Why Should People Commit Crime And Labeling Theory From A...

Sociologists have done thousands of research studies on deviance; an action or behavior that is out of the norm. However, the question that they are most intrigued with is; what causes a person to commit a deviant act? There are two theories that are in debate, anomie-strain theory, and labeling theory. In this essay, I am going to compare and contrast the two theories and explain how tattooing has become a stigma in today s society. I am going to discuss three similarity views; first they share ties with social strain in deviance, by the way, society is structured. Second, they both deal with crime among minority group as well as crime rates in the United States. Third, both anomie-strain and labeling theory focus on the deviant behavior regarding the individual social and cultural status and how society response to these types of deviant behaviors. I am going to explain Robert K. Merton’s theory on why people commit crime and labeling theory from a sociological perspective, and how people respond to the actions that people make. Even though the two theories are similar they play different roles in society in dealing with deviance behavior. Anomie strain theory can be described as the failure to achieve certain goals, which can lead an individual to commit deviant acts. Emilie Durkheim, a sociologist defines anomie as lack of normal ethical or social standards which leads relationships with people to become frayed. Sociologist Merton applied Emilie Durkheim theory in theShow MoreRelatedThe Sociological Perspective On Medical Conditions1687 Words   |  7 Pagesbiomedical perspective is used to explain various medical conditions. This can include, but is not limited to using an individual’s body and pathogens to explain poor health. On a different note, the sociological perspective takes on a different approach to explain medical conditions. The sociological perspective focuses on the external influences, rather than then internal influences, such as the social environment, institutions, and relationsh ips to assess and explain illness. The sociological perspectiveRead MoreConflict and Labeling Theory Essay1337 Words   |  6 PagesConflict and Labeling Theory Labeling theory is concerned less with that causes the onset of an initial delinquent act and more with the effect that official handling by police, courts, and correctional agencies has on the future of youths who fall into the court system. Labeling theory states that youths violate the law for a number of reasons; these reasons are poor family relationships, neighborhood conflict, peer pressure, psychological and biological abnormality and delinquent learning experiencesRead MoreWhy People Commit The Crime Essay1538 Words   |  7 PagesCriminological theory is the explanation of criminal behavior, as well as the behavior of juveniles, attorneys, prosecutors, judges, correctional personnel, victims, and other actors in the criminal justice process. Criminological theory is important because most of what is done in criminal justice is based on criminological theory, whether we or the people who propose and implement policies based on the theory know it or not. In criminology, exa mining why people commit the crime is very importantRead MoreTheoretical Perspectives of Race and Ethnicity757 Words   |  4 PagesTheoretical Perspectives of Race and Ethnicity Rebecca Spain ETH/125 April 4th, 2010 Melissa Terrell The three sociological theoretical perspectives of race and ethnicity are the functionalist, conflict, and labeling perspectives. The functionalist perspective is the perspective that shows how parts of society work in a structured manner to keep the survival of a society. The belief is that if a certain part does not contribute to society’s survival in an effective manner that it willRead MoreEssay about SOC 1011212 Words   |  5 Pages SOC101-Intro to Sociology March 2013 1. Part A. Describe the sociological concept of deviance. Briefly explain each of the approaches to explaining deviance (functionalist perspective, interactionist perspective, conflict perspective), telling which is most convincing to you and why. Provide examples from your own experience as appropriate. 2. Part B. Analyzing your own life; discuss your status in terms of ascribed status, achieved status, and master status. For each of these statusesRead MoreEssay A General Theory of Crime2134 Words   |  9 PagesA General Theory of Crime (Michael R. Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi) Term Paper Soc 203 Prof. Ortiz 12th December 2002 Crime is a serious issue in the United States and research shows that it is running rampant, and its effects are felt in all socioeconomic levels. Each economic class has its own crime rates and types of crime. It is a mistake to think of crime as a lower class problem. Crime is a problem for all people. The lower classes commit crime for survival while the upper classRead More A General Theory of Crime Essay2067 Words   |  9 PagesCrime is a serious issue in the United States. Research shows that crime is running rampant and its effects are felt in all socioeconomic levels. Each economic class has its own crime rates and types of crime. It is a mistake to think of crime as a lower class problem. Crime is a problem for all people. The lower classes commit crime for survival while the upper class commits crime to supplement capital and maintain control. Research also highlight that middle class crime is the most popularRead MoreEssay on Theories of Crime and Criminal Activity1488 Words   |  6 PagesTheories of Crime and Criminal Activity Every theory of crime has at least 2-3 meta-theoretical levels above it. The fundamental issues are usually addressed at the approach level, and are often called the assumptions, or starting points, of a theory, although the term assumptions more strictly refers to the background or domain boundaries one can draw generalizations about. Above the approach level is the Perspective level, the largest unit of agreement within a scientific community, andRead MoreDeviance Is A Violation Of Social Norms1637 Words   |  7 PagesImagine someone rich or powerful committing crimes without the fear of serving consequences. The crime may include murder, robbery, or stealing. Deviance is a label for an action or behavior that violates social norms. Social norms are rules or expectations which usually guide members of society. Deviance is nonconformity to these norms. Social norms can vary from culture to culture and is defined in numerous ways. Many researchers believe that deviance is a violat ion of social norms. Some believeRead MoreFunctionalist View on Crime1262 Words   |  5 PagesSociologists who study Crime and Deviance examine cultural norms, how they will or might change over time and how they are enforced. Deviance and social norms vary greatly among different societies, communities and times. Crime is considered an activity which breaks the immediate laws of the society an individual is a part of. The nature that determines whether and act is one of crime or deviance is clearly outlined by a set of formal laws which individuals are expected to follow. Deviance on the

Essay about The Joy Luck Club - 1355 Words

The Joy Luck Club 1. From the film The Joy Luck Club, Chinese girls were supposed to act obedient and respectful to their parents and elders. This included the girls having to abide by each and every Chinese tradition that their parents instilled in them. Girls were also expected to be quiet and considerate to their parents and elders. They were only supposed to speak when spoken to at all times. Acting out against anything their parents enforced upon them was completely unacceptable. 2. Much like to their parents and elders, Chinese girls were supposed to be quiet and obedient to their husbands and mothers-in-law. Girls were supposed to respect, and not openly question the decisions that were made in the household. These†¦show more content†¦This eventually led to her committing suicide in an attempt to give her daughter the strength that she lacked. Secondly, these women, especially the latter wives and the concubines, lose a lack of identity. For example, when these women marry, they are referred to as which wife they are. Even the wives refer to each other as first wife, second wife, etc. 5. As with Chinese women, slave women in the U.S. experienced complete losses of power over their lives. Slaves were forced to live their lives to the orders of their masters just as these Chinese wives were forced to live their lives to the orders of their husbands and higher wives. By given no chance to survive by themselves and maintain an identity, these women suffered from great losses of self-esteem and hope. As far as non-slave women in the U.S. are concerned, their lives are comparable to those lives of Chinese women, as well. Non-slave women in the times of slavery and Chinese women both experienced great inequities and discriminations. Women in both situations were given very few rights and chances to survive by themselves. Many of these women chose to give up their freedom and power for the protection and secure lifestyle that a man could provide, despite how damaging it may be to their identity and self-esteem. 6. Sex-role expectations were a very important issue in the relationship between An-Mei and her daughter. Throughout the mothers life, she was expected toShow MoreRelatedSummary Of The Joy Luck Club 853 Words   |  4 PagesExam Project Process Check #1 Book: The Joy Luck Club Author: Amy Tan By: Bala Sundaram Themes: A) The Joy luck Club presents a couple of themes but one of which, relates to an issue that is affecting many immigrant families who bring up their kids in foreign countries. In forwards, the difficulty in speaking and translating another language.The mothers and daughters in the book have difficulty in communicating their ideas and feelings with one another.The problems associated with communicatingRead MoreJoy Luck Club Analysis981 Words   |  4 Pagesas well.† (Tan 213). The Joy Luck club is a book containing sixteen stories told by four mother-daughter pairs, as well as four anecdotes about no particular character. The mothers are all Chinese Immigrants. Each mothers story details their experiences in China, while the daughters talk about life in America. The exception to this is with the Woo family, where the mother, Suyuan, has passed away, and the daughter, June, tells her stories for her. In ‘The Joy Luck Club’, Amy Tan uses the storiesRead MoreJoy Luck Club Essay1722 Words   |  7 PagesIn the novel, Joy Luck Club, we see Waverly Jong and June Woo’s competitiveness when Waverly becomes a child chess prodigy and June struggles to master the piano. This rivalry reflects how success and worth are depicted in this novel. A mother’s success would be encouraging or coercing their child to master a particular hobby and to improve constantly. A daughter’s worth would be determined by the daughter’s talents, and whether or not the daughter brings a good reputation for the family. We canRead MoreThe Joy Luck Club Characterization1301 Words   |  6 Pages Characterization is a widely-used literary tool in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club. Specifically, each mother and daughter is a round character that undergoes change throughout the novel. Characterization is important in the novel because it directly supports the central theme of the mother-daughter relationship, which was relevant in Tan’s life. T an grew up with an immigrant mother, and Tan expresses the difficulties in communication and culture in the stories in her book. All mothers in the book areRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Joy Luck Club 937 Words   |  4 Pagesup together. Towards the end of the novel, a gathered opinion can be made on the three characters true to all the viewpoints. The Joy Luck Club is a movie, based off a novel written by Amy Tan, displaying the struggles of a group of Chinese women and their daughters. The women grew like a family when they moved from China to San Francisco. The woman in the joy luck club all experienced rape, domestic violence or being abandoned by their family early in adulthood. Christina, Ida and Suyuan all liveRead MoreThe Joy Luck Club Is The Power Of Storytelling1054 Words   |  5 PagesA recurring theme in The Joy Luck Club is the power of storytelling. Throughout the book, stories are used as a way to socialize, teach lessons and warn about dangers. The article à ¢â‚¬Å"The Psychological Power of Storytelling† by Pamela B. Rutledge explains how stories are a form of communication. Rutledge says, â€Å"Stories have always been a primal form of communication.† From cavemen drawing pictures of stories on walls, to bedtime stories being read to children, sharing experiences through storiesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Joy Luck Club 1700 Words   |  7 PagesChurchill English 2 Honors, Period 0 6 September 2015 Reconciliation Swan feathers. Hopes and dreams. Broken relationships and healing. Though these concepts might initially appear incongruous, they are all depicted in the book The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan and The Joy Luck Club film directed by Wayne Wang. Both modes of interpretation show how the mothers help their daughters solve their problems by explaining the formers’ pasts. However, while the book leaves each of the daughters’ stories open endedRead MoreThe Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan841 Words   |  3 PagesIn the Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, tells stories of four Chinese mothers and four Chinese-American daughters and their mother-daughter relationship. The four mothers met in a San Francisco church in 1949. Suyuan Woo, founder of the Joy Luck Club, convinced the other mothers An-Mei Hsu, Lindo Jong, and Yingying St. Clair to join the club. The club would meet every week at one of the mother’s house where they eat food, play mahjong, and brag about their daughters. The Chinese -American daughters tellRead MoreThe Joy Luck Club : Breaking Barriers1075 Words   |  5 PagesGrace Pating Mr. Devine English 203H 8 September 2015 The Joy Luck Club: Breaking Barriers When people struggle to communicate with one another or disagree, the usual response is to ask questions and make an effort to fix the issue. Unfortunately, owning up to responsibility can be much more difficult when the argument is with a close friend or family member. Coming from two time periods, this is a prevalent issue for the women of the Woo family, especially since both individuals are intolerablyRead MoreThe Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan963 Words   |  4 PagesThe novel The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan shows the past and present experiences of several women including An-mei Hsu, the mother of Rose Hsu Jordan. Beginning at a young age, An-mei has to endure many situations. Her grandmother tells her that her mother is a ghost but she comes back to take care of her grandmother when she is ill. Due to the absence of her mother during her childhood years, she tries to be there for Rose as much as possible but is pushed away. An-mei believes she has nengkin, the

Partnership Vs Joint Venture-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignment

Question: Prepare a Consultative report that Critically analyses: The key features of a partnership as compared to those of a joint venture Legislation applicable to both the partnership and to the joint venture The differences between the two business structures The advantage and disadvantages of each method of business organisation Answer: Introduction In Australia, there are different forms of unincorporated business structures which can be selected by the parties, in order to carry forward their business. The two key options are that of partnership and joint venture. Making the decision between which one is the most suitable for the business of the person requires a comparison to be made between the available choices and to consider the different advantages and disadvantages of the two options. In the following parts, an attempt has been made to analyse which unincorporated business structure proves best for Xiaojing, Lance and Nick, particularly with regards to their herbal product business. Partnership vs. Joint Venture A partnership is a business arrangement which takes place between two or a higher number of parties, in order to carry on business in combined manner and to share the profits and losses in an equal manner. Joint venture on the other hand, refers to the business which is formed between two or a higher number of parties, but for a limited time period or for a specified purpose. Thus, joint venture can be deemed as a partnership undertaken for a limited time period or for undertaking only a particular task. This makes the ambit of partnership quite larger than that of a joint venture. A joint venture is formed where two different firms come together to run a common business for a limited time period; whereas a partnership is formed for carrying unified business as a going concern by different partners (Latimer, 2012). In Australia, each state and territory has their own partnership act, which applies over the partnerships undertaken in that jurisdiction. For instance, in the jurisdiction of New South Wales, the Partnership Act, 1892 is applicable; and for Victoria, the Partnership Act, 1958 applies (Australian Government, 2017). In Australia, a joint venture can be established in a contractual manner, as a corporate or in certain specified manners. The manner of formation of contract dictates the regulation of joint venture. When the same is formed in contractual manner, it is regulated through contract law; when it is drawn as a corporate, the Corporations Act, 2001 (Cth) applies; and depending upon the other form, the other laws apply (Handley, Knox, Davis, Caddy Zambotti, 2017). Hence, for joint ventures, there is no unified or particular law which applies, as is still present in cases of partnership, through different yet common partnership acts. In a partnership, the business of the partnership firm is carried on by the partners, whereas, in a joint venture, the business is carried on by the parties of the joint venture. A key feature of partnership firms is that minors can be partners in a partnership firm and thus, can obtain the benefits of the partnership firm. However, a minor cannot be a party to the joint venture. A partnership is formed with the aim of sustaining it for a long time and is deemed as a going concern; whereas the joint venture is made for a particular period (Gibson Fraser, 2014). The joint venture agreements usually cover a clause of the manner in which the joint venture is to be liquidated. It also provides the manner in which the profits (or losses) would be shared between the parties upon the completion of period of joint venture or upon the competition of the task for which the joint venture had been formed. So, a joint venture provides the manner of its end. The partnership on the other hand is e nded through dissolution of partnership firm, owing to the death of partners or a deadlock being the partners (Singh, 2015). It is important for a partnership to have a trade name, which is not an obligation for the joint venture. When it comes to the ascertainment of profits, the same is done in partnerships in an annual manner; and for joint ventures, it is done when the venture is ended or as per the term covered under the joint venture agreement. The valuation of the joint venture is done at its end, whilst the valuation of the partnership is done each time a new partner is added or an old partner leaves the partnership firm. It is obligatory to maintain separate books of accounts in cases of partnerships, whereas the same is not an obligation for the joint ventures. The aim of partnership is to earn profits, whereas in joint ventures, the key aim is to fulfil the venture which has been undertaken and simultaneously earn profits (Gabriel Marcus, 2010). Each form has its own advantages and disadvantages. In a partnership, the biggest drawback is that the partners have unlimited liability. This means that the partners can be made personally liable for the debts of the partnership. Apart from this, upon the death of all the partnership, the partnership comes to an end. Also, each partner is jointly and severally liable towards the partnership firm and the agency law makes the firm liable for the acts of the partners. However, there are a number of benefits of partnership in the sense that it is easy to establish and the cost of starting a partnership is very low; a higher resource availability is also attained both in financial and non financial terms, including the talent pool; there is a limit on external regulations; and the business of partners remains a private affair (Tasmania Government, 2017). A joint venture has benefits as it allows the capacity to be increased, allows new markets and distribution networks to be accessed, allows access to higher resources as two firms combine their resources; and also allows sharing risks and costs with the co-venture party. The drawbacks of joint venture include high cost of setting up; lack of clarity in responsibility; lack of proper leadership; and the lack of full interest of the parties owing to the same being carried on for a specified period (Invest Northern Ireland, 2017). Conclusion In the preceding parts, the discussion carried on highlighted the different aspects of partnership and joint venture. On the basis of the comparison carried on between the two forms, it is recommended to Xiaojing, Lance and Nick to opt for a partnership form for running their herbal product business, particularly due to the going concern status and the ease of formation of partnerships. References Australian Government. (2017). Partnership. Retrieved from: https://www.business.gov.au/info/plan-and-start/start-your-business/business-structure/business-structures-and-types/partnership Gabriel, J., Marcus, A. (2010). Financial Accounting. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill. Gibson, A., Fraser, D. (2014). Business Law 2014 (8th ed.). Melbourne: Pearson Education Australia. Handley, A., Knox, M., Davis, B., Caddy, M., Zambotti, L. (2017). Joint ventures in Australia: overview. Retrieved from: https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/0-616-8149?transitionType=DefaultcontextData=(sc.Default)firstPage=truebhcp=1 Invest Northern Ireland. (2017). Joint ventures and business partnerships. Retrieved from: https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/joint-venture-benefits-and-risks Latimer, P. (2012). Australian Business Law 2012 (31st ed.). Sydney, NSW: CCH Australia Limited. Singh, S. (2015). Difference Between Joint Venture and Partnership. Retrieved from: https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-joint-venture-and-partnership.html Tasmania Government. (2017). Partnership advantages and disadvantages. Retrieved from: https://www.business.tas.gov.au/starting-a-business/choosing-a-business-structure-intro/partnership-advantages-and-disadvantages

The Physical Education Teacher’s Role free essay sample

This essay will discuss the roles of a teacher in Physical Education, how their motivational practices and teaching styles can influence lifelong participation, how the different key stages of the National Curriculum for Physical Education (NCPE) affect the role of a teacher in their aims aim to promote health and lifelong participation, as well how government strategies have affected teacher practice. Although there is no specific for Lifelong Participation (LLP), Vanreusel (1997) suggests the basis of participation can be described as an activity that raises pulse and is enjoyable in nature. By continuing this from early childhood all the way through to adulthood and the later years of life, it establishes the lifelong link with participation in physical activity. A Physical educationalist can help promote a healthy active lifestyle and recruit people to the notion of participating for the rest of their lives by providing quality teaching and essentially through the use of motivational theory, which shall be touched upon later in the essay. We will write a custom essay sample on The Physical Education Teacher’s Role or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Many people group physical activity and physical education together. Physical activity is the movement of bodily parts that result in heart rate increase and expending of energy. There are differing types of physical activity, such as low, medium and high levels of intensity. These can be further grouped in to the type, such as individual and team based or recreational and competitive (Shimon, 2011). Hilton and Bramham (2008) propose physical activity can constitute non-sporting alternatives that still provide pleasure and fitness gains, such as walking the dog or gardening. They finish with the notion of sport and exercise being two ‘significant and meaningful forms of an overarching, generic concept’ (Hilton and Bramham, 2008: p167). In essence, it is a teacher’s role to maintain high levels of physical activity throughout a session, whilst also educating students through the physical. As cited in MacNamara et al. (2011) the UK Department of Education and Science pronounced in 1992 that promoting physical development and capability that ensured lifelong involvement via competitive and non-competitive physical activity was physical education’s purpose. Using the work of Shimon (2011) to help define Physical Education, he proposes by using physical activity as a process of learning, we mature the mind and body. Physical education plays a part in the holistic educational progression by aiding the development of children and adolescents in a physically active environment. Jenkinson and Benson (2009) summarises the subject of physical education, suggesting it is a tool to provide opportunities for learning of the physical and through the physical. It is also instrumental in developing domains such as psychomotor and cognitive. Shimon (2011) articulates that physical education is the only area of a school curriculum that focuses on lifelong skill acquisition and development. In addition to this, because the importance of quality instruction within the school setting has now intensified, the occupation should not be taken lightly. It is recognised that school based physical education programmes are pathways for children to acquire knowledge to lead healthy and active lifestyles (Wuest, 2006; Gao, Lee and Harrison, 2008). Teachers have a mandatory two hours a week of physical education that is expected to be high in quality. This can be achieved by engaging students’ personal emotions, resulting in intrinsic motivation to absorb knowledge and thrive in the learning environment. By providing a positive environment, it impacts on student’s motivation to continue involvement with sport and physical activity. NCPE The introduction of the National Curriculum for Physical Education in 1992 is seem as the biggest attempt of change to school based physical activity in England and Wales (Curtner-smith et al, 2001). Reasons for this relate to a shift in governmental thought in the direction they wanted physical education to head in. Previously, physical education was about improving athletic ability, a more military style approach. This meant that teachers predominantly required a good skills knowledge-base, with the primary role of helping students throw further, jump higher and run faster. A shift in focus meant teachers were being asked to develop students holistically, such as improving personal, social and communication skills (Mawer, 1993). The role of a teacher had altered due to the change in emphasis, and was now required to involve students in decision making processes, as this could help such cognitive abilities such as problem solving (Goldberger and Howarth, 1993). By helping the students appreciate the knowledge being passed on to them, it can have a positive effect regarding extra-curricular participation, potentially resulting in a festering love for sport and activity that will last a life time. Curtner-Smith et al (2001) argue that after a few years, the government intervened with the aims of the NCPE, which differed from views of the original task force and had now opted to head back towards a more performance based agenda. With another change in emphasis, confusion could be caused for teachers. Assuming teachers had made efforts to evolve their thinking and styles concurring with the new roles implemented by the original NCPE, this move could have triggered frustration for the teaching public. Despite these assumptions, data collected in two separate studies by Curtner-smith and colleagues (Curtner-Smith et al, 2001 and Curtner-Smith and Hasty, 1997) had shown the introduction of the NCPE had little or no effect on teaching behaviours. Direct styles of teaching remained common-place during the starting years of its implementation. This suggests that the sample of teachers had failed to adapt their roles for the benefit of their students. A central theme within the curriculum has been to encourage teachers to plan, deliver then evaluate sessions. This allows for critical reflection of performance. Teachers can assess what they are doing right, in terms of promoting the aims of the NCPE, and also where they are going wrong, i. e. are the students not engaging? Does the learning environment have the right ‘motivational climate’? Teaching styles Teaching styles in physical education found distinction thanks to the ‘Spectrum’ model proposed by Mosston (Mosston and Ashworth, 2002) many years ago. Mosstons Spectrum has been highly successful in underpinning the conceptualisation of teaching styles in many PE domains across the western hemisphere (Sicilia-Camacho and Brown, 2008). The ‘Spectrum’ was a timely notion as the need for a model on teaching styles was emphasized by Mawer (1993) after the inception of the newly formed NCPE in 1992. He suggested that a variety of approaches to teaching were required as teachers were now required to form professional relationships built on respect and coherence however primarily because of the terminology used in NCPE policy texts, which included â€Å"‘setting goals,’ ‘exploring and selecting outcomes,’ ‘refining’, ‘adapting’, ‘improvising’, ‘describing’, ‘comparing and contrasting’, ‘analysing’, ‘judging’ and ‘reviewing’† (p. ). With a broader scope of achievement for pupils, styles differing from those previously more reproductive in nature (teacher-centred) required evolution to a more productive in nature (learner-centred) (Curtner-Smith et al, 2001). Failure to implement such procedures could have resulted in the probable inability of a) teachers to facilitate the required learning wanted by the government, because of a more autocratic approach, where teachers would tell, shout and demand things from a student rather than ask questions regarding improvement or improvisation, and b) pupils to achieve the personal and social skills, as well as problem solving abilities proposed by following the NCPE (Mawer, 1993). Hall (2004) suggests that having a PE department geared towards the same goals and outcomes regarding the ‘Why? ’, ‘What? ’ and ‘How? of PE teaching will lead to a successful educational programme because of the understanding teachers garner for their roles. These practices form high standards of teaching and help provide year on year continuity in classrooms, sports halls and playing fields throughout many schools that have optimised these ideals. Methods of providing high quality, inspirational teaching in the physical environment consist of non-stop, challenging and enjoyable activities. Teachers who appreciate the important part they play in a child’s education can help form confidence and motivation in youths, which provides a platform for lifelong participation. If children are to reap the benefits of a healthy active lifestyle during our school years, in to the remainder of their adult life, Caune et al (2012) view it as an important factor that schools and teachers establish a lasting impression regarding the significance of lifelong participation to students. This is achieved by teachers educating and motivating students to engage in term-time physical education as well as extra-curricular activities, which can help prepare them for a life of physical activity (Corbin, 2002). Methods of further involvement for the recommendation of extra-curricular activities can be simply asking students if they are currently participating in any. Also, by researching local sports teams and opportunities to become involve in extra physical activity, a small bulleting could be produced and introduced to students, providing contact numbers or websites, thus allowing them to take responsibility of the situation regarding participation. These club links can provide greater positive exposure to sport, motivating young people to remain in physical activity after they have left school. Motivation When looking at lifelong participation, it is simple to see the underpinning philosophy of what is required from a person to participate in an activity for the duration of their life, motivation (Caune et al, 2012). Concerns have been raised over the past decade or so, regarding the low level of physical activity participated in by the younger public. As a result, the motivation of students has come to the forefront of investigative research, prompting many scholars to look at the setting of physical education (Caune et al, 2012). While Roberts (1992) offers a complex definition, suggesting that â€Å"motivation and achievement behaviour are manifestations of cognitions and thought processes within dynamic social contexts† (p. vii). A more user-friendly definition is provided by Shimmin (2011), that motivation are the feelings of want and desire that push us to act on something. By applying this to physical education, he then draws on many factors that can influence a student’s reason for participation; interest in a task, belief in own ability as well as striving to improve ability are but a few. Furthermore, the numerous identities possessed by young people indicate learning can be achieved in a variety of ways and means (MacDonald, 2002), thus requiring many different strategies to provide the environment to do so for each and every child. Learning and motivation go hand in hand. When motivation is provided by a teacher within the learning environment, it facilitates engagement. While it is impossible to make people motivated to learn, it is possible to affect the ‘motivational climate’ of a learning environment using motivational theories and strategies (Shimon, 2011). Physical educationalists should always remain enthusiastic, engaging and confident. A teacher lacking in confidence will be the demise of all thoroughly planned sessions, clearly because a student will have little or no faith in what he is being told by his teacher if they are not seen to be confident in their delivery. By assessing the situation and monitoring how your students are engaging with your lessons using a certain theory or strategy, you can plan sessions and alter feedback and body language to suit the needs of individuals, thus potentially increasing motivation. Theories can be considered as a toolbox, where by if you identify a problem, you can go back to the toolbox (theoretical framework) and provide a solution with the available tools. Self-Efficacy Self-efficacy is a motivational theory related to expectations, which is situation specific. When considering a task in hand, students consider confidence in their own ability before undertaking a task. Roberts (1992) speaks about adaptive and maladaptive achievement behaviours in this strand of motivational theory. When weighing one’s situation up, if they consider their ability is high enough to achieve a positive outcome, then adaptive behaviours occur. This is where individuals are fully committed, consider the task worthy of effort and will persist until completion. Maladaptive achievement behaviours occur at the opposite end of the confidence ladder. When fear of failure, due to perceived ability, is rife students usually avoid effort and perseverance. This is critiqued and applied concisely by Gao, Lee and Harrison (2008), who give key factors behind how self-efficacy is produced. They suggest the procedure is a complicated cognitive process of four key areas; past mastery experience (have I been successful with this action before? ), vicarious experience (am I as capable as the person I am seeing complete the task? ), verbal persuasion (Is the teacher breeding confidence in me? Using positive reinforcement and/or attribution theory), and somatic, emotional states (is the student feelings anxious or nervous about the situation or in the environment? ). The model combines the managements of confidence and expectations. Analysing the concluding paragraphs of Gao, Lee and Harrison (2008) I can summarise that by applying theory to practice and creating realistic yet relatively high expectancy goals for individuals can avoid creating a sense of incompetence. To differentiate for a mixed ability group, it would be sensible to have a low starting threshold, where success is guaranteed, thus giving every child positive past mastery experiences (the starting point of self-efficacy). Using a student with low ability for group demonstration can positively affect a whole class, as it breeds confidence in that individual, as well as impacting the vicarious experiences of the rest of the group. For stimulus response to be effective, praising students is not enough. It is imperative that value is added by specifically stating how they achieved success, such as â€Å"that was a good jump because your knees were bent and then you drove through your heels and fully extended your knees and hips†. By stating the positives outcomes at the start of a program which students are about to commence, it can help develop a vested interest, adding perceived value to task or outcomes. It is important to realise that motivation is borne from self-efficacy, not vice versa. Government Efforts Green (2002) infers efforts in the UK made by the government to encourage lifelong participation and promote health, the supposed main role of school based physical activity, are visible by way of policies produced from the government (see, for example, DOH, 1999; NAO, 2000). This is backed up by Flintoff’s (2003) assumptions that since the start of the 1990’s, the younger public has had an emphasis progressively placed on them regarding UK sport policy. The early 1990’s reoccurs as a turning point in the government’s emphasis towards sport in schools, with Collins and Butler (2000) proposing no real investment had been made before this time, reverberating solid policy commitments from the Labour government with both Major and Blair at the helm. Flintoff (2003) also states the reasons for this as being a rise in levels of childhood dormancy, resulting in issues such as obesity. The government further acknowledged that an interest in other activities outside of sport and physical activity are an important factor behind drop-out rates and increasing levels of inactivity (DCMS and Strategy Unit, 2002). Coupled with a shortage in international success, the government has reacted by aiming an excess of policies and initiatives geared towards young peoples and increasing their participation levels. They have also produced announcements which commonly refer to PE as vital in educating and providing prospects for young people to gain independence in activity for the rest of their lives (Harris and Penney, 2000). Houlihan (2000) argues the value of producing so many policies and initiatives, as this has led to the saturation of ‘policy space’. He suggests that public policy is now a congested field, where each member is challenging for position over implementation of future issues. Another significant implication of ‘policy space’ progressively running out, it can lead to issues of individual policies becoming inter-reliant, whereby the effects of one policy can produce implications for the functioning of other policies (Houlihan, 2000), having an adverse effect on achieving their aims, which in some cases are increasing lifelong participation. One such policy, the School Sports Co-ordinator (SSCO), was a multi-departmental design. It linked with the Government’s efforts to create combined thinking, â€Å"in this case between sport (the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, DCMS) and education (the Department of Education and Skills, DfES)† (Flintoff, 2003. p232). The purpose of the role was to create opportunities in sport, by developing links between the physical education delivered in schools and the local sports clubs belonging to the broader community. The government has made efforts to bring teachers to the forefront of developing the strategies for SSCO, which appears a sensible decision, as they are the deliverers on the front line of the initiative. If the School Sport Co-ordinator programme is to achieve the aims set out, then professionals taking the post will require adequate knowledge of young people, the different motivational practices and be able to positively change attitudes towards physical activity (Flintoff, 2003). When given greater opportunity to experience a wider range of activities during younger life, this can have a positive effect in increasing lifelong participation as I shall look at in the next section. Early learning experiences Work from Kirk (2005) debates that while early learning experiences are critical to continuing involvement in physical activity, only a select few groups of the population are exposed to quality experiences in both schools and community clubs. Those lacking exposure to such experience range from youths with a lower socioeconomic background, girls and the young disabled. In contrast to young people from a higher socioeconomic background, boys and the able bodied, the aforementioned groups miss out on quality experiences, potentially affecting introduction to a rich volume of sports and activities that could impact lifelong participation. Kirk (2005) later suggests primary schools are inadequately equipped to give children the competency, insights and inspiration to progress in to secondary schools with the ambition to be involved in sports for the rest of their lives. A lack of quality early learning experiences in primary schools leaves little chance of the specialist PE teachers in a secondary school to impact on young student’s transition of learned knowledge to adults positively. Green (2004) reiterates Kirks (2004) thoughts that the PE, School Sport and Club Links strategy (PESSCLS) strategy ultimately failed, i. e. failed to raise participation rates of youths and linking school sport to outside clubs, due to the powers that implemented the role never had a solid research base from which to create an agenda for the position. Therefore teachers in the position were never fully able to fulfil the roles that they potentially never realised they were given. Consequently, the large scale investment by the UK government only had marginal bearing. Because of this, achieving the desired outcome of impacting on the bulk of the school-age population’s, through the use of teachers in a community based role, continuity with lifelong physical activity was debatable. Fairclough, Stratton and Baldwin, 2002) It is widely believed that active participation in sports during youth is an important prerequisite for adult involvement in sports (Yang et al, 1996; Green, 2010; Vanreusel et al, 1997). A quantitative study from Scheerder et al (2006) indicated that sport experiences and social background characteristics only partially explain the sport participation behavior of adults, whereas participation during adolescence is a better predictor of adults involvement in sports than educational level or arental socioeconomic status In the sports socialization process. Twilight adolescent sports involvement, along with the school program in which an adolescent is involved, appears to be a central role in the involvement of sport during later life. It is shown age is a significant factor of participation levels in physical activity, with national statistics suggesting there is a heavy decline when reaching the age of 45 and beyond (ONS, 1999). In spite of this, a notably active minority of over 45’s remain committed to vigorous physical activity well in to later life and for the remainder of their good health. Green (2010) suggests this can be attributed to a positive childhood participation in physical activity, usually deriving from a school’s physical education programme, and the impact of the deliverers. These past tendencies are a good evaluator of how a person will participate during later life (Roberts, 1996) Socialization Vanreusel et al (1997) offer insight to the long-term socialization process within sport, suggesting it is an on-going and complex process. Yang et al (1996) cites school as early starting point for this process, acknowledging the evolution, leaning and ingestion of skills, values, norms, self-perceptions, identities and roles. This suggests that primary school teachers, who are not specially trained for delivering physical education as a subject, will be a catalyst for the levels of activity or inactivity of their students. It can be argued that involvement in sport is not just a starting point of sport socialization but can be considered a by-product of it. Longitudinal studies (Vanreusel et al. 1997, Yang et al, 1996) have shown that strong links exist regarding the amount of physical activity during childhood and early teen years directly correlate with levels of physical activity in to adulthood. They also propose that the definitive years, that impact the sport socialization process, are the late adolescent years (16-19). This data then shifts the emphasis towards the importance of secondary school PE teachers, who are directly trained to deliver the subject of physical education, and the important role they play in the lifelong participation of the students they engage with on a weekly basis for a substantial amount of time, usually 5 years. Patters of inactivity are formed in this period that follow people throughout the rest of their lives (Vanreusel et al, 1997). Seefeld, Malina and Clark (2002) propose that ersisting with the extensive socialization process that ensues when involved with sport and physical activity during childhood and adolescence can be credited towards adult participation. They also discuss that persistence should not be on a sole of few activities, but a wide range of activities. It is the richness of early learner’s sport socialization that is important. This array allows a young person to experience many different actions and environments, usually provided by the PE teacher, which permits choice. This is where it becomes the teacher’s responsibility to provide exposure to many different sports. Although the NCPE provides guidelines on what should be taught, competent teachers are in a position and should possess the ability to differentiate activities and relate obscurer sports to more mainstream ones (Bocarra et al, 2008). The transition between adolescence and adulthood is a predominantly decisive time in relation to lasting participation. Roberts and Brodie (1992) support this with claims that as we reach adolescents and progress through to adulthood, lifestyles lean towards a reduced number of favoured pastimes that have been retained, increasing pressures on teachers to be a catalyst for lifelong participation. Conclusion After discussing at length the roles a physical education teacher plays in promoting lifelong participation and active lifestyles, as well as factors affecting their potential to do so, I can conclude that PE teachers play an extremely critical part in the facilitation of lifelong participation. There have been disputes over the effectiveness of physical educationalists in the UK regarding the success of promoting lifelong participation. Kirk (2002) claims very little evidence exists suggesting lifelong participation has been promoted during the time in which a national curriculum has been provided. Further to this, Kirk (2002), cited in Green, Smith and Roberts (2005), places blame towards a lack of similarity regarding the predominantly sports orientated physical education programmes and the lifestyle activities of adults. This is contended by Green, Smith and Roberts (2005) who say it is apparent in nature that sport and physical activity is engrained in present-day youth culture, citing the use of physical education programmes and the range of activity provided by the teachers that have developed comprehensive sporting repertoires and how this as helps promote healthy lifestyles. As touched upon earlier, motivation is another important subject, as it forms the basis behind all actions and desires that consistently appear in somebodies life. I have cited the motivational theory of self-efficacy as an ideal framework in which to build upon. By positively impacting the self-efficacy of a student, via the four components I mentioned earlier (past mastery, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion and emotions), it can develop the intrinsic motivation required for prolonged engagement. Despite all the other sections of this essay I have critiqued towards the role a physical education teachers plays in promoting lifelong participation and an active lifestyle, I place motivation at the top of the totem when analysis the factors towards lifelong participation.

Carolin essays

Carolin essays A long, long time ago when the earth was very young, all that existed on the earth was plants and animals. The animals ruled the earth. Among the animals were many different kinds. However, the animals never interacted outside of their species. The gotemaliks socialized with other gotemaliks and the chalize socialized with each other. The gotemaliks and the chalize were very special species. They didn't just only socialize with each other because they desired to, but because of the uncontrollable waterfall that separated them. Each of the species knew that something existed on the other side of the waterfall as they could see shadows but they didn't know what. For many years the gotemaliks and the chalize never knew fully of each other's existence. There had been many attempts to cross the waterfall but every attempt ended in a death. Until one day, when the leader of the chalize was looking into the falls and tried to touch the shadow, which caused him to unexpectedly, fal l in. When he fell in he hit his head on a rock and floated away from the falls. A gotemalik on the other side saw something fall through the falls and decided to go in after it, as it could be one of his own. The same thing happened to it. He fell in and hit his head on a rock and slowly followed the chalize trail down the river. The next morning the chalize woke up and was frightened at the sight of another being that was sitting beside him on a beach in an unfamiliar area. They ran away from each other out of fear. But each of them returned to each other after realizing they were the only ones on this new land, and also that they couldn't go back to their waterfall. This relationship developed over time and they learned different ways to communicate with each other which brought them close together. Through time, chemistry between them resulted in the birth of an infant. They were both astonished, as the infant did not resembl ...

Greenwich Mean Time vs. Coordinated Universal Time

Greenwich Mean Time vs. Coordinated Universal Time By the mid-nineteenth century, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) had been established as the primary reference time zone for the British Empire and for much of the world. GMT is based on the line of longitude running through the Greenwich Observatory located in the suburbs of London. GMT, as the mean within its name, would indicate, represented the time zone of a hypothetically average day at Greenwich. GMT disregarded the fluctuations in the normal earth-sun interaction. Thus, noon GMT represented the average noon at Greenwich throughout the year. Over time, time zones became established based on GMT as being x number of hours ahead or behind GMT. Interestingly, the clock began at noon under GMT so noon was represented by zero hours. UTC As more sophisticated time pieces became available to scientists, the need for a new international time standard became apparent. Atomic clocks did not need to keep time based on the average solar time at a particular location because they were very, very accurate. In addition, it became understood that due to the irregularity of the earth and the suns movements, the exact time needed to be modified occasionally through the use of leap seconds. With this precise accuracy of time, UTC was born. UTC, which stands for Coordinated Universal Time in English and Temps universel coordonnà © in French, was abbreviated UTC as a compromise between CUT and TUC in English and French, respectively. UTC, while based on zero degrees longitude, which passes through the Greenwich Observatory, is based on atomic time and includes leap seconds as they are added to our clock every so often. UTC was used beginning in the mid-twentieth century but became the official standard of world time on January 1, 1972. UTC is 24-hour time, which begins at 0:00 at midnight. 12:00 is noon, 13:00 is 1 p.m., 14:00 is 2 p.m. and so on until 23:59, which is 11:59 p.m. Time zones today are a certain number of hours or hours and minutes behind or ahead of UTC. UTC is also known as Zulu time in the world of aviation. When European Summer Time is not in effect, UTC matches the time zone of the United Kingdom. Today, it is most appropriate to use and refer to time based on UTC and not on GMT.

Journal 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Journal 3 - Essay Example n almost unanimously agree,† Adding that, â€Å"Debates over immigration can continue for decades, resulting in significant policy changes without -- or even in opposition to -- presidential leadership. Scholars point to the lengthy debates of the 1840s and 1850s, when nativists particularly feared the growing political power of Irish Roman Catholics. From roughly 1880 through 1930, the "new immigrants" from Asia and Southern and Eastern Europe provoked many Americans into predictions of what they called racial "mongrelization.",† (Gabaccia, p.1). In consideration of the high level of immigrants which traveled to the Americas long ago and to a certain extent to this day, it is quite intriguing to see the lack of discussion that occurs on a political level as it comes to the debate over such an issue that possesses great historical relevance to the history of any nation, including the United States. In the case of current debate, often times the subject of immigration is placed heavily on the issue of border control between neighboring countries. When it comes to choosing political candidates, it becomes quite commonplace to view them first in foremost through such means as categorizing based on ethnic background, nationality, or even gender. Despite the continued desire among many to see those who live within the borders of the United States through such means that are not legal, it continues to be an issue for discussion that appears to have no clear cut way for attempting to solve the matter at all. In the end, â€Å"Race, ethnicity, religion, and nativity can fig-ure prominently in presidential campaigns precisely because they symbolize the depth of contradictions in the shifting political coalitions that uneasily unite national parties. That was certainly the case in 1928. It is equally true today,† (Gabaccia, p.2). One of the basic things which many take for granted is that of the chance to wear what we want and to do so when we please. Such

Principles of Macroecomomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Principles of Macroecomomics - Essay Example Unemployment can be measured by the claimant count or the standardized ILO unemployment measure. (Abel, 2010) Unemployment can be classified into two broad categories: Equilibrium unemployment and Disequilibrium unemployment. When Aggregate Demand for Labor (ADL) equals Aggregate Supply of Labor (ASL) at market wage rate, the labor market is said to be in equilibrium. The difference between the ASL and the labor force is known as equilibrium unemployment or the natural rate of unemployment. This represents the excess of people looking for work over those actually willing to accept jobs. This can be seen in the graph shown below. (Dornbusch, 2006) As shown in the diagram above, distance AB is the equilibrium unemployment. This type of unemployment may occur due to frictional (irreducible minimum level of unemployment in a dynamic and growing economy), structural (resulting from the mismatch of skills and job opportunities), regional (associated with specific regions often due to the c oncentration of industries in a region) or seasonal (associated with industries or regions where demand for labor is lower at certain times) causes. (Dornbusch, 2006) Disequilibrium unemployment occurs when real wages in the economy are above equilibrium level. This means either the ASL exceeds the ADL or that stickiness in wages prevents wages falling to equilibrium level. The labor market is in a state of disequilibrium, it may be due to real wage (unemployment created when labor wages are deliberately maintained above market clearing level) or demand deficient unemployment (associated with cyclical downturn or recession). (Dornbusch, 2006) Now let us take the consider interest rate. Interest is a rate at which the interest has to be paid by the borrower to the lender apart from the principle amount. Interest rate is a tool of the monetary policy which the government uses in order affect the money supply of the economy in order to achieve macroeconomic objectives. Interest rates a re of two types: real and nominal. Real interest rates are interest rates that are formed in accordance with the rate of inflation. On the other hand nominal interest rate refers to the amount, in money term of interest payable. (Dornbusch, 2006) There are many reasons that may lead to a change in the interest rates. Firstly, it may lead to short-term political gains. Politicians do this in order attain public support; however, it may later lead to problems later on. Deferred consumption may also lead to changes in interest rates. Speculation may lead to changes in the interest rates as well, for instance if consumers think that interest rates are going to rise, the consumers would demand more bonds and thus increase demand for bonds, this would lead to an even higher increase in interest rates. (McEachern, 2008) High levels of unemployment means that the economy is not functioning at its production possibility function, that is, it is underachieving and that it can produce more goo ds but that would require the economy to function more efficiently than it is doing right now. Unemployment imposes private, economic as well as social costs. In that not only does it represent a was of valuable resources but also causes suffering in terms of increased poverty, falling living standards and psychological disorders. Naturally, the costs of unemployment depend on its severity and duration. The costs

The Nature and Characteristics of Schizoid Essay Example for Free

The Nature and Characteristics of Schizoid Essay Abstract Eugen Bleuler first used the term â€Å"Schizoid† in 1908 and described it as â€Å"a human tendency to direct attention toward ones inner life and away from the external world†. Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD) is characterized by a lack of interest in any form of social relationship, a solitary lifestyle, and secretness. People with SPD are often indifferent, which can cause interpersonal difficulty. Individuals with the disorder may have trouble voicing their opinions when faced with unfavorable situations, and most often remain passive about many issues. Communication with others can be awkward and lack sincere meaning. As a result, they are not able to accurately understand how others think of them, and know how well they are getting along with others. This can lead to a feeling of severe self-consciousness and paranoia. Schizoid Personality Disorder: The Nature of Schizoid Personality Disorder The American Psychiatric Association (2008) reports that the prevalence in the general population of schizoid personality disorder (SPD) in the general population is less than 2%. Other studies have found a community prevalence of 5.1% in the United States. There is an increased prevalence of schizoid personality disorder in relatives of people with schizophrenia, as well as those who have been sexually abused as a child. The DSM classifies Schizoid Personality Disorder as: â€Å"A. A pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings, beginning by early adulthood (age eighteen or older) and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following: Neither desires nor enjoys relationships or human interaction, including being part of a family Almost always chooses solitary activities Has little, if any, interest in having sexual experiences with another person Takes pleasure in few, if any, activities with other people Lacks close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives Appears indifferent to the praise or criticism of others Shows emotional coldness, detachment, or flattened affect B. Does not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia, a mood disorder with psychotic features, another psychotic disorder, or a pervasive developmental disorder and is not due to the direct physiological effects of a general medical condition.† Though there are several methods of treatment, most doctors suggest a short-term therapy/medication treatment, as long term can be difficult for the patient to remain motivated to continue returning and having unwanted social interaction. Seeing a psychologist allows the patient to open up and possibly become more comfortable with interpersonal communication, enabling a more personable identity. Those with SPD may demonstrate a vivid and wild fantasy life, and attain hobbies according to such. Things like video games, drawing, photography, and other solo activities are what interest SPD victims the most. Someone with SPD doesnt go out to social events, have intimate relationships, or even have many friends. Social interaction like that just isnt appealing to patients with SPD. They may never live a completely normal life with friends, a spouse, and other people to communicate with. However, this does not mean they arent happy. People with Schizoid rarely ever describe their life as â€Å"dull† or â€Å"boring†. Some patients tell of the immense pleasure they receive when making a job well done and finishing their work. Many are workaholics, and pour their heart and soul into every step of their careers. People with SPD are much more of a benefit to our society than some people may realize. Without the constant distraction of friends, relationships, and social events, they are able to concentrate on the task at hand. Whether it be a career or a simple arts and crafts project, concentration and focus go uninterrupted and can lead to a job very well done. I chose this topic because I had no idea what it was, and I wanted to learn more about it. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Over the last few weeks I have been constantly studying this disorder and trying to get into the mind of someone with SPD. At first, it seemed hopeless. I couldnt seem to understand the idea of not having friends, or having never had a girlfriend. Social interaction like that had always been given in my life, and I couldnt imagine doing without. After further thought, however, I came to the conclusion that not only did they not want a physical relationship with others, they felt no need. If one can become completely content without the attention of others, then why bother yourself with the distraction? Though I havent personally spoken with someone with SPD, this is how I understand it. I feel as though they not only have no desire, they feel no need. Simple as that. A case study I found involved a middle-aged man named Mark and a peek into his life. He tells of his career, hobbies, and relationship with his family. â€Å"â€Å"Mark sits where instructed, erect but listless. When I ask him how he feels about attending therapy, he shrugs and mumbles OK, I guess. He rarely twitches or flexes his muscles or in any way deviates from the posture he has assumed early on. He reacts with invariable, almost robotic equanimity to the most intrusive queries on my part. He shows no feelings when we discuss his uneventful childhood, his parents (of course I love them), and sad and happy moments he recollects at my request. Mark veers between being bored with our encounter and being annoyed by it. How would he describe his relationships with other people? He has none that he can think of. In whom does he confide? He eyes me quizzically: confide? Who are his friends? Does he have a girlfriend? No. He shares pressing problems with his mother and sister, he finally remembers. When was the last time he spoke to them? More than two years ago, he thinks.He doesnt seem to feel uneasy when I probe into his sex life. He smiles: no, he is not a virgin. He has had sex once with a much older woman who lived across the hall in his apartment block. That was the only time, he found it boring. He prefers to compile computer programs and he makes nice money doing it. Is he a member of a team? He involuntarily recoils: no way! He is his own boss and likes to work alone. He needs his solitude to think and be creative.Thats precisely why he is here: his only client now insists that he collaborates with the IT department and he feels threatened by the new situation. Why? He ponders my question at length and then: I have my working habits and my long-established routines. My productivity depends on strict adherence to these rules. Has he ever tried to work outside his self-made box? No, he hasnt and has no intention of even trying it: If it works dont fix it and never argue with success.If he is such a roaring success what is he doing on my proverbial couch? He acts indifferent to my barb but subtly counterattacks: Thought Id give it a try. Some people go to one type of witch doctor, I go to another.Does he have any hobbies? Yes, he collects old sci-fi magazines and comics. What gives him pleasure? Work does, he is a workaholic. What about his collections? They are distractions. But do they make him happy, does he look forward to the time he spends with them? He glowers at me, baffled: I collect old magazines. he explains patiently How are old magazines supposed to make me happy?. †Ã¢â‚¬  As clearly demonstrated above, this patient displays no interest toward others socially. Though he has had an intimate relationship in the past, his concentration now pertains to his work and his sole hobby of collecting magazines. A workaholic, he prefers to work in solitude, as that is the only way he can think and be creative. His disbanded relationship with his family shows that even those supposed to be most important in ones life hold little to no importance. A seemingly uneventful life of routine is made enjoyable by his passion and innovation for his career. Without the distraction of social relationships, he is able to connect with his work and focus at a higher level. SPD not only allows for a better concentration level, it enables the patient to think more clearly, and with a better focus. As stated above, his life is almost completely centered around his career, something he seems to be rather proud of. Taking pleasure in his job lets him feel comfortable with his lifestyle and content with the choices he has made. In two separate studies, prisoners were examined on the validity of SPD. 556 male jail inmates in the United States participated in Study 1; 175 mentally disordered offenders in maximum security hospitals in the United Kingdom participated in Study 2. On both studies, scores on the Interpersonal Measure of Schizoid Personality Disorder (IM-SZ) showed reliability and patterns of correlations with other measures consistent with expectations. The scale displayed patterns of relatively specific correlations with interview and self-report measures of SZPD. In addition, the IM-SZ correlated in an expected manner with features of antisocial personality and with interpersonal behavior. In another study, 10 male individuals diagnosed with SPD were placed in a room together. Their behavior was recorded and later compared to an experiment under the same circumstances only with 10 seemingly normal men. The test subjects with SPD did not interact with one another for an entire half hour, until one of the men fell out of his chair and one of his colleagues helped him to his feet. This was a blind experiment, where the men involved did not know the others suffered from the same ailment. The men in the control group were quiet at first, but after the first 5 minutes they were all communicating with one another, talking about sports, family, and relationships. Works Cited Thylstrup, Birgitte. (2009). American Journal of Psychotherapy. Retrieved May 3, 2012 http://0-web.ebscohost.com.iii.sonoma.edu/ehost/detail?vid=3hid=122sid=d673d133-4e90-4a0f-bcd4-93fdeb342a77%40sessionmgr110bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aphAN=43741388 Mayo Clinic Staff. (2010). Schizoid Personality Disorder. Retrieved May 2, 2012 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/schizoid-personality-disorder/DS00865 Amal Chakraburtty, MD. (2009). Schizoid Personality Disorder. Retrieved May 2, 2012 http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-schizoid-personality-disorder Psych Central Staff. (2009). Schizoid Personality Disorder. Retrieved May 4, 2012 http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx30.htm American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Schizoid Personality Disorder. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. Mike Martinez. (2012) Schizoid. Retrieved May 4, 2012 http://www.schizoids.info/ Burntt, George. (2008). Schizoid Personality Disorder. Retrieved May 1, 2012 http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-pe02.html lais MA, Smallwood P, Groves JE, Rivas-Vazquez RA. (2011). Schizoid Personality Disorder. Retrieved May 4, 2012 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000920.htm Grohl, J.M. (2010). Schizoid Personality Disorder. Retrieved May 2, 2012. http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/schizoid-personality-disorder

Essay --

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

Politics Administration Dichotomy Essay

By discussing some of the advantages and disadvantages of administration and politics dichotomy, an opinion of whether it is useful or impossible will be made. Wilson’s politics administration dichotomy refers to the idea that administrative decisions need to be made without political influence. One argument to this is that politics has transformed, let’s say, the role of a city manager from a neutral expert to a problem solver and dichotomy should be replaced with an expanded base of professional values for them. Advantages and Disadvantages of Politics and Administration Dichotomy  An advantage of having politics and administration dichotomy is that administration would not be driven by politics. Although politics give work to administration, it should not be able to make it do what it wants. Politics is a process by which disagreements and conflicts are worked out, ending with laws and policies through legislation. The purpose of politics is to provide political guidance to public administration. Political guidance is formulating and clarifying the public’s preferences and then communicating them to the public administrators. The job of a public administrator is to provide neutral competence to the policy process. The politicians would not get involved in administration and the public administrators would have no involvement in shaping policies. Public administrators would have the role of being neutral experts who carry out the policies of the council. In order to be neutral the administrator should minimize their identification with political positions, avoid undermining the political power of elected officials, and not get involved in the battle of politics to ensure rational administrative decisions rather than bargaining based decisions. If each public administrators and elected officials perform their tasks as assigned, the democratic accountability and planning ability of public administrators will likely increase. The disadvantage of politics administration dichotomy is that there would be no interaction and incorporation of administrative contributions in the design and the implementation of public policy. It also shields administrators from scrutiny and serves the interests of elected officials who can pass responsibility for unpopular decisions to administrators. This strict separation of policy makers and service deliverers can lower the quality of governance and service. Then there is the topic of ethics. Neither professional standards nor individual conscience can be alone the framework for public administrative ethics but both are present. So, the downside of dichotomy is there would not be a flow of ideas and concerns between the politicians and the administrators. I think dichotomy is almost impossible to have when it comes to politics and administration, but that word should be replaced by a set of rules and values that both can follow. The politicians should set the goal and the public administrators pave the path. I believe there needs to be communication between the two on certain topics as well. I like to use analogies, so the one that comes to mind is the relationship between officers and NCOs in the army. Officers (being the politician) and NCOs (being the public administrators) need to have a professional relationship. The officer comes to an NCO with a task (goal, mission, policy, etc. ). It is the NCO’s job to make sure his or her soldiers’ (which would be the public in this case) accomplish the task. Regardless if the NCO agrees with the task or likes it (unless it is unsafe/illegal), it is their job to make it happen. Some officers will welcome feedback from the NCO if he or she disagrees with the task. Some officers just demand and expect. How well the NCO organizes and handles the task with his or her soldiers will have an impact on how well it will get done. The way the NCO disseminates the task can also have an effect on how the soldiers view the officer. If the NCO agrees with the task or policy that is given, it is easier for him or her to accomplish it. I know I find it difficult to do something I don’t want to. Usually, a well-respected NCO will be able to have their soldiers accomplish any task given to them. The part where this analogy fails is that soldiers do not vote in their officers. As a public administrator, the hardest part would be to hide my beliefs and views on things, especially if I’m the one who has to implement them.

Alex Rider: Stormbreaker

Alex Rider: Stormbreaker 1)I liked this book. It was filled with action and suspense. But I didn’t like how it was far-fetched. A 14 year old that knew all different types of karate, languages, moves, and almost taught like a spy from birth. But other than that, I really liked the book. I like how everything was detailed. 2)A. The main characters are Alex Rider, Ian Rider (dead, but an important name), Yassen Gregorovich, and Herold Sayle. B. The setting of this book is Present day in London. C. The Central Plot is that the Stormbreaker Computers have a Vial of smallpox gas. It comes out of the computers when the computer is turned on. 3) Plot Pyramid ?Ian Rider Dies ?Alex meets men from the bank ?Ian’s office is raided ?Alex see’s the car that Ian was driving when he died. ?He finds out that the bank is really the â€Å"M16† ?Alex becomes a spy ?He goes through intense training for mission ?Goes to Stormbreaker headquarters ?Uses computer and snoops around the plant ?Found and escorted back into his personal room, where Ian Rider slept ? Found a piece of paper with a drawing( will come in handy later) ? Alex hides in vans that go to pick up something at docks. Found out that Yassen is working with Sayle ? Man dies for dropping a steel box ?Goes back to House ?Alex almost gets killed by Yassen and Herold’s men ?Goes to library and gets book ?Finds out what the picture really meant ?Goes into a mine shaft ?Stayed in water for 2 minutes to get to the other side ?Found the lab where the vials were being put into the computer ? Gets aught and tied up ?Escapes and goes to where the ceremony is ?Reaches Science Museum ?Prime Minister shot ?Sayle shot and disappeared ?Alex stays in school and Jack is allowed to stay in London ? Sayle finds Alex and brings him to a top of a building ?Helicopter flies away without Alex ?Story Ends 4)My favorite character in this book is Alex Rider. He is strong, agile, smart, and speaks like he is older. He climbs out a window for his own curiosity. He saved Millions of people. Alex als o very sneaky. He went around the plant and not being detected for a while. That’s why Alex Rider is my favorite character in the book. 5)The theme that I thought was in this book was that â€Å"An ordinary person could save lives. † I say that because Alex saved millions of people and he was a regular person. Or at least until his uncle died. He was a regular guy when he went out for training to save the school kids. 6)This story is told in 3rd person. Two page examples are pages 1 and 56. Both of the pages say names and not â€Å"I†, it’s all proper names.

Tesco Essays

Tesco Essays Tesco Essay Tesco Essay Executive Summary Starting from a small stall in the east end of London, Tesco today is the largest retailer in the UK with over ? 59 billion sales in 2008. In this dynamic environment, Tesco has managed to stay ahead of its competition through focus on people, both customers and employees. However, in today’s rapidly changing globalised environment, anything could happen. Companies today need to always innovate and reinvent themselves in order to maintain their competitive advantage. The macro environment that Tesco operates in provides both opportunities and threats. Therefore, for sustainable growth and development, Tesco needs to have proper strategic direction that addresses these macro environmental challenges. Though the company has extensive operations worldwide, Tesco’s largest market is still the UK. This report analyses the macro environment that Tesco UK operates in using the PESTEL framework and its interconnectedness to external opportunities and threats. Competitiveness of Tesco UK is analyzed by applying Michael Porter’s five forces model. The paper is further expanded by linking both the PESTEL framework and the 5 forces to understand Tesco’s dynamic macro environment. A stakeholder analysis is carried out in order to understand the expectation of Tesco’s stakeholders. Strategic capabilities of Tesco are explained through the identification of core competencies of the firm. Justification of these competencies explains how Tesco manages to stay ahead of its competitors. Table of Contents 1. Introduction to Tesco Plc6 1. 1. Tesco UK7 2. The Macro Environment Analysis8 2. Political Factors8 2. 2Economical Factors8 2. 3Social/Cultural Factors8 2. 4Technological Factors8 2. 5Environmental Factors8 2. 6Legislative Factor8 2. 7Overall impact of the PESTEL factors8 2. 8Potential opportunities from the external environment8 2. 9Threats from the external environment8 3. Competitive Analysis on Tesco Using Porter’s Five Forces Model8 3. 1. Threat of New Entries8 3. 2. Competitive Rivalry8 3. 3. Substitutes8 3. 4. The Power of Supplier8 3. 5. The Power of Buyer8 3. 6. Summary of the 5 Forces Model8 4. Stakeholder analysis8 . Core Competences8 5. 1Value8 5. 2. Rarity8 5. 3. Inimitability8 1. 4. Non-substitutability8 6. Conclusion8 7. References8 Introduction to Tesco Plc Founded in 1919 by Jack Cohen, Tesco Plc is the largest British based international grocery and general merchandising retail chain, and is the world’s third largest retailer, after Wal-Mart of the US and France’s Carrefour. The Tesco brand first appeared in 1924. The first store was opened in 1929 in London. Tesco floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1947 with a share price of 25p. During the 1950s and the 1960s Tesco grew organically, and through acquisitions. Most of this early growth was in and around London. The â€Å"pile it high, sell it cheap† strategy of Cohen had left the company â€Å"stagnate† which resulted in his resignation in 1973. In 1977, Tesco launched â€Å"operation checkout† which included price reductions and centralized buying for all stores. The result was a rise in market share of 4% in two months. Today, the company operates over 3000 stores in several countries including the U. S ad Japan with over 440,000 employees. Tesco has diversified their business into other areas such as clothing, consumer electronics, financial services, telecommunication, insurance schemes etc. With their core purpose of â€Å"create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty†, the company has been able to build a multibillion-dollar empire. Operating income for 2008 was ? 3. 12billion. (The Guardian 2009). The ability to appeal to all market segments through their own brand products with up market and low price value range has been a key element of their success. The two key values of Tesco are 1. No-one tries harder for customer, and 2. Treat people as we like to be treated With their â€Å"Every little helps† strategy, they regularly ask their customers and staff â€Å"what we can do to make shopping with us and working with us that little bit better† (Tesco. com) 4 Tesco UK Tesco UK is the first and largest operations under Tesco PLC. Tesco UK contributes approximately 70% to the group’s sales and profit. Its business is significant in the UK, with over 285,000 employees and over 2,200 stores. UK business’s growth comes from new space, extensions to existing stores and a multi-format approach. The overall growth in UK was contributed by the sales of non-food, which forms another key part of Tesco strategy. Tesco customized their store formats to satisfy customers needs. It has more than 1960 Express stores offering a range of approximately 7000 quality, great value, and fresh food close to where customers live and work. Tesco opened its first Metro in 1992 catering to the needs of busy customers, bringing Tesco nearer to customer in town and city centre locations. The superstores which began in the 1970s is an ongoing program of extending and refreshing their superstores to improve the overall experience for customers, including introduction of new non-food ranges such as DVDs and books. Since 1977 the one-stop Extra destination store has proved extremely popular and Tesco now have more than 175 Extra stores offering the widest range of food and non-food lines. The 10 Homeplus stores (approx 35000 to 50000 sq ft) are dedicated to non-food, including clothing, with more available through Tesco Direct order and collection points. In addition to array of formats, Tesco continually innovate and invest in new lines to increase choice for their customers, such as, lifestyle ranges like organic, healthy living. Various own brand also enable customers to purchase product to compliment their lifestyle. Value-adding service, such as Tesco nutritional signpost labeling targets to provide customers with the key information they need to help them choose a balanced diet. Tesco innovatively counteract the recession challenge by launching around 500 new ‘discount brands’ products because customers were shopping around for best prices without compromising on quality. The Macro Environment Analysis The Macro environment gives organizations their means of survival as well a source of threat. Understanding the strategic position is concerned with identifying the impact on strategy of the external environment, an organizations strategic capability and the expectations and influences of stakeholders. Organizations exist in the context of a complex political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal world. The PESTEL framework will be used on Tesco UK to identify how future trends in these environments might impinge on the organization. This analysis aims to provide the broad data from which to identify key drivers of change and understand the interconnectedness of the macro environment. (Johnson, Scholes, Whittingon, 2008). 1. 2. 6 Political Factors Even though, this paper is concerned with the Strategic perspective of Tesco UK, it is important to consider the global political scenario considering Tesco’s scope of operations. The company has over 3000 stores in 13 different markets outside the UK including Europe, North America and Asia. Tesco therefore, is greatly influenced by political and legislative circumstances among these countries as well as European Union (EU). ‘As Tesco grows ever bigger in more countries, it has inevitably faced criticism from consumer activists and environmental groups and also regulators. Brussels recently referred Tescos acquisition of three stores in Slovakia to domestic regulators, claiming the deal could potentially reduce competition in certain areas. ’ (BBC 2006) Another important aspect to consider is the policies and regulations governing monopolies and dominant market shares within the EU. Even though, Tesco is yet to be recognized this way, it is an important factor to note considering it’s scope of operations. In the UK, planning permission is an important political factor. There have been several cases where Tesco’s request to build new stores in the UK have been denied by the Town councils due to oppositions by the public. Therefore, careful analysis of the political factors when opening stores in UK is critical. 7 Economical Factors Considering that Tesco is UK’s largest private sector employer, economic factors such as unemployment rates and purchasing power are important factors to take note of. The recessional period that the world has been experiencing has had quite an impact on western countries such as the US and UK with high job lay off’s etc. Unemployment rate in the UK has increased by 2% when compared with 2008. (National Statistics UK 2009). Unemployment rates affect Tesco in two ways. One is that it reduces demand for products and can affect Tesco’s sales. However, average earnings including bonuses rose by 1. 2 per cent in the year to September 2009 which is an indicator that the UK economy is picking up. The other issue is that with Tesco being the leading private sector employer, it will be under severe pressure on job lay off’s. Tesco’s strategy of catering to many segments of the market has been able to keep them afloat in the rise of the economic recession. According to the research firm TNS WorldPanel, The UK number one, who has reaped the benefit of its double Clubcard points promotion, took 30. 7% of the grocery market in the 12 weeks to 1 November 2009. (Press Association 2009) The recessional period is slowly picking up with UK’s retail sales showing an increase of 2. % as of September 2009 when compared with the previous year which indicates a positive outlook for Tesco. (National Statistics UK 2009). 8 Social/Cultural Factors UK has a population of 61. 4 million and considered an ageing population with a relatively equal split between male and females with 62% representing the workforce. The proportion of people aged 65 and over is projected to increas e from 16 per cent in 2008 to 23 per cent by 2033. (Statistics online). Therefore, Tesco will have to consider this an important aspect of future strategic direction. The increase in employment among older people and females have created a demand for value added products and convenience goods and meals The need for bulk purchasing and one stop shopping has prompted Tesco to have more non food items available for sale. However in recent times, there seems to be a decrease in this trend as more and more people are pinching their pennies in times of recession and reducing the use of such convenience products. While money is tight, women will feel obliged to forgo the price premiums they have been paying for this kind of help and take on the labour themselves. Euromonitor 2009). Therefore moving into house brands with different market segmentation and the focus on own label share of the business mix and supply chain which reduces cost as Tesco has done is an important element of their corporate strategy. According to Eurominitor international, Value rather than cheapness will now count when consumers have to choose between brands when making purchasin g decisions in the year ahead. Hence consumers will reward brands focusing on quality with loyalty. (Euromonitor 2009) Tesco’s focus on retaining customers is evidence to this trend. Another important socio cultural aspect to consider is the migration of eastern Europeans and Asians to the UK. There is a large community of Indians living in the UK. Tesco needs to ensure that they are able to cater to this segment with product differentiation. Consumers in UK are also being more health conscious and therefore increased their use of organic products. Also offering products which has been manufactured in an ethical and socially responsible way is also becoming increasingly important in the UK consumers mind. 9 Technological Factors Technology is an important macro environmental factor that affect any organization. Tesco has been successful at exploiting the widespread phenomena of internet purchasing. Their comprehensive website and online catalogue with easy checking out options have boosted their sales. To retain their competitive advantage it is important for Tesco to always reinvent and re-innovate and to be abreast of the rapid technological changes. Adoption of technologies such as intelligent scales, electronic shelf labeling, self checkout and RFID as helped the company to maintain its competitive advantage. In order to make maximum use of strategic capabilities, Tesco UK has transferred their IT support structure to Bangalore India. 10 Environmental Factors Today, environmental issues play a key role in business. Matters such as global warming and pollution have pressured companies into being more socially responsible towards the environment they operate in. Tesco has been instrumental in supporting carbon reduction and has created a a ? 100 million Sustainable Technology Fund for this purpose. In order to be carbon free, Tesco is revamping their own stores and building new low carbon stores. Their target is to halve carbon emission totally by 50% by the year 2020. Tesco is also encouraging their customers to go green by introducing a new ‘Greener Living’ brand. The range comprises 200 products as diverse as energy-saving light bulbs, paper goods and kitchenware TESCO’s corporate social responsibility exceeds the minimum expectation levels set by the industry. 11 Legislative Factor In 2000, the government introduced legislation that allowed schemes, set up in line with the regulations, to offer employees savings on tax and national insurance contributions when buying and selling shares in the employing company. Tesco has used this legal framework to provide comprehensive share schemes and has had considerable success in retaining their employees as shareholders and potentially reaping the benefits from their increased commitment to the company. (Eurofound 2008) The UKs Competition Commission is to introduce a code of practice for supermarkets in a bid to ensure the fair treatment of suppliers and address issues hindering competition in the market. The commission believed that this food control the buying power of certain supermarkets. (Justfood. com 2009). This affects both Tesco and the industry in general; in terms of higher cost. 12 Overall impact of the PESTEL factors Identifying the PESTEL factors for Tesco, has given insight to the environment they operate in and the interconnectedness of these factors. Identifying these factors are important in creating future strategic direction and growth. The political impact of the EU and the UK is an important factor for this British Retail giant in terms of market growth and monopoly. The present economic crisis has increased unemployment levels which is a negative indication. However recent reports on increased sales and changes in socio cultural patterns are an indication for new prospects for Tesco. 13 Potential opportunities from the external environment The recovery of the economic situation means that there will be increased market potential and increased spending power. This is already in evidence by the increase in sales of Tesco UK in September 2009. The demand for non-food retail items is increasing and is in favour of Tesco. Their health and beauty products are top of the range and there is further potential to grow. The increasing population of Asians and Eastern Europeans is also an opportunity for Tesco to explore this particular market segment. Increased focus on ‘going green’ is beneficial to the company considering their many steps towards this process both in terms of influencing the consumer and improving the processes within the company. The increased use of online purchasing means the reduction of related costs and processes could be more efficient. This would also enable Tesco to provide other services such as banking, delivery etc. 14 Threats from the external environment Consumer behavior patterns are slowly changing towards organic and ethically produced goods. This creates both opportunity as mentioned above as well as threat. More and more research and capital will need to be allocated to sourcing these products. The company has made substantial investments in energy saving projects around the business. The price war between the supermarkets is another cause for concern which will be later discussed under competition. The possibility of increased regulation in terms of pricing is a threat to Tesco and other supermarkets in the industry. Competitive Analysis on Tesco Using Porter’s Five Forces Model Porter’s five forces framework were developed to determine the competitive intensity and market attractiveness of an industry. (Porter, 2001) Market attractiveness refers to whether a company will have the profit potential in an industry. Porter’s five forces structure (as shown below) constitutes of the threat of new entrants, the threat of substitute, the power of suppliers, the power of buyer and competitive rivalry. [pic] 16 Threat of New Entries According to Johnson, Scholes and Whittington (2008), threat of entry depends on the extent and height of barriers to entry such as economic of scales and experience, access to supply or distribution channels, legislation or government action and differentiation. The combination on two factors: Tesco, having 85 years of retail experience since the â€Å"TESCO† brand name started and with the existance of the incumbent retail giants (i. e. Asda, Sainsbury, Mark Spencer) make it difficult for new entrant to penetrate into the UK retailing market. Potential entrants will find that barriers are imposed on them, either explicitly or implicitly, by the conglomerate incumbents. (Tesco Porters Five Force Model , 2008) Tesco, as the largest retailer in UK has control over supply and distribution through customer or supplier loyalty. They have the established loyalty program such as offering loyalty card, point card, advantage card or club card to attract and retain the customers. Besides that, Tesco has direct ownership (vertical integration) for some of the products that they are selling with the brand â€Å"Tesco†. The new entrants will find it challenging to find the new supply and distribution channel as the more common ones had been cornered by Tesco and other giant retailers in UK, who have the advantage of economies of scale. While the new entrants find it easy to enter into UK market, they may face many challenges in the operating environment. Therefore, it can be said that Tesco has a considerately low threat of new entrants in UK. 17 Competitive Rivalry Competitive rivalry refers to the direct competition between organizations that sell the similar products aimed at the same customer group. Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008) Tesco has many direct competitors who do the same business as them, namely the Asda Group Limited, Carrefour S. A, J Sainsbury PLC, Marks and Spencer Group PLC, The Big Food Group PLC and etc. As the number of competitors increases and become roughly equal size, the rivalry become intensified and competitors attempt to gain dominance over others. Though Tesco is presently the largest retailer in UK, many other upcoming retailers mentioned above are trying to gain more market share by dominating the market. Rivalry is also stronger when demand for the product is growing slowly. (Tesco Porters Five Force Model , 2008) With the rivalry intensity, each competitor is tempted to use price cuts to boost unit volume and hence create price war between rivals. Besides that, Tesco’s business and products are also weakly differentiated that customers do not require any cost switching from one retailer to another. The intensity of rivalry in the retailing industry where Tesco belongs to is great. Therefore the threat of competitive rivalry is high for Tesco. 18 Substitutes The accessibility and availability of acceptable substitutes for products that Tesco offers are easy and abundant. For example, Sainsbury can match the low prices that Tesco offers in the market and even equal the quality of products they offer, making the substitute force high in the retailing industry. (Tesco Porters Five Force Model , 2008) This drives Tesco to upgrade the product quality, reduce prices and differentiate their products from its substitute in order not to be affected by the threat. The upcoming trend of online shopping and free delivery also pose a substitute threat for the conventional shopping. Busy working adults can order their groceries or anything they need with just clicks on the PC. E-bay for instance, can offer a wide range of products from all over the world to its customers. However, Tesco had anticipated this new trend and has an online shopping website to cater the needs of this group of people. Hence, Tesco faces low threat on substitutes looking at the fact that Tesco affords to go on the price war since they are the biggest retailer in UK and most of the people still would want to go on the conventional way of shopping. 9 The Power of Supplier The factors increasing supplier power are the converse to those for buyer power and the supplier power is likely to be high where there are concentrated suppliers, high switching cost and supplier competition threat. (Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008) However, this is not the case for Tesco who has the power over the suppliers. Suppliers are clamoring attention from giants like Tesco to buy their products. Suppliers understand that the purchasing volume from Tesco will be enormous if they clinch on any deal with them. With this, giant retailers have the overwhelming advantage to dictate the price and if the suppliers do not give in to the price that they are willing to pay, the suppliers are left only with the small supermarket chains that do not give them huge orders. Besides that, suppliers will have to maintain good services and prices with Tesco to sustain the order. This is due to the fact that switching cost from one supplier to another is low and therefore creating stiff competition among suppliers. With the above explanation, it is clear that Tesco faces low threat from the suppliers as they has much more negotiating power than any others would have. 20 The Power of Buyer Customers are essential for the survival of any business and buyers will normally have strong position when there are only a few concentrated buyers who buy in bulk and low switching cost from one supplier to another is low. (Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008) In the retailing business, the number of customers is very large and they do not purchase in bulk. Therefore, the buyer’s power is not that strong. However, the switching cost for a buyer is virtually none. Buyers have the freedom to choose supermarket that can offer good prices since the things that all supermarket sells are almost the same. Fortunately for Tesco that all competitors have a disciplined approach in price setting, partly due to the government regulations. (Tesco Porters Five Force Model , 2008)The prices may differ, but it would not be a huge difference. Therefore, it will be more economical for customers to buy all the things they need in one place, rather than hopping around for the retailer that sells the cheapest in certain items. With the mentioned reason, it can be said that the threat of buyer is relatively low. 1 Summary of the 5 Forces Model |Porter’s Five Forces |Level | | |High |Low | |Threat of New Entries | |v | |Competitive Rivalry |^ | | |Substitute | |v | |The Power of Buyer | |v | |The Power of Supplier | |v | From the above analysis, Tesco clearly has a strong position in the retail industry in UK. The business is attractive to Tesco in UK and Tesco is enjoying the profit from the business. The only high threat that Tesco faces is the threat of competitive rivalry from the rivals. The following statistic shows the market share of the closest rivals that Tesco has. Supermarket in UK |Market Share | |Tesco |30. 6% | |ASDA |16. 6% | |Sainsburys |16. 3% | |Morrisons |11. % | |Somerfield |5. 4% | |Waitrose |3. 7% | |Iceland |1. 8% | (Source TNS cited by BBC 2006) Though Tesco has the largest market share, other retailers are coming up quickly. Tesco must keep an eye on these rivals so that the threat of substitute will not become high over time. Besides that, the easy entrants to UK also increase the rivalry for Tesco. It is good that Tesco is already well established in UK and the new entrants will require time to build up their experience and network to compete with Tesco. The rivalry forces can also affect the power of buyer. For example, if ASDA does some promotion that can attract the customer, Tesco will lose some of the market share to their rivals. Therefore, it is clear that Porter’s five forces are inter-related to each other and Tesco must always be alert to any of the forces. The macro environment give an impression of the political, economic, sociological, technological, legal and environmental factors that influence Porter’s five forces. The government regulation on the price setting actually had help Tesco to manage the threat of rivalry and substitute. UK is also getting more open in their economy, hence, Tesco is able to source from the cheaper suppliers from other countries and lower the threat from local suppliers. The buyers are now consisting of diversified people and Tesco must take into consideration of the new goods that can be sold to this group of people. This is one of the tactics to reduce threat from buyer and rivalry from other retailers who had catered into this new need. In addition to that, Tesco can make use of the latest information technology to sell their products online to avoid the substitute threat from retailers who do online business. Stakeholder analysis ‘Stakeholders are people or groups with a legitimate interest in a company. Since stakeholders are interested in and affected by the organization’s action, they have a ‘stake’ in what those actions are’ (Williams, C. 2000). Therefore it is important to understand the role stakeholders play in terms of Tesco as a business. Applying the concept of stakeholder mapping provides better understanding to the influence of stakeholders on corporate strategy. This can help to identify potential risk, establish the political background to the area, seek to influence the decision-makers, and provide intelligence about competitors, key themes and area of potential risk. The availability of the source of power determines the extent of power that can be exerted by both internal and external stakeholder group, this includes key position in the hierarchy or the decision-making process e. g. key managers, key role in strategy implementation or important shareholders; control of strategic resources and possession of know-how, or information. At Tesco, a big part of that is listening to the people around them, and making sure they act on their concern. Engagement helps Tesco identify new risks and opportunities to ensure that long-term strategy is sustainable. In some instances working with stakeholders in partnership can help deliver shared goals. Tesco acknowledge that customers need to be able to trust their business and customers will only trust them if they do the right thing by all their stakeholders Key players: Tesco core value defines â€Å"people† as a critical success factor. People includes customer, employees. Customer question time meeting are invaluable to Tesco. Staff hears customers’ views on everything from how they are being served in their stores to Tesco’s role in the community. Employee gives feedback through viewpoint staff survey, staff question time sessions and staff forum process. Tesco core value is â€Å"treat people how we like to be treated†. And its something Tesco applies firmly to their supplier relationships. Tesco loyalty card scheme – â€Å"Clubcard† enables Tesco to better understand their customers and show appreciation to customer for shopping with them. Tesco creative marketing created more than eight million unique coupon variations of Clubcard mailing, to ensure that each Clubcard member receives the kind of offer that is appropriate for them. (Tesco, 2009) Tesco employs more than 285,000 employees in the UK, besides market-leading package of pay and its employees are entitled to fringe benefits such as childcare vouchers and share schemes. (Tesco. com) Tesco shareholders are also key player, the investor relations team regularly meets analysts from the financial institutions which invest in them or represent Tesco shareholders. Keep Satisfied Non-Government Organization (NGO) have less power but bear high interest on the organization, regular meetings with NGO to understand and respond to issues of concern will keep this group satisfied as getting their ‘endorsement’ is critical to the success of a strategy. Keep Informed Rival retail chain and trade magazine also have influencing power to their corporate strategy, therefore need to take them into account. Minimal Effort This group exerts low power and low interest. Core Competences Core competences are defined as the â€Å"skills and abilities by which resources are deployed through an organization’s activities and processes such as to achieve competitive advantage in ways that others cannot imitate or obtain†. (Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008, p. 97) Tesco’s core competence is to create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty. Its success depends on people, the people who shop and work with Tesco. If the customers like what Tesco offer, they are more likely to come back and shop again. And if the Tesco team finds what Tesco do rewarding; they are more likely to go that extra mile to help the customers. To achieve and sustain the competitive advantage, Tesco own its strategic capabilities which are valuable to customers, rare, inimitable and non-substitutable. Value No-one tries harder for customers like Tesco does. Tesco regularly ask the customers how to make shopping in Tesco better. Tesco creates value by listening to what the customers have told them, understand and be the first to meet their needs. Therefore, Tesco has created the â€Å"Every Little Helps† strategy which to ensure the aisles are clear, the customers can get what they want with a good price, customers need not to queue and the staff are helpful and great. With the aim of become the â€Å"best value retailer† and customer deserve best value for money, Tesco had worked hard to find ways of keeping the prices down which has resulted in 17% of price reduction between 2000 and 2006. (Tesco 2009) The company has also been successful in creating a great place to work which is â€Å"treat people how we like to be treated†. Staffs are treated with respect, managers who always help, opportunities are provided to get on. The better the staffs are treated, the better services they would provide to the customers. 25 Rarity To win over other competitors means one company must possess a unique and rare capability. Tesco has been so successful in capturing leadership of the market for online grocery shopping by designing and implementing supply systems that effectively link existing shops with Tesco. com web site. (tutor2u, n. d. ) Although online shopping is a feature of competitors such as Wal-Mart and other competitors, Tesco’s ability to design and deliver a â€Å"customer interface† that personalizes online shopping and makes it more efficient has resulted the customers valuing the Tesco. com experience highly. Customer’s confidence has been built up with Tesco’s reliable and efficient delivery infrastructure from product picking, distribution to customer satisfaction handling. 26 Inimitability To create sustainable competitive advantage over time is not so straightforward and it must be competitively unique and difficult for competitors to imitate. (Kotelnikov, n. d. ) Tesco PLC of the United Kingdom has greater market share than its rival ASDA Group PLC in Britain. The market share for groceries is 31 percent for Tesco PLC compared to 16 percent for Wal-Marts Asda chain. The supermarket chain has introduced a loyalty program called Tesco Clubcard that collects detailed market information. (Advameg Inc. , 2008) Tesco pioneered the Clubcard rewards program to gather customer detail information, which it then used to accommodate to specific customer needs and potential desires. When shoppers signed up for the card, their age, gender, and income are automatically provided. Tesco was then able to segment their shoppers based on these factors. As long as the shopper used the card when shopping online or in-store, purchased product information was automatically captured into Tesco database. This enables Tesco to collect data about the spending habits and product choices of the customers allowing Tesco to target goods and services effectively such as grocery delivery services. (Knowmore. org, 2008) Apparently Tesco has done significantly better than competitors in winning customer’s loyalty. 27 Non-substitutability In order to maintain a big market share in this competitive environment, Tesco has to provide value to customer and possess competence which is non-substitutable over time. Hence, Tesco has evolved from merely food supply store (Tesco Express and Tesco Metro) to a wide range of food and non-food provider (Tesco Superstore, Tesco Extra and Tesco Homeplus). In addition to a variety of store formats, Tesco also provides a broad appeal by continually innovating and investing in new lines to increase options for customers. â€Å"From Value to Finest and lifestyle ranges like Organic, Free From, Healthy Living and Wholefoods, our various own brands enable customers to buy products to compliment their lifestyle. Our nutritional signpost labeling aims to provide customers with the key information they need to help them choose a balanced diet. † (Tesco 2009, The recent recession has shown a new challenge to Tesco because although customers tend to shop around more for the best prices when times are hard but it doesnt mean they want to compromise on quality of the shopping trip or on choice. â€Å"That is why last year we made the biggest change to our range in a decade, launching around 500 new products as part of our Discount Brands at Tesco initiative. (Tesco 2009) This new range of products enables customer to match their budget without compromising on quality or choice. This act managed to retain the customer to continue to stay on Tesco. Core Competencies need to be flexible and evolve overtime with adaptation to the environment. As a business evolves and adapts to new circumstances and opportunities, so its core competencies which underpin the success will have to adapt and change . With the capabilities of which are valuable to customers, rare, inimitable and non-substitutable, Tesco manages to sustain as British largest retailer over its competitors. Conclusion Today, companies operate in a dynamic global environment whether they are domestic or international players. In order to stay competitive, companies need to innovate. ‘Innovation requires pressure, necessity and even adversity. The fear of loss often proves more powerful than the hope of gain’. (Porter, 1999,p. 164). In these changing times, Tesco has been able to maintain their position as Britain’s number one retailer through innovative approaches in all aspects of their business, from customers to employees to supply chain management. The dynamic macro environment that Tesco UK operates in provides both opportunities and threats. The present economic situation in UK is an important indicator that would and is affecting Tesco’s operations. Though the country has been experiencing high unemployment rates presently, recent statistics show an improvement in sales figures which is an indication for future growth. Changes in consumer behavior patterns and socio cultural changes such as increased migration will no doubt play an important role in creating strategies to have a sustainable competitive advantage for the company. Through Porters 5 Forces Model, we have gained a better understanding of Tesco’s competition. The biggest threat is the existing rivalry in the UK between the supermarket giants such as Asda, Sainsbury, Safeway, Marks and Spencer ad Tesco. Price competition is still the main form of competition existing within these giants. However, Tesco has understood the importance of their stakeholders, mainly consumers and employees and focused their strategic direction towards creating a loyal consumer and employee base with long term commitment. Constant changes to meet customer demands and high response to consumer feedback are important core competencies of the company. Value for money and being able to cater to all market segments have also been vital in maintain their competitive advantage. With the identification of these competencies and the environment analysis, Tesco now could align their future strategic direction to achieve long term sustainable growth as a responsible leader in the UK retail industry. References Johnson, G. , Scholes, K. , Whittington, R. (2008). Exploring Corporate Strategy. Harlow: Prentice Hall. Kotelnikov, V. Core Competencies: Things You Can Do Better Than Your Competition. Retrieved November 15, 2009, from 1000 Ventures: 1000ventures. com/business_guide/crosscuttings/core_competencies. html Knowmore. org. (2008, May 21). Tesco PLC. Retrieved November 17, 2009, from Knowmore. org: knowmore. org/wiki/index. php? title=Tesco_PLC Tesco 2009. Core UK. Retrieved November 17, 2009, from Tesco PLC: tescoplc. com/plc/about_us/strategy/coreuk/ tutor2u. Strategy Core Competencies. Retrieved November 15, 2009, from Tutor2u: http://tutor2u. net/business/strategy/core_competencies. htm The Press Association, Tesco sees market share growth, 10 November 2009. Retreived on 17 November from google. com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hBp-Szv5JTubP4tXxSQSQdL3bsMw Office for National Statistics, UK Statistics Authority 2009 retrieved on 19 November 2009 from statistics. gov. uk/instantfigures. asp Just-Food. com, Sound Bites – The UK Grocery ‘code of practice’ . Russel Michelle, 3 March 2009 retreived from ttp://www. just-food. com/article. aspx? id=105666 The Guardian, UK 21 April 2009. Wearden G. Tesco unveils record profits of ? 3bn. Retrieved on 19 November 2009 from guardian. co. uk/business/2009/apr/21/tesco-record-profits-supermarket Eurofound 2009, Tesco, UK: Make work pay – make work attractive retrieved on 19 November 2009 from eurofound. europa. eu/areas/qualityofwork/betterjobs/cases/uk04tesco. htm BBC News Online, Stamp Gavi n 25 April 2006 Foreign growth jey to Tesco goals retrieved on 19 November 2009 from http://news. bc. co. uk/2/mobile/business/4781458. stm Tesco corporate responsibility report 2009 retreived on 17 November 2009 from investis. com/plc/cr09/crr09. pdf Porter, Michael. E. (1999) On Competition. Harvard Business Press Williams, C. (2000). Management, Cincinnati Ohio, South-Western College Publishing Advameg Inc. . (2008, n. d. n. d. ). Abstract. Retrieved November 17, 2009, from Internet FAQ Archives: Online Education: faqs. org/abstracts/Business-international/No-1-retailer-in-Britain-uses-Clubcard-to-thwart-Wal-Mart. html