My Leadership experiences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

My Leadership experiences - Essay Example As a student in a graduate school, I have maintained my position as a group leader. As a result, I have learnt to appreciate and deal with individuals who have different cultural backgrounds and ethnicity. There were also times when conflicts of interests are present within the group that I handle. By establishing an open communication line with the team members, I was able to successfully resolve the misunderstandings and arguments within the group. In the process of calming down the increasing tension, I have taught my group mates the importance of Tai Chi as a relaxation technique wherein the group members have decided to individually write down their frustrations, anger and discouragement in a piece of paper and place them in the ‘garbage basket.’ As a result, I was able to successfully reduce the negative pressure that exists among the team members. In general, the practice of a weak leadership is likely to contribute to the organizational failure and inefficient operations within the Navy. In line with the inefficiency in the Navy’s operational system, there is a higher chance of having a decreased working attitude and morale of the leaders as well as his or her subordinates. In the end, it becomes more difficult to create and maintain a healthy and peaceful working environment for the team members. Based on my previous leadership experiences when implementing an important organizational change, ‘resistance to change’ among the team members is one of the most common loop-hole or bottleneck that could impede the planning of developmental stage in the Navy. Basically, the three major factors that could promote resistance to change include: (1) the fact that people may feel that they have no control over the sudden changes; (2) the workers may see change as a threat to their current positions of

The Millenium Dome Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The Millenium Dome - Essay Example A project is not something that is part of the normal operations of the business. Most of the times a projects are typically created only once, besides being temporary, and specific. A project just like the Millennium Dome consumes a lot resources and it has funding limits. In project management it requires the application of techniques, knowledge, and skills to efficiently and effectively execute the project. Therefore, project management is a competency strategy for most organizations; this enables them to tie the project results to the goals and objectives of the business (Kousholt, 2007:90). In addition, many projects have funding limits and a projected budget unto which it must operate from. This creates the need to have a project manager. Project management process During the project management process of Millennium Dome, it was done in five (5) phases. Project initiation; during this phase an idea of the project to be undertaken is carefully examined to establish if it is bene ficial to the organization. A decision making team is formed to determine whether the project can be realistically be completed. Project definition and planning; a project plan is put in writing giving an outline of the work that is to be performed. It is at this stage that the list of deliverables to be presented and also the potential outcome of a set of specific activities (Meredith & Mantel, 2011:455-7). During project planning the requirements of completing the project are defined. The project manager of Millennium Dome identified how many people and also how much expense was to be involved in the project and any other requirements necessary for the completion of the project. According to Haughey (2013:55) reported that a project manager is to make sure that he manages the assumptions and risks that are related to the project. In addition, he also determined the constraints of the project. The constraints accrued in the Dome were related to budget, scope, schedule, and resource s. It was found out that a small change in one constraint typically affected the other constraints. Project launch or execution; Resources and tasks are distributed and the teams were informed of their responsibilities. This was a good time as any other information related to the project was welcomed so as to make adjustments to the project. The project manager in this phase is to know how many resources and how much budget he had to work with for the project. The Dome cost ?789 million. He was able to assign those resources and allocated the budget to the various tasks of the project. Moreover, he is to ensure that the project team works in harmony. Project performance and control; the incorporation of project managers was tantamount for the Millennium Dome project as there was need to compare the status of the project to the actual plan, as the resources performed the scheduled work. The project managers were tasked with adjusting schedules in addition to doing what was necessary so as to keep the project on track (Meredith & Mantel, 2011:468). The project manager is in charge of updating the plans of the project to reflect on the actual time elapsed for each task. Project closure; this is when the project manager, owner of the project, and any other person having interest in the project, pulls together to analyze the final outcome of the project. Project closure is when the Millennium Dome was completed and the client approved the outcome which was the government of the United Kingdom. Project manager The project manager works with the sponsor of the business who wants to have the

decriminalize drugs Essay -- essays research papers

One the many controversies in our country today, regards the prohibition of illegal narcotics. Deemed unhealthy, hazardous, and even fatal by the authorities that be; the U.S. government has declared to wage a â€Å"war on drugs.† It has been roughly fifteen years since this initiative has begun, and each year the government shuffles more money into the unjust cause of drug prohibition. Even after all of this, the problem of drugs that the government sees still exists. The prohibition of drugs is a constitutional anomaly. There are many aspects and sides to look at the issue from, but the glaring inefficiency current laws exude is that any human should have the right to ingest anything he or she desires. The antagonist on the other end believes that by doing so chaos would result because of the ingestion of said substances. This purely speculation, and we have seen in the history of man that this has never occurred nor is there reason to believe it will happen this time. Many proponents of the current drug laws claim that legalization and/or decriminalization would in turn increase the number of drug users. If a drug is legalized/decriminalized, the price will fall and the quantity of demand will rise. The evidence from prohibition suggests we can expect two broad patterns of response if legalization occurs. First, there will be a small rise in consumption, which will take place to some extent across the spectrum of consumers. People who had never used drugs may choose to use them. Secondly, there will be a change in the nature of the drugs used and in the way in which they will be used. Specifically, there will be a move toward less intensive drug forms and less abusive patterns of use. When drugs are illegal, more damaging drugs drive out less damaging ones. In jurisdictions that liberalize their drug laws, this process will reverse itself. The evidence on this from Prohibition is unequivocal: as soon as repeal occurred, the consumption of hard liq uor dropped by more than two-thirds. In addition, there was a massive shift from higher potency liquor toward the lower-proof varieties of liquor. The vast majority of all people, addicts and alcoholics included, do not consume drugs as a means of destroying their lives. Nor do they consume them intending to become addicted to them. Abuse and addiction are the adverse consequences that sometimes occur when drugs are ... ...its goal and at this rate we as a nation will run out of money long before it does ever come close. The real tragedy of this situation are those who suffer, and those are the ones incarcerated. From the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 1997 3 out of 4 state and 4 out of 5 federal prisoners may be characterized as an alcohol or drug involved offender. The percentage of those in prison for drug offenses was 54.8% in 2002. Prisons are overcrowding and it seems less money is being put into them. Prison sentences are being handed out everyday and the average length of those put in for drugs has doubled from 1986 to 1999. The rehabilitation of these â€Å"criminals† is almost nonexistent. The culture inside of prison hardly reinforces the recovery of the inmates, instead it breeds a criminal culture from which it s hard to escape. In conclusion, the government’s war on drugs has not been successful to date, and shows no sign of victory in the future. I think it that is about time we reconsider what values we hold high and take a second look at the damage that already has been done by the war on drugs. What it comes down to is personal freedom and the constitutional anomaly that destroys it.

Jillian Michaels Biographical Essay Essay

People tend to gain weight because they want to fill an emotional void. For many, this void get filled with food. Like a chasm, the void represents a deep hole that feels inescapable. Most people feel so insecure and weak, that the idea of losing weight seems insurmountable. Jillian Michaels, the trainer from The Biggest Loser, helps people overcome emotional obstacles that manifest themselves in their physical beings. Born in Los Angeles California, and raised in Santa Monica, Jillian carried around issues like that of any child. Devastated by her parents’ divorce, Jillian found herself struggling with weight problems in her early teens. At the age of twelve, Jillian weighed almost 175 pounds. Realizing Jillian’s weight problem, her mom signed her up for a martial arts class. Five years later, at the age of seventeen Jillian put her passion for fitness to work and became a personal trainer. Today, Jillian stands at 5’2†, and weighs about 125 pounds. Although petite, the rambunctious character shines through in her reality show The Biggest Loser. Oftentimes, Jillian screams, â€Å"Unless you puke, faint, or die, keep going!† As these words echo through the gym, Jillian Michaels gives out beatings to her contestants, weighing in at almost four hundred pounds, these people allowed themselves to become morbidly obese. Glued to a couch for years, you might, in fact, mistake these people for a bouncy house. In one day on The Biggest Loser, they go from zero movement to full-fledged cardio vascular activity. Using erratic techniques such as plyometrics, boxing, and circuit training, weight gets shredded by the pound. Most might say that Jillian Michaels comes off as intimidating and mean, mainly because she enjoys screaming at people and watching them drop like flies. Like a drill Sargent, Jillian Michaels yells at her contestants as if they were soldiers. Her scream, shrill and blood curdling, encourages and motivates. These contestants, basically on the edge of death, put their lives in the hands of Jillian Michaels. She only yells because she cares and wants to help these people save their lives. Exercise, especially on the Biggest Loser, holds considerable importance. However, Jillian finds it crucial to also eat healthy. While you do burn calories exercising, you can just as easily eat right through them. Jillian, of course, uses her own life as an example for how people should eat and live. Eating mainly organic, she doesn’t see the need to feed our bodies harsh preservatives and chemicals, such as Taco Bell. In many health magazines, Jillian also talks about portioning. She says as long as you eat fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. Although difficult, it definitely can be achieved. While considered uptight and neurotic, Jillian does, however, show a compassionate side. She pushes everyone until they break, or until their emotions start to bubble over. Latching on like a leach, Jillian starts to focus on the source of the problem. It is a reoccurring theme that obese people gain weight due to psychological factors. Well aware of this, Jillian uses it to her advantage. She finds the issue that made these people gain weight in the first place, and then helps them accept it. By discovering the original problem, these people start to better understand themselves. Jillian helps them realize why they gained weight, and this allows them to prevent it from happening again. Many people hire a personal trainer to get their butt kicked; or maybe to push them farther than they thought imaginable. With two reality shows, six books, and multiple fitness videos, we can conclude that Jillian Michaels is here to help. Jillian stresses the idea of exercise and healthy eating, while also encouraging the idea of therapy and clearing up your past. At first glance you might say that Jillian comes off as a simple TV character who doesn’t really care about anyone but herself. However, after thorough digging, the love Jillian shows for humanity becomes apparent. Finding drive or desire to exercise sometimes proves to be difficult. With Jillian Michaels’ help, you will find the support and inspiration you need to get off the couch and start moving. Making the world better one over weight person at a time, I hope to one-day give back to the world as much as Jillian Michaels.

The Effect of the Octopus Watch on the Task Completion of Self-Care Skills in Children with Autism - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1903 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/02/14 Category Medicine Essay Level High school Tags: Autism Essay Did you like this example? Independence is the ultimate goal for the majority of individuals in our society. For many, this goal is attained sometime between 18 to 30 years of age. However, for other individuals, such as those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), full independence may never be attained; the aim then becomes to minimize the dependency on caregivers and providers. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Effect of the Octopus Watch on the Task Completion of Self-Care Skills in Children with Autism" essay for you Create order According to Shattuch, Narendorf, Cooper, Sterzing, Wagner and Taylor (2012), about 80% of adults with autism live at home and only 6% have paid jobs. These statistics are alarming, clearly indicating that greater efforts are needed to design and use effective interventions that teach long-lasting functional daily living skills to individuals with disabilities. Functional living skills are those necessary to be an independent and productive individual in society (Hong, Davis, Neely, Ganz, Morin, Ninci, Boles, 2017); they include a variety of skills, from toileting and personal care to grocery shopping, banking and social skills (Ayres, Mechling, Sansosti, 2013). Given some of the core characteristics of ASD, such as repetitive and stereotypic behaviors, deficits in language and communication skills, and poor attending skills, individuals with autism heavily depend on others to accomplish daily living skills (Hong et al., 2017). According to Hume, Loftin, and Lantz (2009) there are three particular factors of ASD that hinder the acquisition and maintenance of skills: prompt dependence, initiation, and generalization of skills. Prompt dependence refers to learners relying on their instructors or caregivers to help them complete a task (even after they have already learned the task) (Mays Heflin, 2011). Initiation refers to the lack of motivation to initiate different tasks, such as chores, homework or even social interactions and, again, reliance on others to get started; Last, generalization refers to the individual’s ability to demonstrate learned skills with untrained stimuli and people, as well as in untrained settings (Hume et al., 2009). Hume et al. (2009) also reviewed three intervention strategies that have been effective in increasing independence in individuals with autism: Self- monitoring, individual work systems and video- modeling. These interventions are believed to be successful because they all focus on shifting stimulus control from continuous adult prompts during tasks to alternative stimuli. In self-monitoring, the individual learns to discriminate and record the occurrence or absence of a particular target behavior. In this intervention, the stimulus control remains within the individual; that is, the learner is the one who attends to his own behavior and determines if the behavior meets the requirement for reinforcement. When teaching self-monitoring skills (i.e., ability to monitor one’s own behavior) in individuals with autism, four steps are followed: (1) creating an operational definition for the target behavior, (2) determining reinforcers, (3) choosing a self-management method or device, and (4) teaching the learner to use the selected method (Hume et al., 2009). This strategy has been effective in changing a variety of behaviors seen in individuals with ASD. For example, when monitoring their own behaviors, individuals have improved on-task behavior (Callahan Rademacher, 1999), reduced stereotypic behavior (Koegel Koegel, 1990), increased pro-social beh aviors (Morrison, Kamps, Garcia, Parker, 2001), and, most importantly for the purpose of this study, increased the performance of daily living skills without prompts from the caregiver or provider (Pierce Schreibman, 1994). With self-monitoring, the learner has greater autonomy and responsibility, which reduces the dependence on prompts from others in their environment (Hume et al., 2009). Similarly, an individual work system is a teaching strategy that highlights visual supports and focuses on reducing the recurrent need for teacher prompts and feedback and increasing independent functioning (Hume et al., 2009). In individual work systems, the learner practices mastered skills in a visually organized setting. In this setting, the work system transmits four pieces of information: (1) the target task the learner is supposed to complete, (2) how much work the individual needs to do, (3) how the learner will know when he/she is finished with the task, and (4) what to do once the task has been completed. This strategy uses a left-to-right system where the learner completes all of the activities placed on their left and then moves them to the right (i.e., the finished pile) as they complete them. In this intervention, the stimulus control shifts from the caregiver’s or provider’s prompts to the visual stimuli presented. Video modeling is another visual strategy that promotes teaching different skills with minimal prompts from others. This is the third intervention reviewed by Hume et al. (2009). With video modeling, the individual learns a skill by imitating the behavior modeled by another person in a video. This technique is appealing to individuals with ASD because it helps them attend to relevant information required for the task while blocking out distractions. Furthermore, watching videos is a pleasurable activity for most individuals with ASD (Hume et al., 2009). One strategy not mentioned by Hume et al. (2009) that has also been effective in promoting independent skills and reducing prompt dependency is the use of visual activity schedules (VAS) (Koyama Wang, 2011). This approach utilizes visual cues to teach the learner a sequence of activities or tasks independently (McClannahan Krantz, 1999). The purpose of activity schedules is to give the learner a visual cue of what will come next in his or her schedule. The visual cues are pictures, photographs or textual prompts related to the task. For example, an image of a sink would signify it is time to wash hands and an image of a bed would represent time to go to sleep. Parallel to the interventions mentioned earlier, stimulus control can be transferred from the caregiver or provider to the picture. Once the learner masters responding to the picture cues alone, the pictures can then steer behavior in the absence of a caregiver (Koyama Wang, 2011). Outcomes of existing research have shown that people with disabilities can learn to use picture cues so effectively that they can even follow successfully multiple long behavior chains (e.g., washing hands, brushing teeth and then dressing). These results are significant because they indicate that VAS can be a useful strategy in reducing prompt dependency in individuals with disabilities, while promoting independence. Furthermore, activity schedules are not limited to particular ages, intellectual functioning or diagnosis and can be adapted and individualized for all persons (Koyama Wang, 2011). A review of the literature by Knight, Sartini, and Spriggs (2015) examined 16 studies to determine if visual activity schedules can be considered an evidence-based practice. Interventions are believed to be evidence-based when they have consistently shown to be effective in at least five research studies, three geographical locations, and with a minimum of 20 participants (Knight et al., 2015). Based on the studies reviewed, the authors determined that visual activity schedules meet the criteria to be called an evidence-based practice and can be used to maintain, expand and generalize a variety of skills in multiple settings. Further, their results suggested that VAS can be used to (1) teach on-task behavior and appropriate transitions, (2) decrease latency to begin tasks, and (3) decrease the need of prompts during transitions. Similar to the results of Knight et al. (2015), in a literature review by Koyama and Wang (2015), they found that activity schedules increased engagement and on-task behavior. They also suggested that one reason why disruptive behaviors may decrease with activity schedules is that as individuals allocate more time on on-task behavior less time is allocated to maladaptive behaviors. One caveat they discovered from different studies is that when the researchers removed the activity schedules, on-task performance declined to baselines rates. However, as soon as they represented the activity schedules, performance increased back to post-treatment levels. This finding is important because the mode of presentation may have higher significance than we think; in other words, the way in which the visual schedule is presented to the individual (e.g., binder, book, Velcro strips, or portable device) may be a crucial variable in determining the success the individual will have with following th e schedule. Due to the previously mentioned deficits observed in individuals with autism such as stereotypic behaviors and poor attending skills, activity schedules that require the individual to carry a binder or book with multiple pictures may be cumbersome. In a situation where the child loses one picture from the schedule or misplaces the entire binder, then he/she will not be able to follow independently the activities scheduled in his day. Thus, other devices that are easier to carry and can be easily accessed may be better alternatives to individuals with attending deficits. In the last years, a couple of studies have embedded activity schedules within different portable devices including a tablet and an iPod touch (Brodhead, Courtney, Thaxton, (2018); Carlile, Reeve, Debar, 2013). For example, Brodhead et al. (2018) evaluated the effects of using a visual activity schedule embedded within an iPad to vary the play across different applications in three children with autism (age range 4-9). The activity schedule was a six-slide presentation created with the keynote application (similar to PowerPoint). The first page showed the participant’s name and the second through the fourth page depicted two pictures on each slide: one of a timer application and one of the application they had to play during that slide. The fifth slide showed the picture of the YouTube application and a timer, and the sixth slide said, â€Å"The end.† Brodhead et al. (2018) used manual guidance to teach each participant how to follow the schedule and did not provide any praise or tangible reinforcers during teaching sessions. Nonetheless, they programmed the YouTube application to be at the end of each sequence to potentially serve as a reinforcer for the completion of the previous three tasks. Results showed that all participants varied their play from one application during baseline to an average of four applications during treatment. In the same way, Carlile et al. (2013) taught four children (ages 8-12) with autism to independently organize their spare time by using a visual activity schedule embedded within an iPod touch and in the absence of a supervisor or reinforcement. The researchers added five pictures (of different activities) to the photo icon on the iPod touch, and the participants followed the schedule in the order of the pictures. Similar to Brodhead et al. (2018), Carlile et al. (2013) used manual guidance to teach the participants how to complete the activity schedule; however, they faded prompts using a progressive-time delay procedure instead of using graduated guidance. They also used nine different levels to fade the proximity of the experimenter and thin the schedule of reinforcement from FR-2 (i.e., reinforcer delivered after every two correct responses) to no reinforcement at all. Before the intervention, none of the participants were able to correctly follow any of the components in the ac tivity schedule provided on the iPod Touch. After the intervention, the percentage of correctly completed components increased from 0% to an average of 95% in all participants. The percentage of intervals scored on-task also increased for all participant from an average of 15% to an average of 90%. Both studies, Brodhead et al. (2018) and Carlile (2013) demonstrated that activity schedules were effective in increasing on-task behavior, the percentage of correctly completed steps and improving independence altogether. To date, there have not been any published studies examining the use of activity schedules embedded within a watch to increase the task completion of self-care skills in children with autism. Thus, the present study will assess the effect of the Octopus Watch on the task completion of three self-care skills in four children diagnosed with ASD. The dependent variables will include the latency and duration of completing tasks and the percentage of correctly completed activity schedule components in the absence of a caregiver or provider.

Rice And The Future Of Thailand - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 12 Words: 3521 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Agriculture Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? The FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations) predicts that rice consumption will be up 2.7% in 2010 as the market rebounds form recent declines. In an overall world economy that is still struggling to rise above a failing economy, the promise that rice shows for a growth in the economy of its market shows hope for countries that depend on rice as a staple in their national products. Thailand has a substantial interest in the rice market and must prepare for the coming year with the strength of their ability to provide for the demands that will be put on the stocks of rice. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Rice And The Future Of Thailand" essay for you Create order One of the problems that plague the growth of the rice market in 2010 is the rise in the number of natural disasters that have diminished the stock of the grain. Monsoons, earthquakes and landslides have affected the stock, causing an impending possibility of a shortage. The predicted affect of these issues suggests that a 1.9% decrease in production for 2009 has taken place in compared to the growth in 2008. Countries such as Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Korea, and Vietnam have all shown good crops for the year while India , Bangladesh, Taiwan, Iraq, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka all saw shorter crop production due to unforeseen circumstance. In a country such as Thailand, using the advantage of surplus in a high demand market must be considered in order to create the most profit for the nation. According to Devries (2001), the demand for rice through the later 20th century grew at a pace of about 5.6% per year making rice a good pri me source of income for a nation (141). According to Science Daily: Science News (2006), rice serves a the largest staple crop, providing 20 percent of the calories that are consumed worldwide. Although 20 percent represents the world, 30 percent represents the Asian market. The cultures in Asia typically consume rice with every meal. According to Toriyanna (2005), Europe consumed 1% of its calories in rice from 1970 to 1990, but in the span of 11 years, that figure had doubles to 2% (8). Most of the rice sold in the world comes from Asia. Ninety-one percent of the market belongs to countries from this part of the world. The other break down of production comes with 3% from South America, 2% from Central and North American, 3% from Africa and 1% from Europe (Toriyama 2005: 10). According to an article in the New York Times (2008), Thailand is the largest exporter of rice in the world holding 30% of the market with jasmine rice being the most coveted style of rice sold out of Thai land. The timing is right in order for Thailand to make a larger than usual profit due to the issues that other nations have had to face which reduced the amount of rice product available to the world market. This research intends to provide a foundation for an increase of production and distribution of rice from Thailand. In creating an understanding of the current market place, the advantages of aggressive handling of the Thailand exports can be expected to increase overall profits. As the market is showing a decrease in available stock, the availability of reserves from Thailand will support larger pricing and increased profits for the nation. Included within the study will be a cost benefit analysis of increasing production and distribution. As well, an analysis of the environmental impact on increasing production will be assessed so that future crops can be protected. An analysis of labor costs and production feasibilities will help to determine the possibility of increas ing the current market share. A commodity chain will allow for an examination of the financial position that will affect the production of more rice from the actual production to the processing. The final type of analysis will consist of LOGIT regression which will include a dependent variable that can signal a probability condition. The probability of adoption will be measured in order to use a set of independent variables that are considered to be relevant to the study. Research Questions The following research questions will be relevant to the proposed study: 1. How is the current market an advantage to Thailand and its trade in rice? 2. What method of price control is most likely going to be of the highest benefit to Thailand in the rice commodities? 3. What economic strategy will give Thailand the best overall advantage in the year 2010 with the projected increases in demand? 4. What effect will the current shortages have on the impact of price control for Tha iland? 5. What effect have the recent catastrophes in other countries that produce rice had on the market in regard to Thailand? In working with the statistical evaluations of the economic realities of the current rice trade, the prospects for Thailand have the potential for a great many positive events. Literature Review History of Rice Rice has its origins back many thousands, extending quite possibly into millions of years. According to Smith and Dilday, the earliest progenitor of rice was a grass that left some evidence of some very distinct form that grew in a variety of humid areas of the southern landmass which is called the Gondwanna supercontinent which would have existed more than 130 million years ago. When the land mass broke apart the grass grew to produce the grain that is known today, one variety being the oryza glaberrima steud, or the African variety, and the more common Asian rice, the o. sativa l (4). Two main varieties of rice are in existence. African and Asian rice are the foundation of all mutated varieties that exist today. African rice is not as popular as the Asian variety. Cultivation of the grain began in the Niger valley within the first populations of agriculturally based communities and has been shown to have grown throughout the African growing communities start ing around the year 1500 B. C. (Smith and Dilday, 2002: 12). However, the more popular version of the grain that was grown in Asia was brought to the continent by Europeans in the 16th century. Asian rice developed from two central areas, one being in the south regions of Asia and the other being in the eastern regions of Asia. Two main types of rice developed from this diversity. The rice that is generally considered a cooking rice, called sen, has a dryer quality. The other variety which is a sticky rice is called keng. These rice varieties began in provinces of China, with he stickier version working its way into Japan (Toriyama 2005: 48). Growing Rice There is no time period within the history of agriculture that there was not evidence of the growth of rice. Many generations of human cultivations has created a vastly webbed genetic history for the grain. Rice is a staple in many cultures because of its rich nutrients and healthy carbohydrates. While brown rice is the pr eferred healthy version of the grain, white rice rates very high on the glycemic index. It is white rice, however, that holds the longer source of history. As this grain is the foundation of many types of nutritional cultures, the demand for the commodity increases the likelihood of it being a successful economic venture for a nation. The most common point of view has been to see that a rice grain is grown in a flooded field, thus flooding is assumed to be needed for the rice to grow. This is not true, however, but the flooding provides a method of controlling the field so that infestations of rodents and weeds will not harm the crop. Most often the fields are put into tiers so that the growing can be controlled and can also work its way up a hillside in vertical ascending levels. The growth of the grain and its cultivation through modern methods does not balance with the cost of petroleum to run the machinery against the costs of cultivation. This would drive the market price up without increasing the profit. Therefore, the grain is still most often harvested by hand and the fields controlled by flooding, thus lowering labor costs and providing a controlled market price. Rice as a Commodity According to early information provided by the OEDC as a projection for the growth of the rice market, the expansion of rice demand was only set to grow by 1.6%. This information was released in early 2009. However, because of the events that took place throughout the year, this projection was changed and the FAO predicted an expansion of 2.7%. With this new information, new economic decisions must be made in order to support a growth in demand. This can allow for an opportunity to arise for a nation to take its commodity into higher profits. Rice depends on the Asian market for most of its product. According to Barker., Herdt, .Rose, Rose, 95% of the world average demand for rice is throughout Asia (39). While this percentage can vary according to years linke d to the average and through the types of considerations that are used to develop the figure, it is clear that rice is mostly consumed within the Asian market. Rice as a commodity was at record highs in early 2008, but dropped down to reflect norms by about the middle of the year. While the commodity had been down in the market previous to this, it was expected to rebound in 2009 (OED 2009). The expectation was far exceeded and by the end of 2009, the market had not only rebounded, but it is now projected that in 2010 the increase will be far more significant than earlier imagined (FAO 2009). As a product, rice is a valued and growing market commodity. Rice in Thailand According to Roth (2006), most Thailand farmers own their land and can reap the benefits of a harvest that is profitable (65). As of April 9, 2010, Thailand will be buying up rice in order to increase the price. They estimate they will purchase 900,000 tones of paddy from their farmers so that the price may b e better controlled by controlling the supply of rice (Commodity Online). A current change in the way that rice was purchased, a price insurance scheme that took the place of the paddy pledging program, has had millers upset because of plummeting profits that resulted from this change (Commodity Online). This move to purchase the rice is partially due to the failures of the new program. As stated by the FAO, the price of rice was in late 2009 set to rise as the demand was greater than the supply According to Commodity Online, Thailand as one of the biggest exporters of rice had a great deal of stock in reserve. As of November of 2009, the country was planning on releasing its stockpile to meet the demands of consumers. However, as shown by the decision in April for the government to buy rice from its millers, the release would be calculated with the rise in price controlled. Using this type of a strategy helps for an industry to maintain price control so that the prices neither r ise beyond control, or plummet into despair creating lows. Methodology In order to do research on the efforts that Thailand should make in order to take care advantage of the current state of the rice market, both primary and secondary research should be conducted. Secondary research consists of a literature review of the current literature that is available on the topic. The literature review that is contained in this paper was conducted through a search of libraries, online sources, and databases. A search of the relevant literature allows for the work that has be already done by other researchers to be examined and correlated so that an understanding of the topic can be thoroughly formed. Once the secondary sources have been examined, their relevant content is then grouped into categories and recorded. By placing the sources in grouped categories of information the study will be given a foundation upon which to build relevant conclusions. The main source for the data collection is the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations ), which contained the original information that lead to the investigation of rice production within Thailand. From that source, the information will be researched through examining the individual components of the information by finding relevant content from additional sources. Once a thorough and concise research of secondary resources has been explored and put into the literature review that is within this paper, a primary source of research will begin. The primary research will be done through a gathering of quantifiable data that can be sorted into mathematical sets of commonalities in order to discover the truths about the topic. Use of such analytical tools including Porters five forces theory, PEST and SWOT analysis will be used and the findings will be assessed for relevant conclusions. According to Ethridge (2004), à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Research requires an atmosphere of questioning, seeking, and exploring without constraints on what is discovered à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“ (p. 12). The act of research should be done without an expectation of the results, but rather an expectation that what will be discovered is new and noteworthy. As the data is collected, it will be done without expectations that it will fit into findings that are preconceived. The data will be collected on the predilection of discovery, rather than on the expectations of a particular result. The type of research that will be done for this study will be considered subject matter research (Ethridge 2004: 22). This type of research is done in order to support practical solutions to a real problem. This type of research provides those who make policy with the resources from which to make decisions. By providing statistical analysis of the topic in question, decisions can be reached based on recommendations that reflect probabilities that have calculable outcomes. As the research has been developed with proofs of specific ideas that will affect public policy, the concepts are given examinatio n from the perspective of actions that might be taken. In other words, the research will recommend or not recommend actions that Thailand might take in order to support decisions that will take advantage of the current rice market climate. The way in which the methodology is designed will be in attempting to answer the following research questions: Research Questions The following research questions will be relevant to the proposed study: 1. How is the current market an advantage to Thailand and its trade in rice? 2. What method of price control is most likely going to be of the highest benefit to Thailand in the rice commodities? 3. What economic strategy will give Thailand the best overall advantage in the year 2010 with the projected increases in demand? 4. What effect will the current shortages have on the impact of price control for Thailand? 5. What effect have the recent catastrophes in other countries that produce rice had on the market in regard to T hailand? As the data is collected, the answers to these questions will be most relevant to the type of data that is included within the study. Data that is not relevant will not be used and data results that do not show specific answers will be recorded but not used within the study. Data Collection In order to collect appropriate data for the research, the secondary sources must be further examined to find data that is relevant to the topic. Worldwide organizations such as the FAO and the OEDC will be farmed for relevant data that can be associated to an increase in the actions of the Thailand government in regard to taking advantage of the higher demands worldwide. In addition, the usage of rice can be promoted through other means of promotion that might also benefit the Thailand rice trade. These methods of increasing specialized versions of rice and limiting the spread of varieties through imitations of their own original, that of Jasmine rice, will increase profits and promote their interests. In collecting data for the research, public sources will be used so that the information is standard and clear. Information that has been tabulated by reliable researchers will be used to create a foundation for the information that is created for the purposes of this study. In c ollecting data for a study such as this, certain limitations will apply as follows. Limitations The following is a list of limitations that might influence the data collection process, thereby directing false results or results that are less than accurate.. 1. The research will have a negative impact due to the limitations of the researcher in conducting all evaluations. The researcher will have to rely on outside sources for the initial statistics that are used to calculate the results. 2. The results will be limited by the number of resources with relevant information to the topic. 3. The research will be limited by the information that is made public which may or may not reflect the truth of the current situation in Thailand. The research is limited by the information that is released that is relevant to the work. 4. The market changes daily, as in evidence of the just released information that the Thailand government would be purchasing a great deal of the rice that has been produced in order to control the price. Commodities are not simply a product that is ruled by the concept of simple supply and demand, but a complex web of concepts that must be analyzed before a government makes a decision with the intent of protecting its interests. As this study will depend on the work done by previous researchers and by public information and statistics, the researcher will have to depend on the accuracy of those works and that there are no variables that are not being revealed. As the economy of Thailand depends on the health of its rice trade, the information that is revealed is with the intent of promoting better trade with the advantage of the nation in mind. As the statistics that are used for this research will reflect some of the aspects of Thailand rice commodities, the reliability of those figures will have to be used with the assumption that correct information is available. Data Analysis The secondary sources will be examined for their relevant content and then grouped into categories that can be assessed for information that will create the foundation for the conclusions of the study. The statistics that are compiled from public resources in regard to Thailand rice production will be found through both worldwide organizations and Thailand national resources. Once a thorough and concise research of secondary resources has been explored and put into the literature review that is within this paper, a primary source of research will begin. The primary research will be comprised of analysis that is done through The primary research will be done through a gathering of quantifiable data that can be sorted into mathematical sets of commonalities in order to discover the truths about the topic. Use of such analytical tools including Porters five forces theory, PEST and SWOT analysis will be used and the findings will be assessed for relevant conclusions. According to Ethridge (2004), à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Research requires an atmosphere of questioning, seeking, and exploring without constraints on what is discovered à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“ (p. 12). The act of research should be done without an expectation of the results, but rather an expectation that what will be discovered is new and noteworthy. As the data is collected, it will be done without expectations that it will fit into findings that are preconceived. The data will be collected on the predilection of discovery, rather than on the expectations of a particular result. The type of research that will be done for this study will be considered subject matter research (Ethridge 2004: 22). This type of research is done in order to support practical solutions to a real problem. This type of research provides those who make policy with the resources from which to make decisions. By providing statistical analysis of the topic in question, decisions can be reached based on recommendations that reflect pro babilities that have calculable outcomes. As the research has been developed with proofs of specific ideas that will affect public policy, the concepts are given examination from the perspective of actions that might be taken. In other words, the research will recommend or not recommend actions that Thailand might take in order to support decisions that will take advantage of the current rice market climate. Time scale plan The time frame for the study will be based on a reasonable amount of time allotted so that the information can properly researched and assessed. The first portion of the study will be to thoroughly discover the many secondary resources that are available on the topic of rice in regard to Thailands use of the commodity as an economic advantage over the course of the next year. This research should take approximately a week to complete. Another week should be spent creating data streams from which the research will be compiled and conclusions drawn. The third week of the research project will be spent creating statistical conclusions that can be useful to making decisions about the rice exportation from Thailand. The last week of the study will be spent making conclusions and determining the relevant patterns from the statistical analysis that has been made. During this analysis the results of the study will be decided and recorded.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and The Second Coming...

Things fall apart, this phrase being used in both the novel title Things Fall Apart and the poem written by Yeats, â€Å"The Second Coming† keeps us wondering how both are related. Achebe uses Yeats’ poem as an epigraph to foreshadow how the events in the novel later on might occur. Reading the epigraph, we come to understand that Yeats is referring to an image of disaster and to a society that is losing control. In Things Fall Apart, the community faces some changes that affect the lives of certain main characters and leads to a very severe disaster. Achebe uses a lot of imagery and dualism in his novel to portray certain messages to the readers and to clarify his point. Also, Achebe wanted to answer back any writer who criticized the Africans and insulted them. He wanted the voice of the Africans to be heard and to take a stand when the Christians came in and tried to change a lot in the traditions that were present. Both, the poem and the novel are related in a way t hat shows how the downfall of the main character, Okonkwo, happened and what lead to it. Both writers have many things in common in their writings that can be compared in a social and religious way. Achebe uses double meaning in order to pass on his messages to the readers. The epigraph starts by introducing a falcon which doesn’t feel safe and starts to get more out of control. 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