great threat as it does not doing aggressive marketing. The emerging threat for Nokia is fast goring mobile companies in all over the world ,it also a big threat for all other competitor like Apple ,Samsung ,Blackberry etc. there is a sharp trend of technological development ,which bring a big challenge for these two competitors ,one example is that Nokia and Apple is doing very good on 3G network, but the world going so first and now dealing with 4G technology like wimax. Instead of Apple and Nokia all other company like Motorola, Samsung and Dell are already start making 4G compatible phone. This could affect on current market share. At the moment Nokia do not face any political issue in UK. In addition their mother company is from Europe, they should have some advantage in terms of business and tax. But they might face political complication as they out sources their production .Government may force Nokia stop doing of shoring, which will increase the cost and reduce profitability. Nonetheless they also can face obligation form other c ountries, where they outsources from. Nokia need to react on situation change and have some contingency plan. In addition Mobile phone increases crime. Due to mobile phone they crime is easier to occur. The country like UK has facing crime like mobile scam and fraud. To face these problem Nokia making the devices more secure, by providing GPS. Nokia has also come along with fare trade production, as they introduce scheme to save wild life, called SOS (Save Our Species). They also providing in education by mobile devices .they also providing education in undeveloped countries in coordination with UNESCO. In the project call Education for all goals. Economy is changing so rapidly, it is because of high tech, globalization. Which influence people buying power. All the companies need to reduce their price and promotion and also need to re -segment to cope with the change. Especially in UK market has currency fluctuation rate is very high then other Europian market. There is big issue in pricing; moreover due to recent recession in UK people buyer has reduced. Which was hamper the total sells of mobile industry? However, as the world economy is moving towards virtual economy, like ecommerce, E-business, take marketing, distance learning, tele medicine and e-governess that open a wide path for the whole mobile industry in the world. These increase scope of new market and revenue. Legal is quite hard to face mobile company. But still phone companies are penalize due to legal issue. For instance Nokia has accused Apple for violating copy right low. Which influence the bad publicity and also need to compensate a huge amount of money. Marketing strategy Marketing strategy deal with the issue like what should happen, how to should happened and when and who will responsible for that.  [ii]  Marketing strategy is mainly combined 4ps, product price and places. It mainly start with the product .product is the core element of any product. Business organizations have increasingly recognized the value of placing a broad definition on their products, one that emphasizes the basic customer need (s) being served. PHILIP KOTLER (1969, p.13).  [iii]  So the product is what people aspect from any product. For mobile, the need is the communication. However, According to Kotler (1969) Diagram (see appendices 3) there are three level of product. The core of the product is the benefit which is the communication. Actual product is brand name with Nokia future is SMS, MMS, and WAP. Style is unique model and attractive packaging and the quality is the less downtime then others substitute product. Augmented product is warranty, customer service, distribution channel (Orange, Voda phone, O2 in UK). By this illustration we see that mobile phone is not only physical product its a product service bundle. Figure 1 Service We can see it more clearly in figure 1.as our product is a combination of product and service. The physical product is visible and the service, which is not visible. As service include the customer service, warranty, call quality. So To insure customer satisfaction Nokia not only need to confirm is product quality in durability. But also its before and after sell service. This will also add value to their customer. Then the product enforces the pricing strategy. The pricing strategy depend on two different factors external and internal .In the case of Nokia the external factor is the competitor cost, price and offer and internal factors are mainly on marketing objective like Nokia believe in mass customization. To satisfy all segment needs it got premium pricing product ( smart phone ,multimedia phone ) to low price phone (basic use phone ). Their price all so very in depend on model association and colour, they charge more for the best selling colour then other colour. For example Nokia charge high price for Nokia N95 black model then other colour. This indicate the do consider market demand and price elasticity. It is also clear the Nokia is concern about market penetration, which helps to have gained their corporate strategy. However Apple is a premium brands their attempted not to become cost leader, they like to take skimming pricing and premium price strategy. They are trend to start with high price and eventually they reduce the price. Apple use price elasticity to maintain the price to match the demand .They also reduces the price of slow moving product. Moreover Apple product shows prestige of the users, so people is buys not only product, but also prestige. So it is clear that Apple is the differentiator. As differentiator Apple should have unique selling proposition, which will influence customer to switch the brand. This reinforcing customer image towards the brand and give them fell that they are getting more for their money By having short time low price Apple stimulating short time volume, when the market demand is less. On the other hand having low price help Apple to compete with their competitor and replacing customer brand loyalty. However Nokia got the different price strategy and different product rage. Nokia products are divided in three section devices manufacturing and networking. In device section Nokia mainly do mobile phone but they also do notebook pc, tablet and mobile accessories. Navteq is another section of product, where they sell sat nav and Nokia Semence network, which they joint venture with Siemens and establish network for mobile operator. However, their main competitor Apple doses more products beside mobile phone. It has portable computer, server, accessories, Wi-Fi base station, mp3 player, online TV, peripheral products like video camera, printer. After the price the place need to select. Nokia has it market all over the world. Their main region is Europe, Asia pacific, Middle East, Africa, America, Hongkong, China, and Taiwan. Among those countries Nokia got strong base in European and Asia pacific market. In America they are dominated by Apple, as Apple is an American company. Apples headquarter located in California. Moreover Apple got retail store in three major counties, it got 200 stores in US, UK, and Canada. Apple recently moves to China. By moving to china they got two benefits, low cost out sourcing and huge local market. After the place nest thing come is the people involved in the business. If want to say about people, we need to say about the customer service, which they got all over the Europe and US. Nokia got service centres in every city to stay close to their customer. It has international warranty for its all types of phone no matter where it was bought form. Even thought they got long repair time, but they provide free device repair and certain level of free parts if necessary. Apple got highly trained professional to provide better service. And from front desk to highly technical professional Apple put the right people to right place. Apple is very popular for providing better after sell service. Apple customer service is accessible for all customers near and far, as they provide service in so many ways, phone, video conferencing and web support. In some area where the repair takes long time, Apple provides direct replacement .which give mare value to their service. After the service next thing come out is physical existence. Nokia got customise website for all different region. In their websites they provide device information, price and also the technological solution. In addition they got call centre support in local area wise. Nokia got showroom in every cities. However, Apple web site is www.apple.com. Which allow people to navigate to more customise websites, base on their location. Apple logo, the half eaten rainbow apple represent the Sir Isaac Newton memorable apple, which let people remember their brand easily. Apple got showroom in every big city, which verdict their existence. In addition Apple use different relationship event like Mac World Expo, advertising through different channel to communicate to different customer type. And they convert new customer to loyal customer by providing high quality customer service. Apple also increasing their distribution channel by adding Wall Mart in US and add mobile operator Orange, Tesco, Voda phone as new distribution channel in UK. On the other hand Nokia got distinctive quality then Apple product, Nokia phone are compatible for any network. It has user friendly operating system. It is famous for uses and its model is quite durable in the market. To see this we can analysis product life cycl e of Nokia. Product life cycle Product life cycle is the graph, shows product from introductory to decline stage of product and also explain the measure to control that situation. (See appendices 4) To analysis of product cycle, we use Nokia N95 model and US as a place. We chose US because in the introductory stage Nokia struggle to introduce their third generation phone in US .First N95 was introduce in March 2007,on the time it was on introductory level it got very low sell, so that they start selling it in discounted price in America in Sep 2007. Then it develops the hardware and start selling it in Europe and Asia, which was version N95-2. Later on when they upgrade to version 3, they start selling it in US through ATT. Then they enjoy the steady selling in US market until the new competitor Apple come with new generation Iphon. On their decline stage Nokia increase their promotion and then decided to give free internet with their smart phone including their N95 to compete with Iphone. But still the sell was g oing down. After that they decide to completely change the model and introduce N96. This helps them to keep their market share. However, to find out how good market base they got, we can look in to market share analysis Market share analysis Market share is percentage of selling unit of total unit sell in whole industry by all companies. To analysis the market share we are looking at the smart phones market share worldwide in 2009. Recent research (GSM Dome, Feb2010) shows that Apples iPhone doubled its global smart phone market share to 14.4%, increase 6.2% from 2008, while Nokias Symbian phone keeps their first place in this section. Nokias market share reduce by 5.5 point, while RIM and its Blackberries come second, with a 3.3 point increase in market share, getting a 19.9% share. In the States, BlackBerry and Apple have dominated market share than Symbian and as far as mobile use for communication, Apple and Android got the segment, with 81% market share. In addition, Android phone sales enlarged by 3.4 points, up to 3.9%, but still Android following Windows Mobile and Linux. The first platform had its market share drop 3.1 points, while Linux saw a cut of 2.9%. Palms WebOS have market share of 0.7%. The same research shows that 172 million smart phones were sold in 2009, 24% more then 2008. The iPhone stood for 2% of all mobile phone sales last year.  [iv]  (See appendices 5). In addition, according to Timo Ihamuotila, chief financial officer of Nokia Oyj (2010), their market share in 2010 will decries on 3%,(see table 1). At the same time their profitability has increase. Now Nokia is mere concern for their product price, as their ASP (average selling price) is going up. They also develop the experience of better and unique operating system for all their devices. This will make them differentiator. So finally Nokia is moving from mass customising to differentiator.  [v]  After looking the worldwide market share, let see how Nokia positioning in UK market. Positioning Positioning is depending on customer view toward to the product and the price. In this comparison we choose smart phone of different companies. We compare them by price and quality (matured by ranking 1-5) to show how dose defffernt brand giving the best value for their customers. To drow the posotioneing map we collect the the data from three different web site Nokia, Apple and carephone wearhouse web site. (See appendices 6) Positioning map By compering these we can see that Apple got hihgst quality in the market and Motorola got the lowest. If we see Nokia it is just after Apple and before Blackberry. Which show a nagivite impact on Nokia but if we see the prise, Nokia is giving the best value of price compare to their competitors. So there is a high possibility for Nokia to oprovide high quality in smart price, which will give them another competitive edge. Boston consulting The acronym of BCG is Boston Consulting Group, which general management is consulting from, famous business strategy consulting. From late 1970s BCG Growth-Share Matrix widely accepted and start taught in educational institutions. (See appendices 7) The choice of the product life cycle and market share as the two contingent variables has an added attraction. When combined, they form the framework for the BCGs product portfolio matrix (Henderson, 1979, p513).  [vi]  This administration tool has four different segments, including Stars, Cash Cows, Question Marks and Dogs. According to BCG growth share matrix Nokia is in cash cow position. Nokia has the profitability. They are the market leader, with a low growth market share. As cash cow Nokia should fund for their own growths. They pay the corporate  dividends. They pay the corporate overhead. Nokia had exactly same position until the new player Apple Marge in the market. This new competitor could Nokia to lose their profitability and slower their market acquisition .which will eventually repeals Nokia from their position. As a consequence Nokia share price is going down. See However apple is in stars position. They are the market leader in high growth markets. They tend to generate higher amount of revinue, but have to utilize certain amount of cash due to growth of market conditions. For example, Apple is reducing their Iphone price in UK to quickly penetrate the market. Ansoff matrix The  Ansof matrix  presents the product and market choices available to an  organisation. Where it indicate to penetrate new market, product development, movie to new market and product diversification. (See appendices 8) According to Ansof Matrix (Ansoff, 1957) Market penetration starts, when any organization tries to penetrate existing market with current product. Companies use this strategy to increase the sell without changing product-market strategy. If we discuss about Nokia N95, It was first intro introduce in US in April 2007, Nokia N95 was sold in flagship store in discounted price. Then august 2007 Nokia N95 version 2 come out and start selling it in normal price in America. This is clearly defining that Nokia use the Ansof matrix to penetrate the US market. Another strategy is product development .which means new innovation or new product design. Normally it uses to utilize the spare capacity, make harder environment for competitor, reputation of RD and acquiring new technology. For example N8 is a new innovation of Nokia, which let them to have their market, keeping the brand image and also keep them competitive against their competitor. Financial analysis Gross margin,  gross profit margin  or  gross profit rate  is the amount of sells revenue after production cost. It is excluding  overhead,  payroll,  taxation, and  interest  payments. It expresses the relationship between  gross profit  and sales  revenue. It is a measure of how well each dollar of a companys revenue is utilized to cover the costs of goods sold.  [vii]  In the financial analysis part we are going to analyse the EUROPE base, as there is no individual financial data on UK. In appendices 9 one we can see the gross profit margin has been reduce 1.474% in year 2009 compare to year 2007, which should affect the profitibily. Profit margin,  net margin,  net profit margin  or  net profit ratio  all refer to a measure of  profitability. It is calculated by finding the  net profit  as a percentage of the  revenue.  [viii]   Profit margin is an indicator of a companys pricing strategies and how well it controls costs. Differences in competitive strategy and product mix cause the profit margin to vary among different companies.  [ix]   But if few see the net profit margin in appendices 10, it seems that the net profit margin has gone down more compare to gross profit. The amount reduces to 12.578%, which is a huge loose in Nokias profitability. This could be due to the fluctuation of currency and recession. The  current ratio  is a  financial ratio  that measures the company capacity to pay its liability over the next year. It compares a firms  current assets with its  current liabilities. The current ratio is an indicator of company capability to meet creditors demand. If companys current ratio is in their acceptable range, then it is generally considered to have positive short-term financial strength. Nokia got current ratio 1.55 (see appendices 11)which is not so much appricited, still it is not bad as it got long term future plan. Those will incrise the ratio. For example in Nokia Simence network need a high investment and it takes long time to get the profit. This could be the reason of having less assets then the liability. The acid-test ratio is far clearer than the operational capital ratio, mainly because the operational capital ratio allows for the inclusion of inventory assets. Companies having ratios  of less than 1 cannot afford their current liabilities and should be looked at with extreme concern. Furthermore, if the acid-test ratio is much lower than the operational capital ratio, it means current assets are highly dependent on stock. Retail stores are examples of this type of  business. In the case of Nokia, it has ration which has less than 1(see appendices 12); it means that Nokia do not have enough cash to meet is current short time liability.   Return on invested capital  (ROIC) is a financial measurement which indicate that efficiency a company maintaining cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. When the return on capital is greater than the  cost of capital  (usually measured as the  weighted average cost of capital), the company is creating value; when it is less than the cost of capital, and value is destroyed. According to appendices 13, in 2007 Nokia got return of investment of 42.87%, which was very good to for any company. However 2008 it was reduced to 25.828% in the next year which was still good but not favourable as before. Finally in 2009 it reduces to 5.825%, which create very complicated situation. This is affecting company share holder income, which led to reduce the share price. Recommendation As Nokia got very tight competition, Nokia need to be very careful for choosing any strategy. Nokia is responding with the environment, which is appreciable. But Nokia still need to quicker in responding technological change, as technology is changing more rapidly than anything else. Again Nokia has increase ASP (average selling price), which will increase the profitability unite wise but might not going to much effective. Because if the total selling amount get decline ,only having extra revenue gathered by ASP will not able to make up the total profit. We believe that Nokia might need to rethink about their marketing mix. Consumer is very careful what are they getting. So Nokia need to very much careful about the performance of their product. Especially, their operating system needs to speed up. Nokia also need to speed up their after sell service. Those all Nokia can do to reinforce their market .However, if look at the financial analysis. We can see a huge change in their profita bly. There is a sharp decline in Nokia profit margin, more than 12% in last three years. This indicates step reduction of the sell. This will affect the share price and de motivate stake holder to invest in Nokia. Then analysis the current ratio Acid test ratio, we see that Nokia do not have enough assets to pay its liability. As it is less than one. But still there is hope as Nokia is investing in Nokia Simence network, which need high investment in initial time and it takes time to get the profit. Finally comparing both the opportunity and current wealth of Nokia we suggest Nokia to diversify from to mobile business, as it in high risk of having less market share then before and high price device. This will reduce potential buyer for higher price. In the same time by looking the opportunity of new extension of Navteq and Nokia Siemens network, the reasone for referring these two sections is, they got high level of possibelity. If we see current market they are only few competitors in sat nav industry. There are is very high prospective market base in UK and Europe. Another plus point for Nokia is they know these markets very well and they already got existing distribution channel. So they is high possible of new market .moreover they can continue built network for different operator. As they are joint venture with Siemens, which give the both company more financial and technological strength. So we suggest continuing investment in these two sections and eliminating the mobile section to stop draining the capital.