Cloning In Brave New World Essays - Biology, Cloning, Genetics

Cloning In Brave New World Cloning in Brave New World by Christopher M. Earhart It has been said that Muhammad is the Seal of the Prophets, meaning that he was the last. However, our world has recently been graced by another prophet in Aldous Huxley. Huxley's prophetic vision is unmistakable in his science-fiction novel, Brave New World, in which he delivers a valuable message: control advancements in technology before they control us. Huxley supports this message with a strong example of a society that is so overrun by technology that the human race has lost their individuality, freedom, and ultimately their identity as human beings. In this Brave New World, artificially-born humans are genetically engineered, divided into castes, molded into machines through hypnopaedia, and controlled by the drug Soma. The new world appears to be a perfect utopia on the surface--there is no disease, no warfare, and no sadness. However, the humans have sacrificed thought, feelings, free will, and everything which makes one human to achieve this state. Through Brave New World, Huxley teaches us that these sacrifices are far too great and will eventually occur if humans continue to misuse technology in the future. Huxley's warning in Brave New World carries so much weight because of the truthful predictions he includes in the novel. Despite being written in 1932, Huxley predicts genetic engineering, test-tube babies, cloning, a loss of meaning in sexual relationships, and drug abuse. All of these predictions were far beyond his time, and all have either come true or are on the brink of occurrence. The most significant of these is his presentiment that production, not childbirth, will be the process in which humans are brought into this world. Just as Huxley predicted, scientists can now produce humans outside of the womb, and soon the cloning of human beings will be feasible. The concept of producing humans without parents is the foundation of the Brave New World that Huxley urges us to avoid. In Brave New World, Huxley's forewarning of the manufacturing of humans reveals the devastating results that our misuse of advancing technology can bring upon mankind. In Brave New World, Huxley prophetically predicts the mass-production of humans. Huxley's prediction begins with the first chapter, where the Director of the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Center gives a tour to prospective employees. The Director explains to them the Bokanovsky Process. In the Bokanovsky's Process, a bokanovskified egg will bud, will proliferate, will divide. From eight to ninety-six buds, and every bud will grow into a perfectly formed embryo, and every embryo into a full-sized adult.1 Before, one egg resulted in one human, but now ninety-six twins are being produced from one egg. The Director also explains that with Podsnap's Technique, a facilitated ripening process, you get an average of nearly eleven thousand brothers and sisters in a hundred and fifty batches of identical twins, all within two years of the same age.2 This process allows fertilized eggs to be produced in mesmerizing numbers. After these eggs are fertilized, they develop in the bottlin g room, where all the embryos grow in tubes. Like Model Ts on the assembly line, the bottles are transported on conveyor belts that stretch almost half a mile, where at every meter the embryo is specifically conditioned for its future role. After two-hundred and sixty-seven days, the babies are decanted, which is the equivalent of birth. The result? Thousands and thousands of virtually identical babies, all conditioned and predestined for a specific lifestyle. This controlled mass-production of babies in Brave New World possesses several results which appear beneficiary. As the Director states, Bokanovsky's Process is one of the major instruments of social stability!3 In Brave New World, Bokanovsky's Process allows the controllers to create a multitude of identical humans, perfectly suited for each social class. When all the humans are alike and conditioned to be content with their social class, it leaves no room for conflict, and therefore stability results. The motto of Brave New World, Community, Identity, Stability, is maintained by this process. Also, the humans are free from disease as well as from unintentional retardation and disabilities, and there is always a sufficient source of reliable workers. On the other hand, there are many

Essay Sample on #8220;The Invisible Man#8221;

Essay Sample on #8220;The Invisible Man#8221; Free sample essay on The Invisible Man: Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is true in The Invisible Man.Wells, one of the leading science fiction writers of his time has more than a handful of incredibly successful books accredited to his name. The book â€Å"The Invisible Man† is one of the crowning examples of XIXth century fantastic fiction. Even though it is an early work of science fiction I feel that it is much more than that. The nature of the plot of the story encourages one to come to the conclusion that there is more to this saga than science fiction. â€Å"The Invisible Man†, is a book about human nature and the intricacies of the thoughts, opinions and judgments intrinsically made in their minds when confronted with scenarios they fail to understand. Wells wrote this marvelous story as something of a lesson about scientists playing God, and placing themselves above normal people. In his book, HG Wells ventures into the abstract concept of invisibility and the human emotions and reactions involved in the attainment and realization of this amazingly incomprehensible power. A once sensible scientist is engulfed by the power he feels when unseen, and this power mongering eventually leads into insanity. He carries a sociopath anger that explodes at random, causing as much damage to himself as to others. There is a pervading angst and cynicism running through the story that makes the science aspect of it mere background. According to me, in his book, Wells has taken us on a tour of the extremes which human emotions and feelings can reach when confronted with situations requiring immediate action. The story is filled with innuendoes as indications of how petty, vindictive and suspicious the lay man can get. Wells expresses this by eluci dating accounts involving the lame and unintelligent villagers with the invisible man. All the people Griffin encounters after he becomes invisible, right from the marching crowd of the Salvation Army to the people he comes across in Iping, start to panic and cause havoc and chaos uncontrollably with the intention of escaping the danger that might occur if they are targeted by the invisible man. Wells describes how people react when they look at peril and jeopardy at its face, how one behaves in â€Å"the moment of truth†. He gives instances of people like Mr. Heelas who break, and go to any extremes including befriending a close one as long as their safety is insured. He describes the strong character of people like the police constables who are ready to sacrifice their safety to ensure that of another. He depicts the innocence of a child by including in his book, the narrative of a girl who witnesses the Wickstead murder. Wells shows how unfaithful and greedy people can get by giving the instance of Mr. Marvel, and how he tries to steal the Invisible Manâ€⠄¢s books after promising to work loyally for him when given a death threat. He instantiates the curiosity invoked in people when they see outlandish things by describing incidents involving the invisible man which portray the inquisitiveness of villagers like Mr. Henfrey, Mr. Hall, Mr. Fearenside, and Mr. Cuss. Of all the human feelings and emotions described in the book, the one Wells focuses on the most is the one a person would experience when granted absolute power. Wells portrays that once a person is granted a method by which he is convinced that he is uniquely more powerful than anyone else, he becomes insane and power-hungry and ultimately resorts to destruction and plunder in order to dominate everyone else. Wells gives Griffin the stereotyped character of a mad scientist who is out to prove his intelligence to the world by trying to become more powerful than anyone else. As in other stories this one too ends in the failure of the mad scientist, the death of the invisible man in this case. Griffin says once to Dr. Kemp, â€Å"The more I thought it over, the more I realized Kemp what a helpful absurdity an invisible man was . . . Before I made this mad experiment I had dreamt of a thousand advantages. No doubt invisibility made it possible to get them, but it made it impossible to enjoy them once they are got.† Besides science and human nature, the book is also about learning a lesson from the mistakes of Griffin. The story has a moral that nobody can ever be fully satisfied with the attainment of absolute power. Wells vision of the future is dire: even as man stumbles upon incredible new sciences, he will simply end up destroying others as he does himself. As clearly described above, I feel that this book is more about humanity than about science and technology. The fact that the story involves the realization of a scientific discovery cannot merely be used as a reason for summing up the entire book as one about science and technology. The detailed description of the human character makes the scientific aspect of the book nothing more than a requirement for the completion of the story. Putting it in John Calvin Bachelors own words, â€Å"Yes, the story of Griffin is propped up with speculation about blood chemistry, but at its heart it is not a novel about optics and laboratory work gone wrong but rather about compassion and desire gone wrong.†. Despite the fact that the book focuses mainly on human nature, it has a fair share of science in it too, and it satisfies the average science fiction reader. In the second half of the book, Wells introduces a new character, Dr. Kemp, a man of science. A man who is on the verge of making a scientific discovery that is going to alter his life and those of many others in some significant way or the other. It is this man who defeats the invisible man in achieving his goal by using his scientific mind to analyze and predict the invisible mans moves. Dr. Kemp sends out orders based on his scientific thinking that people should commute with hounds as the nose is to a dog as what the eyes are to a man, and the hound would be able to detect the presence of the invisible man. He also gives orders to lock up all food, as he understood that Griffins would ultimately feel hungry again and would some out in search of food. Wells designs the book so that Dr. Kemp being a man of science realizes tha t invisibility is not something unique in living organism’s, by recalling how most organisms in the sea are invisible and not visible. It is here in the book where science and its implications start being used. When the invisible man comes across Kemp by coincidence, he narrates to Kemp the story of how he attained invisibility. In this part of the book, Wells makes Griffin describe the concept of visibility and explain in detail, the phenomenon of reflection and refraction that take place in everyday life. He also mentions how the movement of light and hence visibility can be altered by changing the refractive index: the amount by which light changes direction when passing through bodies with different densities. He gives real life examples of light performing its tricks in front of our eyes, which occur in our day to day lives. Hence the style of the book takes a turn and it starts to sound like a science fiction due to the recurring use of scientific concepts. Griffin finally mentions that he had discovered a formula involving four dimensions using which he was able to understand how to complete the process of be coming invisible and by altering the refractive index of a body without altering any of its other properties. Griffin elucidates how he finally discovered how to make blood invisible, completing the requirement for the whole body not to be seen by a normal naked eye. Griffin describes how he verified his discovery by experimenting on the landlady’s cat and a piece of cloth. We can see that Wells takes minute details involving science into consideration, as he explained how Griffin encountered a slight hitch in his experiment because the nails and the Tapetum of the cat’s eye did not become invisible. This demonstrates the aspects of a good science fiction author. Even later on when Griffin describes how he felt when he ventured on the streets for the first time after he became invisible, Wells did not forget to take specific minute details into consideration, which a non-science fiction author would have otherwise overlooked, for example, dust sticking on to Griffins b ody, rain outlining the shape of his body and the fact that he would leave footmarks on the ground if his feet were dirty. Hence, we can see that the book is not entirely about human nature and has quite a few instances of science and technology in it. Therefore, the book can be categorized as a science fiction, as it evokes interest in the reader due to the fact that it contains enough material to appease his appetite for science fiction.

Organic Foods Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organic Foods - Research Paper Example An entire industry dedicated to promoting organic food has established itself in recent years. So why the sudden attention towards organic food? What exactly is it about organic food that makes it popular? The answer is probably a simple one: organic food is very nutritious, chemical-free and provides a way of taking back your diet from the big agricultural companies that have come to dictate our diets to us and in some ways our whole lives. It is also a way of empowering people to make healthy choices about their bodies and the world around them. These products are worth the extra cost and are healthier than the alternative. As the middle class expanded more and more throughout the 1980s, people got richer and more affluent. They became more educated and the had more money in their pockets to spend as they saw fit. The result was that they wanted more choice. In the past people used to simply buy what was available to them in the supermarket, now however with more time and more education they have asked for more choice and more control over the products that they want to buy—in particular when it comes to something as important as food, what everyone needs to live and what can affect our health so profoundly. Instead of simply buying what the supermarket has on sale, consumers these days will read the labelling, look at nutritional information, and perhaps even perform research about food companies. There is a real impulse to buy ethical products, products that are environmentally friendly, and products that don’t harm the world around us. A newspaper reporter named Mark Bittman recently w rote in the New York Times: There’s plenty of evidence that both a person’s health — as well as the environment’s — will improve with a simple shift in eating habits away from animal products and highly processed foods to plant products and what might be called â€Å"real

The public needs to know Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The public needs to know - Research Proposal Example Its management is also costly and leaves most families poor besides the fact that available management strategies only slows down the disease’s effects. I, in this paper, present a proposal for a business of developing a new drug for cancer patients in order to reduce cancer’s currently experienced effects. Economic situation The new drug development is expected to cost about one billion U.S. dollars, inclusive of involved tax and miscellaneous expenses. Most of the projected cost will be invested in research and will be used to purchase research facilities and to offer remunerations and incentives to researchers, research assistants, and research participants. Some donors, research agencies, government institutions, and nongovernmental organizations have pledged their support for the initiative, and received and pledged donations amount to $ 400 million. This is, however, 60 percent short of the total required amount. As a result, the next phase of the drug development project that was scheduled to kick off in four months time may be delayed. Being a social initiative, the drug development program is not profit oriented and will rely on donations from well-wishers. We therefore appeal for further donations from people and organizations to facilitate the project that will develop a low cost drug for managing cancer (Neidle, 2011). Special needs of the target population The project seeks to meet diversified social needs. The overall benefit of the drug in suppressing cancerous growths and involved consequences on patients and the society will serve these needs. One of the special needs is the preservation of cancer victims’ lives. Even though the developed drug does not offer treatment to the disease, preliminary research indicates that it will greatly suppress cancerous growths, at any stage, and therefore sustain victims’ lives. The suppressed growth will further minimize and possibly mitigate pain among cancer patients to achieve h igh quality of life. Retention of a cancer patient’s cognitive ability is another special need that the developed drug will meet. This will be derived from the drug’s potential to suppress further growth and to subsequently control realized symptoms among patients. Preliminary tests have also indicated the drug’s milder side effects, as compared to those of the currently applied cancer management techniques such as chemotherapy, which will meet the need for more effective drugs with less significant side effects (Livestrong, n.d.). Process The proposed drug development project will follow the laid down guidelines for developing and testing a new drug. The first involved step, preclinical research, has been done. This involved scientific research into development of cancerous cells, involved factors into such growth and proposed drug components for countering the growths. The next stage of the development process will involve a multi staged set of trials with inc reasing number of test participants at each advanced stage. Each of the trial stages will involve evaluation of effects of the drug on cancerous growth and possible effects on the volunteers. The process will involve three trials in which 50 volunteers will participate in the first trial, 200 participants will be involved in the second trial and 2000 in the third trial. The drug, upon successful tests, will then be filed with the responsible national drug agency for approval. The remaining stages of the

Sports in canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sports in canada - Essay Example The most common sporting events are ice hockey, soccer, basketball, Canadian football and lacrosse. Sporting activities in Canada serve as a unifying factor for its people who come from different backgrounds of diverse cultures and traditions. This diversity sometimes acts as grounds for disunity and discord amongst the citizenry, and it has been found out that Sport breaks through all these invisible barriers erected by people between each other. Canadian sports are characterized by having a rich history and strong national values are attached to some sports activities. This is a discussion about the significance of Canadian sports and the different roles and purposes it plays in Canadian society. Canada was home to Native Americans who are referred to as Indians, and they are the aboriginal inhabitants of Canada. The aboriginals used sporting activities to strength and foster strong inter-clan relations that were vital for their survival and general wellbeing. Sporting activities i nitially developed from people’s daily chores, and as new ways of doing things developed, older ways of doing things was done just for leisure and amusement. Just like other people from different civilizations, Canadian aboriginals used sports to practice their survival skills. ... porting activities that can accredited to the Native Americans are lacrosse, archery, toboggan, canoe races and spear throwing which was later converted to javelin throwing (Morrow & Wamsley 98). In the early development of sports, in the ‘First Nation’ as some people call Canada was faced with a couple of challenges like exploitation, ethnocentric distortion and racism (Canadian Encyclopedia ). This was especially rampart in the minority groups including black and Native Americans. These minority groups were initially not allowed to participate in the same events as white Europeans by virtue of their skin color and racial background (Canadian Encyclopedia). This has been overcome through various legislative and policy changes in the laws and regulations governing sporting activities in the country. Over time, this has contributed to significant changes in the way sport is perceived by members of the Canadian society. The sporting tradition in Canada helped encourage and foster national cohesion amongst its people especially between the Native Americans and the occupying Europeans. Sports enabled these two groups to interact on an equal platform where there were no restrictions or boundaries separating them. In modern times, sports in Canada have evolved to become a way of life for some of the more than a million Canadians who play games like ice hockey as part of their a lifestyle. Canadian sport is characterized having two seasons for sport because of the climate in the region. Canada experiences snowfall for the better part of the year thus necessitating the development and adaptation of sporting activities that are suitable to these conditions. A good example of such a sport is ice hockey which is synonymous with Canada all over the world (Morrow & Wamsley

Theories of Leadership in Sports Coaching

Theories of Leadership in Sports Coaching Introduction Main Section The application of Chelladurai’s (2001) Multidimensional Model of Leadership The Multi-dimensional Model of Leadership (MML) (Chelladurai 1978,1990,1993,2001 cited in Riemer, 2007) is a framework which builds on research from non-sporting settings in order to analyse effective leadership in sport. MML demonstrates how success in leadership is influenced by many different factors (Riemer, 2007). The main objective of the leader/coach is to bring about high levels of performance and satisfaction in the athlete (OU 16-1, 2013). To achieve this, three ‘antecedents’ must be taken into account: situational characteristics (the environment in which the leader is performing); leader characteristics (eg personality, experience, education); and athlete characteristics (e.g. age, gender, skill level, background) (Riemer, 2007). These three antecedents produce three types of leader behaviour: ‘required’, ‘actual’ and ‘preferred’ behaviour (OU 16-1.3, 2013). MML shows that a leader/coach’s `actual` behaviour is affected both by his awareness of the athlete’s `preferred` behaviour and by the behaviour `required` of him by the coaching context. For example, an elite tennis player may question coaching methodology and seek more input into training. The coach may modify his/her behaviour accordingly. At the same time the coach will be limited by the constraints of the regional governing body regulations when selecting a county team. The coach’s actual behaviour will also be influenced by his/her character traits and skill/knowledge base (Riemer, 2007). Thus, a mature golf professional, who has recently increased her knowledge base by attending a video analysis seminar, may modify her leadership behaviour to involve the use of smart phone apps in her efforts to improve feedback to the athlete. Chelladurai (1978, 1990, 1993, 2001 cited in Riemer, 2007) states that when the three types of leader behaviour (`required`, `actual`, and `preferred`) complement and sustain one and other, athlete performance and satisfaction levels will increase. Athlete preferred behaviour is influenced by a combination of athlete characteristics and situational characteristics (Riemer, 2007). Most studies into preferred coaching behaviour have used the Leadership Scale for Sport (LSS), which was developed by Chelladurai and Saleh (1980, cited in OU 17.1, 2013). The LSS measures five leadership dimensions: training and instruction; social support; positive feedback; autocratic behaviour; and democratic behaviour. Results show that the two most valued leadership styles are positive feedback and training/instruction, with the autocratic approach being least appreciated (OU 17.2, 2013). Research into the effect of gender on athletes’ leadership preference has produced mixed results (Riemer, 2007). The OU (17.2, 2013) suggests that this may be due to the false equation of gender with biological sex, and that the differences in leadership preferences may be more related to gender role (masculinity/femininity) than to biological sex (male/female) (Riemer, 2007). Findings from Riemer and Toon, 2001, cited in Riemer 2007 suggest that some of the variance in results might be connected to the coach’s gender, rather than the athlete’s, as they showed that female athletes expressed different leadership preference in female coaches compared with male. Similarly, research has produced no significant relationship between age and preferred leadership styles (Riemer, 2007), although the author does suggest that an overview of the results indicates a shift from a preference for task behaviours to a preference for relationship behaviours as the athlete matures (Riemer, 2007). Research into how situational characteristics influence leadership preferences has also been mixed (Riemer, 2007). Chelladurai (1978, cited in Riemer, 2007) hypothesised that team/open sport athletes would prefer more training/instruction and positive feedback than those involved in individual/closed sports. Research by Terry and Howe (1984), Terry (1984) and Kang (2003), all cited in Riemer 2007) supported this hypothesis, but Chelladurai and Saleh (1978, cited in Riemer 2007) found the polar opposite. Riemer and Chelladurai (1995, cited in Riemer 2007) found that, within American football, athletes whose tasks differed from their teammates (e.g. offensive or defensive) preferred different coaching behaviours. The defensive squad operating in a more open environment preferred more democratic, autocratic and socially supportive coaching behaviours. Given the varied results of studies into athlete and situational characteristics on leadership preferences, it is unclear how coaches should adapt their coaching strategies based on member characteristics. The role of transformational leadership in coaching Chelladurai (1978, 1990, 1993, 2001 cited in Riemer, 2007) adapted his model of the MML to include transformational leadership (Open University, 17, 2013). In the previous versions of the model, leadership was thought to be transactional in its nature (Riemer, 2007). Transactional leaders have a reciprocal relationship with their athletes whereby they trade something the athlete wants (e.g. knowledge), with something they want (e.g. respect) (Riemer, 2007 cited in Open University, 16.5, 2013). Transactional leadership is built on mutual trust in which the coach must manage the changing needs of the athlete in order to be effective (Riemer, 2007). Transformational leadership on the other hand, is a charismatic type of leadership in which followers associate themselves with leaders, giving rise to greatly increased levels of performance (Yammarino, Dubinsky, Comer and Jolson, 1997 cited in Riemer, 2007). A transformational leader will exhibit five traits: charisma, an assertive and self confident quality that results in athletes connecting emotionally to their leaders, generating high levels of trust; idealised influence, which enables leaders to motivate athletes to follow their beliefs and visions for the future; inspiration, which enables leaders to instil confidence in athletes so that they are able to meet the challenging aspirations s/he has set for them; intellectual stimulation, through which leaders provoke original and imaginative thought processes; and individual consideration, by which leaders pay attention to each member of their team and are able to set specific goals for each dependant on their skill level (Bass, 1985; Bass and Aviolo, 1990; Doherty and Danylchuk, 1996; Weese, 1994 cited in Open University, 17.1, 2013). Transformational leaders affect both the situational and athlete characteristics of the MML (Riemer, 2007). Firstly, situational characteristics are affected by the coach introducing new ambitions for the organisation / team they are involved with. These ambitions are based on the coach’s beliefs and visions for the future. Secondly, athlete characteristics are changed by the coach transmitting his/her vision so that athletes embrace this as their own, and by motivating athletes to believe they will achieve this vision (Open University, 17.1, 2013). Bass (1985, cited in Riemer, 2007) suggests that not all coaches are transformational, rather that leaders will display a spectrum of transformational behaviours. Although there is minimal literature into the role of transformational leadership in sport (Riemer, 2007), the MML suggests that a transformational leader may be a more effective coach (Chelladurai, 2001 cited in Riemer, 2007). This is backed up by findings in Arthur et al’s (2011) study into athlete narcissism, coach’s transformational behaviours and athlete motivation. The study found that the dimensions of individual consideration and intellectual stimulation were linked with higher levels of athlete effort. Creating an effective coaching environment In order to further understand the complicated, intertwined relationship between coach, athlete and the conditions they work under, Smith and Smoll (1977, 1989, cited in OU 18.1, 2013) proposed the meditational model of sport leadership. This model was formulated to improve coach understanding around how to create a positive environment for children in sport (Smith and Smoll, 2007) and focuses on three variables: coach behaviour (what the coach actually does); athlete perceptions (how behaviour is understood by athletes); and athlete reactions (subsequent responses to the coach) (Smith and Smoll, 2007, cited in OU, 18.1, 2013). With a view to measuring the first of these variables, Smoll, Smith and Hunt (1977, cited in OU, 18.1, 2013) designed the coaching behaviour assessment system (CBAS). Leadership behaviour was observed and coded in coaches working with children across a collection of different sports (Smith and Smoll, 2007). Although widely used to research leadership behaviours (OU, 18.1, 2013) the statistical methodology used in the CBAS has been considered too narrow an approach to develop an understanding of the complex nature of effective coaching practice (Cushion, 2007 cited in OU, 18.1, 2013). To gain deeper insight into coaching behaviours, the origins of these behaviours need to be examined, along with how these behaviours affect perceptions and finally how these perceptions shape actions (Chelladurai, 1993; Cumming, Smith and Smoll, 2006 cited in OU, 18.1, 2013). Research by Stebbings et al (2011) explored the antecedents of autonomy supportive and controlling behaviours in coaches in regards to the coaches’ own psychological needs. Autonomy supportive environments are created by a coach offering athletes’ choice in making decisions, the opportunity for experimentation, meaningful justification for activities and a recognition of an athlete’s emotional needs (Mageau and Vallerand, 2003, cited in Stebbings et al, 2013). A controlling environment is created by a coach with an autocratic, dictatorial demeanour, giving athletes no choice in the decision making process. Punishment, criticism and tangible rewards are used to control athletes (Bartholemew, Ntoumanis and Thogersen-Ntoumani, 2009 cited in Stebbings et al, 2011). Autonomy supportive environments are thought to elicit positive responses from athletes such as increased intrinsic motivation and higher levels of performance (Amorose, 2007; Gillett, Vallerand Amoura and Baldes, 2010; Mageau and Vallerand, 2003, cited in Stebbings et al, 2011). Conversely, a controlling environment is associated with decreased motivation and increased levels of sport drop out (Pelletier et al, 2009 cited in Stebbings et al, 2011). This research hypothesised that coaches whose psychological needs were met would work in an autonomy supportive manner, whilst those whose needs were not met would exhibit more controlling behaviour (Stebbings et al, 2011). The results proved to be in line with the initial hypothesis with the pivotal conclusion being that the ‘satisfaction of coaches psychological needs can allow coaches to thrive, and to create an adaptive interpersonal coach environment for athletes.’ (Stebbings et al, 2011, p269). Lack of governing body support in terms of training, feedback and guidance were cited as possible reasons for coaches’ psychological needs not being met (Allen, Shaw, 2009 cited in Stebbings et al, 2011). However it is als o noted that further research into the effect of environmental factors on coach psychological need satisfaction would aid understanding (Stebbings et al, 2011). As coach behaviours are thought to influence athlete perceptions, and these perceptions will subsequently shape actions (Smith and Smoll, 2007), coaches must be careful not to make immediate judgements towards their athletes based on first impressions (OU, 18.5, 2013). This is to minimise the risk of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy (OU, 18.5, 2013) whereby a coach will make initial predictions of the athlete’s behaviour and performance. These predictions will affect the way the coach communicates with the athlete, which in turn will affect the athlete’s perception of themselves and their performance levels (Horn, 2008 cited in OU, 2013). Coaching behaviours and team performance In contrast to those working with individuals, coaches working with teams have to be much more concerned with team cohesion. Team cohesion is associated with the amount of unity, closeness and camaraderie displayed by a team (Carron, Eys and Burke, 2007) and is defined as a dynamic process, reflected in the tendency of a group to remain united in pursuit of its goals and objectives (Carron, Brawley and Widmeyer, 1998 cited in Carron, Eys and Burke, 2007). Cohesion has been described as the most important group property (Bollen and Hoyle, 1990; Golembiewski, 1962; Lott and Lott, 1965, cited in Carron, Eys and Burke, 2007) and involves two dimensions: task cohesion – the ability of a team to work towards shared goals; and social cohesion the degree to which team mates get along with each other (Carron, Ely and Burke, 2007). These dimensions are not mutually exclusive, and change in one dimension will effect change in the other. When formulating a coach agenda a coach should aim to achieve a balance of both appropriate for a given context (OU, 19.2, 2013). The formulation of a cooperative training environment has also been cited as benefitting team performance (Collins and Collins, 2011 cited in OU, 19.2, 2013). Coaches need athletes to work in collaboration with each other (e.g. on tactics, formations and patterns of play) and against each other (e.g. attack versus defence) in order to drive overall and individual performance levels up (Collins and Collins, 2011, cited in OU, 19.2, 2013). As part of this cooperative training environment, coaches and athletes need to be able to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, both as individuals and in their team responsibilities (Collins and Collins, 2011, cited in OU, 19.2, 2013). Effective teams are considered to have a high degree of shared knowledge built up through communal experience of intense training and performance situations (Bourbouson et al, 2011 cited in OU, 19.2, 2013). For example, a team may change seamlessly between a number of formations and tactical variati ons during a match at their coach’s request. Shared knowledge can also extend to off field activities. When coaches are creating and developing their coaching agenda they should examine their players in many different domains. Information should be garnered from multiple sources, such as discussions with colleagues, personal observation, formal assessments and past experiences, in order to surmount current obstacles and to plan for the future (OU, 19.2, 2013). Systems of work and team ethics need to be established so that existing and new team mates can carve an individual niche for themselves but also to see what is expected of them as part of the team (Martens, 2012 cited in OU, 19.2, 2013). When considering how a coach develops his/her team, research has suggested that team cohesion and performance are mutually beneficial, with increased task and social cohesion leading to increase performance, and vice versa (Carron et al, 2002; Cox, 2012 cited in OU, 19.3, 2013). Therefore in order to raise performance levels, coaches must attempt to create cohesion, achieved by developing motivation and a sense of personal reward. They can identify leaders to help them facilitate change but also must preserve and unite all existing members of the team (including the assistants, parents and others in the support network). Individual and group accomplishments need to be recognised, changes need to be discussed and performance regularly assessed through feedback in order to facilitate a supportive culture (Martens, 2012 cited in OU, 19.3, 2013). Allowing athletes more influence in team goal setting can also lead to increased task and social cohesion (Carron et al, 2005 cited in OU, 19.3, 2013). This increased influence also leads to greater understanding of the tasks they need to undertake, and stronger beliefs that the goals will influence team behaviour positively (Collins and Collins cited in OU, 19.3, 2013). The coach should develop individual and communal understanding of roles, and encourage team members to have confidence in each other. Through regular meetings and discussions with various team groupings, teams and coaches can build agreement, understanding and commitment (Collins and Collins, 2011, cited in OU, 19.3, 2013). This is as necessary within coaching teams as between the coach and athletes. Experimentation, questioning and argument are far more acceptable in a sharing and cooperative environment which reinforces team cohesion (Piggott, 2012, cited in OU, 19.3, 2013).

Organizational Analysis Essay -- Medical Business, Clinical Practice S

Introduction An organizational analysis is an important tool to become familiar with how medical businesses and organizations are able to meet standards of care, provide services for the community and provide employment to health care providers. There are many different aspects to evaluate in an organizational analysis. This paper will describe these many aspects and apply the categories to the University Medical Center (UMC) as the organization being analyzed. Mission, Vision and Philosophy One of the first steps in developing an organization is to develop the vision, mission and philosophy of the organization. Vision statements are used to define the goals of an organization. The mission statement of an organization is a brief statement that explains the purpose that an organization exists. The organizational philosophy outlines the set of values and beliefs that controls the operations of an organization (Marquis, 2011). UMC’s vision is â€Å"to be nationally recognized for excellence in patient care, medical education, and biomedical research.† Their mission statement is â€Å"to serve through healing, education, and discovery.† The philosophy of UMC is â€Å"to value integrity, excellence, compassion, innovation, collaboration and dedication.† (www.mc.uky.edu) Organizational Structure Organizational structure provides the framework to enable members of the organization to delegate responsibility, maintain accountability and structure authority. UMC utilizes organizational structure and has organizational diagrams readily available for review when necessary. The chain of command in the Neurotrauma Intensive Care Unit (NTICU) included the assistive personnel reporting to nursing, nursing reporting to team leader for the shift, sh... ... http://www.mc.uky.edu Krive, J. (January 01, 2013). Building Effective Workforce Management Practices Through Shared Governance and Technology Systems Integration. Nursing Economic$, 31, 5, 231-236. Marquis, B. & Huston, C. (2011). Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing : Theory and Application. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Pichert, J. W., Moore, I. N., Catron, T. F., Ross, J. C., Westlake, M. W., Karrass, J., Jay, J. S., ... Hickson, G. B. (October 01, 2013). An intervention model that promotes accountability: Peer messengers and patient/family complaints. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 39, 10, 435-446. Taplin, S. H., Foster, M. K., & Shortell, S. M. (January 01, 2013). Organizational leadership for building effective health care teams. Annals of Family Medicine, 11, 3.)

Human Behavior and Environment Essay

1. Every person we come into contact with on a daily basis is able to teach us a little something about life. You just have to be open to learning. This particular counselor who was introduced to Steve for whatever cosmic reason, but left the encounter more knowledgeable about the human condition than when initially introduced. At first glance and without knowing any background on Steve the counselor could have just chalked Steve up as a special needs student who in no way was going to succeed being away from home. The councilor however took time out and got to know his student and found all the triumphs that he had been faced with and had overcome throughout the years. The counselor was able to determine that this student was in no way going to give up and fall between the cracks due to a series of unfortunate events. Every child I come in contact with on a daily basis has their own story, many of which are heart wrenching or unnerving, but yet many persevere and will become productive members of society because someone along the way has showed that they care. 2. Steve was able to benefit just as much as the counselor through this interaction. He was able to persevere and complete his education. All that Steve needed was for someone else to also see the end of the tunnel as well as he saw it. Having someone on the same page and able to stand with you through your goals is beneficial to all those involved not just the single individual with the goal. I think the biggest push anyone could ever get is having someone who does not know you say â€Å"you can’t do that†; it provides all the more motivation to prove them wrong. According to the National Organization of Human Services (NOHS), a code of ethics is an explicit statement of the values, principles, and the rules of a profession, regulating the conduct of its members† (Barker, 2001, p. 84) There are two statements found in the NOHS though that best summarize this code and make it applicable to the field in which I am currently surrounded by. STATEMENT 45 Human service educators demonstrate full commitment to their appointed responsibilities, and are enthusiastic about and encouraging of students’ learning. STATEMENT 46 Human service educators model the personal attributes, values and skills of the human service professional, including but not limited to, the willingness to seek and respond to feedback from students. In reading Steve’s journey on the Hero’s Path there is an identifiable moment that relates to my current position that I have been witness to and assisted with. As a guidance secretary for a public school I have seen man types of students walk through our door. Our most recent students who have come in search of a chance to blend in with a traditional student body are two students who found themselves being best friends despite each other’s complex issues. One is an overweight 16 year old and suffers from Prader-Willi Syndrome and sneaks food from our cafeteria any chance he gets. The other a 17 year old was born with malformation of the mouth and hands. Both are part of our special education program. Because of their outward appearances, both are shunned by the other student, which has had very little effect on them. To assist them in this effort of blending in our Administrative Resource Teacher, who is popular and liked by the student body because of her understanding and helpful nature has essentially deputized these two during our busiest lunch period. In order to keep the child with Prader-Willi from stealing uneaten food and his friend from stealing anything for him, they eat their lunch and when they are done, are placed on crime watch patrol around the perimeter of the school, with our ART. The child with Prader-Willi gets exercise and it removes him from tempting treats left behind by students such as milk and chips. Both also get the satisfaction of knowing that despite their abnormalities they are regular students. During pep assemblies when the excited student body is a little overwhelming, these students also know that my office is a safe haven for them. They know that they must do work alphabetizing or organizing but they each have a task. I’ve heard many of our administrators repeat this saying time and time again â€Å"you need to know our students, in order to teacher them†, the same applies in any interaction with them. Students don’t just learn in the four walls of a classroom, they learn in every kind of environment. If you make that environment one in which they are comfortable students will return time after time to seek your guidance and model attributes they found and have seen demonstrated. References Halstead, Richard A. (2000, January). From tragedy to triumph: counselor as companion on the hero’s journey. Counseling & Values, 44(2), 100. http://www. nationalhumanservices. org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals.

Free Essays on Anti- Federalists

The formation of our Constitution was a difficult task for our founding fathers. The goal was to establish a new working government to rule an American Nation. This new government would be in the benefit of the citizens as well as the individual person. Just as all great ideals come with great intentions the outcome may not be of the desired result. With the population larger than many other countries to begin with and giving them the opportunity to form their own Constitution to be rule by would be more than enough to separate any social gathering. Beginning of the Anti-Federalist The Federalist and the Anti-Federalist are considered to be some of the first political parties of this country. Despite the name of these two parties their views are actually in opposite of there titles. The Federalist group was those in favor of the Constitution and advertised it to the people to ratify it. Those who disagreed or wished to make changes with the newly Constitution, they were accused of have dramatic apposing views to the Federalist parties. However â€Å"The truly federalist-minded group was a bit slow on the public-relations uptake and promptly found themselves saddled with the label ‘Anti-Federalist’, with all the negativity and obstructionism the name implied.† (Inerny 67) The Anti-Feudalists felt that the Articles of Confederation need some revising in the distribution of power. It was their opinion that the Constitution gave to much freedom to the president, not enough power to the local government, and the congress would be to small to properly and productively serve their constituencies. Anti-Federalists feared that with the dominant power in the national government the central government would decay to nothing, leaving the national government unaware of local activities. This would cause the government to run the country by force, creating a new form of Tyranny. The Anti-Feudalists believed that the solutio... Free Essays on Anti- Federalists Free Essays on Anti- Federalists The formation of our Constitution was a difficult task for our founding fathers. The goal was to establish a new working government to rule an American Nation. This new government would be in the benefit of the citizens as well as the individual person. Just as all great ideals come with great intentions the outcome may not be of the desired result. With the population larger than many other countries to begin with and giving them the opportunity to form their own Constitution to be rule by would be more than enough to separate any social gathering. Beginning of the Anti-Federalist The Federalist and the Anti-Federalist are considered to be some of the first political parties of this country. Despite the name of these two parties their views are actually in opposite of there titles. The Federalist group was those in favor of the Constitution and advertised it to the people to ratify it. Those who disagreed or wished to make changes with the newly Constitution, they were accused of have dramatic apposing views to the Federalist parties. However â€Å"The truly federalist-minded group was a bit slow on the public-relations uptake and promptly found themselves saddled with the label ‘Anti-Federalist’, with all the negativity and obstructionism the name implied.† (Inerny 67) The Anti-Feudalists felt that the Articles of Confederation need some revising in the distribution of power. It was their opinion that the Constitution gave to much freedom to the president, not enough power to the local government, and the congress would be to small to properly and productively serve their constituencies. Anti-Federalists feared that with the dominant power in the national government the central government would decay to nothing, leaving the national government unaware of local activities. This would cause the government to run the country by force, creating a new form of Tyranny. The Anti-Feudalists believed that the solutio...

Panopticism and Legalization of Prostitution

Panopticism and Legalization of Prostitution Free Online Research Papers In this paper we shall look at the relationship between an article on the printed media in relations to Michel Foucault’s social theory of Panopticism. Specifically, this paper examines the importance of Panopticism in today’s society using the issue of legalization of Prostitution as an example and concludes that Panopticism is a necessity that must be enforced in order for discipline, safety and function. Michel Foucault’s social theory of Panopticism is an instrument to disciplinary structure that allows the authority to have control and command over its subjects by asserting a manipulative power over the target group through a procedure of individualization and observation The theory can be visually represented by Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon , taking a prison building as an example; the Panopticon would be the tower in the middle of the building that can oversee each and every cell within its surrounding. The inside of the tower itself cannot be seen through; however, guards within the tower can have a panoramic view of the entire inside of the building. This allows the inmates to be observed and surveillance constantly and while inmates cannot be sure whether there’s a guard inside the tower or not they therefore cannot be sure if they’re being watched or not as well – leaving the precedence that they are being watched all the time. Foucault believes that the principles of the Panopticon; that is, the â€Å"ability to penetrate in to men’s behaviour† through the use of individualization and observation can be a â€Å"mechanism of power† a way of making â€Å"power relations function in a function, and of making a function function through these power relations.† Foucault insists that by extrapolating this principle and using it as a mechanism of power can allow for better efficiency where a small group can exercise authority over a much larger group. When applying Panopticism in situations that require disciplinary authority, Foucault argues that it can â€Å"serve to reform prisoners, but also to treat patients, to instruct school children, to confine the insane, to supervise workers, to put beggars and idlers to work.† By applying Panopticism into practice allows authority to control and protect groups and individuals from harm using often subtle methods but maximizing the disciplinary effect. The author of article to be introduced in this paper is an advocate for the need of Panopticism in the prostitution industry to ensure that the workers are protected from society’s threats. The printed media article under review is a recent newspaper clipping from the National Post. In it, it discusses the recent constitutional challenge that prostitutes in Canada have launched against Canada’s prostitution laws . The situation is such that currently in Canada prostitution is legal to an extent. There resides provisions in the Criminal Code that prevents prostitution to be exercised indoors. Running a brothel, doing business collectively, communicating-privately and acquiring help from others in the form of protection in the legal sense e.g. security guards are all deemed criminal under the Code. This can cover a wide and often blurred scope that there remains a possibility that even living with a prostitute may be criminal. Not only that, but there lies a more pressing matter that the criminalization of these elements of prostitution actually endangers the lives of these workers. The provisions infringes upon the rights of life and security guaranteed by secti on 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom by forcing prostitutes to remain outdoors to conduct their business the effect being that they are under the scrutiny of preying sociopaths and serial killers. The author of the article argues that the very nature of work for the prostitutes require them to â€Å"jump into the cars of the strangers after a few seconds of commercial negotiation† leaving the very realistic possibility of landing themselves in the car of a serial killer such a Robert William Pickton whom the author uses as an example of a sociopath that has been found guilty of murdering 49 prostitutes. Not only are these prostitutes risking their lives due to the law but what may happen to them is often remained unnoticed. The author furthers his argument that â€Å"If they [prostitutes] don’t show up at ‘work’ the next morning, they aren’t missed – except perhaps by their pimp they get noticed only when their remains pile up high enough to attract statistical attention† . The author screams the need for change, that there needs to be â€Å"regulatory oversight or a permanent health and security infrastructure† and satirically claims that â€Å"the effect of our laws is to maximize the death rate for prostitutes† . The essence of the author’s argument is thus that there needs to be an authority to monitor the prostitution business, that there must be some sort of power over regulating the business procedures of the practice and finally there needs to be recognition of the risks involved for the workers. The conclusion of the author is blatantly pointing towards the need of adapting a Panopticism approach to the issue at hand; that there must be some sort of all-seeing authority to recognize the risks of danger for the prostitute workers only if not to prevent sociopaths from treading close to them. It’s being conveyed by the author that there must be some sort of â€Å"regulatory oversight† or a â€Å"permanent health and security infrastructure† which can mean a numerous of options authorities can adapt in a legal context. First and foremost by â€Å"regulatory oversight† in a strictly legal sense means to set procedures and policies to a function. By asserting power over how the practice should be done legally and settings sanctions upon failure to do so by those exercising the practice, Panopticism is therefore functioning as a mechanism of disciplinary power in a business environment by first allowing the sellers (prostitutes) know that they are being watched by the law and thus must act accordingly, and the buyers know that the very people they are buying from are under the spotlight of a legal framework that controls the consistency of their service and thus protecting them as well from any risks that may involve otherwise in a non-controlled environment. A perfect example of regulatory oversight and the effect of Panopticism working flawlessly would be regulations concerning the payment of service. The sellers would have to report to practice to authority and maintain a license in an appro priate business manner under the surveillance of authority whilst the buyers have the security of knowing that their money would reap a return. Thus the challengers of the Constitution get the security that they ask for as their practice is now under observation from the law. Foucault would agree that by putting Panopticism into practice in this scenario would provide the discipline needed to protect these workers as â€Å"it arrests or regulates movements; it clears up confusion; it dissipates compact groupings of individuals wandering about the country in unpredictable ways; it establishes calculated distributions† . Therefore it also addresses the concerns of the author – people will now know if a worker doesn’t show for work. Secondly, the author suggested the necessity for a â€Å"permanent health and security infrastructure† to protect the workers. Once again, by having authorities setting up legal procedures that ensures health and security standards are met is another Panopticism approach in functioning as a mechanism of power towards another function. By setting health standards for both the seller and the buyer and monitoring whether the standards are met it provides security for both parties to know that not only are they protected from possible sexually transmitted diseases but it also provides a the individuals themselves to ensure they meet the health standards. In both cases it’s a win-win situation as the individuals protect their health and are also in knowing that the other party is healthy as both sides know they are being observed at all times – the Panopticon effect that Foucault mentions. Likewise, by providing a security infrastructure and allowing the hiring of help such as guards or even surveillance by the police, the prostitutes will no longer need to enter strangers cars to conduct business talks in private and sociopaths will no longer prey on wandering prostitutes on the sidewalks as they know but not with certainty whether they are being watched or not and thus inhibiting a fear upon them to not approach these women. It is clear by now that the author is an advocate for putting Panopticism into practice and rightly so. Something as simple as having regulations formally written on a piece of paper and standards set for health and security can already protect a large group of individuals from risks of dangers – even if these regulations and standards are not constantly monitored, the effect alone is sufficient to provide the security being seek for in the article. Michel Foucault would rightfully agree too as the purpose of Panopticism is to â€Å"obtain the exercise of power at the lowest possible cost† while bringing â€Å"effects of this social power to their maximum intensity †. In which case, by setting regulations, health and security infrastructures the authorities have inevitable exercised maximum power at a very low cost over a large group of society. Bibliography M. Foucault, Dicipline and Punish (New York: Vintage, 1979) N.A., Legalize the sex trade National Post (7 October 2009), A10 Research Papers on Panopticism and Legalization of ProstitutionEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UsePETSTEL analysis of IndiaQuebec and CanadaBringing Democracy to AfricaArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Relationship between Media Coverage and Social andCapital PunishmentAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of Self

Understanding how market equilibrium is maintained is essential for Research Proposal

Understanding how market equilibrium is maintained is essential for business managers - Research Proposal Example et equilibrium in a free market environment refers to the time when the quantity of goods supplied in the market balances the demand level in the market. An equilibrium market does not encounter the challenges of excess supply as well as excess demand. In an equilibrium market, buyers and sellers have expounded understanding of the prevailing prices of goods and services as well as the quality of goods and services on offer. Clear knowledge of the prevailing market trends expels any attempts by particular sellers to increase their prices above the market value. A good knowledge of how to maintain market equilibrium is essential for most managers when making decision on the quantity of goods top supply to the market. Insight understanding of market equilibrium also assists in decision making on the methods of production to be employed. Business managers ought to have deep understanding of the laws of demand and the determinants of demand. The law of demand states that demand of a particular commodity increases with increase in quality and decrease in price. Since the sole purpose of every business organization is to increase sales volume and make more profits, business managers have no option a part from operating as per the guidelines of the law of demand. In this regard, business managers need to set their operation to ensure production of high quality products that will pose a good competitive advantage in the market (Rothbard, 2006). Improving quality of goods produced by a business organization, promises good sales volume thereby lifting the profit margins of an organization. Similarly, reducing costs of goods on sale by a business organization attracts more demand for that particular product. When demand for a product increases, it is automatic that the particular product will record high and fast sales thus improving the profits due to that product. Demand also increases with increase in the household income. Tastes of particular products also affect the

New Business Propsal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

New Business Propsal - Research Paper Example This strategy will enable the company to easily capture the older Chinese people. In general, fruits are good for the health. Therefore, it is a good business strategy to develop a wide-range of combined fruit juices to enable the company attracts a large population of health conscious individuals living in China. Executive Summaries and Business Pro Forma Executive summaries and business pro formas is about studying the market demand and analyzing the actual cost of establishing a business (The City of Victoria, 2011). In general, drafting an executive summaries and business pro formas is important part of designing a business proposal since the process of going through the proposed business plan would give the business owner a better insight whether or not the proposed business idea is feasible or not. Specifically the population of China is one of the highest around the world. As of July 2010, the total population in China is a little more than 1.3 billion (Central Intelligence Ag ency, 2011a). Regardless of gender and sexual orientation, the target consumer for this product is between the age brackets of 15 – 64 years old is 72.1% of China’s entire population or close to 965 million individuals (ibid). Aside from having a very low unemployment rate with only 4.3% as of the last quarter of 2010, makes the idea to operate the business in China more feasible and lucrative as compared to doing the business in the United Kingdom (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011b). To make the proposed fruit-, tea-, and coffee-based smoothies reach the target consumers in China, I intend to penetrate the target consumers by initially renting out a small booth or stalls in different malls in Shanghai. In line with this, the top 10 malls in Shanghai China which I intend to establish a small booth or stalls include: Carrefour, No. 1 Department Store, Friendship Store, Grand Gateway Mall, Orient Department Store, Plaza 66, Shanghai Westgate Shopping Mall, Super Brand M all, Westgate Mall, and Yaxin Plaza (World Guides, 2011). Aside from making it easier for me to pull out the stalls in areas wherein the volume of target consumers who will be purchasing fruit-, tea-, and coffee-based smoothies is low, one of the reasons why it is necessary to start the business in a small-scale includes cheaper rental fees and lower manpower cost. By cutting down the daily operational cost in each mall, it is possible for me to take advantage of economies of scale and easily make the brand name be known to the public consumers. When managing the proposed business, it is very important on my part to reach the level higher than the break-even point. By reaching the break-even point, it means that I will not incur either business profit or loss. When computing for the break-even point, it is important to determine the variable and fixed operational expenses. Regardless of whether or not the total volume of sales is high, the fixed operational cost is referring to fix expenses which I should pay each month. On the other hand, variable costs include expenses which may accumulate depending on the demand for the proposed product. The minimum monthly wage in Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin China is 1,120 yuan or 11 yuan per hour