UNlQLO-Hong Kong Essay

Introduction: This essay sets out to strategically analyze UNIQLO which IS a new Japanese ca wear brand invest in Hong Kong. I will analysis UNIQLO internal factor and external factor. After that, I will recommendation some area of digital marketing to UNIQLO Company background: UNIQLO is the well-known casual clothing brand in Japan, and to Show footprints across four continents, 17 places. UNIQLO is mainly developing the† business market in Asia such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Korea and Japan. In a few years, UNIQLO upgrade to the world‘s fourth largest casual wear brand, just behind ZARA, H&M. and GAP. Also, Giordano is the main local competitor of UNIQLO in Hong Kong. In 2005, UNIQLO started to invest in Hong Kong. They open the first branch in Tsim Sha Tsui. Today, UNIQLO is one of the popular brands in Hong Kong where have 22 branches. Many teenagers or student will buy their clothes because. there have many types of clothes such as T-Shirt, coat, jacket, sweater and jeans. Internal analysis: Business Model UNIQLO is a business to customer (B2C) company, as their company philosophy is MADE FOR ALL’. They want everyone can wear the best quality casual wear. So their product lines divide to man, woman, kids and baby. Also, UNIQLO products have different series such as casual wear, formal suit, underwear and sportswear. They want customer can purchase their clothes more concentrate and convenience. Then main objectives of UNIQLO’s marketing program are enhancing its brand image, In the target market and maintaining relationships with customers  through digital communication. Digital marketing communication is very useful which can attract the potential customers. For example, we are developing the online shopping system to our customers. It can attract the potential customers who are looking our website. Also it can build our brand image, increase our market share. In addition, we are planning to cooperate with local university, Sponsor some clothing to their student. Establish long term relationship with media channels. Target Customer UNIQLO slogan is â€Å"MADE FOR ALL† their target market would be anyone and everyone, no matter what yours gender, ages. In UNIQLO, you can purchase what you need. However, they will not set their products prices too high as they want everybody can afford it. In Hong Kong, teenager and student are their main target customers because teenager and student are care more about their dressing than adult. Competitive Analysis (International competitors in Hong Kong) UNIQLO is the world’s fourth largest casual wear brands, their ,main competitors are H&M, GAP and ZARA. These three companies also sell inexpensive causal wear and thief style is very similar. (What about Giordano, Bossini) GAP & ZARA are UNIQLO big competitor because they want to develop their business in Asia too. They want to infuse the Europe style to Asian. However, UNIQLO is a Japanese company, their products maybe have some Japanese style. In Asia, Asian like Europe style more than Japanese style. 50 it will affect their sales in Asia. In digital marketing, I find online shopping system only GAP website have, UNIQLO, H&M and ZARA haven’t online shopping systems. Also, GAP have the after sell service, it can help customer to reduce the risk of shopping  online. Nowadays, customers like shopping online because they can know the news products and purchase them on the internet, it is more convenience than shopping in branches. ln Hong Kong, UNIQLO only have 22 branches, not everywhere can see UNIQLO stores, so online shopping system can really help UNIQLO to promote their products. However, UNIQLO has used other social application such as ‘LINE’ to interactive with. customers. For example, UNIQLO every week will send message in their fans page, they will ask some question, if follower answers their question correctly, they will give some discount to them. It seems more interesting because customers can interactive with UNIQLO. (Local Competitor) Recommendations Part B(Strategy) ESPN has become part of the American culture for more than forty years. This provision mummy Sports information is becoming integrative to the global phenomenon. In general. world-of-mouth marketing can be cleverly driven Into electronic marketing and social network marketing via the social media in the form of online communities and forums, blogs and social network. Such includes Facebook. Twitter and YouTube. Electronic marketing and social network marketing will be important for ESPN (Dijkmans. Kerhof & Beukeboom, 2014) to continue to keep their position in world culture and remain as one of the top choice of quality sports information provider among consumers. The social network marketing will continue to reach their target customers. ESPN must help her customers in engagement with ease to exchange her brand virally. The business branding of ESPN is to be extended onto Google+ aside Facebook and Twitter since this platform supports the best practice tactics in viral marketing. After all, these social media platforms are to be integrative with EXPN website via the Cell phone technology by the implementation of mobile apps with updates the call for action buttons site structure with search functions enhancement retrieve of comment posting on social platform in display on home site(and vice versa) Google analytic tools (Pan, 2014) in tracking the status of EXPN against her Competitors The implementation allows for provision of 1 visual content sharing of images and videos (for gasping of attention) 2 educational and insightful content to attract more serious people (parents and Young adults) 3 Provide frequent and consistent updates of content of new stories and sports- specific blog posts 4 Provide prominent sharing button of social media platforms for easing Customers in sharing the content ESPN needs to focus on her sport cultural customers especially in creating her evangelists by asking them to encourage their peers into using ESPN. In particular, the youth audiences would be highly influential to continue to appreciate the service of ESPN and help to pass that same appreciation down to their next generation as it has been a part of their culture. Her role as an advisory agency for her sports customers allows the advantages at two levels (Domegan, 2008). At commerce level, cross-selling is possible between ESPN and her other business partners and such saves the operation cost of her sports partners and the time cost of their Customers. At marketing level, her mission and vision in helping the SWOT Analysis SWOT Analysis is a useful technique for understanding the UNIQLO strengths and weaknesses, and for identifying the opportunities open and the threats of UNIQLO. Used in a business context, a SWOT Analysis helps UNIQLO carve a sustainable inche in its market 1. Strengths: -Products diversification -Great service attitude -Pricing First, UNIQLO’s products have many types such as formal suit, sportswear and casual wear, it can provide more choice for customers purchase in the same place. Second, shopping in UNlQLO can enjoy the best service. When the customers entered the stores, the staff will say ’Welcome to UNIQLO’ and show their smile face to customers to keep the impression better. Also they will solve all about products question to customers. I think this is better than other competitor. Third is UNIQLO products price, they offer discounted prices which increase footfall in store. Also, their price is cheaper than other casual wear shop, but their product quality will not decrease. 2. Weakness: -Employee flow too much -Can’t shopping online No membership (preferential) First, UNIQLO invest much money into training which increase the human resource cost. UNIQLO always have the employee outflow, it will waste their training and money. As UNIQLO hasn’t enough employees discount and welfare so they are difficulty to attract teenager join. Second. UNIQLO hasn’t online shop, they only have online website. Customer only In Hong Kong, the local competitor is Giordano which has 73 branches that more than UNIQLO 22 branches. So, Giordano‘s market share is more than UNIQLO so much. Also, Giordano has perfect online shopping system. it attract more customer purchase Giordano product. This is the main different  between UNIQLO and Giordano. As Giordano has these kinds of service, they can help customer purchase convenient. Giordano’s advertisements do very well and enough that make them to be a well-known brand in Hong Kong. Product Analysis As teenager and student are UNIQLO target customers, their products need to be younger and colorful. Also, UNIQLO is always crossover with some famous designer and other brands such as +J Collection, SPRZ NY, Jeffrey Fulvimari and Disney. It will make UNIQLO products more special and limited. UNIQLO products are very diversification which has four main series products such as women, man, kids and baby. UNIQLO products can fulfill yours need because they have different product lines such as sportswear and casual wear. Their goal is everyone has the chance to come in UNIQLO to purchase. Corporate Social Responsibility UNIQLO not only a business company, they also is a social responsibility company. They have the concept is through clothing to bring the social have the good way development. UNIQLO sponsor some famous sports athlete such as NOVAK DJOKOVIC, Adam Scott, KEl NISHIKORI and SHINGO KUNIEDA. UNIQLO hope they can promote their brand to the world and attend more charity function. The aim is through the star effect to attract more people to care the poor countries. UNIQLO also has the clothing recycling program, they will send the old clothes to the disaster affected countries such as 2013 Nov Philippine typhoon disaster. They donate many recycle clothes to victims. Situation Market Analysis: Situation Analysis ESPN is the leading American cable television network of sports entertainments, entering its first year of operation in cell phone venture in 2003. its premium products were well received and niche marketing has been the key to develop brand and product awareness as well as grow the customer base. ESPN offers sophisticated cell phone with highly specialized content at sports information, serving the growing web industry. The entrance to the Western European markets in 2009 demonstrated the business design and its distinctive capabilities of ESPN as being a leading multinational sports entertainment company. ESPN is shown successful at marketing, capabilities such as understanding customer value, creating customer value, delivering customer value, capturing customer value, and sustaining customer value. Market Summary and Target Customers ESPN possesses good information about the sports entertainment and knows the specifics about the characteristics of a particular sports entertainment follower. This knowledge and the accumulated customer base of customers can be leveraged to better the product and service provision in addressing the needs of the target customers. The common attributes of the target markets of ESPM are as follows: Entertainment Speed Sportsmanship Excitement Culture SWOT Analysis A SWOT analysis evaluates an organization to assess the internal and external factors, Which in turns impacts on the market organization of the organization. The assessment is Critical in the development of goals and the implementation of strategies (Kotler & Keller, 2009). The following SWOT analysis captures the key strengths and weaknesses within the company. and describes the opportunities and threats facing ESPN.

Baroque Oratorio

Oratorio, which literally means â€Å"hall for prayer†, strictly refers to the musical setting usually pertaining to religion having a storyline. Usually, the text or story is based on religious books such as bibles. It is like an opera minus the scenery, costumes and actions, but has a lot of recitative. In addition to this, at some time, the forms and styles that is present in the oratorio is almost fairly accurate than that of the opera and focuses greatly on chorus (Boynick, 1996, February 1).Handel’s â€Å"Hallelujah Chorus† from his oratorio â€Å"The Messiah† features elements such as basso continuo, homophony, combined instrumental-vocal forms, and a pleasant harmony. Basso continuo refers to the sustaining of either the bass or and the keyboard instrument. This would result to the development of a continuous accompaniment. Furthermore, this is notated with a new music notation system. Homophony refers to the use of one melodic voice while being ac companied by instruments. Handel used a musical technique called the text-painting.It is a technique wherein the melody mimics its lyrics. Melodic rhythm can be observed in â€Å"Hallelujah Chorus†. The rhythm kept changing wherein the word â€Å"hallelujah† was sung in so many different ways. The rhythm of the piece in macro- and microbeats is â€Å"Bah-Bum Bum Bah; Bah-Bah Bum Bah† (Runfola and Taggart, 2005). Handel’s â€Å"Hallelujah Chorus† is still popular nowadays because it is often heard in churches. In addition to this, Handel’s â€Å"Hallelujah Chorus† continues to change or adapt with the generation.There are variations of this piece that becomes familiar to everybody, especially those who are really religious. The piece is also intriguing that it states a story from the bible in a way that excites the audience. References Boynick, M. (February 1, 1996, October 10, 2000). Musical Forms: Oratorio. The Grove Concise Dictiona ry of Music Retrieved February 3, 2008, from http://w3. rz-berlin. mpg. de/cmp/g_oratorio. html Runfola, M. , & Taggart, C. C. (2005). The Development and Practical Application of Music Learning Theory. USA: GIA Publications.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 1

Prologue The angel was cleaning out his closets when the call came. Halos and moonbeams were sorted into piles according to brightness, satchels of wrath and scabbards of lightning hung on hooks waiting to be dusted. A wineskin of glory had leaked in the corner and the angel blotted it with a wad of fabric. Each time he turned the cloth a muted chorus rang from the closet, as if he'd clamped the lid down on a pickle jar full of Hallelujah Chorus. â€Å"Raziel, what in heaven's name are you doing?† The archangel Stephan was standing over him, brandishing a scroll like a rolled-up magazine over a piddling puppy. â€Å"Orders?† the angel asked. â€Å"Dirt-side.† â€Å"I was just there.† â€Å"Two millennia ago.† â€Å"Really?† Raziel checked his watch, then tapped the crystal. â€Å"Are you sure?† â€Å"What do you think?† Stephan held out the scroll so Raziel could see the Burning Bush seal. â€Å"When do I leave? I was almost finished here.† â€Å"Now. Pack the gift of tongues and some minor miracles. No weapons, it's not a wrath job. You'll be undercover. Very low profile, but important. It's all in the orders.† Stephan handed him the scroll. â€Å"Why me?† â€Å"I asked that too.† â€Å"And?† â€Å"I was reminded why angels are cast out.† â€Å"Whoa! That big?† Stephan coughed, clearly an affectation, since angels didn't breathe. â€Å"I'm not sure I'm supposed to know, but the rumor is that it's a new book.† â€Å"You're kidding. A sequel? Revelations 2, just when you thought it was safe to sin?† â€Å"It's a Gospel.† â€Å"A Gospel, after all this time? Who?† â€Å"Levi who is called Biff.† Raziel dropped his rag and stood. â€Å"This has to be a mistake.† â€Å"It comes directly from the Son.† â€Å"There's a reason Biff isn't mentioned in the other books, you know? He's a total – â€Å" â€Å"Don't say it.† â€Å"But he's such an asshole.† â€Å"You talk like that and you wonder why you get dirt-duty.† â€Å"Why now, after so long, the four Gospels have been fine so far, and why him?† â€Å"Because it's some kind of anniversary in dirt-dweller time of the Son's birth, and he feels it's time the whole story is told.† Raziel hung his head. â€Å"I'd better pack.† â€Å"Gift of tongues,† Stephan reminded. â€Å"Of course, so I can take crap in a thousand languages.† â€Å"Go get the good news, Raziel. Bring me back some chocolate.† â€Å"Chocolate?† â€Å"It's a dirt-dweller snack. You'll like it. Satan invented it.† â€Å"Devil's food?† â€Å"You can only eat so much white cake, my friend.† Midnight. The angel stood on a barren hillside on the outskirts of the holy city of Jerusalem. He raised his arms aloft and a dry wind whipped his white robe around him. â€Å"Arise, Levi who is called Biff.† A whirlwind formed before him, pulling dust from the hillside into a column that took the shape of a man. â€Å"Arise, Biff. Your time has come.† The wind whipped into a fury and the angel pulled the sleeve of his robe across his face. â€Å"Arise, Biff, and walk again among the living.† The whirlwind began to subside, leaving the man-shaped column of dust standing on the hillside. In a moment, the hillside was calm again. The angel pulled a gold vessel from his satchel and poured it over the column. The dust washed away, leaving a muddy, naked man sputtering in the starlight. â€Å"Welcome back to the living,† the angel said. The man blinked, then held his hand before his eyes as if he expected to see through it. â€Å"I'm alive,† he said in a language he had never heard before. â€Å"Yes,† the angel said. â€Å"What are these sounds, these words?† â€Å"You have been given the gift of tongues.† â€Å"I've always had the gift of tongues, ask any girl I've known. What are these words?† â€Å"Languages. You've been given the gift of languages, as were all the apostles.† â€Å"Then the kingdom has come.† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"How long?† â€Å"Two thousand years ago.† â€Å"You worthless bag of dog shit,† said Levi who was called Biff, as he punched the angel in the mouth. â€Å"You're late.† The angel picked himself up and gingerly touched his lip. â€Å"Nice talk to a messenger of the Lord.† â€Å"It's a gift,† Biff said. Part I The Boy God is a comedian playing to an audience that is afraid to laugh. VOLTAIRE Chapter 1 You think you know how this story is going to end, but you don't. Trust me, I was there. I know. The first time I saw the man who would save the world he was sitting near the central well in Nazareth with a lizard hanging out of his mouth. Just the tail end and the hind legs were visible on the outside; the head and forelegs were halfway down the hatch. He was six, like me, and his beard had not come in fully, so he didn't look much like the pictures you've seen of him. His eyes were like dark honey, and they smiled at me out of a mop of blue-black curls that framed his face. There was a light older than Moses in those eyes. â€Å"Unclean! Unclean!† I screamed, pointing at the boy, so my mother would see that I knew the Law, but she ignored me, as did all the other mothers who were filling their jars at the well. The boy took the lizard from his mouth and handed it to his younger brother, who sat beside him in the sand. The younger boy played with the lizard for a while, teasing it until it reared its little head as if to bite, then he picked up a rock and mashed the creature's head. Bewildered, he pushed the dead lizard around in the sand, and once assured that it wasn't going anywhere on its own, he picked it up and handed it back to his older brother. Into his mouth went the lizard, and before I could accuse, out it came again, squirming and alive and ready to bite once again. He handed it back to his younger brother, who smote it mightily with the rock, starting or ending the whole process again. I watched the lizard die three more times before I said, â€Å"I want to do that too.† The Savior removed the lizard from his mouth and said, â€Å"Which part?† By the way, his name was Joshua. Jesus is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Yeshua, which is Joshua. Christ is not a last name. It's the Greek for messiah, a Hebrew word meaning anointed. I have no idea what the â€Å"H† in Jesus H. Christ stood for. It's one of the things I should have asked him. Me? I am Levi who is called Biff. No middle initial. Joshua was my best friend. The angel says I'm supposed to just sit down and write my story, forget about what I've seen in this world, but how am I to do that? In the last three days I have seen more people, more images, more wonders, than in all my thirty-three years of living, and the angel asks me to ignore them. Yes, I have been given the gift of tongues, so I see nothing without knowing the word for it, but what good does that do? Did it help in Jerusalem to know that it was a Mercedes that terrified me and sent me diving into a Dumpster? Moreover, after Raziel pulled me out and ripped my fingernails back as I struggled to stay hidden, did it help to know that it was a Boeing 747 that made me cower in a ball trying to rock away my own tears and shut out the noise and fire? Am I a little child, afraid of its own shadow, or did I spend twenty-seven years at the side of the Son of God? On the hill where he pulled me from the dust, the angel said, â€Å"You will see many strange things. Do not be afraid. You have a holy mission and I will protect you.† Smug bastard. Had I known what he would do to me I would have hit him again. Even now he lies on the bed across the room, watching pictures move on a screen, eating the sticky sweet called Snickers, while I scratch out my tale on this soft-as-silk paper that reads Hyatt Regency, St. Louis at the top. Words, words, words, a million million words circle in my head like hawks, waiting to dive onto the page to rend and tear the only two words I want to write. Why me? There were fifteen of us – well, fourteen after I hung Judas – so why me? Joshua always told me not to be afraid, for he would always be with me. Where are you, my friend? Why have you forsaken me? You wouldn't be afraid here. The towers and machines and the shine and stink of this world would not daunt you. Come now, I'll order a pizza from room service. You would like pizza. The servant who brings it is named Jesus. And he's not even a Jew. You always liked irony. Come, Joshua, the angel says you are yet with us, you can hold him down while I pound him, then we will rejoice in pizza. Raziel has been looking at my writing and is insisting that I stop whining and get on with the story. Easy for him to say, he didn't just spend the last two thousand years buried in the dirt. Nevertheless, he won't let me order pizza until I finish a section, so here goes†¦ I was born in Galilee, the town of Nazareth, in the time of Herod the Great. My father, Alphaeus, was a stonemason and my mother, Naomi, was plagued by demons, or at least that's what I told everyone. Joshua seemed to think she was just difficult. My proper name, Levi, comes from the brother of Moses, the progenitor of the tribe of priests; my nickname, Biff, comes from our slang word for a smack upside the head, something that my mother said I required at least daily from an early age. I grew up under Roman rule, although I didn't see many Romans until I was ten. The Romans mostly stayed in the fortress city of Sepphoris, an hour's walk north of Nazareth. That's where Joshua and I saw a Roman soldier murdered, but I'm getting ahead of myself. For now, assume that the soldier is safe and sound and happy wearing a broom on his head. Most of the people of Nazareth were farmers, growing grapes and olives on the rocky hills outside of town and barley and wheat in the valleys below. There were also herders of goats and sheep whose families lived in town while the men and older boys tended the flocks in the highlands. Our houses were all made of stone, and ours had a stone floor, although many had floors of hard-packed dirt. I was the oldest of three sons, so even at the age of six I was being prepared to learn my father's trade. My mother taught my spoken lessons, the Law and stories from the Torah in Hebrew, and my father took me to the synagogue to hear the elders read the Bible. Aramaic was my first language, but by the time I was ten I could speak and read Hebrew as well as most of the men. My ability to learn Hebrew and the Torah was spurred on by my friendship with Joshua, for while the other boys would be playing a round of tease the sheep or kick the Canaanite, Joshua and I played at being rabbis, and he insisted that we stick to the authentic Hebrew for our ceremonies. It was more fun than it sounds, or at least it was until my mother caught us trying to circumcise my little brother Shem with a sharp rock. What a fit she threw. And my argument that Shem needed to renew his covenant with the Lord didn't seem to convince her. She beat me to stripes with an olive switch and forbade me to play with Joshua for a month. Did I mention she was besought with demons? Overall, I think it was good for little Shem. He was the only kid I ever knew who could pee around corners. You can make a pretty good living as a beggar with that kind of talent. And he never even thanked me. Brothers. Children see magic because they look for it. When I first met Joshua, I didn't know he was the Savior, and neither did he, for that matter. What I knew was that he wasn't afraid. Amid a race of conquered warriors, a people who tried to find pride while cowering before God and Rome, he shone like a bloom in the desert. But maybe only I saw it, because I was looking for it. To everyone else he seemed like just another child: the same needs and the same chance to die before he was grown. When I told my mother of Joshua's trick with the lizard she checked me for fever and sent me to my sleeping mat with only a bowl of broth for supper. â€Å"I've heard stories about that boy's mother,† she said to my father. â€Å"She claims to have spoken to an angel of the Lord. She told Esther that she had borne the Son of God.† â€Å"And what did you say to Esther?† â€Å"That she should be careful that the Pharisees not hear her ravings or we'd be picking stones for her punishment.† â€Å"Then you should not speak of it again. I know her husband, he is a righteous man.† â€Å"Cursed with an insane girl for a wife.† â€Å"Poor thing,† my father said, tearing away a hunk of bread. His hands were as hard as horn, as square as hammers, and as gray as a leper's from the limestone he worked with. An embrace from him left scratches on my back that sometimes wept blood, yet my brothers and I fought to be the first in his arms when he returned from work each evening. The same injuries inflicted in anger would have sent us crying to our mother's skirts. I fell asleep each night feeling his hand on my back like a shield. Fathers. Do you want to mash some lizards?† I asked Joshua when I saw him again. He was drawing in the dirt with a stick, ignoring me. I put my foot on his drawing. â€Å"Did you know that your mother is mad?† â€Å"My father does that to her,† he said sadly, without looking up. I sat down next to him. â€Å"Sometimes my mother makes yipping noises in the night like the wild dogs.† â€Å"Is she mad?† Joshua asked. â€Å"She seems fine in the morning. She sings while she makes breakfast.† Joshua nodded, satisfied, I guess, that madness could pass. â€Å"We used to live in Egypt,† he said. â€Å"No, you didn't, that's too far. Farther than the temple, even.† The Temple in Jerusalem was the farthest place I had been as a child. Every spring my family took the five-day walk to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. It seemed to take forever. â€Å"We lived here, then we lived in Egypt, now we live here again,† Joshua said. â€Å"It was a long way.† â€Å"You lie, it takes forty years to get to Egypt.† â€Å"Not anymore, it's closer now.† â€Å"It says in the Torah. My abba read it to me. ‘The Israelites traveled in the desert for forty years.'† â€Å"The Israelites were lost.† â€Å"For forty years?† I laughed. â€Å"The Israelites must be stupid.† â€Å"We are the Israelites.† â€Å"We are?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"I have to go find my mother,† I said. â€Å"When you come back, let's play Moses and Pharaoh.† The angel has confided in me that he is going to ask the Lord if he can become Spider-Man. He watches the television constantly, even when I sleep, and he has become obsessed with the story of the hero who fights demons from the rooftops. The angel says that evil looms larger now than it did in my time, and that calls for greater heroes. The children need heroes, he says. I think he just wants to swing from buildings in tight red jammies. What hero could touch these children anyway, with their machines and medicine and distances made invisible? (Raziel: not here a week and he would trade the Sword of God to be a web slinger.) In my time, our heroes were few, but they were real – some of us could even trace our kinship to them. Joshua always played the heroes – David, Joshua, Moses – while I played the evil ones: Pharaoh, Ahab, and Nebuchadnezzar. If I had a shekel for every time I was slain as a Philistine, well, I'd not be riding a camel through the eye of a needle anytime soon, I'll tell you that. As I think back, I see that Joshua was practicing for what he would become. â€Å"Let my people go,† said Joshua, as Moses. â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"You can't just say, ‘Okay.'† â€Å"I can't?† â€Å"No, the Lord has hardened your heart against my demands.† â€Å"Why'd he do that?† â€Å"I don't know, he just did. Now, let my people go.† â€Å"Nope.† I crossed my arms and turned away like someone whose heart is hardened. â€Å"Behold as I turn this stick into a snake. Now, let my people go!† â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"You can't just say ‘okay'!† â€Å"Why? That was a pretty good trick with the stick.† â€Å"But that's not how it goes.† â€Å"Okay. No way, Moses, your people have to stay.† Joshua waved his staff in my face. â€Å"Behold, I will plague you with frogs. They will fill your house and your bedchamber and get on your stuff.† â€Å"So?† â€Å"So that's bad. Let my people go, Pharaoh.† â€Å"I sorta like frogs.† â€Å"Dead frogs,† Moses threatened. â€Å"Piles of steaming, stinking dead frogs.† â€Å"Oh, in that case, you'd better take your people and go. I have some sphinxes and stuff to build anyway.† â€Å"Dammit, Biff, that's not how it goes! I have more plagues for you.† â€Å"I want to be Moses.† â€Å"You can't.† â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"I have the stick.† â€Å"Oh.† And so it went. I'm not sure I took to playing the villains as easily as Joshua took to being the heroes. Sometimes we recruited our little brothers to play the more loathsome parts. Joshua's little brothers Judah and James played whole populations, like the Sodomites outside of Lot's door. â€Å"Send out those two angels so that we can know them.† â€Å"I won't do that,† I said, playing Lot (a good guy only because Joshua wanted to play the angels), â€Å"but I have two daughters who don't know anyone, you can meet them.† â€Å"Okay,† said Judah. I threw open the door and led my imaginary daughters outside so they could know the Sodomites†¦ â€Å"Pleased to meet you.† â€Å"Charmed, I'm sure.† â€Å"Nice to meet you.† â€Å"THAT'S NOT HOW IT GOES!† Joshua shouted. â€Å"You're supposed to try to break the door down, then I will smite you blind.† â€Å"Then you destroy our city?† James said. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"We'd rather meet Lot's daughters.† â€Å"Let my people go,† said Judah, who was only four and often got his stories confused. He particularly liked the Exodus because he and James got to throw jars of water on me as I led my soldiers across the Red Sea after Moses. â€Å"That's it,† Joshua said. â€Å"Judah, you're Lot's wife. Go stand over there.† Sometimes Judah had to play Lot's wife no matter what story we were doing. â€Å"I don't want to be Lot's wife.† â€Å"Be quiet, pillars of salt can't talk.† â€Å"I don't want to be a girl.† Our brothers always played the female parts. I had no sisters to torment, and Joshua's only sister at the time, Elizabeth, was still a baby. That was before we met the Magdalene. The Magdalene changed everything. After I overheard my parents talking about Joshua's mother's madness, I often watched her, looking for signs, but she seemed to go about her duties like all the other mothers, tending to the little ones, working in the garden, fetching water, and preparing food. There was no sign of going about on all fours or foaming at the mouth as I had expected. She was younger than many of the mothers, and much younger than her husband, Joseph, who was an old man by the standards of our time. Joshua said that Joseph wasn't his real father, but he wouldn't say who his father was. When the subject came up, and Mary was in earshot, she would call to Josh, then put her finger to her lips to signal silence. â€Å"Now is not the time, Joshua. Biff would not understand.† Just hearing her say my name made my heart leap. Early on I developed a little-boy love for Joshua's mother that sent me into fantasies of marriage and family and future. â€Å"Your father is old, huh, Josh?† â€Å"Not too old.† â€Å"When he dies, will your mother marry his brother?† â€Å"My father has no brothers. Why?† â€Å"No reason. What would you think if your father was shorter than you?† â€Å"He isn't.† â€Å"But when your father dies, your mother could marry someone shorter than you, and he would be your father. You would have to do what he says.† â€Å"My father will never die. He is eternal.† â€Å"So you say. But I think that when I'm a man, and your father dies, I will take your mother as my wife.† Joshua made a face now as if he had bitten into an unripe fig. â€Å"Don't say that, Biff.† â€Å"I don't mind that she's mad. I like her blue cloak. And her smile. I'll be a good father, I'll teach you how to be a stonemason, and I'll only beat you when you are a snot.† â€Å"I would rather play with lepers than listen to this.† Joshua began to walk away. â€Å"Wait. Be nice to your father, Joshua bar Biff† – my own father used my full name like this when he was trying to make a point – â€Å"Is it not the word of Moses that you must honor me?† Little Joshua spun on his heel. â€Å"My name is not Joshua bar Biff, and it is not Joshua bar Joseph either. It's Joshua bar Jehovah!† I looked around, hoping that no one had heard him. I didn't want my only son (I planned to sell Judah and James into slavery) to be stoned to death for uttering the name of God in vain. â€Å"Don't say that again, Josh. I won't marry your mother.† â€Å"No, you won't.† â€Å"I'm sorry.† â€Å"I forgive you.† â€Å"She will make an excellent concubine.† Don't let anyone tell you that the Prince of Peace never struck anyone. In those early days, before he had become who he would be, Joshua smote me in the nose more than once. That was the first time. Mary would stay my one true love until I saw the Magdalene. If the people of Nazareth thought Joshua's mother was mad, there was little said of it out of respect for her husband, Joseph. He was wise in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, and there were few wives in Nazareth who didn't serve supper in one of his smooth olive-wood bowls. He was fair, strong, and wise. People said that he had once been an Essene, one of the dour, ascetic Jews who kept to themselves and never married or cut their hair, but he did not congregate with them, and unlike them, he still had the ability to smile. In those early years, I saw him very little, as he was always in Sepphoris, building structures for the Romans and the Greeks and the landed Jews of that city, but every year, as the Feast of Firsts approached, Joseph would stop his work in the fortress city and stay home carving bowls and spoons to give to the Temple. During the Feast of Firsts, it was the tradition to give first lambs, first grain, and first fruits to the priests of the Temple. Even first sons born during the year were dedicated to the Temple, either by promising them for labor when they were older, or by a gift of money. Craftsmen like my father and Joseph could give things that they made, and in some years my father fashioned mortars and pestles or grinding stones for the tribute, while in others he gave tithes of coin. Some people made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for this feast, but since it fell only seven weeks after Passover, many families could not afford to make the pilgrimage, and the gifts went to our sim ple village synagogue. During the weeks leading up to the feast, Joseph sat outside of his house in the shade of an awning he had made, worrying the gnarled olive wood with adze and chisel, while Joshua and I played at his feet. He wore the single-piece tunic that we all wore, a rectangle of fabric with neck hole in the middle, belted with a sash so that the sleeves fell to the elbows and the hem fell to the knees. â€Å"Perhaps this year I should give the Temple my first son, eh, Joshua? Wouldn't you like to clean the altar after the sacrifices?† He grinned to himself without looking up from his work. â€Å"I owe them a first son, you know. We were in Egypt at the Firsts Feast when you were born.† The idea of coming in contact with blood clearly terrified Joshua, as it would any Jewish boy. â€Å"Give them James, Abba, he is your first son.† Joseph shot a glance my way, to see if I had reacted. I had, but it was because I was considering my own status as a first son, hoping that my father wasn't thinking along the same lines. â€Å"James is a second son. The priests don't want second sons. It will have to be you.† Joshua looked at me before he answered, then back at his father. Then he smiled. â€Å"But Abba, if you should die, who will take care of Mother if I am at the Temple?† â€Å"Someone will look after her,† I said. â€Å"I'm sure of it.† â€Å"I will not die for a long time.† Joseph tugged at his gray beard. â€Å"My beard goes white, but there's a lot of life in me yet.† â€Å"Don't be so sure, Abba,† Joshua said. Joseph dropped the bowl he was working on and stared into his hands. â€Å"Run along and play, you two,† he said, his voice little more than a whisper. Joshua stood and walked away. I wanted to throw my arms around the old man, for I had never seen a grown man afraid before and it frightened me too. â€Å"Can I help?† I said, pointing to the half-finished bowl that lay in Joseph's lap. â€Å"You go with Joshua. He needs a friend to teach him to be human. Then I can teach him to be a man.†

Developing Professionals in Design Entrepreneurship Assignment

Developing Professionals in Design Entrepreneurship - Assignment Example The UK and Saudi Arabian schools are now offering specific teaching methodologies that allow students to work into design entrepreneurship in a different manner. The methodologies which are used can be examined from a variety of perspectives, all which pertain to how it is influencing the field of design as well as how this relates specifically to the levels of being an entrepreneur in society with the new levels of education and technology available. Different professions require specific approaches and focus within the industry. One of the professions which continue to offer substantial opportunity is design entrepreneurship. This particular field is one which is noted to provide a high level of creativity and opportunity within the studies and professional opportunities. The design entrepreneurship that is available is one which differs according to culture and expectations in society, all of which creates the ability to use skills and processes through defined training. When exploring the concept of design entrepreneurship, it can be seen that the educational studies, as well as the approach in which most take to the study, is able to provide significant opportunities to those interested in the field. This paper will examine the ideology of design entrepreneurship as well as how it associates with the UK and Saudi Arabian art and design universities, all which lead to specific outcomes in how students approach design after the ir education. Design entrepreneurship is known as a service-oriented architecture field. Those who move into the design are interested in creating architecture or a framework for graphics, technology or for the implementation of a product. Designers can work in fields such as architecture, interior design, graphic design or fashion, all of which are based on providing specific innovations and designs which can then be created and sold in the marketplace.  

The Determinants of Health from a Historical Perspective Essay

The Determinants of Health from a Historical Perspective - Essay Example But this favorable outcome.... had to be devised with the aid of medical science and fought for politically. It could only be achieved if the serious health challenges brought on by economic change, industrial wage labor, and urban living were met with the appropriate political resolution to implement far-reaching preventive health measures, requiring the deployment of substantial social and economic resources...."( Szreter ,1997) In order to understand the health improvement and its causes it is necessary to look at the dismal situation in terms of disease, infant mortality, quality of food, filth in the surroundings and the work environment in 19th century Britain through a snapshot created from documented history: The most life-threatening hazard facing city-dwelling Victorians is cholera, closely followed by typhoid fever and typhus. Four epidemics of cholera - in 1831/32, 1848/49, 1853/54 and 1866 - kill about 140,000 people, with more than 60,000 perishing in the second epidemic alone. ....In London, there are still open cesspools, and the sewers run straight into the Thames..... Urban workers are stunted in growth and afflicted by debilitating diseases such as rickets, tuberculosis and bronchitis. Long hours of toil and poor diet weakens their resistance. .....much of the food consumed by the working classes is adulterated by foreign substances, contaminated by chemicals or fouled by animal and human excrement. The infant mortality rates in the.... inner city rates were dramatically higher, 300 deaths per thousand on average .... Puerperal fever...was the main cause of death in childbirth during the 19th century....patients under a doctor's care have only a 50% chance of being better off than if they and their diseases had been left alone. ( McVeigh,2000) This then, is the situation in which most of industrial Britain found itself in the beginning of the 19th century, and we first examine how developments in medicine and hygienic concepts facilitated improvements in health standards. To our 21st century perceptions, the answers must seem pretty simple: remove the filth and improve the sanitary and health services. But to the 19th century mindset, ideas on infection and sanitation and their relevance to health was yet to be established, and this is where the role of medicine came in. The role of sanitation in a disease like cholera was first commented on by a surgeon called John Snow.John Snow......published in 1849 his opinion that cholera was spread by the pollution of drinking water by sewage......Snow's original publication received little official attention, the miasmatists being bent on campaigning vigorously against filth in general as a cause of 'poisoned air'. Two of the three persons most celebrated for their interest in hea lth in Victorian times, Edwin Chadwick and Florence Nightingale, remained miasmatists all their lives. ..... Nevertheless, the realization of the miasmatists that cholera was at its worst in insanitary places led to widespread national protests against the evils of the open sewers, the defective drains, the foul ditches and the refuse-littered streets of the towns of the 1840s.(Seaman,1995)

The effect of national culture on Commitment forms within Essay

The effect of national culture on Commitment forms within international joint venture - Essay Example the huge population growth which had occurred in the Arab world due to work opportunities related to oil supplies resulting in considerable international migration to countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Such immigration is mainly from surrounding countries (Ali, 1986). Such large-scale immigration occurs because there is a shortage of national labour means there is a need to seek non-national workers who then end up making national a minority within their own country (Ali, 1986). Therefore this situation results in making the national culture a minority within its own environment and has significant implications for that culture. Ali provides data to prove this assertion. For example, the national population living in the United Arab Emirates has declined from 36 per cent in 1975 to 17 per cent in 1986 (Ali, 1986). In 1986 it was predicted that the proportion of nationals living in Saudi Arabia would fall to 9 per cent in 1990 and 2.5 per cent in 2000 (Ali, 1 986). In comparison in 1983 the Indian population living in the United Arab Emirates numbered 300,000, which was one and a half times the number of nationals living in the country (Ali, 1986). Ali went on to explore the reasons why countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates depended on non-national workforces. Some factors proposed by Ali (1986) included the relatively young age of the population of the Arab Gulf States’. For example in 1975 45 per cent of the populations of these states were under 15 (Hamady, 1978; cited by Ali, 1986). Also, there is a high illiteracy rate in the Arab Gulf States’. In 1978 the rate of illiteracy in this group raged from 31 per cent in the United Arab Emirates to 57 per cent of the population of Saudi Arabia (Al-Atiah, 1983; cited by Ali, 1986). These high illiteracy rates are due to problems in the education system which does not have the capacity to provide adequate educational and technical skills (Ali, 1986). This is due to the

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

The Patriot Act - Essay Example According to President Bush, â€Å"The Patriot Act defends our liberty. The Patriot Act makes it able for those of us in positions of responsibility to defend the liberty of the American people. It’s essential law† (Allen, 2004). According to the Justice Department, the PATRIOT Act gives support to and encourages enhanced sharing of information among various law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels. In addition, this law assists law enforcement in their efforts to â€Å"connect the dots† from a wider scope of agencies when assembling evidence so as to â€Å"develop a complete picture† regarding possible threats from terrorists (Ward, 2002). Additionally, the Act increased border security funding and allows the Attorney General to disburse monetary rewards to those individuals and entities such as municipalities that have enjoined the fight against terrorism. Furthermore, it provides financial support for the training of first respond ers such as firefighters. Finally, the PATRIOT Act permits government agencies power to delay notification of search warrants, â€Å"which (is) a long-existing crime-fighting tool upheld by courts nationwide for decades in organized crime, drug cases and child pornography† (US Department of Justice, 2005). Critics of the Act suggest that is in contradiction to the tenants of the First Amendment. As an example, a citizen can be identified and treated as a terrorist if they are a breaking federal law such as trespassing on public property during a protest when a federal official is injured, not by that person but simply injured during the protest. This allows any person who was exercising their constitutional right of free speech to be arrested and detained indefinitely without benefit of legal counsel, a violation of the Fifth Amendment right to due process of law. Section 203 of the PATRIOT Act allows law enforcement officers to give CIA with no court order information received

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (1532) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (1532) - Essay Example His arguments were not based on some empty theorizing or on some abstract ideas. This strategy proved efficient in making his readers to relate to the ideas in terms of their high sense of realism. The examples also enhanced the memory of the leaders as they could now convert them into other situations that related to the same ideas. It would be important to consider the fact that some of the issues that were brought about by Machiavelli derived from things and events that he had witnessed in real life. As such, his arguments were only condensed out of the political realities of the day and from facts he had deduced from historical records. Historical and contemporary examples offered his arguments some form of comparative advantage when perceived from the perspective of other competing perspectives that existed during that time. It is therefore necessary to appraise the work of Machiavelli as a derivative of historical realism. Machiavelli’s arguments could be considered in t erms of the various issues that relate to the discourse of real-politick. His arguments were diagnostic in the sense that they exposed the characteristic of leadership from the point of view of the existing monarchs in various parts of the world. Historians contend that much of Machiavelli’s arguments were based on the life and times of Cesare Borgia and King Ferdinand of Spain. Machiavelli’s insistence on his acquaintance of contemporary affairs and a continuous study of the ancient world was meant to illustrate the fact that his arguments had the backing of political realities across the historical times. It is important to consider the multiple historical and philosophical influences that weave into the thinking of Niccollo Machiavelli. For instance, his ideas were drawn out of the real-life experiences he had undergone, which he related to some of the dominant political forces that shaped the histories of the world. Reality, according to Machiavelli, is a social co nstruct. It is therefore important to consider the many issues that attend to the influences that shape and are in turn shaped by the politics of the day. As a result, Machiavelli is regarded as an honest interpreter of times and political realities particularly from a pragmatic point of view. He based his philosophy in the idea of the things that work. He sought to understand the reasons behind events and situations from the relationship between the means and the ends of such realities. As such, his insistence on knowledge of world affairs and the histories of great people was one of the illustrations of his tendency towards political realism. On this note, it becomes necessary to consider some of the influences and happenings that engaged his opinions from the perspective of experience and reality. Constraints of a Prince’s Freedom of Action Machiavelli cited virtue, righteousness, honesty, and integrity as some of the factors, which hamper a Prince’s freedom of acti on. According to Machiavelli, a Prince must adopt characters and personalities that will help retain him in power. The Prince, according to Machiavelli must engage in the habits of both a lion and a fox1. He must have the courage to fend off threats of the enemy and must have some cunning of a fox. Machiavelli recognizes the virtues of integrity and honesty as things that a Prince should only adopt for the purposes of enhancing his image, but not really to engage in them as aspects of his authentic character. Machiavelli argued that such habits

The future of Cloud Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The future of Cloud Security - Essay Example Resolving the security factor is top priority and this paper looks into the future outlook of the cloud computing and associated security level attainable. Key words: API, security, virtualization, malware Introduction: The cloud computing allows for large number of benefits ranging from space to ease of work, however the security threat makes it one of the most vulnerable medium in this regard (Mather, et al. 2009). On demand delivery is one of the core functions of cloud computing, making use of the resources only when required. They can be operated on various scales in private environments, hybrid or community as a whole. Safety with regard to the data contained in the networks, the structuring of the data with regard to ease of flow of information. The fact that the potential provider of data may stand helpless with the safety of data and this happens due to the fact that the overall interface is a virtual one and does not have any fixed physical existence as was the case in prev ious storage patterns and methods that were commonly in use. Future prospect: Considering its effective performance and the potential advantages it possesses, it is certainly the technology that would dominate the future trends of technological world, however factors like security of interface, the password cracking, minimizing the challenges posed by the bots, and eliminating their role, allowing for safer operations from within the network, all these are few of the steps and actions that must be taken into account in order to make cloud computing a more secure one for the future operations and future dominance. Present day situation: At present the concept of cloud computing is prone to number of direct and indirect threats; these threats raise serious concerns regarding the future and their potential productivity in this regard. These challenges come in form of inappropriate usage of the network from within, ease of access to outside intruders, and most prominently the lack of in frastructure that would be required for an established network that facilitates the usage and services with due consideration of the security concerns of the users and the service providers in form of the servers, business enterprises and numerous other related entities. I.P address stealing, intellectual property related content stealing, these are few of the potential loopholes that define the present day standing of cloud computing technologies. Handling of the data bases (Fiore & Aloisio, 2011), ensuring their safety with regard to all the information that is being stored in them, transactions that are being performed through the integrated network, scheduling procedures for the resources that are being allocated and parallel processing without any infringement of the data and information are few of the steps and considerations that ought to be resolved to make the cloud computing networks a safer technological option. Shared technology consideration: The sharing of the interfac e and architecture is a concern that allows for vulnerability with regard to the safe existence and performance of cloud computing networks. The function of isolation is a vital concept in the domain of cloud computing

Conceptual Design Specification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Conceptual Design Specification - Essay Example It is also Canada's largest natural gas distributor, providing gas to commercial, industrial, and residential customers in Ontario. The primary functions of the design are the ability of the device to monitor and control energy consumption in an Ontario household and advise the user about the economical use of energy sources namely electricity and gas. Moreover, this wall-mounted device should also be safe, reliable and easy to use for a variety of users including the disabled and multiple ethnic groups. The proposed conceptual design is the knob controller that will perform all the functions and meet the objectives mentioned above. The design will be able to monitor the energy usage in real time and give consumers information on their usage and control of energy consumption. The user then can control the use of energy by setting limits in the system. It should also be able to shut on and off the power to any major location in the household. The design will also be able to collect and analyze data of energy consumed in the household. The design accommodates various ethnic groups and the people with visual and hearing problems. The interface is intended to be used in a high traffic area such as living room or kitchen in a household. This system will be linked to hardware providing connections with various appliances in the household. The system is for use by people above the age of 12 years. A detailed design report for this suggested solution will follow soon. During this process, more information will be gathered either through further research or directly from the client. We are also planning design a model to be tested by the client to ensure quality. 1. Problem Definition This section is based upon the client's statement and describes design objectives and requirements, establishes functions and identifies the constraints that the design must follow. Different environments that the design will work in have also been defined in this section. 1.1. Problem Statement The University of Toronto Engineering Strategies and Practice (ESP) design team has been asked by a consortium, a group of energy companies in Ontario (primarily Enbridge and Ontario Power Generation) to develop an interface that will monitor the use of energy in a household in Ontario. Owing to the escalating energy prices and growing awareness about economical use of non- renewable energy sources, there has been a rising demand for some type of monitoring system for efficient and optimal use of energy sources such as gas and electricity. In order to fulfill this potential need, Ontario group of energy companies is looking for a system that can provide the necessary monitoring and controlling functions. The interface should also be programmable so the user can specify whether or not to automatically turn off certain appliances within the household. The design should also be able to give advice to the user on how to save energy based on its ability to collect real time data on temperature, electricity and gas usage in the house. The design should have access to information such as community demand for electricity, gas usage and pricing. This interface system should be

Tentative Reference List Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Tentative Reference List - Research Proposal Example It also contains some of the approaches that could be undertaken to prevent drug use in schools which is essential in our research recommendation. This article would provide information about the rules and consequences that should be introduced for those found using drugs in schools. It also provides information on how to manage drug related incidences. This article is important since it contains arguments on whether students should be tested for drug use. Moreover, it contains some of the evidences from court rulings that indicate whether drug testing should be undertaken in schools. This article contains information like the legal issues surrounding this research topic. People who advocate for students not to be tested for drug use use the arguments. The other information that this article contain is the reason why schools should test members of their fraternity for drug use. These are actually the arguments brought out by the people who advocate for drug testing in public schools. Zimmerman, M. A., & Schmeelk-Cone, K. H. (2003). A longitudinal Analysis of Adolescent Substance Use and School Motivation among African American Youth. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 13 (2),

Platos Reflection on Metaphysics Essay Example for Free

Platos Reflection on Metaphysics Essay A combination of the Greek word, meta, which translates to â€Å"after,† â€Å"beyond,† â€Å"along with,† â€Å"among,† and â€Å"behind,† and the Latin term, physica, that simply means the science of matter and physical properties. Philosophers refer to this term to theorize about the different elements of the world in which we live and the world that truly exists. One of the most prominent philosophers is Plato, who set the foundation for many modern philosophers on their perspective of reality through reason. Plato believed in two separate realities; the physical and the immaterial. He claimed that a dividing line existed between the two worlds, and the immaterial or intelligible is of more importance in the discovery of truth than the physical properties of our world. Comprised of intangible properties but that can be seen through logic, the immaterial world is grasping the reason behind the idea of an object and separating those elements from the subject. Plato explicates the physical world as anything or objects that is identified by one of our five senses. Within the physical world are two subsets, image and tangible object. Image refers to the shadow or reflection of the image. In addition, the physical object is self explanatory; the object distinguished by touch, taste, smell, or sight. Although primarily disconnected, the two worlds cannot exist without each other and the knowledge that pertains to both. For example, Plato utilizes a ball as the subject to form an analogy of the collaboration between the two realities. From childhood, we are taught that a ball is a ball based on others perception and knowledge of it; not our original thought. The ball exists in the world of appearances, physical. However, its intangible properties such as, roundness, exist on a parallel plane. Plato describes that plane as the world of Forms. In an effort to further enlighten us, Plato sets guidelines for the properties to forms. First, forms are objective; ideas exist through reason and not experiential. Objects that we perceive are reliant upon our experiences and verbal confirmation of the object and not the actual perspective of the object. Therefore, one can surmise that our senses are isleading, and the reality in which we live is different from others and the true reality. Next, forms are transcendent. The property remains true in spite of time and space. Third, forms are eternal. As aforementioned, Plato believes forms are unchanging; true concept behind an object is unchanging, redness. The form is separate from our subjective image. True comprehension lies in individually analyzing each separate form that comprises the object an d identifies it as what we perceive it as. Forth, forms are models; truest essence of an idea to which an object copies the form and combines it with other elements to create a copied version of a sample of the form. Fifth, forms are intellectual species; can only be determined through reason separating the being from the object. Lastly, forms are perfection. In its purest state, a form is a singular entity. A material object collects bits of forms and its perfection making the object itself impure. A material object cannot be perfect in its existence because it is but an imitation of several forms that only alone are perfect. Plato’s concept of reality or the simultaneous existence of the two realities are at best intriguing and worthy of exploring. However, as he himself stated, we can never come in direct contact with the immaterial world. Therefore, how can true knowledge be acquired or ascertained? Once again, it is not until we are no longer part of this world that we may finally discover the truth behind this vast universe and the world or worlds in which we reside.

The medical coding

The medical coding The Performance of Medical Coding What responsibilities are required in Medical Coding? How is Medical Coding beneficial in the healthcare industry? Herzing University (2009) says, â€Å"Medical Coding is the act of billing patients and health insurances for the medical checkup they received.† Medical Coding is one of the most valuable careers in the Healthcare industry. However, this profession requires important guidelines, such as assigning proper health-related codes, understanding coding language, and meeting the terms of the compliance rule. Moreover, as a productive benefit in this line of work, many employers allow medical coders to enter codes from home. The first rule that applies to Medical Coding is the importance of code assignments. After a patient is seen by a physician in an office or hospital room, the medical coders job is to assign the appropriate health diagnosis code on the claim form. The claim form is to be submitted to the patients insurance company for reimbursement purposes; claims are submitted to insurance companies so that doctors will be paid for the services rendered in the office as well. Upon submitting the claim form(s), it is important for the medical coder to assign the correct code(s) to ensure a timely payment process. If the code(s) are incorrect, this will cause the claim to be denied and payment will not be released until the issue is corrected. Herzing University (2009) comments that â€Å"Every medical diagnosis or procedure that is done in a medical office should have a health-related code assigned to it. The medical coder is accountable for assigning the correct code for each procedure that is per formed on a patient.† In addition, AHIMA (2009) predicts that â€Å"the excellence of medical services depend on if a medical coder assigns codes accurately and in a timely fashion.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  In Medical Coding, the first and foremost responsibility is to make certain that the payment reviews and funds flow effectively. Scichilone (2008) also points out that â€Å"the timely completion of assigned codes depends on the accuracy of the coding process.† Therefore, assigning proper codes for medical procedures are essential because it will guarantee timely payment to medical providers and their patients. Another rule that applies to Medical Coding is the understanding of coding language. Where does the resource of coding come from? Who maintains the health-related coding system? The American Health Information Management Association (2009) clarifies that â€Å"the resources for the health-related coding are maintained by a particular group of organizations. These groups are responsible for the updates and or changes for the coding process. The National Center for Health Services, is in charge of the ICD-9-CM codes, whereas, The American Medical Association is responsible for the CPT codes.† What is the coding language and why is it used in Medical Coding? In Medical Coding, an ICD-9-CM code is entered on a claim to code a patient†s diagnosis received from the physician. In addition, there may be more than one diagnostic code on a claim form. A CPT code is entered on a claim to code a procedure that was performed on the patient(s). There may be more that one procedure cod e entered on the claim form as well. For simplicity principle, the codes assigned convey what types of service(s) were provided and why the procedure was done. Rogoski (2004) adds that â€Å"[t]here are two major coding [organizations that are responsible for the coding language],..: the ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes that are maintained by the federal government, and the CPT procedure codes that are maintained by the American Medical Association.† For verification purposes, American Medical Association (2009) define the definition of the diagnosis code ICD-9-CM is â€Å"The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification,† while (CDC, 2009) notes that the CPT procedure code means â€Å"Current Procedural Terminology.† The most important rule that applies to Medical Coding is the consistency of data entries. Being that coding information is updated on a quarterly and yearly basis by the health care organizations, it is important for the medical coder to enter the updated or revised codes accordingly. Entering the correct diagnosis and procedure code(s) is essential because the code(s) determine how and why reimbursement or payment is requested. During the coding process, it is imperative for the coder to obtain the up-to-date information on medical services covered by the patients insurance company to avoid questionable outcomes. In other words, the services that are covered under a carrier should match what is documented in the compliance guidelines and if the coding or documentation is not consistent with the specific guidelines, this can develop into an investigation and claim rejections. AHIMA (2009) contends that, â€Å"Entering the appropriate data according to the compliance rule is very im portant in the coding process. Whether the codes are entered correctly or not, it will in one way or another, affect both the quality of the statistics and the fulfillment to the regulations.† For that reason, to stay current with the array of coding rules, the Medical Coder should always consult with the healthcare guidelines upon entering the code(s) on a claim form ensure the quality of medical information. Furthermore, to ensure data consistency according to the compliance rule, meticulous medical coding software has been utilized to assist the medical coders during the coding process. â€Å"Computer-Assistance Coding† is how (Scichilone, 2009) describes the software. Even though coding can be complicated especially when trying to remember and stay up to date with guidelines, the use of medical coding software will promote thorough and affirmative results. Scichilone (2009) explains that â€Å"[t]hose little numbers or alpha-numeric [series] are one of the reasons the compliance [organization] exists.† The coding process is to note what type of medical service was provided and the reason for the office visit. To acquire efficiency, new software has been executed to help providers concerning data consistency guidelines. Medical coders can use this specific computer software to produce organized health codes for evaluation.† Not only does this medical coding software assist in positive reviews from the compliance group, it encourages moral standards as well. As an added guideline precaution, healthcare providers are should distribute the compliance rule list within its facilities to ensure proper and precise coding. The list should include a detailed medical coding policy that must be adhered by accordingly. One author (Stegman, 2009) notes that â€Å"[f]or many clinical areas with commonly provided services, very specific coding and billing guidelines exist to assist the provider in reporting accurate and honest claims Ideally, the provider should have a coding compliance policy document withthe following [factors]† Instructions on how to assign codes for new medical procedures; Instructions on how to correct inaccurate codes that were previously assigned; Code of conduct requirements linked to the Healthcare service provided, Annual or semi-annual training in Healthcare compliance guiding principles, Disciplinary steps taken if failure to comply with the guidelines occur, and Helpful contact phone number to seek out additional or unclear information.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the Medical Coding position, these issues should provide helpful healthcare solutions when it comes to assigning medical codes for claim submission. By following these procedures, this will develop data quality within the healthcare environment because of the consistency assignment entries. Stegman (2008) agrees with these methods by saying that â€Å"coding experts are likely to sustain the importance of accurate and consistent coding traditions to deliver quality health care Medical coders should continue to improve their coding skills to stay current with the coding regulations The Medical Coder must maintain and follow the coding guidelines to avoid improper results with insurance companies and patients. If these compliance guidelines are not available by the provider, the medical coder(s) may have a difficult time assigning consistent codes. Stegman (2008) points out that â€Å"[w]hen coding challenges arise, and unresolved documentation inconsistencies are present, the selection of the most accurate and compliant codes may be more difficult, particularly if the codingstaff are not aware of the [moral coding standards].† If the preceding coding process for Medical Coding is carried out appropriately according to the compliance guidelines, this will ensure data excellence. Finally, while Medical Coding maintains specific guidelines to ensure effective results in the healthcare industry, many people are pursuing this type of work to take advantage of the flexible productive benefits. Many employers are allowing Medical Coding to be managed from home. To ensure that a Medical Coder generates efficient productivity from home, the â€Å"Computer-Assistance Coding† medical software that (Scichilone, 2009) described earlier, would be a very beneficial technology tool in the healthcare industry. Many health providers are providing its medical coders to work from home; working flexible hours and increase productivity are a couple of reasons why working from home is available. Flexible productivity (2004) states that â€Å"many healthcare corporations are engrossed with the productive benefits of flexibility working from home. By minimizing the demand of office space and reducing commuting time, the medical coder will gain flexible productive time and p ossibly get to manage their work-life obligations.† While the Medical Coder manages the medical software that was provided by their employer, on their home computer, the programmed software will generate assignment codes that are consistent with the compliance regulations. Scichilone (2009) says that the coding software will â€Å"increase productivity in code assignment [, provide] consistent application of reporting rules and guidelines [,] and monitor[the] evaluation features for coding accuracy reviews.† Consequently, utilizing the coding software will provide added advantages in Medical Coding. In conclusion, since Medical Coding requires specific guidelines for the healthcare industry to follow, it is imperative to abide by the compliance rules to avoid poor data standards. By entering accurate and thorough health-related data into the medical database, and obtaining a clear understanding of coding language and their resources, this cause of action will help the flow of the reimbursement process run effectively; as an added advantage, Medical Coding can be accomplished in the comfort of the medical coders home by way of compliance-ready medical software. References AHIMA About Medical Coding Medical Records: (2009). Coding. Retrieved November 26, 2009 from http://www.ahima.org/coding/index.asp AHIMA Medical Coding Guidelines:Data Quality and Compliance (2009). . Retrieved December 9 2009 from http://www.ahima.org/coding/compliance.asp AHIMA Medical Coding Resources (2009). Coding Resources. Retrieved December 7, 2009 from http://www.ahima.org/coding/coding_resources.asp AMA CPT Code Information and Education (2009). American medical association. Retrieved November 28, 2009 from http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/no-index/physician-resources/3884.shtml CDC ICD-9-CM International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (2009). Centers for disease control and prevention. Retrieved November 26, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd9cm.htm Flexible productivity.(2004). International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management,53(5/6),476-477. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID:695572871). Medical Billing and Insurance Coding Overview (2009). Herzing university online. Retrieved November 23, 2009 from http://www.herzingonline.edu/programs/medical-billing-and-insurance-coding Richard R Rogoski. (2004,September). If Youre Not Coding, Youre Not Billing.Health Management Technology,25(9),14, 16, 18. Retrieved December 7, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Complete. (Document ID:687678731). Scichilone,R.(2009,July). Are We There Yet? Compliance-Ready Computer-Assisted Coding.Journal of Health Care Compliance,11(4),55-56,69-70. Retrieved December 7, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID:1822883141). Scichilone,R.(2008,July). Enhanced Compliance Results by Improving the Code Assignment Process.Journal of Health Care Compliance,10(4),61-64. Retrieved December 5, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID:1670291831). Stegman,M..(2009,September). Managing Billing Interpretations in a Compliance Environment.Journal of Health Care Compliance,11(5),65-66,77-78. Retrieved December 7, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID:1882772921).

The role of religion in society | Reflective piece

The role of religion in society | Reflective piece Growing up in a strong Christian household, my parents always emphasized the importance of helping others. My father was a Methodist Minister at three local churches and encouraged my family to take part in the community. He was very active in the Urban Missions Christian Care Center located in Watertown N.Y, participated in Bridge meetings (an alternative to incarceration program), and was also the founder of the Watertown N.Y based Wheels to Work Program. I remember as a young child having my dad come home with the look of pure joy on his face when he gave his first car away to a single mom. I was so amazed how he could literally transform the lives of individuals through his ministry and participation in the community. One of my fondest memories as a child was going to the Urban Mission with my dad on the weekends and just following him around. The Urban Mission offers many great services to individuals in need such as a food pantry, thrift store, critical needs assistance, housin g assistance, and the Christian Care Center, which provides a place of caring and acceptance. It was always wonderful seeing the joy on the recipients faces after receiving such services. My dad definitely set the foundation for my interest in the social work profession. Up until my dad died in 2005, I would often volunteer my time at picnics that my dad hosted for families in need, primarily those with little or no income who were regular visitors at the Christian Care Center. I enjoyed preparing food for the picnics because I knew how much these individuals looked forward to a cooked meal. During the picnic, I loved socializing with teens my age. At first I was uncomfortable because I did not know what to expect from someone whose lifestyle differed so much from mine. But soon I determined that these individuals were not that different from myself. Yes, they were less fortunate than I, some were even homeless, but these girls still had the same aspirations and goals as I did, still enjoyed the same activities, and still needed someone they could relate with. I realized how much of a difference I was making just by looking past our differences and embracing our similarities. From that point I recognized the true importance of treating others with di gnity, regardless of their lifestyle. Eventually, I realized that I, like my dad, had developed a genuine passion for helping others. Upon entering 12th grade, I knew that I wanted to enter the human services profession. I originally wanted to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, so I did my undergraduate work in psychology. But I soon realized that the MSW degree was a more effective degree for my career choice. My ultimate goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a concentration in Mental Health, and open a private practice. Currently, treatment by LMHCs is not covered by insurance. Therefore, becoming a LCSW is the better option for me because in regards to treatment, I will be able to bill insurance, which will make my services more affordable. In addition, opening a private practice will allow me to be financially flexible with those who do not have insurance. It is extremely important to me to help those with low income and give them the option to take advantage of such services. Inadequate resources is a huge social problem faced by many, primarily those with low income. I feel as though everyone has the potential to improve their overall well-being if the proper resources are available. However, all too often, certain resources such as counseling are not available financially to those with low income. Without these resources, many individuals may not have the chance to reach their highest potential and become productive members of society. That is why I have a passion to enter the Social Work field, and provide beneficial services to those even in the low income population. Another major social problem is that there is a strong stigma attached to mental illness. Many believe that having a mental disorder such as depression is attached to personal weakness. As a result, those suffering from mental illness are sometimes reluctant to seek out treatment. I strongly affirm that it is important for society not to label individuals with mental illness. I personally encourage others not to define people as their illness but to see their illness as just a part of who they are. Thankfully, religious institutions have a role in society in promoting social and economic justice, by providing behavioral guidelines and offering moral support. The Methodist churches that I have been a part of growing up were non-judgmental and worked to provide social equality. As a teen, I was able to experience the diverse community of the congregation at my church. The organist of the church was gay but the congregation did not discriminate against him. Not all churches accept homosexuality, but my dad lived by the rule that you should treat others how you want to be treated. He emphasized the fact that you do not have to support their lifestyle, but you still need to treat them with dignity and respect. He was very accepting, and encouraged our family to be the same way. He always enforced living by the Ten Commandments, which gave our family a solid Judeo-Christian foundation. My dad definitely had an extraordinary influence on how I live my life today. Religion was and stil l is an important aspect of my family, and these values have continued with me throughout my adult life. I strongly believe that my solid family and religious foundation has enabled me to acquire characteristics, which will help me succeed in the Social Work field. One characteristic I am blessed with is empathy. I am able to understand others emotions and feelings and convey my understanding of how they are feeling. My parents always said when I was younger, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“How would you feel if you were in his/her shoes?à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  I often think of that statement, and I do put myself in others shoes and I am able to understand what others are feeling. In regards to counseling, I believe empathy is an important characteristic because it allows the client to feel heard and understood. Empathy will help me as a counselor to connect with my clients. I also believe that I have exceptional communication skills. One strong component of communication that I often demonstrate is active listening. I believe this will be beneficial in a counseling setting because it will allow me to interpre t what the client is saying and as a result will enable me to deliver a beneficial response. Most importantly, active listening is important in the counseling setting because it will enable the client to develop trust and respect for me as their counselor. Aside from my strengths, I also have areas in which I need to grow and change. One weakness of mine is that I often find it difficult to establish boundaries. I believe that being able to set up boundaries in the Social Work profession, especially counseling is critical. My main problem is not being able to say no to individuals. I feel as though if I say no to people, they will be disappointed and I therefore, will experience a strong sense of guilt. However, with the direct practice offered at Roberts Wesleyan College, I believe I can transform my weaknesses and learn effective ways of setting up boundaries. I believe that the ability to set boundaries relies on self-confidence. At Roberts Wesleyan College, I know I will be able to develop a stronger sense of self-confidence through the compassionate and supportive environment. Based on the Christian context offered at Roberts, I trust that my weaknesses will be accepted and my strengths will be recognized which will ultimately lea d to my growth and development. Overall, Im convinced that the MSW program offered at Roberts Wesleyan College is the best program for me. I believe aside from my determination, my current GPA reflects my ability to succeed. My grades have placed me on the Presidents list for the last two semesters here at Potsdam. I know that graduate level work will be challenging, but with my motivation and determination I have faith that I can succeed. I am determined to get accepted into the best MSW program, which I believe is offered at Roberts Wesleyan College. Education and religion have always been important to my family and I. I know that my dad would truly be proud to have a daughter attending Roberts Wesleyan College, which offers a solid education foundation along with a Christian context. I know this is the best college for me and will ultimately allow me to achieve to my fullest potential and improve my overall well-being.

How Our World is Changing :: essays research papers

As the title of this paper states, â€Å"How our World is Changing† our world is constantly changing. Our world changes everyday without most of us ever seeing or noticing any changes, but as we look back in history we can see some tremendous changes. As history is studied these changes become apparent and truly jump out and become real.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Out of all the changes in our history, some of the most significant changes that have made an impact include; women’s rights, civil rights and religion. Women and people of color have made several steps toward earning equal rights over the past forty years. World religions are as diverse as the individuals that participate in them. Women have had quite a few hurdles to get over since the 1950's. In 1958 the proportion of women attending college in comparison with men was 35 percent. (Friedan, 369) Women were supposed to be happy and content at home taking care of her family. In the late 1950's, many women began to feel they needed more, and so a movement was started. Women were drawn into the work place in the 1960's when the economy expanded and rising consumer aspirations fueled the desire of many families for a second income. By 1960, 30.5 percent of all wives worked and the number of women graduating from college grew. (Echols, 400) Women soon found they were being treated differently and paid less then their male co-workers. In the mid 1970's, cities began to have women applying for firefighter positions and by the late 1970's, cities began hiring women as firefighters. This was only a small victory for women. Dealing with the men in a male dominant department would be an even bigger struggle for women. (Seattle) A sexual harassment survey was conducted in 1995 with 551 women firelighters responded. The survey revealed that 88% of the women had experienced sexual harassment. 73% of the women stated they had been treated differently in negative ways, from their male co-workers. (Sexual Harassment) In 1999, a longer survey was given and the percentages increased when women were asked if they had experienced any sexual harassment. I have heard quite a few men say that women cannot do the job because they are not strong enough. Being a Firefighter today takes more brains then 20 years ago. The ability to be a clear thinker is one of the biggest assets a firefighter must have today.

Feminism Essay -- Rights Equality Gender Essays

Feminism Works Cited Missing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feminism is the theory that men and women should be equal, politically, economically, and socially. There are many different types of feminism and each have a profound impact on someone’s view of society. The first is cultural feminism, which is the theory that there are fundamental personality differences between men and women, and that women’s differences are special. This theory supports the idea that there are biological differences between men and women and sexism can be overcome by embracing the â€Å"women’s way.† The second type is individualist or libertarian feminist. This feminism is based upon libertarian philosophies, with the focus on autonomy, rights, liberty, independence, and diversity. Next, there is the radical feminism; this theory began approximately during the 1967 – 1975. This ideology focuses on social change, and â€Å"attempts to draw lines between biologically – determined behavior and culturall y- determined behavior† in order to free both men and women as much as possible from their previous narrow gender roles. Finally, there is the Liberal Feminism, this theory focuses on the idea that all people are created equal and that education is the primary means to change discrimination. Groups in favor of this theory are the N.A.C. – the National Action Committee on the Status of Woman, an organization representing 500 feminist oriented women’s groups, and the N.O.W. – the National Organization of Women. Both of these organizations and Feminism as a whole are and have been influential on the national government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many political groups or ideologies attack feminist ideas. Zillah R. Einstein’s book, Feminism and Sexual Equality focuses on the importance of feminist theories and its attackers. The primary two political groups that have taken a stand against Feminism are â€Å"The New Right† and â€Å"Neoconservatives.† The New Right feels that the welfare state is undermining the â€Å"traditional patriarchal family.† The state has taken over certain family functions such as the health, welfare and education of its citizens. Jerry Falwell, supporter of the New Right and head of the Moral Majority, argues that â€Å"in order to revitalize the capitalist economy, and create a moral order, and strengthen America at home and abroad, policy makers must aim to reestablish the dominance of the traditional white patriarchal family... ...en. The women’s movement has been an important means to of empowerment to women. It is through organizing and joining women’s groups that many women have become aware of their oppression and have sought ways to gain control of their lives. Not only are women shunned from the workplace, but also many believe that they have no business in politics either.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the book, The Women’s Movement, issues like women’s political participation and their membership to the workforce are discussed. Women have made critical improvements to their circumstances in life, be it there careers, political position, or even military involvement. Men primarily run the government that has authority over both males and females. Therefore it is necessary for the election of women into office to be the means of achiving the public policies that are consistent with the preferences of women (Gimlin, 1981). It is assumed that women office holders are better at representing women’s interests on a variety of issues, especially ones that directly affect women. Women are concerned with issues such as childcare, welfare, healthcare, and the care for the elderly. This is largely because women bear more of the

Diversity in the Workplace Essay

This diversity audit begins with a background about the company, as well as some important information about key Diversity executives. What will be addressed in the audit are what efforts Johnson & Johnson made to foster diversity competence and understand, what efforts were made in furthering the knowledge or awareness about diversity, what strategies were used to address the challenges of diversity and how will you ensure that your leaders and managers will be committed to the diversity initiative. The audit concludes with a quote from the vice president of recruiting at Johnson and Johnson, as well as their Diversity and Inclusion Programs and Activities from the Johnson and Johnson Website. In 1886 three brothers, Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson and Edward Mead Johnson, fount the Johnson & Johnson company in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Today, the company employs approximately 128,700 people with more than 275 operating companies in more than 60 countries. The worldwide hea dquarters remains in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The company prides itself in caring for everyone in the world, they feel this inspires and unites the people who work there. Johnson & Johnson is the world’s sixth largest consumer healthy company, the world’s largest and most diverse medical device and diagnostic company, the world’s fifth largest biologics company and the world’s eighth largest pharmaceutical company. These companies together touch the lives of more than a billion people throughout the world every single day. This company, without a doubt, knows what diversity is. Their product line in itself is so diverse that I would say that diversity is what this company was built on and continues to grow from. They offer health care products that go from taking care of a skin blemish or a headache, to beautifying your hair and teeth products, to products used for metastatic breast cancer, hip placements and coronary stents, to prescription drug products treating everything from migraines to cancer a nd serious infections. According to  the company website, diversity is described as follows, â€Å"People and values are our greatest assets. Diversity is a central part of the cultures across the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies. It’s a key to our people’s passion for improving the health and well-being of people the world over. Further, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is deeply rooted in the values instilled by Our Credo and is exemplified in a number of our companies’ programs and activities. We recognize that differences in age, race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, physical ability, thinking style and background bring richness to our work environments. Such differences help us connect better with the health needs of people in communities around the world. We believe that attracting, developing and retaining a base of employees that reflects the diversity of our customers is essential to our success. We also believe success hinges on relationships with diverse professional and patient organizations, civic groups and suppliers†. (jnj.com) In addition, Johnson and Johnson offers mentoring programs and leadership development programs to ensure personal professional growth. During my research I found that Johnson & Johnson has supporting affinity groups that has strengthened the impact of diversity not only within the organization, but in the community as well. Some of these groups include the Community of Asian Associates at Johnson and Johnson, South Asian Professional Network and Association, Gay and Lesbian Organization for Business and Leadership, Women’s Leadership Initiative, African-American Leadership Council and Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Achievement. These groups are just the tip of the iceberg as far as diversity for Johnson & Johnson. A key executive, Anthony P. Carter is Vice President of Global Diversity and Inclusion, as well as Chief Divers ity Officer for Johnson and Johnson. In an article from Diversity Global Magazine, Mr. Carter was named a 2013 Diversity Executive of Distinction. The article stated that Mr. Carter’s focus on developing cutting edge Diversity and Inclusion programs and strategies is successful because it is aligned with the company’s strategic business objective. As I researched deeper into the company’s responsibility to its customers, employees, communities and shareholders I found that Johnson & Johnson’s respect towards these groups of people who keep the company alive is supported by Anthony’s implementation and design of an inclusive global organizational system, as  well as Diversity and Inclusion incentives. He has further developed opportunities for Johnson and Johnson to maximize their diversity. He oversees an office that implements programs such as Crossing the Finish Line, which is a career acceleration program for people of color. Programs such as these are crucial in developing world-class diverse leaders. An interesting quote by Anthony P. Carter sums up his role nicely, â€Å"Diversity and inclusion describe how we can work together to bring innovative ideas, products and services together to advance the health, well-being and the quality of life of those we serve.† (Diversity Global) In the article Harnessing Diversity to Affect the Bottom Line by Ron Dory, it was noted that one of Carter’s best practices in relation to diversity is the use of ERGs (Employee Resource Groups), which have brought in new markets and impacted the company’s growth in a positive way. Johnson and Johnson prides itself in it’s membership in the Billion Dollar Roundtable, an elite group of companies that spend a billion dollars annually on women owned and minority owned suppliers. Johnson & Johnson’s use of Employee Resource Groups or ERGs as an organization where people who share a culture or background, for example gender, ethnic, religion or age, can meet to rejoice within their culture or address issues in relation. ERGs are often chartered organizations and have volunteer leaders and business plans that are in alignment with the organizations goals and bring value to the company. Mr. Carter’s use of ERGs at Johnson & Johnson has allowed everyone to see that they are not the same but different while trying to achieve the same goals and objectives. He has also advised other companies to not move towards being the same or creating an organization where differences are not acknowledged. It appears the ERGs have allowed diversity to take a strong root within Johnson & Johnson. The have led to the company receiving numerous awards as leaders in diversity. As an example, Johnson and Johnson continue to develop world-class leaders. In September 2013, The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) announced this year’s Corporate Advocate of the Year, and the award went to Johnson and Johnson’s Chief Procurement Officer for Medical Devices/Supplier Diversity, Ruben Taborda. The president and CEO of USHCC stated, â€Å"Ruben Taborda is a visionary leader who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering business relationships between minority-owned enterprises and corporate America. Mr.  Taborda is a true role model, leading by example, committed to providing concrete growth opportunities for Hispanic businesses throughout the nation.† (Global Newswire) Ruben Taborda is just another example of the success Johnson & Johnson has had implementing diversity programs throughout their company. Just from my audit I have seen their success with women, Hispanics and many other minority situations. They truly believe in what they stand for and what they are trying to accomplish in the diversity arena. In retrospect, even though Johnson and Johnson has an impeccable reputation regarding diversity, even to the point that the company thrives from the immense diversity, it is always on the top of the list of the best places work and was one of Divers ity Incs. Top Companies for Diversity, problems arise sometimes when employees or perspective employees do not see it the same way. Examples of this come in the form of lawsuits against the company for discrimination. One case in particular, Francine Parham, vice president of human resources was always bothered that there was a lack of minorities in the high positions within the company. She filed a lawsuit claiming that she did not receive a promotion because she is African-American and was then fired for speaking out against â€Å"a corporate culture of discrimination† (Gordon). Perham stated that in the lawsuit that she was told by her supervisor that he envisioned a promotion for her within the next twelve months and that she never got the promotion because that position was eliminated and that she was not qualified for a higher position even though she had excellent performance review. Perham also alleged that less qualified white men and women were promoted to higher positions and she believes this was because she is black. She also pointed out the lack of diversity at the top. Johnson and Johnson’s responded, â€Å"We have a deeply established commitment to diversity and incl usion in the workplace and deny the allegations in this case†(Gordon). There were two other cases, one in which an African American and one a Hispanic, filed similar lawsuits, accusing Johnson and Johnson of paying them lower wages and denying promotions to people of color. After ten years, that case was dismissed. Despite the fact that five of the highest-paid executives at Johnson and Johnson are white, four of them being men, and ten of the twelve directors are white with no women of color on the board, Calvert Investments still rated Johnson and Johnson’s diversity an 85 out of 100. They have an  abundance of internal minority groups and minority recruitment outreach efforts, they are a strategic partner of Minority Business Round Table and they sponsor scholarships for minority students. (Gordon) I believe that companies such as Johnson and Johnson, with such outstanding reviews regarding diversity, and notable for their roles in diversity, are sometimes an easy target for people who are looking for lawsuit settlements. Reverse discrimination plays a large part in this process. It is very easy for a person, especially one of a protected class, to claim discrimination, especially against mega companies such as Johnson and Johnson. These people know that the company would not want their reputation tainted so they make false claims to try and get whatever they can from the company. So the five highest paying executive in Johnson and Johnson may be white, but they also may be the most qualified, they may have worked the hardest to get to that point and they may be the most dedicated thereby deserving every dollar they earn. In my own experience, in managing a small local business, it is the qualified, hard-working, dedicated and reliable employee that will be promoted, no matter what the race, gender, religion, etc. According to Global Dynamics Inc., â€Å"leading healthcare provider, Johnson and Johnson has been rated, by Diversity Inc. Magazine as the #1 company for promoting diversity and inclusion in the U.S. Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) are regarded as critical factors in making Johnson and Johnson one of the â€Å"best places to work† in the U.S†. Although Johnson and Johnson met some challenges when they wanted to expand its Diversity and Inclusion initiative globally, they succeeded in meeting those challenges and the initiative was a success. Town hall meetings led by local leaders and web-based training reached several countries within the regions, live video conferences and live international video meetings were introduced and became groundbreaking for Johnson and Johnson. This resulted in improved employee morale, productivity and communication. (Global-Dynamics) In conclusion, my diversity audit of Johnson and Johnson showed they are a major player in the diversity arena. They have diverse employees, market their products to diverse groups and have initiatives in place to expand lead their company diversity even further in the future. An article in the NY Times sums it well by stating, â€Å"Johnson and Johnson’s achievements in diversity, in concept and in practice, succeed in bringing value to all those  con stituents† (Forsythe). Johnson & Johnson is a company that is focused on building their brand by building superior products and understanding the importance of diversity in achieving success in the global marketplace. They have made diversity an integral part of their processes including procurement, supply chain, product development, information management, sales and marketing, and community service. My audit research of Johnson & Johnson showed they are a worldwide leader in all of the above and they make a concerted effort to lead other companies in the same direction. Having all the initiatives and being part of outside organizations that push diversity allows them to exert pressure necessary to achieve diversity in the workplace throughout the world. The NY Times article also quoted Marjorie Geller, Vice President of Recruiting as saying â€Å"There’s no question about it, our commitment to diversity has a powerful impact on our recruitment and our talent-development processes, as well as the products we offer to customers. We try very hard to assure that our diverse culture translates into value for our customers, our employees, our communities and our stockholders† (Forsythe). The following is the Diversity and Inclusion Programs and Activities from the Johnson and Johnson Website: Throughout our companies, a wealth of programs and activities support our belief that a diverse, inclusive culture is essential to business success. Following is a sampling of these activities. Employee Resource Groups Employee resource groups are voluntary, employee-driven groups that focus on shared interests and experiences and look to apply those perspectives to initiatives that create value for the enterprise. These groups provide support, networking as well as personal and professional enrichment opportunities for their members such as mentoring, community outreach, supplier diversity, career development and cultural awareness activities. Mentoring Programs Mentoring is widely offered throughout the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies as formal or informal programs. We look to expand learning opportunities and support development of a diverse workforce by making these  nurturing relationships available to an ever increasing number of employees across the enterprise. In the spring of 2010, Johnson & Johnson introduced a custom, web-enabled mentoring service called Mentoring Works! that contributes to the Global Diversity & Inclusion strategic objective of building a culture of inclusion. Mentoring Works! is an enabler for talent development, employee engagement, and effective knowledge transfer as it makes it easier for people to connect, network and learn from each other. Diversity University Recognizing that education is essential to learning about the benefits of diversity and inclusion, we have established the Johnson & Johnson Diversity University. Diversity University is a dynamic online website designed to help employees build the competencies and the skills needed to understand and value differences and the benefits of working collaboratively to meet our Credo commitments and business goals. Diversity University includes a variety of guides, toolkits and resources for self-guided learning; a strong elearning curriculum that includes Diversity & Inclusion Fundamentals, Building Trusting Relationships in a Global and Diverse Environment, and Leveraging Diverse Thinking Styles: The Whole Brain ® Advantage; as well as links to other interactive portals providing cross-cultural education and skill building exercises. Office of Diversity & Inclusion The Office of Diversity & Inclusion was formed as a functional group within Johnson & Johnson to drive diversity & inclusion as a business imperative and to ensure a competitive advantage. The Chief Diversity Officer reports directly to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson. The team serves as business catalysts, executing a global diversity strategy that enables Johnson & Johnson to win in the global marketplace. (JNJ.com) Also of interest is the following web address which shows the details of Johnson and Johnsons Diversity and Inclusion Business Model: http://www.jnj.com/sites/default/files/pdf/Global%2BDI%2BCall%2BOut.pdf References: Diversity Global. Retrieved from: http://www.diversityglobal.com/tops.aspx?id=Anthony-P-Carter-1449 Dory, R. Harnessing Diversity to Affect the Bottom Line. Epoch Times (Oct 10, 2013). Retrieved from: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/313845-harnessing-diversity-to-affect-the-bottom-line/ Forsythe, J. (2005) Leading With Diversity. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/marketing/jobmarket/diversity/jandj.html Global-Dynamics (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.global-dynamics.com/johnson-johnson Globe Newswire (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2013/09/25/575887/10049970/en/USHCC-Honors-Ruben-Taborda-of-Johnson-Johnson-with-Corporate-Advocate-of-the-Year-Award.html Gordon, C. Fired Johnson & Johnson Exec Claims ‘Culture Of Discrimination (July 2013) Retrieved from: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/15/fired-johnson-and-johnson-discrimination/[->0] JNJ.com (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.jnj.com/about-jnj/diversity [->0] – http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/15/fired-johnson-and-johnson-