Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Antwone Fisher Essay

Antwone Fisher is a young man with anger and temperament issues associated with childhood interpretation of physical and emotional abuse caused by the authoritarian figures of his family. Self-image and true self have been challenged, but the Navy as various events trigger tragic memories from the past. A psychiatrist played by Denzel Washington accepts the challenge to assist human development through various methods and intervention techniques. Furthermore, intervention helps to remove the layers of negative emotion and can be accomplished if the right counselor assists with proper intervention techniques. Carl Rogers theorized the importance of looking at â€Å"self†. He drew a distinction between the self perception and the perception of the â€Å"Ideal-self. There are organized patterns associated with the established one self or the many selves. The â€Å"phenomenal field of the individual includes both unconscious and conscious perceptions, including those of which an individual is aware and is not aware (Pervin p. 172). Focus is on providing avenues to consciousness, as the means to a healthy functional individual. Antwone’s self-image is buried in painful memories and unchecked past emotional events. Rogerian Theory seems to be based in self image. It provides a basis for understanding, evaluating, and providing the appropriate intervention. Gordon Allport’sTheory Rationale Functional Autonomy derives from the notion of healthy and well-organized aspects of human behavior. Traits are the basis of and most important aspect of personality, and they are seated in the nervous system. They represent generalized personality dispositions that account for regularities in the functioning of a person across situations and over time (Pervin p. 32). Antwone’s predictable pattern of behavior becomes traits controlled by his changing emotional state. When a memory challenges the nervous system, he makes irrational emotional unhealthy decisions. Allport’s theory application may reveal more options to understanding the root cause of aggressiveness and angry outbursts. Character Description Antwone Fisher was born in an Ohio prison (his mother was an inmate; his father was shot dead before his birth) and grew up in an abusive foster home in Cleveland. Beaten and often kept tied in the basement, Fisher ran away when he was seventeen and had to face life on the streets. Antwone joined the Navy only to find he was fighting to save himself from insult and to help preserve his pride. Antwone progressively becomes a healthy young man after a psychiatrist helps remove layers of anger and pain based memories. Character Analysis Structure- Antwone Fisher’s character is wrapped up in pressure associated with memories of a mother in prison, a father killed by his girlfriend, abandonment, and physical, emotional, and sexual maltreatment. He was placed in a foster home with his half-brothers. The pastor beat the light-skinned boy for having too much pride. Mrs. Tate tied Antwone’s hands behind his back and beat him unconscious and threatened to burn him with an open fire. She would create division between them while using skin color and the degrading terms. Antwone was the middle child. In the Navy, Antwone was a loner. He constantly went inside to find answers to his past. His treatment as a child stemmed from slave-based disciplinary practiced by Mrs. Tate. His character begins to be formed according to the daily exposure to verbal and mental lashings from her. His self-worth in her eyes amounts to nothing. His submissive behavior is degrading and subservient. He is chastised every step of his childhood into his teen years until he finally puts an end to the beating. There is no reward for good behavior. He even pokes fun at Dr. Davenport (Played by Denzel Washington) while making a mockery of his intervention suggestions. Denzel again reverts to memories from his past and the feelings associated with self-perception. Confusion after making an attempt to straighten-up drives him away from seeking more attention from the psychiatrist. He just wants to be a good shipman, but continues to find a problem with anger. Process He has to find himself before he can find his ideal-self. He realizes through the help of Dr. Davenport that he can change. He tries to find a trust based relationship to compare thoughts and feelings to his own. Establishing relationships may be difficult when internal issues have not been resolved; He wants to impress his woman friend but cannot find the words to begin a caring relationship. Denzel role plays away some of the perceived self-critical behavior to instill confidence. There is a growing consensus about the relationship between personality traits and emotional states, biological theorists of adult personality are exchanging ideas with theorists of childhood temperament, and long-term studies of personality development across the life span are delivering on the promises made many years ago William Revelle; Annual Review of Psychology, Vol. 46, 1995, p. 1). Antwone finds incongruence between his perceived self image and his true self image. Dealing with emotional baggage and the inexperience of having the ability to build and maintain a lasting relationship can distort feelings and create confusion. Growth and Development Growth continues during the date with Cheryl as she points out things about his appearance that she finds attractive. His character develops as he shares himself in a way never before experienced. His self-worth grows as he overcomes fear to be â€Å"himself† as he lowers defenses and builds a relationship. He also looks to his psychiatrist the same night for validation and confirmation as he shares his first kiss experience. This appears to be the first time that lowering defenses and trusting his feelings creates a self-worth like never before. Personality theories attempt to account for individual behavior. The scope of such theories is vast. (Revelle, p. 1). Antwone is trying to be nice, but finds it difficult when provoked to anger. Dr. Davenport employs empathy as a way to meet Antwone where before moving quickly ahead. Affective level understanding creates an environment of trust and deeper understanding. Any attempt to withhold judgment and establish rapport assists greatly in growth rate and early development. In sensing the private world of a client, the counselor or therapist attempts to convey an empathic understanding of the person’s experiencing. Through a sensitive attunement, an individual is able to empathically sense his or her own subjective internal state. In an immediate context, a person’s reactions assume the form of hunches and a flow of inner feelings. In this mode, experiencing includes such reactions as love, hate, enjoyment, boredom, sensing, and perceiving. As a basic way of knowing, experiencing subjective responses is fundamental to everyday life. Empathy: Implications of Three Ways of Knowing in Counseling Journal article by Arthur J. Clark; Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, Vol. 43, 2004, p. 1). Carl Rogers (1964) described 3 ways of knowing with reference to empathic understanding: subjective, interpersonal, and objective. Dr. Davenport questions Antwone about his family life after he was thrown out of Mrs. Tate’s house. He talks about going back to the orphanage to develop his social skills. It’s what happens when empathy becomes a part of the process. Dr.  Davenport uses a line of questioning based in empathetic understanding. The centrality of understanding the private perceptual world of a person from an interpersonal perspective is a recurring theme in the writings of Rogers. Thus, the direction of an individual’s empathy is toward another person in an effort to grasp his or her phenomenological functioning. (p. 1). Institutionalized incarceration lacks sensitivity and empathy. The penal system and rehabilitation process formalize a different skill set and can impede growth and development. From reform school to a men’s shelter to living on the street creates a survival response and an identity vacuum and a need for understanding and belonging. Keep in mind the basis of the Roger’s approach is, to enact empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard (An Analysis of How Carl Rogers Enacted Client-Centered Conversation with Gloria Journal article by Scott A. Wickman, Cynthia Campbell; Journal of Counseling and Development, Vol. 81, 2003, p. 1). Antwone begins to show a trend of behaviors with anticipated responses. His motives are driven by basic human needs for survival. His dysfunctional past needs to be replaced with more productive behavior. Antwone’s park bench experiences before joining the Navy have to be considered in the same way Gordon Allport suggests personality and trait development tied to the environment. Antwone is very conscious of his reaction and responses to people and events in the environment. Antwone, a nice person, may be misunderstood and misjudged because of the trait behaviors associated with anger and violence. Allport surveys of personality psychology included discussions of such concepts as defense mechanisms, self, and identification. Shoring up the SASB Bridge between Personality Theory and Clinical Psychology Journal article by Jerry S. Wiggins; Psychological Inquiry, Vol. 5, 1994. 3 pgs, p. 3). Antwone employs each concept on the road to becoming a balanced healthy, functioning young man. Allport’s theory suggests growth or development of personality is equally important. Regardless of whether one favors traits or motives, many of the questions driving personality psychology are developmental: How do people develop the trait of sociability (or the need for achievement)? At what developmental period does this trait (need) emerge? When are the critical periods during which the trait (need) is expressed? Is sociability (need for achievement) stable from one developmental period to the next, and, if not, what factors are responsible for those changes? How does being high in sociability (need for achievement) shape the individual’s life path (Traits and Types, Dynamics and Development: No Doors Should Be Closed in the Study of Personality, Journal article by Oliver P. John, Richard W. Robins; Psychological Inquiry, Vol. 5, 1994. 6 pgs, p. 140)? Psychopathology The development of psychological theory tends to oscillate between optimistic advances and self-critical analyses and retrenchment (William Revelle; Annual Review of Psychology, Vol. 46, 1995, p. 1). Antwone employs defense mechanisms to preserve his client/patient relationship with Dr. Davenport. His regression begins when he recalls the memory of his old friend tricks him into committing a crime. During the crime his best friend is killed. Self-maintenance becomes an issue as he recalls how many people in life have left him. He believes Dr. Davenport is determined to leave him after making him an extended member of the family. His high level of trust and sense of belonging gives way to loss and suffering. He’s willing to do almost anything to hold on to certainty in his life. Optimism crashes and retrenchment occurs as the feelings of loss become incongruent with the memory of his friends blood splatter across his face. His friend Jesse fed him when he was hungry and died during a botched robbery the next day. Believing the death relieved Jesse from fighting anymore, increases the feeling of abandonment, letdown and pain associated with accepting the last session with Dr.  Davenport. Internal and External Factors Internally something is missing. Self-concept and self-actualization cannot occur unless he is reunited with his past. As most counselors know very well, person-centered theory and therapy began with and evolved from the thinking, research, and practice of Carl Ransom Rogers (The Development and Evolution of Person-Centered Expressive Art Therapy: A Conversation with Natalie Rogers Journal article by John Sommers-Flanagan; Journal of Counseling and Development, Vol. 85, 2007, p. 1). Carl Rogers was raised by parents under one roof. The integration of person-centered principles and art is a natural combination of her parents’ most distinct qualities (p. 1). Antwone Fisher’s parents were non-existent. Internal and external support was missing therefore disrupting self-centered support. Much like Dr, Davenport, Roger’s interactions with clients were like small miracles of compassionate understanding and communication†. Carl Rogers believed that the relationship between therapist and client facilitates emotional and psychological healing. As counselors we often see ourselves in the same situations as our clients. For some reason, the need to remain ethical and subjective creates a gap in reality as our own defense mechanisms preserve internal wellness. The therapeutic atmosphere produces positive changes when unconditional positive regard supersedes poor judgment and inflexibility. When our practiced behavior becomes predictable, we become trait driven and predictable which often leads to in effective counseling alternatives. Pervin’s analysis and critique of personality-trait research rests on the assumption that the five-factor model (FFM), and trait models more generally, should fulfill all the goals of a complete theory of personality (Traits and Types, Dynamics and Development: No Doors Should Be Closed in the Study of personality Journal article by Oliver P. John, Richard W. Robins; Psychological Inquiry, Vol. 5, 1994. 6 pgs. , p137) In a summary statement about the nature of this relationship, the whole person remains fragmented until explanations associated with internal messages match externally. Antwone had to trace his family history for answers to self image, self-esteem, and the ideal self. Throughout the movie, he is polite, articulate, and very well-balanced in a trusting and loving environment. When the memories were released and support from his girlfriend prevailed, gradually the â€Å"real† Antwone Fisher began to take shape and grow. How can one become person centered and grow when completeness is rooted in deteriorating external information? Conclusion Communicating genuiness and unconditional positive self-regard is the key to breaking down the walls and destroying the defenses of a troubled and angry client. When a negative self image impeded growth and development, the counselor must build trust, establish rapport and utilize empathy effectively. Providing a safe environment and a loving and caring ethical and professional relationship with your client are the keys to successful intervention. Carefully choosing the process and defining reasonable goals assist in the healing process on the way to independence. Looking into a mirror and defining the meaning of self and the perceived ideal self may be incongruent occasionally. Self-talk can be detrimental and harmful when discouragement follows as a result of unanswered questions about the self and the past. When life becomes puzzling and negative behaviors overshadow self-perception, the counselor must provide a way to trace behaviors to the root cause. Rogers and Allport provide reasonable theories on personality development to help achieve successful and healthy lives. We must also consider the internal and external factors associated with changes in behavior as they impact behavioral changes. Antwone Fisher returned to the environment of his past abusive childhood and confronted the abusers before moving ahead. Three sessions may not be adequate for long-term care and permanent change. Being flexible with healthy boundaries throughout the intervention process, may reveal our own shortcomings as we attempt to stay the course. Antwone Fisher and Commander Davenport established an amazing, growing, and client-centered relationship. The outcome proves that independent and healthy living can be facilitated on both sides when unconditional positive regard prevails.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Clocky

What are the key marketing challenges facing Gauri Nanda and how would you prioritize them? 1) Timing Clocky got a lot of media attention approximately a year early from commercialization. The hype it is having might have a negative and positive affect towards when actually Gauri introduce the product to the market. The questions raised was â€Å"Would consumers interested in buying Clocky now be frustrated once they learned that the product was not yet commercially available, or would they be content to wait until Clocky reached the market? † 2) Target marketGauri have to decide whether to focus on â€Å"Fun† or â€Å"Need† target segment. This is a critical step in the development as it will be difficult to change perception of a product once it gains a certain reputation. 3) Production partnership Gauri have to make a decision whether to partner with a large-scale retailer (Wal-Mart) or to pursue co-branding opportunities with a product development outfit ( iR obot). Both ways offer it’s up and down sides. With a large scale retailer, Gauri face the risk of the product becoming a fad, like Tickle-Me-Elmo.On the other hand, pursuing co-brading opportunities, she might have less control over the product invention. 4) Pricing Gauri have to decide the price for the product. This also will determine the product strategy adopted. Selling to Wal Mart allows Gauri to cash in early but sacrificing the long term potential of the product. Whereas selling to a upper class store allows Gauri to build brand image but it may take longer time to generate enough profit to recoup back the investment. Gauri needs to tackle the challenges from 1 to 4.I feel that the early media attention issue need to be taken care of first and make sure it does not negatively affected the commercialization of the product. Secondly, Gauri needs to determine the target segment which will lead to production partnership decision and ultimately pricing. How would you segm ent the market for Clocky and on which target market segment(s) should Nanda focus. Explain the value proposition for each? In the article it is mentioned that Clocky’s customer can be put into two camps: â€Å"Need† and â€Å"Fun† market. ) â€Å"Need† market The main customer would be people who found getting out of bed is a serious challenge and disrupted their life in significant ways, such as frequently making them late for work. I feel like Clocky will be a success in this market as it will be seen a solution for those people. In addition to that, the market is currently untapped and Gauri will enjoy first moving advantage. The downside is that the market is not as big as the other segment. Although the probability of success is high, the financial gain might not be significant. ) â€Å"Fun† market The customer would be people who currently use an alarm clock. I can see that Clocky will be marketed not a solution but as alternative to traditi on alarm clock that has more advance feature. This way there is a risk that the product will be seen as a fad product just like Furby. However, the market is huge and financial gain is significant if the product is a success. Personally I feel the best strategy is for Gauri to focus on short term financial gain and focus on the â€Å"fun† market.There is a big chance that the product might have a short life, like furby but Gauri would be able to gain a significant financial gain in a short period of time. The need market is not very attractive to me because of the size of the market. Based on what you believe to be the most feasible/most valuable positioning, what are the key components of a marketing launch plan including:   product design/features, pricing, retail channels and distribution plan, manufacturing location, and marketing communications. My goal with this product would be to generate as much profit as possible in the shortest amount of time.I do not think build ing a brand and spend years on this product is worth the effort from financial perspective. With this in mind, the strategy that I would adopt is a short term strategy that will maximize short term profit. The segment I would be targeting is the â€Å"Fun† market. I would market Clocky as an advanced alarm clock that is innovative and â€Å"fun† to have. The feature would be kept at the minimal (moving alarm clock) and the design would be as describe in the case â€Å"lighthearted features, such as his furry exterior and playful nature, depicting him almost as a robotic household pet. I would form a partnership with Target and use them as the main distribution channel. The pricing would be set a low point around $30 (considering that traditional alarm clock sold around $15). With Target’s mark up around 144%, the retail price would be $40. The manufacturing location will be in China as it offers the lowest cost of manufacturing. Assuming the cost of goods is $1 5, this will offer 100% margin. The media communication used would be TV and magazine advertisement. The advertisement is catered toward general audience that buy alarm clock. Clocky What are the key marketing challenges facing Gauri Nanda and how would you prioritize them? 1) Timing Clocky got a lot of media attention approximately a year early from commercialization. The hype it is having might have a negative and positive affect towards when actually Gauri introduce the product to the market. The questions raised was â€Å"Would consumers interested in buying Clocky now be frustrated once they learned that the product was not yet commercially available, or would they be content to wait until Clocky reached the market? † 2) Target marketGauri have to decide whether to focus on â€Å"Fun† or â€Å"Need† target segment. This is a critical step in the development as it will be difficult to change perception of a product once it gains a certain reputation. 3) Production partnership Gauri have to make a decision whether to partner with a large-scale retailer (Wal-Mart) or to pursue co-branding opportunities with a product development outfit ( iR obot). Both ways offer it’s up and down sides. With a large scale retailer, Gauri face the risk of the product becoming a fad, like Tickle-Me-Elmo.On the other hand, pursuing co-brading opportunities, she might have less control over the product invention. 4) Pricing Gauri have to decide the price for the product. This also will determine the product strategy adopted. Selling to Wal Mart allows Gauri to cash in early but sacrificing the long term potential of the product. Whereas selling to a upper class store allows Gauri to build brand image but it may take longer time to generate enough profit to recoup back the investment. Gauri needs to tackle the challenges from 1 to 4.I feel that the early media attention issue need to be taken care of first and make sure it does not negatively affected the commercialization of the product. Secondly, Gauri needs to determine the target segment which will lead to production partnership decision and ultimately pricing. How would you segm ent the market for Clocky and on which target market segment(s) should Nanda focus. Explain the value proposition for each? In the article it is mentioned that Clocky’s customer can be put into two camps: â€Å"Need† and â€Å"Fun† market. ) â€Å"Need† market The main customer would be people who found getting out of bed is a serious challenge and disrupted their life in significant ways, such as frequently making them late for work. I feel like Clocky will be a success in this market as it will be seen a solution for those people. In addition to that, the market is currently untapped and Gauri will enjoy first moving advantage. The downside is that the market is not as big as the other segment. Although the probability of success is high, the financial gain might not be significant. ) â€Å"Fun† market The customer would be people who currently use an alarm clock. I can see that Clocky will be marketed not a solution but as alternative to traditi on alarm clock that has more advance feature. This way there is a risk that the product will be seen as a fad product just like Furby. However, the market is huge and financial gain is significant if the product is a success. Personally I feel the best strategy is for Gauri to focus on short term financial gain and focus on the â€Å"fun† market.There is a big chance that the product might have a short life, like furby but Gauri would be able to gain a significant financial gain in a short period of time. The need market is not very attractive to me because of the size of the market. Based on what you believe to be the most feasible/most valuable positioning, what are the key components of a marketing launch plan including:   product design/features, pricing, retail channels and distribution plan, manufacturing location, and marketing communications. My goal with this product would be to generate as much profit as possible in the shortest amount of time.I do not think build ing a brand and spend years on this product is worth the effort from financial perspective. With this in mind, the strategy that I would adopt is a short term strategy that will maximize short term profit. The segment I would be targeting is the â€Å"Fun† market. I would market Clocky as an advanced alarm clock that is innovative and â€Å"fun† to have. The feature would be kept at the minimal (moving alarm clock) and the design would be as describe in the case â€Å"lighthearted features, such as his furry exterior and playful nature, depicting him almost as a robotic household pet. I would form a partnership with Target and use them as the main distribution channel. The pricing would be set a low point around $30 (considering that traditional alarm clock sold around $15). With Target’s mark up around 144%, the retail price would be $40. The manufacturing location will be in China as it offers the lowest cost of manufacturing. Assuming the cost of goods is $1 5, this will offer 100% margin. The media communication used would be TV and magazine advertisement. The advertisement is catered toward general audience that buy alarm clock.

Monday, July 29, 2019

The History of Chair Design (18th century to current) Case Study

The History of Chair Design (18th century to current) - Case Study Example A chair refers to a structure, which is raised from the surface, is stable, and is commonly used by one person to sit (Dampierre 5). The actual and historic sense of the term chair is the fact that it is supported by mostly three or four legs and has a back. However, the chair can have a different shape depending on the chair’s specifications criteria. Even though it has been stated that a chair has a back, some form of chairs such as stool do not have a back. Chairs do have various designs depending on the culture and the surrounding environment. The chair design may have drilled holes for decoration, low gaps or back for ventilation, or may be made of porous materials (Greene 21). The history of chair is as old as the history of humankind; chairs have been used in many centuries. Although chair is of extreme simplicity and antiquity, for many years it was used more as an article or item of dignity and state especially among the kings. However, this has changed over time with chair becoming a structure of ordinary use. It is undisputable that chair design has evolved in terms of design and technology. Therefore, this discussion will focus on the history of chair design in particular reference from the 18th century to the current. To begin with, it is important to consider the essence of design in chair just like in any other article or structure. Chair design puts into consideration the intended purpose and usage of the chair, stackability, weight, stain resistance, foldability, artistic design, durability, and ergonomics, which emphasizes on how comfortable the occupant of the chair is. The seating position of the occupant is determined by the intended usage (Fiell 15-16). As such, there are various designs for intended usage. For instance, easy chairs are most suitable for entertainment activities such as watching movies or television, task chairs are designed for specific persons depending on the nature of their work. Therefore, the essence of chair design is to ensure that certain purposes are met in addition to facilitating that the occupant of the chair is comfortable. The logic behind ergonomic design is to ensure that the occupant’s weight is distributed to different parts of the body. Chair design should therefore be in such a way that it does not compromise the occupants comfort and performance of tasks. Factors such as the height of the seat are very important and needs to be considered during the designing of chair (Fiell 28). This is because a chair, which is higher, may lead to feet dangling thus increasing pressure on the knees’ underside. On the other hand, a lower chair may result to shifting of too much weight towards the seat bones. The period from 18th century to current has witnessed major innovations about chair designs. Wood workers played a very critical role in these innovations. The most notable one is Thomas Chippendale who even left his own design marks the history of chair. The chairs by Chippendale were designed artistically; legs, splats, and carved back pieces were proportioned well. Most of Chippendale’s chairs have either square legs or cabriole. Chippendale design dominated most of the 18th century. The design reflected the some of the English tastes of that time and incorporated Chinese, Gothic, and English motifs (Raizman 9). The cabriole leg was Chippendale’s signature form. The cabriole design mostly employed the Queen Anne- style. There are six different Chippendale style legs namely-

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Response may 27 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Response may 27 - Essay Example These two articles show that any choice of attire sends a message to the community. Even if people try to dress casually or ordinarily, they inform other community members about their attitude, personal traits and references. People can dress up to attract attention; the majority of people still choose some casual clothing to feel included or to be like all other people around. By their clothing, they support community norms and expectations which are common in their society. Cross-cultural Cross-dressing: Japanese Graphic Novels Perform Gender in U.S. by Kornfield researches the connection of fashion and gender. Almost all world societies require clothing items to reflect certain gendered qualities. For instance, clothes in Manga established strict gender standards concerning femininity and masculinity which are restrictive to sexual minorities. This article contains even more examples which show that the same connection of fashion and gender is common in all Asian cultures. This article can serve as a relevant source of information for further

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Course Project Proposal Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Course Project Proposal - Term Paper Example We deal in a wide range of products such as household needs, family apparel, electronics, assistance in health & beauty, fabrics, jewelry, garden & lawn, shoes, toys and crafts among others. We even provide facilities in pharmacy, photo centers, portrait studios, banks as well as Tire & Lube Express. At the time of the establishment of the company, the founder had set three objectives or rather missions which would characterize his business and they were customer service, respect towards individuals and determination for brilliance (Hayden & Et. Al., 2002). Our company is known for following its mission objectives except for one and that is respect for individuals. The customers are treated with a lot of respect by the company but when it comes down to the employees then a big difference is being observed. The company does not treat its employees with the respect that they deserve and in a way it reflects the fact that the company does not value its employees which has resulted in a high turnover among the employees. My company addresses the employees of our stores as ‘associates’. The company provides liberal financial incentives as rewards for their employees by way of distributing the profit of the company with the employees through the option of buying stocks. However, here I should mention that these facilities and benefits are offered only to the full-time employees. Majority of the employees working in the stores are part-time workers and they are not paid generously by my company. Majority of the workers are just paid the bare minimum local wage. Needless to add that they are not provided any benefits as it takes a time period of five years to become qualified for these benefits. As I have mentioned earlier that a high rate of turnover prevails amongst these employees and so, there are bleak chances that they would reach that required level. I am a manager in one of the stores of the company. I joined the

Friday, July 26, 2019

Learning Effective Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Learning Effective - Essay Example Teaching and learning information and knowledge is an anachronism, secondly a wider choice of the population procedure and produce knowledge. Knowledge is not the ownership of a small number of â€Å"experts†, thirdly, prospects for employment link more to the skill to improve and convey learning. The collection of a qualification is not sufficient and lastly the land of knowledge is a great deal richer and wider, involving numerous sources, forms and contexts. â€Å"Learning is no longer the province of special institutions: it is a way of being. In such a context the goals of learning need to focus less on knowledge acquisition by individuals, and more on knowledge-generation with others.† ( Institute of Education) Effective students have achieved knowledge of the social and individual procedure essential to become successful learners. This is not simply attainment of specific tactics, but the supervising and evaluation of knowledge to observe whether approaches are effectual. This has been explained as "metalearning" and "teaching how to learn†. Effective learning comprises this extra critical element which dynamically engages the learner in meta-cognitive procedure of setting up, supervising and reflecting. As a result we can deduce that learning is an endeavor of construction, dealt with others and driven by the agency of learners. Effective learning is every one of these properties at their best, as well as the review and monitoring of whether tactics and approaches are proving helpful for the specific context and goals. An effective student is resourceful and is able to actively make use of various approaches and strategies for different purposes and contexts, for instance, gaining knowledge from books even as alone, generating knowledge with different people during a project, actively paying attention to an explanation, constructing conversation with

Business Company Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Business Company Analysis - Research Paper Example Assigning equal weights to each of these external factors, and arriving at the mobiles long-term prospects/evolution as the most important external factor, to which Google has responded with stunning success, based on the brilliant success of Android up to this point. We assign scores of 3 each for the Microsoft and Facebook threats, given that the Google response is credible, but has room for improvement, especially with regard to the threat of Facebook eating into Googles advertising revenues. This latter threat is low at present, given that Googles revenues continue to remain healthy, and promises to remain healthy with the excellent prospects for mobile and Googles substantial stake in mobile via Android. The rating is 4 for the long-term mobile evolution factor. This puts the EFE rating for Google at High, or between 3 and 4 (Kelleher; Paul; Enderle; Coldewey; Fletcher; Foreign Writer; Google Finance; Reuters; CrunchBase; Yahoo!; MarketWatch; Porter). Looking at the IFE matrix, on the other hand, the continuing weakness at Motorola Mobility threatens to weigh down Google moving forward, and this can be rated as a major weakness on the part of Google. This is given the substantial weighting in the IFE, even as its overall revenues is dwarfed by Googles revenues in advertising, and its profits or losses likewise are small in comparison to the profits of Google overall. This is a key consideration for the weighting of the weakness, whereas its core strengths in search and in mobile are very formidable to the point of being almost unassailable at present. Given this, we assign the weights of 70 percent for search, 20 percent for mobile via Android, and 10 percent for Motorola mobility as a key weakness. Rating the first two as 4, and the Motorola mobility weakness as 1, for major weakness, we get a total IFE rating of between 3 and 4 (Kelleher; Paul; Enderle; Coldewey; Fletcher; Foreign Writer; Google Finance; Reuters; CrunchBase; Ya hoo!;

Thursday, July 25, 2019

An Outline for the Product - Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therap Essay - 1

An Outline for the Product - Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil - Essay Example I thought that it had a medicinal odour; however, it has a smell of cocoa butter. Good results come when one use it immediately after bathing. I suggest that anyone who would want to have a soft skin and remove any scar should try this product. These are structured activities where users can engage with one another. Social games are digital online games with multiple players usually on social platforms. These games integrate with a social network, which enhances gameplay. The social platforms provide users with an identity and facilitate communication (Fincanon 26).They are usually turn-based enabling the multiple players to take turns, but this is not a strict requirement. Awareness of the actions of other players in games is a key feature of social gaming. It creates a social context increasing interaction with the game. By utilizing a player’s social graph, social games provide an enhanced experience. They are casual with easy access. The leading companies creating social games include Facebook, Zynga Gaming Network, Social Gaming Network and Kongregate. These games have become significant in the advertisement industry. They have become a key component of a developing strategy of advertising called branded entertainment. This advertising strategy involves integrating elements of brand communication into content that consumers search online or purchase for entertainment purposes (Ruggiero 51). Social games can be designed around a brand for advertising purposes. Such games are called advergames. By using these games, the advertisers aim to engage consumers with the particular brand through interactive, entertaining media content. I played one brand based advergame that was not challenging and hence rather unentertaining. I found that my attitude towards the brand the advergame was based on my experience and hence the attitude I developed towards the game. I became slightly more drawn to a competing brand although my purchase preference remained unchanged. I, therefore, believe attitudes toward advergames are directly related to attitudes toward the brand in games with a high thematic connection to the products of the brand.  Ã‚  

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Describe a picture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Describe a picture - Essay Example Another technique employed in creating space is the application of size variance. This is ideally seen in the attributes seen in the sky. The size of the figures decrease as they recede further into the background. This gives the prominent airplane scene a dominant position in the picture as it is relatively bigger in comparison to the figures surrounding it. The use of size in creating space allows the picture develop a sense of atmospheric perspective particularly in an image that lacks much variables in colouring shades. The spaces in the figure overlap systematically creating a sense of unity in the picture. The foreground buildings are seen to overlap with the middle ground grass. They hide the grass surface immediately behind them. This creates the illusion that the buildings are prominently featured in the foreground. The middle ground overlaps with the background. Human figures placed in the middle ground are seen to overlap with the background horizon. Despite a minimal use of size variance and overlapping objects, there is still an element of depth, space and perspective created in the diagram. The picture shows aspects of realism in a highly fantastical composition. The varying application of perspective and proportions applied in the image challenges realism. However, the imagery created is borrowed from real objects created an intertwined relationship between realism and imagery. Aspects of realism in the plane involve the use of realistic figures in the composition. These aspects are recognizable at face value. In analysing the picture, an individual immediately notices human figures, buildings, a landscape and even a plane. These objects are highly realistic. However, the artist’s creation of the objects is highly fantastical. The human figures are executed in a 2 dimensional style. The lack of tonal variation on the figures give then a whimsical look common in cartoon figures. Moreover, the lack of ideal

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Internal Environment of Tesco Literature review

Internal Environment of Tesco - Literature review Example Quite understandably, there is a bright side to the picture and as well as a darker side which goes hand in hand, however, when talked about the corporate world, markets and industries, the darker side is more dark to offset the brightness of so-called bright side of the picture. The golden days for the business were when they could operate with monopolies and lesser competition. Consumer awareness was virtually zero and thus their bargaining power was extremely low (Senge, pp. 189-196, 1991). Â  However, with this revolution of information technology, the marketplace has changed into something, which no one could have imagined in his or her wildest dreams, some decades back. Statistics reveal that out of the Fortune 100 companies of 1900, only four of those corporations have been surviving and the rest is history. Furthermore, only General Electric (GE) is the only company, which still exists out of the top 12 companies that appeared on the Dow Jones Index in 1900. Quite clearly, the marketplace is now a brutal and ruthless place, which has no place for companies that fail to adapt, change, innovate, learn, and compete. In fact, the marketplace today is a bloody red ocean since all that companies do today, is make their competitors lose so that they can win. Â  For most companies, the pie is not growing or expanding and the only way to increase your share of the pie is to decrease the share of their competitors. More importantly, the companies that have failed to adopt proactive, calculated, informed approaches and have tried to remain mere spectators, the environmental forces have not forgiven them for the same and they are history. That explains why Nokia, which started it business as lumber company that made equipment needed to cut down the forests diversified, adapted, changed, and innovated to become the biggest seller of mobile phones in the world.

Monday, July 22, 2019

Coca-cola Image Maker Essay Example for Free

Coca-cola Image Maker Essay Coca-cola is the worlds most famous beverage and most likely the most recognized brand name. It can be purchased in more than 200 countries in wide range of restaurants, vending machines and stores. The manufacturer, Coca-cola Company has been the dominant head in advertising and marketing for more than hundred years with a whopping global sales of $20 billion in the year 2001. This carbonated drink is simply referred as coke.   Originally intended as a ‘patent medicine’ when it was invented in the late 19th century by pharmacist John S. Pemberton as a ‘coca wine’, Coca-Cola has dominated the worldwide soft drink market for decades now. The Coca-Cola logo, like the product itself, is rated among the most recognized logos and brands in the world. The first Coca-Cola logo was created by John Pembertons partner and bookkeeper, Frank Mason Robinson, in 1885. Thinking that the two Cs would look well in advertising, it was Robinson who came up with the name and chose the logo’s distinctive cursive script. The typeface used, known as Spencerian script, was developed in the mid 19th century and was the dominant form of formal handwriting in the United States during that period. The red and white colored scheme in the Coca-Cola logo was kept simple and distinctive to lure young minds. Even the Coca-Cola bottle symbolized the ‘youthful exuberance of America’. Since then, various designs of the Coca-Cola bottle had been released over the decades. But the ever popular version is the famous 1915’s curved-vessel bottle called the â€Å"contour bottle†, better known to many as the â€Å"hobble skirt† bottle. Though mistakenly designed as cacao pod, the bottle like Coca-Cola logo has been highly popular and is often regarded as the best design ever (â€Å"Coca-cola† 1). The coca-cola trademark was patented through the U.S. patent office in 1888.   Asa G. Candler, a businessman and a druggist in Atlanta who purchased the rights and formed it to a corporation The Coca-cola Company. The introduction of the new beverage into market was through free distribution of coupons for sample taste of Coca-cola. Along with the free glass of the soda were clocks, calendars, apothecary scales, posters and wall murals with coke logos which were utilized as promotional materials and the aggressive endorsement succeeded.   After a decade, businessman from Mississippi named Joseph Biedenharn was the first to put coca-cola in bottles. A group of investors bought the Coca-Cola company for $25 million in the early 1900’s. The son of one of the investors, Robert Woodruff made a great leap in building the logo. Under his leadership, Coca-Cola went from a mostly American drink to the most consumed soft drink in the world. Several successful marketing campaigns to build the logo involved sports: Coca-Cola was introduced to The Netherlands during the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, and the logo was featured on dog-racing sleds in Canada and on walls of bullfighting arenas in Spain. Woodruff was also responsible for introducing the six-pack. When Woodruff heard that some women in the United States would not purchase Coca-Cola six-packs because they did not have a bottle opener, he sent women door-to-door handing out and installing wall-mounted openers (â€Å"Coca-cola Company† 1). Christmas is highly associated with a remarkable personality in white and red clothing with a grandfatherly look, Santa Claus. Coke impressively built a global image using Santa Claus invading our refrigerator, eating cookies and drinking a can of coke. The creator, Haddon Sundblom started placing illustrations of the coca-cola logo with the legendary Santa Claus during the Christmas of 1930s. The people thought that coca-cola was just for warm weathers so; they came up with another promotion that would remind the consumers that the soda â€Å"Knows no season† and is an excellent choice every month. The said slogan along with the sensation of Santa Claus with a beverage was truly a symbol for winter. The Coca-cola Santa appeared regularly in a magazine entitled The Saturday Evening Post in addition to National Geographic, The New Yorker, Ladies Home Journal and others. For 30 years, Coca-Cola advertising showed Santa delivering (and playing!) with toys, pausing to read a letter and enjoy a Coke, playing with children who stayed up to greet him and raiding the refrigerators at a number of homes. The original oil paintings Sundblom created were adapted for Coca-Cola advertising in magazines, store displays, billboards, posters, calendars and even plush dolls. Many of those items today are popular collectibles (â€Å"Coke Lore† 1).   The advertising success of Coca-Cola Santa Claus celebrated its 76th year last 2007. The era of television advertising for Coca-cola fired up during the period of 1950’s. The DArcy Agency of St. Louis sponsored the initial television ad of coca-cola and produced along with a television special presenting Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. The beverage company and the agency owned by William DArcy strived to implement a marketing approach to meet consumer awareness. The application of television advertising was just a trial medium since television stations were not accessible to most cities. The brilliant D’Arcy merged Coca-cola image into ads to performers in radio programs and television programs such as Walt Disney and The Adventures of Kit Carson. The sponsorship programs were a failure. It did not gain much awareness from the consumers (â€Å"Highlights† 1). The agency closed and the account of Coca-cola was handled by McCann. The Sign of Good Taste and Be really refreshed campaigns roared its way to success. Animation, live-action and stop motion were the advertising formats utilized in both campaigns which presented Connie Francis, Anita Bryant, the Brothers Four and McGuire Sisters as performers. The triumph of television advertising spread for a decade and also incorporated the biggest artists in radio commercials such as Jay and the Americans, the Supremes, the Moody Blues, Jan and Dean, Roy Orbison, and Ray Charles. Presently, coke places sponsorship on famous television programs and contests, such as American Idol, where a giant red cup with Cokes logo on it was placed on the tables of the Paula Abdul, Randy and Simon Cowell. From television advertisements Coke walked its victory in advertising to films. The company tried building Coke’s image in the movies. The comedy movie The Gods must be crazy included a bottle of coke as its main props. Other popular films showcasing coke products were the award-winning science fiction movie E.T. directed by Steven Spielberg showing a refrigerator with coke and also The Paper, Silent Movie, The Mexican, Mean Girls, Maid in Manhattan and a hundred more. Coca Cola advertising has chronicled times and events for more than a century. Favorite Coca Cola images have appeared on thousands of products over the years. Coca-cola continues to its image-making through the creation of collectibles. Products with the Coca Cola logo have become favorite antiques and collectibles for nostalgia collectors. Advertising features rare and collectible original Coca Cola memorabilia from many decades pre-1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s. Classic memorabilia pieces run the gambit from original signs to rare pins; signed artwork to retro trays of the past. Coke memorabilia is very collectible and very hard to find. Antique collectibles are all original licensed and manufactured for The Coca-Cola Companies and now it can not only be purchased in stores but also in websites as well (â€Å"Coca Cola† 1). In the 1990s, Coke made a dramatic change in its Christmas approach from Santa Claus to polar bears. The image-making of Coke in changing the traditional jolly figure of Santa Claus to cute and lovable polar bears was a big achievement. The animated production required the application of advanced computers and graphic programs. Rhythm and Hues together with creator Ken Stewart introduced polar bears as the new symbol of Coke during Christmas season. The Northern Lights commercial was a worldwide hit. The popularity of polar bears continued to be featured in six commercials including the animated animals in the 1994 Olympics. Consumers of top beverage products were highly aware of the so-called â€Å"Cola Wars†. Pepsi the biggest competitor of Coca-cola, started the battle in early 70’s making its way in the Soviet Union. It also annexed with Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken. As a comeback, Coke broadcasted the return of Coke classic and merged with the movie E.T. releasing the propaganda â€Å"Mac and Me†, it was sponsored by the leading fast food chain, McDonalds. Then Coca-cola tried invading North Korea and England. Coca-cola pursued to build its image to politics. Coke created an image as American patriotic drink however the Coca-cola company pushed its image to Germany particularly the Nazis during the war. The term coca-colonization was defined as cultural imperialism of Americans through using Coke as its symbol. In France, wine is considered the ultimate drink, and the country tried to ban the sales of coke for believing that this soft drink tried to alter their wine being the national beverage. Coca-cola continued its image-making by placing itself in the middle of the Cold war. Presently this beverage giant was also a loyal advocate of Israel while Pepsi, its competitor is a steadfast follower of Arab League boycott of Israel. As a result, Coca-cola received an honor from Israel government last 1997 and was bestowed a property to be used as a manufacturing plant, though reports said that it was a stolen Palestinian land. The collaboration with Israel was quite a success since Coca-cola was able to increase its investment through purchasing 51 percent of share in the Tavor winery in Israel, furthering its ambition to have a holding in every sector of the beverages business (â€Å"Boycott† 1). Presently, Coke is into mobile advertising. This beverage giant is one of the pioneers in utilizing mobile media in France. The company invested in creating a mobile Internet website and also launched the Coke+iTunes operation. It is a contest available through the use of text messaging and using the website. It also continues to build its image through online advertising. The company created the website there.com. It is an entertainment interactive site where users can choose an avatar that can go to movie theaters, visit Coca-cola diner, shop and dance. Coke studios and mycoke.com are some of the website that coke uses to build its image. Coca-Cola† is the most universally recognized word on earth after â€Å"OK,† and has come to symbolize the American way of life arguably more than any other product.   The Coca-Cola Company throughout its history has invested millions of dollars to perpetuate the drink’s image as a symbol of all things good, decent, and honest about America—a symbol of tradition, freedom, and democracy.   Coke is seen as more than a drink by its loyal fans. It brings on the nostalgia of better times, simpler times linking America to the rest of the world and looming as large as a symbol of the United States as the Statue of Liberty. People may disagree about the reality of â€Å"coca-colonization† (the term given to describe American cultural imperialism) but what seems to be clear is that Coca-Cola is at the very least seen by many, and has been portrayed by the Company, as an American representative abroad, a symbol of all that is America. Coca-Cola has profited from its image, and was only able to create this image in the first place by entering politics; thus, to claim neutral, a political status to avoid responsibility. Some might believe that such social and ethical responsibility is unrealistic for a company in the business of making money for its shareholders. Yet Coca-Cola has always portrayed itself as so much more than a company just out to make money—surely it owes some respect to this image, the image that enabled it to capture the public’s hearts and minds in the first place (Hutt, 1). Works Cited â€Å"Boycott Israel Campaign.† Inminds. 19 July 2002. Innovative minds. 5 May 2008 http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-coca-cola.html. â€Å"Coca-cola Company.† Reference for business. 2007. Advarneg Inc. 10 May 2008 http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/businesses/A-F/Coca-Cola-Company.html. â€Å"Coca-cola Logo.† Logoblog. 2008. Logo blog.org. 10 May 2008 http://www.logoblog.org/about_us.php. â€Å"Coca Cola Memorabilia.† 2collectcola. 1 January 2006. Always collectors corner. 5 May 2008 http://www.2collectcola.com/page/ACC/CTGY/M. â€Å"Coke in the movies.† The Coca-cola Company. 31 December 2006. The Coca-cola Company Press center. 6 May 2008 http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/heritage/cokelore_inthemovies.html. â€Å"Coke Lore.† The Coca-cola Company. 31 December 2006. The Coca-cola Company Press center. 6 May 2008 http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/heritage/cokelore_santa.html. â€Å"Highlights in the history of Coca-cola Television advertising.†   American Memory. 29 November 2000. The library of Congress. 6 May 2008 http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ccmphtml/colahist.html#darcy. Hutt, Peter. â€Å"The Image and Politics of Coca-Cola: From the Early Years to the Present.† Leda law. 16 April 2001. Harvard law school. 6 May 2008 http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/398/AlOthman.html. Pendergrast, Mark. For God, Country Coca-Cola: The Definitive History of the World’s Most Popular Soft Drink 8. Orion Business Books, 2000.

Living In A Surveillance Society Information Technology Essay

Living In A Surveillance Society Information Technology Essay To say we are consciously or unconsciously sleep walking into surveillance society is a question of fact because frankly speaking individuals in society go through some form of surveillance. The security attached to surveillance allows individuals embrace it and sometimes with the knowledge of risks that come with being watched meanwhile others walk into a surveillance society without any knowledge of such dangers. 1.2 Judging from past and present events reported in several cases, journals and articles about the benefits and dangers that accompany a surveillance society, I am of the opinion that there is a need to analyse the concept of a surveillance society to ascertain if the concerns of the Information Commissioner are justified or not. 1.3 This essay would surround different issues in relation to a surveillance society such as individual privacy, data protection, laws that provide for data protection, different forms of surveillance and surveillance technologies with a view to providing some clarity regarding the concerns of the commissioner on the concept of a surveillance society. 2.0 Surveillance 2.1 Definition of surveillance Surveillance is viewed as having information about ones movement and activities recorded by technologies on behalf of the organisations and governments that structured our society.  [1]  Surveillance was also defined as a purposeful routine, systematic and focused attention paid to personal details for the sake of control, entitlement, management, influence or protection.  [2]   In my opinion, to be under surveillance means that almost every aspect of an individuals life is been watched, monitored and controlled by others who consider themselves superior and thereby deny people of their right to privacy and control of different aspects of their lives. Professor Ian J.Lloyd, referring to Alan Westins seminar work on Information Technology in a Democracy identified three types of surveillance as: physical, psychological and data surveillance  [3]   Physical surveillance involves the watching and monitoring of acts of individuals in a society and can be carried out with or without the use of surveillance technologies. The use of spies, spooks and acts of security agencies fall within the above and is applied to limited individuals. Psychological surveillance involves the use of surveillance technologies to monitor the activities of individuals in a society by the use of interrogations. Furthermore, data surveillance involves the use of ones personal information to monitor their activities. Due to technology compliance by countries, dataveillance is the most prominent form of surveillance used which is supported by electronic devices. 2.2 Living in a surveillance society The idea of a surveillance society springs from the fears of the government and people as regards the reoccurring threats to lives of individuals based on past events like terrorism, fraud, armed robbery and shop lifting. In finding solutions to these problems, certain measures and forms of surveillance were introduced to provide security, and whether these solutions are appropriate, remains a question as there might be more invasive answers which result to an individuals right to privacy and anonymity being infringed. Focus should reflect the attainment of social goals rather than living in the shadow of the consequence of a surveillance society.  [4]   The United Kingdom (UK)is an example of a country that is fully compliant with the idea of a surveillance society because almost every aspect of their lives starting from taking a walk on the streets, driving their cars, going shopping in the supermarkets, going to the hospital and even in their work place they are under surveillance and this is so because the UK is a highly technologically developed country with access to lots of surveillance technologies used to monitor the activities in the life of their citizens and the UK has been described as the most surveyed country with more CCTV cameras but the irony is that it still has loose laws on privacy and data protection. In Britain there are about 4.2 million CCTV cameras, one for every fourteen people, meaning that an individuals activities can be captured by over three hundred cameras a day. Reporters claim Britain has the biggest DNA data base with over a million innocent peoples data on, with some being aware and others in the dark and with the advent of new and improved modern surveillance technologies being introduced individuals will be subjected to even more surveillance than they are going through today.  [5]   A surveillance society is not a totally bad concept as it has its advantages and disadvantages. Its advantages include provision of security and protection of people from computer hackers, terrorists, threats to public security, provides speed and enhances co-ordination  [6]  . Consequent upon the pros of a surveillance society, the greatest negative effect of a surveillance society is the threat to privacy of individuals, though we seem to be more concerned with our fears and in the process over look the possibility that being fully dependent on surveillance technologies for safety could end up being of more harm to us than good. Surveillance creates lack of trust and raises suspicion between citizens, citizens and the state, thereby heightening the need for us to control and monitor our activities. 2.3 Surveillance Technologies There are different kinds of surveillance technologies that are used in our society today which can also be summarized under the different forms of surveillance. Some examples of surveillance technologies includes as follows: (a) Video surveillance i.e. the use of Closed-circuit Televisions (CCTV) (b) Telecommunications surveillance (c) Biometrics (d) Shop Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags (e) Loyalty cards (f) Internet cookies (g) Data Flows (h) Locating, Tracking Tagging Technologies (I) London Oyster Cards e.t.c Video Surveillance This is considered the most popular kind of surveillance technology used in a surveillance society because the use of CCTV cameras enable the capturing of images of individuals who go about their activities with the aim of preventing crime. CCTV cameras are devices that have actively been used in Britain to watch people and as such it has been predicted by experts that by the year 2009, 642 million pounds would have been spent on video surveillance software as against the 147million pounds spent in 2004 in a bid to reducing the crime rate.  [7]   Telecommunications surveillance This involves the use of technical equipments such as Global Positioning System (GPS), tapping of phones by the police or security services and it involves the exchange of data and information which is enabled by large scale digital and computing systems such as the internet. Biometrics Surveillance Biometrics is another very common surveillance technology being used today in most organizations, embassies and airports. This form of identification includes body trace e.g. fingerprints, iris scans, facial topography and hand scans which are all used on different passports and I.D card systems. Biometrics has been predicted to cause UK a healthy sum of 4.7 billion industry in 2009 which initially in the year 2003 cost 675 million and this is so because of the creation of more sophisticated surveillance technologies like smart cameras to iris identification, all with the belief that there will be accuracy in identification and crime will be reduced.  [8]   Radio Frequency Identification Technologies (RFID) It involves the use of radio frequency communications as a way to track goods as they move through the supply chain. RFID are embedded into products, pallets and cases thereby enabling the RFID readers read information from those tags  [9]  . Data flows Surveillance This is a very sensitive form of surveillance as it is gathered by surveillance technologies and it flows around computer networks and has been described by Clarke R as dataveillance which is the systematic use of personal data systems in the investigation or monitoring of the actions of one or more persons  [10]  .In most circumstances of data subjects consents to giving their data, but what now happens in a situation whereby the data is transferred elsewhere and there is no idea as to where the data goes by either the public or data sharing agencies. In such a case one tends to wonder if we can say we have confidence in the state as regards the safety of our data. With the use of these technologies you can see that in a surveillance society our lives can be monitored entirely as everything you do has one form of surveillance technology which can be used to track you. Some of these technologies include Global Positioning System(GPS) which can be use in tracking your precise location, loyalty cards which can be use to determine your capacity in shopping and as such marketers know how to target a customer based on his or her spending habits and even the internet can be monitored because every individual leaves trails when browsing the internet and this trails are called cookies which are left on a users machine thereby recognizing when visits were made to that site thereby making the activities of user traceable  [11]  . There are also non-technological means of surveillance of surveillance which we practice as individuals in the society such as eavesdropping, watching, use of human spies and many others  [12]  . But these methods due to the advent of technology and modernity are gradually fading away because they are looked upon as ineffective compared to technological mediums. This is because surveillance technologies provide faster means of security, safety and certainty. We are left with the concern of how effective surveillance technologies are to our lives and to what extent can we say that they have made a positive impact on our lives than the negative ones. 2.4 The Negative and Positive Impact of Surveillance on our society. A surveillance society has its negative and positive impacts on our lives as individuals in the society but the negatives impacts are greater than the positive ones. Surveillance society has a way of setting traps for individuals in a society and this trap includes: (a)Thinking that surveillance is a product of new technologies and (b)Thinking of surveillance as a malign plot hatched by evil powers.  [13]   Ones an individuals looks at the concept of a surveillance society in this light then it is easy for one to fall into the trap of a surveillance society and the dangers that it poses to how lives. Apart from a sense of security, safety, minimum amount of risks, swift flow of goods, people and information which we as individuals believe are the positive effects of surveillance on our lives, what other way can we really say that a surveillance society has improved our lives or limited the risks and dangers we go through every day because irrespective of all the different forms of surveillance both technological and non-technological, It has not kept us out of harms way. The presence of CCTV cameras in the UK has not reduced the level of crime as terrorist still find means of operating and planning attacks. More so, individual personal data are still being used against them and all thanks to surveillance. Surveillance creates room for suspicion and lack of trust in the society because why should employers feel there is a need to monitor the affairs of their employees by bugging their cell phones, putting tracking devices in their company vehicles, storage of employees personal data, making them undertake certain medical tests and answering personal questions about their lives which could be used against them in the future. Surveillance exposes individuals in a society to harm as we may not know who is watching us and what purpose our data is being used for because in the UK and the world at large, we still do not have updated data protection laws that would secure our database from unauthorized access or leakage and therefore leaving us in harms way if our personal data was to fall into the hands of the wrong person because those watching us could pose a threat to us, instead of providing us with security. Surveillance encourages social discrimination relating to race and ethnicity as sometimes our personal data is used to determine the level of benefits we get in the society. Surveillance encourages deceit, dishonesty and function creep in the sense that the data controllers tell the people that they need their data for a particular purpose and end up using such data for another purpose. Also surveillance technologies help marketers to manipulate customers data in the sense that the use of Loyalty Cards which is common in the UK helps producers to monitor the resources of a customer by their shopping habits and as such they come up with ways to direct marketing to that customer in order to make profits and this is wrong. Another negative effect of a surveillance society which I consider to be the most crucial is the infringement of ones right to privacy and the total loss of an individuals anonymity in the society. Privacy is a fundamental right of every individual in a society but you find that in a surveillance society, it is not possible for one to exercise that right because everywhere you go, you cant be anonymous because cameras are watching in the streets and as such the whole idea of privacy and anonymity has been defeated. The above effects of surveillance are more negative than positive and much more has to be done to grant us more confidence that our society is safe. 3.0 The Right to Privacy In Relation to a Surveillance Society 3.1 What is Privacy? The concept of Privacy in relation to a surveillance society is of paramount importance because an individuals privacy in society is a constitutional right which should not be infringed. One cannot talk about a surveillance society without the issue of privacy. Privacy and surveillance cannot co-exist together without one being a hindrance to the other. A surveillance society cannot function without crossing the path of privacy while privacy cannot be secured in a surveillance society, which poses a dilemma to individuals because we are left with two options which are: (a)Choose Surveillance and forego your privacy and (b)Choose your Privacy and live with the possibility of being exposed to danger and risks at any time With these options, whatever choice will make us prone to loosing something important to our lives. 3.2 Definitions of Privacy Privacy was defined by Judge Cooley in the year 1888 as The right to be left alone   [14]  . Privacy has also been defined by some writers as: The right of the individual to be protected against intrusion into his personal life or affairs or those of his family, by direct physical means or by publication of information  [15]   Privacy is very important to individuals in the sense that it is the only form of dignity and pride individuals have. Therefore laws need to protect this right, otherwise people in a surveillance society will become puppets who have no control as to how their personal data and information is used and manipulated by the Puppet masters. Article 8 of the Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms (Convention), 1985 provides which was ratified by the Council of Europe provides that: (1) Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence. (2)There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interest of national security, public safety of economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health morals or for the protection of the rights of freedoms of others.  [16]   This convention as of that year was not a confirmed law and its provisions could only be confirmed in European Courts and because UK was a signatory for the Council of Europe, the Convention applied to the UK but in 1998 the Human Rights Acts (HRA) was enacted in the UK and were incorporated into the UK law and a more recent Law was enacted in 2000 in charter (7) of the Fundamental rights of the European Union which provided for right to privacy in respect to modern day communication.  [17]   3.3 Issues of Privacy in Relation to a surveillance society A surveillance society is a huge area of contention in relation to privacy in the sense that it affects every aspect of an individuals life. Eric Barendt ,Described the fight between surveillance and privacy as (Political) he said: prominent figures mostly politicians, celebrities, members of the royal family are trying to protect their lives from media scrutiny meanwhile on the other hand the press which is surveillance in this case is fighting to retain their liberty of publication  [18]   He was also of the view that privacy is a fundamental human right that should not be Infringed on either by the government, business, individual or the media  [19]   As individuals in a surveillance society we need to have the right to preserve our privacy but if our actions keep on being monitored by technological or non-technological means of surveillance, it will leave a trail which can be traced back to us. Also, the fact that our personal data is constantly being transferred from one data base to another and processed by different processors makes access to our personal information easy. In the case of R v Brown  [20]  , Lord Hoffman in his judgement stated: Privacy which is the right to keep oneself to our self, to tell other people that certain things are none of their business is under technological threat due to the different and various types of surveillance e.g. surveillance cameras, telephone bugs, which are used by individuals in the society today.  [21]   Also in the case of Leander v Sweden  [22]  , Mr Torsten Leander was denied employment as a result of his personal information which was held in a register and was revealed to his employer without knowledge of the kind of information that was kept about him and for what purpose it will be used and this constituted a breach of his right to privacy provided for in Article 8 (1) Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms (Convention). In the case of Campbell v Mirror Group Newspapers  [23]  , taking pictures of Miss Campbell outside the Nacortics Anonymous, breached her right to privacy when her photos were published. She appealed on the grounds of breach of confidence by the media and which is one of her fundamental human right and against the provisions of the Data protection Act (1998). The court of appeal was against the verdict of the case but on appeal the House of Lords passed judgement in her favour which also gave rise to other opinions concerning the extent to which ones privacy can be said to have been breached. In the case of Craxi v Italy, it was established that there was indeed an infringement of Article 8 of the European convention on human rights, though Mr. Craxi was guilty of committing certain offences, it was held that: the state failed to provide safe custody of the transcripts of telephone conversation which Were presented as evidence before the court and to subsequently carry out an effective Investigation as to how those private communications were released into public domain  [24]   Privacy is gradually becoming lost in our society irrespective of the different Laws that have been established in our society, we cant honestly say that they protect our personal information from the dangers of a surveillance society such as globalization, the internet and the continuous invention of new technologies by virtue of new discoveries. 4.0 REGULATIONS A society cannot exist without laws and supervisory authorities that would regulate the actions and behaviours of individuals. In a surveillance society, there is a great need for laws and bodies to be established in other to oversee and supervise the way our personal data is being used because without people watching those who process our data, there is a risk of danger to us as our information could be manipulated and used against us if it were to fall into wrong hands. Blackmail by criminals and discrimination to our person could result where medical data about an individual who has HIV or other deadly diseases was to leak, as the person could be subject to social discrimination and stigmatisation. As a result of this, different countries have supervisory authorities who possess some powers to ensure that our privacy is protected in a surveillance society. Article 28 (1) and (2) of the data protection Directive provides for the establishment of these supervisory authorities and their powers. In the UK we have the information commissioner meanwhile other member countries except Germany have a single supervisory authority who supervise the affairs of their personal data.  [25]   Different Laws have been enacted and put in place in our society today so as to make sure that our personal information is protected but these laws have their strengths and weaknesses and cannot be relied on completely by individuals in a surveillance society. Most of this law are guided by some basic principles such as: (a)Personal data must be processed fairly and lawfully. (b)Personal data should not be use for any purpose other than the purpose it was obtained for. (c)Personal data must be accurate and kept up to date. (d)An individual must be informed of when personal data about them is collected. (e)The purpose for which personal data was obtained should be stated. (f)The consent of the individual must be obtained before obtaining their personal information (g)Individuals must be told how their data will be protected from misuse. (I)Individuals should be told how they can access their data and should be able to verify its accuracy and request changes where necessary  [26]  . The above represent the basic fair information principles (FIP) that regulate the control of our personal data in a surveillance society. These principles exist side by side with some laws in controlling the use of our data. Some of these laws include: (1)European Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC. (2)Data Protection Act 1998. (3)Regulation of investigatory powers Act 2000. (4)Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001. (5)The Council of Europe Convention. (6)OECD 1980 Laws. (7)Telecommunications Directive (97/66/EC). (8) Electronic communications Act 2000. 4.1 Data Protection Act (1998) The need of data protections laws arouse out of the growing use of computers in the 1970s and the threat to personal privacy that rapid manipulation of data posed and as a result data was made easily accessible from many different points. Computer technology makes it possible for data to be transferred from one data base to another by data controllers and processors such as employers, companies, government agencies and so on and data subjects most of the time are not aware of the purpose for which their personal data is being used.  [27]   Schedule 1 of the Act provides for the principles of data protection, schedule 2 provides for all personal data and schedule 3 provides only for sensitive personal data. The Act defined personal data in section 1 as data which relate to a living individual who can be identified from those data or from those data which are under procession of or is likely to come into the possession of the data controller  [28]  . It also provides in section 2 for sensitive personal data which is personal data consisting of information as to racial or ethnic origin, sexual life, mental health, religious beliefs  [29]   The Act is a regulatory law that is recognised by the UK and as such section 6  [30]  of the Act provides for the Office of the Information Commissioner and the tribunal and their powers as supervisory authorities with regards to our personal data and this Act applies to the United Kingdom (UK) and any other (EEA) state by virtue of section 5 of this act  [31]   The Act also provides data subjects with some rights in order to protect their personal data such as: Right to access of our personal data Right to be informed of our personal data and the purpose for which they are used Right of rectification and erasure of data when it appears incorrect e.t.c Schedule 1 of the Data protection Act (1998) provided for eight principles which data controllers and processors are to apply when handling our personal data which is in conformity with the fair information principles mentioned above. 4.2ORGANIZATION OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT ( OECD 1980) LAWS The OECD guidelines were adopted in 1980 on the protection of privacy and trans-border data flows of personal data. It comprised of 24 countries throughout the world and including the U.S and it was enacted to harmonize national privacy legislation and uphold human rights and prevent interruptions in international flows of data. The OECD 1980 guidelines include: (1)Collection limitation: There should be limits to the collection of personal data and it should be obtained by lawful means with the consent of the data subject where necessary (2)Data quality principle states that personal data should be relevant for the purposes in which they are used and should be accurate and up to date. (3)Purpose specification: The purpose for which the data was collected must be specified (4)Security safeguards principle for example loss, unauthorized access, destruction and so on should be observed. (5)Openness Principle (6)Individual participation principle (7)Accountability principle: A data controller should be accountable for complying with measures which give effect to the principles stated above (8) Use limitation principle: Personal data should not be disclosed, made available or used for purposes other than those specified except with the consent of the data subject or the law.  [32]   4.3 Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act (2001) This law was established to reduce the level of terrorism and crime and to provide for the retention of communications data and for many other connected purposes. This law is issued by the secretary of the state who from time to time can revise a code of practise in relation to the retention of communications providers of communications data obtained by and held by them in other to safeguard national security and prevent crime by virtue of section102 (1),(2) and (3) of the Act.  [33]   Judging from our analysis of a few laws, reports have shown that these privacy laws are not efficient enough to safeguard our privacy and personal data in a surveillance society. Other measures of regulation include: (1)Self regulation by the use of codes to regulates their conduct  [34]   (2)Privacy enhancing technologies (PET)  [35]   (3) Individual s

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Causes of Homelessness

Causes of Homelessness Homelessness can significantly impact on the health, welfare and employment prospects of those unfortunate enough to experience it. The life expectancy of rough sleepers is 42 years. Children living in temporary or shared accommodation have their education disrupted and are more likely to suffer from behavioural problems (House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts 2005). Whilst lack of educational achievement is classed as disadvantage in the jobs market, those with no qualifications (who do not suffer from any other form of disadvantage) have a relatively high rate of employment. However, where there is additional disadvantage such as homelessness, substance misuse or criminal record these factors combine to depress employment rates. The client group approach has been successful in targeting specific groups such as single mothers and the disabled, assisting them to move out of welfare dependency. This approach has been less successful with respect to clients who suffer from multiple disadvantages (Freud 2007). In 1998, the then Prime Minister pledged to reduce the number of rough sleepers by two-thirds by 2002. Many of those who have made the transition from rough sleeping have done so by using hostels as a first step (Department for Communities and Local Government 2006). However, fundamental to the achievement of successful outcomes with respect to homelessness is to encourage homeless people into meaningful activity, training and ultimately employment (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2005, Department for Communities and Local Government 2006). There is also a recognition that services for the disadvantaged should be joined-up, which will assist in providing co-ordination to those who face homelessness (Department for Communities and Local Government 2003). Research indicates that there are two approaches apparent as the most successful with respect to homeless people those that are holistic and tailored (Freud 2007, Butcher et al 2007). This implies addressing all of the problems faced by the individual including employment, health as well as housing. The key benefits of this approach are sustainable outcomes and effectiveness in tackling homelessness and multiple needs (Butcher et al 2007). However, the homeless face significant issues relating to training and employment. This review seeks to examine the key issues with respect to homeless people and their ability to access training and employment opportunities. This is fundamental as employment is considered one of the primary pathways addressing social exclusion and leading to financial independence (Lownsbrough 2005, Sodha and Grant 2010). Homelessness Legally, the law classes a person as homeless if they do not have the legal right to occupy any living accommodation, or the accommodation they occupy is not suitable or habitable. Many regard homelessness as rough sleeping but this disguises other forms of homelessness such as those living in temporary accommodation, bed breakfast, hostels etc. (Shelter 2007). The obligations on local authorities are included in the Housing Act 1996, which was amended by the Homelessness Act 2002. This places a duty on local authorities to house people who fit the homelessness criteria. However, not everyone defined as homeless will be entitled to accommodation. To qualify for housing under the homelessness legislation an applicant must meet eligibility criteria, be legally defined as homeless, be in priority need and not have become intentionally homeless. Whilst a person may have a serious housing need, if they do not fulfil the criteria, the local authority does not have a duty to house them (Shelter 2007). It is difficult to quantify numbers of homeless people due to the extent of hidden homelessness. In addition there are those who experience episodes of homelessness between more stable periods (Shelter 2007). Opinion Leader Research (2006) found that the majority of homeless were in a cycle of repeated episodes of homelessness and this was related to debt problems, drug and alcohol dependency and the nature of hostel accommodation i.e. noisy, violent, costly. Daytime homelessness has also been identified (Jones and Pleace 2005). Originally used in the USA, the term refers to the situation where hostel dwellers are ejected from their accommodation during the day so whilst they may have over-night accommodation, the lack of a home during the day results in daytime homelessness. Causes The causes of homelessness are many and varied, but generally fall into the categories of structural factors (unemployment, poverty, lack of suitable housing, the extent of legal rights, social trends, benefits issues and policy development such as the closure of long-stay institutions) and personal factors (drug / alcohol misuse, problems at school, debts, physical and mental health issues, family breakdown, leaving the care system or armed forces) (Shelter 2007, Butcher et al 2007). A spiral or chain of events could also lead to homelessness. An event such as a family breakdown leads to loss of home or family support, which triggers a response such as substance misuse, loss of self-esteem and motivation (Butcher et al 2007). There are also a series of risk factors or indicators that confront the homeless or potentially homeless (Jones and Pleace 2005). These are: school exclusion and lack of qualifications; time in local authority care; multiple needs: combined mental health drug / alcohol problems; contact with the criminal justice system; time in the armed forces; previous experience of homelessness; lack of a social support network; difficulties in furnishing or maintaining a home; debts, especially rent or mortgage arrears; causing nuisance to neighbours (often linked to multiple needs). Impact Homelessness is traumatic. In addition, many have suffered a trauma leading homelessness such as home repossession, drug and alcohol misuse, domestic violence etc. Homelessness can lead to disempowerment, isolation and poverty. Homeless people rely on benefits and this in-turn can lead to dependency due to the high rents payable in supported housing such as hostels (Shelter 2007). Evidence suggests that homeless people will remain in supported housing such as hostels for some time, impacting on their attempts to re-enter the mainstream (Singh 2005). The reliance on benefits due to the high rents in temporary accommodation has a significant impact on a homeless persons ability to get a job and move on. As income rises Housing and Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are reduced. If a homeless person manages to find a job, they may be no better of as their benefits are reduced accordingly. When travel and other costs related to working is accounted for the homeless person may be no better off (Shelter 2007) this is examined in greater detail below. Young homeless people face a struggle in the transition to adult life (Foyer Federation 2001). They face issues such as poverty, lack of qualifications, family encouragement and self-esteem. Those who were homeless and those providing services have often referred to a homelessness culture (Crisis 2005), but this was in fact a reference to the most damaging aspect of many homeless peoples former way of life i.e. drug and alcohol dependency. The importance of Life Skills Many authors have examined and highlighted the value of life skills in tackling homelessness and social exclusion (Foyer Federation 2001, Department for Communities and Local Government 2003, Parsons and Palmer 2004, Lownsbrough 2005, Lownsbrough et al 2005, Singh 2005, Department for Communities and Local Government 2006, Opinion Leader Research 2006, Whitehead 2006, New Economics Foundation 2008, Quilgars et al 2008). However, Jones and Pleace (2005) suggest that research from as far back as the 1980s indicates that there are more complex issues leading to the risk of homelessness, rather than just a lack of life skills. They cite Jones et al (2001) assertion that life skills training is carried out with homeless people because it is accepted practice rather than because of an evidence base related to its efficacy. Employers and those in education are paying increasing attention to skills rather than just knowledge. This relates to how someone might react to a particular situation rather than how much they know. The work environment is increasingly focussed on key skills, learning skills and life skills. This focus has coincided with a similar debate about the acquisition of life skills to tackle social exclusion and address welfare reform. Life skills are recognised as being essential for people to managing their lives and relationships. They are also vital with respect to finding and sustaining a job (Lownsbrough et al 2005). There is an underlying assumption of a correlation between lack of life skills and being part of a socially excluded group. This raises two important questions; do people become excluded as a result of poor life skills? Or are life skills forgotten as a result of social exclusion and dealing with the challenging circumstances that exclusion throws-up? Whilst there is no evidence to suggest a causal link there is an interaction, which means families can spend generations trying to escape (from exclusion) (Lownsbrough et al 2005). Life skills are the activities that relate to daily living such as washing, cleaning and managing a household budget together with the soft skills such as communication that allow individuals to form and manage relationships. Singh (2005) found that some homeless peoples lack of life skills meant they were not able to access services and behavioural norms such as punctuality were not developed. Acquiring and maintaining life skills has been found to act as a gateway to more formal training in the same skill, which has ultimately led to employment. There are a number of examples where learning basic cookery skills have stimulated an interest in undertaking technical training and subsequent employment in catering (Lownsbrough 2005). When a person becomes excluded for a particular reason, the issue defines them in society and they are offered services that aim to alleviate the issue that has caused the exclusion, such as the provision of hot meals, clean clothing etc. They are then offered services that enable them to overcome the exclusion such as training, job search etc. Life skills training can provide a vital bridge between these services (Lownsbrough et al 2005). Whilst for some, undertaking formal training will ultimately lead to independence; others may need to acquire more basis skills in the short term. Homeless people generally need a wide range of training from formal education to support with respect to support services including general life skills, psychological support, social skills, financial management, basic skills and job related skills (Opinion Leader Research 2006). Meaningful Activity Lack of motivation is a common issue among homeless people (Jones and Pleace 2005, Singh 2005, Centrepoint 2006, OSW 2007, New Economics Foundation 2008). However, participating in meaningful activity is seen as a way of engaging the socially excluded and disadvantaged in activity that, whilst not actually concerning education, job-search etc, incorporates activities that teach those involved about teamwork, social skills etc., which are useful in the jobs market. Activities can be volunteering, art-based activity (theatre, painting, photography) or those involving health such as Tai Chi. Engaging with the homeless via the use of meaningful activity can provide a gateway into more formal training and job search and has been found to have an impact on social issues such as self-esteem and the ability to form and maintain relationships (Jones and Pleace 2005, Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills 2009). Meaningful activity around arts based projects also has a number of advantages such as the opportunity to be creative. In addition, there are no entry requirements or skills requirements so participants feel less exposed and can progress at their own speed. It also affords the opportunity of allowing the person to express and reflect what has happened to them (Cameron et al 2003). Government Policy relating to Work The government has made good progress in its Welfare to Work agenda and the creation of New Deal and Jobcentre plus has been instrumental in achieving this success. However, the government needs to build on its achievements so far to ensure that the most disadvantaged in society are also given opportunities to move from benefits dependency, but this should recognise that they may have special needs which need to be addressed in a holistic way (Freud 2007). As a result of improved economic prosperity, government has transformed work and opportunity in Britain. The goal of full employment matters because work provides the opportunity for development, progression and financial independence (Department for Work and Pensions 2007a). Governments intention is to create the circumstances whereby people move from being spectators to becoming participants, actively seeking and preparing for work (Department for Work and Pensions 2007b). There are five key elements that will be used to achieve the aim of full employment: A stronger framework of rights and responsibilities to move benefit claimants from being passive recipients to being active jobseekers A personalised and responsive approach will empower advisers and give increased discretion to Jobcentre Plus staff Partnership the public, private and third sectors working together on the basis of what works best Targeting areas of high worklessness by devolving and empowering communities Not just jobs, but jobs that pay and offer opportunities for progression There are also plans to improve support and provide work incentives in conjunction with a benefits system that rewards responsibility together with a greater choice over the support that is provided (Green Paper Department for Work and Pensions 2008a). The intention is to: Simplify benefits with the result that there will be two payments, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for those with a condition that prevents working and Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) for those actively seeking work. Ensure that there is a no right to life on benefits. Disregard child maintenance payments when calculating entitlement. The subsequent White Paper (Department for Work and Pensions 2008b) sets out a programme to implement proposals with respect to changing the benefits system, improving job search services, adding conditionality to benefits entitlement, providing and defining additional support and ending child poverty. In January 2009, the Welfare Reform Act 2009 translated into statute the foregoing policy and discussion documents, aiming to increase the employment rate to 80%, end child-poverty, offer tailored support to job-seekers and place conditionality on benefits entitlements. There are a number of initiatives that are aimed at helping to move homeless people into work (Crisis 2007). These are: Pathways to Work: Aimed at supporting those claiming Incapacity Benefit to make the transition into work. This is particularly relevant to the homeless as circa 70% of homeless people claim this benefit (Crisis 2007). The New Deal / Flexible New Deal: Offering counselling and guidance, training and education. In 2004, the initiative was adapted to make it more suitable to the homeless (Department for Work and Pensions 2004). However, as eligibility is restricted to those in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance for at least six consecutive months, this may prove to be a barrier to the homeless as their lifestyles often result in gaps in claims (Crisis 2007). Jobcentre Plus: 2006 saw the opening of a centre in London devoted to working with the homeless and this coincided with a national commitment to prioritise the needs of the homeless (crisis 2007). progress2work and the progress2work-LinkUP: These pilot schemes recognise that disadvantaged clients need more time together with specialist interventions from statutory and other agencies to make lasting impact on employment outcomes. The target system used to measure Jobcentre Plus and others recognises that there are some clients that may require specialist, long-term assistance (Department for Work and Pensions 2004). However, there is concern over the ability of the model to justify its existence over the three-year term before the committed funding runs out (Crisis 2007). New Deal and Flexible New Deal together with Jobcentre Plus have proved effective assisting circa 90% back into work within twelve months. Prior to the recession Job Seekers Allowance claim levels were the lowest for thirty years. Unemployment levels during the recession were at lower rates than predicted by the government (Sodha and Grant 2010). Whilst the welfare-to-work programme has undoubtedly had assisted in creating a population of more skilled, educated and active, the homeless continue to face exclusion and run the risk of suffering more disadvantage (Sodha and Grant 2010). Homelessness and Work In 1986 83% of homeless people were in some form of paid employment but by 2005 this figure had dropped to 5% and by 2007 only 4% were in work (St Mungos 2005 and 2007). Singh (2005) found that 77% of those surveyed wanted to work. 97% of hostel residents would like to work (St Mungos 2007) and a 2010 survey conducted by St Mungos revealed that 80% agreed with the statement one of my goals is to get back into work. Research has reliably indicated that rates of employment among young homeless people are very low and that they face a combination of significant barriers that impact on their educational achievement and employment potential (Centrepoint 2006). worklessness lies at the root of deprivation (Meadows 2008). Employment is one of the key routes toward addressing social exclusion and achieving independence, both socially and financially (Lownsbrough 2005, Sodha and Grant 2010). However, financial rewards are not the singular motivation for the homeless wanting to find work (New Economics Foundation 2008). Barriers Homeless people face a range of issues, which form barriers to their progression from benefits into training, work and independence. These barriers are person-related and systemic or structural. Person-related barriers include: Lack of skills (including life-skills) and / or qualifications Low motivation Lack of confidence and self-esteem Poor job search skills Lack of work experience Health, both physical and mental Addictions Cultural / language barriers Fear of change and the unknown Low respect for / mistrust of authority Criminal record The structural / systematic barriers include: Living in concentrations of worklessness Living in social housing / hostels and the stigma attached Poor local transport Limited local job opportunities High cost of hostel rents Poor financial incentives and the benefits trap Lack of ongoing support Discrimination (Parsons and Palmer 2004, Jones Pleace 2005, Lownsbrough 2005, Singh 2005, Centrpoint 2006, Opinion Leader Research 2006, Butcher et al 2007, New Economic Foundation 2008, Sodha Grant 2010, Business Action on Homelessness 2009) 37% of homeless people have no formal qualifications whilst 13% have Level 3 qualifications (more than 1 A Level) or above. This compares to just fewer than 50% of the general population (New Economic Foundation 2008). In addition, many suffer barriers relating to competing issues (Singh 2005, Jones Pleace 2005). Competing issues arise where a pressing need such as dealing with addiction prevents the person addressing the issue of finding work. Singh (2005) cites Maslows Hierarchy of Needs model, which suggests that fundamental needs such as finding a home take precedence in the hierarchy over, for example, addressing issues around self-esteem. Lower level barriers include lack of suitable clothing to attend an interview, inadequate access to a telephone or computer and the lack of somewhere suitable to complete an application (Parsons and Palmer 2005, Singh 2005). Pathway to Employment The traditional pathway to employment model employed by the homelessness sector is a three-stage process where the first engagement stage is centred on addressing the issues that led to homelessness such as treatment for substance misuse. In the second stage of pre-work support the process is about attempting to get clients work-ready and can include volunteering, job-search, training, work placements etc, which will hopefully result in a job offer. The last stage involves in-work support which can take the form of job-coaching and at-work training (New Economics Foundation 2008). However, a revised model should be used that more readily reflects the journey into employment (New Economics Foundation 2008). The new model highlights the need for intensive support during the first twelve weeks of employment, as this is the period when homeless people struggle financially, emotionally and practically. The model is based on four key stages i.e. Engagement, Pre-work support, Settling into work, Sustainable employment. Whilst this new model represents a linear path to employment it may need to be modified to reflect the reality that a person with high support needs may drop out at any stage. So if a person drops out at the Settling into work phase, this may result in further work on the Pre-work or even Engagement phases (New Economics Foundation 2008). Butcher et al (2007) reported a seven-stage journey to employability comprising engagement, needs assessment, individual action plan, support, and labour market preparation, in work support, sustainable employment. The content of this seven-stage route shares many similarities with the revised model above. Fothergill (2008) develops the model to create The Right Deal for Homeless People to prove a holistic and co-ordinated range of support to assist the homeless into work and independence. Meadows (2008) indicated that homeless people come from a range of backgrounds with different needs relating to education, health (both physical and mental), contact with the justice system etc. The most effective interventions with respect to homeless people and their pathway to employment are those that address the needs of the individual, which may involve interventions via referrals to specialist agencies. As a result of the Places of Change programme (Department of Communities and Local Government 2006), St Mungos instituted a five-stage Pathways to Employment programme, beginning with an Occupational Health Check which then proceeds with activities such as basic skills training, vocational guidance, long-term meaningful activity, external accredited training, job search, coaching and end with in-work support. Clients are also provided with suitable clothing to attend interviews. (St Mungos 2007). Evaluation of this programme noted the project having a significant impact on participants lives. The journey towards increasing independence and employment has begun for participating clients. The programme can achieve significant outcomes but interpretation of outcomes must recognise the progress that clients can realistically make (Sodha and Grant 2010). The Ready for Work programme under the auspices of Business Action on Homelessness (BAOH) targets those who may be ready for work but lack skills, confidence or are long-term unemployed. In a two-week work placement they are allocated a buddy, together with support from BAOH trained staff for six months following the placement. Since its inception 2000 out of 5000 people have found work and of the participants 38% go on to full time work. 500 businesses are involved and they report the valuable contribution that the homeless can make (Sodha and Grant 2010). There is scope to employ homeless people in the homelessness field (Ireland 2010). Circa 20% of the staff within Thames Reach, Tyneside Cyrenians and P3 are former service users. There are 17,000 employed in the sector and if all organisations employed service users at this 20% rate, this would realise some 3,400 positions. Although there is no single pathway model, the similarities of each organisations approach are a lead from senior management, incorporating the model into business planning and ensuring staff buy-in. Staff who are former service users display a high level of commitment to the job, other service users and are able to use their experience to benefit their case-load. There are a number of benefits in employing service users: Beneficial impact on culture Credibility and influence with policy makers Adding value to service delivery as a result of the experience of staff (Ireland 2010) Sustaining employment can be a particular issue with respect to the homeless and reasons for not being able to sustain work include transport, not being mentally ready and difficulties with integration into the workforce. This reinforces the need for tailored one-to-one support during the early stages of employment (Singh 2005, Sodha and Grant 2010). In addition to facing problems fitting in (Business Action on Homelessness 2009) in the initial stages of employment, there are other issues which can prove significant in determining whether a homeless person is able to sustain the new job. They are poor financial planning, which relates to the transition from benefits, particularly where the persons income is cost neutral or where they are only slightly better off, the effect of temporary, casual contracts as the benefits system is not geared up to address this type of work and social isolation particularly where the move into employment is accompanied by a move from a hostel into more permanent accommodation, resulting in less or no contact with existing social networks. Barriers to sustaining employment also include drug / alcohol dependency, emotional problems, particularly during tense or stressful periods and the likelihood was that the job would be low skilled and low-paid resulting in little job satisfaction (Opinion Leader Research 2006). Meadows (2008) also highlighted the need to work with young homeless and disadvantaged people to develop a work-focussed lifestyle can assist in tackling other areas of disadvantage. Benefits System Generally referred to as the benefits trap, this situation occurs when the reduction in benefits as a result of having a job means that the person is marginally, or no better off. When questioned, however 56% of homeless individual stated they would take a job in these circumstances whilst 21% would take other issues into account before coming to a decision (Singh 2005). Many people find that they are no better off in work: Taking into account the costs of work (travel or work-related clothing, for example) a JSA claimant over the age of 25 faces a participation tax rate exceeding 100% for most of the first 20 hours of work (and just below 100% for the hours after. As a result, the individual gains only  £29.06 after 40 hours of work (Sodha and Grant 2010). Caseworkers, clients and experts in the field of homelessness find that the tax and benefits system is confusing. The benefits system plays a fundamental role in the transition from benefits dependency into work, but the perception is that the system operates as a bureaucratic function that militates against support into work. These difficulties result in people not claiming entitlements, particularly with respect to in-work, benefits and tapering payments. There is also the concern amongst claimants that benefits entitlements have been calculated incorrectly, resulting in claw-back at a later date. The system of Working Tax credits has also resulted in some being worse off after following a recalculation of entitlement after 12 months in work (New Economics Foundation 2008). Bearing in mind that many homeless people are already in debt, poor transitional arrangements resulted in many taking on more debts, thereby increasing the likelihood of a further episode of homelessness. This difficult experience in moving into work reduces the motivation to try again (New Economics Foundation 2008). Difficult benefits to work transitions can result in a four-week period between benefits concluding and the arrival of the first pay-slip (Sodha and Grant 2010). Workless people are not well informed about the availability of Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Childcare Tax Credit and additional forms of support. The complex inter-relationships of these benefits together with family circumstances, earnings and location mean that the system has a limited role to play in encouraging the transition to work (Meadows 2008, Sodha and Grant 2010, Business Action on Homelessness 2009). There is also a perception amongst homeless people that working will not make them better off, particularly as the jobs they could apply for are low skilled and low paid. There is also evidence that pressure from government agencies to take work has driven many to forego benefits in favour of begging or part time casual work (Opinion Leader Research 2006). The system of benefits is poorly structured, particularly with respect to sign-on days so there is evidence of those on Ready to Work placements having to take days off in order to avoid loosing benefits payments. The complex nature of Housing Benefit recalculations makes it problematic for those on variable hours or short-term contracts (Business Action on Homelessness 2009). Attitudes of Employers In a survey of fifteen employers, all thought that commercial and non-commercial employers had a duty to help socially disadvantaged people such as the homeless. Employers consider that Corporate Social Responsibility at a local level is particularly important as it affords them the opportunity of putting something back. Although most employers had recruitment policies, they tended to be influenced by equal opportunities legislation rather than addressing the needs of disadvantaged groups such as the homeless (Singh 2005). Involving employers can be complex as they are likely to be resistant to anything that is time consuming and does not have clear outcomes. However, good relationships with employers can provide opportunities for work placements and the potential to have an effect on recruitment policies (Meadows 2008). Of those organisations that offered work placements to homeless people, they suggested a number of benefits to the organisation: Improved understanding of the issues. Challenge to existing policies within the organisation. Utilisation of untapped skills. Seeing first hand someone reclaiming their lives, dignity and self-respect. The negative aspects were reported as: Some candidates not being work