The Problem And Proposed Solutions

The Digital Divide debate encompasses issues that are of social, economic and political import. Meaning to say, the issues regarding the digital divide, as a phenomenon and as a current concern that needs to be addressed, is not merely limited to the issue of the existing disparity in terms of access to technology which transverses different sectors of society. This paper attempts to explicate the digital divide, the debate and the foundational issues concerning the phenomenon/problem.In line with the main task of this paper is the identification of the two most important obstacles that need to be overcome and the two important things that the government needs to create in dealing with the digital divide. In meeting the demands of a global economy, technological advancements especially in the field of telecommunications and information technology are key factors in making possible various transactions faster, cheaper, more reliable and convenient. Needless to say, these technological advances are important tools if companies and other business ventures are to survive in the digital economy.These technological advancements however, are evolving far too fast which consequently generate pressing problems that ought to be considered. On a preliminary note, the aforementioned rapid technological evolution poses serious questions if our societal structures can rapidly adapt to these changes and more importantly, if we, ourselves can rapidly adapt and be able to integrate for ourselves these changes. A good example is the Internet and the online community and it is to this topic that we shall now turn.A fuller understanding of the digital divide phenomenon necessitates an understanding of its underpinnings. As Pippa Norris contends, â€Å"the digital divide is understood as a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing three distinct aspects† (Norris). These three distinct aspects according to Norris are the global divide, social divide and democratic divide, resp ectively. Norris elucidates further, â€Å"The global divide refers to divergence of Internet access between industrialized and developing societies.The social divide concerns the gap between the information rich and poor in each nation. And lastly, within the online community, the democratic divide signifies the difference between those who do, and do not, use the panoply of digital resources to engage, mobilize and participate in public life† (Norris). One may thus infer that these three aspects related to the issue of ‘access’ to the Internet involve not mere social, but also economic and political considerations.In an article entitled, What is the Digital Divide, Harouna Ba makes a similar point as Norris. Ba writes, â€Å"lack of access to networked technology will result in a substantial segment of society having neither the skills nor the means to participate in the progressively more knowledge-based U. S. economy† (Ba). As Ba contends, there is a f elt need to address the issue of access along with the social, economic and political considerations that it entails. At this point, the emphasis is on what Norris calls disadvantaged communities.As mentioned earlier, these communities lack not merely access but also and more importantly, the necessary skills and the means to participate in the digital world. Ba identifies a number of obstacles in dealing with the digital divide phenomenon/problem. But, as I reckon it, in relation to the issue of access, the two most important obstacles in dealing with the digital divide are the issues of the disadvantaged communities’ not having the skills that are necessary and their lack of the means that are necessary.These two are barriers to technological access. One may thus infer that the issue of access only becomes a legitimate issue because of these two obstacles. Again, it is not merely a matter of providing the communities with a greater access to computers and the Internet by lo wering the cost of the hardware and software that hardware and software companies manufacture and sell in the market nor is it merely a matter of increasing the ratio of computers to students in our schools and other institutions of learning.This will not solve the digital divide. The solution to the problem lies on our capability to the address the needs of the disadvantaged communities. There is a need for intervention, so to speak. The government has a significant role in addressing these needs. However, the government’s intervention will not suffice. There is a need for a multi-sectoral cooperation in addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities. A crucial question comes into the scenario. What needs to be done?As Ba sees it, what is needed is to develop community-based technology programs that will support the needs of disadvantaged communities. Ba writes, â€Å"Community technology access models are often grounded on community needs and encompass multiple goals to strengthen neighborhoods, educate youth, promote economic development, connect individuals to the social and economic life of the community, and increase participation in civil society† (Ba). It is of utmost importance that we first assess the needs of the community so that we may provide the appropriate solutions.Furthermore, it is important that technology programs be based on the needs of disadvantaged communities so that these communities themselves may have the opportunity to identify and thereby, integrate what the vital functions of technology are to them and the opportunities that it can provide for them. Such an integration entails that a disadvantaged community sees the relevance of technology in their lives. It may thus be inferred that for Ba, the digital divide may be addressed by people empowerment.Our concerted efforts must be directed to empowering the disadvantaged sectors of society. How can this be done? People empowerment is made possible through community education. As Ba contends, there is a lot of work to be done especially in â€Å"the areas of learning and teaching with and/or about advanced technologies in informal settings for under-served communities† (Ba). This is one of the main reason why government initiatives and interventions in the past only had a limited success in dealing with the digital divide phenomenon.There indeed are initiatives and interventions but they do not address the problem. They miss the point, so to speak. As Ba notes, state governments attempt to address the digital divide via two government agencies; the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Department of Education. The PUC by appealing to telecommunication companies and the likes for universal service and the Department of Education by making provisions for computers in school for those students that do not have access to a computer and the Internet at home.These attempts miss the point because they have been made on the unfounded assumpti on that the digital divide issue is merely an issue of ‘access’ and thus, can be solved by making computers and the Internet more accessible to individuals. But what can these initiatives and interventions accomplish if in the first place, the problem is that individuals from disadvantaged sectors of society lack the necessary skills and the means to be able to access and thereby, utilize technology? The plain truth of the matter is that technology evolves much faster than society can adapt to it.Furthermore, why limit the provisions with the students? Why not youth in general? Why exclude out-of-school youth? This merely shows that the limited success of state initiatives and interventions may be explained by the fact that their assumption is unfounded and that their digital divide programs are not grounded on community needs and thus, ineffective. The digital divide phenomenon/problem is not merely a problem of access. The preceding discussion makes it clear that it i s not a mere matter of identifying â€Å"the have from the have not†.Even this distinction is grounded on further distinctions in terms of the social, economic and the political. These further distinctions albeit different from each other, are very closely interrelated that they all affect changes in the others. Human society is complex. It is not simply a social system. It is also a political system and every political system is also an economic system. The human mind too is complex. There are countless possibilities in terms of scientific and technological advancements. Science and technology evolves too fast.In contrast to science and technology, our societal structures and institutions do not. They do not because there are many other significant things to consider. Perhaps, this is the predicament of our time. Works Cited Ba, Harouna. â€Å"What Is Digital Divide†. August 20 2007. . Norris, Pippa. Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty, and the Inter net Worldwide (Communication, Society and Politics). Cambridge Cambridge University Press, 2001.

A silent killer

A silent killer is a disease which is hard to detect and causes injuries over time silently. Similarly a calcaneal spur also called as heel spur is a small ostephyte or bone spur located on the calcareous heel bone which is a silent killer. Many a time this Calcaneal spurs are detected by a radiological examination or X-ray but often it's too late. When a foot bone is exposed to constant stress, calcium gets deposited and is build up on the bottom of the heel bone. Generally, this doesn't affect a person's daily life routine.However, repeated damage can cause these deposits to pile up on ach other which then causes a spur-shaped deformity, called a calcaneal or heel spur. Flatfooted people,obeses people and women who frequently wear high-heeled shoes are most susceptible to heel spurs. Causes : There can be many causes but we will see few of them. Heel spurs can form as a result of repeated strain placed on foot muscles . Due to which ligaments are formed abnormally stretching the ba nd of tissue connecting the heel and the foot.Repeated injury to the membrane lines of the heel bone can also cause problems and can cause repeated pressure behind the heel. The causes can be anything it can be xcessive walking , running or Jumping to wearing shoes which are not comfortable or torn shoes. volleyball players and tennis players, and athletics people who do aerobics or who climbs staircase for exercise, also those with flat feet, women's who are pregnant, the obese and diabetics and those who wear tight-fitting shoes with a high heel are all prone to developing spurs more readily.Symptoms: Let us see the symptoms of heel spur and try to figure out some measures. Major symptoms consist of pain in the region which is around the spur, which typically increases and goes on becoming intense after prolonged periods of rest. Patients reports heel pain to be more severe when waking or doing morning walk. Patients are not able to bear the weight on the affected heel comfortably . Short distance walking, running or lifting heavy weight may make the issue even worse.A heel spur is a pointed bony outgrowth of the bone of the heel . They are attributed to chronic local inflammation at the insertion of soft tissue tendons in the area. Heel spurs is located at the back of the heel or under the heel of the foot. Heel spurs behind of the heel are frequently associated with inflammation of the tendon and many a times causes ever pain in the foot. Treatment: There are many treatment options, and good results are often observed. A calcaneal spur develops when proper care is not given of the foot and heels.It is often caused because of a repetitive stress injury, and thus few modification in our lifestyle can be a typical and basic course of management. To decrease the effect of heel spur pain, a person should begin doing foot workouts. Do exercise to make your muscles of calf stronger and lower legs will help take the stress off the bone and thus help cure or prevent heel spurs. Applying Ice to the area is an effective way to get f sever pain persist then Steroid injection can be given. The bone spur can be removed by surgery.Which is 80% effective. Wearing proper footwear is also very important. Include turmeric, ginger in your daily diet. Also regular exercise can act as a preventive measure. Conclusion: thought it's difficult to detect but it can be prevented and we can lead a happy life by reducing the impact of heel spur. We can take care by doing simple things. Choose comfortable shoes Applying acupressure techniques to specific, locations along the heel can help to reduce pain and promote healing. Thus effective care and treatment can cure heel spur.

Ford vs Chevy Essay

Fords are characterized by slightly higher displacement V8 engines (Ford 302 vs. Chevy 300, Ford 351 vs. Chevy 350, Ford 402 vs. Chevy 400). Ford is also a more economy minded producer in more modern times, while Chevy is less so because of the use of the Buick and Olds brands. In performance, Chevy engines are often slightly more powerful, the 350 normally produced a maximum of 310 hp opposed to the Ford â€Å"windsor† 351 that made 290. Ford is known for many smaller sized cars, like the Escort, Tempo, and Marshall, while many GM cars are Buick, Pontiac or the retired Oldsmobile–although there are some Chevy versions of the smaller cars. The Chevy Small Block V8 is a very versatile engine, having been used in every GM brand, by marine stern-drive companies and even in ultralight flying machines. It is a common hotrodding engine. The Ford Windsor is prized because it was the first pony-car engine. Ford is known to be the original pony-car manufacturer, starting witht he mustang, whose name (a breed of horse) created the term. Although with the flat-head V8 ford began the hotrodding trend in the ’32 duece roadster, starting in the 70s Chevrolet took control of hotrodding, mainly because ford went through many different engines (MEL, Lincoln Y-block, Ford Y-block, Ford FE, Ford Windsor, Ford Cleveland, Modular V8 or V10) while Chevrolet still makes similar engines to those found in ’60s corvettes and camaros, the Chevy Bigblock and Smallblock. As far as economy goes, there is very little difference between the two companies. It is interesting to note that both companies supplied parts for AMC cars–the gremlin could have a Chevrolet transmission hooked to a Ford 170 I6–proving there is in reality very little difference between their products. Between the Ford Galaxie and Mustang, and the Chevy Nova both companies garner much respect from hotrodding enthusiasts.

Strategic Perspective - Zara Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Strategic Perspective - Zara Case Study - Essay Example Presently, ZARA is present in more than 73 countries worldwide and has been expanding at an accelerating pace on an international level. Currently, the group has about 6009 stores which are widespread in 86 markets; it implies that it is operating in four hundred cities in five continents. The net sales of the company as of 2012 were â‚ ¬15,964 million and ZARA has contribution of more than 30% in the total profit amount (Inditex, 2013a). The mission of the company is to offer all the customers a distinctive range of options for making a wise choice in the fast fashion industry. The brand ensures that the offerings comprise of inimitable and innovative products for enhancing the shopping experience of all customers. The store provides the uniquely designed products at reasonable prices that are created from excellent quality materials in accordance to the latest market trends (Zara, 2013). In order to understand the business environment in which ZARA is operating, it is crucial to monitor the changes that are taking place so that the retail store remains competent and proactive in its approach. As the customers of the fashion industry are always looking forward for fresh, modern and distinctive products all the time, ZARA has ensured that it develops its core competence in the manufacturing process (Bhardwaj & Fairhurst, 2010). Most of the clothing companies have to encounter problems in efficient management of their production procedure; ZARA has outclassed in this area by employing a supply chain system that is efficient, agile and capable of producing zero defect products (Hume, 2011). Hence, the store ensures that it is well-aware of the industry requirements and standards but it creates its own way of managing the business operations. The business model of ZARA is so competent that the rival companies cannot copy it at all and it is the primary source of

IFRS ( international financial reporting standards) Essay

IFRS ( international financial reporting standards) - Essay Example Resulting from this difference, IFRS gives the management flexibility and discretion in preparing the financial statements of a company. In the recent past, most nations have moved towards adopting a common globalized accounting standard. As such, use of IFRS in many parts of the world has gained widespread prominence and popularity. Regions such as the European Union, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Russia, and other countries have adopted the use of IFRS. In January 2011, Canada adopted the use of IFRS officially; consequently, many countries switched from their accounting standards and adopted the IFRS standard of Canada. The widespread acceptance of International Financial Reporting Standards portrays a fundamental change in the accounting profession. This stems from the fact that the use of IFRS has become a common phenomenon in the accounting profession (Nandakumar et al 2011, p. 3). About 100 countries either allow or require publicly held companies to use IFRS while preparing their financial statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in America has considered setting a date in order to allow U.S. public companies to adopt the use of IFRS. The process of setting international standards started several decades back. Industrialized nations saw the need to devise standards, which could be adopted by small and developing nations unable to come up with their own standards for accounting. With the globalization of business, investors, regulators, auditing firms and large companies realized the vitality of adopting common standards that could apply in all aspects of financial reporting (Kirk 2008, p. 2). The adoption of IFRS has some considerable benefits to the company and the investors who adopt these standards. The adoption of international standards allows the governments, and investors and organizations to have a comparison of the financial statements

Managerial Economics exam paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Managerial Economics exam - Term Paper Example The salary that the owner of a business can earn and the interest that the owner can earn on the invested capital are examples of implicit costs. The following equations can be used to calculated business and economic profits. c) Since project B has a higher standard deviation of $15000 than project A, we can conclude that project B is riskier. However, project B provides a better return of $70000 as compared to the expected return of project A of $60300. Project A has lesser risk since its standard deviation is lesser than that of project B. Higher standard deviation of project B indicates that there are high chances that the return will either be higher than the expected return or lower than the expected return. If the customer is a risk-averse one, he will prefer project A since it provides a lower return but has lesser risk attached to it. A risk-taking customer would go for project B since project B provides a better return although there is higher risk attached to it. Implicit cost is the cost of the opportunity that a firm loses when it employs its resources in earning profits. The salary that one can earn by investing his time elsewhere or the interest that one can earn on the capital employed in business are some examples of implicit costs (Begg 1997). According to the Consumer Demand Theory, the quantity demanded of a product increases with a decrease in its price and quantity demanded decreases if price is increased. There is a direct relationship between demand and income. If income of consumers increases, quantity demanded also increases and if income decreases, quantity demanded also decreases. Change in tastes also influence the quantity demanded of a product (Sloman 1997). For example, if people get more inclined towards buying smartphones than other cellphones, the smartphones demand will surge due o the change in tastes and preferences of the

Formula Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Formula Analysis - Assignment Example When the element of violence was introduced was the point that the story slowly unfolded and moved on. It was evident in the film albeit being an animated feature geared to entertain the young that the element of violence had to be employed to spice things up. Without violence, there would not have been a story. Formulas, apparently, have not changed over the years. Movies still employ the â€Å"bad guy vs. good guy† plots. The bad guy brings menace to the good guy and his family—another staple factor to formulaic movies. Good guy defends his family to the death—usually of bad guy’s—thus justifying the violent actions of good guy. Bag guy gets eliminated, but nobody knows what happened or where he had gone after. He’s simply out of the picture. Nobody could care less as long as the protagonists are happy. The Incredibles, for instance, has the Parr Family—Mr. Incredible, the dad; Elastigirl, the mom; and the kids Violet, Dash, and Jack-jack—pitted against Syndrome, the evil genius. The warmth of family versus the evil of cold revenge. Mr. Incredible ditches Syndrome as a young fan who wanted to be his partner. Young Syndrome exacts revenge years by trying to prove he can outdo Mr. Incredible—to the extent of putting his family in grave danger. Viewers are made to consider violence as an integral and positive part of the movie for without which the Parr kids would not have been able to bring out the best in themselves. After all, if they had not been subjected to Syndrome’s menace, they would not have been able to rise above childish scuffles. And the consequent violence—the destruction of the villain Syndrome—is thereby justified. He is the â€Å"bad guy† after all. And as the clichà © goes, â€Å"they lived happily ever after.† The viewers are satisfied. Very formulaic. Yes, the formula, tiresome as it

Writer's choice Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Writer's choice - Research Paper Example The word Islam equates to the English word ‘peace’ or ‘submission’. The core of teachings in the Qur’an largely focuses on good manners, worship and promotion of peace. The notions of forgiving others and sustaining healthy relationships with relatives and other members of the society are regarded in the highest esteem. Islam advises the followers to respect the laws of the country and avoid unlawful conduct in matters of daily life (Alavi, 205). Keeping in view the above mentioned teachings of Islam and by knowing that the vast majority of population in the Middle East follows the religion of Islam, one can safely infer that stability in the Middle East is largely due to a better understanding of Islam. As compared to rest of the Muslim world, the ability of Arabic population to better understand the word of Allah (God) makes them able to understand the significance of peace and obedience; the ultimate consequence of which is stability at the regional level. Flexibility is already a feature of sharia. Decisions about the various disputes are decided in accordance to the holistic conditions of both the parties. It is therefore apparent that although Islamic law is very strict about certain crimes, the overall purpose of punitive measures is an improved survival of the society as a whole. It should also be kept in mind that ‘flexibility’ and ‘discrimination’ are two distinct concepts and Islam does not allow discrimination due to flexibility in law

Mechanical Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Mechanical Engineering - Essay Example The engineering discipline possesses characteristics such as flexibility, individuality, and breadth. In terms of career paths, the individuals determine which category of mechanical engineering they are to deal with or engage in. This is as a result of its breadth and wide boundaries. This is especially advantageous to the current changing society therefore one can satisfactorily decide which career path to follow and not moving out of the core career. Mechanical engineering is found on the basis of mathematics, design, mechanics, heat and energy, engineering sciences and manufacturing. The mechanics discipline of mechanical engineering includes fluids which may range from water to hypersonic gases and motion of particles. Engineers in this field are involved in research, manufacture, development, design and testing of machines, engines and other mechanical devices. They usually work on various devices in particular power producing devices like internal combustion engines, gas turbines, steam turbines, and electric generators. This is just but to mention a few. They are also involved in power consumption machines like air conditioning and refrigeration, material handling systems, escalators, robots to be used in the manufacturing industry, elevators and industrial production equipment. This field of engineering requires core skills and expertise in structural analysis, kinematics, thermodynamics, material science and mechanics. It is through the use of these core concepts that the mechanical engineers are able to achieve their objectives in work. The engineers use various tools like product life cycle management and computer aided tools for the design and analysis work of the heating and cooling systems, motor vehicles, robotics and medical among others. This engineering discipline emerged during the European industrial revolution in the 19th century however its development can be

Corporate Social Responsibility And Sustainable Marketing Coursework

Corporate Social Responsibility And Sustainable Marketing - Coursework Example Along the years of its entrepreneurial operations in the realm of sports equipments and merchandises the company has been able to design a large brand portfolio by taking into hold a large number of subsidiaries. The sportswear company, headquartered in Oregon operates based on its operations spread over 160 countries round the world. Working on the basis of a large value chain constituted by around 1 million people pertaining to the categories of suppliers, manufacturers and other support categories the company tends to bring about large scale innovation in the realm of sportswear (Nike Inc. 2011). The Market The global market for sportswear reflects two types of consumer trends. Consumers tend to purchase sportswear merchandise more in regards to enhancing their fashion quotients rather than using such for the sole purpose of sports. Nike is held to be the pioneer brand in holding sportswear as a contemporary fashion wear in the global market. During 2003 the total global market fo r sportswear shoes and other apparels amounts to around $58 Billion. Herein apparel tends to constitute around 71 percent while 29 percent is relegated to footwear. The same can be reflected in the form of the following graph as follows. Figure 1 (Play Fair 2004, p.6) Similarly the global market for sports and athletic wear amounts to around $41.5 billion. Herein, United States tends to contribute to around 41 percent of the global share followed by around the European Union by around 38 percent. The markets pertaining to Asia contribute to around 16 percent in the total global market for sports and athletic wear. The same can be reflected through the following diagram. Figure 2 (Play Fair 2004, p.7) In regards to positioning of the different brands in the global sportswear industry it is found that the major brands like Nike, Reebok, and Adidas constitute in around 14 percent of the total global market for such commodities. However less known brands like Fila, Umbro and again Puma tend to each gain around 1 percent market share in the total market during 2002. Other Minor brands like the Mizuno, Lotto and the Kappa tend to each contribute to around 0.5 percent of the total market share during the same period. Thus the three main brands, Nike, Adidas and the Reebok tend to dominate the marketplace pertaining to sportswear in the world (Play Fair 2004, p.6-10). The same can be reflected from the following graphs. Figure 3 (Play Fair 2004, p.8) Figure 4 (Play Fair 2004, p.8) Figure 5 (Play Fair 2004, p.10) In regards to the current scenario during 2007 the total sportswear industry is found to value to around $145 billion. Further the sector reflects an increasing trend in terms of global market growth irrespective of it being affected by economic downturns happening round the world (ITGLWF 2010). Diagnostics Communication Activities of Nike Advertising and Promotion In regards to advertising activities, Nike is held to largely depend on celebrities like Michael Jordan and Kevin Garnett along with Charles Barkley for promotion of its footwear to both developed and developing nations round the world. This advertising practice of the company through the use of celebrities has helped the company in largely

Ontario's Recod on Electing Women Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ontario's Recod on Electing Women - Essay Example Women only won the right to vote gradually in Canada and remain underrepresented in Parliament as well as in provincial legislatures. The first federal election in which women were able to vote and run as candidates was 1921. In that election, four women ran for office and Agnes Campbell MacPhail (1890-1954) made history as the first woman elected to the Canadian House of Commons. Between 1921 and 2006, 3402 women candidates stood in the 39 general elections and won on 426 occasions. (http://www.worldmayor.com/manifestos05/mississauga_05.html) Hazel McCallion was first elected to the office of Mayor of Mississauga, Ontario in November, 1978, and she is the longest serving Mayor in the city's history. On the 11th of November 2003, Hazel McCallion started her 10th term as Mayor of Mississauga, Ontario. She was acclaimed in 1980, re-elected in 1982 and 1985, acclaimed again in 1988 and re-elected in 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2006. The Mayor was runner-up in World Mayor 2005. Mayor McCallion was born in Port Daniel on the Gaspe Coast of Quebec, and educated in Quebec City and Montreal. She then began a career with Canadian Kellogg, and remained with the company for 19 years. In 1967 she decided to leave the corporate world and devote her career to politics. She was elected Chairman of the Streetsville Planning Board that year, and again in 1968. Later that same year, she became Deputy Reeve of Streetsville. She was later appointed Reeve, and then elected Mayor of Streetsville in 1970, serving until December, 1973. When the Region of Peel was established in 1974, Ms McCallion was elected to the Mississauga and Peel Regional Councils. She served two terms as a Councillor prior to her mayoral campaign in 1978. By the time she was elected Mayor, she had sat on virtually every com mittee at the Region of Peel and the City of Mississauga. She has also served on the executive of many federal and provincial committees and associations. (http://www.worldmayor.com/manifestos05/mississauga_05.html) Nellie McClung (1873-1951) was an outstanding activist who was in the forefront for the fight for women's rights including the right to vote and be voted for, made some remarkable statements in 1929. She said, "We may live to see the day when women will no longer be news!" this hope has been realized in recent years - there is no questioning of women in politics today, and they have been voted for in every political arena. The Election Act of the Dominion stated that "no women, idiot, lunatic, or child" could vote. Nellie McClung happens to be one of the numerous women who fought for women's rights in politics, and other professions. She was a member of an early feminist movement variously called Maternal, Moral, or Social Feminism. Their agitations were not just on the equality of life of women in all areas of society as "equality feminism" later proved to be. It was boarded on better health care, removal of restrictions, women's institutions, cultural activities etc. These activities

Luke’s gospel Essay Example for Free

Luke’s gospel Essay Each of the four evangelists had a particular slant to their writing:- One could say that Mark was a brief account of the preaching of Peter. Johns Gospel was written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31). Matthew was written for Jews to show how Jesus teaching related to their laws and traditions. And Luke wrote for those who had become disciples and wanted to ground their faith in historical fact. Luke is described in the title of Jean-Francois Racine’s 20008 article as ‘Luke: Storyteller, Interpreter and Evangelist. ’ Despite his skills as both narrator and interpreter of events, he would have perhaps felt most comfortable with the last of these – Evangelist. In his gospel he makes many theological points – he was concerned for instance that his readers knew exactly who the person of Jesus was not as Alan Richardson says ‘a docetic apparition’ i. e the belief , later considered heretical, that Christ merely appeared to have a human body, an idea that Luke opposes with his birth narratives and the genealogy in chapter 3. Nor is he ‘a pagan theophany’ i. e. the mere visible, but not material appearance of God . This reality of God in history can be seen in the reading of this passage. Jesus is not just reading an old prophecy. He is laying claim to it. It is not to be interpreted as ’The Spirit of the Lord ‘ is upon some unknown person, some future long promised Saviour, but upon Jesus, the boy they had all seen grow up. It is perhaps no wonder the congregation found this difficult to accept. God in man, yet not someone who would perform miracles just to prove a point as is made clear in the description of the temptations in the wilderness, yet who is prepared to reveal signs that can be interpreted. The bringing of sight to the blind was in particular something associated with ‘the servant of the Lord’ according to Richardson and would be seen as a \Messianic sign. It is clear from the words of Isaiah that he chose that he saw the miracles he was able to perform as signs of the coming of the kingdom of God ‘the day of the Lord predicted by Isaiah. He makes this clear when he follows his reading by making the astounding claim ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’. After the prologue ( Luke 1 verse 1 to 4 ) Luke’s Gospel can be divided most obviously into 5 main sections in a frame work that more or less follows that set out by Mark, but which includes many events recorded solely by Luke:- †¢ Births of John and Jesus, Luke chapters 1 v 5 and 2, and unique to Luke †¢ Galilean Ministry, ( this section would also include his baptism and genealogy). The genealogy too is unique, for although Matthew includes such a list they vary. This section concludes at Chapter 9 v 20 with Peter’s confession when he acknowledges Jesus as ‘God’s Messiah’. †¢ The parable of the Good Samaritan in chapter 10 begins the next section wherein Jesus gradually moves towards Jerusalem. †¢ Luke 19 v 28 marks Jesus’ entry into the city of Jerusalem and a re-joining of Luke’s narrative with that contained in Mark’s shorter gospel. Although there are accounts of earlier confrontations, in particular with the Pharisees this section marks a period of greater confrontation , as when he drove out the merchants in the temple in Luke 19 v 45-48 and of course later with the Sanhedrin and the Roman rulers. †¢ The passion narratives can be said to start from Chapter 22 with the feast of unleavened bread and the preparations for the last supper with the disciples. They conclude with the ascension, described again in Acts 1.. Jesus at the point described in 4 v 14 -30 has returned to his home town of Nazareth in Galilee. It is a passage that place Christ right at the centre of the story of salvation. According to Conzelmann and Buswell in the section of their 1992 book entitled ‘The centre of history’ Luke ‘deliberately takes the â€Å"today† which is expressed in this passage as belonging to the past, and builds up the picture of Jesus whole career on the basis of this historical interpretation. ’ â€Å"Today† might not actually be included in the passage in most translations, but is still implied as the passage is in the present tense and in the final line as in the Message paraphrase ‘This is God’s year to act. ’ In the Amplified Bible the passage reads :- The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound. Headings in the Good News Bible for this passage are ‘Jesus begins his work in Galilee’ and ‘Jesus is rejected at Nazareth’ The local people would have heard about the miracles don e in other places in the region. They must have been thinking ‘If he has done so much in other villages, how much more will he do here’ Instead he quotes to them a well known proverb :- Surely you will quote this proverb to me: Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum. I tell you the truth, he continued, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. He goes on to expound upon the way in which Gentiles could have faith, giving the examples of the widow of Zarephath who had been helped by Elijah, and also Naaman the Syrian, both of whose stories would have been familiar to the congregation. The passage has been proceeded by the birth narratives, the account of the early visit to Jerusalem, the sudden jump to the preaching of his forerunner John . His baptism is recorded briefly and then comes the genealogy which traces Jesus’ ancestry back to God The temptation in the wilderness is described as immediately preceding the events of 4 v 14 – 30. So we have Jesus, a unique being, ‘Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Christ, the Lord. ’ And , according to the words of Simeon, not just a Saviour for the Jewish people, but also ‘Salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. ’ It had been traditionally expected that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah as is pointed out by Luke by his inclusion of the prophecy from Isaiah ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, prepare the way for the Lord†¦.. the crooked roads shall become straight , the rough ways smooth, and all mankind will see God’s salvation. ’ So once again the image provoked is of a universality to the message of salvation. John the Baptist is an Elijah type figure, especially if one reads Mark’s description of him , ‘John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ’ The baptism was a public event , but according to Luke the message from God to his son was a personal one, and it is not clear in this passage whether others heard the voice ‘You are my son whom I love; with you I am well pleased. ’ , a parallel passage to the one in Mark , but in John it is clear that John the Baptist at least was a witness, ‘John gave this testimony :† I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Matthew gives a slightly different version of events, which seems to imply that God was publically acknowledging Jesus as his son. ‘A voice from heaven said â€Å"This is my son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased. †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ So all is ready – Jesus is established in history as being God on earth, the special, unique person , prophesied of old as the means of the world’s salvation – now he can begin. Which brings us to the Nazareth synagogue scene which marks , as far as Luke is concerned, the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. How far does passage set the agenda for the ministry of Jesus? According to Hans Conzelmann and Geoffrey Buswell in the 1982 book ‘TheTheology of St Luke’ ‘It is significant that according to Luke Jesus is not led by the Spirit, but himself acts in the Spirit. First of all there is the obvious contrast between ‘He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him’ which refers in a general way to the synagogues of various Galilean towns, and the reaction in his home town of Nazareth, presumably before a congregation of those who knew him well :-‘Isn’t this Jesus, Joseph’s son? ’ and then when he expounded on the passage, pointing out how Elijah had not been sent to a Jewish home in the time of famine, but to help the Gentile widow of Zarephath in Sidon, this provoked an extremely violent negative reaction ‘All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this’ so much so that they were apparently prepared to actually kill him according to verse 28 and 29. Why such a violent reaction? Israel had long been expecting her Messiah. He had been prophesied from Genesis through to Malachi, but in both negative and positive ways ‘ I will put enmity between you and the woman ,and between your offspring and hers’ and ‘Suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant; whom you desire, will come, says the Lord Almighty. ’ However the people were expecting a warrior, a physical king, someone who would free them from the yoke of the Romans not a village boy, perhaps even an illegitimate one people have long memories. The passage Jesus was reading was from the scroll of Isaiah, chapter 61 . He bought the reading to an end in what, for the congregation, would be considered ‘the wrong place’. i. e half way through what is in modern Bibles , verse 2 of the chapter. He includes the phrase ‘to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’ but omits the one after it ‘the day of vengeance of our God. ’ These people wanted a powerful saviour who would rid them of Roman oppression. Isaiah’s prophecy goes on to talk about a double portion for the Israelites who would feed on the wealth of nations. Preaching good news to the poor was fine, but it wouldn’t send the Romans back to Rome. Don Swager in his commentary says :- Jesus praise for outsiders caused them offence because they were blind-sighted to Gods mercy and plan of redemption for all nations. This sudden change of mood from the previous verses in which Luke records that he found acceptance where ever he went is a pivotal point in the gospel record. It exemplifies what will come and so can be said to set the agenda – for instance on Palm Sunday we are told that a large crowd ‘began to thank God and praise him in loud voices for all the great things that they had seen. ’ Shouting â€Å"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! This is followed immediately by a plea from the Pharisees that Jesus call upon his followers to be quiet. Presumably they feared a negative reaction on the part of the authorities to someone being hailed as king. It isn’t just the words used. Spreading clothing along his way was known to be the way to greet a king. An example of this would be 2 Kings 9 v 13, a passage that would have been known when to many in the crowd , where, and had anointed him, after Elisha had told his that God wanted him to be king Jehu told his officers that Elisha had said :- Here is what he told me: This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel. ’They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, Jehu is king! But the words were from what are called the ‘songs of ascent’ i. e a normal part of the Passover celebrations and sang every year by pilgrims arriving in Jerusalem for the feast. So any Roman observers would have probably seen nothing unusual, and wouldn’t have been familiar with the passage from 2nd Kings. As with so many other passages this reaction of the Pharisees is unique to Luke. But these people were aware to some extent at least of the miracle that Jesus had performed in Galilee and the resurrection of Lazarus, recorded by John the evangelist, though not by Luke, had only just occurred, John places the event perhaps a week earlier, and it would certainly have been the latest news, so they at least were aware of the special person that Jesus was. These same people, described by Luke as disciples would have course still been in Jerusalem at the end of the week and some at least must have been in the crowd which Luke describes:- With one voice they cried out, Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us! †¦.. But they kept shouting, Crucify him! Crucify him! †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. This constant split in opinion and changes in opinion , the general misunderstanding about what was Jesus’ true ministry as recorded first in Luke 4, continues throughout the passages between then and the trial narrative. In Luke 5 for instance there is the story of the call of Levi ( Matthew) after which there was a feast in Levi’s house. Again it is the Pharisees who complain ‘But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? He tries to explain :- â€Å"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. † The Good News Bible translate this verse as ‘I have not come to call respectable people to repent, but outcasts. ’ – which links back to the Isaiah passage read by Jesus in his home synagogue:- He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, That passage of course begins ‘the Spirit of the Lord is on me’ and of Jesus this was literally true if the account of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon him at the time of his baptism is to be believed. It was acknowledge by Luke at the very beginning of the Galilean ministry :-â€Å" Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. † The passage, which comes from Isaiah 61 would not have originally have had the chapter and verse breaks with which we are so familiar. The section immediately before it is headed in the New International Version ‘The Glory of Zion’, and begins ‘Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you’ . Oswald Chambers commenting upon his book ‘My Utmost for his Highest’ notes that ‘We have to make the first step’†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢when getting in contact with God in order to find out what he wants’. This is a long positive passage which includes references to God appearing and nations ( i. e. the Gentiles ) coming to his light and which concludes with the words ‘I am the Lord ; in its time I will do this swiftly.. ’. Jesus , although he read only a few lines, would have been very aware of this wider context , and so would many of his readers. This ministry to the outsiders of society would continue and is more strongly evident in this gospel perhaps than in others as for instance in chapter 15, known for its parables of the lost which begins with tax collectors and others on the edges of society coming to Jesus an event that brings an immediate reaction from the religious leaders Right at the beginning of his story Luke had stressed the presence, power and working of the Holy Spirit, something that it was generally felt had departed from Israel. The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. This emphasis upon the Spirit continues. It is evidenced for instance in the raising from death to life of the widow’s son, only one of many healings which took place and which Luke summarizes. At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Even such miraculous events could be misinterpreted, such were the misunderstandings surrounding Jesus, who he was, and what his purpose was. In the gospel’s11th chapter, Jesus, now on his way towards Jerusalem, drives out a demon. :- Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons. This empowering by the Spirit was not restricted to Jesus alone, Anticipating opposition ahead he tells his followers they need not fear :- When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say. Another aspect of the passage is ‘the binding up of the broken hearted’. This could be seen as referring to those who mourn for whatever reason as in Matthew 5 v 4 ‘Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. ’ as Jesus describes life in the coming kingdom of God. The Message Bible has this as :- You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right . Then you can see God in the outside world. Luke is always concerned with mankind fully realizing who Christ is and his purpose and the message might be. The letter to Philippians in chapter 2 contains a quotation from an early Christian hymn which explains this – that Christ humbled himself by coming to earth in order eventually that man will be restored in his relationship with God – a relationship broken in the early chapters of Genesis when man disobeyed what he knew to be the will of God. Luke portrays the purpose of Christ as restoring this broken relationship. In 4 v 43 Jesus says :- I must preach the good news of the Kingdom to God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent. Luke also shows the universality of the task in the call of the disciples as when he responds to Peter in 5 v 10, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men’ told . When the seventy two disciples, who had been sent out as recorded in chapter 10, they had been told ‘Heal the sick who are there and tell them the kingdom of God is near you’ They returned full of joy because ‘Lord, even the devils submit to us in your name! ’ This idea that the spread of the gospel is the task and responsibility of the whole church, and they will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry it out is of course continued in Luke’s second volume , the Book of Acts, for example in chapter 2 v 4 :- All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. This idea of restoring relationships is shown repeatedly even in the healing miracles, where the emphasis is on the forgiveness of sins rather than on any physical healing that took place as with the healing of the paralytic man brought to his by friends in 5 v 17 -26. The man does receive healing, but even before that in verse 20 we read :- ‘Friend , your sins are forgiven’ something that the Jewish faith believed was only brought about by the offering of sacrifices. The result in this case was not only one man being forgiven, but a whole crowd of people seeing God in power and praising him for it. The theme continues even on the cross when the thief pleads with the dying Messiah :- ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom’. Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. When John records Jesus final words, ‘It is finished’ it is a sign that not only is his earthly life drawing to an end, but that of the task which he had taken upon himself. Peterson, in the Message Bible translates this as :-‘It’s done – complete’. A phrase that might be translated as ‘It is accomplished’ as indeed it was if one accepted that by his sacrificial death Jesus is able to restore the relationship between God and his salvation. Luke’s version of the gospel story cannot be seen in isolation, and should be read alongside complementary passages, i. e. the other gospels. It is stated in John 3 v 14 – 18 a:- The son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned. References Bible, Good News Version, Today’s English Version, Collins/Fontana London 1976 Bible, New International Version, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1988 Chambers, O. ,My Utmost for His Highest, Marshall, Morgan and Scott, reprinted 1975 Peterson,E. Bible , The Message, Navpress, Colorado Springs, 2002. Richardson,A. Introduction to the Theology of the New Testament, SCM Press, London 1958 Electronic Sources Amplified Bible, retrieved 6th April 2009 http://www. biblegateway. com/passage/? search=Luke%204;version=45; Brow, R. , Lukes Gospel Commentary, Retrieved 6th April 2009 http://www. brow. on. ca/Books/Luke/Luke01. htm Conzelmann, H. and Buswell, G. ‘The Theology of St Luke’ Faber and Faber, London 1992 , Questia on Line Library, retrieved 7th April 2009 http://www. questia. com/read/87968381? title=The%20Theology%20of%20St. %20Luke Racine, J. Luke: Storyteller, Interpreter and Evangelist , Theological Studies, Volume 69, 2008, Questia Online Library, retrieved 7th April 2009 http://www. questia. com/read/5025752564? title=Luke%3a%20Storyteller%2c%20Interpreter%2c%20Evangelist Swager, D. The Gospel of Luke, A Commentary and Meditation retrieved 6th April 2009 http://www. rc. net/wcc/readings/luke146. htm

Network Upgrade for Walgreens Boots Alliances Business

Network Upgrade for Walgreens Boots Alliances Business Question 1 (20 marks) a) i) I have drawn a Systems map for the Network Upgrade for Walgreens Boots Alliances European Business. I have picked key subjects as sub systems such as Customers, Contracts, Network (subbed into Improvements, access technologies and Traffic) and the Transformation Programme itself. I grouped them in this way; as the network upgrade formed the main part of the IT transformation programme which affects the Customers (Stores, centres, etc). I included the Customers Changing Health and Beauty Needs in the environment as these do not form part of the system; but only influence it. By drawing the systems map I could see how many components needed to work together to produce an interconnected project to upgrade to a new IT system; thus showing the structure. ii)  I changed the Systems map into a T-O-P diagram, forming new groups and subjects which suited technologies, organisations and people. I grouped companies into the organisation area, subgrouping them into other organisations. The technology area utilizes the Access Technologies part of the systems map, and the people area shows any influences in the case study from a person perspective. By drawing the T-O-P diagram I could see how many components needed to work together to produce an interconnected project to upgrade to a new IT system. It shows a simple framework of the components of a sociotechnical IT system. b) In about 150 words describe a key element of ETHICS which could have been applied when analysing the IT system described in the case study. ETHICS is all about participation. The Walgreens Boots Alliance has a strategy and programme in place to create a suitable network infrastructure; however I believe that there wasnt any participation from end users or employees at the consultancy phase. The users could have given BT useful information and feedback regarding the current systems in place for customer service; thus participating in its design with technical and organisational aspects. The case study does not display or mention any information regarding any input from the companys employees. Establishing a design group at the beginning of the project with representatives from Boots, Alliance Healthcare and BT; including employees from different sections, grades and sex would put the project in a good starting position and show an element of ETHICS in operation. A management change process should have been followed with formal documentation and signatures from various representatives to give the best sociotechnical solution for the system. [153 words] c) In about 150 words, suggest and describe at least three issues of power between at least three of the key stakeholders in this IT system. I have identified three stakeholders; these being Emer Timmons for BT, Erwin van Vroenhoven for Walgreens and the Customers themselves. Emer Timmons (BT) has the power over the whole of the Walgreens Boots Alliance as he will set the strategy and the connectivity mediums for new technologies. Erwin van Vroenhoven for Walgreens has the power over Alliance Healthcare and Boots to show the strategy of the alliance and is driving digital innovation for its future. The customers are a significant stakeholder as they are the ones on the reciving end of the Technology and organisational changes of the alliance. The customer service is a key component to all the change and the customer has some power in defining the direction this moves in. The ever changing needs of a customer also influence the alliances strategy. [135 words] Question 2 (20 marks) a) METHOD is a process to accomplish a task with a systematic approach. For any successful Information Technology system; a clear vision is required with a precise method to implement it and a logical installation plan. Put simply a method can assist an initial idea or thought into a reality. Method is extremely important with linking the idea to a reality and is the central focus point of an IT project. Method needs to be capable of adapting, planned and designed in order for it to be a successful for an IT project. b) Making use of Agile, Multiview or SSM, suggest, in no more than 400 words, how this particular method could be applied to a specific project which you are familiar with, either from personal experience or from the literature. In our company department we developed a piece of software using a database for high level planning (like a KANBAN style). Our team felt like each individual did not what each other was doing in a broader scale and looking at the bigger picture. We could use an AGILE method based approach to develop the software tool, we would review it, have feedback meetings, make changes, and follow a development cycle in order to get the planning tool we require. Without this; the tool could be designed incorrectly and not focus on the users needs. The AGILE method focusses on people; and not technology and processes; showing that full participation if vital for its success. This AGILE diagram taken from the adfkickstart.com (1) website; shows the basic process cycle that could be adopted for our software tool. References (1)adfkickstart. (2012). Agile Methodology. Available: http://www.adfkickstart.com/agile-methodology. Last accessed 7/2/2017. Development stages would be the initial building of the tool with added functionalities with input from our team. The software would then but put on our live production system for feedback and a review stage. The software would be either accepted or rejected. If the software is rejected, any changes would be recorded in a management of change process with adjustments and features determined. Any further requirements would be taken onboard and follow the same cycle until the release of the software is met again. If the software is accepted then this would be the live and released version of the software. This AGILE cycle would fit in with us for a number of reasons. It is difficult to predict the number of changes in the software requirements as well as the priorities. We did not know how much design work was needed and we did not know the amount of required time for analysis, design, construction and testing. Using AGILE, we could focus on the users need; using initial meetings and consultation before developing a beta version.   The AGILE method of work could give us this initial consultation and development we required; and its method is very useful for small scale software projects which are not mission critical. AGILE is ideal for proof of concept and not a large scale project; and could help our team with this planning tool very nicely. The idea was for the tool to be shared around other offices for high level planning and eventually get it developed by a software company to make it more rigid and standardised. The AGILE method could let us improve our application, getting the end users feedback and ideas to re-engineer it and improve upon it to get a good experience for our department. [435 words] Question 3 (20 marks) a) An example of a system with Series reliability could be a circuit breaker and the electrical sockets on a ring main in a household. The circuit breaker can trip shut if it detects a problem with the circuit, which in turn stops all connected electrical sockets on that ring main to stop working. An example of a system with Parallel reliability could be a set of water pumps at a power station where the first pump is set to run with maybe a couple of extra pumps on auto standby. If the first pump fails or does not generate the desired water pressure, a standby pump would start to make up the pressure. Here is a reliability diagram for three components with reliability 0.92, 0.90 and 0.85 in parallel. =1 ((1 0.920) x (1 0.900) x (1 0.850)) = 1 (0.08 x 0.1 x 0.15) =1 0.0012 = 0.9988 =0.999 to 3 sf This would mean the reliability of the system in parallel would be 0.999 to 3 sf. b) If a system has a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 1500 hours and a mean time to repair (MTTR) of 5 hours, what is its availability to two decimal places? Show your working. (2 marks) The availability A = MTBF / (MTBF + MTTR) A = 1500/1505 =0.99667 Or A = 1.00 to 2dp So the system is available 1.00 to 2dp c) In 200 words, explain why a system using two independently designed components can still fail. Independently designed components in could still lead to a failure in a system. A system with independent components will need to be designed and specified correctly with compatibility and security features. If this is done incorrectly or the design has a fatal flaw; this could still lead to failure if a certain set of conditions are met. It can often be lots of small pieces in a bigger picture that can lead to a system failure. If the design of the independent components is done correctly but an error has been made with software coding, firmware vulnerability or even a cyber security attack; the system could still face a failure. Coding is especially an issue with human interaction; leading to mistakes in the code and resulting in a malfunction of the system. Human interaction in general is a major failure point of even multiple independent components of systems; prime examples of this can be seen in the aircraft industry with the human interaction of alarms and displays. Outside influences such as cyber security threats / attacks could lead to failure of individual components; or even something such with infrastructure such as a power outage / blackout. [196 words] Question 4 (20 marks) a) Explain the main features of Daniel Soloves privacy model. You should write no more than 100 words for this part of the question, and may include a diagram. Daniel Soloves privacy model divides privacy into four distinct ideas; these being information collecting, information processing, information dissemination and privacy invasion. Information processing is the surveillance or interrogation of the data subject itself. This would extract some information or data which can be used for processing. Information processing is about the storage and misuse of the data; using the data for secondary use and even excluding the data from the data subject. Information dissemination is all about how the data is viewed; if the data use is misinterpreted wrong conclusions can be drawn from the data and the users purpose for it. Privacy invasion is about the intrusion into peoples lives; the user may or may not be aware of the intrusion. Soloves model can be shown graphically this diagram References Jon Neiditz . (2016). Your Privacy Force Field for the Internet of Things. Available: http://datalaw.net/my-privacy-solution-for-the-internet-of-things/. Last accessed 05/02/2017. [130 words] b) Explain three important challenges to privacy that someone involved in building or operating an IT system should be aware of. What would you conclude are the implications of these challenges for a systems administrator? You should write no more than 100 words for this part of the question. The first for an IT system is its overall complexity. Any user of the IT system will quickly realise how diverse and complicated a system can be with regards to privacy such as data, users, policies, etc. Secondly; much of the data involved on the IT system has data collection, data processing, and invasion of privacy which is completely invisible to us. We do not know that is processing in the background and dont have control of it. Last of all; technological development with ever increasing social media applications and more smartphones (mobile) constantly changes the playing field regarding privacy and security. In conclusion ensuring the security of systems can be extremely difficult and complex. [115 words] c) Draft a note to your member of parliament explaining your support for, or your concerns about, the proposed legislation. With the aid of Daniel Soloves analysis, focus your arguments on the governments nothing to hide claims. Outline two key reasons that Solove suggests the nothing to hide argument has nothing to say, and explain why you agree or disagree with him and the governments approach with their CAT Act. Note to parliament I am very concerned about the proposed CAT legislation. Your nothing to Hide claim is fraught with danger; using a Daniel Solove analysis I dont need to justify my position. You need to justify yours. Come back with a warrant. The nothing to hide argument is focussing on 2 key elements; these being the disclosure of personal data or surveillance.   What if the data collected is mistakenly identified as a criminal activity, or what if the data is leaked or stolen? The gartering of this data is distorted, as it will only pickup certain activities or traits; not looking at the bigger picture of the whole person. I agree with Daniel Solove that the nothing to hide argument has nothing to say as it is too narrowly focussed on small pieces of privacy aspects. I think that the government should reconsider its position with pursuing this act. M.Hermann [150 words] d) Review your notes from the audio interviews with security experts Ross Anderson, Richard Clayton, Bruce Schneier and Duncan Campbell (see Block 2 Part 4, Section 4.5 Using those notes and your contribution to your tutor group forum (see Activity 4.15), explain whether each of the four might be in favour of or concerned about a law such as the CAT Act outlined in question 4(c). You should write no more than 250 words for this part of the question, including extracts from your contributions to the tutor forums. Your answer to this question should be no more than 600 words in total, plus one diagram. Anderson states that people should be treat as humans with decency and respect; not just a raw material of data. He believes that data collected from people should   have a consultation and feedback. Andersonb would be behind an act such as CAT; as long as there is some open honesty from governments. Schneier is concerned that our mobile devices and gadgets give away lots of information and that surveillance by governments and commerce is dangerous. He believes that the security services are protecting us from the bad guys using cyber security techniques; however he also believes that they are compromising our communications infrastructure. I believe that Schneier would be strongly against a law such as the CAT act. Clayton suggests that information used, should have some transparency. He says that users should be able to make the decision signing up to services that collect data. Clayton points out about the power of metadata in preventing or solving crimes, however he also compares privacy and freedom. I believe Clayton would be against the CAT act law. Campbell has had first-hand experience with government surveillance; which led him to hi being prosecuted unfairly. Campbell believes the government has lost touch by operating in its own little world. I think Campbell even with his own experiences would be behind an act such as CAT; however it would have to be ethical and regulated properly. Question 5 (20 marks) a) Using your response to Block 2 Part 5, Activity 5.4 as a prompt, put forward two arguments for, and two arguments against, the use of professional codes of ethics. (4 marks) An organisations code of ethics show the overview of the integrity of the business by having core values. Cultures within companies that have built up ethical business practices engage stakeholders and gain trust with working relationships. A positive environment in the workplace is gained among employees inside the company; and also externally, trust gives a company good relationships with communities, customers and suppliers. However; having a code of ethics does not necessarily mean that a companys work place will adhere to it. There is no point in having a code of ethics that is not adhered to and engaged with. It is up to a companys management and workplace to collaborate, educate and maintain conduct in their roles and responsibilities. To add to this if a code of ethics does not have enough clear defined information, not installed and followed correctly or it is implemented in the wrong manner; a code of ethics can have a negative effect for the purpose it was intended for. [165 words] b) To which of the normative ethical perspectives that were introduced in Block 2 Part 5, Section 5.2.3 do the following statements relate? i.Virtue lies in taking the middle path between two vices. ii.The greatest good for the greatest number. iii.Some actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of the consequences. (3 marks) i.Virtue lies in taking the middle path between two vices.- Virtue Ethics ii.The greatest good for the greatest number.- Consequentialist Ethics iii.Some actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of the consequences.- Non-consequentialist Ethics c) Using your response to Block 2 Part 5, Activity 5.12(a) as a prompt, summarise the arguments for and against the proposition that organisations can be viewed as corporate actors rather than simply an organised groups of individuals. (6 marks) Organisations (these being groups that are organised for a common goal or purpose) can reach collective decision; however the opinion and ideas of individual can differ from these of the collective. A collective or group could be held responsible for any decisions

Immunisation Infection Disease

Immunisation Infection Disease Immunisation has been continually confirmed in both research trials and in the field to be one of the most successful medical interventions we have to avert disease. As Mims et al (2004: 513) outlines, the rationale of immunisation is simple: to provoke a primed status so that on initial contact with the applicable infection a quick and successful secondary immune response will be induced, leading to the avoidance of disease. A vital part of immunisation programs is the production of ‘herd immunity-that is an increase in the populations overall immunity status to the point that successful transmission cannot occur due to a lack of susceptible individuals. According to Rogers et al (1995), opposition in this field arose as early as the 19th century when vaccination was first introduced in Europe. There were instant objections on religious grounds and doubts about the effectiveness of vaccines were also articulated along with the rights of the individual to refuse immunisation. P resent-day objections to mass child immunisation reverberate these early apprehensions. Below an overview is given of the sociological factors associated with non or under immunised children in developed countries. How these factors combine to explain this immunisation status is additionally discussed along with suggestions of potential efforts to increase immunisation uptake rates. A number of studies (Brynley et al 2001 Turner et al 2003) conducted in developed countries have identified many sociological factors that are associated with low immunisation uptake among children. Primarily these factors include unemployment, low or high maternal education, single parent status, overseas birth or late birth order and low socio-economic status. In addition to these primary factors other reasons for reduced immunisation uptake are associated with immunisation myths, inadequate service provision or access, child gender/age, late commencement of immunisation and maternal mental instability. A childs low immunisation status may be the result of one or a combination of the above interacting factors. There are a variety of myths circulating in the community with regards to immunisation. Begg and Nicoll(1994) noted some common myths that include: â€Å"a child with allergies should not be immunised, children taking antibiotics shouldnt be vaccinated and immunisation is now unnecessary.† Although most myths have a tangible basis with traceable origins all myths should be disregarded on scientific grounds. According to Begg and Nicoll most immunisation myths emerge due to the ignorance of health professionals compounded by the propagation of conflicting material. The media has been quick to take advantage of the professions ignorance, predominantly where there are questionsabout the risks coupled with immunisation. Hall (2001) thus puts forward that parents who are unresolved about child vaccination may receive medical advice which is uncertain, while receiving from those in opposition to immunisation strongly argued and seemingly well researched information. A great deal of the controversy surrounding immunisation appeals to parents deep-founded regard for the wellbeing of their children and their trepidation principally of injections. Hall also suggested that parents may have difficulty in conveying their concerns to health professionals, and these concerns may induce parents to lean towards arguments against immunisation. Such arguments endow parents who have immunisation reservations with rationale to oppose vaccinating of their children. Low education can greatly disadvantage a mother making decisions concerning immunisation. Forrest et al (1998) mentioned that such a mother may not be able to read or properly comprehend vaccination information and thus not base decisions regarding their infants health on scientific evidence. The parental response therefore to a childs immediate distress may outweigh their attitude towards future benefits from vaccination. Those struggling due to a language barrier, particularly migrants and those of ethnic origin may also encounter similar difficulties. Conversely Rogers et al (1995) explains that people with high education usually choose to oppose vaccination for other reasons. These parents rational is multifaceted being deduced from a mixture of world views held about healing, the environment, holism and responsibilities of parenting combined with the reading of scientific and alternative literature which cast doubts on the effectiveness of immunisation. Lack of education may also be a barrier to individuals who are unemployed or of low socio-economic status (SES) due to the above reasons. As evident in a study conducted by Li and Taylor (1993), this may be further compounded by low financial position. With a high proportion of the unemployed or those of low SES living in temporary housing, especially in inner city districts, it may be hard for health professionals to keep track of immunisation records and provide reminders about necessary appointments. Those with low income as described by Hull et al (2001) may also not have use of a vehicle making it difficult to access immunisation services; this is a particular problem for those who live in rural areas and can lead to incomplete immunisation in infants. Children from large families and of late birth order or those of single parents have also been found by studies conducted by Hull et al (2001) and Li and Taylor (1993), to have lower immunisation uptake. Hull et al noted that single parents may encounter greater difficulties in both organising periods off work and have monetary limitations that increase the difficulty in accessing immunisation services. Likewise as discussed by Li and Taylor, parents with many children may find it hard to access immunisation services due to busy schedules or transportation issues. Moreover parents of large families may have had previous adverse immunisation experiences with elder siblings and thus their caution or opposition to vaccination is reflected in the lack of immunisation among younger siblings. Harrington et al (2000) suggested that adverse immunisation experiences are associated with the combination of crammed clinics, long waiting times, inconvenient hours and trouble acquiring an appointm ent. Additionally many mothers undergo emotional distress due to the knowledge that they are party to the pain inflicted on their infant as a result of vaccination. This perhaps is integrated in the opinion articulated by some parents that health centre immunisation is intolerably forceful and callous due to the lack of compassion shown by health professionals; with evidence revealed in the study conducted by Harington et al, that mothers prefer to have their infant vaccinated by general practitioner, in a ratio of >4:1, with the pre-existing relationship helpful during immunisation visits. A study conducted on factors associated with low immunisation uptake (Hull et al 2001) also demonstrated a strong association between late immunisation commencement and low overall immunisation uptake. A late commencement of immunisation may echo a parents attitude to vaccination or reflect a lack of knowledge regarding immunisation as a whole or its schedule. Hull et al also noted that illness is the primary cause for late commencement with many parents believing that there is an increased risk coupled to vaccination during this time. The decision to vaccinate may be further confused by dissenting personal attitudes towards vaccination. Similarly a study conducted by Turner et al (2003) found that women suffering from mental health problems including depression and anxiety, several months after birth were between 3 and 5 times more likely to have commenced the immunisation schedule late or not at all. Mothers with mental instability may find the seemingly normal tasks associated wit h motherhood difficult. With the maintenance of a normal day a challenge the importance of immunisation may be decreased. Gender can also affect immunisation uptake however as illustrated by Markuzzi et al (1997), this is dependant on the specific disease to which vaccination may confer protection. For example Markuzzi et al noted that in the UK it has until recently been considered that boys do not require vaccination against rubella. Therefore the live attenuated vaccine was only administered to adolescent girls to protect them from developing the disease while pregnant and transmitting it to the foetus resulting in congenital rubella syndrome. Consent is an additional problem which may affect vaccination rates, especially for overseas visitors or those from minority ethnic groups who may not understand the language of the country in which they now reside. Even with parental consent (Forrest et al 1998) a child cannot be vaccinated unless they are willing. Vandermeulen et al 2007 notes that adolescents are particularly hard age group to reach as many have a poor perception of risk leading to a greater fear of the initial pain of immunisation than the associated disease. Deferral of appointments for seemingly inadequate reasons such as social commitments also hinders this age bracket. Although in Australia national immunisation coverage levels may surpass 90 percent (Childhood Immunisation Coverage 2007), there is a considerably lower level of protection among certain subgroups of the population. These pockets of under vaccinated individuals make the population susceptible to major outbreaks. As further suggested by Childhood Immunisation Coverage, monitoring the coverage at smaller geographic levels helps ensure that these impending pockets of children are recognised by target interventions and decrease the threat of potential disease outbreaks. Additional efforts to boost immunisation rates in the community should thus focus on increasing service accessibility. As recommended by Forrest et al (1998) and Li and Taylor (1993) this could be achieved via facilitating immunisation session times that parents find easy to attend, the use of mobile vans or other home vaccination methods and the provision of opportunistic immunisations when children appear at hospitals, general practices or health clinics for different reasons. Moreover Li and Taylor also note that attempts should be made to enhance the services provided by health care clinics by the extension of crà ¨che facilities for siblings and the continual education of health providers. This education should focus upon details concerning new vaccinations and current circulatory immunization myths, including there rebuttal. As advised by Harrington et al 2000, health practitioners should also be further encouraged to listen and treat parents concerns seriously . In addition to the education of health practitioners, efforts to increase immunisation uptake should include community education. Enhanced community immunisation education could be achieved, as suggested by Harrington et al, by the increased provision of information packages that are culturally appropriate in a variety of languages to expectant mothers.Furthermore television campaigns depicting children with various diseases could co unteract various immunisation myths by forcing parents to understand to painful reality of potential outbreaks as a result of vaccination opposition. In addition to the above, Turner et al (2003) notes that postnatal strategies aimed at increasing mother psychosocial health should better their immunisation patterns for their infants. As a public health measure, immunisation has had a significant role in decreasing the burden of disease. It is of public health concern to increase immunisation uptake rates, as this decreases the possibility of disease transmission, and hence complications arising from infectious disease outbreaks. It is therefore vital that equity is aspired to via efforts to increase vaccination rates among target subgroups that are affected by the sociological factors discussed above. Bibliography (1-11) 1.A Markuzzi US, R Weitkunat and G Meyer Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination rates in Munich school-beginners. Sozial-und Praventivmedizin. 1997;42(3):1. 2.A Rogers DP, I Guest, D Stone and P Menzel. The Pros and Cons of Immunisation. Health Care Analysis. 1995;3:100-4. 3.B Hull PMaGS. Factors associated with low uptake of measles and pertussis vaccines- an ecologic study based on the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 2001;25(5):405-10. 4.C Mims HD, R Goering, I Roitt, D Wakelin and M Zuckerman. Medical Microbiology. Mosby, editor.: Mosby-Year Book Europe; 2004. 5.C Turner FBaPOR. Mothers health post-partum and their patterns of seeking vaccination for their infants. International Journal of Nursing Practice. 2003;9(2):120. 6.C Vandermeulen MR, H Theeten, P Van Damme and K Hoppenbrouwers. Vaccination coverage and sociodemographic determinants of measles-mumps-rubella vaccination in three different age groups. European Journal of Pediatrics. 2007:103-8. 7.Hall R. Myths and Realities: Responding to arguments against immunisation. In: Care CDHA, editor. third ed; 2001. p. 1-3. 8.Hull B. Childhood Immunisation Coverage. 2007 [updated 2007; cited]; Available from: http://www.ncirs.usyd.edu.au/research/r-acir-3rdquart.html. 9.J Forrest MBaPM. Factors influencing vaccination uptake. Current Australian research on the behavioural, social and demographic factors influencing immunisation; 1998; Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children. 1998. p. 1-2. 10.Nicoll NBaA. Myths in Medicine: Immunisation. Journal [serial on the Internet]. Date. 11.P Harrington CWaFS. Low immunisation uptake: Is the process the problem? J Epidemial Community Health. 2000(54):394 400.

Analysis of Gerrit van Honthorsts Painting, Musical Group on a Balcony

Analysis of Gerrit van Honthorst's Painting, Musical Group on a Balcony The Dutch painter Gerrit van Honthorst was known in Rome as Gherardo delle Notti (Gerard of the Night Scenes) for his striking use of a single light source to illuminate a dark scene. He was successful in bringing Caravaggio’s lighting techniques with him to the North, influencing many painters, including Rembrandt. But his painting â€Å"Musical Group on a Balcony† is a departure from his customarily dark depictions. This piece was the first Dutch illusionistic ceiling, which Honthorst painted for his own home in Utrecht. Honthorst’s use of perspective, bright yet simple composition, and lighthearted subject matter are representative of the pastoral life that many Renaissance artists celebrated. Seeing the painting mounted on the ceiling in The Getty instead of looking at it straight-on from a computer screen helped me to understand Honthorst’s accomplishment of perspective. Its position on the ceiling forces us to look up at it, and we have a sense of being removed from the jovial scene above us. We are reminded of Marlowe’s poem â€Å"The Passionate Shepherd to His Love,† as the speaker imagines himself and his lover removed from their immediate world, admiring a pastoral scene: â€Å"And we will sit upon the rocks,/ Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks.† The group high above us on the balcony could be the very â€Å"melodious birds† about which Marlowe’s shepherd speaks. Just as we are onlookers of the merry musical group, they look upon us as well, inviting us to join in their merry-making. A man stands with his arms around his lover, as though singing â€Å"Come live with me, and be my love.† The entire group seems to be saying t... ...nd to its earthly, pastoral feel. The Humanist movement encouraged the flourishing and the rediscovery of art, and the way many Renaissance artists chose to do this was to depict life in a bucolic, natural setting. The pastoral life was held up as an ideal and carefree living situation, and the musical group on the balcony fits this perfectly. The composition of the painting is very simple and light; not a lot is going on in this scene, characterizing the carefree country life. Honthorst’s delightful painting captures the essence of an ideal moment in the Renaissance life. Just as the speaker in Marlowe’s poem invites his lover to discover with him all the pleasures that a pastoral life can offer, the group on the balcony urges us to join them in their merry-making. Both entreaties are effective in evoking the sweet and simple music of a carefree life.

Love And Lust In Shakespeare? :: essays research papers

Love and Lust in Shakespeare’ sonnets Shakespeare’ sonnets are on a variety of themes such as time, love, gender, politics, sexuality, law, methaphysics and many others. They express strong feelings and strong arguments. However shakespeare struggle with love and lust is evident in his sonnets. Troughout the reading of Shakespeare’ sonnets I can persieve that he is a profound admirer of beuty; and he persieves beuty of different ways. There are some kinds of beuty that he considers good for his spirit, and others that he considers bad or evil for his spirit. The beuty of the sun, earth, and sea for example are good for shakespeare; On the other hand the beuty of women is evil for him, because it persuades him to act with lust. Here initiates the dilema that causes the struggle he has with love ans lust. It seems that Shakespeare consider women as symbols of lust, since their beuty seduces men and makes them act in response to the evil desires that are inside of them - desires of the flesh -which corrup the spirit. â€Å" Two loves I have of comfort and despair, which like two spirits do suggest me still: The better angel is a man right fair, The worser spirit a woman, colored ill. To win me soon to hell, my female evil. Tempteth my better angel...and would corrupt my saint to be a devil† ( Sonnet 144, page 821, red book). The beuty of women is the cause of lust, as it is also pictured in sonnet 1, when it says: â€Å" From fairest creatures we desire increase, That thereby beuty’s rose might never die†. Another sonnet that express Shakespeare’s blame on women for being the symbol of passion is sonnet 29: â€Å" A woman’s face with Nature’s own hand painted Hast thou, the master mistress of my passion† (page 811).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Not only the beuty of women causes passion and lust according to shakespeare sonnets, but also the beuty of art seduces men to passionate and lust. In sonnet 128, the author is being seduced by the woman who is playing the instrument; however, in this case he does not feel seduced by the woman, but he is seduced by the song that she is playing:

Create an Innovation

Innovation Is the process of translating an Idea or invention Into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay (www. Observationally. Com, 2014). † In this paper, the identification of an innovation, and plan for implementing the innovation, in the current workplace that I am working for, will be described in full detail. The innovative product that will be Introduced to the workplace Is called the â€Å"Freedom walker. How many Individuals get tired of slating down all day at a desk?Another complaint that is heard, quite often within the organizations is, â€Å"l am overweight and I do not have the time to make it to the gym. † Well, now here is the perfect solution. Freedom Walker will give Individuals the opportunity to either, remain seated at the desk while working or they can chose to get up and begin to exercise at the pace they feel most comfortable. The high-quality product will be made to last and it will give employees the freedom of exercising while working (Treadles, 2014). Freedom Walker Is going to solely be Intended to run in slow speeds.One of the great things about this product is that unlike regular treadmills. He Freedom Walker will not overheat (Treadles. 2014). For which, giving individuals an unlimited amount of time to be on the treadmill while working. The control panel can be placed on top of each employee's desk. And will have a 10-inch cord connected to the panel and the Freedom Walker. On the control panel, employees will be able to see how long they have been walking. The employee will also be able to keep track of the amount of calories that are being loss with the freedom walker.The Freedom Walker will also have an attached Emergency cord that all individuals who use this product must wear while in action. The Emergency cord Is In case of any emergency, the employee will be able to shut the machine off The Freedom Walker also comes with a strong rubber mat that should be placed on top of th e tread, to reduce the sound and avoid distraction (Treadles, 2014). The speed of this product will not go above 4. 0 MPH (Treadles, 2014). The reason that the machine will not go above the speed of 4. Is to avoid distractions on the phone with customers, such as loss of breath or Incorrect grammar spelling on the computer because of not being able to concentrate. For safety of each employee, the aching is limited to 4. 0 MPH. The Freedom Walker will not have much assembly required. The control panel is connected to the treadmill, Just simply connect the ‘OFF The design will begin with the CEO and upper management, and then will of course go down the list for each individual within the organization.It is a proven fact that the obesity rate within the United States has more than doubled in adults and children since sass's (Food Research and Action Center, 2014). The leading public health problem within the United States is obesity (Food Research and Action Center, 2014). Withou t any discrimination, the majority of the employees within the organization that this innovative idea will be implemented in, are overweight. Below is the chart from the Food Research and Action Report that shows the percentages of each ethnicity and at what percentage they are overweight.How can it be possible that a Health insurance company is selling insurance, but have the employees unhealthy and overweight? There is going to be a weekly goal that each individual will write-out for himself or herself when using the Freedom Walker. The organization will have to see some type of improvement in all employees. If, there is no improvement seen thin several weeks, then disciplinary action will be enforced. Once there is improvement noticed, that is when the organization will begin to offer incentives. The incentive that will be granted is that the company will pay for half, of each individuals health insurance premium.This could definitely guarantee success, especially now and days th at health insurance premiums are so expensive. The impact that this innovative process will have within the organization is going to be drastic. This will not only help the employees but will also help the customers as well. The innovation process, will allow employees to take stand about prolonged sitting. Researcher suggest that prolonged sitting is bad for one's health (Neoprene, 2013). There have been scientists that compare prolonged sitting to smoking (Neoprene, 2013).The Freedom Walker should help every individual begin to feel fit and begin to have a more positive attitude (Neoprene, 2013). This change in attitude and in oneself, innovation process is going to be an incremental innovation. As stated above the process will begin with the CEO and upper management. Once the change is seen in hose areas, then the process will begin to trickle down the totem pole as it has been heard. So, as the article states by the incremental innovation web page, â€Å"Slow and Steady Wins th e Race (Innovation Management Community for Practitioners, 2014). Incremental change is not about making a change happen instantly (Innovation Management Community for Practitioners, 2014). â€Å"The reason incremental innovation is so popular, is because it has reduced risk in comparison to radical innovation (Innovation Management Community for Practitioners, 2014). † Furthermore, once a equines has a manufactured good up and running it tends to have built up substantial amount of human capital and competencies so the business may as well dedicate time to creating it better or reducing costs (Innovation Management Community for Practitioners, 2014).Four Stages of the Research Cycle There will be seven steps to the innovation process and they are 1 . Thinking, 2. Portfolio Management and Metrics, 3. Research 4. Insight, 5. Innovation Development, 6. Marketing Development, 7. Selling (Morris, 2013). The way that the innovation will be measured will be â€Å"R&D Impact = Gros s Margin / R&D Spend – This is an â€Å"old† Bill Hewlett and David Packard metric they used to guarantee suitable return for the R&D effort being invested (McKinney, 2010). † â€Å"Why gross margin, one would ask? McKinney, 2010)† â€Å"The assumption is that if you assemble a better mouse trap, the customer will reward you with a margin premium which will show up in gross margin (McKinney, 2010). † â€Å"Target: Assess your competitors and you want to be in top quartile (McKinney, 2010). † Innovation takes time and dedication. In order for a company to be successful in the implementation of an innovation there needs to be, a lot of research and date corded. An innovative idea cannot Just be something that someone brings up and it happens.There has to be comparisons to other products and reports showing the business/organization why that innovative idea would be better than any other idea. The Freedom Walker would be a great innovative idea because it would help save the lives of many people who may be struggle with health issues due to weight problems. I believe that not only should the company that I am currently working for, use the innovative idea, but that all companies that have customer service representatives. Customer Services Representatives are mandated to sit at their desk for 8-10 hours a day without being allowed to move from the chair.Production and quality is something that is counted against the individuals who do move from his/ her chair, which then causes disciplinary action. This is an act that is inhumane and I believe that something should be done about it. So, everyone that has a business with CARS and Data Reps. Let try Freedom Walker and lets see how great of an impact it will have on not only the company but on the employees as well. References childhood and adult obesity in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association, 8(31 1), 806-814. Food Research and Action Center. 2014) . Overweight and Obesity in the U. S.. Retrieved from afar. Org/initiatives/hunger-and-obesity/ obesity-in-the-us/ Innovation Management Community for Practitioners. (2014). Incremental Innovation. Retrieved from http://www. Unconventionality's. Com/ incremental-innovation/incremental-innovation-vs.-radical-innovation McKinney, P. (2010). Can you measure the impact for innovation. Retrieved from philharmonic. Com. Archives/2010/02/can-you-measure-the-impact-from- innovation. HTML Morris, L. (2013). How to Innovate: The Innovation Process.Retrieved from http://www. Environmentalists. SE. /2013/08/08/how-t()-innovate-the- innovation-process Neoprene, L. (2013). Stand Up for Better Health? Maybe Not. Better-health-maybe-not/ Reynolds, G. (2011). Rethinking the Exercise â€Å"Talk Test†. Retrieved from well. Blobs. Anytime. Com/2011109/21 [rethinking-the-exercise-talk-test/? _pH=true=blogs=o Treadles. (2014). Retrieved from http:// www. Treadles. Com/products/ www. Objectificatio ns. Com. (2014). Innovation. Retrieved from http://www. Objectifications. Com/definition/innovation. HTML