Thursday, November 28, 2019

Harvey Norman

Introduction Harvey Norman is a leading firm in Australia’s retail industry. Founded in 1961, the firm has since expanded its operations to foreign markets such as â€Å"Singapore, Ireland, New Zealand, Malaysia and Slovenia† (Harvey Norman, 2011). Currently, the firm has over 300 stores of which 195 are located in Australia (Harvey Norman, 2011). The firm’s core business activity involves retailing a variety of consumer products and property.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Harvey Norman specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The main products it sells include â€Å"computers, TVs, portable electronics, furniture and home appliances† (Harvey Norman, 2011). In the first half of its 2010 financial year (as at 31/12/2010), the firm realized a gross profit of $198.61 which was 16.5% less as compared to the $237.77 which was realized over a similar period in 2009 (Harvey Norman, 2011). The core values of the firm include honesty, fairness and integrity. Its main competitors include, JB Hi Fi, Retravision and Myer. It is the first firm to contemplate expanding to India. Environmental Analysis In order to expand its market and to improve its profitability and competitiveness, Harvey Norman is planning to join the Indian market. Thus the firm has to understand the business environment and competition associated with India in order to make the right entry decision. Consequently, the Indian market and the firm’s ability to succeed in it will be analyzed through three concepts namely, SWOT analysis, Porter’s five forces analysis and the PESTEL analysis. Macro-environment Analysis: PESTEL Political India is one of the most politically stable countries in Asia (Chanda and Gopalan, 2009, pp. 66-78). The government of India has forged strong political relationships with most countries in Asia and other foreign countries (Chanda and Gopalan, 2009, pp. 66-78). The polit ical stability encourages investments in the country since the investors are assured of the security of their investments. Strong political relationships with foreign countries encourage the flow of foreign direct investment into India (Aisen, 2005, pp. 100-113). Thus Harvey Norman can take advantage of the political stability and investing the country.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Economic India is the â€Å"tenth largest economy globally by nominal GDP† (Virmani, 2010, pp. 320-340). By purchasing power parity, India is ranked at fourth position globally. Its economy is currently recoding a high growth rate of 7.2% (Virmani, 2010, pp. 320-340). In 2010, the country’s GDP per capita was $ 3,339 which was one of the highest in Asia (Virmani, 2010, pp. 320-340). The robust economic growth is likely to translate into high disposable income (Krugman, 2009, p. 7 8). This leads to high demand for goods especially in the retail industry. Due to the rapid economic growth, India’s retail industry is expected to grow by 14% between 2011 and 2015. Social India has a population of 1.2 billion people thus making it one of the largest markets in the world (Bloom, 2010, pp. 84-100). Majority of the population has a high purchasing power following the expansion of the â€Å"upper and middle class consumer bases† (Bloom, 2010, pp. 84-100). This has led to high demand for consumer products especially in the retail industry. The consumers in India are highly educated and are price sensitive. This explains the high price elasticity associated with most products in the country’s retail industry. Technology As an emerging economy, India is focusing on adopting modern and cheap technology in order to improve its productivity. Consequently, capital goods which are associated with technological advancements such as computers are exempted f rom import duty (Narayanan, Chandna and Das, 2008, pp. 321-351). Besides, the country has improved its productivity by investing in modern transportation and communication infrastructure such as fiber optic and broadband technology (Narayanan, Chandna and Das, 2008, pp. 321-351). This further increases the demand for computers and portable electronics such as iPods in the country. Environmental The government of India is keen on environment conservation. Companies operating in India are not only expected to engage in activities that are least harmful to the environment but are also expected to participate in its conservation (Senthilkumar and Shivakumar, 2011, pp. 341-410).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Harvey Norman specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Consequently, majority of the companies channel a high percentage of their social responsibility funds towards environmental conservation initiatives. The firms o perating in the retail industry are expected to sell products with clear disposal instructions in order to prevent environmental pollution. Legal Legal factors refer to the rules or regulations that guide business activities such as importation, exportation and foreign direct investments. India has an open import policy which aims at lowering the cost of imports and simplifying the importation process (Sathish and Venkatramarajiu, 2010, pp. 251-278). There are no restrictions on quantities of goods that can be imported into India. Even though most capital goods are exempted from import duty, the average importation duty is as high as 30% (Sathish and Venkatramarajiu, 2010, pp. 251-278). The retail industry is deregulated in order to encourage rapid growth. Micro-environmental Analysis: Porter’s Five Forces Analysis Threat of New Entrants The firms operating in India’s retail industry are associated with high economies of scale since most of them are multi-national corp orations. Due to the high competition in the industry, products are highly differentiated in order to improve the competitiveness of the retailers (Kottler, 2003, p. 67). Differentiation is mainly focused on pricing and product quality. The cost of joining the industry is very high since it is capital intensive (Sodhi and Lee, 2007, pp. 1430-1439). A lot of capital is required to establish stores and to purchase the merchandise. Besides, the switching costs associated with the industry are very high. These trends indicate that the threat of new entrants in the industry is low. Consequently, the competitiveness of incumbent firms is not likely to be affected negatively as new firms join the industry (Blanchard, 2008, p. 67). Buyer’s Bargaining Power The buyers have a low bargaining power in the industry and this can be explained as follows. First, there is low concentration of buyers as compared to the suppliers’ industry. This means that there are very many buyers as c ompared to suppliers and this leads to high competition for supplies (Sodhi and Lee, 2007, pp. 1430-1439).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Second, the suppliers or manufacturers of products such as computers, home appliances and furniture are focusing on product differentiation in order to compete effectively in their industries (Hollensen, 2010, p. 56). Thus suppliers’ products are highly differentiated. Finally, the industry is associated with high switching costs. The low bargaining power of the buyers means that the retailers can be exploited through high prices of supplies. Power of Suppliers The suppliers have a high bargaining power due to the following reasons. First, there are a few suppliers as compared to the buyers (Sodhi and Lee, 2007, pp. 1430-1439). This means that the buyers highly depend on the suppliers. Second, there is low availability of substitutes for products such as computers and furniture. However, sometimes customers substitute various brands of the same product due to differences in prices and functionality (Muthe, 2011, pp. 84-88). Finally, due to the large number of buyers, retailer s are not highly valued by the suppliers. Besides, some suppliers such as Dell Inc. have their own distribution channels. The high bargaining power of the suppliers means that they can dictate the price at which they supply their products thus leading to high prices (Blanchard, 2008, p. 71). Threat of Substitute Products The threat of substitute products is low particularly for computers, home appliances and furniture. Customers can only substitute one brand for another but can not easily seek substitutes in different industries (Muthe, 2011, pp. 84-88). For example, computers are highly preferred to typewriters despite their high prices (Muthe, 2011, pp. 84-88). The low threat of substitutes is attributed to low differentiation of substitutes. Intensity of Competitive Rivalry The intensity of competitive rivalry is high and this is attributed to the following reasons. There are very many firms competing in the industry, thus reducing the market share of each firm (Dhanabhakyan and Shanthi, 2010). Second, the industry is growing at a slow rate since it is at its maturity stage (Dhanabhakyan and Shanthi, 2010). Third, the industry is labor intensive and this has led to high fixed costs (Blanchard, 2008, p. 91). Finally, the storage costs are very high due to the large number of goods stocked by retailers and the intense competition for storage space among firms. SWOT Analysis Strengths Harvey Norman is associated with the following strengths. First, the company is financially stable. As at 31 December 2010, the firm realized a gross profit of $198.61(Harvey Norman, 2011). Even though the result was 16.5% less than the $237.77 million it realized in a similar period in 2009; the reduction is attributed to external factors. For example, the unusual wet weather in Australia led to low demand for key products such as refrigerators and outdoor furniture (Harvey Norman, 2011). The Australian dollar also appreciated thus increasing the cost of importation. Currently, the firm maintains a â€Å"low dept to equity ratio of 31.19% and net dept to equity ratio of 25.12%† (Harvey Norman, 2011). Due its financial stability, the firm can easily fund its expansion plan effectively. Second, the company is associated with the best customer services. Based on its core values, honesty and integrity; the firm focuses on meeting customers’ needs (Harvey Norman, 2011). It not only sells high quality products, but also offers after sales services such as technical advice. Customers’ experiences have also been enhanced through e-commerce initiatives. Through the firm’s website, the customers are able to access product information and to make instant purchases (Harvey Norman, 2011). The excellent customer services have helped the firm to retain its valuable customers thereby maintaining its markets share. Third, the company offers a wide range of products (Harvey Norman, 2011). The firm stocks several brands for every category of its p roducts. This has improved its competitiveness in two ways. First, the firm is considered a one stop retailer for electronics, home appliances and furniture (Harvey Norman, 2011). Second, the customers’ experiences have improved since they are able to find all the products they need under one roof. Stocking a wide variety of products will enable the firm to meet the needs of consumers in India. Since India has a population of over 1 billion people, the preferences of the market are likely to be varied (Muthe, 2011, pp. 84-88). Thus the needs of the customers can only be met by stocking a wide variety of goods. Finally, the company has been able to maintain competitive prices in the market for most of its products (Harvey Norman, 2011). The low prices will enable it to penetrate the Indian market that is associated with intense competition. Thus as the firm’s sales increases due to low prices, its market share will quickly increase. Weaknesses The weaknesses of the firm include the following. The firm has always used the franchise business model to expand its operations (Harvey Norman, 2011). Consequently, the firm has not been able to have full control over its marketing activities since the franchisees are responsible for management of their businesses. Besides, the model is associated with low returns. For example, in 2010 the company’s half year results reduced due to the reduction in franchise fees it collected (Harvey Norman, 2011). Second, most of the firm’s stores are located in Australia. Thus its performance is likely to be adversely affected if the Australian market becomes unfavorable. Threats First, the interest rates in the property industry have been increasing rapidly over the last one year. This has led to a decline in consumer confidence and reduction in demand (Harvey Norman, 2011). Second, demand for seasonal products such as refrigerators has been negatively affected by an unexpected weather patterns such as wet summer seasons. Third, the strength of the Australian dollar has led to a significant price deflation. Significant reduction in consumer prices can lead to losses if the firm can not sustain them for along time (Krugman, 2009, p. 90). The threat of competitive rivalry in the market is very high. This means that Harvey Norman can easily lose its market share if it will not be able to improve its competitiveness. Finally, the market is also characterized by high suppliers’ bargaining power and low buyers’ bargaining power. This limits the firm’s ability to access cheap supplies in order to maintain competitive prices (Krugman, 2009, p. 95). Opportunities The opportunities available to the firm include a large, wealthy and educated population (Bloom, 2010, pp. 84-100). This is likely to lead to high demand in the retail industry thereby giving the firm an opportunity to increase its productivity. Deregulation of the retail industry and removal of import restriction s is an opportunity to the firm to increase its market share by joining the Indian market (Dhanabhakyan and Shanthi, 2010). The low threat of substitute products helps in preventing significant reduction in consumer prices. Thus the firm has the opportunity to set optimal prices that can enable it to make high profits. Recommendation Based on all the above analyses, the firm should enter the Indian market through foreign direct investment (FDI). This means that Harvey Norman will enter the market by either establishing new stores in India or acquiring existing retail chains in India. The rationale behind this decision can be explained as follows. Ownership Advantages FDI will be suitable since the firm has ownership advantages. First, the firm has a well established brand through its trademark, Harvey Norman (Harvey Norman, 2011). This will help in distinguishing it in the market thus enabling it to compete effectively with domestic firms in India. Second, the firm has a highly qual ified leadership with excellent entrepreneurial skills (Harvey Norman, 2011). Consequently, they will be able to formulate effective policies that will enable the firm to improve its competitiveness in India. Finally, as a multi-national corporation, Harvey Norman enjoys economies of scale. It is able to reduce costs by synchronizing the supply chain activities of its branches with those of its suppliers. Localization Advantages Even though the citizens of India are well educated, the cost of labor is still cheap due to the large population (Sathish and Venkatramarajiu, 2010, pp. 251-278). Since the retail industry is labor intensive, Harvey Norman will be able to take advantage of the cheap labor to increase its productivity while reducing fixed costs (Blanchard, 2008, p. 45). India is a member of ASEAN and has an open import policy (Sathish and Venkatramarajiu, 2010, pp. 251-278). This will enable the firm to access cheap supply of merchandise from the ASEAN member countries in or der to maintain competitive prices. Besides, capital goods such as computers are exempted from taxation in India. Thus the firm will be able to import and sell them at low prices thereby increasing its market share. Internalization Since the retail industry in India is characterized by intense competition, it will be advisable for the firm to have full control over its operations including marketing (Hollensen, 2010, p. 69). This will enable it to understand the needs of the market and respond to them within the desired timeframe. Since the firm is a new entrant, it must directly engage its customers in conversations in order to understand their preferences (Hollensen, 2010, p. 79). This can only be achieved if the management has full control over its operations. The firm has been able to achieve rapid growth due to the excellent entrepreneurial skills of its leaders. Thus it must preserve its proprietary knowledge in order to outperform its competitors in the new market. Cost Even though FDI is associated with the highest capital commitment, the firm can afford it. The SWOT analysis revealed that the firm is financially stable. Consequently it can fund its expansion strategies effectively. Why other Entry Modes should not be used Currently, the firm is using the franchise business model to expand its operations (Harvey Norman, 2011). Even though this model is cheap, it limits the ability of the firm’s leadership to have full control over marketing and other operation activities (Hollensen, 2010, p. 69). Franchises are associated with inefficiencies in marketing and supply chain operations. This can lead to failure in a highly competitive market such as India. The high competition has led to low prices and low profits. Consequently, the firm will not be able to realize substantial returns if it adopts the franchise model since it has to share the profits with the franchisees. The export entry mode will not be appropriate since Harvey Norman is a retaile r. It will thus be expensive to export its merchandise from Australia to India through an export subsidiary. Besides, the firm might not be able to find an effective distribution channel to help it distribute its products in India due to the high import taxation (Sathish and Venkatramarajiu, 2010, pp. 251-278). The licensing mode will not be appropriate since the firm has very little knowledge about the Indian market. A firm is likely to fail if it licenses another firm to sell its products in a market that it has little knowledge of. References Aisen, A. 2005. Does political instability lead to higher inflation? IMF Working Paper. 1(1), pp. 100-113. Blanchard, O. 2008. Macroeconomics. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Bloom, D. 2010. Population dynamics in India and implications for economic growth. PGDA Working Papers. 4(1), pp. 84-100. Chanda, R. and Gopalan, S. 2009. Understanding India’s regional initiatives with East and Southeast Asia. Asian-Pacific Econom ic Literature. 23(1), pp. 66-78. Dhanabhakyan, M. and Shanthi, A. 2010. Indian retail industry: its growth, challenges and opportunities. [Online] Available at: https://www.fibre2fashion.com/ . Harvey Norman, 2011. About us. [Online] Available at: https://www.harveynorman.com.au/ . Hollensen, S. 2010. Marketing management. New York: Pearson Education. Kottler, P. 2003. Marketing management. New York: Prentice Hall. Krugman, P. 2009. Macroeconomics. London: Worth Publishers. Muthe, P. 2011. Changing behavioral trends of the Indian consumer. Indian Journal of Commerce and Management Studies. 2(3), pp 84-88. Narayanan, A., Chandna, G. and Das, H. 2008. Transfer of organizational IT usage best practices to the Indian retail industry: an imperative for enhancing competitiveness. Asian Business and Management. 7(13), pp. 321-351. Sathish, D. and Venkatramarajiu, D. 2010. The growth of Indian retail industry. Advances in Management. 3(7), pp. 251-278. Senthilkumar, S. and Shivakumar, P. 20 11. Growing prospective of retail industry in and around India. Advances in Management. 4(2), pp. 341-410. Sodhi, M. and Lee, S. 2007. An analysis of sources of risk in the consumer electronics industry. Journal of the Operational research Society. 58(1), pp. 1430-1439. Virmani, A. 2010. India’s economic growth. Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations. 4(2), pp. 320-340. This report on Harvey Norman was written and submitted by user Maliyah K. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

The Man Of A Million Faces Essays - English-language Films

The Man Of A Million Faces Essays - English-language Films The Man Of A Million Faces The Man of a Million Faces Jim Carrey is a man who excels at the field of comedy and acting. The reason that he excels is that he is very down to earth, his personality personifies how a lot of teenagers act and feel today, and he is extremely popular. James Eugene Carrey seems to be one of the most down to earth people that you will ever see on television. Whether it is on the Tonight Show or Entertainment Tonight, Jim can turn any dull moment into something comedic. When I was recently reading about him I found out that although he is a superstar he enjoys many of the same things that us regular people like. For example Jims favorite kind of food is sandwiches, chips, and a little bowl of ice cream for dessert. He really is not in to the whole glamorous celebrity thing. He enjoys the simple things in life. I also learned that Jim loves cartoons and his favorite character is Deputy Dog. Jim also wears something that a lot of men and women wear, Fruit of the Loom underwear. According to my reading they are the undergarments of choice for a lot of celebrities. Finally, and I think this is more than anyone needs to know, Jim prefers Charmin toilet paper. I do not know why anyone would really care about this but it was listed as a fac t about him. Another reason that he is so good at what he does is that he acts just like the kids that are watching his movies. After a Jim Carrey movie is released I suggest that you listen to a few conversations among teenagers. You are almost assured the latest Jim Carrey quote, and you can be sure that an impersonation is not far behind. There is just something about what he says that sticks in teenagers minds. Something else that sets Jim apart from all the rest is his uncanny way of making faces. Sometimes you have to wonder if his jaw is dislocated. He can do things with his mouth no other human can accomplish. It is unbelievable. I think that the biggest reason that he is so well liked is his performance in Ace Ventura; Pet Detective. He did something that a lot of teenagers and adults wish they could do. He talked to his bus through his behind. Most employees feel like doing that at least once a week, if not more. The last reason that he excels is the demand to have him in movies and to appear at your function, whatever it may be. For example recently he appeared on the MTV Video Music Awards. Jim has nothing to do with music, but is name alone as a headliner could have been the cause of the huge crowd. His presence in a movie can literally make or break it. He has starred in the blockbusters, Ace Ventura, Dumb and Dumber, The Truman Show, Man on the Moon, and the upcoming How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Since 1982 Carrey has starred in 20 movies and numerous television shows. He also has won and been nominated for many awards. So as you can see Jim Carrey is a very good actor and comedian. He is in high demand and is loved by many.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

International Consumer Behaviour Analysis Assignment

International Consumer Behaviour Analysis - Assignment Example This is because; people have different preferences and tastes that change from one place to another and across generations. Mobile technology has been experiencing various changes in terms of development; technology has been the cornerstone for the changes that continue to characterize the industry. The smartphone, which is the current technology in use in the manufacture of mobile phones in several companies, describes a phone that has advanced features to enhance its computing ability. In general, smartphones have features that have many similarities with computers and those of other consumer devices that are common in the business and social world, for instance PDA (personal digital assistants), digital cameras as well as navigation units with the GPS technology. The smartphone industry in the United States has been fast growing, with many companies fighting to have and increase their market share. In this regard, many companies have been developing and launching various smartphones and related technologies that meet the various needs of people in their corporate, individual and social needs. Statistics that have been collected about the use of smartphones and their respective brand preference by consumers in the United States has shown different results. Currently, android tops the list on the smartphone platform, commanding a 52.1 percent of the market share, while Apple comes second with 41.9 percent. Other companies in that order include, Microsoft at 3.4 percent, blackberry and Symbian at 2.3 and 0.1 percent respectively as shown. The smartphone industry has been enjoying an increasing demand from its consumers worldwide; these have been attributed to various factors that are characteristic of consumers in the market. One of the factors that has played a huge role towards this development is the ever-increasing advancements in information and

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Public Awareness and Human Diseases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Public Awareness and Human Diseases - Essay Example With an increasing incidence worldwide, DM will be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for the foreseeable future. DM1 is classified on the basis of the pathogenic process that leads to hyperglycemia, as opposed to earlier criteria such as age of onset or type of therapy. The two broad categories of DM are designated type 1 and type 2. Type 1A DM results from autoimmune beta cell destruction, which leads to insulin deficiency. Individuals with type 1B DM lack immunologic markers indicative of an autoimmune destructive process of the beta cells. However, they develop insulin deficiency by unknown mechanisms and are ketosis prone. Relatively few patients with type 1 DM are in the type 1B idiopathic category; many of these individuals are either African-American or Asian in heritage. Type 2 DM1 is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by variable degrees of insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion, and increased glucose production. Distinct genetic and metabolic defects in insulin action and/or secretion give rise to the common phenotype of hyperglycemia in type 2 DM. ... Likewise, prevalence rates of IFG3 are also increasing. Although the prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 DM is increasing worldwide, the prevalence of type 2 DM is expected to rise more rapidly in the future because of increasing obesity and reduced activity levels. DM increases with aging. In 2000, the prevalence of DM was estimated to be 0.19% in people 20 years old. In individuals >65 years the prevalence of DM was 20.1%. The prevalence is similar in men and women throughout most age ranges but is slightly greater in men >60 years. The prevalence of type 2 DM and its harbinger, IGT2, is highest in certain Pacific islands, intermediate in countries such as India and the United States, and relatively low in Russia and China. This variability is likely due to genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. DM prevalence also varies among different ethnic populations within a given country. In 2000, the prevalence of DM in the United States was 13% in African Americans, 10.2% in Hispanic Americans, 15.5% in Native Americans (American Indians and Alaska natives), and 7.8% in non-Hispanic whites. The onset of type 2 DM occurs, on average, at an earlier age in ethnic groups other than non-Hispanic whites. Mortality rates in people with diabetes exceed those in the general population despite many recent improvements in care. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the young, and is a substantial cause of morbidity as well as mortality at all ages. After the introduction of insulin in 1922 it was hoped that adverse consequences of diabetes might become a thing of the past, but mortality rates are still higher than those in the general population and, in addition,

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Strategic and Financial Decision-making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Strategic and Financial Decision-making - Essay Example Both the companies are listed under FTSE 100. Under CAPM the calculation of cost of capital depends on the principle that the rate of return required on a security is equal to the risk-free rate of interest plus a risk premium, based on the following formula- Therefore the beta of Sage Group as per calculations is less than the beta that has been published in Bloomberg site and the beta of Diageo Plc as per calculations is also less than that has been published in this site. There can be many reasons for this difference. Like in the case of data like beta that is reported by a site the calculations are more extensive. For the purpose of the calculations, the monthly returns relating to the last twenty four months only has been taken. But the beta estimation in Bloomberg is based on either daily returns or quarterly returns over a long span of time. Some sites base their calculations on the data since the stock inception. As the beta calculated by these sites is based on a longer span of time therefore they are more reliable as it covers a larger number of data points. So the difference in ‘time frame’ can result in different beta estimates. Some of the financial services use weekly observations while others use monthly obser vations whereas others base their calculations on the last day of trading. Another reason for the varying beta is that they are calculated using different indices in the market. Some sources use Standard & Poor 500 as the benchmark index, some use Russell 1000, 2000 and others use Value Line Index. In such situations the best way is to choose which provides the beta for most of the companies in the guideline (Pratt & Niculita, 2007, pp.211) It may be possible that the fundamentals of the company have changed over time in that case the beta that is calculated based on a recent period is more reliable (Pratt & Grabowski, 2008, pp.141). Based on this it can be said that the beta based on the recent period is more reliable as

Friday, November 15, 2019

Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, published in 2001 by Barbara Ehrenreich, is a book in which the author goes undercover and investigates the lives of the working poor by living and working in similar conditions. The book demonstrates fairly well two social paradigms, namely conflict theory (inspired by Marx and Weber) and structural-functionalism (inspired by Talcott Parsons). Conflict theory is clearly demonstrated throughout the book-social order based on inequality, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. There is also evidence of structural-functionalism, though it is not the best fit. Structural-functionalism is defined as a society in which there are groups of people organized into levels that enable individuals in this society to find stability, order and meaning (Kimmel, Aronson, and Dennis 2011). Ehrenreich shows that there are certainly levels within society, however, because of the inequalities that are present, the individuals in the working poor are unable to find stability or order because they are running a never-ending race so to speak. These inequalities have many effects on society at large (both wealthy and those in poverty), as well as the families within the working poor. The economic inequality in our culture has many probable causes, but they all affect society as a whole, regardless of your class or status. These effects include things such as trust/social cohesion, crime/deviance, and population health (especially that of the working poor). There is a correlation between income inequality in a society and general mistrust, demonstrated by a U.S. General Survey (Uslaner and Brown 2002). One economist, a Joseph Stiglitz (2012), argues that this inequality has also led to distrust of businesses and the government. Crime is also a correlated factor in societies with a bigger economic gap. Several studies have been done that show a significant increase in homicides, both in the U.S. and worldwide, in societies that have a large margin between the rich and the poor (Martin, Wilson, and Vasdev 2001). Homicides are generally the most common measure of violent crime due to the fact that statistics are reported worldwide. There are also numerous consequence s for population health in societies with a larger economic inequality. Researchers have found that these societies have a slightly lower life expectancy, and a higher incidence of social and health problems like incarceration rates, teenage births, mental illness, obesity, education and others (Wilkinson and Pickett 2009). It has also been shown that this inequality and social stratification can be linked to to anxiety, depression, drug abuse, and other stress-related disorders (Booth 2010). It is because of this constantly present inequality that I believe Ehrenreichs book most accurately represents conflict theory. At one point in the book, Ehrenreich remarks, Maybe, it occurs to me, that Im getting a tiny glimpse of what it would be like to be black (p. 100). This is a slightly good point because, while we as a society view class as an achieved status, oftentimes it is fixed and ascribed much like race. Of the consequences brought about by this societal inequality and conflict, the working poor themselves experience the majority. Throughout Nickel and Dimed we are shown that there are many hidden costs to being poor, and oftentimes those in poverty are stuck in a rut with no way out because of them. The working poor have to live day-to-day in hotels accumulating costs, where is would normally be cheaper to rent an apartment if they could simply afford the security deposit and starting utilities. Without a semi-permanent shelter and rising debt, the working poor are us ually forced to buy less healthy, more expensive meals because they dont have the luxury of the appliances needed to cook and store food. Being poor is often a self-fulfilling prophecy, and those who believe they are stuck in poverty for the rest of their days are often likely to do just that. In another part of the book, Ehrenreich and other maids are watching a training video on how to clean rooms and vacuum. The video itself is slightly demeaning, almost as if made to be watched by young children. In one part of the video, the man giving instructions says See, I am the vacuum cleaner (p. 74). This sort of paints a picture in the readers head as to how the company views and treats its employees: like they are mindless robots whose only purpose is to serve the business. To the rich, that is basically what they are. The rich view the working poor as a group in society that is made to be taken advantage of, very similar to Karl Marx view of the proletariat. In their eyes it fulfills the structural-functionalism paradigm of society-as many say, someone has to do it. Unfortunately this is not the case, because the theory calls for all individuals in society to have stability and order in their lives. As evidenced by Ehrenreichs investigation into the working poor, the last th ing the working poor have is stability, therefore this theory is not an entirely accurate representation of our culture. Instead there is the ever-present conflict between the rich and working class. It is shown by both Ehrenreichs book and in the real world that the working poor are blocked from advancing in society by many different obstacles. These obstacles are things like housing, transportation, and other basic necessities (Ehrenreich 2001). For instance, the working poor often do not have a permanent residence or family to stay with while they save money, and cannot afford a large deposit for an apartment. This means they have to settle with weekly hotel rooms, which end up being more expensive, yet are the only affordable option because they dont require large down payments. Transportation is another common factor; if one is a member of the working poor they likely do not have their own car and have to rely on public transportation. Depending on the location it is do-able, but public transportation in our society is still not widely-available in every city. One study shows that single mothers who were able to work out a carpool or something similar with their peers were m uch less likely to require government aid (Eden and Lein 1997). Food and clothing are also problems; without savings it is much harder to buy uniforms and such for jobs. The working poor also have to deal with odd work schedules, often working all times of the day and never having consistent hours. Not only does this mean it is harder to save up money, but being able to spend so little time at home also puts the working poor in a position where it is difficult to find the time to cook for themselves, and are often left with the choice of unhealthy fast food. Working odd hours also leaves parents helpless when it comes to childcare; while there are many options for childcare including free programs and social networking with peers, working at all hours of the night means you might not always have a babysitter lined up. Obviously this has negative consequences for both the children and the parents. Ehrenreichs book shows quite well how the conflict theory can apply to our society and the ever-growing gap between the rich and the working poor. In recent years people seem to be taking more notice of the working poor, but the gap is still as large as ever. In her evaluation at the end of the book, Ehrenreich states, The working poor, as they are approvingly termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society. They neglect their own children so that the children of others will be cared for; they live in substandard housing so that other homes will be shiny and perfect; they endure privation so that inflation will be low and stock prices high. To be a member of the working poor is to be an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor I agree with the author in the sense that the working poor are definitely taking one for the team so to say. They carry out the menial labor that is required in our society, but not everyone wants to do. Unfortunately because we dont live in a utopia, they suffer for it. They make great sacrifice by doing jobs they often know dont lead to advancement in society, because they know that it has to be done by someone. The conflict theory applies to both Ehrenreichs book and our society in the real world-there are numerous inequalities in the workforce, and the allocation of resources for individuals in our society is distributed unfairly.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

David Herbert Lawrence :: Essays Papers

David Herbert Lawrence Born on the eleventh day of September in 1885, David Herbert Lawrence was the fourth child of an illiterate coal miner. Lawrence was raised in a small mining town of Eastwood, Nottingham by his mother who happened to be a school a teacher. Threw his childhood David Herbert shared a very close relationship with his mother. Lawrence first started his education in a grammar school, which he had won a scholarship to, and later attended Nottingham University College. When he finished college, Lawrence decided to move to Croydin, just south of London to began his teaching career. While teaching in Croydin he encountered a guy by the name of Ford Madone (Ford’s English Review) which was a good connection for his writing career. In 1912 feeling that he could support himself with his writing, Lawrence left teaching. A couple a months later his mother died and he found out that he was suffering from an illness known as tuberculosis something he would spend the rest of his life with. Also during this year he eloped with Frieda Von Richthofen the daughter of his college professor. Their first years were chronicled in poems called Look. His elopement was the first of Lawrence’s many flights from ill health and social censure. The next step in his life involved him traveling to Venice to a sanitarium in attempt to relief himself of tuberculosis, which turned out to be a big failure. One of the first novels Lawrence wrote was The White Peacock, which would be elaborated upon later works. Lawrence was not only a novelist, he also wrote short stories, plays, poems and travel journalism. Lawrence was a very active short story writer. Two of his first short stories were â€Å"Persian Officers† and â€Å"The Odours of Chrysanthemums.† His short stories were superior to his novels. In 1922 he completed a collection of stories before he decided to travel to America. In a lot of his work he displays nature through birds, beast and flowers. Though Lawrence’s short stories are different from his novels, they displayed his style and structure. Lawrence is also an emotional writer, which might be considered undisciplined to some. In 1928 Lawrence wrote an interesting novel called Lady Chaterley’s Lover which was privately printed. David Herbert Lawrence :: Essays Papers David Herbert Lawrence Born on the eleventh day of September in 1885, David Herbert Lawrence was the fourth child of an illiterate coal miner. Lawrence was raised in a small mining town of Eastwood, Nottingham by his mother who happened to be a school a teacher. Threw his childhood David Herbert shared a very close relationship with his mother. Lawrence first started his education in a grammar school, which he had won a scholarship to, and later attended Nottingham University College. When he finished college, Lawrence decided to move to Croydin, just south of London to began his teaching career. While teaching in Croydin he encountered a guy by the name of Ford Madone (Ford’s English Review) which was a good connection for his writing career. In 1912 feeling that he could support himself with his writing, Lawrence left teaching. A couple a months later his mother died and he found out that he was suffering from an illness known as tuberculosis something he would spend the rest of his life with. Also during this year he eloped with Frieda Von Richthofen the daughter of his college professor. Their first years were chronicled in poems called Look. His elopement was the first of Lawrence’s many flights from ill health and social censure. The next step in his life involved him traveling to Venice to a sanitarium in attempt to relief himself of tuberculosis, which turned out to be a big failure. One of the first novels Lawrence wrote was The White Peacock, which would be elaborated upon later works. Lawrence was not only a novelist, he also wrote short stories, plays, poems and travel journalism. Lawrence was a very active short story writer. Two of his first short stories were â€Å"Persian Officers† and â€Å"The Odours of Chrysanthemums.† His short stories were superior to his novels. In 1922 he completed a collection of stories before he decided to travel to America. In a lot of his work he displays nature through birds, beast and flowers. Though Lawrence’s short stories are different from his novels, they displayed his style and structure. Lawrence is also an emotional writer, which might be considered undisciplined to some. In 1928 Lawrence wrote an interesting novel called Lady Chaterley’s Lover which was privately printed.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

American Industrialization from Civil War to WWI Essay

Between the Civil War and the end of World War I, industrialization played an ever increasing role in the economic, social, and political development of the United States. Industrialization had a huge impact on American in all of these ways, such as many Americans moving from the rural areas to urban areas, living the big city lifestyle with Industrialization on the rise. Social Darwinism also known as Survival of the fittest took an impact during this time period, the nation was facing great changes causing many people to begin new lifestyles. People began working in factories and big buildings instead of on farms. Labor unions also were formed to protect the workers from unfair wages, long days, unsafe conditions, etc. Although there were positive effects during this time there were also negative effects on the social, political, and economic, aspects of the United States. First I will go over how industrialization affected America economically. Industrialization was at a rise during this time many â€Å"Big Shot† industrialists became quite wealthy from this, although most industrialists used ruthless business tactics to accumulate their wealth. Andrew Carnegie believed in the moral duty of the rich giving back to the community so he spent much of his wealth paying for libraries, universities, trust funds, and Carnegie Hall to be built also creating more jobs (Shown in Document 8). Another Economic effect on the United States was the American entry into WWI. The army for the United States wasn’t as prepared for the modern campaigning military action like other European nations. America’s productive strength made up for that by boosting billions of dollars and our industrial potential caused its share of world manufacturing output to be 2 and a half times that of Germanys. Our entry transformed the balances and compensated for the collapse of Russia at the time (Shown in Document 9) this being a positive of American industrialization. Next I will discuss the social impact industrialization on the United States. Due to such the high demand for employees and work at the time working conditions weren’t always so great. Clara Lemlich a labor union strike leader sparked the 1909 walkout of shirtwaist makers. The strike occurred because workers were making about $6 a week on a good week, are constantly at their machines from 7am to 8pm daily with only one 30 minute lunch break. This strike gathered the public’s atten tion fueling the creation of labor unions and labor laws (Shown in document 6A). Due to poor  working conditions, unsafe and unhealthy work environments, and children working started the creation of labor laws. One of the first of these was the Laws of the state of Illinois and their passage of the 38th general assembly. Some of these laws were if upon inspection such workshops shall be found unhealthy/infectious orders will be given and actions taken as the public health shall require. Another law passed was children under 14 are prohibited from being employed; also no female shall be employed in any factory or workshop for more than 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week (Shown in document 4). Industrialization from the Civil War to World War I affected the social aspect of the U.S. by drastic changes, changes the American people were not used to this is where Social Darwinism comes into play. Next I will cover the political changes industrialization caused during this time period. The â€Å"Captains† of Industrialization during this time were arrogant, such as Mr. Rockefeller they believed they were above the Government and politicians. This created Bad Trusts that reduced competition and drove up prices. Theodore Roosevelt the president at the time became a trust buster, by creating the Sherman’s Antitrust Act in 1890 this declaring all combinations of in restraint trade now illegal (Shown in document 7B). Another example of the political impact was the Boss tweed and Tammany Hall scandal. Tammany hall was a political organization formed in 1786, and played a major role in controlling New York City and New York State politics. Boss Tweed was an American politician and the â€Å"boss† of Tammany Hall. Boss tweeds control over the political patronage in NYC through Tammany Hall as well as the tension between political leaders an industrialization â€Å"kings† lead to Boss tweed having and unfair add vantage over other candidates, ensuring loyalty of voters through job offerings. The outcome of this later resulted in Tweed’s conviction for stealing an estimated $25-$45 million dollars from NYC tax payers due to political corruption. In conclusion the era between the Civil War and World War I’s industrialization played an ever increasing role in the economic, social, and political aspect of the United States in both negative and positive aspects. Economic changes ranged from where the people mainly lived and types of jobs to how they changed. As well as labor unions and labor laws changing working conditions, to the American entry into WWI. Social changes ranged from the era of reform, the women’s rights movement  and the 19th amendment and their right to vote, as well as women causing rallies and strikes. Lastly the political changes ranged from Theodore’s Roosevelt’s â€Å"Trust Busting† to political greed and corruption.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Main Characters in The Wars.

Main Characters in The Wars. Since man has walked on earth, he had always been in conflict with himself and other human beings. For thousands of years, there have been many furious battles fought among rival groups over different issues that seemed big at that time. The end results of each of the conflicts were always pretty much the same: the mass deaths and destruction of civilizations, and horrible physical and emotional impacts on the individuals left to live with the horrors they had faced. The propaganda to convince young men to go to war to fight for their country, the death of their friends, and the physical and emotional breakdown are all part of the modern warfare. False hopes were created for the young soldiers, who were expected to forget all the morals they have learned and go to war to kill everything they see, without a second thought. No previous war at that time had come close to what World War I did to those who fought it.Timothy Findley's star on Canada's Walk of FameAlthough the allies won th e war, their losses were massive. Through his novel, "The Wars" Timothy Findley displays the horrible consequences of World War I by showing how the war affected the young men who fought in it and their families back home. This essay will demonstrate the effect that World War I had on Eugene Taffler, Rodwell, and Mrs. Ross.As Robert Ross first hears of Taffler, he understands that Taffler is a hero even though Taffler's face was not familiar to Robert. This image of Taffler sticks with Robert until the end. During one of the battles, Taffler had his arms shot off. This unfortunate event had a profound effect on Taffler, who is no longer able to live the life he had before the summer of 1914. His injuries forced Taffler to...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Analyse the methods Charlotte Bronte uses to make the reader empathise with Jane Eyre Essays

Analyse the methods Charlotte Bronte uses to make the reader empathise with Jane Eyre Essays Analyse the methods Charlotte Bronte uses to make the reader empathise with Jane Eyre Paper Analyse the methods Charlotte Bronte uses to make the reader empathise with Jane Eyre Paper this shows shes aware that shes further down in the family and she just shrugs it off. She just seems ignored and unwanted in the family, and she knows that theres nothing she can do so had learnt to live with it. John Reed looks for Jane Eyre, as she is hiding behind the curtain with her book. Jane Eyre and John Reed have totally opposite personalities, as Jane is the innocent type that would just shrug her shoulders and move on. Whereas John Reed is the type who thinks he is higher than everybody else and will bully any poor soul that would take it, for example Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre gives a long description about him; giving the reader an impression that he is fat, and not the nicest looking child, . Large and stout for his age, with a dingy and unwholesome skin; thick lineaments in a spacious visage, heavy limbs and large extremities. Jane Eyre and John Reed do not get on at all as he is horrible to her, as Jane tells us how terrified of him she is, for example every nerve I had feared him, and every morsel of flesh in my bones shrank when he came near. There were moments when I was bewildered by the terror he aspired. The servants knew how John Reed was to poor Jane Eyre, but did not dare say anything to their young master as Jane tells us; the servants did not like to offend their young master by taking my part against him, and Mrs reed was blind and death of the subject: Jane Eyre seems to be being sarcastic about her aunt being blind and death, maybe because she doesnt want to say anything as it shows that she would be sticking up for Jane Eyre, so ignores it and pretends shes not seen anything. For an example of how master John Reed talks to Jane Eyre, and for the look you had in your eyes two minutes since, you rat! this is not a very nice way to talk to someone, and the word rat is usually associated wi th the words disgusting, dirty, vermin, diseases and scavenger and for a child to say that to another is not a very nice thing to do. John Reed is a very demanding child as he was asking her questions like what were you doing behind the curtain? and Jane answers really honestly I was reading she just gave a simple answer as she is scared of him so wont dare be cheeky to him. Show the book he replies, making the reader feel empathy for her as he is being so demanding towards her but she just takes it and hands over the book. You ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemens children like us, and this shows the reader that Jane is unwanted in the family, especially by John Reed. It shows that shes really low down in the family and you cant get any lower han being a homeless beggar, thats how low John Reed thinks of her. Then he goes on to talk about the house going to be his, this shows that he hasnt a care in the world, even about his mum, as the house will be his when his mother dies. He says all the house belongs to me, or will do in a few years. So suspects his mum will be dead in a few years time. Charlotte Bronte uses several acts of violence to create suspense and mystery in the novel, as Jane Eyre gets a book thrown at her, as it says in the novel; I saw him lift and poise the book and stand in act to hurl it t hit me, and I fell, striking my head against the door and cutting it. The cut bled, the pain was sharp: my terror had passed its climax; other feelings succeeded. Here charlotte Bronte uses short snappy sentences to create a feeling of empathy. Jane Eyre got really angry, so was fighting back with John Reed; wicked and cruel boy she said. I felt him grasp my hair and my shoulder; he had closed with a desperate thing. I really saw in him a tyrant, a murderer. I felt a drop or two of blood trickling down my neck. this shows she has a reason for why she is fighting back, and again makes the reader feel empathy for her. Towards the end of chapter one Charlotte Bronte uses alliteration well for example fury to fly and picture of passion of which is also emotive language. She uses alliteration again in the beginning of chapter two, moments mutiny this is also an emotive and powerful phrase. Hold her arms, miss abbot, shes like a mad cat. This shows aggression towards Jane Eyre, and they are physically and emotionally suppressing her. When they talk about the word cat it again gives an impression to the reader that she is some sort of uncivilised wild animal and should be locked up. The reader may also think of a cat being fiery. Bessie (the servant) says if you dont sit still, you must be tied down they are treating her like a prisoner, yet she is only ten years of age. As incredulous of my sanity here Jane Eyre seems to have overstated the problem, making it sound worse than it actually is. Abbot described Jane Eyre as an underhand little thing. This isnt a very nice way to talk to a ten year old, and makes her sound evil. She also describes her as a thing. A thing may mean a human or an animal, as she has been described as an animal a few times in the novel, for example when Abbot calls her a mad cat and John Reed called her a rat. All these animal phrases give a negative affect to the novel. It is also a really strong use of emotive language, along with; painful and crushing, which is emotional and very negative, passionate and rude, and strike her dead these are good examples of how well Charlotte Bronte has used emotive language. Miss Abbot was saying about Jane Eyre, god will punish her: he might strike her dead in the midst of her tantrums. Jane Eyre is only a child, and thats something you dont say to a child, it may be suggesting she going to hell. Jane Eyre got locked in the red-room; this is a room where Mr. Reed had died in, so wasnt a very nice room for a child to be in, and was only visited occasionally, once a week by the housemaid to wipe the mirrors and the furniture a weeks quiet dust and Mrs Reed came in at far intervals to review the contents of a certain secret drawer in the wardrobe. The chairs were of dark polished old mahogany this shows the reader that the family must be wealthy, as mahogany is a very rare wood. The idea of mahogany adds to the whole idea of the red-room. Charlotte Bronte used the words red-room very well as its a good selective choice of wording, as its alliteration and its one that the reader will remember. The colour choice reflects on her life stage as she is just at the start of adolescence, where her periods will start and the colour also may be associated with anger and passion. It also tells us that the furniture is dark. It was silent as she was describing the room, it is like the room has almost taken her voice away, and gives a negative atmosphere. Being put in the red-room makes the reader feel sorry for Jane Eyre as she is only a child and is being treated unfairly. Describing the room again; also white and like a pale throne gives a deathly feel to the room, and is a ghostly colour giving the reader an impression that its used to create a negative feel to the novel. It sounds like Jane Eyre is starting to get hot and angry, and maybe a bit rebellious as she said my blood was still warm her mind also seems to becoming disturbed as she uses words like tyrannies, proud indifference and turned up in my disturbed mind Again these are all negative words, and again create empathy towards Jane Eyre. We know that Jane Eyre is understandably not happy about being in the red-room, so is slightly stubborn, being a typical child when they havent got what they want, she says she is going to let herself die; never eating or drinking more and letting myself die In the next paragraph of the novel the reader will feel empathy again towards Ja ne Eyre as she says I was termed naughty and tiresome, sullen and sneaking from. As we know she is not really naughty and is very innocent. Charlotte Bronte uses a persuasive technique by using a group of three words together, these were humiliation, self-doubt, forlorn depression. again this creates a really strong feeling of empathy by the reader. She then goes on to say I wiped my tears making the reader feel sorry for her as she isnt in the wrong and hasnt done anything wrong so shouldnt be punished. Jane Eyre seems slightly disturbed and obsessed with death as she is talking about dead men. Then Jane Eyre believes something is near, a light gleamed on the wall. Was it, I asked myself, a ray from the moon penetrating some aperture in the blind? No; moonlight was still, and this stirred; it was almost as if her mind was playing tricks on her and it was slightly superstitious. She may feel that somethings coming to get her, as shes alone and scared. Towards the end of chapter two Jane Eyre says to her Aunt Reed, O Aunt! Have pity! Forgive me! makes the reader feel sorry for her as she is only a ten year old child, begging her aunt to forgive her, its not often that a child of the 21st century would have the need to do that. Overall, I feel Charlotte Bronte has created empathy in the novel as I felt it towards her. The way Charlotte Bronte used a poor girl, with a rich family really worked well, as the rich family looked down upon Jane Eyre, (the poor girl) and thats what people did in the 19th century, and some still do it today, but not as much as then. Charlotte also used excellent use of emotive language, as it created empathy from the reader. The first two chapters of the novel has made me think more about the children with no parents, living with family or friends that dont really want them around! They must feel down and negative all the time.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Role of Rapid Economic Growth in Resolution of Social and Political Essay

Role of Rapid Economic Growth in Resolution of Social and Political Tensions Between China and India - Essay Example The existing social and political tensions have been addressed in cases where both China and India have shared the same level of interest in their economic relations (Mitter, 2008, p. 56). In cases where the two countries have differed in their social and political objectives which could be funded by their economic growths, the tension in the political and social sphere between China and India has aggravated. The two countries India and China have close cultural, social and political linkages for long time in the history. The review of the political and the social tensions between China and India have come at a time when these two countries have started to undergo a period of socio-economic transformation and have been eager to modify their political linkages in the best interest of their economic progress. Arguments and facts In this piece of work, I would argue rationally that the rapid economic growth rates of China and India have offered a new source of political and social tensi on and have also been able to address the existing tensions in the social and political relationship domain between the two countries. In order to understand the underlying reasons of the impacts of relative economic growth of China and India on the social and political tensions between the two countries, a review of the political and socio-economic structural differences between these two countries need to be explained as follows. India is the largest multi-party democracy which has pulled the demands of democracy and has been able to achieve modest growth in its economy. China on the other hand is the largest single party ruled economy. Due to the existence of a single party... This paper outlines the importance of strengthening economic cooperation between China and India in respect to resolution of their historical political and social tensions. Historically, the countries have enough linkages in the social and cultural domain and hence, the rapid economic growth of the two countries largely impacted the social and political tensions between the two countries. The rapid growth of economy of China has seen the country to dominate the Asian economy and take on the US to challenge its economic dominance. This has resulted in the growth of China and attained a commanding position in the Sino-Indian relationships. India made rapid progress to develop as a regional superpower in Asia and was looking to expand its strategic relationship with the East in order to be able to influence the social and political tensions with China. The social and political relations between China and India and the underlying social and political tensions is explained with the help of framework of international relations. Functionalism theory of international relations explain the fact as a result of the rise of the countries, China and India have been fighting for dominance while maintaining relations between them and this also took form of militarization. After the rapid growth of economy of the two countries, the society of both China and India have developed an increasing nationalist sentiment due to which the expectations from the government and the social demands from the economic policies are even higher.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Critique of Quantitative Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critique of Quantitative Research - Essay Example However, the authors of this article have not given a statistic of what others have done on the same study. It is however important to note that the investigators have provided sense in their research since the organization of the research study is such that there is a research question, followed by how the study was conducted and the results. The investigators have also reinforced sense in their study by using scientific method relate variables to the outcome. The investigators in this research article have clearly stated that there are problem of fall prevention among elderly adults in nursing home settings. However, the investigators have not given a comprehensive statistics to validate the existence of the problem. For instance, when the investigators states that 1.6 million residents fall each year, it is important to state how many of these are elderly (Gray-Miceli et al, 2010). It is also important to note that the authors have not clearly stated the limitations of the current fall prevention strategies for elderly residents. Researchers would have given statistics to show insufficiency of the current based practices, for example statistics showing increasing falls in order to reinforce problem statement and clearly show that current best practices for fall prevention are not effective. Research questions for this have not been clearly stated by the investigators. Research question is important since it outlines what the researcher wants to find answers to. The investigators have merely stated the purpose and outlined the problem but have not clearly stated research question. However, the researchers have listed a number of variables but have failed to relate the variables to research question. Nevertheless, the study in this article is very important since it provides a turning point nursing practice especially in caring for the elderly adults. This is because the findings in this study are important in improving evidence