Revolution Of 1917 Essays - House Of Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov

Revolution Of 1917 Towards the end of nineteenth century, and the beginning of the twentieth century, most of Europe was going through a great deal of changes, many new ideas were introduced, causing people to dream of a better life, and more economic stability. Nowhere was this factor as true as in Imperial Russia. The basic dilemma facing Alexander II, Alexander III, and Nicholas II was that it was impossible to ignore the demands either of external military security or of internal political stability and that these demands pulled hard in opposite directions. This helps to explain why the policies and governments of the last three Romanov monarchs often seemed crisis-ridded and at cross purposes. The statement mentioned above basically describes the nature of the events which had taken place during the sixty-two years that separated the succession of Alexander II in 1855, and the fall of the monarchy in 1917. Also when we go deeper into the above mentioned situation, we need to note that Nicholas II inherited his Empire at a time when there was much agitation going on among the world powers, partially due to the fact that there was an extremely harsh competition going on throughout the world for territory and political influence. After taking all that into consideration, we also have the fact that Nicholas II was very unprepared to rule his country at the time when he ascended the throne, for the most part because of the unexpected passing away of his father, Alexander III. Then there are constant financial difficulties that Russia faced, mainly, that there wasnt enough money for everyone. That caused the lives of the ordinary people to be generally classified as poverty stricken. Now to add to the above mentioned situation, factor in: the increasing number of educated people, the rapid industrialization of the country, the constant repression of the government, the Empires rapid population growth, the spread of nationalist ideas in a country whose population consists of many d ifferent ethnic regions, failure to act assertively on the part of the tsarism, and what we have is a country that is marching straight towards revolution. Yet as always, some factors played a much larger role in stimulating the growth, and then later triggering, the Revolution of 1917. From reading the two assigned texts I came to conclude that the key fundamental roles were: the Russian Worker, the governments inability to function as a unitary whole, and lastly World War I. One of the major forces that was responsible for laying the foundation to the Revolution of 1917, was the Russian worker. Russian workers were underpaid, their living conditions, their lifestyles, their demands, and their problems were for the most part overlooked. And the already unstable situation among the millions of unsatisfied workers was made far worse by the harsh conditions of exploitation most workers found in the factories. Throughout the period the situation remained almost unbearable for most workers. Wages were low, hours long, factories dangerous, living conditions squalid, discipline brutal Also there was little or no job security, employers had the power to hire and fire employees, without giving any explanation for their dismissal, and overall the whole system was designed in order to benefit the employer exclusively. This careless treatment on the part of the employers, was one of the major reasons for the unhappy situation that Russian workers had to endure. That caused them to get angry at the government, since it was the most visible target, and it was blamed for whatever problems one might have been faced with. Thats where the revolutionaries came into place and encouraged the worker to seek alternate means for the fulfillment of their needs. This point is confirmed by many analysts, and in particular made evident by the Bolsheviks, who claim that these hard-core workers were the backbone of urban political and social unrest. This not so large, yet quite turbulent sector of the population was often overlooked by Nicholas II, who was assured that the Russian peasants were the key to the survival of the monarchy. When indeed it was the peasant himself who was leaving his home in the village and becoming the urban worker. Another important element that played a crucial

Free Essays on Amazon.com

IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE Amazon.com is a company that sells all kinds of books and most recently music through their website at discounted prices. It was founded by Jeff Bezos and began taking orders in July of 1995(Derie). Since then, Amazon has acquired five businesses that range from virtual database technology to videos while expanding to the European market. Its massive amount of sales can be attributed to its low competitive prices and ease of shopping conveniently from home. The business level of Amazon.com is cost leadership. Best selling books are sold at a 30 to 40 percent discount and other books are discounted at 10 percent (Bade). Amazon.com’s corporate strategy was in the form of single business to dominant all of business, but has since moved towards unrelated because they are offering more than just books at their website, ranging any where from kitchen and house ware to toys and games, DVDs, and herbal supplements. Amazon.com has increase in size since it began operations in July 1995, doubling in size every 2.4 months with an 838 percent increase in sales form 1996 to 1997. To keep up with this extraordinary growth, Amazon had 800 employees on its payroll as of August 1998(Bade). Amazon.com has plans in the works to capitalize on its increased market share by expansion into European e-commerce with already having 22% of sales from outside the United States. By acquiring previously established global companies, Amazon’s expansion into international localities should be smooth. Part of Amazon’s cooperative strategy is strategic alliances through acquiring businesses to expand into new product and market areas. They differentiate themselves while at the same time achieving their strategic mission: convenience, selection, service, and price. This has also been Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos’ intent form the initial thought and continued to this day. The general external environment for Amazon.... Free Essays on Amazon.com Free Essays on Amazon.com IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE Amazon.com is a company that sells all kinds of books and most recently music through their website at discounted prices. It was founded by Jeff Bezos and began taking orders in July of 1995(Derie). Since then, Amazon has acquired five businesses that range from virtual database technology to videos while expanding to the European market. Its massive amount of sales can be attributed to its low competitive prices and ease of shopping conveniently from home. The business level of Amazon.com is cost leadership. Best selling books are sold at a 30 to 40 percent discount and other books are discounted at 10 percent (Bade). Amazon.com’s corporate strategy was in the form of single business to dominant all of business, but has since moved towards unrelated because they are offering more than just books at their website, ranging any where from kitchen and house ware to toys and games, DVDs, and herbal supplements. Amazon.com has increase in size since it began operations in July 1995, doubling in size every 2.4 months with an 838 percent increase in sales form 1996 to 1997. To keep up with this extraordinary growth, Amazon had 800 employees on its payroll as of August 1998(Bade). Amazon.com has plans in the works to capitalize on its increased market share by expansion into European e-commerce with already having 22% of sales from outside the United States. By acquiring previously established global companies, Amazon’s expansion into international localities should be smooth. Part of Amazon’s cooperative strategy is strategic alliances through acquiring businesses to expand into new product and market areas. They differentiate themselves while at the same time achieving their strategic mission: convenience, selection, service, and price. This has also been Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos’ intent form the initial thought and continued to this day. The general external environment for Amazon....

Alcoholism and Drinking - Alcoholics Anonymous as an Important Literary Work

Anonymity of alcoholism as an important literary work Anonymity of alcoholism is one of the unrecognized wonderful literary works in the first half of the 20th century. It was first printed in 1939 and went through three editions in which at least 53 plates were printed in more than 90 countries (xxii). The popularity and distribution of the book certainly confirmed this claim. If you check the content of the book, you should also receive this book. This is a rich job, as it conveys the basic human condition, but it is hard to see till it is not publicly spoken at that time. If you do it, that is a good book. But that is not just a matter of speaking The book Anonymous to Alcoholics begins with an introduction letter written by a doctor who was almost monopolistically engaged in alcohol and drug addiction in the 1930's. He believes that alcohol addicts suffer from physical and mental illness, along with the first member of alcoholism. This double disease not only explains why alcohol lacks the ability to control alcohol intake, it also can not choose whether to drink alcohol. When alcohol drinks his first glass wine, the vicious circle of alcoholism begins (according to A.A.). He drank this first drink, because he was mentally interested in alcohol. When he is awake he becomes obsessed with drinking, and ultimately succumbs to temptation and accepts drinking. Alcohol is not mentally caught by alcohol, but physically allergies to alcohol. Alcoholic beverages (or alcoholic beverages) are beverages containing ethanol, which is an alcohol produced by fermentation of cereals, fruits or other sugar sources. Drinking plays an important social role in many cultures. In most countries, there is a law regulating the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Some countries prohibit such activities altogether, but in most parts of the world alcoholic beverages are legal. In 2014, the global alcoholic beverage industry exceeded 1 trillion dollars. Alcohol is an inhibitor, low doses can cause euphoria, alleviate anxiety, and improve social skills. At higher doses, it can lead to drunkenness, coma, coma or death. Long-term use can lead to alcohol abuse, physical dependence and alcohol abuse. Alcohol is one of the most widely used recreational drugs in the world, with about 33% being the current drinkers. As of 2016, women drink 0.7 drinks a day on average and 1.7 eyeglasses for men. Many people use the word alcoholism and alcoholism in the same sense. However, alcoholism refers to alcoholism or addiction, and individuals have physical or psychological stress to drink alcohol. Alcohol abuse is a pattern of behavior that people overdrink in spite of bad results. Whether you are alcoholic or whether you are struggling or not, it is important to understand these signs and you know that you are not alone. Thousands of people in all walks of life are fighting alcohol every day, and thousands have decided to call for help. Rehabilitation villag e offers various programs at facilities throughout the country to treat alcohol and other diseases. All you have to do is make a phone call, one of our entry coordinators will be responsible for the rest of the work.

Hypotheses, Causal Model, and Operationalization Form Essay

Hypotheses, Causal Model, and Operationalization Form - Essay Example Thus, anyone who eats a balanced diet or eats well will have to live longer than those who do not. C) Draw a causal model of your hypotheses—using textboxes, arrows, and proper notation. If you do not already know how to create textboxes, or resize textboxes, or draw and move arrow, or align plusses and minuses along the lines, or make all of the lines and arrows black— this is when to learn. In terms of layout and formatting, your model ought to look like those in the samples and exercises from class. (Simply bump it all to the next page if you need additional space.) 5. Where You Have Access to Data for Your Time Period and Cases to Actually Measure the Variable as Operationalized Above (NOT ‘hope’ to find and have access to, or ‘might’ find and have access to, or ‘will start to look for’ or anything other than KNOW where the needed info/data is and KNOW you have access to it.) The variables will be measured using the most appropriate methods for each of them. Since they have a direct influence on the findings, the choice of the variable will have to be made after considering its effectiveness. For instance, while dealing with eating habits as one of the variables in the research, the researcher will have to conduct a thorough survey to ensure that the most appropriate and proportionate population sample is studied and analyzed. This will help in ensuring that the research is accurate and valid to be relied

Discuss The Controversy Surrounding The Chapman Brothers Rectified Essay

Discuss The Controversy Surrounding The Chapman Brothers Rectified Works of Francisco Goyas Disasters of War Series - Essay Example The best in Goya came during the period of war in Spain and this shows that wars really bring out the best in men. The controversy that surrounded the rectification of his work by the Goya Brothers was borne out of the love that this critics had for this great artist and his art work. The Chapman brothers have been accused of defacing the etchings they purchased from Goya’s Disasters of War as the Chapman Brothers’ Insult to Injury had some funny faces that made their collections controversial in nature. The Brothers have been accused of intentionally defacing the appearance of Goya’s Disasters of War and some have even said that they used their Insult to Injury to mock Goya’s works. Although the Chapman Brothers have claimed that Francisco Goya was their model, the fact however remains that the rectification of his Disasters of War actually disproves this notion if one considers the fact that they tried to transform the work of their so called ‘mode l’ in order to produce their own work that is different from his work in several ways (Chapman). The Chapman Brothers succeeded in transforming Goya’s work into sheer pornographic Surrealism but it should be underscored that Goya was more into Romanticism. The issue that has been raised by the critics is that the Chapman Brothers bought a set of 83 etchings from Goya’s Disasters of War and vandalised it. The critics have claimed that the Chapman Brothers were aware that this great art work by Goya is one of the most venerated series of prints in existence (Mey, 2007, p.1). The Chapman Brothers have not only made attempts to erase the memories of the artists from the hearts of men, but they have also destroyed and obscured a great artwork, thus attracting lots of controversies to themselves and their rectified art work. Controversy based on Semiotics The Chapman Brothers unscrupulously rectified the works of Francisco Goya’s Disaster of War Series, which G oya himself used to represent the horrors of the war between 1810 and 1820. In the original work of Goya, he used symbols of humans as an allegory to the sufferings of humans during the war and to express his dissatisfaction and horror at the disgusting lunacy of war. In rectifying the works of Francisco Goya’s Disaster of War Series, the Chapman Brothers used cartoon images to represent the sufferings of humans that Goya was trying to depict through his images and the fact that Chapman derailed from the original message of Goya made people to criticize the revised works of the Chapman Brothers. â€Å"Typical in their broad-brush detestation of Enlightenment tradition are Jake and Dinos Chapman, postmodern artists most famous for ‘Insult to Injury’, their vandalized or ‘rectified’ appropriation of Goya’s Disaster of War prints, in which they pasted fiendish clown and puppy heads over every victim’s grimace....† (Broderick, 2005, p.9). The controversy that surrounded the works of the Chapman Brothers was caused by the cartoon images that they superimposed in their work as they used the symbols of puppies or clowns as figures to represent the human sufferings that Goya intended to show people through his Disaster of War

Real Estate Intern Report Essay Example for Free

Real Estate Intern Report Essay The company analyzed and discussed in this analysis is one of many health insurance companies registered under the Security Exchange Commission. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated or commonly referred as, â€Å"United Health Group,† or the â€Å"Company is the central tenant which this paper will focus on.† The Company, which was formally known as Charter Med Incorporated, was founded by a group of physicians and health care professionals in 1974. Their main objective was to give consumers a broad variety of options on health care coverage. A decade later, UnitedHealth Group becomes publicly traded, concentrating heavily on modern day technology. As a public traded company, UnitedHealth Group can be denoted as their ticker symbol, UNH. UnitedHealth Group’s core structure posits the goal of helping people live healthier lives by innovating thinking. The foundation of the Company is derived from the best practices in the medical care business. By achieving this goal, UNH uses incorporates an innovative and progressive clientele for their business management team to advance the health of patients. In order to reach out to potential patients, the Company operates under two platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which offers health benefits, and Optum which provides health services. UnitedHealthcare segments include Employer Individuals, Medicare Retirement, Community State and International. In contrast, Optum’s sections consist of OptumHealth, OptumInsight, and OptumRx. To fully understand the Company’s strategy, we must first understand its mission. UnitedHealth Group mission is â€Å"helping people live healthier lives and making health care work better (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p. 1).†After we have establish a sense of understanding, we can further conduct a series of analysis by using tools such as PESTEL, Porter’s Five Forces, and SWOT analysis. As a result, we will be able to interpret UnitedHealth Group’s strategy and its competitive advantage. PESTEL 1). Political A). â€Å"The laws and rules governing our business and interpretations of those laws and rules are subject to frequent change, and the integration into our businesses of entities that we acquire may affect the way in which existing laws and rules apply to us†¦agencies administering, interpreting and enforcing current and future regulations governing our business could force us to change how we do business, restrict revenue and enrollment growth, increase our health care and administrative costs and capital requirements, or expose us to increased liability in courts for coverage determinations, contract interpretation and other actions (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.17).† B). In general, health care industry is and will continue to be heavily regulated in order to protect consumers. Insurance companies and other identities must be licensed in order to operate and hold jurisdiction where business are practiced. The complexity of regulations impedes companies such as UnitedHealth Group from generating revenue. As a result, the regulations force the Company to change how they do business. For example, UnitedHealth Group signed a contract with the Department of Defense to provide coverage to those in the military who are active or retired. The service known as TRICARE Managed Care Support will serve more than 2.7 million beneficiaries in 21 states (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.4). Thus, the losses leveraged from other services or products did not satisfy proper regulation. 2). Economic A). â€Å"Unfavorable economic conditions may impact demand for certain of our products and services. For example, high unemployment rates have caused and could continue to cause lower enrollment or lower rates of renewal in our employer group plans and our non-employer individual plans (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.25).† B). Because the economy changes daily, it is impossible to predict the certainty of unemployment rates. Unemployment rates are inversely related to the success of company operations. Simply, if rates increase, then membership levels decrease. To manage the inconsistency of unemployment rates, UnitedHealth Group offers a spectrum of products and services. When the economy is strong, traditional plans that typically â€Å"include a full range of medical benefits and network options from managed plans such as Choice and Options PPO† (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.3), tend to thrive. Conversely, when unemployment is high and the economy is weaker, essential benefits product which offer less than traditional plans but still provide basic services such as guides to physicians, become copious. 3). Sociocultural A). â€Å"As we continue to expand our business outside the United States, acquired foreign businesses, such as Amil, will present challenges that are different from those presented by acquisitions of domestic businesses, including adapting to new markets, business, labor and cultural practices and regulatory environments that are materially different from what we have experienced in our U.S. operations (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.24).† B).Although the Company’s main operations are in the United States, it has expanded its operations to other nations. Conducting business internationally faces many factors such as â€Å"political, economic, legal compliance, regulations, and operational risks and exposures that are unique and vary by jurisdiction (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.17)†. But having already been exposed to these elements in parts of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia the recent acquisition of Amil, whose services are dispersed throughout Brazil, will face minimal encumbrances. Additionally, Amil’s products and services are much similar to those offered by UnitedHealth Group and thus effortlessly adapting to the new markets. The new market, which consist of over five million people, have been exposed to Amil’s health and dental benefits and have access to 45,000 contracted physicians (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.5). 4). Technology A). â€Å"Our ability to adequately price our products and services, to provide effective service to our customers in an efficient and uninterrupted fashion, and to accurately report our results of operations depends on the integrity of the data in our information systems †¦technology initiatives and recently enacted regulations, changes in our system platforms and integration of new business acquisitions, we periodically consolidate, integrate, upgrade and expand our information systems capabilities (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.26).† B). Technology is fundamental to UnitedHealth Group. In their earlier years, the Company provided physicians with office software that managed and controlled cost. Investing in technology can be costly, but for UnitedHealth Group it serves as a competitive advantage. One way UnitedHealth Group stays above average is by utilizing its information system’s user-friendly resources that help consumers control their decision on health care. These resources â€Å"provide greater transparency around quality and cost, such as the Premium Designation ® program and Health4Me for Apple ® and Android ® phones, myHealthcareCost Estimator, Health Care Lane and myuhc.com (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.2).† 5). Environmental A). â€Å"Relatively low interest rates on investments, such as those experienced during recent years, have adversely impacted our investment income, and a prolonged low interest rate environment could further adversely affect our investment income†¦delay in payment of principal and/or interest by issuers, or defaults by issuers, could reduce our net investment income and we may be required to write down the value of our investments, which could materially and adversely affect our profitability and shareholders’ equity (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.25).† B). As mentioned previously, UnitedHealth Group has an impact in the national and global economy. Due to its operations conducted on the international scale, UnitedHealth Group has significant exposure to environmental factors that directly affect shareholders’ equity. These factors include currency exchange, government intervention, and political instability. Because of the nature of the global economy, the Company must take preventative actions to protect their investments. This is exemplified when one takes note that the Company may choose to allocate its investments into smaller portfolios to help reduce exposure to the market. Additionally, the acquisition of Amil puts pressure on the company’s profitability. Fluctuating currency rates have an adverse effect on the Company’s cash flows. Thus, currency exchange may benefit UnitedHealth Group if not hindered by local government making transfer of funds difficult. 6). Legal A). â€Å"The Health Reform Legislation and the related federal and state regulations will impact how we do business and could restrict revenue and enrollment growth in certain products and market segments, restrict premium growth rates for certain products and market segments, increase our medical and administrative costs, expose us to an increased risk of liability†¦or put us at risk for loss of business†¦may also create new or expand existing opportunities for business growth, but due to its complexity, the impact of the Health Reform Legislation remains difficult to predict and is not yet fully known (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.11).† B). Health care regulations affects the whole industry who range from consumers to providers. Because insurance companies are so controlled, it obstructs the way businesses are run. Regulations that apply to health care companies, such as UnitedHealth Group, increases loss of business. For example, legislation will â€Å"includes an annual, non-deductible insurance industry tax to be levied proportionally across the insurance industry for risk-based products (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.35).† As a result, the Company is force to pay an upwards of $8 billion and gradually increasing every year. Porter’s Five Forces 7). Current Competitors (High) A). â€Å"†¦competitors include Aetna Inc., Cigna Corporation, Coventry Health Care, Inc., Health Net, Inc., Humana Inc., Kaiser Permanente, WellPoint, Inc., numerous for-profit and not-for-profit organizations operating under licenses from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and, with respect to our Brazilian operations, several established competitors in Brazil, and other enterprises that serve more limited geographic areas (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.14).† B). The companies stated above are a select few who construct the health care insurance industry. The thin selection of insurance companies causes companies to compete highly with each other to gain market shares. Health care insurance companies are much alike offering similar coverage to their clients. In order to have the upper hand, UnitedHealth Group spends an ordeal amount of money on technology to differentiate their products. Thus created plans for members to be â€Å"provided access to clinical products with the goal of helping them make better health care decisions, and thus better use of their medical benefits, with the ultimate goal of improving health and decreasing medical expenses (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.14).† 8). Threat of New Entrants (High) A). â€Å"In particular markets, competitors may have greater capabilities, resources or market share; a more established reputation; superior supplier or health care professional arrangements; better existing business relationships; or other factors that give such competitors a competitive advantage†¦merger and acquisition activity has occurred in the industries in which we operate, both among our competitors and suppliers†¦Consolidation may make it more difficult for us to retain or increase our customer base, improve the terms on which we do business with our suppliers, or maintain or increase profitability (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.22).† B). Due to the limited amount of insurance companies, other companies compete for market shares. Top companies like UnitedHealth Group hold sizable portions in segmented markets. Moreover, mid-size companies merge together in order to increase their shares in the market. Similarly, bigger companies acquire smaller companies to broaden their consumer base such as UnitedHealth Group with Amil. 9). Power of Suppliers (Medium) A). â€Å"We contract with physicians, hospitals, pharmaceutical benefit service providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and other health care providers for services†¦Failure to develop and maintain satisfactory relationships with health care providers, whether in-network or out-of-network, could materially and adversely affect our business†¦ (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.22).† B). A strong connection with suppliers is crucial to the company’s business because it has a strong positive correlation between prospective clients. UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest amongst other insurers and attracts an abundance of health care providers. As a result, an increase in suppliers dilutes their bargaining power. 10). Power of Buyers (High) A). Under our risk-based benefit product arrangements, we assume the risk of both medical and administrative costs for our customers in return for monthly premiums†¦The profitability of these products depends in large part on our ability to predict, price for, and effectively manage medical costs (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.16).† B). It is human nature to desire a variety of choices. Although health care insurance companies are scarce, their products and services are not. In the case of UnitedHealth Group, a full range of services are offered to employers and individuals. As a result, consumers have the choice and power to select a plan that suits them well. â€Å"As the commercial market becomes more consumer-oriented, individuals are assuming more personal and financial responsibility for their care, and they are demanding more affordable products, greater transparency and choice and personalized help navigating the complex system (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.2).† Acknowledging this helps UnitedHealth Group to stay competitive. 11). Threat of Substitutes (Low) A). â€Å"Our information systems require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain, protect and enhance existing systems and develop new systems to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, evolving systems and regulatory standards, emerging cyber security risks and threats, and changing customer patterns (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.26).† B). Technology serves as a great substitute compared to basic products sold by insurance companies. Technology consists of software programs that track your health, new medical treatment devices, and the ever changing Internet. The issue with technology is that it can get very expensive for both the company and the consumer. Therefore, only those who can afford it are amongst a few. Conversely, companies who are not developing new information technology will lose their competitive advantage and ultimately give up their market shares. Consumers are likely to find a cheaper and better alternative otherwise. SWOT 12). Strengths A). â€Å"UnitedHealthcare provides network-based health care benefits for a full spectrum of customers in the health benefits market. UnitedHealthcare Employer Individual serves employers ranging from sole proprietorships to large, multi-site and national employers, as well as students and other individuals†¦ (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.1).† B). UnitedHealth Group sustains a competitive advantage through its diversified products and services. Coverage is offered to large scale employers, military personal, the elderly, and those who cannot afford health care through government sponsorship. The Company reaches to consumers throughout the nation and even internationally. 13). Weaknesses A). â€Å"†¦legal actions we face or may face in the future could further increase our cost of doing business and materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows†¦certain legal actions could result in adverse publicity, which could damage our reputation and materially and adversely affect our ability to retain our current business or grow our market share in select markets and businesses (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.23).† B). The health care industry has have a negative connotation. The public views insurance companies as scammers that rob society. Companies gain a bad reputation when they get investigated by the Government. UnitedHealth Group’s goal is to provide people with healthier lives, not rob them financially. Consequently, â€Å"negative publicity may adversely affect our stock price, damage our reputation in various markets or foster an increasingly active regulatory environment, which, in turn, could further increase the regulatory burdens under which we operate and our costs of doing business (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.18).† 14). Opportunities A). â€Å"UnitedHealthcare International acquired Amil, which provides health and dental benefits to over five million people and also operates 22 acute hospitals, as well as specialty clinics, primary care, and emergency services across Brazil, principally for the benefit of its members (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.5).† B). The acquisition of Amil will provide UnitedHealth Group with newer market segments, more consumers, and increase the company’s revenue. Amil will also offer diversified product portfolio that contain a range of products offerings, benefit designs, and indemnity products. Furthermore, Amil will include various administrative services which include network access, care management and personal services (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.5). 15). Threats A). â€Å"Several of the provisions in the Health Reform Legislation will likely increase our medical cost trends. Examples of these provisions are the excise tax on medical devices, annual fees on prescription drug manufacturers, enhanced coverage requirements†¦the prohibition of pre-existing condition exclusions and the implementation of adjusted community rating requirements (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.19).† B).As mentioned in the PESTEL breakdown, under the analysis of the legal realm, Health Reform Legislation causes a serious threat to the well-being of UnitedHealth Group’s business. Excess taxes take away from the company’s profits thus rendering them unable to reinvest into their company. Lastly, prohibition of excluding pre-existing conditions may increase the risk and medical cost in the future. Competitive Strategy 16a. â€Å"We believe the principal competitive factors that can impact our businesses relate to the sales, marketing and pricing of our products and services; product innovation; consumer engagement and satisfaction; the level and quality of products and services; care delivery; network and clinical management capabilities; market share; product distribution systems; efficiency of administration operations; financial strength and marketplace reputation (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.14).† In order for a company to have sustainable competitive advantage, they must abide their company’s vital principals. UnitedHealth Group does not only accomplish their objective, but they surpass other companies’ strategy. First they exceed in sales by offering premium services such as UnitedHealthcare and Optum products. The company also provides a variety of these products and services ranging from value-oriented plans to essential-oriented plans. Secondly, UnitedHealth Group has an exclusive network system that only clients have access to. Clients have access to physicians and hospital that meet their unique needs. Moreover, the Company serves to large national employers, public sectors employers, and midsize employers to individuals. As a result, UnitedHealth Group is â€Å"providing nearly 27 million Americans access to health care (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.2).† Lastly, UnitedHealth Group is a massive health insurance company which has enabled them to control ample market shares. Their recent acquisition with Amil shows how strong UnitedHealth Group is financially. Overall, UnitedHealth Group is a leading company in health care insurance proven by their business factors. The Company uses a differentiation strategy to maintain its competitive advantage. Article 16b. UnitedHealth to buy most of Brazils Amil for $4.9 billion The company is making a bold move taking on the fast growing markets of Brazil. UnitedHealth Group has made record on being the first to acquire manage Care Company across seas. The acquisition will bring UnitedHealth Group more leverage and revenue to its operations. â€Å"Amil has more than 5 million clients in Brazil and owns 22 hospitals and 50 clinics. It forecast revenues of $5 billion for 2012, up 15 percent from 2011. UnitedHealth had revenues of nearly $102 billion in 2011 and expects the deal to slightly increase its 2013 earnings per share (reuters.com). Ultimately Amil’s operations will be similar to UnitedHealth Group in that it will provide its products and services to new market segments. In addition, â€Å"Brazils healthcare system consists of public and private plans, similar to the U.S. model. The number of Brazilians covered under private plans has grown more than 50 percent over the past 10 years to nearly 48 million people, roughly a quarter of the count rys population (reuters.com).† Work Cited Humer, Caroline. UnitedHealth to Buy Most of Brazils Amil for $4.9 Billion. Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 08 Oct. 2012. Web. 25 Sept. 2013. UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (2012). Form 10-K 2012. Retrieved from SEC EDGAR website http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml View as multi-pages

Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale :: Margaret Atwood The Handmaids Tale

I Tell, Therefore I Am In Margaret Atwood’s, The Handmaid’s Tale, women are subjected to unthinkable oppression. Practically every aspect of their life is controlled, and they are taught to believe that their only purpose is to bear children for their commander. These â€Å"handmaids† are not allowed to read, write or speak freely. Any type of expression would be dangerous to the order of the Gilead’s strict society. They are conditioned to believe that they are safer in this new society. Women are supposedly no longer exploited or disrespected (pornography, rape, etc.) as they once were. Romantic relationships are strongly prohibited because involving emotion would defeat the handmaid’s sole purpose of reproducing. Of course not all women who were taken into Gilead believed right what was happening to their way of life. Through the process of storytelling, remembering, and rebellion, Offred and other handmaids cease to completely submit to Gilead’s repressive cult ure. â€Å"We learned to whisper almost without sound. In the semidarkness we would stretch out our arms, when the Aunts weren’t looking, and touch each other’s hands across space. We learned to lip-read, our heads flat on the beds, turned sideways, watching each other’s mouths.† (Atwood, p4) The handmaids whisper to each other to exchange information. They engage in this conversation to keep alive the nature of relationships between people. It is very lonely for these women, for they cannot say what is on their mind, they are only allowed pre-approved phrases from Gilead’s authorities Without this contact it would be impossible for the women to reminisce and be comforted. Another way of keeping the past real to Offred is to remember old stories from before the revolution. She spends a lot of her time thinking about her husband Luke and how the city used to look before, â€Å"Lilies used to be a movie theater here, before. Students went there a lot; eve ry spring they had a Humphrey Bogart festival with Lauren Bacall or Katherine Hepburn, women on their own, making up their own minds† (Atwood, 25). These small rebellions that Offred and other handmaids participate in are very significant. The simple fact that they choose to engage in these insurgences shows that they still cling on to their more just and free past. They still have a notion of truth and are keeping it alive. Having these passions and feelings causes the structure of Gilead to truly not work, and will probably (The Handmaid’s Tale was left open ended) lead to its demise.

Experience in High School Essay

Each teacher can recount numerous highs and lows in their teaching career. Personally, I experienced many great moments while teaching. These were days when I ended so happy and enthusiastic that I knew I had selected the right profession. On the other hand, I had days where I definitely questioned teaching as a career. These were days where the students seemed uninterested, too talkative, or even worse a blow up occurred and nothing got accomplished. Thankfully the average combined with the positive days outshine my negative days. Through my 14 years of teaching and working in education, one event stands above the rest as my absolute best teaching experience. Through it I learned so much about teaching and dealing with students. My hope is that the student involved was at least partially changed for the better from the experience as I was. I also hope that there is something in this story that can help inform and inspire you. Let’s call him Tyler. Tyler was a troubled student. He was enrolled in my senior American Government class followed the second semester by Economics. Surprising as it was to many former teachers, he had made it to senior year. However, he had spent a couple of years in and out of full inclusion classrooms. He had numerous behavior management issues. I don’t remember his exact IEP at this point, this happened about 10 years ago, but I know that he had impulse control and anger management issues. He had been suspended many, many times in previous years. The previous year he had been mainstreamed with a co-teacher in some classes. However, for 12th grade, he was in my room without a co-teacher. I knew he had problems before the first day. His ESE coordinator came and visited me during planning week to have a talk about him. My style of teaching is such that I am very stern in the beginning, allowing students to get away with very little. I have always done this on purpose believing that it is easier to soften up as the year goes on than get harsher. I learned this the hard way my first year of teaching. I decided that I was not going to change the way I taught or interact with him in particular because of his issues. He sat in the back row. I had never used a seating chart with students on the first day when I was just getting to know them. Every time I talked at the front of the class, I would ask questions of students, calling them by name. This helped me learn their names while getting the kids involved. Unfortunately, every time I called on him he would respond with a flip answer. He knew the answers when he listened but he didn’t want to be called on. If he got an answer wrong, he would get very angry. About a month into the year, I was beating my head against the wall trying to connect with Tyler. I could usually get these kids to be involved or at the very least to sit quietly. However, he was just loud and obnoxious. Tyler had been in so much trouble through the years that it had become his modus operandi. He expected it and he expected his teachers to know about his referrals and suspensions. For every new teacher, he’d push and push seeing what it would take to get a referral. I tried to outlast him and work things out my way. I had rarely found referrals to be effective because students would return worse than before. One particular day, Tyler was talking while I was teaching. In the middle of teaching I said in the same tone of voice, â€Å"Tyler why don’t you join our discussion instead of having one of your own.With that, he got up from his chair, pushed it over, and yelled something I can’t remember other than including the words, â€Å"You B—-! † Well that was definitely referral time. I sent him to the office with a discipline referral, and he received a week’s out of school suspension. Now so far you might be asking how this could be my best te aching experience. So far it was actually one of my worst. I dreaded that class every day. His anger and mumbled words under my breath were almost too much for me. The week’s out of school suspension was a wonderful hiatus, and we got a lot accomplished that week. However, the week soon came to an end, and I began dreading his return. I knew from talking with his other teachers that he would be back angrier and with a chip on his shoulder. I devised a plan. On the day of his return, I stood at the door waiting for him. As soon as I saw him, I asked him to talk for a moment. He seemed unhappy to do it but agreed. I basically told him that I wanted to start over with him. Further, I gave him permission that if he felt like he was going to lose control in class he could step right outside the door for a moment to collect himself. From that point on, Tyler was a changed student in my classroom. He listened, he participated. He was actually a smart child and I could finally get to see this in him. He even stopped a fight between two other students one day. And you know the most ironic part of it all? He never, ever used the privilege I had given him to leave the class for a moment. I believe that just giving him the power to decide for himself made all the difference. At the end of the year, he wrote me a thank you note about how good the year had been for him. I still have it today and find it very touching to reread when I get stressed about teaching. In the end, this experience changed me as a teacher. Students are people who have feelings and who don’t want to feel cornered. They want to learn but they also want to feel as if they have some control over themselves. I never made assumptions again about a student before they came into my class. Every student is different; no two students react in the same way. It is our tasks as teachers to find not only what motivates each student to learn but also what motivates them to misbehave. If we can meet them at that point and take away that motivation, we can go a long way towards a more effective classroom and learning experience. Essay So far, my high school experience has been one of many choices being made. Throughout these past three years I have had to make many choices, many of which have impacted my relationship with my friends, teachers, and coaches. However, no decision was harder than one I made this year in this past soccer season. This decision was not exclusively my own but one I shared with my father. This dilemma involved pulling me, the captain of the varsity soccer team off the team because of a problem between the coach and me. My father came to this decision because the coach was using me, whom he had made a captain and a focal point of team, as a scapegoat for the team’s losses and hardships. This was a very tough, and complicated situation in which myself. This decision to leave the team, a group of my friends, was probably the most difficult one for me to make; however, I feel it was a good one. Despite the fact this decision was not exclusively mine, I still feel that my father lofor my best interest and I am grateful for that. Though this decision was difficult, it did open many other doors for me. I refused to dwell on the fact that all I had worked hard for had been taken away from me in one fell swoop. Instead, I tried to show resiliency and bounce back by joining clubs and making the honor roll. Even though I had achieved success on the soccer field as a player, it was not a healthy situation in which to keep myself in. Although I am a person who has always been able to take criticism, my coach’s behavior and words had degenerated to a level where it was affects my own self – respect and dignity. Both my dad and I agreed that we could not allow this to happen. After I left the team, I contemplated whether or not my father and I had made the right choice or whether I should have abide by my dad’s decision or go against it. It came down to a talk with the Athletic Director that further persuaded me to stay off the team at least for the remainder of†¦ oked out The years I spent in high school were truly memorable to say the least. Looking back on those days now as a much more mature, responsible, and overall better person, I believe that the experiences I had over those three years are responsible for making me the person I am today. Paradoxically enough, it seems the least enjoyable aspects of my highschool career were the most important in shaping me into the man I am today. Until recently my hometown high school, Bedford, only had tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade in the high school building, despite the fact that high school curriculum begins in ninth grade. I was in the last class coming out of the three middle schools to not have spent ninth grade in the highschool. So as far as I am concerned, the true â€Å"high school experience† didn’t begin for me until the fall of 2004 upon entering the tenth grade. The majority of us tenth graders at the high school on the first day of class, it was our first day ever even stepping one foot into the school. For me and a few other students, it was on the contrary. Our middle schools did not offer Chemistry, and so we would go to the highschool for first period and then go back to the middle school for the remainder of the school day when we were still in ninth grade. This gave us the advantage of knowing where to go and the fastest way to get there once that dreaded first day of high school came rolling around. As for the rest of the student body, they weren’t so lucky. I’ll never forget seeing all of my good friends staring at the map with a look of complete and utter confusion. So I just did what any one of them would have done to me: give them a hard time. It was all in good fun. We talked about our teachers, and how they gave each one of us the whole welcome-to-high-school-now-get-to-work line in our respective classes. Those of us who weren’t too close over the summer caught up on the times and what we did, where we went, and blah blah blah. It wasn’t really†¦ y High School Experience When people start high school they’re usually so excited. They can’t wait to experience everything that comes with being in high school, I mean who wouldn’t? Everyone says that high school is the best four years of your life. Now that I’m months away from graduating, I can’t say they were my best years but I can say they were my most educational years, of course I wouldn’t say that they weren’t fun because they were. When I say educational, I mean I’ve learned so much about myself and so much about life. I learned what the words family, love, betrayal, law and life meant. All these events changed me, and I’m glad they happened because I wouldn’t have learned all these lessons. My personality hasn’t changed; I’m still a carefree girl, just with a little more wisdom and a lot more strength. I started off school with a horrible attitude because my parents sent me to a different school. They sent me to a school where I knew about two people, I was so angry at my parents Is this Essay helpful? Join O that I decided to rebel until they would transfer me to Eastlake. When I went back to Eastlake everything was good again, I made new friends and I even had a boyfriend. My priorities were never really about school or getting good grades, it was always about my friends and my boyfriend. I would ditch on a daily basis just to spend more time with them even if we didn’t really do anything exciting, just as long as I didn’t have to be bored in a classroom. My ditching got so bad it got to the point where my teachers didn’t even know my name, or they thought I transferred out of their class. As a result to all this ditching, I had horrible grades and I was way behind on my credits. I regret ditching because I ruined my chances of going to a university; instead I’m going to a community college. I realize now that I ditched for no reason at all, it was a waste of my time. I look back and think that ditching is just so ridiculous, there really is no point to it unless you want to ruin your future†¦.

Mass Marketing and Direct Marketing

Mass marketing is the traditional method of selling while direct marketing is a new innovation in marketing and advertising. The former, which is usually employed by large companies, is the more costly method since it targets a broad market while the latter, which is favored by small and medium scale organizations, is relatively cheaper as it is aimed at a specific target market. Mass marketers sell their products with the use of the mass media such as national television, newspapers, radio, and widely circulated journals and magazines. Its use of the mass media makes it a relatively expensive way of marketing because of the cost entailed in attempting to reach a wide audience through a single television spot or issue of a newspaper or magazine. However, advertisers and sellers consider the method somewhat indispensable because the products that they are selling are either attractive to or are believed to be essential to people from all walks of life who are watching television, reading newspapers or magazines, and listening to radio programs. Some of the products which are mass marketed are different brands of bath soap, detergent bars, toothpaste, and face powder. In the 1960s, before the advent of direct marketing, only big advertisers could usually afford to market products using the mass media due to the prohibitive costs involved. For instance, during the 1980s, a national television network charged an â€Å"average cost per thousand viewers† of $16.79 for every spot which lasted for thirty seconds. In other words, if the network reached ten million households, a 30-second spot would cost the advertiser $167,900 (Bianco, Lowry, Berner, Arndt & Grover. 2004). Compared to mass marketing, direct marketing is relatively new. This concept, which involves reaching individual customers through telephone calls, electronic mails, or the postal service, caught fire during the twenty-first century. A survey conducted only in 2006 which covered some 500 direct marketers and service providers worldwide and released January 11, 2007, found out that â€Å"85% of respondents expect their online direct marketing expenditures to increase in 2007† (Direct Marketing News). This system of marketing heavily relies on a customer list created, maintained, and regularly updated for the purpose. Organizations who employ this method claim that their marketing efforts are measurable in terms of responses or feedbacks which they receive from their target customers (Business Link). Evidently, mass marketing, although more expensive compared to direct marketing, could not be dispensed with by marketers who want to sell their products in large quantities to a multitude of consumers. This is because a company who targets millions of people just could not afford to contact them directly and individually. Works Cited Bianco, Anthony, Tom Lowry, Robert Berner, Michael Arndt & Ronald Grover. â€Å"The Vanishing Mass Market.† BusinessWeekOnline. 12 July 2004. 9 July 2007. Business Link. Direct Marketing: the basics. 9 July 2007. Direct Marketing News. â€Å"Alterian finds 85% of marketing and service providers plan to Increase Online spending in 2007.† 9 July 2007. http://www.dmn.ca/Click/articles/vol109/vol109_b.htm   

Free Essays on Jainism

Bhagwan Rishabhdevji The first of the 24 Tirthankars, Bhagwan Rishabhdevji was the opening for a long list of faultless souls. From his mother’s godly dreams before his birth to his achievements during his life, Rishabhdevji made everyone think. Born of Sri Nabhiji and Matha Marudevi Rishabhdevji entered the world one night during Chaitra Krishna Paksha 8. Before his birth his mother dreamt of fourteen auspicious things: Large white bull A giant elephant having four tusks, A lion, Goddess Laxmi seated on a lotus, A garland of flowers, The full moon resplendent in the sky, The scintillating sun, A fluttering flag, A golden urn, A pond full of lotus flowers, A sea of milk, A space vehicle of gods, A heap of gems, Smokeless fire, Matha then went to Nabhiraja (an experiences scholarly person) to seek out what these dreams meant. Nabhiraja then told Matha "Devi! You will give birth to a highly endowed soul who will show the path of peace and happiness to this world" The birth was successful and two healthy twins where born. Gods and Goddesses came from around the globe to praise these two babies, and give gifts to their creator. Sri Nabhiji named the first Tirthankar Rishbhdevji, and they also had a full name they shared â€Å"Sumangala.† After a while he married a girl named Sunanda whose twin died in an accident. But he was also married to his twin Sumangala in a rite that was arranged by the gods. Prince Rishabh led a happy married life. Sumangala gave birth to Bharat, Brahmi and ninety-eight other sons, and Sunanda gave birth to Bahubali and Sundari. â€Å"Prince Rishabh was a highly gifted, farsighted and industrious individual. He had a profound insight into the human psychology. Looking at the needs the times and society he evolved numerous arts, crafts and trades and taught them to people with right aptitude and physical and mental capacities. To some he taught farming and to others the trade of agricultur... Free Essays on Jainism Free Essays on Jainism Bhagwan Rishabhdevji The first of the 24 Tirthankars, Bhagwan Rishabhdevji was the opening for a long list of faultless souls. From his mother’s godly dreams before his birth to his achievements during his life, Rishabhdevji made everyone think. Born of Sri Nabhiji and Matha Marudevi Rishabhdevji entered the world one night during Chaitra Krishna Paksha 8. Before his birth his mother dreamt of fourteen auspicious things: Large white bull A giant elephant having four tusks, A lion, Goddess Laxmi seated on a lotus, A garland of flowers, The full moon resplendent in the sky, The scintillating sun, A fluttering flag, A golden urn, A pond full of lotus flowers, A sea of milk, A space vehicle of gods, A heap of gems, Smokeless fire, Matha then went to Nabhiraja (an experiences scholarly person) to seek out what these dreams meant. Nabhiraja then told Matha "Devi! You will give birth to a highly endowed soul who will show the path of peace and happiness to this world" The birth was successful and two healthy twins where born. Gods and Goddesses came from around the globe to praise these two babies, and give gifts to their creator. Sri Nabhiji named the first Tirthankar Rishbhdevji, and they also had a full name they shared â€Å"Sumangala.† After a while he married a girl named Sunanda whose twin died in an accident. But he was also married to his twin Sumangala in a rite that was arranged by the gods. Prince Rishabh led a happy married life. Sumangala gave birth to Bharat, Brahmi and ninety-eight other sons, and Sunanda gave birth to Bahubali and Sundari. â€Å"Prince Rishabh was a highly gifted, farsighted and industrious individual. He had a profound insight into the human psychology. Looking at the needs the times and society he evolved numerous arts, crafts and trades and taught them to people with right aptitude and physical and mental capacities. To some he taught farming and to others the trade of agricultur...

How low self esteem affects adolescents and substance abuse Essay

How low self esteem affects adolescents and substance abuse - Essay Example When someone is unable to accomplish the assignment, he might develop a low self-esteem when discouraged about his failure. Because of this, it is essential to support a person whenever he fails an assignment. This process encourages him to work even harder and do things in a different way that can help him succeed. There are several causes of low self-esteem. Discouragement or disapproving figures often cause a person to feel worthless and useless. During this time, a person might feel valueless because of his negative feelings towards himself. It often causes people to use drugs to calm their nerves (Sorensen, 2006). Such people often feel valueless and useless to the society. This situation encourages them to abuse drugs, which leads to other health defects. Because of this, it is vital to help those feeling discouraged, feel useful to both themselves and the society. Usage of drugs can also cause a person to resort to suicide attempts on his life. Lack of attention is another factor that causes a person to develop a low self-esteem. It is because of the need to want more, but there is no one available to give. Some people might want more than they have, but lack the right person to encourage them to work hard, or ascend to their request. This situation might lead to substance abuse in order to seek attention. Substance abuse can lead to stigmatization, which can lead to suicidal attempts (Sorensen, 2006). Lack of attention often makes a person feel alone and unwanted in the society. It is because they often feel forgotten and unrecognized. They often feel as if they need to apologize to the society for existing. It often encourages them to commit suicide and end their existence. They might also resort to substance abuse simply because of their unwanted feeling. When children are born, their parents are often their role models. This process makes parents responsible for all their

Scope management (project management) Case Study

Scope management (project management) - Case Study Example This is because an incomplete requirement cannot be functionally expected and useful to users. A well communicating requirement is also expected to be clear. By this, it is important to do the writing in plain language that is easy for any person to read and deduce meaning from them. What is more, consistence is needed for effective communication. By consistency, reference is being made to the need to ensure that the requirements do not deviate from a course that has already been started (quote). This is because once there is no consistency, the validity of the requirement becomes suspected. It is also important to ensure that the requirement has enough control. First, proper control is gained when the requirement is well chosen with its content. What this means is that the requirements must not have what can easily be excluded included in it. It should also be possible to trace every point under the requirements if the requirement can gain the needed control as chaseable. Still unde r control, those making the requirements ought to factor the need to seek every form of certification needed. Finally, the construction of the requirement must be well factored. Here, it is expected that the project having the requirement must have such as a scope that can be considered as achievable and feasible (quote). It is when this happens that the requirement can be said to be credible. Lastly, the requirements must be clean by defining only logical structure and decisions about physical design (Coley Consulting Group). There are a number of common problems faced when writing requirements. Hooks and Kristin (1) noted that most project managers have had four major challenges or problems with their requirement. The first of this has to do with selecting what should be included so that the requirements will be seen as needful. The second problem has to do with