Instant Noodle Market: An Economic Indicator in the Philippines Essay

INTRODUCTION Background of the Study With the Philippines’ worsening economy, people are becoming more concerned with their expenditures and are shifting their consumption to cheaper alternatives. Such an alternative for food is instant because these instant noodles are not only tasty and filling, but also very cheap. These three qualities have made it very popular among consumers who are tightening their budget. This paper aims to show that the increasing popularity and sales of this instant noodles are directly related to the worsening condition of the Philippines’ economy. When consumers experience lower income and lower level of spending power they tend to substitute cheaper, lower quality goods for relatively more expensive, higher quality goods. In this light, instant noodles are becoming an indicator of the country’s economic performance. Additionally, this increased consumption of instant noodles brings about many health and economic implications. Statement of the Problem In the current deteriorating state of the Philippine economy, instant noodles, because of their affordability and convenience, are slowly replacing traditional food staples and at the same time, becoming an economic indicator. In this research, the author focus on how instant noodles are gaining popularity in the Philippines in relation to this product’s characteristics and the influences of the economy and income per capita. The paper would also solve the following questions: how the consumption level of instant noodles is indicative of the country’s economic activity? What are the implications that the growing consumption of instant noodles may have on the Philippine economy and the health of the population? Importance of the study More knowledge on this topic could prove useful to understanding how the instant noodle market could become an effective gauge of a country’s performance and the state of living. In addition, by delving into the subject, more information may be made available and would allow future studies to look more closely on how instant noodles may be improved to further benefit the general population. Also, the growing industry may be prove to be useful as a mechanism of providing labor and other forms of economic benefits for the country. As poverty continues to be rampant and resources remain scarce, instant noodles may prove to be a solution to some of the problems faced by the Philippines today. Scope and Limitation of the Study The research will focus on the consumer activity of households with relatively low income and how it would relate to the economy. The survey for this paper will be conducted with 30 respondents at Brgy. 617, a relatively impoverished urban community situated in Sampaloc, Manila. The interview will also take place in the said barangay. Subject: Accounting Subject of Topic: Instant Noodles Topic: The effects of noodles to those family who has low income Purpose: The purpose of this research is to further increase the understanding of how the economic state of a country affects its consumers’ behaviors towards instant noodles or even similar products. Title: Instant Noodles Becoming a Replacement for Traditional Food Staples in Brgy. 617 Sampaloc, Manila and an Indicator of the Philippine Economy.

Practicum Format

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the course BHRM450P : Practicum II for degree in Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management Hotel & Restaurant Management Department College of International Hospitality Management De La Salle University – Dasmarinas Dasmarinas, Cavite Presented to: Name of the Practicum Coordinator Presented by: Complete Name of Students Date Submitted TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGES I. Introduction 3 Name and General Location 3 Ownership / Management 4Facilities, number of rooms and type, functions rooms 5 Outstanding characteristic of the establishment 5 II. Discuss of findings / Analysis / Recommendation 6 Areas of concern Organizational structure 6 Operations systems and procedures 6 Facilities, equipment, etc. 6 Man power – scheduling work, method, styles of communication 6 Work atmosphere, inter – personal relation 6 Use of material resources 6 Strength Improvement Areas / weakness 6 Recommendations 7 Introduction Crown Rege ncy is the name to trust when it comes to  Cebu city hotels.Establishing itself asan extraordinary hotelier, the Crown Regency name become synonymous with the word comfort. This tradition continued to exacting standards in  Crown Regency Residences  boast of unmatched accessibility with its strategic location along V. Rama Ave. Guadalupe, Cebu City. This places the hotel minutes away from the provincial capitol, historic Fuente Osmena and Guadalupe Church. Ambience is everything. Each of Crown Regency residences’ 167 guest rooms are designed to provide a homey ambience to ensure your utmost comfort.All our accommodations are fully air conditioned and are fitted with modern amenities such as coffee and tea – making facilities, 21† cable televisions, full baths, living and dining areas – everything you need to experience the best of Cebu. World class facilities and services Crown Regency and residences provides all the essentials for comfort. Weâ€℠¢ve thought or every need a seasoned business or leisure traveler could want. Whether your looking for a night restful sleep, a day of sports, an afternoon of total relaxation or an evening of fabulous feasts, you’ll always find something at crown regency.Add in our special blend of authentic hospitality and you have the makings of a great day. Location map Ownership / management J. King and Sons Company incorporated is a privately owned company headquartered in Cebu City, Philippines. It operates luxury hotels in top business gateways and leisure destinations nationwide. The company portfolio includes new properties, registered historic land marks, exceptional convention hotels and a spa and lifestyle club. It also operates a laundry service provider. Drive – in hotels strategically located in key cities ationwide, condominium towers, and condominium hotel projects, indoor sports and fitness facility and soon more vacation destination in the island of boracay. J. King and sons incorporated operates national sales offices in Makati and Cebu City; it services clients in major destination in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and employs around 1000 employees. The company still remains J. King and Sons Trading which was founded in the 1950’s. another affiliated company is Yok Impex Incorporated, an import and export company based in Clark economic zone. J.King and Sons company inc. has also venture into health supplement business with VITA – C HEALTHS PRODUCTS INC. , a company engaged in the distribution of top quality and world class vitamin c sodium ascorbate with its eye on optimizing economic growth. J. Kimg and Sons is a major shareholder of this fast rising health supplement network company. Mission and Vision Our Mission Our mission is to be at the forefront of the hospitality and real estate industry in the country. We are determined to deliver quality products and services to exceed our clients’ satisfaction.We constantly ach ieve to reward them with superior experience and value for their money. Vision J. King and Sons company inc. sees itself as a globally recognized company that offers consistent products and services in key business and leisure destinations. Facilities, Number of Rooms and Type, Function Rooms Each room at the Crown Regency residences is designed to provide you with the utmost comfort. Following in the tradition of all crown regency accommodation, the Crown regency residences aims to amazed guest with its 167 well – appointed guest rooms.Each fully air – conditioned guest room is equipped with living and dining areas, full sized posture – pedic beds, fully equipped modern kitchen with cookware and dinnerware, complete bath facilities in – room broadband internet access and 21† colored television with cable services and remote control, all designed to help you enjoy business or pleasure while in cebu. All Crown Regency Residences rooms have: * Air con ditioning * Cable television * Full bath with bath tubs * Full sized beds * Refrigerator * Rates are inclusive of breakfastAn accommodating business partner * Full service business center * Five function rooms with sound proof partitions are ideal for small gatherings. These are convertible into an elegant grand ballroom perfect for large volume functions. Delectably delightful dining options * Sarimanok coffee shop * Cassanova lounge and Sports bar * Fabulous Fifties cafe * Sun Court Pool and Bar * Courtyard Grill and restaurant First class facilities * Swimming pool * Game room and sports bar * Regency day spa * Music box family ktv Services to exceed your expectations Concierge * Housekeeping * Laundry and pressing services * Valet * 24 – hour room service * Transportation * Wake – up calls * Telephone operator * Baby sitting services * Foreign currency exchange FINDINGS /ANALYSIS/ RECOMMENDATIONS Department: Food and Beverage Food and beverage service is the servin g of food made in the kitchen and drinks prepared in the bar for the customers or guest at food and beverage premises, which can be restaurants, bar, hotels, airlines, cruise ship, trains company, schools, colleges, hospitals, prison, takeaway, etc.Housekeeping House keeping services is the service provides by the hotel to their guest for the guest’s comfort and to maintain the cleanliness of the hotel. The housekeeping is the heart of the hotel. Front office Front office is the first place you will see when you entered in hotel facility. Every detail of hotel will be found in front office. And every complain or request of guest can be found in front office. Areas of concern Facilities and equipment Whether you’re a business or a leisure traveler, our facilities and services are sure to impress.A wide selection of sumptuous spreads, a state of the art fitness center, business centers and function rooms – these are only the few of the facilities we’ve made sure to include as integral parts of the crown regency tradition. And they all serve one purpose; to ensure your comfort and convenience. An accommodating business partner * Full – service business center * Five function rooms with sound proof partitions are ideal for small gatherings. These are convertible into an elegant ballroom perfect for large volume functions. WI –FI hotspot is inside the function rooms only First – class facilitiesCrown Regency is equipped with numerous facilities as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. * Swimming pool * Game room and sports bar * Regency day spa * Music box family ktv Services to exceed your expectations * Concierge * Housekeeping * Laundry and pressing services * Valet * 24 – hour room service * Transportation * Wake – up calls * Telephone operator * Baby sitting services * Foreign currency exchange Internet connectivity The function rooms are WI – FI hotspot with minimal fee Recommendations I r ecommend this for the students who are looking for an establishment to take their practicum/OJT.I also recommend this for the people who are looking for the best hotel for their leisure and relaxation. Conclusion Crown Regency and Residences can provide an additional knowledge for the students to be well trained and well discipline when it comes to professionalism in work environment. The company teaches the student not only to be a professional but also they will learn and know what is the real world is, how to have a confidence is career they chose and to appreciate the art of being a hotelier whether it is in kitchen, in food and beverage, in housekeeping and in front office.

How health care cost and the aging baby boomer population will affect Research Paper - 1

How health care cost and the aging baby boomer population will affect the economy - Research Paper Example This paper centers the discussion about the supply and demand of the health care cost associated to the aging baby boomers, and its effects onto the national economy. Finally, a conclusion will be drawn to justify the researcher’s analysis within the general scope of the study. Approximately after ten years, the general population of the baby boomers will range between 51 to 70 years old (Court, Farrell, & Forsyth, 2007). Baby boomers should be enticed to work after their retirement stage. Because of the growing demand for baby boomers to continue their participation in the workforce, some fractions of the national policy should be amended. Further, 69% of the baby boomers are not yet ready to adopt new lifestyles (Beinhocker, Farrell, & Greenberg, 2009). Baby boomers will report 40% of the United States’ expenditure by 2015, especially onto the disproportional division of growth and expenditure in industries from healthcare (Macunovich, 2012, p. 3). It was unearthed that the oldest baby boomers are fiscally unready to leave the workforce and are not conscious about their quandary (Beinhocker, Farrell, & Greenberg, 2009). It was found that more than half of the total population of the baby boomers was determined to work after their formal retirement (Court, Farrell, & Forsyth, 2007). As a matter of fact, baby boomers’ workforce is increasing nowadays. After their retirement stage, baby boomers will still tend to work despite their age (Macunovich, 2012, p. 3). The growing demand for this cluster is relatively high due to economic turmoil that is happening nowadays. Baby boomers tend to continue working because they need to cover up their consumption by gaining no more than 80% of their standard income. As to that, there would be 40% of them active in the workforce at age 65. By 2015, 33% of the baby boomer workforce will reach over the age 50 (Court, Farrell, & Forsyth, 2007). Approximately, 83% of them are receiving social security benefits

Business Operations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Business Operations - Assignment Example The lean production process aids the company in performing operations with better economies of scale (Aldi, n.d.). In the present scenario, the UK retail market is seemed to be developing in an enhanced manner owing to increased consumer demands, both in the grocery along with food sectors. Additionally, it has been identified that online services are of immense importance in the retail sector for performing sales operations in accordance with the recognised customers’ preferences (SAS, 2013). Aldi is a leading as well as award-winning grocery store operating on a global context, wherein factors like globalisation and advancing technologies have increased market competitions. Additionally, the preferences of customers and buying behaviour of customers have changed in a considerable manner owing to online services. In this regard, the company is required to enhance its business operation management to a sustainable extent in relation to quality, global competition, productivity, customer services and e-business guidelines. Subsequently, the company is required to consider certain important elements with the aim of retaining its competitive position and business performance in the market segments of the UK for online business operations, which are illustrated hereunder. Aldi, in order to implement effective online business operations in the market segments of the UK, is required to develop an extensive relationship with customers. In this regard, building a relevant relationship with customers will facilitate the company with the opportunity of identifying the needs along with preferences of customers maintaining greater degree of accuracy and accordingly, conduct e-business operations facing minimum hurdles (Dignersys Consulting Berhad, 2011). Aldi, when planning to initiate online business operations, is required to make effective financial plans with the aim of ensuring that e-business

Report for MAERSK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Report for MAERSK - Essay Example Understanding of these basic economic principles is to play a pivotal role in the defining future customer oriented successful strategy. In a similar context, the underlying report will shed light on the basic demand and supply and related factors for the shipping industry. The report will also make recommendations with respect to the pricing strategies of Maersk. Despite this growth of the world trade, the shipping industry remained under pressure due to oversupply. According to the DSF (2013) report, year of 2012 continues to expand crises in the shipping. The fleet has grown by 45% since 2008 while the demand growth has remained only at the 15%. The similar condition has left the industry with the oversupply of vessels, yard capacity, and container and consequently has taken down the earnings. Despite this oversupply, the industry is continuing the order books. This is also putting downside pressure on the asset value of a vessel in the long term, further, are expected to the increase the value of scrap on the industry (DSF, 2013). The world trade had considerably positive outlook of 19% growth for the year 2011 to 2014. The growth in world trade has a positive impact on the demand of the shipping industry. Therefore, increase in demand have balancing impact on the imbalance between the demand and supply of the shipping industry. Therefore, graphically it will be reflected as follows: Hence, current prices of the shipping industry which are under pressure (P0) due to limited demand will gain certain support (to P1) as the demand revives from D0 to D1. Important to note that increase in world trade of 19% has resulted in increase in demand that has shifted the curve from D0 to D1: As noted above, the supply is also constantly increasing as the constant growth in contracting shipping industry supply development. It is noted the increase in supply is has been at a higher percentage as compared to

Human Resources in Business Strategic Aspects Of Reward and Variable Essay

Human Resources in Business Strategic Aspects Of Reward and Variable Pay - Essay Example Looked through the employer’s perspective employees are rewarded for their skills (potential and output), for their input (presenting competencies). From the employee’s point of view being rewarded means that they are treated as stakeholders and that the expectations of the management have been met. Rewarding also entitles employees to bargain their wages with labour unions and to seek consultations via work and staff councils. As a statistical summary, it can be said that in the last 5 years, 60% of the companies have introduces new reward systems into their organizations. As a general rule every employee has to be advised before starting work about the payment structures, the salary progression, the monthly benefits (if/after the target is reached), and incentive plans. Not all organizations have a delegated Human Resource department. Smaller businesses prefer to allocate the role to the owner/manager. Therefore, employees have a direct access to the management and can try to negotiate their pay progression. In a bigger company though, employees have more benefits – bonuses, training programmes, social events. In traditional organizations for example in Japan, the progression of the salary depends on the length of service. These are centralized policies, and usually they have very cautious response to the economic market pressures. That is why in traditional organizations job evaluation is widespread and there are small performance rewards, but mainly aimed to the senior employees. Leading organizations have strong emphasis on performance and there payment is directly linked to individual performance. They exercise decentralized policies and have more flexibility in teamwork and line management. Leading organizations have different reward system for the various departments and they do not automatically apply the same rewards for everybody. Usually there is a basic

Nucor case Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nucor case - Term Paper Example With improving economies’ growth is expected to boost desire for many to purchase the product in the medium term. Steel producers and mini-mill companies are situated in the midst of a very competitive environment in both domestic and global scale, which adversely affects their profitability. This competition among steelmakers is to capture a significant portion of the steel market in light of the fact that, the global supply of steel far exceeds the demand for steel products (Thompson 207). The first competitive forces impacting steelmakers is the force to drive down the profitability of steel industry, steelmakers are primarily affected by the abundant steel supply versus demand, which depresses the market price of steel as a commodity. Competition among steelmakers is to lower product prices in order to capture a significant portion of potential customers. Secondly steel producers are adversely impacted by the entry of foreign players into the domestic steel market that are able to advantage of lower labor costs in the country. The influx of cheap imports from foreign steelmakers stiffens the existing price competition among rival steel producers hence lowering prices of steel imports; dragging down steel market prices. Lastly, steel producers are more vulnerable to the increasing cost of raw materials. This rising cost of materials has led to increase in the cost of production making it difficult for them to be price competitive. The difficult in product differentiation in the steel commodity market makes it necessary for min-mills to be able to compete with their rivals based on price, that is; pricing and market niche (Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson 33). The driving forces in the steel industry; the technology evolution which is a change in the steel making technology has revolutionized the world’s steel industry. The use of COREX technology in the production of steel has increased profit and its environmental

Preventing hypoxemia in closed head injury Essay

Preventing hypoxemia in closed head injury - Essay Example In closed head injury, brain is susceptible to further injury caused by cerebral edema since the brain is confined in a calvarium and therefore, cannot expand. Cerebral edema is the accumulation of excess water into the intra and extra cellular spaces of the brain (Cerebral Edema, 2003), and is most often encountered in patients with brain injury. Cerebral edema can cause a lethal effect, which includes cerebral ischemia due to compromised regional or global cerebral blood flow (CBF) and intracranial compartmental shifts due to intracranial pressure gradients that result in compression of vital brain structures (Ahmed, 2007). Thus, it is the primary goal in medicine to manage cerebral edema to maintain regional and cerebral blood flow in order to meet the metabolic requirements of the brain as well as prevent secondary neuronal injury brought about by cerebral ischemia. Tegtmeyer (1998) noted that in order to minimize secondary injuries brought about by closed head injury, priorities of treatment must be geared towards airway, breathing, and circulation. Airway must be maintained to facilitate oxygen delivery to the brain to prevent cascading of secondary injuries. During the injury, the cerebral perfusion pressure drops off rapidly as the blood goes down, and brain volume increases with swelling and edema. Cytotoxic edema which results from closed head injury must be prevented to further damage the brain. And in doing so, hypercarbia and hypoxemia must be corrected. As indicated in the University of Oxford database (2008), secondary brain injury may have been caused by inadequate brain perfusion, and therefore, avoiding and treating hypoxia, hypercarbia, and hypertension are of utmost importance. Increased morbidity and mortality are associated with hypoxemia, hypercarbia, and hypotension in patients with severe head trauma. In line with this, bra in injury causing

Early Marriage in South Asia Essay Example for Free

Early Marriage in South Asia Essay Early marriage affects millions of children through the world. It is widely practiced in the countries of South Asia where every year millions of girls-preteens and teens- become the wives of older men. Young girls are married when they are still children and as a result are denied fundamental human rights. Early marriage compromises their development and often results in early pregnancy and social isolation, with little education and poor vocational training reinforcing the gendered nature of poverty. Required to perform heavy amounts of domestic work, under pressure to demonstrate fertility, married girls and child mothers face constrained decision-making and reduced life choices. Both boys and girls are affected by child marriage but the issue impacts girls in far larger numbers, with more intensity—and is wide ranging.[1] Early marriage, better known as child marriage, is defined as marriage carried below the age of 18 years, â€Å"before the girl is physically, physiologically and psychologically ready to shoulder the responsibilities of marriage and child bearing†[2]. Many factors interact to place a child at risk of marriage. Parents encourage the marriage of their daughters while they are still children in hopes that the marriage will benefit them both financially and socially, while also relieving financial burdens on the family. Strong correlations between a woman’s age at marriage and the level of education she achieves, the age at which she gives birth to her first child and the age of her husband have been well documented. Early marriage means also the individual becomes sexually active early, raising children while children themselves. The marriage of a young girl affects not only her life but that of the children she will bear. Early marriage is by no means a new phenomenon.[3] It is a socially established practice that has been carried on from generation to generation. This is despite the existence of international and regional instruments that all the States in South Asia have ratified. Governments in the region also settled upon 18 as the minimum legal age at marriage. However, they are often either unable to enforce existing laws, or rectify discrepancies between national laws and customary and religious laws. Most often, child marriage is considered as a family matter and governed by religion and culture, which ensure its continuity. It remains therefore a widely ignored violation of the rights of girls and women and exposes them to multiple risks, including to sexual abuse and exploitation. Compiled from a study undertaken by Mira, B. AGHI, this paper examines early marriage in the region in order to offer information for analysis and discussion. The Prevalence Of Early Marriage In South Asia It is very difficult to get accurate data on the true extent of early marriages. This is because most marriages are not officially registered, and many parents resort to falsifying girls’ ages. Such acts are made easier in rural areas where birth certificates are often non-existent or not properly recorded. There is also very little data on girls married before the age of 15. Available data are often outdated and fail to provide adequate information. Although early marriage is said to be declining in many parts of the world, the total number of girls at risk or affected is very significant and cannot be ignored. It is estimated there are worldwide more than 51 million adolescent girls aged 15–19 who are married and bearing the burden of domestic responsibility and the risks associated with early sexual activity, including pregnancy.[4] In South Asia in 2005, 48% (nearly 10 million) of young women were married before the age of 18[5]. Figure 1 Child marriage, 1987 – 2006. (% of women 20-24 years of age that were married or in union before they were 18 years old) [pic] Despite a shift towards later marriages in many parts of the world, in the countries of South Asia a majority of girls still marry before age 18 (65% in Bangladesh, 57% in Nepal, 54% in Afghanistan, and almost 50% in India). One problem in assessing the prevalence of early marriages is that many are unregistered and unofficial and hence, are not a part of any data collection system. Very little data exists on marriages of children under the age of 10, even less on those below that age[6]. Some countries do have data. According to Bangladesh’s demographic and health survey of 1996-1997, there are 28 million adolescents in Bangladesh, 13.7% of these are girls, and the survey reported that more than half the girls below 19 were married and 5% of 10-14 year old girls were married. Another survey of women 25-29 years old reported that in Bangladesh 81% were married before the age of 18[8]. The lowest age at marriage is to be found in the western and southern parts of Bangladesh – specifically those adjoining India. In India, more than 57 per cent of girls are reported to get married before they turn 18. According to the Reproductive and Child Health District Level Household Survey, 28% girls overall, with 34.5% in rural and 13% in urban areas, are being married before they turned 18. According to a Rapid Household survey conducted across the country, 58.9% women in Bihar were married before the age of 18, 55.8% in Rajasthan, 54.9% in West Bengal, 53.8 % in Utter Pradesh, and 53.2% in Madhya Pradesh. National Family Health Survey data suggests that the median age for marriage in India is 16.4 years. This survey also found that 65% of the girls are married by the time they are 18.[9] There are additional surveys like one in 1993 which reported that in the Indian state of Rajasthan, on 5,000 women 56% had married before age 15, and of these, 17% were married before they were 10.[10] Another report indicated that nearly 14% of the girls in India’s largest state (Uttar Pradesh) are married between the ages of 10-14 years, whereas in the central province of Madhya Pradesh, 11% of urban and 16.4% of rural girls are married between the ages of 10-14 years.[11] In Nepal, the law has helped in increasing the age at marriage. However, the data which included female marriages at all ages showed that ethnicity is the major factor of age at marriage in Nepal. The ethnic groups are mostly concentrated in the Terai region, which borders India, and where the cultural norms and practices are highly influenced by the culture of north India. In contrast to other groups, especially in the mountain region, women belonging to the Terai groups are generally confined to farming; they exercise comparatively less control over the economic resources and decision-making. The most notable data from Nepal is 83.1% of girls of some ethnic groups marry before they are 15 years old. 79.6% Muslim girls marry before they are 15 years old. 69.7% girls in the mountainous and hilly regions marry at the age of 15 whereas 55.7% in rural Nepal marry before they turn 15.[12] Early marriage is more common in Surkhet district of mid-western Nepal.[13] One of the findings of the study is that higher caste girls do not feel the pressure to marry at a very young age and while they are in primary school. But when they reach 13 years, pressure is put on them especially if they fail their school exams. If they are doing well their parents will often let them continue with their studies. Lower caste girls have much higher pressure and less choice.[14] A survey of adults 25-29 years old revealed that in Pakistan 37% of the girls were married before the legal age, which at the time was16.[15] In Pakistan, as in other countries of South Asia, early marriage is more common in rural areas. Also people living in rural areas observe traditions more closely than those who live in urban areas. Causes Of Early Marriage Many reasons are given by parents and guardians to justify child marriage. Economic reasons often underpin these decisions which are directly linked to poverty and the lack of economic opportunities for girls in rural areas. Girls are either seen as an economic burden or valued as capital for their exchange value in terms of goods, money or livestock. A combination of cultural, traditional and religious arguments also justifies child marriage. The fear and stigma attached to premarital sex and bearing children outside marriage, and the associated family honor, are often seen as valid reasons for the actions that families take. Finally, many parents tend to curtail the education of their girls and marry them off, due to fear of exposure to sexual violence and abuse encountered. Early marriage as a strategy for economic reasons Poverty is one of the major factors underpinning early marriage. In many of the cases, the families are in poverty and one less daughter is one less mouth to feed. Poor families may regard young girls as an economic burden and the practice of early marriage, as an act of unburdening and a coping strategy. When poverty is acute, a young girl’s presence in the house is felt as unbearable and her marriage to a much older or even elderly man who can pay a very high price may be seen in her interest. Child marriage is valued as an economic coping strategy which reduces the costs of raising daughters. In this sense, poverty becomes a primary reason for child marriage because of perceived benefits to the family and the daughter. |Ethnicity/culture has emerged as the most complex reason for girls’ early | |marriages. In fact at some places like the Terai region in Nepal, where | |the cultural norms and practices are highly influenced by the culture of | |north India, it has emerged even stronger than the socio-economic | |factors.[16] It has been observed that ethnicity affects not only the age | |of marriage but the timing of family formation and entry into motherhood. | Marriage arrangements and requirements, such as dowry payments in parts of South Asia where parents of the young woman are obliged to give gifts to the spouse and his family, perpetuate child marriages. This is because the dowry requirement often increases with the age and the education level of the girl. Additionally, poor families tend to marry off girls at the same time to help reduce the burden of high marriage ceremony expenses[17]. However, child brides are often more likely to experience domestic violence and least likely to take action against this abuse. The majority of affected girls become condemned to a life of financial and social insecurity. This is a real paradox for many parents, given that they marry off their daughters at a young age in the belief that this will enhance the girl’s and the family’s security. Poverty ultimately fuels child marriage, which in turn perpetuates the feminization of poverty. In many villages that practice child marriage in Tamil Nadu State in India for example, girls are married off before they attain puberty because of the social stigma the community attaches to marriage after puberty. Many such marriages end in divorce. In case there is a large age’s difference, the girls become widows at a young age. Custom forbids divorced or widowed women to remarry, further impoverishing them. Entrenched community norms and myths clearly help to perpetuate the practice of child marriage and related poverty. Son preference is very strong in many communities in South Asia, which may not be unrelated to the expenses involved when marrying off a daughter. The rising costs of marriage ceremonies force many families to marry their daughters at the same time to reduce costs. Boys forced into marriage early may also suffer financially. Economic responsibilities can place heavy burdens on them and curtail their education sooner than they might want. However, while boys can leave their wives at their parents’ homes and seek employment opportunities elsewhere, this option is not available to the majority of young wives[18]. Marriage alliances and traditions Often marriage arrangements are made between families for dynastic, business, property or conflict resolutions. In Pakistan, India and Nepal, children may be betrothed or even married while toddlers or well below the age of 10. This custom is a means of consolidating powerful relations between families, making deals over land or other property, or settling disputes in the way routinely conducted between royal houses and aristocratic families throughout history. It may be a way of maintaining or fostering business ties with them. It may also be arranged as apart of the deal to settle a feud between two families.[19] Early marriage as a way to ensure the protection of girls Early marriage is also one way to ensure that a wife is â€Å"protected† or placed firmly under male control; that she is submissive to her husband and works hard for her in-laws’ household; that the children she bears are ‘legitimate’ and that bonds of affection between couples do not undermine the family unit.[20] It has been observed that in child marriages there is invariably a large gap between married women and their husbands—between 7-9 years.[21] The customary age difference helps to preserve the traditional cultural pattern of an older husband dominating a much younger wife. Social pressure appears to play a significant role in the girl getting married early. If girls remain unmarried by 15, neighbors, villagers and relatives begin to doubt her chastity and health. Parents are under huge pressure not to give a chance to the society to pass any aspersion on their girls. Early marriage is often a way of ensuring that the daughter is not at risk of losing her virginity in an irregular sexual encounter.[22] For many communities, the loss of virginity in girls before marriage is the worst shame that can be brought upon a family. The desire to protect a girl’s virginity drives many parents to force their daughters into marriage at an extremely young age. For this reason and to control girl’s sexuality, girls are married to prevent pre-marital sex or pregnancy. Once it is known in the village that a girl had pre-marital sexual relationship, it could be quite difficult to find a suitable boy who will be willing to marry her. Therefore parents willingly/unwillingly arrange early marriages to avoid such unpleasant situations. In rural communities, fetching water and firewood are usually chores undertaken by young girls. There is frequently a serious fear of their being raped.[23] The rape will be devastating with enormous implications for the girl. In many communities the rape is not considered to be a crime against a girl but against her father, husband, or brothers. Situations of insecurity and acute poverty, particularly during disasters such as war, famine or the HIV and AIDS epidemic, can prompt parents to resort to child marriage as a protective mechanism or survival strategy. Among some populations which have been disrupted by war (Afghanistan), marrying a young daughter to a warlord or someone who can look after her may be a strategy for physical security or family support. In the worst cases, girls are abducted or kidnapped by armed militia or rebels and forced into temporary marriages which amount to â€Å"a combination of child prostitution and pure slavery.† Displaced populations living in refugee camps may feel unable to protect their daughters from rape, and so marriage to a warlord or other authority figure may provide improved protection.[24] Consequences Of Early Marriage The consequences of child marriage are often far wider than just their impact on the individual children affected. The marriage of children has negative effects on families and communities. The practice thrives on poverty and impacts adversely on a country’s health and education sector. Young girls are forced to marry men they have never met before and who may be many years older than they are. Once married, they are responsible for looking after their husbands, the house, and the children they give birth to while still children themselves. This is one of the reasons that offspring born too early in their mothers’ lives are at increased risk of illness and death. These girls often have little knowledge about the responsibilities of being a wife and no information about sex and childbirth.[25] Early forced sex as a violation of rights where a girl is married has not been recognized as a form of sexual abuse except where warlords or traffickers have recruited girls as sexual slaves.[26] Early marriage is associated with a number of poor social and physical outcomes for young women and their offspring.[27] They attain lower schooling, lower social status in their husbands’ families, have less reproductive control, and suffer higher rates of maternal mortality and domestic violence. They are often forced out of school without an education, their health is affected because their bodies are too immature to give birth. |Child marriage impedes the Millennium Development Goals | |(agreed by governments and the international community in | |September 2000). | | | |Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. | |Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education. | |Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women. | |Goal 4: Reduce child mortality. | |Goal 5: Improve maternal health. | |Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. | Health and related outcomes The younger the boy or the girl is at the time of marriage, the worse is the abuse of child and human rights, both on grounds of lack of consent and on grounds of forced early sex. However, the implications for the females are much more severe. The younger the girl at the time of her first sexual relations – with early sex much more frequent and less likely to be consensual within marriage than outside marriage – the greater the chance of severe pain, physical damage, and of birthing complications and injury. Pregnancy and childbirth It is common sense to assume that girls who marry before 18 will usually have more children. Early child-bearing has long been seen as a risk to maternity, contributing significantly to large families. Since girls who are married young have a large number of child bearing years, they are more prone to miscarriage, infant death, malnutrition, cervical cancer, sterility, and maternal death. Even when girls are closer to the age of 18 but not yet that age, the risk remains. Girls between age 15 and 19 are twice as likely to die of pregnancy-related reasons as women between age 20 and 24. Child marriage is the leading cause of young women between the ages of 15 and 24 dying during pregnancy. Figure 4 Percentage of women age 15- 19 who have begun childbearing Selected countries in South Asia, 2004-2006 [pic] Not only the mothers but offspring born too early in their mothers’ lives are at increased risk of illness and death. The babies of child brides are sicker, weaker and many do not survive childhood. Evidence shows that infant mortality among children of very young mothers is almost two times higher than among those of older peers. The health problems linked to early marriage not only affect the pregnant mother but also continue after child birth. Complications are more likely during pregnancy and birth purely because of the mother’s young age. A large proportion of reproductive and sexual health concerns of adolescent girls and women root from early marriage and early pregnancy. In the context of reproductive health girl spouses face well-acknowledged risks. These include the problem of giving birth when the pelvis and birth canal are still under-developed which leads to an increased risk of complications during delivery including protracted labor.[28] Mothers aged less than 15 are especially vulnerable to fistulae – relentless pressure from baby’s skull can damage the birth canal causing breakages in the wall. A girl or a woman with this condition ─ irreversible without surgery ─ is not only in constant pain but will be socially ostracized and may well be divorced because of this.[29] The perils of child marriage are not limited to only health complications during pregnancy and delivery period but in many cases during post-natal period as well. Because of the prolapsed uterus, they suffer from backaches, experience difficulties while walking, working and sitting for a long time. At times they had to give birth even after prolapsed uterus and this made the situation worse for them. [30] Child brides cannot negotiate the terms of sex with husbands who are usually older and have had previous sexual partners.[31] They cannot insist on fidelity or condom use.[32] Research in India (Calcutta) revealed that almost half of the women patients in the hospital interviewed had been married at or below the age of 15 with the youngest being married at 7 years. This age group has one of the highest rates of vulnerability to sexual violence in marriage, second only to those whose dowry had not been paid. The women had forced sexual intercourse before menstruation had started. The sex was early and painful and many still continued to be forced into sexual activity by their husbands. Although young girls had made their husbands aware of their unwillingness to have sex or of pain during sex, in 80% of these cases, the rapes continued.[33] Increased risks of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and HIV Early marriage threatens girls’ health and the health of their children and thwarts efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. Of substantial consequences, yet largely ignored, is the fact that the majority of the sexually active girls aged 15-19 in South Asia are married and these adolescent girls tend to have higher rates of HIV infection than their sexually active unmarried peers. Early sexual activity within marriage is even more likely to expose young people to sexually transmitted infections than sex outside marriage.[34] Crossing the threshold into marriage greatly intensifies sexual exposure via unprotected sex, often with an older partner, who by virtue of his age has an elevated risk of being HIV positive. This dramatic rise in the frequency of unprotected sex is driven by not only the implication of infidelity or distrust associated with certain forms of contraception such as condoms, but often also by a strong desire to become pregnant. Demographic and health survey data reveals that on an average 80% of unprotected sex encounters among adolescent girls occurred within marriage. Not only are married adolescents girls often isolated within their new households and from external public and private support but their needs have not been prioritized or sometimes even considered in current reproductive health initiatives. Moreover many of the most common HIV/AIDS policies and messages are not appropriate for them.[35] Denial of education It is believed that investment in a girl’s education is wasted when she simply going to be married and work in another household.[36] Girls reported that even if married girls are allowed to pursue their education, they cannot continue for too long because of the varied burdens imposed on her by early childbearing and the chores in the house. An important reason why girls in South Asia do not go to school or are withdrawn at puberty is for the assumption of domestic duties and confinement at home as prelude to marriage. Lack of exposure outside the immediate home environment means lower self-esteem, less sense of identity as an independent person with an independent mind, reduced socialization with peers and non-family adults, and considerably less knowledge of what early marriage entails.[37] There is a clear connection between early marriage and low educational attainment. Early marriage puts the young girl at a disadvantage by the loss of educational opportunity. Often girls are not allowed to go to school which diminishes her opportunity to acquire critical life skills. Children benefit as much as their families, since a school-going child has been observed to be an agent of change in rural societies.[38] A girl who is educated will most likely educate her daughter and thus establishes an inter-generational trend of educating girls. Besides, the correlation between the number of years of a girl’s schooling and the postponement of marriage is shown to be firmly established by demographic and fertility studies36. A one year postponement of marriage increases schooling by 0.32 years and literacy by 5-10%.[39]

The aim of this investigation Essay Example for Free

The aim of this investigation Essay I am given an investigation which I have to plan myself; it is about an unknown organic compound that is either an alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid, ester or phenol. I have to suggest a series of simple chemical tests, which could be done in test tubes, to distinguish the functional group of this organic compound. I am going to be observing any change of colour, formation of precipitate or the evolution of gas when adding certain chemicals to this compound. The aim of this investigation is to find the functional group by carrying out simple chemical tests and, later, identify the organic compound by using the spectra. Chemicals and Apparatus   10   test tubes   measuring cylinder (5 cm3)   pipette Bunsen burner   Splint   Gas syringe   Unknown organic compound   Bradys reagent   Bromine water Sodium metal Tollens reagent   Calcium Carbonate   Limewater Safety Plan Read the method carefully and understand it before attempting on carrying out any experiment. Have some knowledge of the chemicals to be used to minimise hazards in the procedure. Wear gloves, goggles and a lab coat at all times during the experiment to prevent accidents to one and to fellow pupils. Method Test 1. A Set up the apparatus carefully.   Measure 3 cm3 of the unknown compound into a small measuring cylinder.   Pour this into a test tube.   Add 3-6 drops of Bradys reagent (a solution of 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in dilute acid) to the test tube.   If yellow/ orange crystals start to appear, then the test has shown a positive result and..   The unknown is proved to be either an aldehyde or a ketone. Move on to Test 1. B   If no reaction happened, then the test has shown a negative result. So skip to Test 2. A. Test 1. B. To distinguish the carbonyl compound, measure 3 cm3 of the carbonyl compound in a measuring cylinder.   Pour this into a new test tube   Add 3-6 drops of Tollens reagent (a solution of silver nitrate in aqueous ammonia) to the test tube.   If a silver mirror forms around the inside of the test tube, the compound is proved to be an aldehyde. However if no reaction occurs, it is a ketone. Test 2. A   Measure 3 cm3 of the unknown into a measuring cylinder.   Pour this into new a test tube.   Throw a pinch of Sodium metal to the unknown. If gas is liberated, quickly light a splint and place it over the test tube. If you hear a popping sound, this confirms that the gas is in fact Hydrogen and the unknown compound is either a phenol, alcohol or a carboxylic acid. Move on to Test 2. B.   If no reaction occurs then the unknown is an ester which should also give a sweet smell. Test 2. B Measure 3 cm3 of the unknown into a measuring cylinder.   Pour this into new a test tube.   Add 6-10 drops of Bromine water to the test tube. * If Bromine is decolourised (from orange to clear) and a white precipitate forms then this confirms that the unknown is actually a phenol. If no precipitate forms then the unknown is either an alcohol or a carboxylic acid. So move on to Test 2. C. Test 2. C   Measure 3 cm3 of the unknown into a measuring cylinder. Pour this into new a test tube. Throw a pinch of Calcium Carbonate to the unknown   If a gas is liberated, shut the tube with a cork that has a hole in it and is connected to a tube and a gas syringe.   The gas should collect in the gas syringe. When gas stops evolving, bubble the gas into 5 cm3 of limewater.   If the limewater goes milky in colour, this proves that the gas is Carbon Dioxide and that the unknown is a carboxylic acid. If no reaction occurs, then the unknown is confirmed to be an alcohol. Fair test Doing a fair test is completely essential for achieving accurate and reliable results which would take a large part in the conclusion at the end, and also for avoiding errors and anomalous results. I will make sure that this happens by many ways, by choosing: 1. Relevant and accurate equipment with very small percentage errors. 2. Washing and drying up the equipment thoroughly after each experiment ensuring that they are contamination-free. 3. Taking measurements carefully as specified by the method. 4. keeping a straight line of sight when reading measurements of solution in the measuring cylinder 5. Always read the bottom of the meniscus of any solution when taking measurements. Bibliography For this investigation, I mainly used the yahoo search engine from the internet as my primary source of information e. g. Bradys reagent; with addition to a variety of books, where I looked up various reactions of compounds. The rest of this investigation is done using my knowledge and understanding of this subject.

The Heart Of Social Work

The Heart Of Social Work The origins of professionalization of social work date back to post Civil War era and the emergence of two opposing approaches to dealing with the needs and struggles of society: Charity Organization Societies (COS) and Social Reform. Charity Organization Societies (COS) later developed into casework offered a more individual approach, and Social Reform, represented by the Settlement House movement, which focused on addressing the societal causes of poverty. Initially working together for the so much needed social change, both movements eventually separated their actions due to the distinctiveness in their approaches (Axinn Stern, 2008). The end of the 19th century was about individual change and voluntary relief action. Herbert Spencers application of Social Darwinism with its two key attributes struggle for existence and survival of the fittest to social work has gained forceful influence (Axinn Stern, 2008). The widespread perception held that poverty was simply a factor of natural selection and aiding poor would make them indolent and unproductive (Hofstadter, 1955). Over time, however, the scientific charity approach faced an increased hostility because of its administrative methods that lumped together all the poor in order to save tax money (Axinn Stern, 2008). Still, the efforts of Mary Richmond and her Social Diagnosis were a crucial development for the social work profession. The book was an answer to Abraham Flexners report from 1915 declaring that social work was not yet a profession, and turned casework into a major form of social work practice (History of Social Work). The Settlement House movement was more focused on the malfunctioning of society. Guided by the three Rs Research, Reform, and Residence the movement provided a variety of services including recreational, educational, legal, and health services. Settlement workers also became involved in social research and social action. As social reformers, they joined forces with labor, womens organizations, socialists, and others. Many of them, such as Lillian Wald, Florence Kelly and Paul Kellogg, rose to national prominence. Jane Addams became one of the most well known figures in the nation (Axinn Stern, 2008). The Great Depression and New Deal steered the newly created profession toward public welfare. As social workers realized the seriousness of the depression and they re-embraced reform and social work organizations began lobbying the national government for action. New type of social work rural social work was also created (Axinn Stern, 2008). In the early 20th century, social work strove to advance its status, define its purpose, and establish educational standards. With Mary Richmonds efforts of developing training programs, the social work profession was on its way to becoming recognized as a profession. Settlement leaders continued their commitment to social reform, but after Flexners report the practice of social casework was identified as the core of the new profession (History of Social Work). Modern social work practice emanates from both traditions individual and social reform. Today, social work is a professional and academic interdisciplinary field that is dedicated to the pursuit of social change and improving the quality of life of individuals, groups and communities (Morris, 2008; Simon, 1994). The profession strives to help the individual to become the best he can be the community to become the finest and fullest expression of social life that it can be, with no one left behind (Morris, 2008). The History and Role of Field Education Field practice casework has always been a central aspect to the profession of social work. As education for social work became more formal in the 19th century, the field education where classroom knowledge is applied in a social environment with real clients has been regarded as an essential component of social work profession. It is in the field practicum that the student social workers begin to apply knowledge skills, and principles, and grasp the complexities and subtleties of assessment, intervention, and evaluation within diverse social and organizational settings. From the 19th century origins of social work as an outgrowth of charitable organizations working with the poor, field practice in casework has been central to the profession. As education for social work became more formal, a field practicum in which classroom knowledge is applied in a social environment with real clients has been regarded as an essential component. Through Field Education, social work comes alive and students begin to see the real faces and stories behind the important issues they have read so much about, and they also begin to take responsibility for their chance to affect change. SINCE 1968, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has required schools of social work to achieve cultural diversity in enrollment of students, hiring of faculty, and development of curricula (McMahon AUen-Meares, 1992). The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has recently published standards in cultural competence that oblige social workers to strive to deliver culturally competent services to increasingly diverse client populations (NASW, 2001). Through its curriculum policy statement, CSWE provides a broad mandate for the infusion of multicultural content into academic courses (Carrillo, Holzhalb, Thyer, 1993; Julia, 2000). It is, however, in the application of knowledge about cultural differences through a supervised internship or work environment that the training in multicultural competencies is integrated (Van Soest, in press). Although the role of field instructor is considered pivotal to student learning in social work (Bogo, 1993; Kadushin, 1991), little practical information exists to guide field instructors on approaches to infuse cultural diversity issues into the supervision process (Arkin, 1999; Cashwell, Looby, Housley, 1997; Leong Wagner, 1994). The purpose of field instruction is to help you integrate the theory and knowledge base of social work learned in the classroom with the practical experience gained through work in social welfare settings. The purpose of the field education department is to provide students within the MSW program with an opportunity to learn hands-on through an internship work experience. Students that complete the foundation field practicum which focuses on generalist social work practice and arrive in the advanced year with a solid knowledge of theoretical frameworks that guide generalist practice, an understanding and acceptance of social work values and ethics, and well developed skills related to beginning social work practice. Field education in the foundation years provides the student with an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of social service systems to access appropriate community resources. In addition, students learn to communicate in urban settings, apply theoretical knowledge to u rban problems such as poverty, and to determine how oral, written, and technological information reflecting professional social work skills. To become effective social work practitioners, students need to experience working directly with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities and working collaboratively at every client system level to assess needs and to develop plans for addressing them. The field placement provides opportunities for experiential learning consistent with the more cognitive approaches provided in the classroom. This paper reviews the critical importance of field education in social work and will suggest incremental steps through which state, county and university partners may work together to shape a structural plan that will preserve and enhance the quality of the field component and the program as a whole. The goal and purpose of field education The purpose of the field education department is to provide students within the MSW program with an opportunity to learn hands-on through an internship work experience. Students that complete the foundation field practicum which focuses on generalist social work practice and arrive in the advanced year with a solid knowledge of theoretical frameworks that guide generalist practice, an understanding and acceptance of social work values and ethics, and well developed skills related to beginning social work practice. Field education in the foundation years provides the student with an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of social service systems to access appropriate community resources. In addition, students learn to communicate in urban settings, apply theoretical knowledge to urban problems such as poverty, and to determine how oral, written, and technological information reflecting professional social work skills. Purpose The purpose of the field practicum is to provide students the opportunity to work in a professional setting to develop and demonstrate skills in social work, to integrate the theories and practices learned in and out of the classroom, to develop a sense of commitment to the social work profession and Code of Ethics, to develop an understanding of the diversity of a community population and the role of diversity in social work practice, to develop an understanding of how administrative processes and policies impact delivery of services, to develop professional relationships within the community to better understand local resources to benefit future clients, and to confirm personal interests and abilities in the social service field. As students undertake learning within the reality of agency life, a vehicle is established whereby use of theory and conceptual frameworks acquired through course work is applied, skills are developed and refined, and attitudes and values are examined. Additionally students are afforded opportunities for analysis of the effects of social welfare policy on programs and services, opportunities for the development of research questions in relation to practice efforts, and opportunities for evaluation of practice interventions. Field practicum courses enable students to personally affirm the validity of content presented in the classroom. The progressive, reciprocal relationship between theory and conceptual frameworks and practice becomes a dynamic in the teaching-learning process of field instruction. Field Instruction enables students to integrate the knowing, feeling and doing aspects of their social work education. It is designed to produce a knowledgeable, skilled, self-evaluating and professionally reflective social worker. Objectives Knowledge: 1. Basic understanding of how generalist social work practice is applied in a specific agency setting. 2. Knowledge about the application of theories to client situations in the agency setting. 3. Knowledge regarding the use of culturally sensitive practice methods with diverse and at-risk populations. 4. Knowledge about the social work system and structure in an agency, and how the structure impacts the provision of social work services. 5. Awareness of practice issues, policy issues, and related research information relating to the students field setting as well as to the placement settings of other students. 6. Awareness of appropriate methods for social action related to the agency purpose and function and participation in these when appropriate. 7. Awareness of social service resources in the area to enable students to broker services to enhance client functioning and well-being. Skills: 1. Enhancement of interviewing skills to enable the student to develop working relationships with diverse types of clients and client groups, to formulate initial and on-going assessments at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels, and to modify relationship styles to fit the client situation. 2. Ability to prepare an appropriate intervention/service plan for actual clients based on person-in-environment and strengths assessment and the availability of agency services. 3. Increased self-awareness of the students own intrapersonal and interpersonal attributes that enhance or interfere with therapeutic relationships or the social work role. 4. Application of practice and program evaluation skills for purposes of accountability, outcome monitoring, improvement of practice, and program development. 5. Development of the ability to use supervision in an appropriate manner for continued growth and development. 6. Development of the ability to work collaboratively with a variety of helping professionals. 7. Development of appropriate documentation skills within the agency setting which are clear, organized, and meet professional standards for the profession and the particular agency setting. Values: 1. Respect for an individuals worth and dignity and their unique characteristics. 2. Importance of advocating for the client with organizations and systems to ensure protection of rights and procurement of needed resources. 3. Appreciation for professional ethics, especially confidentiality, regarding clients, peers, agencies, and recognition of the individuals right to self-determination and active participation in the helping process. Council on Social Work Educations 2008 Education and Policy Standards (promotes classroom and field learning as equally important for student learning) its effect/impact on SW field education The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the entity that accredits all social work programs in U.S. universities at the BASW and MSW levels. All California university graduate social work programs have CSWE accreditation. In its recent educational policy statement, the CSWE concluded as follows: Signature pedagogy represents the central form of instruction and learning in which a profession socializes its students to perform the role of practitioner. Professionals have pedagogical norms with which they connect and integrate theory and practice (Shulman, 2005). In social work, the signature pedagogy is field education [italics added]. The intent of field education is to connect the theoretical and conceptual contribution of the classroom with the practical world of the practice setting. It is a basic precept of social work education that the two interrelated components of curriculum- classroom and field-are of equal importance within the curriculum, and each contributes to the development of the requisite competencies of professional practice.  [1]   Several fields have a signature pedagogy, a method by which knowledge is traditionally imparted to students: the case method and moot court in law, student teaching at the primary school and university levels, even minimum flight hours for student pilots. The importance CSWE attributes to the fieldwork component of any social work program is reflected in the hourly field requirement for each university degree. For a two- year accredited MSW program the requirement is 900 hours of MSW supervised field work. The BASW degree requires the student to complete 400 hours of supervised field. To become an accredited program of social work, a school must, among other stringent requirements, demonstrate how its field program connects the theoretical and conceptual contribution of the classroom with the practice setting, fostering the implementation of evidence supported practice. Further requirements include the candidate schools providing orientation, field instruction training, and continuing dialog with field education settings and field instructors. Structure for Field Practicum The Anatomy of an Internship (short review of a few MSW Internship Programs (or maybe just Rutgerss?) There are two semesters of field practicum for all social work majors. Students typically enter field their senior year. Students complete both semesters of field concurrently in the same agency unless there are extenuating circumstances which necessitate a change. SWK 488: Internship Practicum I and SWK 489: Internship Practicum II each require 225 documented hours, for a total of 450 hours of agency work over the course of two semesters. Even if a student completes 250 hours prior to the end of either semester, that student is required to complete 15 weeks of field placement during both the fall and spring semesters. Students may accumulate internship hours between the fall and spring semesters. This arrangement must be made with the field instructor and approved by the NCU Field Coordinator. If this situation should occur, students may count accumulated hours toward the spring semester, but will still be responsible for completing the 15 week internship at a reduced number of hours per week. Students are not required to work during fall or spring holiday breaks or final exam weeks; however, they may choose to schedule hours with the agency during these periods. SWK 488: Internship Practicum I and SWK 489: Internship Practicum II, meet weekly throughout the entire period of the field placement. In addition, there are other required social work courses students take each semester (Fall: Pysch 460 Research Methods and Spring: Psyc 495 Senior Project). The NCU Field Education Coordinator, in conjunction with the student, and the agency field instructor, will make decisions regarding students changing agency placements at any point. Field Practicum Seminar During a students field placement, he/she participates in a weekly Field Instruction Seminar. The seminar serves a very useful function by combining students from a variety of field of practice settings. This enables the student to have a broader perspective in terms of practice settings, client populations, and treatment methodologies than they might not otherwise experience. Each seminar class is organized around a theme, such as racism within society, the value of practice evaluation and evaluation techniques which can be easily implemented and enrich practice, sexism within the profession, and goal setting and contracting with clients. The student may be assigned readings related to each topic. Discussion is geared toward enhancing students experiences in their internship, assisting them in making linkages between the knowledge they have obtained in the classroom and their experiences in the field, and facilitating their ongoing professional development. A weekly component of each field seminar is a group discussion of the students experiences during the week. The discussions enable the student to share the high points and low points of their week, successes and frustrations. The students serve as a support system and provide constructive feedback to each other. This aspect is considered by the students to be an especially valuable component of the class. In addition to the discussions, there are written components to field instruction seminars. For instance, students are required to submit weekly logs in which they describe and analyze the activities of the week in their field placements. Confidentiality of clients is protected as identifying information is omitted. Each student is required to do a comprehensive analysis of the policies that operate in the agency. All assignments and the grading scale are identified in the course outline. Individualized Learning Plan In addition to the goals and learning objectives of the Internship Practicum, it is very important that each student be aware of and verbalize individual goals for field instruction which are pertinent to personal learning needs and the particular field agency. Near the beginning of each semester of placement, the student develops an individualized learning contract that includes learning goals, objectives, activities/tasks, and evaluation measures that address areas of professional knowledge and skills in need of development or improvement. Agency field instructors and the NCU Field Education Coordinator are available to assist students with this process. Students complete three copies of the Individual Learning Plan. One copy is submitted to the agency field instructor and one to the faculty liaison. The third copy is to be retained by the student. The learning goals can be modified or others added at any time during the placement, and progress toward goals is evaluated at regular intervals. Recommended Field Learning Experiences Each field agency offers a unique opportunity for students to experience social work in all its many facets. Populations served will vary as will the make-up of the staff and the types of services provided. Within this broad range of field learning experiences, it is highly recommended that certain types of experiences be made available to students in field instruction settings. The following is a list of recommended field learning experiences: Orientation to the agency includes staff, facility, office procedures, filing system, types of services provided, agencys place in the social service network, methods of intervention, etc. Experiences in developing and managing effective relationships includes opportunities for students to observe a number of staff with their own individual styles of intervention, participation in a variety of helping relationships, and the use of supervision to assist students to determine how they can develop an effective working relationship with a variety of client systems. Recording experience includes case summaries, letters to clients and other agencies, process recordings of interviews, and eventually direct entry of students recordings into the agencys records, etc. Administrative experiences includes observation/participation in staff meetings, funding hearings, public relations functions, budget planning, grant writing or reading grants already funded, lobbying efforts, board meetings, contracting requirements, etc. Experience in resource/referral management includes overall orientation to services available to client population being served by the field agency; telephone contacts with other agencies providing support services to clients; scheduled visits to key agencies with whom linkage for clients is most common; and learning procedures for effective referrals. Interviewing experiences includes observing, planning, and conducting interviews for a variety of purposes (intake, with staff, for volunteer programs, assessment, intervention, etc.), with diversified client systems in a variety of places (agency, home, school, hospital, etc.) The use of process recordings, observation, and tape-recorded sessions provides the field instructor with data to aid students in further developing interviewing skills. Experience with procedures for evaluation of individual practice and agency programs includes designing a plan for evaluating own practice, client progress, and effectiveness of interventions; data collection and analysis; becoming familiar with procedures for agency program evaluation; and conceptualizing/ developing a system for program evaluation if none exists, such as evaluation of service by clients. Experience with groups includes observation and participation in groups such as client groups, staff meetings, client staffing, and groups available in the broader community for the purpose of developing an understanding of group processes and skill in interacting in groups as a member or facilitator. Experience in community activities includes observation and/or participation in assignments that facilitate understanding of the community and its social service network, the field agencys role in the community, as well as assignments that draw attention to unmet community needs and provide opportunity for community planning. All learning experiences have, as a long range goal, the opportunity for students to develop increased skills, a greater level of independent functioning, and the development of a sense of professional identity with its accompanying values and guidelines under which the profession operates. Enabling the student to learn to utilize the supervisory relationship is central to the students growth in this area as well as all the other areas recommended for field learning experiences. These suggestions can provide the student with sufficient opportunities to experience all facets of the agency as well as to create a structured learning experience. Other experiences of particular interest to a student can be incorporated into the students individual learning goals and contract at any time during the placement. Current delivery of field education contextual factors affecting field education the nature of professional social work practice theories and evidence-based practice related to field education formats and methods of field instruction the nature of student learning and effective approaches to student learning and competence in field education the important relationship of the field instructor and student Evaluation of student competence and methods of measurement in field education It is recommended that the field site supervisor and the student review the evaluation tool used in the practicum as one of the first tasks of their supervisory sessions. This will help focus the teaching and learning of both parties. The field practicum is graded on an A F scale. This grade will be determined by the NCU Field Work Coordinator with input from the field site supervisor. The NCU Field Work Coordinator will meet with the student and the field site supervisor at least twice during the semester and more frequently, if needed. The regularly scheduled meetings will occur around mid-semester and again at the end of the semester. The student evaluation form should be completed prior to the evaluation meeting. Students final grades will be determined by the overall evaluation from the agency and progress made on their learning plans that are developed early in the semester. (Learning plans can and should be modified throughout the semester with mutual consent from the student, faculty, and NCU Field Work Coordinator.) If, at the midterm evaluation meeting, the field supervisor and Field Work Coordinator agree that the student is not displaying appropriate social work skill and therefore at risk of failing the Practicum, the student (with input from the field supervisor and Field Work Coordinator) must write a corrective action plan to address deficient areas. This plan must be signed by the student, field supervisor, and the NCU Field Work Coordinator. Challenges and Potential Solutions Field education is the primary interface between the school, the agency and the community within which both reside (Glassman, 2008). Field work provides the occasion for the students application of knowledge, values, theory, problem-solving skills, and affect to inform his or her practice ( Schon, l987). Stressing the essential character of field education for the future, authors Reisch and Jarman-Rohde observed, As economic safety nets are dismantled, remaining agencies will have more clients but fewer staff to address their needs . . . field instruction will become an even more significant component of social work education. (2000). To meet the needs for well-prepared staff members in economically challenged agencies, these authors argue that enhanced university-agency cooperation is needed to make certain students have the skills, values, experience and personal qualities to work effectively in an increasingly stressful work environment (Reisch Jarman-Rohde, 2000). In addition to providing students the opportunity to acquire practice skill, field instruction is also the primary domain for informing curriculum and faculty of practice issues and needs, particularly practice effectiveness (Glassman, 2008). The positive aspects of a high-functioning, agency-university field program reverberate to the benefit of all involved: students, agency staff, faculty, and community. Consequently, greater interface and field program development that involves all partners to the educational process is particularly appropriate and valuable to a program like CalSWEC, in which the future employer has the direct opportunity to participate in preparing the new recruit. Under current economic conditions, CalSWEC agency and university partners will need to rethink how best to structure field programs around the state and more clearly articulate the roles of the individual entities involved. A high quality field work experience is essential to give the entering child welfare social worker the tools to use both his/her education and the agency and community resources effectively. The NASW has noted that practitioners and researchers are continually challenged by the difficulties agencies face in recruiting and retaining a competent child welfare workforce. Part of that challenge is insuring that entering staff are equipped with adequate practice in working with actual clients under realistic agency conditions. Preparation in the form of high quality supervised field work has a beneficial effect on workforce retention, as demonstrated by the excellent CalSWEC retention rate of its MSW graduates, all of whom have experienced field practice as well as classroom preparation ( California Social Work Education Center, 2007). Conclusion the importance of integration of theory and practice in social work CalSWECs Title IV-E Program, noted as a national model for agency-university partnerships in social work education, is at a crossroads. National economic forces that threaten the operation and staffing of social services agencies throughout the country now threaten the Programs capacity to supply its students with the kind of high quality field experience they require to become effective child welfare social workers. In this climate, schools of social work may need to reconfigure the university-agency relationship, develop more field -centered education, and re-assert the community-based origins of the profession (Glassman, 2008). Schools of social work need to consider the possible benefits of creating rotating field sites, developing new agency forms for the purpose of education, and modifying existing agency structures to integrate service, education and research more effectively ( Reisch Jarman-Rohde, 2000). Recommendations: For the large and diverse state of California, a number of different models may need to be devised for conducting field education and building placement capacity to accommodate regional needs and resources. Rather than a reactive, crisis-based response to changing economic conditions the following set of recommendations are proposed to move forward: Initiate a multiyear CalSWEC initiative to develop a systematic, long-term structural plan for creating and sustaining high quality field placement opportunities statewide. The initiative would encompass the following: Engage agency directors and university faculty in dialogue to examine regional needs and resources then develop field placement models that meet the regional needs and resources. Models may include rotating field sites, field units and unified content and competency development that will be operated by agency and university partners, at pilot sites designed to address particular regional needs. Through careful pilot development, test the efficacy of the models. Leverage the university/county/CDSS partnership

Personal Narrative- Christian Apologetics :: Personal Narrative

Personal Narrative- Christian Apologetics Two weeks of this past summer rank high as some of the most rewarding times of my life. Next to my salvation, the experience has become an important turning point of my youth. This experience changed my worldview into a biblical perspective, and strengthened my faith in the Lord. For the first time, I was on my own, flying cross-country to spend two weeks in Colorado, not for a vacation I might add. I was to attend a Christian apologetics course sponsored by Summit Ministries. The coursework was grueling, intense, and mind stretching. My living quarters were a small, rickety, 100 year old (and counting) hotel with paper thin walls shared with 99 other students. I left my sheltered home-school and was introduced to the modern, secular world of weird people, graphic videos of abortion, and the persecution of Christians in Sudan through science, history, theology, and philosophy. We were taught about the chain reactions that develop in a nation caused by unwise decisions, and looked at problems our country faces today and studied them using the Bible. Many knowledgeable Christian professionals fed us their studies and wisdom taught by the Bible. A former Mob boss gave his moving testimony, and an outgoing evangelist who witnessed to Michael Jordan, presented us with arguments and strategies to combat false religions, yet be effective witnesses. Those two weeks were intense, mentally and emotionally, and I got a taste of the real world. Now I often think about my generation, and if it is truly ready to undertake the leadership of our great nation. Many are blind and sinking in the bog of humanistic and atheistic views of today’s society, and will not be ready when the torch is passed on to them.

Shedding a Different Spotlight on the Argument from Design :: Essays Papers

Shedding a Different Spotlight on the Argument from Design "Author is to book, as painter is to __________." Anyone who has taken the SAT is familiar with analogies similar to this one. The significance of analogies relies on the fact that analogies not only tell us about the meaning of words, but they tell us about the relationships of the world. In discussing our world, a well-known, much-debated topic has been the existence of God. Many arguments have been presented on both sides of this issue, the teleological argument (the argument from design) is one of the most discussed. This argument is better understood and supported using analogies. The key is to find an analogy that is grounded and plausible enough to stand up to sharp critiques. The teleological argument is a valid and plausible argument, because it allows enough evidence for the relationship of the Creator and the world to be analogous to that of a director and a musical. The basics of the teleological argument include the statement that the apparent design of the world suggests a Designer. William Paley, the populizer of this argument, uses an analogy that states the relationship of the Creator to creation is like that of a watch-maker to a watch (Rowe & Wainwright 155). The core of this argument is the claim that the design of the world suggests an intelligent designer. It further states that "something suggests intelligence if (1) it serves the sorts of ends that human minds typically propose to themselves†¦ and (2) the results are achieved in a reasonably effective manner" (Wainwright 52). This is the ground where this paper will begin to formulate an analogy that increases the plausibility of the design argument. The analogy I prefer is theatrical. The participants in a musical play include the musicians, actors, singers, dancers, stage and crew members. Each of these members is an integral piece in the body of the production. The director is the heart-beat of the production. Without the director, there would not be a musical. The director begins the formation of the musical with an end in mind-- a vision. The director uses a variety of methods to convey this vision to the players involved while guiding them in making that vision a reality. The players must cooperate with each other throughout the process and follow the director's instructions in order for the production to even resemble the director's vision.

JM Smucker Company Essay

The history of the J.M. Smucker Company is reviewed and demonstrates the evolution of the company. Business strategies and the importance of business intelligence systems are examined, concerning how the company conducts business. The company’s growth processes resulting from acquisitions and brand awareness are reviewed. Innovative plans implemented continually within the company are mentioned. The importance of people is stressed throughout the company and in the public eye. The J.M. Smucker Company continues to hold fast to the same values that the company began with over one hundred years ago. The J.M. Smucker Company Although the J.M. Smucker Company (SJM) began by selling its apple cider, for many years now it has been well known for its jams and jellies. Today, however, the company has expanded into several other markets within the food industry. They have continued to grow through acquisitions and name brand awareness. The company has a strong vision and holds to its moral ideals and values throughout its business activities. Smucker’s continually develops new product ideas to expand its peanut butter and jelly market. Additionally, the J.M. Smucker Company remains the leading producer of jam and jellies and is known for its quality products. History Jerome Monroe Smucker established the J.M. Smucker Company in 1897 as a cider mill in a small community in Orrville, Ohio about an hour south of Cleveland. Interestingly, Smucker’s apples used for cider came from an orchard that had been originally planted by Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) himself. However, due to the cyclical nature of apples, Jerome needed to find another source of revenue that would enable earnings throughout the year; thus, he decided to sell apple butter that he made using his grandfather’s recipe. His grandfather’s recipe provided him with a competitive advantage that no one else at the time seemed to have. The recipe used a secret method that captured the vapors typically lost in the process that permeated into the apple butter introducing a unique flavor drawing many customers to his mill and creamery (CEO, 2001). As a result of his unique apple butter, Smucker earned a positive reputation, took pride in his work, and began stamping his name on every crock of apple butter sold. The Smucker name continues to be a part of their packaging symbolizing a guarantee in quality that has spanned five generations of the Smucker’s family. The Smucker’s company continued to flourish as Jerome’s eldest son, Willard, delivered twenty-five cent, half-gallon crocks to customers using a wagon and was producing revenues of almost $60,000 as early as 1915 with a net profit of nearly $3,000 per year. In 1921, the J.M. Smucker Company became incorporated and already had an extensive line of quality preserves and jellies made from whole fruit and/or pure fruit juice. The company remained privately owned by Jerome and all of his children, sons and daughters. Its products were distributed throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana by way of the railroad and due to the large scale of volume, the Pennsylvania Railroad built a special siding to the Smucker plant in 1928 (History, n.d.). A railroad siding is an additional piece of track usually designated for specific usage, for the J.M. Smucker company for example, that runs alongside and connects to a main track at either end (Railroad, n.d.). The company was well on i ts way to expanding into the successful business it is today. Business Activities Packaging From the earliest of times, SJM strategized on how to improve its business activities to increase revenues while maintaining its quaint image reflecting the family’s strong conservative beliefs, which it holds onto dearly. Upon analyzing its packaging in 1938, the company realized there must be a better way to package its goods as opposed to its familiar crocks that were cumbersome and heavy to ship. Willard came up with the idea to use glass jars with an image of a pioneer woman boiling apple butter on the front that upheld Smucker’s reputation of old-fashioned quality (History, n.d.). Customers loved the new packaging, sales exceeded one million dollars in 1939, and the National Packaging Show awarded the organization for best packaging design success. Management The business survived the depression and war years reaching its fiftieth anniversary in 1947 and Jerome Smucker lived just long enough to see it before passing away at ninety years old. His sons, Willard and Paul, continued managing the company and sought methods to promote growth and diversification. Today, Jerome’s great-grandsons, Tim and Richard Smucker, manage the company by working together as a team and sharing the duties. Five other Smucker family members work for the company as well and the brothers’ hope is that one of them has what it takes to become the Chief Executive Officer of the J.M. Smucker Company in the future (Andrejczak, 2009). Over one hundred years later, the J.M. Smucker Company still exists as a family organization with the Smucker’s family maintaining partial ownership of the company. Products and Brand Names The Smucker boys, as they are commonly referred to, have increased sales sevenfold over the last decade through recent acquisitions boosting SJM into the number one market share position in ten different categories in America’s grocery stores and becoming a power player within the food industry (Andrejczak, 2009). Besides peanut butter and jelly, its products include shortening and oils, dessert toppings, syrups, fruit and vegetable juices, waffles, and coffee. Smucker obtained many of its products via acquisitions to expand its product line while focusing on major brands. Through the process, some of its brand names now include Crisco, Crosse & Blackwell, Eagle Brand, Folgers, Pillsbury, R.W. Knudsen Family, and Dunkin’ Donuts. Most of these brands and products probably seem quite familiar to the everyday person since SJM’s primary focus is on its consumer business. However, according to Tim Smucker, the business is divided into six areas: consumer, foodservice (restaurants and hotels), specialty foods (specialty gourmet products), industrial (proprietary fruit ingredients), beverages (health and natural foods beverages), and international (fruit spreads, fruit ingredients, juices and marinades) (CEO, 2001). In addition to having well known brand products, customers have come to recognize SJM’s tag lines such as, â€Å"Choosy mothers choose Jif,† â€Å"With a name like Smucker’s it has to be good,† and â€Å"The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup† directly associated with the products. Business Strategy Although J.M. Smucker sells its products internationally, its primary growth strategy as of the mid-1990s and still today is to acquire the number one food brands in North America that sell in the center of grocery stores. Its new strategy was determined by collaborating with many people that not only included executive level employees, but also listened to the ideas and thoughts from managerial and operational level factory workers in the decision-making process (Gunther, 2010). Smucker’s formed a simple and straightforward business strategy using a repeat business model that is geographically focused (Agramonte, 2008). The company decided to reach its goals by diversifying its products via multi-branding stemming from acquisitions. The Smucker family and managers met with analysts to examine their new growth strategy planning how to achieve their goals (J.M. Smucker, n.d.). The J.M. Smucker Company moved forward with its plans acquiring three major brands and several smaller ones. Acquisitions.The top three Smucker’s acquisitions were Jif and Crisco from Procter & Gamble, International Multifoods (IMC), and Folgers. However as SJM expanded their horizons, they knew necessary technological improvements must take place to align their new acquisitions within the company, which prides itself in quality and integrity. Making use of today’s modern computer technologies and services, the company hired Edgewater Technology, an organization that specializes in mergers and acquisitions integration, to assist SJM in building a common support system involving business processes, data requirements, and implementing a common set of tools while addressing risk management (LeBaron, 2007, June). Unfortunately at the time, SJM was still undergoing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation that slowed the progression of integrating the two organizations. Additionally, the two companies contained massive amounts of data in dissimilar source formats and st ructures that needed to be transferred. Edgewater overcame the challenges due to its familiarity with SJM and knowledgeable approach successfully completing the project meeting budget and time constraints. The J.M. Smucker Company pleased with Edgewater’s previous performance, hired them again to integrate IMC plants and contract manufacturers with SJM’s Canadian production plant. Edgewater set ought to transfer IMC onto Smucker’s U.S. systems and business processes and integrate IMC’s supply chain using a cross-border strategy (Lebaron, 2007, May). The project entailed the collaboration of eleven teams and SJM created an executive-level on-line forum for identifying, reviewing, planning, and resolving any issues. The integration was completed successfully producing substantial financial benefits that Smucker’s had hoped to achieve by acquiring IMC. Information Systems SJM not only employed information technology (IT) for its acquisitions, moreover it has always sought methods to achieve improvements throughout its business processes and has invested considerable amounts of money in new technologies. For example, Smucker’s chose Oracle for several of its information system needs. Oracle is one of the better-known companies that offer numerous services in business software providing customers with the flexibility they want to match their individual IT infrastructure needs. Furthermore, Oracle’s products contain benefits such as energy efficiency, outstanding availability, superb performance, and scalability. In 2008, SJM began utilizing Oracle’s Application Integration Architecture (AIA) and Oracle’s Siebel Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Integration Pack for Oracle Trade Promotion Management (Oracle, 2008). In fact, Oracle stated the J.M. Smucker Company was the first customer to deploy its new AIA with its CRM In tegration Pack in 2008. AIA benefits Smucker’s by managing data flows and data synchronizations; thereby, optimizing business processes across enterprise applications. AIA is an integration structure that supplies a basis on which to build business process flows with pre-built integrations (Application, 2010). CRM, however, is a strategy designed to generate and sustain customer relationships by concentrating on downstream information flows via dependable systems and procedures (Valacich & Schneider, 2010). Many advantages such as individualized service, expeditious problem recognition and resolution, enhanced information, and better product development as a result of tracking customer behavior over time stem from CRM. Lastly, trade promotion management, enables sales and margin improvements, improves account and category management, and enhances collaboration and productivity between external and internal functions (Hand, 2008). Oracle’s Trade Promotion Management, CRM, and AIA together signi ficantly decrease IT expenses when installing and maintaining integrations. Furthermore, SJM has implemented Oracle’s Service-oriented Architecture, Identity Management, Business Intelligence Publisher, E-business Suite, and WebCenter Suite and has increased its business intelligence usage. Smucker’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) has the knowledge and leadership skills to execute enterprise-wide information systems to achieve the benefits that continue to move a company forward and sustain a technological competitive advantage. Every year the Oracle Magazine editors grant an award to people who demonstrate such leadership, commitment, and vision in managing Oracle technology (Kelly, 2009). Smucker’s CIO and Vice President of Information Services, Andy Platt, earned Oracle’s CIO of the year in North America award in 2009. Smucker’s also makes use of other technologies such as Retail Solutions Incorporated’s Promotion Execution Solution and Terra Technology’s Demand Sensing Solution adding value to SMJ’s supply chain. Demand sensing is the interpretation of downstream data with minimal delay for understanding what is being sold, who is purchasing the product, and the impact of demand shaping (Cecere & Bois, 2007). Demand shaping is a customer centric method of planning and execution aligning processes with customer demand at strategic and tactical levels (Dey & Singh, 2007). Basically, demand sensing may be thought of as a type of inventory optimization providing an effective use of resources that reduces inventory, lowers costs, and significantly lessens forecasting error by forty percent. According to the J.M. Smucker Company, it chose the demand sensing solution because the product could improve forecasting accuracy within the supply chain area (Gale Group, 2007). Further more, Terra Technology’s Demand Sensing Solution is completely compatible with Oracle products. Whereas the demand sensing solution optimizes inventory processes, Retail Solutions Incorporated’s Promotion Execution Solution enhances retail applications used within the consumer product goods (CPG) industry. Retail applications further promotional strategies by improving store level execution, reducing out-of-stocks, and maximizing the efficiency of merchandisers (Guyot, 2008). SJM selected the promotion execution solution as a supplement to its Radio Frequency Identification Tag (RFID) Analytics and On-Shelf Management already in use. The goal was to streamline J.M. Smucker’s supply chain and expand its Electronic Product Code (EPC), a family of coding schemes for Gen 2 RFID tags across multiple processes. The successful implementation of the promotion execution solution for SJM built better relationships with its retail customers. Moreover, SJM has obtained a logical decision making framework that aids in making complex promotional decisions. Electronic Commerce The Internet and World Wide Web have also fostered the J.M. Smucker Company’s use of technology. The company has utilized the Web by entering into the world of electronic commerce (e-commerce) in many sectors. The general term â€Å"electronic business† basically encompasses any use of technology to provide support to a business. On the other hand, e-commerce generally covers the technological aspects that aid in producing revenue either by directly selling goods to customers or by allowing a company, such as Smucker’s, to do business with other related companies within the food industry, for example. The company’s Web site types consist of business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B). SJM has a click-and-mortar strategy whereby the majority of its products sell at physical locations such as grocery stores with its B2C Web site following a traditional sales model where consumers are able to buy products directly from its Web site. Consumers may choose to view the Smucker’s U.S., Canada, or Mexico Web site. The Canada Web site allows the consumer to choose English or French as the displayed language and has a link connecting to the U.S. Website. The Mexico Website uses only Spanish for its language and has a different slogan than the other two, â€Å"Tu vida es mà ¡s rica con Smucker’s.† The slogan translates as, â€Å"Your life is more rich with Smucker’s† or â€Å"Your life is richer with Smucker’s.† However, the U.S. Web site contains a greater amount of information, product choices, and Web pages compared to the Canadian and Mexican versions. A stakeholder can gain much knowledge about the J.M. Smucker Company simply by examining its Web site. The Web site consists of six main pages titled Products, Recipes, Sensibly Sweet, What’s New, Our Company, and Shop Smucker’s. Within each Web page are additional pages and links. For example, the Sensibly Sweet Web page was designed with the health conscientious in mind and provides information about SJM’s reduced sugar and sugar free products with links that give tips on how to eat better and exercise. People merely wanting to learn about Smucker’s may click on the Our Company tab that supplies another list to choose from, including the history of the company, a list of its family brands, newsroom, and investor relations. Shareholders The Smucker’s Web site is one way technology has provided for stakeholders as well as shareholders to communicate with and attain information about the company. Shareholders may want to click on the Investor Relations tab that redirects a user to the Smucker’s Investors Web site that reports current stock information, financial news releases, analyst coverage, and a list of shareholder services to name a few. Furthermore, the site offers answers to frequently asked questions and provides a list of contacts for those who would like supplementary information. Lastly, investors may review SJM’s latest financial results, quarterly and annually, in comprehensive, detailed reports or Webcast presentations (another use of today’s technology) that explain future strategies and goals of the company.