Stella Mccartney

Stella McCartney Famous English fashion designer, Stella Nina McCartney, was born September 13, 1971. From the young age of twelve she became interested in designing clothes, when she made her first jacket. After graduating from Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and design, Stella McCartney has made a name for herself in the fashion industry. Stella McCartney shops are spread across the globe in exclusive locations including Manhattan’s Soho, London’s Mayfair and Brompton Cross, LA’s West Hollywood, Paris’ Palais Royal, Milan and Tokyo. Out of the twenty-three shops this paper focuses on the store in London, Mayfair.Stella McCartney collections range from women’s ready-to-wear, accessories, lingerie, eyewear, children’s wear, and Adidas by Stella McCartney. Marie Claire calls McCartney, the queen of Eco-Cool. As a strict vegetarian, McCartney refuses to use fur or leather in her designs and is a strong supporter of PETA. In some of the designs the text elaborates on her â€Å"no animal† policy. McCartney explains that depending on what season, twenty to thirty percent of the collections contain some kind of eco or sustainable element, either being organic fabric or a natural dye.Before going to the store and doing some research I found out that the London store and offices are powered by Ecotricity which invests in wind power. Keeping with the companies earth-friendly views they use biodegradable bags and recycled paper products. The London, Mayfair shopping experience was completely different to how a normal day out in the shops would be. From the moment of walking in we were analysing and paying more attention to different things in the store from the lighting, to customer service, music, the design and the layout. When entering the shop the atmosphere was calm and relaxing with nice vibes from the staff.The staff were very kind and attentive and assisted with sizes. Another thing we noticed was the perfume smell that was sprayed around the shop, it made the shop unique and memorable. You associate smell with many things including places so in a business perspective it is a smart technique. The design of the shop was simplistic with white walls and big windows which gives the shop a great natural light. The big mirrors spread everywhere made the store look a lot bigger than it really was. The colours of the collection all blend really well together sorting from green, blue, orange and pinks.I found the whole shopping experience comfortable and stress-free. The shop was inviting and I would definitely go back not only for the clothing but also for the customer service that you rarely see in shops in London. References Dafont. com (n. d. ) Fancy > Retro fonts | dafont. com. [online] Available at:http://www. dafont. com/theme. php? cat=115[Accessed: 27 Feb 2013]. Interview Magazine (2013) Stella McCartney. [online] Available at:http://www. interviewmagazine. com/fashion/stella-mcc artney [Accessed: 27 Feb 2013]. Marie Claire (2013) Stella McCartney: The Queen of Eco-Cool. online] Available at:http://www. marieclaire. com/fashion/trends/stella-mccartney-eco-fashion [Accessed: 27 Feb 2013]. Stella McCartney – Online Store (2013) Stella McCartney – Official website. Women’s ready-to-wear, accessories, lingerie, sports performance collection â€Å"adidas by Stella McCartney,† eyewear, fragrance and kids. [online] Available at:http://www. stellamccartney. com/ [Accessed: 27 Feb 2013]. Vogue UK (2012) Stella McCartney. [online] Available at: http://www. vogue. co. uk/spy/biographies/stella-mccartney-biography [Accessed: 27 Feb 2013].

Marine Mammals Essay

SeaWorld gives you the opportunity to feed and swim with dolphins, watch jaw-dropping whale and seal shows, pet stingrays, see all types of sharks, exotic fish, and so much more! But my views have recently changed after I saw the tragic death of a Sea World trainer on the news; the cause of death being one of the parks very own orca whales. This horrific news brought me to research why the whale turned on its trainer and the information I found made me change my outlook on animal captivity completely. In the ethical debate over marine mammals in captivity there are many conflicting views. The public theme park industries advocate that marine mammal exhibits provide an important role in educating, entertaining, and conservation; they see nothing wrong with captivity. An increasing number of scientists counter this view and believe that animals should flourish naturally and are too intelligent to be held captive. Animal protection groups also have taken notice that these mammals in cap tivity develop severe health issues and should be in the wild. There are other organizations that believe in absolute welfare of these animals, whether it is best  suited in confinement or in the wild. Lastly there are associations that agree with captivity for some cases, just not when animals are exploited. Above all I agree that the more knowledge we have about marine mammals, the more mankind can do to help find the most beneficial option for specific marine animals. When thinking about aquatic parks one in particular comes to mind for most people, Sea World. According to its website, â€Å"SeaWorld has a world-wide reputation for providing unique, up-close animal encounters designed to bring more than 20 million guests each year closer to wildlife and the world we share† (â€Å"Sea World†). Parks like this also affirm that one of their main goals is to educate people through seeing live animals in person such as dolphins, whales, seals, and penguins. Marine parks around the world, including Sea World, also claim that they serve as a rescue and a preservation center for stranded, sick, orphaned or injured animals. This is in fact true; many animal lives have been saved due to the help of aquatic parks (SeaworldParks.com). But some still question if it’s justifiable to keep animals in captivity if they are capable to live naturally in the wild after being rehabilitated. It’s evident that SeaWorld and other captivity par ks have not only contributed tremendously with saving countless marine  mammals lives, but have also entertained and educated thousands of people on marine life. Yet with all of this in mind it’s hard for me to fully agree that captivity is always the best option for these animals’ welfare. It’s tough to deny that the entertainment and profit aspect from the â€Å"yearly 20 million guests† may be intervening with the wellbeing of the animals, which should always be the main focus. On the other side of the spectrum when dealing with the issue of marine mammals in captivity, are animal rights activists. â€Å"There are better and more humane ways of providing entertainment and education to the public without sacrificing the welfare of animals† states Grace Ge Gabriel, the head force behind the Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The IFAW is a well-known organization that advocates saving animal populations from cruelty and depletion. An example of their support is their campaign to end commercial whaling and seal hunts. She and many others speak out against marine mammals held in captivity (Gabriel). These activists express that the lives of captive marine mammals are impoverished, people do not receive an accurate picture of a species from imprisoned environments, and the traffic in live marine mammals causes harmful impacts on populations and the animals’ health. A prime example is the abuse whales endure when their family and pod members are separat ed from each other to be put into captivity. Once removed from their natural environment, the whales are then transported to small enclosures that lack not only their families and social groups but which also are only a fraction of the size of their natural home range (â€Å"PETA†). If life for captive orcas and dolphins were as peaceful as marine parks would have us believe, the animals would live longer than their wild counterparts. While captive marine mammals are not subject to predators or ocean pollution, their captivity is nevertheless a death sentence. These caged mammals develop severe health issues from being confined to small tanks where they are forced to perform unnecessary tricks for â€Å"entertainment.† According to PETA’s website, â€Å"Wild orcas can also live for decades—some have been documented to be more than 90 years old—but those at Sea World and other marine parks rarely survive for more than 10 years† (peta.org). An imals imprisoned die prematurely from stress and other captivity-related causes; which is seen as the  main cause for the deaths of animal trainers at aquatic parks, like the attack mentioned before from Sea World. The question of whether marine mammals should be held captive is even weighed in by scientists. There have been countless experiments and portrayals of cetaceans, or aquatic mammals such as whales and dolphins, displaying intelligent behavior. Experts in philosophy, conservation, and animal behavior recognize that dolphins and whales are adequately intelligent to justify the same ethical considerations as humans. According to the BBC News World website, â€Å"The move was made at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Vancouver, Canada, the world’s biggest science conference. It is based on years of research that has shown dolphins and whales have large, complex brains and a human-like level of self-awareness† (http://www.bbc.co.uk). This has led the experts to conclude that by recognizing these animals’ rights would serve as a catalyst to ending whaling and captivity of these self-aware creatures. Unlike the views of animal display industries who endorse captivity, or animal rights activists and scientists whom advocate against it, there are some associations that seem more neutral towards animal confinement. These organizations act as a middle ground, where their pure intent is to promote animal wellbeing; whether that may be in captivity or in their natural environment. These groups look at specific cases of different marine mammal species individually and decide where that animal is more likely to thrive. The Seal Conservation Society (SCS) is a terrific illustration of a society who is neutral to the thought of captivity; their main focus being on conservation and welfare. They view both sides of captivity on their website. At first questioning captivity they inquire, â€Å"Do the benefits to humans from the animalndisplay industry justify the animals’ confinement and stress associated with the unnatural environment? The question remains for all marine mammals whet her captivity is justified for entertainment, educational or conservation purposes.† Then countering those thoughts according to the website, â€Å"A further justification for captive pinnipeds to be considered is the research value of captive studies where the research clearly increases  our understanding and appreciation of pinniped species, this benefit must be considered in the context of the welfare and well-being of the animals involved. Our society would tend to support those facilities where the animals’ long-term and welfare is a priority† (pinnipeds.org). These impartial organizations appear exceptionally more helpful than the other radical view points; instead of supporting what they believe in they can focus more on the specific animal and not their cause. In correspondence to the previous organizations mentioned, there are similar associations that promote animal well-being but also support captivity if it’s necessary. These groups are marin e mammal rescue centers that endorse captivity along with non-performance opportunities. The Marine Mammal Center is an organization that believes animals shouldn’t be abused in captivity by being forced to perform unnatural tricks, but believe captivity should be allowed if the animal cannot survive on its own in the wild (â€Å"Marine Mammal Center†). These institutions don’t see captivity as the enemy, but rather view aquatic theme parks and entertainment business that confine animals for the wrong reasons to be immoral. Their website won me over when it stated, â€Å"What we do is more than kind-hearted consideration for the well-being of other living creatures. We recognize the fundamental relationship that binds humans, animals, and the ocean† (â€Å"Marine Mammal Center†). The question if marine mammals should be kept in captivity is tough to answer. Personally, I believe that in our present society there are more urgent matters than amusing audiences by exploiting such intelligent and defenseless animals. We have an ethical and imperative responsibility to think about species that may be negatively impacted by our actions. This includes a lot of species, and cetaceans are no exception. These marine mammals should remain where they evolved and thrived and we should make sure that their rights are protected so that they can go on living there.

Commerce vs Humanities Essay

In today’s times there is a clear-cut distinction between certain tertiary educational courses, namely the two major aspects of Commerce or business and Humanities or liberal arts. I believe though that the distinction of the two interwoven materials is incorrect and that an integration of the materials taught must be established. In this essay I will clarify that the one is not more necessary than the other but that they are equally essential and crucial to the development of civilisation’s enhancement. There are vast similarities and differences between these two faculties with regards to their content, skills taught and overall educational learning. Most of my essay will revolve around how the Commerce and the Humanity faculties not only prepare you for life’s ambitions, experiences and setbacks but also the role that a the degrees play in the lives of students. In my essay I will convey the response that a Commerce degree does not necessarily prepare a student for life’s experiences nor that it is much superior to how a Humanities course ensures a student’s higher learning and further development. A problematic scenario however is created when a comparison is made between the two faculties and that is that the two faculties may view certain facets of the world the correspondingly. On the one hand the Commerce faculty deals with what works and anticipates predictions, numbers, trends, how the world works from a business perspective and how the core needs and wants of the world are satisfied but on the other side of the spectrum the Humanities faculty preaches philosophical concepts, why the world works, understanding human behaviour on a larger scale, the teaching and understanding of complex ideas by studying history and through data collection. Personally I review the Commerce or Humanities faculty in equal regard however with regards to the comment â€Å"A career without a life is empty; a life without a career is tragic† I cannot come to an understanding and agree more. The Commerce faculty may have a constricted and narrow approach to teaching certain materials in the Commerce courses but I believe that various other positive life lessons and skills are learned indirectly from those materials. Some of the major and most vital skills learned from some of the alleged â€Å"tedious and useless† Commerce courses for example accounting, teach the most vigorous of life’s skills including problem solving, critical thinking, data handling and writing and speaking persuasively. These are also only the indirect skills being acknowledged and recognized when the genuine skills being taught are how to record and report on the financial transactions of a business. This proves how versatile, balanced and essential one of the most loathed subject courses in the Commerce faculty is and how important it is for life and a career as a whole. Therefore with regards to the Commerce faculty it not only adequately prepares you for a career in a specific field but also enriches a student’s life and furthers their development. The role a Commerce degree plays in the life of a student is therefore tremendous. It acts as a balancing of practical and theoretical life lessons and skills being communicated and learned which ensures the students optimal choices in life as a whole and in his/her career choice. Another factor that is positive for Commerce students is that of job possibilities and choice. Most Commerce degrees are held in high esteem and can assist in securing a career in a specific field. Commerce students are taught many practical skills used in the workplace and will be very beneficial when trying to acquire a job. I believe though that the Commerce faculty does adequately prepare the student for both life and a career but that just by saying that a Commerce degree prepares one for a career is ill-advised and misguided. The problem though is that many of the students enrolled in the Commerce Faculty are not exposed to other certain life skills that the Humanities faculty teaches and that could be incorporated in the student’s courses and therefore further enhance their development. The Humanities faculty prides itself on not teaching practical skills but rather educating their students on perspective. The courses that are provided and taught in the Humanities faculty are primarily subjective. Courses for example like philosophy, politics, ethics and economic history  are largely source based and opinionated whereby justification is fundamental and facts or source work must be well documented. Philosophy on the other hand is another topic for review. A subject like philosophy which is a higher learning subject should not only be taught in mainstream Humanity courses but also incorporated into most Commerce degrees as it teaches a way of thinking that is vital to all parts of life and especially can be integrated with regards to a career choice and the skills learnt could be manipulated in the business world. The different ways of thinking taught in philosophy could be advantageous in the workplace when creative ideas are needed or an extra tool for problem solving need be incorporated. The Humanity faculty’s major social skills include creativity, inspection, predictions, the development of interpersonal skills, perspective skills and theoretical knowledge and understanding. These skills can more than adequately prepare one for the job market and ensure a career. Some skills learnt in the Humanities can also be specialized in order to learn a certain trade or expertise for an example a student could take anthropology as a course and further on in their educational career could specialize into becoming an anthropologist. The foremost factor that I have a problem with though is when people compare the two faculties. Both faculties must be measured on different scales and appeal to very different people. The idea of tertiary education though as a whole can and should be measured not by the individual resources that it comprises of but the skills learned as a whole. The argument here is that it does not necessarily matter whether you study a Commerce or Humanity degree but as long as the student is being shown and is learning the obligatory social skills needed to ensure sustainability and further growth of humanity. Another problem I have about the discussion of whether or not the one degree is superior than the other is that degrees in actual fact do not teach students practical knowledge. When an educated student with a degree in hand wants to acquire a job usually the company needs the person to require job experience. This not only disputes the complete argument of whether or not a degree prepares one for the job market but also which degree is better suited that the next. Practical experience earned from previous occupations is not only held in higher regard than a degree but is more useful to an employer whom does not want to waste time teaching a new employee, when he can employ a candidate whom already possesses the necessary skills. Therefore I believe that a fusion of Commerce â€Å"practical† skills and that of Humanities â€Å"theoretical† skills should be introduced. The fusion of the discussed skills would be immensely beneficial to all students wanting to get involved in the business world and would assist the same students on everyday decision making. A mixture of these skills would also adequately prepare a more balanced student for the labour force of South Africa and therefore improve the efficiency of the South African economy. The problem though on the other hand is that students which would have a more diverse set of skills and knowledge may be disadvantaged in certain areas of the business world as opposed to a more specialized student introduced into the job market. A specialized student may have extra insight into a particular career and therefore more â€Å"useful† or â€Å"valuable† to a company but the perfect combination of a predominantly business orientated degree unified with a small number of Humanity courses for example philosophy and economic history would produce the perfectly balanced student for both the career world and life. In my essay I have explained and clarified that a clear cut Commerce degree on its own is not the optimal choice for a student wanting to enter the business world or the optimum choice to ensure they fulfil their full potential in life. Therefore as I have discussed in my essay a perfect balance of Commerce courses and a merging of Humanities courses will be impeccable and flawless in the development of the future generations of the South African populace.

To demonstrate how the field of 'globalisation studies'has moved on Annotated Bibliography

To demonstrate how the field of 'globalisation studies'has moved on - Annotated Bibliography Example In addition, Harvey reveals that such ideals are indeed seductive and compelling. To this end, he reiterates that the seductive ideal comes from individual freedom and its ability to captivate a high number of people. The author equally narrates the genesis of neoliberalism as from an international and domestic scale in the 1960’s. In addition, he elaborated how liberalism had failed. Consequently, Harvey narrates how neo-liberalism rose up as a solution to the crisis created by liberalism. The author also challenges the presumed neoliberal advantages. This is in evidently pertinent to the assumption that there is no substitute to neoliberal restructuring. To this end, the author blames neoliberization for the ‘creative destruction’ of powers, institutional frameworks, traditional state sovereignty, welfare provisions, social relations, reproductive functions, technological mixes and ways of life and ideals. Consequently, Harvey’s analysis of such shortcomi ngs is pertinent to the debates in neoliberal

Method of Calculating the Net Cash Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Method of Calculating the Net Cash - Essay Example The essay "Method of Calculating the Net Cash" talks about two companies - Ford Motor Company and General Motors which are found to be using the indirect method for calculating net cash being generated from their respective operating activities. Justifiably, it has been evident from the proforma of the cash flow statement that both the companies considered net income, instead of sales and revenue, to be the main element for determining the cash amount generating particularly from the operating actions, which related to the above discussed indirect method of computation.The most significant item in the financing section of both the selected companies is identified to be a dividend paid (cash), as they are bound to pay dividends to its shareholders for encouraging them to make further investments. The net cash provided by the operating activities of Ford reveals increasing trend within the last 3 years, as can be observed from the statement that the net cash in the year 2012 generated an amount of $9,045 million, which increased to $10,444 million by the year 2013 and $14,507 million in the year 2014. On the other hand, in the case of General Motors, a fluctuating trend in net cash provided by operating activities can be apparently noted. Justifiably, as per the statement, it has been recorded that the net cash has been decreased in terms of change during the period of 2012-2013, which stood at $1.4 billion, as compared to that of the period 2013-2014 that accounted to $0.9 billion.

Evaluating Anit Trust Legisiation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evaluating Anit Trust Legisiation - Essay Example On the 18th of May, 1998, US Department of justice and other twenty US states filed a court case against Microsoft Corporation on the issue of abusing its monopolistic power in handling both operating system sales and web browser sales. The merging of Microsoft Corporation and Internet explorer web browser has alleged to be the responsible for Microsoft's victory in the browser wars causing competing web browser's malfunctioning incidents. Microsoft responded that the merging of these two companies is just a marketing strategy in the hope of further innovating their products and get ahead over their competitors. Microsoft also explained that the two (Windows and Explorer) were now the same product and were inextricably linked together thereby giving consumers all the benefits of IE for free (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_antitrust_case, 2006). However, it has been proven that Microsoft really did some illegal acts of misleading the consumers and manipulating the Windows programs so as the create problems when downloading the competitors' web browsers. The impact of these illegal acts can directly affect the consumers. The consumers are, of course, the end users of these Microsoft and Internet explorer programs.

Questions on Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Questions on Economics - Essay Example The prevailing trend, however, is that the traditional or mainstream approach in economics could be considered outdated. Though it still should remain in the toolset of an economist, the emphasis on rationality as a means to solve modern market debacles may produce variable results. Herein, some of the strengths and weaknesses of the mainstream approach will be suggested. Likewise, the origin of the mainstream approach, and the knowledge that could be reaped from the utilization of some alternative approaches will also be pondered. If we are to offer a definition for what is meant by the mainstream approach in â€Å"economics [we mean] microeconomics† (Coase, 1998, 72). In other words, the mainstream approach is that ideology that was derived from the teachings of Adam Smith. In general, it is a viewpoint that favours limited government involvement, and the notion that market conditions fluctuate naturally and that rationality will balance the said. A few weaknesses of the lai ssez-faire view though include the fact that an extreme condition of â€Å"decentralization† would be required in its pure form, and also that it simply analyzes the price points of supply and demand, as opposed to evaluating the â€Å"factors† which influence these (Coase, 1998, 72). ... A more proper manner of discerning the status of microeconomics is that the â€Å"evidence/theory ratio†¦ is currently very low in this field† (Holmstrom & Tirole, 1989, 126). Thus, the ideal world is in discord with how real world reactions unfold, according to measurable economic aspects. Williamson (1994) calls out some additional weaknesses of the mainstream approach as he condemns â€Å"exclusive reliance on local or specific knowledge† (Williamson, 1994, 324). Rather than calling for an abolition of the limited micro-focus and following a broader approach, he recommends â€Å"appealing to both invisible- and visible-hand explanations,† thus this scholar could be classified as a moderate economist (Williamson, 1994, 323). Henry & Miller (2009) conducted an interesting analysis, wherein they present the platform that the â€Å"rich countries† are home to more stable economics since they â€Å"have incentives to engaged in productive economic acti vity† (Henry & Miller, 2009, 261). Easterly (2008) likewise supports the notion that rich countries will tend to outperform the poor who lack much of the foundational structure needed for economic success. Some of these so-called â€Å"incentives† refer to the heightened protection offered to would-be investors from the framework of â€Å"English common-law,† not to mention that such economies are â€Å"less prone to government ownership† (Henry & Miller, 2009, 261). As compared to the mainstream economic view, of Adam Smiths’ ideals, these pair would be quite opposite and perhaps in possession of a radical view that â€Å"macroeconomic policies† can exert a massive influence on the economy, especially when carried out at the institution level (Henry & Miller,

How a firm can make an entry into EU economic zone Essay

How a firm can make an entry into EU economic zone - Essay Example According to the research, European Economic Area was established in 1994 in order to facilitate trade between different member countries and to outline a uniform framework for member countries to actually trade with each other without any significant barriers to entry. In order to make a successful entry into any new market, it is important that the international firms must take into consideration particular factors related to that economic zone. Each zone has its own unique characteristics in terms of its demographics, culture, economics, legal framework, political environment as well as other issues which can directly have an impact on the organization and the way it is going to operate in that region. EU shares a larger cultural heritage which is relatively similar across all countries with most of the countries speaking either German or French with English being dominating language in the UK only. The cultural similarity coupled with integrated economic zone has actually made it easier for international firms to actually make an entry into this region. However, due to the uniqueness of the culture, economic integration, geo-demographics as well as legal and social factors, new businesses can easily tap into the great potential offered by EU economic zone comprised of many countries of the region. Increasing economic burden on the countries like UK and Germany to actually pay off for the sovereign debt of countries like Ireland, Greece, Spain, and Italy making it difficult for these countries to actually normalize political pressure in their own home countries.

The Importance Of Genetically Modified Foods Research Paper

The Importance Of Genetically Modified Foods - Research Paper Example They have also been designed to resist other environmental factors such as drought and floods making them suitable in this era of global warming. Apart from this, GMOs have a faster growing rate making them preferable especially with the hunger menace in developing countries. With these many needed advantages, scientists argue that the GMOs will eventually eradicate food shortage and subsequent loss of lives due to hunger. (Henningfeld, 2009: 38)  GMO is relatively cheaper compared to natural foods while their production cost is lower. This makes them affordable to even those living below the poverty line. As a result, farmers are able to earn fast making more profit, which translates to economic growth of the country. It is a win-win situation for all.  However, critics have raised concerns about the health effects of GMOs on both animals and humans consuming them. (Henningfeld, 2009:100) Reports of health defects like reproductive abnormalities have been linked to GMOs, both on animals and humans. Concerns have also been raised on the relationship between GMOs and cancer cases. Allergic reactions and diseases like kidney and liver malfunctions have also been linked to these modified foods. Transferring genes from animals to plants has also pose ethical challenges. Incorporation of animal genes on plants, for instance, to improve their resistance level completely contradicts the creation theory. However, the cases are few and are being dealt with to make these foods safe for human consumption. (Henningfeld, 2009: 98)  From the above discussion, it is clear that GMOs have seen a significant development in the food industry and has a positive impact on many countries. If the negative effects of these foods are corrected appropriately.

The Relativist Doctrine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Relativist Doctrine - Essay Example Thus, the moral principle in a person, which determines what they perceive as truth, is based on an individual’s circumstances, culture, parental guidance and upbringing as well as ones opinions (Underwood, 2001). Thus according to this doctrine, there is no law that is obligatory to be upheld and to exercise control over all men. The law is based upon what a society or a group of people could perceive as suitable during a particular time and dependent on the situation. As the society keeps changing, so does the circumstances and the situations, necessitating the change of such laws ones upheld as the standard of control of the society. Thus, the standard of morality is also amenable to change, as the society and the environment changes (Sulloway, 1996). However, though this opinion is upheld by the doctrine, there arises a question as to whether there are some categories of behaviors, which can be universally acclaimed right or wrong. Truth is defined as saying of what is, th at it is and what is not, that is not (Sinclair, 1937). Thus, truth refers to the conformity to facts and actualities. Different cultures have different truths, meaning that it is the culture, which determines the truth and not the reverse. Therefore, the variance in different cultures creates the variance in different truth components as perceived by a people (Feynman, 1965). However, there is a different perspective held by the opponents of the doctrine of relativism. They uphold that a truth is acceptable universally, and thus its nature overcomes all the barriers, that of culture included, standing as the absolute right. According to the doctrine of relativism, if a person has a different culture form that of another, then the upbringing, the experiences and the perceptual evidences as held by the individual, determines the different values that the individuals attaches to their beliefs, and thus the difference in truths they uphold (Sulloway, 1996). The philosophy of relativism holds that Man is the measure of all things. Therefore, the truth can only be attained through the determination of an individual, based on how the individual perceives the world (Feynman, 1965). When a person gives an opinion regarding an issue, then it is an indication of their standpoint both psychological and personal. The lack of parallel culture affects the psychological make up in different people, creating an avenue through which culture determines the truth. However, the limitation associated with this perspective is the fact that if truth is relative, then the knowledge obtained by individuals, based on their cultures cannot be universally applicable. This raises a question as to why knowledge principles apply to all regardless of their cultures (Sinclair, 1937). In consideration of the philosophy of relativism, then any truth is determined by the reasoning of an individual, based on his culture. Reasoning allows individuals to create a compromise between different cultur es, assessing their similarity in concurring to beliefs and thus judge on their applicability (Underwood, 2001). Therefore, since not everyone’s truths are true, we generate different knowledge from such truths. Since different cultures imparts different values on an individual belief system, then the justification of issues, through reasoning leads to different knowledge upheld by individuals. Thus, with relativism, in value system and truths upheld by individuals and their cultures, comes about the differences in philosophies,

What is the connection between drugs and crime And how can the Essay

What is the connection between drugs and crime And how can the government stop the youth crime in London - Essay Example The paper also dwelt on the issue of legalizing some of these drugs. On a final note, this paper has presented conclusions and recommendations to promote a drug free and a crime-free society. Drugs are a threat to today’s society. Because of this fact, there are numerous studies which have attempted to establish a causative relationship between drugs and crime. Indeed, there is a steady relationship between drug abuse and the growing crime rate. This is evident as we often hear about sporadic violence occurring in those neighbourhoods of our cities which have acquired a reputation for the being drug joints of the city. There is a relationship between youths getting attracted to drugs and eventually towards crime (Bullock and Tilley 2002). Researchers have always tried to find out the answer to various questions relating to this menace. However, much of their theories remain unknown to the public. This may be the reason why drug abuse as a causative agent to youth crime has remained one of the prevailing problems of this modern world. Thus this paper aims to discuss the factors why drug abuse leads to the increasing rate of youth crime all over the country. Specifically it attempts to discuss the rate of drug abuse here in UK, the nature of drugs used in substance abuse and how they affect a person’s level of functioning, mental and emotional state; socioeconomic problems which link youth crime and substance abuse together and solutions and recommendations which can help lessen substance abuse and youth crime rates. Broadly, the term â€Å"drug† is used to describe â€Å"any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function.† (WHO, 1969). Drugs are used to treat diseases, but there is a subset of drugs being termed as recreational drugs, which are chemical substances that affect

Journal on Note Taking Essay Example for Free

Journal on Note Taking Essay Lecture notes play an important role in preparing for examinations, as it may ensure the success of students. Many students do not have adequate note-taking skills, and this contribute a lot to the creation of incomplete and unrelated notes (Kiewra, 2002). Researchers suggest that the act of note-taking can engage students in learning tasks and deepen their understanding and ability to apply new material (Katayama Crooks, 2003). Note-taking offers three important premises for university students. First, the act of note-taking may have an influence on the encoding function of the brain, which engages the learner’s attention and subsequently moves the information into long-term memory. Secondly, note-taking will make the students less dependent on their instructor’s notes, as they contain personally meaningful information that might help in the recall process. Thirdly, it may help students with learning difficulties. To begin with, note-taking is essential to the student’s academic success (Kiewra Benton, 1988; Titsworth, 2001). In taking notes, students relate lecture topics to their own background knowledge, which in turn may increase their comprehension of the topic, and eventually synthesises with the recall of the material presented (Brazeau, 2006; Castello Monereo, 2005; DiVesta Gray, 1972). It has been proven that students that are successful have a predisposition to go back to their lecture notes as an essential part of their preparation for examinations. This, therefore, point to one premise, as noted by Kiewra Benton, 1988 and Titsworth, 2001, that it is very much essential for the academic success of students. Such importance, however, reveals a negative side, which can be founded on the student’s inadequacy in inculcating adequate note-taking skills. This drawback often results in the student coming into possession of incomplete and unrelated notes (Kiewra, 2002). Observations reveal how in lecture settings, they record only between 11-70% of the important information delivered (Anderson Armbruster, 1991; Kiewra, 1985). Such a dismal insight may validate presumption that students with learning difficulties be in worse position, when they record even less information (Boyle, 2007; Kirby, Silvesni, Allingham, Parrila, La Pave, 2008; Suritsky Hughes, 1991; Vogel, 1982). These are the premise which makes note-taking a very important aspect of study life for university students, without which they may be staring at clear and present danger of failure. To remedy this, it is essential for students with disabilities to be truthful to themselves and inform the authorities during the university admission stage. To this end, at least in the United States, such handicap would be addressed through the granting of accommodation under the law, i.e. the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 as well as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 1973. Such clauses as entrenched in the laws saw from 2003 to 2004, 11.3% of undergraduates in the U.S. in notifying of their disability or requirement for special learning (Katsiyannis, Zhang, Landmark, Reber, 2009). For students in such categories, their lot would be made much easier through being allowed extra latitude on time during examinations, as well as do their tests distraction-free (Wilhelm, 2003). The idea that underscores this is to help make things easier for the capability-challenged students. However, it has been noted that on paper this may be a good remedy, but since not all students would be honest about their inadequacies in learning, the exact number of students requiring is difficult to determine. Although, at the elementary and secondary level different requirements are applied for different learning abilities, it has been found to be absent in higher education (Scott, McGuire Shaw, 2003). Filling this necessary void at the university level may help a great deal in, which at the core is the inculcation of the all-important note-taking skills ((Einstein, Morris, Smith, 1985; Gettinger Seibert, 2002; Simmons, 2006; Suritsky Hughes, 1991). Also, by addressing this, it may help lecturers to customise according to the needs of the different categories of learners. The review in the journal shows the two phases, which reveals the ability in note taking among university students and the difficulties faced by students with disabilities and its link to proper note-taking.

Utilization Of IT In Property Management Information Technology Essay

Utilization Of IT In Property Management Information Technology Essay Information Technology, or IT, has become an enabler in multiple areas of human life, including professional practice of all kinds. The practice of property management cannot be accepted. With a case study of estate surveying firms in Lagos, this paper investigates the level of utilization of IT in the professional practice of property management. Data was collected using questionnaires, which were administered using the cluster sampling method. The paper shows that IT is not being significantly employed in the practice of property management in Lagos. It further reveals that the relative high overall cost of its adoption is most probably responsible for the foregoing. In this wise, the paper recommends that the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, the custodian of the profession, should provide leadership in the utilization of it, while individual and collective efforts of the firms should be geared towards this area. Key words: Information Technology, Property Management, Professional Practice, And Estate Surveying Firms INTRODUCTION The world of today is being propelled by information, in profound proportion, via the agency of Information Technology (IT). Information, in these present times, more frequently described as a fourth resource, is as essential as land, labour and capital in the production process; and advances in IT have tremendously facilitated the processes of gathering, storing, handling and utilizing this vital resource (Brady, 1991; and Olawore, 1999). The foregoing underlines the aptness of terming this 21st century the Information Age (Emeagwali, 2003). Significant changes have come about due to the rapid growth of IT; the outstanding change being the increasing globalisation of the world. There is the increasing transmutation of the present-day world into a more homogenised geographical entity with no boundaries, hence, the famous clichà © the world is a global village (Owasanoye, 2001). The most revolutionary agent of this development is the Internet, an offshoot of modern IT. The Internet h as lowered the cost of doing business; made it possible for a consumer to access goods or services without leaving the confines of his home or office; and has given its users an opportunity to advertise and operate across frontiers, across borders and beyond the control of national governments. IT has been, and will continue to be, applied to the multifarious facets of the life of the ubiquitous modern-day man. It is common knowledge that virtually all categories of professional service providers are now leveraging on the cutting edge afforded by modern IT so as to progressively leapfrog competitors, proactively respond to the ever-dynamic demands of their respective clientele and ultimately add value to their bottom line. Modern IT has changed business landscapes and expanded the frontiers of service delivery (Osadolor, 2002). For example, banks and financial services providers have created their own system of electronic funds transfers; the travel industry uses electronic informat ion services for booking, time tabling and pricing; stock exchanges have evolved automated trading systems; while estate agents now utilize the platform of the Internet to market real estate in their portfolio (Owasanoye, 2001; and Akomolede, 2002). Situated in the context that property managers are also included in the category of professional service providers carrying on the practice of ensuring that a clients property investment is kept in a state to enhance its functionality, prolong its lifespan, yield an optimum return and achieve the investors general objectives, hence, IT is of useful purpose to the practice. Similarly, central to proactive property management practice is an efficient system of record keeping in its entirety. Against this backdrop and given the myriad of responsibilities of the property manager coupled with all sorts of complexities presented by properties and their occupants, an enabling tool as IT cannot but be deployed. Furthermore, if the foregoing is critically examined in the context of the emerging milieu of increased client awareness and requirements, it reinforces the imperative of property managers substantially leveraging on IT to drive, and step up the quality of, service delivery (Longe, 20 01). However, even in the absence of an in-depth inquiry, by casual observation, it can be conjectured that there is a yawning gap between the levels of sophistication that are being attained vis-à  -vis the adoption of information technology in the contemporary professional practice of property management in both the developed and the developing economies. The practice of property management (like its umbrella practice of estate surveying and valuation), in most developing economies, inclusive of Nigeria, is lagging behind that in the developed economies (like the United Kingdom) specifically in terms of the application of modern enabling tools of information technology. Though, it cannot be said that there is blanket non-utilisation of IT in the practice of property management by estate surveying firms in Lagos, Nigeria, as a typical example of a city in the developing world, but to what extent is IT adopted in the practice? This is the central question that this paper intends to answe r with the aid of an empirical study carried out in 2005. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT The term Information Technology has been variously described. IT, being the acronym for Information Technology, has been broadly defined as a term that encompasses all forms of technology used to create, store, exchange, and use information in its various forms (business data, voice conversations, still images, motion pictures, multimedia presentations, and other forms including those not yet conceived)1. However, in simple terms, the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English (6th edn) furnished a definition of IT as the use of electronic equipment, especially computers, for storing, analyzing and sending out information. It is common knowledge that IT has wide-ranging applications; it has been applied to virtually every aspect of human life. It has found useful application in science, commerce, engineering, education, recreation, entertainment, research, medicine, governance, religion, agriculture, real estate marketing, project management, banking, airline reservations and so on (Brady, 1991; Alile, 1997; Ojo, 2000; Ayo, 2001; and Akomolede, 2002). It is also of useful purpose to the various facets of the professional practice of property management. Property management à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ the other term under review à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ is an integral aspect of the profession of Estate Management. Thorncroft (1965) defined estate management as the direction and supervision of an interest in landed property with the aim of securing the optimum returns. These returns need not be financial but may be in terms of social benefits, prestige, status, political power or some other goals or group of goals. In consonance with the traditional aim of general estate management, property management entails the practice of directing, supervising and controlling interest in land and landed property so as to enable it yield an optimal return. Specifically, property management is that aspect of the real estate profession devoted to the leasing, management, marketing and overall maintenance of the property of others2. According to Olajide and Bello (2003), property management can be defined as the application of skill in caring for the property, its surroundings and amenities, and in developing sound relationship between the landlord and tenant and among tenants themselves, so that the property as well as individual premises would give value both to the landlord and tenant. Basically, its purpose is to secure for the property owner the maximum continuous net return on his investment over the life of that property and to maintain the physical aspects of the property for optimum efficiency and economy (Weich, 1967; and Kyle, 2000). In essence, the primary functions of property management are threefold: achieve the objectives of the property owners, generate income for the owners, and preserve or increase the value of the inve stment property (Kyle, 2000). Towards this end, comprised in the professional services rendered by property managers are: (a) rent collection and remittance; (b) selection of tenants; (c) property maintenance; (d) marketing of vacant accommodation; (e) administration of estate personnel and services; (f) administration (maintenance) of estate records; (g) routine management inspection and correspondence; (h) enforcement of lease covenants; and (i) any other function as reasonably expected of a property manager or as stipulated in the management agreement between the parties (the property manager and the client). All these services can be driven by IT. The following are some identified application areas where IT has been of beneficial use in the practice of property management. a. Filing: It is asserted that a property manager cannot survive without his records (Nwankwo, 2004). If he cannot maintain a good filing system, he will always be in difficulty. Hence, the hallmark of an efficient management office is a good filing system (Kyle, 2000). Data should be sorted and segregated into separate files for easy collection, retention and retrieval of records. Records can be kept manually by means of simple registers, record cards, schedules that are referred to often, reminders, files and so on; but the trend now is computerization (Nwankwo, 2004). A computerized data system has a number of advantages over a manual system including the ease of storage, the ability to retrieve large amounts of data as required, economy of space, and reduction of operational cost and time (Olawore, 1999). With a computer database, records relating to clients properties can be effectively maintained. Database such as computerized property management system (CPMS) e.g. EstMan is available in the market to all property managers desirous of computerizing their operations (Adebiyi, 2003). The CPMS comprises various elements such as data relating to the properties, the landlords, the tenants and the leases in a digital form. It is designed to aid the management and administration of commercial, industrial and residential properties. The software allows the myriad of information to be retrieved quickly, eliminating the need to refer to bulky files or having to refer physically to leased documents often by extracting vital information and making them ava ilable to be looked at or pointed out whenever needed. b. Financial Record Keeping: This is a crucial activity in property management that deserves a separate mention given that the cardinal aim of property management is securing the maximum return (Olajide and Bello, 2003). Accounting software programs allow tedious book keeping calculations to be performed automatically, including accounts receivable (e.g. rents and service charges), accounts payable (e.g. ground rents, rates and insurance premium), payroll, inventory and general ledger (Kyle, 2000). Accounting programs can generate various reports that are valuable for financial planning and evaluations, including monthly budgets, cash flow studies, profit and loss statements and reports to owners. Some even can write and print a cheque, while entering that directly into the bank balance summary, thus maintaining even more up-to-the-minute control. c. Word Processing/Generation of Notices and Reports: Word processing is used when composing and typing almost any kind of letter, report, or newsletter; it is easy to insert or delete characters, words, lines, paragraphs or even pages of text and correspondence can be merged with mailing lists to generate mass mailings. Drafting a document, letters to delinquent tenants for example, which can be time-consuming, will be made easier and faster with the aid of this software. According to Kyle (2000), at the very least, the new software programs offer a template for letters (for proper form) as well as pre-written form letters to meet all sorts of needs: late notices, eviction notices, lease termination and letters on all types of problems (e.g. excessive noise). If the software does not have a letter one needs, after drafting it, one can save it to reuse. Specifically, in connection with review and renewal of tenancies and other action dates, a completely automatic key dates system is available (Stapleton, 1994). Further, graphic software programs can produce a variety of graphs and charts to use in presentations and reports, and can also be used to create advertisements, brochures and tenant newsletters. d. Property Marketing and Tenant Selection: The World Wide Web, a network of interconnecting computers, is quickly becoming a vehicle for advertising, marketing and communication (Kyle, 2000). The Web enables users to create their own websites to display information easily accessible to the public. Adebiyi (2003) identified the benefits accruable to professional firms with websites: Information can be provided to the user free, or via subscription service, or for a specific payment; it provides the firms with shop windows available to any client or applicant 24 hours of the day; it can display an innovative brochure of the firms professional services, clients properties available for sale or letting and they market to the widest audience without any boundaries to working days. In particular, Alile (1997) identified that, with multimedia technology, a contemporary offshoot of IT, marketing rental properties has become more sophisticated in the sense that you can walk through houses à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ without leaving your room. Apart from marketing, the Internet can serve the purpose of tenant selection. Kemp (2000) reported a special Web property management solution, the Rentals.com on-line property management system. Through Rentals.com, rental property owners and managers can create a personalized website. From the site, one can show pictures/floor plans of all properties; access a private, virtual office; track site traffic; schedule viewing appointments; view rental applications; and obtain rental news and advice from experts in the real estate industry. The benefits of this system are obvious: a clutter-free workspace and a round-the-clock virtual, paperless office, amongst others. e. Office Automation: Office automation deals with acquisition and distribution of information, communication (internal and external), and information processing. It has, therefore, a variety of facets including communications, publishing, and data processing. Very few, if any, offices can run without the use of some automated equipment. The amount of automation needed depends, again, on the size of the operation and the type of properties involved (Kyle, 2000). Office equipment such as fax machines, typewriters, word processors, calculators and specialized accounting equipment (including computers) are fundamental once the business begins to grow. For communication purposes particularly, with a local area network (LAN), computer users in the same office can share data, including text or data files, whole programs, scanned images, incoming and outgoing fax messages, blueprints and voice messages. LANs increase the efficiency of computers, software and printers, which make inter-office communication better, faster and cheaper. LANs differ in speed, reliability, and compatibility with various computer hardware, so a wise property manager will consult a LAN expert before making a purchasing decision. Further, with a modem and a phone line, computers can communicate with each other over long distances, sending computerized data (e-mail) to another computer hundreds or thousands of miles away. Since the modem transfers information directly to another computer, there is no need to print out the information on paper first, which increases the speed and efficiency of the communication. The data can be viewed on the receiving computer screen or printed out on paper. f. Tracking Maintenance: According to Holmes (1994), IT has enhanced the planning and organization of maintenance. Software packages have been developed for most activities. There are 3 main areas which require IT support; the first for handling work recording and monitoring, the second for condition assessment analysis, and the third for cost predictions. Within these areas a range of linked programs can be used to supplement the process; for example, an asset register will greatly help with work ordering. On a general note, Stapleton (1994) described the benefits of the application of IT to the practice of property management as follows: Problems can be identified quicker and performance be analyzed in a more rigorous way. Information for regular review by policymakers is more readily available and more work can be handled by the same staff. He, however, attached a caveat that the application of IT does require a substantial commitment by the existing staff and considerable care is required in the way the concept, the technology and the system are introduced. In spite of the gains of the adoption of IT in the practice of property management (and estate surveying and valuation in general), Adebiyi (2003) suggested that, by casual industry analysis of the use of IT, not a deliberate inquiry, it is indicated that there is low-level utilization and awareness by a significant proportion of estate surveying firms in the Nigerian real estate industry. He opined that IT is often seen by those who do not use it as an unknown technological threat, both complex and expensive, requiring extensive training and bringing an additional and unnecessary complication to professional life. In the light of the foregoing, Adebiyi (2003) offered an admonition thus: It is important for (Estate) Surveyors who do not use IT to consider the changes that have taken place over the last few years, the current speed of changes and facilities available to assist Surveyors. It is also advisable for them to have some understanding of the ever more rapid developments that will affect all practitioners in the foreseeable future. They need to consider how IT awareness and use can enhance not just their efficiency and business performance, but also the professional advise they give to property company and developer-clients or to tenants. THE INVESTIGATION Bearing in mind that it is an observable tendency for estate surveying firms to exist in pockets or congregate together in geographical areas around Lagos (i.e. the population of estate surveying firms is largely distributed in clusters), hence, it is apposite to adopt the cluster sampling method as the suitable approach to generating a representative sample for study here (Asika, 1991). According to Asika (1991), generally, a sample size of 10% of the population size is adequate enough to validate and generalize the findings of a study to the entire population. Given that there are 477 estate surveying firms in Nigeria as offered by Nwankwo (2004) and assuming that all the firms have an operational office in Lagos, then applying 10% to this number of firms and leaving ample room for safety, the total sample size for this study is therefore 50 and will be spread over four main identified clusters (convergence areas) in the Lagos metropolis. Response Rate As indicated in Table 1 below, an evaluation of the individual response rates of the cluster areas reveals that all areas are fairly represented (with the minimum response rate being 80%), and the average response rate being 84%. For all practical purposes, this is acceptable and valid for statistical analysis. Table 1: Response Rate According to Cluster Area Cluster Area Target Response Actual Response Response Rate (%) Lagos Island 20 17 85 Victoria Island/Ikoyi 10 8 80 Surulere 5 4 80 Ikeja/Opebi 15 13 87 Total 50 42 84 Source: Field Survey, 2005 Extent of Utilization of Information Technology in the Practice Seven specific areas of the practice are examined vis-à  -vis the adoption of information technology, namely: Preparation of schedules of letting; Preparation and communication of management notices and reports; Preparation of clients statements of accounts; Rental property marketing; Mode of receiving applications from prospective tenants; Mode of receiving complaints from sitting tenants; and Property record keeping. A schedule of lettings serves a major purpose in the practice of property management and it is frequently required. It aids rent collection. Hence, the mode through which it is drawn up is very crucial. Two modes can be identified: manual and computerized or a combination of both. Fig. 1 reveals that 64% (or 27 out of 42) use the manual means, 12% (or 5 out of 42) use the computerized means while 24% (or 10 out of 42) use both the manual and computerized means. It can then be reasonably concluded that the majority of the respondents still rely on the manual mode of extracting relevant data from rental payments register in order to draw up schedules of letting. This method is, however, adjudged to be inefficient and susceptible to errors. Table 2: Preparation of Management Notices and Reports Mode Frequency Count Percentages of Responses (%) Percentages of Cases (%) By handwriting By using typewriter 2 4 5 By using word-processors 42 84 100 By using property management software 6 12 14 Total 50* 100 119 Source: Field Survey 2005 * Note: Total number of responses is greater than the total number of respondents because each respondent gave multiple responses. The cumulative frequency count by the multi-response analysis was thus greater than the total number of respondents. Table 3: Communication of Management Notices and Reports Mode Frequency Count Percentages of Responses (%) Percentages of Cases (%) By staff hand delivery 37 26 88 By courier service 27 19 64 By postal service 15 10 36 By phone 29 20 69 By e-mail service 21 14 50 By short message service (SMS) 16 11 38 Total 145* 100 345 Source: Field Survey, 2005 *Note: See Table 2 for explanation In preparing management notices (such as rent demands) and reports, 4 methods are identifiable as shown in Table 2. Survey reveals that word processors are of general application, and used by all the respondents (or 100%) while 6 out of 42 (or 14%) use special-purpose property management software. 5% (or 2 out of 42) of the respondents still use typewriters. And to communicate the notices and reports, a combination of 6 options are open to the respondents (see Table 3). Staff hand delivery features most prominently as the means through which most of the respondents communicate notices and reports (37 out of 42 or 88%). E-mail service, a main IT option in the context of this study, ranks 4th and adopted by 50% (or 21 out of 42) of the respondents. Table 4: Preparation of Clients Statements of Accounts Mode Frequency Count Percentages of Responses (%) Percentages of Cases (%) By manual calculations 27 43 64 By using accounting software 29 47 69 By using property management software 6 10 14 Total 62* 100 147 Source: Field Survey, 2005 * Note: See Table 2 for explanation Accounting software, a general application software, finds the widest use amongst the respondents in rendering accounts to landlord-clients (see Table 4), followed closely by manual means of extracting relevant data from account books and balancing the accounts (27 out of 42 or 64%). The use of special-purpose property management software ranks last (a distant 3rd). Table 5: Rental Property Marketing Mode Frequency Count Percentages of Responses (%) Percentages of Cases (%) To-Let board placements 42 31 100 Print media advertising 42 31 100 Property bulletin distribution 36 26 86 Internet advertising 16 12 38 Total 136* 100 324 Source: Field Survey, 2005 * Note: See Table 7 for explanation Table 5 indicates that all the respondents market available rental accommodation by board placements and print media advertising. However, only 16 out of 42 (or 38%) advertise via the Internet. Hence, it can be fairly concluded here that IT has not found popular use amongst the estate surveying firms in marketing rental property. Table 6: Mode of Receiving Applications from Prospective Tenants Mode Frequency Count Percentages of Responses (%) Percentages of Cases (%) By phone 39 47 93 By physical appearance at office 42 51 100 By applying on-line 2 2 5 Total 83* 100 198 Source: Field survey, 2005 *Note: See Table 2 for explanation Table 6 shows that only 2 out of 42 (or 5%) accept on-line applications from prospective tenants that intend to let advertised rental accommodation in spite of its benefits of round-the-clock accessibility. All the respondents dwell on prospective tenants physically visiting their offices. Applications through the phone are also accepted by 39 out of 42 (or 93%). Table 7: Mode of Receiving Complaints from Sitting Tenants Mode Frequency Count Percentages of Responses (%) Percentages of Cases (%) By phone 39 26 93 By letters 42 28 100 By physical appearance at office 37 25 88 By short message service (SMS) 13 9 31 By e-mail service 18 12 43 Total 149* 100 355 Source: Field Survey, 2005 *Note: See Table 7 for explanation It is not uncommon for sitting tenants to forward complaints about relevant matters demanding the attention of property managers. Different channels are created through which these complaints are received. Table 7 reveals that the multitude of complaints is received through letters by all the respondents while SMS is the least used mode. E-mail service is the 4th most frequently used mode of receiving complaints from sitting tenants (18 out of 42 or 43%). Table 8: Mode of Property Record Keeping Mode Frequency Count Percentages of Responses (%) Percentages of Cases (%) Cabinet filing 40 63 95 Electronic database 24 37 57 Total 64* 100 132 Source: Field Survey, 2005 *Note: See Table 2 for explanation From table 8, 95% of the respondents (or 40 out of 42) adopt cabinet filing while 57% of the respondents (or 24 out of 42) use electronic database. Both cabinet filing and electronic database are complementary; though the latter offers easier access to relevant information. Having examined seven salient areas of the practice of property management in Lagos in relation to the adoption of IT, it can be summarized thus: IT is being relatively put to use in all the examined areas of the practice of property management in Lagos; however, the extent of adoption, on the whole, is below average. Table 9: Respondents Ranking of the Reasons for the Current Extent of Utilization of IT in the Practice of Property Management Reason Absolute Frequency Weighted mean score Strongly Agree 5 Agree 4 Undecided 3 Disagree 2 Strongly Disagree 1 Relative underdeveloped state of the property management practice in Lagos 3 11 0 18 10 2.50 Relative non-availability of IT tools for property management in Lagos 5 5 8 19 5 2.43 Relative high cost of adoption of IT in the property management practice 2 19 5 16 0 3.17 Relative non-sophistication of clients served by property management firms in Lagos 3 8 6 22 3 2.64 Relative small sizes of the operations of the property management firms in Lagos 2 3 6 19 12 2.14 Source: Field Survey, 2005 Respondents were asked to score five probable reasons for the below-average utilization of IT in the practice of property management in Lagos on a 5 point Likert scale. The results as shown in Table 9 above show that the relative high cost of adoption of IT in the property management practice is the most probable reason for the current extent of utilization of IT in the practice. IT is widely viewed to attract huge costs for its application in the practice of property management. Relative non-sophistication of clients served by the property management firms ranks 2nd. However, ranking last is the relative small sizes of the operations of the property management firms. A possible interpretation of this is that the respondents see the sizes of their operations as substantial enough to warrant the deployment of IT. Further, to gauge the practice-wide perception of the adoption of IT, respondents were asked to indicate their degree of agreement or disagreement with this statement: The increased adoption of IT in the practice of property management in Lagos can have a significant positive impact thereon in terms of increased profitability, broadened client base and excellent service delivery. Out of 42, 28 (or 67%) strongly agreed, 13 (or 31%) agreed and 1 (or 2%) was undecided. On the basis of this, it can be said that, in the absence of constraints, the firms are willing to significantly increase the level of utilization of IT in the practice of property management. From the foregoing, it can be stated that the relative high cost of adoption of IT in the practice of property management, amongst others, is the most probable reason for the current extent of utilization of IT in the practice. Hypothesis Testing Research Hypothesis To be tested in t

MasterCard CEO: Ajay Banga

MasterCard CEO: Ajay Banga Ajay Banga was born, raised, and educated in India. He received his bachelors degree in economics from Delhi University (Diversity leadership: Ajay Banga, MasterCard worldwide, n.d.). Banga has had a very diverse career where he held many senior management roles simultaneously. He began his career with Nestle in India. During his thirteen years with the company, he worked on assignments to expand sales, marketing and general management (Banga, BIO: Ajay Banga, MasterCard president and CEO, 2013). Afterwards, he worked with Citigroup where he had the opportunity to be the CEO and to travel to London, Brussels, Hong Kong, and New York (Diversity leadership: Ajay Banga, MasterCard worldwide, n.d.). Banga was appointed CEO of MasterCard in 2009 where he currently remains. (Banga, BIO: Ajay Banga, MasterCard president and CEO, 2013). He has served as a member of the U.S. Presidents Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations as well as a member on the Commission on Enhancing Nati onal Cybersecurity under the Obama administration (Our people, n.d.). Banga has had the pleasure to have a very diverse and distinguished career and continues to share his experiences and knowledge with others. As leader of a top ten most diverse company, Banga says that being different helps to build a global workforce (Banga, What does global mean for MasterCard?, 2015). His passion for diversity came from the fact that he himself is diverse, in the sense that he is of Indian decent, runs a global company, and wears a beard and turban; something that is not common in his position (Groysberg Connolly, 2013). Status1 MasterCard has continually been considered a diverse company. This can be contributed to the fact that MasterCard is a global company that operates in more than 210 different countries and employs over 7,500 employees. The company believes that having diversity will allow a better understanding and greater access to new markets (Our Story, n.d.). In 2001, the company had launched the Supplier Diversity Program so that businesses that were owned by women, veterans, and minorities would have more of an equal opportunity to participate in the procurement process (Our Story, n.d.). However, the roles of diversity and inclusion would not be a main focus for a few years, until the appointment of Ajay Banga. The proof can be seen in the ranking of MasterCard by Diversity Inc. Magazine where MasterCard didnt hit the top 50 until 2005 at rank #49 (DiversityInc top 50 list since 2001, n.d.). Celebration, however, would be premature for the company, as it took an additional four years until it would reach the top 50 again in 2009 at rank #41. It wasnt until 2011 that the company would see momentum taking them up the list where it went from rank #31 on the list in 2011, to rank #15 in 2012, and then to the top ten in 2013 at rank #5 (DiversityInc top 50 list since 2001, n.d.). Much of the success could be associated with the introduction of MasterCards innovative creation of its Business Resource Groups (BRG) (Leading our diveristy efforts, n.d.). Philosophy       Ajay Banga has a philosophy of global diversity and inclusion. His passion for diversity comes from the fact that he himself is diverse as an Indian immigrant. Banga promotes his vision of a world beyond cash (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). This means that his workings of diversity and inclusion go beyond the simple fact of making money, and spread farther to helping others grow as well. The company has been involved in philanthropy as well as programs that assist others in personal and professional growth (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). He has a passion to inform others of the importance of diversity in multiple aspects of the global market. This is seen in his speeches at IIM-A class of 2015 (Banga, MasterCard CEO Ajay Bangas six lessons on leadership as told to the IIM-A class of 2015, 2015) and to the NYU Stern graduates (Equality, diversity anchore MasterCard CEO message to NYU Stern gradates, n.d.). Here he speaks about doing well and doing good as the highest form of leadership (Banga, MasterCard CEO Ajay Bangas six lessons on leadership as told to the IIM-A class of 2015, 2015). He feels that a company that is successful has a responsibility to help others succeed as well. Banga said, As a company, we believe diversity sits at the root of innovation. Diversity of culture, experience, and thought all drive innovative thinking. Thats why we encourage employees to express their diverse opinions and ideas. (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). During his speech to NYU Stern graduates, Banga pokes fun at himself by saying that one of his hobbies is to be randomly searched by TSA in airports (Equality, diversity anchore MasterCard CEO message to NYU Stern gradates, n.d.). This goes along with his philosophy that people should not be focused on where they come from or what they look like and more on what they do and how they do it.   That acceptance of all cultures and development of those cultures can benefit business. Banga has said many times that a group of similar people tend to think in similar ways, reach similar conclusions, and have similar blind spots. (Equality, diversity anchore MasterCard CEO message to NYU Stern gradates, n.d.). Banga suggests that a company should try to increase its connectivity to the rest of the world by looking outside its own boarders and to get involved in other organizations, but also with the ones that connect back to it (Banga, MasterCard CEO Ajay Bangas six lessons on leadership as told to the IIM-A class of 2015, 2015). This is what gives MasterCard its success as a global company. Banga tells of four important attributes that defines a great leadership culture of diversity. The first is a sense of urgency to solve problems and implement solutions that can be solved easier from having a diverse culture. Second is a sense of balance, third is to have the courage to take thoughtful risks. To explain this, Ajay takes a quote from Winston Churchill, Success is not final, failure is not fatal, its the courage to continue, that really counts. (Equality, diversity anchore MasterCard CEO message to NYU Stern gradates, n.d.). This means that a person must be willing to take a chance to change for the better and innovate solutions to be better. One of his attributes is to be competitively paranoid, where a person must constantly ask themselves if they are missing anything to the problem, if there is something else that can be done, or a better way to do it. We must harness the collective uniqueness of people to widen your field of vision. (Equality, diversity anchore MasterCard CEO message to NYU Stern gradates, n.d.). The bigger the window is that you have to view the world, the more you can see what works and what doesnt. This boils down to having a diverse culture in multiple locations around the world that will allow insight as to how to conduct smart business decisions. Strategy Banga has implemented his philosophy of diversity and inclusion to grow the company even stronger as a global competitor by creating innovative solutions. He states that, Diversity of thought is at the heart of innovation. (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). To accomplish this, Banga had to be able to tap into the diverse cultures of the world and to gain their involvement so that the information can be collected and used. This was done by creating Business Resource Groups (BRG). These are similar to Affinity groups that other companies have, except for that they are more than just focused on the business of things. Each of the eight BRGs that MasterCard has focuses on a specific part of the global culture to gain valuable insight as well as to be able to assist in the development of these groups. These groups include Salute, which assists active military and veterans in transitioning to MasterCards culture, WLN (Womens Leadership Network), where help in advancing the careers of women through mentoring and coaching is available, Pride, where a culture of inclusiveness and acceptance regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or expression is accepted, and YoPros, where the company utilizes innovative skills of young professionals to aid in the advancement of the new world of technology such as teaching the ropes of social media (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). The Center for Inclusive Growth was created to advance more sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion globally (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). Its focus is in two areas, research and global philanthropy, where multiple programs are in place to help the worlds poor and financially excluded to gain more control over their financial future (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). One of the most important strategies that has been implemented would be the EDGE program. Employees Driving the Global Edge follows the philosophy that MasterCard is a company that exists beyond boundaries and must think beyond them as well (Johnson, n.d.). The EDGE allows employees of all levels and from all over the globe to connect, communicate, and socialize on an intellectual level that enables them to share their experiences on what they have learned and essentially become advocates for MasterCard (Johnson, n.d.). It has become part of one of the cornerstones of MasterCard which is education and as such has now set the foundation for education on payments and products desired by the diverse cultures around the world (Johnson, n.d.). Goals Bangas goals were to create a diverse environment with diverse people in a diverse world culture. Often referred to as a world beyond cash in the MasterCard family. This goal was the platform for many of the innovations that were created. For Banga, owning a global company meant looking past what was only good for his company, and beyond where it was centrally located. By helping other businesses succeed, Banga knew that MasterCard would succeed with them. Banga said, Its only lonely at the top when you dont bring other people along with you. (Banga, MasterCard CEO Ajay Bangas six lessons on leadership as told to the IIM-A class of 2015, 2015). He has put forward an increased focus on the companies eight resource groups to help extend relationships with current and potential partnerships. In doing so, BRG chapters have expanded worldwide with the addition of twelve new chapters created in 2015. MasterCard has also made further commitments with support to the LGBT community and with the help of other firms has created the Open for Business coalition (No. 7 / MasterCard/ DiversityInc Top 50, n.d.). Bangas future goals are to continue to be diverse and to continue MasterCards innovative culture and to help other businesses succeed. He has succeeded in bringing the company to the forefront of diversity leadership. Going along with his lessons on leadership, being competitively paranoid means to keep questioning the ways things are being done and to challenge yourself to do them better (Banga, MasterCard CEO Ajay Bangas six lessons on leadership as told to the IIM-A class of 2015, 2015). He believes that being different helps in building a global workforce (Banga, What does global mean for MasterCard?, 2015). Current Status MasterCard currently holds onto its position in the top ten most diverse companies (DiversityInc top 50 list since 2001, n.d.). The company has been in the top ten for four years in a row. A major factor that many companies face in the fight for diversity is the amount of diversity in leadership positions. A company can be diverse, but if there arent any diverse leaders, then the message gets lost. MasterCard has accepted this challenge and has 80.6% more Asians in senior leadership than the rest of the top ten companies, and 25.4% more blacks, Latinos, and Asians total than that of the top ten, which is 76.7% higher than the national average (No. 7 / MasterCard/ DiversityInc Top 50, n.d.). Critical Claim My original idea of diversity was that it mainly involved the direct culture of businesses. I understood the value of having a diverse workforce to further the thinking of a business in regards to growth and marketing strategies and even to the point of social acceptance. After researching and learning more about Ajay Banga, I feel that I had much more to learn than I thought. Diversity on a global level means that a company must have the capability to understand different economic and social cultures. Only then, can the company be able to involve itself to benefit not only itself, but also everyone they do business with. MasterCard has taken upon itself to help these companies gain control over their financial future so that they can grow with the rest of the world. Business operations need to be just as diverse as the company performing them. We see today a more diverse society than ever before as it has grown far beyond the demographics of age, sex, race, and religion. Today we ha ve identities that people claim, races have become intertwined. References   Ã‚   Banga, A. (2013, November 20). BIO: Ajay Banga, MasterCard president and CEO. Retrieved from mastercard.com: http://newsroom.mastercard.com/documents/ajay-banga-bio/ Banga, A. (2015, April 8). MasterCard CEO Ajay Bangas six lessons on leadership as told to the IIM-A class of 2015. Retrieved from Quartz Media LLC.: https://qz.com/377104/ajay-bangas-six-lessons-on-leadership-as-told-to-the-iim-a-class-of-2015/ Banga, A. (2015, June 24). What does global mean for MasterCard? Retrieved from Yale Insights: http://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/what-does-global-mean-for-mastercard Diversity leadership: Ajay Banga, MasterCard worldwide. (n.d.). Retrieved from DiversityInc: http://www.diversityinc.com/ajay-banga/ DiversityInc top 50 list since 2001. (n.d.). Retrieved from DiversityInc : http://www.diversityinc.com/all-diversityinc-top-50-lists/ Equality, diversity anchore MasterCard CEO message to NYU Stern gradates. (n.d.). Retrieved from MasterCard Engagement Bureau Video Gallery: http://newsroom.mastercard.com/videos/equality-diversity-anchor-mastercard-ceo-message-to-nyu-stern-graduates/ Groysberg, B., Connolly, K. (2013, September). Great leaders who make the mix work. Retrieved from Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2013/09/great-leaders-who-make-the-mix-work Johnson, D. (n.d.). MasterCard diversity: leading on the EDGE of innovation. Retrieved from newsroom.mastrecard.com: http://newsroom.mastercard.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Diversity-white-paper-final.pdf Leading our diveristy efforts. (n.d.). Retrieved from mastercard.us: https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/about-mastercard/who-we-are/diversity-inclusion.html MasterCard diversity and inclusion. (n.d.). Retrieved from mastercard.us: file:///C:/Users/vmostul/Downloads/MCUS-14012_Diversity_Brochure_v1_July23%20(14).pdf No. 7 / MasterCard/ DiversityInc Top 50. (n.d.). Retrieved from DiversityInc: http://www.diversityinc.com/mastercard/ Our people. (n.d.). Retrieved from mastercard.com: http://newsroom.mastercard.com/people/abanga/ Our Story. (n.d.). Retrieved from MasterCard Newsroom: http://newsroom.mastercard.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/MasterStory_Our_Story.pdf Perspectives on Ageing | Essay Perspectives on Ageing | Essay Lachlan Donnet-Jones Ageing is a term used to describe the physical, psychological and social changes that occur to an individual over time. While most individuals possess their own interpretation of ageing, the issues and challenges faced by the older population is a topic commonly misunderstood. This can be due to generational differences in morals, values, beliefs and a lack of understanding, leading to various stereotypes, prejudices and assumptions of the elderly. This paper will explore my own personal understanding of the issues and challenges faced by the elderly and how my assumptions compare to current evidence based research and the information obtained through a conversation with an elderly person. Prior to the conversation with my 71 year old grandfather, who will be referred to as George, I had formed various assumptions from my attitudes and existing knowledge about what Georges’ primary concerns and issues were at this stage in his life. To better understand George’s situation it was helpful to think about myself in 50 years’ time, and what would be primary concerns for me if I were 70 years old. The topics I thought about in relation to the issues and challenges of ageing included deteriorating health, cognitive function, physical ability, and family and relationships. I chose to focus on the issues which I would consider to be most concerning if I were an elderly person, which primarily pertained to mental and physical health and the social aspects of ageing. Given that I am technically still classified as a teenager, my experience with ageing is rather limited. This leads me to believe that many of my attitudes and beliefs about ageing may have been heavily influenced by popular stereotypes. As Kim Vickers of the University of California explores in her research article ‘Ageing and the Media’, the media can heavily influence the opinions of young person’s, such as myself, by portraying ageing in a negative light (Vickers, 2007). I believe that when you age your cognitive function and ability declines, for example, the ability to accurately memorise and recall information becomes less ‘sharp’ and reliable. I also believe that along with cognitive function, you become frail and your ability to be physically active becomes more difficult, which includes anything from walking the dog, going to the supermarket, to engaging in sexual activities. Respect is one thing that I think can be positive with ageing. I b elieve that when you become older and wiser your opinion and knowledge will be increasingly respected, especially by those who are not as wise and knowledgeable. In summary, looking at my initial attitudes toward ageing, it is quite apparent that I have formed, through my minimal life experience, a relatively limited and negative view of ageing, which is most likely due to my lack of understanding, and that our society as a whole places greater value on youth, than on ageing (Oregon Department of Human Services, 2012). During the interview with George, I discovered that a number of the assumptions I held about the elderly were not as accurate as I had thought. The first and most surprising answer I received from George was in regards to having more respect from others. George stated that he did not believe he was treated with any more respect, as he aged. This was a direct contradiction to what I had considered to be one of the positives of growing old, and I found this to be most surprising. This made me think of why George may feel that way. Perhaps it is due to the changing attitudes of youth toward the elderly, they do not recognise respecting an elderly person, as much as previous generations have done. It may also be an individual thing, where George has simply not noticed any change in the way people regard and respect him. There may be a number of reasons for this, however it appears evident that one of the primary contributing factors is the change in generational attitudes, particularly those of the young toward the elderly. Professor Jared Diamond noted that one of the reasons for the shifting generational attitudes may be due to the rapid changes in technology (Diamond, 2011). Predating the use of written records, the repositories of knowledge the elderly members of society possessed in their memories were once considered vital to pass onto future generations, for example, the telling of stories to children. However, with advancement in technology new resources have become available, that previously did not exist, such as; television, the internet, and mass media. The ease of access and availability to this endless source of information and knowledge has, in a sense, replaced the role of the elderly within some societies and, therefore, may have led to less respect by the young towards the old. Another aspect of the newer generations of elderly people is the increasing life expectancy which can be viewed as a positive thing, however, increased age correlates with increased susceptibility to chronic diseases, especially those which affect the brain and cognitive function, such as dementia (Buttrose, 2011). One of the expectations I had of old age is that of declining cognitive function. When asked about day to day life George stated that he did not particularly feel old, however, he had noticed himself slowing down. George explained that he is aware of his physical and mental capabilities not being as sharp, as perhaps they once were, however he does not feel or think of himself as ‘old’. In an attempt to further my understanding on the effects ageing has on cognitive function, I investigated the work of Melissa Lee Phillips regarding her research into cognitive ability in the elderly. Melissa Lee Phillips published an article in the American Psychological Associations (APA) ‘Monitor on Psychology’ segment that compares the cognitive function of the brain in youth and the elderly (Phillips, 2011). The adult brain has long been thought to be most efficient during youth, however in Phillips’ article she points to research that contradicts that information. The research shows that the maturing mind actually retains many of the skills learnt during youth, and continues to develop new strengths. The ageing brain is also capable of ‘rewiring’ itself and has proven to improve in various areas, such as being less neurotic, calmer, and better at sorting through social situations (Phillips, 2011). Cognitive neuroscientist, Patricia Reuter-Lorenz, PhD, of the University of Michigan stated that â€Å"there is an enduring potential for plasticity, reorganization and preservation of capacities†, providing further evidence to support this n ew theory (Reuter-Lorenz, 2012). This new evidence helps disprove the stereotypes of ageing, such as the common proverb, ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’. Another study titled the ‘Seattle Longitudinal Study’ conducted at the University of Washington in Seattle, uncovered a large amount of new data on ageing and it’s effective on the brain. The research team leader Sherry Willis, PhD, states that the results show that while memory and recall skills begin to decline, skills such as verbal abilities, spatial reasoning, simple math and abstract reasoning showed marked improvement (Schaie, 2013). Relating the influx of new research back to my perspective on ageing, it would appear that whilst there are some undesirable effects on cognitive ability, there are also positives aspects to the ageing brain. I believe the way ageing is portrayed by the media in society is a narrow view which primarily focuses on the negatives of ageing. This view is supported by the findings of Doctor Jeanne Holmes in her paper ‘Successful Ageing: A Critical Analysis’, published in the Journal of the American Society of Ageing (Ho lmes, 2009). Similar to cognitive function, I had assumed that due to elderly people having increased fragility, decreased physical strength and the body ‘slowing down’ due to ageing organ systems, it would cause the libido of elderly persons to significantly decrease, if not cease to exist at all. Although I did not ask my grandfather about his sexual activities, I did do my own further research into the topic. Judith Horstman provides insight on sex and the elderly in her book ‘The Scientific American Healthy Ageing Brain’, in which she states â€Å"Recent studies and surveys show the brains of those well over 60 years old want and enjoy sex† (Horstman, 2012). This information directly contradicts what I had previously believed. In the United States, a national survey was conducted on men and women aged between the ages 75 and 85 to determine the level of sexual activity in the elderly population. The results showed that three-quarters of male participants and a pproximately half of female participants said they were still interested in sex, and were still sexually active (Pew Research Center, 2010). Growing old is an inevitable and natural process, and I think it is important to keep in mind that we will all be considered ‘old’ one day. Some may define ageing as the changes that increase the likelihood of death, which may be true, however after the conversation with my grandfather I can see that ageing is not necessarily a negative thing. I now understand how my own opinions have been influenced by popular culture, the media and society. Ageing can change many aspects of a person, and contrary to what may be portrayed in the media, these changes are not necessarily negative. Attributes such as physical agility may decline with age, others such as knowledge and wisdom continue to expand. It is my understanding, that by leading a healthy lifestyle and actively participating in all that life has to offer, one can live a fulfilled and worthwhile life well into old age. I believe that, much like fine wine, quality of life can increase with age. References Buttrose, Ita (2011).Dementia Across Australia: 2011-2050. Sydney: Deloitte Access Economics Pty Ltd. Diamond, J. (2011). DOCUMENT 163: Jared Diamond on Consumption, Population, and Sustainability, Credo Reference Collections, EBSCOhost, viewed 4th August 2014. Holmes, J. (2009). Successful ageing: a critical analysis: a dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Sociology, Social Policy, and Social Work at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Horstman, J. (2012).The Scientific American healthy ageing brain. 1st ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Oregon Department of Human Services, (2012).Myths and Stereotypes of Ageing. Oregon: Oregon Department of Human Services. Available at: http://www.oregon.gov/dhs/apd-dd-training/EQC Training Documents/Myths and Stereotypes of Aging.pdf Pew Research Center, (2010).Growing Old in America: Expectations vs. Reality. A Social Demographic Trends Report. Washington, DC. Phillips, M. (2011). The mind at midlife.American Psychological Association (APA), 42(4), p.38. Reuter-Lorenz, PhD, P. (2012). Cognitive neuropsychology of the ageing brain.American Psychological Association (APA), 17(3), pp.177-182. Schaie, K. (2013).Developmental influences on adult Intelligence. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press. Vickers, K. (2007). Ageing and the media: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 5(3), pp.100105. Appendix Appendix 1 – Expectations Prior to Conversation Appendix 2 – Conversation Questions and Answers George. Grandfather. 71 years old. White/Caucasian. Married. Appendix 2 – Conversation Questions and Answers Cont. Page 1 of 9

My Wonderland :: social issues

My Wonderland She may not wake up even once at night feeling uncomfortable if peas were kept under her mattress†¦yet she is no less than a princess. All the little boy needs is a horse and you’d be reminded of ‘the prince from a faraway land’ just as you know from the fairy tales read as a kid. Yes , this place reminds me of the magical kingdom like those of fairy tales. With many princes and princesses, god-mothers and fairies †¦.with the air imbibed in a happy tune of a beautiful symphony†¦a wonderland where you’d forget all about the worries of life and be completely a part of it once you step into it. You may wonder what I am talking about†¦.where this land from the back of beyond comes to your notice all of a sudden without your ever hearing of it before. Well you may find it weird when I disclose the name of the place and who the fairy characters I am talking about are†¦I am talking about ‘Bal Mandir’ , an orphanage where hundreds of children live. The children are looked after by ladies whom they refer to as their mothers calling them ‘mum’†¦and I call them god-mothers for with the way they look after those children not giving them a chance to feel the absence of the much needed ‘mothers-love’ , they deserve to be called nothing else but that. The place is somewhat like the way the world was before Pandora opened the box for it is full of children with glowing faces that reflect nothing but sheer happiness. The truth remains that they have had a horrible past or that they know that they have missed out a lot of things in lif e but they keep all the pain tucked inside them and have learnt to live like that. The group consists of children of all ages, shapes, sizes and family background..it even comprises of mentally slow ones and even deaf-and-dumbs yet inspite of all the differences they have learnt to accept one another exactly the way they are. They may have missed out many things in life or not gotten chances to bring out the best in them but the group consists of excellent singers , wonderful painters, prolific writers †¦ you name it , there are all sorts of talents. Not getting as much chance to become couch potatoes or net bugs has not stopped them from being sports fans or music freaks, you’ll find them singing songs by Queen or writing names like ‘Iverson’ or ‘Beckham’ at the back of their t-shirts.