How to Face Resistance to Change

Resistance to change can be difficult to overcome even when it is not detrimental to those concerned. But the attempt must be made. The first step is to analyze the potential impact of change by considering how it will affect people in their jobs. The analysis should indicate which aspects of the proposed change may be supported generally or by specified individuals and which aspects may be resisted. So far as possible, the potentially hostile or negative reactions of people should be identified, taking into account all the possible reasons for resisting change listed above. It is necessary to try to understand the likely feelings and fears of those affected so that unnecessary worries can be relieved and, as far as possible, ambiguities can be resolved. In making this analysis, the individual introducing the change, who is sometimes called the ‘change agent’, should recognize that new ideas are likely to be suspect and should make ample provision for the discussion of reactions to proposals to ensure complete understanding of them. Involvement in the change process gives people the chance to raise and resolve their concerns and make suggestions about the form of the change and how it should be introduced. The aim is to get ‘ownership’ – a feeling amongst people that the change is something that they are happy to live with because they have been involved in its planning and introduction – it has become their change. Communications about the proposed change should be carefully prepared and worded so that unnecessary fears are allayed. All the available can be used, but face-to-face communications direct from managers to individuals or through a team briefing system are best.

Friedrich Nietzsche Essay

Existentialism provides a moving account of the agony of being in the world. The spirit of existen- tialism has a long history in philosophy. But it be- came a major movement in the second half of the 20th century. Existentialism is not a systematic body of thought like Marxism or psychoanalysis. Instead, it is more like an umbrella under which a very wide range of thinkers struggled with ques- tions about the meaning of life. Much of the appeal and popularity of Existential- ism is due to the sense of confusion, the crisis, and the feeling of rejection and rootlessness that Euro- peans felt during World War II and its aftermath. Existentialism’s focus on each person’s role in cre- ating meaning in their life was a major influence on the Phenomenological and Humanistic traditions in psychology and on the â€Å"human potential† move- ment that emerged from them. Rene Descartes (1596-1650) said, â€Å"Conquer your- self rather than the world. †. To modern existential- ists this means that the World itself has no real meaning or purpose. It is not the unfolding expres- sion of Human Destiny or a Divine plan, or even a set of natural laws. The only meaning is that which we create by acts of will. To have a meaningful life we have to act. But we should act without hope. Acting is meaningful but it doesn’t create meaning that lasts beyond the acts themselves or beyond our own lifetime. You are what you do – while you are doing it – and then nothing. (Very depressing. ) In The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus (pronounced â€Å"Kam-moo†) (1913-1960) describes life as a kind of hopeless, endless, uphill labor. Hence, the only true problem is that of suicide. Yet, he rejects nihilism; for the human being must fight and never accept defeat. The problem is to be a saint without a God. The last judgment takes place everyday. The human being must do his best, try for what he can within the confinements of his situation. Camus describes Sisyphus condemned by the gods to push a stone up a hill over and over, only to have it roll back down each time he reaches the top. A task that can never be completed. But he finds meaning in the fact that Sisyphus at least gets to decide each time whether to carry on or end it all. Camus says, â€Å"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy. † Although there can never be any meaning in Sisy- phus’ task, there is meaning is choosing each time to continue. Despite encompassing a staggering range of phi- losophical, religious, and political ideologies, the underlying concepts of existentialism are simple: Mankind has free will. Life is a series of choices, creating stress. Few decisions are without any negative conse- quences. Some things are irrational or absurd, without explanation. If one makes a decision, he or she must follow through. Notes on Existentialism by Tanweer Akram. The fundamental problem of existentialism is con- cerned with the study of being. The human being’s existence is the first and basic fact; the human be- ing has no essence that comes before his existence. The human being, as a being, is nothing. This nothingness and the non-existence of an essence is the central source of the freedom the human being faces in each and every moment. The human being Notes on Existentialism Compiled for PSY 345 (Fall 2004) Existentialism Notes 2 has liberty in view of his situation, in decisions which makes himself and sets himself to solves his problems and live in the world. Thrown into the world, the human being is con- demned to be free. The human being must take this freedom of being and the responsibility and guilt of his actions. Each action negates the other possible courses of action and their consequences; so the human being must be accountable without excuse. The human being must not slip away from his re- sponsibilities. The human being must take deci- sions and assume responsibilities. There is no sig- nificance in this world, this universe. The human being cannot find any purpose in life; his existence is only a contingent fact. His being does not emerge from necessity. If a human being rejects the false pretensions, the illusions of his existence hav- ing a meaning, he encounters the absurdity, the fu- tility of life. The human being’s role in the world is not predetermined or fixed; every person is com- pelled to make a choice. Choice is one thing the human being must make. The trouble is that most often the human being refuses to choose. Hence, he cannot realize his freedom and the futility of his existence. Basically existence is of two types: authentic and inauthentic forms of existence. Authentic existence is contrasted with dynamic and is the being-for- itself, rising from the human being’s bad faith, by which the human being moves away from the bur- den of responsibility, through this beliefs in dogma and by regarding himself as subject to outside in- fluences and his actions to be predetermined. There is a striking contrast between the authentic and the inauthentic forms of being; the authentic being is the being of the human being and the inau- thentic being is the being for things. Yet, authentic being is only rarely attained by the human being; still it is what the human being must strive to gain. The inauthentic being-in-itself is characteristically distinctive of things; it is what the human being is diseased with for his failure to see himself as and act according as a free agent and his impotency to reject bad faith. Things are only what they are. But the human being is what can be. Things are deter- mined, fixed, and rigid; the human being is free; he can add essence to his life in the course of his life and he is in a constant state of flux and is able to comprehend his situation. The human being does not live in a pre-determined world; the human be- ing is free to realize his aims, to materialize his dreams; hence, he has only the destiny he forges for himself because in this world nothing happens out of necessity. The human being hides himself from freedom by self-deception, acting like a thing, as if he is a pas- sive subject, instead of realizing the authentic be- ing for the human being; this is bad faith. In bad faith, the human being shelter himself from re- sponsibility by not noticing the dimensions of al- ternative courses of action facing him; in bad faith, the human being behaves as others demand of him by conforming to the standards of accepted values and by adopting roles designed for him; in bad faith, the human being loses the autonomy of his moral will, his freedom to decide; in bad faith, the human being imprisons himself within inauthentic- ity for he has refused to take the challenge of re- sponsibility and the anxiety that comes along with his freedom. Anxiety ascends from the human being’s realiza- tion that the human being’s destiny is not fixed but is open to an undetermined future of infinite possi- bilities and limitless scope: The emptiness of fu- ture destiny must be filled by making choices for which he alone will assume responsibility and blame. This anxiety is present at every moment of the human being’s existence; anxiety is part and parcel of authentic existence. Anxiety leads the human being to take decisions and be committed. The human being tries to avoid this anguish through bad faith. But the free human being, in his authenticity, must be involved; for his own actions are only his, his responsibility is to himself, his being is his own. The human being must be com- mitted. To be committed means not to support this in place of that, but to attach a human being’s total- ity to a cause; it is the human being’s existential freedom that leads to total commitment. Existentialist thinkers begin from the human situa- tion in the world; the condition of despair, the modes of existence, the human being’s tendency to avoid authentic existence, his relation to things, his own body, and to other beings, with whom he can- not come into genuine communication, and the sufferings of life. Starting from the study of being, each existentialist thinkers originate their own doc- trines, with their own emphasis on particular as- pects. Very often their viewpoints is conflicting and sometimes contradictory; yet this philosophi-cal attitude of being, as a whole, can be described as the existentialist movement, which stresses upon the â€Å"being† of the human being. Existentialism Notes 3 Additional Notes on Existentialism Existentialism, philosophical movement or ten- dency, emphasizing individual existence, freedom, and choice, that influenced many diverse writers in the 19th and 20th centuries. Major Themes Because of the diversity of positions associated with existentialism, the term is impossible to define precisely. Certain themes common to virtually all existentialist writers can, however, be identified. The term itself suggests one major theme: the stress on concrete individual existence and, consequently, on subjectivity, individual freedom, and choice. Moral Individualism Most philosophers since Plato have held that the highest ethical good is the same for everyone; inso- far as one approaches moral perfection, one resem- bles other morally perfect individuals. The 19th- century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, who was the first writer to call himself existential, reacted against this tradition by insisting that the highest good for the individual is to find his or her own unique vocation. As he wrote in his journal, â€Å"I must find a truth that is true for me . . . the idea for which I can live or die. † Other existentialist writers have echoed Kierkegaard’s belief that one must choose one’s own way without the aid of universal, objective standards. Against the traditional view that moral choice involves an objective judgment of right and wrong, existentialists have argued that no objective, rational basis can be found for moral decisions. The 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche further contended that the indi- vidual must decide which situations are to count as moral situations. SubjectivityAll existentialists have followed Kierkegaard in s tressing the importance of passionate individual action in deciding questions of both morality and truth. They have insisted, accordingly, that per- sonal experience and acting on one’s own convic- tions are essential in arriving at the truth. Thus, the understanding of a situation by someone involved in that situation is superior to that of a detached, objective observer. This emphasis on the perspec- tive of the individual agent has also made existen- tialists suspicious of systematic reasoning. Kierke- gaard, Nietzsche, and other existentialist writers have been deliberately unsystematic in the exposi- tion of their philosophies, preferring to express themselves in aphorisms, dialogues, parables, and other literary forms. Despite their antirationalist position, however, most existentialists cannot be said to be irrationalists in the sense of denying all validity to rational thought. They have held that rational clarity is desirable wherever possible, but that the most important questions in life are not accessible to reason or science. Furthermore, they have argued that even science is not as rational as is commonly supposed. Nietzsche, for instance, asserted that the scientific assumption of an orderly universe is for the most part a useful fiction. Choice and Commitment Perhaps the most prominent theme in existentialist writing is that of choice. Humanity’s primary dis- tinction, in the view of most existentialists, is the freedom to choose. Existentialists have held that human beings do not have a fixed nature, or es- sence, as other animals and plants do; each human being makes choices that create his or her own na- ture. In the formulation of the 20th-century French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre, existence precedes essence. Choice is therefore central to human exis- tence, and it is inescapable; even the refusal to choose is a choice. Freedom of choice entails com- mitment and responsibility. Because individuals are free to choose their own path, existentialists have argued, they must accept the risk and respon- sibility of following their commitment wherever it leads. Dread and Anxiety Kierkegaard held that it is spiritually crucial to rec- ognize that one experiences not only a fear of spe- cific objects but also a feeling of general apprehen- sion, which he called dread. He interpreted it as God’s way of calling each individual to make a commitment to a personally valid way of life. The word anxiety (German Angst) has a similarly cru- cial role in the work of the 20th-century German philosopher Martin Heidegger; anxiety leads to the individual’s confrontation with nothingness and with the impossibility of finding ultimate justifica- tion for the choices he or she must make. In the philosophy of Sartre, the word nausea is used for the individual’s recognition of the pure contin- gency of the universe, and the word anguish is used for the recognition of the total freedom of choice that confronts the individual at every mo- ment. Existentialism Notes 4 History Existentialism as a distinct philosophical and liter- ary movement belongs to the 19th and 20th centu- ries, but elements of existentialism can be found in the thought (and life) of Socrates, in the Bible, and in the work of many premodern philosophers and writers. Pascal The first to anticipate the major concerns of mod- ern existentialism was the 17th-century French phi- losopher Blaise Pascal. Pascal rejected the rigorous rationalism of his contemporary Rene Descartes, asserting, in his Pensees (1670), that a systematic philosophy that presumes to explain God and hu- manity is a form of pride. Like later existentialist writers, he saw human life in terms of paradoxes: The human self, which combines mind and body, is itself a paradox and contradiction. Kierkegaard Kierkegaard, generally regarded as the founder of modern existentialism, reacted against the system- atic absolute idealism of the 19th-century German philosopher G. W. F. Hegel, who claimed to have worked out a total rational understanding of hu- manity and history. Kierkegaard, on the contrary, stressed the ambiguity and absurdity of the human situation. The individual’s response to this situation must be to live a totally committed life, and this commitment can only be understood by the indi- vidual who has made it. The individual therefore must always be prepared to defy the norms of soci- ety for the sake of the higher authority of a person- ally valid way of life. Kierkegaard ultimately advo- cated a â€Å"leap of faith† into a Christian way of life, which, although incomprehensible and full of risk, was the only commitment he believed could save the individual from despair. Nietzsche Nietzsche, who was not acquainted with the work of Kierkegaard, influenced subsequent existential- ist thought through his criticism of traditional metaphysical and moral assumptions and through his espousal of tragic pessimism and the life- affirming individual will that opposes itself to the moral conformity of the majority. In contrast to Kierkegaard, whose attack on conventional moral- ity led him to advocate a radically individualistic Christianity, Nietzsche proclaimed the â€Å"death of God† and went on to reject the entire Judeo- Christian moral tradition in favor of a heroic pagan ideal. Heidegger Heidegger, like Pascal and Kierkegaard, reacted against an attempt to put philosophy on a conclu- sive rationalistic basis—in this case the phenome- nology of the 20th-century German philosopher Edmund Husserl. Heidegger argued that humanity finds itself in an incomprehensible, indifferent world. Human beings can never hope to under- stand why they are here; instead, each individual must choose a goal and follow it with passionate conviction, aware of the certainty of death and the ultimate meaninglessness of one’s life. Heidegger contributed to existentialist thought an original em- phasis on being and ontology as well as on lan- guage. Sartre Sartre first gave the term existentialism general currency by using it for his own philosophy and by becoming the leading figure of a distinct move- ment in France that became internationally influen- tial after World War II. Sartre’s philosophy is ex- plicitly atheistic and pessimistic; he declared that human beings require a rational basis for their lives but are unable to achieve one, and thus human life is a â€Å"futile passion. † Sartre nevertheless insisted that his existentialism is a form of humanism, and he strongly emphasized human freedom, choice, and responsibility. He eventually tried to reconcile these existentialist concepts with a Marxist analy- sis of society and history. Existentialism and Theology Although existentialist thought encompasses the uncompromising atheism of Nietzsche and Sartre and the agnosticism of Heidegger, its origin in the intensely religious philosophies of Pascal and Kierkegaard foreshadowed its profound influence on 20th-century theology. The 20th-century Ger- man philosopher Karl Jaspers, although he rejected explicit religious doctrines, influenced contempo- rary theology through his preoccupation with tran- scendence and the limits of human experience. The German Protestant theologians Paul Tillich and Rudolf Bultmann, the French Roman Catholic theologian Gabriel Marcel, the Russian Orthodox philosopher Nikolay Berdyayev, and the German Jewish philosopher Martin Buber inherited many Existentialism Notes 5 of Kierkegaard’s concerns, especially that a per- sonal sense of authenticity and commitment is es- sential to religious faith. Existentialism and Literature A number of existentialist philosophers used liter- ary forms to convey their thought, and existential- ism has been as vital and as extensive a movement in literature as in philosophy. The 19th-century Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky is probably the greatest existentialist literary figure. In Notes from the Underground (1864), the alienated anti- hero rages against the optimistic assumptions of rationalist humanism. The view of human nature that emerges in this and other novels of Dostoyevsky is that it is unpredictable and per- versely self-destructive; only Christian love can save humanity from itself, but such love cannot be understood philosophically. As the character Alyo- sha says in The Brothers Karamazov (1879-80), â€Å"We must love life more than the meaning of it. † In the 20th century, the novels of the Austrian Jew- ish writer Franz Kafka, such as The Trial (1925; trans. 1937) and The Castle (1926; trans. 1930), present isolated men confronting vast, elusive, menacing bureaucracies; Kafka’s themes of anxi- ety, guilt, and solitude reflect the influence of Kierkegaard, Dostoyevsky, and Nietzsche. The in- fluence of Nietzsche is also discernible in the nov- els of the French writers Andre Malraux and in the plays of Sartre. The work of the French writer Al- bert Camus is usually associated with existential- ism because of the prominence in it of such themes as the apparent absurdity and futility of life, the indifference of the universe, and the necessity of engagement in a just cause. Existentialist themes are also reflected in the theater of the absurd, nota- bly in the plays of Samuel Beckett and Eugene Ionesco. In the United States, the influence of exis- tentialism on literature has been more indirect and diffuse, but traces of Kierkegaard’s thought can be found in the novels of Walker Percy and John Up- dike, and various existentialist themes are apparent in the work of such diverse writers as Norman Mailer, John Barth, and Arthur Miller. Conclusion Existentialists make endless claims. They never bother to show how they reached their claims or if these are, indeed, true. The existentialists when he pretends to present a representation of reality pro- vides no cognition; unverifiable assertions may well express powerful and even necessary emo- tions and passions, but that’s best left to the arts and literature. Existentialism is a highly passionate philosophy and, from the outset, seems to aim at a dynamic and fashionable life-style. Also it is mostly unsys- tematic and pays little attention to logic or science. Whatever one makes of its metaphysical claims, one cannot deny that existentialism was able to provide a moving account of the spirit of the con- temporary world and the nausea and frustration of survival. Indeed, it is basically for its richness in psychological insight and its impact on culture that existentialist philosophy will continued to be stud- ied.

The giver Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The giver - Essay Example In this utopian society, everyone looks the same and this has eliminated any form of competition in the society. The society has also eliminated individual choices from the members of the society, and people are given jobs according to their ability. Spouses are also assigned to the members of the society, and two children are assigned to each family. Jonas, the main character in the story on reaching 12 years is selected to occupy the position of the ‘Receiver of Memory.’ This position entails holding all the memories of the time before the sameness was achieved. Jonas upon receiving the memories also receives the gift of knowledge. This causes him to realize the actual situation that the world he is in-he begins to realize that the situation is dystopian as opposed to utopian. He is faced with the option of either running away or staying in a society devoid of any emotions, choices, or knowledge. What initially seemed like a perfect society is revealed to be a restrict ive society in which freedom is taken away from the people. The conversations in the story revolve around the question of individual freedom, and the effect that the withdrawal of freedom has on the society. The text shows how the intent to construct a utopian society can lead to a dystopian one that does not withhold the principles of utopia. Individual freedom is taken away from when the child is born. ... But even those who came up with the idea of sameness knew that they would be forced to refer to the time before the conformity, and as a result, all the memories of life before sameness have been stored. While equality is one of the ideals that are pursued by a utopian society, Lowry’s work shows the effects of such a pursuit, and how that equality and sameness is achieved in the society. The world that has initially seemed inviting is then revealed for what it truly is. Any form of resistance to the system causes the individual to be eliminated (referred in the book as being released) from the society. The book seeks to warn of the concept of utopia through the way that the society treats the concepts of freedom and memory. The collective memories of the society have been suppressed to enable state control. The suppression of memory has been seen to be an effective tool for control. The regaining of the collective or even the individual memory leads to the potential for rebel lion. Without their memories and without access to the collective memories, the citizens in their sameness are convinced that the utopian society that has been created for them is the ideal society for them to exist in. A utopian society is a highly ordered society. There is no deviation from the routine that has been set for the people. In the book for example, there is a set time for the families to have breakfast and during the meal, there is a compulsory sharing of dreams and in the evening during supper, there is a compulsory expression of feelings that is supposedly for the purposes of avoiding the buildup of any form of emotion. The ideals of a utopian state are for every member of the

Qualitive Research Critique Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Qualitive Critique - Research Paper Example This is done in order to study the perception of shift from the paper dependent system of documentation to electronic method of documentation (Kelley et al., 2011). The study design is descriptive in nature as it is based on observations and surveys. The application of the electronic system permits accurate documentation of the information’s regarding patients. The system is designed in such a way that the nurses are able to operate it efficiently and improve the flow of communication between the health centre, nurses, and patients. The electronic form of documentation also improves the final outcome that is the status of the patient’s heath when the person is discharged without any error (Kelley et al., 2011). The relationship between the nursing profession and electronic form of information recording is presented in the paper. The quality of the service provided to the patients is very essential for the overall success of the hospitality. The ‘Donabedian’s model of quality’ is used for the literature part as the model is familiar to most of the nurses as a method of data collection. The framework that presents the structure of the total work performed, the process followed and the ultimate result of the process implemented (Kelley et al., 2011). Moreover, questionnaire survey and interview was also conducted to derive accurate data from the respective sources. Many research papers of ‘Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and PubMed has been used in the articles. All the articles used are based on three components of Donabedian’s model. On the other hand, interview and questionnaire method is also used in the research to analyse the attitude of the nurses towards the electronic system (Kelley et al., 2011). Nursing documentation is a vital factor of nursing practice that needs maintenance for safety as well as ethics. The information

Using Your Manager Skills Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Using Your Manager Skills - Assignment Example For an individual, company or firm to establish a claim of trademark infringement under the Lanham Act, the plaintiff must show that they possess a valid and legally protected mark and the defendant used the mark in commerce to advertise other goods without the consent of the owner. They must also establish that they own the mark. Lastly, as Palladino (2011) argues, â€Å"the plaintiff must establish that the defendant’s use of the mark is likely to cause confusion among the consumers as to the affiliation, connection or origin of the goods or services†. Thus, â€Å"use†, â€Å"in commerce† and â€Å"likelihood to cause confusion† are distinct elements essential in establishing a trademark infringement claim The plaintiff must establish that the â€Å"use† of a trademark by an alleged infringer to be a threshold matter. This is because activities that may involve â€Å"in commerce† or â€Å"likelihood of confusion† may not qualify to violate the Lanham Act without the â€Å"use†. The use element offers a limiting function to preventing the trademark holder from exercising a general right to control language. The requirement to establish a claim that an infringer is using a trademark â€Å"in commerce† is derived from Lanham Law’s basis in the power of the Congress to regulate interstate commerce. The Lanham Act describes the various activities that meet the â€Å"in commerce† requirements. The central focus of any infringement claim is the â€Å"likelihood of confusion† requirement. According to Rechman & Cannady (2002), â€Å"a likelihood of confusion usually exists when consumers viewing the mark would assume that it comes from different like of products identified with a similar mark.† The fact that Safe Choices have a federal registration for the trademark â€Å"Safe Pack†, and confusion may arise among consumers may help

CJUS 310-DB4 Replies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CJUS 310-DB4 Replies - Essay Example Further, you point out that mentors help adolescents perform certain tasks and as such, give them the direction they should adopt in life. While I do not disagree entirely with this argument, mentors play bigger roles in influencing the careers that the adolescents take. Some of the parents hire mentors to help their children perform certain tasks such as cooking and washing, among others. However, other mentors seek to influence positively the life of adolescents by providing them with information and knowledge on career choices, issues affecting them and how to overcome such challenges. Adolescents thus find it easy to confine in these individuals rather than other people. In your argument, you point out the various roles played by mentors in the society. According to your argument, â€Å"mentoring is a way to prevent delinquency.† While this is true, I seek to differ in that not only do mentorship reduce delinquency, but also play a big role in developing responsible adults in the society. It is inadequate classifying mentorship as only trying to prevent delinquency. Although adolescents face a myriad of issues, the reality is that some of them find ways of overcoming these challenges, and as such, are not victims of delinquency. Nevertheless, these require mentorship on how to mentor their peers and help them adopt safe lifestyles. Expecting for this, I agree with the argument that mentors have responsibilities. All mentors should be role models for the children in whichever capacity they serve. Subsequently, they should assume work that perfectly corresponds with their credentials. While some could be relatively educated and have relative jo bs, they could demonstrate the advantages of humbleness and the need for having plans in

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Legal Stanpoint - Essay Example This will be done by me in accordance with the Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, dealing with search and seizure (Cornell University Law School, 2012: Online). I will submit an affidavit under oath before the competent authority who will issue the search and seizure warrant against Jojo Ross. While doing so I will present my informer who extended to me the lead regarding Jojo Ross’ drug business as a witness before the warrant issuing authority. This will not only bolster my claim for a search and seizure warrant against Jojo Ross, but will also help me assure that the tip given by the informer is honest and correct to his knowledge. The most important thing in this scenario is that as per the informer, Jojo Ross is armed and watchful and is capable of disposing of the drugs he has at a short notice. So, as such, Jojo Ross is not an immediate threat to anybody’s life. However, once the warrant is procured, the search and seizure operation, if not properly planned and executed, may jeopardize the life of Jojo Ross, the police team conducting the raid and other people in the house and its vicinity. I believe that the most important thing for a law enforcement officer is to respect life as far as possible. To respect life means to fear the earthly and divine authority. Hence, it will be crucial for me to plan the timing of the intended raid when Jojo Ross is least prepared and alert (Rutledge, 2001). The Federal Rule 41 on Search and seizure says to execute the warrant during the daytime, unless the judge for good cause expressly authorizes execution at other time (Cornell University Law School, 2012: Online).† So I will request the warrant issuing authority to allow for a late night execution, to avoid unwanted violence and loss of life. I have a firm conviction that if everything goes according to the plan, I will be able to

History Of American Liberty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History Of American Liberty - Essay Example The story of freedom’s expansion during this period was messy and conflict-ridden. The earliest settlers in the new colonies came to practice a way of life that was denied to them in their homeland. They wanted to experience religious freedom and the variety of political freedoms that were necessary in order to achieve their dream of living in community with each other without worry of persecution (Foner 47-50). This guiding principle, however, had inner conflicts such as the need to suppress certain kinds of dissent within their own communities, a system of life that was paternalistic in its treatment of women and even more importantly a need to survive the harsh life in the new environments they found themselves in (Foner 51-56). In attending to all of these needs, the colonialists met the native populations who were already here when they arrived with curiosity at first and later with a kind of malevolent manipulation. Their own need for land and safety drove them to treat the Native Americans as enemies and they began a process of slowly pushing the Native Americans out as they expanded their own territories westward (Foner 78-80). This process went on throughout the period, culminating in the Jacksonian era with an official government policy of â€Å"Indian removal† (Foner 151-155, 370-371). The drive to increase religious freedom and promote the establishment of economic independence, therefore, led to horrible discrimination against another already established group in the new territory that would eventually make up the nation. The rights of Native Americans to their own independence autonomy were continually infringed upon even as the new colonists sought to increase their own freedoms. The tragic story of the treatment of native populations is equaled, perhaps, only by the story of the treatment of the black slave populations (Foner 130-132, 220-223, 400-408).

Ethical Argument Choose a topic and argue the ethical side opposite of Essay

Ethical Argument Choose a topic and argue the ethical side opposite of the accepted norm - Essay Example Such could be the results of miscues especially of decisions, which are shadowed by the mists of pride and vested interests and the neglect of some ethical and moral guidelines. War had been a way of life for early civilizations. It was primarily the direct result of segmented societies where communities are tied by tribal concerns of control. The need for survival requires dominance within an area. To have a wider space means an assurance for more resources more security for living. The evolution of societies from early nomads until the present is marred by a lot of small and big wars. We have two major world wars and other big war yet to come, which doomsday seers predicted to cause an end to humanity. Therefore, whether we like it or not, war is an accepted norm. But trends in war have changed from the way it was fought in prehistoric and olden times. The rise of deep concern to human lives created awareness among the government leaders and ordinary persons alike the importance of preservation of life. War has become a form of arrogance and aggression. Wars fought today in the same cause, as thousand years ago is condemnable act. Today, war becomes a means of defense to suppress the interest of those who want to dominate a certain territory without respect for human rights. When the US led a campaign in Kuwait, it was meant to liberate a nation. When US challenge the North Koreans or other nations going into nuclear program, it was intended to warn them of the possible effects in future ambitions of arms development. Since the idea about war has shifted from barbaric acts of territorial grabbing to more of defensive acts the norm shifted to international recognition of human rights. Nations, great or small, share equal right and peoples of d ifferent races, colors, and territory show respect with one another. Many nations joined international organizations to recognize everyone's rights. The 21st century is the turning point of history and witness to the shift from the savage war of the past to humanistic concern of the present and the future. But the declaration of the war on terror after the 9/11 events caused a global war against enemies we don't know. The campaign has caused more casualties of innocent lives, arrests of innocent persons, and branding of several organizations who air grievances against their nations as terrorists. The war was indeed claimed to have been launched to secure the world against terrorists, but it has gone to a point that human rights were already compromised. But terrorism is a big issue and requires some moral judgment to qualify or consider certain acts as a form of terrorism. There are accepted definitions of terrorisms but interpretations differ. As Record stated: The definitional mire that surrounds terrorism stems in large measure from differing perspectives on the moral relationship between objectives sought and means employed. It is easy for the politically satisfied and militarily powerful to pronounce all terrorism evil regardless of circumstance, but, like it or not, those at the other end of the spectrum are bound to see things differently (8). As a result the War on Terror created confusion among the young Americans, who were taught about the morals of war and peace. The moralist consider the "attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon not acts of war but as a species of natural disaster, requiring unstinting generosity towards the

Self harm and suicide Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Self harm and suicide - Coursework Example One of the most common myths is that by asking a person on what their suicide thoughts are they are prompted to actually commit suicide. This myth can be handled through knowing the fact that when an individual is asked about their suicidal thoughts their sense of isolation is lowered and they feel cared for and that there is available help. Another common myth is that suicide and self-harm happen without warning. The nurses being aware that most individuals before committing suicide they are verbal about their distress and pain can handle this myth. In addition, the myth that suicide only happens to specific people is common. The nurses bearing in mind that anybody is capable of committing suicide can handle the myth. Finally, the myth that people who talk about suicide are just attention seekers is common. Nurses need to know that in most cases patients will try to communicate before they actually commit suicide (Krysinska,

Stakeholders Analysis Essay Example for Free

Stakeholders Analysis Essay A Stakeholder is someone who has any interest in the business any one who is affected by the business. Some examples are: customers, suppliers, employees, local community, and local sports clubs. The stakeholders will vary depending on what the business is and who it affects. Stakeholders in Falconi brothers include Competitors Other businesses USDAW-Trade unions Government Shareholders / Owners Bank Customers Suppliers Local community Employees Garage Trade Unions- have an interest from Falconi Brothers business. They represent people who work for Falconi Brothers, they improve peoples pay and condition of employment. Competition is a rival in business, two or more business are trying to sell to the same customers. An example of competitors is Tesco and Asda because both sell food in supermarket and both want people to buy from them. Local competition are GB Liners Ltd Leeds LS13 4UN, Fast Move LS9 8 PD. Is a rival in business. Competitors are affected by the Falconis brothers business if Falconis brothers business going very well competitors is affected because they loose the customers. When they lose the customers they loose the money. Others businesses- for example Empire Direct on Roundhay Road the are have interest because Falconi’s business help them with delivery heavy, electrical items. Usdaw unions of shops and allied workers. Employees at Falconi Brother might be in a trade unions, this means the trade unions has an interest in the business. Trade unions organisations that represent people at work. The protect and improve people pay and conditions of employment. They also campaign for lows and policies which will benefit working people. Government- Has an interest from Falconi brothers business because they pay company tax to the government (and road tax far car, business rates for office etc) Shareholders owners -They are depending on the business because they earning money from the Falconi brother. Partners of the business have invested money and wont a business to be successful the business have run efficiently and the managers will be committed to increasing revenues or controlling the cost of business. Bank- Is interested in the success of Falconis Brothers business because they pay money to the bank and bank get interest when the business takes out a loan. If the business is successful, more money will come into the bank. Customer- benefit when Falconi’s business is successful they will get quality and good services from them. Customers will expect products and services to be safe and reliable. Local Community-If Falconis business is successful they can get good service as customers and they can get jobs as employee, Sometimes the impact is positive for falconi brother business may be one of the few secure of employment in an area of high unemployment and they can get a job. Employees- Can get more opportunity for getting job with them. They also get wages, The employees are very important group who have an interest in falconi brothers business. They will rely upon the falconi brother business to provide them with a regular wage or salary. They hope for job security and safe working conditions and perhaps training. Garage-Take benefit from them because if Falconi have a good business they will buy more cars and the garage will service Falconi’s cars Suppliers- Is firms that supply that falconi brother business with raw materials components packaging or services will expect to be paid promptly. They maybe also rely upon regular orders to ensure the success of their own business. Creditors- creditor is a person like falconi brothers owed money, the money for the vans or to business grown well. For example, a bank or a company that gives out mortgage to falconi brother is a creditor. In this case, the creditor is loaning money in exchange for collecting interest payments on the principal. An investor that holds a bond is also considered a creditor. Society- is a group of humans from a semi-closed system, in which most interactions are with other people belonging to the group. A society is a network of relationship between people. A society ia an interdependent community. Stakeholders can be divided into internal stakeholders and external stakeholders. Internal stakeholders are those individuals or groups within the organisation. A shareholder is someone who holds shares in the company. So the shareholder is an investor. European governments and companies are now using the term stakeholder to mean anyone at all who is affected by what a company does or in some way sticks his nose into the companys affairs. From what Im seeing nowadays, this means not only investors, but also workers, government bureaucrats, people who live in the same city as a corporate facility, angry groups of activists, people who care about something tangentially related to the company. In other words, the way they use the word, a stakeholder is pretty much anyone who says hes a stakeholder. Person group or organization that has direct or indirect stake in an organization because it can affect or be affected by the organizations actions, objectives and policies. Key stakeholders in a business organization include creditors, customers, directors, employees, government, owners, suppliers, unions and the community from which the business draws its resources. Although stake-holders are usually self-legitimizing all stakeholders are not equal and different stakeholders are entitled to different considerations. For example a firm’s customer is entitled to fair trading practices but they are not entitled to the same consideration as the firm’s employees. image00.png Conflicts Between Stakeholders Having identified the main responsibilities the business has to each stakeholder, see if you can work out where conflicts might arise. These conflicts will arise when the interests of one stakeholder group are opposite to that of another stakeholder group. For example Employers seeking higher wages might conflict with the desire by management to cut costs to boost profit and thus satisfy their own ambitions and meet the needs of the shareholders.

Marketing Management Strategic Issues Blue Dart Express

Marketing Management Strategic Issues Blue Dart Express On a beautiful sunny afternoon in April 2012, Ketan Kulkarni, Vice President and Head of Blue Darts Marketing, Corporate Communication Sustainability division, was waiting in the plush conference room of Blue Darts head office in Mumbai. As he waited for Tulsi Mirchandaney, Managing Director and Accountable Manager for Blue Dart Aviation, he once again looked at the notes on proposed future plans of marketing strategy and wondered whether the companys plans to address the intense competition will be enough to meet 2012s target. Looking outside through the clear windowpanes, Ketan thought about remarkable journey of Blue Dart. Blue Dart was the leading express company in India, engaged in door to door pick up and distribution of packages, documents, and shipments in India and overseas. From its inception in 1984, in its first decade Blue Dart became the dominant player in the courier industry and in the next decade it surpassed all the competition and became South Asias premier number one express company in air and integrated transportation, distribution and logistics. In India, Blue Dart was the only company providing an array of services in air express (both domestic and international through DHL), air freight, ground and charters. It was a one stop solution for any logistical requirement. Blue Dart enjoyed a 45.9% market share and gained a significant increase in both, volumes and value. In the ground segment, the company garnered a market share of 12.4%. Blue Dart not only offered secure and reliable delivery of consignments, but also managed to deliver impressively on the financial front with the help of its widespread infrastructure network and aggressive growth strategies. Rs.10 billion in annual revenues is a remarkable landmark for any logistics company. Blue Dart managed better, leaping over the 11-digit barrier to record Rs. 14.89 billion in top line during FY2011. The company was established with a vision to be the best and set the pace in the express air and integrated transportation and distribution industry, with a business and human conscience. A people-first company, Blue Dart continued to deliver value to its stakeholders through its people philosophy and corporate governance, based on distinctive customer service, business ethics, accountability and profitability. Blue Darts core competence lies in the business of superior express delivery services, maintaining reliability levels of 99.96%. With a dedicated air and ground network optimized by cutting-edge technology, Care Customer Addition, Retention Empathy summed up the marketing strategy of Blue Dart. Company History In November 1983, three young entrepreneurs, Clyde Cooper, Tushar Jani and Kushroo Dubash identified tremendous opportunities in Indias expanding exports market and came up with an idea of delivering small packages and samples. On that date, Blue Dart was established in a space of 200 square feet under a staircase, with a capital of Rs. 30,000. Grit, determination and hard work would propel the fledgling from sorting and delivering a few dozen packages outside Mumbai airport on that first night, to handling nearly 200,000 shipments each day through rain, hail, earthquake and snow. In a study conducted by Dhristi Strategic Research Services in 2007, Blue Dart emerged as one of the strongest brands in India with amongst the highest top of mind recall. In its early days, Blue Dart forged ties with Gelco Express International, UK to introduce an international air package express service from India and thus enhance the value offered to its customers. In 1993, foreseeing the potential in I ndia, Blue Dart decided to shift focus from international to domestic service. It went on to become the first Indian courier company to conceptualise domestic on-board couriers with a guaranteed 10:30 am delivery to major metros. In 1994, the company went public with an IPO of 2.55 million shares. In the same year Blue Dart launched its multi-modal, premium package delivery service DartApexà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ (Air Package Express) and COSMATIIà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢, an advanced tracking and ERP system that redefined the industry. In that year, too, Blue Dart Aviation, a 100% subsidiary of Blue Dart Express, was incorporated and became the first private company to receive government approval for the operation of cargo aircraft in the country. In 1995, Blue Dart Aviation acquired two B737 aircraft and developed SMART (Space Management Allocation Reservations and Tracking), the first cargo reservations systems in India. The following year, Blue Dart launched the first jet express airline and also became the first express company to receive an ISO: 9001 Certification. 1995 was also momentous because in that year Blue Dart crossed Rs. 100 crore (US$ 25 million) in turnover for the first time. 1997 witnessed the launch of domestic charter operations and the signing of interline agreements with international airlines for distribution of bonded cargo within Blue Darts network. Today, these have extended to 26 operators and include bonded warehousing and transhipment facilities. In 1998, the company developed Indias first Load and Trim software for its aircraft, reducing handling time by 80%. In 1999, Blue Dart moved to its state-of-the art administrative, technology and operations Super hub and Headquarters, the Blue Dart Centre, in Mumbai. In 2001, a third Boeing 737 was added to the Blue Dart fleet. A year later, Blue Dart entered into a sales alliance with global leader DHL Express Worldwide. Today, DHL owns 81.03% stake in the company. In 2002, Blue Dart was re-certified as one of a handful of Indian companies to the new global ISO 9001 2000 standards for Design, management and operations of countrywide express transportation and distribution service within the Indian Subcontinent and to international destinations serviced through multinational express companies. Blue Dart signed a path-breaking Sales Alliance with the Worlds No. 1 international air express company, DHL Worldwide Express. Blue Dart also crossed 1,00,000 shipments per day. The fourth aircraft joined the fleet in 2004 and Blue Dart became the first private operator in India to receive approval from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for undertaking heavy maintenance D-checks on its aircraft. Two B757 freighters the first in the Indian skies joined the Blue Dart fleet in 2006. In an effort to fortify its unique capability of offering the entire gamut of end-to end distribution solutions, Blue Dart launched its ground express service Dart Surface Line in September 2007 and inducted the third B757 freighter. By 2011, Blue Darts infrastructure comprised a fleet of three Boeing 737 and four Boeing 757 freighters operating each night to the 7 main metros in India and offering a revenue payload of over 370 tonnes per night. It owns a flotilla of over 6,272 vehicles, 365 facilities including 7 aviation hubs and bonded warehouses, 56 domestic warehouses and 12 express hubs delivering excellence. Current Operations Blue Dart is the largest player in the domestic segment of documents and non-documents with 26 per cent market share in terms of tonnage. In terms of overall (domestic plus overseas) market share, it is the largest express company in India with a share of about 45.9 per cent. The company had a turnover of Rs 14.89 billion in 2011 and has had an annual growth rate of about 50 per cent while the industry growth rate has been hovering around 35 per cent. Table 1 presents the breakup of revenues and costs for the year 2010-11 (see Exhibit 1). Administratively, the company is organized into regional centres at six major cities namely, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, and Calcutta. Each regional centre is responsible for a number of branch locations under which there are area locations. The company currently employees around 7,800 people. Each major branch has a team of operations personnel who manage the entire network, transportation and tracking of shipments. They also liaison with airline and transportation agencies and take care of scheduling out-bound couriers. Other responsibilities of the operations department include routing, sorting, security checking, fleet management, and customer billing. Commercial functions like finance and marketing are centralized at the head office in Mumbai. Its international out-bound gateways function at Dubai, Singapore, London, and Mumbai. The in-bound international gateway is at Mumbai which receives packages from London, Frankfurt, Singapore, and Dubai. The Company offers secure and reliable delivery of consignments to over 35,902 locations in India and to over 220 countries and territories worldwide through its integrated air support and ground network group company DHL Express. In 2011, Blue Dart operates through 1,342,677 sq. ft. of facilities and carried over 988.5 lacs domestic shipments and over 8 lacs international shipments weighing over 423,000 tonnes. The core function of Blue Dart is the physical transportation of a shipment from its origin to the destination which is performed by the operations department. The distribution system follows the hub-and-spoke concept, i.e., shipments picked up at a particular origin location are transported to the nearest hub, which in turn routes these shipments to the hub to which the destination location is attached. The destination hub routes the shipment to the specific destination location where the staff deliver the shipment to the consignee. (see Exhibit 2) The Express Industry Addressing a changing market The express industry is a key enabler in facilitating trade and commerce because of the time-sensitive nature of most goods and the increasing demand for reliability, efficiency and speed. The opportunities are aplenty for the express industry in India as the current logistics spend in India is 13% of the GDP compared to a notably lesser percentage of the same in more developed economies. The need for the highest levels of efficiencies still exists. The demand for express services is surging with each passing year and customer expectations have also risen tremendously. Today, the Indian express industry provides integrated, value-added, time-bound, door-to-door delivery of documents, parcels and merchandise. It supports industries such as electronics, telecommunication, IT, banking, retail, auto-components, textiles and apparels, gems and jewellery and pharmaceuticals. Moreover, with India recognized as an outsourcing destination, manufacturing sectors such as textiles, automobiles and pharmaceuticals are likely to witness increased activities in the medium to long term. In order to maintain competitiveness, companies operating in these industries are expected to outsource their logistics requirements to third-party logistics service providers and concentrate on their core-competency of manufacturing and marketing. Besides, the opening up of banking, insurance, telecom and retail sectors would boost the demand for value-added express services in India, as these are major user industries. Anil Khanna, managing director, Blue Dart, conveyed the same sentiment. In his opinion, the growth in the Indian economy and the overall economic scenario, fuelled primarily by domestic consumption, is promising. The Indian economy is poised to record robust growth between 8 and 9 per cent in the financial year 2011-12, the Indian express industry is expected to register double-digit growth over the next few years. This in itself is a strong indicator of the potential of the express industry. The organised domestic air express market is pegged at around ` 1,500 crore, which grew at a CAG R of 7-8 per cent in the last five years, while the domestic organised ground express market is pegged at around 1,700 crore, which grew at a CAGR of 14-15 per cent in the last 5 years, Khanna pointed out. Blue Dart is in the process of rolling out several sector-specific, innovative products and services in a phased manner, in line with specific needs and requirements of different industries. These products provide the much-required flexibility to the shipper and consignee. Some recent additions to the companys product portfolio include Express Pallet, Smart Box: Ground Express, Time Definite Delivery, etc. In its journey of last 20 years, Blue Dart had evolved from a being a document centric service to a critically supply chain support service in. The annual turnover of express industry in India was estimated to be Rs 8000 million in 1994-95. The industry players can be categorized into (i) organized sector, accounting for 50 per cent market share, (ii) EMS Speed Post, accounting for 6.5 per cent, and (iii) the unorganized sector, making up the remaining 43 per cent. The courier industry in India has expanded its horizon to provide a wider range of services. Whereas it started initially as a service provider for the document and samples demand of industry, it is now viewed as an important part of the supply chain for industries, which demand speed, reliability, security and just-in-time distribution, Though this market is still in its infancy in India, it is growing Tulsi Mirchandaney, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Projects Competitive edge: Building IT for Business Agility Companys information technology infrastructure remains one of its key differentiators and enabler to values. Blue Dart was always in the forefront of technology and its technology innovations have played a key role in the companys premium positioning and in bringing global standards to the Indian customers doorstep. Blue Dart has become an important part of the supply chain of many companies by providing integrated services. Blue Darts in-house IT team has constantly developed technology solutions over the past seventeen years. Such has been the ramifications of these offerings that more than 79% of Blue Darts regular customers use it actively. These Home grown innovations include COSMAT IIà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ (the tracking and ERP system), TrackDartà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ (monitoring shipment status), MailDartà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ (tracking shipments over e-mail), InternetDartà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ (memory bank for shipments), PackTrackà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ (tracking software for medium and large customers), ShopTrackà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ (tracking and CRM tool for e-business portals), ImageDartà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ (online download of proof of delivery challans/documents, to speed up the customers bill process, waybill issuance capability, customer directory, data upload and download of tracking information). The company also provides e conomical packaging that facilitates customers sending documents at a price that includes door-to-door delivery service within India. These innovation solutions have enabled the weaving of thoughtful information management to the logistics business. With this advanced technology support Blue Dart delivers door-to-door to over 13,000 locations in the country with an in-house team of experts to handle inter-state regulatory requirements. Quality levels are at 99.95% and are monitored daily. No one else in the country offers this kind of integrated delivery capability. Marketing Strategies A combination of new product launches and tactical shift in focus across sectors helped Blue Dart register growth in spite of an overall slowdown in the economy. For instance, in order to lessen the impact of the slowdown in client verticals such as automobile and realty, it consciously improved its focus on sectors such as health sciences and the spare parts segment of the auto sector. It also built on its exposure to high-growth segments such as e-commerce and SMEs and high-growth potential Tier-II and III cities this year. These put together helped the company grow its revenues and profits by about 34 per cent and 42 per cent in the nine-months ended September 2011. On various other fronts the company has provided following marketing strategies. Offerings Blue Dart has a range of products and services that can be customised to address individual requirements. Blue Darts core business is domestic door-to-door and integrated (air and ground) express distribution. Each product has been developed with a customer centric approach. A combination of the right product mix and price has helped Blue Dart build a strong brand loyalty over the years. The products are ably supported by cutting-edge technologies. Blue Dart offers express, air freight, ocean freight, supply chain solutions, customs clearance, project handling, freight forwarding, and charters through its synergies with the three DHL Business Units DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Exel Supply Chain. The express services offer domestic priority for non-commercial domestic documents and small packages under 32 kilos. Dart Apexà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ is a door-to-door, time-definite, supply chain and logistics distribution service for commercial shipments that require regulatory clearance. Smart Box is the convenient door-to-door service for cargo in two sizes 10 kilos and 25 kilos. Freight services include domestic, early morning airport-to-airport deliveries to the seven metros Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad serviced by Blue Dart aircraft. Charters offer palletised capacity for carriage of urgent and large volumes to eighteen airports in India and four international airports in the region. Blue Dart, in line with its focus on innovation, has also introduced several customised products -Rakhi Express and Student Express, for instance designed to meet specific needs. A recent addition to Blue Darts product portfolio is Import Express. It is the only service of its kind in India and offers door-to-door facility for importing shipments from over 200 countries. Services Blue Dart offers a range of services: Domestic Priority a fast reliable service for non-commercial documents and non-documents. Dart Apex to support reliable commercial distribution and supply chain requirements. Dart Surfaceline a reliable and secure surface option, and an airport to airport option which includes charter of our aircraft for large volumes and urgent shipments. Some of the best services offered by this company are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Free computerized proof of delivery à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Real Time tracking à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Regulatory clearance à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Free pick up from the location of the customer How does your service differ from competition? What added advantages do you provide your clients and what kind of message do you aim to send across? Blue Dart offer Solutions for Peace of Mind, and it has built extensively to deliver on that promise. Blue Dart are the only express cargo airline in the country today focused on handling packages. Connecting with Customers In an overcrowded, cluttered world, brand Blue Dart has exploited every opportunity to stand out. The core focus has been on strengthening customer relationship and on making more effective use of the 4800 plus vehicles as mobile touch points. Blue Dart constantly rolls out promotions for its customers to keep them updated on our various offerings. Apart from this, the company keeps on introducing several sector-specific, innovative products and services in a phased manner, in line with specific needs and requirements of different industries like BFSI, Pharmaceuticals, IT, Consumer Durables, FMCG, Automotive, Retail, Textiles, Telecommunications etc. The new initiatives will upgrade the product range and improve service quality, thereby offering customers state-of-the-art air and ground express solutions across the country. These products provide the much-required flexibility to the shipper and consignee. The most used features are real time tracking and Money Back Guarantee (MBG) offered on specific shipments. Company had a dedicated team of specialists who provide the expertise for customs as well as regulatory clearances at all States within the country, to support seamless service to the customer. India is known for its huge section of middle-class buyers. Blue Darts offerings though known to be reliable, are available at a higher price bracket. Isnt this an awkward pricing strategy for the Indian market Considering the fast paced, dynamic lifestyles our customers lead, Blue Dart deliver shipments as well as peace of mind. For our customers, aspects like service quality, consistency, responsiveness and reliability are of paramount importance because these dimensions directly impact their business outcomes. These values make excellent attributes to building a trusted brand. When our customers experience optimal service with Blue Dart, they do not mind paying a premium for our products. Customers Growth Strategy Our growth drivers are multi-dimensional but well defined. Blue Dart will be focusing on existing customers to scale our existing relationship with select high potential clients by offering them a lot more than what Blue Dart have been traditionally offering them. This will not only lead to revenue enlargement, but also give us an army of loyal customers. Positioning Designed to enhance the reliability of our operations and process efficiency, and add value to the customer through time and cost savings. The only one of its kind in the country today, that is focused on carriage of packages as its prime business, rather than as a by-product of a passenger airline. A dedicated aviation system to support Blue Darts services is self-sustaining, with its own bonded warehouses, ground handling and maintenance capability. Blue Dart envisioned itself as a warehouse in the sky creating a niche segment in supply chains that demand critical deliveries, low inventories and reliable and timely distribution. A strategic product mix, optimum utilization of aircraft space and committed people delivering at high reliability levels, Blue Dart is now strategically positioned as the market leader in the air express segment. Blue Darts competitive advantage lies in its vast and unparalleled Domestic Network Linked by some of the most advanced communications systems and positioned to offer a consistent, premium, standardized quality of service. Blue Dart is the only express carrier in the country today which offers an entire range of services that extend from a document to a charter-load of shipments Blue Dart has the only dedicated logistics infrastructure in the country today to provide a variety of logistics solutions for its customers. Blue Dart have an aviation system with an in-house ground handling and maintenance capability to provide confirmed uplift. Blue Dart have invested extensively in technology, currently the most advanced in the he domestic courier industry, for integration, data flow and customer software for greater customer convenience and efficiency. Blue Dart have stringent security and quality norms, our integrated network has the widest reach and our people are skilled and committed professionals. When others in the domain were still trying to find their bearings Blue Dart had already envisioned itself as a warehouse in the sky. It created a palpable differential for itself by arrogating a niche and a hard-to-emulate segment in supply chain management that demanded critical deliveries, low inventories and reliable and timely distribution. Your Company has been able to differentiate itself and has achieved scalability due to its focus on technology right from the early stages of its business. It is reflected in the way the Company moves its products, in a manner which is more cost-effective, more fuel-efficient and more environment friendly. Building strong brand Logistics or Couriers is a service industry where the service is the brand. The attributes of the product are not physically apparent. Demystifying each product to the customer and demonstrating, in simple terms, real benefits meaningful to him, therefore, assumes greater importance. This means translating each customer contact point into an experience representative of the brand. People who serve take on the mantle of the brand as opposed to an FMCG where you would buy your preferred cake of soap regardless of where or how it is served. Promotion Blue Dart is not known to be aggressive advertiser, but as aggressive marketer. Blue Dart has tried to focus on the total customer experience the brand tangibles such as the retail outlets (service counters), vehicles, signages, etc, as well as the intangibles at the customer contact point. Blue Dart has emphasized that the personal touch is essential and thus has also strengthened the areas of customer care centres. Even its TV commercials and print ads try to connect emotionally with customers. Blue Darts promotion method is to create a strong emotional connect with customers, in order to achieve brand strength, saliency and equity. Blue Darts prime communication vehicle is PR land direct mailers, with support from a large sales force across the country to directly engage the customer. Brand Values Blue Dart has always made a conscious effort to create a bond with its customers. Perhaps, because of this, the brand has, today, become synonymous with value, quality, speed, efficiency, responsiveness and service excellence. Financial credibility Fitch Ratings India Pvt. Ltd. has assigned the highest F1+ (Ind)[F one plus (Ind)] rating for their short term debt programme of Rs. 30crores. Further, ICRA Ltd. has also assigned the highest A1+ (pronouncedA one plus) Rating for their Commercial Paper Programme of Rs. 25 crores. New Areas Detecting opportunities vertical wise has helped us device sector specific solutions and this has helped the overall growth strategy of the Company, to a great extent. Demand for streamlined supply chains from the auto, pharma, hitech and retail sectors is expected to drive growth for us. Blue Dart perceive SMEs as an emerging opportunity and efforts have been underway to tap this segment across industry verticals, aggressively. In terms of new customers, tapping new geographies and segments continues to be our key focus area. New Products A combination of the right product mix and price has helped Blue Dart build strong brand loyalty over the years. Launching new products has been our response to any opportunity sensed in a new geography and new industry verticals. This approach has borne fruit. It pleases me to inform you that Blue Dart have successfully launched 25 new services since 2008. Some of our success stories in the Air Express segment include Time Definite Solutions (Domestic Priority 1030, Domestic Priority 1200, Dart Apex 1200) and Day Definite Solutions (Domestic Priority, Dart Apex, Dart Surfaceline). Packaging Solutions include Express Pallet: Air and Ground, Smart Box Air and Ground. The Company also offers Cargo Solutions like Airport to Airport, Interline and Charters besides offering Festive Solutions and discounted Student Solutions. Solutions like Temperature Controlled Logistics (TCL), Dart Surfaceline Plus, Point to Point (P2P) and a host of value added services like Demand Draft on Delivery (DOD), Freight on Demand (FOD), Freight on Value (FOV), Cash on Delivery (COD) etc. represent our tailor made services for specific industry requirements. Blue Dart will continue to focus on reach expansion, transit time improvements, small town (Tier-II and III) activation and strengthening channels. The strategy is in place to strengthen market share and deliver the Blue Dart promise. Achievements Attaining such stunning success wasnt easy. Along the way, Blue Dart endured formidable challenges and took bold steps to protect its hard-fought territorial gains. The list of awards and accolades is endless for Blue Dart. It has achieved many awards in all sectors such as Brand / Customer Service / Retail / Loyalty, Human Resources, Sustainability and Individual Blue Darts services have been recognized and rewarded time and again. Blue Dart was selected as a Business Superbrand from over 1,699 brands and received the Readers Digests Most Trusted Brand Award, for three years in a row and has been listed twice in the Dun Bradstreet top 500 companies in India. Blue Dart has been awarded the NDTV Business Leadership Award 2008 and the Asia Brand Congress Brand Leadership Award 2008. An Indian company benchmarked to international standards, Blue Dart has been recognised as one of the best and has been listed among the top 500 companies in India by Dun Bradstreet. Blue Darts aviation arm received the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) Cargo Airline of the Year Merit Award in 2006. In the following year, Blue Dart was declared the Best Cargo Airline at the Express, Logistics and Supply Chain conclave. Over the years Blue Dart ha achieved SUPERBRAND Status, 6 times in a row, Pursuing Business growth and Expansion Blue Dart already has an aggressive market share plans which aim to increase its market share both in air and ground express divisions. For this, Blue Dart will have to grow faster than the industry. Blue dart has already identified some growth levers. One of these is adding lot of new products. The company has been regularly introducing new products such as the latest Go Green carbon neutral service and it intends to continue. The other growth lever is the sectoral focus there are certain sectors that do not get impacted by a slowdown sectors like health sciences and the spare parts segment of the auto sector. Third, Blue Dart is focussing on verticals which are high-growth verticals like e-commerce, where in it is targeting a large market share. Moreover, the company has also identified small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as another growth lever. For a company, which has probably focussed more on our large customers, SMEs thus offer an opportunity. Finally, the company is looking at geographic expansion. It intends to reach out to those towns and cities where it currently does not have any presence. Also, prior to this, in smaller cities, the company was more focussed on the in-bound side. It then realised that a lot of these tier-II and tier-III cities have a lot of out-bound potential. These provide additional opportunity for business expansion. Looking ahead Blue Dart Express net profit declines 19.47% in the March 2012 quarter Blue Dart faces the challenges of increase in fuel cost, inadequate infrastructure, and increasing competition. But of these the biggest challenges is Infrastructure of both air and surface. Space at airports, airside and city-side infrastructure are often inadequate. In addition, parking bays, air-side/city-side access and traffic congestion adversely impact costs as well as service quality. Air express companies are constrained by the sizes of the facilities at the airports, as they have remained the same while the loads have increased many folds. It is estimated that though 70% of the freight transportation in India is through roads, National Highways constitute merely 2% of the total road network in India. Fuel prices are also a concern. In an industry, where space is a highly perishable commodity, any disruption in services, due to either natural disasters or manufactured reasons, affects us adversely, as the days capacity inventory is lost forever. Exhibit Financial Summary of the last five years Particulars 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Income from Operati

An Investigation into the Effect of Organisation on Memory

An Investigation into the Effect of Organisation on Memory Research Previous research has been done by other psychologists into the affect of organisation on memory. In 1953 Bousfield asked participants to try and learn 60 words consisting of 4 categories, (animals, peoples names, professions and vegetables) with 15 examples of each all mixed up. Bousfield found that when participants free recalled (recalled in any order) they tended to cluster similar items, Eg; if someone recalled onion it was very likely that other vegetables followed. Although participants had not been told of the categories, the fact they recalled in clusters suggested that they had tried to organise the data. Bousfield called this trend categorical clustering. Another study took place in 1967 by Mandler, where subjects were given lists of random words and asked to sort them into a given number of categories (between 2 and 7). Once sorted the participants were asked to recall as many of the words as possible. The results showed that recall was poorest for those who used 2 categories and increased steadily by about 4 words per extra category. Those with 7 categories recalled approximately 20 more words than those who used 2. Mandler argued that the great number of categories used, the greater amount of organisation was imposed on the list. However my particular study is inspired and based on a later one by Bowers et al in 1969, in which data wads organised by conceptual hierarchy. In this study participants were required to learn a list of words which were arranged in a hierarchical structure. See appendix 1. The participants studied were split into 2 groups, on group were given the list in the correct hierarchical form, the other group were given the same words in a similar structure however the words were mixed up. Short-term memory is believed to have a capacity of 7 ±2 chunks of information, which can remain there for approximately 20 seconds without rehearsal. Chunking is a process that apparently increases the capacity of short-term memory by relating and combining the incoming information to knowledge that we already possess in long term memory. In chunking we organise information giving it a structure and meaning tit did not already have, so although we can only recall around 7 chunks a meaningful chunk can be very large Rationale ========= The results of Bowers study showed that the list organised by conceptual hierarchical order did indeed promote a higher recall of words than the list arranged in a random order. The organised list proved to have an average of 65% words recalled correctly whereas the disorganised list only recalled an average of 19% correctly. My study is based on the above conceptual hierarchy model. My model will mimic Bowers by having a main heading which splits into several subheadings in a hierarchical form, these headings will then have a list of appropriate words underneath. However, as Bower used the theme of minerals, splitting into categories such as alloys and metals etc. I am going to use the general theme of food splitting in fruits, salads and vegetables. Aim === The aim is to investigate the affect of organisation on memory by finding out if people remember more words from an organised list than they do from a disorganised list of words. Hypothesis ========== As there has been previous research into the affects of organisation on memory I will do a 1 tailed hypothesis.  ¨ People will remember more words from an organised list of words than from a disorganised, Null hypothesis ===============  ¨ There will be no difference between the number of words recalled from the organised list compared with the disorganised list. Any difference will be due to chance. Method Design ====== For this type of study into memory I will use an experimental method in the style of a laboratory experiment because I feel it is the most suitable method. It allows the precise control of variables and enables it to be replicated easily. It is the aim of this study to find out which variables are responsible for affecting memory. Its is only by the experimental method we can alter and control these variables. The design will be independent measures, which means that it consists of 2 groups of different individuals Therefore it is an independent measures design because we will obviously need 2 separate groups of individuals those who do the organised list and those who do the disorganised. The task takes place in the recreational centre in the college. This is in the participants own settings rather than in a laboratory. This should reduce the stress and pressure of the situation and promote natural behaviour. Variables ========= The variables are controlled whether the participant is given the organised list or the disorganised list to memorize.  ¨ Independent variable The independent variable is the factor which I have manipulated and controlled. In this case it is whether the list of words is organized into categories or whether it is disorganized.  ¨ Dependant variable The dependant variable is what is affected by the independent variable, it is also measurable. This is how successfully people remember. I can measure the dependent variable by recording how many words are recalled. *The two lists contain the same words, Universal words were chosen for the lists so that no one would have any expertise or advantage over anyone else. The theme of food is a universal topic that everyone has certain degree of knowledge about, less obvious everyday foods were also used to prevent people simply guessing at common foods. Sample and Participants ======================= In order to conduct my research I will need some people to study. The participants used are called a sample. The type of sample I have chosen to use is called an opportunity sample. This means that I will use anyone that is available at the time the experiment is conducted providing they are over the age of 16. I chose this method because it is the most convenient; I will study a total of 40 people. 20 will do the organised list (consisting of 10 male and 10 female) and the other 20 will do the disorgansied list (also consisting of 10 male and 10 female). The participants will all be students of Stafford College, therefore should be of similar ages and social background. Apparatus =========  ¨ Organized list Appendix 2  ¨ Disorganized list Appendix 3  ¨ Blank paper  ¨ Pen  ¨ Stopwatch Ethics ======  ¨ Participants must be over 16 years of age.  ¨ Participants should give informed consent to take part.  ¨ Confidentiality is of the utmost importance no names will be recorded  ¨ Subjects are free to withdrawn from the study at any point, even after it has been completed they can request their results are not used.  ¨ To avoid any psychological harm or damage to self-esteem, participants should be praised and thanked for taking part.  ¨ Subjects will be fully debriefed to the true nature of the study after completion. Procedure ========= The study is carried out in the recreational area of a college. Myself and my fellow researcher will approach students and by following the standard instructions (Appendix 4) will ask them if they would mind participating in the study. If they agree then they will be provided with either an organised list or a disorganised list of words to memorise. The participants are given 2 minutes to study the list of words, this is then taken off them and another 2 minutes is given for them to free recall and write down as many words as they can remember on a blank piece of paper. When this time is up each participant is fully debriefed. Each potential participant is approached addressed debriefed the same way using the prepared standardized instructions (appendix 4) This is so that what I say to each person doesnt have an influence on their behaviour or their ability to recall data. Controls All variables excluding the independent variable must be controlled and kept consistent for each participant. This will ensure the results obtained are as accurate and reliable as possible.  ¨ Each participant is given the same duration to memorize and recall the data, namely 2 minutes  ¨ The task will be carried out in the recreational area of the college for each participant.  ¨ The researcher will communicate with the participant using the prepared standardized instructions so all participants are treated the same.  ¨ Each participant will be debriefed and thanked in the same manner using the standardized instructions. Table of Results - The tables below show the number of words recalled by each participant for both the organized and disorganized list. Organized List Disorganized List Participant No. Words recalled Participant No. Words recalled 1 16 1 6 2 16 2 6 3 17 3 7 4 14 4 7 5 17 5 5 6 15 6 6 7 14 7 6 8 16 8 5 9 15 9 6 10 16 10 7 11 16 11 6 12 12 12 5 13 15 13 6 14 16 14 4 15 14 15 5 16 17 16 7 17 14 17 6 18 13 18 7 19 18 19 7 20 16 20 6 Measures of Central Tendency - Organized List Disorganized List Mean 15.35 6 Median 16 6 Mode 16 6 Range 6 3 15.35  ¾Ã‚ ¾ = 0.697 * 100 70% is the average number of words recalled from the organized list. 22 6  ¾Ã‚ ¾ = 0.272 * 100 27% is the average number of words recalled from the disorganized list. 22 Results Analysis The results displayed in the table clearly show that when words are arranged in an organized structure it does improve memory and the ability to store and recall information. The average number of words recalled from the organized list is 15.35, thats 70% of all the words recalled. Whereas the list arranged in a random order only recalled an average of 6 words, thats only 27% of the total words recalled. These figures show what an obvious effect organization imposes on memory. It seems to apparently increase memory capacity. Short-term memory has a limited capacity of approximately 7 ± 2 slots of information. This is supported by the fact that an average of 6 words were recalled from the disorganized list. However an average of 15 words were recalled from the disorganized list, this is much more data than can be stored in short term memory. This is evidence that a process called chunking took place. Chunking is a process which involves relating and combining information to knowledge already stored in long term memory. This apparently increases the capacity of short term memory by giving data a structure and meaning it did not already process therefore increasing the size of a meaningful chunk. So although we only have the ability to store 7 ± 2 slots of information in STM, A slot can be very large. In the case of the organized list, chunking would most likely occur by relating and combining the information into the already structured groups of salads, fruits and vegetables. From the results I have obtained I can confidently conclude that my hypothesis can be accepted that a greater number of words are indeed recalled from an organized list compared with the same list of words in a random order. I can therefore reject my null hypothesis that the results produced were not due to chance but due to the structure that organization imposes. Discussion -  ¨ Implications of the study My results support the hypothesis that people do indeed recall more words from an organized list than from a disorganized list. The average number of words recalled from the organized list was 15.35 compared to just 6 from the disorganized list, so this is clearly true. My study was based on a previous study by Bowers in 1969; The results I produced are comparable to those obtained by Bowers. Table comparing the result of my study and Bowers study My Study Bowers Study Average words recalled % of Words Average words recalled % of Words Organized 16.35 70% 16.9 65% Disorganized 6 27% 4.94 19% The results are quite similar although my results have a higher percentage of words recalled for both the organized and disorganized list compared to Bowers results, however it must be taken into account that more words were involved in Bowers list: 26 compared to the 22 words used on my list. This will have an affect on memory as the participant is challenged to remember more words. Also different themes were used, Bower used that of minerals Whereas mine involved food. This could affect the ability to recall especially if some of Bowers participants had more specialized knowledge then others, the same can be said for the theme of food. With these factors in mind, on the whole my results are similar to those obtained by Bowers.  ¨ Validity The study does show that organisation can aid how effectively we remember data and can be regarded as accurate and reliable. However the experimental method that was used lacks in ecological validity. Although the study took place in a recreational area, so therefore in the participants own settings, it is not however a natural everyday scenario to need to remember words in this manner, it is an artificial situation. Apart from these factors I did attempt to make the test as valid as possible. For example I tried to use everyday universal words that people would be familiar with and no one would have any particular advantage or knowledge over anyone else. Also I tried to make the variables as clear as possible because variables can affect peoples memory ie. Whether they are given the organised or disorganised list, However it is crucial that they werent told what the list is as itd give the participant some insight into the true nature of the experiment and give them an advantage. Overall, I think that my study is a good representation of the affect organisation has on memory.  ¨ Improving Validity To improve the validity of this research it needs to be performed in a more realistic scenario, an idea f this would be to change the method to make it more valid. I could do this by doing my research in the form of exam revision so it would be more like a field experiment. I could do this by creating a situation in which 2 groups are given one week to study for a small test. One group is encouraged to revise using an organised method, structured into categories and subheadings, whereas the other group are left to their own methods. Another idea is to use the same method used by Rubin and Olsen. They tried to create a valid test by asking university students to recall professor and they subjects they taught by giving one group an organised list to study and the other a list in random order.  ¨ Reliability I used the experimental method in the style of a laboratory experiment. This method is usually very reliable and accurate as it allows manipulation and full control over the variables (i.e. Whether the participant is given the organized or disorganized list) I can be fairly sure that if I repeated my research I would get very similar results to what I have obtained. I had strict controls and kept factors constant, such as time to memorize and recall, this should ensure that results recorded are accurate. I also used a set of standardized instructions and procedure which I followed when asking a student to participate, this was to make sure that what I said to each person didnt have any effect on their ability to recall words. However, the sampling method used called opportunity sampling can be seen as biased because the researcher chooses who to take part and who doesnt.  ¨ Improving Reliability To improve reliability I could have used the sampling technique of matched groups. This consists of 2 groups of people which are matched by age gender background etc. i.e. for every person there is someone to match them in the opposite group, Also I could use a wider range of participants of different ages and people from different parts of the country (they would still need to be matched for the other group) Also I could test a larger number of people than 20 per list.  ¨ Generalization of Findings A generalization could be made from my results that organization does indeed prove to increase the capacity of memory and the ability to recall. However it needs to be taken into account that the study was conducted in one small area and participants were all students of similar age and social background, so it can be argued that it is unreasonable and inaccurate to generalize and apply the results to everyone. For example, it would not be reasonable to apply the results of a small select group of young adults to the older generation. The study on the whole was not a natural scenario so it isnt reasonable to conclude that it is how people would behave in real life.  ¨ Application to Everyday Life This study could be applied to help people in everyday life. Some ideas of how it could be used is to aid in exam revision for example, by revising from notes arranged in an organised manner should organize the date in the brain and promote better recall in exams and therefore better exam results. Another idea is that it could help people with learning difficulties, if they learn from material arranged in an organized and structured format using subheadings etc it will give it a structure and meaning it did not already have and it should be easier to learn and store the information.

Be The Best You Can Be :: Philosophy of Education Statement Teaching Essays

Be The Best You Can Be A person begins to learn from the moment they enter the earth and do not stop learning until they die. As an educator I feel it will be my job to teach my students to be self-motivated learners. Eventually my students will have to learn new skills in jobs and in life without a teacher there to guide them. In my elementary classroom creating self-motivated learners will be my ultimate goal. In order to do this I will have to use a variety of teaching philosophies and approaches, effective classroom management, and I will have to build relationships with my students. I would describe my teaching philosophy as eclectic. I find that components of the five major philosophies, essentialism, progressivism, perennialism, existentialism, and behaviorism, fit into how I feel about teaching. The essentials such as respect for each other and the basic subjects, such as reading and math, are very important to me as a teacher. Individuality, active participation, cooperative learning and developing social skill are some of the progressive ideas I will use in my classroom. For my students to become self-motivated learners they will need to be able to reason, as suggested in perennialism. Reasoning will help them to work through problems and make decisions. Existentialism states that students should accept responsibility for their actions and should be self-paced. These ideas are important to my philosophy of self-motivated learners because my goal will be to create students who can do what this philosophy states. Behaviorism supports the use of positive and negative reinforcement, both of which I believe will be essential to my classroom. These five theories put together describe my eclectic teaching philosophy. I believe that using a variety of teaching approaches and methods will be crucial in classroom. America is a very diverse country that is home to many different types of people, therefore, I except for my classroom to be fully diverse also. With many different types of people there will be come many different types of learning styles. And of course my class will include children with learning disabilities and with the movement of full inclusion, my class will contain students with other types of disabilities.

Stepfamilies and Divroce Essay -- essays research papers

â€Å"Money, frequently cited as the biggest source of stress in family life, is often an even more challenging matter for members of stepfamilies† Statistically, in our world today, half of all marriages will end in divorce. About fifty-percent of our population will also live in a stepfamily environment. In other words, more than half of the American families today, are now or eventually will be in involved in one or more stepfamily situations during their life according to the U.S. Census Bureau in 1990. The â€Å"U.S. Bureau decided to discontinue providing estimates of marriage, divorce, and remarriage, except for those that are available from our current census. Thus many of our current estimates were derived from the 1990 census and earlier sources† (Step Family Fact Sheet, 1). Therefore the exact statistics in regards to stepfamilies today may be more or less from the estimated fifty- percent. Stepfamilies nowadays consist of many family members and are very complex. â€Å"Today’s stepfamily consists of you, me, your kids, my kids, our kids, your ex’es, my ex’es, even our ex’es new mates, and all the kin of these various folks. Stepfamilies give a new meaning to the concept of complex family relationships† (Hildebrand, 255). For that reason, the interactions within this family unit can be complicated and uncomfortable. There are many changes, positive and/or negative, that stepfamilies try to adapt to. For instance, adults take on new parenting roles and children take on new roles as well, such as a new stepparent or sibling. The parents and/or children may be required to relocate into a completely different house in a completely new neighborhood or city, which leads to separation issues with their nuclear family. With all these issues at hand it is obvious that this can be very stressful for everyone. Even more, this causes even more str esses, such as money. An ecological factor such as economics can have a huge impact on stepfamilies. This means financial decisions within a stepfamily have more people contributing to economic decisions. In turn, this can lead to more rules, emotions, and financial wishes and requests. When a couple decides to marry, especially for their second, third, or fourth time, it only brings in past experiences into the picture. Both spouses in the stepfamily most likely are in the work force as well. This also leads to the assumption th... ...ely on each other, and all members of a stepfamily adapt to rely on each other. As the entire family is going through change. In conclusion, money is powerful in our society and always has been throughout history. Therefore money has a major impact on families and research show’s that it may even have a larger impact on stepfamilies. References Clark, Janet A., Leigh, Sharon. Financial Decision Making in Stepfamilies. Retrieved from http://www.muextension.missori.edu/xplor/hesguide/ humanrel/gh6603.htm Facts and FAQ’s- Stepfamily Fact Sheet. Retrieved from http://www.saafamilies.org/faqs/index.htm Fletcher, N. Cynthia, (1992). Living in Stepfamilies: Making Financial Decisions. Iowa State University. Hildebrand, Verna (2000). Knowing and Serving Diverse Families (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Upper Saddle River. Klein, David M., White, James M.(1996). Family Theories. Pill, Cynthia J.(1990). Stepfamilies: Redefining the Family. Family Relations, 39, 2, 186-201. Stepfamilies: Meeting Challenges and Building Strengths (1995). Research Review. Retrieved from http://montana.edu/wwwhd/family/ f1195res.html Keri Smith CFD335-Booth Stepfamilies: Economic Factors