Assessment learning Essay

1. What are the functions, concepts and principles of assessment in learning and development? (1. 1, 1. 2) The function of assessment is a way to measure a learner’s competence against agreed standards and criteria. The awarding body of the particular qualification will have an assessment strategy what will state which criteria needs to be met to complete the mandatory and optional units and the best method for acquiring the evidence. A range of methods will be used to judge whether a candidate has demonstrated the skills, knowledge and understanding to be competent against the criteria. The assessor will need to ask themselves if the assessment process when put into practice will be: Fair – the given activities during assessment are relevant to the candidates needs and reasonable adjustments are made so not to disadvantage any person. Reliable – If the assessment was carried out by a different assessor, in a different place, the results would be consistent. Valid – the assessment is suitable to the qualification being assessed. Safe and manageable – the assessor must not put unnecessary demands on the candidate or their work colleagues in the place of occupation. Suitable for the candidates needs – before planning an assessment the assessor would need to take into account the candidates needs, their subject requirements and take into consideration any prior learning, additionally, plan suitable methods to be used. The assessment cycle to ensure the learner has met the performance and knowledge criteria required to achieve the qualification achieved all aspects of the qualification successfully. The cycle will begin with the initial assessment which will establish any prior learning or experience of the subject to be taken and will identify individual learner’s needs. Furthermore, diagnostic tests can recognize if a learner has for instance, dyslexia. The second part of the cycle will be the assessment planning, where the assessor and learner agree on the methods to be used for evidence, set target dates and who will be involved, such as, work colleagues. Thirdly, the assessment activity will establish which methods to judge whether a candidate has demonstrated the skills, knowledge and understanding to achieve the required standard. The penultimate part of the cycle will be where the assessor makes a decision as to whether the standard has been met and provide feedback to the learner. Lastly, progress will be reviewed and any changes to the assessment activities can be made. The assessor will use a range of Benchmarking will be used to ensure the learner’s performance is on target against the accepted standard of the subject area. This data will contribute to the quality assurance and development of best practice. 2. What is the role and responsibilities of the assessor? (1. 3) The role of the assessor is required to be competent and knowledgeable with the standards of the awarding body so they can explain the criteria to the candidate, thus the learner knows what they are working towards. Subsequent to the assessment planning an initial assessment needs to have been carried out to identify any individual needs, prior learning, skills and knowledge the learner may have. When planning the assessment the assessor should have the relevant information of where the learner works and what they do, this will ensure the correct units will be covered and correct methods are chosen. The assessor will use the assessment plan as a tool for assessing the learner’s competence and knowledge against the agreed criterion ensuring that it is fair, valid and reliable. The assessor must clearly record all assessment decisions and show which criteria was met. Each conducted assessment will record achievements accurately and any evidence provided by the learner must be checked by the assessor to ensure it is authentic. To ensure confidentiality the information will be available to share with those with a legitimate interest. After the assessment the assessor will provide constructive feedback to the learner concerning their achievements as soon as possible and identify any gaps in the learner’s knowledge and skills. At this stage the candidate will either plan to be reassessed or progress onto  the next assessment. The assessor will be responsible to the organisation, occupational standards and awarding organisation when planning, managing and delivering assessment and must maintain good practice and follow legislation throughout to maintain the integrity of the qualification. 3. Explain the regulations and requirements relevant to assessment in own area of practice(1. 4, 3. 4, 3. 5, 8. 1) The assessor will be required to follow a range of policies and practises set by the regulatory bodies of standards, for example, Ofqual, Sector skills council, Institute of learning. Other regulations such as, health and safety, equality and diversity, data protection, risk assessment, etc will be discussed below. It is the responsibility of the assessor to ensure that the above are carried out during the assessment process. For example, the assessor must abide by the health and safety rules of the candidates work place and report any unsafe practice or dangerous equipment. The need of wearing protective clothing and safety shoes may be required. The assessor or internal verifier must only intervene with an assessment is if the health and safety is placing someone in danger. Under the management of health and safety at work regulation 1999, the assessor must assess the risks to prevent any hazardous practices and locate information on who holds the first aid certificate and what the fire and emergency course of action is. The assessor is responsible to carry out a risk assessment to safeguard the learner during assessment and establish any risks which may occur during the assessment activities in the work place. While there is always a possibility of risk in any every day occurrence, the assessor has a duty of care to notify of the risk and advice of the possible outcome regarding safety. It is the assessor’s responsibility to ensure all documentary evidence is kept safe during external assessments and data kept secure. Any assessor who works with vulnerable adults or children will be required to have a criminal records bureau check before being allowed to work in that occupational area. The check will identify any unsuitable person and must be used to protect and safe guard adults and children at risk. The disability discrimination act legislated that no disabled person should be discriminated against because of a disability, whether it is a physical or mental impairment. In 2002 and 2005 the act was extended to include educational organisations. This meant that suitable provisions must be made for disabled persons to overcome any physical barriers and not be treated less favourably because of their disability. The initial assessment should clarify if the learner has any particular learning needs or disabilities to ensure equality and diversity needs are met. The assessor has a duty to ensure no learner is discriminated against; everyone has an equal opportunity for learning and development. Assessment activities should reflect the diversity of the learner, for example, culture, language and ethnicity and not be biased to the person who produced them. Every person is entitled to learn in a safe environment, whether it be the assessor or learner. It is illegal to inflict corporal punishment on anyone and if restraint is required then it must follow the organisations strict guidelines on discipline. The copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988) is one that the assessor should discuss with the learner at the start of the assessment process as it relates to the authenticity of their own work and products. It is unlawful to use someone else’s work as their own without referencing to the rightful owner, as this is plagiarism. The assessor must always ensure the learner signs and dates their own work, especially if it has been prepared on the computer for acknowledgement that they are the original owner. The assessor will have confidential information about their learners, such as, name, age, birth date on record and under the Data Protection Act all this information must be kept confidential and secure. If the information is kept on a computer, then it should be protected with a password that protects against other entering the system. If the information is paper based then it must be kept in a filing cabinet which is lockable. The learner can request to see any information held about them under The Freedom of Information Act 2002, so it is important to back up copies, if electronically stored in case of being deleted. The information should not be kept longer than necessary and the holder will need to register as a data user if the period is over 2 months. There may some occupational areas which require the candidate to wear a uniform, for example, a white tunic top if working in a restaurant or protective clothing, such as, reflective jacket, hard hat and safety boots if on a construction site. The assessor will need to dress in accordance with the health and safety regulations when doing an assessment in the work place with the learner. Once the assessor has qualified they must register with the Institute for Learning and keep up with their continuing professional development. It is crucial that the assessor abide by the code of professional practice to ensure they are working to the same standard and not under achieving. If the former should happen then it could have a dramatic effect on the assessment centre quality assurance when the external verifier carries out an inspection visit twice a year. To ensure standards are being met and claim for certification is valid the external verifier will need to see a mixture of the candidate’s files and interview a variety of assessors. If the standards have been met and the external verifier is satisfied that the correct procedures are being followed the centre will receive a grade of 1-2. Unfortunately if the centre receives a grade of 3-5 then there is a possibility that they could have the direct claim status and registration suspended until the matter is resolved. 4. Explain the strengths and limitations of at least 4 different assessment methods, making reference to how each method can meet the needs of individual learners. (2. 1) ASSESSMENT METHOD Observation Strengths. The observation method is an excellent opportunity for the assessor to take a holistic approach during assessment; benefits are the assessment is viewed by the assessor, thus the evidence is authentic, plus, cost and time effective. The holistic assessment can be time consuming so the assessor will need to plan the assessment so they can identify which learning outcomes from all units can be demonstrated at the same time. Knowledge based and performance based assessment can be linked with evidence which is natural occurring. The method meets a learners needs as they can carry on their normal work practice. If any prior learning evidence can be presented, such as a certificate or witness statement and/or a professional discussion at the end of the assessment. Limitations It is necessary the assessor and candidate agree for a suitable time and place for the observation to take place. If the assessment is to be cost effective then the evidence must be collected during a busy time when the most evidence can be collected. If a witness testimony is to be used the assessor must find a suitable person who has witnessed the learner do the task, this must be arranged beforehand. The assessor must ensure that the candidate is confident enough to demonstrate their competence or else it could discourage them and waste time. The assessor must remain open minded throughout the observation and not offer advice or interfere even if they feel the candidate is doing something wrong. Assignments Strengths Assignments are an excellent opportunity for the learner to demonstrate knowledge and use research skills. The assignment can be set out so several aspects of qualification can be assessed. The learner needs are met as they are able to work at their own pace and in their own time. Limitations The learner must be had been taught all aspects of the syllabus beforehand. The assignment could be time consuming to write and may not be suitable to learners who have literacy difficulties, work full time or have families to support. The assessor must assess each assignment individually and provide written feedback. Witness Testimony Strengths The witness can confirm competence or achievements of the learner as they will have observed them in their normal practice of work, someone who works with the candidate to confirm the learner’s competence in a certain area of criteria. The learner may feel more confident displaying skills in front of a colleague rather than being observed by the assessor. Witness statements are useful as they can fill in any gaps. The method would suit the needs of someone who is performing the task frequently. Limitations The assessor must ensure the suitability of the witness and that they are experienced in the occupational area, the assessor needs to confirm this by seeing evidence, such as a copy of their CV or certificates. The witness statement must be authentic and the assessor will need to check this. A witness cannot confirm the learner’s competence as they are not an assessor. Oral questions and answers Strengths The assessor could use questioning as a way to meet gaps in evidence; questions could be adapted to meet the criteria. A question could be used to increase the candidates thinking about a certain task rather than performing it. Furthermore, it gives the assessor an insight as to how much knowledge the candidate has in their occupational area. This method could be used during an observation or used later after the observation; it would meet the needs of a learner who has difficulty with written English. The assessor would need to know the candidate understands what is being asked in the question or else the learner may struggle to answer correctly. Limitations The assessor would need to be careful not to ask closed or leading questions as this could be viewed as being subjective as the assessor could be putting words into the learner’s mouth. The most beneficial questions would be open, probing and hypothetical to get the most from knowledge and understanding of the learner. 5. What key factors do you need to consider when planning assessment? (3. 1) WHAT. The assessor will need to discuss and be in agreement with what criteria is being met and how it is being assessed and others involved. The assessor will need to talk about what the learner’s job role entails and how this is relevant to the unit in question. This will enable the assessor to plan and agree with the learner the types of evidence most suitable for demonstrating competence and the best methods for assessment to be used. The assessor must make sure the evidence is appropriate to meet the specified performance criteria and where possible knowledge to be assessed through performance or professional discussion or questioning. The assessor must ensure the learner is ready to demonstrate their competence and understands the processes involved, for example targets. WHEN The assessor and learner will need to agree when the assessment will take place and arrange a suitable date, time and duration when the most evidence can be collected and if the holistic approach could be used to obtain evidence. It would be beneficial for the assessor if the assessment took place during a busy period of learner work activity. However, the assessor must ensure the learner is not taken away from their duties for an unnecessary length of time or cause disruption to the business operations. WHERE The assessor Assessment would ideally take place in the learner’s work place as this where the most evidence can be collected. As the assessor will be entering the learner’s work place it is important to involve the employer in the planning process. However, for non-performance evidence it could be more cost effective to assess via Skype, email or to arrange a meeting in a suitable place of convenience, not necessarily the learner’s work place. HOW The learner will want to know how the assessment will take place and what will be involved during the assessment. The assessor will need to discuss and agree with the learner the most suitable method of assessment to collect the most evidence. The assessor must ensure the assessment is fair, unbiased and cost effective by making the best use of time; if the learner is required to produce any prior evidence then this must be arranged in advance of the assessment. Holistic assessment in the learner’s work place would be beneficial for it is naturally occurring evidence. The assessor would use observation, witness testimony and professional discussion for performance evidence and multiple choice questions, verbal questioning and assignments for knowledge and understanding. The assessor will make a judgement on the evidence and decide whether the learner has demonstrated enough to meet the criteria or not. The assessor will need to arrange how and when feedback will be given to the learner to attend to any performance issues. 6. Explain the benefits of holistic assessment and how you would plan for holistic assessment (3. 2). The assessor is responsible for ensuring that methods used during holistic assessment covers several aspects of the performance and knowledge criteria from different units. This will ensure the assessment is cost effective make evidence collection and demonstration of competence more efficient. The assessor would need to plan the assessment before it took place to ensure that any particular requirements of the learner are taken into account and the assessment is adapted to meet their individual needs. For instance, holistic assessments will benefit learners who have dyslexia or literacy difficulties. Holistic observation can include oral questioning and minimize the amount of written work the learner has to do. Thus they are not excluded or disadvantaged by having learning difficulties. If the learner has a disability then the assessor should make sure the learner has extra time to complete the assessment tasks and is given any support needed. Moreover, any learner with difficulties are entitled to have reasonable adjustments made to ensure they have the equality of opportunity and support to enable them access assessment. Furthermore, if the learner has difficulties then the individual learning plan will agree short term targets for achievement, assessment strategies and review dates. The benefits of holistic assessment are that the assessor is able to observe the candidate at work in natural occurring situations. The candidate would be able to demonstrate several aspects of the qualification and cover more than one unit at the same time by taking a performance unit which incorporates parts of a knowledge unit. Holistic assessment should ideally take place in the learners work environment and the candidate’s job role should be discussed with to establish any prior learning they have, to identify which units could be covered at the same time. By doing this it would reduce the amount of visits needed to the candidate’s work place, make the best use of time and ensure the assessment is cost-effective. 7. Why is it important to involve the learner and others in the assessment process? (4. 1) A learner should be involved in the assessment process so they can understand why they are doing assessment activities and the purpose of providing evidence of competence. The candidate’s involvement will enable them to remain motivated as they will have the opportunity to add their own input, analyse their own experience and understanding. Without support the learner could become confused and lack enthusiasm, but if others, such as the assessor and employer helped them to achieve their aim, it will give the learner self motivation and encourage them to remain positive through the assessment process. At some stage of the assessment process it may be necessary for someone other than the assessor to provide evidence of the learner’s competence in the work place. The witness must be known by the learner and experienced in the candidate’s occupational area, possibly a line manager. 8. Give examples of the types of information that should be made available to learners and others involved in the assessment process (4. 2) At the initial assessment the learner will have taken a skills test which is an analysis of the learner’s skills so they are aware of current skills and areas for development. The learner should be provided with all documentation they need for the award, such as, assessment plans, individual learning plans, feedback sheets, information on the company carrying out the assessment and the assessors contact details, phone number and email address. Additionally, a copy of the complaint and appeal procedure, equality and diversity Policies, how to contact the assessor for cancelling visits and information on health and safety 9. What are the benefits of peer and self assessment? (4. 3). The benefits of peer and self assessment are the learner develops skills, such as listening, observing and questioning and has a greater involvement in their own learning process. The peer and learner can understand the role and the need for assessment better. It allows for greater understanding of the criteria for achievement and how it is judged, thus, encouraging the individual to take responsibility for their own learning. The learner will develop analytical skills and improve self awareness of strengths and weaknesses and identify opportunities for improvement. Furthermore, develop the ability not only to assess their own work but that of others, thus developing analytical skills and use reflective practice of their own performance. When a learner assesses their own progress and those of their peers, they will learn to take personal responsibility of how to make a decision and provide feedback as to why that decision was made. 10. How can assessment arrangements be adapted to meet the needs of individual learners? (4. 4). The learner is entitled to a fair assessment and the assessor needs to use the most relevant assessment methods for the learner to demonstrate their ability. The assessor must take into consideration that not all learners are the same and treat the candidate as an individual, taking into account any requirements they might have. For example, the assessor needs to consider a learner’s work pattern involved working shift patterns and agree a suitable time for assessment which does not disrupt working practice and make the most of the meeting. Furthermore, confidentiality issues must be taken into consideration and reflection of individual learning styles. If the learner has dyslexia, learning difficulties or English is the second language then the assessor must work with the learner to establish which method of assessment would be more beneficial to them. The assessor will need to vary the methods to keep the learner motivated and extra time given to learners who have difficulties and ensure the learner understands what is being said to them. Feedback should be given as soon as possible to ensure the learner remains interested and motivated. 11. Explain how you judge evidence and make assessment decisions, making reference to the criteria and assessment requirements (5. 1, 5. 2) The assessment plan will need to be agreed by the assessor and learner to which assessment methods will be used to cover the entire criteria standard. The assessor needs to ensure that the assessment is valid, authentic, efficient, fair and reliable. At least four different methods would be used during assessments; these could be observation, evidence of knowledge, witness statements and professional discussion. Any prior achievement and experience of the learner will be taken into account as long as it is relevant to assessment of their competence; it would not be cost effective to have a candidate repeat an activity they had already acquired in the past. However the assessor must have proof that evidence is authentic by either asking for a copy of certificate or a witness statement and the evidence is current and relevant to the occupational standards. The assessor will review the evidence and assess it against the required elements of the qualification, it will allow for a decision to whether the candidate is competent or not yet competent. Competence can be awarded if the evidence is: * Valid * Reliable * Sufficient * Authentic * Current * Safe The assessor must abide by the Equality Act 2010 to not discriminate or harass against protected characteristics where fairness might be compromised. 12. Explain the procedures for and importance of quality assurance and standardisation. (6. 1, 6. 2) Quality assurance is important as it ensures the national standards are being maintained. The internal verification procedures will monitor equal opportunities and access the decisions made by the assessor are fair, valid and reliable. The internal verifier will use a range of methods to confirm that the assessment is meeting the requirements of awarding bodies. Methods used could be through observation, questioning, and professional discussion or sample the portfolio. It is vital that the assessor is assessing according to regulations and guidelines from awarding bodies, qualification and credit framework and keeps accurate records from assessments to create an audit trail for internal and external verification. To ensure all assessment decisions are consistent and fair the assessor will be encouraged to attend meetings with colleagues involved with the same subject and their internal verifier, to ensure they all understand the units they are assessing and looking for similar evidence. To compare assessment decisions and share good practice with colleagues will help the assessor to develop skills, up date knowledge and personal development. However, it is not compulsory to attend the meeting, the assessor could standardise their practice by reviewing standards and documents online. 13. Explain the appeals and complaints procedure (6. 3) The assessor should provide the learner with a written copy of the complaints and appeal procedure which meets the requirements of the awarding body and discuss this with them in the assessment planning session. If at any time during the assessment process the learner has a complaint or feels a decision the assessor has made is unfair to them, then the learner will know who to go to with their issue and how it will be followed up. However, before this stage is reached the assessor should encourage an informal discussion with the learner to see if the issue can be resolved. If the learner is not confident about discussing it with the assessor then it may be necessary to involve the internal verifier. However if the complaint or appeal remains unresolved then this must be put in writing to the chief executive who will look into and respond within 5 working days. If the learner is still unsatisfied with the outcome then they can request the complaint or appeal is investigated by an independent panel, which will consist of an independent assessor and internal verifier. The panel will investigate the appeal or complaint and notify of their decision within 14 working days. If at this stage the complaint or appeal has still not been rectified then the learner should contact the awarding body – NCFE, whose details will be given once it has reached this stage. 14. Why is the management of information important? (7. 1) The assessor will need to ensure that any documentation acquired during the assessment process is following the national standards for assessment and verification and be aligned with the centre and awarding body policies. Each document must be accurate stating which assessment methods where used, whether, observation, oral or written. Furthermore, they must show that both candidate and assessor agreed to how the evidence will be obtained and the decision made as to whether it was achieved or not. It is essential that any document is signed, dated and stored correctly to ensure data protection and confidentiality. Other types of documentation could be completed log books, action plans, feedback comments, learner records or anything which records the candidate’s achievement. It is imperative that the information is managed professionally as the assessor could find themselves in breach of laws and regulations, such as, data protection Act if they fail to comply. Failure to manage information correctly could result in having complaints and appeals made against the assessor and have a dramatic effect on the assessment centre quality assurance when the external verifier carries out an inspection visit twice a year. To ensure standards are being met and claim for certification is valid the external verifier will need to see a mixture of the candidate’s files and interview a variety of assessors. If the standards have been met and the external verifier is satisfied that the correct procedures are being followed the centre will receive a grade of 1-2. Unfortunately if the centre receives a grade of 3-5 then there is a possibility that they could have sanctions placed upon them and lose their direct claim status and registration suspended until the matter is resolved. 15. Why should you give the learner feedback? (7. 2) Feedback is an important tool for learning and development and to improve performance and motivate the learner. The learner will have a better understanding of how they have progressed during assessments. After the assessor has carried out an assessment they would need to give feedback to the candidate as soon as possible by either verbal communication or written. If verbal is used via phone or face to face, then this must be backed up by a written copy. The assessor should include information about achievement in relation to the criteria and any comments should provide detailed advice on how to cover any gaps between current performance and the target aimed for. The candidate should be encouraged to ask questions regarding the feedback to help them understand how the assessor had reached their decision. This would also assist the assessor to reflect upon their role and evaluate if the assessment process was fair, valid and reliable and the assessment methods used was the most appropriate for the candidates needs. If the candidate did not meet the required standard then the assessor should give constructive feedback which would focus more on the activity or work produced rather than the candidate. Constructive feedback is part of a successful assessment as the learner will know what they have achieved or need to develop. Thus the learner will be encouraged to take more responsibility of their own learning development and deepen their understanding of the criteria. Feedback should be given on a 2. 1 scale, known as the sandwich approach. It should start with positive comments, then the areas which need to be improved; lastly, the assessor should end the feedback on a positive to encourage the candidate to keep interested, motivated and confident. 16. What are the key policies and procedures that relate to assessment? For example Bright delivery policy and NCFE policies and procedures etc. Give a brief explanation of what each one is. (8. 1) The assessor will need to follow policies and procedures additionally to those mentioned in question 3, for example: Bright’s delivery policy states the following points: Bright’s delivery policy sates the following points: †¢Once the candidates deposit has been cleared and relevant paperwork is complete the candidate will receive their registration pack within 48hrs †¢Following this the mentor will contact the candidate within 48 hours †¢Mentors can be contacted mon – fri 9am – 6pm sat 10-1 †¢Alternately leave a message and the mentor will contact the candidate within 4 hours †¢Once all theory and practical assessments are complete candidates will receive their certificate. Under Bright’s delivery policy the following procedures relate to assessment: †¢Quality audit of completed Individual Learning Plans †¢Quali.

Superior Court Observation

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The first was apparently dismissed because his brother had multiple DUI convictions. The reason for the second dismissal was not obvious. The Clerk of Court then drew two more names. These two potential jurors were questioned in the same manner and accepted by the attorneyson both side. After the jury of twelve was seated, the process was repeated to find an alternate. The purpose if the alternate was to step in if, for any reason, any of the jurors could not serve during the whole trial. The remaining jury pool was excused from the courtroom. The attorney for the Prosecution began with her opening statement, followed by the defense attorney. The prosecution called the first witness, an officer with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department. The officer was sworn in and then questioned by the Prosecutor about the events of the night when the defendant was placed under arrest. The defense attorney then cross-examined the witness, followed by a prosecution re-direct and then a defense re-cross examination. The witness was then excused. What struck me during the questioning were the actions of the judge. He sat with his head resting in his hand, almost like he was sleeping. However, he did not miss a beat when an objection was made. He either quickly sustained or over-ruled the objection without even raising his head. At this point in the proceedings, the judge called for a lunch recess. He instructed the jury of six rulesto follow during breaks, briefly these were: They were not to discuss the case amongst themselves. They were not to discuss the case with anyone else outside the courtroom. There should be no formation of an opinion until deliberation. They are not to communicate with anyone involved with the case. They should not read or listen to any media coverage about the trial. Lastly, if applicable, there should be no visitation of the crime scene or no independent inquiry. He explained that any violation of these rules would be considered contempt and punishable as so. After the recess, the prosecution called two more witnesses, another Sheriff’s deputy and an officer with the Highway Patrol. They were both questioned by the prosecution, then the defense. Both were also faced with a re-direct and a re-cross. The witnesses were excused after theirtestimony. At this point, the prosecution rested its case. The defense than began theircase presentation. The defense called the defendant to the stand to testify on his own behalf. After his initial testimony, he was cross-examined by the prosecution. There was no re-direct or re-cross. The defense rested their case. The jury was then sent out of the courtroom so the charge conference could take place. This process involves discussions the prosecution and defense as to which instructions would be given to the jury. There is a large set of written instructions and they discussed which are relevant to the case and would be provided to the jury. Once this was completed, the jury was called back into the courtroom and given instructions on the closing statements. These instructions were the same as they were for the opening statements. The defense gave his closing statement first, followed by the prosecution’s closing statement. The judge then instructed the jury on proper application of the law. He stated that if the prosecution did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, then they must find the defendant not guilty. However, if they did prove their case, the jury must find the defendant guilty. He also instructed the jury on the items agreed upon during the charge conference. The jury then retired to the deliberation room. At this point, the alternate juror is excused. While the jury was deliberating, I observed a conversation between the two attorneys and some other attorneys that happened to be in the courtroom. The prosecutor made the comment that the defendant admitted he had been drinking and that was basically the whole of the case. To that, the defense attorney relied, â€Å"The truth is irrelevant. † I found that statement quite surprising and it has stuck with me, I think, more than any other information. The jury did not come back with a verdict by the end of the day. When I called the Clerk of Court office the following morning, I was told that they had come back at around 10:30 am with a guilty verdict.

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Fleet Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Fleet Planning - Essay Example According to Clark, fleet commonality avails many benefits to the manufacturer and to the operators of the produced aircraft. Airlines are the operators of these aircraft. They are able to save financially, decrease and comprehend the risks associated with the aircraft. Saving financially is a benefit that fleet commonality provides. This is based on the fact that currently, jet fuel prices have skyrocketed. This has called upon effective planning by airlines to mitigate the negative consequences of these inflated prices. Financial saving is of utmost importance to airlines. Fleet commonality provides financial saving through the provision of common spares for the fleet. The airline does not have to buy spares for aircraft repair from different aircraft manufacturers. This makes it easy to agree on prices and deals that are financially friendly to the airline. This is very significant because aircraft are subject to damage and repairs are needed, without which the aircraft is rendere d useless. It is time dependent because the aircraft model is bound to change with time as the manufacturers alter it to suit demands. The time frame for this benefit could be up to three years after the time of delivery because a present aircraft may not have much in common with a model manufactured three years earlier (Clark, 95).Many airlines have specific ground support apparatus that are well-suited with a specific fleet of aircraft. This means that the airline has invested in these ground support apparatus.

Air Pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Air Pollution - Essay Example The high altitude trees in the Rocky Mountains feel the impact of the air pollution emitted in Beijing, China. To determining the most rational approach to controlling air pollution, the worldviews of Environmental Wisdom and Planetary Management can help decide who has responsibility for the air we breath and what are the benchmarks for quality. Both worldviews rely on the tenet that our resources are valuable and require constant attention to provide sustainability and quality of life. However, they differ greatly on their approach, philosophy, and degree of optimism in technology. The Environmental Wisdom worldview takes the stance that the human race is a part of nature and must show an equal respect for all plants and animals in the world. Environmental Wisdom believes technology and economics are limited and there must be a sustainable cooperation with the earth to be able to sustain our resources. The Planetary Management worldview believes that man is the dominant life form on Earth and humans have a right to exploit the Earth's resources to assure their well being. Planetary Management has a high degree of optimism in both technology and economics. ... A major air pollutant that has been at the center of controversy are the CO2 emissions that come from burning fossil fuels. Environmental Wisdom believes that the Earth's fragile ecosystem is threatened by global warming and there is a need to curtail the use of this energy source. It has recently been reported that rising global temperatures have been responsible for the spread of the Asian Hornet which is known to destroy the hives of honeybees (Allen). Loss of the pollination done by honeybees could result in a 26 percent reduction in the US's available food supply (Young). Environmental Wisdom sees the need to reduce CO2 emissions and protect the habitat of the honeybee. The CO2 that is emitted in Beijing has a direct effect on the quality of food in the US. While we may be able to live with a short supply of copper, Environmental Wisdom contends that there is no substitute for quality air. Planetary Management advocates would view the problem of CO2 emissions as a temporary problem that will be solved by science. The air could be cleansed of excessive CO2 with new scientific discoveries and an economic stimulus to develop the technique. In fact, researchers are already developing a method to strip our the CO2 from the polluted air, liquefy it, and bury it underground (Haszeldine). This would allow man to continue to deplete the fossil fuel resources and manage the polluting by-products of its use. Planetary management would have less concern for the complex eco-systems, such as honeybees, that may be threatened or eradicated by global warming. These would simply be further challenges to our technology and inventiveness. In conclusion, all the people on the earth

Aortic abdominal aneurysm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Aortic abdominal aneurysm - Essay Example The first historical records about AAA are from Ancient Rome in the 2nd century AD, when Greek surgeon Antyllus tried to treat the AAA with proximal and distal ligature, central incision and removal of thrombotic material from the aneurysm. However, attempts to treat the AAA surgically were unsuccessful until 1923. In this year, Rudolph Matas performed the first successful aortic ligation on a human. Other methods that were successful in treating the AAA included wrapping the aorta with polyethene cellophane, which induced fibrosis and restricted the growth of the aneurysm. Albert Einstein was operated on by Rudolf Nissen with use of this technique in 1949, and survived five years after the operation. (2). Endovascular aneurysm repair was first performed in the late 1980s and has been widely adopted as a treatment option in the subsequent decades. In recent decades approximately 40,000 patients underwent aneurysm each year. In the United States, 15,000 deaths per year are attributed to abdominal aortic aneurysms. (8) Anatomy: The aorta is the largest artery in the body. Arteries are vessels that carry blood away from the heart. Aorta arises from the left ventricle of the heart, forms an arch, and then extends down to the abdomen, where it branches off into two smaller arteries. Aorta is only 5 - 6cm. long and 16-20 mm. in diameter. Is focal enlargement of the abdominal aorta usually involving the infra-renal portion of the vessel to more than 50% larger in diameter than the normal aorta or to greater than 3.0 cm in its largest true transverse dimension. Aortic dissections occur when a tear forms in the intimal layer of the aorta creating a subintimal collection of blood (15). The pulsing high pressures in the aorta then force more blood into this space causing the hematoma to grow distally from its origin (7). The dissection commonly occupies approximately

The United States' Invasion of Afghanistan Assignment

The United States' Invasion of Afghanistan - Assignment Example As a superpower, the United States interferes with the affairs of Afghanistan though it is a sovereign nation. Machiavelli’s theory on moral tradition condemns immoral practices that States use to maintain power. The theory advocates for diplomacy because morality is the basis of constituting governments. Based on a realist perspective, the US was not strategic when invading Afghanistan making their invasion qualify as intimidation as noted by Fiscus (1969). The US did not adhere to the principles of diplomacy that Machiavelli advocated for in his literary works. Instead, they focus on Machiavellism while carrying out their mission. Machiavelli believed that morals should guide nations in their pursuit. Therefore, it was unethical for the United States to use force though they claim that they are merchants of peace. It would have been better for the United States to refrain from using force while promoting stability in different places around the globe (Fiscus 2001). Politics should not be divorced from ethics as evident during invasion of

Criminal Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Criminal Justice - Essay Example This dissertation will look into the case of state of Connecticut versus Jeff Jackson, which will outline activities that took place after the appeal in the Appellate court. It will also discuss criminal jurisprudence and honor of defendant’s proof of free from criminal charges beyond any reasonable doubt. The courts, in accordance to criminal justice, conduct justice operations in various ways that give a plaintiff a chance for probation revocation appeal and plea-bargaining that do take place in between the time of arrest warrant and sentencing (Connecticut, 2011). The laws of Connecticut were officially released on a date when a slip of opinion was the operative Appellate petitions and filing of cases was certified as a way acceptance appeals. In that date, Jeffrey Jackson appealed to the Appellate court for conviction of judgment, which was concluded by the jury in the trial court after his trial. Jeffery Jackson was given a warrant of arrest due to possession and use of n arcotic drugs and in violation of General Statutes that resulted to trial by court’s jury. After hearings, the defendant proved his innocence of allegations to a point of reasonable doubt (Connecticut, 2011). This had diluted the burden that required proof to take improper judgment. The Appellate Court on consideration of defendant’s claim, with the reversing of the judgment by the jury of the trial, Jeffrey Jackson requested for a new hearing in the Appellate court. Thereafter, the Appellate court accepted the request on a state’s petition that guaranteed certification to consider appeal, but with limited issues regarding the Appellate court (Katz, 2007). The court’s jury objection to statutory evidence that abided with criteria of operation in the law firm was not to be considered by the Appellate court. The jury objected to requests from the Appellate court regarding determination of overall judgment as per instructions referring to reasonable doubt. T he impermissible burden of proof was diluted improperly according to state of opinion set by the jury upon the Appellate court. While incarcerated at a correctional center, Jeff Jackson underwent strips of searches led by a correctional officer to provide reasonable evidence of possession of the narcotic drugs. The jury ordered a state of carriage of burden that required proofing substantial and empirical evidence. This involved blood tests from samples of blood from Jeffrey Jackson as well as tests for positive result from use of cocaine (Connecticut, 2011). Proof beyond reasonable doubt leaves the plaintiff firmly convinced that the defendant is guilty or not guilty, from the fact that the jury has absolute certainty for siding with the defendant, and not the plaintiff but constituting maintenance of judicial and law ethics. The procedural history was additional facts that were exceptional according to the defendants routines that involved carrying procedural activities most of th em that differed from the presentation given by jury’s ruling. The jury did not ordain a standard charge in the basis of reasonable doubt decision making and ruling as per the plaintiff’s charges (Connecticut, 2011). The reason as to why the jury did not describe reasonable doubt in the case of Jeffrey Jackson was the reasonable prudence that hesitated to perform more weighty cases that awaited the jury’s intervention. The court acknowledged difference in trial and sentencing in the

Factors Affecting Child Development Essay Example for Free

Factors Affecting Child Development Essay What is prenatal care? Prenatal care is the health care you get while you are pregnant. Take care of yourself and your baby by: †¢Getting early prenatal care. If you know youre pregnant, or think you might be, call your doctor to schedule a visit. †¢Getting regular prenatal care. Your doctor will schedule you for many checkups over the course of your pregnancy. Dont miss any — they are all important. †¢Following your doctors advice. Return to top Why do I need prenatal care? Return to top I am thinking about getting pregnant. How can I take care of myself? You should start taking care of yourself before you start trying to get pregnant. This is called preconception health. It means knowing how health conditions and risk factors could affect you or your unborn baby if you become pregnant. For example, some foods, habits, and medicines can harm your baby — even before he or she is conceived. Some health problems also can affect pregnancy. Talk to your doctor before pregnancy to learn what you can do to prepare your body. Women should prepare for pregnancy before becoming sexually active. Ideally, women should give themselves at least 3 months to prepare before getting pregnant. The five most important things you can do before becoming pregnant are: 1.Take 400 to 800 micrograms (400 to 800 mcg or 0.4 to 0.8 mg) of folic acid every day for at least 3 months before getting pregnant to lower your risk of some birth defects of the brain and spine. You can get folic acid from some foods. But its hard to get all the folic acid you need from foods alone. Taking a vitamin with folic acid is the best and easiest way to be sure youre getting enough. 2.Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Ask your doctor for help. 3.If you have a medical condition, be sure it is under control. Some conditions include asthma, diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, obesity, thyroid disease, or epilepsy. Be sure your vaccinations are up to date. 4.Talk to your doctor about any over-the-counter and prescription medicines you are using. These include dietary or herbal supplements. Some medicines are not safe during pregnancy. At the same time, stopping medicines you need also can be harmful. 5.Avoid contact with toxic substances or materials at work and at home that could be harmful. Stay away from chemicals and cat or rodent feces. Return to top Im pregnant. What should I do — or not do — to take care of myself and my unborn baby? Follow these dos and don’ts to take care of yourself and the precious life growing inside you: Health care dos and don’ts †¢Get early and regular prenatal care. Whether this is your first pregnancy or third, health care is extremely important. Your doctor will check to make sure you and the baby are healthy at each visit. If there are any problems, early action will help you and the baby. †¢Take a multivitamin or prenatal vitamin with 400 to 800 micrograms (400 to 800 mcg or 0.4 to 0.8 mg) of folic acid every day. Folic acid is most important in the early stages of pregnancy, but you should continue taking folic acid throughout pregnancy. †¢Ask your doctor before stopping any medicines or starting any new medicines. Some medicines are not safe during pregnancy. Keep in mind that even over-the-counter medicines and herbal products may cause side effects or other problems. But not using medicines you need could also be harmful. †¢Avoid x-rays. If you must have dental work or diagnostic tests, tell your dentist or doctor that you are pregnant so that extra care can be taken. †¢Get a flu shot. Pregnant women can get very sick from the flu and may need hospital care. Food dos and don’ts †¢Eat a variety of healthy foods. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, calcium-rich foods, and foods low in saturated fat. Also, make sure to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. †¢Get all the nutrients you need each day, including iron. Getting enough iron prevents you from getting anemia, which is linked to preterm birth and low birth weight. Eating a variety of healthy foods will help you get the nutrients your baby needs. But ask your doctor if you need to take a daily prenatal vitamin or iron supplement to be sure you are getting enough. †¢Protect yourself and your baby from food-borne illnesses, including toxoplasmosis (TOK-soh-plaz-MOH-suhss) and listeria (lih-STEER-ee-uh). Wash fruits and vegetables before eating. Don’t eat uncooked or undercooked meats or fish. Always handle, clean, cook, eat, and store foods properly. †¢Don’t eat fish with lots of mercury, including swordfish, king mackerel, shark, and tilefish. Lifestyle dos and don’ts †¢Gain a healthy amount of weight. Your doctor can tell you how much weight gain you should aim for during pregnancy. †¢Don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs. These can cause long-term harm or death to your baby. Ask your doctor for help quitting. †¢Unless your doctor tells you not to, try to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week. It’s best to spread out your workouts throughout the week. If you worked out regularly before pregnancy, you can keep up your activity level as long as your health doesn’t change and you talk to your doctor about your activity level throughout your pregnancy. Learn more about how to have a fit pregnancy. †¢Don’t take very hot baths or use hot tubs or saunas. †¢Get plenty of sleep and find ways to control stress. †¢Get informed. Read books, watch videos, go to a childbirth class, and talk with moms you know. †¢Ask your doctor about childbirth education classes for you and your partner. Classes can help you prepare for the birth of your baby. Environmental dos and don’ts †¢Stay away from chemicals like insecticides, solvents (like some cleaners or paint thinners), lead, mercury, and paint (including paint fumes). Not all products have pregnancy warnings on their labels. If youre unsure if a product is safe, ask your doctor before using it. Talk to your doctor if you are worried that chemicals used in your workplace might be harmful. †¢If you have a cat, ask your doctor about toxoplasmosis. This infection is caused by a parasite sometimes found in cat feces. If not treated toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects. You can lower your risk of by avoiding cat litter and wearing gloves when gardening. †¢Avoid contact with rodents, including pet rodents, and with their urine, droppings, or nesting material. Rodents can carry a virus that can be harmful or even deadly to your unborn baby. †¢Take steps to avoid illness, such as washing hands frequently. †¢Stay away from secondhand smoke. Check out our more detailed tips on Pregnancy dos and donts (PDF, 176 KB). Return to top I dont want to get pregnant right now. But should I still take folic acid every day? Yes! Birth defects of the brain and spine happen in the very early stages of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. By the time she finds out she is pregnant, it might be too late to prevent those birth defects. Also, half of all pregnancies in the United States are not planned. For these reasons, all women who are able to get pregnant need 400 to 800 mcg of folic acid every day. [Return to Top] How often should I see my doctor during pregnancy? Your doctor will give you a schedule of all the doctors visits you should have while pregnant. Most experts suggest you see your doctor: †¢About once each month for weeks 4 through 28 †¢Twice a month for weeks 28 through 36 †¢Weekly for weeks 36 to birth If you are older than 35 or your pregnancy is high risk, youll probably see your doctor more often. [Return to Top] What happens during prenatal visits? During the first prenatal visit, you can expect your doctor to: †¢Ask about your health history including diseases, operations, or prior pregnancies †¢Ask about your familys health history †¢Do a complete physical exam, including a pelvic exam and Pap test †¢Take your blood and urine for lab work †¢Check your blood pressure, height, and weight †¢Calculate your due date †¢Answer your questions At the first visit, you should ask questions and discuss any issues related to your pregnancy. Find out all you can about how to stay healthy. Later prenatal visits will probably be shorter. Your doctor will check on your health and make sure the baby is growing as expected. Most prenatal visits will include: †¢Checking your blood pressure †¢Measuring your weight gain †¢Measuring your abdomen to check your baby’s growth (once you begin to show) †¢Checking the babys heart rate While youre pregnant, you also will have some routine tests. Some tests are suggested for all women, such as blood work to check for anemia, your blood type, HIV, and other factors. Other tests might be offered based on your age, personal or family health history, your ethnic background, or the results of routine tests you have had. Visit the pregnancy section of our website for more details on prenatal care and tests. Return to top I am in my late 30s and I want to get pregnant. Should I do anything special? As you age, you have an increasing chance of having a baby born with a birth defect. Yet most women in their late 30s and early 40s have healthy babies. See your doctor regularly before you even start trying to get pregnant. She will be able to help you prepare your body for pregnancy. She will also be able to tell you about how age can affect pregnancy. During your pregnancy, seeing your doctor regularly is very important. Because of your age, your doctor will probably suggest some extra tests to check on your babys health. More and more women are waiting until they are in their 30s and 40s to have children. While many women of this age have no problems getting pregnant, fertility does decline with age. Women over 40 who dont get pregnant after six months of trying should see their doctors for a fertility evaluation. Experts define infertility as the inability to become pregnant after trying for one year. If a woman keeps having miscarriages, it’s also called infertility. If you think you or your partner may be infertile, talk to your doctor. Doctors are able to help many infertile couples go on to have healthy babies. Return to top Where can I go to get free or reduced-cost prenatal care? Women in every state can get help to pay for medical care during their pregnancies. This prenatal care can help you have a healthy baby. Every state in the United States has a program to help. Programs give medical care, information, advice, and other services important for a healthy pregnancy. To find out about the program in your state: †¢Call 800-311-BABY (800-311-2229). This toll-free telephone number will connect you to the Health Department in your area code. †¢For information in Spanish, call 800-504-7081. †¢Contact your local Health Department.

Strategic Change Management Of Walt Disneyland Resort Marketing Essay

Strategic Change Management Of Walt Disneyland Resort Marketing Essay This report present the comprehensive back ground of the company and also I tried my level best to cover all the relevant aspects in accordance to the assignment that I have given. Moreover four major areas are considered in this report which is motivation, problem statements, approaches, and results/conclusion. In the interest of the reader, I believe that the reader will understand the background to organizational strategic marketing, issues relating to strategic marketing in an organization. And also reader will be able to understand the processes involved in making the strategic marketing plan. Most importantly it will make reader understand that how to plan and make a link between strategic marketing and corporate strategy of an organization. The report is based on following pattern. First of all it will discuss clear view and comprehensive concept of strategy marketing and then models of strategic marketing. Moreover this report is related to these models of the Walt Disneyland resort. And also assesses the value of using strategic marketing tactics in an organization. Conclusion of this report would be based upon the theories of marketing management, while keeping the main concept of the subject in order to understand and get on well. I have tried my level best to state the results in general, potential, or specific manner to a particular case, therefore I have managed to achieve ultimate understanding of the particular theory (strategic marketing) and I am quite confident that I have achieved my final objective to understand and impalement similar theory in future for further understanding and more benefit. Acknowledgment: I have tried my level best to understand the concept in brief and also tried to discuss given tasks in a manner I have been asked to do so. I express my sincere thanks to professor for his constant encouragement and support throughout the course, especially for the useful suggestion given during the course period. I am very grateful to my colleagues for providing me with an environment to complete my project successfully. Finally, I take this opportunity to extend my deep appreciation to my family and friends, for all that they meant to me during the time of the completion of my course work. Introduction: A creator and moderniser and the owner of one of the most productive thoughts the world has ever known, Walt Disney, beside with members of his staff, expected more than 950 decencies and documents from every nation in the world, counting 48 Academy Awards and seven Emmis in his lifetime. Walt Disneys individual honours comprised nominal degrees from Harvard, Yale, the University of Southern California, and UCLA; the Executive Medal of Freedom; Frances Legion of Honour and Officer dAcademie streamers; Thailands Order of the Crown; Brazils Order of the Southern Cross; Mexicos Order of the Aztec Eagle; and the Showman of the World Award from the National Association of Theatre Owners Mickey Mouse was shaped in 1928, and his aptitudes were first used in a silent cartoon permitted Plane Crazy. Before the cartoon could be free, however, sound eruption upon the motion picture screen. Thus Mickey made his screen entrance in Steamboat Willie, the worlds first fully coordinated sound cartoon, which premiered at the Colony Theatre in New York on November 18,1928 Walts drive to faultless the art of cartoon was tireless. Technicolor was presented to cartoon during the manufacture of his Silly Symphonies. In 1932, the film Flowers and Trees won Walt the first of his 32 individual Academy Awards. In 1937, he free The Old Mill, the first short subject to utilize the multilane camera method Thus, Disney absorbed the buying of 43 square miles of virgin land twice the size of Manhattan Island in the middle of the state of Florida. Here he master-planned entire Disney world of entertaining to include a new enjoyment theme park, a motel-hotel resort vacation centre, and his Untried Sample Community of Tomorrow. After more than seven years of master planning and training, including 52 months of actual building, Walt Disney World opened to the public as arranged on October 1, 1971. Epcot Centre opened on October 1, 1982 1* http://www.fragrancex.com/products/_bid_Disney-am-cid_perfume-am-lid_D__brand_history.html TASK 1: L.O- 1.1: The role of strategic marketing could be defined as in todays complex business environment is the ability of a business to attain cost-effective sales is impacted by dozens of conservational factors, many of which are consistent. It makes logic to try to bring some order to this turmoil by understanding the marketable environment and carrying some strategic logic to the process of marketing products and services. A strategic marketing is valuable to every business. So thats why its role is very important for organization while keeping following attribute in order to achieve long term objectives. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Classify sources of economic advantage à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Achievement guarantee to a strategy à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Get incomes needed to finance in and shape the business à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Notify investors in the business à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Established objects and plans à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Degree of performance L.O- 1.2 Well the process involved in making the strategic marketing plan is to focus on sales means focus on individual customers rather than market segments or market classes. However market segmentation is very important to analyse the customer needs and demands but after analysing market segments, customer Interests Company has to create strategic marketing plan. Strategic marketing process involves, Market ResearchMarketing strategies Product research and development Production Communication Sales Refereeing to the case study Disneyland mainly focuses on following marketing strategies. Sell extra to current customers Growth of marketplace Constant promotion Always expand and add to your contributions Chasing business Sell extra to current customers strategy means when customers enter into the attraction there are always marketing announcement whether you are on trains, boats, trams and etc. these recording informs customers that how they can stay longer, upgrade their ticket to make most out of it while paying less. While in the parks customers can always get to know what coming up in regards to the vacations so that they can visit next time and get more benefits. Growth of marketplace strategy means development of more Disney lands in other countrys for those who cannot travel to USA. It has increased their marketplace and expending their brand worldwide by building these country specific theme parks. Constant promotion strategy is that they do not stop and start and then stop again their marketing strategies, they have their fixed budget provided every year to marketing department in order to keep their marketing promotion going on. Always expand and add to your contributions strategy is they always add up new attraction to their exciting places. They always updated their old dated rides so that if customers visit next time they can experience different this time which makes them to visit next time. Thats again focus on customer retention strategy that how to keep regular customers coming. Chasseing business strategy means they always take in to the account the slow time of the year and the fast time of the year. They do not stop promoting business in slow time of the year just because its slow, but they always try and improve their business and attraction in order to make their slow time of the business busier. Thats why people like to visit any time of the year. L.O- 1.3 Well to evaluate the link between strategic marketing and corporate strategies I would like to explain the difference between these two and after you will find the links between these strategies of Walt Disney Company. Strategic Marketing: It is directly any strategically concerned with the long term activities and direction and scope performed by an organization to gain competitive advantage. While meeting stakeholders expectations the organization applies its resources within a changing environment to satisfy customer needs and demands. Corporate strategy: This could be defined as method to the future that involves inspection of the current and expected factors related with customers and competitors and the firm it, visualization a new or real role for the firm in a original way and supporting policies, performs, and resources to understand that dream. Link between strategic marketing and corporate strategy of WALT Well the corporate strategy and marketing strategies are directly related to each other because Disneys indoor marketing strategies are considered as their corporate strategies. Corporate strategies help them to analyse where and when to open their other branch. Corporate strategies gives them direction with objective of achieving long term goals recently their approaches have focused on the need for companies to adjust to and expect changes in the business situation. Their corporate strategy involves organization the purpose and scope of the organizations activities and the nature of their business. Through SWOT analysis they link their corporate strategies to the marketing strategies and then analyze them and then execute them accordingly. TASK -2: L.O- 2.1 The Strategic Marketing Planning Process MISSION OBJECTIVE MARKET AUDIT SWOT ANALYSIS STRATEGY FORMULATION IMPLEMENTATION CONTROL BUDGET Figure 1.2 http://www.netmba.com/strategy/process/ Figure 1.3 by Macdonald (1995) The model above explain the process involve in strategic planning of an organization, now on the basis of the model above I will assess the value. According to the (SUSAN L. LAURE) this is goal based process which allows organization to focus on its mission and vision to achieve goals. This model does help organization to move forward and it is great practice to build a team because it offers the opportunities to let everyone in the company know that their thoughts and opinions are being considered. It lets everyone know that they belong to the organization. More over one can achieve more valuable results from a decisive approach is contract on how to make the most of the organizations capital and the in deepness perceptive of the factor that involve those resources should conditions and situation change. This model helps the organization to help to see the size of the organization in term of human resources which of course influence the main plan. It also helps organization to physical goals that they are seeking to reach. More over it provides a plan structure which makes sure constancy across distribution and each separation covers all the key aspect of the development process. It also makes directors to understand the situation clearly because it provides a large number of data. Also improve marketing skills within the company. It also increases the value to companys data base and marketing investment. The implementation of marketing planning model gives an introduction to organization to implement the strategic planning process within an organization. The management is also dependent on the high quality process consultancy and training as well as sport tools. Experience has shown that the proper planning of marketing model makes an organization to achieve its objective. L.O- 2.2 Link between strategic positioning of Disneyland Resort and marketing tactics mentioned above in the strategic marketing plan. Strategic Positioning strategic marketing plan Well there is very close link between strategic positioning and strategic marketing of Disneyland because both focus on continues growth of an organization. As far as strategic positioning is concern they conduct research to determine what the needs in order to promote are and position company where they want to. To make strategic marketing plans for organization they consider much aspect on which they can produce exactly according to needs and demands of the customers. As discussed above that marketing provides them clear room to understand the long term objective and standing of an organization. Thats how they keep on changing their strategies no matter what time of the year are they in, or no matter customers want this or not. Disney land strategic positioning provides different following questions to them, What are their strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats? How customer takes our product? Who are the target customers? What is the image? Competitive edge? Communication to the right people? Are we able to target our product to other market? These are the question they see while undergoing the positioning for them self, if we commonly see the marketing aspect in those questions we can clearly see the link between these two terms because strategic marketing planning provides them the same kind of information in order to make their marketing plan well working. Marketing plane gives them the signs to achieve the ultimate goals while positioning based on marketing plane can point out where they exactly stands. So marketing is the key element for them to make their position where they could differentiate their product from others, because they believe to be providing the best quality products to their customers as no one does in that capability. Hence the link between these two is very common and regular infect both are dependent on each other in order to get ultimate goals. Beyond HR: the new science of human capital by john W. Boudreau, peter M. Ramstad L.O- 2.3 Related Links: Relationship Marketing | CRM | Ladder of Customer Loyalty | Benefits of Relationship Marketing | Fishbone Analysis Well as discussed above that Disney is more concern that how to retain their oncoming customers that why their current marketing strategies are based on relationship marketing which can provides them help to achieve long term objective which is to open new Disneys in other countries. Relationship marketing could provide them ultimate objective because retaining consumers for long term offers many benefits. This is also aim for the company to obtain life time custom. Some of the merits of relationship marketing include: Loyal customers will recommend your business to others, thus expanding your business for you. Faithful customers are keen to try some of their new products, because they trust them. Trust worthy consumers will advocate their business to others, thus expanding their business for customers. Customers will be keen to pay more for their services/products if there is adjustment in pricing because they are loyal to company and trust their services/products. Loyal customers will tell them about problems with their goods/services enable to get better your products/services. The final benefit will be boost sales, market share and authority. http://www.learnmarketing.net/benefitsofrelationshipsmarketing.htm Hence keeping all points mentioned above are the clear picture that how relationship marketing could help them to contact with their current customers in order to increase their new customers. Because its always about words of mouth old customer experience and will let their known people know about the experience they had which is the key point to increase the limit. If they found their product and service best they will for sure let others know and then others will buy their products. As mentioned that they increase their marketing campaign by giving their customers the best product and services. They constantly changed their marketing planning in which they have given different kind of gift vouchers to their customers so that they can come next time and avail that which actually make they to come back and use those vouchers. Conclusion: In the end we can conclude this report by mentioning that Disney land has broad and wide network and has the best team force in order to make decision and implement them as a betterment of an organization. Moreover corporate strategies and marketing strategies play vital role for an organization to obtain long term objective, Disneys corporate and marketing strategies are well managed to get their goals completed in given time. As we have discussed lot about their marketing strategies and corporate strategies I think their

Shamanism :: Spirit Spiritualism Korea Korean Essays

Shamanism A Shaman is a member of a tribal society who acts as a medium between the visible world and an invisible spirit world and who practices magic or sorcery for purposes of healing, divination, and control over natural events. Shamanism is the oldest folk belief of the Korean people in which every natural object in the world has a soul. In order to connect with the power of the supernatural the Shaman is taken over by a spirit by liberating their mind from natural limitation. This process is achieved through the use of drugs such as tobacco or soma, spinning or dancing, drumming, or singing of deep tones (Haines Brown). Early Shamanistic clans mainly served two different purposes, to invoke supernatural spirits and to carry out priestly and military leadership functions. â€Å"Korean Shamanism regarded three gods with special reverence and importance: the Mountain God, Sanshin (who is usually depicted as an old man with a tiger at his feet), the Toksong, or recluse, and Ch'ilsong (the god of the seven stars, the Big Dipper)† (Buddhapia). These roles began to branch out early in the second millennium B.C. Some of these clans began branching out into confederations headed by Shaman kings early in the first millennium A.D. As more and more religions began to arise such as Buddhism and Tonghak, many Koreans continued practicing the traditional ways of Shamanism. More recently one of the emphasized characteristics of Shamanism is the belief that the souls of the dead are always present. â€Å"Only the spirits of ancestors and people who died harboring grudges and deep resentment and those who died untimely deaths are honored in worship, however†, explains Kim Yol-kyu. Ones who have died young or who were murdered are believed to be able to cause great misfortune to the living or even cause diseases. The way to get rid of these diseases or misfortunes is by performing a ritual known as a gut in Korean. A Shaman who performs these ceremonies is often referred to as a mudang and must be a highly talented performer in order to conduct the ceremonies properly.

Scary Story Essay -- Short Stories Fiction Essays

Scary Story I looked up at the black sky. I hadn't intended to be out this late. The sun had set, and the empty road ahead had no streetlights. I knew I was in for a dark journey home. I had decided that by traveling through the forest would be the quickest way home. Minutes passed, yet it seemed like hours and days. The farther I traveled into the forest, the darker it seemed to get. I was very had to even take a breath due to the stifling air. The only sound familiar to me was the quickening beat of my own heart, which felt as though it was about to come through my chest. I began to whistled to take my mind off the eerie noises I was hearing. In this kind of darkness I was in, it was hard for me to believe that I could be seeing these long finger shaped shadows that stretched out to me. I had this gut feeling as though something was following me, but I assured myself that I was the only one in the forest. At least I had hoped that I was. As the bushes and brush grew more solid I began to ponder. Will I make it through this forest tonight or will I be taken in by the thick of the mystery? Sounds from sluggish foot steps caused a vibration around me that lead me to stop in my place and listen closely. Could this forest be haunted or was I just over exaggerating? I started to get very nervous by this time. â€Å"It will be just fine,† I told myself. I am just imagining things. I continued my journey through the forest but negative thoughts were running through my l... Scary Story Essay -- Short Stories Fiction Essays Scary Story I looked up at the black sky. I hadn't intended to be out this late. The sun had set, and the empty road ahead had no streetlights. I knew I was in for a dark journey home. I had decided that by traveling through the forest would be the quickest way home. Minutes passed, yet it seemed like hours and days. The farther I traveled into the forest, the darker it seemed to get. I was very had to even take a breath due to the stifling air. The only sound familiar to me was the quickening beat of my own heart, which felt as though it was about to come through my chest. I began to whistled to take my mind off the eerie noises I was hearing. In this kind of darkness I was in, it was hard for me to believe that I could be seeing these long finger shaped shadows that stretched out to me. I had this gut feeling as though something was following me, but I assured myself that I was the only one in the forest. At least I had hoped that I was. As the bushes and brush grew more solid I began to ponder. Will I make it through this forest tonight or will I be taken in by the thick of the mystery? Sounds from sluggish foot steps caused a vibration around me that lead me to stop in my place and listen closely. Could this forest be haunted or was I just over exaggerating? I started to get very nervous by this time. â€Å"It will be just fine,† I told myself. I am just imagining things. I continued my journey through the forest but negative thoughts were running through my l...

When Teen Abortion is Unsafe for Teen and Baby :: essays research papers

What would be your reaction if you had a teenager come home pregnant? Many teenagers fear their parents if they have to bring home a bad report card. Others may have a fear if they get into trouble at school. Although these fears are substantial, young women experience a fear that young men do not. Becoming pregnant is a serious fear for young women that engage in sexual intercourse. Often times a teen mother’s answer to this situation is abortion or an illegal abortion. Teen abortion can be somewhat difficult to get in many states without having parental consent or notification. These laws make it unsafe for the teen mother and unborn child. Teen abortion should be allowed without having to have parental consent. The mortality rate of teen mothers and babies would decrease significantly if this were the case. Sadly, each year in the United States the age of young girls who are sexually active decreases. At this rate there are many unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. â₠¬Å"One in three abortions in the U.S. are performed on teens† (Torr 91). That is a very high statistic that young women have created due to their adult decisions.† Teens are sometimes reluctant to practice birth control because it is not romantic† (Emmens 13). Teens tend to believe that they should not use birth control, because they do not think that they will get pregnant. The lack of birth control may result in pregnancy. Once a teenager gets pregnant she may not know what to do next. Teenagers usually become nervous and unsure of whether to tell someone or just keep the pregnancy a secret. When they keep the pregnancy a secret it puts them in danger as well as the unborn child. Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the nation's leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider. â€Å"We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved† (Suarez 2). Planned Parenthood allows a teenager to make safe decisions without including the teen’s parents. In many states where they have Planned Parenthood facilities the teenagers have more options. Teenagers that want birth control and/or an abortion can receive services, as well as information from a doctor. The doctors at this clinic encourage young women to tell their parents of their choice of abortion.

Customer Service Profile–Marriott Hotels

Motivate employees, train them, care about them, and make winners of them. At Marriott, we know that if we treat our employees correctly, they’ll treat the customers right, and if the customers are treated right, they’ll come back. Bill Marriot Jr. If a customer leaves a hotel or resort satisfied with the property and the service, there is a much better chance that they will return. That is an obvious reality in the industry, and in the forefront of the customer service policy of the Marriott chain of hotels.Customer response for rapid resolution to customer complaints is used by each and every Marriott Hotel and Resort. Customer Surveys are an integral part of the plan. Getting this feedback makes it possible to correct errors and enhance the customers’ overall experience as a guest. Customers are used to getting a questionnaire or a survey â€Å"after the fact† to record and advise the company of a problem and whether or not it was solved to the customer ’s satisfaction.Marriott’s goal is to provide such a survey to the customer during the stay, so that any lingering problem can be immediately resolved. If there is something wrong with the room, it should be addressed during the stay, so that no one leaves dissatisfied. The real time feedback not only resolves complaints, but has been a stream of customer suggestions which would improve the experience. These suggestions are seriously considered and many have been implemented, such as providing a billing summary available to the guests by internet or television prior to check out.Marriott Hotels and Resorts also have a Rewards program that has been frequently judged as the best in the business. Customers get points for each stay, and can apply the points either to frequent flyer miles or future vacations. This program was instituted in 1997, but there has been some form of a frequent guest program at Marriott since 1983. Many other hotels have similar â€Å"loyaltyâ₠¬  programs, and it has come to be an expectation of a lot of guests.There are many ways to earn points and over 3000 properties all over the globe where they can be earned. The points can be redeemed for a variety of things, such as cruises, hotel stays, frequent flyer miles, and even wide screen TV’s. There is even a way to donate accumulated points to charitable organizations. The above two described programs comprise Marriott’s customer service milieu. While the combination of the two prongs is very successful, there is always room for improvement or enhancement.For a great many guests, especially the frequent travelers for business or pleasure, accumulating the points towards an eventual goal is a real selling point and would certainly have the desired effect of return visits. However, for the occasional traveler, saving up enough points to have any benefit is probably not realistic. In these uncertain times, vacations and even business travel might come on to th e â€Å"chopping block†. But, even in the best of times, only a small part of the population travels quite frequently.For all these circumstances, the Reward programs is of no benefit. Again, this is not unusual for businesses to give out coupons, punch cards, or reward points that will never be used. Who doesn’t have frequent flyer miles, $10 off coupons for stores that will never again be visited, or credits towards a cruise or dinner that has expired and not used? The guest could then feel that only other people reap the â€Å"rewards†. One alternative would be to allow a guest to â€Å"opt† out of the Rewards program and instead to offer an immediate â€Å"reward. An example would be for a 2 night stay, the guest could choose from several food items to be delivered to the room, such as a late night dessert. Or, for a 3 night stay, the guest would receive a free spa visit if available on the premises. An alternate â€Å"reward† would be a coupo n for free gasoline, or something commonly available. The idea would be that for some customers who knew that the point system would not be a benefit to them, could still know that Marriott was customer oriented and that if they were to be traveling again, they would remember ot only the personal service, but that they were rewarded for just being a customer. A Review of the Marriott Rewards Program. (2010).Retrieved November 2010, from About. com: Business Travel: http://businesstravel. about. com/od/rewardsprograms/gr/marriott_reward. htm Executive Blueprint. (n. d. ). Retrieved 2010, from Case Study: Increasing Sales by Service: http://www. executiveblueprints. com/_cases/service_marriott. pdf Marriott Reward Program. (n. d. ). Retrieved 2010, from Marriott : http://www. marriott. com/rewards/rewards-program. mi

9/11 Security Easures Essay

1.What impact did the events of 9/11 have on your sense of security/vulnerability? The events of September 11th brought a harsh reality to light. I remember sitting home thinking this wasn’t real and when I finally did catch on and see this was really happening I was overcome with fear. I wasn’t sure if we as a nation were safe or what would happen next. I kept saying to myself â€Å"How they can say they are here to protect us and this happens?† 2. Do you agree or disagree with the U.S. response to the attacks? I partially agree partially with the United States’ response to the attacks in terms of security measures and then the other part of me just shakes my head and wonder what it is the people in charge are thinking. I feel that with such high powered branches of government and security that the events of 9/11 should have never taken place. I appreciate the higher security to an extent at the airport but then it shouldn’t have taken such a tragic event for them have such high security measures in place then on the other side of the scope it’s inconvenient for everyone else involved to have to adjust to new procedures when the government dropped the ball. Going to war wasn’t the answer at all to punish someone for taking lives we go takes lives of their nation by risking the lives of more people from ours†¦I’m extremely confused with this practice. See more: Strategic Management Process Essay †¢Which aspects of the U.S. response do you feel have been most successful and effective? None of them, even with more security efforts in place it has only made a bigger issue arise in the process some are harassed more than others because of nationality I have been with Arabian and Egyptian friends at the airport and have had to wait longer with them as they were drilled about what part of the U.S they were going to questions about the birthplaces of their parents and even their own birthplaces. Is this what we have reduced ourselves down to? †¢Which aspects of the U.S. response do you feel have been least effective or even counter-productive? War period †¢Do you feel safer now than they did after 9/11? Why or why not? I still feel the same no one is safe not here in the U.S and not those outside our country the response to the 9/11 attacks goes against everything being an American is about. †¢What areas of vulnerability do you think have not been addressed that should be? The vulnerability of our people to depend on each other and the government to support us, provide us with a sense of security/protection, and to give us a voice to be heard to say what actions are taken in such tragic events. †¢Do you agree or disagree with the term â€Å"War on Terrorism?† Do you think the â€Å"war† will ever be â€Å"won†, and all terrorist threats completely eliminated? If you disagree on the term, what would you suggest as an alternative? I strongly disagree with the term â€Å"war on Terrorism†! This war will never end there will always be someone somewhere who doesn’t agree with the practices of another individual, group, or country. This comes from â€Å"societies† teachings of making one group more superior than the other until that cycle alone is broken there will be a new breed of â€Å"terrorists/terrorism† everyday. †¢Do they feel civil liberties, including privacy rights, have been curtailed significantly in the wake of the U.S. response? If so, in what way? Is some curtailment of some civil liberties for some individuals a necessary step, even if not ideal? Doyou agree with the government’s justifications for wiretapping, etc? All in all I actually believe that some civil liberties have in fact been curtailed, however, no matter how you try to turn it you can’t have me say that its’ right. Everyone is entitled to his/her privacy no matter who they are and what they have done before in life. I don’t feel anything justifies the reasoning behind the government wanting to use wiretapping or video surveillance to pry into the personal lives of any individual I understand that this helps to stop these so called terrorists but then again it’s a way for the government to bully people by taking their private feelings and using them against them. †¢Do you agree with holding captured suspects indefinitely, without charge? Or do you think suspects should enjoy due process and be tried in civilian courts? I think everyone should be given the right to due process and how can you hold someone indefinitely without charging them of something in my mind that would be kidnapping/false imprisonment and that’s preposterous! †¢What are your thoughts on secret prisons, extraordinary rendition, and the Enemy Combatants at Guantanamo Bay? Secret prisons†¦somewhere I can take someone and do anything imaginable to them and they either not return or comeback badly beaten yet have no proof of where they were when this happened which means no evidence and possibly they don’t even see the person who does the harm to them. Where is the fairness/justice in this the government justifies their inhumane treatment of others with the word â€Å"terrorism†, yet isn’t the government guilty of doing the same thing that we imprison â€Å"serial killers, rapists, etc.† for? The government at first said that no torture went on at Guantanamo Bay that the detainees were only being held for questioning then one person came out and admitted that Mohammed was being tortured there and we expect protection from a government that constantly lies to us. †¢Do you agree with the rationale behind the invasion of either Afghanistan or Iraq or both? There really is no rationale behind it unless you are trying to say that since they came and used our planes to destroy our buildings and kill our people that we have every right to go over to their territory and shoot, bomb, and kill their people. Yea sure that’s very rational indeed let’s go do the same thing they did to us â€Å"that will make it better† †¢Are citizens of other countries at all justified in their negative view of America’s stand in the World? Yes they are America is at war with itself and that only makes the other countries wonder how we could be in power of anything. China has had several problems with dynasty leaders but they rose up as a people to overcome that. America has problems and they branch of into several groups screaming for the spotlight without any real answers to the problems here everyone wants to be right where in other places it’s about simply getting better than what they are currently dealing with a chance for growth. Something America has forgotten about.