Only the Truth Essay

Truthfulness for a patient enables effective goal attainment while in the healthcare system. However, according to Zahedi (2011) states, â€Å"not telling the truth about cancer consisted of: worry that patients could not take the emotional impact, concern about not being able to manage the patients’ emotional reaction after learning the truth, and protecting patients from harm† (p. 4). Yet, according to Bok (2007), â€Å" an overwhelming majority of patients do want to be told the truth, even about grave illness, and feel betrayed when they learn that they have been misled† (p.489). Doctors should tell their patients the truth because is supports trusting doctor-patient relationships, upholds patients autonomy, and provides time to make end of life decisions. Truth is a foundation for doctor-patient relationships. Bok (2007) states â€Å"truthful information, humanely conveyed, helps patients cope with illness† (p. 489). An exchange of information is key in a patient feeling comfortable within the healthcare system, which is attainable from being told the truth. Wells and Kaptchuk (2012) indicate, â€Å"truthful and meaningful communication is paramount in patient care as it affects not only patient satisfaction with care, but also patient knowledge and behaviour† (p. 26). Patient require to have low levels of anxiety when dealing with a disease, truth enables the decrease of distress. Eisen et al (2008) states, â€Å"[h]ealth care settings is extremely important in contributing to the healing process, it is vitally important to identify what type of art supports stress reduction† (p. 173). Patients dealing with discomfort can manage it more easily after being told the truth due to it being the more vocalized. Milligan (2012) states, â€Å"[r]elief of pain and other symptoms might be expected to be among the most prevalent† (p. 49). Truth telling stimulates hope for a patient by allowing them to have optimism toward their diagnosis, and that their aimed goal is achievable. Begley and Blackwood (2000) state that hope is, â€Å"a mental state characterized by the desire to gain or accomplish a goal combined with some degree of expectation that what is desired or sought is attainable† (p.28). Security for a patient allows for them to create decisions they are confident about when dealing with procedures. Silva et al (2003) indicates that truth, â€Å"increases the feeling of safety and the capacity of mature co-operation for decision making† (p. 420). In addition, truth upholds patients’ autonomy. Bok (2007) indicates that it allows them â€Å"to make informed choices about whether or not to be a patient (p. 489). Truthfulness for a patient allows them to follow directions during treatment and procedures more willingly. Torres et al (2013) indicates, â€Å"meta-analyses discussing this subject have suggested that compliance depends on the involvement of patients and healthcare providers in follow-up tasks† (p. 3). An autonomous individual has a ability to make his/her own decisions including decisions about how much information they would like to receive. Slowther (2009) writes, â€Å"[p]roviding relevant information in a form that a patient can understand, minimizing barriers to decision-making caused by illness or medication† (p. 174-175). Patients seek the knowledge and advice of more than one doctor to confirm a diagnosis and evaluate treatment options. Hall et al (2002) writes, â€Å"general trust is related to certain patient attitudes and behaviours such as satisfaction with care, willingness to follow doctors’ recommendations, desire to seek second opinions, and prior disputes with physicians† (p. 1422). Complimentary treatments for a disease are being used by patients for the reason of allowing them to minimize signs and symptoms themselves outside of the healthcare system. Burstein (2000) states, â€Å"[p]atients identified their desire to â€Å"boost the immune system,† enhance their quality of life, gain control over their life, prevent or treat their cancer, and treat side effects of cancer therapy as the principal reasons for using CAM. Patients credited their conventional practitioners with truth- fulness and technical knowledge† (p. 2501). Patient that are truthfully informed about procedure options are given the opportunity to decide if they think it will be benefit for them. Hall et al (2002) indicates, â€Å"[t]rust is critical to patients’ willingness to seek care, reveal sensitive information, submit to treatment† (p. 1419). Denying any procedures or treatments is capable from a patient that has been truthfully advised. O’Brien (2012) states, â€Å"[t]he autonomous right of competent adults to decide what happens to their own body and the corresponding right to consent to or refuse medical treatment are cornerstones of modern health care† (p. 7). Moreover, truth provides patients with time to make end of life decisions. Bok (2007) writes they consider â€Å"whether or not the enter a hospital† (p. 489). Patients that have been told the truth are made more comfortable to practice their spirituality in order to come in contact with a sense of worth when dealing with a terminating prognosis. Rahnama et al (2012) states spirituality, â€Å"is a way through which human beings recognize the exalted meaning and value of their lives† (p. 21). Patients that require to enter a palliative care unit rely on being told to truth in order for the conversion to be done with ease. Ingleton et al (2011) indicates, â€Å"continuity of care and multidisciplinary collaboration are crucial in order to improve the experience of patients making the transition† (p.57). Arrangements must be made for a patient once in the stage of end-of-life, to secure unresolved personal affairs. Hash and Netting (2007) writes, â€Å"legal rights, financial and property concerns require intentional planning, for once the partner dies it may be too late to rectify ownership issues† (p. 72). The remaining time for a patient is crucial for making decisions about how to establish any preparations to avoid any distress. Conway (2008) indicates that, â€Å"emphasizing the inevitability of death in old age as a normal part of human existence and the importance of registration procedures and funeral arrangements† (p.406). Truthfulness for a patient allows them to have a comfortable experience when in their remaining days. Paulus states, â€Å"[a]n integral part of palliative care, therefore, is to regard dying as a normal process and to help patients achieve a peaceful death. † In conclusion, truth is a vital feature of self governed choices. Interpersonal relations among patients and healthcare professionals creates a fundamental base which enables security. Capacity for a patient to make decisions on their own allows for the obtainment of knowledge for treatments. Preparations to brace for one’s passing gives a patient the ability to experience a tranquil moment preceding entering the afterlife. Truth reinforces patients’ freedom and strengthens the ability to make provisions before bereavement. References Begley, A. , Begley, A. , & Blackwood, B. (2000). Truth-telling versus hope: A dilemma in practice. International Journal Of Nursing Practice, 6(1), 26-31. doi:10. 1046/j. 1440-172X. 2000. 00178. x Burstein, H. J. (2000). Discussing complementary therapies with cancer patients: What should we be talking about? Journal of Clinical Oncology, 18(13), 2501-2504. Conway, S. (2008). Public health and palliative care: principles into practice?. Critical Public Health, 18(3), 405-415. doi:10. 1080/09581590802191906 Da Silva, C. , Cunha, R. , Tonaco, R. , Cunha, T. , Diniz, A. , Domingos, G. , & †¦ De Paula, R. (2003). Not Telling the Truth in the Patient–Physician Relationship. Bioethics, 17(5/6), 417. doi:10. 1111/1467-8519. 00357 Eisen, S. L. , Ulrich, R. S. , Shepley, M. M. , Varni, J. W. , & Sherman, S. (2008). The stress-reducing effects of art in pediatric health care: Art preferences of healthy children and hospitalized children. J Child Health Care, 12(3), 173-190. doi:10. 1177/1367493508092507 Gardiner, C. , Ingleton. C. , Gott. M. , & Ryan. T. (2011). Exploring the transition from curative care to palliative care: a systematic review of the literature. BMJ Support Palliative Care, 1(1), 56-63. doi:10. 1136/bmjspcare-2010-000001 Hall, M. A. , Camacho, F. F. , Dugan, E. E. , & Balkrishnan, R. R. (2002). Trust in the Medical Profession: Conceptual and Measurement Issues. Health Services Research, 37(5), 1419-1439. Hash, K. M. , & Netting, F. (2007). Long-term planning and decision-making among midlife and older gay men and lesbians. Journal Of Social Work In End-Of-Life & Palliative Care, 3(2), 59-77. doi:10. 1300/J457v03n02-05 Lopez-Torres, J. , Parraga, I., Del Campo, J. M. , & Villena, A. (2013). Follow up of patients who start treatment with antidepressants: treatment satisfaction, treatment compliance, efficacy and safety. BMC Psychiatry, 13(1), 1-9. doi:10. 1186/1471-244X-13-65 Milligan, S. (2012). Optimizing palliative and end of life care in hospital. Nursing Standard, 26(41), 48-56. O’Brien, S. (2012). Minors and refusal of medical treatment: a critique of the law regarding the current lack of meaningful consent with regards to minors and recommendations for future change. Clinical Ethics, 7(2), 67-72. doi:10. 1258/ce. 2012. 012007 Paulus. S. C. (2008). Palliative care: An ethical obligation. Retrieved from http://scu. edu/ethics/practicing/focusareas/medical/palliative. html Philip, J. , Gold, M. , Schwarz, M. , & Komesaroff, P. (2011). An exploration of the dynamics and influences upon second medical opinion consultations in cancer care. Asia Pacific Journal Of Clinical Oncology, 7(1), 41-46. doi:10. 1111/j. 1743-7563. 2010. 01330. x Rahnama, M. , Khoshknab, M. , Maddah, S. , & Ahmadi, F. (2012). Iranian cancer patients’ perception of spirituality: a qualitative content analysis study. BMC Nursing, 11(1), 19-26. doi:10. 1186/1472-6955-11-19 Sharma, H. , Jagdish, V., Anusha, P. , & Bharti, S. (2013). End-of-life care: Indian perspective. Indian Journal Of Psychiatry, S293-S298. Doi:10. 4103/0019-5545. 105554 Slowther, A. (2009). Truth-telling in health care. Clinical Ethics, 4(4), 173-175. doi:10. 1258/ce. 2009. 009033 Wells, R. , & Kaptchuk, T. J. (2012). To Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth, May Do Patients Harm: The Problem of the Nocebo Effect for Informed Consent. American Journal Of Bioethics, 12(3), 22-29. doi:10. 1080/15265161. 2011. 652798 Zahedi, F. (2011). The challenge of truth telling across cultures: a case study. Journal Of Medical Ethics & History Of Medicine, 4(1), 1-9.

Importance of Beauty Industry and Ethical Issues

Cosmetic improvements can make people feel better about themselves but can also make others that cannot afford or obtain such services feel worse. However, the debate as been raging as to whether or not the billion dollar beauty industry is worthwhile in the modern society. The beauty industry is very diverse and has multiple players.Players involved in this diverse industry include the dealers in the beauty products, the cosmetics, services for improving appearance like exercise machines, nutritional beauty products and above all the end users of all these products (Simms, 1998).Considering the rate at which the beauty industry has been growing, it would be important to analyze whether it impacts the current society positive or not. My analysis will examine the importance of the industry to the players and the society in general. In addition I will look at the various ethical concerns presented by the beauty industry and how possibly they should be solved in order to have the indust ry continue benefiting the society. The highest number of consumers of the beauty products in the current world and in deed over the centuries is undoubtedly women.Women generally adopt the idea of self-grooming at a very tender age (Gillespie, 1996). Unlike men, women have a natural interest in their looks and physical presentation and in most cultures; they believe that good looks and physical attraction is expected of them. Women therefore find it hard to escape such sociocultural norms and as they grow up they internalized the norms such that they simply become unaware of their motivations to seek beauty (Black, 2004). Nevertheless, the modern man has been quite conscious of his looks and physical appearance (Sullivan, 2001).The motivation behind men’s growing interest in physical attraction is a debate for another day; however, the importance of beauty products and services to these users is clear. The users of beauty products and services always want to experience body empowerment, pleasure as well as freedom from appearance (Haiken, 1997). Society associates good looks and great physical attraction to power and therefore those who possess such qualities would avert competition in marriage and other social spheres of life. The pleasure of having a good body elevates one’s esteem.The beauty industry therefore provides an opportunity for those who feel bad about their physical looks to transform it according to one’s own societal ‘standard’ (Morgan, 1992). Apart from the freedom it offers the users to improve their looks; the aesthetic industry is currently a multibillion dollar industry. From the manufacturers of various beauty products, to millions of users across the globe, the beauty industry is considered one of the top revenue earners in various economies around the world and therefore justifies its existence in toady modern world (Hiscock & Lovett, 2004).Despite the importance of the beauty industry to the various p layers and economies, the industry has been receiving criticism for its unethical practices (Brumberg, 1997). There has been a growing public outcry with regards to the industry’s unsustainable business practices especially with respect to the environment. Manufacturers of beauty products have always faced criticism for testing their products on animals, unsustainable sourcing for raw materials as well as for causing chemical pollution.But due to consistent pressure from the media, the consumers and the retailers, aesthetic industry especially the cosmetic companies are shaping up to be counted as good corporate citizens. Many corporate bodies in the aesthetic industry are investing a lot in CSR programs as well as in other sustainability initiatives. For example, the Body Shop has been embarking on ethical sourcing while others like Yves Rocher have been focusing on preservation of biodiversity (Organic Monitor, 2010).A number of beauty companies have opted to take holistic approach to the issue of ethics and sustainable business practices. These companies are now reducing the environmental effects of their products by opting to greener formulations, decreasing packaging of most of their products and also reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as water and energy consumption. In addition, they are also considering the social dimension of their businesses and operations. These include ethical supply from their supplies and social responsibilities through corporate philanthropy.In its recent strategic report, Organic Monitor (2010) found that most companies are investing in greener formulations and sustainable packaging in order to reduce the environmental footprint caused by the various cosmetic products. The report suggests that packaging is getting high interest because most companies in the aesthetic industry have realized the high environmental impact most of their cosmetic products have had on the environment. As a result companies are now looki ng for biodegradable plastics, recyclable materials as well as other innovative ways to lower environmental degradation (Brandweek, n. d).ConclusionThe beauty industry has more to offer to the modern society in terms of monetary value and desired body image. Although, some may not be able to access or afford the most expensive cosmetic products like plastic surgery, the benefits far outweighs the concerns of the minority who would have to contend with their natural looks. But even as the industry remains relevant and beneficial to the current society, it has to treat the ethical issues raised as a matter of urgency.A sustainable business practice would not only benefit the consumers and the society but also ensure a continued operation by the cosmetic companies within a sustainable environment. Although, a few companies have seen this importance of this, more need to be done.ReferencesBlack, P. (2004). The Beauty Industry: Gender, Culture, Pleasure, Routledge: New York. Brandweek, ( n. d). Study: Natural Beauty Products Flooding the Market. Retrieved on August 21, 2010, from http://www. brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/packaging-and-design/e3id5cad753451dc1bfe073efb89ddb9730 Brumberg, J. (1997).The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls. Random House: New York. Gillespie, R. (1996).Women, the Body Brand Extension in Medicine: Cosmetic Surgery and the Paradox of Choice. Women and Health Vol. 24. Haiken, E. (1997).Venus Envy: A History of Cosmetic Surgery. Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore. Hiscock, J. & Lovett, F. (2004).Beauty Therapy, 2nd Heinemann: London Organic Monitor, (2010, May 19).CSR & Sustainability: How the Beauty Industry Is Cleaning Up. Retrieved on August 21, 2010, from http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:WvoQqIjRJqcJ:www.npicenter. com/anm/anmviewer.asp%3Fa%3D27277%26z%3D2+Beauty+Industry+Ethics&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ke&client=firefox-a Morgan, K. (1992).Women and the Knife: Cosmetic Surgery and the Colonization of Women's Bodies. Hypatia Vol. 6: 25-53. Simms, J. (1998).A Practical Guide to Beauty Therapy for Nvq Level 2, 2nd edition, Nelson Thomes: New York. Sullivan, D. (2001). Â  

Beer Consumption Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Beer Consumption - Essay Example The fact that beer was accidentally formed was also a shock to me. The amount of beer consumed in the world today is of a huge quantity and I expected it to be much lower. In United Kingdom still a large amount of beer is consumed as primarily this state was one of the state which gained major profits through barley. According to me barley was a common crop and could not provide huge profits to a specified state. The beer consumed all over the world shows the importance of the crop which was previously unknown to me. Furthermore, the fact that Egyptians even used beer for medicinal purposes was also a shock as modern science concludes that beer can be harmful to healthy activities. The accidental formation of beer was unexpected as it was expected that beer came into existence after a long study, however beer was formed in the quest of storing grain. Barley and Malt have played an important role in the economics of the United Kingdom and beer is an important product used through out the world. It can also be known that beer has decreased the rate of hard alcohol consumers through out the world. The immense consumption of beer through out the world is known by reading the essay. Furthermore the advent of the beer can also be known by reading the essay. The use of beers was firstly limited but after a certain span of time it expanded through out the world. It has been a product which is used on celebrations also. If beer did not exist in the world the whole social environment of this world would be changed. What one thing does a reader know The reader knows that beer is used for celebratory purposes through out the world and it is an important product of this world. What is the most important detail, quote, fact idea in the draft The draft tells about the advent of malt and how beer came into existence. It tells how the use of beer expanded from a small region through out the world and how it is valued in the world today. Furthermore it tells through this quote that it was also used for medicinal purposes in the lower classes "it [beer] constituted a considerable portion of the medieval diet, particularly in the lower classes" (Geary, 1983: 181). It tells about the consumption of beer as analyzed by Franklin in England. What do you itch to explore through revision The revision would further detail about the history of beer. It would tell how the whole world came to know about the product. It would gather the facts as to what the total consumption of beer is in the world today and how it matters to the society. The disadvantages of beer would also be analyzed in the final draft so it can possibly tell the readers how it is affecting the society in a negative way. It would further conclude if beer is changing the environment of this world in the right or the wrong path. What single message may the final draft deliver The final draft would tell whether or not beer can be termed as important in the world

Placebo Effects of Caffeine on Cycling Performanc Coursework

Placebo Effects of Caffeine on Cycling Performanc - Coursework Example For instance, Clark et al conducted a research where subjects where divided in to three groups. However, his research could not provide correct results on the cause of placebo effect since half the subjects had prior knowledge that carbohydrates would increase their performance. The third group had prior knowledge that their drink could lead to improved performance hence the researcher could not control the findings of the research. The research study used a sample of seven cyclists and used both quantitative and qualitative methods of study. The cyclists were not aware that placebo capsules were administered since they thought it was caffeine. Two baseline and three experimental trials were used. The research is beneficial since it utilized semi-structured interviews to explore the symptoms of the capsules. The level of confidence error provided in the research is sufficient for us to conclude the findings are true. The research suffers from various theoretical and methodological limitations since cyclists were selected from well-trained competitive teams hence they could have increased their performance without use of caffeine. The subjects had prior literature from published research on the positive relationship of caffeine and cycling performance. The research method was flawed since it only selected only seven cyclists from the age of thirty to forty one years hence the sample surveyed was insufficient. Fo r instance, the power output of the fourth subject varied up to 20 percent between adjacent trials which the research has not explained the causes of the variance in the power output (Jackson 170). The subjected were exposed to three different conditions which are moderate dose, high dose and randomly assigned double blind basis hence the research study ignored the optimum control of the amount of caffeine which subjects could take.

Labour Market Segmentation Theory Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Labour Market Segmentation Theory - Term Paper Example 56-60). Labor market segmentation theory is actually one of neo-classical economic theories. According to the neoclassical economists, there is a labor market, which is similar to other markets with sellers and buyers in open competition with one another. It is different from the other markets in some ways. It is a universal fact that labor is not a homogeneous commodity, when it comes to the interests and choice between work and leisure it varies from worker to worker, have different tastes for monetary rewards as opposed to non-monetary rewards (Toft, pp. 36-44). In a labor market, neither the employer nor the workers can move from one place to another without incurring certain costs. It results in wages remaining high in cities that are big even when there are many workers unemployed when other parts of the country are taken into account. Local labor market is a term that often comes under utilization to refer to the market with jobs restricted to a particular locale it can be a t own or a city. Where employers in different industries require certain skills and wish to keep workers once the workers are equipped with certain skills industrial labor markets arise (Toft, pp. 25-30).

How Oil and Gas Could Affect the Economy Research Paper

How Oil and Gas Could Affect the Economy - Research Paper Example This paper tells that the use of oil and gas may continue to change and affect the economy, dependent on how it is used within various regions of the world.   If this resource continues to fluctuate, it can lead to either a recession in the economy or growth and expansion of various regions. The use of oil and gas is no longer one that is based in different regions of the world. It has now become a dependent resource from every region, with most resources coming from regions such as the Middle East and being outsourced into different places of the globe. Each of the areas that produce oil and gas first has to find the natural resource through an oilfield that can continue to produce the right demands for various regions of the world. The current demand has led to most oilfields producing an average of 260 billion barrels a year, some which produce as much as 25 billion barrels a day. As the gas and oil continue to be produced, it leads to instant fluctuations with pricing. The equa tion that is used is based on the amount of oil and gas that are available for different regions of the world, specifically with estimates of how much oil and gas can be recovered from the selling prices of the oil and gas. For example, if not as much oil and gas can be produced from an oilfield, then the prices will begin to rise in the economy and will alter how much one spends on the amount of gas or oil for their needs. The main effect that the oil production has on the world economy is based on a rise and decline of pricing and production. As the rise of oil demands continue, there is the inability to continue with the amount of production that takes place through the oil that is available. The geological constraints and technological problems are making it so that there are limitations in the amount of production. The result is that political influences and other factors begin to affect the economy by raising prices and creating different ways to find oil.

The Revolutionary Afghan Women's Association Essay

The Revolutionary Afghan Women's Association - Essay Example Outsiders came to know or tried to know more about the tragedies of women life in Afghanistan only after they declared war against terror and entered Afghanistan for destroying Taliban. In fact the strict Islamic rules implemented by Taliban prevented the entry of westerners to the soil of Afghanistan and hence the external world failed to recognize the exact situations in Afghanistan under Taliban regime. Moreover Taliban has imposed strict control over freedom of expression and hence it was not easy for the foreign media to enter into the Afghan territory. â€Å"The crisis for afghan women did not begin with Taliban; it has been ongoing for a decade starting with the priod of Jehadi fundamentalist rule and civil war (1992-1996) While women were not subject to all of the legal prohibitions as they later were under Taliban rule, the armed factions rampant lawlessness and human rights violations including abductions, rapes, and forced marriages, specifically targeted women†.1 In order to escape from exploitation from all corners, some Muslim females under the leadership of Meena have started a movement called Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) in 1977. â€Å"RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, was established in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1977 as an independent political/social organization of Afghan women fighting for human rights and for social justice in Afghanistan. The founders were a number of Afghan woman intellectuals under the sagacious leadership of Meena who in 1987 was assassinated in Quetta, Pakistan, by Afghan agents of the then KGB in connivance with fundamentalist band of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar†. 2 Though RAWA when formed was aimed only at the reformation of the Muslim females in Afghanistan, later the objectives of RAWA has been integrated to other Muslim countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh as well where the females suffer torture from male dominated societies. â€Å"Male dominan ce

Flier Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Flier Analysis - Essay Example It is estimated that the average college freshman will gain 15 pounds in their first year of college. This statistic has not gone unnoticed and has gained a reputation as the Freshman-15. While diet has an enormous influence on weight gain, our program will dedicate itself to exercise. Health experts, nutritionists, and physical trainers all agree that diet and exercise are the two most important ingredients to controlling weight gain and maintaining physical health. The components of a healthy diet have been addressed by the various agencies that are assigned to keep our food safe. Fast food restaurants have been pro-active in the reduction of fat, carbohydrates, and trans-fats from their menus. The second component, exercise, has been addressed to a lesser extent and may be easier to promote given our situation. It is from this angle that we have offered the Anti-Freshman 15 Sports Club, an exercise program that is casual, informal, and fun. To promote our Anti-Freshman 15 Sports Club we have developed a flier to be placed strategically around the campus to gain attention to our program and generate interest among the student body. It is designed to be placed on bulletin boards or places where students may congregate. The one page design has been implemented to be used as an inexpensive take-away item to be passed around or used for future reference. The color scheme is meant to attract attention, while the softness of the hue is non-threatening and easy to read. In keeping with the color scheme, the design is gender nuetral and the club is not limited to male or female. This will attract as many students as possible and advocate the program to a wide range of student demographics. While the sports club is called the Anti-Freshman 15 Sports Club, it is for all students or interested campus personnel. The audience may be a freshman who is concerned about

Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 9

Critique - Essay Example There have been various incidences where music has been used asan important therapeutic tool for people suffering from mental and other kinds of health diseases and challenges (Bayley, 2010). People’s tastes and preferences for music varies from one group to another. While some opt to listen to live bands and presentations, others prefer listening to music that is recorded, as they point out that this experience allows them to listen to it repeatedly. This paper examines the concept of recorded music and how it is influencing people’s preference for leisure. It focuses on ome of the advanatges that accompny recorded music for both artists and their respective audiences; additionally, it examines how technology is influencing the music industry. Music recording refers to the process of re-creation and inscription of different forms of sound waves like singing, spoken voice, sound effects and instrumental music. Music can be recorded in two main ways, either in analog or digital systems. Analog recording is often facilitated by a microphone, which has the ability to detect and pick sound waves, thus recording them as graphic representations of the particular sound waves. Analog music recording was commonly used many decades ago before the invention of effective and efficient systems of music recording, it can store music for a long time and be listened to and watched in different places easily (Cook, 2009). Digital recording, which is an advanced form of the analog music converts analog sound waves and signals picked up by a microphone into digital forms through the digitization process. In all forms, digitally recorded music is often regarded as being of high quality compared to music recorded by analog systems. Currently, various storage devices have been developed by different companies to enable people to carry recorded music to different places

A research paper on the interpersonal communication topic 'Nonverbal Essay

A research paper on the interpersonal communication topic 'Nonverbal Communication' - Essay Example For thousands of years, mankind has used wordless messages to communicate thoughts, attitudes, ideas and emotions: by using gestures, posture, facial expressions, sounds and symbols, but research on this area of interpersonal communication is a comparatively new development.(Calero p.2). Scholars from the communication field have since earlier times, emphasized the need for an integrative approach towards the study of nonverbal behavior, along with verbal communication, whenever applicable. Especially in verbal communication, the nonverbal aspect of the interaction is taken into consideration. (Knapp, Weimann and Daly p.272) strengthen this view-point: â€Å"verbal and non-verbal behavior are unquestionably part and parcel of the same overall system of communication†, and separating them would result in artificiality and potential distortion of the interaction. Influences on Nonverbal Communication: According to Mary Ritchie Key, both verbal and nonverbal communication can be seen as a means of establishing self and developing a self-image in order to cope with relationships. One has to validate oneself before one can relate to others in the social paradigm.(p.4). Anderson states that the process of communicating warmth or intimacy to one another is the most central function of nonverbal communication in human interaction. The exchange of harmonious messages is of importance across a variety of relationships and contexts.(Eds. Siegman, Feldstein p.1). encodes a behavioral reaction. However, the primary emphasis of research on nonverbal communication is on explaining and predicting the encoding of behavior. Patterson reveals that the encoding and decoding processes are in a single system, driven by a common set of determinants and mediating processes. (Eds. Palmer, Barnett p.10). Harrison and Knapp (p.345) reiterate that three important aspects of nonverbal communication are: 1) A socially shared

Frankenstein, Blade Runner Context Essay Example for Free

Frankenstein, Blade Runner Context Essay Good morning/ afternoon miss, today I will be speaking about the themes of two texts and the context in which they were written. The two texts ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Blade Runner’ both embody themes of science, creation and nature that are reflected in the author’s life and what was happening in the world around them. By examining Mary Shelley’s life we can see many of the key themes of her time reflected in Frankenstein. The novel Frankenstein was written in 1818 and follows the story of a scientist, Victor Frankenstein and his quest for creating life. However his experiment goes wrong as his creature goes on a rampage after he has been rejected. One theme from this novel that is part of Shelley’s life is the natural world. The theme of the sublime natural world was embraced by Romanticists such as Mary Shelley who, in their writing, glorify the natural environment. By showing nature as a powerful force it gives an idea that nature is a great and controlling force, somewhat god like. Victor, depressed after the deaths of William and Justine for which he feels responsible for, heads to the mountains. A cold†¦ breeze†¦ upon my cheeks †¦ fills me with delight† is a shortened quote from Victor which expresses his feelings towards nature as a joyous one. The influence of nature on mood is evident throughout the novel and just like Victor feeling happy in the embrace of nature; the monster also feels his heart lighten as spring arrives after a being abandoned in the cold winter. â€Å"The weather became fine and the skies cloudless†. Contrasting to Frankenstein that explores the beauty of nature, Blade runner explores how when the natural environment fades the consequences for both humans and the planet are terrible. Blade Runner is a film directed by Riddley Scott in 1982 and follows the story of a blade runner named Deckard as he sets out on destroying artificial humans known as replicants. In the 1980s many Americans, including Scott feared their country was in a great decline and depression of the war and industrialization. These somber themes are evident within the film. At the beginning of the film we see a montage of manmade buildings and structures that overwhelm the landscape as there are no natural elements. Symbolism is very important in this opening scene as we also see setting in the background, the sun. The sun setting symbolizes the end of the earth and that humans are entering into the dark. Rain in many parts of this film and is used as a visual metaphor to suggest that nature is crying for its destruction by humanity. The effect of this impression is that when nature dies everything will mourn. The setting of this post apocalyptic film is not the only thing that has been urbanised. Many animals have been created artificially. When Deckard first goes to Tyrell he is shown an artificial owl, to which he responds â€Å"must be expensive†. The repetition of animals being artificial and expensive highlights that nothing natural remains and that nature has been taken over by commerce. Scott uses the animals as a symbol to represent how artificial the world has become. Another theme that is evident in both Frankenstein and Blade Runner is science and creation. Frankenstein was written in a period of technological advancement where science was just beginning to take shape and the thought of recreating life was evident. An event in Shelley’s life that impacted her was the work of Luigi Galvani who discovered that the muscles of dead frog’s legs twitched when struck by a electricity. This advancement leads Shelley to critique the ideals of science contrasting to the value of nature. Shelley is clear on her feelings about the use and abuse of technology. The reanimation of a man from the dead can be useful so we can always be with loved ones, but what responsibility should we take once we bring people back from the dead? How far can we go in raising the dead without destroying the living? Shelley seems to portray the idea that man cannot handle becoming like God without difficulty. Victor Frankenstein learns all he can about the field of science, both before, during, and after his work at the university and is continuously obsessed with creating life. The effect of uses a character obsessed with creating life, then later rejecting it further shows how Shelley feels about miss using technology. Similarly to Frankenstein, Blade Runner also questions the values of science and creation. Scott created his film when industrialization and when technology is rapidly becoming part of everyday life. As the creator of the replicants, Tyrell simply creates the androids for money and power then immediately outcasts them. Scott makes the company of Tyrell seem very dark and large to emphasize his power within the city. Both Mary Shelley and Riddley Scott draw inspiration from the events and other themes that are impacting their life, whether it is nature, the advancement of technology or creation issues at the time of writing.

A Definition of Corporate Social Responsibility

A Definition of Corporate Social Responsibility Nowadays, the association of the words social and responsibility has become increasingly frequent. But in business world, there is another variant of these terms that prevail and it is the term Corporate Social responsibility (CSR). According to Archie Carroll (2008 p.19): though the roots of the concepts that we know today as CSR have been a long and wide-ranging history, it is mostly a product of the twentieth century, especially from the early 1950s up to the present time. Despite the fact that the concept of CSR has been present for such a long time, researchers still do not share a common definition or set of core principles (Andre Crane et al. 2008 p.4). This also brought about other questions on the interpretation of terms as being socially responsible and also is a firm capable of being responsible towards society. According to Wood (1991, cited in Moir, 1991, p.2), the basic idea of corporate social responsibility is that business and society are interwoven rather than distinct entities. Businesses are often assumed to have profit maximization for sole aim and ignore its responsibilities towards society. Milton Friedman (1970) said that the only one responsibility of business towards society is the maximization of profits to the shareholders within the legal framework and the ethical custom of the country. However supporters of CSR can also be found, Dave Packard (Co-founder of Hewlett Packard Company in 1939, cited in Harvard Business Review, 2002, p.54) claims that the assumption that people make of companies only making money is wrong. He also adds that: a group of people get together and exist as an institution that is called a company so that they are able to accomplish something collectively that they could not accomplish separately and simultaneously they make a contribution to society (Dave Packard, 1939). Votaw (cited in Garigga and Mele, 2004, p.51) wrote that corporate social responsibility means something, but not always the same thing to everybody. The diverging opinions can be categorized in two main points of view; one is that CSR is yet another means to maximize profit and the other is that CSR is here to help companies help society as a whole. CSR has been described in a number of various ways. Below are given different definitions of CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility is a commitment to improve community well-being through discretionary business practices and corporate resources. (Philip Kotler and Nancy Lee, Corporate Social Responsibility, Wiley, 2007) The social responsibility of business encompasses the economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary expectations that society has of organizations at a given point in time. (Archie B. Carroll, 1979) Shell: We all need to assess the impact our business makes on society and ensure that we balance the economic, environmental and social aspects of everything we do (Moody-Stuart, 1999). The diagram below gives a visual description of what constitute CSR: Source: www6.miami.edu/ethics/pdf_files/csr_guide.pdf According to Lance Moir (2001), the area defined by advocates of CSR increasingly covers a wide range of issues such as plant closures, employee relations, human rights, corporate ethics, community relations and the environment. Aspects of CSR Drivers of CSR Drivers, in this context, refer to the reasons behind the choice of a firm to adopt a more socially acceptable behaviour. These reasons can be classified as being internal and external to the firm. Internal drivers: Internal drivers are the pressures that originate from the internal environment of the firm. Examples of components that can constitute the internal environment of a firm are, employees, suppliers, competitors, top management, etc. Flatter organisations have considerably changed the approach towards how business was once done. Nowadays, employees put pressure on how the organization conducts business using certain societal values (M.G.V. Dongen, 2006 p.9). They are more attracted by the non-material aspects of the organisation that employs them. Besides, employees seeking a more socially responsible firm, managers now have the task to reconcile the profit-making need of the company with the responsibility towards society. But as Haigh and Jones (2006) mentioned, for business managers, business is first. ODwyer (2003, cited in Haigh and Jones, 2006, p.2) said that social considerations come second and providing only that such considerations would not open an exploitable weakness. Haig h (2006) adds that the paradigm that managers face simply prevents overall improvements consistent with social welfare. The capacity to integrate CSR policies in the core activities of the firm can also act as a driver. According to Porter and van der Linde (2000, cited in Haigh and Jones, 2006, p.2), CSR is competitive driver that requires appropriate resources. Integrating CSR in a companys activities can be a tedious process. The diagram below shows how CSR can be incorporated at different levels of the company. Source: MVO Platform, (2002, illustrated in M.G.V. Dongen, 2006 p.10), Different intensities of CSR CSR can also be undertaken in a set of separate activities geared towards improving social welfare. This can take the form of sponsoring of sports activities or engaging in charitable activities. Another view to consider internal drivers to CSR is to consider them to be national drivers. The table below gives a number of different national CSR drivers and a brief description of each of them. Source: Visser, W. (2008) CSR Drivers: The Forces Shaping Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, CSR Inspiration Series, No. 3. External drivers: External drives refer to the external pressures that compel a firm to engage in CSR. The external environment of a firm can include market structure, customers, government, economic situations, competitors, etc. Businesses no longer evolve in a static environment, threats are no longer limited to local competitors and the market is now a global one. Similarly, adopting the culture of foreign firms has become a must and CSR is one of the main concerns of all firms in this century. Castells (2000, as cited in M.G.V. Dongen, 2006 p.7) says that globalization increases the importance of social networks of a company on a worldwide basis. Moreover, consumers are more concerned by the fact that whether the firm, to which they are loyal, is contributing to societys welfare. As Castells (2000, as cited in M.G.V. Dongen, 2006 p.7) mentions, a lot of information is obtained more rapidly by consumers and it is easier to keep in touch with the various activities undertaken by any firm. The govern ment also contributes in making company conscious of their duties towards society. According to the European Union and MVO Platform (2002, as cited in M.G.V. Dongen, 2006 p.7), Governments are now engaging in the role of stimulating companies to be social responsible, not pressuring them. In M.G.V. Dongens 2006 paper: In search of the link between corporate social responsibility and legitimacy she enumerated a number of external factors that encouraged firm to adopt the concept of CSR. A few of these points are: Transparency. A very important aspect for a company to be socially responsible is transparency. This can be included in the profit-factor but is more and more considered as a prerequisite for a company to be socially responsible. Due to new information sources, e.g. the internet, and the shift in the control mechanisms for organizations from purely governmental to include the organizations stakeholders, this revolution has an enormous impact on the visibility of an organizations business practices.(M.G.V. Dongen, 2006 p.8) Time. A shift can be recognized from purely focusing on short-term profits towards more long-term objectives, which is necessary because societal and environmental issues are mostly long-term issues. Therefore this shift in time-thinking is essential for CSR to be successful. (M.G.V. Dongen, 2006 p.8) Here also, external factors are often associated with international drivers. The table below describes some of them: Source: Visser, W. (2008) CSR Drivers: The Forces Shaping Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, CSR Inspiration Series, No. 3. In order to link both national and international drivers the diagram below visually establishes a link between both of them. Source: Visser, W. (2008) CSR Drivers: The Forces Shaping Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, CSR Inspiration Series, No. 3. 3.2 Theories of CSR Many authors have tried to grasp an accurate idea of what is CSR by devising models in order to better understand the various factors involved and their impact. One of the first approaches to tackle CSR by means of a model was made in 1971 by the Committee for Economic Development (CED). It made use of three concentric circles. The definition of the three circles was given in the Social Responsibilities of Business Corporation (1971) as follows: The inner circle includes, the clear-cut basic responsibilities for the efficient execution of the economic function products, jobs and economic growth The intermediate circle encompasses responsibility to exercise this economic function with a precise awareness of changing social values and priorities: for example with respect to environmental conservation, hiring and relations with employees, and more rigorous expectation of customers for information, fair treatment and protection from injury The outer circle outlines newly emerging and still amorphous responsibilities that business should assume to become more broadly involved in actively improving the social environment After this theory others were developed, but throughout time only a few of them prevailed. The first theory that must be considered is the pyramid of CSR developed by Carroll. The pyramid of corporate social responsibility According to Carroll, the four main components or categories that constitute the CSR pyramid are: Economic Responsibilities, Legal Responsibilities, Ethical Responsibilities and Philanthropic or Discretionary Responsibilities. The two tables below give a description of these four terms. Source: Archie B. Carroll (1991), The Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility: Toward the Moral Management of Organizational Stakeholders, Business Horizons Source: Archie B. Carroll (1991), The Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility: Toward the Moral Management of Organizational Stakeholders, Business Horizons The theory of the pyramid relies on the fact the various components are stacked on each other, the economic responsibility being the base and the philanthropic responsibility being at the top. The logic behind the pyramid relies in the fact that firms are expected to aim for profit maximization but it must also cater for the other responsibilities in the pyramid, which is comply with the law, comply with rules of society and finally act as a good corporate citizen. The diagram below is a representation of Archie B. Carroll pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility. The Stakeholder theory Moir (2001) refers to the stakeholder theory as being used used as a basis to analyse those groups to whom the firm should be responsible. For Carroll (1991, cited as cited in M.G.V. Dongen, 2006 p.13), stakeholder concept personifies the social actors that organizations should consider with their CSR orientation. Stakeholders generally refer to the actors who are directly or sometimes indirectly affected by the actions of a company. Freedman defines a stakeholder as any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of the organizations objectives (Freeman, 1984:46). Stakeholders can be classified in two main categories; primary and secondary stakeholders. Clarkson (1995: 106, cited in L. Moir, 2001, p.8) gives the description of a primary stakeholder as one without whose continuing participation the corporation cannot survive as a going concern with the primary group including shareholders and investors, employees, customers and suppliers, together with what is defined as the public stakeholder group: the governments and communities that provide infrastructures and markets, whose laws and regulations must be obeyed, and to whom taxes and obligations may be due (Clarkson, 1995, p.106). Moir (2001, p.8) defines the secondary groups are defined as Those who influence or affect, or are influenced or affected by the corporation, but they are not engaged in transactions with the corporation and are not essential for its survival Source: Monique G. van Dongen (2006), In search of the link between corporate social responsibility and legitimacy The stakeholder theory focuses on a practical approach that explains an organizations need to address the various responsibilities (Dongen 2006, p. 13). The stakeholder theory relies on determining the most important stakeholder for the company and its responsibilities towards that stakeholder. In order to determine how the choice should be made, Carroll (1991) established two main criteria which are; power and legitimacy. Following Carrolls logic, in 1997, Michel et al develop a more detailed approach which includes a new dimension named urgency. The model develop was the the stakeholder salience model Power: the ability of those who possess power, to bring about the outcome that they desire (Mitchell et al., 1997). Legitimacy: the assumption that the actions of an entity are desirable, proper, or appropriate within some socially constructed systems of norms, values, beliefs, and definitions (Suchman, 1995). Urgency: exists when two conditions are met: 1) when it is time-sensitive, and 2) when it is important or critical to the stakeholder (Mitchell et al., 1997). The salience model helps to divide stakeholders in different groups and each of these groups is classified on the basis of having one or more the above characteristics. Mitchell (1997) defined the salience model as the degree to which managers gave importance to stakeholders claims. From this point of view, groups such as latent and expectant stakeholders were created and these groups were further subdivided on the basis of the number of characteristics they possessed. Moir stated that firms would pay most attention to those legitimate stakeholder groups who have power and urgency (Moir, 2001, p.9). Following this logic, an example could be the reputation of a company will have a great importance when it interacts directly with the public. In relation with CSR, Patten (1992 as cited in L Moir, 2006 p.9) gave the following example concerning the possible fluctuations in the level of urgency: environmental groups and issues became more urgent to oil firms following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. To sum up, stakeholder theory can help companies to point out stakeholders that can be sensible to CSR issues and generate a profit in these circumstances. 3.2.1 Mapping of CSR theories In addition to the above models, numerous other theories have been developed, but none of them gave an accurate framework which exactly defined what CSR was. Each and every writer who tried to build up a CSR theory ended up giving a personal opinion, hence creating confusion. Carroll (1994, p.14) described the situation as An eclectic field with loose boundaries, multiple memberships, and differing training/perspectives; broadly rather than focused, multidisciplinary; wide breadth; brings in a wider range of literature; and interdisciplinary. In addition to the above mentioned theories, Frederick (1987, 1998) tried to classify CSR in four main categories namely CSR1, CSR2, CSR3 and CSR4. Other attempts to define theories can take the form of the concept of corporate citizenship by Altman (1998), Issues Management by Wartick and Rude (1986) and Wood (1991) and Brummer (1991) classification of four CSR theories based on six criteria. In order to harmonize all these different models Elisabet Garriga and Domenec Mele (2004) grouped all the actual theories under four main headings namely; instrumental, political, integrative and ethical theories. Theories were placed in a group on the basis of their similitude, for example instrumental theories grouped models that were based on the assumption that organization are here only to make profits. The table below gives a brief summary of each group and the different theories composing them. Source: Elisabet Garriga and Domenec Mele (2004), Corporate Social Responsibility Theories: Mapping the Territory, p.62-63 3.3 Advantages and Disadvantages of engaging in CSR CSR is often view as a companys intention to do good for society, but there can also be times when behind the socially responsible mask the intentions are not the ones expected. In can be quite contradictory but although CSR is assumed to be good, it can have drawbacks. Advantages and disadvantages arising from CSR are as diverse as the domain in which the practices are applied, for analysis purposes standard or most common pros and cons will be considered. First pros or advantages of CSR will be considered. According to Bhattacharya et al. (2008), the first advantage of CSR is that in helps in the recruitment and selection process and more specifically within the competitive graduate student market. Kytle et al. (2005) continue by adding that CSR helps in risk management. Building a genuine culture of doing the right thing within a corporation can offset the risks of losing reputation because of any scandal or environmental accident (Kytle et al, 2005, p.10). Another benefit atributed to CSR is brand differenciation. Paluszek (2005) says that CSR can play a role in building customer loyalty based on distinctive ethical values. CSR can help in building customer loyalty by helping them feel that the company with which they are involved care for them. It must also be added that CSR has a significant impact on customers as well. According to Berger et al. (1995, cited in Maignan and Ferrell, 2004) consumers show more fervent support to companies committed to cause-related marketing, practices that help the environment, or business ethics. Furthermore, the studies conducted by Lichtenstein et al., (2004) proved that CSR helped to develop an emotional attachment with the company and hence it helped in boosting the percentage of sales. Sen et al., (2006) continued by saying that those conscious of actual corporate social activities had more positive responses to, and stronger identification with, the organisation, increased demand for trade and investment intent and demand to get a job with this type of organisation than those unaware of any initiative. In addition to the above advantages, others were published in the Investment News (2007) and they are listed below; Proactive enforcement of stricter quality and environmental controls reduces the risk of negative events (e.g. recalling defective products or fines for excessive polluting). Commitment to CSR increases the ability to attract and retain employees. Benefits include reduced turnover, recruitment and training costs. CSR practices enable corporations to be compliant on ethical issues and attract investors who enforce ethical filters One of the main disadvantages of CSR arises from the misuse of the initial concept behind it. Businesses are here to maximise profits and CSR is in direct conflict with this goal. As Malloy (2003) described corporations exist to provide products and/or services that produce profits for their shareholders. Another disadvantage attributed to CSR, is too use it as a marketing tool to promote the companys image. CSR can help companies to be more profitable. This can be proved by the action taken by British petroleum after the discovery of the global warming phenomenon and the promise to have a world beyond petroleum. Here also the investment News 2007 came with a list of arguments against CSR: Expenditure on CSR dilutes the funds available for shareholders. Corporate Management is not equipped to address social or environmental problems. Expenditure on CSR imposes additional costs which consequently reduce competitiveness Expenditure on CSR can only be made during periods of high profitability 4.0 Customer satisfaction According to marketing literature, higher customer satisfaction improves financial performance by increasing the loyalty of existing customers, reducing price elasticities, lowering marketing costs through positive word-of-mouth advertising, reducing transaction costs, and enhancing firm reputation (e.g., Anderson, Fornell, and Lehmann (1994), Fornell (1992), and Reichheld and Sasser (1990)). Many believe that customer satisfaction is the key to a business success. The advantages to the fact of obtaining satisfaction from customers are various but before considering all of them in details, a definition of the term must be given. Customer satisfactions definition varies in accordance to the domain in which it is used. For instance it will have a different meaning whether it is used in marketing literature or in other sectors. A definition of customer satisfaction from a service management point of view is that customer satisfaction refers to how the perception of the customer affects the value received in a transaction or relationship where value can be defined as the perceived service quality compared to price and customer incurred acquisition costs (cited in Blanchard and Galloway, 1994; Heskett et al., 1990) in comparison to the expected value to be generated from transactions or relationships with competitors (Zeithaml et al., 1990). From the marketing point of view customer satisfaction will be defined as a vital part of the strategy of an organization (Fornell et al. 2006) and a key driver of increased profits on the long-run and boosting market value (Gruca and Rego 2005). Link between CSR and Customer satisfaction A number of studies link customers directly to CSR initiatives. In order to undertake a proper analysis, at least three major dimensions can be considered. The first being Scotts (1987 cited in Luo and Bhattacharya, 2006 p.3) institutional theory and the second stakeholder theory (Maignan, Ferrell, and Ferrell 2005) suggest that a companys actions appeal to the multidimensionality of the consumer as not only an economic being but also a member of a family, community, and country (Handelman and Arnold 1999). Basing themselves on these three approaches Daub and Ergenzinger (2005) developed the term generalized customer. It can be defined as people who are not only customers who care about the consumption experience but also actual or potential members of various stakeholder groups that companies need to consider (Daub and Ergenzinger, 2005; Luo and Bhattacharya, 2006, p.3). Generalized customers derive more satisfaction from the transaction which involves a firm which is socially respo nsible. The second dimension rely on the aspect that establishing the link between the two components is the fact that being highly active in the CSR domain creates a favorable context that positively boosts consumers evaluations of and it gives a favorable image of the firm (Brown and Dacin 1997; Gà ¼rhan- Canli and Batra 2004; Sen and Bhattacharya 2001). Handleman and Arnold (1999) noted that consumers used the concept of positive word to mouth about firms that were committed to actions that were associated with institutional norms (1999, cited in Maignan and Ferrell, 2004). Studies by Berger and Kanetkar (1995), Barone et al. (2000) and Creyer and Ross (1997) resulted in the fact that consumers are willing to actively support companies committed to cause-related marketing, environmentally-friendly practices, or ethics (cited in Maignan and Ferrell, 2004). CSR initiatives constitute a key element of corporate identity that can induce customers to identify with the company. Indeed, Lichten stein, Drumwright, and Bridgette (2004, p. 17) note that a way that CSR initiatives create benefits for companies appears to be by increasing consumers identification with the corporation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [and] support for the company. Not surprisingly, identified customers are more likely to be satisfied with a firms offerings (e.g., Bhattacharya, Rao, and Glynn 1995; Bhattacharya and Sen 2003). The third dimension examines the antecedents of customer satisfaction (Luo and Bhattacharya, 2006, p.3). One example of a key antecedent can be perceived value and that has been empirically shown to promote customer satisfaction (Fornell et al. 1996; Mithas, Krishnan, and Fornell 2005b; Luo and Bhattacharya, 2006). In the actual case, all else being equal, customers likely derive better perceived value and, consequently, higher satisfaction from a product that is made by a socially responsible company (Luo and Bhattacharya, 2006, p.4).Another antecedents that is known to impact on customer satisfaction is the knowledge of the customer himself. Jayachandran et al (2005) added that improving customer knowledge represents another antecedent that has been found to enhance customer satisfaction. Although the three dimensions above establish a link between CSR and customer Satisfaction it does not indicate whether it is a positive or a negative one. Mac Donald and Rundle-Thiele (2008) pointed out that researchers have studied the impact of CSR on a number of factors, including word of mouth, attitudes, intentions, emotional attachment, shopping in-store, loyalty and brand identification, a limited number of studies have taken into consideration the relationship between satisfaction and CSR (Mac Donald and Rundle-Thiele, 2008, p.174). The only study that directly linked CSR to customer satisfaction was that carried out by Luo and Bhattacharya (2006). They studied Fortune 500 companies, to find that a direct relation between CSR and customer satisfaction existed. Their study identified that satisfaction as a link which formed a relationship between CSR and firm market value (Mac Donald and Rundle-Thiele, 2008, p.174). The diagram below depicts the relationship between customer satisfaction, market share and CSR as studied by Luo and Bhattacharya. Source: Xueming Luo C.B. Bhattacharya, 2006, Corporate Social Responsibility, Customer Satisfaction, and Market Value Despite the direct linking, researchers found cases where CSR was found to have a negative impact on customer satisfaction. Bhattacharya and Luo (2006, cited in Mac Donald and Rundle-Thiele, 2008, p.174) found that, firms which tend to lag in the innovative process, CSR actually reduced the level of customer satisfaction and, through a reduced amount of satisfaction; it adversely affected the market value. In some cases, it may be found that it is more appropriate to use customer oriented initiatives to increase satisfaction than CSR initiatives. CSR initiatives in this case could lead to wastage of precious resources which could have been used in a better way. CSR initiatives against Customer-oriented initiatives Pomering and Dolnicar (2006, cited in Mac Donald and Rundle-Thiele, 2008, p.174) studied that a banks CSR initiatives indicated that customers tend to be more responsive to customer-oriented initiatives, rather than those that had a social orientation. In this study, eight CSR initiatives were proposed such as dedicating one per cent of profit to community programs and launching an indigenous scholarship program. The success of these initiatives did not match the level of satisfaction obtained from customer-oriented initiatives. Pomering and Dolnicar (2006) concluded that consumers consideration for personal well-being may outweigh their consideration of broader social impacts. 4.2.1 CSR initiatives and Customer satisfaction In 2004, Bhattacharya and Sen (2004, cited in Mac Donald and Rundle-Thiele, 2008, p.175) proposed six dimensions to CSR. They are listed below, as published by KLD Research: employee diversity Supporting employees product impact on the environment overseas operations Supporting society 4.2.2 Customer oriented initiatives and customer satisfaction On the other hand, customer-oriented initiatives for the banking sector were also classified. Chakrabarty (2006) observed that customer oriented actions for the banking sector was not the same as for other sectors. Chakrabartys (2006, cited in Mac Donald and Rundle-Thiele, 2008, p.175) research resulted into four factors that determined the total level of customer satisfaction amongst a sample of more than 12,000 UK retail banking customers. They are listed in order of importance as follows: in-branch satisfaction economic satisfaction remote satisfaction ATM satisfaction Later in 2007, Manrai and Manrai (2007, in Mac Donald and Rundle-Thiele, 2008, p.175) came up with another set of four factors. In order of importance, they are: Problems attributed to the personnel Concerns of a financial aspect Concerns about the in-branch environment Convenience-related considerations

Strategic Justifications In The US Wine Industry

Strategic Justifications In The US Wine Industry Mergers refer to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling and combining of different companies that can aid in, finance, or assist a growing company in a given industry. As outlined by Lawrence Gitman, it is the combination of two or more firms, in which the resulting firm maintains the identity of one of the firms usually the larger. The primary reason for a merger is to improve a companys financial and strategic position. (Gitman, 2009) Determining whether the merger or the acquisition in the U.S. Wine Industry is offensive or defensive is dependent on each companys perspective. International Beverages quest for seeking an acquisition was considered a defensive action put forward by the company and it needed to lengthen its life within the organization. This company was known as a leading producer and marketer in the wine industry. This company being slow at achieving internal growth as their revenues grew at a mere 10% per year as a result of aggressive acquisition strategy. They needed to make an acquisition to prevent it from becoming a market failure as lack of any acquisition resulted in a no growth rate for the Company. This needed to be done to achieve growth internally and to refrain from going under. The wine industry has showed desirable preferences for change to higher end brand which placed International Beverage in a very dangerous position as customer would show a great deal of preference for the highe r end brand wines. International Beverage then had to take the initiative and move strategically in order to remain in the market as a key player, thus alleviating any adverse effects that would occur as a result of the new emerging preference in the future. One of the other companies to be acquired was Starshine. One of the main compositions of companies that International Beverage acquires was the fact that they were all producers of low end quality wine. Starshine was one of them. They too were also facing the fact that they could eventually lose in the market shares as the market began leaning towards a higher end brand of wine and Starshine were offering mid range labels in the market. Since Starshine produced only mid range brand wines, it would have been in their best interest to merge with the other company Bel Vino in order to secure a share in the market. This would have been their defensive action. The merger was crucial because had they not merged with Bel Vino, International Beverage could have acquired their company as the urgently needed some pull out, keeping in mind also that International Beverage also needed some fix for themselves to retain their market share. Starshine would then now be able to deal with their cost issues and competition from foreign producers. The merger between Starshine and International Beverage would be a defensive action with respect to the emerging market changes and also to avoid not having a say in the future business of the company. Bel Vino was producers of high-end wine with a very strong brand. Despite this, they also had sluggish performance, there prevalent management conflicts, these were the internal problems the company was faced with; also their inability to form good distribution lines, have a bad management team and as a result, has unflattering performance levels (Luehrman Kester, 2009). The market change favoured Bel Vino prospects as it allowed them to have more clients to form a better distribution line which will then have positive effects on its revenues. Bel Vino did not need a merger neither an acquisition because it could have solved the aforementioned issues by itself. Despite this fact, there was the option of solving these issues by taking advantage of the already established distribution lines and high earnings of both Starshine and International Beverage (Luehrman Kester, 2009). Given these reasons, Bel Vino is the only one that would be taking offensive action in both instances with respect to merger and acquisition. Question 2 What primary advantages did your company bring to the table? An acquisition of or merger with Bel Vino would benefit both company as Bel Vino, is the company that offered classic vintages and strong brands (Luehrman Kester, 2009). This would give them the comparative advantage over the other companies since these other companies, Starshine and International Beverage, deal mainly with lower end and mid range labels (Luehrman Kester, 2009). From the fact that industry has overcome the wine glut the demand for wine has shifted to the higher end products which neither of Bel Vinos competitors possess (Luehrman Kester, 2009). This was an advantage for Bel Vino since they were able to use this for their negotiations. This would be beneficial also for International Beverage and Starshine providing the opportunity to gain a market share and for their survival in the new market transformation. Bel Vino also benefited from the low cost advantages with respect to the merger with Starshine given the fact of the apparent cost control issues. (Luehrman Kester, 2009). Management in Bel Vino were able to utilize their finances as opposed to overspending on advertisement as Starshine did. All in all, Bel Vino brought several advantages to the table during this negotiation, all of which benefitted each of the companies of way or the other. Question 3 Compare the market positions, financial performance, and future prospects of Bel Vino and Starshine. What are the most significant sources of synergies for the potential transactions? Market position can be defined as the ranking of a brand, product, or firm, in terms of its sales volume relative to the sales volume of its competitors in the same market or industry (Business Dictonary, 2009). In analyzing the three companies, it was found that from the years 2006-2010 Starshine continually had higher net sales to that of Bel Vino. In 2006 Starshine had 475 million compared to Bel Vinos 359 million and International beverages 2980 million. In 2007 Starshine had 495 million compared to Bel Vinos 360 million and 2999.9 million. In 2008 Starshine had 525.1 million compared to Bel Vinos 366 million and 3019.9 million. In 2009 Starshine had 557.2 million compared to Bel Vinos 382.1 million and 6100.4 million. In 2010 Starshine had 591.5 million compared to Bel Vinos 390.1 million and 6141.2 million. (Harvard Business School 2009) This shows that Starshine had a greater market presence than that of Bel Vino and that Bel Vino was finding it difficult to generate sales esp ecially in the international markets to compete with its rivals. This was possibly due to its poor distribution lines. International Beverage could help Starshine and Bel Vino increase their market share both domestically and internationally and also help improve Bel Vinos distribution line. Financial performance refers to the measuring of a firms policies and operations in monetary terms. These results are reflected in the firms return on investment and return on assets (Business Dictionary, 2009). As the formula for return on assets is Net Income/Total Assets, the Return on assets for Starshine through the years 2006 to 2010 are; in 2006: 11.1/498.3 = 2.23%; in 2007: 8.6/503.9=1.71% ; in 2008: 17.4/507.5=3.43 ; in 2009: 28.3/531.5=5.32 ;in 2010: 36.9/556.9= 6.63%. In comparison, the returns on Assets for Bel Vino throughout the years are in 2006: 4.2/425.9=0.99%, in 2007:18.8/406.8=4.62%, in 2008: 27.7/389.4=7.11, in 2009: 33.2/403.6=8.23%,in 2010: 36.1/409.1=.8.82%. This shows that Bel Vino had a higher return on assets than Starshine. Our return on assets are as follows; in 2006: 162.2/1227.2=13.22%; in 2007: 109.9/1461.5=7.52; in 2008: 97.5/1544.5=6.31; in 2009: 423.7/22.32.7=18.98; in 2010: 446.6/2770.2=16.12. This again shows that our company, International Beverage company is a larger better run company. In relation to the future prospects of these companies, Bel Vino had to focus on the protection of their brands, increase in distribution lines and increase in sales volumes. Pertaining to Starshine, they need to cut costs and break into the high end market. Question 4 What was the rationale behind the choice of target for the opening bid and our overall bidding strategy? As we were in a better position than both companies, we were faced with the decision of it to stay as we were and run the risk of both companies merging or if to acquire on of the companies. We decided that were not under any pressure and we were going to keep our bidding low as we felt it was in the other companies best interest to merge with us. We started by making a bid for Starshine as we felt that with their greater presence in the markets would help us to gain an even stronger market share. We thus made an opening bid of $45 per share to Starshine. This bid was rejected. As a result our share price dropped by $0.50 to $64.70 while starshines rose by $2.26 to $56.64. We decided to start the bidding at such a low price so during negotiations; the ceiling price would not get too high. We realised that Starshine offered Bel Vino 1.05 new Starshine shares for each existing Bel Vino Share. So we decided to give Bel Vino something to think about by offering $39 per share. This was lo wer than their share price at the current time which was $45.96. We were not prepared to buy out any of these companies while incurring huge debts. This was another reason why our bids were kept so low. Bel Vino didnt see our bid as attractive despite the fact that we could improve their distribution line internationally considerably. So they rejected our bid. We thus decided it was not worth it to acquire any of the two companies as they lacked the vision to see that they could only benefit by merging with us. In the end Starshine accepted Bel Vinos offer and the companies merged. Question 5. If you were not successful at completing a transaction, why do you believe this was the case? Do you think it represents the best outcome for your shareholders? Would you do anything differently if given another chance to negotiate? According to the confidential information our team was provided with, both Bel Vino and Starshine were potential prospects for a merger. Our main prospect was Bel Vino since they sold high end products and our company would have received more value from this merger. We also noted that a merger with Bel Vino would have added worth to our company. Therefore in the long term, shareholder value will also be increased. In order to increase shareholders value, it is imperative that a company implements strategic planning. This can be done by increasing cost base while maintaining revenue and by increasing revenue share and by reducing cost (Ezine Article, 2010). A merger between Bel Vino and Starshine would have reduced cost of goods sold by roughly $3 million to $ 5 million. In addition, their Research and Development cost would decrease by a significant amount, roughly, one million on an annual basis. Bel Vino showed strategic planning and they recognized the goal of the company and beca use of their financial operations which were done effectively and efficiently, they were able to develop their working capital. There was a possibility of mergers between Bel Vino and Starshine, which actually came to fruition. Before any negotiation is made by any organization and for it to be successful it is critical for them to look over key issues that will affect their organization in the long run. In other words preparedness is one of the main key to successes in any business organization. In addition, a good strategy is also important for a healthy and long term existence of that company. Our team definitely lacked in the area of preparation was resulted in International Beverage not being able to merge with any of the two prospective companies. Our team members were definitely not ready to negotiate because we did not conduct enough background work in terms of focusing on our operating assumptions which included domestic and international revenues. In addition, due to the lack of understanding the game and time, we were not capable of making enough offers to the other two wine companies These factors needed to be decided upon before we ventured into the negotiation process. We also need to focus more on our balance sheet and make comparisons between Bel Vinos and Starshines balance sheets. Despite our unpreparedness, we were able to make bids by offers to both Bel Vino and Starshine at prices, $48.81 and $58.57 respectively. Both companies rejected our offers. We assumed that they believed that their companies were worth more than what we were offering them. At the end of the simulation, Starshine and Bel Vino merged. In conclusion, the wine simulation was a learning experience for our team and we realized the importance of conducting our homework before venturing into negotiations. It is important to learn about your counterparts in detail, as opposed to looking on the surface. Details such as financials are crucial in getting into mergers. If given the opportunity to negotiate again, we will definitely make serious preparations for the negotiations.

The Author as Creator in Frankenstein Essay -- Frankenstein essays

The Author as Creator in Frankenstein      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mary Shelley's Frankenstein can be read as an allegory for the creative act of authorship. Victor Frankenstein, the 'modern Prometheus' seeks to attain the knowledge of the Gods, to enter the sphere of the creator rather than the created. Like the Author, too, he apes the ultimate creative act; he transgresses in trying to move into the feminine arena of childbirth.    Myths of divine creation are themselves part of the historical process that seeks to de-throne the feminine; this is the history of Art, itself at first denied to women as an outlet of self-expression. It is a process recorded in Art itself, in stories like that of Prometheus. Prometheus in earlier myths stole fire from the Gods (analogous to the author at his craft). Later he was credited not just as Man's benefactor but as his creator. Man creates God through myth so as to have a power to will towards.    At this point text, analogy, and reality twist upon each other. As Victor moves into the female space of the womb, an act of creation aped by the Gods in mythology and religion, Mary Shelley as author moves into the male domain of art, aping the creative power of the Gods.    Reading Frankenstein as an analogy for Art can be more fruitful if done within the framework of Oscar Wilde's essay, 'The Decay of Lying', in which the author argues that the artist creates the world and not just imitates it: this will conclude this essay.    At the meal between mortals and the Gods at Mecone, Prometheus tricked Zeus into accepting the bones over the choicest entrails. Man was punished by the denial of fire; Prometheus again defied the Gods in stealing it. As punishment, he was chained to a cl... ...he transition of the story to film, 'Frankenstein' has often mistakenly been used to signify the monster. This transition itself reflects the process of progression and substitution. As in the case of the non-existent deerstalker that Conan-Doyle never wrote about, celluloid representations have come to denote the essence, supposedly, of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.    Works Cited    March, Jenny. "Prometheus." The Cassell Dictionary of Classical Mythology. London: Cassell, 1998.    Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus. 1818. Ed. James Reiger. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1982.    Waxman, Barbara Fry. "The Tragedy of the Promethean Overreacher as Woman." Papers on Language and Literature 23 1 (1987): 14-26.    Wilde, Oscar. "The Decay of Lying." Oscar Wilde. Ed. Isobel Murray. The Oxford Authors. Oxford: OUP, 1989.

training of an athlete Essay -- essays research papers

Training of an Athlete   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When training a football player, or any athlete for that matter you want to make sure that they are not smoking. Smoking is very harmful and addictive to the body and causes increased airway resistance. When smoking is done it takes 24 hours to clear the poisons from 1 cigarette. The effects of smoking can be damaging for life by causing heart disease, cilia damage, throat cancer and other many life-treating effects. If an athlete is smoking the results of smoking they will see will be decreased endurance, decreased ventilation, decreased Max VO2, and decreased oxygen capacity. For athletes to be able to perform at their best it is important for them not to be smoking.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When training or playing games endurance athletes will sometimes experience something that is called â€Å"second wind†. Second wind is the feeling of relief upon making the necessary metabolic adjustments to a heavy exercise intensity. The major change that takes place for â€Å"second wind† to happen is when there is a changeover from labored breathing which is called (dyspnea) to normal breathing which is called (eupnea). This respiratory adjustment however is only a reflection of metabolic adjustment to the exercise intensity. The way that â€Å"second wind† is most likely explained is by a change in skeletal muscular efficiency as increasing muscular temperature brings it on.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When an athlete is training there is some type of pain experienced in the lower lateral aspects of the thoracic wall this pain is called â€Å"stitch in the side†. This is caused by the body making a respiratory adjustment to an intense exercise such as distance running. A â€Å"stitch in the side† usually occurs when the body is adjusting to new metabolic demands, it is believed that ischemia of either the diaphragm or intercostal muscles are the cause. Scientist have not been able to find any scientific evidence to explain the cause of â€Å"stitch in the side†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Innervation is the stimulation of the heart and how the heart is stimulated. The heart is stimulated by four parts starting first with the SA node- a wave of excitation begins in the sa node and travels throughout the heart. The wave of excitation is then sent by way of ephaptic conduction in the atria to the AV node, this is located at the ... ... sprinting a 40 and then walking a 40.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The frequency training for interval training is as follows. For an endurance athlete distance and time is the key to glycogen storage, never use both distance and time training in the same day, 4-7 day workout plan is usual for about 12 to 16 weeks, quarter mile intervals are most widely used training method. For a speed athlete a 3 week plan should be used, must build up ATP a CP stores, for sprinters it is not uncommon to work 5-6 time a week, year round hard and easy day alternate is most widely used training method with a pulse vs. time and recovery plan. Cross training is also another form of training that can be used for either endurance or speed athletes, when cross training make sure you pick a sport similar to the sport your are training in.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When taking and using pulse as an indicator it is important to remember these guidelines; never use thumb, the carotid or radial pulse is acceptable, use light pressure when taking pulse, must take pulse within 10 seconds of stopping, allow recovery no longer than a heart rate of 132, and most important never work of a heart rate of 180.

Stephen Crane and His Unique Choice of Subjects :: essays research papers

Stephen Crane   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stephen Crane was born on November 1, 1871 in New Jersey. Crane became a writer at the age of twenty-one and died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-eight. Crane’s sister, Agnes, raised him and tutored him. She eventually became a schoolteacher. His parents were very religious and his father had an essay published in an 1869 issue of Popular Amusements. Crane â€Å"felt himself unworthy of his father because he fell short of his father’s moral principles and his nobility of spiritual outlook.†He studied poverty, war, and life and death struggle. â€Å"Crane united from the beginning an iron self-assurance with a deep shyness.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In â€Å"The Red Badge of Courage† Crane describes the characters in depth. He chose a significant event in Americas history and wrote about it. During the Civil War while a Union regiment is based along a river, a tall soldier named Jim Conklin spreads a rumor that the army will march within a day. A new recruit, Henry Fleming, feels that if he were to see battle he would run like a coward. When the regiment marches they meet up with the enemy but Henry is unable to flee because he is surrounded. The Union regiment stops the charge of the Confederate. The next day the Confederates charge again and this time Henry is able to flee from the scene. Later he meets up with a group of wounded soldiers walking down the road and he believes that a wound is like â€Å"a red badge of courage†. He meets a soldier with extremely deep wounds and then recognizes that it is Jim Conklin. While they are walking down the road Jim Conklin runs off behind the bushes and dies where the other soldiers can not see him. Henry wanders through the forest alone until he comes to a battlefield. He attempts to stop one of the soldiers to ask what is going on but he gets hit in the head with the soldier’s rifle. Another soldier takes Fleming back to his regiment’s camp. His friend Wilson cares for him because he thinks that Fleming has been shot in the head. The next day the regiment goes back to the battlefield and this time Henry stays and fights in Jim Conklin’s honor. Wilson and Henry overhear an officer making fun of their regiment’s style of fighting so they go out to prove him wrong.

Failure and futility Themes in “1984” and “Never Let Me Go” Essay

Comparison of how Orwell in 1984 and Ishiguro in Never Let Me Go use failure and futility in human relationships as a theme in their dystopian novels As humans, we judge ourselves by how others perceive us and seek to conform to a universally accepted code of ethics and laws. It is this inherent value that we possess, a conscience that make us different from animals and it is also what is missing to a large extent in Orwell’s â€Å"1984† and Ishiguro’s â€Å"Never Let Me Go†. The futility of relationships in these works is part of what makes the worlds in which they are based seem so bereft of hope and consequently, dystopia in nature. In Orwell’s vision of humanity’s future, the only truly acceptable thing to ‘love’ is Big Brother. The Party restricts all other love so as to break down the ties between family, friends and lovers whilst transferring this loyalty to the Party itself as a form of control. The Party is said to have, â€Å"cut the links between child and parent, and between man and man, and between man and women.† This does not just show the breakdown of re lationships, but the reduction of the self. The Party is removing the essential links that allow humanity to be more than a collective of individuals and instead uses this to its own ends, although what these are, beyond a desire for control, we never truly discover. It is partly this lack of knowledge of the Party’s overall goals that makes the situation seem so desperate, it is as though love is being removed without explanation or justification, making the whole process seem devoid of hope as there is no specific element against which to rebel. A similar lack of knowledge also plagues the children of Hailsham in â€Å"Never Let Me Go†. Their future is not clearly explained; instead it is an undercurrent to their education that leaves them prepared for, but not truly conscious of, their fate. As Miss Lucy says, the students have been, â€Å"told and not told.† The situation is much the same for the reader, we learn with the children about their function. Thus we can empathise with the characters; the reader feels a part of the story. Setting it in the 1990s also adds to this sense as it is easy to associate with our own lives. It is for this reason that cloning is a key feature of dystopic fiction from the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries as it does not seem a distant concept but a real possibility. Some may see keeping the children in the dark over their fate as a kindness, however in many ways it seems a further cruelty that they are allowed to hope when this will avail them nothing. Miss Lucy goes on to tell  the children that they had been, â€Å"created†, that they were, â€Å"brought into this world for a purpose†¦ [with] futures, †¦ decided.† This is an indication of what is to come for the students, gaining more meaning the further the reader progresses through the novel, it is in reflecting upon events that the true horror is revealed. It is also a symbol of their relationships with the outside world. They cannot become part of a society we would recognise, for this is not their â€Å"purpose† and so they are kept apart from it. The world of the chil dren seems lonely and isolated for this reason, especially so as it is told to them, and us, as fact by someone in a position of authority. This version of their future seems inevitable and so any hope Ishiguro builds in the minds of the reader in the rest of the novel seems almost foolish, as we have been told that Kathy and her companions have only one path to follow. Orwell uses similar devices in â€Å"1984†. We are told in the first chapter after Winston writes in his diary that â€Å"The Thought Police would get him† and yet through the novel, largely thanks to his relationship with Julia, we come to feel that there may be a chance for him. However, as in â€Å"Never Let Me Go†, this is crushed. Both Orwell and Ishiguro give their characters and their audiences hope and despite all else that is wrong in their worlds, they have an intrinsic human emotion to hold on to, but when both stories conclude, this feeling is shown to have been futile and misleading. The traditional structure of society in â€Å"Never Let Me Go† is altered, as there is clearly a subsection of humanity that the dono rs inhabit which is not apparent in our own lives. However, Ishiguro’s world is not so different from our own, Hailsham seems like it could easily be a twentieth century boarding school with the result that the events have a more profound effect on the reader. Orwell uses a slightly different technique as the structure of human life is reduced in â€Å"1984† rather than altered. It is carried out up to the point where, â€Å"No one dares trust a wife or a child or a friend†. Instead they turn to the only thing in their life that seems concrete, Big Brother. The Spies are the ultimate example of this because the Party has managed to sever the paternal bond, which should be stronger than almost anything else. The extent to which this is achieved is shown by Parson declaring he is, â€Å"proud† of his daughter for denouncing him as it proves that he, â€Å"brought her up in the right spirit.† It is as though the greatest achievement for a parent has become to create a tool for the  party. Winston sums this up by saying, â€Å"The terrible thing the Party has done was to persuade you that mere impulses, mere feelings, were of no account, while at the same time robbing you of all power over the material world.â₠¬  To protect and nurture your offspring is a natural instinct, but the Party has removed this and in doing so has reduced humanity. It is this that makes the breakdown in the family so crucial to Orwell’s dystopic literature, if the feelings had been punished there is hope for salvation but by removing them, there is no hope for a future where the family is once again a pivotal element within a person’s life. When Orwell was writing there was a strong feeling of despair amongst modernist authors and artists relating to the fracturing of society and the reduction of tradition’s role in people’s lives. This is clearly shown in â€Å"1984† through characters such as Parson. Orwell’s reduction of traditional structures is shocking but also hard to relate to, as it seems so extreme. It can be said that Ishiguro’s alteration may not have the same immediate impact, however this slight apathy is caused by the situation presented being all too possible. On reflection this serves to makes it more disturbing; many groups in society are marginalised and so it is not difficult to imagine a situation where there are ‘clones’ amongst us yet not with us who are treated as an inferior race. Ishiguro demonstrates this through the use of the word, â€Å"completion† when the donors die. This is much like a euphemism for death, something else that is treated as taboo, but â€Å"completion† has far more sinister connotations. It suggests the donors have fulfilled their â€Å"purpose†, particularly as the word â€Å"completion† is usually associated with a positive outcome. This can be interpreted as Ishiguro, as a post-modern author, suggesting that a society relying on such a complex structure, is capable of dehumanising and exploiting the death of fellow humans. This is unlike Orwell in â€Å"1984† who bemoans the fracturing of traditional structures, however both show how the breakdown in relationships and marginalisation of certain groups can remove some essence of humanity and it is through this that the authors present their works as dystopic. Winston identifies this loss when he says â€Å"The Proles are human beings†¦ We are not human† because in comparison to Party members, â€Å"They were not loyal to a party or a country or an idea, they were loyal to one another.† Winston himself recognises what it is to be human and sees how he is in some way lacking. He goes on to tell  Julia that they will inevitably be captured and this will leave them both, â€Å"utterly alone† and, â€Å"utterly without power of any kind†. The implication here is that the connection they share is what gives them power but that the Party can overcome this. Despite acknowledging what is necessary to be human and finding his own source of strength, Winston still sees himself as ultimately powerless. Rather than this moment being an epiphany, as you would expect from a traditional hero, Winston is filled with hopelessness and in turn shows his love for Julia as being ultimately futile as it cannot lead to any salvation at all. Julia’s cool acceptance of this only makes it seem more inevitable as she states, â€Å"Everybody always confesses. You can’t help it. They torture you.† The short sentences make each statement a fact rather than a possible future. However we are also given a small glimmer of hope when Winston says to Julia that the, â€Å"real betrayal† would be if they could, â€Å"make me stop loving you† and Julia responds that, â€Å"They can’t do that.† This gives the reader hope that maybe they can best the Party. They may forfeit their lives in doing so but by staying loyal they could prove that love is more powerful than the control of the Party. However this is crushed at the end when they both betray each other. Having demonstrated how important interpersonal relationships are to the nature of humanity, Orwell then shows how easily such relationships can be demolished. This perhaps more than any other feature of â€Å"1984† makes it d ystopic literature as, what is an inherent belief in many that love can overcome any challenge, is destroyed and with it the image of humanity. In â€Å"Never Let Me Go† we are led to believe that what Kathy and Tommy share could be their salvation as we believe that the ‘system’ can be overcome by love. This is shaped by countless stories with which all are familiar where love bests evil. Both Orwell and Ishiguro play on our expectation that a resolution will be found in order to shock the reader to a greater extent when it is shown that hope is lost. This happens in â€Å"Never Let Me Go† as the society presented places small value on these emotions. Miss Emily understands they have, â€Å"hoped carefully† that deferrals might exist, but has to explain to them it was only ever, â€Å"A wishful rumour.† It is this element that shows the dystopic nature of the novel as, up to this point we feel Kathy must achieve some kind of success to fulfil her role as principle character, but it doesn’t happen. The use of the word, â€Å"hoped†, is also key as this is essentially  what the story is about, it reminds the audience that for Kathy and Tommy, their love represents hope of future happiness and leading lives with a meaning beyond being someone else’s spare parts. Both â€Å"1984† and â€Å"Never Let Me Go† demonstrate how fundamental relationships are to human lives. They are what shape us, what allow us to interact with a greater society and what gives us hope. However in both novels relationships are broken down and shown to be futile, in neither do the protagonists find a way to escape their fate through love and nor do they get any real comfort from it as they are always fighting against systems that do not accredit a value to such emotions. It is when these relationships are finally proved to offer little to those involved that faith in a redeeming future is lost in and as such it is when the novels are shown to be dystopic. This is clearly a fundamental element of the authors’ dystopian literature as love tends to be what humankind clings to as the last vestige of hope in a dire situation and even this is removed from these works.