Saturday, August 31, 2019

Vals Survey

1.After taking the VALS survey, I’ve learned the primary VALS segment that I match is ‘Experiencer’, which represents my dominant approach to life. This means I am motivated by self-expression. According to the site, experiencers quickly become enthusiastic about new possibilities but are equally quick to cool (Vals Survey). Experiencers tend to be young, enthusiastic, and impulsive consumers (Vals Survey). Additionally, this dimension seeks variety and excitement, savoring the new, the offbeat, and the risky (Vals Survey). An experiencer’s energy finds an outlet in exercise, sports, outdoor recreation, and social activities (Vals Survey). Experiencers are also said to be avid consumers and spend a comparatively high proportion of their income on fashion, entertainment, and socializing (Vals Survey). Their purchases reflect the emphasis they place on looking good and having â€Å"cool† stuff. I could not agree with this more. I tend to live life as if tomorrow would be my last day, so I prefer to spend my money on things that make me happy and keep me young. I was somewhat surprised to see that my secondary type is ‘Achiever’ rather than ‘Thinker’, because I constantly feel that I am mature, satisfied, and comfortable. I always value order, knowledge, and responsibility in my life. I am very well-educated and actively seek out information in the decision-making process. I am constantly well-informed about world and national events, and am alert to opportunities to broaden my knowledge. To summarize, I am either a very diverse type of person, or I know less about myself than I thought. 2.The various VALS types that one could be categorized under are innovators, thinkers, achievers, experiencers, believers, strivers, makers and survivors. Some are definitely easier to manage than others. I would say that innovators, achievers and experiencers are the most difficult to manage. The easiest to manage are probably the thinkers, believers, strivers, makers and survivors. Related essay: â€Å"Support Positive Risk Taking For Individuals† Innovators would involve a difficult lifestyle simply because they represent all three primary motivations in varying degrees. Achievers must balance career and family, which is difficult for a lot of people to do. As stated online, achievers are often interested in a variety of time-saving devices because of their busy lives. Experiencers are involved in a complicated life that would be tough to manage, because it requires a lot of money, a lot of risk taking, and being kept up-to-date on the latest styles and trends. This sounds like a very hectic lifestyle. 3.Since my VALS type is ‘experiencer’, one managerial conclusion that I can draw from this is that, when I become a manger one day, I will focus more on innovation and the ‘now’ of things rather than the past. Since an experiencer involves high resources and high innovation, I will be managing a company with great future prospects and hope for a lot of growth- whether it is through mergers, acquisitions, or expansion to foreign countries. This type of manager is also known as a ‘growth manager’. Growth managers tend to invest in the stocks of companies with rapidly growing sales and earnings (Fin Pipe). They believe that the stock price of this type of company will increase quickly as well, reflecting the strong growth of these companies (Fin Pipe). This always involves risk, which is a common characteristic of an experiencer.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Reificaition Case Essay

Wikipedia defines reification as â€Å"(Lat. res thing + facere to make) n. the turning of something into a thing or object; the error which consists in treating as a â€Å"thing† something which is not one. Hypostatization, treating an abstract entity as if it were concrete, is a case in point†. In Marxist terms, it is the consideration of a human being as a physical object, deprived of subjectivity. According to Marxists, this is one of the pitfalls of the capitalist system because in such a system the laborers and their work are not valued to their proper extent. Their work is treated as a commodity and is valued according to the unpredictable needs of the market. This concept is closely tied to the Marxist idea of commodity fetishism which Wikipedia describes as â€Å"an inauthentic state of social relations, said to arise in complex capitalist market systems, where social relationships are confused with their medium, the commodity.† Marxist writer, Georg Lukà ¡cs, writes thus: The transformation of the commodity relation into a thing of ‘ghostly objectivity’ cannot there ore content itself with the reduction of all objects for the gratification of human needs to commodities. It stamps its imprint upon the whole consciousness of man; his qualities an abilities are no longer an organic par of his personality, they are things which he can ‘own’ or ‘dispose of’ like the various objects of the external world. Simply put, Marxists criticize capitalist systems for stripping the human person of his social nature. He is transformed into a commodity or a product. One’s labor is transformed into money which is in turn used to purchase the products of other people’s labor. Although this may facilitate the exchange of goods, the problem of the system lies in the fact that because of this abstraction, the use-value (the actual usefulness of the object) is oftentimes totally different from its exchange-value (the value of the object in the marketplace). For example, a person who creates a hammer (which has a variety of uses) will be paid less than a person who makes jewelry (an object which has less use than a hammer). The value given to the work of the laborer is incommensurate to the work and effort that he made in order to produce the good. How can reification be avoided? Marxist measures against reification have proven themselves to be ineffective (including complete control over the market and standardization of wages). This is because these measures tend to remove the element of competition from the formula, thus, causing production to suffer instead. An alternative mode by which reification is avoided is through the respect of human rights. According to John Locke, each person has the natural right to life, liberty and estate which must be protected by the government. These rights must ensure that each person shall be given his due. By treating persons as individuals with human rights and dignity, people will be treated as an end and never as a means. The theory of human rights has been upheld and accepted by most of the world and are embodied in international instruments and conventions, most notable is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the field of labor and employment, modern societies have integrated this idea of human dignity by setting minimum standards and conditions to be strictly followed by employers under the pain of appropriate sanctions should they be defied. For example, there could be a law saying that any employee who works beyond eight hours in a single day shall be given additional overtime pay. Another instance would be a law that would lay down a minimum wage based on the living standards and conditions of the locality where the worker belongs. By recognizing the human dignity of every person, reification is completely obliteration because persons are then given the respect they deserve. They are no longer treated as cogs in the machinery of production but are considered partners in the enterprise. By holding that each person deserves to be treated with dignity, they are esteemed as subjects never objects, and will be given their due.       Bibliography Lukà ¡cs, Georg. 1967. History & Class Consciousness. Translated by Andy Blunden. Merlin Press. Smith, John, Bob Snider, and Diane Hill. 2005. A study of physics. New York: McGraw Hill. Wikipedia. 2006. Commodity fetishism. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodity_fetishism. Ashcraft, Richard. 1986. Revolutionary Politics and Locke’s â€Å"Two Treatises of Government†. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Wikipedia. 2006. Georg Lukà ¡cs. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Luk%C3%A1cs. Wikipedia. 2006. Human Rights. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights. Wikipedia. 2006. John Locke. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_locke. Wikipedia. 2006. Reification. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reification.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Childhood Obesity in London Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Childhood Obesity in London - Essay Example This essay "Childhood Obesity in London" describes the problem of the increasing number of the obese children in London. There is no globally accepted definition for child obesity and hence researchers and healthcare professionals try to assess child obesity in terms of published guidelines of body mass index. As Ferry (n.d) points out, some professionals consider child obesity as a condition where a child’s body weight is 20% more than actually needed height according to BMI criteria, or body fat percentage is 25% above in boys and 32% above in girls. The condition of child obesity is defined as â€Å"the presence of excessive accumulations of adipose tissue that interfere with child health and well-being† (Simonton, 2007, p. 62). Medical journals and other healthcare surveys have repeatedly mentioned child obesity as one of the most life threatening disorders in the United Kingdom and other economically developed countries. According to a recent national survey report (as cited in Kellow, n.d), nearly 25 percent boys and 33 percent girls in UK are obese or overweight. It is predicted that these figures would be doubled over the next decade unless the UK healthcare authorities took some strong and thoughtful initiatives to curb the issue. As obese children are more likely to become obese adults, this eating disorder has a profound effect on a child’s health. Surveys indicate that majority of the parents do not give proper care on their child’s diet habits and this situation deteriorates the issue.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Contextualization of Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Contextualization of Development - Essay Example This report stresses that globalization and its impacts have been very evident in Canada. Some of the large companies in Canada have become global. This means that such companies have been able to access new markets as well as new challenges. The ratification of the Free Trade Agreement with Canada and the United States in 1988 has seen dramatic change in the business environment in Canada. In addition, Canada has been able export and import human resources. As a matter of fact, Canada is known to be one of the encouraging expatriation through programs like green cards and visas. Canada has been able to enjoy a number of benefits as a result of globalization. Globalization has also had negative effect too. One of the negative effects of globalization is inequality between the industrialized and the less industrialized nations. This disparity has been caused by exploitation of the less industrialized nations by the industrialized ones. This has led to overdependence of the industriali zed nations by the less industrialized ones. This paper makes a conclusion that globalization is inevitable and its impacts cannot be overlooked. All sectors of human beings and nations are affected by globalization. Just as seen in the above discussion, globalization affects the social, economic and political spheres. There is a thin line of difference between globalization and modernization, therefore any human being, society and nation must embrace globalization.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Clinical immunology (ELISA TYPES) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Clinical immunology (ELISA TYPES) - Essay Example Figureure 1: The targeted antigens that are found in the wells are attached to the labelled antibodies where substrate is added in order to form a reaction with enzymes conjugated antibodies form a yellow colour in case of positive results and for negative results, blue. Monoclonal antibodies are obtained from single B-cell clones and they one biding site only that can recognize a single epitope of the antigens. These are prepared through the use of specificity desired by the hybridoma technology that is used to develop cells that are immortalized which can secrete the immunoglobulin desired (Nairn, 2002). On the other hand, the polyclonal antibodies come from immunised animals, obtained from various B-cells and they have heterogeneous collections of binding sites that help to recognize different epitopes (Kindt, 2006). Sandwich ELISA; certain monoclonal antibodies are found attached to walls of microtiter plate where the serum specimen is put to the wells so that they can be tested for complementary antigen’s presence. Where the antigen is present in the given specimen, it binds the monoclonal antibodies. The other antigens or molecules that are not bound, by the monoclonal antibodies are then washed away. Enzyme conjugated antibodies also known as secondary monoclonal are added and they are washed without any bond. The reason is that the enzymes that are conjugated to the monoclonal antibodies have receptors that are designed in such a way that they produce colour changes in the event that substrates are added. In the event that the antigens suspected are present, a complex of primary monoclonal antibodies, antigens and enzymes conjugated antibodies are formed and they will cause colour changes after substrates are added. The final results are then measured using optical technology. Colour does not change to yellow if the suspected antigens are not present where a

Monday, August 26, 2019

Operation Anaconda Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Operation Anaconda - Essay Example This operation was to eliminate the Al Qaeda group after they were overpowered by the group three months earlier. The mission used modernized method where the US military and friendly Afghanistan in the valley was to assail the terror group. This was not the case, as the enemy was so controlling and organized, while the sociable Afghanistan’s did not cooperate, hence leaving the Americans to fight alone. The soldiers were able to succeed as they called for air reinforcement because their original ground plan to overpower the enemy was not effective.2 The mission was expected to be completed in three days, but it extended for a month. The US army was considered successful because they were able to eliminate eight hundred Al Qaeda men. These men run away from the valley leaving the United States soldiers in control. The success was established using sophisticated material and the soldiers adapting to diverse fighting methods. This is because it was unable to cope with the environment in the mountains and they were not able to combat the heavy machine guns and grenades that were used to neutralize them by the Al-Qaeda. The operation did not have tactical gears that would neutralize the Al-Qaeda group who camouflaged in the mountains. There were many accidents as many soldiers died from bombs dropped by American aircrafts. Others were killed from helicopter crashes, while a few suffered heavy equipment accidents, inadvertent falling from shipboards, and accidental shootings.3 Anaconda operation has been among the most complicated missions in US warfare history. This is because they were unable to eliminate their enemy in the first account, typically because the soldiers underestimated the enemy and thought that it was an uncomplicated mission. Success was realized after requesting for reinforcement from Delta Force and Seal Team

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Musical Theater Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Musical Theater - Research Paper Example All over the world â€Å"Musicals† are performed. Sometimes they are performed at big budget venues such as Broadway theatre productions and West End theatre. It is sometimes performed on small scale theatres such as Off-Broadway and Fringe Theatre. The fact is that it is present in almost every corner of the world. Since from the start of twentieth century â€Å"book musicals† has been the source of musical plays in which dances and songs are integrated into a well composed story, having some real dramatic goals and as a result it evoked real emotions except laughter. There are three different componenets of book musicals, the first one is the book, the second is lyrics and the third is songs. The book refers to the main story and its spoken words. Book is also sometimes referred to as the combination of lyrics and dialogues together. In opera it is known as the libretto which mean a concise book in ltalian. The creative team of any musical have the responsibility to interpretate the musical in such a way that it influence the audience to a great extent. (Miller, 34) The creative team of each production consists of a musical director, director, orchestrator and choreographer. The technical aspects of musical production include props (the stage properties), set design, sound, lighting an d costumes. These technical aspects change from one production to the other depending on the story. The book musical usually do not have fixed length. It can have only single act and sometimes it contains several acts of different lengths. Musicals are normally presented in two different lengths with intermission in between. (Miller, 76) The first act is usually longer than the second one. Most of the musicals lasts from one hour to one and a half hour. In the first act most of the music and all of the characters are introduced. It often ends with plot complications. The second act reprises some important

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Summarize the major plans that impacted the creation of the Assignment

Summarize the major plans that impacted the creation of the Constitution - Assignment Example th the other Plan of New Jersey, which called, after all, the states to possess unbiased representation in the congress as to the Confederation articles. The third plan brought about the New Jersey and the Virginia plans as tools for exhibition in the existing houses of Congress. It led to an equal representation in the Senate and balanced in the chamber. The New Jersey Plan was initially an answer to the Virginia plan, and it was displayed at the constitutional convention. Through this plan, the Congress had some extra powers of tax collection and setting. State laws were weak towards federal statutes. The New Jersey Plan called for the selection of the executive council by the Congress, to serve for a period of one-year long term. The term was subject to recall by the governors of the state. The executive appointed the judiciary and was accompanied by a lifetime service. The plan called for equal representation of the states and the small states feared that the bigger states would become very powerful. This plan tried to give the small states similar powers to those with larger states in the congress. The third plan of Connecticut compromise mixed the New Jersey and the Virginia plans as replicas for state exhibition in the houses of Congress. The Connecticut plan was put forward by Roger Sherman during the constitutional convention. The Great Compromise also goes by the name compromise, solved many issues related to representation in Congress. The plan mixed the other two plans (New Jersey and Virginia) as a tool of display in the houses of Congress; the states should be depicted on equal terms in the Senate. The states also should be represented proportionately in the representatives’ house. The plan called for counting of every five slaves to be done as three for the purposes of population determination (this though did not offer the votes to the slaves). Almost all the proposed laws related to fundraising would have to come from the representatives

Gran Torino Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Gran Torino - Movie Review Example When main hero Walt first comes to Thao’s house as a guest he feels alienated and doesn’t speak to anybody (Miller & Vandome & McBrewster, 56). So do all the other members of the family who ignore him. He only speaks with Thao and his sister who are young and therefore don’t feel so secluded. Now even starting with simple displays of respect we can already see that intercultural communication goes wrong in this scene when it can be done better. Asian people rarely shake hands and they traditionally prefer to present their respect in a form of bow. Walt wants to give everybody his hand to shake but he doesn’t succeed and afterwards even bows himself as he understands that it is he who is a guest and therefore should conform to the rules. But because Walt thinks of those people as guests in his country he can’t realize it at once and his intercultural communication evolves slowly with the flow of a storyline. Using this scene again it will be acceptab le to apply here interaction management too. If Thao’s elderly family members and Walt instead of defiantly not talking with each other try to maintain a conversation about, for example, their neighborhood in which all of them happen to live whether they like it or not it would be easier for them to become closer. Next example is a general relationship between Thao and Walt who are completely different in age, nation, culture, tradition and views. But paradoxically this difference attracts them because they are so different from everybody that they seek understanding.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Emergency Action Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Emergency Action Plan - Assignment Example Inside the booth are phone directories that bear the frequently used emergency phone contacts. Other than the booths, an alarm has been installed in one the adjacent building. The alarm is used to alert the participants in case of danger so that they can leave the swimming pool with immediate effect. The participants with Autism are usually at a higher risk during the swimming lessons (Mary, 2010, pp23). They can accidentally fall in the water and get trapped inside without being noticed. Since their speaking is sometimes distorted, they may not be in a position to alert others for help. To care of these individuals, lifeguards have taken it upon themselves to ensure that they swim under a close watch. Fellow students are advised to partner with an autistic friend while in the pool. In case of emergency such as drowning or seizure in water, the lifeguards and trained student captains are usually to lead the rescue plan (Red Cross, 2015). Rescue plans and methods vary with the kind of emergency. If one is trapped under water, deep-swimmer lifeguards have the sole responsibility of performing the search and bringing the victim to the surface. In case of fire, the participants have been instructed on how to ring the alarm and use the fire extinguishers. While the main role of the lifeguards is to perform a rescue operation, the Adapted Aquatic Instructors have a general role of giving directions to the participants. These include swimming tactics for various purposes such as emergency. The instructor assistants usually wok alongside the senior instructors and represent their seniors when they are away. They give the participants a general orientation of the facility and are always available for the students during swimming lessons. When there is an emergency that is beyond the capabilities of the staff, it is always advisable to seek for an external help through phone calls. 911 is always a central rescue number. However, there is always a chain

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Childcare and Education Essay Example for Free

Childcare and Education Essay B) Evaluate the role of play in meeting the meeting the individual needs of children who are ill Role play is one way in which you can meet the individual needs of children who are ill as it allows the children to freely express themselves and their feelings without the worry of being told what to do and how to do it in a safe environment free from harm an example from one of my day nursery placements was when the room supervisor had the role play area changed to a doctors surgery because quite a lot of children where ill with the chickenpox, so that they werent worried about going to the doctors and could act out different scenarios with their friends. Role play is very adaptable and can be changed to meet each individual childs specific needs an example would be if one of the children in the practitioners care had to go through very serious treatment at the hospital then the practitioner would change the role play area to a mock hospital set up so that the child can express themselves and find out information on what going to hospital is like and for them to be able to explain to their friends what is going on with themselves. Child-led activities and Adult-led activities are another way in which the practitioner can meet the individual needs of a child who is ill, this type of activity allows the child who is ill some control on what their role is in the activity and how they go about completing that role throughout the activity an example from my current primary school placement would be when we did a science experiment on materials. The teacher explained what the children needed to do and showed them a visual demonstration, then the children split into groups of three on separate tables about the classroom. The children then following what the teacher had said carried out the experiment with the different roles split between themselves. One would record the information and draw around the surface splat, another would be dropping the plasticine and the last one would be holding the three different length rulers. Observation and planning helps in meeting the needs of a child who is ill because as a practitioner it allows them to be able to see where the child needs further assistance and for the practitioner to plan the further assistance.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Entrepreneurs Personal Characteristics And Influence On Growth Commerce Essay

Entrepreneurs Personal Characteristics And Influence On Growth Commerce Essay Barons (2002) definition of entrepreneurship indicates that entrepreneurship involves a complex process in which specific individuals recognize opportunities and then act to convert them into tangible economic benefits by setting up a new business. This corresponds with Schumpeters (1934, from: Elliot, 1983) early definition of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs. He states that an enterprise is a carrying out of new combinations and entrepreneurs are the individuals whose function it is to carry them out. According to Schumpeter everyone is an entrepreneur only when he is actually carrying out new combinations, and he loses that character as soon as he built up his business. The entrepreneur then becomes only a small business owner (Carland et al., 1984). In this report I use Schumpeters definition of entrepreneurs and with that focus on entrepreneurs that started a business recently. Several meta-analyses have shown that entrepreneurs differ from other groups in terms of a broad range of personality (Zhao et al., 2010). The five-factor model (FFM) of personality provides a meaningful and generalizable taxonomy for studying these differences. The FFM consists of five relatively independent dimensions: Extraversion, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Openness to Experience (Wang and Erdheim, 2007). Each dimension reflects certain personal characteristics. Small businesses are different from large organizations. Their characteristics are that they are reactive, fire-fighting mentality, have resource limitations, informal strategies and flexible structures (Terziovski, 2010). While small firms opportunity-seeking skills may be strong, their limited knowledge stocks and lack of market power inhibit their ability to enact the competitive advantages necessary to appropriate value from opportunities the firms choose to pursue (Ketchen et al., 2007). This paper consists of a literature study on the personal characteristics of entrepreneurs and their influence on small business growth. Scientific literature will be consulted to study this relationship. I have chosen to investigate the relationship between an entrepreneurs personal characteristics and their influence on small business growth because I am interested in entrepreneurship and because I am working on setting up my own small business. It is an interesting topic because there are not many articles written about it and I think it can give entrepreneurs insights in how to use certain personal characteristics to make a positive contribution to the growth of their small business. The research question of the paper is: To what extent are an entrepreneurs personal characteristics of influence on small business growth? The sub questions are: How can personality be defined? Which personal characteristics are according to the literature specific for an entrepreneur? What are the characteristics of the small business sector? What kind of challenges will an entrepreneur face after starting up a business? The paper will be structured as follows. In the next section I will put up a definition of personality and review the Five Factor Model. Some insights about personal characteristics of entrepreneurs that are written about in the literature are also being discussed. After that a section is dedicated to the characteristics of the small business sector and what kind of challenges entrepreneurs face after starting up their business. Section 4 consists of an analysis where the insights from the foregoing two sections are combined. I will also analyze and discuss the results of an interview with an entrepreneur in this section. In the last section a conclusion will be given with a concrete answer to the sub questions and the research question. I will also discuss the limitations of this study and some recommendations for future studies. Figure 1 summarizes the paper structure. Figure 1: Paper structure An entrepreneurs personal characteristics In this section an overview is given of an entrepreneurs personal characteristics that are elaborated on in the literature. First a definition of personality will be given. In the same section The Five Factor personality Model (FFM) is explored because in this model certain personal characteristics are grouped together into five different personality dimensions. After that other personal characteristics that are quoted in the literature are being discussed. The goal of this section is to derive a set of personal characteristics from the literature that are typical for entrepreneurs and match them to the dimensions of the FFM. Personality and the Five Factor Model This paragraph starts with a definition of personality. After that I will explain the FFM model and specify an amount of personal characteristics that are typical for the five dimensions of the model. Personality can be defined as enduring dispositions that cause characteristics patterns of interaction with the environment (Parks and Guay, 2009). Personality consists of personality traits that are endogenous basic tendencies tied to underlying biophysiological response systems. They are strongly heritable, immune to social and parental influences and quite stable throughout maturity (Olver and Mooradian, 2003). In the 1990s consensus was reached about five broad categories of personality. These five categories together are called the Five Factor personality Model. The five FFM dimensions are: Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability/Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Openness to experience (Parks and Guay, 2009; Wang and Erdheim, 2007; Zhao et al., 2010). Conscientiousness refers to making deliberate choices and being reliable. The personal characteristics that belong to this dimension are being careful, thorough, responsible, motivated, organized and efficient. Emotional stability/neuroticism represents the individual differences in the tendency to experience distress and the typical behaviors that are associated with it. According to Parks and Guay (2009) emotional stability refers to the characteristics self-confident, resilient and well-adjusted. According to Wang and Erdheim (2007) neuroticism is the opposite of emotional stability and is being anxious, depressed, emotional, worried and insecure. The third dimension, extraversion, refers to being ambitious, talkative, assertive, and sociable. Agreeableness consists of the social aspect of personality, that is being friendly, cooperative, loyal, courteous, good-natured and tolerant. Finally, openness to experience refers to the characteristics curious, imaginative, open-minded and artistically sensitive. This dimension reflects the creative side of personality. According to Zhao et al. (2010) these five dimensions do not cover all personality traits, so they expanded the model with the dimension Risk propensity. Risk propensity can be defined as the willingness to pursue decisions or courses of action involving uncertainty regarding success or failure outcomes. This was a short explanation about personality and the FFM. In the next paragraph I will discuss several personality traits of entrepreneurs that were elaborated on in literature. An entrepreneurs personal characteristics In this paragraph I will start with Schumpeters theory about the psychology of the entrepreneur. After that several personal characteristics of an entrepreneur that are reviewed in the literature will be discussed. Schumpeter (1934, from: Elliot, 1983) was one of the first to discuss the personal characteristics of the entrepreneur. He argues that there is the dream and the will to found a private kingdom, usually, though not necessarily, also a dynasty. Then there is the will to conquer: the impulse to fight, to prove oneself superior to others, to succeed for the sake, not of the fruits of success, but of success itself. Finally, there is the joy of creating, of getting things done, or simply of exercising ones energy and ingenuity (p. 93). After Schumpeter several other researchers investigated the psychology of the entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs differ from the rest of the population in a number of ways (Beugelsdijk and Noorderhaven, 2005; Brandstà ¤tter, 1997; Zhao et al., 2010). Entrepreneurs can be characterized by an incentive structure based on individual responsibility and effort, and a strong work ethic (Beugelsdijk and Noorderhaven, 2005). This means that they think that the state should not take more responsibility, private ownership should be increased, that unemployed should not have the right to refuse a job and success is not a matter of luck and connections but of hard work. Brandstà ¤tter (1997) attaches an entrepreneurs personal characteristics to some situational characteristics that are common to all entrepreneurs. First, it is the absence of people who give orders, set goals and control the outcome. This means that entrepreneurs are more individually oriented than other people (Beugelsdijk and Noorderhaven, 2005). A second aspect is the insecurity. There is always the risk of economic failure that entrepreneurs have to deal with. They dont need to be upset or worried very easily, so emotional stability is a prerequisite for entrepreneurs. This corresponds with the vision of Zhang et al. (2009). They mention that the level of neuroticism was a key predictor of centrality in advice and friendship networks. People that score low on the level of neuroticism tend to obtain central positions in advice and friendship networks and people high in neuroticism tended to become the center of adversarial networks. Because social networks are very important for entrepreneurs, these results suggest that entrepreneurs have to be emotional stable. The third characteristic Brandstà ¤tter (1997) defines is the demand for social contact. Entrepreneurs have to convince their customers of the usefulness of their product and they have to keep in touch with them to fulfill their needs. Finally, entrepreneurs have to be ready to try out new ideas and respond quickly to changes around them. This means that entrepreneurs have to be more innovative than others. Another characteristic of entrepreneurs is that they score high on the extraversion dimension (Zhang et al., 2009). This seems logical because extraverted people tend to have more social skills and this is important for entrepreneurs because they have to persuade different stakeholders. Baron (2002) supports this vision. He states that entrepreneurs who are successful in generating enthusiasm in others, may be significantly more successful than those who are not. Smith-Hunter et al. (2003) defined the most researched personal characteristics from the traditional school, that is a group of researchers who focused on the personality characteristics of the individual. These characteristics are locus of control (Poon et al., 2006), risk-taking (Zhao et al., 2010), achievement motivation (Poon et al., 2006), and problem solving style and innovativeness (Beugelsdijk and Noorderhaven, 2005; Schumpeter, 1934, from: Elliot, 1983). Locus of control can be defined as peoples perception of their ability to exercise control over the environment (Poon et al., 2006). People with an internal locus of control believe that their own effort determines certain outcomes in life, whereas people with an external locus of control believe that outcomes are determined by external factors they cant influence. Locus of control is one of the classical themes in the entrepreneurial trait research that differentiate entrepreneurs from non-entrepreneurs (Beugelsdijk and Noorderhaven, 2005; Poon et al., 2006). Entrepreneurs are characterized by a more internal locus of control (Dvir et al., 2010). Many recent studies have focused on the relationship between the locus of control and an entrepreneurs level of self-efficacy (Smith-Hunter et al., 2003). Entrepreneurial self-efficacy is the degree to which people perceive themselves as having the ability to successfully perform the various roles and tasks of entrepreneurship (Hmieleski and Baron, 2008). Hmieleski and Baron (2008) investigated that self-efficacy is moderated by the degree of optimism and the industry conditions. The results of their study indicate that (1) in dynamic environments, entrepreneurial self-efficacy exerts positive effects on performance for firms led by moderately optimistic entrepreneurs, but exerts negative effects on performance for firms led by entrepreneurs who are highly optimistic and (2) in stable environments, the effects of entrepreneurial self-efficacy on firm performance are less clear and not moderated by the degree of optimism. The opinions about the characteristic risk-taking are diverse. Some researchers found that entrepreneurs are high risk takers (Zhao et al., 2010), but others mention that entrepreneurs are moderate risk takers (Xu and Ruef, 2004). There are two forms of risk tolerance that may lead individuals to entrepreneurial activity, strategic and non-strategic (Xu and Ruef, 2004). In strategic risk tolerance rational actors actively prefer low-probability, high payoff outcomes. In non-strategic risk tolerance rational actors need not have active risk preferences, but only appear to prefer low-probability, high payoff outcomes because their information on the distribution of outcomes is based on conditions of imperfect knowledge. The need to achieve refers to a desire to do well in order to achieve a sense of personal accomplishment (Poon et al., 2006). The need to achieve can be related to the characteristics desire for independence (Dvir et al., 2010; Poon et al., 2006) and risk-taking propensity (Zhao et al., 2010). People who have a high need for achievement possess five critical attributes (Smith-Hunter et al., 2003). High achievers like situations where they can take responsibility. They like rapid feedback on their performance, so they can criticize their own improvements. They avoid very easy or very difficult tasks and they dislike succeeding by chance. They prefer striving to achieve targets and the last characteristic is that they are interested in concrete knowledge about the results of their decisions. Finally innovation and problem solving capabilities are expected to be the core of the entrepreneurial capability of an entrepreneur (Smith-Hunter et al., 2003). Schumpeter (1934, from: Elliott, 1983) mentioned that creative destruction, whereby new products and processes replace old ones, is more important than price competition among existing firms and products. This means that entrepreneurs are more innovative than non-entrepreneurs (Beugelsdijk and Noorderhaven, 2005). For this end the most important characteristics of an entrepreneur that were cited in literature were discussed. Dvir et al. (2010) mentioned the most frequently cited personality traits of entrepreneurs. These are the desire to be independent (Beugelsdijk and Noorderhaven, 2005), internal locus of control (Poon et al., 2006), creativity or innovativeness (Schumpeter, 1934, from: Elliott, 1983), risk-taking propensity (Xu and Ruef, 2004; Zhao et al., 2010), need for achievement (Poon et al., 2006), and credible role models. In the next paragraph the above mentioned characteristic will be related to the FFM dimensions. An entrepreneurs personality traits and their relation with the FFM dimensions The characteristics mentioned in the foregoing paragraph can be related to the dimensions of the FFM. The five dimensions were Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability/Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Openness to experience. The extra dimension added by Zhao et al. (2010) was risk propensity. Because of the strong work ethic (Beugelsdijk and Noorderhaven, 2005) and the high need for achievement (Poon et al., 2006) entrepreneurs score high on the conscientiousness dimension. Conscientiousness has been found to be a consistent predictor of job performance across occupations involving managing others and sales performance (Ciavarella et al., 2004). Emotional stability is a prerequisite for entrepreneurs because of the insecurity they have to deal with (Brandstà ¤tter, 1997). People that score high on the level of emotional stability tend to obtain central positions in advice and friendship networks (Zhang et al., 2009). An internal locus of control (Poon et al., 2006) and mostly a high level of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (Hmieleski and Baron, 2009) are specific for an entrepreneurs emotional stability. Entrepreneurs also score high on the extraversion dimension (Zhao et al., 2010). The reason for this is that being extraverted should facilitate the development of social networks, ultimately resulting in stronger partnerships with suppliers and customers, which is very important for entrepreneurs (Ciavarella et al., 2004). The characteristics of extraversion are being ambitious, talkative, assertive, and sociable (Parks and Guay, 2009). According to Ciavarella et al. (2004) agreeableness is an interpersonal factor that focuses on the quality of relationships through cooperation and trust. Entrepreneurs who establish trusting, flexible, and courteous relationships with their customers should expect to reap the profits of repeat business. Zhao et al. (2010) expected that, given the limited margin for unselfish behavior and the high likelihood of guarded and even conflictual interpersonal relationships associated with entrepreneurship, there would be a negative relationship between agreeableness and entrepreneurial intentions. However their results have shown that this is not true and that entrepreneurs do score high on agreeableness and with that are highly cooperative and reliable. Openness to experience describes the extent to which individuals tend to be curious, creative, and open to new ideas, which relates to self-direction values, those are beliefs that individuals ought to be independent and self-directed (Parks and Guay, 2009). Successful entrepreneurship is likely to require constant information monitoring and learning to keep up with changing tastes and market trends, competitor behavior, and new Technologies (Zhao et al., 2010). This indicates that entrepreneurs are more innovative than non-entrepreneurs (Beugelsdijk and Noorderhaven, 2005) and that they score high on openness to experience. For the last dimension, risk propensity, the visions are not always the same. Zhao et al. (2010) argue that entrepreneurs are characterized by a high risk propensity, while Xu and Ruef (2004) argue that entrepreneurs are moderate risk-takers. The goal of this second section was to derive a set of personal characteristics for an entrepreneur from the literature and relate them to the FFM dimensions. After first discussing the FFM model and after that, reviewing the personal characteristics of an entrepreneur, I attached the personal characteristics to the dimensions of the FFM. With this the second section is finished. In the next section I will discuss the characteristics of the small business sector. Because of the focus on entrepreneurs that recently started their business, some challenges they face will also be reviewed.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Digital Technologys Impact On The Film Industry Media Essay

Digital Technologys Impact On The Film Industry Media Essay Digital technology in the last decade has completely transformed the film industry. Focusing on the key methods of film making and the impact that technology has had on each area, this editorial will look at recent modifications in the pre-production part of film making, followed by a look at the new equipment and storage facilities being used by modern filmmakers. Film distribution and the negative impacts that technology has had on the field, particularly on the illegal sale and piracy of copyrighted material is investigated. Post-theatre film distribution and the changing breakthrough technologies in this field are explored to look at the constant changes in education and training of professionals in the film industry. Computer generated graphics and its increasing impact on the film industry is covered, and the future of the industry is predicted. Digital tools and technology have altered the script writing process by making use of the internet and digital editing tools. The internet is being used by scriptwriters to forward their scripts to directors and potential cast members but it also caters for peer reviews by way of online forums (Huang 2004). There has been a significant increase in the last decade in the use of digital video cameras for low-budget film shooting along with higher definition video which is set to match and go beyond the standard 35 mm film both in the quality and flexibility (Culkin Randle 2003, p.5). The post production phase of film making has arguably been the most significantly impacted by new trends in technology. The introduction of non-linear technology has made the use of hand edited films inefficient, and too time consuming. This process, created by Avid, involves piecing together the film in a virtual environment where both the director and editor view the output on a screen (Culkin Randle 2 003, p.8). The entire process of filmmaking has been digitalized, everything from the distribution to the projection of films to audiences. However, the lack of standards and commercial agreements between distributors and exhibitors has slowed down the conversion to digital technologies. For example, only 170 cinemas around the world have converted to what is known as high-end digital (Culkin Randle 2003, p.9). Profit margins for movie studios are reported to be decreasing, now being outnumbered by the video game industry. Satellite delivery of feature films to cinemas have recently made its debut and reports indicate that upon full implementation of using this method of film distribution can save the film industry in excess of $700 million per annum (Markman Vega 2001, p. 1). A major downside for the film industry is that recent technological breakthroughs have made the piracy of copyrighted material very affordable. Primarily for music and film content, this has lead to some major lawsuits against peer-to-peer networks and individuals as a result of the copying and distribution of these materials. This is one of the film industries main issues it will have to overcome when the public has access to this low cost copying equipment (peer-to-peer networks, DVD and CD writers). Suffice to say that it has never been so easy for frauds or even honest users to created perfect versatile copies of films (Markman Vega 2001, p.1). However, the film industry has attempted to decrease the risk of  ¿Ã‚ ½pirates ¿Ã‚ ½ copying movies by creating the Content Scrambling System (CSS). With this encryption algorithm, only authentic DVD products which contain the decryption algorithm can play the movie. This technology rearranges the audio and video on the DVD so that only a DVD with its decryption algorithm can play the film correctly. It was also created to prevent users from copying data from DVDs. However, not long after a Norwegian teenage boy reverse engineered a DVD player which contained the decryption algorithm, cracked the CSS code and uploaded the decryption software for users around the world to use (Markman Vega 2001, p.2). The post-theatre market accounts roughly for three quarters of a film ¿Ã‚ ½s profits during its lifetime. The largest of these are video rental stores which account for nearly half of all proceeds. The DVD has completely changed the industry, becoming the fastest growing consumer electronics item of all time (Culkin Randle 2003, p.5). DVD ¿Ã‚ ½s have undoubtedly increased movie studios ¿Ã‚ ½ income when it decided to provide content to the home end consumer with incredible sound and picture quality which does not degrade like ordinary VHS cassettes (Markman Vega 2001, p.2). A new and rapidly growing area in the distribution market is  ¿Ã‚ ½Movie-on-demand ¿Ã‚ ½. This is where consumers download movies over the internet instead of going down to their local video store. The advantage of this technology is clear: no late fees and no inconvenience for traveling (Culkin Randle 2003, p.17). Rapid modifications in the film industry in recent years have forced many professionals in the audio and visual industries to acquire new and specialized skills. This is an ongoing process in some industries, one example is that the post-production industries are required to have constant upgrades of tools and software which leads to continual re-training of staff which in turns increase production costs (Culkin Randle 2003, p.18). Future allocations might involve allowing editors in different countries to edit film by accessing digitized media on a server without actually leaving the comfort of his or her house or office. The same will be possible for all kinds of sound editing (Bishop, Case, Axarlis, Plante Allsop 2000). Satellite distributions to cinemas are at the forefront of future film distributions. George Lucas, the author and director of the Star Wars series, is preparing to use satellite technology to display the next episode in cinemas. This process of digitally distributing and exhibiting the film through data projectors are known as E-Cinema. Inexpensive and flexible distribution is the main advantage of this process; however Cinemas will have to acquire substantial expenses when converting from film to digital projection. This technology is very much still in the development stage and the impact that E-Cinema will have on film making is not yet clear (Bishop, Case, Axarlis, Plante Allsop 2000). Gregory Huang ¿Ã‚ ½s article entitled  ¿Ã‚ ½The New Face of Hollywood ¿Ã‚ ½ examines the advancement in computer animated graphics in the past year. Recent blockbuster movies like Spiderman 3 and Beowulf are good examples of how far computer generated graphics have come in recent years. The film industry has progressed into a stage whereby every single event during the film making process can be computer generated (Sagar in Huang 2004). In the past, digital representations of faces have not looked  ¿Ã‚ ½real ¿Ã‚ ½ when one looked at it closely as it is a lot easier to make non-human objects like dinosaurs  ¿Ã‚ ½real ¿Ã‚ ½; however, advances in rendering human skin, lighting digital scenes and examining human actors are now allowing animation engineers to control the texture and movement of every little square of pixels in an animated skin. Huang (2004) reports that an average budget for a blockbuster movie is approximately $150 million where it is not uncommon to see mo re than 50% of funding allocated to computer generated effects. It is clear that there has not been one area within the film industry that has not been at least somewhat impacted by technology over the last 5 years. The major impacts for pre-production stage have been the development of script-writing tools as well as the increased use of the internet to distribute scripts to directors and other interested parties. Generally equipment costs have reduced while at the same time quality and flexibility of the products have dramatically increased. The birth of non-linear technology has all but made hand edited films an extinct specie and fast-tracked the whole editing process (Culkin Randle 2003, p.5). Major advancements have been made with satellite distributions to cinemas recently making its debut. The major concern with improving technologies for end-users is that it has become extremely easy for consumers to copy copyrighted material and suffice to say that is arguably one of the biggest battles the film industry will face during the coming yea rs (Markman Vega 2001, p.2). DVD ¿Ã‚ ½s are the leading technology in the post-theatre film market, with  ¿Ã‚ ½Movies-on-demand ¿Ã‚ ½ set to explode exponentially over the coming years (Culkin Randle 2003, p.17). Finally this article examined the amazing advances in computer generated effects in films the past year, and today the industry has reached a stage where every conceivable scene can be computer generated if resources are committed to achieve the desired goal. Technology is set to continue to revolutionize the film industry for many years to come (Huang 2004).

Monday, August 19, 2019

Personal Narrative - Athlete to Academia Essay -- Autobiography Essay,

Athlete to Academia Instead of feeling pressure to conform as a student at the University of Georgia, I have found that being in college has made me value the importance of a higher education more so than I ever had before. During high school, my primary goal was to play well enough to receive a football scholarship. At that time, my focus was not on academics. However, since I've arrived at the University of Georgia, my entire concept of the value of a college degree has slowly changed. Rather than seeing just football in my future, I can now picture myself as a football player with a college degree. Consequently, instead of having a negative impact on my personal growth, college has helped me broaden as a person. Contrary to popular opinion, athletes do have interests outside their sport. Since I enrolled at Georgia, I have found myself intrigued by the painters whose visions were presented in my art class, as well as by the empathy displayed in my social work class. I feel as if I've grown as a person while learning more about the world I live in. My scope of und...

Sunday, August 18, 2019

The History of Kingston Penitentiary :: Canada

The History of Kingston Penitentiary Kingston Penitentiary is located on the shore of Lake Ontario in Ontario, Canada. It has served as the main symbol of punishment in Canadian society. Penitentiary Houses were first created in Great Britain in 1779. It was on June 1, 1835 that Kingston Penitentiary formerly known as the Provincial Penitentiary admitted its first six inmates. It represented a new world of confinement that removed the convict from his community and regimented his life. It introduced society to a new notion of punishment and reform. (Curtis et al, 1985) People expect a penitentiary to hold inmates, especially dangerous ones, for as long as the court determines they should serve. Kingston Penitentiary has been doing that for many years. But it has also dedicated to the reform of inmates. What that means has changed dramatically over time. (Curtis et al, 1985) The first inmate to enter Kingston Penitentiary was Mathew Tavender who was sentenced to serve three years for grand larceny. He was placed in cell number four and was put two work as a stonecutter two days later. He was whipped on August 30, 1835 which was three months after his arrival, along with inmate number two, John Hamilton. John Hamilton was sentenced to three years for felony. He was made a stonecutter on his third day and then a mason. Both he and Mathew Tavender were whipped together which may imply they tried to make contact with each other, this was strictly forbidden. Inmate number three was Edward Middlehurst who was sentenced to five years for grand larceny but was actually released. He was the first carpenter at the penitentiary but after a year got sick and was moved to another cell. He is not on record on the roster after he was sick for three months, so whatever he had must have been contagious. He may have received a pardon which was a common way to deal with sick convicts. It was felt that it was better for diseased people to stay outside of the prison walls so the sickness would not spread to the others. The penitentiary was not equipped to deal with death because it had no cemetery but still had to pay for a gravedigger if someone died on the inside. John O'Rourke, inmate number four was sentenced to five years for grand larceny. He received his first rawhide beating two short weeks after his arrival.

Keats’ Fear and Tichborne’s Acceptance: Death Essay -- Poetry Analysis

Death is inevitable. Chidiock Tichborne and John Keats in their poems â€Å"Tichborne’s Elegy† and â€Å"When I have fears that I may cease to be† convey death in opposite ways. Tichborne through his poetic style, shows an acceptance of his death, as a result of reflecting on a life fulfilled, but unrecognized. While Keats, expresses a fear of death, where he contemplates that he will not be able to experience love or fame. Both these poets have lead lives that varied from each other in ways that are most revealed through their use of form, metaphors, repetition, punctuation and rhyme schemes. Moreover, both poets express and explore deep rooted human emotions such as, nostalgia, pain, love and a feeling of insatiability. Although â€Å"Tichborne’s Elegy† and â€Å"When I have fears that I may cease to be† share a common theme because each speaker contemplates the inevitability of his death, their perceptions differ mainly as a result of thei r circumstances. John Keats explores his fear of death in â€Å"When I have fears that I may cease to be† in the form of a Shakespearean Sonnet. The poem contains three quatrains that interlock his primary fears together, leading to a couplet that expresses his remedy and final thoughts. His primary fears are expressed with respect to the abab cdcd efef gg rhyme scheme of the Shakespearean Sonnet, with each fear contained in each rhyming quatrain. His first fear, in the first quatrain is dying without living up to his full potential as a writer, when he states, â€Å"Before my pen has glean’d my teeming brain†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2). This line indicates that he has not expressed through his pen, all that is on his mind, and leads into the second quatrain with the use of a semicolon which suggests that the next part of the poem is connecte... ...eats as well, when he refers to â€Å"†¦the shore of the wide world†¦Ã¢â‚¬  it symbolizes the world of his experiences, which he ponders on. It is only by deeper inspection of these symbols can a clear idea of what the poets are expressing be understood. By comparing both these poems, it is evident that although death is the focus of both these poems, Tichborne has accepted it, while Keats fears it, but has found a way to resolve his fears. Works Cited " Hatzitsinidou , Evangelia . "Fates(Moirae)-the spinners of the thread of life." Greek-Gods.Info- Greek Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. . Vendler, Helen. "The Poem as Life, The Poems as Arranged Life." Poems, Poets, Poetry: An Introduction and Anthology. Third Edition ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. 18,68. Print.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Analysing The Power Crisis In Pakistan Environmental Sciences Essay

Energy production of a state is the premier index of its economic system. For a state to be economically stable and comfortable, it needs to hold sufficient energy at its disposal. No state can get high economic growing without bring forthing sufficient energy. Energy production reflects the industrial end product, transit and agricultural end product etc. restricting energy supply to an industry adversely affect its end product, ensuing in higher production cost, due to which many industries shutdown go forthing labor unemployed. In Pakistan, the electricity burden casting is an alarming issue. The rush of rising prices is due to energy deficit in the state. Number of people populating below poorness line is increasing due to unemployment and rising prices, both of which are the byproducts of energy crisis. From the last few old ages, Pakistan has been confronting an unprecedented energy crisis. The ground being that it ‘s energy substructure is non to the full developed, deficient and ill managed. Despite of important addition over the last few old ages in the disposable incomes, increasing usage of power intensive contraptions, urbanisation and industrialisation which has caused the power demand to outpace supply, no serious stairss have been made to put in new coevals capacity. Consequently, burden sloughing has been seen as the common phenomena in Pakistan. During the last 10 old ages, Pakistan ‘s power demand has risen by CAGR ( Compound Annual Growth Rate ) of 5.2 % , while supply has grown by merely 2.2 % ( Pakistan Power Sector, 2009 ) . Presently, state ‘s entire electricity demand stands at around 19,000MW. Demand supply shortfall ranges 2500-4500MW depending on peak clip and season, ensuing in burden sloughing of 4-8 hours day-to-day and 8-12 hours during th e extremum summer season. In Pakistan, entire installed coevals capacity is about 19,754MW ( Exhibit 1 ) , of which thermal is about 12,500MW i.e. 64 % of state ‘s entire coevals capacity, but the existent available capacity is limited to 16,500MW due to several grounds: power losingss during distribution stage due to poor-quality transmittal lines, electricity ‘s larceny, low works burden factors due to aging generators and hapless care at KESC and WAPDA workss, lessening in hydel coevals capableness due to fluctuation in the reservoir degrees particularly in winter season ensuing in the deficit of 2500MW to 4500MW depending on peak clip and season.Reasons of power crisis in Pakistan:Lack of large dikes in the state. Decline in hydro beginnings of energy ( a cheap resource ) and over trust on the expansive beginning of electricity i.e. Thermal based power coevals. Soon, oil and Gas-based thermic workss histories for 68 % of bring forthing capacity, hydroelectric workss for 30 % and atomic workss for merely 2 % ( Exhibit 2 ) . Rise in the oil and gas monetary values pushes the electricity duty really high. Consequently, leads to high coevals costs, which in bend adversely impact the economic system. Lack of strong political leading in Pakistan, to convert and safeguard the reserves of people on the building of one of the controversial dams- Kala Bagh Dam and other non-controversial dikes like Kohistan dike and Basha dike. To bridge the demand supply spread, around 5,000MW of IPPs and rental workss are expected to come online between 2009-2012 ( Pakistan Power Sector, 2009 ) . Though the state is endowed with huge hydel and coal based power potency, it is yet to to the full work these resources and cut down dependance on oil based coevals.Coal as an alternate energy resource:Coal is presently the universe ‘s fastest turning fuel around the Earth. Estimates show that around 40 % of universe power supply and 26 % of primary energy comes from the coal entirely. China, being the universe ‘s largest manufacturer of coal, fulfil 78 % its entire energy demands through coal which ranks it as the universe ‘s largest consumer as good. Similarly, USA stands at 2nd place in utilizing coal, 60 % of its energy demands comes coal. Many states like UK, USA, Germany, India, Indonesia and Australia have embarked upon the new coal based power workss. But, unluckily, Pakistan holding the 6th largest coal militias in the universe, with over 185 billion metric tons of proved coal militias, has non been successful in using coal as an alternate energy beginning. It is estimated that 100,000 MW of electricity could be generated from merely half of these resources, for 30 old ages, if exploited decently and the Energy contents of these resources are more than the energy contents of Saudi Arabia and Iran ‘s joint oil resources ( Pakistan ‘s Thar Coal Power Potential, 2008 ) .Why Coal can be an of import beginning of energy?Some of the grounds why coal is of import for Pakistan future energy state of affairs are as under: Current Energy Crisiss: Demand for electricity has outpaced its supply ; the state is presently confronting power deficits ranges between 4500 to 5,000 MW and it is expected that demand would transcend supply by beyond 5,500 MW. World-Renowned Companies Already Operating in Pakistan: Around twelve Independent Power Producers ( IPPs ) are runing in the power sector of the state. Predictable Multi-Year & A ; Long-run Duty: Typically, the authorities allows a long-run duty of 25 – 30 old ages with the power buyer. The IPPs, therefore, are non subjected to market hazard for their end product. The undertakings are expected to gain an attractive / competitory and stable return on investing. Abundant Coal Potential: Pakistan is blessed with big coal sedimentations peculiarly in its Sindh Province. The Thar brown coal militias, which are suited for power coevals, in the Province of Sindh are estimated to be about 175 billion metric tons.Research Aims:The chief aims of this research are, foremost to analyze the development of coal based power undertakings in Pakistan, learn about the deepness and comprehensiveness of this country and seek to foreground the key challenges and hazards associated with the investing in power sector of Pakistan in-terms of environmental restraints ( both locally and globally ) , security issues, authorities and regulative restraints etc. And secondly the research will take to analyse the power coevals sector of Pakistan utilizing Porter ‘s five forces analysis tool and place the function of Coal fired works in this sector. Such analysis of industrial profitableness will enable us to place the countries that need to be addressed to do the industry more attractive.Personal Claim:The grounds of taking this research are, foremost the research worker personally has a acute involvement in energy sector of Pakistan. Second, the demanding state of affairs in the energy sector of state, particularly power sector is the premier incentive to make research on the subject ‘Development of Coal Based Power Projects in Pakistan ‘ . And in conclusion, the chosen country is new one as non much has been done in the coal-based power coevals sector of Pakistan.Outline of the Undertaking:Chapter 2- Research Methodology3.1 IntroductionThis chapter will look at the necessary research methods required to transport out the research in order to accomplish the research aims. In order to accomplish this I have looked at the counsel given in ( Saunders et al 2003 ) .3.2 Aims and JustificationThe aim of this research methodological analysis is to place the agencies of roll uping valid and dependable primary and secondary informations. It analyses all facets of the research methodological analysis.3.3 Research ApproachInductive and deductive are two types of attacks that can be used whilst carry oning the research ( Saunders et al 2003 ) . This research will utilize the deductive attack where the findings of the research will be used to look into the literature sing the fiscal state of affairs of Jessops. The deductive attack will let roll uping quantitative informations, and will besides help in making a hypothesis and a research scheme to prove the hypothesis. As in the instance of this survey fiscal theoretical accounts will be used. The inductive attack is where, from the findings and analysis a theory is proposed ( Saunders et Al, 2003 ) , therefore this attack will be used to prove the hereafter of Jessops.3.4 Research DoctrineSaunders ( et al 2003 ) , indicates there are three types of research doctrines that are interpretivism, positivism, and pragmatism. Positivism is where ‘the theory generates a hypothesis that can be tested and thereby will let account of Torahs to be assessed ‘ ( Bryman & A ; Bell, 2007 ) . The function of this research is to prove the theories from the literature, hence positivism will be used. Positivism besides strongly links with the deductive attack that will be used. Interpretivism considers that the universe of concern is excessively complex and is ever changing where definite Torahs can non be defined. Hence this method is irrelevant for this survey.3.5 Research StrategyI will choose the study method for my research. I will utilize a questionnaire which will let more in depth comparings. It is besides seen good to utilize this method as it is easy understood by people, other benefits of utilizing such a method are that it is most efficient in clip, cost, and flexibleness and will let consequences to be analysed with easiness, which is extremely applicable for this survey. The usage of a study will besides supply greater response rates from participants ( Bryman & A ; Bell, 2007 ) . The questionnaire will let me to place from the directors and fiscal departmental workers at Jessops to why gross revenues at Jessop have plummeted and will supply grounds for premises to look at the hereafter of Jessops.3.6 Data Collection and Sample3.6.1 Sample The sample size will be in entire 30 participants selected indiscriminately. All participants will be employees of Jessops, as this will let the research worker to derive valued informations because employees will hold a better penetration into the company. However the response was non a coveted 1 as merely 17 participants completed the questionnaire. However due to clip restraints non much could be done to get the better of this issue, even though the position of 17 participants was still considered of import due to their functions within the company. 3.6.2 Primary Data This research uses both primary and secondary informations. Primary research as mentioned above we be collected via questionnaires. The questionnaire will be aimed at current employees of Jessops of who are shop directors and the remainder of who work within the fiscal section. This is a critical sample for the research as the positions and remarks of the proposed participants will supply important penetration into what is go oning within Jessops, and will assist analyze their fiscal public presentation. 3.6.3 Secondary Data Secondary informations will be taken from literature ( i.e. diaries, books, articles etc. ) ; nevertheless another facet of secondary research will be company histories and studies. This will be critical as utilizing company histories and studies will let the research worker to to the full analyze the state of affairs of Jessops and will assist organize a footing in the hereafter of Jessops. The histories will besides enable the research worker to utilize the fiscal theoretical accounts such as Altman ‘s z-score theoretical account.3.7 Questionnaire DesignThe questionnaire is seen to be an of import tool for research harmonizing to ( Naftali, 2001 ) , therefore the questionnaire needs to be precise, accurate and good designed. Naftali ( 2001 ) was used as guidelines for the design of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to achieve relevant informations required for the primary aims of this research. Hence the questionnaire was designed to maintain inquiries simple and to the point to have the coveted consequences. A transcript of the questionnaire can be viewed in Appendix B.3.8 Data AnalysisThe information from primary and secondary research will be analysed in many ways. The quantitative consequences from the primary research will be analysed utilizing Excel, whereas SPSS will besides be used to place relationships and correlativities between responses of participants to supply a clearer position on the research. The above methods including secondary informations will be presented diagrammatically where necessary utilizing graphs, tabular arraies and charts.3.9 Reliability and ValidityThe information was collected after with planning and due attention. The informations collected can be considered dependable hence the specified beginning of information was chosen. However the primary informations to an extent may non be dependable as participants may confabulate replies with each other. The secondary research can be identified as dependable and valid as all information was collected via company histories and studies.3.10 Research RestrictionsTime was a cardinal restriction within this survey as designing and administering the questionnaire ‘s required a batch of clip. Receiving all consequences was besides clip devouring as it did non give a clear thought on how many consequences would be attained. A longer clip frame would hold allowed countering this job.3.11 Research Ethical motivesAll research was conducted within the Lcmit University Research Ethics guidelines. The moralss declaration can be viewed in Appendix A. All participants opted by pick to take portion in finishing questionnaires and participant individualities were kept anon. to the highest degree.3.12 Alternate MethodsA possible method of deriving primary research that could hold been used was an interview. The interview method would hold allowed for elaborate analysis to inquiries and more preci se responses from the interviewee. The research worker did non utilize this method due to clip restraints, and besides the research worker felt the usage of interviews may hold resulted in more colored consequences.3.13 DrumheadThis chapter takes into consideration the methodological analysis that will be conducted in order to transport out the research for this survey. The following chapter will exemplify the existent findings of the primary and secondary research.Literature reappraisal:Introduction:Pakistan is blessed with big coal sedimentations peculiarly in its Sindh Province. The entire coal resources of Pakistan are over 185 billion metric tons out of which about184 billion metric tons exist in Sindh entirely ( Exhibit 3 ) . The coal sedimentations of Sindh are of Lignite which is suited for power coevals. The reported one-year coal production in 2003 was around 3.3 million tones ( Exhibit 4 ) . The immense coal potency of Pakistan can good be utilized in power coevals for su stainable socio-economic development of the state.Constitutional Position on CoalCoal is considered as mineral and under the ‘Constitution of Pakistan ( 1973 ) ‘ mineral is a provincial topic. The Provincial Governments are responsible for the development of coal. The ‘National Mineral Policy 1995 ( revised in 2002 ) ‘ focal points all activities and determination at Provincial degree while the Federation would supply needed support and advice to the Provinces to take up the challenge of accomplishing benefits from the development of coal resources. Some of the Fiscal & A ; Financial Incentives for Coal Development are discussed in Appendix 2.Why Coal neglected so far?Pakistan ‘s power sector is chiefly dependent on the thermal based power workss. Thermal coevals dissolution shows that gas fuel histories for 55 % of thermal-based bring forthing capacity, furnace Oil for 44 % and Diesel Oil for merely 1 % and Coal 0 % ( Exhibit 2 ) . It is a known fact t hat Pakistan has the 6th universe largest coal militias, but unluckily, coal has non been developed for power coevals. The research conducted by Tipoo Sultan ( 2008 ) indicates that in the past, many powerful transnational oil companies and trusts have been involved in understating the use of coal as an energy beginning in the development states, as they do non desire to see coal as the replacing of oil that they sell. Miss-perceptions about the coal public-service corporation have affected the authorities policies. The quality of coal and big sum of capital demand has make coal addition less importance in the development precedences. Second, the authorities has been failed to pull the foreign investors to put in coal based power undertakings. Few of the investors after being confronting immense losingss were forced by the authorities to discontinue their undertakings. For case, Zafar Bhutta ( 2008 ) , in his article â€Å" Sino Coal, Engro Pakistan to work on Thar coal undertaking † , reported that â€Å" Chinese Company, Shenhua was ready to construct the integrated excavation and power coevals composite at a guaranteed power duty of 5.75cents per unit but NEPRA refused to pay more than 5.34 cents. Chinese company packed its operations in Pakistan and went back to China go forthing no good mark for the investors interested in coal based power workss. † There are other factors, besides those stated above, that has added to the investor ‘s reluctance in the development of Pakistan coal resources. These are as follows: The foremost barrier to foreign investing is the provincial liberty over the coal excavation. A recent illustration indicated by Aftab Channa ( 2010 ) in his article: â€Å" Power workss at Thar Coal: Czech Republic unlikely to put 500 million euros † , is the WTC group of Czech democracy who are interested in puting atleast 500 million Euros at Thar Coal for coal-burning power workss of 300 to 600 MW but unluckily the response of Sindh authorities is non overpowering ‘yet ‘ . The Technical Director, WTC Group, Karel Galuska forwarded a missive to Secretary Coal and Energy Development Department Aijaz Khan on June 21, 2010 stating that: â€Å" We would wish to inform you that therefore far we have non received any information from you. We are get downing to believe that the authorities of Sindh is non taking ‘coal ‘ as a serious plus for its state and for work outing energy crisis in Pakistan. â€Å" ( Karel Galuska ) . Lack of needed substructure like roads, railroad lines, communicating webs, H2O supply, life support systems, community services and etc The policies of the authorities are non consistent. They alter with the changed authorities. There is Political uncertainness in the state. The Law and order state of affairs in the state was non favorable and still its a questionable fact. absence of modern coal excavation proficient expertness deficient fundss There is a quality concerns as good with the coal deposits found at Thar.Current SituationPakistan is a coal-rich state, but, unluckily, coal has non been developed for power coevals for more than three decennaries due to miss of substructure, deficient funding and absence of modern coal excavation proficient expertness. The Government is now seeking to advance and ease private investors in developing and advancing autochthonal coal for power coevals. The demand/supply projection indicates that power deficits appeared from the twelvemonth 2006, and has increased to 4,500 MW in the twelvemonth 2010 will increase farther if no steps are taken to convey in new capacity. In order to turn to these deficits, the GOP announced Power Policy 2002 which provided a set of inducements to pull the much needed investing in power coevals. The cardinal points of the new policy are International Competitive Bidding ( ICB ) and an accent on puting up power undertakings based on autochthonal fuel resources such as coal, hydal power and renewable energies.General Regulations sing coal-based Power Undertakings:The power policy 2002 lays major accent on the development of power undertakings based on autochthonal coal. Merely Provincial Governments are authorized to allow rentals and licences for coal prospecting and coal excavation to Private Sector and Public Sector companies or organisations. There is no function of Federal Government and Public Sect or to allow rentals and licences for coal excavation. Coal is considered as mineral and mineral is a Provincial Subject harmonizing to the Constitution of Pakistan. There was a job that when prospective investors got a excavation rental and had signed a MoU with the several provincial authorities, so such unasked natural site had to be considered. On designation of a natural site by the provincial governments, PPIB advertises coal natural sites for seeking proposals from investors ( see appendix-2 ) . PPIB can besides transport out International Competitive Bidding ( ICB ) after acquiring a bankable feasibleness survey completed. The GOP guarantees the footings and conditions of executed understandings, i.e. IA, PPA, including payment footings, which are maintained for the continuance of the Agreements for undertakings. The coal power bring forthing companies would be allowed to import works, equipment and machinery non manufactured locally, at concessionary rates. The power companies would besides be wholly exempted from the payment of income revenue enhancement and keep backing revenue enhancement on imports. In order to advance indigenization, the local technology industry will be encouraged to organize joint ventures with foreign companies to develop incorporate undertakings of coal-mine and coal-burning power workss with a cumulative capacity of at least 2000 MW by the twelvemonth 2015. The inducements for puting in coal based power workss in Pakistan are given in Appendix-2.How to continue frontward with coal-based power workss?The ordinance and processing of the applications by investors takes topographic point at the provincial every bit good as federal degrees. The measure by measure process is given in Appendix-3 ( Courtesy: PPIB ) and subsequent appendices.Requests for Proposal ( RFP )It is mentioned that the Request for Proposal ( RFP ) for an autochthonal coal-burning undertaking with capacity above 50 MW will be for an incorporate coal excavation and/or power coevals works composite. The particulars required for a undertaking offered for competitory command in a typical RFP ar e mentioned in appendix-4.Feasibility StudyFor integrated coal-mine and power coevals workss, the feasibleness survey will cover all facets of coal excavation and power coevals, including, but non limited to, coal militias, mine ability, hazards involved in excavation, legal facets of excavation etc. , besides storage/transportation of coal to the power works, operations of the power works on coal, necessary inside informations about the power coevals works itself and, above all, the commercial viability of the undertaking. The feasibleness survey may or may non propose a ‘Coal Supply Agreement ( CSA ) ‘ in such instance. For a stand-alone coal-based power coevals works, the excavation subdivision would non be covered in item. However, handiness of a sufficient and dependable coal supply for power coevals would be considered, besides other necessary facets. The feasibleness survey may necessitate a CSA even if the coal provider is sister concern of the power generator. S ome farther demands are as mentioned in Appendix-6.Evaluation of CommandsThe process is given in Appendix-6. PPIB will reserve the right to reject any or all commands without delegating ground therefore, and will non presume any liabilities or claims for compensation in connexion therewith. Once the command is accepted and tariff approved by PPIB, the successful bidder will be issued an LOS by PPIB against bringing of a Performance Guarantee ( PG ) in favour of PPIB, in the needed sum valid up to three months beyond the Financial Closing day of the month specified in the LOS and upon payment of the cost of the feasibleness survey to PPIB. Further stairss to be taken are given in Appendix-8.Power Duty:The development of a coalmine, constitution of coal-burning power works and transit installations to provide dependable coal for the incorporate undertaking of power works and mine, require significant investing. These disbursals are to be accounted for in the power duty in the signifie r of capacity and energy charges. The duty will be denominated in Pakistan Rupees Bidders will be asked to cite their duty in two parts: ( 1 ) Energy Purchase Price ( EPP ) and ( 2 ) Capacity Purchase Price ( CPP ) The RFP may stipulate the maximal per centum of overall duty for the capacity constituent The CPP will be paid provided the works is available for dispatched to criterions specified in the PPA. The EPP will be paid upon the sum of kWh of energy dispatched In order to guarantee sustained involvement of the patron during the full life of the undertaking, the amount of the EPP and non-debt related CPP ( computed on a kWh footing at the mention works factor specified in the RFP ) will stay changeless or increase over clip. The debt-related CPP watercourse may fit the loan refund watercourseEnvironmental issues and Pakistan ‘s coal based developmentFossil fuel power coevals is non environment friendly as its CO2 emanation contributes to air pollution and it has been connected with planetary heating. Soon, the emanation of gases like C dioxide, S dioxide, and N oxides, into the air is the lone pollution caused from coal-burning power workss. The chief ground for increasing usage of coal burning is because it is inexpensive and it plays major function in carry throughing energy demands. Since 1950, planetary concern over impact of nursery gasses has emerged into international ordinances for restricting CO2 emanation in ambiance. First international regulation pact in this respect was Kyoto protocol ( 1997 ) . It obliges 37 industrialised states to run into binding CO2 emanations marks. Footings of the dainty are such that globally there is bound to how much CO2 can be produced, and some states produce more CO2 than others. Those who use more than their bound can borrow C credits from states non utilizing their quota. Interestingly, USA recognizes the pact but it has non agreed to follow with the C emanation marks although it is a major dodo fuel consumer. Carbon recognition system under Kyoto Protocol requires single corporations to countervail their C emanation by either retrofitting the works to cut down its C emanations or put ining carbon-capture equipment to cut its emanations by a million ton, or purchase carbon beginnings from a C bargainer for a undertaking in a underdeveloped state like Pakistan. ( Exhibit 5 ) The issue of emanations control has to be decently addressed under Kyoto protocol. In the longer term one must besides maintain in head that CO2 extenuation initiatives down the route may go mandatary for the states like Pakistan excessively. This will add to the cost of coal power coevals as has happened in the developed universe. One must maintain in head that a typical power coal works generates 3 million dozenss of CO2 or 17 dozenss of C per megawatt and draws approximately 2.3 billion gallons of H2O per annum from nearby beginning while on land, whereas Sind which has 90 % of Pakistan ‘s coal modesty is earnestly lacking in the supply of H2O ; produces quicksilver which non merely renders H2O useless for human ingestion but besides for irrigation intent as good. Area of chance is that C beginning market is existent and major Bankss involved are involved in it. Entire C beginning market is about $ 6 billion ( Jan 2010 ) , and it is projected to transcend 50 billion dollars after the US joins C trading so Pakistan can profit from any C recognition potency in different industries. In 2008 Pak-Arab Fertilizers ( Pvt. ) Ltd. , earned $ 13 million through selling CER ( The Nation newspaper ) . Islamabad is establishing C recognition undertakings from beginnings runing from landfills to vehicles. Asiatic states have several CDM undertakings registeredChapter-3Proposed Strategy continue with the development of coal-based power undertakingsScheme is driven by lacks and chances inherent in a peculiar industry. To unearth these two variables the industry has to be scrutinized utilizing a scientifically established tool. In our instance we will be utilizing Porter ‘s five forces to analyse the power coevals sector of Pakistan and place the functio n of Coal fired workss in this sector. Such analysis of industrial profitableness will enable us to place the countries that need to be addressed to do the industry more attractive.What is an Ideal Industry?An ideal industry would be one where ; The dialogue power with buyer/suppliers is low. The competition is minimum. Substitutes do non be or even if they exist they are excessively expensive to move as replacements. Entry barriers are comparatively low. It will be interesting to see if the power sector of Pakistan has all the above mentioned factors to do it attractive for investors.Power Sector of Pakistan ( Analysis utilizing Porter ‘s Five Forces Model )Buyer PowerBefore we embark upon discoursing the magnitude of the power held by the purchasers in the power sector it is of import to first place the purchasers in the industry. Chiefly the purchasers of the power in Pakistan are authorities organisations such as WAPDA which has sole distribution rights of electricity in the state. WAPDA, KESC etc service as the jobbers between the concluding consumer and the power manufacturers. This means that though there are merely a few purchasers and logically talking the lower the figure of purchasers the greater their power but kineticss of the industry in Pakistan are such that the purchaser is vulnerable and power providers are at a much more powerful place. To authenticate this statement we need to look into the per unit monetary value addition of electricity in Pakistan over the last few old ages.Electricity Price InflationThe past four old ages data indicate that there has been a stable addition of 13 % -14 % in electricity duties on one-year footing. Two grounds seem to confirm this rising prices in duties ;Demand/Supply DynamicsOver the past few old ages the state has been bring forthing power at a steady rate without taking into consideration the one-year population growing rate of 2 % . This has led to a 4000MW deficit of electricity in 2009-10. ( Exhibit 7 ) This shortage in supply has led to a demand supply instability taking to hyperbolic duties. Similarly we may see the same scenario from a different angle. Harmonizing to the per capita power ingestion rates Pakistan ‘s rate is 464KWh which is 41 % lower than Asia and significantly lower than the mean rates of the universe. ( Exhibit 8 ) . The low per capita power ingestion rate is due to the fact that installed power is less than the needed power.Raw Material Price InflationThe 2nd most important ground for the uninterrupted rush in electricity monetary values has been increase in oil monetary values. ( Exhibit 9 ) . The above chart indicates that most of the power workss in Pakistan are thermic based and fueled by furnace oil. Similarly if we look at the tendency of furnace oil monetary values in Pakistan we see that the monetary values have been systematically on the rise. This addition in monetary values is reflected in the hyperbolic duties that are being charged by the pow er manufacturers. ( Exhibit 10 )Deductions of Low Buyer PowerMade the industry attractive for new investors. High costs to consumers have made the authorities incentives the power sector so as to pull to more investors. ( Appendix-9 ) New window of chances for workss based alternate fuels ( such as coal ) so that the consumer gets cheaper electricity. Since a larger ball of electricity is being used by industrial and commercial units the burden casting entirely in 2009 led to $ 210 billion losingss to the national economic system. ( Exhibit 11 )Barriers to EntryBarriers to entry be given to do the industry unattractive for new entrants. In stead of the power crisis being presently faced by Pakistan the authorities in its capacity should and it must get the better of any entry barriers to the industry. Three barriers to entry have been identified ;Capital Intensive SectorThe authorities is concentrating on promoting power workss that are based on alternate fuels such as coal. But the sum of capital required to put up a coal fired works is really high. ( Exhibit 11 ) Investors may be encouraged to put in capital intensive undertakings by supplying them with inexpensive entree to capital and high rate of return.Government RegulationsThe whole procedure of using for a coal rental country and so acquiring an blessing from the relevant governments for puting up a works is highly boring and clip consuming. The patrons have to take blessing from both provincial ( in instance of renting mine country ) and federal authorities ( LOI, LOS, PPA, IA etc ) . The authorities can cut down the elaboratenesss in application procedure by giving authorization to one organisation which could be PPIB to function as a interface between the authorities and the investors.Infrastructural Issues ( Coal power workss )Coal excavation sector of Pakistan is extremely developing. Right of manner to most mines is under developed. Most countries that have been advertised by PPIB are devoid of H2O. To get the better of these issues the authorities has to work manus in manus with the prospective investors. Some remedial actions that can be taken by both the parties are ; Use belowground H2O as a beginning of H2O. The authorities should supply grapevines to transport the H2O to the sites. Increased use of belowground H2O will do the excavation of coal easier. Bucket wheel excavators alternatively of shovels and trucks could be used to retain higher net incomes and achieve better efficiencies. ( Appendix-10 )3- Intensity of RivalrySome factors that contribute to the strength of competition have been listed in Exhibit-5. By analysing the nature of the power sector we see that about all the factors that must be at that place in an industry with intense competition are non applicable to the power sector of Pakistan. One major lending factor that reduces the competition is the intensely regulated environment of the power sector.4- Supplier Power ( Coal )As mentioned before since the authorities is be aftering on working alternate beginnings of energy to supply cheaper electricity to the consumer ; so an in depth analysis of coal supply in the state reveals the fact that about 185 billion dozenss of coal militias are still untapped ( Exhibit-1 ) . This is adequate coal to supply 100,000 MW of energy for 300 old ages. Since there are barely any constituted coal houses in Pakistan that can function as exclusive providers of coal to the power workss, therefore most of the workss will hold to backward integrate in to char excavation. Soon there are certain hurdlings in back ward integrating as the ordinances refering to char excavation have yet to be established by the authorities of Pakistan. Though our suggestion would be to border ordinances that encourage back ward integrating.5- Substitutes ( w.r.t Coal )There are several utility beginnings of energy available to char, nevertheless most of them require greater capital outgo as compared to char based power undertakings ( Exhibit-6 ) . Handiness of the replacements is besides limited as compared to the handiness of coal therefore doing the replacements unattractive for investings.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Ethics and Philosophy of Social Research Essay

The social research shares with all scientific endeavours the necessity to balance scientific zeal with other ethical values that derive from the social context in which all social research takes place. To some degree, the research ideal of objectivity unavoidably conflicts with humanistic values. Therefore, all researchers must at some time come to grips with this conflict. The issue, however, is especially crucial for social researchers because the focus of their research is the behaviour of other people. Thus, not only the goals of the social research but the very process of data collection is subject to ethical conflicts. The paper contains analysis—the synthesis of research results across a large number of studies—and on the social responsibility and ethical requirements of the social research. The ethical issues which researchers face in their day-to-day study are comparatively consistent across methods. The ethical principles adopted by researchers should govern their actions, whether they take place in field or laboratory environment. To make this point most strongly, this paper contains a separate section, which should serve as a strong point of reference for the social researcher, rather than providing a series of ethical requirements that are spread thinly throughout the various sections of this paper. These issues include the social and ethical responsibilities and constraints connected with the conduct of social research and advancing the cumulative progress of behavioral and social science through integrating and synthesizing findings from different current investigations. The paper hopes to make clear that social research is a collective enterprise undertaken in the context of ethical values. Main body Ethics in Social Research Ethics of Research Design and Methodology Because the subject matter of the social researcher is human behaviour and the processes that are associated with behaviour, it is unavoidable that researcher interests will conflict sometimes with ethical values placed on the rights of people to privacy and self-determination. The guidelines for social research ethics set by the Social Research Association (SRA) (2003) stress the idea of recruiting participants for research on the basis of informed consent —this means that participation must be freewill and with the participant’s full knowledge of what research will include. However, it is declared that many subjects could not be researched at all if this ideal were entirely met, and that the rights of individuals must be weighed against the possible importance of the research problem. David De Vaus (1996), for example, demonstrated in a verbal conditioning experiment that a full explanation of methods and hypotheses destroyed the phenomenon they were attempting to exa mine. In cases where full explanation of subject cannot be presented, SRA recommends that â€Å"But there should, at least, be clarity about opt-in and opt-out arrangements, about the length and degree of commitment required of respondents, and about the precise goals of the research. Adequate subject de-briefing also seems essential to this last aim.† Thus, the ethical code does not present free from limitations standards that relieve the researcher of important value judgments. Rather, judgments as to the comparative significance of research programmes and researchers’ responsibility for the well-being of their participants are the primary bases of research ethics. Deception in the Laboratory The degree to which participation is entirely voluntary is in many cases disputable, depending on the social and institutional pressures to take part in research that are at times involved. But usually, participants in laboratory experiments at least know that they participate in a research study. Notwithstanding, however, the information provided to participants in laboratory investigations is usually smallest, at best, and often purposely deceptive as to the goals of the research study. To what degree this deception is justified by serving scientific purposes and the potential benefit to human welfare is a matter of considerable debate. Some critics claim that no deception is ever reasonable and that it should not be permitted in the interests of social research (Ortmann & Hertwig 746-747). Most social researchers, however, take a more temperate view, considering that there is an unavoidable compromise between values of entire honesty and informed consent and the possible value of what can be learned from the research itself. Just as the unimportant lie uttered in the interests of tact or politeness is regarded as acceptable when used in the service of good manners, so a little amount of deception may be acceptable in the service of obtaining reliable research data. However, there is also some controversy over whether social researchers have exceeded this adequate minimum in their research (Barnes 320). For some years the practice of deception in laboratory experiments was considered acceptable by most experimenters. However, an article by Herbert Kelman (1967) reflected a growing concern with accepted among many people, and evidently undisputed, use of deception in social research. Kelman’s article argued this practice on both ethical and practical grounds. Ethically, he claimed, any deception disregarded essential norms of respect in the interpersonal relationship that forms between researcher and research participant. Besides, the practice might have extreme methodological implications as participants become less naive and extreme suspiciousness begins to have an effect upon the outcomes of all research. To avoid these problems, Kelman advised that social researchers (a) reduce the unnecessary use of deception, (b) explore ways of counteracting or minimizing its negative consequences when deemed necessary, and (c) develop new methods, such as role playing or simulation techniques, which substitute active participation for deception (Kelman 10-11). Practices of experimenting with these alternative methodologies have been tried, but the results are consisting of conflicting thoughts, at best (Crespi 23). Thus, the general agreement in the social research is that some level of deception is often necessary to produce realistic conditions for testing research hypotheses. However, such deception needs to be justified by the nature and significance of the research question being studied. As James D. Faubion (2005) put it, â€Å"The social researcher whose study may have a good chance of reducing violence or racism or sexism, but who declines to do the study simply because it requires deception, has not solved an ethical problem but only traded one for another† (860). Ethical Issues in Field Research Although much of the discussion about the ethical implications of deception concentrates on laboratory experimentation, study conducted outside the laboratory often considers a number of other ethical issues and concerns. Besides issues associated with consent to participate, researchers also must think over issues of privacy and confidentiality when research data are collected in field surroundings (Boruch 102). Because a main benefit of field research, from a scientific point of view, is the chance of obtaining samples of behaviour under naturally occurring circumstances, it often is beneficial to conduct such research under conditions in which the nature of the research is concealed. Therefore, the participants may not only be mislead regarding the goals of the research, but may even be uninformed that they are the subject of research in the first place. The use of â€Å"frugal† measures highlights this strategy (Ortlieb 2002), but even more traditional methods of data collection, such as the interview or questionnaire, are often conducted in such a manner as to conceal their true goal. Some researchers consider the practice of concealed observation or response elicitation as passable as long as it is limited to in fundamental way â€Å"public† behaviors or settings usually open to public examination. Adam Ashforth (1996), for example, presented a review of settings and behaviours for which concealed research methods have been used. However, there is the question of subjective definitions of what form â€Å"public† behaviours, specifically in urban settings where social norms lead to the probability of anonymity in public surroundings. Because by definition field research includes some act of intervening on the part of the researcher in the stimulus conditions to which the uninformed participants are exposed, ethical question about hidden observation is further difficult to understand because of concern over the nature of such manipulations. Instances of practice of experimenting in field settings comprise systematic variation of the content of applicant briefs sent to potential employers (Ashforth 1996), differential behaviour on the part of salesmen regarding customers (Fairclough 2003) or customers toward salesmen (Fairclough 2003). To some degree these all fall within a â€Å"normal range† of human behaviour in public surroundings, the only difference being their methodical manipulation by the researcher. Yet, collecting data about individual behaviour in these cases evidently violates the spirit of â€Å"informed consent, † in particular when researchers conclude it is best not to inform individuals which have been observed even after the fact (Seiber 268). The Regulatory Context of Research Involving Human Participants The preceding discussion of ethical dilemmas is contemplated to present the idea that there are no easy, certain rules for deciding whether a specific research strategy or method is ethical or not. Rather, difficult enough to construct opinion is involved in weighing the possible value of the research against potential stress or other costs to research participants. Ethical decision making includes a cost—benefit analysis rather than the consideration of certain strictures and rules (Alvaro & Crano 13). Much of the responsibility for decision making falls on the individual researcher, but one person alone is not always the best judge of what is of considerable importance and necessary research and what is possibly harmful to participants. Actually, there is good evidence that biases enter into scientists’ evaluations of the quality of their own research (Kimmel 1991). Therefore, the conduct of social research that meets reasonable ethical standards and methods is not just a matter of person’s judgment, it is the law. Almost all social research that is supported by funds or conducted in educational or research institutions that receive funding (of any kind) is subject to regulations concerning the conduct of social research. The primary agency is The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) which is the UK’s leading research funding and training agency addressing economic and social concerns. ESRC provides certain principles for protecting the welfare and dignity of human participants in research and provides policies and procedures that are required of institutions in which such research is conducted. The ESRC expects that the research it supports will be conducted according to a high ethical standard. This Research Ethics Framework (REF) sets out good ethical practice in UK social research.Although REF is a mandatory aspect of social research which involves human participants, it does not absolve the researcher from any further responsibility for the ethical conduct of his or her research.