Using Exposure Therapy to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Research Paper

Using Exposure Therapy to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in adults survivors of child-hood abuse - Research Paper Example Exposure therapy relieves an individual to a greater extent from the psycho-social, interpersonal and professional impairments. The most methodologically strong studies manifest that psychotherapy along with exposure therapy bring rewarding outcomes (Robertson, 2004). Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is related with considerable indicative morbidity. These individuals exhibit elevated levels of offensive thoughts or memoirs about the traumatic event with severe nightmarish. They do have flashbacks. Mere reminders may be perceived in the form of physical responses like amplified heart rate, profuse sweating or distress (Robertson, 2004). Individuals with terrible or appalling experience in childhood are severely affected. PTSD individuals display avoidance symptoms, they avoid socialization or visit to places that bring those harsh memories back, they feel isolated and secluded. These beliefs if not treated within time then it may become devastating and adulthood of child either becomes rebellious or behaviour may culminate into a psychotic disorders with great intensity of insecurity being seeded in every pursuit of life (Keane, 2002). It is essential to understand the psychology of PTSD individuals. Various psychological theories have been postulated claiming to be the remedy for PTSD, but the most efficient is "Exposure Therapy". It treats the individual through alteration or modification in behaviour by enabling them to overcome the disturbing thoughts or distressing incidence (Keane, 2002). Exposure therapy aims at enabling a person to diminish his/ her trepidations and apprehensions by means of eradicating avoidance behaviour. It deals with the confrontation of an individual with the same set of feelings or situations that he fears without avoiding them. This may be done by unswervingly exposing someone to a terrified entity or picture or going back in time to envisage

British Airways PESTLE Analysis

British Airways PESTLE Analysis The macro environment will be described by the PESTEL analysis, which helps to analyze general, long-term market influences. This is the best tool to analyse the external environment. It serves as a basic analytical tool for knowing market decline or growth. The framework helps to understand the impact of legal, political, economical, social and technological factors for the business environment. It helps to understand how the external environment may create opportunities or threats for an organization. The six different environments are often referred to as PESTAL and allow a PESTAL analysis to be conducted this allows the organisation to review and consider the environment in which it operates. The PEST factor that has contributed to the airlines industry for many years, but has brought a drastic change was from the disaster on September 11th 2001. (P)olitical: Airlines have to work within an operating restrictions. Alliance with other airlines increases the reachability of the airlines on top of it route alliance helps the alliance members to embark on political benefit mutually. Last decade was one of the testing times for the airline industry in terms of security with events like terror attacks across US in 2001 and in UK in 2005 which caused political imbalance and crisis. Customer confidence was all time down due to the terror attacks in the past 10 years and has resulted in strict safety laws in the US and European skies for airlines. Currentlys even the product and price are in the control of the government with the restrictions on flying. Though the open skies policy does exists it is not adopted by majority of the players and is still biased. Although great reforms have taken place, giving BA opportunity to grow and compete with other airlines. BA being a deregulated company needs processes which allow fast decision making. BA must consider the influence of the political factors along with the ecological and environmental issues with more emphasis on legal regulations on employee and customer interest. Political environment concerns the role of the government and its affects in an organisation it also includes the extent to which the government intervenes in the economy. Due to the terrorist attack many airlines such as British Airways stopped flights to certain countries such as the middles east and the main countries involved with the fear of their planes being attacked. This is therefore caused up a political stir with the fact that Britains fear them maybe the next victims of terrorist attacks. This has had a negative effects on the airlines as they have lost out on a lot of money because of the stoppage of flights to certain destinations. The authorities have had to make sure that certain rules have been put into place to make sure that the airlines are safe and that they abide by the rules. British Airways have had to rely on the political and environment effects on the feedback that they get to decide on what course if action to take on the airline. (E)conomical: The amount of economic activity in the economic environment is extremely important. The economic environment for airline industry in Europe can be described as difficult. In particular, challenges arise from the co-occurrence of adverse natural factors (especially for BA the ash storm). The global economy experienced a sharp downturn during the last decade, and this affected the air travel demand. In 2008 the economy of the developed countries as well as from the emerging markets experienced a dramatically decrease in growth. The airline industry lost a huge part of its usual profits. These changes lead to a change in demand; costumers are not ready and not able to pay former prices for the airlines. Some competitors of BA decrease there price level already. The demand for air travel is characterised by a high income elasticity.Therefore, as the world economy grows, the demand for air travel will also improve. The political situation in Iraq has helped to drive oil prices to a record high and for BA, the oil price rise might add  £100 million to their costs. In response, the cost of fuel surcharges is always at risk . BA is in the business of transporting people to and from worldwide destinations for both business and pleasure. If the international economy slows down, business trades less and fewer business people will use planes. Equally, people may choose less exciting holidays. Capacity in Europe outstrips demand, which leads to rate wars, equaling lower yields for companies. Economically, alliances lead to a control on capacity, therefore reducing competition and increasing yields. Alliances also reduce the near term possibilities of airport expansion. By code sharing airlines are able to not only split costs but to offer services and enter markets, they might ill afford to do on their own. This leads to less aircraft at airports, less space being required, and is another way in gaining access to prime airports, which can expand no further. (S)ocio-Cultural (Demographical / Sociological): On an average older fliers in European countries force airlines to develop new strategies in relation to their target groups. This is also required in view of the fact that higher numbers of commuters and the demand of lower cost airlines show an attitude change regarding airlines, potentially causing image problems for companies giving higher-cost air service. Airline customers use brand appeal as the main factor when they come to use airline service. Thus, this changing demand and lifestyle influenced airlines to concentrate on the look of their airlines and build powerful brand to gain small gain rather than loosing market share. The social and cultural influences on business vary from country to country however it is important that such factors are considered and include demographic and cultural aspects. These factors affect customer needs and the size of potential markets. Demographic changes have resulted in the development of the à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¹Ã…“greyà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ market who are spending more on leisure and travelling. Lifestyles, tastes and fashions are all changing; customers require opportunities to visit new and interesting, often long-haul, destinations. (T)echnological: In the airline industry, companies are forced to invest huge sums into RD measures to foster technological development and be cutting-edge. Currently, the focus lies in the fields of security and alternative energies. Advance technology is used by BA to increase engineering and the service quality of the flights which are the route to competitive advantage. In order to profitably satisfy customer needs, an organisation must understand its external and internal situation including the customer, the market and its own capabilities. Furthermore, it needs to understand and adapt to the dynamic and uncontrollable factors of the environment in which it operates. The technological environment is ever changing and therefore it is essential that a structured, detailed and continuous analysis of the principal dimensions of the technical environment is made. Technology in this industry is fast moving and very expensive. Alliances, give the opportunity for joint investment ventures, such as shared check-in systems. (E)cological: In view of high media covering, ecological influences become increasingly important. Especially airline companies have to show that they responsibly use the available resources and care for the environment. Following, BA reduced fuel and energy consumptions, which required improvements in engine technology and aerodynamics. BA is the airline which started reporting their environmental results 2 decades back. They make sure that they have least impact on the environment by more efficient operations, latest technology-engines and alternative fuels. They have goals of having zero waste to landfill in UK-2010, reduce the average noise per flight, cut down the CO2 emissions by half-2050 and improve in carbon efficiency by 25%-2025. For the ecological factors they have developed special programes for controlling climate change by controlling the carbon dioxide emissions. In order to make world a nicer place to live they are concentrating on recycling and reducing their waste material. (L)egal: A significant legal factor affecting BA is the power of trade Unions. BA has suffered many strike actions (August 2004 and August 2005) and is aware of the implications that the trade unions can cause. The walkout that recently happened in March 2010, expected to last three days, had forced the airline to cancel thousands of flights. A total of 1,100 flights out of the 1,950 flights scheduled to operate during the walkout were canceled. The airline had leased planes and crew from rival carriers to take up some of the shortfall. The Unite union of cabin crew had gathered some support from unions in the United States, Germany and Spain for its action taken to protest a pay freeze and changes to working conditions but the other unions had so far stopped short of pledging direct action that would affect BAs ability to refuel and service its planes. Talks broke down over a pay freeze and staffing changes. Analysts estimated that BA had lost more than 25 million pounds because of canceled tickets and the cost of contingency plans, which include leasing fully crewed planes from other airlines. Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for the strike to be called off immediately. Unite had planned a second, four-day walkout to begin March 27 and had said more strikes will be scheduled for after April 14 if the dispute was not resolved. It had pledged not to walk out over the busy Easter period. This is a case of cabin crew crisis but is because of the legal problems that BA faces quite often on regular basis. Firm resolution to this problem should be found to reduce risk and increase the returns. PESTEL analysis is a useful strategic tool for product development, sales planning, executing strategies and operational planning as well. It checks that the firms result are in line with the external impact of changes.

Explain the low turnout in U.S. elections. :: essays research papers fc

Explain the low turnout in U.S. elections. "Miller light and bud light†¦either way you end up with a mighty weak beer!" This is how Jim Hightower (a Texan populist speaker) described the choices that the U.S. electorate had in the 2000 elections. This insinuates that there is a clear lack of distinction between the parties. Along with numerous others, this is one of the reasons why the turnout is so low in the U.S. elections. In trying to explain the low figures at the U.S. elections, analysts have called American voters apathetic to indifferent to downright lazy. I disagree that the 50% (in recent elections) of voters that fail to turnout to vote are lazy and that they have just reason not too. I will also show that the problem lies within the system itself in that the institutional arrangements, electoral and governmental, do not create an environment that is conducive to mass participation. I will address these main issues and several others that have an effect on voter participation. In doing so I will comp are America to other established democracies. Some registration laws in the past had clearly been designed to abstain certain races and types of people from registering, these restricted rather than assisted voter turnout. In the South they made provisions to stop African-Americans voting and the North implemented obstacles such as the poll tax and literacy tests. These were blatant attempts to stop people who were not of the typical voter, an educated white male landowner from casting a ballot. Typically in the South turnout historically tends to be lower than that of the North. An example of this is the contest between Kennedy and Nixon when only 40% of the south turned out to vote compared with 70% of the rest of the nation. These southern states tend to be the ones who were part of the old Confederacy. They still seem to have similar political ideologies, as in the most recent election George W. Bush took all these states in defeating Al Gore. It seems that the stigma connected to the civil war that ended over 130 years ago still seems to loom over American politics. However due to the 1965 Voting Rights Act, procedures for registration have become much more user friendly in allowing a much wider scope of American citizens to register. Because of this Act I am going to concentrate on the more recent elections and explanations for the low turnout.

Education Is Very Important Essay

It helps us gain knowledge, information and interpret things correctly. Education teaches us how to lead our lives by mingling in the society and turning out to be good citizens. It makes us capable of interpreting rightly the things perceived. Education teaches us right behavior and makes us civilized people. It forms as a support system to excel in life, to continuously learn and build confidence, to reason everything till every question meets its answer. The conversion of information to knowledge is possible because of education and we also gain intelligence. Higher education influences the economic development of a nation as per the economists. A person is always judged by good manners he/she has. Education is important as it teaches us to differentiate between good and bad manners and choose the right behavior that cultivates good manners. Good manners are important for kids to develop at a very young age. Kids must learn to be polite, learn telephone etiquette, socialize with other kids and develop values. All this can be taught at home as well as school. Teaching your children good manners creates a foundation for them that will follow them through life. Education is important because it equips us with all that is needed to make our dreams come true. When we opt for higher education or masters, we need to choose the specialization field of our interest and talents. Most leading courses allow you to study all areas for the first year and to choose a specialization in your second year when you have more exposure and knowledge about these fields. The technical and analytical skills can be well explored in the area of one’s interest.

Dreams Aspirations and Goals Essay

I just want to start off by saying that I am truly blessed to be able to have the opportunity that so many don’t have: getting an education. I dreamed I would always be able to learn to be able to do a little of everything no matter what it was: either it was learning culinary, mechanics, science, mathematics, history, etc. I’ve just wanted to be that one person who knows a little of everything; no matter what the skill was I could do it. It may sound impossible but â€Å"nothings impossible.† As I enter the college life, this is where I will be determining my dream and where I truly will belong for the rest of my life it may take a while but that’s what college is for to really test the waters and become comfortable with the one that occupation that really fits me well. I think what I really want to achieve in college is to be a role model; to be the role model that I want to be responsible by being able to balance my school, work, and social life, but mo st importantly I want to be able to make my family proud and support them like they did for me. I think my biggest dream was to become someone who can aspire and motivate people with their creativity or to just be a role model – hopefully that this experience in college will truly help me accomplish that. I know that knowledge is key to pretty much everything we have to know – practically every and anything about whatever occupation we want to have. But what’s wrong with using our creative side – isn’t it fun too just maybe once show up to class and have to draw for an assignment but no one says it has to be perfect no one expects you to be Picasso. We are being required to draw and use our creative side express our artistic side whether it be through words, drawing just to be able to just your true potential with creativity. In my experience of high school I had an amazing literature teacher who would sometimes just be fun and creative and just have us draw for one of our journals but it wasn’t stupid it was creative. Being creative is one of my biggest passions in life. I hope that I can truly show people there is nothing wrong with being creative. Responsible the one thing some people are afraid to be. When you hear the words independent it descri bes everything about being responsible. It’s when you start to do things on your own – a simple definition. In depth you have your own apartment maybe, pay your own car, bills, and you have a stable good paying job. It shows true responsibility when you can balance your school, work, and social life because you’ve shown how mature and  independent you can be – there is nothing more accomplishing to prove that you pushed yourself through all those nights of tears and sweat to finish that assignment. High School was a sort of breaking point for me with AP literature to give me a taste of the college life – all the nights I stood up to complete my papers. I can tell you this it was honestly worth it even though it stressed me out as I stared hours at a blank page at how to start my paper but then once you get going it all just flows out. One thing I know is that all that dedication of my time and effort will help me to be coming successful in my future. I wouldn’t be able to have done it without the support of my family and friends. So my goal in college is to graduate and figure out what I want to be. When I do graduate I want to be able to support and be there for everyone who did the same for me. Most of all I want to spoil my parents and spoil and treasure then like they did to me and my siblings. I honestly couldn’t have done it without their words of wisdom, kindness and experiences that showed me this opportunity I have to take advantage of so on behalf of my parents, family and friends my journey to success is my gift to you and may I make you prouder than you are when you saw me with my first cap and gown.

Murder is Murder(Capital Punishment) essays

Murder is Murder(Capital Punishment) essays Murder is Murder Capital punishment has been a controversial topic almost since it's inception. Since biblical times, an "eye for an eye," or a " tooth for a tooth", has been the established norm for retribution. As society advanced, the methods of capital punishment became more "civilized". However, the result remains the same, legally sanctioned death. Reform of automatic death sentences began in Europe in the 1750's. The social reformers and English law reformers of that time argued that the death penalty was needlessly cruel, overrated as a deterrent, and occasionally imposed in fatal error. The social reformers proposed life imprisonment as a more humane alternative. The social reformers proposal is consistent with my opinion. Any death of any person is wrong. The general population's opinion is that capital punishment permanently removes the worst criminals from society, and is less expensive and safer for society, than long-term or permanent incarceration. It is evident that dead criminals cannot commit any more crimes. However, the same is true for criminals serving life sentences. Most people would think it is less expensive to execute a person rather than keep them in prison, which is not always true. It is estimated that a capital case resulting in execution may cost $2,000,000. However life imprisonment's $20,000 a year is comparable. Of course we would think that execution would not be expensive but the legal fees, appeals and the court cost make execution very costly. It is simply not cost effective. Furthermore, the fact that a person is convicted of a murder and sentenced to death does not always mean he or she is guilty. There are many people who are wrongly accused. What if someone is innocent and they are wrongly ex ecuted? There is no possible way to compensate for his or her wrongful death. In some cases a person convicted of the murder ...

Free Essays on Return With Honor

Return With Honor By: Capt. Scott O’Grady â€Å"Return With Honor† is a book whose author was an American pilot, Scott O’Grady, who was shot down above Yugoslavia in his F-16 fighting falcon. He tells about how he managed to survive and evade capture. He describes the religious trials he went through and what key events took place before, during, and after his ordeal. He begins by explaining how he had become an Air Force pilot, and how he managed to end up in the triple nickel squadron in Italy. On the day he was shot down his commanding officer, â€Å"Wilbur† asked him if he wanted to fly a mission that day. He hadn’t flown a mission all that month so if he flew one that day he would’ve gotten an extra 150$ for hazard pay, he figured why not and agreed. In the locker room he suited up, put on his G-suit, boots, and helmet, but he forgot his flight vest. O’Grady didn’t want to take everything off and put it back on again just for the vest, so he went on and decided to crank up the excellent climate control system in his F-16. He didn’t know how much he would need that extra layer of clothing in the up coming days. On this mission he was to be a wingman for â€Å"Wilbur†. They both took off and headed for Yugoslavian air space. On their trip they switched formations various times and their computers told them constantly that other radar stations were watching them. The both of them ignored the computer’s warning until it told Mr. O’Grady that a missile was tracking him. He looked around for the white trail of smoke and didn’t see the missile. It barely missed him and â€Å"Wilbur†, then he heard another warning that another Surface to Air missile was tracking him. Before he could turn his head the missile slammed directly into the middle of his fuselage. The airplane broke into two halves and he started to plummet towards the ground. O’grady pulled the handle of his ejection suit and rocketed out of his... Free Essays on Return With Honor Free Essays on Return With Honor Return With Honor By: Capt. Scott O’Grady â€Å"Return With Honor† is a book whose author was an American pilot, Scott O’Grady, who was shot down above Yugoslavia in his F-16 fighting falcon. He tells about how he managed to survive and evade capture. He describes the religious trials he went through and what key events took place before, during, and after his ordeal. He begins by explaining how he had become an Air Force pilot, and how he managed to end up in the triple nickel squadron in Italy. On the day he was shot down his commanding officer, â€Å"Wilbur† asked him if he wanted to fly a mission that day. He hadn’t flown a mission all that month so if he flew one that day he would’ve gotten an extra 150$ for hazard pay, he figured why not and agreed. In the locker room he suited up, put on his G-suit, boots, and helmet, but he forgot his flight vest. O’Grady didn’t want to take everything off and put it back on again just for the vest, so he went on and decided to crank up the excellent climate control system in his F-16. He didn’t know how much he would need that extra layer of clothing in the up coming days. On this mission he was to be a wingman for â€Å"Wilbur†. They both took off and headed for Yugoslavian air space. On their trip they switched formations various times and their computers told them constantly that other radar stations were watching them. The both of them ignored the computer’s warning until it told Mr. O’Grady that a missile was tracking him. He looked around for the white trail of smoke and didn’t see the missile. It barely missed him and â€Å"Wilbur†, then he heard another warning that another Surface to Air missile was tracking him. Before he could turn his head the missile slammed directly into the middle of his fuselage. The airplane broke into two halves and he started to plummet towards the ground. O’grady pulled the handle of his ejection suit and rocketed out of his...

Launch Team How to Build and Manage a Book Launch Team

Launch Team How to Build and Manage a Book Launch Team How To Build and Manage Your Book Launch Team When it comes to launching a bestselling book on Amazon, the biggest leverage an author can invest in is building a stellar book launch team.Your launch team will receive an early bird copy of the book, read through it, and write an honest review to be posted when the book is live.But a launch team can be much more effective in other ways too that we will look at in this post.In this post, I will walk you through the steps for building, guiding and managing your book street team. If you follow this system, you will be investing in the most critical part of your book launch, setting your book up for the long term success it deserves.What is a Book Launch Team?Your launch team, also known as a street team, is a group of people who are going to set you up for success when your book launches. They could be fans of your previous work, readers of your blog, friends who want to support you, or the members in your mastermind group. And, ideally, a combination of all of the above.The launch t eam has a massive impact on, not only the success of your book launch but, the long term success of the book. They are a group of people who are passionate about your book, your brand, and they want you to succeed as much as you do.Your job, as the author of the book, is to guide your team to take action both before the book is launched and then during the launch window. Why do you need a book launch team?Launch team members will help you to get reviews during the launch and, help you to share the book launch as well as get downloads for your book. If you have a weak launch, you have weak book sales and you’ll be forever struggling to drive traffic towards your book.Your launch team will read the book before anyone else and prepare an honest review of the work to be posted during launch week. Amazon favors books with review activity. The more Amazon reviews you can get posted, your book moves up the rankings faster and gets promoted by Amazon under the â€Å"books you also m ight like† section.Reviews also increase book sales. If you manage to get 20-30 reviews in the first week, this would create serious momentum for your book rankings. It is the best social proof that your book is getting read and people are taking an interest in the content. The bottom line: Reviews convince browsers to buy. Amazon will rank your book higher as well if there is activity taking place.Building Your Team: Where do I recruit?The question that I often get is, â€Å"Where do I find people to join my team?† This is a challenge if you don’t have much of a   following and have never launched a book before. Let’s assume that this is your first book launch and you are looking for people to join your launch team. Where do we begin to build? Who can we ask?Here are a few suggestions for building a book launch team:Make a list of 20-30 people you can contact directly.These can be business contacts, online relationships, or subscribers to your email lis t. This list functions as your core team, what I call your level 1 launch team. They are the most committed to your launch. Perhaps they joined a previous launch you had and now they want to sign up for this one as well.Post to your Facebook/Social Media Platforms/Mastermind Groups.This is where you can gather a lot of your level 2 launch team members. If you are going for a large launch team, this would be the next phase. If you want to keep it more personal and limit the number of people, just follow through with the first step and leave it at that.Keep in mind, with your level 2 launch team, you could get anywhere from 20-200 people sign up. The reason we call it a level 2 group is, many of the people joining may not know you personally, but they have an interest in your book. But the question is, how committed are they to following through?It is just a fact that not everyone on your team is going to follow through. Maybe they didn’t like the book, they had no time to read it, or, they were uncertain what to do during the launch. There is the possibility that they won’t leave a review for whatever reasons. This is why we have to be clear with our launch team as to:What actions to takeWhen to take it, and;How to implement the action planThe best you can do is encourage people throughout the launch and keep the pressure momentum turned on. This is where team incentives and providing value will deliver in the end. When people feel as if they are a part of something important, they are more likely to follow through.Team Incentives: What to offer?This is the part of the process in launch building that you can really make a difference to the strength of your team. By adding incentives to what you can give your team, you will increase the commitment of your team.Decide what you will give to your team to offer quality incentives that makes them feel a part of the team.What can you offer a launch team?Check out Kevin Kruse’s post â€Å"Sample i nvitation to build a launch team.† In this invitation to join his street team, Kevin offered up a bundle of incentives to the launch team when he published 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management. Some of these perks included membership into a Mastermind Group on Facebook and an exclusive â€Å"ask me anything† webinar before the launch.Likewise Michael Hyatt, when he launched Living Forward, offered launch members an exclusive look into how the book launch was structured as well as access to a special 30-minute group phone session with him prior to launching the book. So, what you can offer your launch team is:The digital version of the book way before anyone else sees it. This can be in PDF or Mobi file. For creating a PDF or mobi file of the book, check out the free calibre software.A free hardcopy of the book delivered right to your door.A free webinar or a facebook Live QA session: you can get close and personal with your team by hosting a live webi nar where you talk about the book, get into behind-the-scenes strategies of the launch, and share inside tactics that nobody else can get.Exclusive access to a private Facebook group. Here you can post videos, share posts, and converse with your team in real time as they get excited about the launchFree training videos based on the content of your bookAdditional freebies that you want to share with your team.An advance copy of a workbook that you will be offering to subscribersEarly access to course material that won’t be available until the book is launched.The goal is to provide your team with a lot of value so that they know they are part of something important. This will increase the level of commitment you will get from members reading and promoting the book during launch week.Building a Quality Launch TeamWhen it comes to launch team members joining your team, it isn’t about the numbers. It is the quality of the team. It is much better to have 40 people who are c ommitted than 200 that just sign up and don’t do anything. You want your team to be involved and take action. So, how do you build a quality street team fully committed to launching your book to bestseller status?Here are four strategies for building a quality launch team:Reach out to people personally. By contacting people you know on a personal basis you can get a solid commitment from that person with a personal email.Create an application form process. This creates a barrier to entry. The people who are serious players will fill out and commit. You can check out an application form template right here. In the application process you let the potential member know what is expected and what they will be responsible for. The application process creates accountability and exclusive access to the launch team material.Invite people who you have worked with and trust, such as podcasters, bloggers and influencers, to help you with the launch.Create a team of committed reviewers an d promoters to set the launch on fire when it takes off.How to Manage Launch Team ExpectationsThis is when you are up front with the launch team about what is to be expected during the launch. What actions are you asking them to do? On what days will they take these actions? What is at stake as far as the success of the book is concerned.Remember: The success of your launch plan is critical, and the launch team is the all-important component to making it happen.Expectations should be made clear from the beginning. When you put up a post for early bird readers, let them know that taking action is a must. This is the big ask and what you will expect from the team if they are selected to join your launch.Here is what you could ask of your launch team:Read the book before the launch day. Provide feedback if they pick up on such as formatting problems, misspellings, etc†¦Write up an honest review of the book and post it during launch week.Share word of the launch through your social platforms, mentioning the book in a weekly blog post, and starting a discussion about the book in chat forums. This could also include tweets, Facebook posts, or post the cover to Pinterest and Instagram.Share promotional ideas within the launch group. This is where a Facebook Group would come in. Members can easily post ideas and swap strategies for promoting the book.Take a photo of you holding up a copy of the paperback. This would require that the paperback be ready in advance to send to select team members so they have time to take the photo before launch.Provide your team with a list of action strategies they can take during launch week. Let them choose what strategies they like and fits into their schedule. You can encourage the team by adding a points system.The members who take action and complete each promotional strategy earn a number of points. This could lead to receiving even more freebies.Launch Team CommunicationNow that you have your team together with emails, you have set the expectations and outlined the launch plan, now you have to decide how you will communicate with your team. People need to feel connected to you during the launch or else they lose interest and you lose the trust of your team. Set up your method of communication and invite everyone into the launch.Email CampaignSet up at least 6-10 emails to be delivered throughout the launch. You can add your team emails to a campaign in your email service provider such as Mailchimp, Mailerlite or Convert Kit. You can set up email autoresponders to go out on certain dates, or customize your emails as you go.Launch Team Emails: How often and how many?One question that comes up often is, â€Å"how many emails do I send out, how often and what should the content look like? Once again, if you are running a Facebook Group and using that as your main source of communication, I still recommend you have a set of emails set up to be delivered throughout the launch.I send out an email every seco nd day. Here is a breakdown of what these launch team emails would look like:Email #1: Welcome Email: Includes Intro to the team and the PDF of the book.Email #2: How is the book reading? General overview of the launch plan.Email #3: 5 Days Before Launch. Include a video of how to leave a review on AmazonEmail #4: The day before launch- Are you ready?Email #5: LAUNCH DAY! It is time to take action.Email #6: Review reminder, update on book status and current ranking.Email #7: Final reminder. Leave a review and FREE paperback giveaway reminder.Email #8: Final email. Thank you for joining the launch team.What you want to do is take time to customize your own emails. You can space the emails out accordingly. I like to keep them balanced so that the team is getting the support they need without feeling too overwhelmed.Facebook GroupA group you can add your members to for easy access and communication. You can post regularly and easily add video and communicate with regular updates. Membe rs can, as we mentioned, share ideas for promoting the book during the launch day.Even if you do a Facebook Group, I recommend sending out regular emails regardless. Not everyone is going to be into joining a Facebook Group, so communicating with regular emails set up to be delivered on select dates will cover all the bases.Sending Out Your Book to Your Launch TeamThere are three ways you can get the advance copy to your team.PDF Form. Attach the PDF to the welcome email if you are delivering it this way. For larger files, you can drop the book in Dropbox and share the link with your team. Dropbox allows people to download the book without having to sign up for an account.Bookfunnel.com This is a great way to deliver your book. BookFunnel has a yearly subscription fee but it’s worth it if you launch regularly. The basic price is $20 a month for 1 pen name and 500 downloads per month. You can check out the features of bookfunnel right here.The pigeonhole. I’ve used the pigeonhole before and I really liked it. How it works is like this. You upload your book in PDF form to the team at Pigeonhole. You provide them with your launch team emails and then, Pigeonhole posts a chapter a day of your book on their site. Members read right on line and can comment on the book as they work through it.This is a great platform for improving the quality of the book as well. Early readers catch the small mistakes that were missed and you can fix everything up before launching.4 Common Launch Team Mistakes to AvoidIn order to make the most of your launch team, there are different mistakes we see often that you want to avoid.#1 Sending out emails with long gaps in betweenYou want to be consistent in communicating with your launch team. Long gaps in between emails will result in people losing interest and not following through when they should. I average an email every 2-3 days. For a Facebook group, you could post something everyday, even if it is just a short blurb .#2 Failing to set expectationsRemember the list of expectations we looked at in the beginning? By not setting your expectations you are leaving the launch wide open to chaos. Be sure people know what they need to do and when they need to do it. Don’t just assume people will take action. They need you, the author, to lead them. Be upfront and let them know they are with you until the end to take action.#3 Setting your initial price point too highOkay, you might think this is common sense but, you want to launch your book right away at the lowest price point possible. That would be 0.99, and then possibly free after you’ve set set your promo up in the KDP dashboard.If your price is upwards of $5-10, people may not download it. You want your price to be low so the launch team especially can download it to leave a verified purchase.When it comes to Amazon rankings, a book that has the verified purchase tag weighs more than a non verified review. Make it easy for people to download. Set your price low and get the rankings moving. You can increase your price point after the launch.#4 Giving unclear directionsYou want everything to be so easy for your team that it can literally run itself. What this means is, setting up all the steps so that people know exactly what to so. Some of the questions I have had from team members were:Where do I leave   review?How do I leave a review?Where is the link for the book?What is this Goodreads website?You can eliminate confusion and wasting time answering basic questions by setting up the steps so it is like paint-by-numbers. For example, shoot a short video of how to set up a review. Walk people through the process. Video is a fantastic way to visually teach the steps and can be done easily. You can then post it in the Facebook feed or embed the link in an email to be downloaded from Dropbox or Vimeo.It all comes down to planning ahead. By foreseeing possible problems that can slow down your launch, prepare ah ead of time and set your team up for success.The Power of SharingSwipe Copy for Your Team is a set of pre-formatted/written emails and/or posts that the launch team can use to share either via email or online. You want this to be as simple as possible so people can just copy and paste to their social media platforms or deliver by email without it taking too much of their time. The easier it is for your team to deliver, the better.Create swipe copy for your book launch and make this available to your team via dropbox or upload to your Facebook Group. The swipe copy should be easy to use and provide material for sharing online or via email.You should include specific instructions as to how to use the swipe copy. Not everyone has used this before and you will get questions from people if they have difficulty.I would recommend shooting a short video explaining how to set this up on launch day. Show people how easy it is. Encourage them to share where they can and as often as possible.If each of the people on you team threw up a post on their Facebook page, and they had an average of 500 friends each, that would exponentially share your book with a large community that you otherwise wouldn’t have had access to.Setting up a Launch Team Roster for Future BooksOnce the launch is over, your facebook group will most likely be disbanded. You could try to keep it going but after the launch is over, but without a specific purpose for the group that extends beyond the launch, it is a lot of work to keep the interest going. This is where a long term strategy for your books could be put into play.Are you planning to launch another book? Do you want to use some of your core launch members for another book launch? In that case, you could set up a street team of reviewers that are ready to support you on, not only this launch, but all future launches.Remember: a launch team is more than just getting someone to review your book. You could take the relationship to the next level. Consider setting up a private facebook group for people who want to stay in touch and support your work in future launches. And, if they agree to this, it will be far easier to tap into a group that is already in place then recruiting new members.Build Your Launch Team [Master Checklist]Here is a review of the steps to build your launch team.Reach out to at least 20-30 people directly to begin the recruitment process. Ask for permission to put them on your launch team.Expand to social media circles like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.Put together an incentive package: free digital copy, paperback, question and answer group call, or a sneak peak at the launch behind-the-scenes.Choose your method of communication: email, a Facebook group, or both. [Both methods are recommended together]Be clear about your expectations for the launch [launch goals for reviews, ranking, and book sales]Create a series of emails to send to your group. You can set these up beforehand or create as you go for a more ‘on-the-spot customized feel.Decide the method to deliver emails: gmail template or email server campaign template [recommended]. You can use Mailchimp, free up to 2000 subscribers.Prepare a â€Å"Welcome to my launch team† Video or Post.Send out your Welcome Email. This includes the digital copy of the book. In your email outline the expectations for being on the launch team.Create a â€Å"Swipe File† for the team to share. Deliver this to your team the day before launch.Keep track of your team emails using an excel sheet.Send out a â€Å"review reminder† a week after the launch.Final email/posting: Thank your team for their support during the launch. Follow up on any final incentives promised.Stay in touch with members of your team. Continue to build relationships with people so that your book launch can get bigger with every new book release.Learn How to Launch Your Book for SUCCESSNow that you have a roadmap for setting up your launch team, it is time to get to work. Remember that the best time to start building your team is right now. Work on your relationships with people interested in your material. Connect with other authors and begin to get the word out about your upcoming book launch. It is never too early to start.

Population Trends in Larids Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 11250 words

Population Trends in Larids - Dissertation Example ing gulls regionally, it was interesting to note that while the western colonies which were 10 times later than the eastern colonies in England during the seafarer census, the western colonies have declined by almost 27,000 pairs while the east coast colonies have steadily grown over the censuses. Although still much smaller than the west coast, it will be interesting to see if the decline in the west and increase in the east will continue. In striking contrast, at the seafarer census the east Scotland colonies were nearly three times those of the west coast. However, by the seabird census the populations on the east and west coast of Scotland were virtually identical. When examining the herring gull by latitude one of the greatest differences noted is the drastic decrease of the population in the 56-58N latitude in particular. The huge colonies present at Seafarer had been decimated by the seabird census. In fact, much of the herring gull population has seen a phenomenal decrease in the latter part of the 20th century. Table of Contents 1.0 Chapter 1 - Introduction 3 3.0 Chapter 3 - Methodology 17 4.0 Chapter 4.0 - Results/Analysis 22 Appendices 61 1.0 Chapter 1 - Introduction 1.1 Background Information There have been 3 major surveys conducted in Britain and Ireland that have measured the breeding populations of great black backed, lesser black backed and herring gulls. These are the Operation Seafarer surveys, conducted in 1969-70; the Seabird Colony Register census, conducted in 1985-87; and Seabird 2000, conducted in 1998-2002. By analysis of the differences in the numbers observed in these three surveys, it is possible to show variation in population trends over time of these three very closely related bird species. Species... This dissertation reveals that gulls are known to feed at areas of sewage outflow to the sea, such as in the Bristol Channel. It has been noted that they appear well adapted to feeding in polluted areas, as they have a well-developed detoxification system. There was a change in the numbers of lesser black backed gulls feeding at sewage outlets in South Wales, where a 289% increase in numbers between the 1970s and 1990s was observed in one study. However, it was also found that feeding from sewage outlets was overall much more common in black-headed gulls than lesser black backed or herring gulls, with 11% of the population of black headed gulls feeding at sewage outlets, compared to 3% for herring gulls and 7% for lesser black backed gulls. In conclusion, there was also a difference in feeding patterns throughout the year, with far more gulls feeding at sewage outlets during the summer, compared to winter. This has a particular significance in that the summer is when breeding pairs are incubating and caring for offspring, which could then be affected by the parental diet. Refuse, whether sewage or on land, supports 43-75% of the diet of lesser black backed and great black backed gulls. However, it is often juvenile, non-breeding gulls that are found at sewage outlets, which means that offspring are less likely to be affected. There has been a link between salmonellae occurrence in gulls and the number of human cases in local hospitals, with this being linked to a similar contaminated food source, as opposed to direct infection.

Is addiction a disease or not Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Is addiction a disease or not - Essay Example 1). Saah, on the other hand, provided the meaning of the term as â€Å"a personality disorder, (which) may also be seen as a worldwide epidemic with evolutionary genetic, physiological, and environmental influences controlling this behavior† (Saah: Introduction par. 1). The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) presented its meaning as â€Å"a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences† (NIDA par. 1). These definitions have disparities in terms of identifying addiction as a state of dependence, which is a behavioral or personality condition; as contrasted to it being identified as a disease of the brain. The aim of the current discourse is to determine whether addiction is a disease or just an extreme form of learning. Background and Review of Literature The history of having diagnosed addiction as an abnormal condition was noted to have originated from the 1800s where doctors allegedly worke d with patients, identified to have been diagnosed with alcoholism and drug addiction, as confined in private sanitariums (Origins Recovery Centers). Only in 1934 was it disclosed that a particular doctor, Dr. William D. Silkworth, had apparently revolutionized finding appropriate and effective treatment for addiction through the establishment and close link of working and being supported by a group of committed individuals. As noted, â€Å"it was the doctor’s belief that an addict has both mental and physical abnormalities† (Origins Recovery Centers par. 5). At this stage, addiction has already been identified complex in terms of containing mental, as well as physical abnormalities; components which were separately identified in definitions noted above. From the study written by Sussman and Sussman, the authors explored the various definitions of addiction. Accordingly, the authors included â€Å"elements of addiction derived from a literature search that uncovered 5 2 studies include: (a) engagement in the behavior to achieve appetitive effects, (b) preoccupation with the behavior, (c) temporary satiation, (d) loss of control, and (e) suffering negative consequences† (Sussman and Sussman 4025). The authors have likewise uncovered the date of origin of examining addiction cases to the 1700s from the study written by Meyer entitled â€Å"The disease called addiction: Emerging evidence in a 200-year debate† (Sussman and Sussman 4036). On the contrary, addiction was emphasized that it was not at all a disease but instead, an extreme form of learning. Lewis contended that other emotions, such as love, also alter the brain; yet, not called a disease. He argued that â€Å"physical changes in the brain are its only way to learn, to remember, and to develop. But we wouldn’t want to call learning a disease† (Lewis par. 9). To this, he aptly concluded that â€Å"addiction (whether to drugs, food, gambling, or whatever) doesnâ⠂¬â„¢t fit a specific physiological category. Rather, I see addiction as an extreme form of normality, if one can say such a thing. Perhaps more precisely: an extreme form of learning. No doubt addiction is a frightening, often horrible, state to endure, whether in oneself or in one’s loved ones. But that doesn’t make it a disease† (Lewis par. 11). Analysis of the Definition of Addiction and Confirmation From the definitions that were provided, one affirmed that these

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

Yoga - Research Paper Example But Yoga deals with the breath, mind and quite subtly, the soul. It releases the toxins in the body and harmonizes the whole body. Many people use yoga to lose weight. This is possible as Yoga makes a person calm, reduces stress and hence addictions such as overeating and alcoholism are cured to a great degree. Yoga is an ancient meditative technique proposed originally by an Indian sage called Patanjali. It is a Sanskrit word and its literal meaning is ‘union’. The word union is used because Yoga unites the lost soul of a human being back to its god. There are many types of yoga postures and these are practiced by the saints and sages in the Himalayan region of India. But ordinary people also practice it throughout the world. When I saw the various yoga postures I thought that I won’t be able to do them. This is because they look very weird and seem to be inspired from the postures of the animals. For example, there is yoga posture called ‘Singhasan’ which literally means the ‘posture of a lion’. In it one has to lie on the belly, lift the body up by hands, take the tongue out (like a lion) and make a loud noise at the top of one’s throat (roar!!). But as I gleaned through the pages I realized that there were many methods which were very simple and extremely effective. The simplest Yoga posture is ‘Shavaasan’ which means ‘The posture of a corpse’ (Mumford, 15). I know this sounds frightening but it is quite simple. Just lie down on a flat ground or floor, loosen the body, relax the mind and follow your breath. Don’t move the body and be peaceful, like a corpse. After a few minutes the mind becomes very still and the body rejuvenates. This is the magic of yoga. I have always had problems with my concentration. I find it hard to concentrate on many things especially studies. My attention span seems to be decreasing day by day. I sought for a remedy in yoga. I saw many

BEHAVIOURAL FINANCE AND MARKET EFFICIENCY Essay

BEHAVIOURAL FINANCE AND MARKET EFFICIENCY - Essay Example Due to the presence of inefficiency within the global market, the sales and profitability of a company is not only affected but also the country’s ability to build a more reliable capital asset. Therefore, in response to poor market efficiency, the study on behavioural finance has gained importance back in 1990s2. Using knowledge on behavioural finance, the main causes and underlying drivers of the most recent global financial crisis will be identified and tackled in details. As part of analyzing the factors that has triggered the recent global financial crisis, both behavioural and non-behavioural explanation behind such crisis will be compared and contrast. In relation to the presence of irregularities in the global markets, whether or not â€Å"value† is riskier than â€Å"growth† will be answered based on the theory behind the rational risk pricing. 2. Main Causes and Underlying Drivers of the Most Recent Global Financial Crisis 2.1 Non-behavioural Explanatio n behind the Most Recent Global Financial Crisis Next to the Great Depression which occurred back in 1930s, the worst global financial crisis happened between 2007 to 2008 when most of the large-scale financial institutions worldwide were at risks of bankruptcy aside from the sudden fall in the stock markets3. Specifically the U.S. real estate bubble in 2006 had caused serious damages to the status of global financial institutions4, 5. Eventually, the prolonged 2007 to 2008 global financial crisis has somehow contributed to the European sovereign-debt crisis6, 7. This increases the risks wherein most of the largest financial institutions such as the Lehman Brothers had serious problems about their liquidity and bank solvency8. Based on the study of macroeconomics, a lot of potential factors have been considered to be the main drivers behind the most recent global financial crisis. Based on the historical trend in the global financial crisis, one thing that is certain is that increas e in financial imbalances within the world market has something to do with today’s global financial crisis9. Likewise, it is also suspected that the growing imbalances in the worldwide capital flows are one of the main reasons behind the recent global financial crisis10, 11, 12, 13. Furthermore, it is also possible that the combination of the increasing imbalances in the flow of capital worldwide and the use of monetary policies have contributed to the development of the recent global financial crisis14, 15. Financial crisis is often characterized by having relatively low levels of national savings, huge fiscal and financial deficits, business bankruptcy and foreclosure, low GDP output, high unemployment rate, and huge trade or current account deficits16. With regards to the continuously increasing global financial imbalances, Merrouche and Nier (2010) explained that the incidence of global financial imbalances is somehow strongly connected with the huge dispersion between a huge net capital flows between two or more different countries and the position of the current account across different countries17. In line with this, a country with excessive inflows of capital can have long-term low interest rates which can influence most investors to search for other investment options as most financial institutions would try other means of maintaining their daily operational costs18, 19. Likewise, excessively high inflows of capital can also significantly reduce the wholesale funding cost of the

Principles of Research and Practice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Principles of Research and Practice - Assignment Example Many researchers categorize empirical research methods into three categories: experimental, correlational, and descriptive (Creswell: 1994). These all correspond to ways of taking guesses and theories about humanity into argument with knowledge. Researchers must conduct testing for a wider range of basis, testing starts from pre-testing a research design to challenging the process of a measuring instrument. There is a popular application of methods in examining the fundamentals of hypotheses and this is very appropriate in giving the most reliable evidence of causation (Deacon ET. Al.:1999). A researcher must work on two essential things; first, he must have a control to at least one independent variable. He must observe and measure an independent variable. Second, he must do a random assignment, the researcher must decide whether or to what extent an investigational contributor is depicted to the independent variable. The numerous independent variable in an investigational designs i s significantly helpful, the outcomes in the field of media may vary for different kinds of people, such as creating consent to the knowledgeable study of these differences (Jensen: 2002). For example, including both experiences to mediated opposition and gender in one design allows a researcher to observe the independent variable with hostility and their interaction. ... In order to use mass communication, social and cultural backgrounds of the viewers must be observed to give a full description of the "real" world. For an instance, connection to broadcasted violence usually happens at home (Malhorta and Birks: 2000). If a researcher be in control of it, he has no guarantee that the results studied will be relevant in more distinctive contexts. Thus, experimental research may specify what can happen, rather than what really happen in "realistic" situations. Experimental research also leans to be limited to the short-term effect of the mass media. One typically cannot influence and have power over media-related activities for months or years. The researcher has no influence in a study using a co-variation among variables, such as televised violence and assault in children (Jensen: 2002). As an alternative, a researcher generally determines the variables as they take place obviously. Such studies usually fall well short of gathering the standards for c ausal conclusion. A correlation study, regarding measures of discovery to televised violence and aggression; it was a synchronic or cross-sectional study. Each variable was assessed at only one time point. It is occasionally probable to control time order by using a diachronic study, concerning more than one time point. One could correlate a determined independent variable with later adjusts in a dependent variable. Regardless of this inadequacy, correlational studies usually reflect naturally in occurring processes. In this sense, they are high in external validity. In fact, many questions are examined using both experimental and correlational techniques (Malhorta and Birks: 2000). To the extent, each type gives similar evidence such as a person's exposure to mediated

Animal testing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Animal testing - Research Paper Example The same applies to cosmetics since researchers investigate for the suitability of such products in animals. Animal testing therefore is a vital practice in education, defense and breading researchers with most governments formulating appropriate legislations to guide the use of animals in studies as the discussion below portrays. Government regulation is essential in safeguarding the rights of both the animals and the humans who engage in the practice. Proponents of animals testing argue on the positive attributes of the practice key among which is the fact that animal testing enhances the growth of knowledge thereby bettering such vital sciences as medicine and social arts among many others. â€Å"they feel that the scientific advances that have emerged from animal testing-such as polio vaccine and measles, cancer chemotherapy and open heart surgery- far outweigh any pain, suffering or death the animals may experience† (Hayhurst 72). Opponents of the practice on the other hand argue in favor of the animals. They claim that using animals is both unethical and breaches the rights of the animals. The studies disrupt the natural existence of the animals in their respective habitats. Furthermore, the testing includes inserting harmful substances in the bodies of the animals possibly endangering or killing such animals. Such individuals oppose the practice based on the ethical implications and the rights of the animals. Despite the above arguments, both parties contend that animal testing is important and advantageous in medical practice among others. Toxicology testing is one such important tests conducted on animals. Just as the name suggests, it refers to the testing of the toxic levels in such finished products as pesticides thereby establishing the suitability of such products. The tests investigate for the effectiveness of such pesticides and their effects on other animals including humans. The tests include testing both the

Principles of Research and Practice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Principles of Research and Practice - Assignment Example Many researchers categorize empirical research methods into three categories: experimental, correlational, and descriptive (Creswell: 1994). These all correspond to ways of taking guesses and theories about humanity into argument with knowledge. Researchers must conduct testing for a wider range of basis, testing starts from pre-testing a research design to challenging the process of a measuring instrument. There is a popular application of methods in examining the fundamentals of hypotheses and this is very appropriate in giving the most reliable evidence of causation (Deacon ET. Al.:1999). A researcher must work on two essential things; first, he must have a control to at least one independent variable. He must observe and measure an independent variable. Second, he must do a random assignment, the researcher must decide whether or to what extent an investigational contributor is depicted to the independent variable. The numerous independent variable in an investigational designs i s significantly helpful, the outcomes in the field of media may vary for different kinds of people, such as creating consent to the knowledgeable study of these differences (Jensen: 2002). For example, including both experiences to mediated opposition and gender in one design allows a researcher to observe the independent variable with hostility and their interaction. ... In order to use mass communication, social and cultural backgrounds of the viewers must be observed to give a full description of the "real" world. For an instance, connection to broadcasted violence usually happens at home (Malhorta and Birks: 2000). If a researcher be in control of it, he has no guarantee that the results studied will be relevant in more distinctive contexts. Thus, experimental research may specify what can happen, rather than what really happen in "realistic" situations. Experimental research also leans to be limited to the short-term effect of the mass media. One typically cannot influence and have power over media-related activities for months or years. The researcher has no influence in a study using a co-variation among variables, such as televised violence and assault in children (Jensen: 2002). As an alternative, a researcher generally determines the variables as they take place obviously. Such studies usually fall well short of gathering the standards for c ausal conclusion. A correlation study, regarding measures of discovery to televised violence and aggression; it was a synchronic or cross-sectional study. Each variable was assessed at only one time point. It is occasionally probable to control time order by using a diachronic study, concerning more than one time point. One could correlate a determined independent variable with later adjusts in a dependent variable. Regardless of this inadequacy, correlational studies usually reflect naturally in occurring processes. In this sense, they are high in external validity. In fact, many questions are examined using both experimental and correlational techniques (Malhorta and Birks: 2000). To the extent, each type gives similar evidence such as a person's exposure to mediated

Subculture III Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Subculture III - Essay Example Heroes Camp has been such a subculture that has considerable influence upon the lives of the deprived children of the South Bend region of Indiana. The management and the officials of the Heroes Camp have been crucial for the purpose of enlightenment of the mind, body, and soul of those children and transform their lives for the greater good of the God and society. Heroes Camp has been an influential subculture for the ‘at – risk’ youth of the region of South Bend of Indiana. The most important aspect of this subculture has been that it has been helping the members to get involved in the long-term relationship of love and mutual respect. The present facility of the Heroes Camp has an area of more than 20,000 square feet of area that includes the food bank, at least three basketball courts, kitchen, offices and the laundry area. The further description of the Heroes Camp suggests it to be a, â€Å"an organization that trains youth with activities that offer hope, life skills, and loving relationships. This outreach has an extraordinary component that specializes in servicing the overlooked and disadvantaged youth who are challenged by lives circumstances. Heroes Camp purposes to provide a solid foundation for the progressive development of spirit, soul, and body with an end goal of holistic growth so that youth have the oppo rtunity to build stable productive lives and become leaders†. The most important factor for the success and the prosperity of the sub – culture (Heroes Camp) has been the highly experienced and influential management. The ministry is headed by Pat Magley and B J Magley, the co-founders and the directors. The organization was founded by them in 1989 and Pat has been working full – time for the ministry since 1990 as he left his job with Berkheimer.

Strategic Analysis Of The External Environment Currently Facing Gillette Marketing Essay

Strategic Analysis Of The External Environment Currently Facing Gillette Marketing Essay 1. Abstract Purpose The objective of this report is to conduct an extensive analysis of the external environment and evaluate the key drivers influencing the corporate strategic management of Proctor Gambles brand, Gillette. It will concentrate on identifying, categorising and prioritising the key issues facing this organisation both in the macro-environment and the micro-environment. Methodology The tools used in this report to provide an external analysis of the key environmental forces and competitive drivers include; analytical frameworks such as the PESTEL framework, and Porters 5-forces analysis. In addition an analysis of strategic groups and sources of competition will be included. Findings The influence of political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal drivers in the macro-environment, combined with the issues from the micro-environment, provide a series of implications for competitive action and strategic choice in the future. In the current external environment, social-trends and technological aspects play a vital role in a companys success in the Shaving Razor industry. Value The report utilises appropriate theory, conceptual frameworks and academic literature on future strategies and scenarios for Gillette from an analytical perspective. 2. Introduction This report will define Gillette as assembling and marketing its products within in the Shaving Razor industry, a distinct category of the Beauty Personal Care sector. Regardless of the period of growth the industry, valued at  £523 million, has benefitted from in recent years, Mintel (2009) suggested that sales of shaving and depilatory products had dropped by an estimated 3%. (Lee, 2010) proposes the industry faces cash-conscious consumers who may be seeking to reduce the cost of expensive razor blades or ensure they last for a longer period of time. However, (Bottomley, 2010) suggests a different reason for the decrease, even the most gadget- obsessed male is likely to question the value of on-board microchips and precision trimmers, when there are simpler, high-quality products available for a fraction of the price. Another point of view from (Jefferson, 2010) who suggests perhaps it is the functional approach that companies within this industry present to customers, connectin g with customers on a more emotional level will remedy the predictable perceptions of two blades are better than one, three blades are better than two and so on. The object of this report is to provide a structure focusing on future trends that can help to analyse strategic choices available to companies in the Shaving Razor industry. It will provide an extensive external environmental analysis of the current Shaving Razor environment with a future-trend perspective, using the PESTEL (political, economic, social, technological, environmental, legal) framework (see, for example, Brooks et al., 2005, p.7) as a suitable analytical tool for the macro-environment. The report will draw out and highlight the key drivers which are most likely to influence the future development of the industry. The report will then focus on Porters five forces framework, which (Porter, 1980) referred these forces as the micro-environment, which will then be used to establish the competitive intensity and therefore the overall industry profitability. Finally the report will analyse strategic groups and sources of competition within the Shaving Razor industry. 3. PESTEL Analysis of the Shaving Razor Industry The external environment consists of the external environment forces which may influence an aspect of organisational activity. These are defined within six broad-ranging sections with the acronym PESTEL, political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal. A full PESTEL analysis of the Shaving Razor environment is provided in Table 1, however the report has identified, categorised and prioritised the key issues facing the industry from the macro-environment below. Among the key conclusions of the PESTEL analysis are the following: With consumer purchases increasingly dependant on the often neglected topic of social responsibility, (Shayrn, 2009; Trainer, 2005) suggest that over the coming years, even in todays tough economic times, consumers demand an urgency about making their communities more environmentally friendly, fairer and sustainable. In the future, as environmental issues become increasingly reported in the media, (Kraus, 2005) implies the consumer will not only consider the impact their purchases have, but having a corporate social responsibility will be compulsory to remain competitive. In the Shaving Razor industry, this refers to using environmentally-friendly materials, long-lasting performance, environmentally-friendly packaging, CO2 emissions. See for example, Bics new environmentally friendly shaving razor (BicEcolutions, 2010). As the industry provides an essential product, that the majority of males require on an international basis. It is common for companies in this industry to operate and distribute globally. (Anwar et al, 2009) suggested that each country has individual rules on taxation and custom duties which may distort the companys pricing policies, a contradiction in pricing may cause people to purchase stock in bulk from countries with minimal price and black market the companys products, which would have a negative effect on profitability and brand reputation. The Shaving Razor industry take advantage of around a 4750% mark up according to (Poulter, 2009) who suggests that insiders have revealed that replacement razors blades cost only 5p to make yet are sold for around  £2.50 each. This extortionate mark-up on compatibility costs has caught the attention of the Office of Fair Trading who are currently investigating the issue. (The Office of Fair Trading, 2010) refers to this type of issue under the name compatibility costs, these purchase decisions lock a consumer in with inexpensive original equipment (durables) in order to purchase follow-on products which a substantial profit is made on (consumables). The high value-to-size ratio offered by the Shaving Razor industry has triggered the products offered by Shaving companies to become the worlds most shoplifted product according to (The Telegraph, 2003; BBC News, 2010). Kopalchick and Monk (2005, p.70) proposed this caused several companies in the Shaving Razor industry to take action and incorporate Radio-Frequency Identity (RFID) tags, which automatically tracks the products location when it is removed from the shelf. However, with the technology available today, e.g. GPS systems; it would be possible to track the product from leaving the shelf to its eventual disposal, which has led to ethical disputes regarding personal privacy according to (The Star Phoenix, 2006). There is an ongoing legal battle within in the Shaving Razor industry, examples of this are evident in (New York Times, 2004, p4; Grand Rapid Press, 2003, p11; BBC news, 2006). The series of disputes refer to company slogans, advertising campaigns, design patents regarding razor heads with more blades and trademarks according to (Solley, 2005). Each legal battle has costs both in money, time and to some extent brand reputation. The UK government has ordered an increase in value added tax (VAT) from 17.5% to 20%, this will take place on the 4th January 2011 (HM Revenue Customs, 2011). The increase will trigger an increase in material costs, meaning a higher price needs to be charged to customers in order to maintain the same profit levels per unit. According to (The Guardian, 2010) several companies have already made plans to increase their prices and many companies are waiting to see what action competitors take, while some companies have chosen to absorb the increase. (The Western Mail, 2011) reports that many companies believe that if they absorb the VAT increase, they will attract more customers and be able to compete more effectively in the marketplace. This suggests that Shaving Razor companies who absorb the VAT increase may experience more increased custom than those who choose to pass on the rise in costs to customers. Political Economic Social Technological Environmental Legal Each country has individual rules on taxation and custom duties which may distort the companys pricing policies. Contradiction in pricing may cause people black market the companies products.a The VAT increase from 17.5% to 20% will raise material costs throughout the industry and the UK.b Continued growth trend in industry value ( £523 million), however estimated 3% decrease in 2009.c Recession had minimal effect on spending habits within this industry, few people have spend less on shaving products. However, value of sales has dropped, due to heavy promotional discounting.c Price increase due to high demand in premium disposable shaving systems. d Brand loyalty is high within the industry, however one in ten users experiment with new brands and formats. Quality and performance are the key factors relating to whether the user switches to the new brand or format.c Cultural and religious factors that prevent people from shaving. In addition, the media popularisation of Movember, a fund-raising event to raise money to fight prostate cancer.e Demographic changes e.g. the increasing aging of population, who statistically shave less often.f Changing social attitudes. Rise in male grooming sales suggests men are more conscious with the way they look.g Introduction of high-end products last longer, meaning they have to be replaced less frequently, reducing sales.h High-quality premium product with additional USPs e.g. indicator that tells customers when blades need to be replaced; means a higher price can be charged.i Use of JIT and ICT within industry can reduce wastage and ensure the manufacture is more efficient.h Consumer purchases increasingly dependant on the often neglected topic of social responsibility.j The disposal of the dangerous razor blades is a key issue, previously Blade banks were provided as promotional material. It is a joint responsibility between manufacturer and customer to ensure the dangerous affect to the environment is minimised k Depilatories A Possible Threat to Shaving Systems.l There is an ongoing legal battle within the Shaving Razor industry. The series of disputes refer to company slogans, advertising campaigns, design patents regarding razor heads with more blades and trademarks.m Replacement shaving razor heads have become the worlds most shoplifted product.n Many companies within the industry have incorporated RFID tags into packaging to automatically monitor products from shelf to disposal, however this has led to ethical disputes regarding personal privacy.o Office of fair trading are investigating the high compatibility costs currently charged by companies in the industry., putting the present 4750% mark-up at jeopardy.p Sources: a(Ricciuto, 2001); b(The Guardian, 2010; HM Revenue Customs, 2010); c(Mintel, 2009); d(The Times 100, 2010); e(Mandal, 2003); f(Gale,2008); g(Verdon, 2007); h(Greb, 2009); i(Kruger,1998); j(Shayrn, 2009; Trainer, 2005); k (Kostigen, 2008) l(Global Industry Analysts, 2010); m (Solley, 2005; New York Times, 2004, p.4;BBC news, 2006) n(The Telegraph, 2003); o(The Star Pheonix, 2006); p(Poulter, 2009; The Office of Fair Trading, 2010). 4. 5-Forces Analysis of the Shaving Razor Industry Porters five forces framework can enable companies to analyse key forces that will affect the industry from the micro-environment and determine competitive intensity and consequently the overall industry profitability. According to (Porter, 1980) the five main forces include three from horizontal competition: threat of substitution, threat from established rivals and threat from new entrants. The two remaining forces are from vertical competition: bargaining power of suppliers and bargaining power of customers. The diagram below identifies, categorises and prioritises the key issues facing Gillette in the micro-environment. A more detailed exposition of the competitive intensity and industry profitability follows in the next sections. Diagram 1 Key Drivers facing Gillette in the micro-environment 4.2 Threat Of Substitution The level of threat from substitution depends on several factors, the key factors are; relative quality and price, customers willingness to substitute and the costs involved with switching to a substitute. In Gillettes case the main substitutes would be in the form of electric razors, straight traditional razors, depilatories and the option of not shaving. The threat of substitution from electric razors is minimized as Gillette owners, Proctor Gamble, have an arm in this industry with their successful brand Braun. The (Chain Drug review, 2008) suggests that older men tend to prefer electric razors; however the younger generation would lean towards purchasing wet-shaving products which are offered by Gillette. This could be interpreted that there is a potential reduction of the threat of substitution with electric razors in the future. Another substitute is the traditional straight-edge razor. This type of product operates in a very niche market. According to (Smith, 2010) these types of shavers have been fading in popularity due to their dangerous nature, suggesting the threat from this substitute is minimal. Depilatories are chemical agents used to temporarily remove hair at the skins surface. According to (Tuckington Dover, 2007) depilatories offer a smoother skin surface than shaving, however only 1% of American women use such products. It is also suggested that this is due to the fact depilatories are expensive, slow and irritating to the skin. The alternative substitute of not shaving is often combated by the industrys clever marketing techniques, which often suggest it is not socially acceptable not to shave. (Cavallaro, 2008) suggested methods and techniques in which are most effective to market products to men; these methods are used by many companies to advertise effectively. (Birchall, 2009, p.9) suggested Gillettes recent advertising campaigns were framed as an affirmation of body shaving as masculine. The messages portrayed through these advertising campaigns are manipulated to benefit the company, and draw customers away from purchasing substitutes. 4.3 Threat From Established Rivals The intensity of the rivalry from established competition is reliant on; the structure of competition, industry costs, degree of differentiation, switching costs, strategic objectives and exit barriers. The industry Gillette operates in is already unattractive; it contains many powerful and aggressive competitors who have high stakes in staying in the segment, due to high exit barriers. These conditions lead to frequent price wars, advertising disputes, and new, innovative product introductions, making it expensive for Gillette to maintain a high market share. The threat from established rivals is limited by the strong image and brand loyalty Gillette maintains. In addition, Gillettes innovative research and development department keeps the industry thriving by generating differentiation and technological advances. Their success has caused established rivals to borrow from their $1 billion research and development efforts (McCullough, 2003). 4.4 Threat From New Entrants The level of threat from new entrants to the Shaving Razor industry is established by; economies of scale, investment requirements, customer switching costs, access to industry distribution channels, access to technology, brand loyalty, chances of retaliation from existing industry members, government regulations. In the Shaving Razor industry, (Mintel, 2009) suggested there are high levels of brand loyalty present. This makes the industry very unattractive for new entrants, as they would be directly pitting against several major competitors in an oligopoly. Gillette minimises the threat from new entrants by efficient usage of economies of scale advantages, access to the industrys distribution channels and access to technology enhancements. Another key factor affecting the threat from new entrants is the risk of retaliation by Gillette, which could be substantial and could include mergers or acquisitions, an example of this is when Proctor Gamble acquired Gillette for  £30.2bn (BBC News, 2005). Entry to the Shaving Razor industry also involves high set-up costs and exit barriers are also high, reducing the probability of successfully securing finance from external sources, increasing the difficultly for new entrants for this industry. 4.5 Bargaining Power of Suppliers The negotiating power from supplies it determined by; concentration of suppliers, supplier branding, profitability of suppliers, threat of suppliers forward integrating into industry, buyers threat of backward integration into supply, buyers level of importance to suppliers profitability, switching supplier costs. As Gillette manufactures its own products, there is minimal effect from this source. Gillette maintains a win-win relationship with its suppliers of raw-materials as they can be obtained from anywhere and little supplier switching costs would be incurred. (Evans, 2008) suggested that Gillette identifies suppliers with a proven ability to meet its specifications. Once a supplier is selected to participate, Gillette expects them to produce a pre-production planning system to assess the suppliers capability to deliver Gillettes specifications. This high level of capability Gillette demands from its raw-materials supplier shows that he supplier has little power in the business relationship and there is minimal threat. In addition, as a large global brand it can establish a powerful supply-chain management model and global competitiveness enables suppliers prices to be driven low. 4.6 Bargaining Power of Customers The level of bargaining power from customers relies on; the concentration of competition, differentiation and unique selling points, profitability of companies, threat of backward or forward integration into the industry, cost of customers switching to competitor. Buyers in the Shaving Razor industry possess strong and growing bargaining power. With Wal-Mart as the main retailer for Gillettes products, the conclusion drawn could be that the potential profitability can become shortened as Gillette has a high reliance on Wal-Mart and similar large retailers for a large proportion of revenue. (DePamphilis, 2010) outlined suppliers such as Gillette have been under considerable pressure from retailers, due to the on-going growth of Wal-Mart and industry mergers, for example Sears and Kmart. DePamphilis then goes on to suggest Wal-Mart is responsible for 13% of Gillette income is 2005, suggesting a high-reliance on the retailer for profitability, increasing the threat of bargaining from customers. The buyers power increased due to the fact Shaving Razors represents a significant fraction of the retailers costs and the products are undifferentiated. In addition, the buyers in this industry are price sensitive. (Chopra et al, 2010) outline that Gillet tes pricing power is being further eroded by channel migration and increasing consumer resistance to paying significantly higher prices for innovation. 5. Strategic Groups in the Shaving Razor industry A key concept used in strategic management practice, (Hunt, 1972) defined  strategic groups  as grouping companies within an industry that have similar interests, business models or similar combinations of strategies. Gillette faces intense competition in most markets, its products compete with highly marketed, well-known, branded products. The Gillettes performance in this industry depends on the brands ability to adapt itself within this kind of competitive environment. Price-Quality Segment Name Of Parent Co. (Brand market share for Gel 7 oz$/Unitsin parenthesis) PG (Gillette)  [1]   PG (other brands) S.C. Johnson Johnson Johnson Beiersdorf AG Perio Super-premium Neutrogena Razor Defense Gel  [2]   (2.5/1.5%) Premium Gillette Fusion Hydra Gel (14.3/11.5%) Aveeno Gel  [3]   (10/6.7%) Mid-price Gillette Mach 3 Gel (4.5/4.4%) Gillette Series Gel (20/22.9%) Edge Gel (34/35.9%) Nivea Gel (6.5/6.2%) Economy Noxzema  [4]  Gel (1.9/2.7%) Old Spice  [5]  Gel (0.5/0.7%) Barbasol Gel (0.4/0.6%) Gillette, Bic, Shick-Wilkinson Sword King of shaves Conclusion Opportunities and Threats References Porter, M. (1980) Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors. New York: Free Press. Greb, E. (2009) Is JIT Manufacturing the Right Prescription? Pharmaceutical Technology, 33 (3) pp. 72-78 ProQuest [Online]. Available at: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?did=1685062121Fmt=7clientId=29645RQT=309VName=PQD (Accessed: 1 Decmeber 2010). Turkington, C., Dover,J. (2007) The Encyclopedia of skin and skin disorders. 3rd Edn. New York: Infobase Publishing. 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(2009) Social Responsibility Revisited Credit Union Magazine, 75 (3) pp 30-31, EBSCOhost [Online] Available at: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=buhAN=37178959site=ehost-livescope=site (Accessed 1 December 2010). Ted Trainer, (2005) Social responsibility: the most important, and neglected, problem of all?, International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 32 Iss: 8, pp.682 703 Krause, M. (2005) Compulsory Social Responsibility, The Washington Times, 26 September [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/sep/26/20050926-092005-9885r/ (Accessed: 1 December 2010). Ali, S., Anwar, M., Munir, A. and Mustafa, G. (2009) Gillette Company. Available at: http://download-reports.blogspot.com/2009/10/gillette-company.html (Accessed: 1 December 2010). Poulter, S. (2009) Great razor rip-off: Gillettes 4,750% mark-up Daily Mail, 8 June [ONLINE]. 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Available at: http://jr3tv3gd5w.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.comrft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journalrft.genre=newsrft.atitle=Cutting+edge+thefts+target+Mach+3+razors%3A+Blades+disappearing+faster+than+speed+of+soundrft.jtitle=Niagara+Falls+Reviewrft.au=Tony+Ricciutorft.date=2001-11-09rft.issn=0839-1572rft.spage=A.1.FROrft.externalDBID=NGFRrft.externalDocID=314050551 (Accessed: 1 December 2010). Lee, J. (2010) Gillette, Marketing Magazine, 20 January, pp.21 Ebsco [ONLINE]. Available at: http://jr3tv3gd5w.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.comrft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journalrft.genre=articlerft.atitle=Gilletterft.jtitle=Marketingrft.au=Lee%2C+Jeremyrft.date=2010-01-20rft.pub=Haymarket+Business+Publications+Ltdrft.issn=0025-3650rft.spage=21rft.externalDBID=n%2Farft.externalDocID=216963778 (Accessed: 1 December 2010). Birchall, J. (2009) Gillette online ads target increasingly lucrative male grooming market, Financial Times, 20 June, pp 9 NexisUK [ONLINE]. 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Hobbs :: essays research papers

Hobbes gives us his estimation of the nature of mankind by initially showing that all men are generally equal. The strongest man can be beaten by the weakest, if the weaker man uses some other force. When it comes to intelligence Hobbes claims men are even more equal, since all men are of equal experience, which is the only way to gain wisdom. Once Hobbes shows that all men are equals he goes on to explain their interactions. These interactions lead to a war of every man verses every man. If two men want something of which there is only one then this leads to each trying to destroy the other. Competition also rises when men want what others have. Men join forces in order to bring down a man who possesses more than they want him to. War also rises from diffidence, according to Hobbes. Men must always be on guard, because they cannot trust others not to attack them. This causes men to go out and conquer others, since one cannot survive if always on the defensive. Hobbes has one more reason for the state of war: glory. Men want others to look up at them with respect. In order to gain such a reputation, a man will try to conquer others to gain their respect and by example the respect of others. So Hobbes concludes that there are 3 basic causes for war: competition, diffidence, and glory. This all leads to a state of war, all versus all. The state of nature is constantly at war, which Hobbes claims is not merely battle, but even the threat of battle. This constant state of war leads to no form of industry or culture, since every man lives in fear of all others. Hobbes’s gives an example of this fear by pointing out that even today we lock our doors, because we do not trust our fellow man. He also shows how many savage tribes have been observed in this state of constant war, when no sovereign rules. Hobbes’s goes on to claim that even now men slip into this state of civil war between each other. Kings are constantly fighting over land and are always on guard against enemies. Hobbes’s says that there is no justice or injustice in this original state of nature, because there are no laws or sovereign to enforce them.