Panera Bread Company: Rising Fortunes? Essay

Maxis Berhad, with its consolidated subsidiaries (together, ‘Maxis’), is the leading mobile communications service provider in Malaysia with over 11.4 million mobile subscribers as of 30 June 2009. Maxis was granted licences to operate a nationwide GSM900 mobile network, a domestic fixed network and an international gateway in 1993. It commenced its mobile operations in August 1995 and launched its fixed line and international gateway operations in early 1996. Since its establishment, Maxis has been providing a full suite of services on multiple platforms to fulfil the telecommunications needs of individual consumers, SMEs and large corporations in Malaysia. Maxis’ mobile service is offered on a postpaid basis under the Maxis brand and via a prepaid format under the Hotlink brand. The use of these two distinct brands, underpinned by synergistic values, has enabled Maxis to develop its prepaid business successfully while maintaining growth in its postpaid segment. Maxis has also pioneered and led the Malaysian market in delivering innovative mobile products and services. It was the first to launch 3G services in Malaysia as known as Maxis3G in July 2005, and in September 2006, it became among the world’s first to use HSDPA, a high-speed upgrade of its 3G network, to provide wireless broadband services. It was the first operator to bring the BlackBerryâ„ ¢ and Apple iPhoneâ„ ¢ smart phones to Malaysia. The company in April 2009 unveiled the first commercial NFC-powered service in Malaysia. Maxis provides enhanced postpaid packages to corporate and SME customers, based on its highly successful consumer postpaid plans. These plans are custom-made to meet the needs of enterprises, especially improved communications within and beyond their compound. Maxis’ international gateway services include termination of traffic into Malaysia from international telecommunications companies, supporting Maxis’ own outbound international direct dial (IDD) traffic, collecting international transit traffic and bandwidth leasing services. Mission A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide  decision-making. The mission of this Maxis company are : Today * Malaysia’s leading mobile communications service provider Tomorrow * The nation’s premier integrated communications service provider Vision Defines and describes the future situation that a company wishes to have, the intention of the vision is to guide, to control and to encourage the organization as a whole to reach the desirable state of the organization. The vision of the company is the response to the question of what do we want our organization to be? Corporative values are the answer to the question of what we believe into and how we are. The vission of Maxis Berhad is : To bring the future to our customers’ lives and businesses, in a manner that is simple, personalised and enriching, by efficiently and creatively harnessing leading-edge technology and delivering a brand of service experience that is reliable and enchanting. Objective An end that can be reasonably achieved within an expected timeframe and with available resources. In general, an objective is broader in scope than a goal, and may consist of several individual goals. Objectives are a basic tools that underlying all planning and strategic activities. They serve as the basis for policy and performance appraisals. This is what Maxis stands for : Simple * We aim to keep everything we do as simple as possible. For example, customers understand what it is we are telling them because we do it in a way that is straightforward and easy to understand. We make things simple for everyone, including ourselves. Keeping things simple also means that everything we say is said in a clear direct tone of voice that is friendly and human. Trustworthy * Trust is crucial in every successful relationship and this is true between customers and Maxis, just as it is true between the company and its  employees. All good relationships are built on trust which inspires confidence, and, assurance, conviction and reliance. To be trustworthy is a way of life. Creative * Creativity defines us and therefore differentiates us from our competition. It inspires not only our communication style, but also how we answer the phone, design our stores, and deal with challenges. Creative runs through everything we do and everything we say, it’s in our DNA. Brave * To lead people into new territories we have to be brave. We have the courage to try new things, to take the occasional calculated risk, to go where our competitors have not been. It ensures that we stay at the forefront and that our customers benefit from new and better ways of doing things. It means doing the right thing, rather than the easy thing. It means having the courage of our convictions. Brave is the quality of a true leader. Strategy Given this context within our corporate strategy, in 2011 we reviewed our existing activities and identified new initiatives to create a CR strategy with three pillars. Developing and enriching our community, customers and partners, creating a great place to work and, Advocating environmentally friendly practices. Maxis’ CR initiatives are governed by our CR Philosophies, which prescribe that the initiatives are aligned to our corporate strategy and CR Mission and create value to all our stakeholders. That is, the initiatives must have a positive impact that can be shared across Maxis, our stakeholders and the nation. 1. Developing & Enriching Our Community, Customers & Partners * Being a customer-focused organisation, with a large and complex supply chain, we are uniquely positioned to touch the lives of many people. Our ambition is to make this contact an enriching experience for everyone. Simply by providing telecommunication connectivity to remote and rural communities, we can drastically improve people’s lives. But our reach goes further than that. We can offer better products and services to customers who have a choice of service providers. We can build and develop the communities in which we operate, through our Cyberkids Programme initiatives and scholarships. And,  we take very seriously our responsibility to positively influence our supply chain so that it is healthier, safer and more sustainable. 2. Creating a Great Place To Work * At Maxis, we have always said that our employees are critical to our success. We regard leadership as an essential part of our business, especially to fulfil our goals to be the premier integrated communications service provider in Malaysia. Therefore, we invest significantly in leadership development and training, as well as nurturing the talent of our employees. We value the diversity that colleagues bring, with individuals able to see things with different perspectives and fresh ideas. We have measures in place to ensure that our workplaces embrace this diversity. We think also that it is important to get the fundamentals of employment right: health and safety, and benefits and rights. 3. Advocating Environmentally Friendly Practices * Our sector is evolving rapidly and a significant challenge for us is to keep ahead of the technology curve, whilst understanding and evaluating the sometimes unknown impacts of new products and services. We have to balance the demand for innovation with the responsibility to do no harm. In addition, we are committed to driving efficiencies in our operations in order to reduce our carbon footprint and to manage waste effectively. We also want to advocate this to our partners and customers. GENERAL ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS External Analysis The external analysis is critical for a firm to understand to be able to realize the opportunities and threats that exist in the industry they are competing in to help achieve a strategic competitiveness. The external analysis consists of a general environmental analysis, industry analysis, five forces analysis, industry competitor’s analysis, and the key success factors for the industry. General Environment Analysis In order for a company to effectively compete in an industry, an analysis of its specific industry must be undertaken. This is done to provide the firm with a description of the elements in society that directly effect the industry and the direction managers must take to implement appropriate strategies to survive. This study is commonly referred to as the general environmental analysis. It primarily consists of five primary factors, which are political/legal, economic, socio cultural, ecological, and technological or also known as STEEP Analysis. These five sections describe the external environmental factors a firm must understand to effectively compete in a specific market. 1. Social cultural Forces * The sociocultural dimension is especially important because it determines the goods, services, and standards that society values. The sociocultural force includes the demographics and values of a particular customer base. Age, gender, and income are examples of commonly used demographic characteristics. * Maxis contributions is to the development of Malaysia must also go beyond paying statutory levies and the jobs their provide. Maxis have to address long-term strategic issues affecting the nation’s ability to grow. They are proud that Maxis is taking an active role in stemming the brain drain, which poses a threat to their progress as a society. Maxis scholarships, aimed at their employees’ and customers’children, are designed to encourage young Malaysians to reap experience abroad, then come back to share those experiences and contribute to the future of their nation. * Maxis provide full coverage to markets across Malaysia, including Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak (both in Malaysian Borneo). Together with our subsidiaries, Maxis provides a full suite of communications services on multiple platforms to meet the growing needs of individual subscribers, families, small and medium enterprises, large corporations and the Malaysian Government 2. Techological Forces * Technological forces influence organizations in several ways. A technological innovation can have a sudden and dramatic effect on the environment of a firm. First, technological developments can significantly alter the demand for an organization’s or industry’s products or services.  Technological change can decimate existing businesses and even entire industries, since its shifts demand from one product to another. * Maxis was also the first telecommunication service provider to introduce a range of smartphones to Malaysia including the BlackBerry and the Apple iPhone. In 2010, Maxis set an industry milestone by building the largest 3G network with 76 per cent population coverage and by signing the landmark High Speed Broadband Access (â€Å"HSBA†) agreement with Telekom Malaysia Berhad as well as the infrastructure share agreement with Tenaga Nasional Berhad. As at 30 June 2011, Maxis 3G footprint coverage was at 81 per cent of the country’s populati on. In comparison with global mobile operators, Maxis is a leading provider of non-voice services. 3. Economic Forces * Economic forces refer to the nature and direction of the economy in which business operates. Economic factors have a tremendous impact on business firms. The general state of the economy for an example depression, recession, recovery, or prosperity, interest rate, stage of the economic cycle, balance of payments, monetary policy, fiscal policy, are key variables in corporate investment, employment, and pricing decisions. * In 2010, Maxis invested more than RM80 million in network coverage, widening our footprint over remote areas of Sarawak, enhancing network quality in towns and suburbs in Sabah, and expanding broadband coverage to industrial and commercial areas in north Borneo, which is an underserved frontier. * During 2010, Maxis invested RM1.44 billion to build upon the significant modernisation first begun in 2009, expanding the reach and capacity of ournetworks and support infrastructure. Overall, Maxis capital expenditure was RM482 million in the first half of 2011. 4. Ecological Forces * Ecological economics is a transdisciplinary field of academic research that aims to address the interdependence and coevolution of human economies and natural ecosystems over time and space. It is distinguished from environmental economics, which is the mainstream economic analysis of the environment, by its treatment of the economy as a subsystem of the ecosystem and its emphasis upon preserving natural capital. * Maxis efforts to  reduce our carbon footprint began with modernisation of end-to-end network equipment for better energy efficiency. Additionally, Maxis have adopted more energyefficient DC rectifiers and outdoor shelters which are innovative systems to manage heat in existing shelters and to drive down energy deployment. Maxis have also drawn on renewable energy solutions such as solar to replace diesel powered remote base stations and their have advocated network-sharing, with over 54% of our base station sites shared with other operators. Maxis efforts have been supplemented by tree-planting. 5. Political-Legal Forces * Political and legal forces are two of the three most important aspects for a business, with social forces being the third. Politics is a changing scene, and the rules and laws will change not regularly but often enough. Political forces are governments and unilateral bodies that decree certain rules, regulations, laws or restrictions with regards the way a country is run. * The Group’s Code of Business Practice declaration applies to all officers and employees who are required to affirm on a yearly basis their commitment to observe the Code of Business Practice. It also provides guidelines for the manner in which all employees should conduct themselves in the workplace while performing their daily duties for Maxis and as a Maxis employee. TASK ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS A corporation’s scanning of the environment should include analyses of all relevant elements in the task environment. Managers need to consider the competitive environment, also referred to as the task environment or industry environment. The profitability of the firm and the nature of competition in the industry are more directly influenced by developments in the competitive environment. Industry can be defined as a group of firms producing a similar product or service. The firm interacts with a more specific environment, the industry. Four main components that exert influence on industry are suppliers, competitors and potential substitutes, potential entrants and buyers. Michael Porter’s Approach to Industry Analysis The ‘five forces model’ developed by Michael E. Porter, has been the most commonly utilized analytical tool for examining the competitive environment. It describes the competitive environment in terms of five basic forces such as threat of new entrants, bargaining power of the firm’s suppliers, bargaining power of the firm’s customers, threat of substitute products, and intensity of rivalry among firms. 1. Threat Of New Entrants * New entrants is newcomers to an existing industry. They typically bring new capacity, a desire to gain market share, and substantial resources. Entry barrier is an obstruction that makes it difficult for a company to enter an industry. Economies of scale, product differentiation, capital requirements, switching costs, access to distribution channels, cost disadvantage independent of size, government policy are examples of entry barriers. * New technology as we know communication technology are very fast and various (MMS, Mobile Portal, VAP, and 3G), compete by new entrants for examples Celcom and DIGI. Maxis come with Hotlink club and brand identity for teenagers. Maxis also come with 8 region of same rate calling rate 0.65 cents. 2. Rivalry Among Existing Firms * Rivalry is amount of direct competition in an industry. Intense rivalry is related to the presence of the following factors which are number of competitors, rate of industry growth, product or service characteristics, amount of fixed costs, capacity, height of exit barriers and diversity of rivals. * Competition on price with another company Digi, Celcom, Internet phone.Compete also with the coverage and wide of services offered. IT take placed for Maxis to create a web that manage Hotlinkclub.com. provide customer loyalty by type of free services and activities. Besides that is Merge with TimeCel to come with more wide coverage. 3. Threat Of Substitute Products Or Services * Substitute products which is products that appear different but can satisfy the same need as another product. The existence of products outside of the realm of the common productboundaries increases the propensity of  customers to switch toalternatives. Its includes buyer propensity to substitute, relative price performance of substitute, buyer switching costs, perceived level of product differentiation, substandard product and quality depreciation. * For example reduce demand of Maxis services compete with Digi with new technology (internetTv and 3G). Besides that, internet charting and conferencing free service make Maxis enforced to reduce the service charge. Maxis improve the price by provided some free services like free sms and free football result. 4. Bargaining Power Of Buyers * The bargaining power of customers is also described as the market of outputs and the ability of customers to put the firm under pressure, whichalso affects the customer’s sensitivity to price changes. Buyers can affect industry through their ability to force down prices, bargain for higher quality or more services, and play competitors against each other. * Price of SMS forced down from 0.60 cents to 0.01 cents. In fact, Maxis provide wide coverage in Malaysia by merge withTimecel. Maxis have a high technology server and satellite technology upgrade to capture the wide range of communications services. 5. The Bargaining Power Of Suppliers * Suppliers can affect an industry through their ability to raise prices or reduce the quality of purchased goods and services. The bargaining power of suppliers is also described as the market of inputs. Suppliers of raw materials, components, labor, and services(such as expertise) to the firm can be a source of power over the firm,when there are few substitutes. * Price raised charge for satellite provided by Telekom. Maxis request more variety of services like MMS, 3G, mobile conferencing using more type of server at manyplace from northern Malaysiato the southern. SWOT ANALYSIS A SWOT analysis generates information that is helpful in matching an organization’s or a group’s goals, programs, and capacities to the social environment in which they operate. It is an instrument within strategic planning. SWOT analysis can be understood as the examination of an  organization’s internal strengths and weaknesses, and its environments opportunities, and threats. Maxis Berhad started their operations in the year 1995 being the leading mobile communication service provider in Malaysia with more than 11.4 million mobile subscribers up to date. (Maxis Berhad, 2011) SWOT is the acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats where it will be used to assess the business as it is important for companies to analyze SWOT on their companies. It will also be analyze in this report on how the strengths will be used to overcome the weaknesses as well as the opportunities overcoming the threats. Strengths and weaknesses will be analyzing on the company’s internal factors whereas opportunities and threats will be analyzing on the company’s external factors. 1. Strengths There are several main telecommunication in Malaysia comprising Digi, Celcom, U-Mobile and Maxis. As compared to the above competitors, Maxis’ strength is that Maxis had a wider coverage in most towns around Malaysia and also covers north-south highways. Also, compared with other competitors, the customer service quality is better in terms of efficiency. Maxis is one of the pioneer telecommunication companies apart from Celcom and has the latest technology HSDPA(3.5G) or Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) . 2. Weakness Competitors gain market share. Celcom has been rather aggressive over the past one year, and is expected to continue with this momentum. We are cognizant that Maxis’ market share may come under pressure. However, we think Maxis has turned the corners, and is on track to winning back subscribers and revenue market shares, now that it had reverted to the more popular 30-second charging blocks. Besides that, Maxis does not offer triple play of mobile, broadband, and pay TV. Growing enterprise business may entail more capex, and Maxis can only selectively grow its enterprise business. 3. Opportunities Young demographics that is data hungry. 32% of the Malaysian population is under 15 years old, which is a prime target for broadband services over the next 15 years. New mobile devices, for example iPhone (â€Å"4G†) and recently  launched iPad drive demand for broadband services. Under-served broadband population offers great growth opportunities. Selective enterprise opportunities as Maxis build backhaul capacity mainly for wireless broadband it can target some of the lucrative enterprise business using the same backhaul network. Potential for triple play if tie-up with content provider or broadcaster. 4. Threats Digi’s launch of the iPhone last week could put further pressure on Maxis. Aggressive broadband promotions by wireless competitors, including WiMAX players. ARPU under competitive pressures. Adjustments to interconnect rates may pressure Maxis’ earnings as the company is a net receiver of calls.

Understanding Organizational Citizenship Behaviors

Joshua Harris Althea Johns Organizational Behavior October 21, 2012 Understanding Organizational Citizenship Behaviors Citizenship, most don’t normally associate this term with an organization like a business. Many would think of the word citizenship in terms of the country that you may live in. Some may even think of it more broadly then that. As in we are all citizens of this planet. But what is the opposite? Are there smaller citizenship classifications, and are they as important? Particularly, what about citizenship at your place of employment? What does organizational citizenship behavior mean to a company?Can it affect things like job satisfaction, efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction? Research suggests that there is a â€Å"moderately positive correlation† between job function and organizational citizenship behavior. [ (Kinicki) ] This paper will examine real examples of OCB, explain how organizations can influence OCB, and which pitfalls to watch out for. (Kinicki) Organ defined organizational citizenship behaviors as, â€Å"Individual behavior that is discretionary, not directly or explicitly recognized by the formal reward system, and that in the aggregate promotes the effective functioning of the organization.By discretionary, we mean that the behavior is not an enforceable requirement of the role or the job description, that is, the clearly specifiable terms of the person’s employment contract with the organization; the behavior is rather a matter of personal choice, such that its omission is not generally understood as punishable. † (Organ) Literature in this subject has been almost non-existent prior the early 1980’s, but has increased in popularity ever since. Its these â€Å"discretionary† behaviors that according to Brooker, â€Å"Our esprit de corps is the core of our success. That’s the most difficult thing for a competitor to imitate.They can buy all the physical things. The th ing you can’t buy is dedication, devotion, and loyalty. † (Brooker) Its this loyalty that convinced Herb Kelleher, from Booker’s article tiled â€Å"Can anyone replace Herb? â€Å" to argue â€Å"that employee citizenship is the single biggest reason for the company’s success. † However this was hard to prove with hard evidence until late 1990’s. (Brooker) In Bolino and Turnley’s 2003 article â€Å"Going the Extra Mile: Cultivating and managing Employee Citizenship Behavior† which appeared in Academy of Management Executive, they describe factors that can promote good OCB.It is the authors’ opinion that the most important being job satisfaction. (Turnley) Bolino & Turnley conclude from their analyst of several studies, that if an employee is happy, they will provide a positive organizational citizenship behavior. The article also covered other factors such as trust, job interest and involvement, organizational suppo rt, and Employee Characteristics. It is with these factors that researches use to try to come up with predictors. Perhaps one of the best predictors happens in what Bolino and Turnley calls the â€Å"recruitment & selection† process. Turnley)They provide three main ways in which human resource managers can help achieve this. The first is to look for causes that applicants are committed to. For examples, college graduates that have a lot of extra curricular activities or a professional with volunteer services. Another predictor in determining positive OCB would be to provide situational questions to the interviewee. (Turnley)This is one tool that Smucker’s uses to gage their employee’s. The last tool the article provides is personality trait questions.This is somewhat similar to situational interviews, but they are geared to the person and not a specific situation. The next natural step in influencing organizational citizenship behavior is during training. It is during training that an organization may have the best chance at eliciting citizenship behaviors. However, Bolino & Turnley, describe how this is usually the opposite of what organizations do, due to their emphasis on individual achievements. One way an organization can help influence positive OCB is to sponsor training programs that focus on cooperation and taking initiative.But probably the best would be to develop a training program that is used to improve relationships among coworkers and/or supervisors and subordinates. Bolino’s article gave an example of this at Southwest Airlines when works were cross-trained on other positions. This allowed employees to gain experience in other area, but also appreciate and help out when they could. Also a study showed that supervisors that have had training in organizational justice principles also benefit from higher levels of OCB. In the last direct way organizations can influence OCB is in compensation.Bolino’s arti cle concluded that employees are more likely to engage in behaviors that are rewarded. An example of this is Asada, the British subsidiary of Wal-Mart, gives awards to employees who go â€Å"above and beyond†. CitiGroup does something similar. It is called â€Å"Galaxy of Thanks†. Employees can thank other employees for going above and beyond. If an employee reaches so many, that employee gets special recognition by the company and can win rewards. (Young) Bolino’s article also pointed to group or organizational level compensation fosters positive OCB. But, there can be many pitfalls for compensating for OCB.Some more informal ways of promoting positive OCB would include developing a culture in the organization that is conducive for positive OCB. Having managers and supervisors living by the same standard and by having an organization act in a deserving way. As you can tell there are many ways that organizations can influence their potential positive organizatio nal citizenship behavior. But, there are some pitfalls to be aware of. While there are potentially several pitfalls, all seem easily manageable. Bolino places pitfalls in three categories: Impression Management, Costs, and Escalating.Impression Management, is noted in another article by Bolino as, â€Å"Several organizational behavior scholars have noted that individuals may engage in organizational citizenship behaviors not because they are concerned about the organization’s welfare but because such activities may cause others (especially their supervisors) to look favorably upon them† (Bolino) The pitfall here comes when rewarding this type of â€Å"Impression Management† behavior, which can put a strain on morale. (Turnley)Managers should watch for this type of motivation during citizenship assessments and be sure not to reward this type of behavior.If this behavior is rewarded the costs could certainly outweigh any potential gains. Another potential downside to positive OCB happens when employees become lax on their main job functions. Many don’t think helping another co-worker could potentially be a downfall, but that is exactly what Sprint, Xerox, and Ford found out in a Wall Street Journal study. Employees would help co-workers with computer issues and it was estimated to have cost the companies upwards of $15,000 per computer. It is thought that hiring more support personal would have been significantly less expensive, and with better quality of support. Bulkeley)The last area of pitfalls is a concept of Escalating Citizenship. You can think of this concept like inflation. Today a dollar will buy you much less than fifty or so years ago and escalating citizenship is something that manager must watch out for. If the bar for above and beyond is constantly moved higher and higher it can be catastrophic for an organization including high levels of job dissatisfaction, high turnover, and high stress. It is the author’s opi nion that the evidence is overwhelming that positive organizational behavior can greatly influence or be the â€Å"single biggest reason for the company’s success†. Brooker)In this essay we have examined why organizational citizenship is important to an organization. We also took a look at what organizations can do to positively impact OCB. Finally we examined some downsides of OCB and provided some way managers can navigate around them. Organizational citizenship behavior can be a very good thing, when done correctly. Bibliography Bolino. â€Å"Citizenship and impression managment: Good soliders or good actors. † Academy of Managment Review 24. 1 (n. d. ): 82-88. Brooker, K. â€Å"Can anyone replace Herb? † 2000. Fourtune. 19 Oct 2012 <http://money. nn. com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2000/04/17/278112/index. htm>. Bulkeley, W. M. â€Å"Study finds hidden costs of computing. † The Wall Street Journal (1992). Kinicki, Angelo. Managment: a practical introduction 5E. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Organ, D. W. Organizatioal citizenship behavior: The good soldier syndrome. Lexington: Lexington Books, n. d. Turnley. â€Å"Going The Extra Mile: Cultivating and managing employee citizenship behavior. † Academy of Managment Executives 17. 3 (2003): 60-71. Young, Joseph P. Interview. Joshua Harris. 19 October 2012.

Sunset on a Beach

The sun peaked through the horizon, if saying a final goodbye to this California beach bed. Before leaving she gave me a gift of pure peace and serenity. Holding my eyes prisoner to the heavenly sight she put in front of me. While my feet were held into the grainy sand in desperate need of warmth and the smell of salt invading my nostrils. The beach is warm, with a captivating view, and has pure peace. The beach is where my problems and stressed are released, where nothing goes wrong, it all just fades away along with the sunset.The struggle to open ten pound eyelids after a nap leaving you drooling and wanting more especially for what feels like the worst day is the worst possible feeling, and to the most irritating ringing noise makes it even harder. Once you remember the reason for this makes you eager to wake up quicker than realizing you have five minutes to get to school, and school is a fifteen minute drive. Stepping out of the bed to feel the unforgiving wood under my feet, t ip toing as if waling on ice, my body soon got used to floor. In search of a black and white bikini this room has become the aftermath of a tornado.In the middle of the disaster something sticks out at the corner and see there lies the bikini. Attempting to rush out of the house the clock tells there is still enough time till sunset. Throwing on shorts over the bikini and a black hoodie, trying to balance an apple in my mouth with keys entwined with my fingers, and hopping on one foot trying to force a shoe onto the wrong foot. Finally, making it to the car and putting the keys in the ignitions the car roars to life, beginning the ten minute drive down Sunset Blvd.  which is quick.A smile begins to erupt my face when the view of the ocean is seen, then pulling up to the perfect parking spot in view of the ocean. The chaos and failures of today begin to fade and the peace begins. Getting out of the car the sun’s rays instantly hits my eyes indicating she is getting ready to leave. Looking on the phone it reads six-thirty, the sunsets today at six forty-eight, having almost only thirty minutes before she goes to enjoy alone to have with her.Taking off my shoes so sand will have no chance at irritating my feet later, the warm beady sand gets in-between my toes sending them cozy vibration, along with the smell of the sea invading my nostrils. Walking in search for a seat, my eyes spot children running alongside each other playing and building castles, while couples stroll along the waves that invade their toes every eight seconds. While walking you can see their footprints imprinted into the sand temporarily before being taken back by the ocean. Laying a plaid red blanket so sand will not creep into my clothes, my body collapse onto the sand.Pulling my knees to my chest and laying my head onto my knees and begin to let all the stress and negative energy flow gently with the wind capturing them like a dream catchier sending them off to be killed by the sun ’s rays. Closing my eyes envisioning at this moment the beach reminding me of a sweet grandmother, there is no need for speaking because she already seen and felt the pain from past experiences that mom and dad had forgotten. When you cry she gently wipes away and tells you stories from her past mistakes so you feel like someone understands and makes you laugh at her past altercations.When you have anger she shows you peace with a simple smile that warms the heart. Opening my eyes and hear again the beautiful sound of giggles coming from children running along the sand with the waves violating the shores, and seagull’s scavenger hunting for their next meal. Soon people begin to sit in their towels or blankets holding each other smiling and laughing, all comes to a halt when the sun begins to return to rise in her new home, but not before she leaves us all with a breathtaking view of her heart that holds us prisoner till she finally leaves.What seems like hours the stre et lights finally begin to flicker on, and that is when everyone begins to pack their belongings to leave yet another beautiful sunset at a California beach. Packing my belongings and taking one final glance of where once shined a light of pure passion and serenity, a smile again tugs on my lips to remember that feeling of getting a gift. A gift to which that is imprinted into my memory till my death bed. Putting my belongings in my car a thought pops in my head.That everyone has their place of peace where nothing can go wrong, where you can smile for no reason but for the memories that no camera could capture, and to unwind and surrender to a place of tranquility, for some it is home or their mind, but for me it is the beach. The atmosphere the beach has from the weather, the feeling, and the view is what draws one in like a melody. The weather ever so warm with a gentle breeze that blows hair like a blow dryer on cool. The feeling of pure peace and serenity, having a full body cle anse from all the negative energy.Then a view that can captivate any onlooker’s eyes, like an angel falling out of the heavens to disappear as if nothing happened. Putting instant memories with family and friends like a video tape in a VCR replaying the laughs and smiles. The beach can always leave you with a smile on anyone’s face no matter the stress or torment the dealt with that day. The beach is like a gift; something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present. It might not be in your hands but it can always be felt, and never seems to fail at satisfying.

Sources of Clean Energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sources of Clean Energy - Essay Example So the point is that the only way to avoid the global power crisis in future is to follow the policy of natural recourses saving and to use renewable sources of energy, such as solar energy, geothermal energy, wind power, water power, and biofuel. So renewable energy is 'energy derived from resources that are regenerative or for all practical purposes can not be depleted2'. Wind - is one of the renewable energy sources. The wind is considered by experts as one of the most perspective energy sources, capable to replace not only traditional sources, but also nuclear power. Production of the electric power by means of wind has a number of advantages: But as well as in other sources of energy usage, we can find some negative aspects in usage of wind power. The essential defect of a wind power is its intermittency. Moreover the usage of wind power may lead to a kind of environmental pollution, which existence and importance are often undervalued. It is a noise pollution. In Ohio one of the leading American companies has constructed the world's largest wind power plant with rating power 10 MW. This massive construction with the general height over hundred meters has worked just for some days and after has been sold for demolition at the price of 10 dollars per ton. The thing is that the life in radius of several kilometers has become just impossible. And question is not only in audible noise and vibrations. There is a very strong infrasonic, low frequency component in this noise. The point is that an infrasound on the frequency of 7 Hz conterminous with an alpha rhythm of a human's brain at sufficient intensity is very harmful. It may cause the strongest health disorders. Moreover the usage of wind turbines may result desertification of the grounds and in this case animals would have to leave their traditional areas of living. So the biodiversity may be decreased. Solar Power The leading clean energy source is the solar power. The energy of a solar radiation coming on the surface of our planet, almost in 40 times exceeds all energy consumed by the mankind. Every second the Sun gives the Earth 80 thousand billion kilowatt of energy, that in some thousand times more, than all the power stations of the world produce all together.Now mankind use only insignificant part of a solar energy, as existing solar batteries have rather low efficiency and are very expensive to produce. However we should not refuse from this practically inexhaustible source of clean energy. According to the statements of experts, this source could cover all needs of mankind for energy thousand years forward. The solar power is the most powerful and accessible of all kinds of non-traditional, renewable energy sources. Sunlight is not only inexhaustible, but also absolutely clean energy source having enormous energy potential. Nevertheless the usage of solar power also has own disadvanta ges.Solar energy is distributed on the big area, or in other words, has low density. That is why any plant for direct use of solar

Qualitative Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Qualitative Research - Essay Example This qualitative research approach takes into consideration the nature of a human being. It requires the researcher to find individuals who understand the objectives of the study and are willing to provide the required information (Key, 1997). After collecting data, the researcher will have to classify and rank it. They have to develop a general overview of the collected information and be able to identify outstanding issues. This design is suitable for the research topic because its principal objective is to examine human behavior and the experiences that human beings go through. There are three methods through which qualitative data for a research project on section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 can be carried out. They are; participant observation, the use of case studies and interviewing individuals who can provide credible information on the subject. The first method that can be used is participant observation. The method will allow the researcher to collect and organize data in a systematic way that is based on social science theory and methodology (Key, 1997). The researcher will observe if and how the Rehabilitation Act is applied in Federal programs and recruitment of people. This can be achieved by requesting to participate in the evaluation of Federal programs and recruitment exercises. However, the researcher has to periodically carry out a self evaluation to ensure that they are carrying out an unbiased research (Key, 1997). The main reason for using this method is that it provides an opportunity to experience the application of the Act i n a natural setting. In addition, the other variables that may be involved can be analyzed. Case studies are detailed investigations of individuals, organizations or communities with the aim of understanding how a concept, principle or law is applied. The researcher will attempt to analyze the variables that are relevant to the Rehabilitation Act. The main

Emergency Preparedness in US Prisons and Public-Private Partnerships Research Paper

Emergency Preparedness in US Prisons and Public-Private Partnerships - Research Paper Example It is therefore imperative that US prisons partners with private partners to increase and improve emergency preparedness. 3 This research paper identifies and analyses the special emergency risks associated with US prison systems, its current emergency preparedness regime and the philosophical underpinnings that drive the existing emergency preparedness regime. Finally, and more importantly, this paper investigates the utility of public/private partnerships for improving upon US prisons’ emergency preparedness systems. 3 Emergencies are difficult to predict and even where they are predicted, the outcomes can rarely be precisely anticipated. Prisoners in particular are a unique problem for prison staff in that prisons are already on high alert for prison-like emergencies such as riots, hostage situations, and more importantly prison escapes. Complicating matters for prisons, overcrowding adds a new set of risks that can lead to new emergencies or exacerbate existing emergencies. This is particularly so because the ratio of prison staff to prisoners is entirely unsafe and unsatisfactory. It is therefore imperative that US prisons partners with private partners to increase and improve emergency preparedness. This research paper identifies and analyses the special emergency risks associated with US prison systems, its current emergency preparedness regime and the philosophical underpinnings that drive the existing emergency preparedness regime. Finally, and more importantly, this paper investigates the utility of public/private partnerships for improving upon US prisons’ emergency preparedness systems. In the last decade, the US experienced a number of man-made and natural disasters ranging from the terrorist attacks in 2001, successive hurricanes in Florida in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As a result, the American public has grown to expect more of emergency preparedness systems (Kapucu & VanWart, 2006). It is hardly surprising that

Cover letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 6

Cover letter - Essay Example The motive was to gain competence on how to identify the possibility of stroke in postoperative orthopedic patients. The course enabled me understand the neurologic patterns that may indicate the danger of stroke in orthopedic patients. Currently, I am pursuing a certificate course on Advanced Cardiac Arrest Support to boost my service to severe orthopedics cases that require information on cardiac arrest. My intention is to advance in the leadership ladder. I have successfully served several leadership positions in various institutions. I served as a charge nurse on a medical unit from 1983 to 1995. The position entailed supervising other nurses, offering support to them and also caring for patients. The position helped advance my leadership skills. I was promoted to Unit Supervisor in 1996 after satisfactory service at the Charge Nurse position. I have served as the unit supervisor from 1996 to date. The position entails supervising a nursing unit in the orthopedics department. I ensure the wellness of the unit nurses as well as ensuring that patients receive quality care from the nurses. My education and experience prove my commitment to excellence. I can fit into any nursing leadership roles. I hope the information will be useful in making a decision on hiring me for a leadership role. I am looking forward to hearing from you. I am a Registered Nurse with more than 30 years of nursing experience. My specialty has been in orthopedics. I am a team player, team leader and skilled in current and emerging trends in my scope of practice. I am attentive to details and always put the health of the patients first in any decisions I make. I am also emotionally intelligence and hence able to make objective decisions on any emerging issue, trend or practice. I am keen to study new concepts that add value to my practice such as ACLS and NIHSS

Comparison and contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comparison and contrast - Essay Example A living situation that causes one to become more reliant on fluorescent lighting even during the day time. A walk down the street has the skyscrapers, billboards, and other man made obstructions blocking the natural lighting of the sun. You take a walk along the street an deeply inhale the smog and other pollutants in the air as you start your daily grind. Compare this with the joy of small town living where no structure is higher than a three floor building. You wake up to natural lighting as the sun warms you up by peeking into the breaks of your light window curtains that are meant to keep the heat out but the natural lighting in. You leave your home to walk the streets and feel the warm glow of the sun enveloping your body. While the crisp, dew filled air fills your lungs as you take that morning stroll around your block, getting some early morning exercise in as you prepare to begin your day. We can live our whole lives in the city and never know the names of the people living next door to us. Nor could we be bothered to find out and care about them. They are simply house number tenants in our book. Not really necessary parts of our lives. Small town neighbors on the other hand, help one develop a sense of familiarity and concern for one another as the neighborhoods tend to be closely knit and bonded in such a way that city dwellers will never know. Small town America is where the neighbors know each others names and are actually there for one another should one need any sort of assistance. City life is all about a race against time and the battle to accomplish as many errands and personal needs as possible within a 24 hour or less time frame. Urbanites are clock watchers who seem to consider time as an enemy who needs to be beaten. The errands never seem to get done and the stores, banks, and other places of business do not seem to stay open long enough for the purposes that we need. Urban living is physically tiresome. Small town residents however, seem to have a friend in Father Time. Maybe it is because they are the kind of people who are â€Å"early to bed and early to rise†. Or maybe it is because they know one another and trust each other immensely. But it seems like even though stores and business establishments close early in small town America, all the errands manage to get done. Even on days when one chooses to sleep in, any errands that are pending will magically find a way to get done within the same day, and one will not feel physically taxed from the activity. Some small town residents say this is happens because everyone does their job with a smile on their faces. While the city dwellers tend to do their jobs just because they have to do it. They could really care less about whether your gas bill gets paid or not. It's just part of the paycheck to them. City dwellers tend to be highly sociable night time people. The day for most modern, professional urbanites does not actually start until the clock strikes fiv e and they hit the bars in their latest outfits and cars. Social time in the city relies heavily on spending a lot of money in order to participate in any activity that can be considered social. But the small town counterparts manage to socialize at a decent hour. Since the small towns tend to wind down early and get to bed as early as 9 pm, there is a tendency for their social life to be

The Environmental Values of Industrial Nations and Native Societies Essay

The Environmental Values of Industrial Nations and Native Societies - Essay Example Man’s relationship with nature and his environment has always been stimulated by his economic interests and dictated by political decisions. This can be proven by just studying the distinctive characteristics of the values adhered to by industrial and native societies. The industrialized countries of the world today are generally societies with capitalist economic backbones. Capitalism is a system that thrives on the drive of private businesses to utilize the earth’s resources to derive profits. It is basically incidental that such business interest also results in the satisfaction of consumerist demands. In fact, it is because of the interest of profits that prompt businesses to create demands from consumers. As industries owned by private businesses try to create wealth and as the consumers demand for more, the requirement for the massive exploitation of sources of energy, of above-ground and underground land resources and minerals, as well as aquatic resources become s an imperative. Industrial and capitalist countries tend to set aside environmentalist concepts to make way for economic activities that would satisfy business and consumerist interests. Consequently, this resulted to wanton disregard of the well-being of the environment. However, environmental degradation is not only brought about in the process of the capitalist society’s aim to produce more wealth. The products and production wastes have also resulted in pollution. This is the reason why, globally, it is the industrialized nations that are the major exploiters of natural resources and are, at the same time, the worst polluters. There are sectors in industrial societies though which have seen the necessity to introduce protection for the environment. To some extent, these have compelled their respective governments to introduce regulatory policies in favor of the environment. However, â€Å"government agencies and ministries concerned with economic growth †¦ usually have more power and influence on government policy than the ministry concerned with the environment†¦ these agencies generally argue against strict environmental laws and regulations on the grounds that such policies reduce economic growth† (Desai 2002, p.374). In many cases, the government is beholden to business groups, which is why environmental policies by the state are oftentimes inadequate. The treatment of the environment by native societies is very much in contrast to that of the industrial countries. Native populations are generally more conscious about taking care of the environment. They make sure that the resources are not overused or abused while at the same time relying on the environment for their basic needs. Unlike in industrial countries, there are no big capitalists in native societies, which mean that all semblances of production are not at all profit-driven. Instead, the utilization of resources, which may have an effect on the environment, is a resul t of man’s need for food, clothing, and shelter. However, it is true that the respect and the protection of the environment and its resources can oftentimes be brought about by religious or superstitious beliefs. According to Robert Brightman, â€Å"rather than inhibiting overkill, religious definition of the

Country Paper 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Country Paper 2 - Essay Example The species in the island have to adapt to the climate for survival. There are a number of endangered species in the present island with different causes for their threat of extension. The most outstanding species that faces extinction in Taiwan is white dolphin. The habitat of the white dolphin is the sea, which is bordering the island. The island has been on the frontline in ensuring the species is protected from extinction. In the recent statistics, white dolphins brought an estimate of 100 (Reeve, 195). Their population has been steadily decreasing sue to the current situations in the sea. The white dolphins are closely associated with the dominant biome in the island as it is their vital survival habitat (Wijnstekers, 123). The white dolphins entirely depend in sea life for survival. In addition to this, the white dolphins do not have any other habitat for their survival, making it a vital structure for their survival. There are a number of conservation techniques used to ensure white dolphins are not extinct. First, the country has initiated a drive, which reduces the pollution of the sea. It has been discovered that the white dolphins are reducing due to the high pollution injected into the habitat (Chen, 18). A reduction of these pollutants will result into a better environment conducive for their survival. Secondly, fines have been imposed to any activity that poses a threat to the habitat. This has reduced the threats that pose a danger to the adored specie. Protecting endangered species is an appropriate activity that guarantees continuity in life of some species (McBeath and Leng, 49). For instance, protection of white dolphins is a plausible activity that guarantees continuity of the species (Reeve, 23). Aversion of such measures would lead to diminishing of such species, as they would be extinct like

Importance of Enlightenment to colonial history Essay

Importance of Enlightenment to colonial history - Essay Example Enlightenment principles contradicted colonial practices and were very instrumental in ending colonization. In the nineteenth and eighteenth centuries, the legality of colonialism was a subject of argument among the British, French and German philosophers. Key enlightenment thinkers including Diderot, Kant and Smith challenged the notion that it was the responsibility of the Europeans to civilize the world and criticized the cruelty of colonialism. They further insisted that every person had the ability to reason and therefore capable of own government. As far as they were concerned, colonial supremacy was unethical because it entailed expropriation of belongings, forced labor and slavery all of which were against the principles of self governance. According to Diderot, a critic of European colonization, the idea that the colonized individuals gained as a result of civilization by the Europeans was absolutely mistaken and instead the uncivilized lot was the European colonists. He further opposed colonization by arguing that culture enhanced customs of respect and boosted morality in an individual. However, these norms have a propensity of being undermined when a person is far away from his nation of origin. Additionally, he supposed that in most cases, the colonial empires became the places of severe cruelty since the colonists were distant from the informal sanctions and legal institutions which made them not to exercise restraints, instead demonstrate man’s brutal nature at its worst. Some of the proponents of colonization in the seventeenth and sixteenth century, like the Spanish philosophers, wrongly justified colonization by arguing that it was a vital and necessary factor in the realization of the right to commerce. However, Diderot refuted this approach by stating that it was not right for the explorers and foreign traders to access already occupied lands. On the contrary, he noted that only the areas that had no human settlements were fit for

Facilitating the interview process Essay Example for Free

Facilitating the interview process Essay In this essay I will evaluate each document from Harrow College Application Pack, it will include information that applicants will need to know before they applied for the job. Inside the pack, it includes welcome letter from the principal, the curriculum of Harrow College, Organization chart, policy statement, travel policy, how to fill in an application form, job description, and person specification. In the application pack, a welcome letter from the principal of Harrow College will help recruitment because the letter is written by the principal it will set the standard and it attracts applicants and also it will make a good impression to applicants knowing the principal welcoming them to apply to Harrow College even though the principal is not saying it in person but it will make the applicant more welcoming and comfortable with the College. Secondly, the letter said â€Å"Harrow College now ranks as the top FE College in West London and Hertfordshire†, this will make applicants be more interested about the job role because they want to be part of Harrow College success and want to be part of that reputation. Harrow College can improve their welcoming letter by making the applicant feel more welcoming, instead of the principal saying thank you to applicant for applying, the principal should also include staff in Harrow College, that way applicants will feel the support of everyone in Harrow College. The letter also should include some background information of Harrow College and what kind of achievements Harrow College had to attract applicants. I think the letter from the principal is important because it will show a good sign that the college is welcoming and tells the applicant small information about Harrow College. The curriculum letter will help recruitment because it shows what subjects are majored in Harrow College; it will give a chance for applicants to see what other subjects they can apply for if in the future Harrow College have any vacancies. In the curriculum letter, it has background information about Harrow it will benefit the applicant because if the applicant doesn’t live local, they can find out about Harrow area. The organization chart will help recruitment because it will help applicants know who does what and who to report to, it shows Harrow College that they are a well-organized college, also it will allow the applicant to know there are people in different department doing different task. This document also helps me when I was recruiting in John Lewis because by knowing who is the CEO of the company and who is my manager in the organisation chart, it will help me in the future that if I have any problem I know who to report to. The equality and diversity policy statement will help recruitment because it will encourage applicants with different background to apply for the role, it will give a good impression to applicants that Harrow College don’t care where the applicants are from. Harrow College can improve their equality letter by showing figures of different background of staff in Harrow College because even though the letter tells applicants they accept anyone no matter where they from but some applicants would like to see the figures of different race and sex to know Harrow College is committed to equality and diversity. How to fill in an application form will help recruitment because is a step by step instructions of filling in an application form for applicants, that way applicants wouldn’t make any mistake or miss a section out, it will benefit for Harrow College because if the applicant make a mistake in the application form, employers from Harrow College can straight away not read the rest of the application form because employers might think if the applicant can’t follow simple instructions from the application pack then they can’t follow instructions when they are employed. Job description will help in recruitment because it sets out the main purpose of the job; it shows where the job is fitted in the organization structure, and the main responsible of the job and the type of task they will need to perform, putting the right information on job description is important because if Harrow College didn’t include detailed information on teaching and related activities and general duties, then when they have recruited the applicant, the applicant might not have any experience as a lecturer, they might not be flexible e.g.: travelling to two Harrow College Campuses, to act as a personal tutor to students. If those details weren’t included in job description, then the college would be hiring someone who have no qualifications and experience and that will cause Harrow College time and money because they would have to train the applicant or hire someone again. The changes that I would make is to improve their job description is to include how many hours the applicant will need to work, is important to put that information in the job description because applicant would want to know how many hours they need to work furthermore some applicant might have a family that they need to look after or pick up their children so if Harrow College would want the applicant work long hours during the week then some applicant can’t apply because of their personal problem. Person specification will help in recruitment because it gives information to the applicant what qualifications and experience is needed if they want to apply for the job, also Harrow College has designed well information of person specification, it included a lot if skills, different qualifications, and it specify on equality and diversity because selecting the right business lecturer is important for Harrow College, if they hire someone who hasn’t got any experience or the right qualifications then the lecturer won’t be teaching right to the students then it would mean Harrow College have to waste money again to recruit another lecturer again in addition to students would fail their exam which will cause Harrow College success’s rate to drop. The changes I would make to prove their person specification is to include the location of the job the reason for that is because applicant might want to know which campuses they will be teaching in and by putting the location applicant can decide whether they want to apply because if Harrow College would want the applicant to work in both campuses then applicant can’t apply because they might not want to travel to two campuses. Also Harrow College can include another column in the person specification e.g.: essential and desirable the reason for putting another column is because in the person specification it tells the applicant what skills are needed and what Harrow College is looking for but if they made it clear by putting skills into two column then it would made it more clear and organize for the applicant. The advantage of Harrow College using their own application forms instead accepting CV because in an application form Harrow College can set as many question as they like and what type of questions they would to like to know from the applicant also they have set a limited space in the form so they would expect applicant to write only important information instead of applicant writing unnecessary information in there which will make employers not bothered to read the rest of the application form because it will make employers feel that applicants didn’t follow the instructions by reading the questions and putting relevant answers in the form. Secondly, if Harrow College accept CV instead of application form, it will waste a lot of time and money for employers to read and compare each CV instead employers can use that time to do other things e.g.: mark students work and teach furthermore because each CV have different layouts with different information it will make employers much more harder to choose the right candidate that will be suitable for the job. Thirdly, employers can already tell if the applicants is a organize person or not by their writing and also their grammar, if the applicant grammar is poor which shows a really bad impression to the employers because the job role is lecturer and if their grammar is poor that will make employers in Harrow College consider that they can’t teach properly and if they hire that applicant then the applicant wouldn’t mark the student’s work properly. In my opinion, every document in the application pack is important. If one document is missing in the application pack, the company won’t hire the right applicant but overall I think the most important document is job advert and person specification because without job advert, no one would know about the job, applicant wouldn’t know how to apply for the job and what the job is about, also job adverts are very expensive whether the business is small or big. At the end of the day, the businesses still need to pay. Often job adverts are in short detail but the advert highlights the knowledge, skills and experience that each individuals are require within each advert. Job adverts would never change because of the job role because it would always tells the summary of the job, the location and how to apply so it wouldn’t make any difference with any job role but whereas person specification with different job role it would include different information depending how important the job role is e.g.: in the application pack, Harrow College is hiring Business Lecturer, therefore person specification would have a lot of information that they would require from a applicant but if Harrow College want to recruit a reprographics assistant, the person specification wouldn’t have much responsibilities as a business lecturer so when applicant read the person specification it won’t have a lot of requirements as the business lecturer person specification.

Solutions to Rising Healthcare Costs

Solutions to Rising Healthcare Costs Rising cost in health care its solution Contents Executive Summary Reasons for high cost in health care Solutions to the rising cost of health care Implementation of Universal Health care model The Beveridge Model The famous Bismark Model The National Health Insurance Model The Out-of-Pocket Model Procedure to implement Workplace Health Model Conclusion References Executive Summary Undoubtedly, health care costs has emerged as a severe issue these days, especially when the budget is appreciably high. The present financial situation of the world today reveals comparatively high cost in medical and health care. Day by day, the cost of insurance premiums and medical claims for employees is rising at an all-time high and is continuously following an upward trend. In such critical situation, business leaders are being called upon to make changes at workplaces and to implement models which can help in curbing rising costs. Many of them are turning to workplace health programs to help employees so that they can adopt healthier lifestyles. This also will help in lowering the risk of developing costly chronic diseases. A coordinated move toward the workplace’s health promotion results in a planned, prearranged, and comprehensive set of curriculum, policies, benefits, and ecological supports designed to meet the health and safety needs of all employees. Programs r elating to workplace health care tend to be more successful when both occupation and health is considered in the design and execution of the workplace. In fact, a mounting body of evidence indicates that workplace-based interventions that take coordinated,  planned and integrated approaches towards reducing health threats to workers both in and out of work are more effective than traditional isolated programs. (Prevention, 2013) (Figure 1: Health care expenditure) (Source: Forbes, 2013) Reasons for high cost in health care This decade has alarmingly witnessed an appreciable increment in health care costs. Whether it is ever-increasing health indemnity premiums, growing drug costs, or escalating hospital prices, it is an agreeable fact that these costs need to be constrained, or even lowered. For many years and in immeasurable articles, physicians have been the scapegoat for rising healthcare costs in thewhole world. On the other hand, it has been seen that something else is exposed by digging deeper into the key mechanism in healthcare spending as technology and know-how, various administrative expenses, hospital costs, lifestyle substitute and chronic disease conditions have all had superior impacts on rising overall healthcare costs than medical doctors. The bulk of medical payments go to hospitals and device manufactures. It has been suggested by critics that the incomes of physicians is directed by most spending of healthcare. Despite the fact, it is not necessary that the primary beneficiaries of health care spending are physicians. The medical procedure payment in bulk goes in hospitals and in manufacturing the devices. But this does not mean that majority of benefits are gained by physicians and they have caused a rise in the health care settings. This becomes an extremely wrong notion. The five main factors responsible for the increase in health care costs have been discussed below: Unnecessary Care in various occasions Out of many reasons, overuse and needless care, accounts one-third to one-half of all health care expenditure and this equals to hundreds of billions of dollars, in addition to the half-a-trillion spent per year. Preventable Harm to Patients This is one of most common problems of health care. The information is astounding. This is a surprising fact that early elective delivery harms both women and newborns. Children born at 37-39 finished week growth are at much elevated risk of death. They are also at a distant higher risk for evils like respiratory problems and right of entry to theNICU. Wastage of Billions of Dollars A report submitted by the Institute of Medicine  Health  suggests that a third or more of health expenditure are pointless. The cost of these pointless, injurious and early hours elective deliveries account to nearly $1 billion per year as was predicted in a study by the  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Vicious inducement in how we pay for Care? By tradition, people pay providers for various health plans, Medicare and other Medicaid no matter what services they provide. This is regardless of whether the overhaul truly reimburses the patient or not, as the tremendous new book called The Incentive Cure points out. Deficient in Transparency There must be proper requirement for medical expenditure made. Transparency stimulates change like nothing else. Cases like early elective deliveries demonstrate that, despite of warnings over the years from medical societies and various organizations and highly appreciated national organizations, the rates of these deliveries have been going up for decades.(Forbes, 2013) Solutions to the rising cost of health care Cost in health care all over the world is rising at a rapid rate. The health care spending is increasing faster than the overall economy in US too. As per the National Health Expenditure Accounts data from 2008, it is shown that, people of US spend more than $2 trillion every year on health care which is 16.2 percent of gross domestic product. The amount spent per person comes out to be approximately equal to $7,681. Going up health care costs are inextricably linked to the enlargement in the number of uninsured, making it imperative that the subsequent step in health system improvement include efforts to address growing costs. The American Medical Association (AMA) has recognized four broad policies to maintain the health care expenses and get good benefits for the amount spend after health care: Diminish the burden of avertable disease Make health care delivery more efficient Diminish nonclinical health scheme costs that do not add to patient concern Uphold value-based administration at all levels Here is an elaborate discussion on the above four strategies: Diminish the burden of avertable disease The policy to diminish the risk factors for ailing and preventing the commencement of chronic diseases will definitely improve the patient’s fulfillment with medications and precautionary care recommendations. This policy will also encourage enhanced nutrition and physical movement with prevention in injury due to accidents and violence. This policy will also give enhancement in carrying out more public health campaigns. Formulate health care delivery more efficient The policy of formulating a better health care delivery is always needed to reduce the rising expenses in health care. This will not only improve coordination of care but will also help in reducing unnecessary use of services. This particular strategy is helpful in increasing use of services with optimistic return on investment i.e. in terms of future disease and cost. Here we can get increased accessibility of information on the usefulness of different treatments; advance management of chronic diseases. This will in turn reduce the medical errors and shift care to cost-effective sites of service. Diminish nonclinical health scheme costs that do not add to patient concern This particular strategy will help in eliminating unwarranted spending that does not make an addition to the value of patient concern, such as administrative expenses, profit making, etc. Uphold value-based administration at all levels. This successful strategy tends to improve the processes by which assessment are made so that both cost and benefit can be taken into consideration. Again particularly clinical outcomes are considered in this strategy. Both information and incentives are needed to be improved a lot for host of resolutions. Assessment can be increasingly incorporated into such assessments as physicians and patients decide among medicinal therapies, as insurers plan health chart features, and as legislators settle on budgets or authorization coverage of meticulous benefits. (Association, 2013) The ultimate solution to the ongoing rise in healthcare expenses cannot lie in shifting responsibilities, generating hostility among workers, and contracting the managerial screws on the system. Such solution must lie in dealing with healthcare in a truly fundamental way. Implementation of Universal Health care model Rising costs in Health care is definitely a serious problem. There is a need that every company in the world formulates some strategic and universal plan for appropriate healthcare treatment of its human resources. They must put into practice such plans, which will not only be advantageous to the employees, but also will help that organization to curb the large expenditure in health care. A sound deliberate plan sets the long-term course for a healthcare system in any organization. This will identify the key initiatives and define answerability for results. Various healthcare strategic planning solutions of various organizations in reality guarantee improved presentation through establishing: A fixed accountability for results by human being and date A trouble-free tool to use with which management can manage day-to-day outcomes There must be fast start for one to start on accomplishment of plans Arrangement and promise from all stakeholders An exclusive explanation specific to one’s capability and needs (System, 2005-2013) Health care is the economic black hole of every country. Legislation and rules can only go so far as setting up the system and paving way for new technology but can’t do a great deal on their own. For a genuine combat with health care’s cost challenges, the focal point must budge to disruptive business models as searching innovative ways of delivering accessible treatments at a much lower cost. While new business models are looked-for across the spectrum of healthcare, many impediments put off new ideas from captivating root. There are barriers, which possibly will stem from the fact that health care in various countries do not function like the free market. For example, customers rarely compensate directly for their own care, so there is modest incentive for making trade-offs such as preferring something cheaper that they can get in lesser cost. The regulatory atmosphere often does not allow reasonably priced solutions to make it to marketplace. Finally, there are inco mpatible incentives and hospitals want patients to get that operation, but insurance companies do not want such. (Eyring, 2012) As the expenditure of healthcare has risen, companies have tried to apply many cost-containment stratagems. However, all of which are likely to be only in part effective and only for a little while. More imperative, the new strategy make enemies, cause workers to be disbelieving of the company’s goodwill and intentions, subvert constructive attitudes on the part of the workforce, and harshly degrade the attitude and esprit of retirees with regard to the corporation. The contemporary approaches all amount to cutting benefits and variable costs. The most widespread practice is to push up the workers’ assistance while, at the identical time, reducing the obtainable benefits in the company’s insurance plan. If we take a corporate point of view, we can notice that implementation of a universal health care system is relatively easy and clear-cut. Corporations would make a permanent annual contribution to the national health care system as a percentage of the salary and wages of all workers. For example, it may be only as a talking point, 7.5 percentages of all salary and wages. (Coates, 2004) For implementation of a Universal Health care system, there are four basic models, which can be applied for an appropriate health care system within an organization. Countries all across the globe are following the map of complex legal, economic, and political landscapes to settle on the best path towards worldwide health coverage (UHC). Below we can illustratefour basic models for health care systems. The Beveridge Model In the Beveridge Model, the facility of health care is provided and financed by the government through tax expenditure, comparable to the public library. Many, but not all, hospitals and health centers are owned by the government and some doctors are employees under government, but there are also personal doctors who accumulate their fees from the government. These schemes tend to have low costs per capita, because the government, as the one and only payer, is in charge of what doctors can do and what they can charge. The countries, which are using the Beveridge Model or a variation include: Cuba Great Britain The famous Bismark Model Despite of being most popular in all around the various European countries, this system of providing health care would look comparatively recognizable to Americans. It uses an insurance system and here the insurers are called sickness funds. They are usually financed in cooperation by employers and employees through payroll deduction. Unlike the U.S. indemnity industry, though, Bismarck-type health insurance plans have to wrap everybody, and they do not make a profit. Doctors and hospitals tend to be personal in Bismarck countries. Although this is a multi-payer model and the country, Germany has about 240 different funds but this tight regulation gives government comparable cost-controls as single-payer Beveridge Models. Countries those are familiar in using the Bismarck Model or a variation comprise of; Germany France Belgium the Netherlands Japan Switzerland The National Health Insurance Model These systems have elements in combination of both Beveridge and Bismarck models. It uses private-sector providers, but imbursement comes from a government-run insurance plan that each citizen pays into. Since there is no need for advertising, no financial reason to deny claims and no profit, these universal insurance plans tend to be cheaper and much simpler managerially than American-style for-profit insurance. The single-payer is inclined to have substantial market power to consult for subordinate prices. The classic National Health Insurance system is found in Canada, but some recently industrialized countries like Taiwan and South Korea. These are some newly developed countries, which have also considered the NHI model. (Forward, 2011) The Out-of-Pocket Model Researches state that only some developed, industrialized countries, perhaps 40 of the world’s 200 countries in the world have established health care systems. Most of the countries on the planet are too deprived and too incompetent to provide any kind of mass health checkup facilities and proper medical care. The essential rule in such countries is that the rich get medical care but unfortunately, the people who cannot afford the cost, stay sick, or die. Almost hundreds of millions of people go past their whole lives without ever seeing a doctor in rural regions of Africa, India, China, and South America. They may have right of entry, although, to a village healer using home-brewed medication that may or not be of use against very disease. In the world under poverty, patients can from time to time scratch together enough money to pay a physician bill but if they cannot, then they pay it otherwise like they pay in potatoes or goat’s milk or child care or anything else they may have to provide. If they have nothing, they remain deprived of health checking facility. The above mentioned four models are moderately easy for Americans to understand because the Government and people of the country have all these elements in their fragmented national health care equipment’s (RESOURCES, 2010) (Figure 2: Health care systems) (Source: Resources, 2010) Countries in blue have some type of universal health care. Countries in green are currently attempting to implement some type of universal health care. Orange countries have universal health coverage provided by United States war funding. (Glow, 2007) Procedure to implement Workplace Health Model (Source: (Prevention, 2013) Any organization before implementation must look into the procedure to be followed for implementing an appropriate health care model. There may be four steps to follow: Step 1: Assessment A proper assessment process must be carried on relating to individual, organizational and community. For individual assessment on health risks and use of services needed to be taken. Current practices and infrastructure of the organization must be assessed. Step 2: Planning or Workplace Governance In the next step, planning and workplace governance needed to be considered. This starts with leadership support and management and continues with various workplace health improvement plans and dedicated resources. Step 3: Implementation In the third stage, there require proper implementation of various rules and regulations. There must be proper programs and policies with regard to various health benefits and environmental supports. Step 4: Evaluation After implementation of workplace health care model, evaluation on such polices must be taken. Evaluation is needed on workers’ productivity and health care costs. Management should look into whether implementation of health model helps in cost curbing or not. Assessment also needs to be taken on improved health outcomes and organizational changes (Glow, 2007) Conclusion We all are aware of rising cost of health care and thus, workplaces are suggested to implement such a health care plan that will not only prove to be beneficial to the employees but will also help in curbing the cost within the organization. For having a reasonable health care opportunity, an organization must take into consideration some ideas including of implementing an automated prior authorization program, having a therapeutic consultation programs, transformation of electronic health records and various health information in exchange of e-prescribing. Policies also can be taken on simplification in administration of home and community based services, taking proper information on pharmacy claims, proper review on payment methods etc. (Moeller, 2013) As evident from this report, there is a significant issue with regard to health disparities that exists in the countries. This issue leads to high costs in healthcare. Especially in between 2003 and 2006, it was estimated by Joint center for political and economic studies that health inequity costs that are either total direct or total indirect affect the minority populations (racially or ethnically inclusive of low wage and low productions) In order to achieve truly the costs of savings in the systems of healthcare, it is advised by experts to look at every factor that drives the costs of healthcare over the GDP, growth of population and inflation. Also, analysis of literature and data does not simply point out that physicians are the main cause of rising health care costs. The factors are several as discussed in the report with respect to life style of people and chronic status of individuals (Coates, 2004).

Joseph Beuys Social Sculptures Concepts

Joseph Beuys Social Sculptures Concepts Joseph Beuys developed a new concept of art as Social Sculpture in post-war Germany after the long period of repression and lethargy. His theory advocated that every person in every situation has the ability to re-organise society and this essay discusses how he sought to realise these ideas within his own practice. Beuys (1921-1986), is one of the most prominent and influential German artists to emerge after World War II. As well as an artist, he was a teacher and activist and his theory on the ability of art to change the dynamics of society has reverberated across a generation of artists. (Electronic Arts Intermix 1997) Beuys, along with other founding members of the Fluxus movement, helped to reinvigorate a prosperous Avant-garde after the long episode of Nazi oppression. His work was highly experimental and always contentious, layered with intricate meaning and symbolism. (Moma n.d.) Throughout his career he produced thousands of conceptual works, drawings, installations, objects, performances and lectures. Maturing as an artist during the Fluxus movement, this encouraged Beuys to create progressively more anti-establishment and eccentric works.(Turner 2001) The Fluxus was an international movement which began in the early sixties and continued to thrive throughout the 1960s and 1970s. It was distinguished by a strong Dadaist approach and encouraged artistic experimentation intertwined with social and political activism that rejoiced in revolutionary change. (Delahunt 1996)The Fluxus movement also centres on the absolute connection between art and life (Durini 1997, p. 26), a theme which was central to Beuys artistic practice. It was during the war that Joseph Beuys decided to dedicate himself to art. Beuys entered the Dusseldorf Academy at the conclusion of the war. It was during his time at the Academy that he began to query academic limitations and sought to further his artistic capabilities and understanding of art through his subject matter, sculptural techniques and the use of non conventional materials. A major turning point for Beuys came during the mid 1950s when he suffered from a severe bout of depression which lasted for several years. He surfaced from this period with a renewed sense of purpose and direction. Beuys states â€Å"This was the stage at which I began systematic work on certain basic principles.† (Walker Art Centre n.d.) These principles were to later expand into his Theory of Social Sculpture. In addition to his depression, Beuys also reportedly suffered from several injuries which he sustained during the five years he served in the war. It is speculated that due to this suffering, the theme of injury and healing are ever-present throughout his work. As a survivor of World War II, Beuys saw Western society as highly traumatised, psychic, social, political and ecological, and he believed that art was a means of mending this suffering. (Walker Art Centre n.d.) During the 1960s and 1970s, Joseph Beuys helped to solidify performance arts position within the art scene. He used a collaboration of sound, time and objects in a series of â€Å"actions†, to create sculptural performances. These performances were often recorded and demonstrated the captivating manner in which the artist was able to use his physical and psychic energy in which to create scenes infused with historical, mythological and personal significance. (Moma n.d.) Beuys believed that performance art was an intuitive approach in which he could convey his belief in the artists ability to repair a damaged world. (Turner 2001) Beuys was spurred on by the ideal belief human creativity could be universal and that art could create revolutionary change. This belief is what led Beuys to advocate this theory of the concept of ‘Social Sculpture during the 1970s, when his political activism was at the forefront. This was the idea that each human being had the potential to creatively contribute to the reshaping of society, in other words ‘society as an artwork. (Tate Collection 2009) Beuys idea of everyone as an artist was very powerful, because it is an indicator of our human potential for future evolution. (Howard n.d.) He believed that this potential was oppressed by conformity, social norms and conventions (Garner n.d.), and that in order for society to reach its full potential, it needed to free itself of routine and remain unobservant to disparities and surrounding conflicts. This idea formed a large part of the intention of his work, he states â€Å"I not only want to stimulate people, I want to provoke them†. (Masters n.d.) Beuys regarded teaching as an important part of his work as an artist. (Tate Collection 2009) He produced a large number of chalkboard drawings in which to communicate the basic principles of his Theory of Social Sculpture. They were often in the form of diagrams and demonstrated the relationships between art and society. (NGV International 2008) These chalkboard drawings are viewed as artworks in their own right. Joseph Beuys selection of materials for his sculptures was notably eclectic and he believed that certain materials had significant associations and through their repeated use they achieved personal representation. (Tate Collection 2009) He spent a substantial amount of time ensuring that his choice of aesthetic materials expressed his intentions. (Garner n.d.) Fat is a material that Beuys frequently used within his sculptures. He often used it to provoke discussion and believed it a material which was very basic to life. Its flexibility in changing from solid into liquid form made it a compelling symbol of spiritual transcendence. Felt is also a material that features frequently in Beuys work, and it became somewhat of a personal signature. He believed its often mundane nature could be transformed into objects with multi-layered significance; he also liked the manner in which it absorbs any liquid that it comes into contact with. Felt also appealed to him because of its ability to act as an insulator, it became a symbol of warmth and the way in which it could act as a muffler, for example when he wrapped a piano and a loudspeaker in it. (Tate Collection 2009) There is widespread belief that he had a strong preference towards these two materials because when he was injured in the war, fat and felt were used upon his wounds to help mend them . Beuys began to use fat in the 1960s with his installations ‘Fat Corners (1968) and a sculpture entitled ‘Fat Chair (1964). Beuys reasoning behind these pieces is that they began an almost chemical process that would not have been so potent if he had only spoken theoretically about them. (Walker Art Centre n.d.) In ‘Felt Suit (1970), Beuys uses felt in the idea that it is a protective and magical material. It is modern day armour made out of modest cloth. Hanging on the wall, an empty shell with no human presence it is not a suit at all, instead it becomes merely a piece of art. Beuys states that the suit represents warmth and a means in which to protect an individual from the world. Beuys states â€Å"Not even physical warmth is meant, namely spiritual or evolutionary warmth at the beginning of an evolution† (Turner 2001). The suit is also reminiscent of the solitude of human beings. Such suits were often worn by prisoners, particularly those in Nazi concentration camps. (Turner 2001) ‘Rose for Direct Democracy (1973), is one of Beuys most famous multiples, it consists of a rose in a transparent cylinder. For Beuys the rose is a simple example of the evolutionary process with its revolutionary goal, which is to gradually blossom. In contrast to the organic nature of the rose is a manmade cylinder with measurements on the side, capable of determining the volume of the matter inside. This piece symbolises the transition from an unyielding and artificial system into an organic and flourishing one. In one clear image it communicates the importance of love and knowledge and passion and science. (Arithmeum 2000) In ‘How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare (1965), Beuys cradled a dead hare for three hours whilst walking around and showing it his drawings while at the same time explaining each drawing to the hare in a whisper. The hare is symbolic of birth for Beuys, as the hare is born and burrows underneath the Earth, later to re-emerge from it. Whilst in this action, he also covered his head in honey and affixed fifty dollars worth of gold leaf to it. His reasoning behind this was that by covering his head in honey he was evidently doing something involved with thinking. Since it is bees who are the source of honey, its use represents the goodwill and affection that societies of bees are recognised for. (Ordinary Finds n.d.) Beuys stated that he would prefer to explain his pictures to a dead animal rather than to a person because this way his words were not taken too literally. Beuyss most well known action occurred during 1974 ‘I like America and America Likes Me, when he spent three days alone in a room with a coyote. For this performance, he was flown into New York and immediately upon landing he was enveloped in felt and loaded into an ambulance. He was then taken to the gallery where the action took place, without once setting foot on American soil. He explained that his wish was to isolate himself, see nothing of America other than the coyote. Native Americans held the coyote in god-like regard and after the settlers came they merely saw it as a pest which needed to be ridded. Beuys saw the disparagement of the coyote similar to the damage in which white men had imposed upon America and its native people. This action was an attempt to heal some of those wounds. He reasons, â€Å"You could say that a reckoning has to be made with the coyote, and only then can this trauma be lifted†. (Tate Collection 2009) In conclusion, Beuys served as a remedy to the needs of the population at the time, which was awakening from the shock of their economic, social and cultural sluggishness after the war. He demonstrated a way in which to rise from the ashes which was entertaining, wholesome and spiritually challenging. (Chicago Art n.d.) Within his works and teachings, he strived for a complete revamp of the system in which art is merely a consumer product. â€Å"Art is, he said, â€Å"a revolutionary change in the sense of completing the transformation from a sick world to a healthy one.† (Masters n.d.)

Essay --

Many people require eyeglasses because they may have farsighted or nearsighted vision. While eyeglasses where made in the early twelve hundreds and the inventors were anonymous, they did a lot of justice for many people all over the world. These inventors were able to help others live a better quality of life, because their vision had been made better. When you have strong vision you are more independent and able to function without assistance, but when your vision is week you may need assistance. You may need assistance with driving, with getting a job, and you may need assistance moving safely when in unknown surroundings. The eye is a key function to the body; therefore it is important to visit the eye doctor or Optometrists on a yearly basis to determine if new lenses are required. In order to create new lenses a doctor must have an optical instrument or Surface Machine to produce high-precision measurements and he must use a high quality glass. The convex lens is used to correct hyperopia or farsighted vision. It is a lens that is thicker in the middle than at the edges. In or...

Geoffrey Chaucers Canterbury Tales Essay -- Chaucer Geoffrey Canterbu

Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales The Knight, Squire, Prioress, The Monk and the Friar are defined by their settings in Geoffrey Chaucer’s "Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales. 1. Portnoy says in his article in the Chaucer Review that "The General Prologue is like a mirror reflecting the individuals appearance which then defines the character of that person."(281) 2. Scanlon backs up Portnoy in his article from Speculum by saying "†¦Characters descriptions somehow emerge inevitably from the original intentions of Chaucer’s text or reflect its lasting value." (128) 3. Russell remarks in his book Chaucer & the Trivium: The Mindsong of the Canterbury Tales: There is something that seems natural and almost unavoidable in the structure of the individual portraits in the General Prologue: How else could you describe the characters without passing judgment on them? (62) KNIGHT The Knight is defined by his settings. 1. Andrew says in The Canterbury Tales: The General Prologue: The Knight is described as having no name, no family seat, no manor house, and no lands. Furthermore, his obsession with foreign service indicates a lack of feudal ties and bears all the marks of a career of a landless knight, without family or possessions in England. (80) 2. Andrew says "The Knight is described as an aged veteran warrior, with whom the stern realities of life have sobered down much of his early romance." (43) 3. The Knight fought in his sovereign’s wars in both Christian and heathen places, which shows he is a holy and honorable man by he followed his king’s commands, and he fought for religious purposes. 4. Roggiers reiterates that statement in his book The Art of the Canterbury Tales by saying "The Knights Tale is Chaucer’s own e... ...er, Geoffrey. ""Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales." England in Literature. Eds. John Pfordrester, et.al. Inglewood Cliffs: Foresman, 1972. Fredell, Joel. "Late Gothic Portraiture: The Prioress and Philippa." Chaucer Review, 23(May 10, 1989):181-191. Hussey, Maurice. An Introduction to Chaucer. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1972. Portnoy, Phyllis. "Beyond the Gothic Cathederal: Post Modern Reflections in the "Canterbury Tales"." Chaucer Review, 28(May 31, 1994):279-292. Roggiers, Paul G. The Art of the Canterbury Tales. Milwaukee: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1965. Russell, J. Stephen. Chaucer & the Trivium: The Mindsong of the Canterbury Tales. Miami: University Press of Florida, 1998. Scanlon, Larry. "A Variorum Edition of the Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, 2: The Canterbury Tales: The General Prologue" Speculum, 72(January 1997):127-129 Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales Essay -- Chaucer Geoffrey Canterbu Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales The Knight, Squire, Prioress, The Monk and the Friar are defined by their settings in Geoffrey Chaucer’s "Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales. 1. Portnoy says in his article in the Chaucer Review that "The General Prologue is like a mirror reflecting the individuals appearance which then defines the character of that person."(281) 2. Scanlon backs up Portnoy in his article from Speculum by saying "†¦Characters descriptions somehow emerge inevitably from the original intentions of Chaucer’s text or reflect its lasting value." (128) 3. Russell remarks in his book Chaucer & the Trivium: The Mindsong of the Canterbury Tales: There is something that seems natural and almost unavoidable in the structure of the individual portraits in the General Prologue: How else could you describe the characters without passing judgment on them? (62) KNIGHT The Knight is defined by his settings. 1. Andrew says in The Canterbury Tales: The General Prologue: The Knight is described as having no name, no family seat, no manor house, and no lands. Furthermore, his obsession with foreign service indicates a lack of feudal ties and bears all the marks of a career of a landless knight, without family or possessions in England. (80) 2. Andrew says "The Knight is described as an aged veteran warrior, with whom the stern realities of life have sobered down much of his early romance." (43) 3. The Knight fought in his sovereign’s wars in both Christian and heathen places, which shows he is a holy and honorable man by he followed his king’s commands, and he fought for religious purposes. 4. Roggiers reiterates that statement in his book The Art of the Canterbury Tales by saying "The Knights Tale is Chaucer’s own e... ...er, Geoffrey. ""Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales." England in Literature. Eds. John Pfordrester, et.al. Inglewood Cliffs: Foresman, 1972. Fredell, Joel. "Late Gothic Portraiture: The Prioress and Philippa." Chaucer Review, 23(May 10, 1989):181-191. Hussey, Maurice. An Introduction to Chaucer. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1972. Portnoy, Phyllis. "Beyond the Gothic Cathederal: Post Modern Reflections in the "Canterbury Tales"." Chaucer Review, 28(May 31, 1994):279-292. Roggiers, Paul G. The Art of the Canterbury Tales. Milwaukee: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1965. Russell, J. Stephen. Chaucer & the Trivium: The Mindsong of the Canterbury Tales. Miami: University Press of Florida, 1998. Scanlon, Larry. "A Variorum Edition of the Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, 2: The Canterbury Tales: The General Prologue" Speculum, 72(January 1997):127-129