Green Power

Cleaner electricity generation is on its way for full implementation as many of power consumers are now aware how could avail of it. In the official blog site of the US Environmental Protection Agency, many of its visitors had said in their comments that they had already installed or purchased from a private electric company a way how could they use green power.Some had also leaved a link to the sites of their energy provider that gives them an option for cleaner energy generation. But others still had said that they could not choose to opt to green power because of area and cost constraints.People who had said that they had installed solar panels and/or avail power generated through wind or geothermal admits that they pay more for their electricity consumption as compared when they were not using it. Since conversion into cleaner energy consumption would cost more to the people, they might rather ignore their wish to take part with a cleaner environment. Some even says that going in to cleaner energy generation is just propaganda of electric companies that would mean more profit on their part.Some still had said that they had no choice whether to use green power or not because it’s their individual power provider could only decide. As I had completed browsing all of the comments, I suggest that yes there is a need for a greener electricity generation but the problem is that people where afraid of their initial additional cost. Yes, it cost more than the regular energy we consume from burnt coal but like what one comment had said, people are not aware of the hidden cost the people might suffer if we continue using it because experts says that burning coal adds up to the air pollution.As we enter into the era of information age, ideas are now easy to disseminate through all of the high tech devices and technology the modern day gives such as the computers and the internet. But we should be careful of what would we should acquire of these ideas since some o f them cannot be fully relied on. Support of experts in such field such as EPA could give as a somewhat assurance that what we learn is what we should. References Greenversation, Question of the Week: Why are you or aren’t you buying green power? Retrieved May31, 2008 from http://blog. epa. gov/blog/2008/05/27/qotwgreenpower/

GMA Maderan History Essay

Barangay Gavino Maderan is formerly part of Brgy.Area J, under Brgy.Captain Ramon Cruz Sr.until his death in 1978. Nelson Gutierrez was appointed as brgy.captain on March 25,1985 by virtue of legislative and administrative act, a referendum was held for the creation of (27) brgy. out of original (10)brgys. of the municipality of General Mariano Alvarez,Cavite. Brgy.Area J was then divided in four brgys. namely; Brgy.Gavino Maderan,Brgy.Jacinto Lumbreras,Brgy.Severino Delas Alas and Brgy. Ramon Cruz Sr. By the virtue of Barangay Resolution no.13-5-2005,approved by the Sangguniang Barangay on its session dated June 5 2005. July 5 was declared as the foundation day of Brgy.Gavino Maderan and then on the year 2006, the said resolution was adopted by the Sangguniang Bayan of the municipality of Gen.Mariano Alvarez Cavite. The History of General Mariano Alvarez Cavite see more:sample narrative report on teachers day celebration General Mariano Alvarez,the youngest town of the province of Cavite is formerly a part of the municipality of Carmona.This municipality was named after Gen.Mariano Alvarez,one of the foremost sons of the province.He was a native of the town of Noveleta and he played a vital role during the Spanish Revolution. It was previously called Carmona Resettlement Project and was under the direct management of the People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation (PHHC). On July 3,1968, the first seven families were admitted in the project. The Dept.of Social Welfare provided them with free 3-day food rations for one month, the Dept.of Health set up medical clinics with the Dept.of Education started holding classes on the Elementary and Second levels. As envisioned by the National Government, GMA, a former relocation area for the squatters of the Metropolitan Manila, will provide its residents with a more blissful life geared towards the full development and upliftment of the relocation itself. Today,as a developed community through the untiring effort of the municipality officials,Gen.Mariano Alvarez is classified as a first class municipality.

My Beloved City

The bustling city is alive. The stimulation of crowds and traffic generate energy that challenges the human spirit. Perhaps that is why the city dweller reflects the image of an angry, stressed and unfriendly person. But that was not my case. Young, impatient, eager to make a difference, I was trying to open my way through the crowded streets, noisy and indifferent people. You could smell the excitement. Unfortunately, the revelry would not last too long. The tranquility of the country life that appealed my mind was recorded history. Bucharest, distinguished. The sheer amalgamation of cultures and eras comes together wonderfully and uniquely and is easily identifiable by simply looking at the objects that render a city —the buildings. The way they were erected, the style that is embedded in them, and even the political statements that they seem to shout, it all makes the architecture of Bucharest extraordinary. I started wondering the streets and found myself amazed that beyond all the hostile appearance I could notice the three most prominent styles of architecture that could be seen in Romania’s capital. The old fashioned and classic style of the baroque era that transformed Bucharest into the Paris of the East; The totalitarian and dominant style of the communist regimes and the style that immediately followed: modern Romanian architecture. The baroque and romantic years swept through the East and soon artisans of all sorts were embarking on journeys of creative freedom that permeated all aspects of life. Architecture was no exception. Around Bucharest, gargoyles loomed, guarding elaborately arched windows. The city skyline began to teem with decorated roofs, high and sweeping, shingled with coppers and stained woods. The sight of medieval architecture that survived the communism, combined with modernism, gave a special meaning to this city. Although the excitement is far from gone as the buildings collapsed in people’s indifference, I still find myself trapped in the magic that Bucharest inspired me from the beginning, to live and learn and mostly try to survive. I cannot say it is the best city I have ever seen. Far from being home, for me it was the best place to get lost in.

Automotive Cruise Control System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Automotive Cruise Control System - Essay Example The governor adjusted the engine up thrift when the engine speed changed. The system was first used in automobiles in the year 1910. Thanks to Peerless motor company who upgraded the system to maintain speed of an automobile regardless of the topography the vehicle was moving on. Modern cruise control or speedostat was invented in 1948 by Ralph Teetor a long term president of the perfect circle company which specialized in manufacture of automotives. The first car with speedostat system was manufactured in 1958 which processed a vehicle speed on driveshaft and utilized a loop wire wrapped in a metallic core to vary throttle positions. In 1950 constant speed regulator a patent was imposed by Frank Riley, however in the following years, Mr. Riley and the other patent holders did not manage to collect royalties for inventions using the cruise control. Automotive device controls became more popular in USA in the year 1973 after the historical oil crisis which led to tremendous rise in fu el price. This was due to the nature of the system of saving gas intake by minimizing level of fuel intake when a vehicle was accelerating. Automotive cruise control uses the mechanism of transmission whereby a sensor system is mounted to the vehicle front. Control mechanism is transmitted through the on board sensors. A driver feeds in the speed and the unit maintains the speed by taking over the car’s throttle. The systems are ideal because they improve a driver comfort in a free flowing traffic conditions. However the systems are not ideal in heavy congested traffic as they do not allow the cruise control to run below a certain speed normally 25mph. the vehicle maintains the desired speed by up thrusting the throttle cable with a loop wire and a closed loop feedback. Modern cruise systems have power buttons which allows a driver to turn on or off. The systems

Should Same-Sex Marriage be Legalized Worldwide Essay

Should Same-Sex Marriage be Legalized Worldwide - Essay Example Equality is fundamental and same sex marriages should also be constitutionally recognized. The definition of marriage should deviate from the ‘thicker’ religious perception to the ‘thin’ altered government definition to incorporate other marriages and enforce equality and respect for the rights of all people. The paper also argues that denying homosexuals rights to marriage is a denial of their rights in pursuit of happiness. Finally, it argues that though resistance could be high in other areas, the societies are slowly changing their perception and most nations have adopted or are in due process of recognizing same-sex marriages. Keywords: Homosexual, Same Sex Marriages, Straight Marriages, Heterosexual Marriages, Protections, Cultures, Beliefs, Equality, Pursuit of Happiness, Religion, Christian, Attitudes, Society, Rights, Government The issue of homosexuality has long history in the world. Its existence had always been suppressed by the social and political altitudes in the societies, which prevented the concerned parties from standing up for what they believed in. Allegedly, families have raised children and dictated what is needed of them. However, those who have demonstrated pure sexual attraction to people of the same gender have been condemned and are forced to change their preferences to suit others’ expectations. Some parents have gone far to reject their own children who choose to and uphold their position on same sex marriage. Cases of homosexuality can well be traced in the ancient times of Egyptians, Greeks and the Romans. Though not popular as in the contemporary world, the Christian dominated negative attitude of the same sex marriages has remained over time; the imposition of an Eskridge in the roman empire during the 4th century demonstrated the rising homosexual unions, which the empire w as

The effect of liberation on economic growth of China Essay

The effect of liberation on economic growth of China - Essay Example After setting up of WTO with an aim to enhance international trade to a large extent by demolishing all kinds of trade barriers imposed by individual countries, the member states of WTO has been making extensive efforts to liberalize their trade with each other and with other countries as well. China is not an exception. In the china, efforts to liberalise trade by reducing different trade barriers have been started to be undertaken since the initiation of economic reform in this country during the decade of 1970s. Theory suggests a close link between foreign trade and economic growth. There have been a large number of theoretical and empirical works, which have tried to examine the link between international trade and economic growth. While a number of studies have found a positive association between enhanced international trade and economic growth, a large number of studies have also refuted the claim on the basis of their research that international trade facilitates economic growth. (Edwards, 1993) In the present study the case of China will be taken under consideration, as china has become one of the most powerful and rapidly growing economies in the present world. It would be very interesting to see how trade liberalization has affected economic growth in China. For this the period of 1970-2007 will be taken under consideration, as it was only in the decade of 1970’s (late 1970’s) when China put emphasis on the issue of trade liberalization as one of its economic reform policies. However, in this context, one thing should be mentioned that trade liberalization got a huge boost in China during 1990s as it was making its path easy to became a member of WTO during this period. Trade liberalization basically implies reduction in the tariff rates and removal of non-tariff barriers. Since late 1970s china has started to undertake several measures of trade liberalization to increase its foreign trade. This paper will

Marketing Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Marketing Planning - Essay Example ............................................ 3.0 How are we going to get there?.................................................................................. 4.0 Implementation........................................................................................................... 5.0 Ethical issues............................................................................................................... 6.0 Possible problems........................................................................................................ References Appendix Marketing Plan: Sainsbury’s 1.0 Introduction J Sainsbury Plc is a supermarket chain in the United Kingdom currently maintaining a 15 percent market share (Thompson 2010). Sainsbury competes with major supermarkets such as Tesco, Morrison’s and Asda. Tesco, the company’s main competitor holding 28 percent of market share in the UK for this industry, has maintained its leadership position through innovation in p roduct and service delivery as well as global brand loyalty. Sainsbury offers traditional products in the food category and has recently diversified to include clothing styles that are exclusive to the supermarket. Sainsbury is recognised not only for its high quality products, but for its emphasis on corporate social responsibility which provides the company with a positive brand reputation. However, Sainsbury’s is unable to outperform its main competition, which is attributable to lack of effective promotion. This marketing plan focuses on building revenues through marketing of the company’s new clothing line, branded under the name Tu. The Tu line targets young adult female consumers, providing lightweight and contemporary clothing with a fashion-forward design and motif. The company had, until recently, believed that the Tu line was a â€Å"stand alone brand† (Sainsbury 2011, p.3). However, the Tu clothing line cannot support revenue growth for the supermark et chain without creating a brand personality and developing a more effective promotional campaign. 2.0 The marketing plan This section highlights the rebranding strategy necessary to achieve brand recognition and brand preference in the young female target market and relevant audits of the current situation faced by the Tu clothing line. 2.1 Current situation Currently, the Tu clothing line provides Sainsbury with ?680 million in sales revenues (Reid 2013). This is insignificant considering the costs of distribution, manufacture and importation of materials utilised for production. Sainsbury is attempting to compete with such companies as Marks & Spencer and Zara which produce similar fashion merchandise under a fast fashion model. These competing organisations have well-established brands and consumer loyalty for providing relevant and modern fashion styles, making it difficult for the company to lure consumers to the Tu brand. Additionally, the Tu brand boasts 60 percent of its c urrent sales volumes stemming from impulse shoppers, meaning that consumers are not actively seeking to shop for clothing at Sainsbury’s market, instead purchasing whilst shopping in the supermarket for food products. Sainsbury’s corporate leadership recognises this shortcoming and points out that consumers have â€Å"tight budgets† and the business must â€Å"create outfits that catch attention† (The Guardian 2012, p.2). Sainsbury is also redeveloping the in-store experience to enhance the clothing shopping experience, adding fitting rooms and floor models that emulate the fashion floors of

Business Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Business Analysis - Research Paper Example The disposable income is used to purchase the services and products offered by the business. The Living Room Bar targets youthful professionals and students. This is because it provides entertainment which is favored by the youths in the American society; for instance, sports entertainment, hip hop music and pop music, and indoor games like pool tables, cards and darts. The Upstairs Drink Boutique is tailored to suit the needs of the mature professionals who form part of the middle income group in the American society. The entertainment provided at the bar appeals to individuals who are mature in their personal and public life. The most popular attraction is the live jazz music entertainment that is provided all days of the week, starting evening. The Trace restaurant is appropriate for the middle income groups of the society. This is because of the fast foods products and evening dinners. Fast foods are mostly consumed during working hours by the professionals. The evening dinners are favored by mostly dating individuals and young married couples. The customers are also allowed to request for entertainment of their choice during their dinner time. The marketing strategies of the business clearly illustrate the target market. The four strategies used by the business are favorable to the middle income individuals in the society. These strategies are; niche marketing, mass marketing, concentrated marketing, and differentiated marketing (Kurtz, 2010). The two bars apply differentiated marketing. This is because they provide different entertainment to satisfy the needs two classes of customers; the students or young professionals, and the mature customers. Direct marketing is done by advertisements in social media pages of professionals. The business also does mass marketing through creating publicity in printed media outlets like magazines and newspapers. Concentrated marketing is done through posting entertainment information in the social media

Are Rising U.S. Tensions with Russia and China Signs of a Return to Research Paper

Are Rising U.S. Tensions with Russia and China Signs of a Return to the Cold War - Research Paper Example 4. The missile defense system has caused Russia to deploy its ballistic missiles across Europe. 5. China and Iran have a close eye on US movements in Afghanistan, and its trembling relations with Pakistan. There are negligible or no chances of a second cold war among US, Russia and China because: 1. The three nations are matured and developed to make a mistake they made long ago. 2. It is not in the strategic interest of the three nations that such a war takes place. 3. There is much at stake, and a lot to lose if the war eventually breaks out. 4. US has its hands full with Afghanistan and Pakistan, it will risk going to war with a super power which can cause irreparable damage. 5. Iran is of significant concern to US at the moment. Americans will not risk Iran becoming a nuclear power for notorious reasons. Let us consider the chances of another cold war erupting among the Three Titans. The first cold war started in 1945 and went on till 1991, with the eventual defeat of the Soviet Union. The named cold war comes from the ability of nations to be in a state of war without direct military involvement. Military action is to be avoided because of the fact that it would bring a nuclear catastrophe to the nations’ door step. ... War.1 The question in one’s particular mind would arise that if there is no military involvement, then how is it possible to be in a war situation? These battles are fought through military coalitions, strategic conventional force deployment, and nuclear arms race. The rivalry is also seen at the level of sports and technology. The most famous technological competition between US and Russia is the Space Race. Military alliances such as the US led NATO and the Soviet Union led Warsaw Pact agreements were enforced to display military might.2 Considering the current situation between the Titans, we can asses that an environment is being built towards such a catastrophe. China seems to be very upset with the US movements in Afghanistan and its influence in the political mainstream of Pakistan. On the other hand, Russians are strongly condemning the US movements on the European soil. Its move to deploy Missile shields have irritated the Russians to an extent that led to a Georgian pounding some time back. Georgia is an ally of the US, but at the time when Russia was all out thrashing it, the Americans could only sit and watch the show because any US move would have been at the cost of war with Russia. The story of conflict does not end with Europe or Pakistan, Missile Shield or the US movements in Afghanistan. The three nations are of very different opinion on the matter of Iran. The Islamic republic of Iran is accused by the US of developing nuclear weapons or the WMDs. Iran suggests that its nuclear program is for civilian reasons and it has the right to use nuclear technology for civilian reasons. The US has tightened its sanctions on Iran and is threatening it to go to any limit possible to stop it from developing nuclear weapons. The extent could be by bombing its

Corporate startegy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Corporate startegy - Essay Example Later, on 31 March 1974, the merger of all the four companies resulted in the formation of the British Airways. The company started its expansion by acquiring British Caledonian in the year 1987 and Dan-Air in the year 1992. It has formed an alliance with the American Airlines, Qantas, Cathay Pacific and Canadian Airlines. This alliance is the third largest alliance after Star Alliance and the Sky Team. The parent company of British Airways, International Airlines Group, is a listed company in the FTSE 100 Index and the London Stock Exchange. The dedication of the volunteers along with the collection of arts and the loyalty and the generosity of the employees and the former colleagues has helped the company to achieve a successful position in the United Kingdom. As already mentioned above, the British Airways is a merger of the four companies BOAC, BEA, Cambrian Airways and the North East Airlines. The current alliance of the company along with the American Airlines, Qantas, Cathay Pacific and Canadian Airlines has made it the third largest alliance. The company is presently operating in 150 different destinations, six of which are located in the domestic land. British Airways is one of the top premium airlines in the world. It provides vital arteries for investment and trade, at the same time meeting the demands of the customers for the holiday trips and family reunion as well as the business travel. World Cargo which is the subsidiary of the British Airways is the twelfth largest cargo airline in the whole world in respect of tonne fright kilometres which is travelled. BA CityFlyer which is a fully owned subsidiary of British Airways operates and carries its customers to twenty different destinations in Europe. Although it focuses mainly on the financial markets, but it has extended its operations and recently achieved a successful position in the leisure market also. There are various

History and interior design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

History and interior design - Essay Example ............................................................................10 Churchill War Rooms museum..............................................................................................12 Restoring old museums...........................................................................................................11 Modern Interior.......................................................................................................................12 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦..13 Bibliography†¦.........................................................................................................................14 Interior design has been able to establish history by its temporary qualities and emphasis on uniqueness in its practice. Although many have come out to define interior decor the right definition has not yet been established and there is a likelihood of never been a rightful answer (Britow, 1996, p.74). Interior decor in London has always been used to celebrate and mark history made in the country. How interior works can be understood by answering the question why interior design and this has made interior decor emerge as a tool to understand history. An approach has to be formed between history and interior to allow movement or change in establishing the interior. The concept of interior history is understood as a process that is taking place at a particular stage. The main idea of re-writing history today is to change people’s perception that interior design can only take place in enclosed spaces. This platform offers designers and student designers certain connection on the inside and outside connection. When people talk about interior design they only consider the interior form and leave out the design found outside. The interior design used on a building has always been influenced by technological advances resulting to rapid urbanization and deprivation of culture and regional identity. Interior designers sit in committees and attend world conferences to share and learn better concepts to incorporate in their work (Martin, 2009, p.72). Today this is not the case buildings that also have no enclosure are undergoing interior decoration. Therefore overtime the history of interior design has changed with establishments being analysed on the interior and exterior (McKellar & Sparke, 2004, p.135). One good example is the Millennium Dome museums found in London a major attraction and visited by many due to their interior designs. The interior designs are tools used to write history and explain some circumstances in the past. Take an example the millennium dome museum built to celebrate the end of the 20th century and to welcome the 21st century. Millennium dome museum had the interior and exterior design laid out by several designers. The museum had the material used on its exterior durable and resistance. The outside fabric has a reflective blue coating giving it a beautiful appearance. The museum at night reflections is very beautiful because the light fittings were strategically installed round the dome-shape museum. The good-lining fabric was meant to render good colour rendering. Today the millennium dome museum is widely known for its exterior design and attracts a number of visitors. (The image below shows the exterior design of the Millennium Dome museum from a bird view and on the right is the interior view of the museum) Most of the museums in London have a great exhibition of interior

Third World Debt Resolutions Essay Example for Free

Third World Debt Resolutions Essay [1]One fact is undeniable: Someone is going to have to pay for past debts. It could be the people in debtor countries, or the banks, or the people in advanced industrial countries. Most likely it will be some combination of these three groups. In the last ten years, there have been a variety of proposals which, unfortunately, usually reflect only the special interests of the groups proposing them. Generally speaking, these solutions fall into three categories: repudiation, minor adjustments in repayments, or reduction. Debt repudiation, in the sense of a unilateral cessation of repayment, occurred in a number of countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru.With the exception of the Peruvian cessation, however, most of these actions have been taken with assurances that the stoppages were only temporary. Peru announced that it was unilaterally limiting its debt repayments to a percentage of its export earnings; and since Peru took this action, other nations have indicated that they will act similarly. There have been no serious proposals for a widespread and coordinated repudiation of global debt. The economist Jeffrey Sachs offers several reasons for this absence of a general repudiation.First, debt repudiation is a dramatic and abrupt act. Most nations would prefer to defer such decisions as long as there are advantages to muddling through, and growth prospects are sufficiently ambiguous to make this muddling a viable course. Second, debtor countries fear retaliation from commercial banks. If the banks were to cut off nondebt related activities, such as trade credits, the situation could be made even worse. Third, the debtor countries fear retaliation from creditor governments and multilateral lending agencies. Grants from development banks could be affected, and trade relations would probably be seriously disrupted. Finally, the leaders of most of the debtor countries have interests in maintaining good relations with the richer countries, and repudiation would jeopardize these interests. Repudiation would also seriously disrupt global economic relations, probably far beyond the immediate losses of the debts themselves. Retaliations would follow, because it would be politically impossible for lenders not to react, and because there would be a conscious effort to warn other potential defaulters against similar action. The escalation of economic warfare would have the effect of sharply reducing international economic interactions in trade, investment, and exchange. Such an outcome is in no ones interest. The vast bulk of activity since 1982 has involved adjusting the timing and method of repayment. The number of specific proposals is bewildering.One can read about debt-equity swaps, in which businesses or properties in the debtor country are purchased at a discount by the banks as partial repayment; debt-for-debt swaps, where bonds are offered as discounted repayments; exit bonds, which are long-term bonds tendered essentially as take-it-or-leave-it offers to creditors who have no interest in investing any further and wish to cut their losses; or cash buy-backs, where the debtor country simply buys back its loan at a deep discount. Some of these proposals, notably the debt-for-nature swaps, where the debtor country promises to protect the environment in return for purchases of the debt by outside groups, are creative and could have important effects. This array of proposals is referred to as a menu approach to debt repayment, and its logic is superficially sound. It was the logic of the plan offered by Secretary of the Treasury James Baker in 1985. By providing a number of different options, repayments can be tailored to the specific circumstances of a country, thereby easing the burden. Critical to the success of the menu approach is the assumption that countries will grow out of their debt. Yet, the evidence suggests that this assumption is not entirely sound. This approach further assumes the repayment of debts on terms that are essentially dictated by the creditors. No lender is obligated to accept any one of these possibilities. Moreover, the opportunities for swaps and buy backs are limited: there are, after all, a relatively small number of investment opportunities in poorer countries, and the debt crisis itself has further limited those possibilities. Finally, some of these swaps can actually increase the drain on the capital of a country, particularly if profit remittances on successful investments turn out to be very high. The final proposals have to do with debt reduction, and these only became a real possibility in the spring of 1989 with the announcement of a new plan, dubbed the Brady Plan, after U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Nicholas Brady. The plan originally called for a total reduction of about 20 percent of global debt, with the IMF and the World Bank offering guarantees for the repayment of the other 80 percent of the debt.Since 1989, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, and Venezuela have reached agreements concerning their debts under the auspices of the Brady proposal. This approach recognizes that many of the menu approaches were, in fact, schemes for debt reduction on a case-by-case basis. This formal recognition of the need for systematic debt reduction is a hopeful sign, but the plan clearly does not go far enough. In market terms, developing-country debt is already selling on the secondary market at about thirty-five cents to the dollar. In other words, debt reduction has already occurred in the marketplace, and any plan that incorporates reductions must take this into account. There are some serious problems with debt reduction. Debt reduction could reduce the incentive for debtor nations to make economic changes that could lead to greater efficiency. Or, it could set a precedent that would have the effect of reducing, or even eliminating, the possibility for any future bank lending for economic development projects. Finally, debt reduction could have the effect of saddling public lending agencies, like the World Bank, with enormous burdens, thereby vitiating their future effectiveness. These concerns are genuine. Counterposed to these possibilities, however, is the stark reality of hundreds of millions of people living in desperate conditions with no hope of relief in the near- or medium-term future. Any plan for easing the debt burden, therefore, must try to incorporate a number of legitimate, but competing, concerns of varying importance. First, the repayment of the debt itself has ceased to be the central concern. Private banks obviously have an interest in the repayment of the debt and, to the extent possible, these interests must be accommodated. But the security of the international banking system is no longer at risk, and that, as a legitimate public concern, can no longer dictate possible necessary actions. The central concerns now are the reestablishment of economic growth in the heavily indebted countries, the effective and meaningful distribution of that growth into all sectors of their societies, and their reintegration into the international economic system. Only after sustained economic growth returns to the heavily indebted countries can the international community even begin to determine manageable rates and methods of debt repayment. Second, the International Monetary Fund must fundamentally reassess its policies. Programs of structural adjustment may be appropriate for the original purpose of the IMF-to assist nations having temporary difficulties in maintaining currency values because of transient balance-of-payments difficulties. But these programs are profoundly counterproductive in current circumstances and, indeed, are guided by a wildly inappropriate perspective. The inflows of capital to the IMF from the heavily indebted countries were more than a gross embarrassment; they were conclusive evidence of the IMFs misunderstanding of the causes of the debt crisis. The IMF should shift its perspective to more creative or appropriate ways of stabilizing or depressing interest rates rather than raising them, or ways to prevent capital flight from developing countries, or any number of issues that concern the specific conditions of economic growth. The mechanical application of a model of economic growth is wrongh eaded. Third, the resolution of the debt crisis depends upon a clear recognition that much of the debt, as formally constituted, will not, because it cannot, be repaid. Some countries, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa, ought not to repay their debts. Other countries, particularly the heavily indebted ones, can pay something on their debts, and perhaps the appropriate percentage is about half. Viewed in this light, the real question becomes one of allocating the costs of this nonpayment of debts. The current emphasis of forcing the poor to pay with broken lives and broken spirits is demeaning to both rich and poor, and ill-serves the long-term interests of rich as well as poor. Finally, there are genuine issues of responsibility that deserve to be made explicit. The debt crisis is only a symptom of an international economic system that tolerates growing and abysmal poverty as a normal condition. This need not, and should not, be the case. The developed countries have a responsibility to create conditions whereby the poorer countries can interact more productively in international economic activities: their single most important contribution to this end might be in the area of reducing trade restrictions on the products of poorer countries. Similarly, the developing countries have a responsibility to see that money is more effectively utilized within their own borders. The obscene personal profits accumulated by such leaders as Marcos of the Philippines and Mobutu of Zaire should not be fostered by the strategic interests of other countries. The banks should also face up to the fact that their single-minded pursuit of profits almost led them to the brink of bankruptcy. The lesson to be learned from this experience is that for economic growth to be sustained, close attention must be paid to the mutual interests of all parties involved. [1]Ferraro, V and Rosser, M (1994) , World Security: Challenges for a New Century, (New York: St. Martins Press)

Personal Development Plan in Childcare

Personal Development Plan in Childcare Over the four years I have been working at various different settings as a student volunteer which include the following Private Day Cares, Primary Schools and Nursery Schools. Studying Early Childhood has given me, amongst other things, a broad knowledge of child development. It has given me an opportunity to reflect upon my own learning styles and professionalism and explore legislation, theories and research materials. I have devised a Skills Audit (See Appendix One) where I have chosen categories (taken and adapted from the UCLAN Employability Framework) to assess and grade myself against which I will be evaluating my strengths and weaknesses against the competencies. Leadership Ability Shows ability to innovate and shows initiative however lacks confidence to motivate other and shows some evidence of leadership. (See Appendix 1) Leadership is about vision and influence therefore Rodd (1998) says that Leaders are able to balance the concern for work, task, quality and productivity with concern for people, relationships, satisfaction and morale. (Isle-Buck.E: 2003). Although I am not a leader but a student volunteer I believe that this is my weakness as I havent been able to establish leading other colleagues and promoting their development and taking their views into account. However I could say that I am a leader for children as I provide for them, allow them to take part in decisions and take into account their views and needs for them to develop their knowledge and understanding further in a fun experience. Organisation Planning and Prioritising Abilities Capable of managing time effectively; demonstrates self motivation/self management, showing some level of increased confidence in planning and carrying out arrange of tasks. (See Appendix 1) Time Management could be described as Getting the most benefit from time, using it wisely and efficiently (Day, 1999). This could include avoiding wasting time on tasks that are unnecessary. However managing my time successfully ensures that I leave myself time to alter or make improvements on assignments as necessary without causing me too much concern or missing a deadline. Being able to organise myself and my priorities it enables me to approach each day in a positive manner and at ease. On the other hand I could say that a weakness of mine is planning at the moment as I have been working in a Year 1 class with the National Curriculum (NC) and have now moved down to a Reception class where the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is used. The EYFS is used differently to the NC when planning so it will take me some time to get used to this procedure taking into account this could be a goal for me to achieve. Communication and Interpersonal Skills Always clear and accurate, high standard of presentational skills. Is able to communicate with people ant all levels and shows confidence in how they communicate to meet others views. (See Appendix 1) Communication skills are important and the way you communicate with others too. Parents and other colleagues find it easy to approach me as I have developed a good understanding with them. As mentioned in Sadek, E, (2009: 72), If the people whom you are communicating usually experience their transactions with you as positive, affirming to their self-esteem and productive for them personally, they will usually come back for some more. Being bilingual helps the setting that I am volunteering in at the moment. This is entirely due to the fact as children from Asian backgrounds that attend the school out of which some children and parents have English as an Additional Language. For example if children are struggling to understand what the teacher is saying to them in English, the teacher as ks me to translate to the child in their home language (Urdu/Punjabi). This then enables the child have a clear understanding of what the teacher is expecting or wants them to do. Therefore over the years my self esteem/ motivation and confidence have built up and I enjoy what I do during my days at the school enabling me to provide stimulating activities for them to enjoy and learn. Miller.L, (2005: 28), states that Communication within early years settings is fundamental and as Rodd (1998) suggests: Working in an early years setting, whether it is large or small, involves many interactions between adults and other adults and between adults and children. Team Working Abilities Reasonable evidence of working as part of a team and shows evidence of interacting and begins to contribute ideas or concerns with other team members. (See Appendix 1) Whalley, M (1994: 171) Reminds us that working as a team is a process not a technique, while Rodd (1998: 116) states that teamwork relies on open communication, democratic organization and effective problem-solving skills. (Dryden.L: 2005). I have worked within teams and sometimes find it at ease to interact and sometimes I lack confidence in contributing when in large groups as I feel I might be saying a comment or contributing unnecessary ideas. However this is something that I could develop upon. I occasionally share concerns with the staff if they are necessary regarding parents or children. Reflection Shows significant ability to evaluate and identify key learning of self and others. Shows clear understanding and knowledge of how to use and aid reflection within learning. (See Appendix 1) The work of David Kolb studies the way in which people learn and looks in particular at experiential learning. Experiential learning describes the cyclical pattern of learning from experience through reflection and conceptualising to action, and back to experiencing once again (Wallace, 2001). Relating this to my own learning, I experience on a day-to-day basis the challenges and joy of working with children. I then reflect on the things I have learnt and how they correspond with my studies and the theories. By reflecting on my learning styles and the way in which I approach my work, I have been able to improve my techniques to ensure I am making the most of my time and energy. However reflecting on my learning with other team members has been beneficial too as it has supported me to change or de velop my learning further. As stated in MacLeod Brundell. I, et al, (2008), Pollard and Tann (in Fisher, 2001:199) suggest that reflective practice, professional learning and personal fulfilment are enhanced through collaboration and dialogue with colleagues. Problem Solving Occasional critical thinking and decision-making skills with some interpretation of major factors and understanding choices. Some evidence of testing different options and implementing the chosen solution. (See Appendix 1) Being able to think critically takes time and practice to master. Brookfield has described critical thinking As a useful and positive activity. The word critical often suggests finding fault. However, critical thinking can examine an idea or concept by looking at the positive as well as negative aspects (Day, 1999). For example, during my working day I am able to reflect upon and evaluate current activities that I have done. Likewise in my studies, I am able to look at pieces of researches or articles that have been produced by different authors and occasionally be able to analyse and reflect upon them but I feel that I am lacking some confidence in critical thinking as sometimes I describe rather than analysing the texts. However I am able to reflect on them by gi ving my views and opinions as well as making links to other articles and/or theorists. Continuous Professional Development I recently started working part time in the summer holidays at a Childrens Play Scheme Centre as a Mobile Team Worker. My role was to go to various settings and provide fun activities for children aged 5 12 to enjoy in their holidays. Before attending work I was offered to go on training courses alongside other new colleagues which included First Aid Training and Safeguarding Children. Whilst on the Safeguarding Training the information that was being told was already fresh in my mind as I had completed a module on Safeguarding Children. Within the module we discussed relevant and up to date legislations as well as how to proceed and take action on how to deal with children and families where abuse is identified. However this training course was not beneficial for me I think as I knew the relevant information already bearing in mind that it was a beginners course to Safeguarding. First aid training was a period over two days where I and other colleagues joined in discussions and practical activities. I enjoyed this training session and found it a valuable asset to learn. It showed me how to proceed when in difficult situations such as a baby not breathing, cuts and scabs, bleeding and vomiting etc. I learnt what procedures to follow to get a result and if the situation was not able to be dealt with how to deal with the situation then too. We worked as a team to assess different situations and cases, I thought this was good as each team member would get to talk to each other and communicate effectively and help each other if one wasnt sure how to proceed. Overall the First Aid training session for me was a worthwhile session that I had been too. Critical Analysis of Professional Development What is professional identity? It can be described as the relationships between social structures and individual agency between notions of a socially constructed and therefore contingent and ever-remade self, with dispositions attitudes and behavioural responses, which are durable and relatively stable between cognitive and emotional identities (Day et al, 2006:601) Since the launch of the Every Child Matters (ECM) document in 2003 regarding the Victoria Climbie Enquiry and the succeeding of Childrens Act 2004, it could be argued that childcare services have had a rapid change for everyone involved within this field for example teachers, practitioners, doctors, social workers, health visitors and the police etc. In August 2006 the local government published its response to the national consultation on the future of the childrens workforce. Within this context the governments response was to outline how people working within the early years workforce will provide a major contribution to improving childrens achievements as well as supporting parents and families in giving their children as many possible life chances they can achieve. Every Child Matters: Change for Children has the outcomes that we desire for all the children to achieve their full potential in. This change has gone some way to creating the role of the Early Years Professionals (EY Ps). An EYP will have the qualifications and experience needed to take on a leadership role in a childcare setting, and provide quality care and education for children. (Nursery World:2009). CDWC (2006a: 2) state that EYPs are seen as agents of change dedicated to improving practice in the early years sector. (Nurse: 2007). Alongside ECM, the Government launched a ten year strategy to improve services for children. The Childrens Workforce Development Council (CWDC) was set up in 2005 so that they would support the performance of ECM. The CWDCs role is to join together the way different agencies work together to bring consistency to the way children and young people are listened to and looked after. They state that we are the voice of employers and we make sure their concerns, experiences and views directly influence workforce reform. The CWDC supports people who work with children, young children and their families in the sectors including the early years, social work, social care, the welfare sector and young people. The ECM website quotes: The ten year strategy aims to provide a sustainable framework for high quality integrated early years and childcare services for all children and families (Every Child Matters: 2009). The word sustainable is a vital point here. In order to continue providing good qu ality service, there needs to be a continuous program of training in order to provide settings with professionals for future generations. Sustainability could be described as meeting overheads and provide a quality, accessible and affordable service that is relevant and needed in the community. Although sustainability is important sufficiency also plays a vital role too which can be described as having the means to provide childcare that meets the requirements of the community, showing awareness of the needs of parents who work or are in training. The Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) was first introduced in 2006 a graduate professional. EYPs are highly trained graduate leaders, with up-to-date knowledge and understanding of early years sectors regarding child care and development, as well as having qualifications that are recognised. This enables the EYP to share their high levels of practice and knowledge with other members within the team. This essential role within the early years plays a vital role in supporting childrens well being and development for them to succeed which has become evident within recent years. This has been emphasised a great deal in the Childrens Plan (2007) within the early years sector. Anning and Edwards (2006: 51) describe professional identity in the EYP role as a way of being, seeing and responding, responsively and flexibly maximising the learning potential of every aspect of Early Years practice, particularly in building on the childrens own ideas, preferences and interests (Carr: 2001). The EYPS is the on the same professional level as with teachers who have a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). CWDC (2006) states that it is important to consider that the two qualifications are both professional statuses but are based on different set of skills and knowledge. On the other hand newly qualified teachers (NQTs) are provided with support, personal mentoring, effective career development etc, as well as the opportunity to follow up by Continuous Professional Development (CPD) structure within the school year. They also have the opportunity to work effectively and focus on the highest levels of learning and pedagogy. In contrast EYPs have none of this support available to them at the current time. The pay for the EYPs is minimum as well as no structures or guidelines around conditions of service, support requirements, or ongoing CPD to maintain and build skill-levels. (Aspect: 2008). There are a number of questions which immediately rise from this, as Nurse, (2007) mentions that there is serious debate about the link between the EYPS and QTS, not only because it cuts across many current employees allegiances to particular professions but also it affects the lives of children and families as well as those who will work in the field in the future. Since the launch of the EYPS in 2006, the Government has provided around  £250m in funding through the Transformation Fund. This enabled students to apply for money to fund a degree in Early Childhood Studies. A further  £305m was made available through the Graduate Leader Fund to help transform the early years workforce  and deliver the Ten Year Strategy for Childcare (Every Child Matters: 2008) To gain the EYPS each candidate should be able to demonstrate and achieve 39 standards which will enable them to meet the requirements for EYPS. These standards fall under the following six categories: Knowledge and Understanding, Effective Practice, Relationships with Children, Communication and Working with Partnership with Families and Carers, Team Work and Collaboration and Professional Development. These six categories when working with children from birth to five which the 39 standards fall under are to be achieved by each candidate that chooses to do the EYPS. Most of the standards that are created are an effective way of meeting the requirements to enhance professional development as well as meeting the needs of children and their families. For example in the category Knowledge and Understanding, Standard 1, The principles and content of the Early Years Foundation Stage and how to put them into practice revolves around the practitioners. This standard enables the practitioner to enhance their knowledge of the EYFS and how it is to be used to provide effective provision for the children within their setting. Without the knowledge and understanding of the curriculum practitioners will be unable to provide the up most best for children in their care. Another example can be from the category, Professional Development, S38 Reflect on and evaluate the impact of practice, modifying approaches where necessary and take responsibility for identifying and meeting their professional needs. This enables the practitioner to develop on their weaknesses which will allow them to provide opportunities in development where necessary to enhance their professional development. Taking into account practitioners should note that EYPS is not a qualification but it is a new status which recognises a students knowledge and skills as a practitioner and a professional leader (Moyle: 2007). CWDC (2010) stipulates that the role of the EYPS enables practitioners who are working with children aged birth to five to demonstrate the excellence of their practice and their ability to lead practice. The government proposed that the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS) should be delivered by a skilled early years and childcare workforce, professionally led and with a strengthened qualification and career structure. On the other hand the EYFS also enables to improve on their practice and support their professional development by the recommendations which are stipulated in section 1 of the EYFS Practice Guidance. (DfES, 2007b: 5) This links into the EYP Standard S33, as Nurse (2007: 144) states that this standard stresses the important link between reflection and professional development, the more skilled you become in evaluating the effectiveness of your own practice, the more you will be able to identify opportunities to enhance and develop your own expertise and knowle dge. The EYFS is the curriculum for 0-5 year olds that was introduced in 2008 which took place of the Birth to 3 Matters (2002) and the Foundation Stage (2000) Curriculums. It is a single quality framework to support childrens learning and development. For practitioners and EYPs, the EYFS has presented many challenges, its main effect is to recognise each child for its individuality as well as recognising the childs strength to improve and plan their future continued learning. Therefore the governments aim was to have a graduate EYP in all children centres by 2010 and in every day care setting led by an EYP graduate by 2015 with two graduate EYPs per setting in the disadvantaged areas. The childcare sector has, until recent years, been overshadowed somewhat by formal education. The Government has now recognised the importance of delivering a quality service for children aged Birth to 5 years, delivered by professionals trained and experienced in the field of early years (Whalley:2008). Th is recognition could partly be due to the increasing number of children attending a full-time setting and the emphasis on helping a child reach their full potential early in life. Once the EYP has qualified they can choose to either work in the childrens centre which provides early education which is integrated with health and family support services. By 2010, the government proposed that they will have at least 3,500 centres across the country which will be available and accessible to everyone (Every Child Matters: 2009). However other career paths are available for EYPs to follow than work in Children Centres for example Private Day Cares, Early Years Advisors etc. In conclusion there are no arguments that the EYPS cannot work or indeed it isnt a good idea apart from the lack of low pay and conditions Pugh et al (2010:206) stipulates that the new initiatives that the government have outlined promise a better future for the early years workforce and consequently a better future for children as well. Personal Development Plan Target:  In order to apply for PGCE I need to achieve Science GCSE Grade C or above Short Term Goal:  Arrange to attend classes in the following year 2011. Long Term Goal:  Achieve Science GCSE by 2012. Target:  Complete BA (HONS) Early Childhood Studies Short Term Goal:  Complete formative assignments and receive feedback to develop upon. Long Term Goal:  Complete and pass all summative assignments by summer 2011. Target:  Study and research a wider selection of articles and texts to support my degree work Short Term Goal:  Study and make notes of course books and recommended reading for each module. Download relevant articles and information from the Internet related to my assignments. Long Term Goal:  By 2011 I will be able to judge my success by my improved knowledge and ability to read critically. Target:  Build on my self esteem and confidence. Short Term Goal:  Take sessions on how to build confidence and self esteem by taking counselling. Long Term Goal:  Be able to share and contribute ideas with confidence. Target:  To experience working with children between the ages 0-5 years. Short Term Goal:  Attend nursery sessions to see how staff teaches. I will also be attending training sessions for the Early Years Foundation Stage to increase my knowledge and understanding. Long Term Goal:  By September I will work in a nursery class and work alongside children from 0-5 years and the Early Years Foundation Stage. Target:  To develop an understanding of the concept of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Short Term Goal:  I will attend training sessions for the Early Years Foundation Stage in the summer. Long Term Goal:  By September I will have an understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and will be working alongside it. Target:  To work alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage and develop how to use it for an observation. Short Term Goal:  I will attend training sessions for the Early Years Foundation Stage in the summer to understand the concept of this curriculum. Long Term Goal:  In September I will be able to use the outcomes of the Early Years Foundation Stage to observe and assess set children and this will be able to help me build up their personal profiles. Target:  To work alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and have some training done. Short Term Goal:  By summer 2011 I will have attended some training sessions and have developed skills for the Early Years Foundation Stage so that I can use this curriculum as I am working with under 5s. Long Term Goal:  In September 2012 I will be working with children under 5s using the Early Years Foundation Stage and will be able to adapt to the changes Target:  To work alongside other professionals within the setting. Short Term Goal:  By Easter I will have acknowledged which professionals are working within the setting and understood their role Long Term Goal:  By September 2011 when I work in another class where there are special needs children or other children with specific needs I will be working alongside with them with the child. References Aspect, (June 2008), Early Years Professionals: Making the EYP project a Success Daly, M, Byers, E and Taylor, W, (2004) Early Years Management in Practice, Heinemann Day, C (1999) Developing Teachers: The Challenges of Lifelong Learning, London: Routledge Falmer Day.C, Kington.A, Stobrt.G and Sammons.P, (2006), The Personal and Professional selves of Teachers: Stable and Unstable Identities, British Educational Research Journal, Volume 32, No 4, August. Dryden, L, Forbes, R, Mukherji, P, Pound, L, (2005) Essential Early Years, Hodder Arnold Every Child Matters (March 2008) Graduate Leader Fund further information on purpose and implementation Every Child Matters, Department for Children, Schools and Families, [On-line] http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/deliveringservices/workforcereform/earlyyearsworkforce/ [Accessed 22nd November 2010] Every Child Matters (2009) Early Years and Childcare Every Child Matters: Change for Children [On-line] (Updated 15th February 2009) Available at: http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/earlyyears/ [Accessed 22nd November 2010] Isle-Buck, E and Newstead, S (2003), Excellence in Childcare: Essential Skills for Managers of Child-Centerd Settings, David Fulton Publishers Macleod-Brundell, I and Kay, J, (2008) 2nd Edition, Advanced Early Years Care and Education, Heinemann Miller.L, Cable.C and Deveruex.J, (2005), Developing Early Years Practice, David Fulton Publishers Ltd: London Moyles.J, (2007), Early Years Foundations: Meeting the Challenge, USA: Open University Press Nurse. AD, (2007), The New Early Years Professional: Dilemmas and Debates, Routledge Nursery World (6th March 2009) Nursery Management: Editors View Nursery World, [On-line] Available at: http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/887566/Nursery-Management-Profiletrue-vocation/6 March 2009 [Accessed 22nd November 2010] Pugh.G and Duffy.B, (2010), Contemporary Issues in the Early Years, 5th Edition, London: SAGE Publications Sadek, E and Sadek, J (2009) Nursery Management, 3rd Edition, Nelson Thornes Ltd Wallace, S. (2001) Teaching Supporting Learning in Further Education, Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd Whalley.M, Allen.S Wilson.D, (2008), Leading Practice in Early Years Settings (Achieving EYPS), Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/eyps CWDC (2006) Early Years Professional Status http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/eyps/standards [Accessed 22nd November 2010] http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk [Accessed 20th December 2010] Appendices Appendix One Leadership Ability Organisation Planning and Prioritising Abilities Communication and Interpersonal Skills Example A leader who provides for self and others working alongside them. Communication and decision making skills to involve and take views from colleagues. Time management (punctuality, meeting deadlines), self management and self motivation, interpersonal skills like confidence, awareness of life-long learning and planning for future development. Oral, Written, Visual, PowerPoint and other forms of delivery; communicating academically and professionally choosing forms of delivery, structure and language appropriate to audience; leading discussions and responding to feedback. 1. Poor communication. Inability to consider others views before making decisions and unable to play a positive lead role. Little or no use of evidence of using time effectively, attempting to improve self motivation and self-management or to develop confidence in planning and carrying out a range of tasks. Inadequate no real consideration of audience and has tendency to be in accurate. Shows little or no evidence of communicating effectively with others and has difficulty conveying information in any form. 2. Good communication skills but lacks initiative in playing a lead role as well as the planning and organisation. Occasional evidence of using time effectively; basic self motivation evident with limited development of confidence in planning and carrying out a range of tasks. Staring to show and use good communication skills however lacks confidence in communicating with others and has difficulty presenting to people at all levels. 3. Shows ability to innovate and shows initiative however lacks confidence to motivate other and shows some evidence of leadership. Good attempt at using time effectively, some evidence of self-motivation/self management with some improvement in confidence in planning and carrying out a range of tasks. Reasonable presentation and generally accurate in content rarely has difficulty in making a point starting to show confidence in what they are doing and the way they are communicating with others. 4. Beginning to show confidence in motivating others and providing support for the staff. Shows clear evidence of leadership ability. Capable of managing time effectively; demonstrates self motivation/self management, showing some level of increased confidence in planning and carrying out arrange of tasks. Always clear and accurate, shows high standard of presentational skills. Is able to communicate with people ant all levels and shows confidence in how they communicate to meet others views. 5. A strong leader who shows self motivation and motivates others too considering their views and needs. Is confident in making the right decisions. Manages time highly effectively; demonstrates consistent self motivation and self-management and an increased confidence in planning and carrying out a range of tasks. Shows a strong ability to give a complete and concise account of a situation, either orally or written. Is able to communicate effectively with parents and others in a wise manner and confident.Skills Audit Team-working Abilities Reflection Problem Solving Example Understanding and developing a role in the team and showing its effectiveness by working with, listening and encouraging the development of others which may also include leadership skills, group ideas and resources. Understanding own learning (learning styles, awareness of how one develops and appropriate use of C.I analysis and journals) Recognition that people learn differently and see things from diverse perspectives. Decision-making skills, critical thinking sustained and applied analytical skills, negotiation skills, managing change and risk, testing different strategies and choosing most appropriate solution. 1. Inability to interact within a team and shows little or no evidence of participating within a team by sharing ideas and concerns. Has no evidence of evaluating/identifying of key learning experience of others and self. Lacks the understanding and knowledge of reflection Shows no evidence of critical thinking and decision-making skills with little or no evidence of appreciation of major factors and no evidence of how to handle choices solution implemented without considering alternative options. 2. Shows some evidence of interaction and motivation within a team. Occasionally listening and working with others but lacks confidence in sharing ideas and concerns. Adequate evidence of evaluating/identifying of key learning of self and others. Tends to use reflection as a tool simply with little understanding and knowledge. Acceptable critical thinking and

A Study On Digital Technologies

A Study On Digital Technologies The advent of technology has transformed and changed the mode of our lives in all its aspects. People can learn in distant universities without having to travel there. They can access to various sources of information through the World Wide Web. Unlike the traditional schools where students learning was only restricted to the school context, most schools today provide students with various contexts of learning through the use of digital technologies that facilitate their communication with their friends, teachers and people from other countries. Digital technologies are increasingly used by schools to support learning and enable students to communicate with parents and provide access to school resources from home. Therefore, I believe that digital technologies consolidated the communication channels between the home and the school. This matter is of paramount importance as it increases parental engagement in childrens learning. Consequently, parents can take informed decision regarding the future of their children and can participate with teachers in developing the level lf their children. Parental engagement in the learning process enhances children achievement at school. The ever-increasing needs of individuals and society in the 21st century are constantly placing much pressure on the educational institutions. The traditional teaching methods are no longer capable of satisfying the requirements of our modern era. Therefore, we find that most schools in many nations around the world focus on the digital participations of students as an entitlement for them in the emerging digital media era. This entitlement includes knowledge, skills and understanding that are required to be involved socially, culturally, politically, and economically in everyday life. This paper is meant to elaborate and identify what has been said about the use of the internet or other forms of webs-based learning in schools and indicate how these approaches would be applied in the context in which Im teaching. Participation in Digital Technology:- The terms digital technology and new media are used to refer to a wide range of technologies which store and transmit information in digital form. This includes computers, the internet and e-mail, mobile phones and other mobile devices and cameras, video games and web 2.0 technologies the label commonly applied participatory and interactive media (Hague, Cassie Williamson, Ben, 2009. P.3) . The digitization and computerization of many aspects of our lives places a heavy burden on established educational institutions. Alexey Semenov (2005) believes that life in the new knowledge society demands more independent and responsible behavior and much less routine execution of orders. In order to make responsible decisions in new and unexpected situations, people need to continue to learn throughout life. Therefore, information and communication technology are the most efficient tools for personal growth, creativity and joy, consumption and wealth. Students can learn the use of the internet in finding papers that are relevant to their curriculum. Through summarizing papers on the net and discussing their findings with their peers and teachers, students can feel that they are creative. Moreover, Their communication channels with their teachers, peers and other people are consolidated through the net. ICT prepares students to actively participate in a rapid changing world in whic h business nature and other activities are increasingly transformed due to the employment of the advanced and multiple technologies by using ICT tools to find, explore, analyze and present information in a responsible, creative and distinguished way. Thus, they learn how to employ information and communication technology ICT to get much literature and experiences from myriad individuals, communities and cultures. When their capabilities in using information and communication technologies are increased, initiative and independent learning are consolidated as students become more capable of taking responsible and informed decisions on when and where to use information technology to have the best result and to study the uses of ICT at home and work now and in the future. According to Semenov Alexey, 2005 believes that Adams Douglas 1999 believes that using the computer enables us to combine things together to see how they work by emulating and imitating complex and interrelated processes, even life can be imitated. This is a modern era for discoveries and ICT is its gate . Among the main objectives of the national curriculum of ICT in England for the key stages 1-4 are the following: Information Communication Technology (ICT) provides opportunities to consolidate: Thinking skills through helping pupils to determine relevant information sources, develop ideas and work collaboratively to solve problems. Project and initiative skills through encouraging students to design and implement solutions for real problems. Business related learning through providing students with opportunities to have a wide range of ICT applications. Learning for sustainable development through developing pupils understanding of Information and Communication Technology in practical life, community and environment. Digital Literacy and Schools School Subjects:- Currently schools are striving hard to integrate the development of students subject knowledge with the ability to use technology safely and effectively ((Hague, Cassie Williamson, Ben, 2009. P. 7). Therefore, they focus on digital literacy and digital participation as a key to achieve this integration. Hague, Cassie and Williamson, Ben reported that there is a model which offers a conceptual framework for embedding digital literacy as an aim in the curriculum and for developing strategies to develop it through classroom activities. This model delineates types of processes students need to go through in order to demonstrate digital literacy. Moreover, it is based on the notion that learners investigate questions and problems set by teachers, and that over time they should develop sufficient confidence and competence in the skills, knowledge and understanding of digital literacy to be able to define their own questions for enquiry. The author suggests that digital literacy is an amalgamation of: Knowledge of digital tools: hardware/ software awareness and competence. Critical Skills: evaluation and contextualization. Social awareness: Understanding your identity, collaborating, and communicating to audiences in context. Guidelines for successful implementation:- The internet is not intended as a technology that should be imposed on the educational system. Educators should have at least a fair knowledge of the use and benefits of technology in delivering their message. Internet technology for schools is intended to provide a source of comprehensible, accessible information for educators about using the power of the internet within the K-12 academic environment (Mambretti, Catherine, 1999) . In order to create web-based learning at schools and achieve the maximum benefit of the internet as a promising medium for learning, schools should conduct long-range planning not only of their technology infrastructure but of their curricula and educational technologies and strategies (ibid). Since most communities and organizations believe the importance of technology for education, several corporations have established non-profit organizations to assist schools in their technology projects or have announced plans to make major donations to school technology projects. The ICT shouldnt be a closed or self -contained subject to be taught and learned independently from other subjects. However, according to Semenov Alexey (2005) it should be treated as interdisciplinary, integrative, and cross curricular. Using ICT in teaching and learning will help both teachers and students become more conscious of their capabilities and responsibilities. However, it is of paramount importance to support learning by an immediate application of technology that is meaningful and relevant to students. Children should be taught at an early age the skill touch typing which is basically for communicating between human beings and computers. Microworld-like environments allow children from the age of 3 upwards to learn and use ICT for usual applications (graphics and text-editing) and for modeling the real world and multimedia implementation of virtual realities. Semenov Alexey ( 2005) believes that number of students per computer is a common indicator of ICT development at schools. There is also another quantitative factor which is more relevant: the number of hours a week that computers are available for use. Advantages and disadvantages of using the web for learning:- Web-based learning has many benefits for students. Students can have an easy access to a huge library of training and information whether they are working from home or any other place. It is also easy to track students. As students can complete their training while they are connected to the network, it is easy to track them. Unlike with CD-ROMs that require students to print reports or save scores to disk, WBT enables the data to be automatically tracked on the server-computer . Additionally, in web-based learning, the content can be easily updated. However, there are also some disadvantages and barriers that make it difficult to implement ICT at some schools. The most significant disadvantage is that the content of the internet which includes both safe and unsafe materials. Thus, unsafe materials such as porno movies may represent a threat to the students. There are also some barriers to the implementation of ICT at some schools such as : The cost of ICT hardware, software and maintenance. The often unconscious resistance of many educators to the intrusion of still obscure technological newcomers that threaten to alter drastically long-established and time-honored practices and customs; and The lack of teachers who are trained to exploit ICT proficiently . How ICT could be applied to the context in which Im teaching:- ICT could be applied in my context of teaching through establishing a network for the school and creating a computer lab. Each student shall be assigned a computer. Teachers shall be trained adequately on the use of ICT tools to deliver their message efficiently. Students also shall be trained on the use of the web resources through the guidance of their teachers. They will be encourage to be creative and critical in their thinking by processing all kinds of information and creating a new version of their own. Through answering assignments and receiving feedback on their e-mail, students can feel a sense of independent learning. Thus, they can take a responsible decision and depend upon themselves in searching for information and generating relevant theories. Conclusion:- To conclude, I believe that the advent of technology make it inevitable to apply ICT at all schools to create universal students who care for sustainable learning and global development. In other words, ICT should be properly implemented as it qualifies students for the increasing and fast changing requirements of the outside world. Schools shouldnt be isolated from the outside world. However, it should be a mirror for the outside world. All the conflicts and changes in the outside world should be analyzed at the school to connect students with their home and community. ICT represent an excellent communication channel between the school, home and the community as a whole. Moreover, it encourages students to be creative and independent learners. The use of ICT limits the role of the teacher to an outside observer and a guide for students. They will learn what they want to learn by themselves. Although ICT is still facing some obstacles represented by the expensive tools and equipments, its a necessity for all schools to adapt with the changing requirements and changes of our age. References:- Hague, Cassie Williamson, Ben, Digital Participation, Digital Literacy, and School Subjects ( A review of the Policies, literature and evidence, August 2009 www.futurelab.org.uk/projects/digital-participation. Semenov Alexey, Information and Communication Technologies in Schools, a hand book for teachers, Unisco 2005. ICT, National Curriculum For England, Key Stages 1-4, Crown House Publishing 1999. www.qca.org.uk/nc/ http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/art1_9.htm Mambretti, Catherine, Internet Technology for Schools, McFarland Company, North Carolina, 1999.

It Pays to Be Bilingual :: Argumentative Essay

It Pays to Be Bilingual Hoy en dà ­a es casi necesario ser bilingue si se desea tener à ©xito. Desde California a Washington, de Pensilvania a Florida, uno puede oà ­r muchas personas hablando espaà ±ol. Los Latinos como una gran parte de la sociedad ya no es una cosa del pasado, pero una realidad. Los Hispano Parlantes no se centralizan solamente en las ciudades mà ¡s grandes de Estados Unidos, sino en los pueblos pequeà ±os tambià ©n. Con una mirada de la poblacià ³n total en los Estados Unidos, unos trabajos tà ­picos y el estudio afuera, se puede ver que ser bilingue, especialmente con inglà ©s y espaà ±ol es un recurso con mucho valor. Spanish can be heard clear across the United States because Latin Americans are no longer living only in large cities, but in small towns as well. If you can read and understand this, you are at a great advantage in today’s job market. If you can’t, pay close attention to the reasons you should consider learning Spanish, and allow me to translate my thesis statement for you. By observing the population at large in the United States, some of the typical jobs and study abroad, one can see that being bilingual, especially with English and Spanish is a very marketable resource. By observing the population at large in the United States, one can see that "Caucasian" is not the only ethnic background being represented. In fact, "the United States is the fourth largest Spanish-speaking country in the world" (Olivares). In the past twenty years there has been an increase in the number of Spanish speakers needed in the US. "In 2000, 32.8 million Latinos resided in the United States, representing 12.0 percent of the total U.S. population" (Therrien et al.). As the Hispanic population grows we need to do our part by learning the second language of the US. By taking a look at journals and newspapers, one can see that Spanish is slowly and surely working its way in as a part of the culture. Companies are trying to foster an interest in Spanish among the native English speakers and to communicate to those Spanish-speakers who can’t understand English. The companies are evaluating the language situation of the population at large to decide how to go about speaki ng to everyone. For instance, the most recent ""Got Milk" advertisement features Marc Anthony, a Latin singer and artist. He has gained popularity not only in the Latin Market, but popularity here as well, after having released one of his discs in English.

Scouts Maturation through the Evil in the World Essay -- English Liter

Scouts Maturation through the Evil in the World Harper Lees, To Kill a Mockingbird is a very complex novel that has many plots and many evils. Lee tells of an innocent black man accused of rape by a detestable family. She also tells of a man locked up in his house and isolated from the rest of the world. The narrator, Scout, learns about this turpitude, and this ultimately leads to her maturation throughout the story. The three main heinous acts are the way Tom Robinson is treated, the way Boo Radley is isolated from the rest of the world, and the way Bob Ewell commits the unspeakable. One of the main evils in the story is the way Tom Robinson is accused and convicted of rape. At the start of the book Scout calls those who are black, ''niggers''. This demonstrates that at the start of the book Scout did not consider black people to be as good as white people. Instead, she listened to everything that the town said about black people. This quote shows that Scout was still rather immature and had a lot of growing to do. When the jury walks in from Tom"s trial, Scout says to herself, 'I saw something only a lawyer"s child could be expected to see, could be expected to watch for, and it was like watching Atticus walk into the street, raise a shoulder, and pull the trigger but watching all the time knowing the gun was empty'"' (pg. 211). Scout is finally beginning to feel some compassion for Tom Robinson, a black person, after learning of the evil that has been done to him. She is able to realize that Tom Robinson is going to found guilty and feels horrible about it inside.''Naw, Jem, I think there"s just one kind of folks. Folks (pg. 227).' Towards the very end of the book, Scout has finally matured enough ... ...used for his death. Bob he is the one who ruined Tom"s life and ultimately killed him. Tom was just an innocent person, a mockingbird, who was accused and convicted, of a crime that he most certainly did not commit. This quote of Scout"s was so profound, and it was so amazing that she would understand the concept of a '"'mockingbird'"' at such a young age. Therefore, it is clear that Scout has developed quite a bit since the beginning of the story. Towards the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, it was clear that Scout still had a lot of maturing to do, but throughout the story, she matured quite a bit. The main factor that led to her growing up was learning of all of the corruption in Maycomb. Even though this evil was obviously not good for people such as Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, Scout would not have grown nearly as much in three years without it.

Blockbuster Declares Bankruptcy

Blockbuster Declares Bankruptcy Yvonne Dedmore MGT 435 – Organizational Change Robert Hamamoto September 19, 2011 Shortly before their 25th anniversary, Blockbuster files for bankruptcy protection with a Chapter 11 petition. The failing company couldn’t compete in today’s market against Netflix, Redbox, Apple, and other internet-based businesses that provided mail-order rentals or digital streaming. Their business model needed to be revamped to stay competitive. This paper will take a look at where the problem was, the measures taken to correct the problem, and how Blockbuster can come back and be competitive. Blockbuster, Inc. started business in 1985 in Dallas, Texas by David Cook. The company rented video cassettes, and later DVDs and video games, to customers for viewing at home. Mr. Cook was a computer programmer and used this to his advantage. While other video stores had no idea what they had still in stock, Mr. Cook had reports that showed him which movies were being rented most so he could optimize the video selection. He also wanted a family environment and had a no-porn policy. (Gandel, 2010). In 1987, Wayne Huizenga bought the business from Mr. Cook, and the company went into an expansion mode, opening stores nationwide and eventually overseas by the mid 1990s. (History. com, n. d. ). Mr. Huizenga knew that one day technology was going to put them out of business. He hired consultants to help work on a creative plan on different ways to deliver movies. The consultants even went as far as recommending Mr. Huizenga buy a cable company. Instead of doing that, Mr. Huizenga sold the company to Viacom in 1994 and got out of the business while the company was still worth something. (Gandel, 2010). Under Viacom, the company was losing money. They brought in different CEOs and tried once again to focus on movie rentals. (Gandel, 2010). That helped and currently, Blockbuster has over 3,500 stores and over 25,000 employees. These stores are considered â€Å"brick and mortar†. They are physical buildings that franchise owners must buy or rent, stock with supplies, and hire people to work and run the stores. There are overhead costs that internet-based businesses don’t have. This is one reason why Blockbuster has been losing money these past few years. Blockbuster was the leader in video rentals for over 15 years. That was the thing to do; go to the movie store, rent a movie, pop popcorn, and enjoy a good movie from home. Unfortunately, Blockbuster didn’t keep up with technology and didn’t take the competition seriously enough and soon enough to change. When change happens in an organization, managers need to develop strategies that benefit the entire organization. The effects of organizational development are to improve the organization’s ability to handle its internal and external relationships. Organizational development is intended to change the beliefs, attitudes, values, and structure of an organization. Blockbuster needed to concentrate not only on its customers, but also on their competition. Instead they ignored both and kept everything status quo. Instead of changing their strategy before the competition got their foot in the door, Blockbuster sat on the sidelines. Management said the business models were different and that Blockbuster could co-exist with the other companies. (Carr, 2010). Blockbuster was just too slow to embrace change and flow with today’s environment that consisted of convenience and digital delivery. People try to cram too much into their days. The convenience of having movies, television shows that got missed because of soccer practice or a late meeting, and even video games at your fingertips is too appealing. People today just don’t want to drive to the video store after working all day, driving the kids to activities, doing homework, making dinner, and cleaning up. They want the movie or television show to be just a click away. With the busy schedules, they don’t want to forget to drop the movie back off at the store and have to deal with late fees. If Blockbuster had stayed up on trends and realized what was happening with technology, they may have been able to keep the customers that were lost and also gain new ones. Instead someone else took advantage of this and stole business right out of the video giant’s hands. Netflix became the biggest competitor to Blockbuster, even though Blockbuster didn’t seem to notice. Netflix created a video rental mail-order service through their website. This was a monthly subscription service that allowed customers to receive a movie in the mail, watch it at their leisure, and return it when they were finished; all with no late fees. When the movie was received back to the Netflix warehouse, a new movie was sent from the customer’s favorites list. The customer only had to go as far as the mailbox to receive and return a movie. Netflix also initiated the streaming video and television shows through the internet to your television, computer, or gaming system. The selection wasn’t as big as the actual DVD mail-order system, but it was faster and more convenient for some customers who â€Å"wanted it now†. This was all offered to the customer in a low monthly fee. Some subscription services even allowed for unlimited rentals per month. Another competitor, in the form of kiosks, offered movies for $1. 00 a night, and these kiosks were conveniently located in grocery and drug stores. Pick a movie and drop it off the next time you were shopping. No late fees or membership necessary. Why not rent a movie after you checked out from the grocery store with dinner already in the cart? What a great way to save time, money, and spend quality time at home with the family. Redbox, backed by Coinstar, is the main competitor of movie rental kiosks. They have over 24,000 conveniently located kiosks. Redbox not only is in grocery stores and drug stores, but expanded into fast-food restaurants. (Newman, 2010). Due to these new technology inventions, Blockbuster stores were seeing less foot traffic at the brick and mortar stores. People were looking for convenience while trying to save money in today’s economy. This should have been a clear sign for Blockbuster’s management to make a change. Blockbuster did downsize by closing some of the existing brick and mortar stores, but continued to do business as usual. They needed to conduct an organizational diagnosis to find out not only what needed to be changed, but also why. The diagnosis is a chance for management to strategize where the company is now, what the skills set is, and where do they see the company going in the future. It consists of data collection which may include questionnaires, interviews and observations. (Spector, 2010). These shifts in external realities usually need a new pattern of behavior which Blockbuster didn’t seem to possess. It appeared as if the CEOs didn’t want to change their strategy or they really didn’t notice what was happening in the world of technology. It’s hard to say at this point. Blockbuster’s management needed to focus on a strategic renewal which would alter the current strategy with the intent of gaining an advantage over the competition. (Spector, 2010). It took Blockbuster over six years to enter the mail-order movie rental business. With the financial support and connections Blockbuster had, it shouldn’t have taken them that long. By the time Blockbuster entered into the â€Å"streaming† environment, Netflix already had over three million customers. (Gandel, 2010). Could Blockbuster’s big name compete with that? It depends on how they structure their business model. Blockbusters business model appeared too narrow – video rental. They left the door wide open for competitors to come in and create a new market. Blockbuster held on too long to their retail strategy even though trends were showing that consumers were not following. Netflix had a slow start, but no one was competing with them. It took Netflix a little time to work out some of the kinks, but Blockbuster wasn’t there to challenge them. (Newman, 2010). In the author’s viewpoint, Blockbuster almost set themselves up for failure by not taking advantage of changing their business model to keep up with technology. In this company analysis, it wasn’t a matter of employees resisting a change because management wasn’t proposing a change. Sometimes companies struggle to implement a cultural change only to meet resistance from employees. Usually the resistance happens for a few reasons; forcing the change from the top down, not communicating with employees, and not offering essential training for the change, to name a few. This wasn’t the case with Blockbuster. They needed an organizational redesign to respond to the changing environment of technology. Behind the scenes this may have been happening, but it never materialized into a functioning strategic plan. Blockbuster had bombarded their customers with late fees, tried to go in the direction of mail-order rental service (Blockbuster Total Access), and even put up kiosks. Unfortunately, they got into the game a little too late. The competition already had a handle on the market and customers were easing into the convenience of online streaming, kiosks at the grocery store, and mail-order delivery. There wasn’t the need to drive down to the corner video store to look through the new releases or older movies. Also, they could view online reviews instead of relying on the opinions of one Blockbuster employee. Blockbuster was sinking and the company wasn’t able to tread water fast enough to keep them afloat. The losses were huge every year and the amount of money they had invested into failed operations was getting them nowhere. The inevitable was happening. In September 2010, Blockbuster filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. The goal was to reorganize the company instead of liquidating assets. That is a good strategy if you can implement a good business model to be and stay competitive. It has been speculated that after bankruptcy, the company will look much different. Hopefully, because their debt will be reduced and a new business model will be put into place, Blockbuster will be able to start over. In April 2011, Dish Network won the auction that bought most of Blockbuster assets out of bankruptcy. It paid an estimated $320 million and the goal is to compete directly with Netflix’s streaming features. With Blockbusters name in Hollywood, Dish feels that they will be able to offer better, quality service to its customers over Netflix. Dish is negotiating with Starz movie channels to provide a great line-up of movies to its customers. (Sherman, 2011). Another option that is coming out of this reorganization is continuing with the Blockbuster Total Access mail-order program. One perk that makes them different from Netflix is the option to take the disc back to a physical store for an exchange rather than wait on the postal service. (Falcone, 2011). This may appeal to some customers who want a membership or subscription-based fee structure, but also want the gratification of watching movies on their own schedule and not having to wait for a new one to come in the mail. The plan is to downsize the number of physical stores still open which would result in a number of layoffs. At this time, some 3,000 stores will continue to stay open until a plan can be implemented. Blockbuster has already closed approximately 1,000 stores over the last couple of years. (Anderson, 2011). The closing of additional stores will be more in line with the changing environment. To save some of the existing brick and mortar stores, Blockbuster should consider a different environment that would appeal to a wider range of customers. Some ideas of this could include the following: 1. Create a relaxed environment similar to Starbucks. Customers can come in and look for videos online while having a cup of coffee, tea, or a snack. There could be a living room type environment that is cozy and comfortable with couches, coffee tables, and table lamps. They should also have access to movie, game, and music reviews to help with their selection. 2. Provide Blockbuster kiosks in a wider range of locations. Compete with Redbox and Netflix on a wider level. Blockbuster’s name allows them to obtain new releases faster than Netflix and Redbox. Blockbuster can use this to their advantage at these strategically placed kiosks. 3. Know the demographics in the area. Some areas of towns are more able to afford internet and subscription fees. Maybe it’s time to shut down the brick and mortar stores and cut its losses in those areas. Concentrate on areas that may not have access to internet or can’t afford monthly fees. These areas of town may rely on physical stores and closing those locations would be a bad business move. 4. If the physical store is going to stay open, cut down on the size. If the owner owns the building, think of creative ways to fill the other area that would complement the Blockbuster store. Make it more appealing for customers to actually visit the video store rather than sit at home streaming the same movie. Make it an experience for the customer. If the owner leases, consider modifying the lease or look into subleasing the extra area. 5. Look into changing CEO or upper management. Dish Network needs to ask why management let technology get so far away from them, and how did they miss out on the opportunity to keep their existing customers and provide more for them. Was management so afraid of technology that they didn’t pursue it even though they were watching the losses year after year? Unless Dish Network creates a niche that Netflix, Redbox, and the other internet-based businesses can’t compete with, the purchase of Blockbuster may have been for nothing. The Blockbuster name and their Hollywood connections will help, but Dish Network needs to get moving fast on a strategic plan. The more time that goes by without having streaming capabilities and quality service under the Blockbuster name, more customers will stay with or revert to one of the other services. For Blockbuster to make a comeback they will need to invest in marketing campaigns, technologies to keep pace with competition, and a plan to stay competitive. This time Blockbuster can’t afford to enter a market and not keep up with the environment. Management needs to constantly watch trends and stay up on technology. They should be flexible and creative in this ever-changing world. Just because a business model was successful doesn’t mean it will always be successful. Blockbuster learned this the hard way. REFERENCES Anderson, M. (2010, September 23). Blockbuster files for bankruptcy. Debt, changing media habits topple Blockbuster. Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved from http://finance. yahoo. com/news/ Debt-changing-media-habits-apf-1049608580. html? x=0. Carr, A. (2010, August 27). Blockbusted: A Netflix Knock-Out, Bad Metaphors on the Path to the Movie Monster's Bankruptcy. Fast Company. Retrieved from http://www. fastcompany. com/1685375/blockbuster-plans-for-bankruptcy-a-look-at-ceo-jim-keyes-best-denials. Falcone, J. P. (2011, September 2). Netflix vs. Blockbuster: What’s the Best Service for Streaming and DVDs? Cnet News. Retrieved from http://news. cnet. com/8301-17938_105-20093587-1/netflix-vs-blockbuster-whats-the-best-service-for-streaming-and-dvds. Gandel, S. (2010, October 17). How Blockbuster Failed at Failing. Time Magazine Business. Retrieved from http://www. time. com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2022624-1,00. html. History. com. Oct 19, 1985: First Blockbuster store opens. (n. d. ). This Day in History. Retrieved September 16, 2011, from A;E Television Networks website: http://www. history. com/ this-day-in-history/first-blockbuster-store-opens. Newman, R. (2010, September 23). How Netflix (and Blockbuster) killed Blockbuster. U. S. News ; World Report, Money. Retrieved from http://money. usnews. com/money/blogs/ flowchart/2010/09/23/how-netflix-and-blockbuster-killed-blockbuster. Sherman, A. (2011, September 2). Dish Said to Stream Blockbuster Films to Challenge Netflix. Bloomberg. Retrieved from http://www. bloomberg. com/news/2011-09-02/dish-said-to-plan-blockbuster-rival-to-netflix. html Spector, B. (2010). Implementing Organizational Change:   Theory Into Practice  (2nd ed. ). Upper Saddle River: NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.