Professional Career Action Plan Essay

My professional goal is to work behind a desk and computer. I have had serveral different ventures on trying to come up with my professional goal but I see myself being extremely good with computer and importing information into a database. This being said, I can see myself being an administrative assistant and or in the coding and billing field. I have that energy to strive in both professional goals and build with a company as they grow. Both professional fields will consist of me working wtih computers. Either importing (filing) patient information, communicating via computer with other medical personnel, and of course verbally communicating with all parties involved in the case. My professional goals come from me always working with computers. I first thought I would be a computer technician but decided to take my career on a different path because the health care industry will be around for eternity. Both, administrative assistant and coding and billing departments will recommend me to further my education. In either direction that I plan to go I will need more schooling so that my professionals goals are met. My first career goal is to become an Administrative Assistant. An administrative assistant has many of the same duties as a secretary, including typing, filing, answering phones and taking notes at meetings (WiseGEEK, 2014). These are all the things that I enjoy doing and can see myself fitting well in this position. Being a medical adminstrative assistant also includes duties such as managing the day to day operations of a medical facility so that the facility is ran smoothly, verifying patient insurance so that they are billed correctly, providing quality customer service to all patients, and also working in a professional enviornment. My second career goal if all fails with my first goal is to find a position in medical coding and billing. As a medical coding and billing professional, you will review patient medical records and assign codes to diagnoses and procedures performed so the facility can bill insurance and other third party payers (such as Medicare or Medicaid) as well as the patient (Career Step, 2014). To fulffill this career goal I will have to go back to school and obtain at least a certificate in this area. I will need to better understanding the different codings so that I can proper work in this area. In both administrative assistant and medical coding and billing field in the health care industry I currently possess the ability to work with all types of computer software. I am a fast learner when it comes to computers and filing. I have the ability to understand computer software with reporting and emailing, I am a self starter, committed to self study to further professional developments, I have excellent troubleshooting skill, I enjoy seeing projects through from inception to completion, I am upbeat and friendly, I can easily adapt to new enviornments and changing priorities, I have excellent memory and attention to detail, I have also worked in a strong professional background. Softwares that I have the ability to manage with no assistance are: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Power Point, and Microsoft Excel. I am very comfortable using these softwares and I have tons of experience doing so. I am extremely confident with the softwares that I have the ability to use and I am willing to learn other software programs if they will benefit me in my career path. Note taking is another skill. In my current employment I am writing all day. I have to notate my daily task with patients when they are under my care. In an administrative assistant position I will be taking notes when needed to better Communication is a skill that would definitely need to change in either one of my career goals. Communicating with patients, physicians, nurses, and also insurance companies is a strong skill that need to be possessed in both fields. I am not a big communicator but I have the ability to speak when needed. I would like to change this skill because it can get me further on  my journey to reach my career goals. A skill of mine that could be altered would be my computer skills. Even though I am fluent with computer technology there may be a way that I am processing information that is not actually the correct way or the shortess way of doing so. I am proficient in many computer software program but I am sure that I could be taught and grasp information different seeing though that I have no professional experience working with computers in a big indusrty. Another skill that can be altered is my ability to work in groups if needed. I am a self starter and prefer to work alone on projects but I am more than capable of working with others on big projects. I am opinionated especially when it comes to a group project where my job may be on the line. All in all there are many skills that could be changed and or altered depending on the professional career direction that I consider to go in. To ultimately achieve my professionals goals it will take up to at least two years. I will be completing my bachelors degree in the next two months but will have to return back to school to obtain another degree and or just a certificate. Even after obtain all my degrees and certificates I would like to do an internship so that I can have that professional feel, seeing that I have no experience in either position. I would most likely physicially go into a school for further education with coding and billing. This is because I think I would be able to grasp the information a little better knowing there will be many codes for different areas of concern. I have someone that I am very close to in the coding and billing field so it is very possible that I can speak with them further about their experience. This may also determine if I want to go in that direction. During this time I will consider in which direction I want to go whether it is an administrative assistant and or in the coding and fielding field. Either way I see it taking some time so that I can fully understand and grasp the knowledge of both fields. Volunteering would be another way that would be beneficial to ultimately achieving my long term professional goals. In order  to do this I will need to verbally communicate and do major research on organization in my area that would accomidate my needs to help me grow. In my area, there are many professional organization that can help to achieve my professional goals. Even with my current employer, although I work as a caregiver, they would give me the opportunity to work within the office doing volunteer work and or even helping me with questions that I may have about my career goal. I could also do some research for hospitals in my area that offer internships so that I could get that feel of exactly what it is that I will be doing. There are health care organization such as hospitals, clinics within the hospital, and clinics within the city along with multiple dental clinics. Having all these health care organizations around would help to benefit me. My career action plan outline provides beneficial reasoning to which direction I will probably head into. Being able to see the outcome of each career goal and what they offer will help me in the next few month determine which career path I will take. The outline defined each awareness that I may have while analyzing the job descriptions for each career. At the end of my bachelors program I will have some better insight in which direction I want to go in so that I can enroll in a traditional school for further education. While obtaining my degree and or certificate I will start researhing organization that will allow me to intership. Once I have fully obtained what is need, with the intership I will hopefully have landed a position either with the same organization or with another organization close by. References Career Step (2014). Job Description. Retrieved on February 1, 2014 from http://www.careerstep.com/medical-billing-coding-job-description WiseGEEK (2014). What Is an Administrative Assistant? Retrieved on February 1, 2014 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-administrative-assistant.htm

Can Tourism Be Sustainable En the 21st Century

CAN TOURISM BE SUSTAINABLE IN THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY  ? Tourism industry is one of the largest industry of the world in the 21st century, before the oil industry and the automobile industry. It is a vital sector for a lot of countries as it generates jobs and wealth. Nevertheless, Tourism can also engender environmental, social, and cultural degradations as more and more people travel all around the world. There was roughly 935 million of tourists in 2010, and there will be 1. 6 billion tourists in 2020 according to the World Tourism Organization.This enormous flow of tourists has undoubtedly a lot of impacts on the environment, on the local populations or on the economy. Furthermore, the global population is increasingly growing and the question of resources available is crucial and has become a matter of global concern when development occurs in a time of globalization. Because tourism keeps increasing, this is necessary to find ways to make tourism more sustainable. The questi on of sustainable development has become a major issue of the 21st century notably due to the climate change.While the original call for sustainable development in Bruntland Report (which goal was to unite countries to pursue sustainable development together) discussed the application of the principles, tourism was not specially discussed’ (Hall, 1998) Yet, there has been an increasing recognition of the role that tourism could play in sustainable development. As it is a driving force of the economy and a powerful instrument of development, it has a role to play to limit its negative impacts whether they are cultural, environmental or economic.That is to say, adopting the principles of sustainable development to tourism. ‘Sustainable tourism is an extension of the concept of sustainable development† (J. Swarbrooke, 1999). The sustainable development is defined in the Bruntland Report as’ a development which meets our needs today without compromising the abi lity of people in the future to meet their needs’. Therefore, sustainable tourism also deals with long-term viability. The goal of sustainable tourism is to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity, so the future generations will enjoy the environmental resources.It also has to respect the cultural heritage and traditional values of host communities and enable them to benefit from the advantages created by tourism, to make an equal distribution of benefits from tourism possible. The challenges are to reconcile tourism and respect of the environmental, economic and social dimensions to minimize the socioeconomic negative externalities of tourism. So can tourism be sustainable in the twenty-first century? I Successful initiativesSustainable tourism is a complex notion which is part of a global system and cannot be tackled in isolation specifically, economically or temporally (Munt2003), it requires the implementation of different measures and initiatives. We can achieve susta inable tourism if different actors are aware of the situation and ready to take measures in order to improve things. Several summits and codes of conduct carried out show the growing interest in sustainable tourism and efforts made to achieve it. Rio Summit in 1992 ,The Global Code of Ethics for tourism or AGENDA 21 for the Travel & Tourism Industry Towards Environmentally Sustainable Development†¦) They give recommendations on the application of sustainable development to tourism. The support and cooperation of the private and public sector are required to make sustainable tourism possible. All relevant stakeholders have to work in partnership to develop a common sustainable tourism strategy (Hall, 1998). All actors involved in the process have to participate for each level: local, regional, national.As tourism is part of a global system, sustainability has to be achieved in all sectors because they are interdependent. (Hall, 1998) â€Å"Since the 198Os, there has been a grow ing interest in the ethical standards of businesses. Public and political pressure has been growing for companies to behave more ethically in relation to a range of issues† (J. Swarbrooke, 1999) For instance, the ‘Club Med’, a French corporation of vacation set a charter of sustainable tourism to guarantee environmentally friendly practices and to take part to the local economic development in an ethical manner.To address the negative impacts of tourism, new alternatives to mass tourism are developed such as green tourism or ecotourism which is a responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people† (International Ecotourism Society, 1990) Besides some successful measures are taken to limit touristic flow. For instance to see orang utans in parks in Tanzania, visitors have to pay a high price: 235 pounds which enable to control the stream of travellers. Moreover, money generated by tourism will help t o preserve parks as it is invested in the parks for the preservation of the orangs utans .II Yet even some successful initiatives exist, some progress remain to be made First, more and more operators are using those terms ‘sustainable tourism’ as a new trend. It is a way to differentiate themselves from competitors with only commercial motivations. (Munt, 1998) Sustainable tourism has to adapt to each environment’ as each locality is totally different in terms of geography, ecosystem, social structure and economy, it is unlikely that the carrying capacity will be the same in any two places, so its application in any place is very different to forecast’. J. Swarbrooke, 1999) Besides, when an action is implemented it is not easy to judge if it is really sustainable. An action can be judged sustainable or not after a long period of time when it is proved that the development of the activity ‘has not prejudiced the needs of what were future generations w hen the development began ‘(Hall, 1998) The majority of commentators agree on the fact that intervention is needed to achieve sustainable tourism .Nevertheless, public sector regulation is not easy in a time when there is a lot if privatization We generally oppose mass tourism to some alternative forms of tourism. For example, ecotourism is not necessarily more sustainable if ecotourism â€Å"grows to a mass scale† it will show all the characteristics of mass tourism. (J. Swarbrooke, 1999) â€Å" We have seen that a partnership is required to achieve sustainable tourism but the tourism industry and local communities can have conflicting requirements.And the host communities are usually not enough strong to make their voice heard compared to the power of the tourism industry. The Maldives is representative of both positive and negative impacts engendered by tourism. Tourism accounts for 30 % of the Maldives GDP. Every tourist products an average of 7. 7 pounds of waste each day. With the development of the tourism, the government has decided to sacrifice one of the island and to make it the bin of the archipelago. The island grows of a square meter per day.For tourists, the rubbish remains invisible. Pollution is becoming worst and everyday the seabed is altered. Ships unload 3OO tons of rubbish everyday, which are dumped on the floor with no waste sorting. There are some toxic waste material which pollute the sea but also endanger the life of dustmen. Sustainable tourism is a complex task because key concepts are interrelated, it is about stakeholders whose interests have to be balanced. To lead to great social, economic and environmental benefits, sustainable tourism is required.A tourism bad managed can have negative consequences and have a prejudicial effect or even destructive on the social and environmental dimensions. And the complete set of impacts has to be measured at a global scale or we cannot hope to achieve complete sustainability at anything less than this scale† (Hall, 1998) Furthermore, to be truly sustainable, tourism has to pay more attention to the social dimension because we usually focus more on the environmental dimension. Touristic activities have to contribute towards the economic development and improves the quality of life of local populations.Tourism creates some negative impacts, but the role of the sustainable tourism is to try to limit them. So that the consequences tourism has on biodiversity, natural resources or the amount of waste keep acceptable. Maybe â€Å"truly sustainable tourism can probably never be achieved but it remains an ideal that we must thrive to attain† (Hall, 1998) BIBLIOGRAPHY Books C. Michael Hall & Allan A. Lew, 1998, Sustainable Tourism a Geographical Perspective, Pearson, Essex M. Mowforth & I.Munt, 2003, Tourism and Sustainability, Routledge, London W. Peter ,H. Rob, G. Tonny, , 2002, Sustainable Tourism a Global Perspective, Elvesier Butterworth-Heineman n, Italy J. Swarbrooke, 2005, Sustainable Tourism Management, Cabi Publishing, Cambridge Web site † http://www. unep. fr/scp/tourism/sustain/ http://www. alpesolidaires. org/tourisme-solidaire-la-rencontre-avant-tout http://www. globalsustainabletourism. com/Events/48-2012-World-Tourism-Day-WTD-Tourism-and-Sustainable-Energy-Powering-Sustainable-Development. html

Barbie: the Early History by Erica Wolf Essay

Do you know anyone who has their own dream house, super fun pool house, pink convertible, or their own magical musical movies? No, I’m not talking about Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan, This girl is more classic, and more of a role model to every little girl around the world. She’s a fun, outgoing character with an outfit for every occasion. She’s Barbie. Today we will learn about this amazing doll and the affect she has had on toy industry. First we will examine the pink and perfect history of Barbie, then we will try on the many different characters in Barbie’s family, and finally we will hit the shelves to examine the marketing of Barbie merchandise. First we will examine the pink and perfect history of Barbie. Barbie was first introduced at the American International Toy Fair in New York in February of 1959 according to â€Å"Barbie: The Early History† by Erica Wolf last updated in 2000. Ruth and Elliot Handler, the creators of Barbie, modeled her after the German doll known as â€Å"Lilli.† Ruth discovered Lilli while shopping in Switzerland and brought her home for her daughter to play with. This inspired Ruth to create an adult doll made specifically for little girls. Handler eventually had Jack Ryan, an executive of Mattel, purchase the rights for Lilli and make a deal with the company to create a doll similar to Lilli. The new doll would have a more â€Å"soft† look and didn’t look as made up with makeup as Lilli. Finally, in 1958, the new doll, Barbie Millicent Roberts (named after Handler’s daughter, Barbara) was born. At 11  ½ inches tall, debuted as a teenage model in a black and white striped swimming suit that came with sunglasses, high-heeled shoes, and gold colored hoop earrings. The body was shapely with a movable head, arms, and legs. Barbie would be the first doll in America with an adult-like body. Though Barbie was thought to be a huge success, some people in America had a terrible reaction toward this new phenomenon. Many female adults frowned upon her mature body figure. Mothers said they would not allow their daughters to play with Barbie because of her very grown up figure. The doll quickly caught the attention of little girls across the country. Soon, the small, sophisticated doll became a worldwide sensation, and remains the top fashion doll today. Next, I am going to talk about the many different characters of Barbie. Including some of her friends, the different types of Barbies throughout the years, and the many outfits of Barbie. During the first decade of Barbie in the 60’s, there were themes that went with Barbie. Such as â€Å"Barbie Goes to College â€Å". In 1961, Ken was introduced. He wore swim trunks and an unbuttoned shirt, and came with blond, brown or black hair. Alternative clothes included a sailor’s outfit, a college student look and casual ensembles for picnics or movies. According to â€Å"Barbies of the 60s† by Amanda Hermes last updated in 2013, in 1963 Mattel released Barbie’s best friend, Midge, who had brunette hair and wore a sleek red swimsuit and red heels. Barbie’s little sister, Skipper, appeared in 1964, along with her own boyfriend, Allan. A year later, Barbie’s family grew to include twins Tutti and Todd followed by her more modern cousin, Francie, who also came in Japanese and African American versions. Christie, the first African American friend of Barbie’s, came along in 1968. In Barbie Doll History, there have been numerous types of Barbies made since she was first introduced. With a rare exception here and there, Barbie’s body hasn’t changed much. Some may have more moveable parts, but the size and shape remains the same. Her face however, is a different story. Vintage Barbies were made from 1959 to 1966. Vintage Barbies made from 1967 to 1973 are considered to be Mod Barbies. One of the most notable dolls in this era was Malibu Barbie. She represented a shift in Barbie’s evolution. She was made from 1971 to 1977. The next big shift in Barbie Doll History happened in 1977, when in the era of the Halter Dress and Farrah Fawcett hair; Barbie underwent a dramatic transition in the form of Superstar Barbie. Barbie’s were made with the big toothy smile and tons of long blonde hair for the rest of the 1970s, all of the 1980s and a large part of the 90s. Well-known designers such as Bob Mackie created many of the early collectible Barbie Dolls. One of Barbie’s first transformations after so many years with the Superstar face was with the â€Å"Mackie Face.† In 2000, Mattel introduced the Fashion Model Collection, also known a Silkstones. They use the vintage Barbie face and have been very successful with Barbie collectors. Barbie has undergone many changes and a lot of diversity over the last ten years. Now a variety of different skin tones, hair colors and face sculpts are used. Mattel released a series of twelve Black Label Basic Barbie Dolls, the next step in Barbie Doll History, each featuring different types of Barbie face sculpt. Finally, we will hit the shelves to examine the marketing of Barbie merchandise. Every second 2.5 Barbie dolls are sold. This contributes to sales of more than $1.5 billion U.S. annually, making Mattel’s Barbie the most successful doll in history. Today, women have active lifestyles, balancing career and home activities creating a very different taste in doll buyers. Mattel first failed to realize the importance of this shift in 2001 when MGA Entertainment released their Bratz dolls, a doll with personality and attitude for the new generation of girls. Mattel is still suffering today due to the invention of Bratz dolls. Not only did Mattel not recognize these threats, they also thought it unwise to make major changes to Barbie; afraid consumers might not like the changes. It was too late when they finally realized that not changing the look of Barbie would be a bad idea. In 2006, sales had dropped 30% despite rushed changes being made to Barbie’s figure, looks, boyfriends and clothing. They also introduced their own new line of modern dolls called â€Å"My Scene† girls. It was obvious to consumers that this was an imitation of the Bratz dolls, so it never matched popularity.

Discussion 4 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Discussion 4 - Assignment Example Ms. Murphy, a young African American woman, visits Westcoast Medical Center complaining of persistent headache and after tests the clinician ascertains she has hypertension. She takes the patient through the pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options for hypertension highlighting the evidence supporting the effectiveness of each until they identify the one that works best for Ms. Murphy (Speros, 2005). Ms. Murphy walks into a nearby hospital with a complaint of an unceasing headache. The clinician quickly prescribes strong painkillers to Ms. Murphy which she takes and goes home (Kienle & Kiene, 2011). Ms. Murphy visits a hospital far from her home and a clinician listens to her complaint and inspects her for different signs. The clinician engages the data she collects and is able to identify that Ms. Murphy has hypertension. She considers different treatment options each of which is supported by three controlled studies of its effectiveness and picks one that she thinks would work for Ms. Murphy (Ratanasiripong & Chai, 2013). A clinician at Blueline Medical center notes Ms. Murphy’s health complaints and checks her for extra symptoms and she concludes that it is a hypertension case. The clinician aptly searches for relevant information on different treatment options, shares it with Ms. Murphy and leaves her to choose one (Speros, 2005). As an African American woman, Ms. Murphy might be from a cultural setting where females seldom do physical exercise due to a preservative culture. She might not agree to invasive surgical procedures due to her religious values (Kienle & Kiene, 2011). Clinical judgment in evidence-based practice would help prescribe the intervention that she would afford and one that would not clash with her

Operations management unit 9 project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Operations management unit 9 project - Essay Example The companys employee base, including those that work for the companys franchises has reached 130,000 by 1998. In 1998, Radissons president Brian Stage, and executive vice president Maureen OHanion, has been contemplating major change in the companys operations in order to gain competitive edge. The two executives think of adopting a different brand strategy which promises higher quality of service across all Radisson hotels. Commitment to improving the service quality and achieving higher customer satisfaction is something that the two executives see that Radisson needs in order to secure its position in the industry. The companys service guarantee should be defined in the following manner: â€Å"let us know if there is a problem and well have it fixed; otherwise, your accommodation is free.† This shows the companys strong commitment to provide excellent service that if the customer is not satisfied, then the service becomes free. This guarantee does not serve to reward picky and troublesome customers, but to convince the customers about the message the company is trying to convey with regard to its commitment to improving service quality, similar to the following manner: â€Å"the company will try to do its best to please you, and if you are not pleased then well shoulder the fees, as part of the cost of your dissatisfaction.† In order to implement this, the company has to gain the support of the different stakeholders such as owners, managers and front-line employees. By knowing that a dissatisfied customer costs a lot to the company and may affect their interests being stakeholders of the company, commitment to customer satisfaction can be strengthened. Improving the companys service quality cannot be cost-effective without information technology. As stated in the case (Schroeder 458), the two information systems are key to

Evidence course work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Evidence course work - Essay Example Legal principles aim at promoting the rights of children throughout the administration of justice. This means that the legal system needs to uphold the fact that children, including individuals aged 17 years, are people in their own right and thus possess obligations and rights. These rights and obligations must be taken into consideration and respected by judicial and administrative authorities. 17 year olds enjoy special rights at police stations. The purpose of this paper is to examine the array of legal rights endowed on 17 year olds while in police custody for interviewing. The paper will further make pertinent recommendations to enhance the level of protection offered to juveniles in the initial stages of the juvenile justice process. Background International, regional and national legal principles hold that children possess special interests, needs and rights, which must be appreciated in all stages of the criminal justice system. This means that the administration of justice, both criminal and otherwise should always be guided by principal principles of non-discrimination, which are aimed at upholding the best interests of the juvenile. The European Convention on Human Rights is one of the most relevant regional legal principles that countries in Europe seek to incorporate into their domestic legal systems in order to provide guidance on the treatment of juveniles within the justice system3. The Convention has influenced the creation and implementation of legal provisions such as the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and the Human Rights Act 1998 with the view to enhance the protection of juveniles’ rights in all spheres of life. Notably, recent court cases have revealed that PACE is inadequate in its protection of juveniles since it promotes the treatment of 17 year olds as adults during interviews at the police station. In R. (on the application of HC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWHC 982 (Admin) (QBD (Admin)) , the court ruled that the failure to revise PACE 1984 Code C in a manner that differentiates between adults and 17 year olds is a direct contravention of the government’s legal duty under the Human Rights Act 19984. PACE 1984 Code C allows police officers to treat 17 year olds as adults5. For instance, police officers are allowed to delay juveniles’ phone calls to their guardians on the pretext that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the exercise of the right to a phone call will impair the investigations. PACE Code C considers juveniles as all individuals who seem to be below the age of 17 years in the absence of evidence to the contrary6. Since the ratification of the Children Act in 1908, the criminal justice system has maintained that young offenders must be treated differently from adults in all stages of the justice process. Other legal principles such as remand and sentencing legislation, for instance, Criminal Justice Act 2003, Powers of Criminal Cou rts Sentencing Act 2000 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 also differentiate between those below and over the age of 18 years7. Additionally, the Prison Service Instruction 08/2012 describes children as all individuals under 18 years. Under Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) a child is essentially a person under 18 years, unless the law applicable to the child delineates that majority is attained at a

Assignment about lean six sigma Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

About lean six sigma - Assignment Example Common Team Tools and Their Application to Lean Six Sigma Six Sigma refers to an approach that involves a rigorous procedure that ensures a team delivers its maximum yield. Its philosophy is best summarized by the abbreviation DMAIC, which stands for definition, measurement, analysis, improvement, and control (Donald & Kubiak, p. 23). This method defines the required steps that a Six Sigma practitioner must follow. It starts with the identification of the problem and follows through to the implementation of a long lasting solution. This methodology is widely accepted and practiced. Team tools are the assessments, ice breakers and other practical activities that are employed to help teams get back on track, move forward or help build trust among team members (Donald & Kubiak, p. 23). This section discusses the team tools as applied to Six Sigma. Definition is the first step of any project during which the business goal and potential resources, project depth, and timeline are clearly d efined. The problem is defined, customers identified, and the way forward charted. The measurement concept entails data collection in a bid to establish the performance standard. This measure will be compared to the measure at conclusion to establish whether goals have been met. This measured data is critical since it forms the basis for gauging the performance of a project team. At analysis, the main task is to identify, corroborate, and select causes for elimination. A number of root causes are identified and a vote is cast, the top three or four causes are identified and the process is done recursively using complex analysis tools until the valid root cause is identified (Donald & Kubiak, p. 23). In improvement, solutions to problems are identified, tested, and implemented. Measurement identifies the creative measures to solve or eliminate the problem identified in the previous step. Techniques such as ‘Six Thinking Hats’ and ‘Design of Experiments’ are used in this step. These techniques may be avoided incase solutions are obvious. Finally, the control stage serves to sustain the gains as improvements are monitored to ensure sustainable output. This process also involves an update of training and business strategies and records. In some cases, control chart techniques are used to graphically assess the stability and progress of a progress. Types of Teams The most common on teams are the vertical/functional teams. These are teams formed to execute explicit tasks and routinely include members from various levels in the hierarchy or a business. Modestly put, a vertical team consists of a manager working with subordinates in a certain functional department (Devine, p. 330). Examples of vertical or functional teams include departments in an organization such as Accounts, personnel or Engineering. On the other hand, horizontal or cross-functional teams consist of experts from different departments coming together to work on various task s within an organization. The team members may come from different departments such as design, research and development, technical, and marketing. Once formed, horizontal teams are typically self-directed and make decisions that do not need the approval of the management (Devine, p. 302). Horizontal

Week 1 discussion questions-Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Week 1 discussion questions-Marketing - Essay Example For instance, if a company is attempting to increase its sales volume on its hairspray line, the company must understand what makes the customer want their brand over the competition. If a noticeable trend exists which indicates that consumers have stopped buying a firms product, they must understand what factors (both internal and external) have created this sales slump. Are consumers not buying because they believe their friends have suddenly begun demanding high dollar hair products? These are important factors to consider, as a company must routinely monitor trends in buying behavior to provide a product which consumers will adopt. Competitive techniques to appeal to sophisticated customers include visually appealing, contemporary promotional advertisements and continuous monitoring of various trends in consumption. Using modern appeal, such as advertising on portable technology and the internet, are attempts to capture increased interest in complex markets. 2. What are three aspects of your lifestyle that are different than your parents’ lifestyle? What impact does this difference have on the strategies organizations use to market to you compared to your parents? The primary difference in lifestyle would consist of the methods by which we socialize and view our friendships. My parents are more traditional in their viewpoint regarding what constitutes a quality relationship, believing in the comfort of long-term acquaintances. In opposite respect, I tend to be more spontaneous, willing to make many new friends in the pursuit of finding more excitement through social activities. An additional difference includes my current financial situation, which is substantially lower than that of my parents. Further, my parents are more laid-back, content with a lifestyle consisting of the majority of their time spent at home. In opposite respect, I enjoy a more active

Baroque and Rococo styles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Baroque and Rococo styles - Essay Example It is important to identify the differences between Baroque and Rococo art styles. The most outstanding difference between them is that Baroque art as an inspiration to architecture existed before the Rococo period. Baroque art dates back to, and stretches across the 17th and part of the 18th century. On its part, Rococo art influenced architecture for part of the 18th century before it faded. By definition, Baroque art refers to a bizarre, complex, and extravagant [architectural] ornamentation style or period. On the other hand, Rococo is defined as a style of architectural decoration whose sensitivityemphasized basically on freedom of brushwork, delicacy of color, smallness of scale, and happiness. Overall, Rococo art was portrayed of as paying attention to decorativeness while demonstrating playfulness and lightness. On the contrary, Baroque art depicted a more provocative and heavy-handed sensibility. In evaluating Borromini’s Baroque works as highlighted in Anthony Bluntà ¢â‚¬â„¢s literature titled â€Å"Borromini† and RemySaisselin’s â€Å"The Rococo as a Dream of Happiness†, it is possible to highlight the differences that create a distinction between the two styles’ sensibilities as they influenced architecture in ancient Italy. One key sensibility evident in Borromini’s works of architecture is that rather than rely purely on his own inventions or new designs, he derived inspiration from previous art masters. As Blunt writes, â€Å"Borromini was a conscious innovator, but that, like many other innovators, he relied much".

Critical Issue in Education Essay Example for Free

Critical Issue in Education Essay Education is the key determinant of development in any country in the contemporary world. Human capital development plays an important role in the overall development of any country. Schools have a common mission of providing students with developmentally appropriate education which emphasize high academic performance in addition to the student becoming socially responsible. In the long run, education is aimed to earn the students skills and knowledge that encourage them to be productive, responsible citizens in the dynamic global society. The government and teachers have a common vision in supporting education programs and students. The vision of teachers is to produce citizens who will participate productively and responsibly in a rapidly changing society through using problem solving techniques to handle everyday challenges, communicating effectively, respect of self, others and environment in which they are working in. School leaders encounter a multitude of critical issues while carrying out their day to day responsibilities and this pose a challenge in the realization of the vision and mission set by the school. The challenges experienced in most American schools include school violence, low performance due to introduction of bilingual system of education among other challenges. This paper will discuss challenges that are facing school leaders today as a result of school violence. This paper will identify several causes of school violence and the appropriate measures taken to curb the problem. What is the issue and why is it critical for schools/school leaders? School violence has affected the academic performance in schools and therefore the problem must be addressed to realize improved performance. Population is growing rapidly as indicated by the high number of students in public schools as compared to educators. Leadership in schools is been blamed for the continued increase of the school violence problem. However, discipline management in schools especially public schools has become difficult due to the high ratio of students to teachers. It becomes to do individual student follow-up. Most educators have also fallen victims of school violence and therefore some have been silenced due to improper organizational structure to govern student behavior. Students have been noted to riot while educators are in class and this raised alarm over student behavior management. School leaders experience a problem in controlling school violence due to inadequate support from parents especially those who argue that their kids must carry weapons to school for self defense due to increased insecurity in schools. Literature Review Many researches on school violence indicate varied results as to the causes of the social dysfunction. Forensic psychologists who study criminal behavior argue that school killers are very different from other violent youth, such as gang members or drug dealers. The school killers usually experience inferiority complex by feeling powerless and therefore become obsessed with killing or injuring others. The school killers hence direct their threats to those that threaten them or taunt them. Social loafing has been argued to increase incidences of violence in schools. Some quiet decent students become violent when in a group during a school riot or mob justice incidence. Students engage in mob justice when confronting people who attack those using guns as a defense mechanism. School viol4ence continues to create an on going challenge to the nations educational environment. To address the problem of school violence in the United States, it demands collaboration among educators, students, parents and social service organizations in analyzing the problems that are facing the student community, their causes and effect of the school violence. The stakeholders should then jointly find lasting solutions. Research indicates that children look for caring adults up to adolescence who can share with them about the critical issues facing them. Freud, a psychoanalyst theorist argues that early life experiences where children are exposed to violence at home and community around them may have a deepening effect which pushes them to violence. Criminologists, physiatrists, counselors have put the blame on the media for providing a steady diet of movies where violence is glorified and on the evolution of single parent homes. Kids who watch violent movies usually perceive violence as fun and adventurous. Moynihan in his article Deviancy Go Down argues that kids from single parents are more likely to engage in robbery with violence, rape and other social disorders because in most cases the single parent is financially unstable and therefore the kids look for alternative ways to achieve the socially approved goals. Lack of respects and accountability at homes has contributed to lack of respect for the law. Survey indicates that its common for police in the U. S. to encounter kids between ages 7 and 8 who disrespect law (Dewey, 2006). Research indicates that inequalities in the education system has contributed top the problem of increased school violence. Discrimination of some cultures, races has also led to higher levels school violence among the African-Americans who perceive that the education system disfavors them. The socio-economic disparity between Whites and blacks create rivalry between Whites and blacks. The black kids perceive that their White counterparts are being favored because of their color and social status. Research indicates that most cases of school violence go without report and its on the rampant rise. Physical violence at homes, appraisal of violence movies and bullying are identifies as major contributors of violence in American schools. What does the research say about this issue? School violence has become a social problem not only in the United States but also in Australia and England. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) conducted a survey in American schools in 2003 and reported that 5% of students between ages 12 and 18 have been involved in nonfatal crimes, 4% in theft crimes while 1% of the student population had been reported as victims of violent crimes. The rate of school violence is reported to be higher in public than in private schools as indicated by the ratio of 7: 5 percent (National Center for Education Statistics, 2003). A national survey indicated that rural students had a high probability to be bullied in school than their urban and suburban counterparts. This is mainly because the rural students are generally considered to be innocent and highly regard social unity and harmony, due to difference in socialization from urban and suburban counterparts. Socialization is the process by which beliefs, norms and culture are passed from generation to generation. There are two types of socialization which include primary and secondary socialization. Primary socialization usually takes place at tender age, that is, up to 6 years. The children learn through imitation of family members, relatives and neighbors who are close to the kid. It lays a foundation for the secondary socialization. Secondary socialization agents are mainly teachers, peers and media. A national survey undertaken in 1999 among high school students indicated that 7% of students carried a weapon to school in the last month, 14% said they had been involved in a physical fight in the school premises in the past year while 5% of the students had misses school at least once in the past month because they felt unsafe in school. 1999-2001 national survey undertaken by National Center for Education Statistics indicated that 20% of all public schools experienced one or more serious crimes such as rape, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assaults (Henry, 2000; National Center for Education Statistics, 2003; Dewey, 2006). Public schools in particular reported 71% incidences of violence and 46% of theft. Violence in schools is on the rise worldwide. However, its hardly reported until a kid picks a gun and slaughters another. A nationwide study undertaken by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control on violent deaths in U. S schools indicated that 77% of the school deaths were done using guns while 17% were done using knives. A study conducted between July1, 1992 and June 30, 1999 indicated that out of 323 school-associated violent death events were mainly carried by firearms obtained from the perpetrators homes or from friends and relatives (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003; Dewey, 2006). National Center for Education Statistics national study in 2003 indicates that male students are more likely to fall victims of school violence than their female counterparts (National Center for Education Statistics, 2003). 17% of high school girls have been reported to be abused physically while 12% of high school girls are sexually abused (The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 2003). Survey carried out by Justice Department in U. S in 1992 indicated a remarkable decrease in violent crime victimitization at school between 1992 and 2001 from 4. 89% in 1992 to 2. 8% in 2001. A study on school crime and safety in 2003 indicated that from 1997-2001, teachers were victims of approximately 1. 3 million nonfatal crimes at schools including 817,000 thefts and 473,000 violent crimes such as rape or sexual assault and aggravated or simple assault(Department of Education and United States Department of Justice, 2003; Dewey, 2006). School violence has become a major concern among many individuals worldwide. School violence not only affects students but teachers too. School violence has contributed to 57% deaths that occur in schools (Dewey, 2006). Exposure to violence to kids at tender age has been argued to contribute greatly to the kid been violent at school. School violence has become a determinant factor in the performance of schools. Most students fail to go to school at least once in a month for fear of being physically assaulted in school. Availability of guns in most American states has contributed greatly to the violent incidences in schools. Teachers have declared school violence as a monster affecting performance in schools. Public schools which usually have a high population of students experience the problem of school viol3nce more than private schools. This may be contributed by the high ratio of students to teachers in public schools. Some parents too have contributed to the problem of school violence because they forbid teachers to discipline their kids when they misbehave. Have Others Addressed the Issue School violence has become a significant social problem that affect the security of most schools worldwide. Various institutions and organizations have proposed solutions to solve the social problem in schools. Some propose a solution by encouraging students to engage in mob justice against those students or individuals that use guns in school. Some educators too carry guns as self defense mechanism. This has resulted in more harm than good. Most states in America have approved that educators should discipline students who are caught in engaging in violence. Some states have established juvenile delinquency rehabilitation centers where violent students are taken so as to reform. However, the centers have become overcrowded and this has reduced the effectiveness of the solution. Findings and Conclusion The problem of school violence is increasingly becoming rampant especially in the last 15 years. Research indicates that the problem can only be solved if and only if there is collaboration between educators, parents, students and social service organizations. Neglect of kids by parents especially due to commitment to jobs has deprived the kids parental guidance in handling everyday challenges and thus they follow their peers and mass media advices which in most times are incorrect (Edwin, 2004). Youth violence has increased significantly in the U. S over the last 15 years. Homicide has become the second leading cause of deaths for persons between ages 15 and 24 and the leading cause of death for African-Americans in this age group (National Center for Education Statistics, 2003; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003). However, most cases are never reported in the national data so the magnitude of the problem is always underestimated. National level data indicates that middle and high schools especially larger schools are at high risk for serious violence. The problem arises from the difficult in administration of discipline among the students who are usually too many for the school leaders or educators to handle. Research indicates that male students are more likely to be victims of school violence than their female counterparts. Therefore male students are more violent that female students (National Center for Education Statistics, 2003). The government should acknowledge that school violence has become a major social problem in the contemporary times and therefore direct more resources towards control of school violence. Emerging Consensus about ways to solve the Issue Physiatrists, counselors and criminologists have agreed that the problem of school violence can be solved if a policy which regulates programs in the mass media is passed. The policy should also regulate what tapes; video compact disks (VCDs) are released to the market. This will ensure that young adults are not exposed to violent scenarios or movies that may trigger them to do the same. The problem cannot be solved by one party and therefore it has been agreed that collaboration between educators, parents, students and social service organizations and other stakeholders can bring lasting solution if the stakeholders analyze the problems facing the student community, their causes and effect of school violence and then eventually generate lasting solutions to the root problems. It has been proposed that students should be involved in community development projects like cleans-ups, destitute children visitation, planting of trees among other projects. This will enhance teamwork skills and promote communication skills. This will help reduce conflict among students and consequently reduce school violence (Walker, 1995). Proposed Solutions/Recommendation Management of school violence causes will help to promote discipline and consequently high performance in academics. Several solutions have been proposed to reduce school violence cases in the American schools. The major solution involves dialogue between parents, teachers, students, social service organizations and other stakeholders on the problems facing students, their causes and effects of school violence. The stakeholders can then communally focus on finding solutions (Edwin, 2004). School should intensify security through employment of personnel that have metal detectors to ensure that no student enters the school compound with any metallic weapon like a gun which have become common weapons in the recent years. The government should install surveillance cameras within the school compound to keep track of the behavior of students. This can help reduce the incidences if school violence for fear of being caught through images taken by the cameras. This therefore enhances conformity to rules and regulations governing students. The government should finance schools to collaborate with bomb-sniffing dogs to avoid the recent trends where the Islamic students enter with bomb in their bodies and while in company of other students explode themselves (Walker, 1995). Building or enhancing student-staff relationship help reduce incidences of school violence like theft, aggravated assault and simple assault. Teachers should be encouraged to respect students in their dialogue and behavior and this will help reduce school violence which erupts as a result of inferiority complex by some students. Schools should have a referral system for neglected and abused kids. The neglected and abused kids usually experience inferiority complex and therefore develop an urge to kill or harm the people that abuse them. When separated the threat is eliminated and consequently harmony is restored (Walker, 1995). Educators and policy makers (Edwin, 2004)should involve students in future planning to avoid conflicts that arise from new laws and policies which students perceive to be undermining or threatening and therefore riot. Most riots can be avoided through dialogue to ascertain whether the proposed policies or laws are ideal and just. Educators should emphasize on academic excellence and this will encourage students to focus their energies towards academics. Educators should support students to excel through guidance and counseling in areas of deficiency and support through tuition so as to keep the students busy and focused on academics. The community should involve students in community development projects, for example, visitation of the elderly, hospital clean-up, city clean-up activities and mountain climbing to instill the participation motivation. Such activities enhance teamwork skills and this help reduce conflict that yield school violence (Walker, 1995). Summary School violence (Edwin, 2004) is a social problem which has become common in most schools worldwide. School violence has continued to increase in the last 15 years as indicated by the high school deaths in the last 15 years. School violence can only decrease if the educators, parents and students agree to do their part effectively. School violence has been contributed by various factors, for example, childhood experiences, media, neglect of kids by parents, bullying by other students and exposure to violence in the community among other factors. Surveys indicate that male students are more prone to violence than their female counterparts. Incidences of school violence (Edwin, 2004) are more in public schools than in private schools. This is said to be contributed by the high number of students in public schools who pose a challenge in discipline management. The problem of school violence has attracted many debates in most states. Leaders especially in public schools are appealing to parents, students and social service organizations to come together to analyze the problems facing the students, their causes and effects of school violence so as to communally find lasting solutions. . References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2003). Source of Firearms used by Students in school-Associated Violent Deaths. United States, 1992-1999. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Edwin, G. R. (2004). Handbook of School Violence. Education New York: Routledge. U. S. Department of Education and U. S. Department of Justice, (2003). Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2003. Dewey, G. C. (2006). School Violence: Fears versus Facts. Psychology. California: California University Press. Henry, S. (2000). What is School Violence? An Integrated Definition. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Problems, 3(2): 11-132. National Center for Education Statistics, (2003). National Data of School Violence in The United States in 1992-2001. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (2003). The Formative Years: Pathways to Substance Abuse. Walker, H. M. (1995). Antisocial Behavior in School: Strategies and Best Practices. New York: Cole Publishing Company.

Cartography of Africa History of Maps

Cartography of Africa History of Maps Youngmoo Kim Under the Western Eyes One of the most popular and decorative map of all early maps of Africa, Africae nova descriptio allows us to picture Africa through the eyes of Europeans in the early 1600s, the golden age of Dutch mapmaking. Unlike many historical maps that remain as mysteries, the origins of this map are identified. Published in his 1630 Atlas Novus, this cornerstone map of Africa was produced by Willem Janszoon Blaeu, a well-regarded Dutch cartographer. Blaeu was an astronomer, an instrument maker, an engraver, and a globe manufacturer. Like many map-makers of his time, he was not an explorer himself: his maps were based from narratives of sailors, traders, travelers, and explorers. In addition to the accounts, he used earlier maps as a basic template for his own as much of geographical information is still based on the Ptolemaic maps. Influences of Ptolemys Geographia, a manual on construction and drawings of maps written around 160, continued to appear in maps across Europe until 1730, apparent in Blaeus map as Ptolemaic lakes of Zaire and Zaflan are shown as the sources of the Nile (Jones). Even if the origin of this map was unknown, one could easily determine the map as Africa perceived by an outsider. The expanses of oceans, constituting a good portion of the entire map, and the prominence of the ships bearing Dutch flags on the oceans, suggest that this is a view of Africa from a maritime perspective. The majority of these ships are drawn sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, and indeed, the European interest in Africa was largely spurred initially by a quest of finding an alternative route to Asia. Written primarily in Latin, the names of places on the map are quite interesting as they are small individual puzzles that can serve as historical markers or hints that help contextualize the map. For example, Barbaria would be familiar to 17th century Europeans as the pirates and slave traders of the Barbary coast were widely feared throughout southern Europe and northern Africa. On the other hand, Nubia, labeled in the region along the Nile located in what is today sout hern Egypt, alludes to more of a historical and anthropological picture: a reference to one of the earliest civilizations of ancient Africa. The majority of the names represented on this map are closer approximations of indigenous names rather than names on maps that were made a century or so later. Because this 1630 map predates the full force of European colonial rule in Africa, the names are also precolonial. For instance, Libya is the precolonial name included in this map. When this territory was broadly incorporated into one huge territory under Italian colonial rule, it was simply called Italian North Africa. It was not until 1934 that the country name Libya- its current name was reintroduced (Libya Profile Timeline). And so forth, the name Libya chronicles the struggle of Libyans indigenous notions of place and space: resembling a situation in Raymond Craibs Cartographic Mexico, where officials of Veracruz attempted to redefine and codify fugitive landscapes with their own conceptions of history and territory (Craib). One of the most interesting features of the map is the cartographers way of labeling the places on the map. The names of the coastal towns and features of the map are printed inward towards the continent giving an illusion of fullness and thorough charting to the map. On closer examination, the densest areas portrayed on the map are the perimeter of the continent. In fact, several regions of interior Africa are unidentified, many of which are decorated with indigenous animals such as elephants, lions, and ostriches. Only coastal towns are named on the Cape, with the printing covering much of unknown territories. The map seems to focus on much more geographic detail in eastern Africa and the Mediterranean coast than the west or the south, a sure sign of European exploration bias. Nevertheless, the blank spaces do not accurately reflect the reality, as Africa was a thoroughly populated continent in the 1600s. Rather, they reflect the limitations of European knowledge and interests and the significance of Africa from a Eurocentric view. The sketches of towns and the illustrations showing various indigenous costumes along the border of the map further imply the coastal perspective of the continent. The side panels, depicting ten different views of costumed natives from areas which Europeans presumably had contact with, take place in coastal towns. The oval views of major cities on the top border include Alexandria, Alger, Tunis, and Mozambique. These nine city and town plans above might have been major trading ports for the Dutch, or they might have been significant places known to Blaeu through the accounts of his various sources. Another captivating cartographic feature is the identification of African territories and kingdoms outlined in color. However, these regions seem to reflect the nationhood of Africa through the eyes of Europeans. Contrary to Europe, Africa was not a place that can be easily presumed and projected onto an unexplored area. In Siam Mapped, Thongchai examines the territorial entity of Thailand by exploring its conception of nationhood. Before the late 19th century, established boundaries were nonexistent in Siamese understanding of a territory. Overlapping or multiple sovereignties were common, while areas without any jurisdiction also existed (Thongchai). Consequently, it is apparent that 17th century explorers and sailors in Africa misconstrued boundary delineations and the struggled to comprehend indigenous conceptions of boundary that may have very well existed in Africa. However, these identifications of territories would continue to be more accurate during the next few hundred year s as more traders and explorers report on hundreds of ethnic territories and tribes. In terms of the maps technical cartographic elements, this map is particularly striking in several ways. Surprisingly, the geographical representation is quite accurate- Africa portrayed on the map is a close depiction to the actual scale and the shape of the continent. Some of the key topographical elements of Africa, such as the Nile river and the lakes in eastern Africa, are present, though they are fairly inaccurate. The compass, sitting on top of the equator, is elaborately detailed, with a fleur-de-lis pointing the north- Europe. This is not much of a surprise as it signifies perfection, light, and life. Although the longitude and the latitude adds more specificity to the directional aspect, a scale or a distance measure is not present on the map. Common to maps of this era, the artistic elements of the map are, indeed, clearly out of scale. It is impossible to tell how large or small the nine towns are or their sizes relative to one another, and the animals and the ships on th e oceans are drawn at a size that wildly distorts the scale. Nonetheless, the artistry of this map is absolutely stunning. The rich colors, the elaborately drawn artwork around the border, and the whimsical creatures scattered over land and sea suggest that this was as much a work of art as a map. It is very likely that this map was a costly and valuable possession and would not be accessible to many. It certainly was not a seafaring map nor a navigational map due to its lack of details or practicality. Most likely, Blaeus readers included upper-class collectors, elites, and, perhaps, the emerging class of intellectuals who were simply curious about exotic places and took part in the expanding worldview of the Dutch in the following era. Works Cited Craib, Raymond B. Cartographic Mexico: A History of State Fixations and Fugitive Landscapes. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2004. Jones, Alexander. Ptolemy. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. February 22, 2016. Accessed February 12, 2017. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ptolemy. Libya Profile Timeline. BBC News. November 21, 2016. Accessed February 16, 2017. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13755445. Thongchai, Winichakul. Siam Mapped: A History of the Geo-body of a Nation. Honolulu: Univ. of Hawaii Press, 2009.

Factors Affecting International Energy Policy

Factors Affecting International Energy Policy International Energy Policy Ze Cassule The factors affecting the content of international agreements for the oil and gas industry The Oil and Gas industry has certainly come a long way since the first discovery of oil in Texas. Whilst there are several opinions about what the future holds for the Gas and Oil Industry, there is one very unquestionable detail that will influence not only the Gas and Oil Industry, but the world as well: there have been significant changes worldwide and the demand for energy across the world will of course continue to grow. Population growth and the undisputed craving of currently underdeveloped countries to gain success economically speaking. It is hazy at the moment as to what rate the demand will grow but irrespective of this, the energy demand is already there and will continue. The DECC (Department of Energy Climate Change) governs the licensing system for the UK’s offshore and onshore development and management of the gas and oil reserves. Production licences When the DECC dispenses a production licence to a group of companies or a single company the new licensee is basically given sole rights to drill for, explore for and produce natural gas and oil within an area that has been specified. Production License owners must be confident and certain of these rights they have been granted prior to making any investments that are deemed necessary to essentially develop gas and oil fields worldwide. Within the production licences there is an â€Å"Exclusivity Clause† which prevents companies from building rival wells which would try and use and develop from the same resource. Legislation and regulation The DECC is governed by the UK Government and Parliament and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in the Petroleum Act 1998 to allow for gas and oil exploration. The production licences which are issued include terms and conditions under which the DECC has the power to oversee and regulate companies activities for things such as : Oil and gas drilling Oil and gas field production and development Licence operatorship and transfers The confidentiality and storage of data The DECC is a governing body of sorts and also manages and oversees all offshore environmental regulation and the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines. It seems like the DECC is the be-all and end-all of the oil and gas industry regulations but there are many energy related activities that the DECC doesn’t actually regulate. The subsequent storage of petroleum based spirits fall under the jurisdiction of the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and Local Authorities. Framework of the energy policies In the UK, (Wales and England in particular), when a consent for development application is made for a significant national energy organisation project, there are policy processes which are applicable: The UK Planning Inspectorate firstly receives and then considers the said application under the Planning Act 2008. The Planning Inspectorate then makes their recommendations to UK ministers at the DECC (Department of Energy Climate Change) Finally, the DECC ministers take everything into consideration and make their final decision. Each and every significant national energy organisation project is determined and defined as: Power stations which includes wind farms (both onshore and offshore) with a capacity of generating in excess of 50 megawatts (onshore) and 100 megawatts (offshore) Liquefied natural gas and large gas reception facilities as well as the underground storage of gas as set out in the 2008 Planning Act Electricity power lines which are above the ground at 132 kilovolts or above Gas transporter pipelines and cross country oil and gas pipelines which meet the thresholds and conditions as set out in the 2008 Planning Act The European Commission 2030 policy framework for energy and climate has clear goals and purposes to make the economy and energy system within the European Union much more secure, sustainable and competitive. Whilst the European Union seems to be making a great deal of progress towards meeting its climate and energy targets for 2020, an integrated policy framework for the period up to 2030 has been deemed as an necessity to ensure that regulatory certainty for potential investors and much more co-ordinated approach amongst Member States. The framework presented by the European Commissionin January of this year sought to drive a perpetual development and progress to an economy which is essentially low-carbon. The framework aims to develop a secure and competitive energy system that enables all consumers to purchase affordable energy, increases the EUs security of their energy supplies, lessens our dependence on imported energy and also creates new growth, jobs and opportunities. In March of this year (2014) leaders of the European Union agreed to finalise the framework by October 2014. Their framework has a number of objectives and goals which will of course effect the future of the gas and oil industry. 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions The crux of the framework is the goal to reduce by 40% the domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. This goal will guarantee that the European Union is on their economical right track in meeting its objective of reducing emissions by 80% (at least) by 2050. This goal is essentially setting the level of climate aspiration for the year 2030, the European Union are also looking to actively engage in the consultations on a relatively new climate agreement that ought to take effect from 2020. The overall 40% target looks set to be achieved, the sectors covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System (ETS) would have to significantly reduce their emissions compared to 2005 by at least 43%. Sectors outside the European Union Emissions Trading System would need to cut their emissions by 30% below the level they were at in 2005. 27% Increase in the share of renewable energy It looks like renewable energy will continue to play a significant role in the energy and climate evolution to secure a sustainable energy system. It has been reported that the Commission has proposed an objective of increasing the renewable energy share to 27% of the European Union’s consumption of energy by 2030. 30% Increase in energy efficiency A proposed 30% targeted increase in energy savings has been suggested by the European Commission after a review of the EED (Energy Efficiency Directive). The target which has been proposed seems to build on the already reached targets and achievements: in the construction industry, new builds use 50% of the energy they did in the 80’s and overall, industry is around 19% less energy intensive than it was nearly 15 years ago. EU emissions trading system reform In order to make the European Union Emissions Trading System more effective and robust in the promotion of a predominantly low-carbon investment at a much smaller cost to consumers. It is believed that the reserve would address both the surplus of allowances for emissions that have built up in recent years and also to greatly improve the resilience of the system in relation to key shocks by essentially adjust automatically the supply of the allowance. Affordable and secure energy The proposition from the Commission has a set of key indicators to assess the progress over time and deliver a basis for action as required. The difference in energy prices with trading partners, the supply variation and the reliance on natural energy sources are just some examples of what progressions will be looked at in more detail. A new governance framework The proposition of the 2030 framework suggests that a new governance framework which will be based upon national strategies for a competitive source of sustainable and secure energy. Energy costs and prices report The Commission which is setting out the framework is supplemented by an energy price and costs report which will assess the key handlers and compare European Union prices with those of the leading trading partners. The 2030 framework will be informed of these findings. In Conclusion Looking ahead; Apparently, and according to the latest energy outlook by ExxonMobil; Oil consumption across the globe is around 230 million Barrels of Oil Equivalent per Day (BOE-D). Gas and Oil supply approximately 60% of the total energy demand with 20% of the remaining demand coming from coal and the remaining 20% coming from hydro, wind, solar and nuclear energy. Predictions by ExxonMobil are that in just six years time, there will be an increase of some 24% for the worldwide demand of energy; with around 80% of this coming from previously underdeveloped. It has been reported that the outlook for gas and oil is that it they will both continue to supply the world energy demand by about 60% by 2020. This essentially means that an additional 30+ million Barrels of Oil Equivalent per Day of both gas and oil will need to be produced to meet these high demands. There are some unique challenges that will need to be met in order for oil and gas producers to achieve these goals and meet the demand for future gas and oil supplies. Access to Critical Resources At the moment, the most unyielding issue in the gas and oil industry appears to be the access to substantial and significant quantities of gas and oil resources. There seems to be a general consensus that there is more than enough oil to meet the demand in the future, however in excess of 80% of the world’s gas and oil resources lie at the mercy of NOC’s (National Oil Company’s) and governments. Politics will, as ever play a huge part in whether the future oil and gas supplies will be readily available when they are needed Cost of Services The increased costs for all services including procurement, drilling, facilities, engineering and construction will play a major part in the future of gas and oil supply and I think that this would be a major factor for all oil companies across the world. Drilling rigs or oil rigs would be a major factor and new rigs look set to become available for both deep water and also onshore areas within the very near future. This obviously doesn’t entirely solve the problem. Professionals who are experienced and have the technical know-how will need to be available to operate the new machinery; this is a major problem in the gas and oil industries as they are very hard to find. New and Innovative Technologies There is going to be an ongoing need for new technology that can help with all aspects of oil and gas production. These new technologies will need to be able to not only find and develop new sources but also be able to actually produce more gas and oil. One of the major influences in the past has been technology and is one of the major driving forces in the oil and gas industry. Being able to produce and deliver gas and oil in an effective, efficient and safe way whilst still taking into consideration the huge impacts on the environment. Bearing in mind the fierce challenges that the oil and gas industry will continue to face we can still predict that gas and oil companies may need to focus on the resilience of the energy supply chain globally. Safety will always be in the forefront in terms of concerns for gas and oil companies and it is safe to say that accountability and safety will forge relationships between service companies and owners. The gas and oil industries are facing a multilevel challenge in that they have to meet the growing demand for energy whilst reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and continually protect the environment. In order for the gas and oil companies to provide both long and short term solutions they will have to continue to carry on partnering with industry stakeholders and governments in investing and developing cleaner technologies and new energy sources. References/Bibliography

Information Management Issues :: Internet Web Computers Essays

Information Management Issues Too Much Information? The core problem of information management seems to be overload: determining the existence and location of resources in the chaotic repository that is the Internet, trying to learn the nuances of different software, retrieving far too many hits. However, some people question whether the problem really is overload. It may actually be the multiplicity of communication channels. Unlike earlier eras, new technologies are not replacing but adding to the host of media choices (Gilster 1997). The Web has simply removed natural barriers between people and information they would otherwise never see, and information now comes directly at us from multiple directions. Unfortunately, most traditional information management practices are too linear and specific: they were pipes developed for a stream, not an ocean (Alesandrini 1992). Perhaps the issue is not too much information, but information that is not usable or meaningful. To master information you must understand the relationship between data, information, and knowledge: data are raw facts and figures, information is data organized into a meaningful context, and knowledge is organized data (i.e., information) that have been understood and applied. A resource such as the Internet requires the user to build content from its vast resources (Gilster 1997). People may perceive overload because the information they receive does not fit into their current mental models for understanding the world. A constructivist approach - interpreting new information in terms of existing knowledge structures and revising those structures accordingly - can help move those "analog" models into the digital world (ibid.). I've Got to Keep Up! The twin demons of speed and quantity create an artificial sense of urgency: with e-mail, voice mail, fax, and the Web, continuous streams of data are possible 24 hours per day at work, at home, and during the commute between. The consensus of many sources is to forget about keeping up. Focus instead on what you really need to know and for what purpose, and understand that the question will evolve as you gather information. Ideal information is current, timely, and sufficient for the task at hand, not necessarily "complete" (Lively 1996). The goal of information seeking should be finding the answers to personally meaningful questions. It's All on the Web. One myth rapidly taking hold is that the World Wide Web is a one-stop source for all information needs and the secret to information management is in knowing how to navigate it. Information Management Issues :: Internet Web Computers Essays Information Management Issues Too Much Information? The core problem of information management seems to be overload: determining the existence and location of resources in the chaotic repository that is the Internet, trying to learn the nuances of different software, retrieving far too many hits. However, some people question whether the problem really is overload. It may actually be the multiplicity of communication channels. Unlike earlier eras, new technologies are not replacing but adding to the host of media choices (Gilster 1997). The Web has simply removed natural barriers between people and information they would otherwise never see, and information now comes directly at us from multiple directions. Unfortunately, most traditional information management practices are too linear and specific: they were pipes developed for a stream, not an ocean (Alesandrini 1992). Perhaps the issue is not too much information, but information that is not usable or meaningful. To master information you must understand the relationship between data, information, and knowledge: data are raw facts and figures, information is data organized into a meaningful context, and knowledge is organized data (i.e., information) that have been understood and applied. A resource such as the Internet requires the user to build content from its vast resources (Gilster 1997). People may perceive overload because the information they receive does not fit into their current mental models for understanding the world. A constructivist approach - interpreting new information in terms of existing knowledge structures and revising those structures accordingly - can help move those "analog" models into the digital world (ibid.). I've Got to Keep Up! The twin demons of speed and quantity create an artificial sense of urgency: with e-mail, voice mail, fax, and the Web, continuous streams of data are possible 24 hours per day at work, at home, and during the commute between. The consensus of many sources is to forget about keeping up. Focus instead on what you really need to know and for what purpose, and understand that the question will evolve as you gather information. Ideal information is current, timely, and sufficient for the task at hand, not necessarily "complete" (Lively 1996). The goal of information seeking should be finding the answers to personally meaningful questions. It's All on the Web. One myth rapidly taking hold is that the World Wide Web is a one-stop source for all information needs and the secret to information management is in knowing how to navigate it.

What The United States Can Learn From Japan :: essays research papers

What The United States Can Learn From Japan Japan and the Four Little Dragons in order to achieve their industrialization goals have a diverse set of policies ranging from limited entitlement programs to a education and government bureaucracy that stresses achievement and meritocracy. But one of the most significant innovations of Japan and the Four Little Dragons is there industrial policy which targets improving specific sectors of the economy by focusing R&D, subsidies, and tax incentives to specific industries that the government wants to promote. The United States could adopt some of these industrial policies to help foster emerging high tech businesses and help existing U.S. business remain competitive with East Asia. In Japan the government both during the Meiji period and the post World War II period followed a policy of active, sector selective industrial targeting. Japan used basically the same model during both historical periods. The Japanese government would focus its tax incentive programs, subsidies, and R&D on what it saw as emerging industries. During the Meiji period Japan focused it's attention on emulating western technology such as trains, steel production, and textiles. The Meiji leaders took taxes levied on agriculture to fund the development of these new industries. Following World War II Japanese industries used this same strategic industrial policy to develop the high-tech, steel, and car industries that Japan is known for today. Some American industries are currently heavily supported by the government through subsidies and tax breaks to farmers, steel producers, and other industries that have been hurt by foreign competition because they are predominantly low-tech industries. But this economic policy of the U.S. is almost a complete reversal of the economic policies of Japan and the Four Little Tigers; instead of fostering new businesses and high tech industry it supports out of date and low tech firms who have political clout. The existing economic policy of the United States fails to help high tech businesses develop a competitive advantage on the world market instead it stagnates innovation by providing incentives primarily to existing business. The structure of U.S. industrial policy like the structure of an advance welfare state has emphasized rewarding powerful lobbying groups and has not targeted emerging sectors of the economy. The current U.S. industrial policy is a distribution strategy and not a development strategy. Instead of this ad-hoc industrial policy the United States should follow Japan's model of strategic targeting of emerging technology. The U.S. instead of pouring its money into subsidies and tax breaks for failing low-tech industries should provide loans, subsidies and R&D money for firms that are producing high technology products. Unfortunately, there are several impediments to copying

Mass Communication Essay

According to historical evidence, oral exchange of news was the common method of communication in ancient India, whereas the modern medium of communication system was originated since the end of the eighteenth century. The present inquiry deals with variety of sub topics when analyzing Indian mass media. The coverage, popularity, diversification, westernization, commercialization, technology, entertainment, education, politics, sex, violence, women and children, are some of such topics which are deeply and sociologically analyzed in the study. The print media, Radio, TV, and Films are taken into account as comprised of Indian mass media throughout the study. Having understood that the nature of mass media is determined by social conditions, a Herculean attempt is made to understand Indian mass media as a manifestation of social implications in association with the society of India. According to study, Indian mass media is a symbol as well as a reflection of India society, which is extremely heterogeneous, diverse, and most importantly, a place of wide range of opinions. These criteria are relative, since the earliest forms of mass media (the printed book or pamphlet) were limited to the minority of a society that happened to be ijc-journal@hotmail. com 20 literate and relatively close to the place of publication. There has been a continuous line of development of technologies since the earliest forms of media (rock paintings) to the latest digital forms that have expanded the capacity, speed and efficiency of transmission (McQuail, 2000). Meanwhile, as Block (1979) argues, mass media refers to methods of message transmission over space and time. Media involves a communication process by which messages are sent through space; both the ijcjournal@gmail. com Tilak Wijesundara International Journal of Communicology 2011;1(1) channels have come into existence and have been attracted by millions of listeners. Moreover, in India, Television made a humble debut when Doordarshan (DD) was initiated in 1959. Today, Television service is available throughout the country, directly as terrestrial TV and through cable operators, as satellite TV. When taking Films into consideration, India? s first Film was screened in 1896. Today, Indian Film industry which is widely known as â€Å"Bolliwood† is the largest Film industry in the world, producing over 800 Films annually. The present inquiry deals with variety of sub topics when analyzing Indian mass media. The coverage, popularity, diversification, westernization, commercialization, technology, entertainment, education, politics, sex, violence, women and children, are some of such topics which are deeply and sociologically analyzed in this regard. The print media, Radio, TV, and Films are taken into account as comprised of Indian mass media throughout the study. Having understood that the nature of mass media is determined by social conditions, a Himalayan attempt is made to understand Indian mass media as a manifestation of social implications prevalent in association with the society of India. It is due to this reason that a Sociological analysis is applied throughout the study as it bringsthe hidden realities of Indian society in general and its mass media in particular. Popularity Although it is evident that the overall popularity of mass media has been increasing, it is notable that this popularity varies in different media. In colonial India, print media had acquired an immense popularity among people as the vehicle of 21 sender and receiver devote time within that process (Hornic, Schlinger, 1981). So, in generally, as McQuail (2000) points out, it is not incorrect to denote the idea that the term „mass media? is shorthand to describe means of communication that operate on a large scale, reaching and involving virtually everyone in a society to a greater or lesser degree. It refers to a number of media that are now longestablished and familiar, such as newspapers, magazines, film, radio, television and the phonograph (recorded music). As historical factors indicate, oral exchange of news was the common method of communication in ancient India. As Malhan (1992) illustrates, religions and religious places (places of worship) employed every available medium of communication in that period. In addition, bathing places, tanks, riverbanks, sea shores, chopals also acted as forms of communication. It is also evident that educational institutions equally played a significant role in activating the process of communication in India in the past. The modern medium of communication system is seen to be originated in the land of India since the end of the eighteenth century. The print media came into existence at the end of the eighteenth century symbolizing the first modern medium of communication and information. Indian press today is one of the largest in the world with more than 30,000 Newspapers published with an annual circulation that exceeds 55 million copies. Meanwhile, it is true to state that India was among one of the earliest countries to adopt broadcasting. The cable subscriber base has increased from around 0. 05 million in the early 90s? to around 24 million by 1999-2000. Today, it is possible to view over 75 channels over satellite cable Television. In any case, as many studies do suggest, the prevalence of audio-visual media has not crippled the popularity of films. As Malhan (1992) suggests, even though TV and Video provide most of the ingredients within the home with all the comforts, people still prefer to see pictures on wider screens in crowded halls. In fact, Films provide the most direct communication to the mind and images do not need to be translated to be understood. It cuts language barriers and can be enjoyed by both the educated and the fool alike. The songs and dances in Films are immensely popular among masses and popular Film stars live in the hearts of common people for generations. What is interesting to see is that Western audiences are becoming more interested in Indian Films, which has made Indian Films a global phenomenon. Diversification The diversification has been a notable feature in Indian mass media. This symbolizes the diversity of India? s people. In 2001, India had 45,974 newspapers 22 independent movement and the voice of the people. Nevertheless, it is evident that this popularity shifted to Radio and TV with their emergence as audio-visual media, and this shift is significant after independence. Simultaneously, newspapers made a detachment of the general public. It is true that newspapers today have become a class medium. According to the present estimates, newspapers are purchased and read by less than 20% of India? s total population. Meanwhile, the broadcasting media have the capacity to reach out to the people in every four corners of the country. By indicating the popularity of Indian Radio, Malhan (1992) illustrates, â€Å"as a comparatively low cost spoken word medium, it has become a constant companion for farmers, workers, travelers, sports lovers and for all those who are interested in news, music, drama, quiz programs, farm bulletins, or views of eminent persons on public affairs. Because of its low cost and easy availability, it has been a common man? s paradise, and for people, a symbol of social respectability as well. However, it is incorrect to mention that the existence of print media has been totally paralyzed today, rather, evidence indicate that particularly the book publishing industry has been growing at an exceedingly higher level, with around 10,000 publishers and around 40,000 new titles every year. The domestic publishing market is in fact one of largest in the world today. Since its beginning, Television has acquired an immense popularity as the key media in the world. According to one idea, it is clear that Television is central to the processes of media saturation. Indeed, Television is central to modern society altogether (Abercrombie, 1997). The popularity of Television symbolizes the increase of ijc-journal@hotmail. com ijcjournal@gmail. com Tilak Wijesundara International Journal of Communicology 2011;1(1) large country where many languages are spoken. Each of the larger languages supports its own Film industry: Urdu/Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. Accordingly, the Indian film industry is placed in diverse regions as follows; ? ? ? ? ? ? ? The Hindi/Urdu film industry, based on Mumbai is called „Bollywood The Marathi film industry, based on Mumbai and Pune The Tamil film industry, based on Chennai, Tamilnadu The Bengali film industry, based on Kolkata, West Begall The kannada film industry, based on the state of Karnataka The Telugu film industry, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh based on including 5364 daily newspapers published in over 100 languages. The largest number of newspapers were published in Hindi (20,589), followed by English (7,596), Marathi (2,943), Urdu (2,906), Bengali (2,741), Gujarati (2,215), Tamil (2,119), Kannada (1,816), Malayalam (1,505), and Telugu (1,289). The diversification is also apparent in Indian Broadcasting media. For instance, All India Radio? s (AIR) programs have been diversified over the years. Today, its home service programs are transmitted for 3. 91 hours every year. In addition, there are also external service transmissions which present programs in 17 foreign languages and 8 Indian languages for over 56 hours daily. AIR broadcasts programs for special audiences and occasions. Specific programs are relayed for the armed forces, women and children, youth students, industrial workers, and rural and tribal people. Fourteen stations broadcast daily programs twice a week in regional languages for women with the objective of providing entertainment and imparting information on household topics. Programs on family welfare, a very important information sector for the welfare of the women are planned and produced by 36 family welfare units at various broadcasting networks. These programs are integrated with the general programs as well as those meant for special audiences like rural, folk, women, youth, and industrial workers (Malhan,1992). Indian Television has achieved an immense success in reaching wide range of viewers. The prevalence of over 75 channels itself indicates its veracity. Doordarshan (DD) alone offers diverse national, regional, and local service for Indian Television viewers. The diversification is immensely visible in association with Indian Films. India is a ijc-journal@hotmail. com The Malayalam film industry, based on the state of Kerala What all these factors suggest is that Indian mass media are highly diversified in order to access multitude of people. Commercialization/ Westernization In the present scenario, it has been often put forward the fact that Indian mass media are enormously subject to commercialization and Westernization. This is particularly true with regard to Television and Cinema. As D? Souza (1998) indicates, contemporary film making is a big financing venture more than ever before. It is usually controlled by commercial consideration rather than the demand o the art. Films make no demands on the power of thinking, rather, ignore it for the sake of commerce. This argument is supported by Malhan (1992) when he denotes the fact that the Cinema after independence is predominately commercial so far as feature films are concerned. 23 ijcjournal@gmail. com Tilak Wijesundara International Journal of Communicology 2011;1(1) advertisements or advertorials is disguised as news. Whatever it is, it can be assumed that the process of commercialization and westernization have been in a tremendous enhancement after 1990s than ever before, with the introduction of liberalization and privatization policies. Technology It is crystal clear that all the mainstream mass media in India are under the impact of high technological appliances. As Malhan (1992) indicates, the advanced technologies such as adaptation of satellite communication and broadcasting, electronic printing, electronic and digital technology, extensive use of Tele-communication, internet and computer machinery are enormously benefited by the print media today. Television and Radio too has no exception in this direction. Moreover, Indian Cinema is in extreme use of new and effective technology in the process of Film making, recording and screening. However, as D? Souza (1998) points out, even though India has been using an increasing level of technology, very powerful political and economic forces have gained control over technology in general and communication system in particular. This has obstructed the communication flow from and to the grass root level. What is indeed true is that Indian mass media today are in the hands of few business houses and companies. As Sahay et al (2006) remarks, the most visible change is the growing influence of commercial departments in the media companies in India.

Death into the Wild Essay

Into the Wild was Jon Krakauer’s best selling non-fiction novel about the adventures of Christopher McCandless. In essence it was an expansion of his earlier work entitled â€Å"Death of an Innocent† which appeared in the January 1993 issue of Outside. The novel chronicles the experiences of Chris McCandless, the 24-year-old nature enthusiast who left his suburban Washington, D. C. , home in 1992 for a wilderness trek through Alaska’s backcountry. Equipped with a 10-pound bag of rice, a small-caliber rifle, and not much else, McCandless fashioned himself into a modern-day American Adam determined to explore the nation’s â€Å"Last Frontier. † The excursion, however, came to an abrupt end four months later with McCandless’ emaciated corpse discovered in an abandoned school bus not far from the boundaries of Denali National Park. Into the Wild presents Krakauer’s account as to what drove McCandless to such a fate. Between the time of its appearance in 1993 to its publication as a book in 1996, Krakauer’s story elicited numerous responses, including many from Alaska residents who derided the author for glorifying what they saw as nothing more than a young man’s folly. For these readers, McCandless represented just another ill-advised individual who ventured unprepared into dangerous country in the hope of discovering answers to his life, which was merely met by â€Å"mosquitoes and a lonely death† (72). As I reckon such a perspective fails to account for the significance of Krakauer’s novel within the genre of narrative non-fiction. In lieu of this, what follows is an explication of the role of Krakauer’s methodology in the process of explicating the story of McCandless into the wild. Narrative non-fiction takes the form of a documentary as far as it opts to elucidate the objective conditions underlying the formation of a particular situation. A literary work within the genre of narrative non-fiction may thereby be understood as a â€Å"creative treatment of actuality† (Carroll 154). The aforementioned notion works on the assumption that literature may be able to shape reality creatively through the introduction of an artistic dimension within a literary piece. Such a dimension however, which necessitates the introduction of an aesthetic aspect within the text contradicts the foundations of works of non-fiction which involves the maintenance of objectivity within the text. Objectivity in this sense is assessed through the author’s general appraisal of the events presented within the text. In that sense, objectivity takes the epistemological form of objectivity wherein it understood as objectivity in judgment. Such a form of objectivity is maintained within works of non-fiction since such works are understood as the author’s account of an event. To understand a work as an account enables the application of fluidity upon the work since it is presented as open to interpretation as well knowledge and truth coercion. Such a process of truth coercion may be seen in Krakauer’s narrative of McCandless’ journey into the wild. Into the Wild begins with a narrative exposition wherein the reader is introduced to the major characters of the story along with the necessary background information needed to contextualize the discovery of McCandless’ corpse. The beginning of Krakauer’s Into the Wild thereby is highly similar to the expository beginning of a novel. Such a beginning enables the skillful orchestration of a preconceived conception of McCandless’ story. It enables the conception of McCandless as an individual who ventured for the discovery of his self through the discovery of a presumed unknown territory. Krakauer’s work thereby functions as a vehicle for the reader’s discovery of McCandless journey towards himself. Such a journey was enabled by the collage of various materials that enabled the factual retelling of McCandless’ life up to the point of his demise. The process of contextualization mentioned above was made possible by using materials from interviews as well as McCandless’ journal along with photographs, letters, and other secondary research materials that enabled the explication of the conditions as to McCandless’ adventures. The use of these varied materials enabled the book to be a moving literary piece formulated through the combination of journalistic, historical, nature and travel writing, as well as memoir writing. It should be noted that these materials as well as the formation of the collage of the aforementioned materials were constructed by the author. Into the Wild thereby presents us with Krakauer’s account of the events. As I reckon, it is the construction of the narrative as well as Krakauer’s presentation of the account, which serves as his take into the events that governed McCandless’ existence. Other individual’s perceived McCandless’ act as an act of folly however, Kraukaeur presented it in such a manner that it focused on the adventure and drama, which he perceives as intrinsic to the act of finding or discovering one’s self. Within the book, he represented McCandless as an extraordinary individual whose existence was governed by courage and skill evident in his demonstration of McCandless’ desire to survive within an unchartered territory. Kraukauer’s analysis of the risks examined as well as the narrative structure of text presented Krakauer’s judgments as to the life that McCandless led. Works Cited Carroll, Noel. â€Å"Fiction, Non-Fiction, and the Film of Presumptive Assertion: A Conceptual Analysis. † Philosophy of Film and Motion Picture: An Anthology. Eds. Noel Carroll and Jinhee Choi. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2006. Krakauer, Jon. Into the Wild. New York: Villard, 1996.