Amenorrhea Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Amenorrhea - Case Study Example This paper will discuss a case study that involves a 30-year-old female whose has secondary amenorrhea for six months. Prior to being diagnosed with the disorder, she presented with periods of irregular cycles and dysmenorrhea. Thus, the paper will discuss the pathophysiology of the disorder and it possible causes in relation to irregular cycles and dysmenorrhea. Amenorrhea is a menstrual disorder that refers to the absence of menstruation in a woman who had been previously having their normal menstrual cycle. Secondary is used to refer to menstruation that had previously occurred at least for some period but stopped for a period of six months or longer due to some reasons. In order for the woman to be diagnosed with secondary amenorrhea, they must miss their menstrual period for a period of at least three to six months without being pregnant (Heiman, 2009). The most significant contributing factors include the use of birth control pills, certain medications and stress that also have been associated to cause dysmenorrhea (painful cramping) and irregular cycles. The most common reason as to why a woman will miss their period is as a result of pregnancy. However, it should be noted that pregnancy, menopause and breastfeeding are not classified as causes of the disorder. Secondary amenorrhea is not harmful to the patients’ health as it c an be treated effectively in the majority of the cases according to the pathophysiology. Thus, it is important for the health care practitioner to address the underlying condition causing the menstrual disorder to ensure that optimal health of the woman is regained (Klein & Poth, 2013). The hypothalamus is involved in generating the gonadotropin-releasing hormones that are responsible for stimulating the pituitary gland to produce the gonadotropins i.e. the Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle- stimulating hormone into the blood stream. These gonadotropins are important in

Sustainable Architecture and Design

Sustainable Architecture and Design Sustainable, eco-friendly architecture can often be seen as the radical hippy of neo-liberal architectural discourse, with its practical application in the 21st century limited and problematic. Is there space for the synergy of idea in this regard, producing usable and practical or whimsical and gracious buildings that also adhere to the classical ideas of beauty and proportion? Sustainable[1] and eco-friendly architectures[2] were the subject of much left of centre discourse throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s against the backdrop of late Modernism and the initiation of constructed, clean post–Modernity. They were in opposition to the shock of the ‘new’ the marvels of concrete and structural steel and the innovations that supported closed environments such as elevators and air-conditioning. The seemingly ‘hippy’ applications of buildings that suited the environment, responded to them, and trod lightly in their space appeared irreconcilable in the context of the masculine, rational and spare elements of Modernity. The fear that beauty[3] could not exist in a mixed relationship, that a building could be both environmentally friendly and be visually appealing was not always an option in the hegemony of late modernism. However, this paper discusses the synergies that arose from these apparently oppositional ideas. The modernist era of tower blocks and buildings that fitted in with the ‘form follows function’ premise, ignored the possibilities of working with the environment and also being informed by it. The post-War building boom was expeditious, masculine and prolific, with the modular systems of the International Style informing all of the above. The shock of the new, invention and innovation left little space for the architectures engaging with the environment or the vernacular textures. Issues of sustainability were very much part of a neo-liberal brief, and disregarded by the world order of the time who had not yet woken up to the issues regarding the depleted ozone layer and greenhouse gas emissions. However, occasionally, there was minor dissent, particularly in the British colonies, where the imposed architecture of the colonist had been, to some extent environmentally adapted by the settlers using vernacular materials and adapting some elements of the indigenous building systems that they found there. Throughout this, though, the prevailing post-War building idiom of the mother country was largely retained, adaptability being one of the successes of Modernism. Those careful and socially conscious architects that contested the climatically and culturally inappropriate imposition of modernism strove to combine old and new materials and old and new technologies to create regionally appropriate buildings that were a vernacular in their own right and yet a new architecture that combined all the radical notions popular in the hippy culture of the late 1960’s. Norman Eaton, a South African, was cognizant of environment and reduction of the air-conditioning loads when he designed his Netherlands Bank Building (1965) in Durban, South Africa, a five level building where the building stands on a white marble podium and forms a pavilion in the centre of the high-rise urban fabric. The external curtain wall is replaced by a brise-soliel of green ceramic hollow clay blocks forming a massive sunscreen and significantly reducing the air conditioning loads in a hot, humid climate. ‘The unbroken expanses of ceramic screening were the result of Eaton’s approach to the challenge of Durban’s heat and were not employed for aesthetic effect alone. The open and yet cool aspect of the interior and the considerably reduced load on the building’s air conditioning system testify to the screens functional success. Behind the screen and invisible from the outside a second curtain wall, this time of glass, also covers the building, so that all internal levels are well lit but at the same time well protected against the glare and heat of direct sunlight.’ (Haropp-Allin; 1975: 107) Visually, although the building is a regionalist adaptation of what was a prevailing modernist format, the building and its incorporated garden spaces provides cool relief and a refuge in a hard edged landscape.[4] Almost two decades later, the Australian John Andrews in his Eugowra Farmhouse, New South Wales, (1979) maximized the orientation of the building such that he combined the use of prevailing winds for cooling in the Australian outback together with a central fireplace for heating. A prominent rainwater tower in the centre of the roof is both a strong vertical element, creating ‘architecture’ and at the same time harvesting water which is a critical necessity in the arid environment. This element is also able to spray water onto the roof for cooling in extreme weather. This was all combined using modern materials in a vernacular idiom combined with a classical symmetry, producing a gracious neo-outback veranda house. With these examples quoted above, a strong sense of regionalism is implicit in the sustainability and the environmental generators that form the ‘natural’ brief. For a building to be modern, beautiful and environmentally sustainable, it follows that the structure should be in a regionalist ‘idiom’ using modern materials housing modern facilities, with the incorporation of some of the vernacular, as the meaning of the site and the climate is by definition a regionalist issue. It was not only in the antipodean regions that this critical discourse was occurring. From the beginning of the 1960s, a number of papers and publications supporting the architecture of the vernacular and its many manifestations, connecting this to environment, culture and landscape, spawned the radical publications such as ‘Shelter’ (1973) which explored the notions of building using traditional materials, textures and forms, and adding to this sustainable methods of drainage, rainwater capture, foundation formation and environmentally friendly methods of heating and cooling. This treatise however was aimed at people pursuing more of an alternative lifestyle, using the landscape and other culture’s building methods to house them in an ecologically sustainable fashion. More conventional publications such as the work of Fitch in 1960, and the works of Rudofsky (1965) and Rapaport (1969) explored the connections between climate, landscape and culture. They investiga ted the traditional means by which building were constructed to address all the social and climatic constraints that produce sustainable buildings that tread lightly on the landscape and do not need large amounts of extra resources such as heating, cooling, and electricity consumption. These publications were still way left of the conservative centre, and not embraced by the rapidly mechanized northern countries. Few architects in the formal sector were prepared to stick their necks out in this regard, leaving the alternative housing solutions to those that pursued alternative lifestyles. A marked example does, however, stand out- Paolo Solieri, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright conceived of his Arcosanti Project in 1970, where some 70 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona, a compact complex hoping to eventually house some 5000 people is designed in a way such that the outside arable land is maximized, the living areas are condensed providing ready access to open desert for all dwellers, an d a number of large greenhouses provide food for the inhabitants. These structures also act as solar collectors for winter heat. Solieri’s aim was to design an urban environment that would function in a manner providing the maximum social, economic and health benefits, as well as treading lightly on the landscape on which it sits minimizing the effects on the earth. His principle of ‘arcology which married the ideas of ecology and architecture is described below. In nature, as an organism evolves it increases in complexity and it also becomes a more compact or miniaturized system. Similarly a city should function as a living system. It must follow the same process of process of complexification and miniaturisation to become a more lively container for the social, cultural and spiritual evolution of humankind. The central concept around which these developments revolve is that of arcology- architecture and ecology as one integral process. Arcology is capable, at least theoretically, of demonstrating positive response to the many problems of urban civilization, population, pollution, energy and natural resource depletion, food scarcity and quality of life. Arcology is the methodology that recognizes the necessity of the radical reorganization of the sprawling urban landscape into dense, integrated, three- dimensional cities in order to support the complex activities that sustain human culture. The city is the necessary instrument for the evolut ion of humankind. Paolo Soleri (Arcosanti Workshops 2000 pamphlet) The Cosanti-Arcosanti pamphlet notes that Newsweek commented that ‘As urban architecture, Arcosanti is probably the most important urban experiment undertaken in our lifetime’ (Cosanti-Arcosanti pamphlet; 2000) However, despite this accolade by the popular, ‘thinking’ press, the project, nearly four decades later, struggles along still in the construction process, and is more of a site for those people that pursue the alternative than people living mainstream, corporate lifestyles. As a site it is a museum, a school, a point of pilgrimage. For very few people, it is a lifestyle. Bringing these combined issues of ecological, social and economic sustainability, to the forefront, making them trendy and implicit, has been the largest challenge to the production of sustainable architectures. The realisation that the construction industry and the operation of the buildings that it makes, as Hyatt quotes (himself and) Edwards (Hyett in Abley Heartfield;2001:30) ma kes it ‘responsible for 50% of ‘all energy resources consumed across the planet, making the construction industry ‘the least sustainable industry in the world’. This fact has taken a while to entrench itself in ‘first world’ industry. Issues of sustainability and appropriate technology are not new- as mentioned earlier they formed the basis of developmental jargon in the ‘Third’ World. Sustainability in architecture as a technical approach in the management of particular resources has been the subject of discussions in the last three decades, with the 1975 ‘Alternatives to Growth’ conference which expanded the definition realizing the limits of a static- state economy: this time sustainability fell within the realms of the economists and not the built environment practitioners. Then, the issue of the control of technology by the Northern Hemisphere was dealt with by Willy Brandt who, in 1980, led the Independent Commission on International Development Issues, producing a report headed ‘North- South- A Programme for Survival’. (Heartfield in Abley Heartfield; 2001:97) Here, the connections between sustainable development and appropriate technology were made, entrenching the i dea of appropriate technology in a developing country context. This was almost fatal, as Heartfield notes ‘What appropriate technology meant for the less developed world was the lowering of expectations; less capital input, less expenditure, less technology.’ (Ibid;97) Perhaps this perceived ‘lower’ level of existence is one of the reasons why the plea for incorporation of these ideas of sustainability in the northern hemisphere fell largely on deaf ears. ‘It could be said that sustainability is a fudge. It raises all the same presuppositions of the limits to growth thesis, that absolute resource limits are upon us, but avoids their implied conclusion, a moratorium on growth. What the concept of sustainability preserves of the ideology of limits is the sentiment of constraint and parsimony.’ (Ibid;97) Finally, the Bruntland Report [5] submitted in 1987 is seen by Heartfield as being credited with the ‘popularizing of the concept of sustai nable development.’ (Ibid:96). However, although this may have made the concept more digestible, it did little for popularizing its practice, for, as the Bruntland Report, quoted in Heartfield states- ‘Sustainable development requires that those who are more affluent adopt lifestyles within the planet’s ecological means’.(Ibid:97) Despite this so called acceptance, a much later technical work in a somewhat a pleading tone, by Crowther notes that ‘The ecologic responsibility is to ourselves and the global legacy of human habitation. Every choice made from concept, to design, to realization is a demand that results in ecologic and biologic consequence.’ (Crowther;1992:vii) However, the throwing of these twentieth century gauntlets such as that by Crowther has received results in latter years. Prototypical examples as that presented by Pearson in his Gaia House (Pearson;1989:40-41) may have influenced some of the challenges to be presented; the principles in his charter declare ‘Design for harmony with the planet, Design for peace for the spirit, and Design for the health of the body. The first instruction involves the use of ‘green materials’ that have as embedded qualities ‘low environmental and social costs’, which are ultimately bio-degradable and can be or are recycled. Together with this the importance of correct orientation, the use of all the elements for energy including wind, recycling grey water and collecting rain water all add to the minimized impact on the soil. Pearson also mentions the need to maximize the efficiency of the natural spaces by planting indigenous trees and flowers. (Pearson;1989:40) It was only recently, with the building explosion on the Pacific Rim, and the attacks on the World Trade Centre, that the northern hemisphere began to seriously address these issues of sustainable construction, particularly in the densely populated cities of Europe. In October 2001, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), hosted a conference that was to address the issues of creating environments that addressed issues of sustainability. This conference, ‘Sustainability at the cutting edge’, ‘was to provide an overview of the science and technology behind sources of renewable energy which would assume prominence in the next decade. This review was placed in the context of increasing concern about the impact of climate change and the fact that the built environment in countries like the UK is the worst culprit in terms of carbon dioxide emissions.’ (Smith,2003;xi) This quotation, from Smith’s technical work, emerged from this gathering. More of a handbook, it examines environmentally sensitive options for heating and cooling, and offering the option for drastically reducing emissions in urban buildings in an environment that (now) tacitly accepts the need for ecological architecture. A number of approaches which demonstrate the sensitive manipulation of all elements of the brief to create an ecologically sound, a culturally sensitive, a socially appropriate and an economically viable building have come to light, many of which employ much of Pearson’s First Principle as mentioned above.[6] The examples fulfill a variety of scales of development, and different intensities in terms of sustainability with regards to site. On the one hand, it is sadly disasters that prompt new innovative methods of shelter, in a modular though aesthetic form. Out of the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe came the Modular Transitional Growth Housing (MTGH)[7] a conceptual system that consists of a number of elegant forms which can be bunched together in a variety of forms and combinations to shelter, recycle, light and cool. Architect Philippe Barriere introduces a BioClimatic design element with high ceilings and naturally stimulated ventilation which assists in the above. However, this highly conceptual modular structure is on the knife edge of socially practical and Marxist zeal- seen as an approach that can solve a multitude of housing problems from disaster relief to inner city complexes to fishing retreats, the reality of its implementation is as conceptually choppy as Arcosanti- mass appeal is visual but not implicit. A more practical and tangible solution to a mass housing challenge is the Greenwich Millennium Village (GMV) by Ralph Erskine, (a veteran of inner city housing in his seminal Byker Wall Project at Newcastle-upon-Tyne) together with EPR Architects Limited.[8] The concept is the total regeneration of the Greenwich Peninsula, particularly the site of the former gasworks, where the Millennium Dome[9] stands. Its proximity to central London and the City mean that its viability as a dormitory suburb on bus and train routes is practical. The discourse as to how to reuse ‘brownfield’ sites is to some extent resolved here, with the ultimate provision of some 900 residences by the end of 2007 with expansions continuing till 2015. The most important feature of this project is that a newly formed community is occupying the apartments that cater for a variety of different ‘social classes’, with a series of amenities such as an ‘eco-park’ green space, as well as office and retail developments. Using a prefabricated system, the buildings are hardy, but incorporate a generous use of colour. From the perspective of the environmental sustainability point of view, the rainwater is collected, grey water is recycled, insulation is good, which minimizes overheating by artificial means in winter, and the use of recycled materials such as timber, street furniture, and concrete has been a priority (GMV Fact Sheet 5[10]). Maximum efficiency is critical to the brief and in this regard, the website offers the following information- The need for artificial lighting is minimized by the provision of large windows meaning less running costs. These windows are made from environmentally sustainable material, and are also well insulated and draught proofed. Thermally, the buildings are constructed to standards 10% higher than the national standards, which assist in the reduction of emissions. Also, the highly coloured paint is specially chosen for its non-toxic values, and is a non-polluting paint. Water saving devices are used in all sanitary fittings, and plumbed appliances. The rooms in the apartments have sliding sections that maximizes flexibility and enables multiple uses of living space[11]. Power is supplied by a combined heat and power system (CHP) where the generated heat (as opposed to the generated power) is put to use. Excess power is sold off to the national grid (GMV Fact Sheet 4[12]) The energy constraints that were used as a benchmark in the design process ranged from the amount of energy required for manufacture, to the contribution their manufacturer makes to greenhouse gas emissions. The success of this project thus far has meant that the developers were the first large developers in the United Kingdom to be awarded the ‘Excellent Eco-Homes’ rating which is an incentive submitted by the Building Research Establishment to promote the construction of eco-friendly domestic buildings. This is certainly a far cry from the establishment’s attitude a few years ago! The multi-award winning BedZED (Beddington Zero Energy Development) completed in 2002 through the Peabody Trust with Bill Dunster Architects also puts these principles into practice. The mixed-use and mixed-tenure development of BedZED is the UK’s first and largest ‘carbon-neutral eco-community’, also built on a ‘brownfields’ site[13] in Sutton, near London. The concept behind the project was to produce as much energy from renewable sources as it consumes, creating a net zero-fossil energy development, and therefore a ‘carbon-neutral development’; it thus provides no net addition of CO2 to the atmosphere[14]. Smith describes the development as ‘a prescription for a social revolution; a prototype for how we should live in the twenty-first century if we are to enjoy a sustainable future. (Smith;2003:153) The BedZED design concept is itself a model of flexibility, with a variety of different forms of accommodation as well as different types of tenure. Altogether there are 82 homes of different sizes, some for sale and others rental units aimed at social housing income levels. Amenity is also important, cementing social sustainability, with facilities such as a kindergarten, health centre, commercial use node, exhibition centre and an organic shop! Environmental sustainability is ensured through the construction of massive walls that store heat for release in cooler periods. Also, a 300mm rock-wool insulation (Smith; 2003:54) provides for extra insulation on both the walls and the roof. The windows are triple glazed. Orientation plays a large part in the energy efficiency of the buildings, with north facing elevations of office and commercial space optimizing the softer light and minimizing the need for air-conditioning, whilst the homes, which benefit from the warmer orientation, face south. Low energy lighting is used where needed to assist in the reduction of electrical output. As with GMV, the choice of materials was dependant on their low embodied energy, and were sourced from suppliers as close as possible to minimize transport energy costs. The use of timber from sustainable sources, recycled materials, grey water recycling, solar power, and roof gardens serve to embed the environmental responsibility. Power is also supplied by a CHP plant. A critical point about BedZED is the minimizations of vehicle use- residents are encouraged through education and the ‘Green Transport Plan’ to promote alternative means of transport such as walking and cycling.[15] Also, the provision of efficient public transport means that the reliance on motor cars can be reduced. A larger infrastructural solution is that of the Vastra Hamnen waterfront development at Malmo in Southern Sweden. This used to be a ‘brownfields’ site that was part of the old dockyard. A number of architects including Erskine are involved with the project. The city was participant in the forming of the brief, dictating colour, ecological rigour, provision of park space, and minimal building performance. A wind turbine provides a large source of energy. Again, the complex is socially mixed, minimizing the potential for creating class-based residential neighbourhoods and there are shops on the street level, with the intention that the owners live above them. As in the previous example, the streets are car free and a pool of electric vehicles which are powered by wind energy is available to transport residents to town. Sewage enters the main system in the city, but other waste is dispensed of internally, where residents dispose of food in one tube and then dry waste in an other. The tubes lead to common disposal sites where the dry waste is incinerated and the food is composted providing biogas which returns to the occupants through the gas main. Smith considers this project as one that has ‘achieved reconciliation between market forces and environmental priorities.’ (Smith;2003:144) The single-building environmentally-efficient challenge was taken up by Sir Norman Foster and his partner Ken Shuttleworth in the Swiss Re Headquarters building, St Mary Axe. It remodeled a conceptual idea developed by Sir Buckminster Fuller and Foster in 1971 called the ‘Climatroffice’ which ‘suggested a new rapport between nature and workspace; its garden setting created a microclimate within and energy conscious enclosure, while its walls and roof were dissolved in a continuous triangulated skin. (Walker in Heartfield Abley;2001:207) Swiss Re was completed in 2004. It is notably the first building of its kind in England to manipulate environmental conditions to minimize air-conditioning, wind loads etc. The forty floors are designed as a series of rectangular plates that spiral up the building, assisting in daylight entering the building and reducing the amount of artificial lighting (Powell;2003:219) Revival of and recirculation of stale air is facilitated by roof gardens, also known as ‘bioclimatic terraces’ which re-oxygenate the building. These roof gardens are also used as social gathering spaces, which aids in increasing the quality of the work place. Most of the ventilation is natural, and unlike many buildings of its kind, the windows can all open. The base of the building has been formed to minimize wind load on the building and to minimize the creation of wind corridors so often found at street level in cities. (Powell;2001:219) The new age commitment to the environment and the lessening of emissions is often approached with zeal- Artist Freidensreich Hundertwasser was approached by the Mayor of Vienna to remodel the Spittelau Energy Plant. At first he turned it down, opposed to the assumed ecological failings embodied in the project. However, after assurances that the remodeling of the plant would be including the provisions for drastically reducing emissions, he took on the project for free. Working together with Architect Peter Pelikan, the industrial faà §ade was remodeled into a whimsical parody, where ‘The power plant†¦.. shows how to foreground the open creative spirit in harmony with nature and the anonymous city’ (Asensio;2003:31). Although this is not necessarily as direct an example as some of the new constructions mentioned above, I suggest that it is valid, given that the pressure to reuse buildings is a large part of architectural discourse, and is itself a tactic of sustaina bility and environmental recycling, the ‘greening’ of them in terms of minimizing emissions, changing technologies, and in this case mitigating the massive industrial-ness of the power station, makes it more socially environmentally friendly for the residents of Vienna. In the introduction to New Architecture in Britain, Powell states: ‘the future of architecture, in Britain and elsewhere is linked to such vital issues- the fate of our cities, the housing crisis and the protection of the earth’s fragile environment- that discussion of style seems almost irrelevant.’ (Powell;2003:20) This statement, in a glossy publication of contemporary architecture is a far cry from the plea made by Crowther less than a decade ago[16]. Whilst I agree with Powell that the language of architecture is changing, as it always does, the discussion of style is not irrelevant- low budget beauty and elegance is provided by the (highly theoretical) MGTH project, a mix of economic and social strata is contained in the Greenwich Millennium Village, a bold development more agreeable with the Vitruvian ‘Commodity and Firmness’, the BedZED and Vastra Hamnen developments that limit motor vehicles and provide the use of electric cars. Ironically, i t is perhaps the Swiss Re building, as Powell suggested in his 2001 volume ‘(that) reinforces the point that office towers can be distinctive, even beautiful, objects that complement, rather than deface, the skyline.’ (Powell;2001:219) which has managed to push the issue of sustainability and its connection with the very possibility of aesthetic beauty in the Vitruvian model into the forefront of populist architecture. However, we must not forget, in the clamour of the new, those early visionaries that promoted the values of engaging with the environment and treading with sensitivity. The investigations into the connection between culture, landscape, environment and architecture that informed the basis of the approach to the buildings built today, were seminal works of their time, situated in an alternative environment that was far too left of the modernist mainstream to find favour. But we can also feel thankful that finally, the discourse of environmentally friendly architecture has emerged in the mainstream- let us hope that it is not too late. References: Abley, I Heartfield, J (2001) Sustaining architecture in the anti-machine age Chichester, Wiley-Academy Andrews, J (1982) Architecture : a Performing art Lutterworth Press Asensio, P(2003) Freidensreich Hundertwasser Barcelona, LOFT Publications Cosanti Foundation(2000) Arcosanti Workshops 2000 (pamphlet) Phoenix, Cosanti Cosanti Foundation(2000) Cosanti-Arcosanti (pamphlet) Phoenix, Cosanti Crowther, R(1992) Ecologic architecture Massachusetts, Butterworth-Heinemann Curl, J (1999)Oxford Dictionary of Architecture Oxford, Oxford University Press Fitch, J(1960) Primitive Architecture and climate from Scientific American, December p134-144 Harrop-Allin, C(1975)Norman Eaton, Architect- a study of the work of the South African Architect Norman Eaton 1902-1966 Johannesburg, C Struik Publishers Marschall S (2000) Opportunities for Relevance Kearney, BPretoria, University of South African Press Pearson, D(1990) The Natural House book London, Conran Octopus Powell, K(2003) New architecture in Britain London, Merrel Powell, K(2001) New London architecture London, Merrel Rapaport, A(1969) House form and culture Prentice Hall Rudofsky, B (1965) Architecture without architects: a short introduction to non-pedigreed architecture New York, Museum of Modern Art Shelter Publications(1973) Shelter United States, Shelter Publications Smith, P (2003) Sustainability at the cutting edge : emerging technologies for low energy buildings Oxford, Architectural Press Vale, B(1991) Green architecture design for a sustainable future London, Thames and Hudson Websites: http://www.greenwich-village.co.uk/index_main.htm (17.06.07) http://www.arcosanti.org/ (17.06.07) http://www.peabody.org.uk/pages/GetPage.aspx?id=179 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/0 6/15/prefab-friday-modular-transitional-growth/#more-4683 (17.06.07) 1 Footnotes [1] Sustainability as an idea was a large component of ‘development speak’ in the context of poverty and limited resources. This embraced notions of community participation as well as optimizing resources. [2] The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture notes that ‘ecological architecture- Aims to respond to declining energy resources, eg using energy conservation, efficient insulation, rainwater, solar radiation, and wind power, and recycling as much as possible. The term was coined in the 1970’s’ (Curl;1999;220). Similarly, ‘green architecture- Buildings designed according to energy-saving criteria and the reduction of pollution.’ (Ibid;288). [3] From the third chapter of Vitruvius De Architectura comes the definition of beauty in architecture as firmitas, utilitas, venustas or Commodity, Firmness and Delight. The practicality of the building, as well as its robustness is as important as its beauty. [4] The necessity to incorporate en

Respect for All Natural Living Beings: An argument to Acknowledge All

Respect for All Natural Living Beings: An argument to Acknowledge All animal Rights in Society Throughout history, societies have been faced with many social issues affecting their citizens. Martin Luther King Jr, a civil rights leader for African Americans, was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement, a movement that fought to undo the injustices African Americans endure by American society in the 1960s. Martin expressed his disgust with the social inequality among citizens when saying â€Å"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere† (PETA). Taking the prominent leader’s words into consideration, we should progress as a society by participating in the animal rights movement that strives to extend the same compassion, felt by Martin Luther King Jr, to all living things (PETA). Popular criticisms report that animals are inferior to humans because they are a source of food, but I will argue that they are victims of social injustice. Validity for my animal rights argument will come from individual and organizational expert accounts and by Bioethicist Pe ter Singer, Author Francis Fukuyama, New York Time’s Mark Bittman and also Animal Rights organizations, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and Animal Equality, to help prove my argument. Animals are silent victims who are loudly crying out for someone to stand up for their rights; rights that can no longer be disregarded by being overlooked. It is my belief that animals should be respected, and afforded ethical and human treatment by society instead of being looked at as a source of food. In a society where animals have no voice, it is everyone’s civic duty to participate in the animal rights movement and acknowledge animals as living beings, which... ...g: Contemporary Readings for Writers. By Barclay Barrios. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. Print. "Natural Selection." BioWeb. Web. 06 Apr. 2012. . Peta. "Civil Rights Leaders' Words Still Ring True." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. . Peta. "Why Animal Rights?" People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. . Singer, Peter. Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement. New York: Harper Perennial, 2009. Print. Wyckoff, Jason, and M.A Bertz. "The Animal Rights Debate: Abolition or Regulation? - By Gary L. Francione & Robert Garner." Journal of Applied Philosophy 28.4 (2011): 414-16. Print.

Non Medical Factors Influencing Csection Health And Social Care Essay

Cesarean delivery is the bringing of a babe through a surgical scratch in the female parents abdomen wall laparotomy and uterus wall hysterectomy. In some fortunes, a C-section is scheduled in progress. In others it ‘s done in response to an unanticipated complication. Initially, cesarian bringing was performed to salvage the foetus from a moribund patient. But over and over old ages, this operation later was developed into a surgical process to salvage both maternal and foetal from high complications.2.2 Concept of C-sectionThe C-section rate is increasing over a period of clip in developed states, every bit good as in developing states. It is besides increasing for all adult females of all ages, race/ethnic group, gestational age, SES group. For case in China the cesarian rate rose dramatically from 3.4 % in 1988 to 39.3 % in 2008 with the most dramatic addition among urban adult females ( Xu, Yan, & A ; Carine, 2012, p. 3/12 ) . In USA, this rate climbed from 5 % in 1960 to 31.8 % in 2007 ( Campbell, 2011 ) . In Mali, the rate addition from 1.6 % in 2005 to 2.9 in 2009. Furthermore in developed state the proportion of cesarian birth is 21.1 % on mean whereas in developing states is merely 2 % ( Betran et al, 2007 ) . This rate is rather under the international norm fixed ( 5 % – 15 % ) by WHO since 1985.2.3 Types of Cesarean deliveryCesarean delivery is made based on two types of scratch on the womb: low transversal scratch and perpendicular uterine scratch. However the way of scratch on the womb does non needfully fit with the scratch on the tegument ( up, down or side to side ) . The low transverse scratch is a horizontal cut across the lower portion of the womb. It is the one which is safer and more successful to travel through labour for holding a vaginal bringing in ulterior gestations. The perpendicular scratch on the womb is used for presenting preterm babes, abnormally positioned placentas, gestations with more than one foetus and in utmost exigencies.2.4 Medical factors ( indicant of caesarean delivery )Cesarean indicant can be classified into 3 groups: Maternal ; foetal or maternal-fetal. Tableau 2. Medical indicant for cesarian determinationMaternalFetalMaternal-fetalMedical status: specific cardiac disease ( Maran ‘s Syndrome, unstable coronary arteria disease ) ; specific respiratory disease ( GuillanBarre syndrome ) ; thrombopenia Conditionss associated with increased intracranial force per unit area Mechanical obstructor of the lower uterine section ( tumours, fibroids ) Mechanical vulvar obstructor ( condylomata ) Contracted pelvic girdle ( either congenital or acquired ) No reassuring fetal position Malpresentation: rear of barrel, cross prevarication, forehead or face/mentumposterior Cord prolapsed Maternal herpes or HIV Congenital anomalies/Vasa previa Failure to come on in labour: either collar to descent or collar to distend Cephalopelvic disproportion Placental breaking off Placenta previa/ placenta breaking off Conjoint twin Uterine rupture Elective caesarean delivery bringing The most common indicant for cesarian bringing in America is repeated cesarian ( 30 % ) , followed by dystocia or failure to advancement ( 30 % ) , malpresentation ( 11 % ) and non-reassuring fetal position ( 10 % ) ( Murphy, Sarah K. , et Jeffrey D. , 2012, p. 2 ) . In England, the most common indicant is besides repeated caesarean delivery ( 29 % ) followed by presumed foetal hurt ( 22 % ) , failure to advancement ( 20 % ) and breech birth ( 16 % ) ( caesaran subdivisions, October 2002, p. 2 ) . In Mali, the most common indicant is prolonged/obstructed labour or suspected cephalopelvic disproportion 40.4 % , followed by old cesarian subdivision 16.6 % , foetal hurt ( 16.1 % ) ( Valerie Brand et Al, 2012 ) . Based on the timing of C-section ( CS ) at the clip of determination devising, the cesarian indicants are grouped under one of those four classs. Tableau 2. Different classs of Cesarean deliveryCategory 1:Emergency CSCategory 2:Urgent CSCategory 3:Scheduled CesiumCategory 4:Elective CS– There is an immediate menace to the female parent or the foetus. Therefore the CS should be done within the following 30 min in order to salvage on clip both female parent and babe Breaking off, cord prolapsed, cicatrix rupture, scalp blood PH & lt ; 7.20, foetal hurt: drawn-out FHR slowing & lt ; 80 There is maternal or foetal complication but was non instantly life endangering. In that instance the bringing should be completed within 60-75 min Case with FHR abnormalcies are those of concern The female parent needs early bringing but there is no maternal or foetal via media. A concern of the continuance of gestation is likely to impact the female parent or foetus in the approaching hours or yearss. Iatrogenic preterm bringing where there is need to give a class of steroid for lung adulthood The bringing is timed to accommodate the female parent and staff. There are instances where there is an indicant for CS but there is no urgency. Placenta previa with no active hemorrhage, malpresentation, history of old cesareanaˆÂ ¦2.5 Non medical factors act uponing Cesarean delivery rateBeside medical factors, non-medical grounds can hold an impact on the likeliness of holding a Cesarean delivery every bit good. Among those factors, maternal features such as age, instruction, business, birth order, fiscal position ( salary/affordability to pay medical fees and wellness insurance ) , abode, figure of prenatal visits, wellness position can greatly act upon the Cesarean delivery rate. Some demographic factors, particularly the alteration in the features of the childbearing population can impact cesarian bringing. Ethical and economic grounds may besides hold some influence on the rate of surgical bringing.2.5.1 Maternal ageSeveral surveies show that old adult females ( over 35 ages ) are more likely to hold a high hazard of gestation complication and cesarian bringing. Other surveies found the same consequence in lower h azard adult females population. A important association was besides found between the hazard of holding C-section and advanced maternal age at the first gestation ( Herstad & A ; al, 2012 ) . In add-on, increasing age and para are reported to be associated with a high hazard of inauspicious gestation results and C-section rate. Dystocia, non-reassuring foetal status, preeclampsia, placenta previa, abruptio-placenta, malpresentation, prolonged labour and macrosomia were significantly higher in older female parents with high para. Another high association was found among advanced maternal age of adult females with old Cesarean delivery and increasing Cesarean delivery rate ( Hiasat, 2002 ) .2.5.2 Education of the female parentThe function of instruction degree dramas in the C-section rate is controversial. ( Gilbert, Alice, & A ; Haim A. , 2010 ) found in a survey that planned C-section was carried out more frequently among educated adult females than uneducated 1s. High instruction d egree influences besides positively the C-section rate of adult females with old C-section ( Khawaja, Tamar, & A ; Rozzet, 2000 ) .This important rate of C-section rate among the more educated adult females are chiefly due to either maternal pick for C-section ( posh to force factor ) or physicians behavior factors or the hold of maternity until older age for educated adult females. On the other manus, when all those factors are taken into consideration, some surveies show that the cesarean delivery rate is likely to be less among higher educated adult females because educated adult females are more cognizant about gestation complications and hazards. Therefore they are more preventative and care better about their wellness during the gestation. For case among adult females in the same age, the less educated 1s are really more likely to acquire a C-section ( Harrison, 2012 ) . Furthermore the instruction of the male parent does n't hold excessively much consequence as the female par ent instruction on the C-section rate.2.5.3 Occupation of the parentsOccupation of the female parent is greatly associated with the cesarian bringing. A Nigerian survey found that adult females with no business are more likely to hold a vaginal bringing than those with a high business ( Olusanya & A ; Olumuyiwa, 2009 ) . This might due to some grounds such as maternal pick to present by C-section, detaining maternity ( due to the deficiency of clip because of her work ) at an advanced age or unjust entree to maternal wellness attention. A survey in Puerto Rico found that a direct association with the male parent ‘s business and the rate of surgical bringing. Fathers with no business are associated with a lower rate of C-section rate ( Jose & A ; Vazquez-Calzada, 1997 ) . It is likely due to the same socio-economic grounds I will cite in this caption.2.5.4 Birth orderWhereas a elevation of C-section rate for the maternal age is evident for about all the live-birth order, live-birth order affects the rate of cesarian bringing independently of the maternal age. The hazard of cesarian bringing is greater among female parents holding their first kid no affairs the age, except for teenage female parents. Then this hazard falls down quickly with wining births. For case, a USA survey ( Taffel, 1994 ) found the cesarian rate declined as live-birth order rose to an agegreater or equal to 20 old ages old female parents for both black and white adult females. In add-on the highest cesarian rate for any age-birth order com bination were found among adult females between 35-39 old ages of age holding their first birth, followed by adult females 40-49 old ages. The lowest rate was for 20 twelvemonth old adult females holding a 4th or higher order birth and for adolescents holding their 2nd or 3rd kid. Marwan Khawaja et Al found the same consequence: a higher likeliness of C-section bringing among low order birth compared to high one is expected since the bringing complications are more common among primiparious adult females taking to a higher rate of C-section.2.5.5 Fiscal state of affairsIncome and SES group The cesarian rate is of import among people with a better fiscal state of affairs even thoughthelow income group has a higher obstetrical hazard. One Brazilian survey ( Hopkins & A ; Ernesto, 1998 ) found a higher Cesarean delivery rate among the high income group than the low one. Cesarean bringing is more common among people with high SES. This might due to the fact that low SES faces frequently to fiscal and geographic barriers to wellness attention entree. Ability and affordability to pay Several surveies found that Women or family with less fiscal ability and affordability to pay for wellness attention will hold high hazard gestation and higher Cesarean delivery rate ( Hopkins et Al, 1998 ) . Health insurance Cesarean rate is more common for insured adult females than uninsured ones.A survey in Brazil ( Cecatti, Helaine N, Anibal, & A ; Maria Jose , 2005. ) showed that the C-section rate varies tremendously harmonizing to the type of insurance. And he lowest rate is with insurance companies which contract with public installations. Another survey ( KASSAK, A. MOHAMMAD, & A ; ABDALLAH, 2000 ) found that cosmopolitan coverage by national wellness insurance had a greatest impact on the likeliness to increase C-section rate.2.5.6 Rural / Urban countriesMany articles highlight the importance of abode topographic point on the C-section rate.Mothers populating in urban countries have a higher chance to present by C-section, This might due to either a better entree to wellness attention in urban countries or the deficiency of appropriate equipments and skilled staff in rural countries. However it might besides reflect the overused of cesarian bringing in urban countries ( Yassin & A ; Ghanim A, 2 012 ) .2.5.7 Number of prenatal visitsThe antenatal attention is another cardinal factor act uponing the Cesarean delivery rate. The greater is its figure ( six or over ) , the higher is the likeliness to acquire C-section. This is due to the fact that higher gestation hazard is more likely to hold more prenatal visits. On the other manus, some surveies found a strong association between medical cognition of female parent and figure of prenatal visits ( Habib, Maysaloun, & A ; Selwa, 2011 ) .2.5.8 Health positionFleshiness An addition in C-section rate appears in analogue with increasing fleshiness rate due to the lifting likeliness of gestation complication ( diabetes and high blood pressure ) . Further, both maternal and fetus weight influence the caesarean delivery rate ( Hendrickson, 2012 ) . Pregnancy and bringing complication Pregnancy complication, when it is non treated earnestly can take to serious issues. So it is an of import factor impacting C-section determination. Some surveies show a important likeliness of acquiring cesarian birth for complicated gestations seeking wellness attention ( Choudhury ) . Chronic high blood pressure and uterine hemorrhage in Jose and all surveies were reported as the most common gestation medical hazard associated with surgical bringing. Others are diabetes and anaemia. However bringing complications taking to C-section are more considered as medical factors. They are more of import than gestation complication because they affect straight the normal bringing and increases extremely the Cesarean delivery likeliness. And the opportunity of holding a caesarean delivery is even more for those adult females with two or more bringing complication. Low/ high hazard factor Cesarean delivery rate is lower among adult females with unsophisticated gestations than complicated 1s. In add-on a healthy adult female is less likely to hold gestation complication and Cesarean delivery than the opposite ( Best patterns in the usage of cesaean subdivision in Nova Scotia, 2008 ) .2.5.9 Summary of non medical factorsOn the following page, there is a sum-up of all non medical factors with the mentions and the expected mark.WritersDatasYearMethodologyExpected markMaternal age Herstad et Al. Descriptive Longiditunal 2012 Log binomial reg Descriptive stat a†°? 35: + Mother Education Gilbert et Al Harrison et Al Retrosp cohort–2010 2012 Logit arrested development Statical theoretical account More: + Less: + Mother Occupation Olusanya et Al Jose et Al Cross sectional Retrospective 2009 1997 Logit arrested development Logit arrested development None: + Father: few Birth Order Taffel et Al Marwan et Al Cross sectional Cross sectional 1994 2003 Descriptive stat Logit arrested development BO iˆ? : – Idem Income and SES ability to pay Hopkins et Al Cross sectioal 1998 Logit arrested development High Selenium: + Health insurance Cecatti et Al Retrospective Case control 2005 Logit arrested development Insured: + Rural / Urban country Yassin et Al–2012–Urban: + Ant visit Habib et Al Cross sectional 2011 Descriptive statistic Nberiˆ? : + Health position Choudhury––Hazard iˆ? : + Tableau 2.3 Expected mark of non medical factors2.6 Human behaviour factors increasing Cesarean deliveryMedical human behaviour factorsSome medical accounts can explicate the rise of cesarian rate. First of wholly, there are big fluctuations among clinicians, infirmaries in the direction of the adult female labour which influence the caesarean delivery rate. Second, even though the proportion of aided rear of barrel babes bringing does non increase, some clinicians prefer to avoidthe hazard due to the complication of normal bringing and pattern an elected caesarean delivery for rear of barrel babes because they think it is safer. In add-on, the increasing usage of in vitro fertilisation ( IVF ) has led to the lifting in the figure of multiple births and those babes are frequently delivered by CS. Finally, the development of new surgical technics, engineerings and medical attention has made C-section an progressively safe operation.Non-medical human behaviour factors2.6.2.1 Cultural a nd Organizational factorsIn some instances, the C-section determination is really needed to salvage the female parent and/or the babe. However this determination, in another state of affairs is circumstantially a balanced judgement taken between clinical squads and the female parent. So, the environment within the infirmary unit and his staff is managed has greatly an impact on C-section determination, taking to a wide fluctuation in the rate between infirmaries. Further, some surveies found that learning infirmaries tend to hold lower caesarean delivery rate than non learning wellness installations and private clinics ( K.M Kassak et al. , 2000 ) . On the other side, some ethical issues such as physicians ‘ duty non to do injury to patients and to obtain their consent prior any intervention, alternatively of merely to protect a patient ‘s public assistance can act upon the doctor pick.2.6.2.2 Maternal pickSome female parents, chiefly the educated and celebrated 1s prefe r to give birth by C-section because they are scared of enduring for the vaginal birth. So this rise of C-section rate can be attributed to adult females ‘s lifestyle pick. Because of this ground, C-sectionrate in private infirmaries is frequently higher than public infirmaries. Further, harmonizing to some surveies about â€Å" cesarian civilization of Brazil † , other grounds are found ( Giguere, 2007 ) : Due to modern and advanced, technological intercessions, adult females perceived C-section as safer and more comfy labour with better quality of wellness attention They want to avoid the hazard of perineal harm due to normal bringing that can impact adult females sexual map after childbearing. On the other side, the prevalence of maternal penchant vary widely harmonizing to the state context. A survey in Hong Kong ( Selina & A ; al, 2007 ) found a low prevalence of 16.7 % for the maternal pick and the chief ground was their sensed it safer for the baby.In another survey, Iran the rate was 22 % ( Alimohanmadian, Manak, Mahmoodi, & A ; Faterneh, 2007 ) .2.6.2.3 Profile of physicians preferring Cesarean deliveryIn general The increasing cesarian rate can besides be attributed to an undue doctor ‘s pick due to his fright to bear the hazard or fiscal inducement ( want to do more money ) . It can besides be due the patients demand. Furthermore, there are worldwide assorted clinicians sentiments about the petition of elected or exigency caesarean delivery. ( Mufti, MC Carthy A, & A ; Fisk N. M, 24 1996, p. 544 ) in a study, found out that 17 % of Obstetricians in London ( 31 % of female and 8 % of male ) prefer ekective caesarean delivery. Their pick wer chiefly based on the turning away of perineal harm from vaginal birth and the Rhode Island of hurt to the babe. Then 68 % choose cesarian bringing for cepalic presentation with an estimated weight greater than 4.5 Kg. Another similar survey ( Wagner, 2000, p. 1677 ) in USA, showed that 46,6 % accoucheurs prefer the Cesarean delivery with more males ( 56.5 % ) than females ( 32.6 % ) . And so 70 % delivered by C-sectio with an estimated weight greater than 4.6 Kg. However in ( McGurgan, Coulter-Smith, S. , & A ; O'Donovan, P.J. , 2001 ) survey, there are more females than males who chose eletcive caesarean delivery. Sing the matrimonial position, married clinicia ns do less exigency caesarean delivery than the non married 1s ( Turner, Young, Solomon, Ludlow, Benness, & A ; Phipps, 2008 ) . In add-on, clnicians request ( 21 % ) more cesrean bringing than accoucheuses ( 10 % ) and coloreectal sawboness urogynecologists are more lkely to bespeak C-section. Mali instance In Mali, the wellness forces in public installations are under salary based payment. The salary rate are based on the degree of preparation and the figure of old ages in service ( MCI, Octobre 2010 ) . Therefore doctors have no inducement to increase the C-section rate. In add-on when patients arrive at maternal wellness installations, they foremost contact are made with the accoucheuses and the medical pupils on responsibility. And so when it is a omplicated or particular instance which need the physician advice, they call him. Therefore the female parent petition for cesarea bringing to physicians are non observed in those public installations. The cesarian determination is merely taken by doctors based on medical grounds.

CIS Review Questions

Describe the functional organizational structure. Why do you think this structure Is so widely used? The organizational structure Is composed of different departments that help operate the business, such as, purchasing, operations, warehouse, sales and marketing, accounting, research and development, finance and accounting, human resource, and information technology. I look at Direct Relief International when they need supplies they use the SAP website to track everything they need. Most of their material is available for anyone to see what they need, where it's going to, and the amount of supplies on hand.Most retail companies use the same process when ordering, or for payroll, they might have a different name for it. To me working in the retail business I think it helps the company out by seeing what the customers are wanting, they can tell if a particular item is not selling base off the cost and other factors. For example Skullcap's CEO (Rick Alden) said he doesn't need an IT dep artment and for their Accounting they utilize what SAP has put In place. 2. What Is the silo effect? Why does It exist? What problems does It create?How can an organization reduce or eliminate the silo effect? The silo effect is when one person completes a specific part of their work and sends it off to someone else who does their particular part. I think the silo effect exists because it coordinates functions and Job duties in deferent functional areas. Most companies using the silo effect tend to lose lots of money and can affect customers If the communication process In not there. For example the Classically company takes employees out to clear their mind and create Ideas.Most companies have people who are stuck In their ways and believe the world Is never changing. I would love to e companies use the functional organizational structure such as every each department has to know what is going on from the lower level to the higher level of staff. Everyone in the department should b e on the same task so that if someone in your department passes alone his or her work to you, if any mistakes are made someone can catch it and send it back to that person, or have the option to correct the error. . What is a business process? Why is adopting a process view of organizations essential to becoming a successful manager? A business process consists of different level of tasks that have to be completed In order for you to receive an outcome, which could be your order. I figured each functional area going through a unique process in order for that order to get the best pharmacist order supplies from Direct Relief International it's a business process that each item goes through in order to have the best outcome.Step one might be the doctor ordering the material, the second step is locating the material in the warehouse, the third level is placing the items where it's going, and the final would be the shipping status of the products. Briefly describe the key business proce sses included in this chapter in terms of . Their key steps. The key process are processes that have an impact on the success of an organization, processes deliver results that are directed towards measurable business goals, and making sure that the organization remains competitive like Global Bike Inc.The procurement process is where the items are being planned you can order your products online or by calling and then making sure that the accounting or finance department has no issues. The production process is simply like the companies stated earlier sometimes they make the products or go and locate the product in the arouses where the items are located to be shipped. The final process is making sure that the customer has a tracking number and making sure that the order has been fulfilled.The lifestyle data management process is when Global Bike Inc. Creates a particular design for a customer and hopefully discontinues it unless someone else has the same idea. The material plannin g process is when statistic data plays a role in the organization finding out what people are looking for an interested in. The inventory process is where the material is stored and ready for shipping. Explain the interrelationships among the key processes included in this 5. Chapter. Why are these interrelationships important?The procurement when Direct Relief International has orders being placed they will go to they will scan and locate the product location. Next they will get a purchase order to accounting so that accounting will send invoices once payment is received. The next step is to the production stage goes to the warehouse and back to the production. Finally, the order is in the fulfillment stage where sales create the order and the warehouse ships the order, and then accounting receives payment from the customer.

Free Essays on Chaucers Canterbury Tales

and an Anglo-Saxon grit in their middles. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales was banned for decades from the U.S. mails under the Comstock Law of 1873. Officially known as the Federal Anti-Obscenity Act, this law banned the mailing of "lewd", "indecent", "filthy", or "obscene" materials. The Comstock Law, passed in the United States in 1873, was part of a campaign for legislating public morality in the United States. As its full title above implies, ... Free Essays on Chaucer's Canterbury Tales Free Essays on Chaucer's Canterbury Tales The book that I choose to do that was banned was Chaucer’s, Canterbury Tales. Chaucer’s, the Canterbury Tales (written in the late 1380s), is a collection of stories of various kinds derived mainly from Italian and other European sources drawn together by the notion of a pilgrimage. In the Middle Ages it was not uncommon for people of different social classes to join together as pilgrims as they would not elsewhere in life. So we hear firstly the narrator’s description of most of the group in a satirical and often extremely amusing manner, in the General Prologue. Secondly we hear pilgrims tell stories to each other in an appropriate style for their characters after they have offered their own unique prologues (the Wife of Bath’s is particularly interesting and shows an almost proto-feminist attitude). Usually the tales are popular or well known stories to which Chaucer adds or removes details to suit his purpose. There is a great mixture of serious and co mical, sacred and profane here though it should be noted that the writer added a retraction at the end of his (in fact incomplete) Tales to reduce the chance of vengeance from God. This seems wise after the images of hot pokers going where hot pokers should certainly not go and other lewdness in "The Miller’s Tale" and elsewhere. The language is very different to our own in the sense that it has more French roots that English has now lost so it is advisable to think of the lines as being spoken with a French accent at the end of words and an Anglo-Saxon grit in their middles. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales was banned for decades from the U.S. mails under the Comstock Law of 1873. Officially known as the Federal Anti-Obscenity Act, this law banned the mailing of "lewd", "indecent", "filthy", or "obscene" materials. The Comstock Law, passed in the United States in 1873, was part of a campaign for legislating public morality in the United States. As its full title above implies, ...

Reading Disability

Reading Disability A reading disability is a type of learning disability caused by neurological factors that affect the ability of a child to read normally (Safford, 2006). Reading disabilities impair the ability of a person to read according to the expected level.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Reading Disability specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A reading disability is also referred to as dyslexia and can affect any child including those with normal levels of intelligence. Children with reading disabilities are faced with a lot of challenges when it comes to learning (Safford, 2006). Children with reading disabilities have persistent difficulties when it comes to using their decoding strategies and therefore completely rely on their whole memory for reading. This affects their fluency in reading and consequently their understanding of text becomes very difficult. Children with reading disabilities read slowly due to their difficultie s with spelling and phonological processing. The visual and verbal response of children with reading disability is also very poor and in the process affects their manipulation of sounds (Hatcher, 1999). The reading accuracy and comprehension of children is normally impaired by the reading disability and therefore affecting their academic life. Students with reading disabilities should be given extra time to complete assignments and examinations. Reading disabilities can be partially inherited or can be caused by physical damage to the brain (Hatcher, 1999). According to research findings, reading disabilities can be caused by gene mutations that lead to writing and reading deficits. Children with visual problems tend to experience reading disorders in many occasions compared to those without visual problems (Hatcher, 1999). The nervous system of a person is very important in coordinating the brain and visual processes.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In case any of the brain and visual processes is interfered with, children are bound to have difficulties with their reading abilities. Children with language deficits may also experience difficulties when reading (Konza, 2006). Neurological difficulties and the impairment of sensory nerves are among the physiological factors that cause reading impairments (Konza, 2006). The reading success of parents is a fundamental hereditary factor that can cause reading disabilities. The intellectual environment created by parents plays a significant role in determining whether their children experience reading disabilities or not (Konza, 2006). Phonological processing and word recognition are in most cases influenced by genetics. Racial identification and other socioeconomic factors can influence the reading abilities of a child. The learning strategies used by learning institutions can also affect the ability of chi ldren to read and comprehend information (Torgesen, 2002). Regular practice is needed for students to sharpen and perfect their reading skills. Children with reading disabilities have certain characteristics that distinguish them from normal children (Torgesen, 2002). Identification of single words is the first difficulty that children with reading difficulties experience. Children with reading disabilities also find it difficult to understand rhymes and other sounds in words. This group of students also experience difficulties with spelling and comprehension of reading materials (Torgesen, 2002). Children with reading disabilities are always unable to read at a faster rate whether silently or orally. Children with reading disabilities may omit or substitute words when reading. The spoken language of children with reading disabilities is normally delayed and their written expression is also very poor. Reading disabilities makes children to be mixed up when it comes to directions and opposites. Decoding syllables is among the major challenges of children with reading disabilities (Konza, 2006).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Reading Disability specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reversal of words is a common characteristic of children with reading disabilities. Associating syllables with specific sounds is another problem for children with reading disabilities. The functioning of brain hemispheres affects the reading speed of children. It is important to evaluate the reading abilities of children on a regular basis in order to diagnose any kind of reading disabilities as early as possible (Malmquist, 1958). It is important to consider the fact that reading disabilities are not related to low intelligence. The languages spoken at school and the child’s home are among the things considered when evaluating a child’s reading abilities. Cultural factors and educational opportunities also influence the reading abilities of children. It is possible for a child to compensate for a reading disorder through early intervention (Malmquist, 1958). The severity of a reading disability and the kind of help they receive determine whether the case can be improved or not. The self-esteem of children with reading disabilities is normally very low and the situation can become worse if teachers and the immediate family do not offer their support towards improving the child’s condition. It is possible to overcome a reading disorder if the condition is detected before the child reaches grade three (Konza, 2006). Children with reading disabilities may lack interest in learning activities which leads to poor academic performance. One of the best interventions for children with reading disabilities is to improve their word recognition skills (Konza, 2006). It is important for students with reading disabilities to learn how to recognize real words as the first step towards improv ing their reading abilities (Hatcher, 1999). Teachers should help this group of students to improve their word recognition skills to supplement their sound recognition skills. Phonemic awareness, word attack skills, phonics and decoding are some of the areas that this type of intervention aims at improving (Hatcher, 1999). Teachers and other professionals use direct instructions as the best method of teaching children with reading disabilities word recognition skills.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Direct instructions involve repetition practices that ensure that the children completely perfect their word recognition skills. Regular practice is the key to improving word recognition skills for children with reading disabilities (Safford, 2006). The instructional components of improving word recognition skills include sequencing, segmentation and advanced organizers. The sequencing component involves breaking down reading tasks. This helps in matching students with the level of their reading disability. The teachers arrange for short sessions where students are able to read, review and underline new words in a passage. The second instructional component under this intervention is segmentation where the various skills being taught to students are broken down into segments for quick understanding of the reading tasks. Advanced organizers enable students to get familiar with the learning instructions in advance before the actual lessons (Safford, 2006). It is essential to improve t he comprehension skills of students as they learn how to recognize words. The reading program of children with reading disabilities should be constantly evaluated to ensure the programs deliver the expected results. Children with reading disabilities encounter a lot of challenges and should therefore be given some special attention when it comes to school assignments and examinations (Safford, 2006). It is important to accommodate this group of students for them to feel loved and appreciated. Students with reading disabilities can not compete at the same level with normal students. Their reading speed is slow and this should be compensated by allowing them some extra time to complete their assignments and examinations (Konza, 2006). The level of reading disability should be used to determine the amount of extra time that children with reading disabilities should be added. It would be very unfair and inhuman to expect children with reading disabilities to compete at the same level wi th normal children. According to research findings, children with visual problems have high chances of encountering problems in their reading. The extra time enables children with reading disabilities to understand questions at their speed and be able to answerer them according to their level (Konza, 2006). Children with reading disabilities end up not completing their assignments and examinations in a case where they are not given some extra time. Their reading and writing speed is very slow and therefore can not allow them to finish their assignments and examinations within the normal time (Konza, 2006). In conclusion, reading disabilities are a reality and parents in collaboration with teachers should look for ways of ensuring that children with this kind of disability are given enough support (Torgesen, 2002). Genetic and physiological factors are among the major causes of reading disabilities among children. It is important for parents and teachers to detect any kind of reading disabilities as early as possible so that proper measures can be taken to prevent the situation from getting worse. Helping students with reading disabilities to perfect their word recognition skills is among the basic interventions for children with reading disabilities (Torgesen, 2002). Children with reading disabilities should be given extra time in order to complete assignments and examinations because they can not compete at the same level with normal children (Hatcher, 1999). Accommodating children with reading disabilities helps in improving their self-esteem and academic performance. References Hatcher, P. (1999). Phonemes, rhymes, and intelligence as predictors of children’s responsiveness to remedial reading instruction: Evidence from a longitudinal intervention study. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 72(2), 130-153. Konza, D. (2006). Teaching students with reading difficulties. New York, NY: Cengage Learning Australia. Malmquist, E. (1958). Factors relate d to reading disabilities in the first grade of elementary school. New York, NY: Almqvsit Wiksell. Safford, P. (2006). Children with disabilities in America: A historical handbook and guide. New York, NY: Greenwood Publishing Group. Torgesen, J. (2002). The prevention of reading difficulties. Journal of School Psychology, 40(1), 7-26.

When and How People Learned to Make Cloth

When and How People Learned to Make Cloth Textiles, to archaeologists anyway, can mean woven cloth, bags, nets, basketry, string-making, cord impressions in pots, sandals, or other objects created out of organic fibers. This technology is at least 30,000 years old, although preservation of the textiles themselves is rare in prehistory, so it may be quite a bit older still. Because textiles are perishable, often the oldest evidence of the use of textiles is implied from impressions left in burned clay or the presence of weaving-related tools such as awls, loom weights, or spindle whorls. Preservation of intact fragments of cloth or other textiles has known to occur when archaeological sites are in extreme conditions of cold, wet or dry; when fibers come into contact with metals such as copper; or when textiles are preserved by accidental charring. Discovery of Early Textiles The oldest example of textiles yet identified by archaeologists is at the Dzudzuana Cave in the former Soviet state of Georgia. There, a handful of flax fibers was discovered that had been twisted, cut and even dyed a range of colors. The fibers were radiocarbon-dated to between 30,000-36,000 years ago. Much of the early use of cloth began with making string. The earliest string-making to date was identified at the Ohalo II site in modern Israel, where three fragments of twisted and plied plant fibers were discovered and dated to 19,000 years ago. The Jomon culture in Japan - believed to be among the earliest pottery makers in the world - shows evidence of cord-making in the form of impressions in ceramic vessels from Fukui Cave that are dated to roughly 13,000 years ago. Archaeologists chose the word Jomon to refer to this ancient hunter-gather culture because it means cord-impressed. The occupation layers discovered at Guitarrero Cave in the Andes mountains of Peru contained agave fibers and textile fragments that were dated to about 12,000 years ago. Thats the oldest evidence of textile use in the Americas to date. The earliest example of cordage in North America is at Windover Bog in Florida, where the special circumstances of the bog chemistry preserved textiles (among other things) dated to 8,000 years ago. Silk making, which is made from thread derived from insect cases rather than plant material, was invented during the Longshan period in China, ca 3500-2000 BCE. Finally, one extremely important (and unique in the world) use of string in South America was as quipu, a system of communication composed of knotted and dyed cotton and llama wool string used by many South American civilizations at least 5,000 years ago.

Case study Barclays and the LIBOR Scandal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Barclays and the LIBOR Scandal - Case Study Example m 2007 to 2009, Barclays was seen to submit rates which were below the presumed cost of borrowing, so as to be able to manage the market’s sensitivity relating to financial feasibility. The company’s goal was to keep submission lower than other competing firms. It was seen that Barclays could make huge sums of profits, even by the slightest manipulation of the LIBOR rates (Rose and Sesia 1). It was quite clear that the bank’s employees had undertaken such activities to earn higher profits and to limit the losses which arise from the derivatives trading. Barclay’s traders were trying to consider their own profit motives and earn dishonest profits. The dishonest LIBOR submissions had led towards dampening market speculations. Although the bank was able to make adequate profits, it could not sustain the manipulation process for long. It can be stated that the benefits of such manipulation was very limited and short-lived. However, the negative impacts of the Barclays LIBOR manipulation were quite extensive. The submitted rates had a wide felt negative impact in the derivatives market. The firm had lost the trust of customers and traders during the crisis period, and had also created negative waves in the media regarding its viability in the market. Post the Barclays scandal, 20 more banks were questioned and vividly examined by regulators. In the whole process of LIBOR manipulation, since interbank rates were manipulated, derivative transactions and banks lending to investors had also been impacted in a negative manner (Monticini and Thornton 345). Bob Diamond, the former CEO of Barclays had blamed a small group of employees for the violation of the LIBOR rates. Bob had denied any personal wrongdoing against the allegations made in respect of rigging the LIBOR and limiting the market and media speculations. Bob also went to the extent of stating that Barclays was more honest in submitting its LIBOR rates as compared to other banks (Surowiecki 25). He also

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 95

History - Essay Example These campaigns have however occurred in different periods of time, with each exacting its own influence on the feminist movement. This paper focusses on the evolution of the feminist movement in the 1960s and 1970s. Often referred to as the â€Å"second wave feminism† the 1960s and 1970s feminist movement arose out of the turbulent social turmoil experienced during this period of American history. In these years, the feminist movement became more radicalized, under the directorship of various outspoken American women. The 1960s and 1970s were characterized by a mass entry of women into the workforce as a result of shifting workplace stereotypes against women in the previous decades. Accordingly, the Second wave feminist movement was primarily focused on disassembling workplace inequality, including salary inequity and increasing women’s access to better jobs. Feminists proposed to achieve this by seeking the abolishment of discriminatory laws and unfair labor practices. To this end, feminist activists distributed education materials to women across the country, regarding reproductive health and sex and pursued the legalization of all types of birth control. Feminists created polit ical organizations and published articles, books, as well as essays critiquing sexism and patriarchy in society. However, to achieve equality, feminists realized that women were required to transform the manner in which the society spoke about, thought of, and treated women. This required more than merely changing laws — this demanded a radical shift in every aspect of the American society to ensure that men and women would be regarded as equals. The main objective of feminists in this period was to reverse the ubiquitous belief that since women differed from men biologically, they were inherently more emotional, intellectually inferior, and were better off executing to domestic chores as compared to professional tasks and politics. Additionally, the feminist movement of the

Psychology- theorist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Psychology- theorist - Essay Example Through the above theories, human behavior will be properly analyzed and illustrated using one character trait that I posses. Human behavior is explained to be the characteristic conscious or subconscious activities that people adopt (Watkins, 1998). For example, I am characteristically judgmental when people do me wrong. I tend to assume that people are totally responsible for their actions and mistakes. This has been a tough issue between me and my acquaintances because I always assume the role of the judge when problems arise even in cases of accidents. The curiosity to understand why I am judgmental prompted me to try and understand the theories that might provide possible solutions to my investigation. The theories include the Freud, Jung, Adler, Erikson, Allport, Cattell & Eysenk, Skinner, Bandura and Mischel, Kelly, Rogers and Maslow, and May  theories (Willingham, 2006). The theories utilize human behavior to analyze the possible and common precursors to the phenomenon. The following paper is an essay describing the various theories, their assumptions and considerations which will try and explain the reasons why human beings adopt certain behaviors while still trying to unravel the reason why I am judgmental. Throughout the past centuries, humans have been credited with different life tendencies and habits which are often considered natural. As described by Watkins (1998, p 92), ‘a person is easily identified by his behavioral trends and habits which are unique’. The reasons why people are different has been investigated and explained in depth in a number of theories. To tackle the issue adequately, certain explanations and theories will be utilized. For starters, the Freud theory that explores the three human factors that surround the human personality. In his theory, Freud had utilized three levels of awareness, namely the conscious, subconscious and the precautious (Claire, 2007). He explains that the conscious includes only our current

S. B. Cottone Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

S. B. Cottone Inc - Essay Example In this case, the firm has not enough capacity to capture all of these markets so that a target market in the segment is needed. A target market must have the potential to be viable customer. Target market of the firm are contractors in the construction business. This was principally selected due to construction developments in Scranton and the developers’ need for contractors in the construction business. Contractors are the first-line connection to developers. They are also considered specialist by developers so their expert advice is followed. Contractors’ profiles were compiled into a database of the company for the last twenty years for easy reference and follow up. Positioning is the market strategy of how company communicates to customers. Web defines it as â€Å"effort to influence consumer on a brand relative to a competing brand.† Purpose of positioning is to have an advantageous position to consumer. To start positioning the firm, has to know the needs of the target market, and understand why they need it, and its budget. Buyers’ needs are known through interviews, research and attending events such real estate openings. Based on this approach company has identified buyers’ needs as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of rooms and building. Buyers go through a process (Linton, Ian, 2014) wherein the very first stage is recognition of a need. Needs of buildings are caused by standard requirements. Next step is the information search wherein buyer looks for sources to solve his need. Next is the evaluation process where buyer inspects different brands and offers – and evaluate it according it to product attributes and the ability of supplier to deliver. Process involves buyers’ high participation particularly if there are many proposals, and low if there is only one company to be evaluated. The last

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP - Research Paper Example Immelt had big shoes to fill but he has carved a niche for himself through his leadership skills and today is one most influential business leaders in the world. Immelt before becoming the CEO of GE had held numerous leadership positions in the company. He had served as Vice President and General Manager for different business division of the company. This paper is aimed at understanding and analyzing the leadership, management and motivational skills of Immelt and how he has used it to take GE to new heights. In the process, the different businesses of the company will be described along with the three major challenges Immelt has overcome in running the company since he has became the CEO. His various leadership skills and strategies can be understood while analysing the challenges. Also the impact that Immelt has had on the world through his vision, business and through other areas will be discussed. When Immelt took over as the CEO he wanted to bring about a cultural revolution in the company. In a company that was process-oriented and hard-driving, he wanted to infuse creativity, bold thinking and hunger for growth into its culture. Also it is to be noted that Immelt took over just a few days before the 9/11 attack, which means that the economic situation in which Immelt started his stint was not an ideal one. It was a great challenge to Immelt to sustain and continue the growth of the company in an era of slow-growth domestic economy, greater global competition and lesser tolerance among investors. In order to achieve his vision of reinventing GE Immelt overcame the following challenges: In order to change the organizational culture that would focus on innovation and creativity, there needed to be a change in thinking. There was very little that Immelt could do single handed to completely change the company and transform his workforce. Majority of the workforce in the company

Preschool Classroom Multicultural Classroom Essay

Preschool Classroom Multicultural Classroom - Essay Example Teachers must be careful in communicating messages to children that they may receive as prejudiced against a particular culture or minority in the class population. York (2006) claims that stereotypical messages have powerful impact on children’s perception of reality, and may lead to the development of prejudice. For example, only having â€Å"white† dolls and not â€Å"black† may tell children that black people are not worthy to be used as models in learning. Hence, it is important to choose classroom materials and activities wisely to promote social skills and social action instead of prejudice. Narahara (1998) discusses how gender stereotypes in books can affect children. She contends that storybooks provide role models for children in defining standards for feminine and masculine behavior, and books that have stereotypical content for gender. On the other hand, non-sexist books encourage the development of positive self-concept, attitudes and behavior. Bainbridge, Pantaleo and Ellis (1999) suggest that multicultural books be included in the repertoire of classroom materials claiming that multicultural children’s literature supports and encourages tolerance and understanding among children. Books should reflect characters from the same culture as the students’. Examples of story themes are protagonists who dealt with race issues and children who solved problems successfully. Lesson plans should incorporate culturally relevant ideas in each diverse classroom (Edwards & Kuhlman, 2007). Classrooms that reflect multicultural themes display materials that promote peace and respect for all people such as posters advocating peace and non-violent resolutions to conflict and pictures of people from various racial and cultural groups. Exposure to these materials instills positive social values in children. Likewise, allowing them to interact with non-stereotypical and multicultural materials such as multiethnic block play people,

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP - Research Paper Example Immelt had big shoes to fill but he has carved a niche for himself through his leadership skills and today is one most influential business leaders in the world. Immelt before becoming the CEO of GE had held numerous leadership positions in the company. He had served as Vice President and General Manager for different business division of the company. This paper is aimed at understanding and analyzing the leadership, management and motivational skills of Immelt and how he has used it to take GE to new heights. In the process, the different businesses of the company will be described along with the three major challenges Immelt has overcome in running the company since he has became the CEO. His various leadership skills and strategies can be understood while analysing the challenges. Also the impact that Immelt has had on the world through his vision, business and through other areas will be discussed. When Immelt took over as the CEO he wanted to bring about a cultural revolution in the company. In a company that was process-oriented and hard-driving, he wanted to infuse creativity, bold thinking and hunger for growth into its culture. Also it is to be noted that Immelt took over just a few days before the 9/11 attack, which means that the economic situation in which Immelt started his stint was not an ideal one. It was a great challenge to Immelt to sustain and continue the growth of the company in an era of slow-growth domestic economy, greater global competition and lesser tolerance among investors. In order to achieve his vision of reinventing GE Immelt overcame the following challenges: In order to change the organizational culture that would focus on innovation and creativity, there needed to be a change in thinking. There was very little that Immelt could do single handed to completely change the company and transform his workforce. Majority of the workforce in the company

Money, Class, and Opportunity Myths in America Essay

Money, Class, and Opportunity Myths in America - Essay Example The story may not be dispelling this assertion but it does open one’s eyes that it is not always about hard work, nature has to be kind to you. The story also brings to focus the value of wealth, here the story holds that wealth alone does not mean success and is not significant if it is not coupled with respect and good reputation. To this end, the characters enforce the idea that wealth is an award for leading a good life, a life characterized by honesty, self-reliance, thrift and hard-work. The assertions held here have a definite implication on the lives of the workers, who are bound to change their approach in bid to get money success (Colombo 167). In this regard, this study implores the idea of success, is money always the measure of success and is money a result of meritocracy? Success means different things to different people. But there is no dispelling that the current generation always thinks of money as the sole measure of success. It is understandable, given the publicity of such stories as â€Å"The worlds richest† annually published by Forbes magazine. Such stories have every one thinking of ways through which they can make money and assume such success. This means they already look at these individuals as successful, they are a representation of what success means in the 21st century. However, the idea that success is strictly measured by ones material wealth is quite misleading. In fact, success is more personal than the world understands. For instance, the Nobel Prize winner, this award recognizes success. Mostly in fields that have little to do with money, such as peace making and environmental consciousness. People awarded based on these acts are considered to have succeeded they have obviously done much better than billions of earth inhabitants. Yet, there is little financial accompaniment to this success. In most cases, these were people who are driven by passion and love for what they do (Hammer and Douglas 432). A similar scenario can be seen in the sports world, we have people like Usain Bolt and Allison Felix who were recently feted. These have definitely succeeded, but their success has had little to do with money. In this sense, we all have to agree that money is not always a measure of success, there are many other measures mostly realization of one’s potential, gratification and peace. Looking at the idea of wealth, many of us just like the story â€Å"money and success† believe that a lot of money means hard work, sometime painstaking. Thus, how much money one has depicts one’s level of hard work which is quite flawed. Because were it correct, we would have so many millionaires because everyone who wakes up and dawn and break their back till dusk merits wealth, at least by the virtue of hard work (Aldrich 271). However, this is not the case, in any case we have the bulk of our working class grappling with debts, be it mortgages or car loans which means they are quite far f rom success. Such observation brings one into wondering, is money a result of meritocracy. The answer to this is a definite no, were it so, we would have everyone who works from dawn to dusk or at least eight hours a day command a significant amount of wealth. This points to the idea that wealth or money in this case is a reward by systems. These systems

HP computer systems organization

HP computer systems organization 1. Is this the time for HP-CSO to institute more changes? Based on the customer and sales audit it was identified that considerable opportunities existed in the area of Repurchase, replacement and expansion projects as well as the Innovation projects. But, there exist many challenges Customers were moving towards consolidating their supplier base increasing pricing pressure on HP 80% of the customer sales were initiated by the customer themselves Although HP was a preferred vendor, customers doubted its ability to deliver incase of Innovation projects With increasing demands on price and delivery terms, HP would find it difficult to meet customer needs due to the small sales force Sales force was spending significant amount of time doing things other than sales Sales force was having difficulty in converting sales opportunities in replacement and expansion projects Sales team was spending less time in the early stages of the sales cycle for Innovation projects Sales team lacked prioritization of opportunities Hence, it is critical for HP-CSO to make the right changes in the sales organization to capture opportunities in the high potential segments. How are selling instruments (HP traditional business) different from selling computer systems? Selling instruments can be viewed more like selling commodities. Selling instruments was engineering driven and marketing the product was on the basis of technological features. Selling computer systems involved marketing the product as solutions that could be highly customized to the customers needs to solve their issues. Why does HP treat its sales force as a cost center? What are the implications of such a structure? HP was grouped into three main divisions and each had its own sales force and others support departments and divisional business units. Divisional business units were measured as profit centers. HP allocated field personnel and capital expenditures among the divisions under the promise of additional profits. This type of mechanism ensured that sales force was kept as a cost center, responsible for revenues, field marketing and customer service. Such a structure resulted in two distinct cultures co-existing in HP. One centered in the product divisions focused on long-term profit objectives and the other in the field, on meeting short-term sales quotas. Sales force concentrated on achieving sales target without worrying about making profits and spending time in non-core activities. 3. Critically evaluate HP-CSOs approach to building relations with its Enterprise Customers HP reorganized its sales approach by providing greater autonomy to its divisions. CSO could draw on HPs resources while operating in a more entrepreneurial fashion. Freed from the constraint of a drawn-out approval process, CSO began to race to the market with new computers. By 1994, HPs business was growing at 40% annually against an industry growth of 5%. To capitalize on the new market position, sales force was re-organized and other dramatic changes were instituted in the manner in which CSO sold to customers. HP wanted to transform its salespeople from order takers into consultants. Advantages Sales reps were relieved of the unproductive tasks Centralized configuration support specialists enabled increase in the sales reps direct customer contact by 30-50% The domain specific approach enabled HP to focus and service large customers more effectively. Generate more sales through the specialized and competent sales force. Sales force was able to nurture the relationships developed over time with the enterprise customers. . Disadvantages Sales force was averse to change and didnt wanted to lose power over their regional fiefdoms Smaller customers resented being relegated to the channel partners or telephone reps. To transform salesperson from order takers to consultants required specifically designed training programs to de-emphasize on traditional focus on HP product capabilities and specification in favor of teaching salespeople how to evaluate customers circumstances and suggest ways that HP might improve them. Do you agree with the findings of two audits? Findings of the first audit are agreeable. However, the methodology adopted for the second audit is not convincing. The customer that was selected for the audit was the largest with whom HP had good relationship, HP was strong in the industry selected and the study chose only one region that HP was good in. This leads to an audit that encompasses a perfect customer, industry and region. The finding might not apply across all customers, industry and regions giving an obscure audit. What about the consultants recommendations? The recommendations provide deep insights into the strong and weak links in the sales strategy of HP-CSO The recommendations of the consultant seem very broad based and not properly structured The consultant hasnt provided an action roadmap based on his recommendations. How is this approach different from the current approach to managing enterprise customers? The approach of entering downstream and slowly making inroads upstream will face a lot barriers put up by competitors. The new approach would require re-training the sales force considerably. The effort and time involved in beating competition might be considerable. There is a high risk of failure and would require considerable time to bring in the change Comments on conclusions of audit The first audit conclusion is convincing, but the second audit conclusion is not detailed and devoid of an action plan. Recommendations Increase conversion rate in downstream and midstream segment Develop competence in midstream and upstream segment of the market to capture the high potential market share, instead of building the way through downstream Create a value proposition for the upstream market Eliminate the non productive tasks of sales reps and train them effectively