Drug Violence Essay

According to the article, â€Å"The Drugs/Violence Nexus: A Tripartite Conceptual Framework†, author Paul Goldstein argues that there are three ways in which drugs and violence are related. Goldstein’s models for the relationship between drugs and violence are the psychopharmacological model, economic compulsive model, and the systemic violence model. The psychopharmacological model, â€Å"suggests that some individuals, as a result of short or long term ingestion of specific substances, may become excitable, irrational, and may exhibit violent behavior† (pg. 278). In this model, violence occurs due to a withdrawal or the lack of availability of the preferred drug. The economic compulsive model argues that crime occurs due to the necessity to continue a prolonged addiction of a particular dug. Paul Goldstein states that, â€Å"Economically compulsive actors are not primarily motivated by impulses to act out violently †¦ rather, their primary motivation is to obtain money to purchase drugs† (pg. 279). The final model regarding systemic violence â€Å"refers to the traditionally aggressive patterns of interaction within the system of drug distribution and use† (pg. 280). In this model, individuals within the system or hierarchy are prone to violence in the form of disputes, robberies, and punishments due to the illegality of the drug. In my own opinion, I see drug violence occurring due to the simple processes of an industry or market. Due to the fact that drugs are illegal and in such high demand, the market itself works to create tension and violence. I agree with Goldstein and his economic compulsive model, but argue that the prices and availability are so high due to such a large demand of illegal substances. Without the demand, prices would drop, availability would rise, and the amount of violence would be reduced as well. There are many costs related to the close relationship between drugs and violence. For one, the drug consumption and distribution from gangs is becoming more violent and increasingly prevalent. Due the illegality and potential profit, gangs became systemically involved in the distribution of drugs and the violence that comes along with it (pg. 267). Within the system of drug distribution, gangs have both financial and personnel costs. The financial costs arise from competition and all the resources used to gain the upper hand. The personnel costs mainly come about due to gang wars and the enforcement of the law. One final cost comes at the expense of the community, where neighborhoods involved with drug distribution are more likely to be surrounded by illicit activities and violence. According to Paul Goldstein, â€Å"Previous research indicates that the most common victims of this form of drug related violence are people residing in the same neighborhoods as the offender† (pg. 279). As I stated before, there many reasons responsible for the violence and crime associated with drugs. The first and most obvious is the fact that drug use and the distribution of drugs are illegal. The second aspect of violence comes from the prohibition and interest groups that continue to inflict harsh penalties on drug use. The third and final reason is that both drugs and crime share common causes (O’Brien Lecture). This final reason is the most important because it points to the fact that the U.S has turned into a drug culture, not for one particular reason, but rather the relationship between drugs and violence. Although drugs and violence have been increasingly prevalent in U.S society lately, there are a few solutions or steps we can take to reduce the amount. In a perfect world, I would suggest a reduced role of politico-moral entrepreneurs in order to lessen the prohibition measures, which create so much of the tension. But unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world, so instead I suggest changing the drug laws to reduce the amount of trafficking and availability of the drug. Once again, with less restrictions and more availability the gangs and drug lords would have much less of a demand; and thus less violence. According to the article, â€Å"The Social Construction of Drug Scares†, author Craig Reinarman states that there are three main elements to a drug scare. They are the kernel of truth, media magnification, and politico-moral entrepreneurs (pg. 43). A kernel of truth refers to the fact that, â€Å"in virtually all cultures and historical epochs, there has been sufficient ingestion of consciousness-altering chemicals† (pg. 43). That is, the kernel of truth looks at the big picture and views drug use as a natural occurrence through out history. Media magnification argues that, â€Å"The media dramatize drug problems, as they do other problems, in the course of their routine news-generating and sales-promoting procedures† (pg. 43). This points to how the mass media takes small cases of re-occurring drug use and turns it into an ‘epidemic’ or drug scare. The media thus acts as a promoter for the inflation of the kernel of truth and how it should be interpreted. The final element to a drug scare are the politico-moral entrepreneurs, who’s personal interests outweigh societies’ when it comes to the regulation of drugs. According to Craig Reinarman, â€Å"political elites typically find [that] drugs †¦ allow them to deflect attention from other more systematic sources of public problems† (pg. 44). In this case, politico-moral entrepreneurs have the power to alter the thought process of an entire culture in relation to drugs (ex. Ronald Regan). When it comes to the public reaction of drug scares, the mass media and politico-moral entrepreneurs are the most influential (pg. 45). They shape the public ideals and beliefs about drugs, as well as, advocate towards a temperance culture. The media tries to present conscious-altering chemicals as a ‘loss of self-self control’. Because the U.S. developed from a temperance culture, â€Å"self-control was both central to religious world views and a characterological necessity for economic survival and success in the capitalist market† (pg. 45). Thus, the general public essentially responds to drug scares however the media portrays it to be. A good example of the media’s bias and influential impact on drug scares can be seen in the case of salvia divinorium in the United States. Although many medical researchers believe that salvia can be used as a medicinal substance, the government is in the process of banning the drug for all social/recreational use (O’Brien Lecture). In this case, the media’s magnification of salvia as a drug scare has led to an ‘all or nothing’ attitude regarding the drug. Instead of regulating and suppressing the negative attributes of the drug, we have been led to believe that the drug is pure evil (O’Brien Lecture). In order to reduce the frequency of drug scares in our culture, we must first reduce the factual/selection bias of the mass media.

Homeless and Their Children

David F. Wiley English-111-OFA Summary and Response First Draft Jonathon Kozol, the writer of Illiterate America in 1985, takes time to study Illiteracy and poverty in America and he wrote a Novel in 1988 called â€Å"The Homeless and Their Children† where He told a story of a woman and her four children called Joanne (Kozol, 1985). Jonathan spent a lot of time to get to know Rachel and her children who lived in a homeless hotel in New York called the Martinique, which was located at Sixth Avenue and Thirty Second Street. This hotel was known to be the largest hotel for the homeless people in New York.Jonathan Kozol was enlightening the facts that there were so many homeless and illiterate people in America, giving the facts that at least one third of American citizens were affected. With Joanne’s illiteracy she couldn’t read her mail, didn’t know if it was important or if it was about her children and this made her very scared not knowing if she did the r ight thing for her children. Martinique Hotel is home to over 400 hundred families and 1200 children. The hotel itself is in a very dilapidated condition, and it’s like living in the slum.The conditions in the hotel were horrible, from walls that are were crumbling covered in lead based paint, to plumbing issues in the bathroom that has made raw sewage stand in pools on the floor, This was a terrible problem for Joanne and her children. They had 4 beds set up in one room that were on unprotected bed frames, which made a very unsafe for the children to sleep on. Joanne had a radiator that is was spewing hot steam which was located at eye level to some of the children. The crib for her youngest child who is only just months old was falling apart; this made Joanne worried for his safety.There were green mold looking smudges all over the walls from leaking plumbing from the rooms above hers. The lighting in the apartment is bright fluorescent lights that made it very hard on thei r eyes. The television set they have was borrowed and didn’t even really work at all and the antenna for the television set is a wire coat hanger. Joanne complained to the management of the Martinique Hotel and never received any help at all on any of the unbelievable problems she is faced with on a daily basis in her apartment that she has had to live in with her four children. Her oldest hild whom is 7 years old had been to the hospital a couple of weeks previously because of the sweet tasting lead based paint on the walls. † Kids will be kids† he had eaten some of the paint and got sick. The sad part that Joanne couldn’t read her mail so she didn’t realize in a mountain of mail that was piling up, one of the mail was from the doctor’s office telling her to bring the child back for follow – up to care on his lead poisoning issue. Joanne didn’t read the mail as she couldn’t, so she didn’t take her son for the follo w up doctor’s appointments that he needed.This is sad to see in this generation that we allow our American Citizens to fall as victims to homeless and illiteracy and living in devastating conditions. Our government needs to step up to investigate the problems. This article made me sick to my stomach. The more I read this article the angrier I became. This makes me wonder how America the richest and highest technology advanced nation in the world can just discard and leave the homeless un-attended as if they don’t exist. I have always had a soft heart for these people in need. This article has just made me more compassionate to the cause of helping those in need.It simply breaks my heart to know that we spend billions of dollars sending money and food all over the world to help all these other countries with their homeless and starving problem, but we aren’t close to solving solve the same problem in our own country. In the article it talked mentions about the tr emendous amount of rent she pay’s at the hotel like fifteen hundred dollars a month and it enrages me so much I can hardly contain myself while typing this. We as a nation have to make this cause of homelessness and illiteracy of our citizens a top priority.There is so much (me me me) of selfishness in our society that I am afraid this is something that will always be pushed as lower priority. Our leaders in this country give big speeches on big issues just so they can get into the office and once they make it to office they forget what they promised to the public they serve. I feel we as individuals can make a difference in life by not just thinking about ourselves only, but by doing the right things by, giving love, care and help to our fellow citizens in need. Bibliography Kozol, J. (1985). Illiterate America. Garden City, NY: Archer Press/Doubleday. Words: 864

Long-Range Career Objectives Essay

Please provide a statement outlining your immediate educational and long-range career objectives in relation to your chosen field. If there is a particular faculty member with whom you wish to study, please give that person’s name and explain why you want to study with that person. You may also wish to include other information, such as any undergraduate research experience, internships, or other experiences you may have had to document your preparation for advanced study in your chosen field. My future plan is to achieve the CPA of America and work in a renown accounting firm or in the finance department of companies. I think by learning in your school can give me a better opportunity fulfill my future professional development. What’s more, by learning taxation and accounting for two years in my own country, I developed a personal interest in those fields. I believe America’s outlook and teaching of accounting is very unique and efficient. In order to have a bet ter understanding of this concept I would like to study at your school. Here I want to share my internship experience with you. I was fortunate to be chosen as an intern in the taxation department of Deloitte Touchà © Tohmatsu. My job here is to assist the senior manger to do some search and document revised work. Working here not only gives me a better understanding about my professional knowledge but my future career development. It also gives me a chance to find out how a successful company operates and what makes a qualified staff for that company. The DTT has very comprehensive and effective information sharing and communication system. In which it will make sure every staff member has easy access for use. For instance, I was only an intern there, but I can visit every internet resource and store documents in all the DTT†s firms in China. In addition, I can make a direct conversation to my co-workers, including the partner of the company, immediately if needed. The significance of these systems not only let us do our work efficiently and quickly, but also send messages to all its workers that â€Å" we have confidence on your professional ethics and we are ready to listen to your advises all the time.† The true thing is DTT always regard all its staff members as a part of the company, I think that is why employees are hard working on a daily basis. I think the most important character of a DDT employee is initiative. Compared to waiting for a job assignment , we should be eager for a work opportunity and find something to do when we are not occupied. This internship taught me that I should show my capability and my willingness to my job at the same time. Although I am no longer working in DTT China, I am the one equal member of initiative that seeks further study opportunity in your university. I hope this piece of writing could give you a better understanding of my personality to consider my application.

Madonna Case Study

Question 1 Described and explain the strategy being followed by Madonna in term of the explanation of competitive strategy given in Chapter 6. Answer 1 Table 2: Bowman’s strategy clock Based on the Bowman’s strategy clock above, we identify strategies been used in her albums through the years below; Lucky Star 1982 Trashy pop – lace tops, skirts over capri pants, fishnet stockings, jewelry bearing the Christian cross, and bleached hair. Young wannabe girls, dovetailing from fading disco to emerging ‘club scene’influential among young girls and women 1. ‘No frills’ – combines a low price, low perceived product/service benefits and a focus on a price- sensitive market price Like a Virgin- Like a Prayer(first number one album on the U. S. lbums chart) 1984 Originally a Marilyn glamour image, then became a saint and sinner She performed the song at the first MTV Video Music Awards – trademark â€Å"Boy Toy† belt and cruc ifix jewelry More grown-up rebellious fan base, more critical female audience and male worshippers – featured role in â€Å"Desperately Seeking Susan† – embarked on her first concert tour in the U. S. in 1985 titled The Virgin Tour, with the Beastie Boys. 2. Low price – risk of price war and low margins; need to be cost leader Vogue Erotica Bedtime Stories (eighth U. S. umber-one single -Academy Award-winning song) 199019921994 Erotic porn star, sadomasochistic, sexual control, more minelli in Cabaret than Monroe signed an endorsement deal with soft drink manufacturer Pepsi debuted her new song, â€Å"Like a Prayer†, in a Pepsi commercial and also made a music video for it. Peculiar mix of target audiences: gay club scene, 1990s’ women taking control of their own lives, also pure male titillation -Madonna's first publication Sex, a book consisting of sexually provocative and explicit images – caused media controversy but sold 500,000 copies in the U.S. 3. Hybrid – seeks simultaneously to achieve differentiation and a price lower than that of competitors Something to Remember Evita (won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song From a Motion Picture also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy) 1995 Softer image, ballads preparing for glamour image of Evita film role Broadest audience target, picking up potential film audiences as well as regular fan base – designed to appeal to the mature audience that would be the target of Evita. Most conventional image.Max Factor later used this mixture of Marilyn and Eva Peron to market its glamour image 4. Differentiation – seek to provide products or services that offer benefits that are different from those of competitors and that are widely valued by buyers. Ray of Light – (U. S. top 5 singles – won three Grammy Awards – won a Grammy for â€Å"Best Short Form Music Video. â€Å") 1998 E arth mother, Eastern mysticism, dances music fusion – album influenced by electronica, techno, and trip-hop, thereby updating her classic dance-pop sound for the late '90s. â€Å"Most adventurous record. â€Å") Clubbing generation of the 1990s, new cohort of fans plus original fan base of now 30somethings desperately staying trendy – used by Microsoft in its advertising campaign to introduce Windows XP. 5. Focus differentiation – strategy seeks to provide high perceived product/service benefits justifying a substantial price, usually to a selected market segment (niche) Music 2000 Acid rock, tongue in cheek Miss USA/cow girl, cool Britannia – having a video which depicts murders by car, was banned by MTV and VH1.Managing to hit the changing club scene and 30-something Brits – starred in the film Swept Away a commercial and critical failure and released straight-to-video in the UK. 6. Increased price/standard value – higher margins if comp etitors do not follow; risk of losing market share American Life 2003 Militaristic image Che Guevara Anti-consumerism of American dream – Madonna kissed the heirs to her throne, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera — and then got the two of them to make out with each other.Unclear audience reliant on existing base – sold 4 million copies, the lowest selling album of her career. The release of Madonna's successful children's book, -The English Roses, which was followed by several more novels in future years. 7. Increase price/low price – only feasible in monopoly situation Confession on a Dance Floor 2005 Retro-1980’s disco imagery, high-motion dance-pop sound Strong gay-icon audience, pop-disco audience, dance-based audience – radio stations were boycotting Madonna's singles because she publicly spoke of disapproval against the war n Iraq. 8. Low value/standard price – loss of market share Hard Candy (Most successful release from the album, reaching #1 in twenty-seven countries worldwide including the United World Chart and becoming one of Madonna's biggest-selling singles. ) 2008 ‘M by Madonna' clothes collection, which was designed by Madonna for H&M consist of classic designs and accessories which reflect Madonna’s timeless, unique and always glamorous style. Madonna sliced away at genre straightjackets like a surgeon, opening the doors for the future hip-hop explosion. U. S. Canada, North & South America and European concert tour â€Å"Sticky and Sweet† in promoting her new album – Madonna's adding a new twist to a whole new distribution model the mobile handset Samsung and Sony Ericson. Focus differentiation – strategy seeks to provide high perceived product/service benefits justifying a substantial price, usually to a selected market segment (niche) Madonna’s new album Hard Candy 2008 has rebuild her strategy from ultimate failure to focused differentiation as her new album has an urban vibe, while remaining a dancepop record at heart.Stuart Price, the producer of Confessions on a Dance Floor, described the new album as moving in an urban direction. It had initially been defined as having â€Å"a lot of producers from a lot of genres in there. † The Sun proclaiming that â€Å"it could be her most ambitious project yet†, while The New York Times reviewed the album as â€Å"a set of catchy, easily digestible, mass-appeal songs†. (Wikipedia 2008) Question 2 Why has she experienced sustained success over the past two decades?Answer 2 For stay maintaining in entertainment industry Madonna has use a ways of attempting to sustain advantage through differentiation ; Create difficulties of imitation – Factors that can make strategies difficult to imitate. ? Music genre Madonna always changed her music genre in her new album and her music genre never been the same genre from one album with other album. For example in her ear ly career the music genre her bring is Trashy pop and for current album the genre was urban vibe. Targeted audiences Madonna always set her target audience with her new album release in market and her target audience is different for each album. For example in album Ray of Light her target audience was Clubbing generation of the 1990s and for album Confession on a Dance Floor the target was Strong gay-icon audience. ? Style or Image Madonna style and image always changed with her new album release in market and not many celebrities willing to do the same thing with Madonna because its take a higher cost.For example that we can give here about Madonna style or image is in her album name Music here image was Acid rock, tongue in cheek Miss USA/cow girl and in album Like a Virgin like a Prayer her image is originally a Marilyn glamour image. ? Trademark The trademark of Madonna was her dance, which is her dance for all albums is different from one and other and for all album Madonna ha s set her own dance. For example in album Ray of Light the dance step was a classic dance pop and for album hard candy the dance step is more to hip hop. Sex appeal As what we know Madonna like to show her sex appeal to public and it’s was her attraction to make her fans buy her album or watch her movie. Her sex appeal is hard to imitate by other celebrity because her has her own persona of sex appeal that other artist didn’t has and also Madonna really confident with her sex appearances in public. Create a situation of imperfect mobility – The capabilities that sustain differentiation cannot be traded. Her self Something that cannot being change or imitate by other celebrity is Madonna voice. Even her now already 25 years in entertainment industry but she still can maintain her vocal establish and didn’t has any singer have a similar voice like Madonna, ever her singing style also cannot be imitate by other singer and it never change until now. ? Tradema rk As we know Madonna trademark was her dance, and Madonna dance step is difference from other celebrity because it has an own style and persona while her dance.Madonna and dance is something that we cannot change because Madonna started her career in entertainment industry with dance and until now she still with her interesting in dance. ? Sex appeal Sex and Madonna is one of the thing that we cannot change because Madonna always come out with her sexuality story in media and it’s like something compulsory to Madonna in this entertainment industry. Most of Madonna fans also know her because of her sex appeal story and not because her talent in music.Establish a lower cost position – Competitors can allow an organization to sustain better margins that can be reinvested to achieve and maintain differentiation. ? Album All Madonna album was receive a good feed back from her fans and most of her albums are sold more than what she expected because a price of her album was an affordable and anybody can buy it. Not just that, the quality of her album also appropriate with the price given and make her fans feel satisfied. Tour / Concert In all Madonna tour most of the ticket is sold out and it’s proving to us that Madonna concert get an excellent reception from her fans. Her ticket price also affordable and the place divided also make all her fans can watch her performances in suitable situation. Not just that, Madonna basically has a surprise to her fans in her performance. Question 3 What might threaten the sustainability of her success? Answer 3 There have several factors that can be threatening the sustainability of Madonna successful in entertainment industry and the factor is: ?Her own self Her own self can be the biggest threat for her future career in show business because with her habit like to present the controversy in media will arrive the negative impact for her in long term. After 25 years in music industry she always makes the nega tive controversy and it will make the fans keep bored with the bad story about their idol. If that happen, Madonna career also will goes down and it’s hard for her to wake up again after that. ? Criticism Madonna gets too many criticisms along her career because of the controversy that her always make when her new album need to release in market.Maybe for her it’s just the trick to promote her new song and just a part of her marketing strategy, but for the other parties who give the critic to her will feel that Madonna is wrong icon for them because don’t know how to care her fans sensitivity. ? New artists with new talents Now days too many new talent or star came out in entertainment industry and it will give bad impact to Madonna because most of the new generation likes to watch and give their support to new artists compare than the oldies.Most of the new artist now has a new talent that we can’t see from the previous evergreen generation. So that Mado nna should work harder to make sure her reputation will not go down and can become a diva forever. ? Reality shows The reality show also can be the biggest threat for Madonna in music industry because of too many reality shows playing in television now and the contestant for the program also has a big talent and their idea also new and fresh. When the new talented star will come out from that reality shows, it will give pressure to Madonna to stay in entertainment industry for a long term. Sex appearances Madonna and sex appeal is synonym in entertainment industry because her always like to show her sex appearance to public more compare to promoted her album or films. Most of her story in magazine or from paparazzi is about her sex appeal is too much and have a one time her well known as a sex icon more than a singer or movie star and it’s can become a threats to her because her sex story more than her album or movie story. ? Competitor As we know all celebrity has their own competitor in entertainment industry and it’s goes same to Madonna.For her latest competitor in music industry was a Britney Spears. It is because Britney and Madonna do a come back in music industry almost in the same time and when the time that downfall of Madonna, Britney also face the same situation as Madonna. Not just that, Madonna and Britney also well known as a celebrity who like to do a controversy and always come out with their sex appearance in public. Conclusion Madonna rocketed to stardom so quickly in 1984 that it obscured most of her musical virtues.Appreciating her music became even more difficult as the decade wore on, as discussing her lifestyle became more common than discussing her music. However, one of Madonna's greatest achievements is how she manipulated the media and the public with her music, her videos, her publicity, and her sexuality. Arguably, Madonna was the first female pop star to have complete control of her music and image. Madonna named al so list as a one of People Magazine's '50 Most Beautiful People of 1991†², and '25 Most Intriguing People of 2001†².It is because Madonna has her own Image, music genre and targeted audiences for each albums that been produced in market. She also was the first global brand name to make content delivered to mobile phones seem downright dope. Not just for consumers in Asia and Europe, who'd long been exposed to any number of mobile content and marketing campaigns, but to mobile newbie’s who just happen to be the ultimate arbiters of pop culture cool: America's teenagers. Madonna has been dubbed â€Å"one of the greatest pop acts of all time† and dubbed â€Å"The Queen of Pop† by some media.She is ranked by the Recording Industry Association of America as the best-selling female rock artist of the twentieth century and the second top-selling female artist in the United States with 63 million certified albums. Guinness World Records list her as the world's most successful female recording artist of all time and the top-earning female singer in the world with an estimated net worth of over US$400 million, having sold over 200 million records worldwide. On March 10, 2008, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Food Scarcity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Food Scarcity - Essay Example Hundreds of thousand of families in the Middle East are having a hard time coping with hunger, malnutrition and safety risks because they are forced to increase their spending money on food with high prices. Hence, poor families are further plunged into poverty since they cannot make ends meet. It was also noted that there is a serious humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip due to rising food prices, failed crops and market access that is menacing thousands of poor families. Once considered as the â€Å"largest refugee-hosting region in the world (Colin, et al, n.d.),† the Middle East at present regard basic staples like milk or fruit as luxuries. The increases of food prices will continually destabilized the region and make it more vulnerable to current surges of unrests and political conflicts that have been present as long as history can remember. The probable way to solve mass food problem in the Middle East is to develop the agricultural industry and secure sufficient wate r supply by introducing new technology under the support of international organizations and aid.

Living with Diabetes Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Living with Diabetes - Case Study Example Elizabeth who lives in United Kingdom is helped by the National Health Service (NHS) is the publicly funded health care system of England; the National Health Service (NHS) is not to be confused with the other three national health systems operating in the United Kingdom which are responsible to their own governments and have developed under differing legislation. All four services collectively operate without general discrimination toward citizens from each others areas. The NHS provides the majority of healthcare to Elizabeth, from general practitioners to hospitals, long-term healthcare, thus helping her cope with her diabetes. The National Health Service Act was passed in 1946 and came into effect on 5 July 1948; subsequently it has become an integral part of British society, culture and everyday life: the NHS was once described by Nigel Lawson, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, as "the national religion". Private health care has continued parallel to the NHS, paid for largely by private insurance, but it is used only by a small percentage of the population, and generally as a top-up to NHS services. As the reforms continue to change the way the NHS works, NHIS is able to offer new insights into its performance. It is a uniquely powerful and cost-effective resource for those who need to understand, interpret and exploit these events - from pharmaceutical companies developing their marketing strategies, to patients needing to be aware how the system works. Elizabeth often also uses the Diabetes UK Careline as a further source of information for people with diabetes and it receives around 50 000 enquiries a year. The Careline number is 0845 120 2960 and it is open Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm (a translation service is available) with recorded information available 24 hours a day. As well as offering information to people on a wide range of subjects, Careline also offers support through talking with a trained counsellor . Calls to Careline allow Elizabeth to identify gaps in currently available information, and to then fill them. We have found this to be particularly true around the subject of diet--by far the most requested topic of information. This can be as simple as producing quick question-and-answer style responses to topics that the media has generated interest about, to developing a more detailed information resource, such as the weight management pack, which deals with many of the issues that callers to Careline, both lay and professional, have raised. Like most people who get their information on diabetes from the media, the internet or the man next door, this often means that the information they receive is distorted or even dangerous, Elizabeth too was affected by this but her problems were taken care of by the Careline. A particular issue is the myth around 'mild diabetes' or 'a touch of sugar', which many callers to Careline cite as their particular problem. Because diabetes has been couched in these terms, many people fail to realise the seriousness of their condition and think that they only have to avoid sugar in their diet (another popular misconception). Psychosocial factors

Earned Value & Forecasting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Earned Value & Forecasting - Essay Example The budgeted cost of work performed at end of period 8 comes out to be $868,000. The same is shown in Table 1. Cost Variance (CV) can be calculated as the difference between budgeted cost and actual cost of work performed which is equal to $(868,000-1,005,000) i.e. - $137,000. A negative cost variance here implies that the project is over-budget by the end of period 8. The Cost Performance Index (CPI) is given by the ratio of budgeted cost of work performed to the actual cost of work performed i.e. (868,000/1,005,000) which is equal to .86. As the Cost Performance Index is less than 1, it again implies that the project is over-budget. Schedule Variance (SV) can be found out as the difference between budgeted cost of work performed and the budgeted cost of work scheduled till the end of period 8 which is equal to $(868,000-955,000) i.e. - $87000. A negative schedule variance here implies that the project is behind schedule by the end of period 8. The Schedule Performance Index (SPI) i s given by the ratio of budgeted cost of work performed to the budgeted cost of work scheduled i.e. (868,000/955,000) which is equal to .91. As the Schedule Performance Index is less than 1, it gain implies that the project is behind schedule. ... 500000 1.3.2 60000 80 48000 1.4.1 120000 0 0 1.4.2 40000 50 0 1.4.3 75000 100 75000 1.5.2 15000 20 0 1.5.3 30000 0 0 1.6.1 45000 20 0 1.6.2 60000 50 0 1.6.3 30000 0 0 1.6.4 25000 0 0 Total 124500 (BAC) 868000 (BCWP/EV) The planned percentage of work completed can be calculated by dividing the planned work completed (in terms of number of periods) by the total work (in terms of number of periods). The total work periods can be calculated by adding the planned durations of each activity. This comes out as 26 periods. The planned work periods can be calculated by multiplying the planned percent of work completed for each activity by its planned duration. This is equal to 15. Hence, the planned percent of work completed is equal to 15/26 i.e. 57.7%. Similarly, the actual percent of work completed is computed as the ratio of actual work completed (in terms of number of periods) to the total work (in terms of number of periods). The actual work periods are calculated as 15.2 in the same fa shion as for planned work periods. The actual percent of work completed, therefore, comes out as 15.2/26 i.e. 58.46%. The percent cost completed is simply defined as the ratio of actual cost incurred till end of period 8 to the total planned cost of the project i.e. (1,005,000/1,245,000) which comes out as 80.72% Table 2: Calculating percent task completion Task Duration Actual Percentage of work completed at end of period 8 Actual work completed (in periods) at end of period 8 Planned percentage of work completed at end of period 8 Planned work completed (in periods) at end of period 8 1.2.1 3 100 3 100 3 1.2.2 1 100 1 100 1 1.2.3 2 100 2 100 2 1.3.1 3 100 3 100 3 1.3.2 2 80 1.6 100 2 1.4.1 3 0 0 66.66666667 2 1.4.2 1 50 0.5 0 0 1.4.3 3 100 3 66.66666667 2 1.5.2 1 20 0.2 0 0 1.5.3 2 0 0 0