Diabetes Treatments Essay

Diabetes and Treatment Diabetes is a group of diseases that result from a defect in the body’s ability to maintain a homeostatic glucose level. The defect may be in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. Diabetes can be classified as Juvenile, Type 1, Type 2, or Gestational. Distinction between the different classifications is based on the circumstances present at time of the diagnosis. Defect in insulin secretion Type 1 diabetes is an absolute deficiency in insulin secretion in the pancreatic islets. Type 1 diabetes can be confirmed by serological evidence of an autoimmune process and genetic markers. Type 1 is the results from a cellular-mediated autoimmune destruction of the ÃŽ ²-cells of the pancreas. These patients are dependent on insulin to survive and have a high risk of being ketoacidosis when first diagnosed. Insulin resistance Type 2 diabetes or noninsulin dependent diabetes has a gradual onset and patients may take years to identify common symptoms. Autoimmune destruction of ÃŽ ²-cells does not occur. Insulin secretion is defective in these patients and insufficient to compensate for insulin resistance. These patients are usually obese or carry extra fat in the midsection of the body. Gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes (GDM) is recognized as any glucose intolerance that is diagnosed initially during pregnancy. â€Å"The definition applies regardless of whether insulin or only diet modification is used for treatment or whether the condition persists after pregnancy.†(â€Å"ADA,† 2004, para. 26) If a patient is diagnosed with GDM the patient may not continue to be diabetic after delivery or may develop Type 2 diabetes immediately after delivery or later  in life. Women who have had GDM have a 35% to 60% of developing diabetes in the next 10 to 20 years according to the National Diabetes Fact Sheet of 2011. Treatment for Gestational Diabetes The first line treatment for GDM is nutritional therapy and education. It is not recommended for pregnant females to lose weight. The current recommendations of restricting carbohydrate intake to 35 to 40% of dietary calories, there is debate about restricting calorie intake, due to the effects of reduce calories on the fetus. The recommendation by the American Diabetes Association for patient’s that have a body mass index greater than 30 kg per m2 is to decrease the calorie intake by 30 to 33% of daily intake. If the patient is unable to maintain blood glucoses 105 mg per dL in the fasting state and 120 mg per dL two hours after meals then either insulin or oral medications are recommended. There has been no documented evidence that either form is better at maintaining normal plasma glucose. Patients must be educated on taking her blood glucose often, usually at least four to five times per day. Initial treatment for GDM with insulin maybe either via multiple daily injections or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Regular and neutral protamine hagedorn (NPH) insulin, both of which are classified as pregnancy category B, have been the classic initial therapy. Recently, rapid-acting insulin aspart has been approved for use in pregnancy, and lispro is considered a treatment option for patients, 70/30 aspart mix and 75/25 lispro mix are pregnancy category B. For basal insulin, detemir is recommended during pregnancy but remains a pregnancy category C.(Jodon, 2011) Short term effects of GDM The short term effects of GDM are usually seen in the fetus. In the early weeks of pregnancy it is thought that uncontrolled hyperglycemia may cause birth defects that include neural tube defects, cardiac malformations, and early loss of pregnancy. In later weeks there is evidence that the maternal hyperglycemia crosses the placenta and causes â€Å"fetal hyperglycemia, compensatory fetal hyperinsulinemia, and consequently increased adipose deposition of nutrients, resulting in macrosomia.†(Jodon, 2011, para. 7) The effects on the infant can last beyond the womb. The infant may have to be  delivered by c-section due to macrosomia. An infant that has been exposed to hyperglycemia levels in utero may need support after delivery for hypoglycemia due to the infant’s pancreas secreting large amounts of insulin. Long term effects of GDM The long term effects of GDM are currently being studied. In recent years there have been correlation studies between GDM and Type 2 diabetes diagnoses later in life. The long term effects of GDM on the infant include an increase in obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life. If a patient does not make modifications to lifestyle and diet choices then she may continue to need insulin to keep her blood glucose at a healthy level. The most recent recommendation from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology is to retest GDM patients six to twelve weeks after delivery for hyperglycemia; the recommendation was made to catch early indications of Type 2 diabetes. Summary Diabetes can affect any person, whether a fetus or an older adult. The long term effects of gestational diabetes are not just on the mother but can have long term effects on the child also. The diabetic mother needs to understand the changes she makes during her pregnancy can help her after pregnancy from becoming an insulin dependent diabetic and also lower the chances of her child developing diabetes. Educating the patient includes modifications to diet, exercise, glucose monitoring, and appropriate medication regimen. Education is the key to helping patients maintain good glucose control and decrease their future risk. References Arcangelo, V. P., & Peterson, A. M. (Eds.). (2013). Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice: A practical approach (3 ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus. (2004). Retrieved from dio:10.2337/diacare.27.2007.S5 Jodon, H. (2011). New Standards of Care for Gestational Diabetes. Retrieved from Clinicians Review: http://www.clinicianreviews.com/home/article/new-standards-of-care-for-gestational-diabetes/43f9e46f915c950c0d48257fbbe7bb52.html McCance, K. L., & Huether, S. E. (2012). Understanding Pathophysiology (5th Custom Edition

Chicken Ala Carte Essay

Thousands of people die every day due to hunger and malnutrition. This short film shows a forgotten portion of the society. The people who live on the refuse of men to survive. What is inspiring is the hope and spirituality that never left this people. It clearly displayed that hunger and poverty kicks as main problem of the society and some people are too blind to see it. The videography of the film was too shaky and some parts are blurry. This is actually effective for me as for the fact that it is a documentary and it made me feel like I am in the real setting of the event. Another element is the actors in the film. They portrayed their roles truly and they were really convincing which made the film so sympathetic and melancholic. The songs used in the later part of the film also added to the mood. The setting of the film was very dirty and crowded, enough components to represent a place where poverty is happening. The kids in the squatters’ area were also good representations of hunger and malnutrition in an isolated community. The most powerful part of the story, for me, was when the father tapped his kid on his hands, which cannot wait to eat, just because he forgot to pray. This showed me that even though things are getting to worse than expected, we still have to give thanks to Him for we are blessed that we still live this life with His spirit guiding us. It also displayed to me the spirituality of a man and his faith that is strong enough to continue living their lives. Furthermore, this film made me realize that I am so blessed. Many people out there struggle for food while I can easily buy them anywhere I wanted to. I can choose where to live while they cannot because they cannot afford a concrete shelter. These people are the ones in need and we must have time to reach out for them to have their chance of having a life with comfort. In addition, I couldn’t stop myself from having sympathy for those who are on the overlooked portion of our country for they are the ones who deserve to benefit the profit our country has earned. In this kind of situation, you can’t really avoid to demand that those people should be the one our government should be focusing on improving one’s life due to the fact that since they pursue themselves to the politics, it is their duty to serve their countrymen first before anything else. Aside from scarcity, I believe education is also the key to keep away from those kinds of circumstances in life because if you are a well-educated person, you will be aware of family planning and most especially you have the capability to earn money and buy foods in order for you and your family to survive.

A Critique of The Zoo Story, a One-Act by Edward Albee

A Critique of The Zoo Story, a One-Act by Edward Albee Social Commentary Essay on Drama: The Zoo Story and Alienation Albee’s â€Å"The Zoo Story† portrays a fairly decent example of alienation of the absolute lower class versus the upper-middle and middle class. The two obviously have completely different backgrounds, which have brought them to their current points in life. Although they are both roughly the same age, Peter is displayed as an average man with average characteristics and mannerisms by describing him as â€Å"neither handsome or homely† and â€Å"†¦ wears tweeds, smokes a piepe, and carries horn-rimmed glasses† . He was likely the definition of middle class for his era. Jerry, on the other hand, seemed complacent about his looks and characteristics with a description of â€Å"†¦ not poorly dressed, but carelessly† . The play exemplifies the division of social status and class through Peter’s reaction to Jerry’s mostly incoherent speech, or his random sharing of his life story. The play starts by introducing and describing Peter and Jerry, the two main characters. It then starts with Jerry trying to create dialogue between the two, but Peter trying to avoid conversation with the stage direction of â€Å"[anxious to get back to his reading]† . This very start, along with their disagreement about smoking, shows the difference in the norms for their social statuses. Jerry continues on trying to force the conversation by asking about the direction he travelled from and the potential cancer from smoking. Eventually, he asks Peter if he would like to talk, but Peter responds slightly disinterested until Jerry forces his hand. The middle of the play is pretty much Jerry asking questions, Peter answering the questions, and then Jerry monologuing. The question and answer phase of Jerry and Peters shows the distance between the two of them, and, by essence, exemplifies the difference between social classes. For instance, Jerry keeps getting more personal as a specific conversation goes in, such as when he asks if Peter’s wife is the reason they can’t have any more children. Interestingly, the fact that Jerry keeps saying that he’ll tell Peter about the zoo but never actually tells Peter can be seen as the false promises between the classes. Jerry keeps asking Jerry personal questions and then eventually peer pressures him into answering. Jerry then goes into phases of monologuing about his life and thinks that Peter is patronizing him. Throughout the last portion of the middle of the play, Jerry goes on an extremely long story about a dog, how he tried to poison the dog, and how he keep s failing. At the end of the story, Jerry randomly tries to take the whole bench from Peter by force. However, Peter was being stubborn about his spot. The sudden change of character can easily be foreshadowed by his story of trying to poison a dog. However, Peter wasn’t going to let it slide Peter tells Jerry â€Å"You can’t have everything you want.† Eventually, Jerry gets heated and pulls out a knife. Peter instantly misunderstands the action, as anyone would but his misunderstanding is also a show of the misunderstanding between social classes. Strangely enough, Jerry gives Peter the knife. Peter tries to get Jerry to leave him alone, but Jerry ends up killing himself on the knife that Peter was holding defensively. I’m not sure I comprehend this part of the play, but Jerry thanks Peter and says that Peter comforted him. Perhaps, Jerry was confused and wanted a way out of life after holding a conversation. Either way, as he ends up dying, he tells Peter to get aw ay from the scene. In conclusion, Peter’s confusion throughout the play and Jerry’s constant monologuing shows misunderstandings throughout the whole play. With that being said, Jerry, or the lower classes, keeps putting Peter into awkward situations. Peter, or the upper-middle/upper class tries to keep to himself but Jerry keeps bringing him back in. Jerry tells Peter his life story, similar to how the lower class tries to convince the aforementioned classes to change. However, the less well off class (it’s not necessarily always the lower class that is less well off, but more than likely it is) in any civilization tends to end up creating conflict. That conflict ends in the death of the foolish actions of Jerry.

The common law and the employment law Research Paper

The common law and the employment law - Research Paper Example Emphasizing on this particular issue, the discussion henceforth aims towards analyzing the Common Law practices related to the Employment Standards Act and the Human Rights Code in Canada. The objective of the discussion is to provide an opinion about effectiveness of these laws for employees and for employers from a critical perspective. The Common Law was established in order to provide solution to these problems. Usually, Common Law philosophies create a hybrid legal understanding of employment. Employment standards which are established by the Common Law only apply when ‘Employment Standards Acts’ are not particularly contracted by the employers. Generally, Common Law provides greater rights and advantages to the employees in comparison to the employment law (WeirFoulds, 2011). Hence, it can be stated that employment contract can reduce the exposure of employers to the Common Law and can enhance the liabilities of employees towards their employability. Contradictorily, it has often been argued that Common Laws are biased towards employers where judges always tend to emphasize on the issue treating it to be sole the responsibility of the employees. In this context, it can be argued that the any kind of legal system is not completely perfect. The effectiveness of Common Law is appreciated by people if it is compared with other traditional as well as present regulation systems. However, as the economy and business environment changed, Common Law also reversed with reformist regulations. Hence, at times it seems that Common Laws have become bias towards employers. Nevertheless, it cannot be stated that Common Laws regulations are inadequate to provide justice to the employees. The major reason for this argument against Common Law is its high level of complexity which at times creates uncertainty about how a legal action will proceed. In reality, there are several cases where the claimant employee won against any wrong conduct of emplo yer (Cooray,

Knowldge Sharing case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Knowldge Sharing case - Essay Example â€Å"A sufficient reason for KM is that right now a major and increasing part of the world’s wealth is being generated from represented objects, rather than objects themselves† (Gamboa, 1998). When a company implements the strategy of KM into the business the company is attempting to improve the culture of the business. Implementing a new strategy into a company can be a challenging experience as many companies that have implemented KM into the businesses they operate have discovered. Knowledge Management is not yet a style of management that is taught in schools. The Knowledge Management style of management is a fairly new style of management. â€Å"A knowledge-based system is an application that falls under the umbrella of a branch of computer science properly known as artificial intelligence† (Thomas, & Howells, 2000). When someone implements the strategies of KM they would implement them in different styles. Each form of Knowledge Management has a different strategy. This is why it is difficult to implement the strategies of Knowledge Management within a company. The company needs to choose what type of Knowledge Management practice to implement within the company and to implement the strategies accordingly.

Strategy Required to Improve Project Management Outcomes - Approved Case Study

Strategy Required to Improve Project Management Outcomes - Approved projects align with corporate strategy - Case Study Example It is very clear from the internal memorandum sent by the chairman to the senior project manager wherein he has shared his concern over declining number of such projects delivered in right time and budget although the project managers are capable of technical knowhow and follow principles based management practices. Let’s hope that ideas offered by all of us on how to implement latest project management principles and processes to better manage time and cost factors could help the our organization. Our objective is to provide inputs on effectively managing new projects through our individual ideas on why project success rate is falling down while keeping the principles of project management in view. The past experience in project management has not been remarkable. That’s why opinions of the team members have been sought by the chairman. Actually, the company is lagging behind the goals earmarked. It was expected by the top management that with the given expertise and technical hold, we will enter the global market very soon but overseas projects taken so far have not helped us in capturing foreign market; the gap between the goals and outcomes is widening. Our aim is to rework on current management theory to see that approved projects align with our organization’s strategy. Accountability needs to be determined so that in case a project fails, responsibility is fixed. A number of factors determine the success of a project. Sometimes, it is seen that dedicated support for the project is not provided by the senior members of the board. Without overall and individual level support by top brass of the organization, project starts staggering. When the project reaches certain stage, another urgent project comes by for getting attention of the project team as it has to be completed before the ongoing project. The role of the senior management becomes very crucial in the organization

Letter to a friend about what i learned in this class Assignment

Letter to a friend about what i learned in this class - Assignment Example I came to understand that the Federal Reserve Board and these bakers colluded so as to flood the market through the issuance of easy loans that gave those returns but in the end plunged us and the world into the biggest financial crisis using technology to fuel their sadistic ambitions. This view Uncle, is shared across the board, as in the documentary, Martin Wolf, Chief Commentator of the Financial Times says that, â€Å"I think this was, in fact, in retrospect, a great big national —and not just national, global —Ponzi scheme.† (The Inside Job, Part II) The Ponzi scheme caused the loss of jobs of many Americans and lost the homes of innocent owners who were taken advantage of by these bigwig executives and financial experts who walked away unscathed from this calamity. This is the reason why Americans were never informed of these trends in the economy until the crisis actually happened (Dean, 24). The greed and corruption thrived since there exists no real relation between the state and the people and the free America that we know is nothing but an ideal. In reality, the big corporates do not care for us. The Federal Reserve in conjunction with the big banks like Goldman Sachs among others played a critically destructive role using the internet and online platforms to sign up throngs of ‘lucky’ bankers who never had the potential to repay them (Dean, 23). Although the deregulation did go far, the bank risk analysts also failed to voice their concerns and in essence also contributed to the crisis (The Inside Job, Part I). The use of the internet was extensive as these all-knowing executives invested in internet companies they knew would eventually fail just as the investigation by Eliot Spitzer revealed. Readings form the book helped me to conceptualize the perspective that through technology, just as David Harvey in his

Analysis of Debates Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of Debates - Research Paper Example Society never ceases to look down upon any person taking these plunges or walking those extra miles. These people are always watched from bay with half-squinted eyes. Nevertheless, far beyond confronting the frowning brows of the people gazing around, it is very important to listen to the call of one’s heart (Streitmatter 1-23). Since time immemorial, it has been an established fact that the union of opposite sexes is very important for the progression of any particular race. However, human mind has unfathomable depth and dark channels and abbeys where light of any logic or comprehension is very difficult to reach. A man might feel a physical affinity with a man, and a woman can also have the same kind of affection for another woman against the general convention prevalent in the society. If we examine the scriptures, literature and folklore thoroughly, it can be identified that mankind’s affinity towards the same sex has evolved steadily but in a very latent way. With the progress of civilization and so much of awareness of the importance of civil rights and human psychology, the time has come when people have chosen to discuss the issue at an open and broad forum where the marriages between the same-sex can be advocated and discussed without any kind of suppression. Thesis Statement This essay intends to analyze the thought that gay marriages should be accepted as a commonplace affair of the society. At the same time, the essay throws light on the myriad pros and cons associated with the legitimate ways of attaining the unification of two people belonging to the same sex. Gay Marriages and Its Sanctity Same-sex marriages are often coined in the local terminology as ‘gay marriages’. Etymologically, it is a legitimate union between two persons of the same biological sex. The supporters or the promoters of the gay marriages tend to refer to the same-sex marriages as marriage equality or equal marriage. Turning the pages of the history related to the legitimation of the same-sex marriages, we can observe that it is only very recent, i.e. during the first decade of the twenty-first century, that same-sex marriages were recognized, enacted and protected from the various legal cells across the world. The other noteworthy fact regarding the sanctification of the same-sex marriages took place in the very recent times, i.e. in the year 2013 itself. During the current calendar year, eleven countries across the globe and a few sub-national jurisdictions have allowed the legitimate union between couples of the same sex (Pratt). The complex question which is raised in the most recent times in different societies across the globe is that why there is a complete absence of legal sanctity and universal right pertaining to the gay marriages uniformly across the globe. The Western world is still a step ahead in this regard, and if focus is shifted towards the East and the oriental societies, the condition is pathetic, to say the least. In the current scenario, there are places where even the thought of marrying a person of the same gender can mercilessly take away one’s life. Clergy and church are also not behind any regulatory and theological bodies related to the condemnation of marriage of equality (Mulholland). For example, if a thorough light is shed on the article by Chrysovalantis P. Kefalas, it can be arguably asserted that marriage of equal

Theorists Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Theorists - Essay Example A cognitive theorist would try to apply any of the established theories of cognitive development, such as that of Piaget, to explain Dina’s behavior. As such, a cognitive theorist may refer to the fact that Dina is in her sensorimotor Stage, as identified by Piaget. During this stage, an infant starts to build up knowledge of the world, by relating the physical activities to perceived results of those activities. The main personal trait of infants during this stage is egocentrism, because young kids have no understanding of the external world other than their own. As such, a cognitive theorist may argue that Dina’s egocentrism during this early stage of development pushes her to reject the concept of sharing and prefer to have and possess everything she wants. To remedy this problem, a cognitive theorist may suggest that Dina should be related more to her social surroundings, and not to be left to her ego, as the social surroundings are extremely important in shaping th e personality and behavior of children. Unlike cognitive theorists, a behaviorist accounts for development in terms of learning. That is, behaviorists believe that the bad habit of egocentrism and rejection of sharing is highly affected by the stimulus context. In other words, the surrounding atmosphere, in which one performs this habit, would affect the frequency of practicing it. In this context, almost all behaviorists agree that the behavior of children is affected by the family within which he or she is raised. For example, many of the ill-behavior of children to divorced parents can be closely attributed to the fact that their parents are separated. That’s why a behaviorist may approach Dina’s negative behavior in the light of her relationship with her family and parents. For a behaviorist, Dina’s behavior may be modified after understanding her relationship with her family members. This is because a behaviorist believes that the

Personal Space Essay Example for Free

Personal Space Essay I. Introduction An individuals self- concept is the core of his personality. One’s perception affects every aspect of human behavior: the person’s ability to learn, the capacity to grow and change. For every act an individual makes, he or she manifests what character he or she has. One certain person displays his own image through the conveyance of his behavior towards another. It is a mutual process wherein the receiver responds and takes action to the approach of the sender. Our thinking and behavior during interaction are always in anticipation of a response. This certain behavior that we use in order to attain interaction can be a positive or a negative one. At times, it can act as a defense and a way of concealing motives and thoughts. Human behavior is observed in the branch of Psychology to gain more knowledge that would contribute to an understanding of a certain culture based on the manipulation of the stimulus-response that would change human behavior despite of the underlying debate that behavior is hereditary or nurtured by the environment. It is also a range of behaviors displayed by humans influenced by several factors such as culture, attitude, emotions, values and ethics. The behavior of a human being depends on the potential and capacity of his or her physical, mental, emotional, and social activity during the phases of human life (Hickson III, M. Stacks, D., `1985). Living with the different factors that would generate the expression of manners of an individual, it basically acts as the foundation of molding the actual character of a certain person. In accordance to how people express their mental outlook, they respond and reciprocate towards the exposure of signals of the opposite sex, the perception to invasion of own psychological personal space, and the characteristics and levels of intimacy shared by both parties. Personal space is known to be the area surrounding a person which they consider as theirs (McConnell, J., 1985). It is their concealed spot wherein other people cannot penetrate and violate easily. Being able to value their personal space, they are able to set limits and certain zones on the ones they are interacting to (Eyserick, H. Eyserick, M., 1983). Human beings naturally bounce back to the encroachment of their personal space as Freudian would say. But once a person’s personal space has been penetrated by an outsider that understands the levels of comfort as of that of the receiver of message, there would be a certain allure of intimate bond between the two. Though intimacy has yet to be delved into to have the preciseness of its boundaries and levels as to observe the certain characteristics wherein spectators are able to classify their position when interacting with the person to whom they have invaded the private space. At par with the receiver of this invasion of space, he or she would be able to discuss and critically analyze the response to the means of how their own space has been occupied without having to suddenly jump into conclusion the actions being presented to them by the opposing party. Furthermore, through an interview, this paper will be the guided accordingly by the words of experts of the daily examples of private and intimate situations that would help foreshadow into reading the verbal and non-verbal signals each respondent would reciprocate in case to case basis. And to gauge whether or not this would be a case of violation or permitting one’s self to break down walls for others to penetrate into their personal space. The aim of this paper is to define, relate and categorize the development of a person’s perspective on privacy and intimacy when interacting to the same and/or the opposite sex. It would like to explore into the dynamics by which personal space would be determined by an internal or external influence upon it, and its connection to intimate situations. This is to widen the perspective of teenagers within the researcher’s age group when dealing with their social groups and be aware of the tell tale signs of positive and negative intrusion of privacy and display of intimacy towards others. II. Body Personal space â€Å"for me is the amount of space that you define for yourself by which you form of a barrier† (R. Tejeros, personal communication, February 13, 2012). This barrier of a person’s personal space is where an individual secludes himself or herself from external factors that may contribute to his or her reluctance to share the privacy that encloses a formed character (Gunsch, 2003). A character that has been influenced throughout its formation by numerous social groups that made this very individual self cautious to letting in strangers and known personalities alike to a realm that can make or break his or her disposition. Group dynamics is a study on personal and social space. These are standardized space perimeters wherein social clusters are able to reconcile the differentiation of personal space and its violation; also where social agents around us become an intimate, social, factor to everyday interaction. Though space may be standardized by norms, the interviewee has presented a notion that personal space is still very relative on most aspects. An individual defines it for him/herself and regardless of the standardization, and this is all based on the person’s ability to consent to the external factors or decline its persistence to enter the boundary line of this person’s space (R. Tejeros, personal communication, February 13, 2012). Furthermore, each person carries an invisible bubble around their bodies wherein the size depends on different factors such as personality, status and culture. This bubble is known to be considered as a person’s own personal, psychological space (McConnell, J., 1985). It is an approximate area surrounding an individual which should not be trespassed by an unsuspecting spectator for it creates an unsteady social relationship that when pierced by others becomes a violation of personal space. This private space, which role is to keep violation down, comes with the diversity of cultures who establish and upright barriers when interacting with other people. Raising these indomitable barriers are sort of their safety zones wherein people are unlikely to attack one another (Eyserick, H. Eyserick, M., 1983). With regards to the sex differences of personal space, the opposite sex would define personal space as a challenge. This would highly depend on the availability of the person’s willingness to interact to the opposite sex. Most especially in cases where in the male would pursue a female to interact with, if personal space would be regarded as barrier as said above, this would complicate the premises by which the sender of the message would like to address their message. For most cases, an aggression to entering the opposite sex’s personal space would be seen as a threat. A scenario that deals with a same sex penetration of personal space however would be put lightly as how Sir Tejeros (personal communication, February 13, 2012) said in his interview as â€Å"there should be a level of friendship or relationship first before you can get comfortable with a person within the same sex. And if you are in that level, the personal space is not a problem.† Based on this statement, the sexual orientation may be a high contributor to how other individuals would interact but regardless, a certain individual would still deal with others though with the factor that there should be a consequent relationship that should be established and the ability for both parties to gauge the comfort that they share to each other. Apart from the relationship that have been formed prior to create a state of sharing one’s personal space and privacy with each other, there are other factors that has been provided such as definition of the person’s character, personality, cultural background, race/color, age, gender and current status/authority (Berba R. Tejeros, personal communication, February 13, 2012). These factors contribute to both an easy relationship and appearance within the perimeters of the individual’s personal space though these may also be grounds for stereotyping and biases that may cause for an individual to also reluctantly open up to others. It was also stated through the course of interview that with the cultural setup here in the Philippines, these factors would be somewhat different from the ones where racial discrimination is rampant in western countries as well as first world countries. There may be discrimination but in the cultural setup in the Philippines, the social conflicts are quite subtle and are more distinctly seen if verbally exposed. Either way, these factors are not to be of constant basis for personal space is a subjective matter. Entering somebody’s personal space is an indication of familiarity and sometimes, intimacy. The receiver of the message creates a line that would not or should not be crossed by the sender in an actual confrontation to be able to have a decent and comfortable conversation. When this boundary is transpired, it causes uneasiness between the two people interacting. It is by human reflex that people react to certain responses. Reacting defensively when personal space is invaded is one way of assessing its significance to that certain individual. This reaction of the person aggressed varies according to how his or her space is invaded and whoever violated it. Whenever a person feels threatened by an outside force to enter his or her personal space, he or she will have a tendency to dislike the invader as a reaction and dismiss all opportunities (Lindgren, H.C. Byrne, D., 1971). Erikson’s theory of development states that intimacy would be attained through forming closely knit relationships which is basic to the growth of social interaction of early adulthood. (Davis, D. Clifton, A., 1995) Intimacy is known to be a token of familiarity and affection, a close relation or association with deep knowledge of a certain person, place or period of history. Most of the times, Intimacy is considered to be the act of being affectionate of the people involved in a certain relationship and convey their thoughts and emotions by means of physical contact. This way of expressing intimacy to the other party is most likely to be applicable for those people who are considered touchers and are more comfortable in using the non-verbal communication while interacting. Aside from expressing feelings and motives through physical contact, there are other factors that contribute to the building up of close relationship of the people involved. Being intimate can also be observed when people involved in a relationship are attached in a way that they spend most of their times with each other, shares common similarities and interests, can communicate easily and has a personal connection that other people wouldn’t easily comprehend unless informed. Being intimate with another party depends on the built relationship of the people involved. It varies according to what and how intimacy is being expressed whether emotional, spiritual, intellectual or sexual (Berba, personal communication, February 16, 2012). There is a favored level of interpersonal intimacy, discrepancies from this stage and where it can possibly remunerate between the two people interacting. (Eyserick H., Eyserick M., 1983) As we all move through in getting to know someone deeper, we develop intimacy with them which is one of the factors that makes the relationship more profound. Building up a closer connection with that someone, certain levels of intimacy are exposed. For starters, people begin to see and judge if it is safe to connect with that individual in the stage of safe communication. In this phase, there are no feelings, personal vulnerability and opinions involved. This is the kind of interaction we have with people we don’t know that well and shares minimal intimacy. In level two, which is where we start sharing other people’s thoughts, beliefs and opinions, we are beginning to reveal more of ourselves and already build have a small foundation. In this stage, disagreements of opinions shared reveal inflexibility and intolerance already and becomes the basis whether they are to continue to the next stage or not. Continuing to the next phase, we start taking small risks and begin to share our own thoughts, opinions, and beliefs. If we begin to feel vulnerable, we can change our minds and switch opinions to avoid conflicts. In the next level, we now start revealing our feelings and personal experiences; our own joys and pains, our achievements and failures and some of our likes and dislikes. This stage is more vulnerable than the earlier ones because in here, us being unable to change how we feel about something, we can now accept and receive judgments. The next phase of intimacy will be the highest level; our needs, emotions and desires are being emphasized. This is the stage where we are known at the deepest core of our character and requires a great amount of trust in order to maintain the relationship built by the people i nvolved. (Wilson, 2011) Entering a social relationship, verbal and non-verbal communications are expected. Verbal communication is the communication that uses words, either written or spoken. It also refers to the use of sounds and language to relay a message. It serves as a vehicle for expressing desires, ideas, and concepts and is vital to the process of learning and teaching. This verbal communication varies according to the personality and mental outlook of a certain person. Non-verbal communication, on the other hand, is usually understood as the process of communication by means of sending and receiving messages which are not in the form of words. It is a natural, unconscious language that broadcasts the emotions and intentions of a certain individual by means of gestures, facial expressions and body language (Hickson III, M. Stacks, D., 1985). These non-verbal signals are separated into two kinds: the touchers and non-touchers. People who are considered touchers are usually the individuals who are not good in expressing themselves in words and prefer to convey their messages through the use of physical contact. Non-touchers on the other hand are the ones who articulate their messages through non-verbal signals but do not require the use of physical contact; they express their messages using body language such as facial expressions (Eyserick, H. Eyserick, M., 1983). Through the interview conducted, Psychology professors, Ms. Berba and Sir Tejeros (personal communication, 2012), have exclaimed that in their field of study, they are more aware to theses identifiers that both trigger violation of personal space and cues on intimacy. They have provided examples that both can be observable from day to day cases and widely applicable to the target market of this paper. Examples of signals that trigger violation of personal space would be sitting very close to another person or the positioning of body parts that obstruct the balance of the space that the individual and the other people share in a pubic place. A particular example that is observable within the male domination would be the violation of space inside the comfort rooms. Based on the narration of Sir Tejeros, he stated that â€Å"There’s this unspoken rule, which you might find interesting. In male comfort rooms, when there is someone occupying a certain urinal, you do not go directly to the ones beside it. So kunwari there are 3 urinals. There is someone doing his business here. And then there’s 2 and 3, you do not go here beside him. You jump one urinal because that’s the person’s personal space. Seriously, that happens all the time. If you were a guy you would have noticed that. If someone would go near that, the other guy doing his business would look angry or hostile towards the other person. Kasi personal space niya yun, eh. Kasi like when you do your business in a comfort room, it’s something intimate and personal to you. So when someone goes way to near your area, â€Å"K† parang ganun.† Another violation of personal space that Ms. Berba stated is the sudden outburst of emotion through verbal and non-verbal communication. That when a particular individual is very angry and frustrated, they are not aware and conscious of their actions because of the aggression and adrenaline that courses through their being thus having an impulsive instinct to enter the personal space of their offender and violating their personal space. Though there may be positive violations of personal space as well, and the emotion that stirs up this violation would be of surprise. And example would be when a bearer of good news delivers the message and the receiver becomes intimately grateful to the bearer and crosses the line of the sender’s personal space. This would still be a violation of personal space because the receiver was not able to respect the personal space of the bearer however this is another response that was done instinctively because of positive feedback to the message re layed. III. Conclusion The interrelation between privacy and intimacy is the link of relationship that people have between each other. It is through a bond that they have, that they allow walls of privacy to be brought down and there is permission to be intimate with the other being. There are several factors that would contribute to this such as personality, cultural background, age, gender and status. Though these may contribute to a healthy interaction, these factors may also be causes for violation of personal space. The differentiation between people whose social groups mingle with each other may produce friction if not properly addressed by the social norms that surround them. It is best that personal space of an individual is respected before advancing to a more relaxed state. However, personal space does not necessarily go hand in hand with intimacy and vice versa. It does contribute to one another as we have theorized beforehand, though we have been disproven that if personal space is not violated, this may be called intimate. Through research work and interviews conducted, we have distinguished personal space as a person’s personal, psychological space. (McConnell, J., 1985) meanwhile intimacy is a token of familiarity and affection. Both are subject to change and have signals that would identify if an individual’s personal space is violated or a person is being intimate with another. To further elaborate on the levels of intimacy that would distinguish the state of relationship wherein two individuals are involved, these levels contribute to how someone who is in the process of determining his or her position in the relationship and be able to pacify his or her intentions as to not cross the boundaries of the social norms. Apart from the levels, there are kinds of intimacy which are spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and sexual that would be the basis for a good foundation of a relationship. Signals that trigger intimacy and violation of personal space would be verbal and non-verbal communication. Verbal signals are on prose and non-prose means. On the other hand, non-verbal communication has touchers and non-touchers. They indicate stimuli-response contact and verify whether the process of communication is socially acceptable. These may not be necessary for all intimate partners though are highly observable throughout the society. Equipped with credible sources, this paper has given an array of responses that is useful for daily relations most especially for the target audience who are teenage adolescents who are undergoing inter and intra personal development. Expression of the mental and emotional outlook would be beneficial to build up the decision-making skills of a person. It also promotes awareness to the different kinds of scenarios that they would be dealing with in the future.

Yahoo Company: Strategic Analysis

Yahoo Company: Strategic Analysis How can issues facing Yahoo! Be described as strategic? To understand and do differentiate strategy from other issues facing Yahoo! We need to look at what Strategy is? What defines as strategy? Strategy is set of actions that managers take to increase their companys performance relative to rivals. However in the view to access Yahoo! a fuller definition would be helpful. Strategy is the direction and scope of an organization over the long term, which achieves advantage in a changing environment through its configuration of resources and competences with the aim of fulfilling stakeholder expectations. We have to identify if issues facing Yahoo! Is Yahoo! Concerned with the long-term direction of the company? What we clearly see is that Yahoo! Is lacking in a clear vision for the future, unfocused they have drifted way form what they are, no clear ownership and lack of accountability is eminent in the organization. Yahoos chief executive Terry Semel has said, Yahoo needs to refocus in order to maintain a leadership position in the face of strong challenges. Brad Garlinghouse mentions radical restructuring, which cannot be implemented over night it would take a considerable period of time, they need to achieve this in baby steps indicate that Yahoo is looking at long term, long term direction. Is Yahoo! Concerned with the scope of its operations? The issue of scope of activity is fundamental to strategy. This is about is Yahoo! Concentrate on one area of business activity, or they want to be in many. Currently its doing everything and be everything to everyone Brad Garlinghouse plans suggest to exit non-core business and eliminate duplicative projects and business, which is to concentrate on Yahoos strategic decision to few core activities. Compressing of the scope of activity is clearly a fundamental aspect of Yahoos plan. Is Yahoo! Trying to achieve some competitive advantage? Its about finding the competitive edge. Yahoo! Has a large audience, the company has a great customer loyalty. Brand has created instant attraction in the click market. But overlapping responsibilities coupled with trying to do too many things have increased Yahoos operating and maintaining cost is disadvantages for competitive advantage. Yahoo! Was forced to delay the introduction of a key upgrade to the technology in turn forcing it to lower revenue forecast. Is resource allocation one of the issues facing Yahoo!? Spreading peanut butter across myriad opportunity a clear strategic decision facing Yahoo! Its about company is not utilizing its massive resources financial, human and other assets. Careening into wide variety of new business ventures have left Yahoo! Unable to, compete effectively. Duplicating activities and giving different silo like Flicker and Yahoo Photos, 360 group and social group have being costly duplicating initiatives created unexpected cannibalization (eating its own market share). Are they trying to find a strategic fit with the environment? Strategy can be seen as the search for strategic fit with the business environment. Yahoo! Is looking for a stronger faster company, which means that the current over bureaucratic structure doesnt fit/match the quick changing highly competitive web market environment. Are they building on resources and competences? Its about exploiting the strategic capabilities, in terms of unique resources and core competences, to provide competitive advantage or to gain new opportunities. Yahoo! Is in the view to turn smoothly spread butter into a deliberately sculpted strategy, which indicated they want to take all the resources and competencies and concentrate and focus on few key business units. Is Yahoo! Concerned about stakeholder values and expectations? Strategy of an organization is affected by those who have the power in and around the organization, there values and attitudes influences strategy. Unclear ownership, argue and fight over ownership will have a negative impact on Yahoo! Intern will result in investors and employees values and expectations. Massive redundancies will alter employee expectations. Is there a transformational change? Delayer of Yahoo! To be efficient with, fewer people. Radical reductions in the head count by 15%-20% show that Yahoo! Is in for a transformational change. Therefore, as I have outlined above under each of the characteristics of a strategy and applied to Yahoo! Its clear that what Yahoo! Is facing is a strategic decision. A corporate strategic decision, which is concerned with the overall purpose of Yahoo and adding value to different part of the business. Which will impact Yahoos success or failure unlike with operational and tactical decisions the effects of which sometimes provide immediate feedback, likely results of corporate strategic decisions may not be evident for many years but, when felt could result in the failure of the entire business. The strategic decision to shift from advertisement income to charging users directly for personalized services like audio subscription and web page by Yahoo! Resulted in loss of revenue and plummeting of the share price. Strategy is a game about the future in which the whole company is at stake and which the possibilities for regretting a move or getting back are often not realistic or very costly. Therefore, strategy and strategy planning is the perhaps the most difficult but perhaps also the most important management tasks Yahoo is facing. (Exploring Corporate Strategy seventh edition page 7-9, by Jonson, Scholes and Whittington) To what extent do they differ from strategic issues facing your own organization? Strategic issues encountered by Yahoo more or less relevant to most organizations. However, it is likely that different strategic decision characteristic will be more important in some contexts and in some organizations than the other. Yahoo! Needs to be a stronger and faster company a company with clearer vision and clearer ownership and clearer accountability, it will need to understand the rapid development of technology, needs to continuously update and improve its search engine features and exploit new market opportunities. It gives a different emphasis for my company that of full service Hair salon providing haircuts, facial treatments and nail services to the needs of a local community. Hair Salon is operating in a single market, a small local community with a single or very limited product and services. Where as Yahoo! A global diverse company has its presence in all over the world. Its diverse not only with product and services but also with the geographical market. Therefore, the scope of the operation in my hair salon likely to be less of a strategic issue than of what Yahoo has to content with. The local community that I operate knows how I am and my service. I have created a great customer loyalty through experienced staff that I have carefully hired and try to expand my market share through word of mouth. A part from that I am the only salon in the 25-mile radius, which has given a great competitive advantage. Even though Yahoo! Has created a brand loyalty sustaining the competitive advantage and the market share would be very challenging with massive competitive nature of the market it operates in. Therefore, the ways in which the salon and Yahoo! Handle competitive advantage will differ in making a strategic decision. I started my business with the capital that I gained for sale of my property and bank debt that I still pay. I have utilized the capital and my exceptional talent in haircutting fully. I want to expand my business to include a tanning spa but my ability to raise capital has stopped me. Whereas if Yahoo! Is in hold of massive assets in terms of financial and human but the unfocused nature and lack of a cohesive vision have created problems to Yahoo! Therefore, the ability and allocation of resources are issues facing both companies but to what extent and access to capital will differ in terms of strategic decision. Yahoo! Is facing issues with values and expectations of the stakeholders due to unclear ownership. For a private enterprise like Yahoo the ultimate success criteria is value of the company to the owners: the stakeholder value. Therefore, in Yahoo stakeholder value is mother of strategic goals. I have to deal only to my customers and my self. As you can see even though values and expectations exist in both organizations to what extent it affects my salon and Yahoo! Makes a difference in the strategic context. Therefore, strategic issues facing Yahoo! Compared to my hair salon tend to be complex due to wide geographical scope and the wide range of products and services it has to offer to the differentiated market. The pace of change in the environment as well as competition yahoo is facing needs it to be fast, adaptive and customer responsive to the uncertainty. Strategic issues need to be integrated through out the value chain, a decision to decentralized managers have to cross functional and operational boundaries to deal with all over Yahoo! Critically examine how strategic issues differ between profit making and a non-profit oriented organization? There are similarities between for-profit and non-profit organizations. First and foremost, both types of organizations begin with a solid mission statement and a vision statement that drive the strategic planning process and remind all the members of the organization of their foundation. Both are organizations where assets are held and business transacted in the name of the corporation rather than the individuals occupied. To survive and grow, both need to create or bring in more revenue than they consume on operations. Both are involved in producing a good or service for customers. And, of course, both are managed and run by the people who are employed by the organization. We always hear about for profit companies, such as Yahoo! And the strategies they have developed. Even though, non-for profit organizations are not concerned with profit maximization they act to uplift the culture quality of life of the region they operate in, they too benefit from following good strategies since they need generate profits to survive and grow. However, it is the distribution of the remainder of the profits that is one of the differentiating characteristics between for profit and non-profit organizations. Therefore, the key strategic issues facing a, for profit company and non-for profit will differ. In a for profit organization the profits that are not re-invested in the organization are distributed to the owners of the company as cash. (If they do its to gain more return for the investment). The point is that the profits of a non-profit organization constantly go toward sustaining some cause that society deems as good and helpful and not into the pockets of the investors. We have to look at the values and expectations; values will be of central strategic significance and plays an important part in the development of strategy. Non-profit organizations charities, churches etc. the sources of funds will be linked to different objectives and expectations of the funder. The mere existence of the non-for profit lies in the hands of the funder or the funding body hence the long-term direction is depended. Therefore, funders are likely to have a stronger influence on the decision making process. These are mission-driven organizations working to increase the quality of life for a specific community or society Where, as a private company are looking at profit maximization working to the best interest of their stakeholders ROCI. There is no real measure of efficiency other than to carry out its mission and achieve its set out objectives within the money contribution it has raised or received. In contract profit organization are in inconstant need of achieving high efficiency and productivity to deal the customer expectations as well as maximizing in return on capital invested. A profit company is created when investors collectively transfer assets and talent to start the company. The company, which is in fact a fictitious individual in the eyes of the law, takes title and ownership of the assets, etc. and gives, in exchange for the assets, ownership shares in the company to those who contributed the assets. However, with a non-profit, individuals come together and provide assets and talent to start the corporation. But, these people who create the corporation do not receive any legal ownership in the corporation and, further, have no guarantee that they will be able to retain control of the corporation once formed. All of the assets are now to be used to advance that cause or provide the service for which the non-profit business was created Some characteristics are found in profit and no profit organizations but the frequency of strong impact is much higher on a no profit organization. Hence, the strategic decision that profit and no profit company makes will differ. We are reactive instead of charting an unwavering course tactics Critically analyze the accuracy of the statement that formal planning systems are irrelevant for firms. This is about strategy development process. Through which strategies actually develop in an organization. This process can be grouped into two main types. First is the notion of strategy development as deliberate management intent, which has been planned, that is formally created ahead of events. This is the concept of intended strategy. It is literally strategy as design. Second is emphasized on the emergence of strategy from internal and external factors existing in and around the organization. Where strategy emerge from day to day decisions and activities. This is the concept of emergent strategy. Quinn has termed it as logical incremental. Both approaches must be examined within the context of an increasingly dynamic, highly competitive and global business environment. The statement We are reactive suggest that Yahoo! Is following a planned or intended strategy. Being reactive is a characteristic of planned strategy. Which follows systematic process where analysis of organizations internal performance and external environment will result in long term plan. Senior management is in charge of defining the final objectives and the plan is then put into action. With logical and analytical analysis will allow organizations to formulate strategies to meet new opportunities and barriers. This approach will enable organizations to manage and organize complex activities on different business units quite effectively and efficiently. Intended strategic formulation is based on existing strengths and capabilities of an organization to optimize its growth. On the contrary, in times of rapid change and turbulence it fails to find alternatives and adapt that Yahoo! Is facing. Unplanned changers are a shock, so the strategy doesnt have a logical answer it tends to be reactive to change and the reaction this might not be timely as in the case of Yahoo! Or the result might be no action at all. The fact that logical approach implies that strategy development is always deliberate and everything strategy will be realized according to plan. Besides, perspective indented strategy formulations consist assumptions that are unsustainable to todays changing business world. Unpredictable acts of events will regularly force originally strategy of its course. Additionally, this method doesnt allow organizations to absorb any learned element to strategy so can limit organizations ability to response flexibly in todays changing environment. Further, this model fails to complement the modern team culture where everybody is part of a team and everyone can participate in the strategy building decisions that might result in dissatisfaction and low motivation. Charting an unwavering course implies that Yahoo! Need to follow a more emergent approach to strategy. Instead of meeting a premeditated plan; strategy evolves through a process of learning, adjustment and experimentation. An emergent approach leads to more creative and responsive strategy making which is well suited to the hyper-competitive and unpredictable environments of today this is what Brad Garlinghouse mentions in charting an unwavering course thats dealing with constantly changing market. In contrast with the prescriptive approach which focuses on creating a fit between established strengths and new opportunities, the emergent approach intentionally creating a misfit between these factors. Hence, its more suited to transformational change in organizations as well as managing helping to reduce resistance to change among employees. On the other side of the coin, when planning and implementation two simultaneous strategic process are taking place it runs the risk of confusion and being too slow. These mean valuable opportunities might be lost. Additionally, without analytical analysis objectives lack clarity and a basis of evaluating performance. Also conflicting strategic choices by different groups might hinder strategic development. Emergent strategies do not mean that management is out of control it is just more open, flexible, responsive and willing to learn. This is an important strategy in a complex, uncertain and changing environment. It best case scenario, it enables management to act before everything is fully understood. Nonetheless, such a strategy has the risk of lack of direction. A greater use of strategic planning tools for internal and external analysis would certainly facilitate improved organizational learning and enhance strategic thinking even while following an emergent approach. Deliberate strategies help to manage, to impose intentions on the organization and to provide a sense of direction. The prescriptive and emergent processes, rather than being mutually exclusive, can be complementary to each other. All in all, most viable strategies in todays business world should have customized elements of prescriptive and emergent characteristics in order to manage the complexities of their business. Analyze your own organizations approach to its strategic planning process. There are many different ways in which strategy could be understood, developed and implemented. All of these views have there own merit. Using analytical tools such an internal and external environment, research data like competitor analysis and planning systems like cash flow and budgeting will be useful to create design strategies. Which Yahoo! No doubt have used when developing its strategy. However, its critical to understand how experience and culture influences an organization. Like for my salon founder a naturally talented and creative individual is still a dominant influence on strategy. Strategy by idea is another concept, where a new idea might emerge through the organization from the variety of experience and behaviors that are found across the organization. Our salon, strategies are based on following of past strategies which has being influenced by the founder through his experience and the vast expertise, more of the same, we are in the view why fix when it isnt broken. We are driven by taken for granted assumption and the ways of doing things embedded in the culture of our salon. The best that can be expected is what Herbert Simon termed bounded rationality which results in managers satisficing rather than optimizing; they do the best they can within the limits of their circumstances, knowledge and experience. (Exploring corporate strategy seventh edition page 45) the strategies are developed as the outcome of the founder and his experience, which influence strategic decision. In order to grow and thrive in the future there has to be strategic planning with all aspects of people and salon management. Salons can often survive; certainly do well for periods of time in conditions of relative stability, low environmental turbulence and little competition. However, virtually none of these conditions prevail in the current world for great lengths of time. Investment in a process that leads to a well developed strategic plan will mean the difference between retaining your best clients and your best stylists and will mean the difference between successful profitable growth and steady decline. Therefore, we need to reassess our strategic thinking; we address our problems in much the same way as we dealt with a previous issue seen as similar. For example the recent profit downturn was interpreted, as decline in overall market condition where as the true fact being no new trend setting by our stylist. We lack hair-cutting techniques that are required by the Young Urban Professionals. It is therefore helps to understand of where innovative strategies come from and how organizations cope with dynamic environments. It also poses question about whether the top management really have control over strategic direction. Discuss ways in which the planning process could be improved? Whether you are a fan of Porters five forces or the concept of Blue oceans strategy or other relevant tools of analysis, a strategy process has simple logical sequence, like A comes before B, B before C. before you look for the blue ocean and sail out on it, its wise to know your limitations of your boat, and also practical to be able to navigate and know about the water you are about to experience. (Something about strategic panning by Bjarn Nielsen 2006) Systematic strategic assessment helps to find, and decide, the handful of really big issues facing the salon. It is the size and impact of these strategic issues that gives rise to the importance of the strategic plan and to improve their performance. Performance is about creating value for the main beneficiaries of the company. Strategic thinking and planning can help to keep the focus on value creation, and not on management tools or practices for their own sake. For example, a SWOT Analysis is a useful tool in one of the essential improving the salons planning processes. Our planning process has to follow, formal, well documented, clearly communicated, and simple procedures. 1. Commitment from people who will be affected by the plan This is the start and to ensure support for planning, and the implementation of the plan. Example stylist, the purchasing manger. 2. Long term strategic objectives to improve service of the salon These objectives should clearly promote the enduring purpose of the company. This means knowing and identifying for whom the salon exists, (the target market) and what services we seeks to provide. The intended clients must be defined in segments group. The services offered must also be client oriented. By creating a mission, vision statement to the salon. 3. Creating strategic options Analysis of key strategic issues and short-listing, according to worth and creating of alternative strategies. By examining alternatives, it is likely that the salon will find alternatives that are superior to the current approach. Our expert stylist spend to much time on washing client hair, we can analysis few alternative approaches to dealing either tell your clients to wash there hair and come, hire a new hair stylist, hire a trainee or cut the price and offer haircuts without wash. The business will encounter environmental changes; if Alternative, contingency, plans have been considered for these changes, the organization can respond more effectively. 4. Evaluate and Decide on strategies Effective formal planning uses systematic methods for evaluating the various alternatives. Evaluate to ensure that they do not go against any objectives. Ensure that all major strategic issues are addressed. 5. Monitoring of the strategies against the long-term objectives. Need a method of running the plans as it gets executed. The plan should provide for customer feedback. To allow for corrective action, the monitoring system should address the same objectives and factors determined as significant through the planning process. Too often there is a disconnection between the plan and its reality. Put simply find and decide what to do about the handful of really big issues facing the business. The strategic planning process and tools, such as SWOT analysis, will find the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities, threats. These approaches, with their value-based management focus, will ensure that our business will have long run superior performance, and we will also be at less risk of failure.

Good vs. Evil Essay -- essays research papers

Good vs. Evil So often we see a battle of good vs. evil in movies, books, society, and in this case, an epic poem. This motif is used so often because it pertains to so many facets of authentic life. The epic poem Beowulf is an example of this because the hero of the story has an ongoing conflict with the evil villain, Grendel. The same motif is true in the discussion of Christianity versus Non-Christianity. Good and Evil can be talked about in different ways, but here you will see the Good in Beowulf, then in Christianity and the Evil in Grendel along with Non-Christianity. Beowulf reveals numerous qualities that prove he is a great leader and warrior. Courage, religion, and strength just break the ice. He proves to be courageous when he says, â€Å"That I alone and with the help of my men may purge all evil from this hall.† Throughout the story, Beowulf has the courage to never back down from a confrontation and is willing to fight till the death. Beowulf shows that he is religious when â€Å"they gave thanks to God for their easy crossing.† This is talking about when the Geats make their journey safely from home to the Danish shore. Every time Beowulf is victorious in battle he gives thanks to God and says that he knows his fate is in God’s hands. Beowulf is also strong. Strength allows him to show society that they can be strong. He shows strength as a leader but he also shows this as a warrior when he used his strength to kill Grendel and his mother. Beowulf shows integrit...

The Lottery ::

The Lottery All people are unique in their own ways, however have contradictory characteristics such as good and evil. Some people have a soul in which the good side is more dominant, and others have a more dominant bad side. The lottery is a way for the characters in the story to reveal the hidden evil of their souls. One example of this is portrayed through the eagerness and the willingness to participate in the lottery. One of the characters says that they feel like its only been a few weeks since the last lottery, which gives the impression that the lottery is something to look forward to. This shows that the evil side of these people enjoys inflicting pain on others. Mrs. Hutchinson was eager to get to the lottery herself. She shows the evil in her character by wishing the pain that she must live through, and perhaps even die as the outcome, on others. She does not want to accept the fact that she was chosen. Mrs. Hutchinson says that it is â€Å"not fair†, regarding the final results of the lottery. The lottery was something she looked forward to until the outcome of the lottery was forced upon her. The entire population of the town participates in the tradition of the lottery. This shows that the whole community releases a part of their evil onto others. They are all eager to see someone beaten with rocks, however none of them want it to be them. Even the town’s children were involved in the savage ritual. After Tessie Hutchinson was chosen some of the towns children gave some pebbles to her son so he too could participate in the torture of his own mother. This horrible tradition is placed into the lives of the descendants of the town, so it is passed on from generation to generation. These people are taught to let the evil inside of them loose during the lottery. The evil in the souls of the townspeople is brought out during the lottery.

Queen Isabella I Essay -- Biography

She was born into a family of a long line of royal decedents. She became Queen at the age of twenty four. She was the first women to be on an US commutative coin. Who is this very accomplished person? Queen Isabella. Bold and daring, Queen Isabella accomplished many things in her thirty years of rein as Queen of Castile and Aragon. Queen Isabella was born on April 22, 1451 in Madrigal, Old Castile. Her mother was Isabella of Portugal and her dad was John the II of Castile. Her mom and dad were King and Queen of Castile. She had two brothers, Alfonzo and Henry (â€Å"Isabella of Castile† par13). At the age of three Isabella’s father died. After his death He4nry became King of Castile. A few years after he was crowned King he sent Alfonzo and Isabella to Segovia to be safe (â€Å"Isabella of Castile† par13). While they were in Segovia Henry got married twice, and finally had a baby. After the baby was born the people of Castile believed they needed a new king, so they summoned Isabella and Alfonzo back. The people of Castile decided that Alfonzo will be the heir to the throne. But while there was a war going on in Castile Alfonzo was killed. Now Isabella was the heir to the throne (â€Å"Isabella of Castile† par16). Henry believed that Isabella should get married if she wanted the crown. With that in mind he thought she should marry Don Carlos Prince of Vienna. But Isabella had other thoughts in mind. She wished to marry Ferdinand Prince of Aragon. Her brother would not fight with her so he allowed her to marry him. But she would have to wait until she got back from her trip. Isabella did not listen and married him during her trip. Therefore they got married in 1469 in Juan de Vivero (â€Å"Queen Isabella I† par3-5). When they ... ...w country of Spain. She mostly impacted religions. When she was alive she always taught people that everyone in this world is equal (â€Å"Isabella of Castile† par 5). She made huge sacrifices when she was young. She even turned down an offer to be Queen. She believed that unless both her brothers died it was not her right to be Queen (â€Å"Queen Isabella’ par 4). Being an educated Catholic girl, Isabella was mostly influenced by god. Her parents taught her to always follow the word of god (â€Å"Isabella of Castile† par43). Isabella wanted to be remembered as someone to look up to. Today she has accomplished that. Many people in Spain wish to make Isabella a Saint. But fro right now she is called a servant of god (â€Å"Isabella of Castile† par 39). â€Å"The distance is great beyond firm belief to the realization from concrete experiences.† Queen Isabella.

Lady Macbeth is referred to as a ‘fiend-like queen’ Essay

At the end of the play lady Macbeth is referred to as a ‘fiend-like queen’. Do you agree with this final assessment of her and can we hold her in any way responsible for the chaos and destruction there is at the play’s conclusion? Through focused analysis of Shakespeare’s presentation of her character, give your response to this interpretation. Consider: * The influence she has on her husband * Audience reaction then and now * And anything else you feel is relevant Malcolm gives one of the many different opinions of Lady Macbeth, when he comments on her ambitious and manipulative side. He calls her â€Å"fiend-like.† Another opinion which is less associated with her is the gentle woman’s opinion near the end as she is pitied by her in regards to her conscience and guilt for the murders and for chaotic situation in Scotland. She is viewed as the source of destruction in Scotland by some and is pitied by others. At the time Macbeth was written James I was on the throne. At that time people believed in the divine right of kings, they believed that the king was a spokes person from god and to murder a king would have been seen as the most abominable of crimes. So for Macbeth and lady Macbeth to commit the murder of Duncan who is a king would have been seen as evil and sacrilegious. Macbeth was performed around 1611 for James I and it reflects his interests in witchcraft from his own personal experiences at the time. A modern audience would be more cynical of the idea of witchcraft whereas a Shakespearean audience believed that witches were real and would have been more afraid of some of the themes and happenings in the play. Lady Macbeth is seen as being even more ambitious than her husband and has fewer moral scruples. She urges Macbeth to kill Duncan, and refuses to understand his doubts and hesitations. Gradually her close relationship with Macbeth crumbles into nothing because of this. She is first introduced to the play when she is reading a letter from Macbeth which is addressed to her. In the letter Macbeth calls her, â€Å"my dearest partner in greatness† this is unusual because in the time the play is set it was odd for women to be of equal status to men, but Macbeth who is also her husband sees her as his partner and therefore equal. Upon reading the letter she immediately jumps to the unusual conclusion of murdering Duncan for Macbeth to become king as prophesied and already starts to plot what she has to do to fulfil what she has been told will happen. When Macbeth comes home she tells him of her plan of murdering Duncan which is similar to what Macbeth thinks when he is made Thane of Cawdor, only Macbeth dismisses the thought and reasons with himself that it is wrong were Lady Macbeth is resolute and even goes so far to call on ‘evil spirits’ to ‘unsex’ her â€Å"Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, to cry ‘hold, hold'†. She sees that Macbeth is not as determined as she is about the murder and sees his tendency to think of the consequences of their actions and sees it as a crucial weakness in her plan which shows selfishness in her character. She tells him, â€Å"Look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t† the imagery of a flower shows that he should look ‘sweet’ and innocent on the outside so as not to arouse suspicion but, that on the inside he should be able to be as harsh and deadly as a serpent. When she invokes evil spirits to ‘unsex’ her and take away her femininity the language used by Shakespeare is Iambic pentameter, which he uses to show the status of a character and that she is as equal as Macbeth and Macduff who also speak in Iambic pentameter in the play as most of her speeches in the play are in this form. Her speech as she calls on evil spirits is of this form of language to show the importance in what she is asking and how it will affect her in the rest of the play. The use of rhyming couplets and Iambic pentameter makes the communication more memorable to the audience. although when it comes to the murder she cannot kill Duncan herself because of the way he resembles her father, â€Å"Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t† this might show her character as being not completely evil because of the love for her father and shows us a humane side of her and that she relies on the ‘evil spirits’ to conceal her emotions. The words used like â€Å"come† and â€Å"fill† shows the urgency and highlights her determination, and the violent and inhuman imagery used like â€Å"You murdering ministers†, â€Å"That my keen knife† and â€Å"Of direst cruelty; make thick my blood,† emphasises her determination even more. The violent imagery of a brutal murder of a child â€Å"And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this† reinforces the concept that innocence is destroyed in Scotland when Macbeth become king by use of deceit, treachery and brutality. The tactics she uses to make Macbeth commit the murder are manipulative ones; she uses his ambition against him and could only have persuaded him to go through with her plans by using his soaring ambition. Another tactic she uses is whenever Macbeth disagrees with her she attacks his ‘manhood’ and sense of pride which is another form of manipulation, â€Å"When you durst do it, then you were a man†. She is also shown as an intelligent person as she is able at the banquet when Macbeth is drawing suspicion to himself to quickly think of excuses â€Å"My lord is often thus, and hath been from his youth. Pray you ,keep seat† another example of her quick thinking is just after the murder of Duncan where again Macbeth is drawing attention to them by ‘over acting’ him being innocent, she faints to draw the attention away from Macbeth and so they don’t become suspicious. She is a controlled decisive character compared to Macbeth as he struggles to make up his mind if it is right to commit the murder whereas Lady Macbeth makes the decision and keeps it. She is also very perceptive as she realises Macbeth’s dilemma with his conscience, â€Å"Your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters.† She is compared to her husband Macbeth. Macbeth is also ambitious but not so much as Lady Macbeth, she doesn’t think of the consequences like Macbeth. She just goes through with the plan of murder and has to call on ‘evil spirits’ to suppress the guilt that she knows she will feel. Only it back fires and she becomes so over come with guilt she begins to sleepwalk and become paranoid of seeing a ‘spot’ of blood on her hand that will not come off no matter how many times she washes her hands. The ‘spot’ of blood represents the guilt she feels and how she subconsciously (in her sleep) tries to get rid of it. Where as Macbeth deals with his guilt in a different way and pushes Lady Macbeth further and further away putting a strain on their once strong relationship. He becomes paranoid and deals with it and accepts the fact that what he did was wrong but he can’t go back and so carries down the path that leads to his destruction. As the play progresses she begins to lose her confidence and Macbeth seems to gain more. They are like a ‘set of scales’ that they both evenly balance out another and there always has to be a more dominate partner even though they address each other as equals. As she starts to descend and become more unstable she invokes some sympathy from a modern audience where in a Shakespearean audience would have seen her as a witch and therefore would not have sympathy for her at all, in fact they would probably would have seen her getting what she deserves and would have been happy in hearing of her death because at the time witchcraft would have been seen as evil and at the start of the play where she calls on ‘evil spirits’ is an example of witchcraft whereas a modern audience is more sceptical. The majority of a modern audience would not believe in witches or ‘evil spirits’. Lady Macbeth is compared with other characters in the play. Another character is Lady Macduff. Lady Macduff is shown in the play as what a woman of that time is supposed to be. This would be, caring and protective over her children where Lady Macbeth is shown to have none of theses feminine qualities because instead of caring and nurturing she has ambition and cruelty. And example of this would be, in a speech to Macbeth about how committed to the murder she is she talks about if she had promised Macbeth that she would kill her first born as he had promised to kill Duncan for her. She says, â€Å"Dash’d the brains out, had I sworn as you have done to this† this is a rather graphic and violent image and shows that she has none of the stereotypical qualities associated with women and that’s what makes her so different from lady Macduff. Lady Macduff protects her children and describes herself as a wren protecting her young ones â€Å"for the poor wren, the mist diminutive of birds, will fight, her young ones in her nest against the owl† the bird imagery is also used around and by Lady Macbeth but it is mostly the crow which is seen as a symbol of evilness and death. It is interesting that both Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff see Macduff as a traitor for leaving his family, which shows some similarity in their morals. Even the language Shakespeare uses for her changes from blank verse to prose. This shows the disintegration of her character and how she is slowly losing her status in the play and also her state of mind. It is almost like she has been driven insane by suppressing her guilt. And because of that guilt the relationship between her and Macbeth has fallen apart, not only because of their ambition but also because of her making them pursue the ambitions. This leaves them in a place that they can’t come back from and even though Macbeth accepts that, she cannot and it is almost like she may be blaming herself for how things turned out in the end. Most importantly if she thought perusing their ambitions because she wanted the best for her husband. It eventually leads both of them becoming distant. This example of psychological insight of her character means that maybe she is not as much of a monster if she can feel remorse and guilt even if it is in the form of her subconscious state. When she starts compulsively washing her hands shows a deeply troubled psyche and this contradicts in what she says earlier to Macbeth â€Å"A little water clears us of this deed† and then later she talks about the ‘perfumes of Arabia’. Shakespeare’s audience may have associated this with the mark of the devil, where a modern audience might see is as a dramatic representation of her anguish, guilt and torment that she can’t get rid off. This is ironic because at the start of the play just after the murder of Duncan she tells Macbeth to wash his hands but is now trying to wash her own, her reference earlier † What is done cannot be undone† yet she can’t accept her own statement or change the past. The imagery of light and darkness is used around her. The light represents good where darkness shows evil. When she is sleep walking and feeling her guilt it is said that she must have light near her continually, whereas at the start of the play she called on darkness but now it is reversed because she now needs light. When she commits suicide this could be seen as a desperate act to cleanse her mind from the over weighing burden of guilt. She may have just broken down because she has suppressed these emotions whereas Macbeth analysed them and accepted them and therefore could move on, allowing him some release but condemning her into a trap and the only way out was to create her own demised she was that desperate for the guilt to stop tormenting her. In the end of the play after her death and the death of Macbeth, Malcolm refers to her as ‘fiend-like queen’; this is an unfair statement of her character, but some may agree that she is responsible for some of the chaos and destruction at the end of the play, after all it was her ambition that fuelled the cause of Macbeths rampage through Scotland because of his guilt and paranoia that started after she manipulated him into committing murder and becoming a traitor. One could judge her to be an over ambitious person that got sucked in with the idea of power and forgot that it could lead to her downfall. At the beginning of the play she comes across as being vindictive and heartless, a person that takes control and dominates Macbeth in to doing as she says â€Å"To alter favour is to fear. Leave all the rest to me† but as the story goes on she starts to lose that confidence and guilt and doubt start to take over her mind and it is then you start to feel sympathetic towards her. You could feel sorry for her because she had lost everything all because of her ambitious nature and now there was no going back. Some would only agree slightly with the statement Malcolm uses to describe her. At the beginning one may have described her as a ‘fiend’, because of the way she takes charge in the murder and how she immediately jumps to that decision without thinking of the consequences. She is also impatient as she is to not be able to wait to see if the prophecy the witches said will become true. She has to make it become true herself and so takes matters into her own hands and does cause destruction and chaos around her. However she does not do this alone, Macbeth contributes to some of the chaos and destruction even if she was the one to start it. When Macbeth realises that he is in so far that he can not go back instead of stopping the murders he is doing he carries on whereas, Lady Macbeth stops and is consumed by guilt and takes it upon herself to end it. The original source of mischief could be the witches. They might be to blame for the devastation in Scotland, because of the prophecies they made. Without them Macbeth and Lady Macbeth may not have been tempted and tricked by their ambition that caused their downfall. Shakespeare reveals that no villain is entirely ‘fiend-like’ and that there is a source of conscience within everyone. So in fairness the term ‘fiend-like queen’ and the assessment of her holding responsibility for the chaos and destruction and is only partly true. Even though she is a part of the disarray, she is still not solely to blame. After all Macbeth also caused some of that destruction and chaos and even after her death; he carried on with the battle between him and Malcolm. In a way they really were equal partners, because they were both evenly responsible for their own demise and the desegregation in their own mental status and in their relationship with each other, and how their own ambitions became too much for not only the other to control, but for themselves. and that of the other characters in the play. A quote that conveys this is after the murder Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth not to think of his guilt and the irony of the statement she declares is that eventually she does think on the ‘deeds’ and lives the truth in her own declaration. â€Å"These deeds must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad†. It would appear that she also wore â€Å"a heart so white† which earlier claimed that she would be ashamed of.

Military vs. Civilian life Essay

5 A.M. and morning drill is blaring over troop’s heads. One more morning that doesn’t allow extra sleep. These are thoughts that are going through military member’s heads as they are herded down to chow like a bunch of cattle. They had a choice to become a respected member of the military community or fight for college and rent money out in the civilian world. Leading a â€Å"normal† life is a big decision. The option of military is thrown into senior’s heads pre graduation. This is the time to outweigh the pros and cons of such a life changing profession. When faced with the decision to go to college cost is always an issue. The options are limited on how it should be paid for. In general, civilian life offers more money. But there is a catch: more money must be spent to get educated. On the other hand, in the military college is completely paid for while on active duty. The college money doesn’t stop there. Upon getting out of the military, member’s get what’s called a GI bill. This is more money that is given every semester while in school, to further one’s education. The best part about the GI bill is that it does not have to be paid back. It is common knowledge that a degree is needed to get a well paying job, having the military pay for this is a great perk. Many things are either substantially cheaper or free in the military. Medical and dental care is an example of this. These bills can get outrageous for simple things as going in for a stomach ache. Military makes it a little easier on troops in that it provides most dental and medical services right on base. It is easy to make a phone call to a medical provider and be seen without having the stresses of cost and missing work. In the civilian world, if seeing a doctor is necessary during work hours, it is considered missed work and not paid for. Traveling the world at the military’s expense is a liberating experience. Most likely traveling to see several locations through deployment and temporary duty locations will happen. As a civilian paying for traveling expenses is a must, unless a job is found that pays for this. Vacation time is a major factor when traveling. Most civilian employers start an employee at 10-14 vacation days per year, with little increase until several years  have been devoted to the employer. If no vacation days have been acquired as a civilian then traveling is virtually impossible. However, in the military 30 days of vacation are guaranteed a year, those days are not counted against a member if they are sent to another air force base for work. Many times the military will send troops to a stateside base to attend some work issues. More often than not there is free time that allows the member to see the sights around where they were sent. So in a sense this is a â€Å"free† vacation. A normal thought that comes with joining the military is war, and all the above perks of the military are outweighed by the fear of dying. However, being faced with a life decision such as what to do after high school causes one to weigh the pros and cons of all their options. Joining the military or going to college and finding a job of that gives added perks, is based solely on what type of person he/she is and what one is looking for in life.

Argumentative Essay World Civ

Argumentative Essay on Olaudah Equiano Upon doing further research, Olaudah Equiano was absolutely born in Africa! He was kidnapped and sold into slavery when he was just a young boy. His vivid accounts, as he was sold from trader to trader, are so moving and heartfelt. No one could express such deep sympathy for the multitude of other black slaves had he not been there during the experience. The following few paragraphs will explain just how he came to be sold into slavery and some of the things that he saw while he was being traded and shipped from place to place.Olaudah Equiano was born in 1745 in what is now eastern Nigeria. Life in his village was typical of the times. Families worked together to cultivate corn, cotton, yams, and beans. Men herded cattle and goats. Women spun and wove cotton. Equiano’s father was a distinguished clan elder and judge in the community. It was a position that Equiano was in line to inherit one day. That never happened. Equiano, when a boy, w as kidnapped and sold into slavery. Sold from trader to trader, he did not meet Europeans until he reached the coast.Years later, he described his impressions: â€Å"The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship which was then riding at anchor and waiting for its cargo. These filled me with astonishment, which was soon converted into terror when I was carried on board. I was immediately handled and tossed up to see if I were sound by some of the crew, and I was now persuaded that I had gotten into a world of bad spirits and that they were going to kill me. Looking about him, Equiano saw â€Å"a multitude of black people of every description chained together, every one of their countenances expressing dejection and sorrow. † Overwhelmed, he fainted. Fellow Africans revived him and tried to comfort him. Equiano says: â€Å"I asked them if we were not to be eaten by those white men. † Equiano was shipped to Barbados, the n to Virginia, and later to England. Purchased by a ship’s captain, he traveled widely. He learned to read and write, eventually bought his freedom, and played a leading role in the movement to abolish slavery in Britain.In 1789 he published the story of his life, one of the few accounts (and possibly the best) written about the slave trade by an African victim of it. Millions of other Africans were not so fortunate. Torn from their homes and families, they were shipped across the Atlantic in conditions of great cruelty. They, along with the children they bore, were bought and sold like cattle and forced to toil without pay to increase the wealth of strangers. Most had no rights and could be punished, abused, or even killed at the whim of their owners. For most of those oppressed, the only deliverance from slavery was death.

Thea Astley’s It’s raining in mango

A literary text often acts as a reflection of the society of the time in which it was written. The particular value systems or ideologies of the characters and character groups represented in the text inform the reader of those characters' cultural identities. In Thea Astley's it's raining in mango, the author offers many representations of cultural identity. Through the story of the Laffey's, Astley provides an alternative to the mainstream society's representation of cultural identity and challenges traditional beliefs regarding Australia. It's raining in mango is set in Australia, and follows the story of the Laffey family from 1860 to 1980. The characters endure some of the major events in Australia's history, such as the gold rush of the 1860s, the depression, both World Wars, and the horrific treatment of the Aboriginal population. From these events came the ‘Australian identity'; what mainstream society believed to be the traits and characteristics unique to the ‘typical' Australian. From the First World War sprung the legend of the heroic ANZAC, and Australians were regarded as the resilient ‘battler' with a strong sense of humour and laid-back attitude. Camaraderie and mateship were highly valued. The patriarchal ideologies of the society meant that women were expected to be submissive, and function solely in the domestic sphere, while men were the providers and â€Å"bread-winners†. Aboriginals and other minority groups were marginalised or silenced. The value systems and ideologies that inform the representation of mainstream Australian society's cultural identity are represented in Astley's text by characters such as the diggers, who believe that the Aboriginal people are â€Å"not human† and the pub owner â€Å"who hated blacks, but loved their pay checks†. Other characters who represent the patriarchal values of the society are the priests with whom Jessica Olive and Connie conflict with. However, the strongest representation of the values and ideologies of this society are reflected through the police, the figures of authority who find it â€Å"in order to blame a blackskin. The easy way out†. All these characters, along with the men looking for work during the Depression, reflect the values and ideologies of mainstream society, which inform representations of the cultural identity of Australians. However, through the Laffey family and other character groups, Astley offers an alternative representation of cultural identity. The women in Astley's text offer an alternative to the cultural identity of women in mainstream society. Unlike the women represented in the ideologies of this patriarchal society, the female characters in mango display strength and independence. Jessica Olive begins as the passive, submissive wife and mother idealised by mainstream society, however moves to challenge this notion after Cornelius leaves and she is left to become the â€Å"manageress extraordinaire†. She shows strength, passion and determination when facing hardships, or challenges to her values from characters such as the boarder at her hotel, and Father Madigan. Connie also proves her independence and strength of character throughout the text. As a child in a convent, Connie has difficulty suppressing her sexuality â€Å"and for one silly week she flattened her gently erupting breasts with a broad ribbon band†, and then as an adult she goes on to become a strong, self-reliant single mother. Connie, like Jessica Olive, displays passion and determination when she conflicts with another priest, Father Rassini. Mag is another character whose values and beliefs give an alternative to the mainstream notion of cultural identity. When she hides Nelly and her baby from the authorities, Mag displays courage and defiance, and the fact that she speaks for George, her husband, reflects power and strength of character. The prostitutes in the text also show very strong independence and courage, and their value systems and ideologies inform a representation of cultural identity that challenges the identity ascribed to prostitutes by mainstream society. The value systems and beliefs of the female characters in this text create a very different representation of women's cultural identity in Australia than that ascribed to women by the mainstream patriarchal society of the novel. They create a new cultural identity for women, that of the strong, independent woman. These women have a very strong connection to the land, and place family at the centre of their value system, as do most of the main characters in the text. The centralisation of family in the story of the Laffey's is very important in the construction of an alternative cultural identity. Unlike the characters that represent mainstream society, whose families are not mentioned, the Laffey's have a strong, profound bond. They represent values and attitudes similar to those found in Aboriginal culture, those of respect for, and reliance on, the family. Connie recognises that â€Å"only the family as she knows it has cohesion, provides a core†. She understands the unbreakable bond between her family throughout the centuries, and the fact that they are inextricably linked to each other by the knowledge that they are Laffey's. The bond between Connie and Will reminds the reader of the importance of family in a time when many families were being ripped apart by the tragedy of the Second World War. For the main characters, the family home in Mango is their place of return, a place to come back to for sanctuary and security. This emphasis on strong family values informs the reader of a cultural identity that is very different to the one offered by mainstream society, in the text. Along with a strong family connection, the main characters also have a strong connection to the land. While the settlers in the text saw the land as something to be battled with, the Laffey's learnt to harmonise with the land, and see it as something to be protected. Reever represents the values of the Laffey family through his acting out as a conservationist, and Clytie and Harry's struggle to save their farm during the Depression displays their concern for the land. It is this connection to the family and the land, similar to Aboriginal values, that sets the Laffey family's representation of cultural identity apart from that of mainstream society. The value system and ideologies of the Aboriginal characters, and other characters, inform the reader of the cultural identity of the Aboriginal people. The mainstream society of the text views Aborigines as savage, â€Å"no-hoper(s), river-tribe layabout(s)†. This view is clearly expressed throughout the text; by the diggers who callously slaughter the â€Å"blackskins†, the pub owner, the police, and especially by the gang in the bar who beat Billy and his family. The Aboriginal population is marginalised by mainstream society. However, Astley, by privileging the point of view of some of the Aboriginal characters, and creating main characters who sympathise with, and share some beliefs and values with the Aboriginal people, has created a cultural identity that is different from that of mainstream's society's beliefs. Aboriginal culture places great emphasis on the unity of the family, and this value is evident in Astley's text. Nelly is willing to run, and risk being hunted down, to keep her child, and Billy's first concern is his father when they are attacked in a bar. The very strong Aboriginal connection to the land is also evident in it's raining in mango. The way the land is described by the Aboriginal characters is beautiful and serene, with it's â€Å"hill(s), grey scrub against blue, the long grasses dry before the big rains†, and shows an understanding of the nature of the earth. Bidiggi automatically reaches for the earth to comfort him when his tribe is slaughtered, hiding in the water grass and falling asleep under a paperbark. These Aboriginal notions of family, and their connection to the land, provide a representation of cultural identity. The attitudes of other characters also affect the representation of Aboriginal cultural identity in this text. The Laffey family, who are centralised in the text, sympathise with the plight of the Aboriginal people. Cornelius is fired because he writes an article exposing the shocking treatment of Aboriginal people, the child George believes that Aborigines are just the same as white people, Mag and George protect Nelly and her baby, and Will tries to help Billy in the bar brawl. Because these characters are all centralised, and the reader is encouraged to agree with their values and attitudes, the reader is positioned to see the Aboriginal people as humanised, which provides an alternative representation of cultural identity to that offered by mainstream society. Other character groups are also represented in it's raining in mango, and their value systems and ideologies inform the reader of their cultural identity. These groups are the soldiers, the hippies, and the cult members. The myth of the resilient, laid-back Australian soldier is destroyed in Astley's text, and replaced instead with the image of a shattered, broken man, plagued by what he has seen. Will's experience of the war, and how he deals with it, are not the same as the romanticised identity created by main stream society. Will is instead constantly disturbed by the horrific images of his experiences at the front, and though awarded for bravery, he throws the medal in the rubbish because he does not believe that he deserved it. Thus, through Will's reaction to the war, Astley again offers an alternative to the cultural identity created by mainstream society. The hippies are represented as lazy, careless, and free. They believe in love, peace, and freedom, and regularly smoke marijuana. The hippies don't have real names, and they are constructed as drifters, travelling and moving whenever the mood seizes them. The values and ideologies of the hippies create their cultural identity, however their attitudes and actions are hypocritical, and position the reader to question the validity of the hippies' cultural identity. The members of the cult are constructed as surreal, surrounded by a blue haze. The reader sees them through the point of view of Connie, and the odd characters are almost satirised. Astley uses the cult to make another attack on institutionalised religion, suggesting that they are no better than the Father Madigans or Father Rassinis of the world, as they place their absolute faith in the intangible. Their inability to act in an emergency, such as when Connie saves the drowned man, highlights the ineffectiveness of their beliefs. The cult members' representation of cultural identity is informed through their value systems and ideologies, and is used by Astley to comment on the ineffectiveness of having faith solely in the divine, and no faith in self. In Thea Astley's it's raining in mango, the author has revealed several representations of cultural identity. She has revealed the cultural identities created by the mainstream society of the text, and then offered alternatives to these assumptions through the story of the Laffey family and other surrounding characters. The value systems and ideologies of these characters are what create the cultural identities for these groups.