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critical analysis of The Third Way

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Introduction

The governance of any country has always been touted as having an incredible impact on the wellbeing of that country, as well as its populace. Throughout the human society, governance has mainly been founded on two ideologies namely socialism and capitalism. Different countries have taken up different ideologies in line with their interests (or the interests of the elites), all in an effort to enhance their wealth and wellbeing, both in the long-term and the short-term. On the same note, different ideologies have been found as effective in different times for different countries. In the case of Europe, a large part of its history has been leaning on leftist or socialist policies. In fact, the political geography of Europe at the end of the 20th century was predominantly governed by left-of-center governments, which took up 11 of the 15 European Union states. However, this number has been changing fast towards the right with only 8 of the states being under left-of-center government in 2002, a number that could continue reducing or changing. Not only has the moderate right returned to power, but the far right has also being incorporated in power. Questions, however, emerge on whether these changes are symbolizing an ideological transition where free markets have become more popular and applicable in the modern society. Scholars state that just as the grasp of power in the mid-90s did not mean that the European Union was leaning to the left, the electorate today may not be leaning to the right. The only reasons why the right may be performing well is because they have a more refined political outlook that is more appealing to a larger part of the population and even gotten rid of varied ideologies that made them less appealing to the electorate. In addition, the center-left was dogged by policy failure. However, as Giddens noted in an article in The Guardian, voters in these times are largely non-ideological taking neither the right nor the left. The varied weaknesses of the right and the left politics have given rise to a new political stand christened “The third way”. As a chief proponent of the third way, Giddens notes that the third way is based on two key elements. These are the reformation of welfare systems and labor markets so as to emphasize on creating jobs or enhancing employment, as well as the necessity of addressing varied issues that were traditionally under the domain of the right. The Third Way is essentially Giddens’ political philosophy that has the sole aim of redefining social democracy for globalization or post- Cold War era. Giddens’ main argument, in this case, is that the political concepts pertaining to the right and the left are crumbling down mainly because they do not present a clear alternative to capitalism. These are the ideas that informed Giddens’ book, “The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy”. In this book, Giddens comes up with a framework that underlines justification for the “third way”, as well as a broad set of policy proposals that mainly aim at taking British politics towards the progressive center-left.

On the overall, The Third Way is mainly composed of a description of the current situation in which the European Union is after the crumbling of socialism. The book circles around five dilemmas that the European Union faces. First, he notes that globalization has given an entirely new meaning to sovereignty, government and nationhood. In addition, he notes that there is an entirely new individualism that, though not necessarily selfish, underlines the notion that the social solidarity may never again be imposed from the top to the bottom. As much as there is an element of dynamicity in the distinctions between the right and the left, the left is seen as more sympathetic to equality and social justice. Third, Giddens underlines the fact that some jobs can only be undertaken by governments, irrespective of the fact that the effectiveness of pressure groups is increasing relative to the influence of politicians (Giddens 6b). He notes, however, that there exists some problems such as the European Union’s future, global warming and devolution, pertaining to which it is imperative that people think in the line of left vs. right. Lastly, he notes that as much as there may be exaggeration of environmental dangers, experts often differ in which case it would be dangerous to be optimistic about them.

The book seems to be specifically addressed to the left, to whom it throws two key challenges. First, it challenges the left to be more attentive to issues that fall outside the left-right range or spectrum. While he agrees with Norberto Bobbio’s thesis to the effect that the distinction between the left and right is crucial and that inequality remaining at its core. He, however, believes that a large number of ideas that fall within the spectrum of left-right politics have been entirely neglected (David 13). These include global warming and devolution, as well as the question on whether work should remain a key life value. Secondly, Giddens challenges social democrats to reevaluate the role that welfare plays in the society. He opines that welfare is undemocratic and does not offer enough space to personal liberty, not to mention the fact that it may be inefficient, bureaucratic and alienating (Giddens 13a). However, he does not agree with those in the right as to having these reasons as sufficient to eliminate the welfare state rather it should be a clarion call for reforming the welfare state (Giddens 13a). Giddens feels that nongovernmental organizations should be used to channel money in instances where it would be efficient to do that and use such finances in a manner that results in recapturing of public space, strengthens civil liberalism and establishes a more open, democratic and cosmopolitan or broad-based society.

The ideas outlined in this book may be further understood by examining Giddens musings in 1999. Giddens quotes recent sociological research done in the United States, Germany and Britain, noting that it challenges social democratic and traditional socialist policy. This research raised questions pertaining to the response of traditional left-of-center to poverty, as well as the related social problems (The higher education, 3). He notes that the research places emphasis on the necessity of the third way, as well as its importance. Giddens notes that while the left may have seen the poor as victims, most people react actively to their lives. He underlined the importance of a well-funded welfare, as well as a welfare system that catered for people’s needs rather than creating dependencies. Given that socialism as a doctrine may be dead, Giddens advocates for the establishment of a capitalist society that is more humane and incorporates the values that were predominantly seen as for the left including protecting the weak, solidarity and equality (The Higher Education 11).

The key aim of the book was finding a way that goes beyond market fundamentalism, as well as the traditional social democracy and apply the framework to a broad range of political problems right from those of a global scale to those that people have in their everyday life. He acknowledges that capitalism, when left on its own, is economically inefficient, incapable of reproducing itself in the long-term, as well as socially divisive (Giddens 3a). It is imperative that social democrats are preoccupied with establishing public goods, public institutions and public realm after the long instance in which the market based policies were the in-thing. He notes that the public sphere is note tantamount to the state. It is imperative that the reformation of the state is emphasized on especially in instances where it does not respond to the concerns of the citizens, where it has evolved into overly bureaucratic or been captured by the interests of the producers. Social democrats must recognize and deploy the distinctive qualities of the markets, especially it fluidity and ability to respond to numerous pricing signals, as well as stimulate growth (Giddens 14b). However, it is imperative that the markets are regulated so as to shape them and channel their efforts to public purpose. This is especially with regards to regulating the world financial markets which make up the single most pressing problem in the world economy.

As much as the book comes as incredibly comprehensive, it goes without saying that it suffers the risk of simplicity. Mr. Giddens has admitted that he is merely offering an outline. However, scholars note that this comes as a deceptive category of modesty especially considering that the claims that he puts forward are essentially an integrated political program that encompasses every key sector of the society (David 34). However, scholars note that Giddens should have brought about at least a new proposal that has the capacity to ruffle some feathers or that is a bit radical. The problems that the European Union is facing cannot be eliminated through the same strategies that have been proposed in the past. Some element of radicalism is imperative, but is lacking in the integrated political program that Giddens advances. The program is ultimately a list of traditional appeals to what scholars call civic virtue, where every bet has been avoided and all hard choices evaded. The ideas that are presented here are simply similar to what can, without any risk whatsoever, be incorporated in any social democratic party’s manifesto in an effort to mend up its tattered image. This is seen as the case for Giddens who was a chief economist for Tony Blair.

On the same note, there is confusion as to why he should be addressing the book to social democrats and make a raft of proposals on what they should do to reform their policies, yet call upon capitalism to make changes, as well so as to be more responsive to the concerns of the public or the electorate. In essence, it is unclear where the author aims at effecting the changes or even what he sees as the best alternative of governance for the European Union in the short-term and the long-term (David 45). This, however, does not negate the fact that the book would make an awesome read for individuals who aim at understanding where the different forms of governance go wrong, as well as what strategies would come in handy in solving the problems.

Works cited

Giddens, Anthony. The Third Way. Cambridge: Polity, 1998. Print.

Giddens, Anthony. The third way can beat the far right: By modernising, liberalising and being tough on immigration. The Guardian, 2002 Retrieved 2nd March 2013 from HYPERLINK “http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2002/may/03/eu.thefarright” http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2002/may/03/eu.thefarright

Giddens, Anthony. The Third Way Revisited. Social Europe Journal, 2010 Retrieved 2nd April from HYPERLINK “http://www.social-europe.eu/2010/11/the-third-way-revisited/” http://www.social-europe.eu/2010/11/the-third-way-revisited/

The Higher Education. Giddens defends third-way politics. The Higher Education, 1999. Retrieved 2nd April from from HYPERLINK “http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/148571.article” http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/148571.article

David, Halpin. Hope and Education: The Role of the Utopian Imagination, London: Routledge, 2003. Print

Critical Analysis of Thirty Years of Global Leadership Training A Cross-Cultural Odyssey

Critical Analysis of Thirty Years of Global Leadership Training: A Cross-Cultural Odyssey

The interesting article is by Randall White and Sandra Shullman (2012), who are known professionals in the field of human resources. The authors of this journal article first focused on leadership principles and emphasize was on the American form of leadership, which seems to be practiced in emerging nations. The sectors that are most likely to benefit are educational and consulting services as compared to other sectors. Furthermore, American leadership principles will not be practiced by the emerging societies for long because they have to come up principles accepted in their society. The various leadership models and principles are often influenced by the culture that exists in a given society. The argument presented by White and Shullman (2012) is that human resources consultants should have a business survival strategy as well as an ethical obligation. It will ensure that they do not completely assume value and model of American leadership from its engagement. Consultants need to ensure that all learners have critical thinking skills as well have knowledge of the local cultures. It is vital to know if western principles can be well adjusted to meet the demands of the local and corporate cultures. This will be possible if a classroom learning approach is used as well as other methods, such as training. The authors refer to the approach as learning with partners who in this case are the clients.

The fact that White and Shullman (2012) are trained psychology professionals means that they are able to understand how people function and thus influence them to become better leaders. There has been an increase in the number of companies that need the services of organizational consultants based on various reasons. These include the 2008 financial crisis, which created competitive and new opportunities for the various developing and emerging markets. The emerging nations have been successful because they became aware on the importance of leadership. In turn, they were able to compete with superpowers who failed to succeed in their investment and banking ventures. It is true that many nations are now employing their own nationals to head their organizations because such individuals are informed about their nation’s business leadership models. An example of a country that now employs many leaders from the East is China (Osland, 2001). However, the western leadership model is still in demand and the reason why many nations have acquired the services of the Executive Development Group.

There are four key themes and factors that are extremely important in International organizational consultation. They are; the unique situation, the client as being privileged or elite, the consultant as a stranger, and the influence of local customs and multiculturalism on corporate culture. The work place is affected in many ways by the existing national and local culture. Westerners who want to work in other nations need to be fully informed on leadership styles as well as the customs of the country where they want to do business. Both authors know that corporate culture tends to be influenced by multiculturalism. In most international companies the employees usually come from different parts of the world and thus bring their cultures to the workplace. It is quite unfortunate that in most organizations, a huge variation exists with regards to reinforced and practiced multicultural attitudes (White & Shullman, 2012).

A corporation tends to have different corporate cultures depending on where it is situated. For example, the Shell company in the United States has a different corporate culture than one situated in a developing country. This means that leaders of multinational companies have most influence in their corporate office found in their home country. Therefore, an intersection is created between the local and corporate culture, and the integration and identification of unique talent becomes a challenge. Corporate culture in a multicultural organization does not have a huge impact on cross-cultural differences and conflicts. Individuals at the workplace sometimes tend to solve challenges depending on their culture. This means that they ignore the existing corporate culture as they believe that it does not compare to their beliefs (Osland, 2001).

In any consultation, when meeting a client, certain protocols have to be met in order for it to be successful. In this case an outsider or a stranger in a new environment has many advantages. It is a known fact that many global organizations have at one point interacted with Americans at the work place. When a meeting between a client and consultant it taking place, differences are ignored so as to achieve the desired goals. The key goal of a consultant is to deliver knowledge despite there being language barriers. Clients are usually well informed that American consultants are knowledgeable because they follow protocol. White and Shullman (2012) believe that it is possible to train expatriates to have the desirable traits needed at the work place. When the role of a stranger is practiced by a consultant they can conduct their work without any prejudice. Leaders should also act as strangers so that they have a positive impact on their organizations.

Leaders are motivated by different reasons when they want to climb up the success ladder. It is suggested that a number of high-performing and high-potential executives display the mystery-seeking behavior. They succeed in new environments as they are highly motivated to find out what they have never experienced before. Culture seems to affect how leadership positions are given in some organizations. For example in India, a woman or a person from a lower caste may not get a high-ranking job because of the existing culture and traditions. Depending on the organization, western leadership should be tailor made to fit in with the corporate culture (White & Shullman, 2012).

Consultants have a task of addressing cooperate cultural and multicultural responsibilities. An organization has to be analyzed well so that all the elements of corporate culture are known and this will make consulting easy. Clients will at times need the services of consultants even without prior notice and this means that the consultants should always be prepared (Chhokar & Brodbeck & House, 2007). Faith, politics, customs and language differences need to be kept in mind when consulting in international and domestic nations. Most times, the organization’s mission statement dictates the way forward with regards to establishing leadership traits among executives.

American leadership is viewed both negatively and positively depending on the perception of the person making their opinion known. Sometimes, clients want to be taught about American leadership principles and models, but this does not mean that they practice it in their organizations. Learning international English ensures that consultants remain cultural sensitive and effective. They should also keep in mind that some words are interpreted differently depending on how they are used. White and Shullman (2012) have provided some unique examples of some words such as ‘naïve’ and ‘collaborator’ which are used differently depending on a culture. Working with translators is seen to be effective as they are responsible as they act as a link between the client and the consultant. They have to be provided all the relevant information to avoid encountering any challenges. The learning approach has proven to be effective as it enables students to give their input with regards to translation. The various experiences with translation ensure that more knowledge is gained because of the different perspectives.

It is interesting to note that organizations value the input of consultants because they provide them with a non-biased view point. However, it is such a pity that gender and race issues continue to affect consultations. Most corporations still prefer white males who are Americans to provide them with consultancy services. White and Shullman (2012) claim that men of color and women are quite few in the corporate world. They should have instead said that the numbers are increasing because cultural barriers are now being removed. Terms of engagement has been proven to pose a challenge especially when referring to established customs and procedures. Therefore, the authors are correct to claim that before signing a contract all aspects of the consultation should be known.

A lot of emphasize has been put on the importance of cross-cultural awareness as well as making sure that clients always benefit. It has been proven that when individuals learn they gain knowledge and thus overcome any feelings of prejudice. Many professionals in human resources will agree that culture is as important as corporate culture. Communication channels should exist in large co operations as they influence how people will respond to corporate culture. The article has been successful in addressing the fact that it is vital to respect other cultures while maintaining personal values. Human resource professionals should ensure that they motivate individuals so that they choose leadership models and principles that will suit them best (Osland, 2001).

The article by White and Shullman (2012) has provided in depth information about global leadership. Furthermore, it has focused on leadership based upon a cross-cultural context. The information from the other notable authors has ensured that the topic has been well analyzed and addressed. The authors have spent many years consulting in the international arena and thus their input is valid. Human resources interested in the field of consultancy will benefit from this article for various reasons. Firstly, they will learn how to respect the culture and customs of their clients. Secondly, they will help develop better leaders who have multicultural knowledge (Chhokar & Brodbeck & House, 2007). In turn, this will assist in ensuring that once the consultancy work is over they improve the organization.

In conclusion, future leaders have to undergo the needed learning and training required for them to compete effectively in the globalised environment. Part of an organization’s vision is to ensure that it has a corporate culture that accommodates different cultures. The article proved that people can be trained to acquire leadership skills that make them quite effective at the workplace. However, the authors should have provided some information on cross-cultural leadership in some African countries, such as South Africa and Nigeria, and how they view American leadership models and principles. Furthermore, it would have made the article offer more knowledge concerning the issue discussed. Therefore, the article has been quite beneficial as the issues of culture and leadership are addressed appropriately by the authors.

References

Chhokar, J. & Brodbeck, F. & House, R. (2007). Culture and Leadership across the World. The GLOBE book of in-depth studies of 25 societies. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Osland, J. (2001). The quest for transformation: The process of global leadership development. London, England: Quorum Books.

White, Randall. & Shullman, Sandra. (2012).Thirty Years of Global Leadership Training: A Cross-Cultural Odyssey. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice & Research, 64, 4, 268.

Critical analysis of Wal-Mart

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Wal-Mart

Prominently recognized as one of the most successful discount stores globally, Wal-Mart is an international chain of discount department stores that is involved with the sales of various commodities and products (Lichtenstein 1). The company runs a number of retail stores, as well as, warehouse stores, which are exploited for the supply and sales of various goods and services for its consumers. Specifically, the company owns a total of 8500 retail store in an estimated 15 countries worldwide, hence allowing the company to generate a considerable amount of annual revenue as compared to its competitors (Lichtenstein 5). Accordingly, the company has been ranked as one of the largest employers as compared to its competitors as it employs over 2 million people worldwide. The company has also made the list for the top 20 largest corporations in the world, making it an interest for academicians in the field of business and management (Lichtenstein 12). Researchers have demonstrated a considerable degree of curiosity regarding the business approach that the company embraces in running its operations for success. Accordingly, researchers have examined the business strategies that the company utilizes for its success, illustrating every single decision that the company makes with regards to prices, products, and other operational activities (Emek 204). Research studies illustrate that the strengths and weaknesses of the company’s business operations are reliant on the fact that the company makes available products and services at a discounted rate. However, even with its success, environmentalist, labor unions, business organizations, and other community groups for its business approaches have criticized some of the company’s business strategies (Ingram 53). These groups have protested against the company’s product policies, entertainment policies, as well as, their well-famed discount policies.

This paper presents a critical analysis of Wal-Mart. Specifically, the paper examines Wal-Mart as a one-stop shopping store, an entertainment center, as well as, the imp0lication of this. The paper also evaluates Wal-Mart’s provision of discounts, illustrating the various criticism’s of Wal-Mart’s discount offers.

One-Stop Shopping Store

The concept of Wal-Mart being a one-stop shopping store has been associated with the company’s overall success in the retail industry (Emek 204). This is because the company’s consumers are provided with access to all of their preferred goods and commodities all under one roof. A recent survey on this business reveals that the customers to the business a find this strategy as efficient and beneficial to them as they can purchase all goods from one shop as opposed to different shops. With this strategy, customers can be assured of purchasing all commodities that they want at a discounted price, which in turn increases the customer base for the organization. This strategy, however, is not favored among the company’s competitors. Especially those that are concentrated on the sale of specific goods and services. Fundamentally, this business strategy has seen such competing companies lose their customers to Wal-Mart, owing to the discounted prices that the company offers to its consumers (Emek 208). Only those customers who have access to a considerable amount of income can purchase products from specialty stores, leaving those that cannot do this to purchase similar items from retail stores such as Wal-Mart. Contrastingly, Wal-Mart has also been criticized for going against its one-stop shopping store rule because of their exclusion of the sale of certain products and commodities. Some of the products that have recently been excluded from Wal-Mart’s shelves include certain magazines, RIAA music albums, and emergency contraception among other things. Their exclusion of such products goes against their “one-stop shopping” strategy, thus illustrating some of the company’s problems regarding their business strategies.

Entertainment

Wal-Mart has also been credited for its ability to provide entertainment to its consumers during their shopping period. Entertainment offered in this store is in the form of games and movies that are aimed at marketing the company to its consumers, as well as, their potential markets (Panle 1263). Research studies illustrate that small towns are quickly putting Wal-Mart at the top most consideration for their source of entertainment. Instead of visiting other entertainment stores for their services, consumers in such towns are quickly engaging in entertaining activities at Wal-Mart. There are various implications of Wal-Mart’s entertainment provision especially in relation to plummeting some educative entertainment activities for consumers. Accessing entertainment at Wal-Mart reduces access to other outdoor activities for consumers. Consumers are unable to engage in physically demanding activities thus reducing their chances of healthy living. The production of their own movies at a subsidized price has also seen consumerism behavior change, as more consumers shun away from the real entertainment production houses and instead seek these services from Wal-Mart. In essence, offering entertainment by Wal-Mart has changed the way Consumers behave with regards to purchasing entertainment products and services.

Discounts

Offering discounts is the business strategy that Wal-Mart is well-famed for (Emek 214). The company has embraced offering products at a discounted price as their primary business strategy, which has enabled the company to succeed in the industry. Not only has this strategy increased the company’s customer share, it has also increased revenues for the company. The enormity of Wal-Mart has also been associated with this business strategy as it provides access to numerous products and services by the company. However, this strategy has also been linked with various criticisms of Wal-Mart regarding employee rights, abuse of power and constant conflict with suppliers. With relation to employee rights, the company has been accused of underpaying their employees and reducing employee benefits, something that is goes out of the requirement for the labor unions. Providing discounts on the products sold in their company forces Wal-Mart to search for other economically feasible options to support this price reduction. The most viable option for the company, is therefore, cutting down the wages and salaries of employees in the company. in addition to this, Wal-Mart has also been accused of employing illegal employees and children so as to maintain their operations and sales costs at a balance owing to their discount strategy. Wal-Mart’s discount strategy has also been linked with some of the problems that the company faces with regards to suppliers. Wal-Mart has been indicted of using “monopsony” power to force their suppliers into producing products the best way that suits the company. More specifically, the issuance of discounts for their products and services has forced suppliers to re-invent their operational strategies and activities, which in most cases does not favor the supplier, as they are forced into loses. For example, most suppliers to Wal-Mart are being forced to shut down their operations or lay off their workers so as to balance operational costs with the cost of sales for their products and services.

Work Cited

Emek, Basker. Selling a Cheaper Mousetrap: Wal-Mart’s Effect on Retail Prices. Journal of

Urban Economics 58(2005): 203-229.

Ingram, Paul et al. Trouble in Store: Probes, Protests, and Store Openings by Wal‐Mart, 1998

2007. American Journal of Sociology 116.1(2010): 53–92.

Lichtenstein, Nelson. The Retail Revolution: How Wal-Mart Created a Brave New World of

Business. USA: Metropolitan Books, 2009. Print.

Panle, Jia. What Happens When Wal-Mart Comes to Town: An Empirical Analysis of the

Discount Retailing Industry. Econometrica 76(2008): 1263-1316.

Critical Analysis of Where are you going, where have you been by Joyce Carol Oates

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Critical Analysis of “Where are you going, where have you been?” by Joyce Carol Oates

It is during the summer when Connie, a young girl aged 15 spends most of her time meeting boys, hanging out with friends, and lounging around houses. On one occasion, a strange man uses threatening gestures toward her when she was at one of the drive-in restaurant’s parking yard (Oates 211). Connie is not bothered by this threatening gesture until on a Sunday afternoon when she is left alone at home after the rest of the family members attend a barbecue hosted at Connie’s aunt’s house. It is during her lonely period at home that the stranger who had used threatening gestures at her pulls up in a company of a friend while driving. The man on the steering takes the lead by introducing himself to Connie as Arnold Friend. After the formal introduction, Arnold requests Connie (the little girl) to accompany him for a free ride around the village.

Along the way, Connie and Arnold engages in a conversation, and it is through that conversation that Connie starts doubting this man’s intention as he is more of a threat to Connie than first thought. Arnold’s language gets more sexually violent and explicit, and he even threats to harm the whole of Connie’s family if she tries reaching out to the police for help, (Oates 671). Although Connie tried to reach out to the police, her effort was not successful as she panics. In the end, Connie leaves their house and forcefully joins Arnold. Therefore, there is a protagonist-antagonist between Arnold and Connie with Arnold being the antagonist while Connie is the protagonist. This is evidenced throughout the story from the forceful ride to Connie’s innocent death.

Connie looks obsessed with her physical looks and beauty, and she relishes on the fact that she is centre of attraction for both young and old men in the town. This is a cautionary story of the little innocent Connie who is introduced to the harsh and evil world having flirted her way off home. Connie’s mother is concerned about her carefree and beauty that makes men to find as being attractive and charming (Wilson 53-4). However, Connie’s contempt makes her to rebel against her mother. The differences between Connie and her mother did not start now as her mother often tried to ask why she was not like her sister. For instance, Connie’s mother as kept asking her “Why don’t you keep your room clean like your sister? How do you got your hair fixed-what the hell stinks? Hair spray? You don’t see your sister using that junk?” (Oates 947). Throughout the story, the once innocent girl becomes more careless, daring, and provocative. This is evidenced by her actions when she starts acting devilishly promiscuous without mind about her parents’ advice. Having not listened to her parents, Connie faces the consequences of her deviant when she gets a face-to-face encounter with danger and evils at the mercies of Arnold (Oates 731).

Although Connie tries to works hard to show her appearance as being an experienced and mature girl when it comes to her interaction with men, the encounter with Arnold Friend finally reveals that it is only but a performance. Connie, through her hairstyle, general behavior, and clothing has created attractive adult persona that makes her to get the desired attention from boys (Oates 652). However, she confuses her ability to attract the attention of the male fox with the desire for sexual interaction. The romance and love evident in the music that Connie listens to and also the pop culture images in her surrounding are apparently different from what she perceives as the reality concerning adult sexuality (Keilbach 167). Though Connie and Eddie go into alley to experiments the adult sexuality, she is remains fearful of her adult status. Connie is forcefully take into adulthood by Arnold, however, this violent act of adulthood ends up representing unexpected shift within herself: abandoning of her childlike fantasy as a way of facing the realities surrounding being a mature girl. The thin line between reality and fantasy is blurred by Friend Arnold himself as he never let fall into another category. Arnold’s physical look makes it hard to know whether he is less human or pure human (Wegs 88). Arnold may be a strange man, a nightmare, or a devil that Connie has from her long sunlight stay.

Oates implies that Friend Arnold is a Satan by offering some clues to the reader, particularly the name that this character is given hint his evil characters:

“Connie looked away from Friend’s smile to the car, which was painted so bright it almost hurt her eyes to look at it. She looked at the name, Arnold Friend. She looked at it for a while as if the words meant something to her that she did not yet know” (Oates 583).

Besides, Arnold’s appearance is an indication that she is worth doubting his characters and behaviors, “There were two boys in the car and now she recognizes the driver: he had shaggy, shabby black hair that looked as a crazy wig”(Oates 583). As the narrator describes, Arnold’s diabolic presence are evidenced using sunglasses to hide his eye identity. The narrator describes his eyes as “chips of broken glass that catch the light in an amiable way” (Oates 584). These show how evil Arnold is. Connie develops a strong sexual desire that makes her fall in the hands of sexually exploitative men led by Arnold.

Oates’s evocation of Dylan Bob is purposeful in adding to the richness of the setting of the story, particularly during the 1960s when social revolution was taking place. During this period, most American women were using all the possible means of asserting their independence and rights from men, and also claiming their human sexuality in a unique way than before. One of the frequently discussed topics during this period was the adolescence, anxieties, and struggles ensured by the young girls like Connie who lost their valued sexual innocence on their way adulthood. After being undervalued in their relationships with men and at home, women questioned their position in the society and the contribution of gender and sex in their lives. In this book, Oates explores the social upheaval in the miniature: Connie (representing young women in the country) should confront her anxieties and struggles in the processes of transcending into adulthood. Her violent separation from the love of her family marks the beginning of self-independence, with Arnold Friend coming into Connie’s life as a savior by no means. The sweeping and dramatic changes in the American society during the 1960s are evident in the story by the Connie’s psychological terror and the dark journey awaiting her.

Works Cited

Keilbach, Andreas. The Concept of Duality in Joyce Carol Oates’s “where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”. München: GRIN Verlag, 2009. Internet resource.

Oates, Joyce C, and Elaine Showalter. “where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers Univ. Press, 1994. Print.

Wegs, Joyce M. “Don’t You Know Who I Am?”: The Grotesque in Oates’s ‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'” Critical Essays on Joyce Carol Oates. Linda W. Wagner, ed. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1979, p.87-92.

Wilson, Jacqueline, “Joyce Carol Oates’s ‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’ As an Initiation Story”. Eureka Studies in Teaching Short Fiction 3, 2 (2003): 47-58.

Critical analysis on gestational diabetes, concerning how it manifests itself in various instances and how gestational diabet

Critical analysis on gestational diabetes, concerning how it manifests itself in various instances and how gestational diabetes affects nursing practices.

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Gestational Diabetes

When women get pregnant for the first time, they can easily develop gestational diabetes. According to research, in America, in a population of 100 women who are pregnant, around three to eight of them are bound to have gestational diabetes. When women are pregnant, they are affected by factors such as weight gain and ever changing hormones. These changes prevent the insulin hormone to function as it is meant. According to the American Diabetes Association, the number of gestational diabetes cases is as high as 200,000. Unfortunately, this figure is escalating at an extremely high rate, and women ought to know how to prevent it. When a woman has gestational diabetes, it means that their insulin and hyperglycemia does not function well. This is due to problems concerning adaptation by beta cells and the latter can also become dysfunctional. Women who have gestational diabetes can have high blood pressure when giving birth. Moreover, the chances of them having caesarian sections are extremely high. Some of the factors, which make women likely to have gestational diabetes include; family history, obesity, as well as age. There is a need to know more about this deadly condition and how it manifests itself.

This paper seeks to give a critical analysis on gestational diabetes, concerning how it manifests itself in various instances. Furthermore, it seeks to discuss it how gestational diabetes affects nursing practices.

Annotated Bibliography

Ross, M. G. & Ervin, M. G. &Novak, D. (2007). Chapter 2 fetal physiology. In S. Gabbe, & J. Niebyl, & J. Simpson (Eds.), Obstetrics: Normal and problem pregnancies (pp. 26-33). Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

According to this book, women giving birth for the first time are bound to develop gestational diabetes. The placenta plays an extremely vital role when a child is being formed in the mother’s womb. It has several functions such as providing the fetus with water, oxygen and even hormones. The latter is needed for the formation of healthy babies. Glucose is also vital, and it is needed for growth of the woman’s fetus. According to research done by the authors of the book, maternal glucose is needed by the placenta. The glucose that exists in the womb of the mother is at 70% and is used for various vital functions. In order for glucose to reach the fetus, it is transported by the GLUT 1. Thus, when a woman has gestational diabetes, the GLUT 1 does not function as it ought. In turn, it leads to extremely high levels of maternal glucose in the fetus. Insulin is then produced for the purpose of growth of the baby in the fetus. Moreover, levels of blood sugar in the mother are increased, and this has serious repercussions. The book seeks to show how pregnant women develop gestational diabetes depending on their neonates found in their system.

Barta, E. & Drugan, A. (2010). Glucose transport from mother to fetus— A theoretical study. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 263, 295-302. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2009.12.010

According to the journal article by Drugan and Barta, they sort to find out how the fetus is provided with glucose. They found out that the GLUT 1 is responsible, and this is through a model that used mathematical equations. They believe that glucose is extremely vital in formation of the fetus, as well as that of the placenta. Without the presence of the GLUT 1, maternal glucose would not be transported. There are certain factors, which enable the maternal glucose to be transported. The most essential one is a concentration gradient that is used in the process of diffusion. This means that the fetus and the mother are well connected through the placenta. Their model provided crucial information regarding why the second trimester is the one when the pregnant woman is most vulnerable. They believe that their research needs further improvement especially in matters concerning insulin and hormones.

The HAPO Study Cooperative Research Group. (2008). Hyperglycemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The New England Journal of Medicine, 358(19), 1991-2002.

The article focuses on research by the HAPO Study Cooperative Research. It meant to find out the dangers, which are related with varying levels of maternal glucose intolerance. Their study was conducted on 25, 505 pregnant women. They used various mathematical methods in order to arrive at their conclusions. They made use of odd ratios and frequency, so as to determine levels of maternal glucose. When the levels of maternal glucose were high, the fetus had high chances of developing with defects. The standards deviation helped in knowing, which births were likely to be harmed. In some cases, those who had 1.07 to 1.09 SD levels were often admitted into intensive neonatal care. Furthermore, the women were likely to undergo cesarean sections. The authors want more research to be done in order to find out how hyperglycemia can be treated as well as diagnosed.

Lawlor, D. A. & Fraser, A. & Lindsay, R.S.& Ness, A.& Dabelea, D.& Catalano, P. &Nelson, S. M. (2010). Association of existing diabetes, gestational diabetes and glycosuria in pregnancy with macrosomia and offspring body mass index, waist and fat mass in later childhood: Findings from a prospective pregnancy cohort. Diabetologia, 53, 89-97. doi: 10.1007/s00125-009-1560-z

Research was conducted by the various authors in order to find the relation, which exists between glycosuria and gestational diabetes during pregnancy. The variables used in the study were BMI of future offspring, macrosomia, as well as birth weight. The ages of those being measured were 9 to 11 years, through using their fat mass and waist circumference. The results show that women who had diabetes risk having their infants develop macrosomia. They also had high chances of being overweight, among others. The measurements used included the use of standard deviation. It is believed that the sample size used in the study was not enough. In the future, they recommend that the size be increased. According to their research, nursing practitioners should be able to diagnose gestational diabetes early enough. In turn, the infants will be saved from suffering in the future.

Hedderson, M. M. & Gunderson, E. P.& Ferrara, A. (2010). Gestational weight gain and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 115(3), 597-604.

The authors of this journal article sort to carry out a study to find out about how gestational diabetes is related to weight gain. They sort to found this out through the use of the frequency method. Furthermore, the test included the use of a glucose tolerance test being administered to the pregnant women. According to their results, the chances of developing gestational diabetes are 2.3, when pregnant women gain weight. It is extremely dangerous as they have around an 80% chance of acquiring it and mostly in the first semester. There is a P<0.5 chance that even the pregnant woman’s BMI will increase. The study also found out that those likely to develop gestational diabetes were women not from the white race and those who were overweight. The authors suggest that there is a need to find out more about their study. In turn, clinical practitioners should inform pregnant women on the dangers of gaining unhealthy weight. They risk suffering from gestational diabetes as well as harming their unborn child.

Retnakaran, R., Qi, Y., Sermer, M., Connelly, P. W., Hanley, A. J. G., & Zinman, B. (2010). Beta-cell function declines within the first year postpartum in women with recent glucose intolerance in pregnancy. Diabetes Care, 33(8), 1798-1804. doi: 10.2337/dc10-0351

The study carried out by the various authors sort to find out about the gestational diabetic risk that pregnant women had. This is when they were subjected to postpartum conditions in their first years. Also, the study measured metabolic changes, which pregnant women undergo, due to high levels of maternal glucose. The results they found out were that P<0.0005 is the postpartum, when there is a decrease in the levels of beta cell and insulin sensitivity. These were measured after a period of three months. The figure kept on increasing as the months also did the same, in what is known as a dysglycemic state. Furthermore, depending on the extent of gestational dysglycemia, insulin sensitivity and beta cell dysfunction occurred. The pregnant woman also risks developing type 2 diabetes if the postpartum period increases. According to the researchers, during postpartum and pregnancy women can easily be victims of type two diabetes. Thus, clinicians should make women more aware about gestational diabetes.

Landon, M. B. & Spong, C. Y. & Thom, E.& Carpenter, M. W.& Ramin, S. M.& Casey, B.& Anderson, G. B. (2009). A multicenter, randomized trial of treatment for mild gestational diabetes. The New England Journal of Medicine, 361(14), 1339-1348.

The researchers of this study used 1889 pregnant women as their subjects. There were certain conditions, which the women had to meet before they could take part. The study sort to found out if obstetrical conditions and perinatal conditions could be reduced by treatment administered for gestational diabetes. This means that there had to be a control and treatment group. The latter was administered with insulin, diet therapy, as well as having to go for counseling sessions. According to the results, those who received early treatment for gestational diabetes were likely to have healthy futures. An example is when the chances of having cesarean deliveries were reduced by 33.8%. The researchers want to ensure that clinicians find ways they can reduce the complications brought about by gestational diabetes.

Rowan, J. A. & Hague, W. M. & Gao, W. & Battin, M. R. & Moore, M. P. (2008). Metformin versus insulin for the treatment of gestational diabetes. The New England Journal of Medicine, 358(19), 2003-2015.

The researchers of this study sort to find out if gestational diabetes treatment is best given by insulin or Metformin. Furthermore, they wanted to found out if women treated with insulin, rather than Metformin, would have infants with disorders. The researchers used three different study populations, who were administered various treatments. It seems that the there is no difference in treatments, which are insulin or Metformin based. This means that complications that are neonatal were not likely to occur. The Metformin group is the one, which has a low frequency of neonatal hypoglycemia. They found out that the latter had a frequency level of P=0.008. Thus, it is better for clinicians to treat pregnant women who have gestational diabetes with insulin. The researchers are pensive about the results, as they believe that other crucial factors were not included. They still believe that metformin should be used in gestational diabetes treatment. They warn that caution must be taken when using metformin.

Work Cited

Barta, E. & Drugan, A. (2010). Glucose transport from mother to fetus— A theoretical study. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 263, 295-302. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2009.12.010

Hedderson, M. M. & Gunderson, E. P.& Ferrara, A. (2010). Gestational weight gain and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 115(3), 597-604Retnakaran, R., Qi, Y., Sermer, M., Connelly, P. W., Hanley, A. J. G., & Zinman, B. (2010). Beta-cell function declines within the first year postpartum in women with recent glucose intolerance in pregnancy. Diabetes Care, 33(8), 1798-1804. doi: 10.2337/dc10-0351

The HAPO Study Cooperative Research Group. (2008). Hyperglycemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The New England Journal of Medicine, 358(19), 1991-2002.

Critical analysis on the issue on Identity Theft in the United States

Identity Theft

Introduction

Identity theft is an issue, which is often heard in most new channels, and it has affected quite a number of American individuals. The scope of this paper will cover the issue of identity theft in the United States as well as how congress is involved in this matter. Also, it will give an analytical research on this issue in aspects that deal with identity theft trends. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, identity theft is a crime that is fast growing. Furthermore, in an annual basis, there are around 700,000 American citizens affected by it. Identity theft is recognized as being a federal crime. It takes place when people unlawfully take and use other people’s personal identification. The latter includes using their account numbers, social security numbers, and even another person’s name. As a result, of the current economic downturn, those in charge of making polices are trying to find ways of reviving the American economic health. Moreover, identity theft seeks to threaten the country’s financial stability. There are many security and economic risks, which are associated with identity theft (Vaca, 2002).

This paper seeks to give a critical analysis concerning the issue on identity theft. Furthermore, it will examine the actions that congress is taking in order to solve this unlawful crime.

Critical analysis on the issue on Identity Theft in the United States

People should be aware that they are prone to become victims of identity theft at any time. There are many times when potential victims spend a lot of time in activities that encourage identity theft. These include fixing credit records, opening and closing accounts. In an attempt to clear one’s name, there are expenses, which are extremely high. Individuals have been known to lose their jobs, and others even being denied loans. In other scenarios, people have landed themselves in jail, as crimes were committed using a mistaken identity Research has found out that, on an annual basis, Americans who are victims of identity theft are growing fast in numbers. Internet expansion and increased globalization are responsible for the increase in cases concerning identity theft. In turn, it becomes difficult for law enforcers to apprehend and identity perpetrators of identity theft. Some of the perpetrators conduct their illegal activities from outside America. It is a fact that thieves who steal identities can either operate in a syndicate, or individually (Vaca, 2002). The criminal networks are always being investigated by the FBI, so that they capture the syndicate’s masterminds. For example, the FBI has been able to identity Boston as among the leading identity theft locations in America. Congress has given law enforcement agencies the power, which they need, in order to catch identity thieves. This is a step in achieving rewarding results, and to ensure that this matter comes to an end.

In the year 2007, the Red Flag Rule that focuses on Identity theft was established by congress. It demanded that financial institutions and creditors were to come up with preventive programs that focused on identity theft. Later on, congress formed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions in the year 2003. It had to keenly follow the Red Flag Guidelines, and work together with federal agencies that focus on banking. It meant that the financial institutions and creditors were to alert congress about any suspicious documents. Moreover, they were to identify suspicious addresses, identifiable information, warnings and notifications, derived from consumer reporting agencies. Unfortunately, the Red Flag Rule was met with resistance as the institutions and creditors were not prepared (Kim, 2012). This issue persisted until the year 2010, and Congress was blamed as it could not handle this matter. It is extremely uncertain on how identity theft will be impacted by the Red Flag Rule. Fortunately, financial institutions and creditors will be assisted as they will be cautious on any suspicious activities and security matters. The latter are some of the leading causes of identity theft cases in America. The Red Flag Rule advocates for identity theft cases to be prosecuted as well as be investigated. In turn, financial institutions and creditors will be identified by their specific red flags. Also, they will need to ensure that law enforcers and consumers are identified whenever there are any incidents of breach of data. This information will save many Americans from having their personal identifiable information from being stolen. It seems that early notification is a sure way of ensuring that damages and mitigation caused by identity theft is quickly reduced. It is indeed true that the Red Flag Rule introduced by congress is a measure to reduce cases of identity theft (Synovate, 2006).

Congress is constantly involved in acts, which will ensure that those found guilty of identity theft are punished. Also, it seeks to find ways of ensuring that people are deterred from engaging in any identity theft issues. President Obama has made developments in an attempt to address the issue on identity theft. He has made it clear on various occasions that identity theft will not be accepted by the government. Obama believes that when people steal other people’s identities, they are facilitating crime. Through punishing those who are guilty of committing identity theft crimes, other related crimes will be unfolded. Obama wants congress to expand the Theft Task Force as it is one sure way of handling identity theft. Furthermore, many other inclusions have been made by the task force concerning theft identity. The latter contain other crimes such as tax fraud, counterfeit securities and mail theft (Gary, 2012). Also, it should be known that the congress does not have sufficient evidence to claim that the mentioned crimes are indeed related to identity theft. If the list is expanded by congress, other parties such as investigative agencies and American attorneys have to be included. They should be able to show the relationship that exists between federal crimes and identity theft. This should take place by giving a detailed report on other predicated offenses that are not codified. Moreover, if congress decided to have the list expanded matters of importance, such as national security and economic health would be ignored. Many consumers have complained about an increase in cases that concern identity theft. In turn, many guilty individuals have been convicted and imprisoned as a result of complaints by the customers. The victims who are being affected by this vital issue are widening in scope as children are also being affected. Organizations are now becoming aware that they are targets for identity thieves. According to the Task Force, identity thieves are using a method known as ‘phishing’ in order to carry out their heinous acts. They trick individuals by claiming they are an organization, and thus an easy way for them to obtain individuals personal information. Congress has been urged by the Task Force to make their statutes on identity theft more clear. In turn, organizations and individuals will be protected by the laws set up by congress (The President’s Identity Theft Task Force, 2007).

Conclusion

In conclusion, identity theft is an issue of extreme importance and it cannot be ignored. Many people have lost valuable things in their lives to the ruthless identity thieves. In turn, congress has had to found a way of dealing with this issue before it escalates any further. Various task forces have been set up such as the Theft Task Force and the Red Flag Rule in order to combat this issue. The American public needs to be well informed in order to avoid being involved in the identity theft issue. Congress has shown that is has a role to play in ensuring that identity theft prevalence is reduced. Furthermore, centers and hotlines have been made available, so that the public reports about any identity theft issues. Also, more research is done to curb the problem on identity theft. Various stakeholders should participate in research and finding out how to get rid of this problem. If research is done in the appropriate manner, Americans will be saved from having their identities stolen. Indeed, identity theft is an issue that should be carefully considered as it is one that affects the American population significantly.

References

The President’s Identity Theft Task Force, Combating Identity Theft: A Strategic Plan, Apr. 23, 2007, 91-92.

Synovate, Federal Trade Commission: 2006 Identity Theft Survey Report, http://www.ftc.gov/os/2007/11/SynovateFinalReportIDTheft2006.pdf.

Gary R. et al., Identity Fraud Trends and Patterns: Building a Data-Based Foundation for Proactive Enforcement, Center for Identity Management and Information Protection, Utica College,

Kim, R. 2009 Identity Fraud Survey Report: Consumer Version, Javelin Strategy & Research, February 2012, HYPERLINK “http://www.javelinstrategy.com” http://www.javelinstrategy.com

Vaca, John. (2002). Identity Theft. New York: Prentice Hall.

Critical Analysis the movie gangster squad

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Introduction

Gangster squad is a captivating series that is action packed with the major theme being conspiracy. This film is well arranged as the events flow smoothly making it interesting and easy to understand. Gangster squad has incorporated various movie aspects and this makes it to have a nice flow. These series has taken care of all factors and this make it to be captivating. Even though it is an action movie, children can watch under parental guidance because there is a lot of education to be learnt from the movie. Gangster squad has connected various factors of film shooting making in to be one of the most interesting series.

Story Telling

Gangster squad movie is about an elite police squad that is fighting to save Los Angeles from a power hungry mobster. Mickey Cohen is a Jewish gangster who is a professional boxer and his brutal ambition has earned him respect from the Italian mob. Cohen has put all the judges and police chiefs in his pockets thus he conducts illegal businesses in the city without fear. LAPD chief parker assembles a team of honest cops who will assist him in burning down Cohen’s empire. It is through his pregnant wife assistance that he is able to assemble a perfect team.

Acting

Gangster squad is an action movie that can be viewed by all ages of people. It contains packed action, and interesting story lines that makes a person not to move out at the television. Many characters have different responsibilities in the movie. Each character plays a significant role in the plot of the movie. Gangster squad is acted in a way that combines technology and reality making the movie to be more interesting.

Scenes in the movie are not located in one area as the characters move at different locations in the world. This makes it more interesting because the people watching travel together with the characters in the movie. The acting process considers different time locations as the scenes overlaps each other. The movie follows a scene of day and night and this makes it to me more real. The stands in the movie are not too much exaggerated like in other movies, which makes it to be more interesting.

Cinematography

Very intelligent people make the movie Gangster squad because it has taken care of all areas. The pictures in the movie are well connected and join very well to each other. The movie pictures have taken care of the background of the filming process because it reflects what is going on. Characters wear costumes that fit well in their acting position. For instance, the director of squad is always wearing a suit and the agents are in training suit during their training session.

Script in the film follow each other well with each character is well acquainted to his versions. The movie Gangster squad is sensitive to technology because even the materials used in acting are well advanced (Fleischer, 2013). The sound system is well connected to the scene as it tells the watcher the situation of the scene. When there is danger, a different sound symbolizes fear. The sound in the series is well connected to the events as they appear in real life. When a bus is passing the sound of an engine in heard at the background of the movie. When there are shoot out the sound of gun shots are heard at the back ground of the movie.

Editing

The movie is well edited, as there are no unnecessary scenes that may make the movie monotonous. The movie is brought out well from the beginning and there are no repetitions of scenes. This ensures that the movie has a systematic flow from the beginning to the end. Editing ensures that the unwanted parts that may make the movie boring are rectified or they are removed to make it perfect. The pictures are very clear, they connect to each other well, and this makes them to overlap perfectly.

The movie is perfectly edited as the pace in which the pictures are moving is well connected to the sounds. Both the pictures and the movies are moving at the same pace and this allows people to follow the scenes smooth. Even though editing is one of the most difficult parts in making a movie, editors of the movie Gangster squad have done a recommendable job. The stuns in this series are well edited making them to appear real. Some movies do not edit their stunts well and this makes the film to appear as exaggerated. Gangster squad has stunts that are well edited and this makes the movie to be more interesting.

Sound

Sound in the movie Gangster squad is perfectly connected to the action-taking place in this series. The sound reflects what is going on in the background of the movie. For instances, incases of shot outs gunshots are heard at the background. This sound is very important because it gives people watching clear picture of the situation. Sound in the movie is well intertwined to pictures as they flow together and this makes the film more captivating.

Sound is an important aspect to this movie because people are able to interpret the pictures. The movie Gangster squad is able to change the sound systems in different parts of the movie. This is because sound tells us more what is going on in a particular scene (Fleischer, 2013). Gangster squad movie is rated as a good movie because its sound system is well connected to the pictures and scenes. Sounds ensure that any dialogue is well understood and makes people to interpret what is going to happen next.

Style and Directing

Gangster squad movie has used modern styles as it has incorporated technology in its shooting. The style connects past and current ways of shooting the movie. Mixing of the past and current style is interesting because it makes the movie to be more interesting. The style used in Gangster squad ensures all aspects are well coordinated and there is flow in the movie. This style makes Gangster squad to be more interesting as people watch. The style used in Gangster squad connects all the characters and this makes the movie revolve at one theme.

The movie is directed in a manner by which different groups contribute to the perfection of the movie. It has a producer who has coordinated the production process of the movie. There are people who coordinate the sounding system of the series to ensure that the sounds are perfect. Gangster squad has specific people who are involved with the scripts of the movie. It also has people who edit the pictures and this has ensured that this movie is flowing. When the process of directing is divided into different parts this makes the film making process to be well coordinated.

References

Fleischer, R. (2013). Gangster Squad. Retrieved on march 29 2013 from,

<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1321870/>

Schaefer, S. 2013. Gangster Squad’ Begins Filming; Official Synopsis Released. Reterived on march 29 2013 from,

http://screenrant.com/gangster-squad-movie-synopsis-sandy-130848/

Critical Analysis Why Europe and the West Why Not China By David S. Landes

Critical Analysis: Why Europe and the West? Why Not China? By David S. Landes

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Introduction

In formulating the thesis statement that runs throughout the article, the author argues that the historian’s perspectives of the technological growth and development have for a long time been subjected to undue distortion. The author agrees with previous researchers that around the 1st millennium, Asia was technology wise ahead of Europe. Specifically, this situation spread to about the 10th century. It’s argued that the Asian continents, more so the Chinese had some of the best sails and sailors as well as more sophisticated marine transport system. The region also had active international trade systems due to its excess supplies. However, the situation changed in 13th century with the Vasco da Gama’s circumnavigation. Today, therefore Europe is far much ahead of Asia because of the single journey by the Portuguese. The central questions in the article, that are debatable, therefore are; why do some scholars consider Vasco da Gama’s tour as an accident? Did the circumnavigation solely change the fortune of Europe by realizing the potentials in African and new Land?

Based on the above statement, the author concludes his thesis by arguing that, the tour by Vasco is the single most critical journey that helped Europe to deal with its economic challenges such as unemployment and inadequate raw materials. Based on the assumption, the author concludes that 500 years down the line, Europe is not only civilized but also far much ahead of Asia in terms of technological development.

Analysis

To achieve the research objectives, the author uses over 20 academic sources to back up his claims. These sources entail historical books, peer review articles, journals and periodicals. The sources are adequate as they are all academic, comprehensive and authoritative. This makes them be acceptable academic material which can be cited. The author’s evaluation is mainly based on paraphrasing and extracting of the information presented therein. I would also evaluate the articles by looking at how the authors covered the topic and the way they presented their arguments.

The article’s presentation is generally effective and coherent. The author arranges the paper in a logical manner in away that is easy to follow and comprehend. The paper begins with the summative overview of the topic, and the conclusion drawn.

The use of subheadings makes the paper flow in a more coherent manner. It is therefore easier to get the picture of the subject area under review. Such a logical arrangement also gives the readers an opportunity to narrow their focus to specific areas as opposed to general analysis. Clarity is also enhanced through the use of citations and quotations marks. This makes it easy to get to know the author’s opinion and ideas, and also to separate the same from the external information used in writing the paper.

The author however has failed to ask certain questions. Some of the questions that are not asked relate to the challenges that the European sailors met when conducting the trade. Also, the author has not asked questions relation to technology sharing and whether the Europeans acquired the technology from china.

At the same time, the paper lacks such perspectives as the Chinese view of their perceived failure, whether the Chinese consider such argument as valid and how Christianity led to the fall of Chinese’ then flourishing trade.

Much of the author’s claims are substantiated through citation of the articles/ sources of the information used. For example, the argument that preoccupation with the ancestors’ worship led to Chinese low and slower technological development is supported by Tatin (1963). However, the citation only recognizes the fact that there was a decree as to the effect that the court physicians were to make sacrifices to appease e the dead intellectuals. This claim may not be trusted per see since the author has failed to give a more conclusive correlation between the ancestor’s worship and low technological development. As such, the claim may not admissible as a historical fact.

Another argument is that the Chinese scholars took much time on metaphysics with less concern for the practical aspects of technologically. This argument is relatively valid since technological development requires not only critical thinking and creativity but also experiments of thoughts. However, the author supports his claim by citing a verse by a Chinese poet. This may not valid evidence as poems have different meanings and interpretations, and are always composed to suit a given genre. Such examples as the citation of a poem to support the main point are thus vague.

However use of the religious perspective as a major contributor to Chinese downfall, with specific reference to Christianity would be true. This is because, through Christianity, the Europeans built social amenities and gained trust of most Africans whose resources would be later exploited, including their labor. As such, it can be argued that through the church, the Europeans managed to penetrate into remote parts of African and New Land thus widening their markets and sources of raw materials. However, citing the Chinese religion, Confucian belief that is more inclined to ancestral worship as a contributor to the Chinese failure to develop technologically serves as a subjective example. This is because the author assumes that such beliefs negate originality and need to come up with innovative practices that would spur economic growth. It is therefore contradictory to argue that the Europeans development technologically through religion whole the Chinese down fall came from its religious beliefs and practices, without giving a clear explanation on the same.

The author uses historical facts and the medieval political systems to present the opposing arguments in the article. One of such argument is that the Chinese failed to march the European fast paced technological development because ‘no one was trying’ (6).However, the author cites historical facts to denounce such claims. He argues that during such times, the Chinese businessmen had free hand from the state agents as opposed to the European traders who were preoccupied with the desires to please their rulers. This argument was presented by Elvin (1975). As such, it is factually wrong to argue that the Europe overtook Chinese technological growth simply because the Chinese did not give innovative approaches a try. However, the author has failed to give conflicting evidence over the same. This way, his conclusion would have been more authoritative as valid. There is therefore need for more objective proof to ascertain such claims.

Another evidence offered to support the Chinese failure claim is that the society die not embrace change neither did the rulers attempt to improve on the existing technology. This argument is supported by the gun analogy where for many years the same technology was used to make the guns. Using example of fireworks, the authors supports his claim that explosives technology had existed in the country for along time, but was not harnessed for further development. The opposing argument in this case is that the Chinese had the knowledge of explosives but failed to use the same to enhance their military technology. Instead they had to import the gun technology from Europe later. However, the issue of technology importation is not clearly explained nor exhausted. This is because probably the Europeans also learnt the skills from china and improved on it. The only argument given is that the ‘backwardness ‘ in the Chinese technology emanated from lack of intellectual curiosity, and difference in ‘attitude and approach’ between china and Europe. This however needs more proof as the author has not backed his claim with an authoritative source.

The author has adequately covered several issues relating to the questions raised. The aim of the paper was to provide objective and substantiated answers that would give conclusive reasons as to why Europe overtook china in terms of industrial development. based on the information provided and the third party qualifications of the arguments through review of secondary data, it can be argued that the subject is adequately covered. One of the reason offered, based on the studies by other scholars, Fairbank and Reischauer (1960) is that the Chinese society is slow at adapting to change. However, for technologically based change to occur there is needed for fundamental changes that challenge status quo and the known. It is on the basis of industrial revolution that Europe overtakes china. Even today, Chinese society is characterized by stability and lower propensity to disruptive change. The adequacy of the explanation is also supported by the rhetoric question that, every body wants to develop and why not china? This question is well answered by looking at the response that china and Europe had in relation to the new knowledge. China took little interest in the new knowledge while Europe took advantage of it to ship raw materials and other trade items to and from different parts of the globe. Further, the adequacy of the subject’s coverage is based on the argument that china did not invest much in institutions that would promote scientific and knowledge development as compared to Europe. This argument is supported by Taton (1963), who argued that instead of developing knew knowledge; china kind of worshiped the conventional intellectualism, based on the ancestors’ knowledge. This gives an adequate analysis of the Chinese’s failure to use its early knowledge to dominate the world in technological development.

Critical Appraisal Of Descriptive Design Study

This worksheet is a representation of critical appraisal of the article “anger, stress, stress and blood pressure in overweight children”. This work describes in depth what the research study was conducted and if the methods used were valid.

Appraisal guide comments

Are methods valid/ trustworthy?

Was the research question clear? Was the need for the study adequately substantiated? Explain. The research questions are clear because they are touching on the topic of research which is “Anger, stress, stress and blood pressure in overweight children”. By the researcher answering them at the ended of the research study, the objectives of the study could have been attained. Additionally, the study questions being three, they exhaustively address the topic of study. The need for the study is adequately substantiated in that children of age 9-11 were involved in the research study. The need was to find out the relationship between anger trait and BP among overweight children. Of which is conducted in this study.

What was the design of the study? How were the data collected(one time(cross-sectional or repeated over time (longitudinal)? What were the limitations of the data collection methods The research study was designed to use a secondary method of data collection and analysis. Secondary data on the influence of psychological variables on BP in children of 9-11 years old were extracted from BMI. Data was extracted for children whose BMI was greater than or equal to the 85th percentile of the ratio in Kg to the height in meters squared. Data collection was longitudinal whereby it was collected repeatedly over time. The limitations suffered due to the usage of this method of data collection is lack of consistence in information concerning the relationship between BP and the associated anger expression in overweight children.

Describe the sample. How was the sample selected(eligibility criteria)? How is the sample representative of the group? The original study sample was extracted from eight elementary schools in two southeastern states and consisted of overweight children who had met the criteria of being 9-11 years of age. The sample was able to read and write in English, have parental consent and having accent to participate. From the original sample, only 73 cases met BMI criteria and had complete data. 73 cases are not the whole group but represent a portion of a larger group.

Describe the variables of interest. If there was, a comparison group, on what variables was the groups compared?. How were the groups similar? How were the groups different? If it were a correlation study, on what variables are associations being examined? Were there any confounding variables? The variables of interest were stress, trait anger, anger-out, anger reflection, anger suspension, stressful events, SBP and DBP. The groups could be compared over the first five variables against overweight and associations with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The groups were similar by the fact that the samples were both overweight children of age between 9-11 subject to conditions of life. The groups were different in because of gender, the groups comprised of both male and female school-aged children despite their having different anger levels. If it were a correlation study the associations could be examined by Pearson’s correlations. Yes, in the groups as a whole, significant correlation were noted between SBP bad trait anger. SBP was associated with higher levels of trait anger. And none of the psychological variables were associated with DBP in the whole group.

Was the sample size large enough to detect statistically significant association or difference? Was a power analysis performed? The sample size was not large enough to be able to detect statistical significant associations. It was a small representation of a very large group and thus a power analysis could not be possible.

Were there any potential sources of bias? Yes, there existed potential sources of bias, during analysis, females who were chosen fo the research were many than male. There were 44 female and only 29 male. Also some races were miss-represented in the participation. 38 were black, 31 were whites, 1 was Asian and 3 were other races /ethnicity. There was no equal distribution in participation.

Describe the reliability and validity of the measures. Were the measures appropriate for the population or the variable being studied? explain Measures this research involved collection of the information concerning the variables under investigation. Height ,weight, trait anger, pattern of anger expressions, stress BP and demographic data. The way this data was collected was reliable and valid. Collecting the data from classroom libraries or gymnasiums during free times proves its validity and reliability.

Were the analysis plans (statistical methods) described in detail? How were the data distributed(e.g. normal vs. skewed)?were comparative and correlative tests appropriate for the type of data analyzed and the questions asked? explain Statistical methods of data analysis were not described in detail but a good portion of the information was provided. Data was distributed In a normal way where means, standard deviation, variance and all statistical relationships were used to relate the data being analyzed. The analysis was purely a normal distribution. Comparative and correlative analyses were appropriate with the king of data were are dealing with the research. Female participates had to be compared with male participants and also female with female and male to male had to be correlated. Over the variables under investigation.

What were the findings? Relatively high level of trait anger, comparable levels of anger out and anger suppression stress were found in study participants in comparison with norms. Males and females had no significant difference on any of the variables under investigation that conflicts findings from other studies. Differential, patterns of anger expressions were found to be of no significance. Studies with normal weight school aged children, high-level of anger reflection/control were noted in females than males. Gender and stress had no significant differences. Findings that involved bivariate relationships between BP readings and psychological variables reveals that participants with higher trait anger had higher SBP levels. These findings were true for female with nornoweight and overweigh adolescents.

Was there clinical significance? Statistical significance? There was no clinical significance because some findings were inconsistent with earlier research studies on the sane variable. This need more research to be conducted so that the findings can have clinical significance. There is statistical significance because the data corrected was analyzed well and it corresponded with the hypothesis of the research.

Did the authors put their findings in the context of the topic? explain The authors clearly put the findings in the context of the topic. They explained well the relationship between psychological variables under study and BP. and overweight and the related SBP and DBP among children 9-11 years.

What relevance do the findings have to the nursing practice? The findings can help the nurse to know how to take care of the infants/children by linking their behavior and associated disorders like BP. They can also help the nurse to advice the patients the effects of overweight to the body and how the effect of overweight can be overcome

Discuss how the findings can be applied to practice. The findings will help healthcare providers to assess the trait anger, patterns of anger expression, and stress in relation to BP in children. They will also help healthcare professional to device ways of reducing overweight and anger in overweight children as a way of preventing future manifestations of chronic BP, hypertension, or other cardiac events in adult hood.

Finding will help health care practitioners to measure BP elevations in children which are linked to hypertension and provide early medical intervention to stop such elevations.

CRITICAL APPRAISAL REPORT FOR MOBILE PHONE COMPANY

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Critical Appraisal Report for Mobile Phone Company

Background

Justification of department role

As the head of marketing department responsible for the production and R & D for mobile phone, I would ensure that I promote investment in R & D and also encourage capacity allocation since being the head of marketing means ensuring that the new products and services penetrate into the competitive market of mobile phones. The success of the performance of the new products and services entering into the market would mean that I search and identify new knowledge and information relevant for the sale of the product in the market (Johnson, Whittington, and Scholes, 2011, 89). Carrying out an effective search and obtaining existing market environment will enable the department make better and innovative strategic decisions aimed at ensuring high sales for the product. I would also carry out a marketing analysis that involves looking at the current prices and the quantities bought and sold within the target market. It is also important to carry out and analysis on development of technologies and patterns of technological advancement since they tremendously impact on the performance of the product within the target market (Johnson, Whittington, and Scholes, 2011, 67-8).

Position analysis (environmental analysis)

From the marketing outlook point of view and looking at the demand for mobile phones, it is observed that the demand for handsets has significantly increased since passengers are able to use the mobile phones even in the airplanes. However, the demand for handsets in USA is expected to fall by approximately 3% and by about 7% in Asia although the demand in Europe is expected to remain constant (Kotler et al, 2012, 78-9). Looking at the cost analysis, the transportation cost is expected to fall by about 6% while the production cost is expected to remain unchanged. On the other hand, the outsourcing capacity is expected to rise by 13% in the US and 19% in China thus making the outsourcing costs to fall by about 4-6%. In the analysis of finance, it is observed that the corporate tax has been raised up to 22% in Asia. The competitiveness of the economy of China has resulted in its central bank selling huge amounts of Rmb in the FX market. This has consequently made Rmb fall by approximately 10% against the USD as the Euro also rebounds (Cesim, 2013, 77-8). In China, the interest rates have risen by half a percentage while in USA, it has risen by quarter. However in Europe, the interest rates have fallen by quarter.

Critical review of academic literature

The significance of a competitive advantage of the product in relation to its cost, flexibility, delivery, and quality is a necessity. According to the situation analysis of the product, setting up strategies for a competitive advantage of the product will contribute to the company’s developmental strategy (Cesim, 2013, 78-9). Ansoff matrix strategy can be used to generate a strategic direction for the company by establishing ways and means of penetrating into the target market. This can be done based on the product’s category and the geographical dimensions surrounding the target market of the product. The figure below represents the Anoff matrix.

There are theories that can be used for strategic analysis of the product. The first theory to be considered in this aspect is the resource –based theory, which is closely related to the competitive advantage (Brooks and Barnett, 2006, 90-1). It involves four factors that include resources, capabilities, competitive advantage, and strategies. The first factor (resources) requires the manager to identify and classify the resources of the organization and then appraise the weaknesses and the strengths of the organization. The second factor, which is “capabilities”, involves the identification of the capabilities of the organization. The next factor in this theory is to develop a competitive advantage, which involves appraising the potential capabilities and resources in terms of their ability to produce a sustainable competitive advantage. The last factor is to select a strategy that would best exploit the capabilities and resources of the organization relative to the product’s external opportunities (Brooks and Barnett, 2006, 78-9). This theory can help the organization identify the resources that would enable it achieve a competitive advantage thereby making the organization become more successful than other organizations in an environment that is very competitive. The second theory is the Ansoff’s matrix theory, which is presented in the diagram below.

Ansoff matrix theory defines the market growth strategy in terms of the market and the product. Four criteria are used in the identification of the theory such as market development, product development, market penetration, and diversification (Ansoff, 1965, 90-1). The aspect of market penetration criteria can be used to analyze how the existing businesses sell their products in the existing market environments and also determine ways of increasing and maintaining market share of the existing products. A competitive pricing strategy can be used to set the selling price in order to gain and beat more revenue in terms of sales. Sale promotion and advertising can enable the organization attract more customers to buy more of its products due to the good image of the organization created to the target market. Restructuring a mature market that involves driving out competitors is the difference strategy that would ensure that the organization look different and unique compared to other competing organizations. According to Ansoff, (1965, 89), a pricing strategy and a promotional campaign can also be used by the organization to become more attractive.

The next theory is the product life cycle theory, which is presented in the diagram below.4070351882775

Product life cycle describes the possible policies of the product in different stages of the theory as well as helping the organization compare its product with the product of its competitors. The theory can be divided into four major stages that entail introduction, growth, maturity, and then decline. The theory is very appropriate in defining the product stage and performance of the entire market. Tech 3 and 4 are placed in the growth stage while tech 1 and 2 are put in the maturity stage.

The last theory in this aspect is the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which is a very vital tool used to determine the balance and the attractiveness of business portfolio under market growth and market share criteria. It is of great relevance to estimate the demand for every product in order to properly expand the capacity. As shown in the figure below, tech 4 appears in the stars stage with the highest mark share of about 94.75% in an expanding market (Aburto, 2010, 78-9). There is need for the company to heavily invest in order to raise or sustain the product market share in the stage. Techs 2 and 3 have significantly high market growth but do not show high market share yet. Tech 1 shows high market share in a market segment that requires less investment.1612903150235

The above frameworks and theories are used to support the achievement of business strategies in perspective of production and demand of the product while following the law of demand and supply. An increased price of the product when the demand is higher than the supply is likely. When supply is more than demand, there is likely to be a fall in the product price (Aburto, 2010, 89). There is also the equilibrium point that encourages the organization to balance supply and demand as shown in the figure below.

References

Aburto, T., 2010. Ansoff’s Matrix for Marketing Objectives [online] available from HYPERLINK “http://taydeaburto.com/ansoff-matrix-for-marketing-objective/”http://taydeaburto.com/ansoff-matrix-for-marketing-objective/ [4 June 2013]

Ansoff, I., 1965 .Corporate Strategy. New York: McGraw-Hill

Avadhani, V., 2010. Investment management. Mumbai: Himalaya Pub. House.

Barney, J. and Clark, D., 2007. Resource-based theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Brooks, R. and Barnett, S., 2006, .IMF Working Papers : What’s Driving Investment in China? Washington: International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Cesim, 2013. Ratio and key financial indicators [online] available from http://sim.cesim.com/results/gc/AreaReportGlobalPage?51 [16June 2013]

Douglas, D. and Raghuram, R., 2001 .Liquidity Risk, Liquidity Creation, and Financial Fragility: A Theory of Banking. journal of Political Economy, 109 (2).

Johnson, G., Whittington, R. and Scholes, K., 2011′.Exploring Strategy’

Kotler et al, 2012 .Marketing Management, 2ed edition, 2009, Pearson Education Limited, Essex, England

Reid, P., P. and Schriesheim, A., 1996 .Foreign Participation in U.S. Research and Development: Asset or Liability? Washington: National Academies Press

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CRITICAL APPRAISAL REPORT FOR MOBILE PHONE COMPANY

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