The Importance of Human Resource Management - 1287 Words

Human resource management (HRM) is undoubtedly being considered as an indivisible element of the organisations from the outset. From recruitment to employee retention, HRM has always committed to assist company to search and retain talents that have values toward the sustainable development. In view of the fact that, there are several studies with evidences presented to prove that there is a relationship between HRM and organizational performance, in which some HRM theorists also suggested that there is a causal link between them (Cooke, 2000). Though Gerhart (2005) stated that their relationship is regarded as a ‘black box’ that it lacked of clarity concerning what leads to what; it can be both performance leaded to HRM and vice versa.†¦show more content†¦The effective training of problem solving skills, social communications skills and technical skills can help employees to tackle with issues and remove bottlenecks that emerge from the changing market. Resear ch showed for companies that put forward formal training programs are 19% increased in productivity than those who did not (Kling, 1995). The extensive recruitment and selection as well as effective trainings on different skills enhanced KSA for employees according to resource-based view, which eventually lead to the increased in productivity and standard of products guaranteed. Besides enhance employees’ KSA, the application of HPWPs allows them to increase their motivation and actively participate via business strategy. The AMO-model from Appelbaum et al.’s (2000) showed that employees’ ability, motivation and opportunity in the workplace will reflect on the operational profits. Employees’ motivation can be enhanced through compensation policy such as profit sharing, performance appraisal and promotion (Huselid, 1995). For profit sharing, it is a direct way for employees to optimize their skills and abilities to work hard for their companies since they realize that their workforce is correspond to their own profits. Similarly, compensation policies can attract employees to maximize their performance if they can see promotion prospect or incentive systems operating in their companies. As HPWPs provideShow MoreRelatedThe Importance of Human Resources Management1233 Words   |  5 PagesThe economic environment in nowadays dynamic , it is fairly important for organisations and managers to recognise the curtail of Human Resource Management. It is clear that Human Resource Management (HRM) has become one of the most recommend management strategy in the modern business (Leopold and Harris, 2009). Human Resource Management is a technique process of managing people in the workplace to enable and enhance organization performance (Leopold and Harris, 2009). 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An organisation comprises of three types of assets, namely; financial assets, physical assets (infrastructure and equipment), intangible assets. Intangible assets include intellectual capital (patents, copyrights and trademarks), social capital and human capital. The creative thinkingRead MoreThe Importance Of Human Resource Management Within The Business1738 Words   |  7 Pages The Importance of Human Resources in Small Business Derrick Rowley Business 224 Dennis Oden 7 June 2015 â€Æ' Abstract Within this paper you will find that HR is vital to all businesses, but can greatly affect the long-term success of a small business. Small businesses can have a difficult time finding qualified individuals to help with the production side of the business. That is why having human resource management within the business is so important. HR sets the planning process and withinRead MoreThe Importance Of Human Resource Management For Any Organization1495 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION This report provides the understanding and importance of Human Resource Management for any organisation. The report shows how HRM contributes in any organisational achievements. In this report HR planning and development methods are examined in detail and the way to improve HR performance are suggested. COMPANY BACKGROUND The Coca-Cola Company is one of the world’s top soft drink makers. Coca-Cola owns the best-known soft drink brands such as, Coca-cola, Diet Coke, Fanta and SpriteRead MoreHuman Resource Management and Its Importance to Businesses Today2964 Words   |  12 PagesRhonda S. Culvahouse Human Resource Management and Its Importance to Businesses Today MGT 445 Human Resource Management Professor Robert Borger June 4, 2009 Human Resource Management and Its Importance to Businesses Today Introduction In order to understand what Human Resource Management is, one must understand what a resource is. Resources are assets that one has access to, and therefore, can rely on. In our own personal lives we rely on resources of various types such as our money, ourRead MoreHuman Resources Management Importance, Benefits And Effects Of The Organization918 Words   |  4 PagesSUBJECT: Human Resources Management Importance, Benefits and Effects in the Organization. 1. Purpose: The purpose of this memorandum is to outline and defend the benefits of having a Human Resources Management (HRM) in Green’s Hospitals. Green’s Hospital is a leading medical facility that is facing some human capital challenges. A Human Resources Department will help the stake holders and the board of direct 2. HRM practices can help the hospital to deal with the competition in the following

Leadership Styles Within The Workplace - 1511 Words

Organizations large and small have different leadership styles within. Some of them are very laidback and others follow company manuals to the â€Å"T†. The purpose of leadership is to create and promote change, and that people involved in leadership are not just the subject of change but also the driving force behind it (DeGrosky, 2012). A leader must understand the goals and objectives of a company and do everything in their power to accomplish them. An effective way to accomplish this is leading by example. Leaders encourage, motivate, coach, and most importantly, they walk the talk. Unfortunately, organizations have leaders who do not share the same commitment as others. These leadership styles can be daggers to some companies that will eventually lead to trouble if not properly managed. Not all companies are equal but they all share commonalities when it comes to leadership. As a leader in our organization, I witness unfair practices from our directors. For the pu rpose of this assignment, I will refer to our organization as Mentors, Inc. When I speak of unfair practices, some of our directors are there simply to collect a paycheck and often forget the essential tasks that come with their title. When trying to understand leadership and motivation, it is important to understand why people work. Some people work only for the money (Reis Geller, 2010, p. 4). Failing to Respond to Employee Emails This is a common practice at Mentors, Inc. The majority of ourShow MoreRelatedEffective Leadership Styles Within The Workplace1584 Words   |  7 PagesEffective leadership styles Abstract An effective leader influences their employees in a desired manner to achieve goals and objectives. Different leadership styles can affect an organization’s effectiveness and performance. 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The terms leadership and management have become increasingly prevalent in today’s workplace. They are often used in place of each other and in some cases the terms leadership and management are used identically to each other. This has not always been the case. Leadership has a long history that dates as far back as biblical times. According to Bass, â€Å"it is one of the world’s oldest preoccupations† (Bass, 1990). On the other hand, management as it relates to the workplace is a relativelyRead MoreLeadership Style And Effective Communication Essay1253 Words   |  6 PagesLeadership Style and Effective Communication in the Workplace Introduction Blanchard, Hersey Johnson (2015) introduced the concepts pertaining to leadership styles, self-awareness in Chapter 11, and effective communication in Chapter 12. 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They are often used in place of each other and in some cases the terms leadership and management are used identically to each other. This has not always been the case. Leadership has a long history that dates as far back as biblical times. According to Bass, â€Å"it is one of the world’s oldest preoccupations† (Bass, 1990). On the other hand, management as it relates to the workplace is a relativelyRead MoreLeadership Qualities : The Best Laid Business Plan886 Words   |  4 PagesLeadership Qualities: The best laid business plan is doomed to fail if the HRM that is charged with implementing it lacks the leadership skills necessary to earn the trust, respect, and ultimately the support for the plan among the ope rating managers and employees. Establishing a solid leadership concept is detrimental to any organization; if they wish to succeed. Human Resource Managers ability to lead effectively can be based on a number of essential skills. 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Piracy in Somalia and Its International Implications Free Essays

string(121) " 10 million people are starving, and they would hardly survive without the food aid provided by the developed countries\." PIRACY IN SOMALIA AND ITS INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS In the past few years, pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia have received a great deal of public attention. According to the London-based International Maritime Bureau, there has been an â€Å"unprecedented increase† in Somali pirate activity in the first 9 months of 2009. Until September this year 147 incidents were reported off the Somali coast and in the Gulf of Aden (separating Somalia and Yemen), compared with 63 for the same period last year. We will write a custom essay sample on Piracy in Somalia and Its International Implications or any similar topic only for you Order Now A total of 533 crew members have been taken hostage in 2009, out of which about 200 hostages are still being held by Somali pirates. I have chosen the topic of piracy for my essay as I think that in the context of the present world economy crisis it is a current problem which might affect all the participants of the global economy and it needs an urgent solution. In the first part of my essay I am going to present some data to demonstrate the importance of the problem, then I will focus on the background of the issue and present the different factors which have led to the appearance of piracy. After a detailed description of the pirates and their way of operation I will move on to presenting of the interests of the international community and the policies, strategies and instruments they have used to deal with the issue. At the end of my paper I will draw some conclusions and make a few suggestions for the future. Piracy has been a problem in Somali waters for at least ten years. However, the number of attempted and successful attacks has risen over the last three years. As the hijackings have increased in number, they have also become more sophisticated. The pirates are now able to capture larger targets as well. On September 25 2008, Somali pirates captured the MV Faina, a Ukrainian ship transporting weapons to Kenya. This was followed one month later by the hijacking of the MV Sirius Star, the largest ship ever captured by pirates. The Saudi-owned supertanker was carrying about 2 billion barrels of crude oil, worth about $100 million. The ship was finally released on January 9 for a $3 million ransom. The series of hijackings has continued in 2009 too. It seems that this year the pirates have shifted from the Gulf of Aden, where dozens of ships were attacked in 2008 but which is now heavily patrolled, to the ocean between the African mainland and the Seychelles islands. In October 2009 Somali pirates captured a Chinese bulk carrier, carrying 25 Chinese crew members. In November they have seized a US tanker carrying $20 million of crude oil, which is considered the second-largest ship ever hijacked by pirates. The tankers 30-member crew was also kidnapped. In the same month, 9 pirates hijacked the Greek-owned tanker Maran Centaurus carrying 275,000 metric tons of Saudi Arabian crude oil and have taken it to a pirate port along the coast, where they typically hold the boats for ransom. The 300,000-tonne ship was hijacked about 1,300 km from the coast of Somalia and there were 28 crew members on board which are all held hostages. According to the IBM, in October and November alone, 38 ships have been attacked and 10 hijacked. There are several factors which have made Somalia the perfect environment for piracy, which I am going to present below. First of all, if we want understand why piracy works in Somalia, we have to know something about the geography and history of the country. Officially called the Republic of Somalia, Somalia is a country situated in the Horn of Africa, bordered by  Djibouti  to the northwest,  Kenya  to the southwest, the  Gulf of Aden  with  Yemen  to the north, the  Indian Ocean  to the east, and Ethiopia  to the west. Due to its strategic location, in the past the country was an important centre of commerce. Even today, about 16,000 ships pass through the Gulf of Aden each year, carrying oil from the Middle East and goods from Asia to Europe and North America, so we can say that one of the most important trade routes of the world can be found in this area. In addition, the long, isolated, sandy beaches of the country are also advantageous for pirates to operate. Another factor which helps piracy to flourish is the political anarchy which still rules in Somalia. For almost 20 years, the country has endured political chaos and bloodshed. The  Somali Civil, which began in 1991 as a revolution against the repressive regime of Siad Barre, has caused instability throughout the country. The northern parts of the country declared their independence, although it was neither recognized by the central government, nor by the United Nations. Subsequent fighting among rival warlords resulted in the killing, dislocation, and starvation of thousands of Somalis. Since 1991, 350,000-1,000,000 Somalis have died because of the conflict. Hatred and lack of trust among the landlords and their clans has prevented the organisation of a functioning central government. From  2006-2009 Ethiopia  was also involved in the conflict. In January 2009, Ethiopian soldiers withdrew from Somalia, leaving behind an  African Union  contingent of peacekeepers to help the fragile coalition government and its troops enforce their authority. Following Ethiopia’s withdrawal from Somalia, the southern half of the country fell into the hands of radical Islamist   rebels, who still control a big part of the country. The political situation is still chaotic in Somalia. The present government, led by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is the 16th administration to „govern† the country since the collapse of the Barre regime. Order still hasn’t been restored, Somalia is governed by anarchy. Because of the lack of an effective central government and national economy, Somalia is still one of the world’s poorest countries, where the estimated GDP is around $600 per year. According to the World Bank, in 2008 73% of the country’s population lived on a daily income below $2. The country’s 10 million people are starving, and they would hardly survive without the food aid provided by the developed countries. You read "Piracy in Somalia and Its International Implications" in category "Papers" In a country where survival is at stake, it is no surprise that piracy has become a fast and easy way to make money and it could develop into a frightening business. To sum up, we can say that Somalia’s chaotic political situation, the lack of an effective central government, the poor state of the economy and poverty have all created an environment which was perfect for piracy to appear. But who are these â€Å"heroes† and how do they operate? In most people’s minds, the image of piracy is associated with characters like Jack Sparrow or Captain Cook. Pirates are often seen as rebellious young men who are victims of the society, but have the courage to stand up for themselves and create a different way of working on the seas. Actually, there is some truth in this kind of perception. According to Eric Hobsbawm, a British historian, â€Å"social bandits† are â€Å"outlaws, drawing on community support, using criminal methods to challenge the present hierarchy of power and wealth. † Most of the Somali pirates are 20-35 years old and come from the region of Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Somalia. It is estimated that there are at least five pirate gangs and more thousands armed men. A BBC report divided them into three main categories: local Somali fishermen (the â€Å"brains† of the operations because of their skills and knowledge of the sea); ex-militiamen (used as the â€Å"muscle†) and technical experts who are able to use electrical equipment, such as GPS devices at a professional level. It is a fact that since the country’s collapse in 1991, there has been a great amount of illegal fishing practised by a lot of countries along the Somali coast. During the regime of Siad Barre (1986-1992) Somalia received aid from several countries to develop its fishing industry. Local fishermen had fixed prices for their catch and the fish was exported because of low demand for seafood in Somalia. However, after the fall of the Barre regime, due to the Somali Civil War the income from fishing decreased. Traditional coastal fishing became difficult, because foreign trawlers started fishing illegally along the Somali coast and depleted the fish stocks. Local fishermen became desperate. They started to band together and were determined to protect their resources. They started attacking foreign trawlers, the crew of which soon fought back with heavy weapons. As a result, fishermen turned to other types of commercial ships and soon discovered that piracy was an easy way to make money. At the moment, piracy is Somalia’s most â€Å"lucrative business†: ship owners are willing to pay huge amounts of money for the release of their hijacked vessels. In addition to this, starting with the early 1990s, Somalia’s long, remote coastline has been used as a dump site for dangerous toxic waste from a lot of European and Asian companies. The European Green party presented before the press and the European Parliament copies of contracts signed by two European companies – an Italian-Swiss and an Italian firm – and representatives of warlords, to accept 10 million tones of toxic waste in exchange for $80 million. For European companies this is a very cheap way of getting rid of their waste: while waste disposal costs in Europe are about $1,000 a tonne, this way it only costs them $2,50 a tonne. The effects of this dumping are already visible in Somalia. According to a report by the UN Environment Programme, there is an extremely high number of cases of respiratory infections, mouth ulcers and bleeding and unusual skin infections among the inhabitants of the area – diseases related to radiation sickness. It is clear that this situation represents a very serious environmental risk not only to Somalia, but to the whole eastern Africa region. Many of the pirates call themselves the Somali â€Å"coast guard†, claiming that their aim is to defend their communities from overfishing and to protect the coastline from toxic dumping of nuclear waste by foreign ships. In an interview one of the pirate leaders explained: â€Å"We don’t consider ourselves sea bandits. We consider sea bandits those who illegally fish and dump in our seas†. The problem of overfishing is still a very serious problem is Somalia. It is estimated that Europeans and Asians poach around $300 million worth fish from Somali waters. On the other hand, Somali pirates collect about $100 million yearly from ransoms. This, according to Peter Lehr, a Somalia piracy expert, can be seen as a â€Å"resource swap†. Of course, a great number of pirates are only taking part in these operations for the money, and their families which they can feed this way. As one of them, nicknamed Milk Sucker says: â€Å"Sometimes doing a bad thing is the only way to improve the situation for yourself and the people you love†. Some of the pirates can’t even swim, their only task is to shoot straight. A lot of young Somalis take part only in a couple of operations, hoping to make enough money to move to the West or maybe to persuade an ethnic Somali woman with a EU passport to marry them and move to the UK. As for the techniques used by the pirates, we can notice that they are getting more sophisticated and more effective. They are using the latest high-tech equipment, like GPS, MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defence Systems), RPGs and satellite phones and they are well-armed with rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47s. They usually operate using small skiffs with powerful outboard engines, but now they regularly use â€Å"mother ships† to increase their range. These â€Å"mother ships† take them into the shipping lanes, several hundred miles offshore. Then they launch small speedboats to haul themselves up onto the deck of a ship. They can often seize a ship without firing a shot. After capturing it, they sail the hijacked ship to the Somali pirate hub town, Eyl and take the hostages ashore where they are well-looked after until ransom is paid. It is reported that the pirates never harm their prisoners; they behave like â€Å"perfect gentlemen† with them. They even hire caterers on the Somali coast to cook pasta, grilled fish and roasted meat, which western hostages might like. Once ransom is paid, they release ships good humour. According to the Kenyan foreign minister, in 2008 pirates have received about $150 million in ransom, which is used to fund future operations. In a recent startling Reuters report we can read that the pirates have started to make the money to work for them, setting up a stock exchange â€Å"that has drawn financiers from the Somali Diaspora and other nations. † The bandits’ bourse is a small building in the once-small fishing village of Haradheere, about 250 miles northeast of Mogadishu, which has developed into a luxury town by now. As a former pirate named Mohammed puts it, â€Å"The shares are open to all and everybody can take part, whether personally at sea or on land by providing cash, weapons or useful materials †¦ we’ve made piracy a community activity. â€Å" Unfortunately, it has become clear that the activity of pirates is linked to warlords on shore. After seeing the profitability of the business, these leaders started to facilitate pirate activities, sharing the profit with the pirates. These â€Å"Godfathers† and clan leaders are closely related to Somalia’s president in Mogadishu, Abdullahi Yusuf, who also originates from Puntland. Estimates are that at least six ministers in the Puntland government are involved with the pirates. The only group which is publicly against piracy is the militant Al-Shabaab, a Salafist group founded this decade as a militia attached to the Islamic Court. They say that such crimes are forbidden under the Islamic law. However, according some reports, militant Islamist groups also get their share of the profit. The pirates involvement with these organisations is making the situation even more alarming, because all the financial help given by the West to the Somali authorities to put an end to piracy might just help it to flourish. All in all, it is clear that piracy is not a problem that the fragile Somali government can solve alone and international help is needed. How does all this affect the international community? Besides enforcing international law, there are several other reasons to stop pirate activities. The first is Somalia itself. The country needs about 200 tonnes of food aid a year which is mostly delivered by sea. Without the naval escorts and the regular delivery of aid, Somalia’s food stocks are seriously threatened, so ensuring the safe delivery of food aid should be a number one priority for the international community. Stopping piracy may also reduce the money available for weapons, so indirectly it can lead to the end of the internal war. Piracy has a very distressing effect on international trade as well. In addition to the growing ransom, companies whose cargos do not reach their destinations, lose money. As a result, there is a growth of insurance for all ships which need to pass through the Gulf of Aden. The constant danger of pirate attacks has already made some shipping companies to choose a longer, but safer route, around the Cape of Good Hope, as it happened in the case of AP Moller-Maersk, one of Europe’s largest shipping companies after the hijacking of Sirius Star. The extra weeks of travel and fuel can lead to the cost of transporting goods, which is a really serious concern now, at the time of a global economic crisis. Another reason is related to the environment. Pirate attacks can cause major oil spills in a very sensitive ecosystem. As pirates become bolder and use more powerful weapons, tankers could be set on fire or sunk, which can result in an environmental catastrophe, destroying marine and bird life for many years to come. Last, but not least, there is a risk that the pirates themselves can become agents of terrorism. There are assumptions according to which pirates are connected to the Al-Shabaab movement, which is believed to have links to Al-Qa’eda. According to some reports, Al-Qa’eda militants from Iraq have chosen Somalia as a new base from which to launch attacks. Terrorism at sea can take many forms, for example direct attacks on ships, hostage dramas, but also hijacked ships used as potential weapons. Terrorist networks can use the financial funds from piracy to fund their operations worldwide. It is obvious, that even if there is little chance for the worst scenario, it is best to prevent it while we can. The international community has recognized that enhanced international efforts are necessary in order to reduce the number of attacks. The growing cases of piracy have focused the world’s attention on Somalia and have shown that the crisis going on in a fragmented state is spilling out of its borders. The military response to piracy has shown that countries which haven’t been able to cooperate with each other can unite their forces for a common cause. A maritime conference was also held in Mombassa, where they discussed the problem of piracy and tried to give regional and world governments recommendations to deal with the danger. In January 2009, an important regional agreement was adopted in Djibouti by States in the region, at a meeting organised by IMO. The Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden recognized the extent of the problem of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the region and the states signing it declared their intention to co-operate, in a way consistent with international law, in the repression of piracy and armed robbery against ships. Most countries have preferred prevention: various navies have sent war-ships into the area to escort commercial vessels. At the beginning, this way of defense was more individual than collective, but the persistence of the attacks has led to the development of a collective security system. NATO got the task of escorting convoys transporting the humanitarian aid of the World Food Programme towards Somalia. Once they were in the Gulf of Aden, they also protected other merchants ships, by their presence. Later NATO handed the job to Operation Atlanta, the first common maritime mission by the European Union. Military counter-piracy operations are performed by vessels from the Combined Task Force 150, a multinational coalition  naval  task force   in charge of monitoring and inspecting a range of security issues, such as drug smuggling and weapons trafficking, as well as piracy. Several countries, including India, Russia, China, Norway, Australia, France, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands, South Korea, Malaysia and even Japan chose to join the coalition and send warships to the Gulf of Aden. In January 2009 the US navy established a new multi-national naval force to confront piracy off the Somali coast. The new unit was called Combined Task Force 151and it was a spinoff of the existing Task Force 150 in the region. This section of the coalition forces was aimed at focusing exclusively on pirate groups (leaving Combined Task Force 150 to focus on other destabilizing activities, such as drug smuggling and weapons trafficking). It was hoped that by designating a new unit to combating piracy in Somalia, anti-piracy efforts would be more successful. Unfortunately, this effort is having only a limited impact. Although some pirates are scared off by the sight of military ships and helicopters, coalition warships are often in the wrong place at the wrong time. In addition, pirates are flexible and change their tactics easily: data from the Maritime Bureau shows that at present they are conducting their operations further out in the Indian Ocean. Besides, this is a very costly solution which is difficult to support in the long term. After the hijacking of an Egyptian ship and a huge Saudi supertanker, the Arab League organized a summit for countries overlooking the Red Sea, with the participation of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Somalia, Jordan, Djibouti and Yemen. At the summit the participant states discussed several solutions for the problem of piracy, suggesting different routes and looking for a safer passageway for ships. They might also assist the current NATO anti-piracy efforts together with other nations. However, we shouldn’t forget that the Arab League has long tried to draw Somalia more closely to the Arab world. It has made a financial support for the Transitional Federal Government, conditional on its entering negotiations with Al-Shabaab, intending to spread Islamist influence in the area. In June 2008 the United Nations Security Council passed a declaration authorizing nations that have the agreement of the Transitional Federal Government to enter Somali territorial waters to hunt pirates. In 2008 the Security Council adopted two resolutions, 1846 and 1851 allowing for the first time international land and sea occupations of Somali territories in the pursuit of pirates. These resolutions extended the power of the states and lead to greater coordination of their efforts. After the Council resolution 1851, the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia was established on 14 January 2009 to facilitate and coordinate actions among states and organizations to deal with piracy. At the moment 46 States and seven international organizations take part in the Contact Group. Through its four working groups, the Contact Group addresses specific issues related to military and operational coordination, legal issues, shipping industry awareness and public and diplomatic information. UNODC (the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) participates in the Contact Group and its Working Group on Military and Operational Coordination, Information Sharing and Capability-Building. UNODC acts as secretariat to Working Group on Judicial Issues, to which it has provided various forms of support. UNODC has prepared an analysis of the legal and practical challenges involved in prosecuting suspected pirates and is gathering nformation on relevant national legal systems, including those of coastal States. In spite of the fact that laws to combat piracy at sea exist, a lot of states do not seem to use them in practice. Only France has chosen to combat piracy directly. The first case was the seizing of a yacht in April 2008, which started with negotiations for the release of 30 hostages and followed by the capture of six pirates in Somali territory. The second case took place in September 2008 to free a couple taken hostages. This action also led to the arrest of six pirates, who are awaiting trial before a French court. Britain and some other countries have found a superficial and convenient way of treating the pirates: they have negotiated a treaty with Kenya, according to which all those suspected of piracy are handed over to that country. A few months later other countries followed Britain’s example, negotiating similar agreements. These agreements are a useful step, but they do not solve the problem. The Kenyan prison system is in terrible condition, corruption is high, there are strong delays in the call of trials and legal aid is very limited. It is a paradox indeed that states which are entitled to prosecute the arrested pirates delegate this right to a country which is unable to assure a fair trial to these criminals. In spite of the united efforts of different nations, it has become clear that the piracy problem cannot be solved at sea, because it is rooted on the shore, in the ongoing conflict and political instability of the country. As Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations expressed at an international donors’ conference: â€Å"Piracy is a symptom of anarchy and insecurity on the ground. (†¦) More security on the ground will make less piracy on the seas† Any lasting solution to the problem has to involve ensuring stability, development and an effective criminal justice system in Somalia. If the states had invested the time and resources they now spend to stop piracy in reconstructing the Somali society and economy, they probably wouldn’t have to cope with these problems. However, there are always new opportunities that shouldn’t be wasted. Martin Murphy in his article â€Å"Somali Piracy: not just a Naval Problem† claims that the highest costs of piracy to Somalia and the international community are not economic, but political. As I mentioned earlier, it seems that almost all layers of political life in Somalia are involved in piracy, including the Islamist groups. Islamism is getting stronger and stronger in Somalia and it can soon get hold of the entire country. The Al-Shabaab movement has a clear intention to use Somalia as a base for spreading Islamist influence in the region. If this tendency continues, a worst possible outcome would be an Islamist government, which is strong enough to control piracy, but also strong enough to make Somalia safe for violent Islamist groups. So, what can be done to stop, or at least to decrease piracy in the Horn of Africa? Somalia is a clan-based society. Therefore, a possible solution would be to deal with the sub-state entities in order to create a unitary state in the future. In these negotiations the coalition should clearly commit itself to repress piracy in return for allied political and economic support. This way it would be possible to cut off all the political players in Somalia from their external sources of weapons and thus pirates would be trapped between more effective land-base policy by the Somalis and maritime policy by coalition member navies and soon they would have no place to hide. Recent efforts have shown that there is a will to act together. We can only hope that the states will find a way to deal effectively with the problem before it is too late. Links, references: Roger Middleton: Piracy in Somalia. Africa Programme, October 2008 http://www. chathamhouse. org. uk/files/12203_1008piracysomalia. df Marina Chiarugi  and  Daniele Archibugi: Piracy challenges global governance. Open Democracy,  9 April 2009 http://www. opendemocracy. net/article/piracy-challenges-global-governance George Grant: Somali pirates can’t be beaten at sea. The Guardian, 18 November 2009 http://www. guardian. co. uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/18/somali-pirates-ransom-puntland Galrahn: Somalia Piracy – A Backgrounder April 8, 2009 http://www. informationdissemination. net/2009/04/somalia-piracy-backgrounder. html Rubrick Biegon: Somali Piracy and the International Response. FPIF (Foreign Policy in Focus) January 29, 2009 http://www. pif. org/fpiftxt/5827 Georg-Sebastian Holzer: Somalia: piracy and politics. Open Democracy, 24 November 2008 http://www. opendemocracy. net/article/somalia-piracy-and-politics Johann Hari: You Are Being Lied to About Pirates. The Huffington Post, December 2009 http://www. huffingtonpost. com/johann-hari/you-are-being-lied-to-abo_b_155147. html Can Somali pirates be defeated? BBC News, 20 November 2009 http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/8371139. stm Sam Gustin: Bandit Bourse? Somali pirates hijack oil tanker, organize ‘stock market’ Daily Finance, December 1 2009 http://www. dailyfinance. om/2009/12/01/bandit-bourse-somali-pirates-hijack-oil-tanker-organize-stock/ Martin Murphy: Somali Piracy : not just a naval problem . Centre for Strategic and Bugetary Assessments, April 16, 2009 http://www. csbaonline. org/4Publications/PubLibrary/B. 20090417. Somali_Piracy/B. 20090417. Somali_Piracy. pdf Piracy in Somalia: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Piracy_in_Somalia Aiden Hartley: What I learned from the  Somali pirates. The Spectator, 6 December 2008 http://www. spectator. co. uk/essays/all/3061246/what-i-learned-from-the-somali-pirates. thtml How to cite Piracy in Somalia and Its International Implications, Papers

Learning and Development Team with Project Management Plan and Project

Question: Learning and development team within Organization has suggested central location for Data storage and share. This project has been completed successfully into organization. Organization requested from Organization to implement the same IT project with adding extra functions. In planning phase of this project Please address the following: Project Management plan Management sub-plans including: communications human resource organisational change project implementation procurement quality risk scope change control Methodology type used for this project including: Models of project management Procurement approach Appropriate project management and systems development methodology Methodologies to be integrated with the solution requirements Answer: Introduction Undertaking administration is usually a carefully planned along with prepared attempt to perform a prosperous undertaking. Some sort of undertaking is usually a one-time attempt that generates a specific end result, one example is, the creating or a important brand new personal computer process. This can be not like a software program, and that is 1) a constant process, say for example a excellent control system, or perhaps 2) an activity to regulate several a number of assignments in concert. Using some places, the idea of "program" describes the software program and also the phrase "programme" often times will be the TV or perhaps radio show. Project Management Plan Undertaking administration incorporates possessing a undertaking approach, which include understanding along with credit reporting this undertaking ambitions along with ambitions, discovering responsibilities along with exactly how ambitions is going to be accomplished, quantifying this sources necessary, along with determining costs along with timelines for end. Furthermore, it incorporates taking care of this rendering with the undertaking approach, in addition to functioning regular 'controls' in order that there is certainly appropriate along with objective home elevators 'performance' relative to the master plan, and also the things for you to put into action recuperation actions exactly where essential. Project Methodology Assignments typically stick to important levels or perhaps development (with various game titles for these), as well as feasibility, classification, undertaking arranging, rendering, analysis along with support/maintenance. Work Break down Structure Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors Project Plan 28 days Fri 7/1/15 Tue 8/9/15 Creating a brief of the plan 7 days Fri 7/1/15 Mon 7/15/15 Identify the Stakeholder 7 days Tue 7/12/15 Wed 7/20/15 2 Drafting the Plan 7 days Thu 7/21/15 Fri 7/29/15 3 Understanding the Present training Module 7 days Mon 8/1/15 Tue 8/9/15 4 Execution 7 days Wed 8/10/15 Thu 8/18/15 1 Termination of Current Waste Operations 3 days Wed 8/10/15 Fri 8/12/15 Communication to Employees 2 days Mon 8/15/15 Tue 8/16/15 7 Meeting Called 1 day Wed 8/17/15 Wed 8/17/15 8 Communication to Employees about the Ticket Sales Program and its Benefit 1 day Thu 8/18/15 Thu 8/18/15 9 Drafting the best Ticket Sales plan to reduce Wastage 62 days Fri 8/19/15 Mon 15/15/15 6 Meeting with the managers 10 days Fri 8/19/15 Thu 9/1/15 Creating Prototype Plan 30 days Fri 9/2/15 Thu 10/13/15 12 Testing Prototype Ticket Sales Process 15 days Fri 10/15/15 Thu 15/3/15 13 Utilizing the feedback Loop 7 days Fri 15/4/15 Mon 15/15/15 15 Implementation 164 days Tue 15/15/15 Fri 6/29/12 15 Start Implementing the new Ticket Sales Process 125 days Tue 15/15/15 Mon 5/7/12 Take Feedback 31 days Tue 5/8/12 Tue 6/19/12 17 Final testing 8 days Wed 6/20/12 Fri 6/29/12 18 Gantt Chart- Work Breakdown Structure This is the detailed Gantt chart of the project. Bettering Risk Detection as well as Catch Hardly any undertaking competitors get complete threat managing programs, or even a crystal clear description of the risks which experience their initiatives. This really is partially ethnical, partially mechanical'; both associated with which is often addressed. Bettering the managing associated with threat requires enhancing a chance to recognize risks beginning, via fruitful techniques from the projects organizing decision-making lifecycle, in addition to powerful strategies to representing as well as with all the files. Communications A lot of threat subscribes keep poor quality, in some measure completed or very limited files. Frequently this specific ends in a negative understanding of threat as well as little awareness becoming dedicated to it is managing. What's more, it tends to make the info associated with little work with to others (e. h. stakeholders), and can instill the fake impression associated with protection in relation to the supply associated with any undertaking. It can be critical to outsource to modern as well as powerful ways to: Drastically improve recognition associated with threat along with the seize as well as presentation associated with threat files Incorporate threat managing into almost all tasks of madness of the undertaking, as well as Improve the quality of facts substantially and transmission along the undertaking staff. Human Resource In all of the the materials on threat, very much have been written on modeling it is impression utilizing record techniques. This really is partially because influenced by means of an excessive amount process, and contains it is location as well as price when key undertaking options are increasingly being used, on the other hand, many elderly operators rightly believe much larger benefit can be realized by means of ensuring that minimization actions are generally executed along with self-discipline in regular basis (relative towards the schedule) on initiatives. Project Governance Framework Being a minimum amount, almost all risks ought to be looked at to choose: The probability associated with it is happening (against a relatively easy size providing it is likely that happening, elizabeth. h. low or channel or high) The impression of the threat ought to it happen (again often in easy total conditions, or maybe impact on routine, price range or quality) Any time representing threat files to stakeholders as well as choice designers choosing quite fruitful to include it is impression, particularly when involved in choice generating around investing minimization strategies or fall-back programs. Project implement-Procurement Quality The particular strategies as well as behavior to regulate risks which pose a tremendous risk to your undertaking has to be included in the baseline undertaking strategy, since achievable. Minimization behavior dont want to possibly be taken care of beyond your mainstream undertaking managing processes, however practically in most initiatives right now, this is often just how it happens. Competitors should fully grasp the variation concerning minimization as well as backup arranging, and when each needs to be applied: Steps to appoint Project Governance Team Minimization strategies are generally aggressive behavior which lowers often: a) the probability of your threat transpiring or b) the impression of the threat in the event that it still really does. Tumble again (also referred to as contingency) programs are the choice programs which may be carried out if the threat happens. In addition, competitors must also discover how to incorporate threat managing files with the mainstream technical, managing as well as functionality measurement processes (e. h. Earned Worth Management). After the undertaking starts off to strategy the duty in this way, threat managing are able to turn right into a managed, fruitful course of action which systematically reduces undertaking threat, therefore permitting initiatives to minimize it is happening as well as impression. Risk Management Much like any course of action, undertaking threat managing need to alone possibly be managed. There needs to be periodic evaluations as well as functions timetabled in the mainstream undertaking decide to address threat. These types of evaluations has to be was able along with massive self-discipline, since they are not brainstorming or evaluation sessions they need to examine the status associated with threat minimization strategies, as well as allocate behavior while appropriate. Furthermore, you will find easy however quite highly effective metrics that could be used, in the undertaking as well as small business ranges, to observe use of the chance managing course of action along with the status associated with health and fitness associated with initiatives. Scope Management Though initiatives should handle risks, they may in the same manner get options, which usually in lots of ways are the exact complete opposite associated with threat. Some systems as well as links currently advertise exactly the same primary course of action for taking care of both collectively, in which options possess a constructive impact on the undertaking. There are several is worth for this, most likely the most important of which is to boost the consentrate on prospect managing also to offer a sensible balance towards the total photo during significant undertaking options. The particular strategies as well as behavior to regulate risks which pose a tremendous risk to your undertaking has to be included in the baseline undertaking strategy, since achievable. Minimization behavior dont want to possibly be taken care of beyond your mainstream undertaking managing processes, however practically in most initiatives right now, this is often just how it happens. Project Management Reporting process Competitors should fully grasp the variation concerning minimization as well as backup arranging, and when each needs to be applied: Minimization strategies are generally aggressive behavior which lowers often: a) the probability of your threat transpiring or b) the impression of the threat in the event that it still really does. Tumble again (also referred to as contingency) programs are the choice programs which may be carried out if the threat happens. In addition, competitors must also discover how to incorporate threat managing files with the mainstream technical, managing as well as functionality measurement processes (e. h. Earned Worth Management). After the undertaking starts off to strategy the duty in this way, threat managing are able to turn right into a managed, fruitful course of action which systematically reduces undertaking threat, therefore permitting initiatives to minimize it is happening as well as impression. Project Board Members and Role and Responsibilities Much like any course of action, undertaking threat managing need to alone possibly be managed. There needs to be periodic evaluations as well as functions timetabled in the mainstream undertaking decide to address threat. These types of evaluations has to be was able along with massive self-discipline, since they are not brainstorming or evaluation sessions they need to examine the status associated with threat minimization strategies, as well as allocate behavior while appropriate. Furthermore, you will find easy however quite highly effective metrics that could be used, in the undertaking as well as small business ranges, to observe use of the chance managing course of action along with the status associated with health and fitness associated with initiatives. Model of Project Management Though initiatives should handle risks, they may in the same manner get options, which usually in lots of ways are the exact complete opposite associated with threat. Some systems as well as links currently advertise exactly the same primary course of action for taking care of both collectively, in which options possess a constructive impact on the undertaking. There are several is worth for this, most likely the most important of which is to boost the consentrate on prospect managing also to offer a sensible balance towards the total photo during significant undertaking options. References: Anthony Eve, (2007) "Development of project management systems", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 39 Iss: 2, pp.85 90 Burke, R. (2013).Project management: planning and control techniques. Chia, R. (2013). Paradigms and perspectives in organizational project management research: implications for knowledge-creation. C. Smith, M. Bruyns, S. Evans, (2011) "A project manager's optimism and stress management and IT project success", International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, Vol. 4 Iss: 1, pp.10 27 Gido, J., Clements, J. (2014).Successful project management. Cengage Learning. Gino Cattani, Simone Ferriani, Lars Frederiksen, Florian Tube (2011), Project-Based Organizing and Strategic Management: A Long-Term Research Agenda on Temporary Organizational Forms, in Gino Cattani, Simone Ferriani, Lars Frederiksen, Florian Tube (ed.)Project-Based Organizing and Strategic Management (Advances in Strategic Management, Volume 28), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.xv-xxxix Heagney, J. (2011).Fundamentals of project management. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. James Sommerville, "Ethical views of micro-enterprises delivering project and asset management services in west-central Scotland", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 1 Iss: 1, pp.91 103 Kerzner, H. R. (2013).Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Larson, E. W., Gray, C. F. (2014). Project Management: The Managerial Process with MS Project. Leach, L. P. (2014).Critical chain project management. Artech House. Meredith, J. R., Mantel Jr, S. J. (2011).Project management: a managerial approach. John Wiley Sons. Mohan Kumaraswamy, "Editorial: integrating infrastructure project management with its built asset management", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 1 Iss: 1, pp.5 13 Turner, J. R. (2014).The handbook of project-based management(Vol. 92). McGraw-hill. Turner, J. R. (Ed.). (2014).Gower handbook of project management. Gower Publishing, Ltd.. Walker, A. (2015).Project management in construction. John Wiley Sons.

Birth Mark By Hawthorne Essays - The Birth-Mark, Nathaniel Hawthorne

Birth Mark By Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote a time of great change in America. In the mid-nineteenth century, Americans began to experience a shift in focus from the once stringent religious outlook to a more scientific view of the world and its natural wonders. Americans, however, did look at these new scientific discoveries with much hesitation, questioning their long-term effects on society as a whole. Hawthorne' s work, "The Birth Mark echoes these sentiments and combine natural faith with a confidence in science to make a very interesting tale. This tale and its morality convey a message to the reader that there is a price for tampering with the natural order of things. This story opens by explaining how educated and knowledgeable Aylmer is, and the narrator even suggests that he may have the power to alter nature. " We know not whether Aylmer possesses this degree of faith in man's ultimate control over nature (Birthmark, 1262 )."As Aylmer tries to use science to alter nature, or in this case, the birthmark on his wife's cheek, his plan backfires and his wife dies. The death of Georgiana shows that knowledge is dangerous if used in the wrong way. The influence of the evolution of culture has caused men to educate themselves, and learn extensive amounts about science. However, some men like Aylmer take advantage of their intelligence and try to play the role of God. Aylmer allowed his mind to consume his heart, resulting in the senseless death of his beautiful wife. Culture teaches men that if they learn enough that they can manipulate nature; however, in the Birthmark, Hawthorne shows that intelligence still can't overcome nature and thus culture is self-destructive. The fact the whole story is about removing a physical flaw from Georgiana's face when she is already obviously beautiful demonstrates the degree to which Aylmer has allowed this pursuit of knowledge and culture to destroy his ability to perceive nature's beauty. In this text, Georgiana and her birthmark represent nature, and culture is represented by Aylmer. Culture has taught men to question the flaws of women that they once found intriguing, therefore Aylmer is challenging nature when he tries to remove it. Aylmer is so wrapped up in this culture that he treats Georgiana as property. Her opinion about the removal of the birthmark was of little concern to him. Therefore, culture asserts that it is not only a separate entity from nature but that it has superior qualities. Because of Aylmer's belief that culture is superior to nature, the Creator of nature and culture alike chose to punish him. The punishment was not in an effort to be vengeful, but to show him what should have been important to him was not the birthmark on Georgiana's face, but the beauty that she possessed both inside and out that made him desire to spend the rest of his days with her. "...he failed to look beyond the shadowy scope of Time, and living once and for all in Eternity, to find the perfect Future in the present (Birthmark, 1273);" therefore, he was forced to spend eternity without the one that truly loved him?unconditionally. Bibliography Michelson, Bruce. Norton Anthology of American Literature. The Birtmark, pp1261-73.

Today, our world is faced with many diseases. Some Essays

Today, our world is faced with many diseases. Some Essays Hiv Today, our world is faced with many diseases. Some havent been discovered and some have no cures. The immune system fights off many of these diseases, but what happens when it fails us? One of the most deadly, incurable disease the world is faced with today is the Human Immunodeficency Virus (HIV). There is no none cure yet. Viruses cause colds and the flu. Viruses are microscopic particles that invade the cells of plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria. They often destroy the cells they invade. How do viruses reproduce? A virus first enters a cell in one of three ways: direct penetration, endocytosis, or membrane fusion. The virus takes over the cells machinery and is thus forced to make the viruss proteins and RNA. When the virus has entered, viral RNA is released in to the cell and reverse transcriptase occurs. Reverse trancriptase is when the cell makes a DNA copy of the viral RNA. It then produces the proteins and genes the virus needs to be assemble. The virus can then be released by three ways: lytic, lysogenic, and persistent. A virus, although not considered to be alive, does have a life cycle. First the virus attaches to a cell, which it recognizes by its surface markers. Then it penetrates the cell and gets inside. Next, it replicates and makes copies of itself. It then assembles itself back together and the new viruses are released. A virus cannot replicate by itself; it has to infect a cell. The virus is always the same size. It doesnt have a metabolism. A virus has three different shapes it can be: helical, polyhedral, and enveloped. It is made up of nucleic acid (RNA or DNA), and surrounded by a protein coat. Certain viruses can survive harsh conditions. Pathogens, disease-causing agents, have to enter the body to cause illness. There are several ways for them to get into the body: through the genitals, breaks in the skin, and natural openings. The immune system usually stops these invaders from getting in. The primary way to stop pathogens is by the skin. But, the skin has natural openings where they can get in. The eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and genitals are all natural openings. The second line of defense is at these natural openings. The pathogens get stuck in the mucus lining of the nose and mouth or are killed by the saliva and stomach acids; tears from the eyes; earwax; and acidic secretion of the vagina all stop pathogens but they dont get them all. The third line of defense is the Tortiory Response. There are two different kinds, innate (which you are born with and is non-antigen specific and acquired (which you acquire through life and is antigen specific). Innate has three different reposes to it. The first: phagocytic cells eat live viruses, bacteria and, dead cells. The second: natural killer cells are non-specific and destroy all infected cells. The third: interferon binds to the surface of surrounding healthy cells and activates their genes to create an antiviral state. Acquired immunity has different parts to it: macrophages (ingest viruses and expresses information to other cells; intructs and recognizes), T4-cells (instruct), T8-cells (respond), B-lymphocytes (respond), and lymphokines (rate control). There are two different kinds of acquired immunity: humoral and cell mediated. The humoral response involves the production of antigen-specific antibodies. Those antibodies neutralize he virus, help macrophages ingest and T8-cells to destroy it, and cause the destruction of the viral envelope. Colonal selection is part of the humoral response. The T4-cells get the right B-cells and activate them. The B-cells produce antibodies quickly then start to divide. Once they divide, they are called plasma cells and are able to produce 2,000 antibodies per second for 4-5 days. The cell-mediated response develops T8-cells that destroy host cells that have been infected already. T8-cells can tell the difference between regular and infected cells. HIV is a very deadly disease. There are certain risk behaviors associated with the disease. HIV is mainly transmitted by sexual contact or either by IV drug use. Anal sex carries a higher risk of getting it than vaginal or oral sex. The probability is 1/33 to 1/10 people. Vaginal intercourse also caries a high risk. Male to female

International Financial Reporting Standards Essay - 4

International Financial Reporting Standards - Essay Example As such, it does not outline an industry specific platform that guides and regulates its style of reporting. The existence of financial reporting standards acknowledged across the global platform, such as IFRS, is important especially to multinational corporations and global companies that operate in different countries across the world, with subsidiaries and interests in countries with different approaches to financial accounting and reporting. Therefore, the existence of such internationally acknowledged reporting standards enables these corporations to consolidate their financial statements, especially when returning the profits from subsidiaries to the parent company. A good example of such a multinational corporation that has overseas subsidiaries is the MacDonald’s Chain of Restaurants, whose mother company is in the united states but is has a global presence with its restaurants located in major markets across the world such as Asia and Europe. Despite the numerous benefits that come about to international corporations with their use and application of the IFRS guidelines, its application is not so efficient as an accounting practice because it acts merely as a guideline and not as a rule, or a principle, which accountants should follow and adhere to when preparing and reporting financial statements. This rule out the possibility of all companies applying these standards in their reporting and preparation of financial statements because there is no legal means of enforcing these standards. The lack of a strict enforcement mechanism makes it very difficult for international companies to apply IFRS principles in accounting. As such, these companies only follow these rules out of choice, especially because they want to achieve a global look, rather than following the formalities. However, if in the event these companies, especially the multinational

Event Evaluation -Netowrking Event Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Event Evaluation -Netowrking Event - Essay Example How long did planning the event take? Well the answers were explained in the following context. The following factors were help to illustrate clearly how they planned for the big event within the allotted time. The plan is the event! The key aspect that was considered when in the course of planning for the event was its ability to be successful. This is at the very best considered basing on virtual realities and constraints. Obviously, there were a number of hurdles and numerous challenges that would make the entire plan a nightmwere. To be able to truly achieve their target, they should be able to ensure that all elements were managed at various levels whereby it would be easier to control inputs and outputs. The core factor when they were considering time is to establish the goal of the entire arrangement and then proceed to draw the framework for the work to be done. Acquire adequate service orientation:-This would enable them to device the scenarios involved in acquiring the righ t services and it is worth creating a more definite organizational structure and from then they could build a more flexible planning technique (Ramsborg et al. 2008). With substantial inclusion of various requirements such as acquiring accessories, getting logistical information and assembling the necessary themes for the event, all schedules were correlated through the approximated layout scheduling process. Define organization capacity and flexibility: - The obvious approach to their organization is their ability to operationalize and internalize all the activities with due diligence and to easily get the right way towards establishing the right attributes. In that, they were be able to make all important aspects regarding the plan without having to get any difficulty as the entities needed for the events were always listed basing on important interests. Additionally, the planning process is exponentially maintained within the required capacity whereby the energy and interest is e xplained and recreated to enhance optimum arrangements as required by the resources available and the amount of services needed by the client. The good thing here was that in the Performance Hub, there was an ideal venue for the creation of music, dance or drama, as well as being suited to conferences and corporate events. The Performance Hub is a highly flexible venue and this was evident in the way the organisation of the event was tailored to showcase the capacity and organizational flexibility due to its tailor made state of the art facilities especially made for such events. For instance to show how versatile the event organizational capacity was, there was the options of several venues that included the following: The Black Box Theatre: The Black Box Theatre is one of the best-equipped small theatres in the country. Ideally suited to small performances, the theatre features a raked seating area and high quality acoustics. The 108 seat venue is fully equipped with lighting and sound equipment to support your performance. The theatre has double height loading doors allowing you to bring your set directly into the venue. The Performance Hub can also offer support with a functional box office and catering provision on request. Technical support can

Innovation Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Innovation Management - Essay Example Spin-Brush, a unique electric toothbrush received this protection from the United States government that kept it flourishing over its competitors over a great period of time. This right has kept away the many competitors in the market from using the design and packaging of Spin-Brush thereby making the product to remain relevant and outstanding in the market. The ‘try-me’ design in which Spin-Brush has been devised attracts most customers to it and probably many firms would want to exploit that so they could also drive in many consumers. This has been protected by the patent rights that Osher received. Patent has also made it easy to license it with companies such as Crest. Its value has continued to be high since many competitors are kept away from altering it making it be the only product with those features. Customers therefore find it conspicuous compared to other products due to packaging and design. Companies are likely to respond in different ways as they try to counter-neutralise the domination of Spin-Brush so that they may remain relevant in the competitive industry. There is a possibility of lowering the prices of electric brushes that previously sold at higher prices than that of Spin-Brush in order to attract customers. Also, companies are likely to mount promotional campaigns to create awareness concerning their products in the markets (Fox, 2013:147). Spin-Brush producers need to increase even more their advertisements and field demonstrations showing how efficient their product is. A counter-promotional strategy would work best to minimise rise of these other competitive companies since the design and packaging in which Spin-Brush is made favours it over other players in the industry. Other inventions are more likely to come up in areas that are not covered by the patent right such as technological know-how behind the production. Consequently, the

Effect of Adolescent Cannabis Use on Brain Functions

Effect of Adolescent Cannabis Use on Brain Functions Cannabis Use During Adolescence: A Review of Impacts on Brain Functions and Associated Outcomes Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the social acceptability of cannabis usage in the United States, with several states having already legalized recreational use of the substance and several more projected to do so within the next several years (Leyton, 2016).   Concurrently, there has been an increase in the amount of adolescents who report using cannabis, with recent data indicating that 39% of high school seniors report using cannabis within the past year and 6-7% reporting daily or near daily cannabis use (Johnston & O’Malley, 2015).   Despite increasing utilization of cannabis products for pain management and other ailments (Hwang & Clarke, 2016), some in the scientific community have expressed concern about the potential ramifications of recreational legalization of cannabis.   Chief amongst these concerns is the idea that adolescents will have very easy access to increasingly potent cannabis and synthetic cannabis products (Sobesky & Gorgens, 2016), as a great deal of research has indicated that the use of cannabis poses several risks specific to individuals in the adolescent age range (see Levine, Clemenza, Rynn, & Lieberman, 2017).   This paper will summarize the research examining the impact of cannabis use on the developing adolescent brain and potential associated outcomes, particularly in the areas of cognition/executive function, anxiety and depression, psychotic disorders, and future substance use/dependence.   The Adolescent Brain To understand the impact of cannabis use on the developing adolescent brain, it is first necessary to understand the changes taking place in the brain during this developmental period.   Not surprisingly, the period of adolescence is a time of tremendous change in the circuitry of the brain.   According to Arain et al. (2013), there is a significant amount of neuronal plasticity in the brain during adolescence, meaning the â€Å"wiring† of the brain is extremely adaptable to learning and experience.   Such plasticity, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, lends itself to difficulty thinking rationally and critically, often leading to the impulsive decision-making that is characteristic of the adolescent years.   In addition, the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, the system responsible for regulating human responses to stress, also undergoes significant development during the period of adolescence.   Within this system, the amount and duration of adrenocorti cotropic hormone (ACTH) and glucocorticoids released in response to stress increase significantly as compared to other life periods (Romeo, 2013).   Shortly before puberty, a â€Å"surge† of synaptogenesis and neuronal growth occurs in which grey matter in the brain thickens substantially.   From this point throughout the period of adolescence, the brain is continually rewired through dendritic pruning and increased myelination of synapses, particularly in the prefrontal cortex (Arain et al., 2013; Lubman, Bonomo, & Yucel, 2007).   In addition, white matter increases are seen in the corpus callosum (Arain et al., 2013).   Taken together, these changes increase the efficiency of communication within the brain, allowing for the eventual development of more complex cognitive functioning, including improved impulse control, operational thinking, and working memory (Hart, 2007; Lubman et al., 2007).   In addition to the constant rewiring of brain circuitry that occurs during adolescence, the levels of three neurotransmitters – dopamine, serotonin, and melatonin – change during the adolescent period (Arain et al., 2013).   According to Dahl (2003), dopamine and serotonin levels decrease during adolescence, resulting in emotional dysregulation, mood disruptions, and difficulties with impulse control.   Melatonin levels, on the other hand, increase, which in turn increases the amount of sleep that adolescents need to be fully â€Å"re-charged.†Ã‚     Given the massive changes that are occurring in the brain during the period of adolescence, it is a time in which the brain is especially susceptible to the use of substances, (Lubman et al., 2007) including cannabis.   Cannabis’ Action in the Brain Before discussing the specific impacts of cannabis use on the adolescent brain, it is important to understand how cannabis acts in the brain in general.   First, the brain has an endogenous cannabinoid system (endocannabinoid system) made up of the ligands anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) and cannabinoid receptors known as CB1 and CB2 receptors (Moreira & Lutz, 2008).   CB1 receptors are located throughout the brain, but are particularly populous in the front region of the cerebral cortex, the basal ganglia, the cerebellum, the hypothalamus, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the hippocampus; CB2 receptors are generally found throughout the body’s immune system (Hill et al., 2010; Iversen, 2004).   The endocannabinoid system plays a role in a number of processes, including the regulation of the HPA axis stress response (Hill et al., 2010; Lee & Gorzalka, 2015), neural plasticity, and learning and memory (Lu et al., 2008).   According to Iversen (2004), the psychoactive component in cannabis is Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).   THC, as well as increasingly popular synthetic cannabinoids, act as agonists on CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the brain.   Because CB1 receptors are generally presynaptic rather than postsynaptic, cannabinoids control the release of certain neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine, L-glutamate, ÃŽ ³-aminobutyric acid (GABA), noradrenaline (norepinephrine), dopamine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).   The use of exogenous cannabinoids, such as marijuana or synthetic marijuana products, leads to an unnaturally long-lasting activation of CB1 receptors, ultimately inhibiting the release of the aforementioned neurotransmitters in selected areas of the brain (Iversen, 2004).   In addition to its impact on CB1 receptors and associated neurotransmitters, THC also appears to trigger the firing of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area of the brain and the nucleus accumbens – areas of the brain that are heavily implicated in the brain’s reward circuit associated with drug use.   This effect is also seen with heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine, suggesting that THC may also act on the opioid receptor system within the brain (Iversen, 2004). Impact on Cognition and Executive Function Tasks The literature has focused on several larger areas of impact regarding cannabis use during adolescence, one of these being the potential impacts on cognition and tasks of executive function.   As previously mentioned, the brain undergoes a significant amount of change in the adolescent years, including the frequent re-wiring of neural connections through neural pruning processes, particularly in the prefrontal cortex.   According to Filbey, McQueeny, DeWitt, and Mishra (2015), cannabis use during adolescence disrupts this normal pruning process through its modulation of neurotransmitters and inhibition of microglial processes.   This results in abnormal connectivity within the brain, including a decrease in white matter volume and integrity (Gruber, Dahlgren, Sagar, Gonenc, & Lukas, 2014; Jacobus et al., 2009). Such changes result in a number of cognitive impacts, including increased impulsivity, poorer reaction times, and increased errors on executive function tasks (e.g., planning, organization, self-regulation, etc.) (Becker, Wagner, Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, Spuentrup, & Daumann, 2010; Gruber et al., 2014).   Indeed, studies have indicated that individuals who begin marijuana use in early adolescence are at an increased risk for developing deficits in attention (Ehrenreich et al., 1999) and visual processing (Tapert, Granholm, Leedy, & Brown, 2002), and exhibit a decreased full scale IQ and verbal IQ in adulthood (Meier et al., 2012).   Memory also appears to be affected by adolescent-onset cannabis use (Tait, Mackinnon, & Christensen, 2011), likely via its impact on the hippocampus – a part of the brain heavily implicated in memory functions.   Animal research has shown that the hippocampus is affected by cannabis use especially during the period of adolescence.   In rats, adolescent exposure to cannabis impacted the microstructure of the hippocampus as well as abnormalities in the way that proteins are expressed in the hippocampus (Quinn et al., 2008).   Specifically, it appears that exogenous cannabinoids bind to CB1 receptors and inhibit the release of glutamate, thus contributing to deficits in short-term memory (Hart, 2007) and negatively impacting performance on memory-related tasks (see Levine et al., 2017).   Some animal studies indicate that lower levels of cannabis use (those most reflective of the actual amount that adolescents use) are not predictive of long-lasting hippocampal changes.   However, because current cannabis products are continuing to increase in potency (Levine et al., 2017), hippocampal changes and subsequent memory problems are topics of concern, especially with regard to adolescent users of cannabis.   Working memory also appears to be impacted by cannabis use, particularly in individuals that began using cannabis before the age of sixteen.   Becker et al. (2010) used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine performance on a working memory task in individuals who began using cannabis before age sixteen (early-onset) as compared to individuals who began using cannabis after the age of sixteen (later-onset).   Results of this study indicated that early-onset cannabis users exhibited increased cortical activity in the parietal lobe as compared to later-onset cannabis users.   The researchers concluded that this increased cortical activity indicated decreased cortical efficiency in response to challenging working memory-related tasks in early-onset, but not later-onset, cannabis users (Becker et al., 2010).   Such findings are consistent with a number of studies indicating that an earlier age of onset of cannabis use is associated with greater risk of negative impacts on cognitive functioning during adulthood (Ehrenreich et al., 1999; Fontes et al., 2011; Meier et al., 2012; Pope et al., 2003).   Impact on the Development of Anxiety and Depression Several studies indicate a connection between adolescent-onset cannabis use and the development of both anxiety and depressive disorders (e.g., Brook, Rosen, & Brook, 2001; Degenhardt et al., 2013; Fairman, 2015; Hayatbakhsh et al., 2007; Patton et al., 2002; van Laar, van Dorsselaer, Monshouwer, & de Graaf, 2007).   Though past researchers have speculated about the directionality of this relationship, studies have consistently indicated that adolescent-onset depression is not predictive of later cannabis use (e.g., Degenhardt, Hall, & Lynskey, 2003; Moore et al., 2007; Womack, Shaw, Weaver, & Forbes, 2016), negating the idea that depressive and/or anxiety symptoms lead to engagement in cannabis use as a method of symptom relief.   Instead, such findings promote the idea that cannabis use during adolescence, in combination with other potential risk factors, increase the risk for the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms in adulthood (Levine et al., 2017).   As with the cognitive changes discussed in the previous section of this paper, it is early-onset use of cannabis that appears to be riskiest with regard to the development of future anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hayatbakhsh et al., 2007; Patton et al., 2002).   In an interesting study by Spechler et al. (2015), fMRIs were used to examine activity in the amygdalas of adolescent users of cannabis.   The researchers showed participants images of both angry and neutral faces, a well-known test of amygdala activity and a well-regarded index of emotional processing.   Results of this study indicated that compared to the control group, adolescent cannabis users exhibited increased amygdala activity in response to the images of angry faces whereas the control group showed the same amount of amygdala activity when shown images of neutral faces.   Spechler et al. (2015) concluded that adolescent cannabis use is associated with increased hypersensitivity to negative affect.   However, in this case, the directionality of the relationship is unclear: it is possible that the sensitivity of the amygdala pre-dated the cannabis use and the cannabis use was engaged in due to its anxiolytic effect.   Conversely, it is possible that cannabis use led to increased sensitivity in the amygdala.   Either way, it appears that adolescent cannabis users are overly sensitive to negative affect and the potential threat that accompanies it, which may explain the increased incidence of depressive and anxious symptomatology in this population.    There are several potential neurobiological mechanisms explaining the relationship between adolescent cannabis use and the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms.   One possibility is the impact of exogenous cannabinoids on the HPA axis system.   The endocannabinoid system regulates the responsivity of the HPA axis, which, as previously mentioned, undergoes significant development during the adolescent years (Hill et al., 2010; Lee & Gorzalka, 2015; Romeo, 2013).   Studies with both human and rodent subjects have indicated that the use of exogenous cannabinoids during adolescence has the capacity to alter HPA axis stress responses, thus impacting emotionality and the development of anxiety-related symptoms (Lee & Gorzalka, 2015).   Lovelace et al. (2015) discuss another neurobiological mechanism that may underlie the relationship between adolescent cannabis use and the development of anxiety and depression.   In a rodent study, these researchers examined maladaptations in the prefrontal cortex due to cannabis use by looking at presynaptic plasticity at glutamatergic synapses in adolescent rats.   The results indicated that exposure to exogenous cannabinoids during adolescence led to over-activation of CB1 receptors, which led to permanent changes in synapses in the prefrontal cortex.   Overall, mice exposed to exogenous cannabinoids during adolescence showed a loss of presynaptic plasticity, which impacts the brain’s ability to adapt to changing environments and thus may contribute to an increased vulnerability of psychopathology during adulthood (Lovelace et al., 2015).   In an interesting rodent study conducted by Rubino et al. (2008), researchers found that exposure to THC during adolescence was associated with decreased density and function of CB1 receptors in the ventral tegmental area, the nucleus accumbens, and the amygdala.   These areas of the brain are implicated in emotional processing and reward and are thus implicated in the development of depressive symptomatology.   The behavior of the rats in this study also mirrored depressive symptomatology.   Specifically, rats exposed to THC during adolescence exhibited both â€Å"behavioral despair† (which the researchers defined as time the rats were immobile) and anhedonia (as measured through decreased consumption of sucrose).   Taken together, it appears that several neurobiological mechanisms are at play in the connection between adolescent cannabis use and the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms.   Impact on the Development of Psychotic Disorders A substantial body of literature has indicated a connection between the use of cannabis during adolescence and the later development of psychotic disorders (e.g., van Os et al., 2002; Henquet et al., 2005; Stefanis et al., 2004).   This is especially true for individuals who are already genetically predisposed to develop psychotic disorders (Henquet et al., 2005) though the connection has also been found in individuals that do not have this genetic predisposition (van Os et al., 2002).   As with the impact on cognition and on anxiety/depressive symptoms, it appears that early-onset cannabis use (Arseneault et al., 2002; Moore et al., 2007) as well as heavier (i.e. daily or near-daily) use pose the greatest risk for the later development of a psychotic disorder (Moore et al., 2007; van Os et al., 2002). Rubino and Parolaro (2014) discuss the possible neurobiological mechanisms behind the connection between adolescent cannabis use and the development of psychotic disorders.   In general, it appears that the use of exogenous cannabinoids during adolescence disrupts the maturational processes occurring in the brain during this time, especially in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex – two areas of the brain that are implicated in the psychotic disorder schizophrenia, in particular.   The endocannabinoid system itself undergoes a significant amount of change during the adolescent years; thus, exogenous cannabinoid exposure during this time period has the potential to alter the long-term functionality of CB1 receptors, which then impacts the activity of several neurotransmitters implicated in psychotic symptomatology, especially dopamine (Rubino & Parolaro, 2014). Additionally, being exposed to cannabis during the adolescent period has been shown to disrupt prepulse inhib ition (the ability to accurately perceive and process stimuli) and down-regulate GABAergic activity in the prefrontal cortex – both symptoms commonly seen in individuals with schizophrenia (Morales-Muà ±oz et al., 2014; Zamberletti et al., 2014).  Ã‚   As previously mentioned, individuals who have a genetically predisposed vulnerability to develop psychotic disorders are at an especially high risk to do so if they engage in cannabis use during adolescence (Henquet et al., 2005).   For example, individuals who have a specific variant of the gene for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), which breaks down dopamine – the neurotransmitter implicated in schizophrenia – are at a much higher risk for developing the disorder if they used cannabis during adolescence as compared to individuals who do not have that specific variant of the gene for COMT (Caspi et al., 2005).   Another gene that influences the relationship between adolescent cannabis use and psychosis is the ATK1 gene, which affects dopamine breakdown in the striatum.   According to DiForti et al. (2012), cannabis users with a certain variant of the ATK1 gene were seven times more likely to develop psychosis as compared to individuals with this gene variant w ho did not use cannabis.   Clearly, in individuals that already possess these specific genetic variants, cannabis use during adolescence can be the trigger that leads to the expression of these genes and the development of psychotic symptoms and/or disorders.   In addition, adults with psychotic disorders who used cannabis during adolescence are at a greater risk for relapse of psychotic symptoms, poorer adherence to treatment, and increased rates of hospitalization related to their diagnosis (Hunt, Bergen, & Bashir, 2002; Lewis, Tarrier, & Drake, 2005; Wade et al., 2006).   Impact on the Future Development of Substance Use Disorders   Several studies have indicated a link between adolescent cannabis use and the later development of a substance use disorder.   Again, this relationship is especially strong for individuals that engage in cannabis use in early adolescence and who engage in heavy (i.e., daily or near-daily) use (Fergusson, Boden, & Horwood, 2006; Hall & Lynskey, 2005; Stuart & Green, 2008).  Ã‚   Past researchers have speculated upon various explanations for this trend, including the so-called ‘gateway hypothesis.’   In general, the ‘gateway hypothesis’ assumes that individuals who use â€Å"harder† drugs such as heroin and cocaine almost always started their use of substances with using cannabis, and that this link is explicitly causal (Van Gundy & Rebellon, 2010).  Ã‚   This hypothesis is based on research findings indicating that the use of cannabis during adolescence often predates the use of other illicit substances, including heroin, methamphetamines, and cocaine (Fergusson et al., 2006).   Though the causality of this link has been repeatedly questioned in the literature (e.g., Morral, McCaffrey, & Paddock, 2002; Van Gundy & Rebellon, 2010), many researchers have attempted to explain the mechanisms behind the early use of cannabis and the later use of other substances and/or development of a substance use disorder.   There are countless potential psychosocial explanations for this connection (e.g., peer pressure, propensity toward risk-taking behaviors, availability of substances, etc.); however, for the purposes of this paper, the potential neurobiological mechanisms behind the connection will be discussed. The major possible neurobiological mechanism behind the connection between early cannabis use and the later development of a substance use disorder has to do with the effect of cannabis on the brain’s opioidergic system.   A great deal of animal research has indicated that the endocannabinoid system and the opioidergic system are intricately linked.   For example, Pickel, Chan, Kash, Rodriguez, and Mackie (2004) and Rodriguez, Mackie, and Pickel (2001) found that CB1 receptors and  µ opioid receptors are found on the same neurons in both the striatum and the ventral tegmental area, and Cossu et al. (2001) and Ledent et al. (1999) found that animals without CB1 receptor genes do not self-administer opioids. Drawing upon this clear connection between the endocannabinoid and opioidergic brain systems, Ellgren, Spano, and Hurd (2007) investigated the hypothesis that cannabis exposure during adolescence changes opioid-related neural functions and leads to increased likelihood of later opioid use.   Findings of this research confirmed that rats exposed to THC during the adolescent period self-administered greater amounts of heroin compared to the control group.   Moreover, findings indicated that rats exposed to THC in adolescence showed a persistent disturbance in the activity of enkephalin, which is the endogenous opioid neuropeptide associated with reward behaviors and hedonic states.   Findings also indicated that THC exposure led to changes in the functions of  µ opioid receptors such that heroin use was more reinforcing (via dopamine release) for rats exposed to THC during adolescence as compared to the control group.   Taken together, these results indicate that cannabis use during adolescence leads to a greater vulnerability to the reinforcing effects of opioids during adulthood, potentially leading to a greater risk for dependence and likelihood of relapse of substance use disorders.   Conclusion Despite the increasing popularity of cannabis use, both for medicinal and recreational purposes (Hwang & Clarke, 2016; Leyton, 2016), it is important to consider the resulting increased availability of cannabis to individuals during the sensitive period of adolescence.   Given the profound changes occurring in the brain during adolescence (Arain et al., 2013; Dahl, 2003; Hart, 2007; Lubman et al., 2007), teenagers are particularly susceptible to the influence of substances, which may lead to lasting changes in the brain’s functioning.   Such changes are associated with poor outcomes in several areas, including deficits in performance on executive function tasks (Becker et al., 2010; Ehrenreich et al., 1999; Fontes et al., 2011; Gruber et al., 2014; Meier et al., 2012; Pope et al., 2003; Tapert et al., 2002), an increased risk for the development of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms (Brook et al., 2001; Degenhardt et al., 2013; Fairman, 2015; Hayatbakhsh et al., 2007; Patt on et al., 2002; van Laar, van Dorsselaer, Monshouwer, & de Graaf, 2007), an increased risk for the development of a psychotic disorder (Arseneault et al., 2002; Caspi et al., 2005; DiForti et al., 2012; Henquet et al., 2005; Moore et al., 2007; Rubino & Parolaro, 2014; Stefanis et al., 2004; van Os et al., 2002), and an increased risk for future substance use/dependence (Fergusson et al., 2006; Hall & Lynskey, 2005; Stuart & Green, 2008).   Such considerations may have important implications for policy development related to the legalization of cannabis.   References Arain, M., Haque, M., Johal, L., Mathur, P., Nel, W., Rais, A., Sandu, R., & Sharma, S. 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