Systematic Comparison between Traditional and Agile Methods Essay

Systematic Comparison between Traditional and Agile Methods - Essay Example Some do not go through all the stages while others may pass through one stage more than once. The Traditional approach involves designing a detailed plan before the start of the project and strictly adhering to it. Therefore, the whole project is clear to the developers before it is started. Agile project management is a collaborative approach in which all the team members are involved in the project. It involves an iterative process in which managers facilitate the working of the team and it requires regular adaptation to changing situations. The project plan is flexible and is not developed at the beginning of the project. Instead, it is developed throughout the project. The end result of the project is not predictable. This discussion explores the comparison between traditional and agile project management approaches. Traditional Project Management Approaches The traditional approach to project management consists of five components namely initiation, planning, execution, monitori ng and control, closure. Some traditional project management methods include linear and incremental project management lifecycle. Linear project management lifecycle does not allow any changes in the project plan. ... Scheduling the whole project before starting it gives the team a clear picture of what is expected to be done and who is responsible for each task. Moreover, details about the resources necessary for the completion of the project are known from the beginning. This approach does not require people with a lot of skills and supervision is not necessary as all the project details are written down. Co-location of team members is not necessary as each person has details of the part he/she is expected to play. It also has disadvantages. This model does not allow for changes. It is also very costly. It does not produce deliverables until in the late stages of the project. In addition, preparing a complete plan beforehand is time wasting. The process is rigid and there is no going back to make changes. This model is focused on the timely completion of the project within the available budget but not on client value (Wysocki 2011). Incremental project management life cycle consists of several d ependent increments, each with the lifecycle components of execution, monitoring, and project closure. These increments are accomplished in a prearranged sequence. The characteristics of the incremental project management lifecycle method are similar to those of the linear approach. The deliverables in this model are released against a schedule that is more aggressive. Advantages include the following: The business value is produced early and not at the end of the project like in linear approach. This model can allow for some changes in the scope of the project. It focuses on the client value more than the linear approach. It also facilitates the scheduling of few resources better. Some disadvantages include the following: Team members can be lost in between increments. It

An Essay about its Interpretation through Connotations Essay Example for Free

An Essay about its Interpretation through Connotations Essay In this essay we are tasked to interpret the Eskimo song/poem written above through connotations. We are also tasked to examine the given poem through the following questions: What feelings come to you as you read it? What overall sense do the various words and images create? As I was reading the poem, I felt a deep sense of sadness and regret in the writer’s choice of words. It was as if he was writing while reminiscing about the better life he had before where problems were small and Life itself was simple.    He was regretting what has become of his life and has expressed a desire to go back to that simple life.   The choice of words create images of making hard choices, doing things not on one’s own will and of deep sadness of what has become of one’s life. Now I would interpret the poem per line based on the connotation that I got from them. The lines â€Å"Into my head rose the nothings, my life day after day† connoted that he was reminiscing and memories of his life before were coming back into his mind.   The next lines â€Å"But I am leaving the shore in my skin boat† is that he had to leave the life he had been used to. The next lines â€Å"it came to me that I was in danger† may be pertaining to the grave reason that he had to decide to leave even if he does not want to or a big decision he had to make.   The next lines ‘and now the small troubles look big and the ache that comes from the things I have to do every day, big† may mean that now that he had decided or left, things will not be as simple as they were before because every decision have consequences and thus involves certain responsibilities and risks that we have to take. The next lines â€Å"But only one thing is great only one.   This, in the hut by the path to see the day coming out of its mother and the light filling the world† means that the writer still yearns to go back to his simple life before, where everything he wanted was to see the sunrise in the morning in his humble home.

The Water Droplets Journey :: Water Cycle Essays

Day 1 Once upon a time high above the earth, fluffy white clouds drifted through the atmosphere. In the clouds lived a family Droplet of water, round and content with life. For as long as I could remember, I spent my days lying on my back, relaxing and soaking up the sun's warm rays. One day, I took my usual place in the sun but the light didn't seem to be as bright. In fact, as the day went on, it grew darker and darker, loud claps of thunder shook the cloud, and the Droplet felt as if he were getting so heavy he could hardly move. This is called precipitation. Suddenly, I felt myself falling from the cloud. Down, down, down he fell, farther and father from home. At last I landed on the earth, in the dark green foliage of the rainforest. Around me as far as I could see were tall trees, dense green leaves, red mushrooms and multicolored insects of every shape and size. Strange creatures surrounded him, and the sounds and sights were like nothing I had ever seen or heard before. All I was sure of was that I wanted to go back home. But how? Day 2 It is now day 2 3:00 am and I am going to be out of the ocean at 12:00 pm. I have changed from an infant into a primary. I am having so much fun sailing across the ocean. It is now 12: am and I am 12hrs away from being on land. It is now 3:00 pm and I am tired of sailing but I have to keep pushing. I am having so much fun. It is now 5:00 pm and I?m rushing hoping I will get finish early I can see the land and I?m almost there. All I have to do is reach the land. I?m there finally all sweaty and wet. Day 3 I?m on the step to soaking in the ground and I?m draining in the ground. I?m waiting to get cleaned all of a sudden a worm comes and eat me. I guest the worm didn?t see me there so I bang on his yelling ?Hey you umm wormy can I get out of here pl-ease?

Money Does Not Bring Happiness

There’s an opinion which says that money brings happiness. Some people agree with it, others not. The discussion has lasted for a long time and still there are different points of view about it. Nowadays, we can divide our society into two groups of people: those whose life is centered around money and others who know that there are more important things than being rich. The latter are aware that wealthy people often aren’t able to have a real friend.People who surround the wealthy, are only expecting for themselves. Moreover, there are people who believe that money can be a medicine for everything. But they make a mistake, as no sum of cash can prevent us from old age, loneliness, diseases, accidents, death or stuff like this. And it’s useful to remember that money is a fragile thing, which we can lose at any time. In addition, wealth makes people less sensitive. They aren’t able to notice both poverty, which is around them, and needs of others.However, m oney is the basic means, which lets people make their dreams come true – the dreams, which have been unavailable since one’s childhood, like travelling all over the world or buying a villa, that’s all to compensate a misery of someone’s childhood. Thanks to having money it’s easier in our life to establish ourselves. Cash can be helpful in achieving many goals like finishing our education. What’s more, money lets us buy basic products which are essential to our daily existence.Human can’t live without eating. We have to be able to earn some money to dress up properly. To sum up the issue is far from solving but it seems that even though money is useful to life we can’t buy the most important things – love or friendship. I think that human has to use money in proper way, without harming others. However, I presume that words: â€Å"Money doesn’t bring happiness† can’t exist in present world, because ev erything circles around money.

4 MAT Book Review Essay

Summary In Dr. H. Norman Wrights book â€Å"The Complete Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling: What to Do and Say when it Matters Most†, which was published in 2011 focuses on how to counsel those in a crisis situation. The book begins by Dr. Wright discussing his personal life story of dealing with loss, crisis, and trauma. His story is the foundation of the subject in how to counsel someone and knowing when to refer a person to someone with more experience. The book aims at helping those who are experiencing life’s daily struggles with biblical principles and to encourage the individual to persevere through the hard times. Dr. Wright’s strongest point in the reading is stating the ability to be a good counselor is to hold his or her tongue. He expresses the need of talking more than 25 percent of the time, you’re talking too much. Listening is a key component when communicating with others. Listening means your focusing and understanding the feelings of the person expressing their feelings. Dr. Wright discusses when you allow your mind to be busy, you’re not concentrating on what is being said. A good counselor will listen openly with their eyes, body and showing there empathy towards the crisis or trauma. The book then unfolds on demonstrating a strong understanding of the individual’s feelings and emotions. He empathizes that counselors should be aware of themselves before counseling others on any situation. Since Dr. Wright uses biblical passages as examples in ministering others, he recommends that ministers use Jesus as an example on treating a crisis or trauma victim. He teaches to ministers that once the advice is given, it cannot be taken back. The individual is going through a traumatic event and if the words aren’t chosen correctly, it could have a drastic impact on their life. Counseling those in need require one to provide the individual  with unconditional love and hope. Showing compassion towards the individual gives them strength to get through their past trauma or crisis. The book reminds counselors that a crisis can occur at any given moment in their client’s life. Dr. Wright acknowledges that ministers and other church personal will work with the same client plenty of times. Those in crisis situations can be in a devastating circumstances such as being diagnosed with cancer; which can reoccur and develop as time passes by. Another key component in the reading is the Crisis of Suicide. Ministering those who wish to commit suicide can be difficult. As these individuals need intervention right away because their life is at stake. Dr. Wright focuses on taking the initial help to keep the person alive and to help them gain insight on how he or she came to this current place. Ministering a suicidal individual is to simply be as much help as possible but to remember this person’s life is not on your shoulders (Wright, 2011). Dr. Wright focuses on the deaths one will encounter and how to deal with the loss of a loved one, friend or pet. He lets the reader know that deaths can be predictable, and eve expected but to know you will encounter one situation. Dr. Wrights tells when ministering the person in crisis, that you have to help the individual sort out his or her issues. Working with someone through the process of grieving takes the appropriate time to be addressed. He states how children cope through their losses in childhood, can potentially impact their lives as adults (Wright, 2011). Children experiencing a crisis need counseling immediately because they can become emotionally impaired. Overall Dr. Wright’s book is providing the best advice to minsters, counselors and lay counselors. His book is very detailed on providing the best advice to those in any kind of crisis, trauma or loss. It is a must read book! Concrete Responses Dr. Wright’s book reminds me of a personal life episode I went through years ago. The chapter that caught my attention was Chapter 14 â€Å"The Crisis of Suicide†. It proved to be a story telling chapter for my own personal life. I never in my life imagined that I would go through something traumatic as suicide. I say that because I am a very happy person but sometimes even the happiest person is also hurting on the inside. I remember the day and time  when the whole scenario occurred. I was home alone and very distraught with where my life was headed. I was in a mentally draining relationship and I felt absolutely low of myself. This was rare for me because I am a very outgoing individual, who barely cares about what others think about me. I was feeling excessively lonely, angry, tired, misused and drained from my current situation. It was like I felt all these emotions at once but nothing I would do could ease the pain. Suicide played in my mind all the time in this difficult period. Death seem so much easier to deal with but I was terribly wrong. I remember talking to my father before he passed and told him my intentions of not wanting to live anymore. My dad was very hurt by my words but at that moment I didn’t really care what others thought. I recall when he sat me down and asked me why I would want to end my life at such a young age. My mind wasn’t mentally prepared for that question because all I could think about was not being here anymore. I never gave him the answers, I just wanted to end the hurt and pain. I couldn’t tell him I wanted to kill myself over a boyfriend. He would have looked at me in such a daze and probably would have been confused by my actions. My father never really liked my boyfriend from the beginning so to lose his daughter over him would be heartbreaking. In the reading, Dr. Wright states that a person who wants to commit suicide sees it as their only solution and that those around should help the individual to discover other solutions (Wright, 2011). As I begin to think back on this encounter, I never had another solution to help me with my problems. Dr. Wright focuses on how suicide hides behind many faces. This is beyond true because you can never judge a book by its cover. Even the happiest individuals are suffering. Depression is a key factor when it comes to suicide. As I went through my daily schedule, I pretended to be just fine but I wasn’t. If I never had that conversation with my father, I probably would have ended my own life. It’s amazing how life works because it made me think should I end my life over a boy? Are my issues that severe that I want to die? Dr. Wright explains how suicide is waiting to happen and that you don’t recognize it because the individual has repress their depressive symptoms into rage (Wright, 2011). I enjoyed reading about how to deal with the crisis of suicide because everything he stated, I replayed in my mind and gained insight on how far I have come. Reflection Dr. Wright’s book showed me how to handle any crisis situation. His book discussed a variety of crisis situations and how you can approach the individual in need. It is not easy to minster or counsel someone, so to have read Dr. Wright’s book gave me great insight for my future. I strongly agreed on his discussion about listening and being quiet while the individual is speaking. This is imperative because you can’t fully understand the person speaking if your consuming thoughts while their talking. This area is something I am working on because although I don’t mean to do it I find myself brainstorming as the individual is speaking. As I read on, Dr. Wright states how you are not really listening to person who is speaking. As I began to read, certain questions came across my mind. I asked myself, â€Å"What would information would I like to further on†? I started with this question because after reading, I realized I grew attached with counseling ch ildren and adolescents. Children go through numerous amounts of grief and trauma. Since they are continuing to grow, they hold onto their grief differently than adults. I would have liked to see how the crisis of suicide intertwines with children. As suicide is continuing to grow in the United States. I would have liked to seen more on the younger age to counsel them. Counseling children is very complex but when you include suicide, I would of liked to seen how to counsel children when there contemplating suicide. Teenagers are committing suicide more often now due to social media and bullying. Not all teens will speak of suicide but for the ones who do, I would like to see how to discuss this topic with them. In the reading it did discuss how to help a suicidal individual but I feel like working with a child or adolescent should be communicated differently. What challenged me in this content was reading chapter 10, â€Å"When Time Doesn’t Heal All Wounds†. This chapter speaks volumes for my own life because we all go through something. I often wonder how I can assist someone if I don’t heal my own wounds. This chapter opened my eyes as to what trauma really is and how it has affected my own personal life. I agree strongly with Dr. Wright on how it affects who we are. Another limitation that I would have liked to have seen is how to deal with confrontation in a biblical perspective. Dr. Wright discusses using empathy and other skill behaviors related to the word of God but what about when confrontation individual in helping them make better choices. I think it’s important to know how to confront clients and being  able to determine the correct time for a confrontation. Application The most crucial element after reading this amazing book is learning to incorporate this material into your daily life. Helping others in difficult times is my greatest mission in life. I am committed to helping those entering any crisis stage of their life. It is important to be able to comprehend visually and to be helpful to those in any crisis state of mind. I love how Dr. Wright uses biblical passages and verses within his counseling skills. This is a great way to help minister your clients effectively. I learned that when ministering it is vital to remember the root in the work of serving others, God’s word. The compassion in helping those is the greatest ability one can have. A key area I want to work on is ministering to children. Children need all the tender love and care when there is a loss, crisis or trauma situation. It can be a scary point, and I want to take the words from Dr. Wright to assist them effectively. Talking to children is completely different then ta lking to an adult. Children perceive information differently than adults do. They grieve in a different manner as well. Dr. Wright taught me it is critical to communicate with a child because it helps to solve many issues. This will be excellent for my personal growth in aiding those children who need help. Children have a harder time but so do adolescents. When adolescents transition into a teenager this can be tough when a loss has occurs. I believe dealing with adolescents is tougher then young children because not many teenagers want to converse with you. There more hesitant and indirect with their responses. This book influence my personal growth with teenagers as well because teenagers are reluctant to talk to a counselor or minister. When it comes to my life, I plan to make initial changes. I want to communicate effectively when counseling those in a crisis or trauma need. Dr. Wright’s book taught me to listen so I can understand what the individual is saying to me. I want to take the time to learn who I am so I can help those suffering. My task is to help others, and I want the individual seeking help to believe I can encourage them to change and have faith in them. One thing I tend to do is be afraid. Mark 5:36 tell us to not be afraid just believe. I believe I can make the initial improvements in my words and how I speak to those in need to give them a proper perspective. I plan to be quiet and  clear my thoughts when someone is telling me their problem. Listening means that I am trying to understand the feelings of the other person speaking (Wright, 2011). As I continue to read, I am influenced by his biblical passages integrated into his concepts. I am a genuine person but sometimes I don’t know how to speak to those when there grieving. It’s kind of weird because I love helping others but sometimes I am at lost for words. I want to continue to work on when saying the right words in a right manner. When an individual is in a crisis, the way one speaks sets the tone on how the person takes the information. I just want to continue to lead people to Christ and help those suffering with grief in their life. By making changings in my life through Dr. Wright’s book, I can integrate the Word of God and assist individuals in having a healthy life. It is vital to make the person feel safe and build trust. Reference Wright, H. Norman (2011). The Complete Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling: What to Do and Say When It Matters Most! (p. 251). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Free Essays on Review Of “Powder“ By Tobias Wolff

In the short story Powder by Tobias Wolff there is an irrefutable relationship that is quite dissimilar. In these two characters of father and son we see a reflection of many modern day â€Å"broken home† situations. The standard role of father and son has been reversed in this story. Reversed in a way that real life and many modern day family situations have been replicated. The development of the father character begins with his son’s flashback of being brought to a nightclub against the will of his mother. He wanted to bring his son to see jazz great Thelonious Monk. With this passage it was possibly Wolff’s intent to portray the father as a reckless parent with no regard for the welfare of his child. In the father’s defense we are left with a disclaimer that the father is only trying to institute a foundation of culture upon his son. The boy was not thrust into this environment with the intent of exposing him to the tribulations of a nightclub atmosphere. It becomes easy for the father to not hold back in the presence of his son. He does not have custody of the boy so he isn’t burdened with the role of disciplinarian. So when receiving time to spend with his son he is able to have fun and not worry about the effects of his teachings. The boy who is our narrator throughout the story becomes Wolff’s opposition to the father character. Right through the story the boy demonstrates qualities of restraint and level headedness. Almost everything that the father lacks in values the son has made up for with nervous anticipation. The development of the boy’s cautious personality is initiated early in the story when him and his father are making their last run. He is depicted as â€Å"sticking to his father like white on rice.† This was an establishment of his tense but well aware personality. He seems to always be thinking ahead and calculating the dangers of his actions and the unpredictable measures of his fathe... Free Essays on Review Of â€Å"Powderâ€Å" By Tobias Wolff Free Essays on Review Of â€Å"Powderâ€Å" By Tobias Wolff In the short story Powder by Tobias Wolff there is an irrefutable relationship that is quite dissimilar. In these two characters of father and son we see a reflection of many modern day â€Å"broken home† situations. The standard role of father and son has been reversed in this story. Reversed in a way that real life and many modern day family situations have been replicated. The development of the father character begins with his son’s flashback of being brought to a nightclub against the will of his mother. He wanted to bring his son to see jazz great Thelonious Monk. With this passage it was possibly Wolff’s intent to portray the father as a reckless parent with no regard for the welfare of his child. In the father’s defense we are left with a disclaimer that the father is only trying to institute a foundation of culture upon his son. The boy was not thrust into this environment with the intent of exposing him to the tribulations of a nightclub atmosphere. It becomes easy for the father to not hold back in the presence of his son. He does not have custody of the boy so he isn’t burdened with the role of disciplinarian. So when receiving time to spend with his son he is able to have fun and not worry about the effects of his teachings. The boy who is our narrator throughout the story becomes Wolff’s opposition to the father character. Right through the story the boy demonstrates qualities of restraint and level headedness. Almost everything that the father lacks in values the son has made up for with nervous anticipation. The development of the boy’s cautious personality is initiated early in the story when him and his father are making their last run. He is depicted as â€Å"sticking to his father like white on rice.† This was an establishment of his tense but well aware personality. He seems to always be thinking ahead and calculating the dangers of his actions and the unpredictable measures of his fathe...

Global Poverty Trends and Global Trade Challenges The WritePass Journal

Global Poverty Trends and Global Trade Challenges Introduction Global Poverty Trends and Global Trade Challenges ) defines poverty as a deprivation of basic human needs. These comprise of material and non-material needs that are required to facilitate a comfortable life. High levels of poverty lead to social exclusion, which limits the capability of individuals or groups to actively contribute towards community or national development as a result of limited resources (Nolan Whelan, 2010). Several efforts have been made to increase the income of people across the globe to enable them afford basic needs. Most of the people that have affected by poverty are from developing countries in Africa, Asia, and South America (World Bank, 2013). There have also been efforts aimed at increasing the affordability of these basic items. Such efforts include placing subsidies on basic commodities, which have been successfully implemented in countries like Egypt   (Reuters, 2013). Even with these efforts in place, there are several other factors that limit the success of these efforts, especially in developin g countries (Alkire Foster, 2011). Some of these factors include corruption, brain drain of educated professionals and unequal price distribution, which often creates a wide gap between the rich and poor. According to statistics from the World Bank, a total population of 1.22 billion across the globe lived under the poverty line (spending $1.25 per day). Comparing this to 1990 where the statistics were at 1.91 billion living under the poverty line, an improvement has been made (World Bank, 2013). This is a clear indication of the effectiveness of strategies that have been implemented to fight poverty. This paper intends to present an in-depth discussion of poverty and transformations that have taken place within the past four decades. It also seeks to examine the social, political and economic challenges that result from global trade and inequality. Poverty and its Causes As mentioned in the previous section of this report, poverty is the deprivation of basic material and non-material needs. It is classified into absolute and relative poverty. The present-day absolute poverty line has been set by the Word Bank at $1.5 and $2.5 a day (Couch et al., 2010). Relative poverty is referred to as an estimate of inequalities in income. It is usually calculated as the percentage of people that live below a certain income median (Couch et al., 2010). Given that economic conditions vary from one country to another, the causes of poverty in different countries also differ. Pointers of poverty include unemployment, homelessness, famine, poor sanitation, high infant mortality rates and illiteracy (Gilder, 2012). With reference to developing countries, one of the key causes is the rapid increase in population. A good example of this is India, where the annual population increase for the last 45 years has been at an average of 2.2% (Karuna, 2012). This translates to a n addition of 17 million people annually, which causes a strain on the available resources, making it difficult to sufficiently cater for their basic needs.   Governments have the responsibility of ensuring that the livelihoods of their citizens are improved. However, vices, such as corruption, limit the possibility of attaining the poverty reduction objectives. According to (Johnston, 2009), corruption diverts, distorts and delays growth in economy. As a result of corruption, the elite or wealthy in the country continue progressing while the poor or less privileged plunge deeper into poverty.   The poor are also denied access to health, education and other social services that are needed to empower them to effectively contribute towards national building (Fisman Miguel, 2008). Illiteracy also contributes towards an increase in poverty because it limits the capability of individuals to be innovative or entrepreneurial, resulting in an overdependence on natural resources or fore ign aid (Teal, 2011). Other factors that contribute to the poverty statistics include unemployment, inflation, lack of capital to support entrepreneurship and a general lack effective policies that are meant to eliminate poverty. Khan and Bashir (2012) argue that poverty is a complicated phenomenon, which makes it quite challenging to exhaustively explain its causes. Some of the theorists in this field, such as Furnham   and Gunter (1984) are of the view that people who are prone to poverty are those who have little or no regard for the future. Instead, they use up their resources to â€Å"live for the moment† (Andersen Taylor, 2007). Other theorists argue that the poor have feelings of inferiority, hopelessness and powerlessness, which are passed on from generation to generation. As a result, it becomes difficult for their economic predicaments to be solved. Whilst these views are based on the notion that the poor have themselves to blame for their situations, other are of the view that among the poor, there are those who have the will to work hard if they are given the chance. However, they are limited by their inability to access education that is a prerequisite for obtaining well-paying jobs (Gi lder, 2012). Poverty Trends over the last 40 years Even though it is challenging to get accurate statistics on the actual changes that have taken place in poverty statistics over the last ten decades, a general improvement has been recorded in poverty eradication efforts (World Bank, 2013). In a report by the UN that explored poverty trends between 1981 and 2005, the findings indicated that even though the developing world still has the highest poverty levels, there has been a significant reduction in the severity and depth of extreme poverty, 0.5 billion less people living under the poverty line in 2005 than in 1981 (United Nations, 2010). This is arguably a positive move, given that these are the regions that record the highest levels of population growth. One of the factors that are responsible for these trends is expansion in the global economy, which has resulted in higher average per capita income levels, both in developing ad developed nations (Collier Dollar, 2002). Comparing the current income with the 1960s, there has been an average growth in GDP levels at an average annual rate of 4.1%, while the high and middle income countries have had their GDPs increase by averages of 3.2% and 4.2% per annum respectively. The chart below represents the global poverty trends between 1981 and 2005 (United Nations, 2010). Despite the improvements indicated in Fig. 1 above, a projected increase in populations of developing countries points out the necessity of their governing bodies to ensure that they formulate appropriate policies that will ensure sustenance in economic growth (World Bank, 2012). This is a prerequisite for poverty eradication. Even though it is a general view of the majority that poverty affects developing countries, developed nations are also directly affected by it. For instance, the United States of America has a total population of 46 million living in poverty (Povertyusa.org, 2013). Unlike the general poverty line that is set for the global statistics, a family of four with an annual income of less than the set threshold of $23,050 can be referred to as living in poverty (HHS, 2012). In the UK, the threshold is at  £100 per week for an adult,  £183 per week for a household with two adults and  £268 for a household of four, which comprises of two adults and two children (Cl ay et al., 2012). Poverty trends within the past few decades also indicate the notable differences in economic growth in different countries. For instance, between 1999 and 2005, there was a significant general decline in the population living on under $1.25 a day (United Nations, 2010). However, the highest decline occurred in the Pacific and East Asia, which were then characterized by explosive growths in the economy and improved living standards, especially in China. The chart below represents the trends of people living under $1.25 a day in different world regions (United Nations, 2010). From the trends on the chart above, it is evident that while the overall number of people living below $1.25 a day is reducing, Sub-Saharan African countries are among those facing challenges in attaining this poverty reduction goal. On the other hand, countries from East Asia and the Pacific are among those that have managed to register a significant reduction of the number of people living below this poverty line (United Nations, 2010).The Effects of Poverty on Business There are several effects that poverty has on the business environment. The most direct impact of poverty on business is that there is a minimal potential of growth. This is especially the case for businesses that deal in products or services that are not basic. The reason for this is that the majority of the target market lacks the disposable income to purchase products out of their basic needs. This explains the concentration of businesses in urban centres, where the average income is usually the highest. One of the main outcomes of poverty is crime, where the poor engage in different criminal activities to get themselves out of poverty. Some of the main crimes include robbery and corruption. According to kipo, any crime that results from poverty has a significantly adverse impact on business. For instance, violent robbery scares potential clients and a result, limits the levels sales. In addition to the potential reduction of business sales, businesses are also at a risk of losing their revenue to insecurity. From the findings presented in fig. 2 above that indicate a drop in the levels of poverty, it can be inferred that the consequences for the business environment is also positive. This is exhibited by the overall growth in the number of businesses across the world. Challenges Arising from International Trade and Global Inequality As globalization gradually increases in the present-day business environment, there are different opportunities and challenges that are presented as a result of this (Bigman, 2002). Some of the opportunities that globalization has presented include elimination of national barriers to facilitate trade between nations and increased foreign direct investments in developing and emerging economies to capture the available market opportunities (Foskett Maringe, 2010). This has also contributed to an overall increase in the average per-capita income across the world. However, with these opportunities come underlying challenges that mainly result from global inequalities and international trade (Apple, 2013). The implications that the international trade and global inequality have on business are discussed in this section. Social Challenges As the effects of globalization continue to be felt across the world, one of the key challenges that occur as a result of this is brain drain. Often referred to as capital flight, this is the movement or immigration or people with high levels of skills, knowledge and intelligence from a particular country to another (Agrawal et al., 2011). This mainly affects developing countries, where their academic elite immigrate to developing nations in pursuance of better opportunities. Even though it can be argued as a positive move for the individuals who are moving out, the cumulative impact on the home nation is adverse (Docquier Rapoport, 2012).   The World Bank estimates that by 1990, the human capital that had moved from Africa to other developed countries could be equated to 40% of its wealth (approximately $360 billion) (Ndulu, 2004). Developing countries are usually characterized by capital scarcity and therefore, further loss of this scarce resource to developed countries undermin es the sustainability and development potentials of these developing nations. Professionals that move to developed countries could otherwise positively contribute towards the long-term improvement of the business and socio-economic statuses of these countries. However, their moves can be justified because of the limited opportunities presented in the developing countries (Agrawal et al., 2011).   Another challenge lies in the diversity of cultures, religions and other social frameworks (Collier Dollar, 2002). Globalization has been characterized by increased diversities that have brought about tensions in several business aspects, especially human resource management (Docquier Rapoport, 2012). Currently, one of the most sensitive challenges in human resource management is cultural diversity. Thus, it is vital for human resource managers to ensure that the business environment is balanced enough to accommodate people from different economic backgrounds (Crane Matten, 2004). Othe r social challenges include racial discrimination, human trafficking and threatening of family units as members move into other nations in search of better lives. Global inequality can also refer to the unequal distribution of professional or entrepreneurial skills across the globe. The effect of this on business is that it makes it difficult for businesses operating in some regions to get employees with the desired skills locally. As a result of this, companies spend more money either training employees or hiring expatriates from other countries. Economic Challenges The inequalities that exist in different nations also pose economic challenges on the countries, their citizens and companies that invest in those countries (Nolan Whelan, 2010). One of the economic challenges is because of the different currencies that are used in different countries across the world. Fluctuations in these currency exchange rates have a wide range of repercussions on the company revenues (Bigman, 2002). Global trade has also resulted in the rise of new international powers, commonly referred to as emerging economies. These include Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICS) (Collier Dollar, 2002). Whilst this can be considered as a move in the right direction for these economies, the fact that they are recording faster economic growth rates that other economies has an effect on the international trade structures, the flow of human capital and natural resource-consumption patterns (Bigman, 2002). Another economic challenge is brought about by the inequalities in income levels of different countries, which may cause multinationals to take advantage of this to pay workers in developing countries poorly and overwork them as they seek cheap labour (Collier Dollar, 2002). An example of this was highlighted by (Chamberlain, 2011) that   in South China, workers at Apple work for excessive hours to meet the international demands of the company’s   products. Foxconn   is also another example of companies that provide workers, especially in developing countries with draconian working conditions, which occasionally lead to employee suicides (Chamberlain, 2011). Political Challenges Political challenges that affect global trade comprise of those that are outside the control of governments and those perpetrated by the government or the political elite (Henry Springborg, 2010). One of the challenges is created by governments is corruption, especially in developing countries. Countries that are known to be corrupt often have political leaders who require favours from companies in form of bribes or job positions before being allowed to operate smoothly (Reuters, 2013). One key disadvantage of this is that companies that stick to their ethical codes of conduct may either be denied investment opportunities or may have their operations disrupted by rogue government officials. This results into an imbalanced competitive environment in favour of corrupt businesses. Some of the most corrupt countries in the world are North Korea, Libya, Iraq, Syria and Somalia, which are all developing countries (Reuters, 2013). High tax tariffs and interest rates on loans are also polit ical challenges that increase capital expenditures of investors and a result, reduce their profit margins (McGrew, 2000). Political challenges that are caused by factors out of the government’s influence include revolutions, wars, strikes and terrorism (Campante Chor, 2012). One of the most recent events that paused challenges to businesses in Arab countries was the Arab spring that started in 2010, which affected many Arab countries in Northern Africa and the Middle East (Willis, 2012). Others include constant terrorism activities that take place, perpetrated by extremist movements. For instance, Nigeria is among the countries that, regardless of the rich oil reserves that they have, are accustomed to high levels of corruption, and terrorism. As a result if this, large oil companies like Agip, Shell and Mobil have had challenges operating in the country (Shah, 2014). Conclusion There are several definitions of poverty that have been given by different researchers. However, as earlier presented in the paper, it is a complicated issue whose causes cannot be exhaustively established. This paper has provided an overview of the global poverty by providing an in-depth definition of absolute and relative poverty. It has also outlined some of the key causes of poverty across the globe. Global poverty trends over the past few decades have also been discussed in this paper. Even though the trend indicates a reasonable decline in global poverty levels, some countries have not managed to eliminate poverty as much as others. Some of the countries that have effectively managed to reduce poverty significantly include those in East Asia and the Pacific. On the other hand, poverty still remains a challenge in several countries in regions like Sub Sahara Africa. With a high anticipated population growth by 2050 that is likely to increase the strain on available resources, go vernments ought to implement strategies that will contribute towards economic growth so as to sustain these growing populations. Whereas globalization has provided several opportunities for global business, it has also posed several social, political and economic challenges, especially due to the existent global inequality. Some of these challenges have also been discussed in this paper. Aspects that should be addressed in future research include the possible future global trends of poverty. References Agrawal, A., Kapur, D., McHale, J. Oettl, A., 2011. Brain drain or brain bank? The impact of skilled emigration on poor-country innovation. Journal of Urban Economics, 69(1), pp. 43-55. Alkire, S. Foster, J., 2011. Counting and multidimensional poverty measurement. Journal of Public Economics, 95(7), pp.476-87. Andersen, M.L. Taylor, ‎H.F., 2007. Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society, Updated: Understanding a Diverse Society. Mason: Cengage Learning. Apple, M.W., 2013. Thinking Internationally and Paying Our Debts: Critical Thoughts on Diversity, Globalization, and Education. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 49(3), pp.118-20. Bigman, D., 2002. Globalization and the Developing Countries: Emerging Strategies for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation. Cambridge: CABI. Campante, F.R. Chor, D., 2012. Why was the Arab World Poised for Revolution? Schooling, Economic Opportunities, and the Arab Spring. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 26(2), pp.167-87. Chamberlain, G., 2011. Apples Chinese workers treated inhumanely, like machines. The Guardian, 30 April. Clay, S. et al., 2012. Family Resources Survey. London, UK: Office of National Statistics Department of Work and Pensions. Collier, P. Dollar, D‎., 2002. Globalization, Growth, and Poverty: Building an Inclusive World Economy. Washington, DC: World Bank. Couch, K., Smeeding, T.M. Waldfogel, J., 2010. Fighting poverty: Attentive policy can make a huge difference. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 29(2), pp.401-07. Crane, A. Matten, D., 2004. Business ethics, a European perspective: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Docquier, F. Rapoport, H., 2012. Globalization, brain drain, and development. Journal of Economic Literature, 50(3), pp.681-730. Fisman, R. Miguel, E., 2008. Economic gangsters: corruption, violence, and the poverty of nations. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Foskett, N. Maringe, ‎F., 2010. Globalization and Internationalization in Higher Education: Theoretical, Strategic and Management. New York: Continuum. Furnham, A. Gunter, B., 1984. Just world beliefs and attitudes towards the poor. British Journal of Social Psychology, 23(3), pp.265-69. Gilder, G., 2012. Wealth and Poverty: A New Edition for the Twenty-first Century. Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing. Henry, C.M. Springborg, R., 2010. Globalization and the Politics of Development in the Middle East. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. HHS, 2012. 2012 HHS Poverty Guidelines. [Online] Available at: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/12poverty.shtml [Accessed 30 December 2013]. Johnston, M., 2009. Poverty and Corruption. Forbes, 22 January. Karuna, O., 2012. 10 main causes of Poverty in India. [Online] Available at: preservearticles.com/201107189264/what-are-the-main-causes-of-poverty-in-india.html [Accessed 30 December 2013]. Khan, R.E.A. Bashir, H.N., 2012. Trade, poverty and inequality nexus: the case of Pakistan. World Applied Science Journal, 18(5), pp.722-26. McGrew, A., 2000. Sustainable globalization?: the global politics of development and exclusion in the new world order. In Allen, T. A, T. Poverty and development into the 21st century. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Ndulu, B.J., 2004. Human Capital Flight: Stratification, Globalization, and the Challenges to Tertiary Education in Africa. Journal of Higher Education in Africa, 2(1), pp.57-91. Nolan, B. Whelan, C.T., 2010. Using non†monetary deprivation indicators to analyze poverty and social exclusion: Lessons from Europe? Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 29(2), pp.305-25. Povertyusa.org, 2013. More than 46 million Americans live in Poverty USA. [Online] Available at: povertyusa.org/ [Accessed 30 December 2013]. Reuters, 2013. Food price rises put restive Egypt on edge. Reuters, 13 March. Reuters, 2013. The 10 Most Corrupt and Least Corrupt Countries in the World. Reutersr, 3 December. Shah, A., 2014. Nigeria and Oil. [Online] Available at: globalissues.org/article/86/nigeria-and-oil   [Accessed 6 January 2014]. Teal, F., 2011. The price of labour and understanding the causes of poverty. Labour Economics, 18, pp.7-15. United Nations, 2010. Report on the World Social Situation 2010: Rethinking Poverty. New York: United Nations United Nations. Willis, M.J., 2012. Politics and Power in the Maghreb: Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco from Independence to the Arab Spring. London: C. Hurst Co. World Bank, 2012. World Development Indicators. Washington, DC: World Bank: Development Data Group. World Bank, 2013. Poverty Overview. [Online] Available at: worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview [Accessed 30 December 2013].

Test Taking Tips for Parents to Help Your Kids

Test Taking Tips for Parents to Help Your Kids With increased emphasis on standardized tests in todays schools, helping a child navigate the demands of taking tests is a necessary task almost every parent has to face. It may be your child taking all the tests, but youre the one who needs to help him through it. Here are some test-taking tips for parents to help you get your child ready. Test Taking Tips For Children Tip #1: Make attendance a priority, especially on days that you know standardized testing will be administered or there is a test in the classroom. Though its important for your child to be in school as many days as possible, making sure hes there when the test is taken helps to ensure he wont lose more learning time because he has to make up a test during school. Tip #2: Make a note of test days on the calendar from spelling quizzes to big high-stakes tests. That way both you and your child know whats coming and will be prepared.​​ Tip #3: Look over your childs homework daily and check for understanding. Subjects like science, social studies and math often have cumulative exams at the end of units or chapters. If your child is struggling with something now, it wont be easy for her to have time to try again to learn it just before the test. Tip #4: Avoid pressuring your child and provide him with encouragement. Few children want to fail, and most will try their hardest to do well. Being afraid of your reaction to a bad test grade can increase anxiety, which makes careless mistakes more likely. Tip #5: Confirm that your child will be receiving any pre-determined accommodations during tests. These accommodations are detailed in his IEP or 504 plan. If he doesnt have one but needs some assistance, make sure youve communicated with his teacher about his needs. Tip #6: Set a reasonable bedtime and stick to it. Many parents underestimate the importance of a rested mind and body. Tired children have difficulty focusing and are easily flustered by challenges. Tip #7: Make sure your child has enough time to wake up fully before he has to go to school. Just as rest is important, so is having enough time to get his brain engaged and in gear. If his test is first thing in the morning, he cant afford to spend the first hour of school groggy and unfocused. Tip #8: Provide a high-protein, healthy, low-sugar breakfast for your child. Kids learn better on full stomachs, but if their stomachs are full of sugary, heavy foods that will make them sleepy or slightly queasy, its not much better than an empty stomach. Tip #9: Talk to your child about how the test went, what he did well and what he would have done differently. Think of it as a mini-debriefing or brainstorming session. You can talk about test-taking strategies after the fact as easily as beforehand. Tip #10: Go over the test with your child when he gets it back or when you receive the scores. Together you can look at any mistakes he made and correct them so he knows the information for the next test. After all, just because the test is done doesnt mean he can forget everything he learned! And perhaps most important, watch your child for signs of stress and anxiety, which is an all-too-common occurrence among children today. The stress can be caused not just by tests and test-taking, but by increased academic demands in elementary school as well as increased amounts of homework and decreased time spent on stress-relieving activities and recess. Parents can help by keeping a close eye on their children and stepping in when they see signs of stress.

Revenue Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Revenue Strategy - Essay Example With its Corporate head quarters in Bentonville Arkansas, Wal-Mart operates 99 distribution centers and transport offices in USA to service the operations of its 5,246 Wal-Mart stores out of which 1,587 are located internationally. Over 138 million customers per week are catered to by Wal-Mart stores across the world. 82% of American households have made at least one purchase at Wal-Mart during an annum. Such sustained performance over the years have been driven by a series of well crafted business strategies, which are targeted at generating revenue and profitability through the Wal-Mart operations as well as providing the company with significant competitive advantage over its rivals. At the heart of Wal-Mart’s revenue generation strategy lies the focus on attracting new customers and retaining existing ones by offering value that is unparrelel to what its competitiors are offering. Its marketing campaigns are firmly hinged on the slogan, â€Å"everyday low prices† where the company offers certain products at 25-30% less than the normal market prices. With its massive operation volumes the company enjoys economies of scales, that are translated in to low prices, which in turn is used as the main revenue generation tool. The company also pressurize its supply chain in to cutting costs and improving their own productivity so that low prices can be secured at supply cha in level, and passed on to customers while maintaining Wal-Mart’s profitability. The company has utilized many channels to reach different customer segments by differentiating its stores formats and product range to suit locations and different communities. Wal-Mart stores fall in to 5 categories as Wal-Mart Discount Stores, Wal-Mart Super centers, Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, Sams Club and Wal-Mart International. The company also operates Wal-Mart Online Store to capitalize from the increasing popularity of Internet

Triangle Creative Ltd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Triangle Creative Ltd - Essay Example The report is structured to include three main parts namely the marketing mix, relationship with variables and business networks, and the structure of the sales force. The three parts of the report form the basis of the success of the business during the current economic downturn. The recommendations presented in this report are based on the analysis of the current situation facing the company and are also effective in making sure that the business will manage to create a competitive advantage in the market. 2.0 Marketing Mix According to marketing principles regarding the marketing mix of a given business, there are a number of conditions that ensure the success of the business in its marketing functions (Kalish, Vijay & Eitan, 2005, p. 176). The marketing principles require that a business should at least address the following four conditions: i. The business should have the right product that has the right features such as appearance and functioning. ii. The available products sho uld be sold at the right prices to customers so as to maximize on attracting large numbers of customers that will record huge profits. The product should be sold in the right place and at the right time so as to improve the efficiency of business operations.The business should design and implement the most suitable promotion in marketing the product so that customers will have to be aware about the existence of the product in the market. The company has managed to attract a significant number of customers but the recent market conditions have led to the company losing a number of customers. This requires new strategies in the company’s marketing mix so as to ensure that the company attracts new customers as well as it retains existing customers. The strategy is that the business should consider expanding its marketing mix and making a number of changes on the existing marketing mix (Kemper, 2010, p. 112). 2.1 Product Triangle Creative Ltd should invest more in producing original services to customers as opposed to relying too much on outsourcing. This is because the outsourcing companies may provide services that may not meet all the needs of the clients. The company should improve its production capacity to include the provision of marketing and advertising services. This will ensure that the company has complete control over the quality of its product and makes it easier for the company to redesign its servi ces in the shortest time possible. The best option in this case is that Triangle Creative Ltd should consider merging with PJW Media Production. The advantages of such a merger include sharing of expertise knowledge and access to a wider market (Kiss & Martin, 2008, p. 129). Additionally, IMP literature materials suggest that mergers have the effect of reducing the costs of operations for any business (Kiss & Martin, 2008, p. 132). 2.2 Price The business should consider adopting a different pricing system for its services. Currently, the company is using a rigid pricing system that does not change with the pricing needs of the consumer. The limitation of such a pricing system is that the company is unable to offer price benefits such as discounts and bargains on prices of services. This may be one of the major reasons as to why the company is losing a

Hobsons choice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hobsons choice - Essay Example Such interaction will help to uncover more evidence that can help with the eventual prosecution of Peter. Jim has joined the FBI of his own volition. He would have had an opportunity to request some other task, if he had any reservations about working undercover with a stockbroker suspected of illegal trading. Stockbrokers who plan to cheat their customers would choose gullible lay people such as elderly women as potential victims. Jim could not expect that Peter would select highly qualified accountants or experienced bankers or successful investors as possible targets. The situation in which Jim finds himself is entirely within the limits of what a person in his position could anticipate in advance (Pollock, 2003, p 150). Each vocation has certain conditions within which professionals are expected to act. An FBI agent is trained to deal with people of questionable morals and with situations in which members of the public are in danger of some commercial loss. Jim would have been trained by the FBI to work under cover. The latter has the fundamental aim of witnessing and recording a criminal transaction with the objective of collecting conclusive evidence. The task assigned to Jim must have the principle objective of collecting evidence that can be produced before a jury in a court of law. Jim's action in the situation under review is to act on behalf of his employers the FBI, and to do everything that can reasonably be expected of him, to further the aims of his employers. Jim is obligated to fulfill the task given to him by his superior officers in the FBI. Jim would have a binding contract of employment that enjoins him to discharge his given responsibilities and tasks. The principle for any person working under cover for a law enforcement agency of the government is that he or she must strive to collect incriminating evidence against the person under surveillance-Peter in this specific example. Supporting arguments The FBI has adequate resources and contacts with stock market authorities and financial institutions to ensure that people cheated by stockbrokers under suspicion are protected from permanent and major harm. The situation that Jim finds himself in with respect to Peter and the women would not be without precedent with respect to the FBI's operating procedures. Agents such as Jim would have systems of both periodic and emergency contacts with support staff and with people to who they are responsible within the organization. Jim would probably have real-time audio contact with the FBI, given the conventional state of electronic surveillance technology. It is therefore unlikely that the woman chosen by Jim to appease Peter as far as selecting a victim is concerned, would come to any permanent material harm (Pollock, 2003, p 197). The choice before Jim to ask Peter to cheat all the women is more likely to arouse the criminal stock broker's doubts that Jim perhaps represents a law enforcement agency, and make Peter take guard. The damage to the victims would also be greater in this alternative, albeit it might only be transient, based on the arguments presented earlier. Therefore, it is better to select one victim, than to ask Peter to cheat all the women. Since Peter has given substance to the FBI's suspicions of his intentions, and since Jim is only a new friend, the alternative of

Differences Between Groups and Teams Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Differences Between Groups and Teams - Essay Example A group can be defined as the formation of two or more people working together to achieve a common goal (Schermerhorn & Hunt & Osborn, 2003, p.172). Groups can be either formal or informal. Any gathering of multiple employees constitutes a group. When the manager arranges a meeting with the employees the leader is directing his message towards a group. There are five stages that characterize the formation of a group. The stages of group formation are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjuring. During the norming stage the employee build a bond of trust between them and the other members that helps improve the overall performance. The size of the group is an important factor to consider. The optimal size of a group is between seven to eight members. Group decision making can be improved using techniques such as brainstorming, nominal group technique, and Delphi technique. A team is a type of formal group in which the members work together to accomplish common goals. One of the major differences between a group and a team is that in team settings individual and group accountability exists (Katzenback & Smith, 1993). Companies create teams for strategic purposes, while most work groups are formulated to accomplish specific tasks. Teams tend to be formulated to achieve long term tasks. For example a company can create a quality control team to reduce product defects. Work groups are different because they are typically formed to achieve short term goals. Another discrepancy between teams and groups is the way they operate. The five steps of the participation process of team members are illustrated below: An important aspect of teamwork is the necessity of leadership to manifest itself. Due to the nature of teamwork employees are able to exert leadership while working in settings even if the person is not the official team leader.

Analysis on the evolution of inflation and unemployment rates Essay

Analysis on the evolution of inflation and unemployment rates - Essay Example The highest inflation rate recorded was 16.59% in June 2008 while the lowest recorded rate was -9.96% in December 2009. Currently the inflating in Qatar is 2.70% .Unemployment rates from 2001 to 2013 averaged about 2.73% proving the relationship between inflation and unemployment rate as inverse. Currently ,unemployment rate is about 0.3 %( World Bank 2015). Inflation rates in United Arab Emirates from 1990 to 2014 averaged 2.15%. December 2008 recorded the highest inflation rate in United Arab Emirate of 2.15%. The lowest recorded inflation rate was -1.6% in January 2011. Currently the inflation rate stands at 3.60%. Unemployment rates averaged 3.12% from 1985 to 2012. The highest unemployment rate recorded was 4.60% in 2011. This rate decreased to about 4.20% as of 2012 (World Bank 2015). According to those statistics, inflation and unemployment relates inversely. Consequently policy makers can only target either low inflation rates or low unemployment rates but not both simultaneously. If the rates of unemployment and inflation were plotted, the resulting curve is the Phillip’s

Representation and Stereotype of Women in Video Games Dissertation

Representation and Stereotype of Women in Video Games - Dissertation Example The portrayal of the woman in video games has always been a controversial topic. It is controversial because it reflects the negative sides of the woman. It is the major claim of those who protest against the stereotype of women that in video games women are presented in an unrealistic and exaggerated manner. The video games mostly contain the violence and sex together. The women are generally represented as a hyper-sexual character. The content of the dissertation thus shows that the girls as well as women are based on gender-stereotyped. Hence, it is quite common to see a woman with a typical figure and complexion and in a tight outfit. Keywords: videogames, women, portrayal, unrealistic hypersexual Executive Summary: This paper is based on the stereotype presentation of the women in video games. Women’s image in all types of media has always been just a sex symbol. Whatever the media would be, such as television, advertisements or any type of magazines and newspaper, the wo men cannot come out of the typical periphery which is drawn for them by the male dominated society. In media they are sometimes shown in a very humiliating manner. This research has discussed thoroughly on the same issue. The research paper is divided into four different chapters. First chapter is associated with problems and its setting. The researcher decided this kind of subject out of the concern of the portrayal of women in video games and their impact on the society, especially the adolescent young boys around whom the entire video industry is revolving. The women in video games are far from reality from all points of view such as their physical appearance and the role they played in the game. In the first chapter the introduction about the topic is given. Then the researcher has designed the problem related questions for discussion. There are five research questions to be discussed. The researcher then discusses about the significance of the problem and significance of his re search. The researcher here has discussed about the usefulness of his research in finding out the problem. In the next section the researcher deals with the significance of the study. For any research to be reached to its conclusion the hypotheses are necessary to form so that it can give a proper direction for the research. Here the researcher has taken the hypothesis that still the image of women in video games is stereotype and it has not changed. The women are shown either as a sex symbol or a passive and distressed object. After that the researcher discusses the scope of the study. There are many new concepts in the research paper so it is necessary to mention the definition of the terms used in the research paper. Here the researcher has given the definitions of various terms used in the research paper. The second chapter deals with the literature review. For the research it is very necessary to find out the related documents or any existing theory which can support the ideas of the researcher. The references have been collected from various sources such as books written on this same topic. Apart from that some previous research papers, articles, blogs, websites etc are also referred. The researcher has given thorough information about the collection and information which has been collected by the above mentioned sources. In the third chapter, the

Analysis on the evolution of inflation and unemployment rates Essay

Analysis on the evolution of inflation and unemployment rates - Essay Example The highest inflation rate recorded was 16.59% in June 2008 while the lowest recorded rate was -9.96% in December 2009. Currently the inflating in Qatar is 2.70% .Unemployment rates from 2001 to 2013 averaged about 2.73% proving the relationship between inflation and unemployment rate as inverse. Currently ,unemployment rate is about 0.3 %( World Bank 2015). Inflation rates in United Arab Emirates from 1990 to 2014 averaged 2.15%. December 2008 recorded the highest inflation rate in United Arab Emirate of 2.15%. The lowest recorded inflation rate was -1.6% in January 2011. Currently the inflation rate stands at 3.60%. Unemployment rates averaged 3.12% from 1985 to 2012. The highest unemployment rate recorded was 4.60% in 2011. This rate decreased to about 4.20% as of 2012 (World Bank 2015). According to those statistics, inflation and unemployment relates inversely. Consequently policy makers can only target either low inflation rates or low unemployment rates but not both simultaneously. If the rates of unemployment and inflation were plotted, the resulting curve is the Phillip’s

Pepperdine University Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pepperdine University - Essay Example I have also participated in the Model United Nations (MUN) program and subsequently volunteered as administration staff. As a consequence of my active involvement and demonstrated leadership I received an award for the â€Å"Best Admin Staff†. As a MUN member, on a trip to Jordan, we helped: to reconstruct a broken down school in a poverty-stricken area; built fences and walls; constructed a basketball court and set-up the hoops; painted the walls; fixed the windows; and, read and played soccer with the children. For the past three years, I have worked as a Kid ´s counselor in a Summer Camp. This experience led me to develop my leadership skills, be in charge of a group aged 8-11, and assume responsibility for the group ´s tasks deliverance. Some of my hobbies are track and field and running. I am not only inclined to sports activities, I am also culturally interested in the fine arts. I play the piano and love to listen to music. Being part of Pepperdine University will broaden my horizons and will allow me to discover and explore a variety of people with whom I will be able to share my experiences and my background. Becoming a Business Management undergraduate will equip me with the necessary tools to work with faculty that are involved in research topics in this area and with whom I will be an asset to work with given my seriousness in working and experiences. I hope Pepperdine University gives me the opportunity to achieve my goals and expand on my future endeavors concerning Business Management.

The traditional meanings Essay Example for Free

The traditional meanings Essay Innovation is the identifiable tool of free enterprising—the undertaking that provides resources with a fresh ability to generate affluence. Peter Drucker The traditional meanings of innovation involves the process of introducing something new or something that is newly introduced (either an idea, method, or device) with tangible societal impact, according to The American Heritage Dictionary. In this definition, an innovation is not its technical description until a person effectively realizes the idea or a thing and creates profit on it. An innovation may be immense or minor. New-fangled or barely somewhat changed, it does not carry some weight. It can also be visibly intricate or apparently uncomplicated. Innovations are time and again assumed in terms of practical attainment; however, they can as well be outlines. The category, industry and manner of innovation are immaterial, yet its bearing establishes its aptitude. The existence of a whiz person can facilitate originality. The thing may have speedy outcome by having an individual who can observe critically and manage the things to take place in the future. On the other hand, innovation is above the creation of any genius individual such as Einstein. It entails carrying the design of a person or group of originators to expansive viewers. The opportunity of a lot of industries is reliant upon the capacity of the businesses to innovate. Since competition is intense, information unfolds rapidly. The power of a business enterprise to not merely sustain with its recent commerce systems but to surpass its particular prospects as well as its competitors are vital to its continued existence. Theories of Innovation There are several presumptions of innovation, namely breakthrough, incremental, disruptive, and transaction cost and network theory as some. There are cases asserting that innovations are required to be disrupting to meet the criteria of innovation. The change which occurs may represent both drastic and additional variations to items for consumption, schemes or services. The frequently implicit objective of innovation is to resolve a predicament. Others claim that any modification, on condition that it is quantifiable, becomes certified as innovation. Certain population would like innovations to be exposed and to be made accessible to each and every one as a way of defying even added development and inventiveness. Then again other people still think that new breakthroughs and channels have to be improved in confidence. The theory of breakthrough innovation is the one responsible for having pioneering ideas, products, or services. According to Nelson and Winter (1977, pp. 36-37), introducing a completely original creation or service rather than offering improved goods services along the similar lines as presently may incorporate risk. The vagueness of breakthrough innovations denotes that hardly ever do businesses accomplish their breakthrough aims this mode, nonetheless those periods that breakthrough innovation becomes successful, the compensation can be great. Incremental theory of innovation, on the other hand, concerns the revised form of ideas, products, or services. This innovation includes substantial adjustment or conversion in fundamental technologies and approaches, shaped by those functioning beyond typical production and out of presented paradigms. Every now and then, it is exceptionally difficult to create a distinction between breakthrough and incremental innovation, especially of ideas. Disruptive theory of innovation, then again will regularly have features that customary sections of consumers may not yearn for, at least at the start. Such advancements will come into view as bargain basement priced, more plain and even with substandard class if matched up to accessible ideas, goods, or services; although a quantity of subsidiary or new part will appreciate it. With the purpose of getting to the bottom of these troubles, establishments should construct a self-regulating commerce division whose dimension complements the surfacing market. This kind of innovation theory is somewhat a result of the aforementioned two theories. The occurrence of breakthrough and incremental innovations will mean better bounds of awareness, conceivably insistent of a fresh technique of considering the entire problem, almost certainly obtaining a much bigger threat than lots of individuals concerned are pleased about. There is repeatedly substantial hesitation in relation to forthcoming results. There may be significant disagreement to the suggestion and queries on the subject of moral principles, reasonableness or outlay of the application may be heaved. Communities may probe if this is or is not, an innovation of an idea, tool, or course. In the operation expenditure and net assumption point of view, innovation is an original building block instituted in the set of connections which alters the expenditure of dealings among components in the system.

Gawain, noble or naïve? Essay -- Essays Papers

Gawain, noble or naà ¯ve? Gawain, nephew of the famed Arthur of the Round Table, is depicted as the most noble of knights in the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Nonetheless, he is not without fault or demerit, and is certainly susceptible to conflict. Gawain, bound to chivalry, is torn between his knightly edicts, his courtly obligations, and his mortal thoughts of self-preservation. This conflict is most evident in his failure of the tests posed by the wicked Morgan le Fay. With devious tests of temptation and courage, Morgan is able to create a mockery of the courtly and knightly ideal, through Gawain's failure of these tests. By satirizing the effects of Gawain's inner conflicts, the unnamed Gawain poet reveals that even the best of men are innately selfish and subject to thoughts reprehensible to the chivalrous code. In order to satirize Gawain's courtly ways, the poet must first convey a sense of chivalric quintessence in Gawain toward the reader, only to later mock that sense of perfection with failure. This quintessence is created in part through the diction used to describe Gawain throughout the poem. He is described as "noble" and "goodly" on more than one occasion, giving the reader a positive perception of the poem's hero (405, 685). This sublime view of Gawain is further substantiated by his noble acceptance of the Green Knight's beheading game, in order to "release the king outright" from his obligation (365). Even among famed knights such as Yvain and Agravain, both worthy of exaltation, Gawain was the first to accept the Green Knight's terms. His acceptance of the beheading game when no other knight would allows the reader to assume that Gawain represents the most noble of Arthur's court. Lastly, even the... ...mocks Arthur's court and his so-called honor, and is in concordance with Morgan le Fay's plan to make a fool out of Arthur and his knights. Although Gawain's actions are not chivalrous and makes the court appear foolish, he learns a lesson from his actions. He realizes the disgrace in his actions, calling his own heart "cowardly and covetous" (2374). By taking responsibility for his actions, Gawain allows the reader to forgive him. This forgiveness is allowed because the conflicts within Gawain force him into situations that will result in unavoidable disaster. By showing the reader that even the best of knights is not perfect, the poet reveals that the balance between knightly morals, courtliness, and thoughts of selfishness is able to be breached. Works Cited Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Trans. by Marie Borroff. London: W.W. Norton and Company, 1967. Gawain, noble or naà ¯ve? Essay -- Essays Papers Gawain, noble or naà ¯ve? Gawain, nephew of the famed Arthur of the Round Table, is depicted as the most noble of knights in the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Nonetheless, he is not without fault or demerit, and is certainly susceptible to conflict. Gawain, bound to chivalry, is torn between his knightly edicts, his courtly obligations, and his mortal thoughts of self-preservation. This conflict is most evident in his failure of the tests posed by the wicked Morgan le Fay. With devious tests of temptation and courage, Morgan is able to create a mockery of the courtly and knightly ideal, through Gawain's failure of these tests. By satirizing the effects of Gawain's inner conflicts, the unnamed Gawain poet reveals that even the best of men are innately selfish and subject to thoughts reprehensible to the chivalrous code. In order to satirize Gawain's courtly ways, the poet must first convey a sense of chivalric quintessence in Gawain toward the reader, only to later mock that sense of perfection with failure. This quintessence is created in part through the diction used to describe Gawain throughout the poem. He is described as "noble" and "goodly" on more than one occasion, giving the reader a positive perception of the poem's hero (405, 685). This sublime view of Gawain is further substantiated by his noble acceptance of the Green Knight's beheading game, in order to "release the king outright" from his obligation (365). Even among famed knights such as Yvain and Agravain, both worthy of exaltation, Gawain was the first to accept the Green Knight's terms. His acceptance of the beheading game when no other knight would allows the reader to assume that Gawain represents the most noble of Arthur's court. Lastly, even the... ...mocks Arthur's court and his so-called honor, and is in concordance with Morgan le Fay's plan to make a fool out of Arthur and his knights. Although Gawain's actions are not chivalrous and makes the court appear foolish, he learns a lesson from his actions. He realizes the disgrace in his actions, calling his own heart "cowardly and covetous" (2374). By taking responsibility for his actions, Gawain allows the reader to forgive him. This forgiveness is allowed because the conflicts within Gawain force him into situations that will result in unavoidable disaster. By showing the reader that even the best of knights is not perfect, the poet reveals that the balance between knightly morals, courtliness, and thoughts of selfishness is able to be breached. Works Cited Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Trans. by Marie Borroff. London: W.W. Norton and Company, 1967.

Renaissance and Modern Art :: essays research papers fc

During my second time visiting the museum, I looked at paintings from the 15th and 19th centuries. Two of the art works that I choose is â€Å"The Story of Joseph† from the Renaissance period and â€Å"The Marketplace† from the modern art period. Both of these paintings were from different time periods but they were also very similar in content and style.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first pieces that I choose were from the Renaissance period. It is titled â€Å"The Story of Joseph† by Biagio d’ Antonio. The card states that it is Italian, Florentine, active by 1472. The artist, Antonio died in 1516.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The location of the artwork was located on the 2nd floor of the museum. It was kind of difficult to find as it is not listed on the map. The painting is framed and placed near the corner of the entrance to another room. The artwork measured about 3 feet by 6 feet. It is placed near paintings of portraits. This was one of the reasons why I choose this painting. As soon as I walked into the room, it caught my eyes right away as not only was it different from the other artwork in the room but it also consisted of many colors in the paintings. It was also one of the biggest artwork in the room. The room itself was fairly large. There was enough lighting to get a good look at the art work but much dimmer compare to the other rooms. The lighting fits perfectly with the period. Every artwork in the room was spread out evenly with enough spacing between them. There were about 2 artworks near the center of the room but most of the artworks were hung up against the wall.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The painting â€Å"The Story of Joseph† by Biagio d’ Antonio is made of tempura on wood. â€Å"The tempura techniques of previous centuries had already used oil as a binder, although other non-transparent substances, such as fig-tree juice and egg yolk, were more common, such binder produced a color that was absolutely opaque.† (Wundram, 17) In the paintings, it shows various events going on almost like a storyboard. The people in the paintings are going about their business, talking, trading, and fishing. The painting tells the story of Joseph who is the favorite son of the Hebrew patriarch Jacob. (Genesis 37, 39, 42-27). Throughout the paintings, there are various inscriptions painted on the artwork.

Statement of Intention

STATEMENT OF INTENTION. Danny Cronyn. The following persuasive piece will be written in the form of a speech to be presented at a school assembly. Addressing the prompt – we conform to stereotypes and expectations far more than we think – this speech will investigate the colossal impact that societal expectations and stereotypical norms have on a person’s identity and show the true extent to which we subconsciously conform to them. My speech contends that we simply accept what the majority and masses do as ‘the norm’ and conform to said norm without even thinking twice about it and that in doing this, we limit our ability to be individuals.The purpose of my speech is to illustrate how conforming to stereotypes and societal expectations can have a homogenising effect on identity and restrict our capacity to be individuals. I wish to show to my audience how the innate human need to belong is so strong that we subconsciously conform in order to feel a s ense of connection and how external factors such as societal norms, stereotypes, rituals and traditions can be defining factors of our identities, even if we do not realise just how much.This will be done through using examples of these factors to which we intuitively conform, such as being clothed, getting presents on Christmas, girls shaving their legs and not picking our nose or farting in public. These examples of things to which we conform to without questioning will display to the audience the magnitude of influence that stereotypes and expectations have on our identity.Writing in the form of a persuasive speech was the best method of communicating my purpose and contention (that we simply accept what the majority and masses do as ‘the norm’ and conform to said norm without even thinking twice about it and that in doing this, we limit our ability to be individuals) to the audience as I am able to use expressive skills such as voice and facial gesture to strengthen and support my arguments and am also able to physically see the audience’s reaction to my piece.The use of a questioning tone and concerned and confused facial gestures will act as visual and physical representations of the tone of my piece and through this, I will push the audience to question their way of life and drive them to see the conformity and error of their homogonised identities. By performing my speech to a live audience, I will be able to play off of audience reaction and cater my tone and intensity according to their mood and response to the issue.My concerned, questioning and confused tone will reflect the way I feel about conformist lifestyle and my strong-worded and assuring language (must, indubitably, alarmed) will push the audience to believe that I have a well developed and highly thought out contention and assure them that being a non-conformist individual is the best way to live their lives.Through contrasting the benefits of uniqueness and individuali ty with the restricting aspects of conformist living, and along with my strong-worded arguments, I anticipate that the audience will side with me in believing that we simply accept what the majority and masses do as ‘the norm’ and conform to said norm without even thinking twice about it and that in doing this, we limit our ability to be individuals.I have aimed my speech at the ‘common man’ because the everyday person – bland, boring, conformist and easily persuaded – is the perfect candidate for my speech, which will hopefully push them to question their conformity and to embrace their individual identities. It is aimed at them because I believe that these people are blissfully unaware of how their standardised and ‘by-the-book’ lifestyles are negatively impacting on their lives. I wish to show them how embracing individuality could greatly improve the way they feel about themselves and the way in which they live their day-to-da y lives.Meaning and my central idea will be conveyed through these contrasting lifestyles and through highlighting the homogenising effect that conforming to stereotypes and expectations has on our individuality and identity. My central idea and contention that we simply accept what the majority and masses do as ‘the norm’ and conform to said norm without even thinking twice about it and that in doing this, we limit our ability to be individuals was inspired by the collection of poems Sometimes Gladness by Bruce Dawe, in hich it is proposed that belonging to society shapes our identity, but in doing so, also has a homogenising effect and that the rituals and traditions of the society of which we are a part, also shape us. I agree with this idea and believe that being conformist and homogenised beings is a negative thing, that we don’t question societal norms, expectations and stereotypes nearly enough, we merely accept them without even considering the possibilit y that they could be wrong and that rituals and traditions of our culture shape us more than we notice.These key ideas (‘belonging to society shapes our identity, but in doing so, also has a homogenising effect’ and ‘the rituals and traditions of the society of which we are a part shape us’), which are presented in the poems â€Å"Enter Without So Much As Knocking† and â€Å"Condolences of the Season† are the concepts which influences my central idea that we simply accept what the majority and masses do as ‘the norm’ and conform to said norm without even thinking twice about it and that in doing this, we limit our ability to be individuals.In the poem â€Å"Enter Without So Much AS Knocking† the idea that belonging to society shapes our identity, but also has a homogenising effect is explored through showing the life cycle of a person from birth to death and how he conformed to societal norms his entire life. Through showin g how we conform to day-to-day commands and norms such as â€Å"WALK. DON’T WALK. TURN LEFT†¦NO BREATHING EXCEPT BY ORDER. BEWARE OF THIS.WATCH OUT FOR THAT†, Dawe shows the homogenising effect that conformist lifestyle has on people and the ways in which they conform to stereotypes and expectations far more than we realise. In â€Å"Condolences of the Season† Bruce Dawe shows how our identity is like a kit, a puzzle to be put together. He shows the ways in which rituals, family and other external factors shape our identity through showing generations of a family pointing our similarities in a small child at a family gathering.These features will be reflected in my speech when I talk about how external factors such as family traditions and rituals (presents on Christmas) and societal expectations (wearing clothing) influence our identity greatly, sometimes without us even realising. The structural element of beginning and ending a piece with a near identica l statement which is shown in â€Å"Enter Without So Much AS Knocking† and Soliloquy For One Dead† will be reflected in my piece by beginning and ending my speech with my contention (we simply accept what the majority and masses do as ‘the norm’ and conform to said norm without even thinking twice about it and that in doing this, we limit our ability to be individuals) to show a distinct beginning and ending to my piece and also to reinforce the contention. I want my contention to be the first thing that the audience hears when they come in and the last thing they hear when they leave so that it stick in their mind and is something they are forever considering.Another structural element from Dawe’s poems that I will include is metaphor. Metaphor is shown in â€Å"The Tackle Box† through the use of a hook to be symbolic of/a metaphor for the pain that a father inflicted on his family. I will use the metaphor of sheep in my speech to represent h ow people flock together much like sheep and simply follow what the majority are doing without question. This metaphoric comparison between human beings and sheep (an animal) will push the audience to look unfavourably upon their conformist actions and sway them to make individual choices.My speech supports the prompt (we conform to stereotypes and expectations far more than we think) by showing the ways in which we conform to societal expectations with no questioning as to why, we simply just do it. My speech takes the prompt and presents the idea that social norms, stereotypes and expectations have a immense impact on identity formation and shows the ways in which we simply accept what the majority and masses do as ‘the norm’ and conform to said norm without even thinking twice about it and that in doing this, we limit our ability to be individuals.

Cost Accounting Essay

If you are starting out in a new business, especially a service/manufacturing business, understanding the cost accounting system and which cost accounting system will work best for your company, is the first step to being successful. Once you find someone to help you navigate those waters, let them help you sail the rough seas of direct and indirect inventory, direct and indirect labor costs, and how to allocate factory overhead as well. While it all may sound confusing, having the right person with the right knowledge and advice, can make all the difference to you and the success of your business. We learned in Chapter 19 that cost accounting systems calculate, register, and record product costs. Once these costs have been recorded, administrators and supervising personnel can use these costs for setting their product prices, controlling operations and developing financial statements. These reports can play an important role in the financial decision making process for your company so it is imperative that they are accurate and detailed. There are two different types of cost accounting systems. There are called job order cost systems and process cost systems. While both systems are used by manufacturing companies, the job order cost system is used by companies that manufacture custom products or groups of products that are alike. The process cost system, on the other hand, is chosen by manufacturing companies that make units of a product that are impossible to tell apart and are produced using a continuous production process. Once you have chosen your type of cost accounting system, you will need to know what types of costs that will need to be reported and the difference in those costs. First, you have direct materials cost and indirect materials cost. Direct materials costs are materials that will be used as an essential part of the finished product. For example, for an electrician, direct materials would be receptacles and wiring. To be considered and classified as a direct materials cost, it has to be used as an essential part of the finished product and it has to be a significant portion of the total cost of the finished product. If it does not fit these two requirements, then it is considered an indirect materials cost, or factory overhead cost. â€Å"Indirect materials are materials used in the production process, but which cannot be linked to a specific product or job. Alternatively, they may be used in such insubstantial quantities on a per-product basis that it is not worthwhile to track them as direct materials† (Bragg) .An example of an indirect materials cost, or factory overhead cost, for an electrician would be electrical tape and solder. Next, we have direct and indirect labor costs. As with direct materials costs, labor costs must also meet the same two requirements to be labeled direct labor costs. They must be an essential part of the finished product and must be a significant portion of the total cost of the finished product. If they meet these two requirements, these labor costs are considered direct labor costs. If they do not meet these requirements, they are indirect labor costs, or factory overhead costs. The janitor who cleans the building incurs labor costs for the company; however, the janitorial costs are not an essential cost of manufacturing their product. As a result, the janitorial labor costs are indirect labor costs, or factory overhead cost. So what are factory overhead costs and how do you measure and record it? Our textbook describes both in detail. Factory overhead costs are indirect costs of the product. As previously mentioned, these can be materials and labor costs that do not directly enter into the finished product. Some examples include: Heating and lighting the factory Property taxes on factory buildings and land Depreciation on factory plant and equipment Sandpaper, glue, buffing compound Power to run the machines Salaries of production supervisors Because factory overhead costs cannot be directly earmarked to jobs, they are instead, applied to jobs using a common measure related to each job. This common measure is called an activity base. The activity base used to apply overhead should reflect the use of factory overhead costs. Factory overhead costs are usually applied to jobs using a predetermined factory overhead rate computed as follows: Predetermined FactoryEstimated Total Factory Overhead Costs Overhead Rate = Estimated Activity Base For example, if a company estimated a total factory overhead cost of $50,000 for the year and the activity base as 10,000 direct labor hours, a predetermined factory overhead rate of $5 per direct labor hour is computed using the estimated amounts at the beginning of the period. Predetermined factory overhead rated are computed because managers need information about the product cost of each job in a timely manner. With timely information, managers can fine-tune manufacturing methods or product pricing. Remember, during each step of your manufacturing process, identify and record every cost as well as determine whether the costs are direct, indirect, or factory overhead. Keeping up with these costs will help you determine the final cost of each unit and whether or not to make any changes necessary for a more profitable future. Works Cited Bragg, Steven, â€Å"What are Indirect Materials?† Questions & Answers – Accounting Tools 1 June 2013. Warren, Reeve and Duchac. ACCT 1101 Chapters 18-26 Managerial Accounting. Ohio: Cengage, 2012. Print.

Remaining Faithful Through Hardship

In Anne Bradstreet’s poem â€Å"Here Follows Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House July 10th, 1666,† the narrator voices her disbelief in the wake of a fire that destroyed her home, as well as her feelings of the loss. During the timeframe that Bradstreet wrote this poem, many if not most Americans were of puritan faith. They practiced a belief that a person must always be prepared for judgment day as it could happen at any moment. This poem is a clear reiteration of her the author’s faith and it calls to mind my experience in church and listening to the minister’s proclamations of what it meant to be faithful.It is both sad and reassuring as it ponders the true meaning of Christ’s sacrifice and the duty of faith that she believed in. In this poem, Bradstreet uses the burning of her house as a way to clarify and reinforce her faith. In line five, she writes, ‘fearful sound of â€Å"fire† and â€Å"fire,†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ referring to the fires of hell as she awakens to her house burning down and believes it is judgment day. The line, â€Å"Let no man know is my Desire† (6), reveals that she secretly longs for judgment day but does not want to let anyone know of her longing.She cries out for God’s aid in hard times with the words, â€Å"to my God my heart did cry / To straighten me in my Distress / And not to leave me succourless† (8-10). The burning of her house is a test of her faith and during the fire, she turns to Him for comfort, asking Him to be her succour, or the one she can depend on in times of trouble. Bradstreet makes it clear that she believed all her worldly possessions did not belong to her but to God himself, as did all of her being. This is evident in lines seventeen and eighteen, â€Å"It was His own, it was not mine, / Far be it that I should repine.† She outright says that her belongings and everything she owns does not belong to her though she owned them in the wo rld. She tells herself that she should not mourn them since they belong to God and have been returned to Him. Throughout the poem, Bradstreet struggles to let go of her worldly possessions and turn to God. All the while, she is accepting of the hardship she goes through and does not question what she sees as God’s actions. Even while she knows that her belongings in truth belong to God, she has a hard time letting go of her worldly items, as made clear throughout the poem.She enumerates everything she was no longer able to do, everything her house would not see, such as, â€Å"Under thy roof no guest shall sit, / Nor at thy Table eat a bit† (19-20). As she struggles to find acceptance and she asks herself if she is tied to her worldly things, â€Å"And did thy wealth on earth abide? / Didst fix thy hope on mould'ring dust? / The arm of flesh didst make thy trust? † (38-40). She expresses doubt in her faith and is appalled by her own yearning for her material thi ngs. Yet her faith is reinforced as she answers her own questions, â€Å"Raise up thy thoughts above the sky / .. . It’s purchased and paid for too / By Him who hath enough to do† (41-49). Bradstreet believes that Christ has paid for her sins and paid for her way to heaven and she reminds herself to believe in His world rather than her own as long as her faith remained true. This was a deviation from puritan faith in that the general belief was that man went to heaven based on their own faith and actions rather than the opinion expressed in this poem, that Christ had already paid their way to heaven and man merely had to remain true in him belief.