Community Health Nursing assignment #2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Community Health Nursing #2 - Assignment Example An initial fundamental strategy entails structuring nursing curricula to embrace cultural sensitivity. Professionals within culturally competent health care systems should have adequate training in relation to providing care services to persons with varies beliefs, heritage, behaviors, and attitudes. Besides training and structuring culturally sensitive professionals, health care systems should embrace diversity by employing professionals from different cultural backgrounds (Clark, 2008). Primary strategies relates to environmental protection programs and initiatives aimed at preserving natural resources. For instance, nurses can carry out campaigns aimed at energy conservation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Secondary strategies include may include carrying disease and unhealthy environmental screening strategies aimed at reducing prevalence or increasing sensitivity towards. For instance, screening and testing community water for presence of lead would help prevent heavy metal poisoning. Tertiary strategies entails collective responsibility of families, nurses, and probably political campaigns aimed at carrying out civic education for environmentally caused health problems. It is the role of a community health nurses to carry out awareness and educate their clients of better strategies to curb environmental health issues (Clark, 2008) Basic knowledge in health issues by community members is imperative in ensuring successful health promotions and education. Persons with health literacy easily understand nursing language and consequently aid in realization of improved health. Such remains possible as the community participate actively in health promotions and education. In the process of organizing for community empowerment, imperative elements applied include research, evaluation, rehabilitation, healthy living promotion, health problems prevention, and rehabilitation

A Streetcar Named Desire Film Analysis Essay Example for Free

A Streetcar Named Desire Film Analysis Essay These actors take on the difficult task of bringing two complex, emotional characters onto the silver screen. With spot-on reactions to each others theatrical advances, the pair create an experience that is both enjoyable and expressively coherant. Vivian Leigh was cast for the role of Blanch DuBois for various reasons. She was white, slender, beautiful and had already acted in several other films. Tennessee Williams, the author of the original play, saw Leighs performances in plays such as â€Å"The School for Scandal† and â€Å"Antigone†, and decided that she was perfect for the role. All that Leigh needed to change was the color of her hair, which was originally black. Leigh does a splendid job of portraying Blanches ascending insanity by seamlessly transitioning from melodramatic anguish into her signature faux semblants, or pretense. An example of this is the scene where Blanche sits alone in Stellas apartment crying until a delivery man comes to the door. Blanche is then quickly transformed into a mysterious temptress who seduces the young man into kissing her. Leighs uncommon ability to switch from such extreme emotions brings a refreshing distinction to the film. Blanches eccentric and offbeat personality requires a talented actress to be be fully realized. Leighs acting style works well with the other actors, and expresses a coherence so profound that one might often forget that she is acting. The role of Harold Mitchell was one that needed to be fulfilled in order for the script to make sense. Mitch is described as being two hundred and seven pounds, six foot one and having â€Å"a massive bone structure†. His physique is an important aspect of his character, thus making it imperative for the actor to meet these conditions to be casted for the role. Karl Malden is tall and bulky, with a large nose and a receding hairline. These traits accenuate Mitchs awkward demeanor and informs the audience of how lonely he is without him having to say it. Malden also shares Leighs ability to transition between emotional extremes. For instance, in the beginning of the scene where Mitch confronts Blanche about her lies, he is silent. Though after hearing more of her absurd grip on reality, he snaps into an aggressive brute who pins Blanche to the wall. Maldens on-screen chemistry with Leigh is apparent throughout the film, and is believable the entire time. Vivian Leigh and Karl Maldens performances perfectly depicted the tragic twosome that is Blanche and Mitch. With Leighs seamless transitions of polar-opposite emotions and Maldens angry yet passsionate fits of rage, the two give what are easily the best performances of the film. From their intriguing introductionto their dreadful departure, no purer chemistry has been captured so passionately.

My Study Plan Exploration Of Strengths And Weaknesses Education Essay

My Study Plan Exploration Of Strengths And Weaknesses Education Essay My study plan aims to help me to explore my strength and weakness and show me the pathways that will develop my skills and knowledge during this academic year. The study plan is divided into four parts. In the first part, I am going to talk about my personal strength and weaknesses by relying on the feedbacks I got from my teachers and peers. In the second part, I will be mentioning the details of appropriate assignments to develop my skills and knowledge. Then, in the third part, I will talk about what I hope to achieve from my assignments by the end of the year. Finally, in the last part, I will give details about the activities and planned dates for completion of my assignments and the written coursework. Personal Strengths and Weakness Throughout this course, I have experienced a lot of things; I had to work with people to tight deadlines, I had to produce, direct, film, edit, write script, research, write essays, make news stories and programmes etc. While doing all these, sometimes everything went perfect but sometimes I came across with difficulties. All of the tasks I was given helped me to explore my own strength and weaknesses. In this part, I will be explaining my strength and weakness by supporting them with examples. Weakness: One of my most significant weaknesses is procrastinating. I tend to take things easy. When I work alone, the reason why I procrastinate is my self-esteem. I always think that I can do my work successfully anytime I want and I have no problem delaying it. On the other hand, when I work with others, this mostly happens when I feel that things do not work out well in the group. Doing this does not create so many problems when I work alone, however, when I work with others, it can be so problematic and annoying for them. I believe I would get better marks, if I did not delay my essays in these two years. Equally, avoiding procrastinate could make me work more cohesively with my friends in the group. This year, I will try to avoid doing this. Being quiet in the class is my other weakness. This gives people the impression of me not being confident or shy. However, the reason why I do not talk so much in the class is I am in a foreign country and I do not feel comfortable talking since I am not a native English speaker. The difference of language, culture and the people always holds me back in the class. Even though, I was always aware of my weakness since my first year in university, I could not get over it. When I am in Cyprus, I am the opposite; I am really talkative and outgoing. For this reason, I do not make this a big deal because; after finishing my studies, I will go back to Cyprus and work there. Writing script is my other weakness. During the course, I always had difficulty writing script for news stories. It always took me a lot of time to do it. Although, I tried to develop this skill, I could not make it to reach the stage I wanted. When I look at my future goal, I know that writing script is not going to be my job. Therefore, instead of focusing on my script writing weakness, I will try to develop my other skills during this year. Strengths: Self-confidence and being perfectionist are the most significant strengths I have. I believe that I can do anything I want to do. Since primary school, I always tried to achieve my goals without getting help from anyone. Whenever I had an important exam or homework, I always did them by myself without getting help from my family members or my friends. Similarly, when I had problems with my school, friends or my coursework, I always tried to solve them alone. By doing all the things alone, I felt happier, because at the end, I mostly always succeeded. I also heard so many compliments from my teachers, family and friends about my confidence and success. I grew up as a confident person and I believe in me a lot. However, sometimes, the self-confidence and perfectionism I have can make me really stressed. In group work, many times I find myself complaining about others in terms of the work they do. Mostly, I do not feel appreciated with their work, because I believe that they do not do i t as good as I can do. To exemplify, last year, I had to do a community research portfolio and a ten minute documentary within the community. My partner wrote half of the research portfolio and sent it to me. I got really disappointed and stressed after seeing what work she did. The reason was I was expecting a better work from her, but she did everything in a perfunctory way and it was not as good as it should be. Similarly, while we were doing the documentary, I had to redo everything she did, because I felt that they were not properly done. Although, I can make myself really stressed and tired because of my confidence and perfectionism, I believe that being confident and perfectionist are really important strengths. Being ambitious is my other important strength. I am always quite ambitious about what I do. Since I was a child, I always wanted to be the best at everything and I never gave up on something. While I was in high school, my goal was to learn really good English, go to university in London, finish my bachelor, masters and PHD and become a lecturer in one of the universities in Cyprus. My ambition made me leave my family back in Cyprus and came to London to study this course when I was sixteen. In the beginning of this course, I had difficulty speaking and writing in English. I read books, watched English TV programmes, studied some books for academic writing. In one year, I realized how much I improved my speaking and writing and now I do not have problem doing these. Similarly, in my first year, I wanted to learn how to edit and be really good at it. I watched editing videos, practiced a lot and achieved what I wanted in really short time. I believe I will be where I want to be in so me years, because my ambition will help me a lot. Being a good researcher is my other strength. A good researcher is the one who has the interest, curiosity and the persistence to find answers to unanswered questions. S/he gets knowledge of the subject and s/he is also patient and ambitious. I believe I have these characteristics. Last year, I had to do a community research portfolio and a documentary within the community. The interviewees and the information I needed was really difficult to get, but I did not made myself stressed at all. I visited so many locations, I called so many people, I read a lot of books, I searched so many websites, I watched several documentaries, etc. In the end, I got what I wanted. There were times that I had so much difficulty in finding the characters of the film as well, but I never gave up on researching. I wanted to make my documentary as perfect as I can. As a result of all the hard work I did, I got a really good feedback from my tutor. This year, I will try to build up my research skills more. My other important strength is editing. Before starting my studies, I did not have any editing experience and it was one of the most important things that I wanted to learn. Throughout the course, I practiced a lot and I learnt a lot of aspects of editing. I used my skill to help my classmates as well. I believe that my editing skill will be really useful for me in the future because; I will be making videos in my entry time as a hobby. Details of appropriate assignments to develop skills and knowledge. During the two years of my course, the assignments I did were given by my tutors. These assignments made me gain an invaluable knowledge about every part of the production and the media. I started with a blank knowledge and now I am able to make news programme, make documentaries and short films in many styles; I learnt the stages of production, roles of director, producer, researcher and production assistant, editing, using camera, lighting, writing script, etc. I am good at many of the things I learnt, while I am also bad at some of them. This year, I have an opportunity to choose what assignments I want to do and I will use this opportunity to develop some of my strengths. Â   As I mentioned before, one of my most significant strengths is research. I am planning to do a research assignment into Turkish Cypriot Community in London to build up my research skills more. The assignment will include interview transcriptions and all relevant research that I will do. The interviews will be about Cypriots immigration reasons to London, their work, family, cultural life, courtship, London, the troubles, going back to Cyprus and reflections. The reason why I chose to do a research about Turkish Cypriot community is, since I was born, the Cypriot media and TV channels have been making programmes only about the political situation of Cyprus; before and after war, division of the island, peace between the Greek and the Turkish Cypriot communities, Turkish Cypriot immigrants in London, economy of North and South Cyprus, etc. are the main themes of these programmes. The programmes contain a lot of research and interviews with local people. Last summer, I had a work e xperience in a Cypriot local TV channel; I was doing research and going to interviews for a TV programme called Agenda. While I was doing this, I realized that I really enjoyed doing it. After finishing my studies, I will go back and work in the same TV channel as a researcher until I finish my Ph.D. Doing this assignment will be a really good experience for me. The other assignment I would like to do this year is researching MA Film courses in London and completing my entry forms. I will be searching online and visiting universities to find out which university and course is most suitable for me. By the end of this semester, I will start doing my contacts and visits for information and interviews. When I finish my research, I will make my application. I plan to finish all these by the start of May. The last assignment I want to do this year is researching how social media is being used by film makers for marketing and promotion and writing an essay about this topic. This essay will help me to analyse and evaluate the different ways in which social media as platform is being used as an alternative way to promote and market films by filmmakers in the media industry. The research I will do will be commenced in order to explore the future potential of social media as an industry in the world of film making, as well as to understand the different approaches and steps taken by film makers in order to reach as wide an audience as possible. The reason why I want to do this assignment is to understand the true power and potential that social media and to discuss the issue with the filmmakers themselves. What I hope to achieve from my assignments by the end of the year. The first thing I want to achieve from my assignments is to having my MA course research done and my entry forms completed. I am quite confused about what course, which university I should apply and how I will do it. Doing this assignment is the greatest chance to find out what MA course is most suitable for me. Deciding on what course I will apply and completing my entry forms will remove a great burden from me. The second thing I want to achieve is to do a research into Turkish Cypriot community, get as many interviews as I can and improve my skills. I am really ambitious about this assignment because of the topic and the interviewees. The interviewees are the only generation of Cyprus who experienced a lot of difficulties in their life and who will extinct soon; they experienced war, hunger, poverty, separation, sadness, horror and anxiety. This makes the interviews I will get really valuable for me. Last year, I started to keep an archive of interviews I did with elderly Turkish Cypriots both in Cyprus and London. I will be able to use these when I start to work in the TV channel I worked last summer. Apart from that I have the idea of turning the entire interviews I have into a book in the future. My future plans make this assignment really important and necessary for me. I have already started to visit the Turkish Cypriot Community Association which is in Haringey. The organization has quite a lot elderly Turkish Cypriot members. I will visit the place every Thursdays and Fridays which are the days that old generation Turkish Cypriot immigrants gather. I will be able to achieve my goal and finish my assignment by the end of the year. Activities and planned dates for completion of my assignments and the written coursework I have decided to divide my assignments into three pieces this year. Overview of MA Courses in UK containing research and completed entry forms with references: 25% Research into Turkish Cypriot community in London containing a 8000-10.000 word interview transcription and all relevant research and a 2000 word (minimum) Reflective Analysis: 25% A 5000 Essay on The effects of Social Media as a tool used for film making and promotion; an investigation of both dependent independent filmmakers around the world, 25% The deadline for all three pieces is 1st May 2011. In this study plan, I analyzed my personal strength and weakness and what I seek to achieve from my assignments by the end of the year. I believe I have chosen the most appropriate tasks for me. Doing these tasks will make me gain responsibility of planning and completing my assignments independently and make me use my own communication, research and skills to complete them. I will work hard to complete all my tasks and achieve all my goals which will make me ready for my future studies and goals.

Juvenile Bootcamps Essay -- Teens History Boot Camp Essays

Boot camp is an alternative to incarceration. In this paper I will prove that Boot Camps for youthful offenders are effective. Boot camps started in the year 1888 by Warden Zebulon Brockway at the Elmira Reformatory located in Elmira, New York. The warden did this because he wanted to invoke a new way of disciplining and keeping the inmates active. The reasoning that this style of imprisonment worked was because there were virtually no prison guards which saved thousands of dollars. Another reason that it worked was because the men would work day and night producing quality goods that were much less then the competitors. Yates Law prohibited the inmates from competing in the open market which eventually lead to the end of the military like structure. Another reason for and end of this type of incarceration was due to World War I. Prior to the war local citizens were invited to the facility to witness the military like drills and ceremonies. As soon as the war ended the people didnâ €™t like the military which shut down the program.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States Army used basic training to rehabilitate soldiers who committed crimes. They used this system because prisons were overcrowded and very expensive. This way reduced the cost and allowed the return of 42,000 soldiers into active duty.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1965 shock incarceration was developed in Ohio. This was an attempt to â€Å"shock† inmates by making them think twice about what they were going to do. The length the incarceration was on for 90-180 days. An analysis of the program in Ohio proved to be successful. There was a 130 percent less recidivism then those with prior records.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Kentucky they had the highest rates of rearrest, reconviction and the return to prison. There reincarceration rare was only 21.4 percent. This was consistent with the finking form other shock probation programs that were heralded as effective (Vito and Ellis).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The First Juvenile boot camp was established in 1985 in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. The kids who were accepted into boot camps were between the ages of 17-26 and the offence had to be one that was nonviolent or less then one first degree offense.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Boot camp incorporates military drill and ceremonies and physical training. After care is now one of the steps in a successful program. Most states now believe that group counseling are vital for the inmates succ... ... graduates of boot camps and the recidivism rate was at 21 percent but the prison rate is at 34 percent. This seems to be the key when wanting to help and lower the rate of recidivism. Proper aftercare and close monitoring will in fact help these troubled teens as you can tell by the number stated above.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The future of boot camps as well as shock incarceration will grow because of their success. My feeling is that if one troubled teen is helped then it is all worth while. Why stop trying to help if the majority is not willing to change but if that one will work hard and follow what they have learned in the boot camps then we should continue what were are doing. References   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Anderson, J. , Burns, J. , & Dyson, L. , (1999). Boot Camps: An Intermediate Sanction. New York: University Press of America. Hebert, E. , & MacKenzie, D. , (Eds.). (1996). Correctional Boot Cmaps: A Tough Intermediate   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sanction. New York: Russel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vito, G. F. And Ellis, J. (1985). An offender-based tacking system study of three districts in the commonwealth of Kentucky Research Report Series: No. 4). Louisville, KY: University of Louisville, College of Urban And Public Affairs.

Micro Environment

|Chapter | | 1 | Introduction 1. 1 Problem Background There are about three billion people, half of the world’s population, living on the income of less than two dollars a day. Among these poor communities, one child in five does not live to see his or her fifth birthday. One study in 2006 showed that the ratio of the income between the 5% richest and 5% poorest of the population is 74 to 1 as compared to the ratio in 1960, which was 30 to 12.To enhance international development, the United Nations Organization (UNO) announced the millennium development goals,aimed to eradicate poverty by 2015. In this regard, microfinance is the form of financial development that has its primary aim to alleviate the poverty. Governments, donors and NGOs around the world responded enthusiastically with plans and promised to work together towards the realization of these goals.In the recognition of microfinance, the UNO celebrated the year 2005 as a year of micro-credit, as a result this financ ing instrument is perceived worldwide as a very effective mean against hunger and poverty, mainly in developing countries. Microfinance is a credit methodology, which employs effective collateral substitute for short-term and working capital loans to micro-entrepreneurs. The level of a country’s poverty has long been linked with measures of its economic development. Little consideration was given to the social reorganization of the natural resources (e. empowerment vs. alien ation of people, sustainable use vs. depletion of the environment). The economies with positive growth rate of Gross National Product (GNP) were measured by their poverty mitigation. This gratitude emphasized on the achievement of wealth and technology as a path for development and assumed that improved lives for all would be the natural consequence. Microfinance is not a new development. Some developed countries as well as developing countries particularly in Asia hav e a long history of microfinance.Dur ing the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, in number of European countries, microfinance evolved as a type of the informal banking for the poor. Informal finance and self-help have been at the foundation of microfinance in Europe. The early history of microfinance in Ireland can be traced back to 18th century. It is a history of how self-help led to financial innovation, legal backing and conductive regulation, and creating a mass microfinance movement. But the unpleasant regulations prompted by commercial bankin g brought it down.The so-called Irish loan funds appeared in early eighteenth as charities, initially financed from donated resources and offering interest free loans. They were soon replaced by financial intermediation between savers and borrowers. Loans were granted on short–term basis and instalments were scheduled on weekly basis. To enforce the repayment, monitoring process was used. In Latin America and South Asia, the microfinance has grown out of experiment s, but the best-known start was in Bangladesh in 1976, following a widespread famine in 1974 and a hard-fought war of liberation in 1971.Its origin can be traced back to 1976, when Muhammad Yunus set up the Grameen Bank, as an experiment, on the outskirts of Chittagong University campus in the village of Jobra. The inspiration of Grameen Bank came to Muhammad Yunus’ mind when he lent the equivalent of $26 to $42 to exploited women who were working as bamboo furniture maker. He saw that, they were enthusiastic about it and paid back their loans on time.In the beginning, Muhammad Yunus focused the activities of Grameen Bank mainly on savings and small loans, and decided to put the interest rates high enou gh to cover the expenses. Finally yet importantly, he asked borrowers to organize themselves in solidarity groups of five people (who have to meet every week in order to repay their loans and to ex change their opinions). Inspired by the success of his experiment, he decided t o spread out this system to other villages in Bangladesh. In 1983, this institution became a bank.Today it operates in almost 36000 villages and serves more than 3500000 people. On 13th October 2006, the Nobel Peace Prize went to Muhammad Yunus and Gramen Bank, the microfinance institution he founded 30 years ago. Muhammad Yunus has shown himself to be a leader who has managed to translate visions into practical action for the benefit of millions of people, not only in Bangladesh, but also in many other countries. Loans to poor people without any financial security had appeared to be an impossible idea. 2 Eventually we are in a situation, in which Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank, tells us the goal spread of micro-credit and finance, which give us the hope, may be our great-grandchildren will go to museums to see what poverty was like. This report is about microfinance and its contribution to the improvement and poverty alleviation for millions of the poorest people of Ba ngladesh. Micro finance has a huge impact on the lives of millions of poor people..Numerous scholars and NGOs have been working to take microfinance within the reach of poor people, who are still not benefited by the conventional financial system. It was believed that microfinance is not important for all people but most groups can benefit from this idea. In this report, we try to present evidence of the important contributions made by microfinance in the eradication of poverty by increasing the income generating activities, empowerment of poor people to access development services such as health and education, and reduction in vulnerability. 1. 2 Problem StatementIn the light of problem, background leads to the following problem statement, Impact of Microcredit on poverty alleviation of the poor people in Bangladesh 1. 3 Objectives of the study To be meaningful, every work must have to formulate the objectives of the study. In the light of the topic of the report, the objective of this study is to show how microcredit works, by using group lending methodology for reducing poverty and how it effects the living standard (income, saving access to health and education, etc. ) of the poor people in Bangladesh. 1. 4 Methodology of the studyData & information are mainly collected from secondary sources. We have used several books, research literatures, articles, journals and report, as secondary sources for our study. Internet sources were also used as a secondary source for our report. Since the internet sources are less reliable, we have limited the use of those sources to the web pages of prominent organizations like Grameen Bank. Most of the sources, we tried to use, are reliable and are acceptable almost everywhere. Nevertheless, from them we had to choose the most appropriate literature for our report.For this reason, we had to go through numerous references related to this topic, to find the suitable materials. Besides these, Google Scholars were also used to find the suitable research material. The keywords used when searching for scientific articles and literatures were; microcredit, microcredit and Bangladesh, poverty reduction and microcredit, Muhammad Yunus and microcredit,living standards and microcredit etc. 1. 5 Limitations Due to shortage of time, the accuracy of information may not have been completely flawless. 1. Definitions and Key Concepts Microcredit It is a component of microfinance and is the extension of small loans to entrepreneurs, who are too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans. Especially in developing countries, micro-credit enables very poor people to engage in self-employment projects that generate income, thus allowing them to improve the standard of living for themselves and their families. Poverty Poverty is a condition in which a person of a commumity is deprived of the basic essentials and necessities for a minimum standard of living.Since poverty is understood in many senses, the basic essentials ma y be material resources such as food, safe dringking water and shelter, or they may be social resources such as access to information, education, health care, social status, political power, or the opportunity to develop meaningful connections with other people in society. According to the World Bank’s (1980 ) definition of poverty, condition of life so characterized by malnutrition, illiteracy, and disease as to be beneath any reasonable definition of human decency. Extreme Poverty/Absolute PovertyExtreme poverty is the most severe state of poverty, where people can not meet their basic needs for survival, such as food, water, clothing, shelter, sanitation, education and health care. Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger by 2015 is a Millennium Development Goal set by UNO. To determine the number of extreme poor people around the world, the World Bank characterizes extreme poverty as living on the daily income of US $1 or less. It has been estimated that around 1. 1 bill ion people currently live under these conditions. Moderate povertyIt indicates the condition where people earns about $ 1 to $2 a day, which enables households to just barely meet their basic needs, but they still have go for many of the other things – education, health care –that many of us take for granted. Relative Poverty It means that a household has an income below the national average income. Micro finance Institutions (MFIs) A microfinance institution is an or ganization, engaged in extending micro credit loans and other financial services to poor borrowers for income generating and self-employment activities.An MFI is usually not a part of the formal banking industry or government. It is usually referred to as a NGO (Non-Government Organization). |Chapter | | 2 | Theoritical Framework 2. 1 What is microcredit? Microcredit is the extension of very small loans (microloans) to the unemployed, to poor entrepreneurs and to others living in poverty who are not consi dered bankable. These individuals lack collateral, steady employment and a verifiable credit history and therefore cannot meet even the most minimal qualifications to gain access to traditional credit.Microcredit is a part of microfinance, which is the provision of a wider range of financial services to the very poor. 2. 2 Features of microcredit †¢ Size – loans are micro, or very small in size †¢ Target users – micro entrepreneurs and low-income households †¢ Utilization – the use of funds – for income generation, and enterprise development, but also for community use (health/education) etc. †¢ Terms and conditions – most terms and conditions for microcredit loans are flexible and easy to understand, and suited to the local conditions of the community. Usually micro-credit is provided to a particular geographical area or community. †¢ Micro-credit funds are sometimes initiated in response to the needs of a particular group . †¢ Some loan circles and lending institutions require participants to attend ongoing business training and mentoring programs, which is not the case with traditional debt lending. †¢ Micro-credit is recognized as having increased risk and is treated as a separate class of product by lenders. †¢ Its mission is to help the poor families to help themselves to overcome poverty. It is targeted to the poor, particularly poor women. 2. 3Classification of microcredit I. Traditional informal microcredit (such as, moneylender's credit, pawn shops, loans from friends and relatives, consumer credit in informal market, etc. ) II. Microcredit based on traditional informal groups (such as, tontin, su su, ROSCA, etc. ) III. Activity-based microcredit through conventional or specialised banks (such as, agricultural credit, livestock credit, fisheries credit, handloom credit, etc. ) IV. Rural credit through specialised banks. V. Cooperative microcredit (cooperative credit, credit uni on, savings and loan associations, savings banks, etc. VI. Consumer microcredit. VII. Bank-NGO partnership based microcredit. VIII. Grameen type microcredit or Grameencredit. IX. Other types of NGO microcredit. X. Other types of non-NGO non-collateralized microcredit. |Chapter | | 3 | Major MFIs and their role in Bangladesh Back during late 1970s, when the Jobra experiment was underway under Professor M. Yunus, the Dheki Rin Prokolpa was initiated by the Bangladesh Bank in collaboration with the Swanirvar Bangladesh, and several other pilot schemes were initiated by a handful of the NGOs who were active then.At that time, it was difficult then to conceive that these initiatives would lead to a major micro-credit movement, which would make Bangladesh known to the rest of the world. Even during the 1980s, in spite of Grameen Bank’s success, the main discourse amongst development practitioners in Bangladesh centred on the desirability of micro-credit program as opposed to concie ntization. By 1990, unhindered experimentation in the fields led to a quiet resolution of the debate and the country experienced a massive expansion of micro-finance activities during the 1990s.This is borne out by the figures on the time path of MFI expansion (see Figure 1), [pic] Many studies and surveys have been carried out by different agencies regarding the working of MFIs and their impact on the poor people in Bangladesh. The agencies like Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies and World Bank have found strong evidence that functioning of MFIs have helped the people in meeting their daily needs and at the same time building their assets.It has been stated in The World Bank Economic Review that microfinance has not only helped people to develop in their material capital but also in the human capital, by better access to health care and education system, and general awareness among the people about their rights and duties towards society. However, there are numerous MFIs w orking in Bangladesh at present so it is almost impossible to mention all of them. Therefore, we have chosen four of the most important ones and try to give the overview of them. 3. Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) With a vision of â€Å"a just, enlightened, healthy and democratic Bangladesh free from hunger, poverty, environmental degrad ation and all forms of exploitation based on age, sex, religion and ethnicity†, BRAC started as an almost entirely donor funded, small-scale relief and rehabilitation project to help the country overcome the devastation and trauma of the Liberation War. Today, BRAC has emerged as an independent, virtually self-financed paradigm in sustainable human development with its motto ?Alleviation of poverty and empowerment of the poor. It is the largest in the world employing 97,192 people, with the twin objectives of poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor. Through experiential learning, BRAC today provides and protects liveliho ods of around 100 million people in Bangladesh. Diagnosing poverty in human terms and recognizing its multidimensional nature, BRAC approaches poverty alleviation with a holistic approach. BRAC's outreach covers all 64 districts of the country. 3. 1. Microfinance Programs of BRAC, at a Glance (Source: BRAC Annual report 2005) |Inception of micro finance programme |1974 | |Programme coverage |Districts 64,Thanas:507 | |Total No of Area/Branch Offices |1,381 | |Total No of village Organizations |160,197 | |Total No of Members |4,837,099 | |Percentage of Women Members |98% | |Outstanding Borrowers |4,159,793 | |Cumulative Loan Disbursement |165,794 million (US $3,094) | |Members’ Savings |9,159 million (US 141 million) | |Average Loan Size |9,452(US $145) | |Repayment Rate |99. 49% | 3. 2 Grameen Bank The history of origin of Grameen Bank can be traced back to 1976, when Professor Muhammad Yunus, head of the Rural Economics Program at the University of Chittagong, launche d an action research project to examine the possibility of designing a credit delivery system to provide banking services targeted at the rural poor.The initial activities started from Jobra village (adjacent to Chittagong University) and some in th e neighboring villages in the following years. Later in 1979, with the sponsorship of central bank and support of the nationalized commercial banks, the project was extended to Tangail, a district north of Dhaka. Later the Grameen Bank became an autonomous organization through the government legislation of October 1983. Today, Grameen Bank is mainly owned by the people whom it serves and they own 90% of its shares and remaining 10 % are owned by the government. 3. 2. 1 Microfinance Programs of Grameen bank, at a Glance (Source: Gra meen Bank annual report 2007) |Numbers of Members |7. 5 million | |Percent of Women Members |97% | |Number of Canters |99,502 | |Number of Villages covered |59,912 | |Number of Branches |2,499 | |Number of A reas |81,334 villages | |Number of Zones |21 | |Cumulative amount Disbursed since Inception |256,497. 40 (Million Taka) | |Cumulative Disbursed during |2005 39,183. 49 (Million Taka) | |Amount of Loan outstanding |27,970. 31 (Million Taka) | |Members |20,138. 7 (Million Taka) | |Non-Members |11,521. 19 (Million Taka) | |Portfolio Growth Rate |39. 66% | 3. 3 Association for Social Advancement (ASA) ASA in Bengali means ‘HOPE’. ASA is a non-governmental organization based in Bangladesh, which provides micro-credit financing. It was established in 1978 by Shafiqual Haque Choudhury who is also the current chairman. Its functioning is basedon the institutional support system.Innovations and simplifications of staff training, monitoring and bookkeeping are the three areas responsible for ASA's ability to effectively manage established units and pursue bold growth initiatives simultaneously. This makes the operations smooth and efficient. This makes it simple and easy to operate both for the organization and for the clients, without the unnecessary delays of bureaucracy and red-tape. Its mission is to â€Å"reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of the poor through the provision of qualitative and responsive micro finance services in an innovative and sustainable way†. ASA offers a successful alternative microfinance model to that of the Grameen bank.ASA combines low cost operations and high growth to fuel its success. ASA continues to perfect the role of financial intermediation by developing a variety of savings p roducts that are quite successful at generating the necessary funds from local sources. The experiences of ASA's managerial dynamism and replication of its simple model have much to offer the diverse microfinance sector as it accommodates demand for quality Financial services by the poor masses. ASA is confident that a financially viable microfinance sector that provides competitive financial services to its customers will be able to expand outreach at a pace similar to its own. 3. 3. Microfinance Programs of ASA, at a Glance (Source: ASA Annual Report 2005) |Inception of micro finance programme |1978 | |Programme coverage |Evenly distributed over the country | |Total No of Area/Branch Offices |2,291 | |Total No of village Organizations or groups |178,904 | |Total No of Members |5. 99 millions | |Percentage of Women Members |Not sex biased | |Outstanding Borrowers |4. 8 millions | |C umulative Loan Disbursement |33,082 million (Taka) | |Total Members’ Savings |3,036 million (Taka) | |Average Loan Size |Taka 7,129 | |Avg. savings balance by members |Taka 748 | 3. 4 Proshika Immediately after the ‘WAR OF LIBERATION’ in 1971, a group of young men, who could realize the inadequacy of the conventional development practices, began to plan development activities with an alternative appr oach. With an objective to contribute to rebuilding the war-ravaged country, they formed Proshika M anobik Unnayan Kendra (Proshika Centre for Human Development).The development process of PROSHIKA, one of the largest NGOs of Ban gladesh, started in a few villages of Dhaka and Comilla districts in 1975, although the organization formally took its first step in 1976. Proshika is an acronym of three Bangla words, proshikkhan (training), shikkha (education) and kaj (action). PROSHIKA envisages a society, which is economically productive and equitable, socially just, environmentally sound, and genuinely democratic. The main mission of PROSHIKA is to conduct an extensive, intensive, and participatory process of sustainable development through empowerment of the poor.Through empowerment, the poor are or ganized and made aware of the real causes of their impoverishment, a leadership is developed among them, their material resources are mobilized, income and employment is increased, and capacities are developed to cope with natural disasters. Empowerment makes th e poor functionally liter ate, enables them to take better care of their health, to get involved in environmental protection and regeneration, get elected in local government bodies and community institutions, and provides the poor with better access to public and common property resources. 3. 4. 1 Microfinance Programs of PROSHIKA, at a Glance ((Source: PROSHIKA Annual Report 2005) |Numbers of Members |2. 7 millions | |Percent of Women Members |Approximately 60% | |Number of Groups |148,039 | |Number of Villages covered |23559 | |Number of Slums |2102 | |Number of Households |2. 3 millions | |Number of primary Groups |148,039 | |Cumulative Disbursed during 2005 |Taka 31,870 millions | |Number of Education Centres Set Up So Far |53,616 | |Persons graduated with technical skills |1. 11 millions | |Chapter | | 4 | Impact of Microcredit Program on Poverty Alleviation 4. What the microcredit clients do with the loan money In one of the country's large formal MFIs, it was found that about sixty eight per cen t of the clients used 54% of their total loans for small trades. A few clients used 64% of the loan money for buying homestead and cropland. A small number of clients used 67% of the loans to build new houses. Some spent 15% of the total loan for medical treatment of their relatives and themselves. Some spent 19% of the total loan money for consumption purposes. A few clients used 29% of loan money for sending their relatives abroad for jobs. A smaller number of clients used 18% of their loan for major repairing of their dwelling houses.A handful of clients used 42% of the loan for buying television sets, furniture and gold ornaments, while others used the loan money in buying rickshaws, livestock and lending to others in a modicum scale . In another large non-governmental organisation (NGO)-MFI, it was spotted that fifty per cent of the clients used 95% of the total loan money in trading businesses like vegetables, grocery, fish, and betel leaves, etc. A few clients used 40% of the loan money in repaying occasional borrowed debts. Some clients used 35% in agricultural farming. Some used 37% of the total loan for buying livestock for rearing. A few clients used 41% loan money for redeeming mortgaged cropland.Some clients used 61% of the loan money for sending relatives abroad. Again some used 34% of the loan money for meeting the debts from moneylenders. Some clients used 15% of the total loans in repaying loan installments of other NGOs. Some clients used 17% of the loan for medical treatment. Some used 100% loan for house construction, while others used the loans for buying land, rickshaw vans and consumption purposes. Yet again in another large NGO-MFI in the country, about fifty per cent clients were noticed using 66% of the total loan in running their businesses. Several clients used 43% of the total loan for marriage ceremony of their family members.A few clients used 38% of the loan for house construction and repairing. Some used 32% of the total loans in repaying loans of the local moneylenders. A few clients used 59% of the loan for various litigation purposes. Some clients spent 41% in food consumption. Some clients used 67% loan for weaving purposes. Others used the loans for medical treatment, buying livestock, cropland, taking others land for cultivation and repaying loan installments of other NGOs. In a mid-level MFI operating in the urban areas, cent per cent clients used 86% of the total loan in various types of businesses that include grocery, cattle hide, computer composing, photocopy service, commercial phone service, saree selling, etc.Some clients used 84% of the total loan for house construction. A few clients used 81% of the total loan in buying land in the villages where they hailed from. In a pretty tiny NGO-MFI, some clients were found using 74% of the total loans for buying fishing equipment like nets and boats, etc. Some clients used 46% of the loan for buying livestock. A few used 74% of the loans as business capital. Some kept 52% of the loans as savings in the commercial banks, while others used the loan money for repairing houses and meeting medical costs. 4. 2 Impact of Microcredit The major objective of microcredit (MC) is to create income among poor households and thereby alleviate poverty.In this respect the question can be asked at two levels, first, whether MC leads to an improvement in income and second whether the increase in income is sufficient to lift them above the poverty level. There is also a third aspect related to the second that is whether poverty alleviation takes place on a sustained basis. Though most impact assessment studies examine the impact of MC on income, the analyses concentrated on mainly the first question. It should be mentioned that most studies consider the total impact on growth of income and do not examine whether a redistribution of credit fund has a redistributive impact on poverty and income of households 4. 2. 1 Findings of PKSF ME Study by BID SPalli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) commissioned a longitudinal Monitoring and Evaluation Study (MES) which was conducted by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). Started in 1997, the studies were completed in 2001. The study covered 3026 sample households spread over 91 villages located in 13 of PKSF POs operational areas. A census was administered in late 1997, covering 19151 households in 91 villages. The first and the second round surveys under the study were administered in 1998 and 1999 and the third and final round survey was conducted in 2000. Some findings on the impacts of microcredit as presented here are gleaned from the reports and papers prepared by BIDS. The summary of the PKSF-ME Study by BIDS is shown in the Table below- Table: Impacts of Microfinance (compared to non-participants) Broad Category |Indicatiors |Type of Change |Cause of Change | |Economic Impact |Income |+ |Self employment activities | | |Food Security |+ |Greater access to cultiv able land through the | | | | |rental market | | |Wage (land poor) |+ |Transport and other non-agril activities sup. by MC| | |Employment (land poor) |+ |better access to the land rental market | | | | |Wage emoloyment in non-ag. sector | | |Assets (land poor) |+ |av. ow land size than non-participants | | | | |larger operational holding | | | | |impact of MF (poultry livestock, bi-cycles, | | | | |rickshaw/van) | |Social and other |Fertility and contraceptive use |+ |program participation | |development impacts | | |female methods dominate | | |Health and Nutrition |+ |program placement effect | | |Sanitation and drinking water |+ |program participation | | |Literacy and school enrollment |+ |program participation | | |of children | | | | |Social mobility |? |do not vary significantly | | |Women articipation and HH |+ |participation in a MC program | | |welfare | |increasing women’s income | 4. 2. 2 Measuring the Impact of Microfinance Grameen Bank has been tracking the pro gress of its clients in achieving all ten indicators since 1997, and reports that 55 percent of its established members (Grameen annually surveys all clients who have been in the program more than five years) had crossed the poverty line by the end of 2004: [pic] (Source: CIA World Factbook: http://www. cia. gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/bg. tml) This is an impressive achievement, and exactly the type of information that one might hope any MFI would be tracking. Though it might seem arbitrary to determine that achieving all ten indicators constitutes movement out of poverty, in fact all poverty lines are to some degree arbitrary, and they are meant to quantify whether or not families are meeting basic needs—such as those represented in the Ten Indicators. Knowing that 55 percent of established Grameen clients never go hungry, have access to safe drinking water, and send their children to school is important to Grameen. Table 1: Poverty rates among Grameen Bank members vs . Non-participants, 1984-85 |Grameen members |Target non participants |All households | | | |Grameen |Comparison |Grameen |Comparison | | | |villages |villages |villages |villages | |Moderately poor (percent) |61. 0 |83. 7 |80. 4 |61. 5 |76. 3 | |Extremely poor (percent) |48. 0 |76 |74. 4 |47. 1 |54. 6 | Table 2: Poverty rates among Grameen Bank members vs. Non-participants, 1996-97 |All households | | |Grameen |Comparison | | |villages |villages | |Moderately poor (percent) |18 |57. 5 | |Extremely poor (percent) |15 |54. 5 | Table 1 and 2 suggest that Grameen Bank members are substantially less poor than non-members, and that Grameen Bank’s activities affected the poverty levels of entire villages. The centerpiece of the findings of a survey is that every additional taka lent to a woman adds an additional 0. 18 taka to annual household expenditure—an 18 percent return to income from borrowing. Notably, the returns to male borrowing were considerably lower, only 11 per cent.The paper and the book reported a variety of â€Å"wider† impacts, including: †¢ A one percent increase in credit to Grameen women increased the probability of girls’ school enrollment by 1. 86 percentage points. †¢ A 10 percent increase in credit provided to women increased the arm circumference of girls by 6 percent. †¢ A one percent increase in credit to women increased the height-for-age of both boys by 1. 42 percent and girls by 1. 16 percent. Microcredit is not merely an instrument for credit extension to the poor borrowers. It is a movement to emancipate the poor to alleviate their poverty, improve their quality of life, and build their capacity and awareness and to integrate them economically and socially into the mainstream of the economy.The benefits of microcredit go beyond the quantifiable ones, there are other benefits, which are not seen, but are evident in the socio-economic transformation of rural Bangladesh. |Chapter | | 5 | Conclus ion We have come to the conclusions that there is a noticeable and positive impact of microcredit activities on the living standards, empowerment and poverty alleviation among the poor people in the society. If one can help, a poor person to stand on his own that cannot only bring about a revolution in their lives but also in the society. The dream of a healthy and educated society with no discrimination and biased can be achieved through this simple thought, the dream which seems to be coming true and becoming practical.The simple vision of one man, Muhammad Yunus has taken the shape of the revolution and has shown the ray of hope in the path of life to every human, irrespective of his background or status or position. The hope of a life that no one will sleep hungry, no one will die due to lack of medication, our children can read and write on their own and everyone will be the pillar of the society. Scope for further research The current study did not consider the reasons of moti vation to join the microfinance program. Another area that has not been investigated is the difficulties that the borrowers face to repay the loan. These areas deserve to be studied by future researchers in the field. There is also another field, which is neglected in our study that the supply gap of MFIs.Actually, to what extent the MFIs are capable to deliver their service to the poor people. Further research could be conducted in this area and for finding the reasons for the gap between demand and supply in terms of microfinance services. References www. google. com Grameen Bank official website (www. grameen-info. org/) ASA official website (www. asabd. org) BRAC official website (www. brac. net) PROSHIKA official web site (www. proshika. o rg/) Rahman, R. I. , 1994, Impact of Credit for the Rural Poor: An Evaluation of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation's Credit Program, Report Nr: 1207, BIDS, Dhaka. (found on the internet)The World Bank, 1996, Staff Appraisal Report, Bangladesh Po verty Alleviation Micro-finance Report 1, South Asia Region. (Found on the internet) Khandker, S. R, 1998, Micro-credit Programmes Evaluation —- A Critical Review, IDS Bulletin of International Development Studies 29 (4), 11-19. (Found on the internet) Measuring the Impact of Micro? nance: Taking Stock of What We Know (December 2005) – by Nathanael Goldberg. (Found on the internet) Impact of Microfinance on Living Standards,Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation of Poor People: A Case Study on Microfinance in the Chittagong District of Bangladesh. -by Mohammad Arifujjaman Khan and Mohammed Anisur Rahaman.

Commissioned Officer Essay Example

Commissioned Officer Essay Example Commissioned Officer Essay Commissioned Officer Essay I would like to start by emphasizing that it is my goal to become a Commissioned Officer, and I am determined to face whatever odds to achieve this goal.In my opinion, being a Commissioned Officer is being a Leader, in its truest essence, and in the tradition of the U.S. Coast Guard. I believe that if there is any organization where effective leadership must be cultivated and developed, it is in the military. In view of this, I could say that I am up to satisfying what the position requires.I desire to become a Commissioned Officer with Leadership as my battlecry, both as an end, and as a means. As an end, it has always been my passion to become a leader of men. Serving as a Commissioned Officer would become a realization of this passion. Meanwhile, leadership has become a means for me because I exercise the desired leadership traits to get every man on my team to work for the accomplishment of every mission. Leadership is entwined with my values, both as a man in uniform, and as a p erson.In the past, I have exemplified leadership by serving 4 years in the US Marines. There, I have earned the respect, confidence, and loyal cooperation of other Marines by demonstrating leadership traits such as Justice, Judgement, Dependability, Initiative, Decisiveness, Tact, Integrity, Enthusiasm, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty and Endurance.I have also displayed skills, specifically in communication and information gathering, as a linguist under a DEA contract. This specialty on the field of intelligence adds to my credentials as an Officer Candidate and as a leader. I am fluent in other languages such as Italian and Spanish, and these excellent communication skills would serve as helpful additions to my skills if ever I am able to become an Officer. I believe that it is crucial that a leader knows how to communicate with his men and with other people to whom duty calls him to speak to. With my excellent language skills, along with the leadership traits t hat I have gained from my experience in the US Marines and from the training in the Officer Candidate School, I am positive that I would be able to communicate ideas and intentions well. I believe this ability is rare among other aspiring leaders.With regards to the rudiments of military and leadership skills, I believe that I have enough competence, and my performance will certainly speak of this. However, since people say that nobody is perfect and that there would always be loopholes into the ideal, I commit to keep on striving everyday to become the Leader that I desire to become. This is my passion. And I hope that through this narrative, I have been able to narrate well about my potentials and capabilities, enough to bring me closer to my goals and objectives.References:Marine Corps Leadership Traits. Competencies Skills. Center for Strategic Leadership Studies. Retrieved 07 Nov 2006 at   6mcd.usmc.mil/ftl_site/Handbook/marine_corps_leadership__traits.htm.http://leadership. au.af.mil/sls-skil.htm#marines:legacee.com/Info/Leadership/LeadershipTraits.html

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Harry S. Truman Essays - Harry S. Truman, Haberdashers, Free Essays Harry S. Truman Sims 1 US History Mrs. Murphy 11 February 1999 Short and rather bird-like behind thick glasses, Harry S. Truman was not intimidating in looks. He spoke in a Midwestern farmer?s tone. But he was a shrewd politician, and established a reputation for speaking the truth. Truman was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri. He was the oldest of three children of John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen (Young) Truman(Steins 41). His birthplace is just south of the area into which his grandparents had moved from Kentucky four decades earlier(aol 2). The letter "S" in his name was not an abbreviation. It showed the family?s reluctance to choose between his grandfathers, Anderson Shippe Truman and Solomon Young. In 1887 Truman as an infant was moved to a 600 acre farm owned by his mother?s family (Hargrove 19). Harry often recalled how his granddad drove him to the Grandview Fair as a child. Harry also played in the cornfield and mud holes with his Shetland pony and his brother, Vivian (Hargrove 19). Shortly after Harry?s sister, Mary Jane, was born the family moved to the little town of Independence, Missouri. There, Harry?s thick glasses prevented from joining in many boyhood activities (aol 2). One of the friends that Harry met was a little, curly headed girl named Elizabeth "Bess" Wallace at the age of four years. Eventually they would marry (Hargrove 20). Harry started public school in 1892. Because of his poor eyesight his mother encouraged him to turn to piano and books (Steins 42). Harry began to read small sentences in the newspaper at the early age of five. This helped him stay away from the rough and tumble games that would break his glasses. He once said, "I was so cautioned about my glasses that I was afraid to join the boyish activities that I dearly so wanted to be a part of," (Hargrove 22). Despite some diphtheria in the second grade, Harry was an excellent student. He skipped the third grade entirely. Ironically, Harry had his first job while in the first grade at a drug store owned by William Clinton (Hargrove 22). Harry finished high school in 1901. He graduated with honors but was turned down an appointment to West Point due to poor eyesight (Steins 42). He took a job as a mailroom clerk at the Kansas City Star . Several years of work for a railroad and two banks added more to Truman?s experience than to his finances (aol 3). Then, at the age of 22, he returned to the rural work into which he had been born. He spent the next eleven years as a farmer helping his father manage the Young farm in Grandview (aol 3). Working on a farm in the golden age of American agriculture he experienced a personal change, becoming less withdrawn and much more confident in his relations with other people. He began to actively participate in Democratic Party politics that later helped him as a politician. In 1917 the world was at war. After the sinking of the Lusitania, the U.S. was enveloped by war and also Harry heard his calling. Truman enrolled in Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, 35th Division, of the United States Army (Hargrove 25). He discovered that he had talents as a leader and gained the affection of a group of men who voted for him later. After the war, he joined Veterans organizations and the Army Reserve, rising to the rank of Colonel. After returning home in 1919, Truman married his childhood friend, Bess, and established a haberdashery in Kansas City. The marriage succeeded, but the store didn?t. Founded during the post war boom, it collapsed in the post war Depression. Left with heavy debts Truman was forced to think once again about his career (aol 3). Through an old army friend, Truman was appointed highway overseer of Jackson County, Missouri. While Truman avoided the corrupt side of the organization and handled his own offices honestly and efficiently, he remained loyal to the dirty Pendergast that got him elected. In 1926, Truman wanted a higher position. He became county judge of Jackson County. In the era where bad politics was popular politics Truman soon became known and

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Developing Energy Needs And Climate Change An Environmental Sciences Essays Developing Energy Needs And Climate Change An Environmental Sciences Essay Developing Energy Needs And Climate Change An Environmental Sciences Essay In November, 2009 the UN Development Programme ( UNDP ) office noted that 1.5 Billion people of the universe, about one-fourth of current universe population are still without electricity ( EIA World study, 2009 ) . They are largely in rural developing universe. The UNDP besides highlighted the pressing demands to guarantee that the energy demands of developing states are cardinal to any new clime alteration understanding. The bulk of them who live in the dark are in the least developed states ( LDCs ) of South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, harmonizing to the study ( The Energy Access Situation in Developing States: A Review Focusing on the Least Developed Counties and Sub-Saharan Africa. ) Mr. Olav Kjorven, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Development Policy, told newsmans in New York at the launch of the study: Expanding energy entree is indispensable to undertake planetary poorness. It needs to go on at the lowest cost and in the cleanest manner possible to assist developing states set up a low-carbon path to development, He besides noted: Almost half of the humanity is wholly disconnected from the argument on how to drive human advancement with less emanations and greener energy because their world is much more basic than that. They carry heavy tonss of H2O and nutrient on their dorsums because they do nt hold transport ; they cook over wood fires that amendss their wellness, non with electricity, gas or oil, We must guarantee that energy demands of these people are cardinal to a new clime understanding, he added, mentioning to the treaty to control nursery gas emanations that states are trusting to accomplish when they meet in the Danish capital in December, 2009 Kjorven noted that two million people die every twelvemonth from causes associated with exposure to smoke from cooking with biomass and coal and 99 per cent of those deceases occur in the development states. In LDCs and Sub-Saharan Africa, half of all deceases from pneumonia in kids under five old ages, chronic lung disease and lung mal ignant neoplastic disease in grownups are attributed to the usage of solid fuel, compared with 38 per cent in developing states overall. Interestingly, most of these people live in a part where there is plentifulness of sunlight ( see Figure 1.1 and 1.2 ) , and it is no projectile scientific discipline that sunlight can be converted to electricity. The Photo-voltaic ( PV ) engineering that converts the sunshine to electricity has been known since 1950s, and the agencies to hive away PV electricity when the Sun is reflecting and do it available when it is dark has been applied for old ages. Furthermore, electricity generated in this manner is local and distributed. It can be used where it is needed, and therefore wo nt necessitate transmittal of electricity from a cardinal bring forthing station to remote rural countries, and thereby would extinguish all electricity transmittal related issues or costs which would be Millions of dollars in order to convey the electricity grid to these distant rural countries of the universe. Among the assorted energy utilizations, run intoing illuming demands affordably and faithfully is frequently the basic demands for human life, and the underlying key to any economic development, and riddance of human poorness. Lighting helps people gain extra clip for working, reading in the eventide, basking greater security and more comfort. The quality of visible radiation from a electric beginning is many times better when compared with kerosine lamps or tapers, and is less risky to wellness, and safe. Compared to the visible radiation provided by electricity that the people in the developed universe usage, the visible radiation from a kerosine lamp is really subdued. In order to read under this light 1 has about put the books straight over the lamp. In add-on, being at so close propinquity with these lamps, the kids are bound to inhale the exhausts from these lamps which are toxic and unhealthy. Therefore, the absence of modern visible radiation as provided by the electricity im pedes non merely the analyzing ability of these hapless kids but besides it creates serious wellness jobs. Pode ( Pode, 2008 ) noted In footings of costs, visible radiation from kerosine is far more expensive than provided by electric visible radiations. The cost of utile light energy ( $ /Lumen Hour of visible radiation ) for kerosine is more than 300 times higher than the inefficient incandescent bulbs, is more than 1600 times higher than a Compact Fluorescent visible radiation bulb and more than 3000 times higher than a LED . The International Finance Corporation ( IFC ) estimates that $ 38 Billion is spent yearly, chiefly by the hapless, on fuel-based lighting ( World Bank Group Progress on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects in Fiscal Year 2006: Bettering Lifes ) . A alteration to electric visible radiations ( CFL and LED based ) would be less than 1/2000 of this tremendous costs for illuming, a economy of mammoth proportion. 2.1 Introduction Every twenty-four hours about 122 PW of sunshine reaches the Earth s surface. This is plentiful compared to the 13 TW of entire energy consumed by worlds. Solar energy ( electricity ) is created by the sunshine. When the sunshine strikes a PV cell, a stuff made from Si or sand that is similar to the stuff used in doing computing machine memory french friess, the energy contained in the sunshine ( the photons ) excites the atom within the semiconducting material stuff, and motion of these loose atoms creates electromotive force ( direct current electromotive force ) and electric current. Therefore every bit long as there is Sun, and the sunlight hits a PV cell at that place will be PV electricity. This is sustainable and is plentiful. 2.0 System Installation Issues End product of solar PV panel can change significantly with its siting- location every bit good as its disposition ( tilt angle ) relation to place of the Sun. Since the PV electricity is generated by the Sun, the sum of sunshine hitting the PV cell will find how much solar electricity can be obtained from a PV cell at a location. The disposition of the Sun with regard to the PV cell is of import as it would order the sum of Sun s energy that would hit the surface of the PV faculty, and its continuance. Therefore, a solar PV panel that can track the Sun as it moves from E to west during the twenty-four hours can bring forth the most sum of solar electricity at a location. Where such trailing solar PV is non executable, the solar panel should be mounted at an angle so that it hits the Sun sheer for most of the clip and gets the sunshine during most of the twenty-four hours, Similarly, shadowing will impact the sum of Sun received on the PV panel and will impact the sum of end products . A Solar Pathfinder ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.solarpathfinder.com ) or similar instrument should be used to find the optimal location of the faculty, and topographic point it. The UNDP has postulated that The most basic demands for human development are to take long and healthy lives, to be knowing, to hold entree to the resources needed for a nice criterion of life and to be able to take part in the life of the community. Without these, many picks are merely non available, and many chances in life remain unaccessible ( hypertext transfer protocol: //hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/indices/hdi/ , accessed 5/1/2010 ) . Since 1970s international Keynesiasm highlighted the planetary mutuality with two major countries of concerns: a new international economic order ( NIEO ) and transportation of resources to the hapless population of the universe ( the 3rd universe states, 3W ) to run into the basic demands in development ( Preston, P.W. , ( 1996 ) , Development Theory, ISBN 0-631-19554-8 ) . See figure below. The function of energy in human development was foremost highlighted in an UN Report, prepared by the Brundtland Commission ( Brundtland Report, ( 1987 ) , United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development ( WCED ) , 1987, hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brundtland_Commission, accessed June, 2010 ) . Lack of entree to affordable energy was besides noted as one of the major causes of poorness and deficiency of human development. The disparities in energy usage between the developed universe and the under-developed universe was besides noted, with a suggestion that the developed universe take a broader function in taking this huge disparity. The authoritiess of the First universe states and the cardinal establishments of the post-second universe war broad capitalist systems, the IMF, the World Banks, the NGOs realized that they must suit to force per unit areas of reform, and pay attending to this NIEO by transportation of resources to the hapless stat es to run into their basic demands, and turn toing the energy poorness was on top of the docket. ( Preston, P.W. , ( 1996 ) , Development Theory, ISBN 0-631-19554-8 ) . We will discourse how this development attack for the full universe specially for the energy hapless states was addressed under this NIEO ( see Figure I.1 ) . Modern energy as provided by electricity provides many chances for human development. It reduces the clip needed to execute basic family jobs. The clip therefore saved could be used for income coevals, increased societal activities and educational intent. It has been determined that energy ingestion has important correlativity with GDP every bit good as HDI. A study published by IEA indicates that the states with high ingestion degree of per capita electricity, attain upper rank of both economic activities ( GDP per capita ) and HDI as shown Figs. I.4 and I.5, severally. Figures I. 4 and I. 5. Electricity Consumption and GDP ; and Electricity ingestion and HDI Income Generation -Enterprise development through electricity creates occupations -Higher productiveness through Mechanization -Small scale industries such as, weaving, knitting etc. for rural development Education -Lights enable easiness of analyzing after dark -Reduced clip needed for executing regular family jobs. The saved clip can be used for analyzing and fostering instruction ( ICT ) Modern energy enables one to entree computing machine, communicating and information based chances which are causes for digital divide, and cognition based societies Health Unhealthy pollutants such as ensuing from toxic dodo fuel based energy are reduced Arduous work related to roll uping firewood is reduced specially for adult females and kids Handiness of modern inoculation and medical specialty storage installations improves wellness of the local population Environment -Reduction in usage of fuelwood prevents devastation of trees and woods Energy efficient contraptions could cut down energy wastes -Promotes climate protection -Fosters globalisation of community and more societal interaction

Toyota study (Strategic Management) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Toyota study (Strategic Management) - Essay Example To almost anyone you turn to, strategy is a course of action, it is a plan or a way of doing things unique to a particular organisation or identical to other organisations. It is some sort of consciously intended guidelines to deal with a situation. In management, however "strategy is a unified, comprehensive, and integrated plan.designed to ensure that the basic objectives of the enterprise are achieved" (Mintzberg H. et al 2003:4). According to Johnson et al (2005), taking a business from where it is to the future or desired state involves some strategic decisions and choices. Strategic choices are concerned with decisions about future state of organisations. Strategic advantages are not always achieved by competition alone. Collaboration between potential buyers and sellers and some other dealers turn to be very beneficial and advantageous when negotiation and contracting costs reduces (JSW: 2005:261) Corporate level strategy is more concern with product diversity, market diversity, corporate parenting and managing portfolio. As our client have restriction on product diversity based upon contract conditions with the respective supplier, and the lack of portfolio of business to operate upon we will concentrate our corporate decision based on market diversity and corporate parenting roles. Questions like, Should we grow Which business unit should we grow How do we grow the business unit And what activities must be given up by our client to grow The choices include, collaboration, or international expansion, diversification or development of traditional Toyota brand. Expanding into more eco-friendly vehicles. The international strategy of Toyota Company also takes into account the value adding services it provides to its partners and dealers in different countries. By adding value to its partners Toyota increases its market potential and customer base in different geographical locations. By maintaining long-term relationship with its dealers and stakeholders the company meets one of its major objectives. The company has increasing used partners worldwide to benefit from its generic focus and cost leadership strategy. To the company, "offering inexpensive but durables cars and is essential for customer's satisfaction. By working with partners in different locations, Toyota has gained lasting competitive advantage over its competitors. Because of synergistic gains resulting from such partnership, the company as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is consistent with Javidan (1998:6) finding that successful organisation demonstrate a particular set of mindset. To these organisations, collaboration and partnering is viewed as an opportunity not a threat. The company unique resources which include its patents, trademark, resources rights (Cotton), strategic

Imagery in Poetry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Imagery in Poetry - Essay Example He portrays the beauty of the natural setting consisting of the woods, hills, grooves and valleys among others explaining that the beauty will pleasure many, â€Å"And we will all the pleasures prove† (line 3). The poet portrays his genius through his systematic use of words to evoke numerous other feelings besides sight and hearing. Sensory imagery is vital in enhancing the effectiveness of the message in the poem. Christopher Marlowe strives to portray the natural beauty of the landscape; he therefore utilizes all the senses in doing this. â€Å"And we will sit upon the rocks† (line 5), in the line the poet strives to build the feelings associated with solitary sitting on rocks while watching the natural scenery. The line enables the audience to conceptualize the setting and the act. In retrospect, building mental images is a fundamental poetic requirement in poems. Just as is the case above, imagery influences the consumption of the poems. In this context, Christopher Marlowe strives to develop the beauty associated with natural scenery. He therefore uses descriptive words that help develop the images thereby enhancing the consumption of the

The Challenges Facing the Deployment and Use of IT for the Development Literature review

The Challenges Facing the Deployment and Use of IT for the Development of Public Sector in Saudi Arabia - Literature review Example The rapid economic growth being experienced in the country has largely been as a result of the oil that is exported to other parts of the world. As a growing economy, the country needs to not only develop its infrastructure, but also improve its service delivery to the people (Benington, 2000). Information technology is an aspect of development that is sweeping across many developing countries today, and Saudi Arabia has definitely not been left behind. The implementation of IT plans has greatly helped the country improve the way its citizens get access to public services (Al-zharani, 2009). Using IT Resources The Saudi Communications Commission is the one regulates the deployments and use of IT resources in the country. Among the commission’s responsibilities include: ensuring that the communications services provided are well advanced, regulating the telecommunications sector, creating an environment for fair competition among different players in the telecommunications fiel d and securing the rights of the public to have access to information networks at prices they can afford. In short, this commission is responsible for how the country makes use of its existing structures to deploy and implement IT for the greater good and development of the Saudi public sector (Khan, 2011). Although the country has made some tremendous achievement in creating an information society, there remains a lot to be done so as to ensure that the IT infrastructures are as efficient as possible so as to serve as many people as possible. This means that the government has to consider some of the challenges that hinder the deployment and use of IT for the development of the Saudi public sector including government agencies and come up with ways to ensure that all people enjoy the full benefits of a networked society (Khosrowpour, 2000). Knowledge Workers and the Knowledge Society Knowledge workers include the valued individuals who earn a living by developing and applying knowl edge in specific areas of study. On the other hand, the knowledge society is a society that values knowledge as the primary resource used in production as opposed to labour and capital. Knowledge workers exist in a wide range of fields in Saudi Arabia. With their vast knowledge in their specific areas of interest, the knowledge workers are able to define problems and come up with solutions that affect society, strategies and help in decision making. The making of knowledge workers normally is influenced by the establishment of information technology of the places in which they are based. In Saudi Arabia, the making of more knowledge workers has been influenced by the establishment of e-learning and the availability of ICT resources. The deployment and use of IT for the development of the public sector requires the development of more knowledge workers so as to ensure that they are well equipped to deal with the IT tools at their disposal. Though the government through its e-governme nt efforts is trying to ensure that most areas in the public sector are well equipped with IT technology, there are a number of challenges it experiences (Benington, 2000). One of the challenges that the country faces in terms of knowledge worker development in the area of IT proficiency is the lack of technical skills. Very few of the employees working in the public sector have the proper knowledge to carry out some of the duties that would involve

THREAT ANALYSIS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

THREAT ANALYSIS - Essay Example Firstly, the process requires a source of the integral fissionable explosive that is in the right amounts and quality; also, it requires a terrorist with the knowledge of the science and technical works for execution. With a person, that has ample knowledge in the field, fabrication of the nuclear weapon is possible depending with the materials acquired and the target location of the terrorists. After the manufacturing, the complex and last parts involve successfully delivering the weapon to the target location and detonating the explosive. In these occasions, the terrorists need to be knowledgeable about the security policies in the target location and come up with plans of transporting the weapon without causing alarm. Without people that are conversant enough, the terrorist attacks fail due to complications such lack of communication and network blocks i.e.in the Iranian infiltration in 2012, the saboteurs did not succeed because the threat was identified early enough, and the aut horities had possible suspects . Definitely, the terrorists should be conservative and willing to risk or lose their lives like the common suicide bombers, in order for the attacks to succeed; furthermore, the people detonating the weapons should avoid accidents such as spontaneous ignition or early detonation. Today, there are only a limited number of terrorists groups with the capabilities of making successful nuclear weapon attacks. This is due to the lack of resources and advanced security in nuclear facilities. Al Qaeda and Al Shabab are today’s popular terrorist groups that have managed to conduct attacks in parts of the world with complex tactics. Al Qaeda is very resourceful as it divides into two groups based in Yemen and the core in Pakistan (Jonas &Swift 2008). Moreover, it has resourceful organizations and other terrorist groups like Al Shabab as its associates; typically, this

Coca Cola Crisis in India 2003 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Coca Cola Crisis in India 2003 - Assignment Example It is important to note that this degree of trust is the cornerstone upon which any type of image recovery or customer trust will be built upon. Accordingly, these questions and answers will hinge upon building this degree of trust and seeking to engage key elements within the consumer base. Furthermore, an obvious recourse would be to attempt to re-engage the market with the understanding and belief that Coca Cola brand is investing all available energy and capital to remedy any quality control issues that might have existed previously. As a means towards accomplishing consumer trust on this matter, Coca Cola may wish to point to its civic activism within the recent past, both within India and around the world as a means to convince the shareholder of the serious nature in which Coca Cola takes such an action. As a means to accomplish both the long and the short term goals that have been mentioned, it will be incumbent upon Coca Cola to prove their overall level of seriousness by pr oviding demonstrable actions to the Indian marketplace that clear and decisive actions have been taken to remedy any prior shortfalls that may have been exhibited. How long would you evaluate the crisis? Unfortunately, a situation like the one that has been listed is not one that Coca Cola can recover from over the span of a few months or even years. Similarly, as anyone that is familiar with marketing will point out, the amount of time it takes to re-engage consumer trust and ensure the market that the firm is not typified by its most negative actions and the consequences thereof is a costly and time-intensive process. Due to the fact that the findings were so damning, it will take Coca Cola a very long period of time to both rectify the damage done to the brand’s image as well as to seek to effectively engage future consumers with the overall benefits of the brand. Although the process will not be quick or cheap, such is the responsibility of Coca Cola and defines any hope of increased future success within India. It should be noted that a great deal rests on the means by which Coca Cola attempts to re-engage its consumers.  Ã‚  

Treating Chemotherapy-induced Fatigue with Exercise Essay

Treating Chemotherapy-induced Fatigue with Exercise - Essay Example The literature regarding the use of exercise as a therapy for CRF has established a strong foundation for its beneficial use and develops a case for exercise as a promising alternative, to other available techniques in counteracting fatigue problems. The main reason for choosing this topic, lies in the patient-centric themes being addressed, something that deserves top priority in Nursing Research. Patients with cancer say that fatigue is a major obstacle to functioning normally and having a good Quality of Life (Portenoy & Itri, 1999). Clearly, this is a subject area that strikes them at their core, and adequate research is needed, to better understand patient needs for this sensitive issue. To elaborate further on the significance of the topic for Nursing profession, it may be recalled that fatigue, in general, is a highly pervasive symptom for patients with cancer problems at advanced stages A clear understanding of the etiology of fatigue is needed to intervene appropriately, so a comprehensive assessment of fatigue must be multidimensional, evaluating both the physical and psychological aspects of the study area. From a historical standpoint, caregivers have faced severe trials, anxiously handling difficult cases, where patients have braved excruciating pain, lasting weeks, months, sometimes years. Also, of importance is the pain caused due to actual surgery, the effects of anesthesia, sedatives or analgesics, that compound the problem of fatigue. In few of the literature critiques examined for this review, test results are used to corroborate the main research aim: to explore positive correlation between exercise techniques, and reduction in fatigue problems. To gauge the importance of the topic, at an interactive level, I shall draw upon my own experience in dealing with patients during clinical rotations, after they were administered chemotherapy. I saw first-hand, how even mild doses of radiation, had an adverse impact on the patient's energy levels, and graduated to a perpetual cycle of inactivity, which simply prolongs treatment, in spite of world-class medical care at disposal. It makes common-sense to appreciate the fact, that a simplistic routine of exercise, can change the dynamics of the depressing scale, to which fatigue can frustrate caregiving efforts. The adage "just take it easy and rest" is applicable to a common case of mild flu, but when it comes to intangible trials in the realm of life-threatening cases su ch as Cancer, a patient's life may be jeopardized by an oversimplification of the after-treatment needs. I can vouchsafe the suitability of routine exercise, as a practical and reliable means of effecting better care to patients battling CRF. Based on personal observation, and that of other member in my Nursing team, it has been documented that doing some activity, can actually reduce fatigue. The data for our research was based on operations in a controlled environment. This is where the research dwindles to limitations, as it is not

THREAT ANALYSIS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

THREAT ANALYSIS - Essay Example Firstly, the process requires a source of the integral fissionable explosive that is in the right amounts and quality; also, it requires a terrorist with the knowledge of the science and technical works for execution. With a person, that has ample knowledge in the field, fabrication of the nuclear weapon is possible depending with the materials acquired and the target location of the terrorists. After the manufacturing, the complex and last parts involve successfully delivering the weapon to the target location and detonating the explosive. In these occasions, the terrorists need to be knowledgeable about the security policies in the target location and come up with plans of transporting the weapon without causing alarm. Without people that are conversant enough, the terrorist attacks fail due to complications such lack of communication and network blocks i.e.in the Iranian infiltration in 2012, the saboteurs did not succeed because the threat was identified early enough, and the aut horities had possible suspects . Definitely, the terrorists should be conservative and willing to risk or lose their lives like the common suicide bombers, in order for the attacks to succeed; furthermore, the people detonating the weapons should avoid accidents such as spontaneous ignition or early detonation. Today, there are only a limited number of terrorists groups with the capabilities of making successful nuclear weapon attacks. This is due to the lack of resources and advanced security in nuclear facilities. Al Qaeda and Al Shabab are today’s popular terrorist groups that have managed to conduct attacks in parts of the world with complex tactics. Al Qaeda is very resourceful as it divides into two groups based in Yemen and the core in Pakistan (Jonas &Swift 2008). Moreover, it has resourceful organizations and other terrorist groups like Al Shabab as its associates; typically, this

Treating Chemotherapy-induced Fatigue with Exercise Essay

Treating Chemotherapy-induced Fatigue with Exercise - Essay Example The literature regarding the use of exercise as a therapy for CRF has established a strong foundation for its beneficial use and develops a case for exercise as a promising alternative, to other available techniques in counteracting fatigue problems. The main reason for choosing this topic, lies in the patient-centric themes being addressed, something that deserves top priority in Nursing Research. Patients with cancer say that fatigue is a major obstacle to functioning normally and having a good Quality of Life (Portenoy & Itri, 1999). Clearly, this is a subject area that strikes them at their core, and adequate research is needed, to better understand patient needs for this sensitive issue. To elaborate further on the significance of the topic for Nursing profession, it may be recalled that fatigue, in general, is a highly pervasive symptom for patients with cancer problems at advanced stages A clear understanding of the etiology of fatigue is needed to intervene appropriately, so a comprehensive assessment of fatigue must be multidimensional, evaluating both the physical and psychological aspects of the study area. From a historical standpoint, caregivers have faced severe trials, anxiously handling difficult cases, where patients have braved excruciating pain, lasting weeks, months, sometimes years. Also, of importance is the pain caused due to actual surgery, the effects of anesthesia, sedatives or analgesics, that compound the problem of fatigue. In few of the literature critiques examined for this review, test results are used to corroborate the main research aim: to explore positive correlation between exercise techniques, and reduction in fatigue problems. To gauge the importance of the topic, at an interactive level, I shall draw upon my own experience in dealing with patients during clinical rotations, after they were administered chemotherapy. I saw first-hand, how even mild doses of radiation, had an adverse impact on the patient's energy levels, and graduated to a perpetual cycle of inactivity, which simply prolongs treatment, in spite of world-class medical care at disposal. It makes common-sense to appreciate the fact, that a simplistic routine of exercise, can change the dynamics of the depressing scale, to which fatigue can frustrate caregiving efforts. The adage "just take it easy and rest" is applicable to a common case of mild flu, but when it comes to intangible trials in the realm of life-threatening cases su ch as Cancer, a patient's life may be jeopardized by an oversimplification of the after-treatment needs. I can vouchsafe the suitability of routine exercise, as a practical and reliable means of effecting better care to patients battling CRF. Based on personal observation, and that of other member in my Nursing team, it has been documented that doing some activity, can actually reduce fatigue. The data for our research was based on operations in a controlled environment. This is where the research dwindles to limitations, as it is not

Coach Inc. Essay Example for Free

Coach Inc. Essay Coach Inc. in 2012: Its Strategy in the â€Å"Accessible† Luxury Goods Market Coach was founded in 1941 when Miles Cahn, a New York City leather artisan began producing leader handbags. In 1981, Coach was able to grow at a steady rate by setting prices about 50% lower than those of more luxurious brands, adding new models, and establishing accounts with retailers such as Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. After 44 years of family management, Coach was sold to diversified food and consumers goods producers, Sara Lee. The company continued to build a strong reputation for long-lasting, classic handbag. By the mid-1990s Coach’s performance began to decline as consumers developed a stronger preference for stylish French and Italian designer brands. In order to solve the problem, in 1996, Coach hired a new creative director and began to conduct the extensive customer surveys and focus groups to ask customers about styling, comfort, and functionality preferences. By 2000, the changes to Coach’s strategy and operation allowed the brand to build a sizeable lead in the â€Å"accessible luxury† segment of the leather handbags and accessories industry and made it a solid performer in Sara Lee’s business lineup. At the last quarter of 2000, Sara Lee management elected to spin off Coach through an IPO. After that, Coach Inc.’s financial result and stock price performance proved to be stellar, as its quadrupled growth in annual sales reach $4.2 billion in 2012. As coach was evolving more of a global growth-oriented in 2012, it was believed that the key growth initiatives was stores expansion in the U.S, Japan, Hong Kong, and mainland of China. In addition, Coach was considering expanding to the European and North America market but the threats from the existing prestigious brand are too strong. Coach was also racing to build brand loyalty in China, India, and other developing countries. These strategies are the tools to boost Coach’s profit margin and stabilize its stock which fell by nearly $20 in the first six months of 2012. Coach Inc. – Internal Analysis SWOT analysis: Identifying Strength and Weakness Strength The quality of the product is equal with the rivals, but Coach can sell it with 50% lower price. The product is distinctive, easily recognizable, extremely well made, and provided with excellent value Excellent service for  its customer: Coach replace damage handbag regardless the age of the bag Weakness The model of the product can be easily imitated The fact that the share price of coach is declining in the beginning of 2012 showed us that this company is vulnerable toward economic condition Competitive Advantage and Core Competencies: Resource Based View A company’s resources and capabilities represent its competitive assets and are big determinants of its competitiveness and ability to succeed in the marketplace. Resource Based-View should rely on: (Thompson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland III, 2014) Tangible asset: Coach has many stores around the world, Coach is flexible in terms of sourcing, it have a good control and research and development system Intangible asset: Coach has really good reputation, Women‘s Wear Daily survey stated that Coach quality, styling, and value mix is really powerful. In 2014, Coach Inc. became one of 100 most valuable brands in the world by Forbes. (Forbes.com, 2015). Coach Inc. also has a really good partnership in term of product manufacturing with China, Vendors in Vietnam and India, and also product development in Hong Kong, China, South Korea, also India and Vietnam. Those two kind of assets must be: (Jurevicius, 2013) Heterogeneous: Coach has different bundle of resources that make it different from the other. It have good knowledge in term of consumer preference, it have a good manufacturing and product development contract with outsourcing company Immobile: Coach’s resources and capabilities will stay in the company for quite a long time. Coach brand reputation and good relationship with outsourcing companies will create good core competencies for Coach Inc. Value Chain Analysis Primary Activities Supply Chain Management: Coach’s procurement process only selected the highest quality of leather. Operations: The operation process of Coach’s product is based on its sourcing agreement with quality offshore manufacturers, this contract help Coach in building reputation for high quality and value. Distribution: Coach’s channel distribution involved direct to consumer channels and indirect channels. Direct channels included  full-price stores in the U.S, internet sales, catalog sales, and stores in both China and Japan. Indirect sales included wholesale account with department stores in the U.S and other international market. Sales and Marketing: Monthly product launches to make purchase in regular basis to increase the frequency of consumer visit. The full-price stores’ designed to show luxury image, so it enhance the brand awareness to grow market share. In marketing, Coach communicates with customers through wide range of direct marketing activities including email, website, catalogs, and brochures. Service: Coach provides service to its customers by refurbish or replace damaged handbag regardless of the age of the bag. In peak shopping periods Coach provide additional store employees to ensure customers’ satisfaction. Company allow customers to have special request service as they are allowed to order merchandise for home delivery if particular handbag not available in the store Supporting Activities Product RD, Technology, and Systems Development: Coach is doing major consumer research quarterly to define product trends, selection, and consumer desires. Human Resource Management: Coach provides its store employees with regular customer service training programs. General Administration: Coach is forming collaboration with offshore manufacturers with 40 suppliers in 15 countries. It allows Coach to maintain sizeable pricing advantage relative to other luxury hand bag brands. VRIO Approach Is the resource â€Å"valuable†? Coach has very valuable resources. It has many stores around the world; it has a good relationship with offshore manufacturers so Coach can keep competitive in term of price. Coach also a brand with a good reputation. Is the resource â€Å"rare†? A reputation is not something that easily obtained by a brand. Having a reputation of the world’s most valuable brand give Coach a good competitive advantage in this industry. Is the resource â€Å"imitable†? Coach is having a valuable research about its partnership with offshore manufactures, it something that can be imitated by the competitors, but to imitate something like this will take a really long time, difficult, and costly. Is the resource â€Å"organized to capture value†? Coach’s products give value to middle income woman to feel the experience of having luxury brand. Conclusion and Recommendation To conclude based on the RBV, VRIO, and value chain analysis, Coach Inc. has already the competitive advantage that can help it to sustain in this industry. But as Coach Inc. want to penetrate to European and North America market, I recommend it to elaborate more strategy of differentiation, because many luxury brand in Europe and North America can provide the same price as Coach did. The differentiation can be in term of value given to the customers, so Coach will not be considered as luxury brand only but also something that give impression to its customers. Bibliography The Worlds Most valuable Brand. (2015). Retrieved March 8, 2015, from Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/powerful-brands/list/ Jurevicius, O. (2013, October 14). Resource Based View. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from Strategic Management Insight: http://www.strategicmanagementinsight.com/topics/resource-based-view.html Thompson, A. A., Peteraf, M. A., Gamble, J. E., Strickland III, A. J. (2014). Crafting and Executing Strategy The Quest for Competitive Advantage Concept Cases. McGrawHill Education.