San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert

The San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert A well-known foraging community in the southwest region of Africa is the San Bushmen. These hunting and gathering bands have lived in the Kalahari Desert region for thousands of years. The men of these communities are the primary hunters, who provide about 20 percent of the diet from the animals they kill. The women collect a various nuts, tubers, melons, and berries that provide the other 80 percent of the San diet (Nowak & Laird, 2010). The San live in one of the most marginal environments in the world and generally move around in bands when hunting or while moving around to find water or food about two to three times a week. Women can collect enough food in one day to feed their families for a full week, while men hunt two or three days a week. Vegetation is found in the same place every year, whereas animals are less reliably found in a particular location. Thus, women's knowledge about reliable locations to find food is respected and seriously considered. The rest of the time is spent in leisurely pursuits: visiting, playing, sleeping, and just enjoying each other's company (Lee, 1979). Like other foragers, have many hours of free time for leisure activities, including socializing with their kin and friends. San men vary widely in their skill at hunting, but different levels of success do not lead to differences in status. Self-deprecation and understatement are rigorously required of the hunter after a successful hunt. This modesty is evident from the moment he enters the village to relay his news. Although an energetic man might be a successful hunter, he is the â€Å"owner† of the meat only if the spear or arrow used to kill the animal was his. A man who does not excel at hunting can therefore be successful by giving an arrow he made to another hunter. If his arrow was used in the kill, he is considered the â€Å"owner† of the meat (Shostak, 1981). When looking generalized reciprocity from the outside, one would think a hunter, who chooses to share his kill among others is being very generous. However, the real reason behind this is that it enhances their survival. Without collectively sharing, the San life would be much harder. This way of life helps relieve tensions and strengthens their bonds of kinship. Reciprocity helps foragers in the way of a safety net. If a community loses a food or water source, they can ask another community to share theirs. As far as ownership is concerned, the San, have rights to waterholes, and if others want to use the waterhole, they must get permission. By sharing the use of the waterhole, the community receiving the water will reciprocate in the future with other goods or services. Other forms of ownership include tools, such as blowpipes, darts, digging sticks, and animals. Today, the San are having trouble maintaining their identity, their traditions and their cultures. The land that was once free to them is being taken away and used for game reserves and other purposes. Forcing them to move from their lands disrupts and weakens their kinship. Kinship in today’s society can go either way. It can be cohesive or disconnected due to the nature or patterns of how the relationship was built. If a child for instance had a great relationship with his/her family while growing up, they are more likely to have a great relationship throughout their lives and continue respecting their family and others. If the opposite applies, as it unfortunately happens in today’s world, they grow up to believe that they are an â€Å"island† and if they do not take care of themselves, no one else will. References Nowak, B. , & Laird, P. (2010). Cultural anthropology. San Diego, Bridgepoint Education, Inc. https://content. ashford. edu. Lee, R. (1979). The ! Kung San: Men, women and work in a foraging society. Melbourne, Australia: Cambridge University Press. Shostak, M. (1981). Nisa: The life and words of a ! Kung woman. New York: Vintage.

My philosophy in nursing Essay

My philosophy in nursing is to uphold the dignity of my patients during their vulnerable time of need, care for the patients physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally; current beliefs and values that I try to uphold throughout my life. According to Chitty, â€Å"philosophy is defined as the study of the principles underlying conduct, thought, and the nature of the universe† (p. 318). To determine my philosophy of nursing care I had to reevaluate my beliefs and values. see more:my philosophy of life My values are learned from my personal growth, involvement with family and friends, and respecting others beliefs and opinions. My beliefs are that modern medicine is a great way of healing through research and technology. I believe patients mental and physical health needs should be evaluated and treated if necessary by a healthcare team and support groups. As part of the team, I will care for the patients and their families during distressed times. I will work as an advocate to carry out, to the best of my knowledge and skills, the essential care to provide the best experience in healthcare that each patient and family deserves. I believe nursing care needs to be holistic, â€Å"nourishing the whole person,  that is, the body, mind and spirit† (Chitty, 2007 p. 312); I think that is what defines us as nurses in the healthcare field. It is the nurse’s responsibility to incorporate our knowledge, skills and available resources, so we can improve our patient’s quality of life. The American Nurses Association, ANA, defines nursing as â€Å"the protection, promotion, optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury† (Lance, 2007, p. 11). I try to incorporate these elements into my nursing practice; practicing my profession with care, compassion, and humanity. Being able to relate to people of different cultures and backgrounds will allow me to connect with a greater variety of patients and families. I come from an area where there are people from a variety of cultural backgrounds, socioeconomic status, and different spiritual beliefs and we all get along. We spend time together and their families are accepting. These experiences were needed to give me the knowledge to provide heightened nursing care to patients and their families. I believe in the importance of continuing education in nursing. To continue giving proficient patient care, it is important to remain educated on current research and evidence based practice, keeping licensures and certifications current. According to Randell, Tate and Lougheed, â€Å"it is important to reflect what we do as nurses so we keep learning† (p. 62). This allows patients to receive high quality nursing care. I will strive to apply my nursing philosophy to my nursing practice by continuing to reevaluate my beliefs and values as I grow in my profession and as a person. I will continue my education aiming to advance in my nursing practice, but continuing to remember nursing’s holistic point of view. This will allow me to care for my patients and their families more effectively. I will maintain my own physical, mental and emotional health, so I can continue giving the best care I am capable of to people in need. REFERENCESTC â€Å"REFERENCES† Chitty, K. K. (2007). Professional Nursing Concepts & Challenges (5th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier Inc. Retrieved February 16, 2008, from University of Phoenix Library. Lance, K. (2007). Nurse life care planning. _Virginia Nurses Today,_ 52 (2), 11. Retrieved February 16, 2008, from Ebscohost database. Randell, C. E., Tate B., & Lougheed M. (2007). Emancipatory teaching-learning philosophy and practice education in acute care: navigating tensions. _Journal of Nursing,_ 46 (2), 62. Retrieved February 18, 2008, from EBSCOhost database.

How has the evolution of the internet and ethics changed the practice Essay

How has the evolution of the internet and ethics changed the practice of marketing communication - Essay Example eception doctrine has been relatively easier to substantiate compared to unfairness, and this is specifically applicable for electronic media (Johnson & David, 1996; Who’s Watching the Web, www.aaf.org/relations/onlineprivacy.htm). The current study seeks to evaluate the evolution of the internet and ethical and their implications on the practice of marketing communication. It presents the factors which are perceived as unethical by internet consumers, and the significant predictors of consumers’ evaluations of fairness and ethicality. The following section presents the review of related literature. The components of the unfairness doctrine suggest that an organization is in discordance only when â€Å"injury† is sustained as an outcome of the marketing communication under contention. A critical issue has been borne out of the tangibility of the requirements to justify injury, and the intrinsic intangibility of the internet. Particularly, this has reinforced the ability to concretely link an organization’s marketing activities on the internet to a monetary or physical injury inflicted on the consumers. This challenge has caused the FTC to dedicate substantial attention and energy to drafting standards for internet marketing communications, in that claims to consumers must be adequately justified through research. However, the issue remains regarding how such a policy that is drafted in the present will be transferable to unfairness issues in the future (McGrath, 1999). The FTC has very distinguished and specific principles and guidelines with regards to determining when marketing communications have committed a violation of fairness. The original policy has been drafted on December 18, 1980, with the intention of precluding â€Å"unfair†¦acts or practices in or affecting commerce.† Drafting a list that stringently expressed that all that is considered â€Å"unfair† would be unproductive due to very dynamic and fast changing market conditions in each industry.

Situation analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Situation analysis - Essay Example Coffee for instance requires electricity to heat. Electricity may be produced from various sources and one of them is through fossil fuel. The US remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels for many years (Musial 10). It is recorded that 41 percent of the world’s man-made burn carbon dioxide comes from the burning of fossil fuels for generating electricity in the United States (Rodger 11). This means that at some point, fossil fuel is a necessity in the United States to produce electricity so that there is something that can be tapped for industrial use. In today’s modern world electricity finds its use in food preparation. For instance, coffee needs to be heated with electricity. It is better tasting when it is hot. In the United States, a cup of coffee is one of the most popular adult beverages in the country to have in a day. For some people, a cup of hot coffee in the morning completes their day. The United States is said to be the largest consumer of coffee (Hufbauer and Schott 301). The country is also known for its industry on retail specialty coffee beverage which was able to hit $3 billion sales and even higher in the mid of 1990’s (Clay 81). Since then, the industry continued to achieve an upward spiraling growth performance leading to more innovation in the coffee industry. One of its latest innovations is the Solar System Coffee Mug. This specifically implies that the market opportunity for coffee in the country is promising provided that there is a good investment plan for it. This means that investors in the first place need to understand the fact that there is already a promising market but it is up to them how they could acquire specific market share for their product offering. Strategically speaking, there is a need to differentiate their offerings in order to stand a cut above the other. However, this requires the right information and at some point, a good innovative approach is necessary. Understanding the market may be one

Blacks Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Blacks - Assignment Example In the 1870’s about 80% of American Blacks lived in the southern rural American area where there was large scale exploitation of laborers by wealthy American land owners (Sampson 1464). This started to change in the late 1800’s when the Blacks in the south started to migrate to better cities in the south and to the north for a better life especially during the American industrialization. This change brought about a great change in the life of Black Americans in the Unite d States of America socially, politically and economically. The Black ghettos did not just emerge, but were occasioned by among other reasons, a systematic arrangement of the Whites to prevent the Blacks from acquiring proper urban housing in certain areas and to segregate them. Socially, Blacks were considered to be inferior to Whites and were created to serve the Whites, a mentality which was strengthened by the Jim Crow laws. Though small areas that were occupied mainly by Blacks had existed before, Black ghettos started to emerge in the north with the migration of Blacks to the United States of America during the First World War, the Second World War and the 1920’s. ... Blacks were systematically removed from areas considered to be White neighborhoods due to this ideology. There was also the scenario where people who engaged in communal violence were singled out and confined to certain places and for the Blacks; this was in the ghettos (Douglas and Nancy 17). This practice mostly targeted Blacks who were considered to be violent in nature. In the period around 1920, there was also what was referred to as targeted violence which was mostly directed to the Black middle class by their White counterparts, which also gave rise to the expansion of the Black ghettos and relegation of Blacks to what were considered as Black neighborhoods. The Whites would collect money to buy out middle class urban dwellers from their neighborhoods with threats of dire consequences for non compliance, which gave rise to the concentration of Blacks to certain neighborhoods. Those Blacks who could afford to live in White neighborhoods were attacked and their houses looted or burnt just because of the color of their skin. The neighborhoods especially in the south were characterized by large avenues which housed Whites and small streets and poor dwellings which housed Blacks, with the Blacks working as house helps and farmhands in the White neighborhood dwellings. The mentality of Master /slave had been replaced by master/servant relationship but the Black was still seen as subservient to the White. Incase of arrests for the offences, the culprits would be the Blacks instead of the White attackers. The Whites considered Blacks no matter their social, economic or educational standing to belong to the Black neighborhoods, with the support of the state through the Jim Crow laws and other segregate

Marketing Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Marketing Research - Essay Example Because of this influence, the demand for such products increases manifold and the retailers can benefit from enhanced volumes of sales. They may also become capable of assessing the market trends and can offer valuable feedback to supplier and manufactures to modify or amend their marketing strategies. Thus it can be stated that endorsement by celebrities can have a strong impact on products and create a healthy demand that in turn will raise sales volumes resulting in increased profits for the retailers. â€Å"Celebrity marketing is also a valuable way to build instant name recognition, attaching yourself to a person who is well-known to achieve awareness that otherwise might have taken years of marketing.†1 Marketing Research is a scientific search for information especially in the areas related to functions of marketing. Marketing research as a separate department can be a source of valuable help to management’s decision making process. Today, the dynamic markets require numerous middlemen between producer and consumer. Each middleman provides flow of communication regarding consumer needs and dealer needs to the manufacturer. To evaluate and understand the size and specialization within the business unit and to determine the intervention of numerous middlemen between producer and consumer a company needs proper marketing research. In this context marketing research plays a very important role in the modern marketing system. Accurate information is a core factor in successful marketing research. There are two types of methods employed in data collection: primary data collection and secondary data collection. Primary data collection is facilitated by collecting information direc tly from the source. There are many tools used like observation, direct interview, telephone interview, mail survey, projective technique, etc used in primary data collection. Interview is

Disscuss odyssey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Disscuss odyssey - Essay Example 27). Several examples of father/son relationships are provided, including those of Odysseus and Telemachus, Laertes and Odysseus, Poseidon and Polyphemus, Nestor and Pisistratus, and Eupithes and Antinous. Through these relationships, Homer portrays the idea of continuity between generations as traits of the fathers are carried forward and reflected or as they are rejected and refused in the sons. By tracing the relationships between fathers and sons as they relate to Odysseus and Telemachus and each other, Homer shows not only how the strength of family can overcome seemingly insurmountable outcomes, but also how the continuity of traits and characteristics between generations can help a family succeed or bring it to ruin. Odysseus and Telemachus have an absent relationship despite the fact that they are father and son, yet the traits of the father can still be recognized in the activities and thoughts of the son. Because Odysseus embodies the values of hospitality, good manners, loyalty, intelligence and patience, the reader should be able to see these traits in his son. However, having not had his father’s influence, Telemachus instead demonstrates an inability to manage his houseguests and an awkwardness in cultured manners when he arrives in Pylos at the beginning of the tale, aspects of his character that take the goddess Athena by surprise when she decides to send him on a hero’s quest. â€Å"Although the goddess is at once impressed by Telemachus’ physical resemblance to his famous father, his insecurity is such that he is even unsure of his own identity and never refers to his father by name† (Clarke, 1967, p. 32). His contacts with first Nestor and then Menelaus pr ovide him with the examples he needs of a healthy father/son relationship as well as the example these leaders set in being a â€Å"father figure† to their

New venture opportunity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

New venture opportunity - Essay Example The main aim of ESS Designs will be to provide a simple, classy and well-tailored look for all our clients. We not only want to provide a distinctive look but we also want to be recognized as a trendsetter in the clothing industry. To start with the new company, the first range of product that ESS Designs will focus on will be a collection of jackets for women, men and children. Based on the research that the appointed team members of ESS Designs have conducted, there have been a lot of customer’s requests that have been made by various customers on the scarcity of jackets’ design. Therefore, building upon this, the first range of product that ESS Designs will focus on will be on a collection of jackets for all our targeted clientele. As a start-up company, ESS Designs will first operate in a small geographical region. However, it is evident that with the inception of technology our client reach may go beyond the borders. The company will be located in the United States in Pennsylvania. This is where our headquarters will be. Nevertheless, ESS Designs will embrace the use of advertising and public relation to make our new range of product known and also to build upon the image of the company. It is also worth noting that the prices of our products will be quite pocket-friendly thus aside from quality will strive to ensure that our targeted consumers are well catered for with regards to the pricing range. In order to examine the impact of this new venture, a thorough SWOT analysis will be conducted on ESS Designs.

Reflection on Valuable Lessons and Important Aspects of Leadership Essay

Reflection on Valuable Lessons and Important Aspects of Leadership - Essay Example A talent gap is being created between the current, very talented leaders, and the next generation, which is not showing a breed of promising potential leaders emerging. It is a cause of worry since organizations must have continuity in good leadership to be able to maintain its productivity. An organization is safer when it adopts risk prevention measures, and equips current and future leaders with skills necessary to cope with any organizational changes. There are both formal and informal leaders. They all influence an organization towards achieving its goals effectively. Organizational success goes beyond an individual leader's will to achieve and the organization's chain of command. Most importantly, it is how all leaders relate together towards the achievement of set goals. This is termed as collective leadership as William (2011) observes. In addition, James and Barry (2001) suggest that several things should be considered. They include the number of leaders needed currently and expected in the future by an organization. This enables an organization base its leadership strategies on the expected turnover of employees in the organization. Leadership culture entails how leadership is practiced for example employee relations, discharge of duties and working together for a common purpose. The culture ensures that all factors affecting growth and performance of the enterprise are pooled together towards the same set targets. Demand and supply forecasting are crucial in ensuring the number of leaders employed is specific to the present and future expected needs Another factor to consider is the quality of leaders desired. Every organization must aim at employing high-quality leaders for a competitive organization. Phillip (2010) sees a leader as a person who owns and takes responsibility for every action an organization takes and feels any loss incurred as his own. For organizational success, there must be leaders who are goal oriented and put all their effort a nd hard work to ensuring achievement of goals and organization’s success. To be able to meet the above, leaders need to be critical thinkers and good planners of the future so that every strategy implemented by the organization moves it to achieve the intended purpose. Diversity in the level of leadership and reaching organization's target is the sole purpose of an organization’s existence. This is because it meets needs of different people, cultures and regions as Michael (2011) analyze. In addressing different needs, management has to ensure that the leadership strategy adopted, lists characteristics of individual leaders required. They include age, gender, race, origin/culture, education and working experience. In fact, achievement and motivation of leaders are influenced by pay and financial security. A good leader has good problem-solving skills. He is a person that understands how to relate and be mindful of employees. This comes in handy when solving problems ar ising and during decision-making. When choosing a leader, he/she should have the ability to improve communication and relationships between workers and management for unity towards achieving set goals. In essence, having a good leadership strategy is advantageous to an organization.

Legal Environment for Global Organizations Essay

Legal Environment for Global Organizations - Essay Example Global organizations like WTO, IMF, World Bank, UN, and WHO which must not be treated as 'insignificant actors' in the global arena due mainly to the functions they are embodied with. An understanding of the link between global organizations and global governance would push one to see this importance. As the world turns into a globalized competitive market in which nations interact according to the principles of economic liberalism, a requirement for more order is ensued. The importance of understanding the legal environment for global organizations is seen in their roles as instrument, arena, and actor in the global interaction (Archer, 2001). An example of this is the WTO, which was established by sovereign states whose power limits independent action by international organizations. Global organizations are actually used as instruments in order for states to use their ends, particularly on the areas of trade liberalism which profits first world states primarily. They serve as means for the policies of individual governments as well as instruments for diplomacy among states. The United Nations is seen to function as an instrument of US diplomacy which undertakes policies according in the global sphere. It is the rule of unanimity which is apparently carried out by global organizations, in which certain states are able to influence other states over certain decisions. As arenas within which actions take place, global organizations provide meeting places in which member states can discuss certain matters diplomatically. The term itself - arena - signifies neutrality even for nations in disagreement. Hence, international organizations serve not only as mere forums for these activities, but also as a diplomatic reinforcement for their policies (Hoffman, 1970 in Archer, 2001: 74). Even the third world states are given their own venues for discussing international economic events, through the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as well as the Group of 77 (G77) participated in by states in Southern continents of non-aligned countries (Archer, 2001). Legal environment is a necessity for global organizations since it gives them the venue and the power to govern the world politically and economically, surged by the very nations that represent them. The World Bank for example, is represented by first world nations particularly by the United States, whose legal policies govern the financial activities of poorer nations that have incurred financial debts with them. DISCUSS other legal influences which can affect business in a specified country. CONSIDER other cultural, religious, and political influences - how might these influence the business environment Legal influences which can affect business in a specified country include the policies on trade liberalization and non-tariffication which can affect the level of balance of trade and the domestic sales of goods. With a liberal importation allowed by the policies of WTO, which almost defeat the level of exports in a certain country, a probability of trade deficit is imminently seen, which may cause fiscal crisis for that particular country (Pereira, et al., 1993: 6). Non-tariffication of goods for importation, which is also embodied in the WTO, causes bankruptcy of the sale of domestic products, which have higher prices than the imported ones. In countries in which colonial mentality

Tourism Management Essay Example for Free

Tourism Management Essay An importance-performance analysis of hotel selection factors in the Hong Kong hotel industry: a comparison of business and leisure travellers Raymond K.S. Chu, Tat Choi*  Department of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Peoples Republic of China Received 16 December 1998; accepted 3 February 1999 Abstract Using an Importance}Performance Analysis (IPA), this paper examined business and leisure travellers perceived importance and performance of six hotel selection factors in the Hong Kong hotel industry. The six hotel selection factors identied were: Service Quality, Business Facilities, Value, Room and Front Desk, Food and Recreation, and Security. Both business and leisure travellers held the same perceptions towards all the six hotel selection factors. The IPA grids illustrated that the Value factor fell into the Concentrate Here quadrant; Service Quality, Room and Front Desk and Security in the Keep Up the Good Work quadrant; and Business Facilities and Food and Recreation in the Low Priority quadrant. Room and Front Desk and Security were found to be the determining factors for business and leisure travellers, respectively, in their hotel choice selection. Implications for Hong Kong hoteliers and researchers were discussed. 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Importance}Performance Analysis; Hotel selection factors; Business and leisure travellers 1. Introduction 1.1. The Hong Kong hotel and tourism industry Hong Kong has long been Asias most popular tourist destination. The total visitor arrivals for 1996 reached a record of 11.7 million, representing a remarkable 14.7 per cent growth over 1995, with HK$84.5 billion (US$10.8 billion) #owing into the Special Administrative Regions economy in foreign exchange earnings. The 14.7 per cent growth rate in 1996 out-performed the world average of 4.5 per cent, as well as the average growth rates for East Asia/Pacic and South Asia, with 7.9 per cent and 4.0 per cent respectively (WTO, 1997). In addition, approximately 8 per cent of Hong Kongs Gross  Domestic Product (GDP) is attributable to tourism (HKTA, 1998). However, since the beginning of 1997, Hong Kongs inbound tourism industry has experienced  an unprecedented decline. As illustrated in Table 1, the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) revealed that the numbers of visitors declined from 11.7 million in 1996 to 10.4 million in 1997, representing a 12 per cent fall (HKTA, 1998). The fall in visitor arrivals has been aggravated by the regional currency turmoil, which has made Hong Kong an expensive destination to travel in comparison with other Southeast Asian regions (Poole, 1997). The depreciation of the Thai baht, the Indonesian rupiah, the Malaysian ringgit, and the Philippine peso has inevitably attracted international travellers who prefer to seek bargain visits to these cheaper destinations. Hong Kong is now considered less vacation-friendly than previously as high in#ation has driven up prices. In 1989, 60 per cent of travellers rated shopping in Hong Kong as above average in value for money, but in 1993 the number fell below 45 per cent (HKTA, 1998). In the early 1990s, Hong Kong su!ered from a relatively high in#ation rate of about 10 per cent per annum as a result of an increase in labour and land costs. This paper attempts to identify both the importance and performance of hotel selection factors in the Hong Kong hotel industry using the Importance}Performance Analysis (IPA) model. More specically, the paper intends to compare perceptions of business and leisure travellers, in terms of importance and performance of hotel selection factors. By identifying the needs, desires and expectations of di!erent segments, hoteliers will be in a better position to develop tailor-made marketing strategies to cater for their target customers and to achieve competitive advantages. Source: Adapted from A Statistical Review of Tourism, Hong Kong Tourist Association (1998). 2. Literature review cent per annum in recent years (Hueng, 1997). The rising cost of accommodation in Hong Kong and the dwindling number of shopping bargains are continuously a!ecting the Hong Kong tourism industry (Brevetti, 1995). Such price in#ation threatens Hong Kongs reputation as a Shopping Paradise. Looking at the visitor prole, in particular at a comparison of business and leisure travellers, there appears to have not much signicant change between the two groups. The leisure segment has constituted almost 60 per cent of total visitor arrivals to Hong Kong over the past ten years, while the business segment contributed up to 30 per cent of total visitor arrivals over the same period (see Table 1). Regarding the hotel industry in Hong Kong, room rates have long been considered as the prime factor that adds to the cost of a trip, contributing to tourism downturn (Beck, 1997; Schloss, 1997). Schloss (1997) reported that Hong Kong hotels are more expensive to stay in than in Tok yo hotels, even when they o!er discounts. Beck (1997) mentioned that Hong Kong hotels are too expensive and that the  high cost is the single factor that continues to a!ect tourism in Hong Kong seriously. Research studies have shown that satisfaction with hotel properties, including services, facilities and price, appears to be one of the major factors leading to the success and repeat patronage of the destination (Shih, 1986; Stevens, 1992). To be successful in business, one must understand how customers perceive the product or service attributes, their importance and performance when compared with other competitors. The importance of being competitive and o!ering competitive advantage has been recognised for some years. In the hotel environment, where competition dominates, hoteliers must study the strengths and weaknesses of the product or service they provide and accurately dene their importance and performance. To maintain Hong Kongs present status as one of the worlds most attractive tourist destinations, hoteliers 2.1. Importance}Performance Analysis Importance}Performance Analysis (IPA) conceptually underlies the multi-attribute models that date back to the late 1970s. Martilla and James (1977) applied the IPA technique to analyse the performance of the automobile industry. Hawes, Kiser and Rao (1982) and Hawes and Rao (1985) used the IPA concept in retirement communities and health care applications. Sethna (1982) found the IPA technique to be a valid and powerful technique for identifying service quality areas that require remedial strategic actions. The underlying assumption of the IPA technique is that customers level of satisfaction with the attributes is mainly derived from their expectations and judgment of the products or services performance. IPA has become a popular managerial tool that has been broadly used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of brands, products, services and retail establishments in various industries in recent years (Chapman, 1993; Cheron, McTavish Perrien, 1989). Hemmasi, Strong and Taylor (1994) measured the service quality of hospital services using IPA as an alternative to the traditional SERVQUAL instrument devised by Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry (1988). While Evans and Chon (1989) used the IPA to formulate and evaluate tourism policy, Keyt, Yavas and Riecken (1994) and Hsu, Byun and Yang (1997) adopted the IPA technique in restaurant positioning. Lewis (1985) used the IPA as a competitive analysis technique to identify tourists perceptions of the hotel industry. Lewis and Chambers (1989) reported the e!ective use of IPA by the Sheraton Hotel in monitoring customer satisfaction. Almanza, Ja!e  and Lin (1994) used the IPA matrix to determine means for improving customer satisfaction. Martin (1995) examined service providers perceptions of customers expectations of quality service in the hotel industry using the IPA technique. In an increasingly competitive environment, a determination of the strengths and weaknesses of a  have high levels of performance in relation to these activities. In the Low Priority quadrant, attributes have low importance and low performance. Although performance levels may be low in this cell, managers should not be overly concerned since the attributes in this cell are not perceived to be very important. Limited resources should be expended on this low priority cell. Lastly, the Possible Overkill q uadrant contains attributes of low importance, but of relatively high performance. Respondents are satised with the performance of the organisations, but managers should consider present e!orts on the attributes of this cell as being overutilised (Evans and Chon, 1989; Hemmasi, Strong Taylor, 1994; Keyt et al., 1994; Martilla James, 1977; Martin, 1995). Fig. 1. Importance}Performance Analysis grid. Quadrant I Attributes are perceived to be very important to respondents, but performance levels are fairly low. This sends a direct message that improvement e!orts should concentrate here. Quadrant II Attributes are perceived to be very important to respondents, and at the same time, the organisation seems to have high levels of performance on these activities. The message here is To Keep up the Good Work. Quadrant III Attributes are with low importance and low performance. Although performance levels may be low in this cell, managers should not be overly concerned since the attribute in this cell is not perceived to be very important. Limited resources should be expended on this low priority cell. Quadrant IV This cell contains attributes of low importance, but relatively high performance. Respondents are satised with the performance of the organisations, but managers should consider present e!orts on the attributes of this cell as being overutilised. 2.2. Perceived importance and performance of attributes Attribute importance is generally regarded as a persons general assessment of the signicance of an attribute for a product. Many studies have attempted to analyse customer satisfaction in terms of both expectations that relate to certain important attributes and judgments of the attribute performance (Myers Alpers, 1968; Swan Coombs, 1976). However, there appears to have been diverse conclusions made about how one should relate attribute importance and performance. The concept of importance is viewed by customers the same as satisfaction (Barsky, 1992; Rosenberg, 1956). When a customer perceives an attribute as important, the customer will believe that the attribute will play a signicant role in in#uencing his or her product choice (MacKenzie, 1986). More recently, the term importance has been used to refer to the perceived importance of an attribute and its e!ect on product or service quality (Carman, 1990). Lilien, Kotler and Moorthy (1993) dened the term important attributes as those considered important by consumers, and that the various brands or products are perceived to di!er. Hemmasi et al. (1994), however, stated that performance lies in customer perceptions of performance of the attribute. Thus, the more favourable the perception of performance, the greater the likelihood of the choice from among similar alternatives. Therefore, it is strategically important for hoteliers to understand and to identify the product (or service) attributes perceived by customers as important, and to examine how customers perceive these product (or service) attributes. It is also very likely that a customers favourable post-purchase experience may lead him or her to repurchase if the customer is satised with the hotel performance. 2.3. Hotel attributes in hotel choice selection Those attributes directly in#uencing choice are determinant attributes: they may arouse consumers purchase intentions and di!erentiate from competitors o!erings  products or services importance and performance seems an undeniable constituent of success. The interpretation of the IPA is graphically presented on a grid divided into four quadrants. Fig. 1 illustrates the IPA  grid. The -axis reports the customers perceived importance of selected attributes, and the X-axis shows the products (or services) performance in relation to these attributes. The four identiable quadrants are: Concentrate Here, Keep Up the Good Work, Low Priority and Possible Overkill. In the Concentrate Here quadrant, attributes are perceived to be very important to respondents, but performance levels are seen as fairly low. This sends a direct message that improvement e!orts should concentrate here. In the Keep Up the Good Work quadrant, attributes are perceived to be very important to respondents, and at the same time, the organisation seems to  (Alpert, 1971). The services and facilities o!ered by a hotel, or hotel attributes, are those features of products or services that lead consumers to choose one product over others (Lewis, 1983). Wuest, Tas and Emenheiser (1996) dened perceptions of hotel attributes as the degree to which travellers nd various services and facilities important to customers satisfaction. Atkinson (1988) found that cleanliness of the accommodation, followed by safety and security, accommodation value for money, courtesy and helpfulness of sta! were identied as top attributes for travellers in hotel choice selection. Wilensky and Buttle (1988) mentioned that personal service, physical attractiveness, opportunities for relaxation, standard of services, appealing image, and value for money were signicantly evaluated by travellers. Rivers, Toh and Alaoui (1991) examined the hotel selection decisions of members and non-members of frequent guest programs. Their results showed that convenience of location and overall service received the highest ratings. Ananth, DeMicco, Moreo and Howey (1992) surveyed 510 travellers, asking them to rate the importance of 57 hotel attributes in hotel choice decision. The results showed that price and quality was rated as the most important attribute across all age categories, followed by attributes related to security and convenience of location. LeBlanc and Nguyen (1996), in particular, examined the ve hotel factors that may signal a hotels image to travellers. These ve factors were: physical environment,  corporate identity, service personnel, quality of services and accessibility. They suggested that marketing e!orts should be directed to highlight the environmental cues in order to attract new customers. An extensive review of the literature for the hospitality industry suggests that attributes such as cleanliness, location, room rate, security, service quality, and the reputation of the hotel have been considered by most tourists in hotel choice decision (Ananth, DeMicco, Moreo Howey, 1992; Atkinson, 1988; Barsky Labagh, 1992; Cadotte Turgeon, 1988; Knutson, 1988; LeBlanc Nguyen, 1996; Lewis, 1984,1985; Marshall, 1993; McCleary, Weaver Hutchinson, 1993; Rivers, Toh Alaoui, 1991; Wilensky Buttle, 1988). 2.4. Hotel attributes as perceived by business and leisure travellers Many studies have looked into a comparison between business and leisure travellers in their hotel selection criteria. These studies indicated that the important attributes a!ecting business travellers hotel choices were cleanliness and location (Lewis Chambers, 1989; McCleary et al., 1993; Taninecz, 1990), whereas security, personal interactions, and room rates were considered as important by their leisure counterparts (Clow, Garretson Kurtz, 1994; Lewis, 1985; Marshall, 1993; Parasuraman et al., 1988). Taninecz (1990) found that cleanliness,  comfort of mattresses and pillows, and quality of towels received the highest ratings from business travellers. Lewis and Chambers (1989) and McCleary et al. (1993) also found that location was the most important factor in#uencing hotel selection by all business travellers. However, they argued that a hotels catering facilities were not important in hotel selection, as th ere are often many alternative dining choices nearby. Leisure travellers seem to be more concerned with room rates and value in their initial hotel selection (Lewis, 1985). Parasuraman et al. (1988) found that the quality of personal interactions with employees was a critical component of the service quality evaluation. Employees service quality has been cited as important to leisure travellers when selecting overnight accommodation (Parasuraman et al., 1988). Knutson (1988) mentioned that leisure travellers were mainly concerned with a hotels safety and security. This concern might stem from the idea that leisure trips often involve families, and these travellers have a high sensitivity to what may occur around them when their families  are involved. Marshall (1993) and Clow et al. (1994) revealed that security was cited as one of the most important criteria in selecting a hotel. Tourists want to be safe and secure in their accommodation, and are willing to pay for this. The safety and security system may di!erentiate one property from its competition, hence becoming a competitive strategy that helps a hotel to gain tourists condence and trust. Ananth et al. (1992) found that leisure travellers were likely to express concern with regard to a hotels reputation and name familiarity. Other studies have suggested that some hotel attributes are seen as important by both business and leisure travellers. Knutson (1988) examined the di!erences between business and leisure travellers in an attempt to determine the attributes that initially attract these two types of travellers to a hotel, and that bring them back. Her ndings suggested that the following factors were considered by both business and leisure travellers when selecting a hotel for the rst time or for repeat patronage: (1) clean, comfortable, well-maintained rooms, (2) convenient location, (3) prompt and courteous service, (4) safe and secure environment, and (5) friendly and courteous employees. Lewis (1984,1985) tested 66 hotel attributes to determine the basis of hotel selection by 1314 business and leisure travellers in six hotels. The ndings showed that location and price were the determinant attributes for hotel selection for both business and leisure travellers. Cadotte and Turgeon (1988) examined data from members of the AH MA (American Hotel Motel Association) on the relative frequency of 26 categories of compliments. Survey results found that the ve most frequent compliments were: (1) helpful attitude of employees, (2) cleanliness of establishment, (3) neatness of establishment, (4) quality of service, and (5) employee knowledge of service.

Loft Living Essay Example for Free

Loft Living Essay My dictionary defines loft as a room or place used for storing things. (Oxford’s learner’s advanced. 2009 edition) Loft places have become a fashionable lifestyle choice in London. As a result the design of lofty interiors, their accessories and associated urban lifestyle have become iconic images of cool London or cool urban living. In this essay I will explore loft living as a lifestyle, its history, and reasons for its growing popularity plus tips on how to exploit the unique qualities it offers. Once thought of as strictly for artists and bohemian types, loft living is now a sought after lifestyle accessory. Previously, starving artists had to sleep in their studio lofts to avoid paying rent, but now loft living is one of the most sought after type of housing for most people. Loft living has its origin in Manhattan area of New York, but today a look at any downtown area across many cities reveals a trend that is gaining popularity. In London, loft living gained widespread use in the nineties. â€Å"In London, the loft boom is owed much to someone who was the furthest thing from cool- Margret Thatcher. In her government’s misguided attempt to boost the pockets of property owners, camouflaged as an attempt for urban regeneration, the use of Class Order of 198 was passed. Basically, this attempt to simplify planning meant that office and industrial property were classified as one, giving landlords the opportunity to change rents on inner city workshops and light industrial units. †(Richard, 2010) Most businesses especially in Clerkenwell area was affected as tenants were forced to move rather than pay the exorbitant rents. But with the onset of recession, most industrial buildings became vacant and in an attempt to regeneration, the Islington council changed use of the buildings to residential use. 1. The oxford learners dictionary, 2009 2. Richard Artus, 2010. The history of loft living. www. urbanspaces. com 2 It is now common to find loft apartments, usually in renovated factories or other commercial structures: the appeal for living in open spaces is growing day by day. â€Å"Loft living is no longer just meant for starving artists who could not afford to live elsewhere, today loft lifestyle is a much desired trendy way to live. Particularly hip among upwardly mobile young adults, typical lofts are generally located in urban centers which offer easy access to shopping, dining, and all things that are happening now. And along with being in the middle of the action, loft living offers a very specific lifestyle. Today while many lofts are housed in turn-of-the-the-century industrial buildings in metro cities like London, New York Chicago and Los Angeles, quite a few are actually built from scratch. It seems like the desire to this unique and contemporary way of living has caught on in areas where the number of available buildings has been depleted† (Deborah, Jun 29 2010) There are other factors that are contributing to the growth of the trend. Many lofts are situated in downtown areas, which mean greater access to many social amenities, shorter commutes and the joy of living in rejuvenated neighborhoods. Additionally, lofts can be customized according to the owner’s tastes: the space can be partitioned to incorporate several rooms as per the owner’s requirements. Many of today’s newer loft developments are being built without proper adherence to the original industrial feel-usually to save costs , but most offer other amenities for comfort and convenience. A typical loft utilizes large open space and so presents unique challenges. However, one should utilize the unique qualities offered by loft living. 3. Deborah s. Hildebrand Jun 29 2010. Choosing Loft Living as a Lifestyle. www. sute101. com 3 When buying or renting a loft, there are a number of things that one should bear in mind. Location is one of them. It should, ideally, be near a major thoroughfare, in a quiet place and yet accessible to social amenities such as hospital and schools. A potential buyer should also review, as in newer lofts, the integrity of the developer, builder or agent. The other thing is whether the package has any hidden costs. Loft living has its challenges though, and most of the challenges arise in design. Designing the interior decor for instance may present a challenge to many people. This is due to the fact that most lofts were not intended to be residential in the first place. Rebecca Tanqueray and Oviana Fielding in their book Loft: Living in space, says, â€Å"coming up with a lofty notion is one thing, coming home to a lofty apartment is another. Big plans converting big spaces need practical and artful solutions to manage all that scale, all that space and all those industrial-strength problems. Adaptive re-use in residential design may call for revising user assumptions and adaptations to such unusual spaces. †(Victoria Carlson, 1999) Most of the loft design in the area feature exposed brick walls, and support columns and vintage wooden flooring. Given that they were designed to be warehouses, they have high ceiling. And it is not uncommon to see duct work, beams rafters and pipes for an industrial edge. The lofts I visited use a certain measure of open plan living in which most of the living spaces flow into each other. This is different from what I am used to at home where rooms are separate and in some instances, a distance from each other. 4. Victoria Carlson, 1999. Review of the book, Loft: Living in space by Rebecca tanqueray and Oviana Fielding 4 Living in a loft should provide the same feeling as living in a condominium or a normal house. But there are several things that one should incorporate into the design, decor and the floor plan to create a homely mood. To begin, one needs to create a positive impression at the entry. Apart from introducing the house mood the entry area serves as catch-all for mail, bags, umbrellas, shoes and rain jackets. This problem may be alleviated by constructing a storage area. Once you have created space, it is easier to decorate the rest of the loft. A small rug placed at the entry will protect the rest of the house from dusty, wet or muddy shoes. In addition to that, family members or guests may want to check their appearance as the move in or out of the loft. So, the next piece of furniture that may be considered in the entry area is a mirror, hang over a table or narrow shelf. Alternatively, one may want to place to stop and wear shoes, so a small bench or love seat, depending on the available space, can also work in the new loft entry. After choosing the furniture and the flooring for the entry, one can think about whether to light this area separately. A small central pendant light fixture or a spotlight will create drama and a warm feel as will a table lamp. Finally, personalize the entry by including accessories like a wall painting, dried and fresh flowers, and holiday souvenirs. Decorating the loft interior may pose challenges as one needs to create an overall impression of cohesion while maintaining a suitable separate atmosphere for each area. If you have to paint the walls, choose colors that complement the general outlook of the interior. 5 Due to thee open nature of most lofts, one should put a touch of personality, and relate the same to its surrounding. For instance, prints of food works best in living, dining area and the kitchen. Some children find wall masks very scary and their preferences should also be taken into account. Avoid disturbingly provocative art in bedrooms or studies. Artwork should be framed to coordinate with the loft decor. Always select a frame that complements your decor style and the colors you have used in the loft. Where possible, use similar frames and mats for objects that will be displayed together. The loft interior plan too should incorporate a functional and comfortable floor plan with places for entertainment, working and storage. These individual living areas can then be defined with room dividers, rugs and furniture. Room division can be in form of sliding or folding screens and frosted glass panels. Another way of to establish subtle transition is the use of raised platforms. Furniture arrangement can be problematic if traffic flows between the open spaces is not carefully planned. Different activities can overlap. For instance, it ca be difficult to conduct a conversation in the living area wile the children play noisily in the dining room. Part of the charm of loft living is that it allows a family to connect to each other and their guests informally. For example, a meal can be prepared while guests wait by the dining table taking their pre-dinner drinks. When decorating, one should think of the loft as a one entity instead of creating a different personality and themes for every room or living area. This creates cohesion and simplifies your decor choices. One should use similar or complementary decorative finishes throughout, linking 6 any two sections that open up into each other with similar paint, wall paper or using the same curtains. Also keep the flooring similar to visually expand the space. Proper loft planning should also be extended to furniture arrangement. The first step in creating an ideal furniture arrangement is choosing a focal point which might be an architectural detail such as a fire place. Since most lofts do not come with a fireplace built in, you can have one built. In an area with no discernable focal point, you can create one. This can be the wall facing you when you once you enter the room or the entertainment unit in a family room or area. The next step is to arrange your furniture around the focal point. In the living area, for instance, the sofa should ideally face the focal point or be arranged around it to underscore its importance. After placing the biggest furniture item, lace the items that relate to it next. This could be coffee tables or side tables. Place all other items in a manner that enhances the living experience. For example, the TV might look great in a corner but can it be viewed from the main sofa? Is there somewhere to place a cup of tea as one watch TV? As one place the furniture, one has to bear in mind how occupants will use the room. Is there enough space between the furniture items to allow for someone to sit down comfortably and stretch their legs without touching another person or a piece of furniture? More often than not the issue of space is very important, as most lofts have large spaces. The most common mistake people make when furnishing a loft is having too much furniture in 7 screens, they separate two areas but ensure that the two sections of the room are not claustrophobic. How one arranges the furniture and electronic equipment and how much of it you include can make or break the vision of the beautiful living space one might be trying to achieve. The best furniture placement maximizes on your current space instead of limiting it, it allows for smooth traffic flows in and out of the individual spaces and enhances the living experiences.. By making complementary furniture choices, your furniture sits well in both rooms, For instance, one should use chairs that can double up as extra seating in the living room area. One should avoid using too much furniture and opt instead for multifunctional furniture. For example a rectangular or oval table can be elongated or folded into a small unit for a dining table. When not in use as a dining table, it can act as a console. Since most loft spaces are huge open spaces, making individual spaces becomes inevitable. One option for physically creating some privacy while still maintaining spaciousness is the use of folding screens. When placed between a dining area and living room, or living room and bedroom, it can hide the mess of one area. Decorative room screens divide the room without cutting out the light, and come in a variety of materials including wood and wrought iron. If hand carved or well crafted, they can be a visual statement in the area. See through shelving units are good room dividers as they also provide additional storage and attractive display opportunities. 8 Another form of shelving is a low wall of kitchen base units that divide the room only up to waist level. Some shelving can either be permanent or free-standing. The least way of dividing a living area is by arranging the furniture so that it forms a natural barrier. However it is important to ensure that the back of whichever furniture piece is used is presentable. Another factor that one should consider is weather. Most lofts were built for other purposes other than residential, so it is very important to consider the issue of weather in the interior design. For instance the general needs during the cold, dark months are warmth, comfort, security and indoor stimulation. The loft may become inhabitable through the cold or the hot season. So the interior should incorporate designs that would cater for cold as well as the hot seasons. Due to the big nature of most lofts spaces, conditioning the rooms may prove to be a challenge. So, when shopping for things like furniture, it important to bear in mind that some pieces retain heat while others lose it easily. Generally, the less solid a piece is and the less fabric it has, for example wicker, rattan and bamboo, the faster it will lose heat. However, chunkier heavily upholstered chairs help in retaining heat. Also recliners keep you warmer by keeping your feet off the floor. Regardless of how cold it is, one can still make the full use of the natural light, afforded by the loft’s big windows, and heat as well as use some artificial heat sources from fireplaces or heaters. In the cold months if you have sheer curtains it is advisable to replace them with heavy window draperies to keep out cold draft of air and retain heat indoors ,artificial light fixtures too, will help in creating feelings of warmth and comfort. Glass, stainless steel and plastic, look and feel very cold because they are smooth, textured surfaces on the other hand trap pockets of air and add warmth. So, where possible, bring in textured materials and items. 9 For throws and cushion covers, choose from fleece, wool or cashmere and drape one across the arm of a chair or over the back of a sofa, or at the foot of a bed. Marble or tile flooring will definitely be colder in such weather. A wooden floor is much warmer. However, for softness underfoot and insulation from the cold turn to carpet in your living room and bedrooms. To provide further luxurious comfort, ensure that the carpet is lined with under-felt, in addition, provide area rugs for passageways, thick bath mats and bedside rugs. Loft living may or not be viable and significant solutions to the housing solution to the housing problem facing many city planners and designers, but the trend is opening new frontiers and creating many opportunities-we simply cannot afford to ignore it. The challenge, however is to make this former warehouses, churches and sawmills into habitable and most importantly, comfortable homes. Works cited: 1. The oxford learners dictionary, 2009 2. Richa Deborah s. Hildebrand Jun 29 2010. Choosing Loft Living as a Lifestyle. www. sute101. com 3. Richard Artus, 2010. The history of loft living. www. urbanspaces. com 4. Victoria Carlson, 1999. Review of the book, Loft: Living in space by Rebecca tanqueray and Oviana Fielding

The Decisions We Make In Social Work Social Work Essay

The Decisions We Make In Social Work Social Work Essay How do we make ethical decisions in social work? Discuss the process illustrating your arguments with specific case examples.    Ethical awareness is a fundamental part of the professional practice of social workers. Their ability and commitment to act ethically is an essential aspect of the quality of the service offered to those who use social work services. It is an inevitable process that social workers will find themselves within the dimension of ethical issues which will no doubt challenge the individual and bring about some critical reflection of action. Some of the problem areas where ethical issues may arise include; The fact that the loyalty of social workers is often in the middle of conflicting interests. The fact that social workers function as both helpers and controllers. The conflicts between the duties of social workers to protect the interests of the people. With whom they work and societal demands for efficiency and utility. The fact that resources in society are limited. Beckett and Maynard (2006)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This assignment will address some of the areas where a social worker may run into conflict. To begin this assignment will examine the importance of values personal, professional, societal and organizational; it will further examine the vital need for a shared core base of professional values within social work. It will begin to discuss the complex nature of social work and the guidance found in the code of ethics when social workers face ethical dilemmas. It will support this concept with a case scenario. The assignment will then discuss another area where an ethical dilemmas can arise, in risk assessment, and will discuss using a case scenario how risk can be managed ethically. The core of the assignment will briefly outline an approach to how an ethical decision can be made and will draw on two theoretical aspects within ethical decision making. To finish this assignment will look at ethics within partnership working where a brief scenario will support the impo rtance of anti-oppressive practice and ethics within organisations. The assignment will then conclude with a summary detailing the need for ethical awareness within social work. Every day social workers are faced with stressful, even traumatic situations, such as domestic violence, child abuse, the homeless, family tension, mental illness and suicide. Therefore it is fair to say social workers work with the most disadvantaged groups and vulnerable individuals in society. Clark, (2000) p1 says The service that is provided is seen as the most contentious of all the human service professions. It is because of the nature of the job, social workers often find themselves dealing with tough decisions about human situations that involve the potential for benefit or harm. Whilst underpinning the decision process is the strong expectation that social workers must be able to balance the tension between the rights and responsibilities of the people who use services and the legitimate requirements of the wider public. They must also be able to understand the implications of, and to work effectively and sensitively with, people whose cultures, beliefs or life experiences are different from their own. In all of these situations, they must recognise and put aside any personal prejudices they may have. According to Pinker, social work is, essentially, a moral enterprise Pinker, (1990) p14 whilst Beckett and Maynard, (2006) p189 states Almost all of the important decisions that are made by social workers have a value component. According to Banks, (2006) p6: Values are particular types of belief that people hold about what is regarded as worthy or valuable.   Values of the client, profession, organisation and society are an intrinsic part of decision making. Traditional values of social work was first introduced in the early 60s by Biestek. His principles outlined the basics of traditional social work and were constructed of a seven-point scheme. The principles consisted of Individualism, Purposeful expression of feelings, Controlled emotional involvement., Acceptance, Non-judgmental attitude, User self-determination, Confidentiality.Biestek (1961). Many of Biestek beliefs were very traditional and were criticised for their diversity in their interpretation. Controversies relating to different principles caused many problematic conclusions, for example individualisation and confidentiality. Individualisation could not be possible in the fast moving modern world, people lose their identity and individualis ation is not respected. Confidentiality has its limitations to be enforced for example; If a user shares information where someone will be harmed, the social workers duty is to share it as a right to other individuals. It was clear these key issues had to be developed and advanced to help social workers. Furthermore it was considered that there must be guidance on values and ethics for social workers, as they play a major part in their work. Banks, (2006) p150 says; There is recognition that personal and agency values may conflict and that the worker as a person has a moral responsibility to make decisions about these conflicts. Therefore the social work profession is guided by the shared values that underpin its practice set out in the (GSCC 2002) code of conduct. The code is criteria to guide practice standards and judge accountability from social care workers. The work load of social workers deals with individuals who are disadvantaged in some form or another so it is important to have a shared value system to reflect the ethical problems and dilemmas they face.   Working from a professional value is a guide to professional behaviours that maintain identity and can protect service users from malpractice. Parrott, (2006) p17. On their own personal values will be of limited use. Beliefs and good intentions will not give the professional the knowledge and skills they need to make sense of a practice situation and inter vene in it. The difference between personal and professional values include, professional values can be distinguished from personal values, in that personal values may not be shared by all members of an occupational group, for example, a person who works as a social worker may have a personal belief that abortion is wrong, but this is not one of the underlying principles of social work. Banks, (2006), p 7. The GSCC codes of practice contain a list of statements that describe the standards of professional conduct and practice required of social care workers. They are as followed; protect the rights and promote the interests of services users and carers, strive to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of service users and carers, promote the independence of service users while protecting them as far as possible from danger or harm, Respect the rights of service users while seeking to ensure that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people, Uphold public trust and confidence in social care services and Be accountable for the quality of their work and take responsibility for maintain and improving their knowledge and skills GSCC (2002) It is then hardly surprising giving the complex nature of the professional role a social worker may find them self when making decisions within ethical areas facing an ethical dilemma. Theà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯ethical dilemma arises when there are; two equally unwelcome alternatives which involves a conflict of moral principle and it is not clear which choice is right Banks (2006). When social workers struggle to reach a decision they can be then guided by the code of Ethics. The primary objective of the Associations code of Ethics is to express the values and principles which are integral to social work, and to give guidance on ethical practice. BASW (2001). Loewenverg and Dolgoff (1996) state that Ethic are designed to help social worker decide which of the two or more competing goals isà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯correct for their given situational . However alongside ethical awareness you have to be aware of the publicly stated values of your agency and make skilful judgements based upon your accumu lated knowledge and experience. Ethical considerations are rarely the responsibility of one worker; however, agencies policies and structures of accountability offer both guidance and a standard against which your practice can be measured. Accountability, therefore, is the process through which employers and the public can judge the quality of individual workers practice and hold them responsible for their decisions and actions. (Derek Clifford Beverley Burke 2005) Competing values and multiple-client system are two areas where a social worker may find themselves facing an ethical dilemma. Weather it is the social work values that is competing against agency values or within each a confliction of values, which will leave the social worker in need to decide which value will take priority. Also deciding which role the social worker must take in order to reach the right decision can lead to the dilemma of role confliction. Beckett and Maynard (2006) suggest that the role of a social worker can be put into three groups: Advocacy, Direct Change Agent and Executive. The advocacy role can be either direct or indirect. Direct change agent being counsellor or therapist, mediator, educator and catalyst, with executive role as almoner, care manager, responsibility holder, co-ordinator and service developer (Beckett and Maynard 2006 p8). The GSCC (2002) code of conduct  says As a social care worker, you must strive to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of service users and carers (s2), which includes Respecting confidential information and clearly explaining agency policies about confidentiality to service users and carers. Consider the following scenario; whilst on placement a client disclosed sensitive information to a trainee social worker regarding the well-being of her neighbours children. After clarification that social worker would have to pass this information on to their manager, the client did not wish to consent to the information being passed on. When the supporting relationship had ended, the social worker had to then make a decision based on where there priorities lay. As they were supporting the client who disclosed, they had a responsibility to uphold the standard of respecting her confidentiality. However they also had a responsibility to the wider society which in this case was the ch ildren who were at risk of harm.   When making the decision they assessed all the information and weighed up the outcomes. Do they withhold the information in order to maintain the trust and respect of the client or do they prioritize the needs and risk of the children? They then turned to the agency safeguarding policy and the code of ethics for social workers which clearly states; we must not promise to keep secrets for or about a child or young person Agency safeguarding policy, (2010) p10 and further states; We aim to safeguard children at all times, by delivering our services safely and by sharing information when there is a concern.p9. Clearly the value of life outweighed the needs and wishes of the client in this circumstance. However to whom did the social worker owe responsibility and which role should they take in this situation. Banks (2006) p48 clarifies this conflict by suggesting : Yet while the social worker may be able to focus largely on one individual service user and take on the role of advocate for the service users rights, often the social worker has to take into account the rights of significant à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯others in a situation. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯In the interests of justice it may not always be morally right to promote the service users rights at the expense of those of others The social worker if doubting her judgement, would address the BASW (2001) code of Ethics to guide the outcome of her decision, the code states; Social workers will not act without informed consent of service users, unless required by law to protect that person or another from risk of serious harm. (4.1.4 p8) Furthermore it guides us by stating; In exceptional circumstances where the priority of the service users interest is outweighed the need to protect others or by legal requirements, make service users aware that their interests may be overridden. (4.1.1 b p8) As you can see the code of ethics guided the social worker to the right course of action that they should take. They were duty bound by law to act on behalf of the individuals who were at most risk. According to Parrot (2010) p86 Risk refers to the likelihood of an event happening which in contemporary circumstances is seen as undesirable.   It is when facing issues involving risk that values become of central importance in enabling practitioners to manage risk. Consider the following scenario; a social worker visits an elderly lady in her home after a referral is made by the ladies niece. The niece is concerned for the safety of her aunt after a recent decline in her aunts mobility and health which resulted in a nasty fall. The niece lives quite far away and cannot provide regular care for her aunt. The lady values her independence and does not want to be put in a residential home which her niece thinks would be for the best; however there is a concern able risk that if some form of intervention is not in place the lady is at serious risk of hurting herself further. The social worker is faced with a dilemma. The lady has a right to autonomy and self-determination however ther e is a risk of potential harm happening. The social worker must risk assess the potential outcomes and measure the risk involved. Which on one hand the individual faces residential care involving losing much personal freedom and autonomy; on the other hand to leave a person in their own home to face social isolation and to be potentially at risk of physical danger may also be unwelcome. Social workers have to look to the consequences of their actions and weight up which action would be least harmful / most beneficial to the user, and which action would benefit most efficientlyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯ Parrott (2010) p51 While Kemshall (2002) p128 argues, risk management cannot guarantee to prevent risk. It can attempt to limit the chances of risky situations tuning into dangerous ones or reduce the consequences of such situations. As she suggests, minimization rather than reduction is the key. In other words to approach this situation the social worker will identify the social work values that is embedded in the their practice which is; As a social care worker, you must respect the rights of the service users while seeking to ensure that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people. (GSCC 2002 s4). For further guidance the social worker will identify with the code of ethics   which states; we may limit clients rights to self-determination when, in the social workers professional judgment, clients actions or potential actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to themselves or others, but it also tells us that we are to promote clientsself-determination Code of Ethics (1.02). Weighing up the outcomes of the individual the social worker will be committed to allowing the individual choice and empowerment. And work with the elderly lady to ensure her self-determination remains able whilst also advocating on the ladies behalf to ensure she is able to a ccess services which will allow her to live a safe independent life. Thompson (2005,p170) cited on blackboard says it is the social workers role to enable service users and carers: to gain power and control over their own lives and circumstancesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..to help people to have a voiceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..so that they counter the negative effects of discrimination and marginalization whilst Hatton (2008, p145) cited on(class PowerPoint 2011) sees social workers role as active change agents to create: an empowered and active group of service users and carers who hold us to account, share in our decision making and participate actively in the way we deliver services Social work decisions span a wide range from safeguarding through to allocation services and advising clients and families on courses of action to improve their lives. As we can see some decisions may involve a breach of confidentiality and assessment of high risks such as a vulnerable adult in need of services to improve their quality of life and prevent harm even death. It is important therefore for social workers to be able to justify their actions.   Social worker therefore must draw upon a variety of professional knowledge such as law, policy, research, theory, standards, principles and practice wisdom to inform complex and sensitive judgements and decisions in uncertain situations where harm may ensue. Much of what social workers do concerns decisions about future courses of action, which puts decision making at the heart of social work as a core professional activity. Banks (2006) p9 This assignment will now examine how the ethical dilemma can be resolved  by discussing  an approach to guide the process of ethical decisions in practice. We have identified that social workers are expected to critically examine ethical issues in order to come to a resolution that is consistent with social work values and ethical principles. However how is the social worker able to organize all the components relevant to the decision and outcomes. One example of a model to help assist the social worker reach resolution is Mattison (2000, p.206) His model offers a framework to analyse ethical dilemmas such as: Define and gather information; Once the social worker has identified an ethical dilemma, they begin the process of making a decision by fully exploring case details and gathers needed information to understand holistically the clients current circumstances. Supporting this is Horner (2005 p97) who says that social workers are to engage holistically with both the person and their circumstances whilst at the same time recognizing the processes of power dynamics at the play in the helping relationship It is then important for the social worker to distinguish the practice aspects of the case from the ethical considerations (so separate practice from how you have learned to think about ethical issues). Identify value tensions The social worker must refer to the professional code of ethics to help clarify obligations and identify the principles that have a bearing on the dilemma The social worker projects, weighs, and measures the possible courses of action that seem reasonable and the potential consequences of these The social worker after weighing up options must select an action for resolving a dilemma. This involves determining which of the competing obligations are we going to honour foremost (this may mean at the expense of others). The social worker reaches the resolution stage and this means being able to justify the decision. To further this ideas of influence on decisions It is also vitally important for social workers to take time to reflect on their practice and own values. This is a vital point because although guides and frameworks can be developed to offer social workers a logical approach to the decision making process, to some extent, the use of discretionary judgments is evitable (Mattison, 2000). The value system and preferences of the decision maker ultimately shape the process of working through dilemmas and so it is important for social workers to be ethically aware of their character, philosophies, attitudes and biases. Furthermore, philosophers have argued that elements of deontological and teleological thinking operate in and influences decision making in ethical dilemmas. A deontological thinker is grounded in the belief that actions can be determined right or wrong, good or bad, regardless of the consequences they produce and so adherence to rules is central. Once formulated, ethical rul es should hold under all circumstances (Mattison, 2000). On the other hand a teleological thinker is ground in the belief of consequences and so weighing up the potential consequences of proposed actions is central to this way of thinking (Mattison, 2000). So a social worker following a deontological way of thinking will differ in their approach to ethical decision making compared with a social worker following a teleological way of thinking. As part of the profession social workers often find them self-working collaboratively with other professionals such as doctors, police, nurses, teachers and probation officers to name but a few.   Considering the variety of different professions merging to reach possible outcomes it is not surprising that partnership working becomes a complex problem. Mainly because of the assumptions that we are all working towards a collective aim. Bates cited in Parrot (2010.) Different values, ideologies, ethics and culture of working can too lead to confliction of interests.  Ã‚   Effective partnerships require sustained relationships, shared agendas built up over time and a commitment to shared problem solving. When different professional groupings come together in collaboration then they bring with them their own ways of working, organisational cultures and attitudes, their particular practice experience and their own ethical codes Parrot (2010) Consider the following scenario; a social work student commitment to anti oppressive practice is clearly challenged whilst on placement.   The voluntary organisation which they are placed with worked in partnership with the crown court. One day as they were waiting for an expected family, to whom they were supporting, they are then approached by an usher (a worker of the court justice system). He commented on the family jokingly saying;  Oh no not that family again they are low life Jeremy Kyle watching scroungers, they bring the trouble on themselves.   This use of stereotypical language discriminated and negatively challenged the whole purpose of the organisations aims which is to value diversity, whilst also conflicting with section 5 of the core values of the GSCC You must not discriminate unlawfully or unjustifiably against service users, carers or colleagues (GSCC 2002 5.5) Parrot (2010 ) suggests There is no appropriate way at which a social worker can condone such langu age weather they choose to confront the issue at hand or make a formal complaint. Parrott (2010) further states; what is the point in partnership working with fellow professionals only to result in the dilution of the social workers value base and the demeaning of service users. The point of partnership working is not to deliver appropriate services to service users only to have them undermined by some partners exhibiting discriminatory attitudes. What if in the scenario discussed above, the discriminatory attitudes and beliefs of the usher, was an unconscious influence to the social workers approach when working with the individuals involved in the scenario. This could result in an already marginalised group becoming oppressed further.   Thompson, (2005 p34) describes oppression as; Inhuman or degrading treatment of individuals or groups; in hardship and in justice brought about by the dominance of one group over another; the negative and demeaning exercise of power. Oppression often involves disregarding the rights of an individual or group and this is a denial of citizenship. Thompson further suggests that oppression can act at three levels, these levels of oppression offers a framework for looking at how inequalities and discrimination manifest themselves. Personal level which relates to an individuals thoughts, feelings, attitudes and actions. Cultural level which looks at shared ways of seeing, thinking, and doing. Structural level relates to matters such as policy. Thompson (2005 p21 -23) Abramson 1996 cited in Mattison (2000) supports this by saying The process of the decision making is forged by the prejudice and prejudgement brought to the decision making process by the decision maker. Therefore social workers as agents of change attempt to alleviate inequalities and oppression within societies and need to be aware of the values underlying their work by referring to the code of ethics. By adopting values and anti-oppressive practice such as advocacy; social workers will be able to make informed decisions in addressing aspects, which relate to the p rovision of services to individuals who may have differing needs. Parrott (2010 p23) describes Anti oppressive practice (AOP)  as a general value orientation towards countering oppression experienced by service users on such grounds as race, gender class age etc. AOP are also values of working in partnership and empowerment. Social workers and their employers have an ethical duty to ensure that the organisations they work for operate in a just manner Parrot (2010) Social work organisations therefore must uphold the portrayal that social work is something worthy and the operation of its organisation will lead to positive outcomes. The commitment to social justice ensures public organisations work under legislation to eliminate unlawful discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups.   Expectations of the social care employee are prompted by the GCSS code of conduct.   For example in the case scenario discussed above if the attitudes of the usher was another social worker within an organization the social worker would act on guidance on policy procedure and ensure the commitment to social justice was withheld. If the other social workers attitudes towards service users resulted in unfair treatment and inequality of services than they are not upholding the ethical principles of effective practice stated in the IFSW (1994)   Social workers should recognise and respect the ethnic and cultural diversity of the societies in which they practise, taking account of individual, family, group and community differences. S4.2.2 Therefore the other social worker would have a responsibility to Challenging unjust practices Social workers have a duty to bring to the attention of their employers, policy makers, politicians and the general public situations where resources are inadequate or where distribution of resources, policies and practices are oppressive, unfair or harmful.s4.2.1 If the other social worker is ethically aware and challenges injustice it is their moral obligation to bring to the attention of the organisation the other social workers behaviour. The social worker would participate in whistle blowing Parrot (2010) p154 defines whistle blowing as   The disclosure by an employee, in a government agency or private enterprise, to the public or to those in authority, of mismanagement, corruption, illegality or some other wrongdoing.   The organisation will then deal directly with the moral character of the social workers discriminatory attitudes. In conclusion social work can be a challenging subject and one that will actively push the boundaries of all social workers on a personal level and professional level. It is agreed within social work that ethics, morals and values are all an inescapable part of professional practice and Ethical awareness is a necessary part of practice of any social work (IFSW, 1994).à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯ However as this assignment has discussed guides can be provided but inevitability it is up to the social workers discretionary judgement of the circumstances. Arguably It is therefore important as a social worker to be aware of the code of ethics, and to talk, discuss, debrief and debate with colleagues and supervisors about dilemmas they may be struggling with. Finally, the onus is on social workers to be reflective about themselves and how self influences practice and decision making. To finish we have to be critically aware of personal beliefs and biases, bringing them to light so they do not unconscio usly influence our practice decisions, leading to injustice and unfair distribution and access to services. Service users must be put at the heart of social work practice and it is our duty as social workers to take any necessary steps within our organisations to ensure mistreatment and inequality is brought to surface. We can therefore improve public trust within the social service profession and encourage service users to work in partnership to empower their lives. References Agency Safe guarding Policy, (2010) Banks, S., (2006). Ethics and Values in Social Work .3rd Ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, BASW (2001) The Code of Ethics for Social Work, Beckett, C. Maynard, A.,( 2005). Values and Ethics in Social Work: An Introduction, London: Sage Biestek,F. (1971). The Casework Relationship, 7th Ed Unwin: University Books. Clark, C. (2000) Social Work Ethics: Politics, Principles and Practice. Basingstoke: MacMillan Class PowerPoint, Values and Ethics, Blackboard (2011) Clifford, D Burke, B, Anti-oppressive Ethics, Social Work Education, Vol. 24, No. 6, September (2005), pp. 677-692 GSCC (2002) Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers and Employers, London: GSCC Horner, N. (2005) What is Social Work? Context and Perspectives. Exeter: Learning Matters International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) available at; http://www.ifsw.org/p38000324.html, accessed on 12/05/2011 Kemshall, H and Pritchard, J (1996) Good Practice in Risk Assessment and Risk Management. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers Loewenberg, F. and Dolgoff, R. (1996) Ethical Choices in the Helping Professions. Ethical Decisions for Social Work Practice, 5th ed., Illinois: Peacock Publishers: Mattison, M. (2000) Ethical Decision Making: The Person in the Process Social Work Vol.45(3), pp.201-212. Parrott, L, (2010) Values and ethics in social work practice 2nd ed, learning matters: Exeter Pinker, R. (1990) Social Work in an Enterprise Society, London:   Routledge. Thompson, N, (2005). Understanding Social Work: Preparing for Practice. 2nd Ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Combining of Old World Animals and the New World Environment Essay exam

Combining of Old World Animals and the New World Environment On the morning of October 12, 1492, as Columbus and his fleet of three ships approached the majestic shores of the new world, it marked the end of one era and the beginning of another. Until this historic moment, the two continents had lived separately from each other, unaware of the other's existence. However, as Columbus and his crew set foot upon the New World, the flood gates were suddenly opened as the country now known as America, fell into the hands of its European discoverers. With their arrival to the virgin lands, the Europeans encountered a world different from their own and quickly sought to "Europeanize" it as soon as possible. In essence, this meant transforming it into something which more closely resembled their home lands (Crosby 64). By manipulating the new environment to better reflect the surrounding of their home country, the explorers and later the settlers, began to break down the fragile ecosystem of the New World. With little regard for their impact on the en vironment, the progressive destruction of the natural habitat continued at an unprecedented rate. The mass devastation of the virgin forests and woodlands shattered the natural balance which had been in place for centuries. Little was spared from the invasive methods of Columbus and his fellow Europeans, including animals. As if the destruction of the native land was not drastic enough, the introduction of Old World species into the New World environment added another factor into the story of the conquest of the New World and its inhabitants. In the years following 1492, an onslaught of European species were introduced into the New World in an attempt to Europeanize the newly discovered ... ... played a part in building what is the environment of present day America. Though these changes took place over four centuries ago, the results can see be seen for the outcome is in front of us every day - a unique and diverse biota composed of species from two worlds meshed together into one living environment. Bibliography Bedini, Silvio A. Editor in Chief. The Christopher Columbus Encyclopedia. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992. Crosby, Jr., Alfred. The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultural Consequences of 1492. West Port, Connecticut, 1972. Gause, as quoted in Krebs, Charles J. Ecology 4th ed. California: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc., 1994. Jones, Jr., Malcom. "When Worlds Collide", Newsweek. Fall/Winter 1991. Sale, Kirkpatrick. The Conquest of Paradise: Christopher Columbus and the Columbian Legacy. New York, Penguin Books, 1990.

Chinese Women Essay -- China Chinese Culture Essays

Chinese Women Traditional Chinese society was patriarchal, patrilineal, and patrilocal. In this male dominated society, sons were preferred to daughters, and women were expected to be subordinate to their fathers, husbands, and sons. Because marriages were arranged, young women and men had virtually no voice in the decisions on their marriage partner, resulting in loveless marriages. Once married, it was the woman who left her family and community and went to live with her husband’s family, where she was subordinate to her mother-in-law. In some cases, female infants were subjected to a high rate of infanticide, or sold as slaves to wealthy families. Men were permitted to take as many wives as they wished and bound feet, which were customary even for peasant women, symbolized the painful constraints of the female role. Chinese women were considered second-class citizens and were subject to the wishes and restraints of men. The basic unit of Chinese society, the family, was male dominated. The oldest living male ruled the patriarchal Chinese family. As the head of the family, the grandfather or father decided whom the children and grandchildren would marry. Because the Chinese practiced a patrilineal system, ancestry was only traced through the male side of the family. When a woman married in the patrilocal system, she was no longer a member of her own family and was sent to live with her husband’s family. Her mother-in-law was to be considered her own new mother and her authority was absolute (Major 107-109). â€Å"Her rule could be benevolent but, far more generally, is reported to have been harsh and autocratic in the extreme, leading at times to suicide (Tregear 120). Daughters, whose long-term contribution to their families was limited, were valued much less than sons. Traditional Chinese philosophy was that, â€Å"raising daughters is like raising children for another family† (Major 109). After O-lan delivers her first daughter, in the novel The Good Earth, she says to her husband Wang Lung, â€Å"It is only a slave this time – not worth mentioning† (Buck 65). Sometimes daughters were sold as servants or prostitutes, or even killed in order to give sons a better chance for survival in times of stress or prolonged famine. During a time of great famine, O-lan, wishing to do what is best for husband, suggests selling their daughter, â€Å"If it were only ... ...his women’s feet and associates small feet with attractiveness and sex (Buck 169-180). Chinese women had no choice but to comply with this torture. â€Å"It was a social convention of long standing and a girl was disgraced if she came to maturity with unbound or large feet† (Latourette 84). When a girl reached the marriageable age, she had better hopes of marrying well if she had bound feet. It was seen to be a reflection on her parents’ ability to raise her properly. Mothers told their daughters that a woman’s attractiveness resided more in her character than in her face or body. Bound feet showed discipline and respect for the Confucian idea of a â€Å"mindful body.† Furthermore, small feet showed refinement and class, which reflected back on a woman’s family (Vento 4). The disgusting display of sexism in China has been immensely reduced by the Communist regime. However, the situation is still far from ideal. Although concubinage and footbinding have been outlawed, the woman’s role is still considered to be in the home. As Soren Kierkegaard once said, â€Å"the present state of the world and the whole of life is diseased.† With a little luck, the cure will be discovered soon.

Dramatic Tension in Macbeth Essay -- Macbeth essays

Dramatic Tension in Macbeth  Ã‚   Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’ is set in Scotland during the rule of king Duncan. Macbeth has fought his way up the ranks of the army to become one of Duncan’s most trusted Lords. An encounter with three witches puts wickedness into the heart of an otherwise noble and loyal Macbeth.   Shakespeare’s brilliant use of dramatic irony, the supernatural, and indecision produce a dramatic tension that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the play. In act 1, scene 1, a scene of three witches confronts us. This alone would have created mystery and fright to the audience, setting the scene of the play to come. ‘Macbeth’ was written in a period when there was a high interest in witchcraft and the supernatural. People were confused and scared by the supernatural, so the sight of three witches would have told the audience that the play would be full of evil and lies. This scene is a short opening to the play. It is long enough to awaken curiosity, but not to satisfy it. The mood of the play is set, although the action and the introduction of the leading characters do not start until the next scene. In act 1, scene 2, we learn about the tough battle which Macbeth and Banquo have fought, and win for the victory for Scotland. Duncun rewards Macbeth for his courage by giving him the title ‘thane of Cawdor’, â€Å"†¦with his former title greet Macbeth.† Let us not forget that a ‘most disloyal traitor’ first owned this title. This scene tells us that Macbeth is thought of as a brave and valiant man because he has killed so many people and won the battle almost single-handedly. The language used is quite horrific and the deaths of Macbeth’s victims are explained in all their gory detail. Th... ...gers. She then lays them ready for Macbeth. She would have murdered Duncan herself if he had not resembled her father. Macbeth returns having murdered Duncan. Shakespeare’s use of language and structure manages to create tension right up to the murder of King Duncan. He manages to gradually build it up and then release it a little, and then increase it until finally the act of regicide takes place. His use of dramatic irony, the supernatural and indecision all combine to keep the audience on the edge of their seats throughout these scenes. His use of the right language in the right places helps the characters and the play to become really believable. Throughout the play, the supernatural plays a major role. A wise choice by Shakespeare at the time and it still works today. Works Cited: Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1977.