Existentialism †God Essay

What is the meaning of life. The meaning of our lives, the purpose, and the dreams both dashed and realized, and the expectations forced upon us by others. In other words how do you â€Å"translate† what life is? â€Å"Translation† means to explain in simple terms. What is it supposed to be about? There are different answers for different people at different times in their lives. A person’s lifetime is filled with self-examination. Why am I here? What am I doing? Is this as good as it gets? You have a beginning. You’re in the middle, and your story hasn’t ended yet. If one would recognize the greatest things we have in life, they would not be asking this question. These great things are faith, hope, and love. Faith is the one that can keep one from asking questions. If God wanted us to know something, then we would know it. In most religions, Christian ones in particular, the question of meaning in life is inextricably wrapped up in a relationship with God. Living in, for, with, and through him. Therefore, how one answers the meaning of life question bears directly the existence of God. Soren Kierkegaard said to be the â€Å"father† of existentialism maintains that there are three basic answers to the question of the meaning of life. He called these â€Å"stages† of life, because he believed that people â€Å"progressed† from one stage to the next. Whether or not that is true, there do seem to be at least three fundamental outlooks on life. One is a life devoted to pleasure. This value perspective can be shown by a person whose only concern is for what they are doing now. They would rather gain from pleasures in life without any regards to how they might affect their future. Another stage is those choosing ethical and moral paths. People who are honest and loyal demonstrate this in their everyday lives. Finally, there is a live religiously. This has been the popular way of life for many of us. It is going to church and practicing your faith Stace argues, the present age has begun to weaken faith in God. The concept of a supernatural person has begun to seem unlikely to many people. The Bible no longer seems as respected for many Catholics. While many people say they believe in God they are beginning question whether faith and God are the answer to the meaning of life. Most of us whether we choose to admit it or not show that material things are what we base our lives around. These ideas are at the heart of existentialism, which is a view of life that says that human beings are the creators of their own sense of meaning or purpose. The most famous existentialist, John Paul Sartre in his books and novels developed several themes that portray existentialism. The first is the notion that â€Å"existence precedes essence. † A legacy of traditional philosophy has been that we have a fixed human nature. Sartre challenged that we have no such set purpose or meaning. Our real meaning or who we are is a result of our decisions. We are what we decide. The second associated concept is the importance of human freedom. Sartre believed that every human being has the freedom to live life as we choose to. He believed that we are often terrified by our freedom, and in fact frequently do not want to take responsibility for our own actions. This attitude Sartre called â€Å"bad faith. † Bad faith is an act of self-deception in which we rationalize our actions as being caused by circumstances instead of being self-caused. Basically blaming others for our own deceptions and mistakes. The third major concept of existentialism is the idea of the Absurd. The philosopher Albert Camus popularized this concept. The concept of the absurd is promoted by atheistic existentialist, such as Sartre and Camus. The similarity between Christian and atheistic existentialist is the significance of human freedom and the belief that we are the makers of our own lives One of the most significant pieces of the decline of religious faith is the continuing awareness that there may not be any purpose in life. Both Albert Camus, and Stace, write from this perspective. They believed that traditional Christians have found security in the belief that their lives are invisibly directed or orchestrated by God. That we have assumed that God has a plan for our life, that things happen for a purpose. But as we experience, if we do, the decline of faith or the reality of God in our lives, we come to realize that perhaps we are more responsible than God is for what happens to us. We begin to realize or suspect that it is we, not God, who is the creator of our lives. We are responsible for who we become. Of course, there are always going to be those people who doubt everything God stands for. For them, the body dies and eternity is darkness, I suppose. The fight is going to be, perhaps even as it has been a battle between those who reject God and the, and those who know that God is real. The soul is one’s conscience. Without the acknowledgement of that soul, there is no inner voice that helps guide him in the decisions that he makes. Yet, the soulless atheists still seek to discover the meaning of life, and this is where the battle is fought. They are simply stating that there is no meaning to their lives they have no soul, there can be no meaning. Theists realize life isn’t fair. People aren’t created equal. Atheists believe that until all people actually are equal, life is meaningless, and this is the connection we have to make for them. People are not equal, people will never be equal, and if this equality is the requirement for accepting the meaning of life, then life will always be meaningless. If ambition brings about advantage, those advantages must be neutralized. This is the goal of the atheist. If there is nothing but darkness after life, the goal must be to create heaven on earth. Everyone has questioned their purpose in life for example in his article, â€Å"My Confession†, Leo Tolstoy has gone through his life without ever really questioning the meaning. Then he periodically questioned it until one day he eventually could not picture himself living anymore until he came up with an answer to his questionings. All the things he was thought to be living by no longer made any sense or had any meaning at all to him. He tried to answer his question many different ways, but whichever way he went he kept coming up with a dead end. He first thought the answer must be his family. Although he loved them very much, as humans they are confronted with the same questions he is. They are living this lie right along with him pretending that they have all the answers, or just simply ignoring the questions. He next thought the answer to be in his work. Eventually, coming to the realization that with all of his success in art and poetry he had become distracted. He was using art as a decoy. Without knowing his answers to the meaning of life, it was wrong and useless to depict these lies to others. He soon felt as if life had stopped, and was even contemplating suicide when he came to the realization that faith is present in each one of us and is what makes our lives meaningful. Everyone must believe they have a purpose here, for if they didn’t they would not be living at all. For life to have true meaning, that meaning must come external to the individual and be somehow consistent with life as a whole. Christians would argue that only God could grant this. It is the helping hand, which guides us through life with an honest and loving heart. Jesus is the only man to lead a true, meaningful life. His life is really the only life of meaning and it is only through him that we have the opportunity to live meaningful lives. Without accepting this answer, one will have only difficulty for the rest of their lives, especially in answering the question of the meaning of life. If you accept this answer, however life is much simpler, because your search is over. Jesus said, â€Å"I am the way, the truth, and the life? † John 14:6. The way the truth and the meaning of life itself. There are scriptural accounts of people claiming to see God, and while a witness is more â€Å"proof† than no witness is, there is no way to scientifically verify these statements. They must be accepted purely on faith. Some say that the existence of humans or planetary balance is proof that God exists. These do not prove He exists. Christians believe God is in control of everything in the universe, and created the same. God created all beings, and every atom in this universe. We know God exists because He says He does. The bible is His word, left for us to read. Psychologist Viktor Frankl wrote in â€Å"Mans search for Meaning† that we should not ask what we expect from life, but what life expects from us. He was making the point that people must deal with what daily tasks are put in front of them. Instead of arguing and complaining, we have to take action. Our strength is shown through the soul survival of the hardships we face. Which brings us to the problem philosopher John Hick was facing. In his article, â€Å"The Problem of Evil† he asks the question, â€Å"if God is perfectly loving, he must wish to abolish evil. But evil exists; therefore God cannot be both omnipotent and perfectly loving. â€Å"The very fact that there is such suffering gives good cause to doubt not only the value of the whole human race, but also the existence of God. A God that can be said to care in the slightest for what’s been created, any God who has power over all things, who is anything other than a horrible monster who finds cruel unusual joy in squeezing every last drop of suffering out of them. It would rule out anything even vaguely resembling the God that Christians speak of. A God who deserves our utter hatred not our worship. However, Hick found that although harsh and painful, evil did have purpose in the world. He stated in his article, † the finest characteristics of personal life must have a good deal in common with our present world. It must operate according to general and dependable laws: and it must involve real dangers, difficulties, problems, obstacles, and possibilities of pain, failure, sorrow, frustration, and defeat. † Without these sufferings, we would not be able to know what happiness and love really was. Evil provides us with the possibility of soul making, and according to free will, we must choose our fate. The Laws of nature must be abided by without them the world could not exist. God may be creating the lesser of the evils. There must be suffering in order for God to give inner strength that compensates for loss, and gives the sufferer inspiration to live faithfully and effectively. What God provides are the resources so we can face the suffering and make something positive come from it. He gives the direction and power to make these resources work. He gives hope and wisdom to find the way past the suffering, and to learn from it. John Paul II gave us an outline of what is believed to be the salvific meaning of suffering. Suffering as he wrote in the Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris, â€Å"cannot be transformed and changed by a grace form outside, but from within? † This question of human suffering is not answered directly by God. As man begins to share in the sufferings of Christ, the answer is discovered within in him. Suffering changes and can either increase or decrease, and in those moments Christians become aware of Gods closeness. We are given inner peace and spiritual joy when we suffer generously. When we are suffering we are never alone we are with Christ. With Christ everything has meaning whether its moments of happiness and peace or of pain and suffering. Nothing in life can be fully explained without God. . Look to the bible and Jesus gives us the answer. Love God with your whole heart, mind, body and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself. If you do this, you are following all the commandments. Humble yourself and give the praise and glory to our creator. God the Father our creator is love and he loves you very much. God created us to worship him and he deserves all the praise because he is the first and the last. He has no beginning and no end. Just look around and take in all the beauty he has created. Everyone is special and made in the image of God. We are nothing without our creator. Sin will keep us from God for he is pure and perfect. It is hard to let go of pleasure and putting ones self first. However, the key to peace and happiness is to surrender your freewill to God, the author of life, and he will give you complete, happiness, peace, contentment and purity you are looking for. That is what we were created for. God is made evident every day when the sun comes up, and there is still air to breathe, and you made it through the night. One cannot believe that everything we know was created by accident. Things are just too perfect to have happened by chance. Man is too corrupt a creature to have invented the beautiful things in the world, as in faith, hope and love. He allows evil in this world because He wants us to have the opportunity to choose either Him or evil, thereby proving our love for Him. If His were the only game in town, then there would not be a free will conscious choice for Him. It is evident that the meaning of life has to far to complex for any one to fully understand or agree on the same answer. All these ideas of these different philosophers are not necessarily inaccurate, just incomplete. All pieces to a puzzle that one has no way of fully figuring out. No one has seemed to accomplish this yet in life. There are so many obstacles that we face as we try to achieve a higher good. Many of these are based in the fact that we are human beings, and because of that are flawed by the ways of our culture. Things such as self-doubt, worry, ignorance, and the values put into our heads since the day we were born all are roadblocks on our way to a higher level. Also being human beings makes vulnerable to the ways of the world around us, so it is not easy to block these things out of our lives. This life is a stage in which we are to develop our minds, bodies, and souls to their highest potential in preparation for the afterlife. Only God could ever really show anyone true meaning.

The effect of a net economy

In order to arrive at a better understanding of what a net-economy is and how it stresses the relevance of software, it is first important to discuss the concept of a net-economy.   Net-economy is basically defined as a digital network that allows for the transfer of information from one source to another.This transfer has a value that then creates its own economy that takes advantage of the different electronic platforms that exist between parties.   It is also an economy that takes advantage of the development of information technology.   This brief discourse shall attempt to highlight the relevance of software in this growing economy and how it has changed the way by which business is conducted by shifting from people based focus to software dependent methods.The effect of a net economy can be seen clearly through the impact that the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has had on certain economies.The reason for this is that BPOs have opened up the world markets and has shown that, according to Friedman, there really is a flat world that allows the factors of production, in this instance information, to flow from one part of the world to another.   In his book entitled The Flat World, Friedman has cited the information exchange and the net-economy as one of the major forces that is currently changing the way businesses are run on a global level.This recognition of the net-economy has now stressed the importance of software to its success.   As Friedman elaborates, the impact of this is that software or the means through which information is transferred becomes more important than the people.The success of the net-economy is now dependent on the speed and velocity by which information can be processed from the source to the market.   Presently, most of the companies that are based in 1st World Countries that are engaged in IT require specialized talent, which can be found in other developing countries, in order to function.The depletion of talented individuals and workers is now forcing these companies to search for the required technical assistance in other talent rich countries located outside of the developed countries such the United States, such as India and China.   Without software, there is no way by which this information or talent can be accessed, it becomes increasingly important, therefore, to ensure that there is enough software to support the net-economy.The main contribution or impact that software has had with regard to the economic aspect is that the net-economy has greatly increased the relative wages that individuals now receive with those engaged in the IT sector earning relatively more in the present than ever.The salary range for programmers in other countries is significantly lower than that of most developed countries with a higher standard of living and therefore even by relocating the entire business process to other countries and factoring in the movement costs and expenses, the companies that resort to outsourcing still save more than they would if they chose to continue all business operations in the developed countries.This means that people as a cost of doing business is a factor that can be changed and is now variable.   This also signifies that software development is quite integral to this process because it allows businesses to relocate the variable factors without a decrease in productivity.In a very serious, competitive environment, companies have to concentrate on their core competency and they want to outsource everything and reduce cost and therefore the world is seeing the trend toward offshore outsourcing increasing.As technology continues to improve and the business world becomes more and more competitive, the growing role of a net-economy becomes crucial.   Yet in order for the net-economy to take full advantage of the situation it needs to lay the infrastructure for such which lies in the information technology development and software.The prom ise of increased velocity for information transfer between business units and lower costs can only be achieved with the establishment and creation of this technology backbone.   Therefore, while people, as a business resource, are important, in a net-economy the key to survival and to remaining competitive lies in the software.

Music and Identity

The human mind is a shapeless and constantly shifting entity of its own, far surpassing our conscious understanding and in order to create a sense of solidity we develop identity. Identity is difficult to define as it is still subject to large philosophical and psychological debate but is given a broad definition in order to satisfy the many different views as â€Å"maintaining a state of continuity of self and remaining same over time†.The formation of identity and the many ways in which is is formed is subject to even more theological debate but for the purposes of this essay I have chosen to break it down into four main categories: experiences, expression, reflexivity and recognition. Music like most forms of creative expression is an extension of the self and in turn a reflexion as it gives tangibility to our thoughts, emotions and ideas. Music operates on multiple layers of self-identification, as it can highlight ethnic, gender and cultural traits. Music has been a part of human identity since the dawn of man.From ritual dances of ancient tribal peoples to the war songs of ancient Greece and Rome to the more developed forms of music of the Renaissance. It was during the late Renaissance that music began being printed and distributed cheaply and became accessible to a wider audience, it was during this period that a social schism was created that reinforced the separation of higher and lower class, as music of the people or â€Å"Folk† music became popularized in the lower class and â€Å"Classical† music maintained within the aristocracy, each type with its own socially defining associations.The Baroque era had a huge impact on music because music was observed as a planned composition meant to instill specific emotions and ideas in the listener. Where previously there had been no real fashioning of music, a musical language was developed using a powerful rhetoric of notes meant to guide the emotional experience. The Classical Period b egan in the 1750’s and was the freeing of the composers from the private employment of the aristocracy, which allowed for public concerts and aided in the popularization and growth of the orchestra.Technological developments have since had some of the largest impact on music as composers could begin to record and playback and through this, perfect their individual sound. Music is a constant reflexion of cultural trends, an efficient example of the potency of music in creating identity would be the swinging sixties. It was a time of cultural rebellion, millions of youth across the world developed a renewed sense of individual liberty, pooling together and creating a community and new ideals through music.Music had never before been attributed such strength to shape the belief system of youth culture so directly. The song â€Å"My Generation† by Pete Townsend of the who written in 1965 is a perfect example of how music works in classification. It was written by the group to express the cultural differences that emerged between their generations and previous ones who could not understand the shift of belief systems. Music is an auditory form of communication utilizing tones in a continuous structure way.In the book Lost in Music: Culture, Style and the Musical Event, John Shepherd writes that â€Å"It can be asserted that because people create music, they reproduce in the basic structure of their music the basic structure of their own thought process†. If music is the expression of the individuals thought process and individuals are conditioned and molded by the society in which they live, then it would only be logical to conclude that music can be used as a social indicator.Expression in forming the identity is used to convert thoughts into physical form and is also known as verbalization. Lyrics are a very important aspect of songs as they create a new relationship to a piece. They can deliver a very precise and direct message and therefore hold significance to the listener as they choose to indulge the message when they listen to it and are in turn influenced by it. Music has rapidly become more diverse as new styles emerge, each with its own category whether it be hip-hop, rock, classical, country etc.The artists are often the models used to create the lifestyle of the music, this can be explicitly noted in goth rock and hip-hop as some listeners actively exhibit characteristics of the artists. Each kind of music brings about a particular set of values and preconceptions. There are also ethnic divisions in music, as music develops distinctly around the world different styles are created by different cultures, these kinds of music become the musical foundation of people living and reinforce national identity. Music and Identity The human mind is a shapeless and constantly shifting entity of its own, far surpassing our conscious understanding and in order to create a sense of solidity we develop identity. Identity is difficult to define as it is still subject to large philosophical and psychological debate but is given a broad definition in order to satisfy the many different views as â€Å"maintaining a state of continuity of self and remaining same over time†.The formation of identity and the many ways in which is is formed is subject to even more theological debate but for the purposes of this essay I have chosen to break it down into four main categories: experiences, expression, reflexivity and recognition. Music like most forms of creative expression is an extension of the self and in turn a reflexion as it gives tangibility to our thoughts, emotions and ideas. Music operates on multiple layers of self-identification, as it can highlight ethnic, gender and cultural traits. Music has been a part of human identity since the dawn of man.From ritual dances of ancient tribal peoples to the war songs of ancient Greece and Rome to the more developed forms of music of the Renaissance. It was during the late Renaissance that music began being printed and distributed cheaply and became accessible to a wider audience, it was during this period that a social schism was created that reinforced the separation of higher and lower class, as music of the people or â€Å"Folk† music became popularized in the lower class and â€Å"Classical† music maintained within the aristocracy, each type with its own socially defining associations.The Baroque era had a huge impact on music because music was observed as a planned composition meant to instill specific emotions and ideas in the listener. Where previously there had been no real fashioning of music, a musical language was developed using a powerful rhetoric of notes meant to guide the emotional experience. The Classical Period b egan in the 1750’s and was the freeing of the composers from the private employment of the aristocracy, which allowed for public concerts and aided in the popularization and growth of the orchestra.Technological developments have since had some of the largest impact on music as composers could begin to record and playback and through this, perfect their individual sound. Music is a constant reflexion of cultural trends, an efficient example of the potency of music in creating identity would be the swinging sixties. It was a time of cultural rebellion, millions of youth across the world developed a renewed sense of individual liberty, pooling together and creating a community and new ideals through music.Music had never before been attributed such strength to shape the belief system of youth culture so directly. The song â€Å"My Generation† by Pete Townsend of the who written in 1965 is a perfect example of how music works in classification. It was written by the group to express the cultural differences that emerged between their generations and previous ones who could not understand the shift of belief systems. Music is an auditory form of communication utilizing tones in a continuous structure way.In the book Lost in Music: Culture, Style and the Musical Event, John Shepherd writes that â€Å"It can be asserted that because people create music, they reproduce in the basic structure of their music the basic structure of their own thought process†. If music is the expression of the individuals thought process and individuals are conditioned and molded by the society in which they live, then it would only be logical to conclude that music can be used as a social indicator.Expression in forming the identity is used to convert thoughts into physical form and is also known as verbalization. Lyrics are a very important aspect of songs as they create a new relationship to a piece. They can deliver a very precise and direct message and therefore hold significance to the listener as they choose to indulge the message when they listen to it and are in turn influenced by it. Music has rapidly become more diverse as new styles emerge, each with its own category whether it be hip-hop, rock, classical, country etc.The artists are often the models used to create the lifestyle of the music, this can be explicitly noted in goth rock and hip-hop as some listeners actively exhibit characteristics of the artists. Each kind of music brings about a particular set of values and preconceptions. There are also ethnic divisions in music, as music develops distinctly around the world different styles are created by different cultures, these kinds of music become the musical foundation of people living and reinforce national identity.

Population Resource Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Population Resource Environment - Essay Example To address this issue, a proposed energy plan to drill the ANWR has been revisited. Data results that the US Geological Survey released estimated a 95% chance that 11.6 billion barrels of oil is present in the area (Corn, 51). This proposal caused the conservationists to react because of the possible negative impact on the preserved natural environment. Analyzing the pros and cons of the proposal, I have come to stand against oil drilling in ANWR because of the negative implications it may bring on the environment and the less established positive implications that the proposal presents. The said wildlife reserve is a federal protected area which aims to make every living thing in that environment to live under its natural environment circumstances and conditions. It is protected and isolated from human intervention to avoid unnatural wildlife disturbance. Though the oil drilling plan proposes to drill on the wilderness part of the ANWR, the drilling will still cause a disturbance in the other areas of the ANWR. A restriction in the habitat of the fauna living in the area caused by the development may result to a decline in the herds (McKinney, et.al., 193). The Inupiat tribe living in the borders of the area might also be affected since their cultural tradition is linked to the caribou, which they believe will be endangered by the development (McKinney, et.al., 193). The oil that can be produced by the development, according to the US Energy Information Administration, will lower the world price of oil by no more than $1.44 per barrel (Lavelle, Arctic Drilling). This indicates little impact on the oil market making the development insignificant. This issue is a matter of development against natural environment preservation. We have to understand that one of the major reasons on why natural calamities have an exaggerated effect on our surroundings is because of human intervention itself. It is sad that human beings are very

Horror Films In American Cinema Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9000 words - 1

Horror Films In American Cinema - Movie Review Example Horror movies are an all-time favorite for those looking to learn from the world of the unknown that surrounds us. Although most of the movies are fictional stories with fictional depictions, the research that goes into developing the story and the screenplay rely vastly on real-life incidents and imaginative capacities of the production team. Although the 1890s was when horror movies began in cinematic history, it was not till epic creations like Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde and movies of the 1920s which took over the horror film industry, which had thrived on petty popularity till then, and comprised of vampire, monsters and ghost stories. Fables that had witches and angels fighting over the safety of human life were also created during this age. Prominent movies that dotted the timeline till 1920 include the Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1911 (French), The Vampires 1915 (German), The Vampire in 1913, A Fool There Was in 1915, and so many more. While these films were mostly silent and marked the explorations of imagination by directors of the silent era, prominent movies started emerging with better-defined screenplays and images after the year of 1920. The 1921 European movie The Death of Dracula and the 1922 German movie Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror were prominent creations that rocked the American movi e industry, owing to the creation and growth of Hollywood the ultimate American movie industry. Although Hollywood had a long time to grow, there were other movies like the Frankenstein films like the 1915 movie Life Without Soul by Joseph Smiley and the 1910 movie Frankenstein by J. Searle Dawley. These movies would be of variable length and would be of historic importance to students of cinema making one day, but at that point in time, these movies were various adaptations of the novels that inspired them and were more of a pre-film idea of how to adapt the story to the screen effectively.  

Is the use of nostalgia in the media necessarily a conservative Essay

Is the use of nostalgia in the media necessarily a conservative impulse - Essay Example It helps the customers to easily remember and relate with past products or services, which in turn helps them to accept new or rebranded products. As a matter of fact, many companies or organizations are using nostalgia as a marketing strategy as a strategy to simultaneously reach out to new consumers and retain current consumers (Uten and Solomon, 2013). This has been triggered by the digitization of the world through technology, and the global economic trends. The global economy is highly competitive and hence there is need for retaining excellent past products, rebranding these products, as well as innovatively creating new products (Wheatley, 2007). The use of nostalgia as a marketing strategy helps in creating familiarity within the consumers and further creates curiosity to try new products or services from the same organizations or companies. The use of old products to usher in new or rebranded ones gives the consumers a sense of belonging and helps the customer to easily fami liarize and accept the new or rebranded products (Uten and Solomon, 2013). As much as there is a need to develop new products due to market competition, it is also important to relate new products with other past successful products and maintain the latter. The fashion industry has seen the development of great designs that have a conceptual vintage design (Tungate, 2008). Nostalgia has been highly used as a strategic marketing tool in advertisement, where is helps in reaching out to resident and new consumers who relate to successful past experiences with the product (Sprengler, 2009). This creates a sense of security, comfort and belonging and hence creates a strong foundation for marketers to advertise their products, which has led to mass media diversity, especially in advertisement. Pull media is a classification of traditional media, such as television, newspaper, or radio, where the consumer is willingly engaged (Bell

Justifying an evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Justifying an evaluation - Essay Example Griffith’s work in the film is fascinating both in the adverse and affirmative dimensions. The characterization features from different angles. For instance, the general scene development of the film is very accurate and authentic with reference to the music played, archives featuring and the natural landscapes that existed in the times of civil wars. The major theme of culture and racial prejudice forms part of the epic story of the film. Initially, what fascinates me about the film is the general presentation of reality with regards to the society. Some of these preside the film with defined warnings regarding the heuristic nature of war amongst different races. For instance, the film tends to seek clarity and relevance from the Biblical directives and Shakespeare works. Most of the scenes of the film disentangle the inappropriate trends of life and give way to light where darkness features most. The issue here is about virtues. It is thrilling to find a film that tries to establish the necessity of liberty. The â€Å"birth of a nation film† is a good pace setter. The first impressive instance about the film is that it takes a representation of the superior culture and the slave’s cultures. The actual history in America is that the whites dominate the northern region, and the African Americans dominate the south. The first part of the film features the introduction of the Africans into the American territory. The underside of disunity in the territory remains well established in the film. The film does not complicate the entire situation of hatred amongst the Africans cultural backgrounds and the American cultures. The film features two distinct families from the Cameroonian and American backgrounds. The film also features intensive political trends where some sides of the national house support intense need for the demolition of civil wars. Others support the need for safety and respect for the African culture thus

Case Study and Analysis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

And Analysis - Case Study Example As per the open system model, the organization along with the sub system which includes groups, individuals and departments often share a number of similar features which explains how the organizations functions and are organized (Cummings & Worley, p.89). The organization, in the given case study, seems to lack coordination among the members and also with the top level management. There are no specific goals attached with the organization and employees often sends query about what the specific goal is and how to achieve it. By looking at the open system model of the organization, it can be assumed that the major problem lies with the group level. Although the other two levels that is organizational level and individual level are far away from perfection but the major issue lies with the group level. Group Level Diagnosis The group level diagnosis consists of inputs under which organizational design plays an important role in group design. Structure of the organization, technology, H R system, measurement system and organizational culture are the components of the organizational design. It mainly specifies the work done tighter in a group which is the main issue in the present organization. As per the survey or questions asked, the response revealed that the organization did not have a so called team. The organization does not function as a team whenever group decisions are required. As commented by Don, the national sales manager, the members do not listen to each other and tends to talk much without listening much to each other. The members are effective in sharing information but not much as a team. The core factors of team functioning was missing such as appraisals and reward system. The next factor is design components which consist of five major components. In task structure, the main idea is to see how the group work is designed. It varies along two dimensions which are regulation of task behavior and coordination of member’s effort. In the respect ive case, there is no group work, no interaction among the group members regarding the work. When meeting are conducted the members do not know what to discuss on such meetings. Meetings are thought to be wastage of time and rather talking as a team the members address it to Joe the division president. The next components talks about the clarity of goal. The members do not know the objective of the organization, what kind of goal is the organization thriving for and so on. Group composition is concerned with the membership of the groups .The members have the ability to differ on dimensions which are relevant to group behavior. But group work does not take a stand in the particular organization, members tends to work on their own, their own way. Group functioning is also important to group life. It takes into consideration how members of an organization relate to each other as quality of relationship does affect the task performance. The relationship among the members is quite effect ive, which is expressed on the last page of the case study. Since there is a lack of team spirit and team work, members needs to work on their own and discuss issues with Joe instead of team members. Lastly, the performance norms which talks about the group should perform task and include performance which are acceptable. The members in the organization want Joe to take care of the needs and

Executive compensation analysis-Is it Excessive Essay

Executive compensation analysis-Is it Excessive - Essay Example ncial Management of the company is one such domain where the management of the company can maximize the value for its shareholders by adopting various practices and policies which can help achieve them their highest goal. However there are also theoretical frameworks i.e. Agency theory which suggest otherwise that the managers and shareholders can conflict with each other when pursuing their individual goals and that the managers can engage into practices where they may take actions which may not help maximizing the shareholders value and rather work in their own benefits. Executive compensation is one such domain where modern executives are largely being criticized for taking high compensations mostly on the pretext that money spent on their compensation could have been utilized for creating value for the shareholders. This essay will look into how the financial management theories and practice can help managers to maximize the value for the shareholders and how it is achieved in practice besides providing a brief outline of how the managers may not, in practice, do things which can help maximize the value for the shareholders. The issue of executive compensation needs to be viewed in the historical context of the way modern businesses developed. The era during 1990s saw a slow and steady increase in the overall median compensation of the CEOs from 1992 to 2000 increased from USD 2.335(m) to USD 6.549(m)- a general increase of 180%1 suggesting the direction of the overall increase in the executive compensation. (Murphy). Similarly, despite the overall decline in the performance of financial sector due to subprime crisis, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein has been able to gross up a bonus of $70million which is 30% more than what he got in previous year. The research conducted on the executive compensation subtly points towards the fact the executives exercise substantially degree of power over the board besides showing the attitude of grabbing opportunities at

Self-monitoring and self-management of oral anti-coagulation therapy Essay

Self-monitoring and self-management of oral anti-coagulation therapy practice - Essay Example Today’s healthcare practice is changing rapidly and thus, provision of patient care and management is shifting from institutional-based management to home-based care where patients can test their status and manage the condition, especially for medical conditions that are not curable but only manageable such as diabetes. One of the testing and management practice being prompted and is gaining popularity in the healthcare sector is the Oral Anti-Coagulation Therapy Practice for patients (Ansell, et al., 2005). This paper concerns the designing of a plan aimed at changing our patients habit from that of going to the lab in hospitals and other healthcare facilities just to get their International Normalized Ratio (INR) testing done to getting these patients who have the capacity to learn how to use a home based testing device for INR instead of seeking lab based testing. The idea behind this concept is the fact that this process is fairly simple and if patients are well educated, they can easily do the test accurately and without any hustle (Baglin, et al., 2005). Besides, home based INR testing devices will be able to give results required in a very short while, actually immediately, just like it is the case for those diabetic patients who normally test for their daily levels of glucose. This is not the case when they seek lab based testing since the process takes 24 hours to get the results due to the large number of patients who might need the same service and the fact that in many instances, the medical practitioners do not match the number of patients.... It is a medical fact that any change in the health, lifestyle or drugs in a patient’s life could quickly interfere and alter the oral anticoagulant’s effectiveness in managing such conditions. What makes it even worse is the fact that each patient reacts differently to these drugs thus the need for regular monitoring of the therapy. However, I tend to think, based on reviews done, that there are strategies that could be used to improve the situation and have these patients self-monitor and self-manage their condition. The evidence based model for change has been derived from a thorough theoretical and research literature that is related to various research utilizations, change theory and the current evidence-based practice within the field (Rosswurm, 1992). This model has a guideline to medical practitioners for changing the normal practice to evidence based practice. Various stages have been proposed for effective implementation of this model. These start with step one where the need for change in the healthcare practice is done. In regard to this, the carrying out of an Oral Anti-Coagulation Therapy at home has been identified as the need for change where patients would have to test and manage their condition at home as is opposed to seeking lab testing. The need is therefore to help patients test their condition at home to establish their INR level within the required range. The reason for doing this comes from the fact that patients have been dissatisfied with the current trend of lab based testing which takes longer to process. The quality of the data got will also be reliable since it will be fresh and immediately established for quick action to

Interracial relationships within teammates in sports Essay

Interracial relationships within teammates in sports - Essay Example In the arena of sports, this is especially true and of especial importance. The various factors that form this list in the arena of teamwork and relationships on and off the field have been discussed in this paper so as to pose relevant questions regarding the quality of these relationships. To be more specific, this paper discusses the area of interracial relationships and the quality of the same within and outside the field. To begin with, let us define sports. The term 'sports' signifies the act of playing a game according to rules so as to declare a winner and a loser. But the very concoction of word sport will demonstrate that no one really loses. The very fact that a person or a team has stood on the field and performed so as to uphold the game and its rules, is enough to make any person a winner for life. In context of the above mentioned factors and discussion of sports, it may be asserted that there is a strong play of motivation in the conduct of sports and that of sportsmen. The basic motivational factor that is being studied in this paper is a combination of all the factors discussed above with a focus on interracial relationships and how these affect the relationships shared within team-mates on the field and off of it. (Eig, 2007) The motivation based on racial factors mirrors the fact that there is a lot yet to be learnt in terms of the factors that actually shape the psyche of the sportsman and affect his performance in the process. It may also be noted that despite the progress made by the world in terms of phenomena like globalisation, there is still a lot left to achieve as far as one on one relationships between people of various races is concerned. This adheres to various spheres and not just sports. Since a sport is all about teamwork more than anything else, it is easy to see these flaws and take stock of the same. McConley, Pg 3 (2008) In this regard, the foremost question that needs to be asked is whether or not the motivational factors for team mates depends on the friendships and bonds formed on the basis of colour and race. For example, let us look at the case of Jackie Robinson. A baseball player par excellence, who played for the Dodgers starting with the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs in 145, he went on to lead the international batting average with .349 average. Yet, there was constant heckling that he had to face once he got down on the field. The person who stood up and supported him openly was Dodgers captain, Pee Wee Reese. Also, Robinson found strong support in the person who had faced similar discrimination - team mate and Jewish baseball star Hank Greenburg. (Eig, 2007) So the question that comes up here is whether or not like attracts like. Is this a case of the discriminated standing up for the discriminated, or a White person standing up for a minority no matter what. The question that needs to be asked is whether or not the recognition of talent should be the greatest motivation rather than the

Case Study Healthcare Provider Essay Example for Free

Case Study Healthcare Provider Essay Scenario A large, regional healthcare provider is developing a new, integrated wellness and prevention program (IWPP) for their patients. This involves developing an overarching strategy and aligning existing prevention capabilities. The client has employed Point B to facilitate the development of the plan’s strategy, conceptual design, and roadmap for initial implementation. Describe how you would approach this effort. Approach: Broadly, the approach has three steps starting with the leadership team and then engaging the entire organization: I. Leadership Strategy Development and Plan II. Organization Engagement and Strategy Refinement III. Initial Implementation I. Leadership Strategy Development and Plan Once the leadership participants are confirmed with the sponsor, facilitated workshops will be structured to shape the key deliverables: business strategy, conceptual design and roadmap. Workshops will focus on: Finding a common understanding of what is a successful IWPP. This includes: †¢ Identifying current challenges for the healthcare provider as a whole and specific to an IWPP †¢ Agreeing to the existing strengths overall but with a focus on existing prevention capabilities †¢ Understanding what has and has not worked in the past †¢ Defining a common IWPP vision and values Defining what capabilities are needed and how to measure a successful IWPP. Capabilities will shape the conceptual design and span such things as: †¢ Technology †¢ Business processes †¢ Applications †¢ People/organization structure †¢ Information †¢ Geographic location Identifying the activities (immediate and future) to create a new IWPP. For example: 1 Case Study – Healthcare Provider May 20, 2014 †¢ People assessing the organization’s culture and behaviours for integrative wellness, prevention and medical care †¢ Process redesign business processes to emphasis case management and cross organization collaboration per patient(s) or member(s) †¢ Technology data conversion to a common rollout schedule for compliance standards across the network e.g. ICD 10 Activity timing will determine when capabilities are in place to chart a roadmap of changes to the organization. II. Organization Engagement and Strategy Refinement The second step is the most intensive and often the most overlooked when developing strategy. The leadership team will be required to engage the broader organization to test the strategy, conceptual design and roadmap. This requires cascading participation from management, team leaders and front-line staff. For a healthcare provider this is critical given the complexity and diversity of the network (complementary service providers, insurers, medical providers, members and patients). Input is also required regarding how best to monitor progress, to measure outcomes and to continuously collect feedback once implementation is  underway. Step II has the following benefits: †¢ Improve the leadership team’s work by adding operational detail †¢ Create strategy awareness so the organization’s day-to-day decision making better aligns with the strategic vision and intent. †¢ Start to foster ownership and champions for IWPP changes III. Initial Implementation The third step focuses on identifying the activities that can be implemented first. Activities will be assessed by not only business value to achieve a new IWPP but also by other planning constraints such as the availability of people with the right skills, funding and interdependencies with existing project work. Step III also requires the establishment of implementation processes to monitor progress, to measure outcomes and to continually improve implementation methods based on feedback.

Conflict Management in the Workplace

Conflict Management in the Workplace Introduction Conflict management in the workplace is an issue that every leader, manager, or employee has to deal with at one time or another. The basics of conflict management include improving communication, teamwork, and a systematic approach to solving the disagreement. This paper explores various techniques that can be utilized to manage conflict in the workplace. Workplace Conflict Management Conflict is defined by Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman as â€Å"the process in which one party perceives that its interests are being opposed or negatively affected by another party† (p. 362). Sometimes conflict that be a positive force within an organization, while at other times it is a negative force. An example of conflict as a positive force is that the creation and resolution of conflict may lead the company to constructive problem solving. It may also lead people to search for ways of changing how they do things. The conflict resolution process can ultimately be a stimulus for positive change within an organization (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 364). However, conflict may also have serious negative effects on an organization. For example, conflict may divert efforts from goal attainment or it may deplete resources (particularly time and money) (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 364). Conflict also may negatively affect the psychological well-being of employees and cause stress (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 364). Indeed, conflicting workplace ideas may lead to anger, tension, and anxiety. Deep and lasting conflicts that continue without conflict management may even lead to violence between employees and others (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 365). Therefore, it would be fair to say that conflict may sometimes be advantageous and at other times destructive. Workplace managers must be sensitive to the consequences of conflict. These consequences range from negative outcomes (such as loss of skilled employees, sabotage, low quality of work, stress and even violence) to positive outcomes (such as creative alternatives, increased motivation and commitment, high quality of work, and personal satisfaction) (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 365). Conflicts (whether they are negative or positive) will arise in organizations whenever interests collide and when these differences affect the relationship between interdependent people, they must be constructively managed (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 365). According to Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, some ways to manage conflict include: the â€Å"forcing style†, the â€Å"accommodating style†, the â€Å"compromising style†, and the â€Å"collaborating style†. The forcing style refers to â€Å"assertive and uncooperative behaviors and reflects a win-lose approach to interpersonal conflict† (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 374). This forcing style relies on coercive power and dominance to resolve the conflict. In the forcing style, the person who is trying to resolve the conflict feels that one side must win and that one side must lose (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 374). The accommodating style, according to Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, refers to â€Å"cooperative and unassertive behaviors† (p. 376). The accommodation style manifests itself as a long-term strategy to encourage cooperation by others, or as a submission to the wishes of others. The accommodator tries to reduce tensions and stresses by reassurance and support (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 376). This style shows concern about the emotional aspects of conflict, but does not deal with substantive issues this style simply results in covering up or glossing over the issue (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman p. 376). According to Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, the compromising style refers to â€Å"behaviors at an intermediate level of cooperation and assertiveness† (p. 377). This style is based on give and take, which usually involves a series of concessions. This technique is commonly used and widely accepted as a means of resolving conflict. A collaborating style refers to â€Å"strong cooperative and assertive behaviors. It is the win-win approach to interpersonal conflict handling† (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 376). In this stylistic approach to workplace conflict management, it is sharing, examining and assessing the reasons for the conflict that leads to the development of an alternative that is fully acceptable to everyone involved. This effectively resolves the conflict (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 377). Studies on the use of these different interpersonal conflict handling styles indicate that collaboration is the best approach to managing workplace conflict (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 378). The collaboration style tends to be characteristic of (1) More successful individuals and (2) High-performing, rather than medium- and low-performing organizations (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 378). Furthermore, the use of the collaboration style of conflict management appears to result in positive feelings from employees (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman, p. 378). So, it appears that the best style to resolve conflict is the collaborative style. Another suggestion for workplace conflict management is to take a step-by-step approach no matter what style the manager is employing. Author Rudy M. Yandricks article, â€Å"Integrating Behavioral Strategies: A Solution to Workplace Problems†, suggests that a systemic approach to workplace issues by management is essential in todays workplace environment. For example, a step-by-step process can be taken to resolve any workplace conflict. This enables the leader to follow a systematic approach to resolving a conflict. A detailed example of a step-by-step systemic approach is the following: First, the employee reports an issue to his supervisor. Second, the supervisor gathers information in order to gain the best understanding possible of the potential hurdle. Third, the supervisor identifies possible causes of the conflict by collecting information from the team members and from anyone else impacted by it. Fourth, the supervisor meets with a Human Resources specialist who will build a list of potential solutions to the conflict. Fifth, the Human Resources specialist, in conjunction with the supervisor, decides on an appropriate solution to the problem. Sixth, the Human Resources specialist and the supervisor present the solution to the workers. And, finally, the solution must be administered. Additionally, there are exercises that can be done to resolve conflict and tensions in the workplace. For example, in the article by Boss and McConkie, the authors suggest an exercise for situations of conflict where there are contradictory personalities. They suggest a writing exercise where the people in conflict write answers to three questions: What does he or she do well? What do I think I do that bugs him or her? What does he or she do that bugs me? (p. 50) This exercise, according to the authors, gives those in conflict time to get used to an explicitly confrontational situation before either of them has a chance to â€Å"pop off† at the other. It forces some rationality into an emotionally charged situation. Also, those in conflict are forced to look at their own behavior before making any accusations against the other. Completing this exercise will create a non-contentious atmosphere for continuing the conflict resolution. Frequently, after doing an exercise such as the aforementioned, it will become clear that neither person involved in the conflict is intentionally causing problems for the other. Each of the foregoing systemic techniques and styles regarding workplace conflict management can be utilized either separately, or in conjunction with each other, in order to promote a more cohesive work environment. Conclusion Conflicts are part of individual relationships and organizational development, and no†¦organization can hope to mature to productivity and be successful without being able to resolve conflicts effectively (Cottringer, p. 6). Thus, conflict resolution is an integral part of maintaining a thriving workplace and the techniques and systemic approaches discussed in this paper should be utilized to resolve differences in the workplace. Bibliography Boss, Wayne R. and Mark L. McConkie. â€Å"Conflict Management in Surgery: Third-Party Intervention†. 5/1/2000. Public Administration Management: An Interactive Journal. Available at:. Retrieved May 22, 2003. Cottringer, William. â€Å"Conflict Management.† Executive Excellence Magazine, 14.8 (1997):6. Hellriegel, Don, John W. Slocum, Jr. and Richard W. Woodman. Organizational Behavior, 8th Edition. Cincinnati, OH: South-Western College Publishing, 1998. Yandrick, Rudy M. â€Å"Integrating Behavioral Strategies: A Solution to Workplace Problems.† Competere Consulting Group. Available at: . Retrieved May 22, 2003.

Does Nursing Need Theory?

Does Nursing Need Theory? =Do nurses need theory? A question that can be considered on many different levels. If one considers the evolution of nursing over time, one can observe that the nurse of antiquity was arguably as dependent on the prevalent theories of the day as the current nurse. Theory determines practice and theory justifies practice (Einstein paraphrased in Kuhse Singer 2001). The nurse who changed the blood letting bowls of antiquity was as dependent upon the theories of imbalances in the humors for her practice as were the nurses in the wards of Ignaz Semmelweis (Semmelweis IP. 1861) who may well have found the idiosyncratic insistence on hand washing to remove the presence of the unseen agents of infection completely bizarre until the evidence base of reduction in puerperal infection could be clearly established. In this latter comment we can find one of the major dilemmas facing the nursing theorists of today. The plethora of nursing theories have been subsumed into a goal (albeit defined by the theorists themselves) of finding a unified nursing theory. One that will define the human condition and also medical science’s response to the management of the various conditions of pathophysiology that can befall it. The stumbling block of many theories is the difficulty in establishing a credible evidence base to support it. (Brechin A et al. 2000). To revisit the Einstein quotation cited earlier, one can have a theory that may determine practice, but it is only with the demonstration of an evidence base that the theory can actually be used to justify practice. One of the luminaries of nursing theory and practice was Martha Rogers, the late Dean of Nursing at New York University. To illustrate the point, Rogers published many nursing theories in her working life. Some (the Unitary theory) have gained a degree of general acceptance others have faded in the mists of time. It was her stated goal to define a unified theory of nursing. (Meleis, A 1997). The Rogerian approach appeared to have little room for establishment of evidence bases and we would suggest that this approach is essentially flawed. (Halpern S D 2005). To consider an extrapolation into other scientific disciplines by way of analogy, we note that it has not been possible to define a unified theory of biological science. Biology is essentially a study of life in general. It does not seek to be a theory of life. Although theories may be postulated in the explanations of the various phenomenon encountered in the field, such as natural selection or the function of the genome, these are used to test the various hypotheses underpinning practical observations, laboratory work and in some cases, mathematical models. There is no all-encompassing biological theory. At a more fundamental level we can observe that biology is based on chemistry which, in turn, is ultimately based on principles of physics. Again we can observe that there is no unified theory encompassing the entire field. (after Green J et al. 1998). This analogy is applicable to nursing theory if one considers the huge range of skills and requirements needed by the modern profes sional nurse. The spectrum of tasks required and expected of the nurse in a variety of situations is legion. To be effective the nurse must understand the human condition from the viewpoint of the pathophysiology, the psychology, the human dynamic and socio-economic elements of the patient’s presentation and disease trajectory. (Yura H et al. 1998). Much of our understanding of these elements is encapsulated into various concepts or theories which are perhaps best regarded as dynamic and fluid or in a process of evolution. (Wadensten et al. 2003). A practical consideration would suggest that the nurse is responsible for giving medication, undertaking procedures of medical intervention as well as caring for the general physical well-being of the patient, they record various parameters of their patient’s progress. They can be the patient’s advocate in terms of their dealings with other healthcare professionals, organisations or even commercial concerns. (Hogston, R et al. 2002). In order to carry out these ( and many other) functions efficiently. The nurse needs to be competent in a huge number of areas with skills in interpersonal relationships, organisational, technical and clerical areas. It follows that these skills are derived from a large number of disparate areas such as anatomy, physiology, therapeutics, psychology, management theory, bookkeeping and tabulation. (Mason T et al. 2003) The point being made here is that, in the light of these comments, it seems inappropriate to consider that there should be, in Rogerian terms, a unified theory of nursing (Rogers, M E 1970). The overall goal would undoubtedly be that the professional nurse should seek to improve the overall well-being of their patients. This target is the accumulative result of any number of different and disparate processes and skills form many differing academic and human disciplines. We would suggest that it is not amenable to the reductionist philosophy of Rogers. Despite the notable article by Christensen (P et al. 1994) which criticises authors who have applied such strategies to both extrapolate from and to expand implications of Rogerian theory, reductionist strategies are not totally inappropriate. In a further scientific analogy, we can point to a classic case of reductionism which contributed greatly to our understanding of the natural world. When Newton made his mathematical models linking orbiting planets, projectiles and falling apples, he produced one of the most dramatically valid reductions in scientific literature. Reductionism per se. is not an inappropriate process. Herein lies a frequently perpetuated fallacy that permeates the field of literature on nursing theory. The term â€Å"Reductionâ€Å", in a nursing context, can have two distinct connotations. It can be observed that some nursing theorists apply the term to the tendency of some healthcare professionals to visualise and regard the patient as a number, a set of symptoms or a demonstration of a particular element of pathophysiology rather than as an individual in their own specific socio-economic, cultural and psychological setting. (Alcock P, 2003). Although this is a completely appropriate and specific use of the term, it is distinctly different from the implications of â€Å"Reductionism† in the scientific and analytical sense. Some nursing theorists (viz. Christensen) use the term in a derogatory or disparaging form that does not appreciate or even acknowledge the positive aspects of the technique. (Hott, J R et al. 1999). We would suggest that such confusion in the terminology has led to some nursing theory being discredited. If we expand this theme by staying with Rogerian theory as an illustration of the point, we can suggest that in the broader context of medicine generally, scientific reduction has enabled progress in medical science by allowing the accurate identification of causal agents of disease and thereby allowing the development of appropriate strategies to combat and eliminate them. Nursing theorists should embrace this aspect of the concept of reductionism while combating any suggestion of a reduction of the status of the patient from that of an autonomous human being (Mill JS 1982). To consider the situation as Christensen does and to decry the use of reductionism and to treat events as essentially causal, does no favours for the analytical process that is central to any theoretical process. It effectively takes nursing theory out of the realms of science which, almost by definition, considers processes as cause and effect. (Polit, D F et al. 1997). Even if we consider processes that are essentially acausal such as the spontaneous degradation of atomic nuclei, one can point to the fact that these processes are still quite capable of being considered reliable processes because they can be detected, demonstrated, quantifiable, repeatable and amenable to statistical analysis. If we contrast this to the nursing theorists in general, and perhaps Rogers in particular, we can show that their writing and reasoning is largely devoid of causal argument and subsequent reasoning. (Barnum, B J. S. 1998). The reasons for this are clearly a matter of speculation. The less charitable analyst might be tempted to conclude that some of the theories propounded do not meet common sense standards. Few of the theories meet the criteria that would satisfy a reputable evidence base as they appear to avoid rigorous testing. To take a specific example, the theory of therapeutic touch is certainly complete enough to permit a degree of submission to testing. Much of the literature cited by Rogers is however, very subjective, done by unblinded clinicians and very speculative. Some is purely in the form of no more than reported anecdotes (Rosa, L et al. 1998). This trend has done little to increase the confidence of the analytically minded investigator in the usefulness and relevance of nursing theory. To a casual observer, who considered only these elements of nursing theory, it might appear that the theorists had allowed themselves to become detached from the scientific rigour of logical deduction or experimental validation and thereby effectively deprived the field of any degree of precision of predictive possibility (which any useful theory should have). To support this view, one can cite Rogers herself (cited in Meleis 1997). Reality does not exist but appears to exist as expressed by human beings. In this respect, we can put forward a coherent argument that nursing does not need theory. Having presented this argument, we can also examine the opposing view put forward by Prof Margaret Rosenthal (Rosenthal 2000) in her thought provoking book â€Å"Changing Practice in Health and Social Careâ€Å". The book itself is primarily about accountability in healthcare, but in its discussion it considers the relevance of the nursing theorists in general. The author puts forward the view that the public have experienced a decline in the trust and standards of the healthcare professionals. She cites the media as being one of the major contributors to this erosion, rather than the actual reality of the situation and suggests that the way forward is to submit all types of clinical practice to the scrutiny of its evidence base. She suggests rejecting practices that do not have a secure evidence base in favour of those that do so that â€Å"at every level so that the public in general and the patients in particular, are able to feel confident in every therapeutic manoeuvre that t hey are offeredâ€Å". (quote from McNicol M et al 1993 Pg 219). As an overview the author suggests that all dealings, whether they are practical or theoretical, should have â€Å"accountability as their watchword†. In some respects, this is a simple conceptual extension of the comments advanced by Florence Nightingale a century and a half earlier, that the ultimate objective of working in a healthcare environment as a healthcare professional is to provide the best form of support, treatment and care for the patient. (Nightingale F 1859). We would both concur and expand the sentiments expressed by adding that this may be best achieved by considering that the best form of treatment is the one that has the strongest evidence base for its use. Having made these comments, it is appropriate to consider the more positive aspects of nursing theory. If we accept Wadenstein’s view (Wadenstein B et al. 2003) that it is an important purpose of theories to challenge practice, create new approaches to practice and remodel the structures of rules and principles, then we could usefully progress this argument by considering some of those theories which help to explain patient behaviour and thereby modify the nursing approach. The basic nursing process is traditionally based on assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation. The particular theories that we shall consider here, together with the models that they support, all basically follow the same pattern, but each analyses the patient situation from a different aspect or in different terms. (Fawcett J 2005) The Roper Logan Tierney model (Roper, Logan and Tierney 2000) is primarily concerned with the activities of daily living. It requires identification of the problems and then dealing with them on a problem solving basis. This type of model has been extensively reported, evaluated and is one of the most generally accepted models of the nursing process. (Holland K et al. 2003). This type of approach is very useful for problems which are mainly or primarily based on a physical or disability orientated disease process. Its major shortcomings revolve around the fact that it is not very useful in describing strategies that cope with patient responses that are overtly manipulative or psychological in nature. The theories that underpin this model have largely withstood the test of time and clinical practice and have accumulated a large evidence base in the literature. (Holland K et al. 2003). For patients who fall into the category of manipulation or functional symptomatology as a result of an adaptation process for coping with their illness the Roy adaptation model (Roy 1991) is useful in describing the abilities of a patient to adapt (or maladapt) to the evolving pattern of their illness. This model allows for changing perceptions and adaptation mechanisms on the part of the patient and can be used to explain the various behaviour patterns exhibited by various patients as their disease trajectory unfolds. It allows for the major patterns of illness adaptation but has the major shortcoming that it does not allow for the behaviour patterns that are consistent with denial of the underlying diagnosis. The patient who has a diagnosis of terminal cancer but copes with a total refusal to accept it and continues as if all is well, is not described in this particular approach. The model dismisses this as a degree of cognitive distortion rather than a coping mechanism. It can be seen as possibly choosing to ignore the reality of the situation and changing the theory to make it more coherent. It would categorise the patient as not adapting to the situation by choosing to ignore it. (Steiger, N. J. et al. 1995) This particular situation is better dealt with by the application of the theories associated with the Johnson Behavioural System ( in Wilkerson et al 1996). This model can be considered useful in describing the situation of denial considered above but it too has shortcomings insofar as most experienced clinicians would note that a patient in denial of a terminal illness almost always is forced into acceptance by the progressive nature of the illness itself. (Johnson, D. E. 1990) The majority therefore have to accept their terminal status as they are overtaken by progressive physical manifestations of the disease process and other symptoms. This element of the argument is presented as showing that the basis of some nursing theories is valid and useful but also even the most accepted theories have their shortcomings and limitations. (Tomey A M, Alligood M R 2005). To paraphrase the comment of Wadensten (et al 2003), one can observe that the nursing models and theories all have their place, but one has to add the caveat that there is not one satisfactory theory or model which can account for all aspects of care and all eventualities. The thrust of this essay is directed at the preposition that some nursing theories are indeed useful and some are not. Even a brief consideration of the literature on the subject will reveal a plethora of opinions. (Powers, B. A 1995). It is vital to consider each theory or model in isolation and make a critical judgement relating to its ability to inform the nurse and to predict practice for the overall benefit of the patient. Those, such as the ones discussed in the early part of this essay, which rely heavily on intuition and anecdote and also have a marked lack of independent validation, are clearly less likely to be of value to the practical nurse and, in the worst analysis, in the opinion of Prof. Rosenthal, may contribute to the reduction of public confidence in the healthcare professions in general terms. By contrast, the more accepted, reproducible and statistically valid theories which have predictive value and are amenable to independent validation are much more likely to be considered of value to the profession in general terms. In direct consideration of the title of this essay â€Å"Does nursing need theory?† the considered answer must be a qualified â€Å"Yes† but within the limitations that we have outlined here. References Alcock P, 2003  Social policy in Britain,  Macmillan 2003. Barnum, Barbara J. S. 1998 Nursing Theory: Analysis, Application, Evaluation. 5th ed.  Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams Wilkins, 1998 .; 2 : 217-21. Brechin A. Brown, H and Eby, M (2000)  Critical Practice in Health and Social Care  Open University, Milton Keynes. 2000 Christensen, P., R. Sowell and S.H. Gueldner. 1994.  Nursing in Space: Theoretical Foundations and Potential Practice Applications within Rogerian Science. Visions: The Journal of Rogerian Nursing Science 2. 1994   Fawcett J 2005  Contemporary Nursing Knowledge: Analysis and Evaluation of Nursing Models and Theories, 2nd Edition  Boston: Davis Co 2005 ISBN: 0-8036-1194-3 Green J, Britten N. 1998  Qualitative research and evidence based medicine.  BMJ 1998; 316: 1230-1233 Halpern S D 2005 Towards evidence based bioethics BMJ, Oct 2005 ; 331 : 901 903 ; Hogston, R. Simpson, P. M. 2002  Foundations in nursing practice 2nd Edition,  London : Palgrave Macmillian. 2002 Holland K, Jenkins, J Solomon J, Whittam S 2003  Applying the Roper-Logan-Tierney Model in Practice Churchill Livingstone 2003 ISBN 0443071578 Hott, Jacqueline R., and Budin, Wendy C.1999 Notters Essentials of Nursing Research. 6th ed.  New York: Springer Pub. Co., 1999.   Johnson, D. E. 1999.  The behavioral system model for nursing. In M. E. Parker (Ed.), Nursing theories in practice (pp. 23-32).  New York: National League for Nursing. Kuhse Singer 2001  A companion to bioethics  ISBN: 063123019X Pub Date 05 July 2001   Mason T and Whitehead E 2003  Thinking Nursing.  Open University. Maidenhead. 2003 McNicol M, Layton A, Morgan G. 1993  Team working: the key to implementing guidelines.  Quality in Health Care 1993 Meleis, Afaf. 1997.  Theoretical Nursing: Development and Progress, 3rd ed.  Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams Wilkins Mill JS 1982  On Liberty, 1982,  Harmondsworth: Penguin, p 68. Nightingale F 1859  Notes on Nursing: What is it and what it is not  London : Harrison 1859 Polit, Densie F., and Hungler, Bernadette P. 1997 Essentials of Nursing Research: Methods, Appraisal, and Utilization. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams Wilkins, 1997 Powers, B. A. Knapp, T. R. (1995).  A dictionary of nursing theory and research (2nd Ed.) Thousand Oaks,  CA : Sage Publications. 1995 Rogers, Martha E., 1970  An introduction to the theoretical basis of nursing.  Philadelphia, 1970. F.A. Davis Company Roper, Logan and Tierneys (2000)  Ã¢â‚¬ËœActivities of Living model London : Churchill Livingstone 1983 ISBN 0443063737 Rosa, L., E. Rosa, L. Sarner and S. Barrett. 1998.  A Close Look at Therapeutic Touch.  JAMA 1 April : 1005-1010. Rosenthal MA 2000 Book: Changing Practice in Health and Social Care BMJ, Nov 2000 ; 321 : 1355 ; Roy C 1991  An Adaption model (Notes on the Nursing theories Vol 3)  OUP: London 1991 Semmelweis IP. 1861  Die aetiologie, der begriff und die prophylaxis des kindbettfiebers. Pest, Wien und Leipzig:  CA Hartlebens Verlags-Expedition 1861. Steiger, N. J. Lipson, J.G. (1995).  Self-care nursing: Theory and practice.  Bowie: Md. 1997 Tomey A M, Alligood M R 2005  Nursing Theorists and Their Work, 6th edition Mosby ISBN 0323030106 Published November 2005 Wadenstein B Carlsson M 2003  Nursing theory views on how to support the process of ageing. J Adv Nurs. 2003 Apr ; 42 (2) : 118-24. Yura H, Walsh M. 1998  The nursing process. Assessing, planning, implementing, evaluating. 5th edition. Norwalk, CT: Appleton Lange, 1998. ################################################################ 16.6.06 PDG Word count 3,272

Tragedy in Sophocles Oedipus The King and Antigone Essay -- Sophocle

Tragedy in Sophocles' Oedipus The King and Antigone The Greeks considered tragedy the greatest form for literature.   However, the tragic ends for the characters were not ordained or set by fate, but rather caused by certain characteristics belonging to that person.   Such is the case with the characters of Sophocles' plays Oedipus the King and Antigone.   Oedipus from King Oedipus, and Antigone and Creon from Antigone posses characteristics, especially pride, that caused their tragic ends.   As the play progress, other characteristics appear and further add to the problem to such a point that it is inevitable that it will end in tragedy.   Therefore the tragedies were not a result of a plot by the fates, but rather a result of the characteristics that the characters possessed. The characters posses a multitude of traits, some of them common to all of them.   Pride is especially prevalent.   This characteristic seems to be the major tragic flaw or hamartia that eventually causes the downfall.   Oedipus exhibits a vast amount of pride, which seems to border on sheer arrogance.   This is demonstrated in the beginning of the play where he states, "I, Oedipus, whose name is known afar."(p. 25).   This is reinforced by the priest's replies of, "Oedipus great and glorious,"(p.26) and, "O greatest of men."(p.26).  Ã‚   Therefore it may be concluded that Oedipus obviously posses a large amount of pride.   Antigone, daughter and sister of Oedipus also posses the same trait.   Creon acknowledges this when he says, "This girl's proud spirit,"(p.139) and Antigone confirms this with her grand speech to Creon, where she states, "I knew that I should have to die... living in daily torment as I do, who would not be glad to die?" (p.138).   Thus the pri... ...in both King Oedipus and Antigone there were characters whose lives ended in tragedy.   However these falls from grace were no the deeds of fate, but rather that of the character themselves.   The characteristics, especially pride, of the people set them on the path.   Therefore the faults of the characters were the cause of their ill-fated end. Works Cited Dodds, E. R. "On Misunderstanding the Oedipus Rex." Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. Michael J. O'Brien. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1968. 17-29. Sophocles. "Oedipus Rex." An Introduction to Literature, 11th ed. Eds. Sylvan Barnet, et al. New York: Longman, 1997. Sophocles. Antigone. Exploring Literature: Writing and thinking About Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and the Essay. Ed. Joseph Terry. New York: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc, 2001.

Abortion Essay -- essays research papers

China - Two researchers say comprehensive new data shows that traditional family patterns in China, combined with tough population-control measures, have resulted in ``female infanticide on a grand scale'' -- close to 800,000 baby girls abandoned or killed in a single region between 1971-80 alone. G. William Skinner, an anthropologist and China specialist at the University of California-Davis, and Chinese researcher Yuan Jianhua based their conclusions on an analysis of 1990 Chinese census data. They presented their findings at the Association for Asian Studies' annual meeting last weekend in San Diego. While the phenomenon of disappearing girls isn't new, the paper by Yuan and Skinner is the first to show how location and family composition help determine infants' fate: The more rural a baby girl's surroundings, and the more sisters she had at birth, the higher her chances of not surviving. The researchers say most of the girls were abandoned or killed at birth. Chinese officials have long maintained that missing girls are adopted or raised on the sly, but Skinner said the data does not allow for concealment. Skinner and Yuan, who works for a semiofficial agency in Beijing that does population projections for the Chinese government, focused on a 1 percent census sample of China's lower Yangtze region. Located around the central metropolis of Shanghai, the area ranges from crowded coastal cities to surrounding rural communities, and had a population of 140 million in 199...

Safeguarding Case Study

Unit 3 Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people 2. 3a Case Study Chris works as a teaching assistant in a local primary school. As a group of Year 5 children were getting changed for PE, Chris noticed bruising in lines across the back of a boy called Marc. He asked Marc how he had hurt himself but he said, â€Å"It’s nothing† and quickly put on his top. As Marc left the room he approached Chris and said, â€Å"Please don’t say anything to Mum, or Uncle Paul will be cross with me. * Why does Chris need to take action about this? Describe the action that Chris should take. As Chris works as a teaching assistant and he has seen the bruising on Marcs back, he has to acknowledge that Marc may be being physically abused and this is why he has to report it immediately. Physical abuse is a result of excessive discipline or physical punishment that is inappropriate for the childs age. Unfortunately, some children may try to justify for the abusive behaviour or try to hide the physical abuse in fear that it may continue or get worse.If Chris does not act upon what he has seen, it is more than likely that Marc will continue to suffer physical abuse, which if left unreported may have a serious effect on Marcs well-being or life. Therefore, it is Chris’s duty as a teaching assistant to follow the procedures regarding suspected abuse. Chris has to be very sensitive in this case and he has to take what Marc has said very seriously as children rarely lie about physical abuse and it probably took a lot of courage just for Marc to ask Chris not to tell his mum or uncle.It is important for Chris to reassure Marc and tell him that he will have to tell someone who can help him. It is not Chris’s responsibility to draw conclusions, it is only his responsibility to report what he has seen an what he has been told. Chris has a statutory duty under the Education Act 2002, to report his concerns to his senior manager. He is then to write a report explaining exactly what he saw and exactly what was said to him.

How I Think and Learn

Throughout my college years I have found what my best ways of thinking and learning are. I have tried many different methods to make sure I get the best out of learning. Now that I know what helps me concentrate I stick to that method when studying. Thinking is a complex part of me that I have difficulties in, especially when I have to make a decision. Thinking and learning are a process that has no ending, and frequently can be modified to ones potential. To learn what I am being taught, I have to rewrite and review my notes.I have difficult time memorizing my notes, so the more I review them the easier it is for me to remember the content. Also, to learn in class I have to sit in the front of class to focus on what is being taught. When it comes to study time, I like to be alone to be able to think and process what I am learning. I don’t like to have distractions at this time so, this helps me concentrate and forget about any other issues I may have. I believe that I need to improve my persona so that I can become a successful and great nurse one day. I want to improve my technical skill, according to Alfaro, this it to focus on more important things.Sometimes I dedicate more time to socializing with friends and I don’t dedicate enough assignments, which is more important. In the past, while I was taking a science course, I would spend more time going out with my friends rather than studying for upcoming quizzes or exams. I know that if I focus more on important things I will be a better student that will lead to a great nursing career. Another, skill I want to improve on is my interpersonal skill. I have a difficulty communicating with others, especially if they are older people than me.I have difficulty expressing myself to others and giving any feedback. I would like to improve this skill because I want to prepare myself to working with a large number of people, like at a hospital. I know that being part of a health care team means that worki ng as a team is important. I will work on this skill by socializing more with my fellow co workers and other people when the time is appropriate. The last skill I think is important for me to improve is my intellectual skill as well. I think that my confidence in decision making is not very high.I usually don’t go with my gut feeling. For instance, when I take a test and I’m unsure about an answer, if I have an intuition about an answer I always doubt myself and end up choosing the wrong answer. I think this skill will help me as a nurse in the future because the life of patients will rely on me, and I have to make the best decision to keep them healthy. I plan to work on this skill by trusting myself and working on myself esteem. Throughout the years that I have dedicated in college to better my education and prepare for a better future I have learned many new things about myself.I’ve found out what my styles in learning are, and what helps me learn and stay fo cus. I have been able to critically think about different situations that will impact my life and have been able to make wise decisions about my life. I am happy that there is great opportunity for improvement in myself. I am looking forward into putting to use what I have learned and happy that I’ve been thought the difference between a thinker and a critical thinker. Alfaro-Lefevre, R. (2009). Critical thinking and clinical judgement (4th ed). Philadelphia: WB Saunders

Nike Promotion Essay

Another important factor in economy is the maturing market in athletic shoes. There is also a growing adverse demographic change in the marketplace brought about by the sweatshop expose that Nike has not overcome yet. Effects to Nike’s growth are also affected not only by domestic economy but also by the international economy. The continued weak Euro and Asian recession could potentially hurt Nikes international sales and growth. Nike’s extreme sports product line is seen as inferior quality compared to competitors and is hurting sales and brand image. CUSTOMERS In 1998, Americans spent $38 billion to buy over 1. 1 billion pairs of shoes. Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association revealed that athletic footwear makes up almost 35% of all footwear purchases. The existing domestic industry focus is on casual and comfortable shoes. Demand is up for the â€Å"brown shoe† casual footwear with a comfortable and rugged design. This is because of the increasing number of workplaces allowing casual dress codes. Multinational customers account for a large part of Nike’s sales. In 1995, Nike’s international operations accounted for 36. 6 of its total revenues. The company believes that demands from international markets will increase in future. Nike must cater to a large portion of the new generation that demands the latest trends and styles. Nike should take into account the changing US demographics due to the rising proportion of Hispanics, Asians, and African Americans. These groups have different preferences that Nike should be able to satisfy. Nike should identify the next generation of loyal customers and provide for their needs. COMPETITION Competition is very fierce due to the number of companies competing for sales. Lots of money goes to marketing and promotions using various channels to reach the young demographic group of consumers who spend the most money on Nike’s products. Growth is slowing down in the athletic footwear industry. But new markets are emerging with high growth rates. These markets include extreme sports market and the corporate merchandise market. Nike’s global market share was an impressive 30. 4% in 1998. The closest competitor, Adidas, held 15. 5% of the market share while Reebok held 11. 2%. The remaining competitors, including Fila, Timberland, Asics, Converse, and New Balance, among others, each hold approximately 3-5% of the remaining market share. MARKETING ASPECTS OBJECTIVES Nikebiz. com stated that Nike’s mission statement is â€Å"Through the adoption of business practices Nike is committed to securing intergenerational quality of life, restoring environment and increasing value for our customers, shareholders and business partners. † Nike shows passion for their company, products, and athletes. They are determined to provide consumers with comfort and assurance. They also find ways to innovate and create. They adhere to their five brand principles namely: inspire, innovate, focus, connect, and care. Another Nike’s objective is â€Å"to be the world’s leading sports and Fitness Company. † Nike’s mission statement is similar to a vision statement and is potentially a weakness. The mission identifies the sports and fitness industry business they are in, it does not specify as to what products and services they provide. The mission statement does not mention distribution channels and customers. However, it portrays management’s beliefs and the desire to be number one and remain in the leading position in sports and fitness shoe and apparel industry. STRATEGIES Corporate Strategies. The past two decades saw a change in economy from â€Å"standardized† to flexible†. Having a strict corporate organization used to be the rule, now it is common to have a flexible organization that uses subcontracting. The main reason Nike succeeded in competing in the footwear industry for a long time is because they remain flexible in an unpredictable market by subcontracting overseas in countries with low labor-cost. Another reason for Nike’s strength in competition is their product differentiation. Aside from athletic shoes, Nike’s product line now offers a broad range of clothing, equipment and accessories. TACTICS Nike’s distinctive tactics are found in the area of marketing, specifically in consumer brand awareness and brand power. Nike’s catch phrases like, â€Å"Just Do It,† and symbols like the Nike â€Å"Swoosh,† are reminders of the Nike empire. This tactic is effective because it could not be easily replicated and it offers value or benefit to consumers. Nike is becoming a part of American and world culture, the brand power becomes more difficult to replicate. The trademark and a slogan serves as the company’s fingerprints. Nike is able to capitalize the unique identity due because of its financial strength. Nike reaches millions of consumers through large-scale marketing campaigns. The public benefits from the strength of Nike’s image when they make a purchase. Consumers often associate Nike image with quality products. By associating star athletes and motivational slogans like, â€Å"Just Do It,† consumers identify their purchases with the prospect of achieving greatness. This image they create forms a tactic that competing companies can not easily duplicate by simply improving their products. PRODUCT Nike sells a huge variety of products, including shoes for running, basketball, cross training, Women and children. All of which are currently its top-selling product categories. Nike also sells shoes for outdoor activities such as tennis, golf, soccer, baseball, football, bicycling, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading, aquatic activities, auto racing and other athletic and recreational uses. Nike began selling active sports apparel in 1979 as well as athletic bags and accessory items. The company sells a line of performance equipment under the Nike brand name, such as sport balls, timepieces, eyewear, skates, bats and other equipment. They also sell a line of dress and casual footwear and accessories for men, women and children under the brand name Cole Haan. The company markets headwear under the brand name Sports Specialties, through Nike Team Sports, Inc. They also sell small amounts of various plastic products to other manufacturers through Nike IHM, Inc. Bauer Nike Hockey Inc. manufactures and distributes ice skates, skate blades, in-roller skates, protective gear, hockey sticks and hockey jerseys and accessories under the Bauer and Nike brand names Pricing Strategies Nike uses vertical integration in pricing wherein they own participants at differing channel levels or engage in more than one channel level operations. This is also an attempt to control costs and influence pricing practices. PLACE Distribution channels and policy. Should additional channels be added, why? Nike sells its product to about 20,000 retail accounts in the U. S. and in approximately 110 countries around the world. Nike sells its products in international markets through independent distributors, licensees and subsidiaries. Independent distributors has little or no pressure for local adaptation because the 4Ps of marketing are managed by distributors. PROMOTION Nike has been one of the top retail industries for quite along time. This is because they sell quality products, customer loyalty, but most of all, its great marketing techniques. Nike has a number of famous athletes to create a great deal of attention to their products. Nike has signed the top athletes in many different sports such as the Brazilian Soccer Team (especially Ronaldino, Renaldo, and Roberto Carlos), Lebron James and Jermane O’Neal for basketball, Lance Armstrong for cycling, and Tiger Woods for Golf. Sponsoring of events is another great promotional technique for Nike. It brings attention Nike’s products. Web sites are a great promotional tool as they cover these events. Such events include Hoop It Up and The Golden West Invitational. Nike also personalizes websites. They make the websites exclusively for a sport such as nikebasketball. om , nikefootball. com , and nikegolf. com Marketing strategy: Nike’s marketing strategy is an important component of the company’s success. Nike is positioned as a premium-brand, selling well-designed and expensive products. Nike lures customers with a marketing strategy centering around a brand image which is attained by distinctive logo and the advertising slogan: â€Å"Ju st do it†. [35] Nike promotes its products by sponsorship agreements with celebrity athletes, professional teams and college athletic teams. However, Nike’s marketing mix contains many elements besides promotion. These are summarised below. Advertising From 1972 to 1982, Nike relied almost exclusively on print advertising in highly vertical publications including Track and Field News. Most of the early advertising was focused on a new shoe release, essentially outlining the benefits of the running, basketball or tennis shoe. In 1976, the company hired its first outside ad agency, John Brown and Partners, who created what many consider Nike’s first ‘brand advertising’ in 1977. A print ad with the tagline â€Å"There is no finish line† featured a lone runner on a rural road and became an instant classic. The success of this simple ad inspired Nike to create a poster version that launched the company’s poster business. In 1982, Nike aired its first national television ads, created by newly formed ad agency Wieden+Kennedy, during the New York Marathon. This would mark the beginning of a remarkably successful partnership between Nike and W+K that remains intact today. The Cannes Advertising Festival has named Nike its ‘advertiser of the year’ on two separate occasions, the first and only company to receive that honor twice (1994, 2003). 36] Nike also has earned the Emmy Award for best commercial twice since the award was first created in the 1990s. The first was for â€Å"The Morning After,† a satirical look at what a runner might face on the morning of January 1, 2000 if every dire prediction about Y2K came to fruition. [37] The second Emmy for advertising earned by Nike was for a 2002 spot called â€Å"Move,† which featured a series of famous and ever yday athletes in a stream of athletic pursuits. [38] In addition to garnering awards, Nike advertising has generated its fair share of Controversy. RANDOM: The short version of this is: Nike makes itself pop up everywhere, so that it’s well known. It associates with people that most of it’s consumers want to emulate (such as michael jordan, in the 1990’s) and creates products that will appeal to as wide of an audience as possible while using those celebrities it’s consumers want as bait (eg, michael jordan and the Air Jordan shoe line). This is just the marketing side: The business as a whole creates fast, easy assembly methods that allow it to use cheap labor in southeast asia and elsewhere to get cheap products (around 10 dollars) and sell them at extremely high prices (about 150 dollars). With nike, most of what you’re buying is image. Nike, Inc. is a marketer of sports apparel and athletic shoes. The American manufacturer, through its marketing strategy which rests on a favourable brand image, has evolved into a large multinational enterprise In keeping with the brand image is its association with the distinctive logo and its advertising slogan, â€Å"Just do it. † In order to maintain and sustain this image, the company makes huge investments in advertising and brand promotion. Its promotional activities include agreements for product sponsorship with professional athletic teams, celebrity athletes, and numerous college athletic teams. Nike is involved in the production of goods for a wide variety of sports, competing with every sports fashion brand in existence. Because of the absence of any single brand that rivals the products of Nike, the company has no direct competitors, with the exception of German company Adidas. This has helped popularize the brand worldwide in all areas of sport and sports fashion. When Nike first began as Blue Ribbon Sports they only sold one product (running shoes) and because of this they had to make the target audience large. However, because of the wide-range of products that Nike sells they now have different target-audiences for each product. For young people, Nike sponsors popular athletes that their customers want to emulate.