Branding strategy for Mobinil Essay

1. Given all the changes in the branding strategy for Mobinil over the years, has the Mobinil brand conveyed a consistent meaning to customers? Is this a benefit or detriment as the mobile service provider business moves forward in Egypt with the entry of Etisalat and Vodafone? In my opinion, Mobinil has conveyed a consistent meaning to customers because even after years of existing, they still focus on their main mission – providing reliable and simple services that increase interaction and improve communication. I believe that entry of Etisalat and Vodafone was a benefit, because even though Mobinil was not a monopoly anymore, it still could learn from competitors and improve their service to satisfy customers’ needs. Mobinil does researches to be aware of competitors’ strengths and weaknesses that help the company to stay successful. 2. What is Mobinil selling? What are customers really buying? Mobinil is selling mobile devices and services. Customers are buying ability to communicate and on-the-go connectivity – core product. They are buying mobile devices and services – actual product. While buying mobile devices, people also get warranties and instructions that help them with using the device – augmented product. 3. Will the many reasons for Mobinil’s success continue to work with the increasing presence of Vodafone and Etisalat? Why or why not? In my opinion Mobinil will still be successful because the company always does researches to know what competitors are doing, so they can provide better service for their customers. Mobinil now is the leader for mobile services in Egypt and I believe they will continue to improve their work because of their successful marketing strategy and customers’ loyalty. 4. What futuristic strategic recommendations would you make to the Mobinil brand managers? Try to meet customer expectations and reach the desired level of excellence. Mobinil should also make more agreements with networks in†¦

Blood Brothers Essay

You are the director of a new production of blood brothers. Give advice to the actors playing the roles of Eddie and Mickey about how to tackle the age changes. You must comment on at least two scenes in detail. If you have seen a production of Blood Brothers you may also refer to this. In the scene when you both meet for the first time you must consider your body language. You must consider how an eight year old would walk and stand. An eight year old would have fewer worries than someone who is older than them so they would walk not really paying much attention to what is around them. You would also have to think how someone who is better off would walk compared to someone who is from a less well off background. You have got to consider how to use the tone of your voice. At first they were a bit shy. But after they first met you would have to consider how an eight year old would not be shy so they would say anything so say your lines so the audience have no clue to what you will say next. Another important factor to consider is the way you deliver your lines. You should deliver your lines in a free flowing way. When they are swearing you should not feel like people might be offended. In the scene when you Mickey and Eddie meet for the first time after they have both moved to the country you should pay attention to your body language. This time Eddie and Mickey are both 16 – 17 years olds. So you have to think about how a 16 – 17 year old would act. A 16 – 17 year old would have more problems than a person of 8 years old but still not as many as an older person. You still have to consider how a person who is better off would act compared to a person from the ghetto. Again you would have to consider the tone of your voice. You would expect a teenager to swear more and they may speak with a slight mumble. Again you should consider the way you deliver your lines. In the scene when Mickey is trying to kill Eddie you should again pay attention to your body language. This time Eddie and Mickey are both in they’re thirty’s. Mickey is depressed and he has a lot of problems an example of which was that he was put in jail for his brother shooting someone. While Eddie on the other hand has few, because he has a successful business. Mickey has just realised that Eddie is seeing his girlfriend Linda. When Mickey is pointing the gun at Eddie, Eddie has to act scared because he fears for his life. Mickey is holding the gun so that he feels in control instead of having Eddie control his life. Mickey has to act confused because Eddie made his life; he gave him a job and a nice home. You again have to consider the tone of your voice. Mickey should say his lines in a sort of stuttery way. Eddie should deliver his lines in a scared voice, while Mickey should deliver his lines in a scared and confused way.

A play written by J. B. Priestly Essay

An Inspector Calls, a play written by J. B. Priestly in 1945. He set his play in 1912 just before the First World War. It is a story of the visit by an Inspector to an apparently normal family, the Birlings. The Birlings are celebrating their daughter Shelia’s engagement to Gerald Croft. Mr. Birling a successful factory owner gets the ball rolling with a speech, which he gives to his son Eric, and Gerald Croft. J. B Priestly makes good use of dramatic irony in this speech because many events took place after 1912, which we the modern audience, know about but Mr. Birling doesn’t. Mr. Birling mentioned that the miners came out on a strike and there would be possible labour trouble in the near future. He said that there wouldn’t be any more worries about the strikes. But in 1926 we know that there was a General Strike in Britain. He talks about the Titanic being a spectacular ship with every luxury and it is absolutely unsinkable. But as we know in 1912 the Titanic sunk on maiden voyage and 1,513 lives were lost. He also mentioned about the wars not happening. He said that the Germans don’t want war. But in 1914 the First World War broke out. He said that there would peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere but in 1917 there was revolution in Russia. In 1939 the Second World War broke out and in 1945 the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. This makes the audience doubt Mr Birling early on in the play. When Mr. Birling finishes his speech the Inspector enters into the scene. The Inspector is at the Birling’s because there was a death of a woman Eva Smith and he had come to ask questions about her. Mr. Birling was the first person that we were led to believe started off the train of events that ultimately led to the death of Eva Smith. Mr. Birling had sacked Eva Smith from his factory after she started to cause trouble demanding higher wages. Mr Birling says that any man in his position would have done the same. She was making trouble as Mr. Birling said, ‘She had a lot to say – far too much so she had to goi. But the only thing that Mr. Birling cared about was his family and the progress of his business. He didn’t care about his workers and he didn’t know them. As he says in Act 1 â€Å"I have a couple of hundred workers under me, who keep changing†. So there wasn’t a personal relationship between these two until after the workers came back from their holidays that they were asking for a pay rise. As Mr. Birling wouldn’t, he sacked the ringleaders and one of them was Eva Smith. Now that Eva was sacked she was out of work for two months. She had no money and she was half starved. She had no one to help her. Her parents had died so they couldn’t offer any help and her friends had nothing to offer her. But then again it wasn’t the end of the world and she was capable of getting another job as we find out.

The international banking market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

The international banking market - Essay Example International banking activity continued to expand , propelled by banks' substantial purchases of securities and the return of Japanese banks to the international banking market. The cross-border claims of banks in the reporting area increased by $110 billion .select few, most notably Mexico and Turkey. Another notable development in the first half of the year was a sharp increase in deposit flows from developing countries to international banks, arising from an improvement in the external position of oil-exporting countries.. Interbank activity slowed , as was to be expected following the extraordinary surge in lending to banks in the developed countries in the first quarter. To some extent, banks in the reporting area unwound the large interbank positions that they had built up during the first quarter, with funds moving from banking centres in the euro area to London and then being passed on to Tokyo, Zurich, the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands. Despite flows from banks in the United Kingdom to their branches in the Caribbean, reporting banks' claims vis--vis banks in offshore centres continued to decline in the second quarter. ... According to the consolidated banking statistics, Japanese and UK banks were responsible for most of the increase in reporting banks' claims on US banks Deposits by developing countries soar The ongoing contraction of bank credit to developing countries reflects in part weak demand for external financing. Despite strong growth in many countries, this year developing countries are expected to post their largest current account surplus in two decades. The strengthening external position of oil-exporting countries is responsible for most of the improvement. As well as limiting external financing needs, this improvement contributed to a large increase in developing countries' deposits with foreign banks. Flows to US non-banks surpass those to euro area borrowers Purchases of securities also accounted for most of the $57 billion rise in claims on non-bank borrowers in the second quarter. More recent data on syndicated credits show a surge in lending to telecom firms, suggesting that direct lending to non-banks in Europe may have also recovered. Banks in the reporting area continued to purchase substantial amounts of securities issued by non-bank borrowers in Europe. Nevertheless, international bank flows to non-banks in the euro area more than halved to $20 billion, Banks resident in the United Kingdom and the euro area, which had provided massive sums to non-bank borrowers in Banks' cross-border claims on non-banks in the United States have increased since late 1999. Renewed lending by Japanese banks was funded in part through the international interbank market. Taking into account changes in both assets and liabilities, reporting banks moved upwards of $59 billion into banks in Japan in the second quarter, the largest increase in years. Further

Case study analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Case study analysis - Essay Example I decided to visit Gartree Therapeutic Community to learn on how offenders can interact well among themselves as well as the staff. I had a vision of learning about different therapeutic interventions. Prison Objectives This organization is guided by aims that enable it rehabilitate offenders of different kinds. First objective is to instill hope in the convict. In many cases when one is sent to prison, he or she feels shut and forgotten forever. People believe that there is no life behind bars. However, this organization restores the lost hope in the offender. This helps to boost his morale and self esteem. It also prepares him or her to face the new challenges that he will face in prison life. In addition, it is said that when hope is lost all is lost. Therefore, the prison has well laid objectives that enable the offender accept his new status in society. This enables prisoners to move on with their lives. When an individual learns to accept his environment, cope with the changes and appreciate the people around him, such an individual grows. This shows that this objective of instilling hope to offenders is a positive attitude. Offenders feel that the world has condemned them, and there is nothing good left for them. They are considered as chiefs of sinners. The society tends to avoid such people. They are separated from their friends and loved ones. They learn to accept that they will be in prison forever. Such scenarios suck hope, leaving us in a world of deep thought. It was a positive idea for the prison authority to come up with this objective of instilling hope in offenders. Moreover, it is my desire that the staff is also part of the program. Today people are going through different challenges in their lives such as loss of jobs, rejection, marriage break ups; lose of loved ones among many. They need to be encouraged and supported morally. Lees, Manning, and Rawlings (2004) suggest that through personal interactions among the prison community, people can encourage each other. Life issues are always present. They come to us when we like it or not. It is vital that we equip ourselves with life skills that can assist us overcome. Another objective in this organization is assisting offenders to have an insight on how their problems came about. A prison is a rehabilitation agency out to correct individuals. This indicates that one should turn away from his past and be able to focus on the future. However, one can not achieve this without realizing where things went wrong. It is the duty of the prison to help the offender be able to have this insight and make an about turn in this life. This helps a person to stop blaming himself or the people who were around him. This insight helps the offender to realize that the things he does affects other directly or indirectly. This fosters to bring change from the inside of a person. It also helps one to avoid doing things that may affect other negatively. This enables him to be cautious with h is words and actins. More so, it helps to create a significant interaction among offenders and the staff. Particular Site The GTC was established in 1993 to give an opportunity to under therapy in a unique living and learning environment. This regime is similar to the rest of the wings. However, in the mornings prisoners enroll in therapy time exercises. They engage in therapy and feed back program for three mornings in small groups. Such small

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 9

Assignment Example It also involves sharing vision and the direction making it a mutual learning process for both the manager and the delegate; thus, it is a powerful employee empowerment tool. Delegation is a proper skill for supervisors at different levels since it involves working with the employees to establish goals by giving the substantial freedom on how such goals should be realized (Jha, 2004; Pratt, 1997; Elsig, 2011). Delegation is often different formwork directing since it does not involve telling the employee how to perform a specific task. In delegation, the employee decides the manner in which to perform specific task and this gives him freedom to perform his best, which can also be useful in gauging his abilities. This makes the employees fells important since he feels involved in the management and decision making of the company and this can be good learning tool for employees to improve their skills. Delegation can also be a challenge to employers since it involves giving control and confidence to the ability of others without knowing whether they will mess or perform well with the task entrusted with them. Delegation helps managers to free up a good time and to engage in other useful management activities. This helps the manager to reduce his workload so that he can engage in other areas for faster business process. Delegation is also important in fostering good relationship between the manager and the subordinate a condition necessary effective production process (Donado et al, 2008). This gives the subordinates the room and space to explore their talents thus flourishing their abilities making them feel important in return. With such trust upon the employees, they feel satisfied with their jobs and in turn increase the productivity of the company. The monotony broken through delegation is very important for skills improvement by the subordinates so that they can explore other fields in search for new talents and skills (Mitchelle, 2000). However, despite the se numerous benefits of delegation, the scholars have not focused on the negative effects of delegation in the management. Such minor negative effects can also have a significant effect to the management and profitability of an organization should be known. This may be due to lack of ideas on how to perform the task delegated and negative attitude of the employee (Sengul et al, 2004) Research question To explore the negative effects of delegation of duties to the subordinates To determine the extent in which the management delegate duties Methodology Qualitative research design will be employed to search for valuable information that will be able to explain the negative consequences of delegation of duties. The research design will be focused on the negative consequences, which rise form delegation of duties to the subordinate especially in the company set up. I will design a questionnaire, which will be designed in a manner to address the research questions. The sampling technique will be closed and open-ended questionnaires, which will be carefully designed according to the research objectives. This will enable us obtain a variety of responses form respondents form different levels of management. The study will be focused on workers and managers who are involved in delegation process in their day-to-day activities. The study will focus on 500 company workers form five different companies in different regions in order to come up with a representative sample necessary for this study.

More than one topic look at the instructions Essay

More than one topic look at the instructions - Essay Example Treatments for such a syndrome are limited; however, it has been proven that avoiding or abstaining from alcohol and caffeine entirely can have a profound effect on the level to which an individual will experience the syndrome (CDC 2012). Furthermore, in severe cases, drugs such as dopamine can be applied to seek to help to regulate the neurological responses within the human body. Lastly, a healthy diet combined with exercise and proper stretching prior to bed has been proven to ameliorate many of the symptoms (RLS Factsheet 2012). According to the Sleep Foundation of the United States, Restless Legs Syndrome affects approximately 10% of all adults within the nation (CDC 2012). As such, one can of course infer that this is exhibited in varying degrees of severity; however, nevertheless the fact of the matter is that RLS has been proven to only worsen with age (WHO 2011). In this way, the propagation and progression of the syndrome with age means that it becomes less and less of an annoyance and more and more of a life-altering syndrome that must necessitate treatment. Accordingly, due to the high level of occurrence within the general population, health care providers must be increasingly conscious of such a malady as well as being ever open-minded with regards to the varying ways in which RLS can afflict their patients and the varying models by which it can be ameliorated. CDC - Key Sleep Disorders - Sleep and Sleep Disorders. (2012, April 7). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved  November  22, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/key_disorders.htm Restless Legs Syndrome Fact Sheet: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). (2012, February 15). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Retrieved  November  22, 2012, from

The Bank of Enlgand's M.P.C. Has Allowed the C.P.I. Inflation Rate to Coursework

The Bank of Enlgand's M.P.C. Has Allowed the C.P.I. Inflation Rate to Stay above its 2% Target for More than Two Years - Coursework Example Aggregate demand is said to be the total demand of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of an economy and its components are the consumption (C), investment (I), government expenditure (G), and net exports (X-M) which is the imports subtracted from exports (Investopedia, n.d.). Along with aggregate demand, there is the aggregate supply which is the total supply of the Gross Domestic Product and it is the total of the goods and services produced in the economy. The diagram on the right shows the aggregate demand and aggregate supply curve which help to signify the inflation rates and the GDP in the economy. Inflation rates are calculated by different measures which are namely the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Retail Price Index (RPI), and RPIX. Consumer Price Index (CPI) is used to measure the price level of the consumer goods and services in the economy. Retail Price Index (RPI) is the measure of inflation by measuring the change in the prices of retail goods and services. RPIX is a measur e which is dominantly used in the United Kingdom and it is the RPI excluding mortgage interest payments. The Bank of England has set a target of an inflation rate of 2% which is considered to be ideal given the circumstances of the UK economy. The inflation rate of 2% is low and very much constant which means that there is stability in the economy. The UK also has set the golden rule which is that the government will only borrow the money in order to invest and not to fulfill the current spending in the economy. This means that the economy will not be leveraged to a greater level to cover the expenses, and money will be borrowed to generate future revenues. The Bank of England works to keep the economy stable and head towards progress, with the help of its fiscal and monetary policies. The Bank of England aims to keep the inflation rates at low and constant level which generates investor and consumers’ confidence and it will help to develop the economy in the present as well as in the future. The figure on the right shows a business cycle which represents the points which can be experienced by an economy, both good and bad. The peak is the point when the economy is doing its best and economic growth rates are high. At this point, the unemployment rates are on a low but the inflation rates may be high. During the recessionary period, the economy is experiencing lower economic growth and unemployment starts to rise but inflation may or may not be decreasing. The time of trough or slump is when the economy is at its worst in that time and such economy usually faces high unemployment rates and low inflation rates. However once again, the inflation rates may or may not be decreasing as it depends on several other factors too. Inflation can be of two types according to their predictability, which are the anticipated and unanticipated inflation. Anticipated Inflation: Inflation is said to be anticipated when it can be accurately predicted and that it is forese en to be at a specific level in a financial period. Since this inflation is calculated and known, people can protect themselves from its impact. An example of anticipated inflation is when a labor union collectively bargains for a rise in their wages because they have anticipated the inflation rat

Internal Controls Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Internal Controls - Assignment Example Cash is the most important asset of a company due the fact it can be used to pay for the purchases, payroll, and debt obligation of a firm (Deloitte). In the past I have been exposed to internal controls in the workplace. The section below discusses four experiences of mine with internal controls in the workplace. Example #1 A few years ago I worked for a company that had just been opened. The firm operated in a niche industry. I was selected during the first round of recruiting. The company promised its employees a $6 productivity bonus if the employees surpassed the daily production quota. A few months passed by and the bonus was never paid. The employee got angry and started to rebel against the firm. The absenteeism rate of the company increased. The human resource department implemented a new internal control to obtain real time data over the attendance of its employees. An electronic system was installed that would record the exact time the employee arrived, lunchtime breaks, a nd the employees exit. The employees were given a code of four digits that they would enter in the machine. The new internal control system backfired. The employees began to cheat by giving their secret number to another employee so that they would punch in for them. Sometimes the employees never went to work and got paid by letting somebody else enter their secret attendance code. It took the company several months to realize some of the employees were cheating. After this debacle the HR department took more serious measures to deal with the problem. They installed a new internal control measures that was safe proof. The new system made the employees punch into a machine that used their fingerprints to log in. Example #2 Three summers ago I got a chance to work with my uncle for a month. His employee was on vacation. My uncle owned a convenience store. He told me when I started working that he got robbed twice that year and he did not know what to do. He could not afford a security guard and he had gotten two quotations for security systems that costs over $1,500. He was having cash flow problems and did not have the money at the time. I decided to help my uncle. He needed an internal control system that was cheap and effective. I got him a used remote security camera system from eBay that allowed him to record all the video recording on his computer. He could view any of the cameras from his home at any time through the computer or smartphone. The system costs only $250. Example #3 In the past I used to work at a supermarket. The store had a lot of customers, thus it had 10 cashiers open at all times. Control of cash was vital to running the operation effectively. The managers used several internal controls measures to safeguard cash. One of them was that each cashier had to fill a short sales report at the end of the shift and count the cash. The cash was then taken to the manager’s office to put it in a safe. The safe was emptied three times per wee k and a carrier moved the cash from the store to the bank. Example #4 I used to work delivering pizzas. The pizzeria I worked for had some problems with employee not making deliveries and deliveries being late. The manager of the company decided to implement an internal control measure to resolve the problem. When a pizza was delivered the employee had to give the customer a ticked stub that had to sign by customer with the time that the pizza was delivere

Romeo and Juliet and Different Writing Devices Essay Example for Free

Romeo and Juliet and Different Writing Devices Essay Shakespeare has been a very important writer in history because of his special way of writing. Throughout the ages, people have read his literature and taught lessons to the next generations from his writing. Shakespeare had morals and personal values, such as love. He used his special writing style to help people understand how he felt better. He also uses sonnets, or small poems, for specific topics. Love, Marriage, and Friendship are portrayed in Shakespeare’s sonnets through different writing devices that he uses to express himself. In Shakespeare’s Sonnet 30, he talks specifically about friendship- an important theme in his early work. In Sonnet 30 he says: â€Å"For precious friends hid in death’s dateless night†, meaning we should love our friends because we do not know when they will be dead. This is because he says â€Å"death’s dateless night†, meaning you don’t know when death will come. Basically he is saying that you should not worry about death but just enjoy the time you have with friends while they are still alive. This can be applied to many things from family to even pets. It is a deep thought but it is his way of staying happy even though death can be anywhere at anytime. Shakespeare’s Sonnet 55 focuses around the theme of love. Love played a big part of Shakespeare’s work from Hamlet to Romeo and Juliet. He was a romantic person but he used it to his advantage to create sadness or feelings of tragedy like in Romeo and Juliet. In the Sonnet he says â€Å"So, till the judgment that yourself arise, You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes†. He means that before you die you should love the person you are with and always love them, because love is so important to happiness. The final Sonnet, Sonnet 116, focuses on Marriage. Since love and friendship is paramount to Shakespeare, so is marriage, since it’s like love combined with friendship. Shakespeare thinks marriage is sacred and if you love someone you should stay married to that person. In the sonnet he says â€Å"Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds†, meaning that love is not love if you try and change it. Also he says that it is an â€Å"ever-fixed mark† meaning it should last forever and you should not get a divorce. You can tell by how he writes that Shakespeare is a very romantic and caring person. He thinks love and friendship and marriage are crucial to humans, and that they all go hand in hand with each other. He uses love in most of his stories, not just the Sonnets and he knows that people catch on to the message he is sending. Everyone knows about Shakespeare, but most do not know how much he cares about things like love. He uses his style of writing to portray his views about love, friendship, and marriage in his Sonnets.

Ethics And Values

Ethics And Values Ethical dilemma The ethical dilemma I will discuss will be based on some truth of an event that happened when I was a support worker five years ago in a mental health trust organisation. The patient will be referred to as girl ‘A and members of the multidisciplinary team will be referred to as professionals. A very brief description of the girls mental health illness was schizophrenia this can have an effect on a persons mind in such a way that they can hear voices and send smells that are not real to the human eye. Other features can include delusional thoughts this is where the person can believe that certain situations and circumstances have happened to them and it is very clear to the person on the contrary it can make a person feel that others do not believe them (CAMHS, 2002). The ethical dilemma Girl ‘A was 15 years of age, when she was sectioned under the 1983 Mental Health Act section 2. Girl ‘A received a letter from a friend at home. This letter revealed that her friend had been raped from girl ‘As mothers boyfriend. Girl ‘A had prior to this letter disclosed to the nursing team that she herself had been raped from her mothers boyfriend. She decided not to take action for fear of losing the relationship she had recently built up with her mother. At this time the girl wanted her mother to never find out about the disclosure of this rape ordeal. The friend told girl ‘A that this situation was going to court. At this point girl ‘A decided it was time to put closure on her own rape ordeal and therefore wanted to go to court and declare her own rape ordeal. The ethical dilemma is should the girl called go to court or not? Reference Reading from Leathard, A. McLaren. (2007) Ethics contemporary challenges in health and social care. The Policy Press: UK. There are three more approaches which often conflict with many ethical problems they are deontology, conceptualism and virtue ethics (Leathard McLaren, 2007). It approaches can give directions to ethical dilemmas. Consequentialism -also referred to as utiliarism discovered by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. The aims of this approach are consider the consequences of taking a particular form of action (ibid). All areas of an ethical dilemma using this approach would be given equal weight when considering the outcome (ibid). In health care this approach can be seen to be used when considering decisions that need to be made about the allocation of resources (ibid). Personal Values my personal values You will describe your values but there is no right/wrong answer to this. It is basically how you presented your dilemma to the ethic group |Julie. How does my personal knowledge, culture, and life experience affect this dilemma for you? feelings What values are in conflict and how has this made you feel? What were your fears? Given similar circumstances with another person would the outcome be the same? how do these impact on the questions you asked resp. to me as a person PROCESS How and why am I making a choice I am making i.e., what did I think, feel, and what did I do or not do? How was my decision making affective by what factors of legislation, standards, policies and organisational policies/procedures and values? What other resources would be helpful to me in making the decisions about the dilemma? Keep using reflection I think this part Julie is where you have begun to described the different ethical approaches. Deontology deon means duty and ology is the science, this approach was discovered by Kantian. The aims of this approach does not consider the consequences rather it acts on what is morally right, in particular deontologists treat the situation or client with respect for individuality which is its greatest importance. This approach would not approve of telling lies to a client even if it was in the best interest. Any decision is made using deontology would have to be based on fact. Duty based theories which would allow the worker and the client to acts of the greatest outcome which would avoid harm. This approach recognises autonomy, trust and the equity of provisions (ibid). Virtue derived from Aristotelian ideologies. Thomas Aquinas (1990) defines virtue ethics is not only knowledge but also the approach taken to provide integration using this knowledge for an ethical dilemma situation, an area of â€Å"manifestation of ethical professional behaviour† (ibid: 71). Virtue ethics describe a persons character beliefs and values quality is in actions that they believe are morally sound. Beauchamp and Childress (1989) describe four ethical principles that should be considered when dealing with any ethical dilemma they are: beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice (ibid: 72). However these four ethical principles at times can conflict therefore critical judgement is required when choosing a particular procedure to take. These four ethical principles they can provide a framework to assist the worker(s)/client(s) situation by empowering the thinking process, this helps with the decision process of the ethical dilemma (ibid). In virtuous practitioner must take into account the different viewpoints by recognising the potential conflicts that can happen between these four ethical principles. It is therefore recommended that a practitioner makes critical judgements as to which approach would be more appropriate to the ethical dilemma. â€Å"Gardiner (2003) comments that the virtuous practitioner is driven by deep desire to behave well and that this approach has a flexibility that can encourage innovative solutions while acknowledging that there will often be elements of pain or regret† (ibid: 76). So from the ethical dilemma if beneficence was applied the patients best interest and wishes and feelings would have been considered using this approach. Although, it could appear harmful to the patient, if the sole views of her situation were considered because this could have had an adverse effect on the best interests of the patient. Non-maleficence applying this approach to the ethical dilemma could show how the professional has protected the patient from actual or potential harm; this is particularly successful when the practitioner evaluates his/her knowledge and skills realistically ensuring any form of intervention is taken within their professional capacity. However should the worker feel there could be limitations then they should seek and share this information with the team of professionals caring for the girl? This particular approach may have been applied from support worker/primary care workers point of view this is because non-maleficence provides the support worker/primary care worker with more details from the clients perspective of the situation whereas; a professional may only work with the girl on if few occasions. Therefore the implications of the support worker/primary care worker not sharing information with other professionals can cause great harm to the patient. If the support worker/prima ry care worker advises the patient â€Å"there is nothing more I can do† then this will be harmful and unhelpful to the patient (ibid: 74). Autonomy the principle of autonomy and impact on disclosure and confidentiality. However a patient has a right to information about their condition and their situation, the patients views beliefs and values should be respected. Although, legally the girl in the ethical dilemma was sectioned under the 1983 mental health act section 2 and therefore their grounds a practitioner must take with regards to an appropriate decision this can conflict the patients best interest/wishes and feelings. Using the ethical dilemma in this instance shows when â€Å"beneficence or non-maleficence overruling patient autonomy† (ibid: 75). The practitioner will endeavour to the first duty to the patient however the practitioner must balance this duty to the patient with regard to the wider risks and involvement of others. Gillon (2003), autonomy is a component of the other three ethical principles and autonomy should take priority with respect for the patient (ibid). Justice and equity â€Å"The Aristotelian principles suggest that I trust system should ensure equal and should be treated equally and unequals unequally† (ibid: 77). Considering justice and equity to the ethical dilemma the patient may feel the decision to not go to court un-fair. However the practitioner should deliver an Albanys about the criteria that was used to make the decisions they made about this ethical dilemma. The principles of justice and equity can allow for decisions to be made and distributed according to the patients need, merits, capacity or rights. In this situation a practitioner may remind the patient of her rights in respect to a complaints procedure (ibid). ISSUES POWER/polices What are the rights of the child? What rights as a person? Are there any rights in terms of seeking closure? All your doing here is answering and showing Why and what policies may be used with this dilemma. Julie notes for power every child matters is a Green paper that was published in 2003 by the government as a response to the death of Victoria Climbie. In 2000 for the childrens act became law from a thorough consultation process and it is this legislation that underpins the legalities of Every Child Matters, by ensuring five necessary outcomes are followed when ensuring the health, safety and well being of children from birth to 19 years. The five outcomes are being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well-being (Every Child Matters, 2003 Cited in http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/about/ on 20/10/09 @ 13:05). RESP.OF ORG. What is the organisations point of view? Ie NHS, CAMHS why do they use them what are the values of these principles to s/u Organisations policies This report sets out a new vision for the future of mental health and well-being in England. Based on four principles, it outlines the priorities we believe should underpin mental health policy for the next decade. Our four principles for mental health policy are: Mental health and well-being is everybodys business. It affects every family in Britain and it can only be improved if coordinated, assertive action is taken across Whitehall and at all levels of government. Good mental health holds the key to a better quality of life in Britain. We need to promote positive mental health, prevent mental ill health and intervene early when people become unwell. People should get as much support to gain a good quality of life and fulfil their potential from mental health services as they expect to receive from physical healthcare services. Mental health care should offer hope and support for people to recover and live their lives on their own terms. We need a new relationship between mental health services and those who use them. Service users, carers and communities should be offered an active role in shaping the support available to them. With these principles at the heart of policy, we believe we can create a society in which good mental health is nurtured and in which mental ill health is managed well. As a consequence, our mental well-being will be a core concern of government. Effective action to promote good mental health will be taken among people of all ages and diverse backgrounds. People who experience mental distress will receive timely support to live well and have a fair and equal chance to fulfill their potential. The actions that would be needed to make our vision a reality are summarized overleaf. (Health, 2009) Organisation/mental health What is sectioning? Most patients in hospital wards cannot be prevented from leaving when they wish, and their consent must be obtained before treatment is given. The same applies to most patients who are in hospital for psychiatric treatment. They do not object to being in hospital or being treated and are referred to as ‘informal or ‘voluntary patients. However, the Mental Health Act 1983 allows some people to be detained in hospital. When this happens, they are called ‘detained patients and their consent to treatment may no longer be required. This is often known as being ‘sectioned. Some people are detained in hospital by the courts after being charged with a crime. (See Mind rights guide 5: mental health and the courts.) However, most people are detained under the ‘civil sections of the Mental Health Act, which does not involve a court at all. This booklet sets out what must happen before someone can be detained under a civil section, and outlines some of the effects. Mind rights guides 2-5 describe, in more detail, other relevant information about consent to treatment and what to do if you are being detained and you want to leave hospital. What is the process for detaining someone under a civil section? There are two main civil sections of the Mental Health Act 1983, which are used to detain someone: section 2 and section 3. For each section, three people must agree that the individual needs to be detained. Usually, they would be an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP), a section 12 approved doctor and a registered medical practitioner. The two doctors must agree the person needs to be in hospital and recommend detention. Then, the AMHP decides whether or not to make an application for the persons compulsory admission to hospital. The Nearest Relative (NR) (see below) has the right to make an application. However, the Mental Health Act Code of Practice makes it clear that an AMHP is the preferred applicant and applications by an NR are very rare (the preference for the AMHP as applicant over the NR is re-stated in the new Code of Practice at para 4.28). It does not matter where the person is at the time. They may be at home, in hospital, in a place of safety, or in a police station following an arrest for an alleged criminal offence. In an urgent situation, someone may be admitted to hospital compulsorily, with only one medical recommendation to support an application (section 4). This is allowed if it is felt the criteria for section 2 (see below) are met, but there is no time to wait for another medical recommendation. The second medical recommendation must be obtained within 72 hours. It is important to note that people need not have committed a crime to be detained under a civil section. The law allows anyone to be detained under the procedure described above. What do the different civil sections mean? Section 2 allows for a person to be detained if they are suffering from a mental disorder and they need to be detained, at least for a limited period, for assessment (or for assessment followed by medical treatment) for their own health or safety, or for the protection of other people. Detention can last for up to 28 days. The section cant be renewed, but you may be assessed before the 28 days expires to see if detention under section 3 is necessary. Section 3 allows for a person to be detained if they have a mental disorder, and it is necessary for their own health or safety, or for the protection of other people, and treatment cannot be provided unless they are detained in hospital. A patient cannot be detained under this section unless the doctors also agree that appropriate medical treatment is available for him or her. Detention can last for up to six months. The section can then be renewed by six months, initially, and by a year at a time, subsequently (MIND, 2009). Other professionals Alan suggest the Mental Health Act could be one. What rights does she have under this ACT? Who was present? Consider their positions, charaters, virtues, values ect. why is it a dilemma DEONTOLOGY This is what is meant by your code of conduct this is the link between philsophy and practice it is through the codes of conduct. You will show how the philosophy feeds into codes of conduct and then feeds into practice. Alan explains this is about respect for the person and autonomy. So you need to say A deontology approach would argue this. and this approach would be used because of this Alan gives an example of how to apply this to your scenario: Julie you could argue from one position that deontology is a person in her own right, this does not exist therefore the duty is to the right of this person this is quite deontological this approach also looks at Law, human rights, that sort of thing. Most social workers are this approach All you have to do here is say how and why this approach may be applied to the scenario and where it come from i.e., KANT Consequential/Unitarianism This is what is meant by your code of conduct this is the link between philsophy and practice it is through the codes of conduct. You will show how the philosophy feeds into codes of conduct and then feeds into practice. Alan notes. â€Å"A unitarism approach would argue this. and this approach would be used because of this.Alan example of how to hit this, Consequentialism would suggest you look at the outcomes, if we do not intervene at this point and show some support then this person will suffer damage, they could be harmed that is more this approach and this is the link I want you to make. Most social worker are this approach. All your doing here is saying where did this approach come from how and why would it be used in your dilemma virtue ethics Virtue ethics = the character of the person, so in the same way that I was arguing with the boys you could argue your point of view with your dilemma Alan. Questions to ask and answer with these approaches are: What is the thing that makes one of them valid? â€Å"Probably the character of the person doing the argument†! other words you Julie are very dominate and persuading and therefore one needs to ask is your position genuine? I s it a valid argument? Are you taking it from integrity (honesty, goodness) or serenity (calm, peace, composure, calmness)? All you doing here is saying where this approach came from and why and how would it be used in this dilemma Code of ethic Values These three streams of values in social work influence our practice and are described as TRADITIONAL (being to the tradition route), EMANCIPATORY (to give independence to free someone from something) AND GOVERNANCE (controlled or overlooked by government) Values. How did the GSCC; BASW; and NOS codes of ethics guide your decision and practice outcomes? social constructionist view bibliography

Personal experience of God

Personal experience of God 1. Describe your personal experience of God and the understanding of God you derived from biblical, theological, and historical sources. Throughout history, people developed the idea of a higher being, who is referred to as god in general. Some people simply deny the existence of god or any other spiritual being. And other people who accepted the existence of god explained the identity of god in various ways. Deism sees the cosmos as a closed system with its maker outside it; so denies Gods direct control of events and his miraculous intrusions into this world. Pantheism recognizes no creator-creature distinction, but sees everything, including good and evil, as a direct form of God. Christianity joins with the Jewish and the Muslim faiths in proclaiming radical monotheism, which states that God is One and that God is the God of all. Distinctive to Christian theism is the belief that the personal creator is as truly three as he is one. God is a single being who exists, simultaneously and eternally, as a communion of three persons: Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three Godhead are eternal which means they coexist from past through future. In Matthews account of Christs baptism, as Jesus the Son went up from the water, the Spirit of God descended upon Him as a dove and the Father testified from the heaven of His beloved Son (Mt 3:16-17). This scene clearly portrays the simultaneous existence of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The Christian understanding of God is specific in that Christians believe that God has been, and continues to be, historically involved with the people of Israel and has made a new covenant with all people in Jesus Christ.   In other words, we believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments bear witness to Gods active love for creation as revealed in Jesus of Nazareth. God revealed himself through various channels including the Scripture, experiences and nature. Although there are many ways in which God reveals Gods self, the best place to find out about God is through the Scripture that God gave us. In the book of Exodus, I personally found Gods character and the qualities that are ascribed to him. Exodus 3:7-8 says that The LORD said, I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honeythe home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. (NIV) These are the words that God said to Moses from the burning bush. I believe that in this communication with Moses, God revealed who he was. God whom I believe in is the God who has seen the misery of his people, heard them crying out and has been concerned about their suffering. In another translation, it is said that God knew their suffering (NRSV). In the context of this chapter, my people indicate Israel people in Egypt. Israel people at that time in Egypt were slaves under the Pharaoh. They were ignored people in bondage to the Egyptians. There must have been other nations considered much higher and nobler than the Israelites but the bible said that God who is the creator of the whole world saw slaves with his own eyes and heard them crying out. Hebrew word for to know in Exodus 3:8 is yada` {yaw-dah} and it implies to know by experience (Bible Work 7). In other words, God who created the whole world attentively observed and listened to slaves who were disregarded in this world and he knew of their suffering by experience. The God whom I believe in is not one who just sits on a throne in heaven and is not concerned about what happens in this world. But God in Christianity is the God who knows his people and has a close relationship with them. Exodus story indicates that God is purposeful, powerful, and sovereign in relation to this world. He has a plan for the history of the universe, which is to save his people from sins, and in executing it he governs and controls all created world. He is all powerful so he cannot be bound by any of the limitations of space or time that apply to us and he is always present everywhere. Personally, God has been there in many forms for me.   All of these attributes can be found in many parts of my personal experience with God. I have experienced God of Immanuel, who has been with me always. Jesus came to this world as Immanuel (Mt. 1:23) and his last words before he ascended into heaven was also Immanuel, I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Mt. 28:20). When I decided to go to seminary in Korea to be a pastor, I rejoiced in confidence because God was there with me. When I went to Korean Army, I endured the difficult time because God was there with me. When I came to America alone for further study, I did not fear to live in a strange land because God was there with me always. Throughout my life, the one thing that I am sure is that God has been always with me and loves me, who am the weakest among all. 2. What is your understanding of evil as it exists in the world? First of all, as Augustine said in his article, On the nature of good, I believe that God is good and every creation is good (Augustine, Chapter 34). And every creature came to exist by God without exception. Then how do we explain the origin of evil from the perfect good Creator? In regard to the matter of the origin of evil, I am of the same opinion with Augustine. Evil is lack of some good things. As it throws a shadow over us when we turn against the Sun, evil originate from a lack of goodness of God. I believe that God is the perfect Creator. One of the perfect things God created was man. Adam and Eve who were the perfect creature of God had a choice to follow God or to go against God. Without free will to choose, neither good nor evil could have been chosen. If man is ever to choose good, he must have the freedom to choose evil as well. Therefore, God did not create evil but perfect freedom to choose and human freely chose evil. After Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, evil became a reality in this world. In his Book, the City of God, Augustine recognized that evil in this world and goodness of Gods Kingdom co-exist on the earth throughout its history. However, Augustine believed that God would finally turn evil in this world into goodness of Gods Kingdom (Augustine, Chapter 13.4). By the original sin, I believe, all of us fell down from the image of God and evil came to prevail in us. However God also prepared the way through which we can be restored to Gods Image and be saved from our sins. The only way of salvation is Jesus Christ. 3. What is your understanding of humanity, and the human need for divine grace? On the last day of creation, God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness (Gen. 1:26). The image of God refers to the immaterial part of man. We were created to be set apart for God (Gen 1:28). He enabled us to commune with God. We were created in likeness mentally, morally, and socially. When we were created in Gods image, we were intended to become Gods agent so that we can take care of the world (Gen. 1:26,28). However, Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God. And they became alienated from the Creator. That historic event brought all mankind under divine condemnation. Human nature became corrupt, and therefore, totally unable to please God. Before Adam and Eve sinned, they both had direct contact and fellowship with God. But as a result of transgressing against God, Adam and Eve lost it all. They were both banished out of the garden, God pronounced a curse on them and their descendants and on the earth in general. Death entered into the big picture and all of us are born into this world with sinful nature. In his love and grace, God made a plan to save us. In Ephesians 2:4-7, Apostle Paul tells us that God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.   We cannot overcome our sinful nature and death but, through Jesus Christ, God had already made provision for us to be saved. By faith through grace, we can be saved (Eph. 2:8-9). Jesus Christ is the grace of God who showed us the way of salvation. By dying on the cross, Jesus paid the full and complete price for our sins so that we do not have to pay for it. The only way of salvation is by faith through Jesus Christ. And even the faith we have comes from God. Thus our salvation is entirely the work of God. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ will be saved by the grace of God. 4. How do you interpret the statement Jesus Christ is Lord? Jesus is our Lords human and personal name, meaning savior. Christ is our Lords official title. It is the Greek synonym for the Hebrew Messiah, meaning the Anointed One. The statement Jesus Christ is Lord implies the belief that Jesus who was born of the Virgin Mary is our savior who redeems us from our sins. In other words, to accept Jesus Christ as Lord means to accept two natures in Jesus Christ; the nature of divinity and the nature humanity. Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God at the same time. Existence of these two different natures in Jesus Christ is crucial because that matters to salvation. The doctrine of the virgin birth is very important (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:27, 34). Jesus birth was the result of the Holy Spirit working within Marys body. Mary was a vessel God used to perform the miracle of the Incarnation. Denying a physical connection between Mary and Jesus would imply that Jesus was not truly human. Scripture teaches us that Jesus was fully human with a physical body like ours. Jesus was fully God as well as he is fully human with an eternal and sinless nature (John 1:14, Acts 20:28, Hebrews 2:14-17). Jesus was not born with sinful nature. The virgin birth circumvented the transmission of the sinful nature and allowed the eternal God to become a perfect man. The deity of Christ is the central belief of Christianity as well as Jesus humanity. The bible clearly claimed that Jesus had the right to forgive sins, which is something only God can do (Mark 2:5-7, Acts 5:31, Colossians 3:13). Jesus was also said to be the one who will judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1) as an ultimate judge of this world. Apostle Paul called Jesus great God and Savior (Titus 2:13), and pointed out Jesus existence in the form of God prior to his incarnation (Philippians 2:5-8). In John 1:1, deity of Christ is clarified as the same God with Father, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). John here affirms both the deity of Christ and the Trinity. Jesus is God who incarnated in human flesh, the living Word of God. 5. What is your conception of the activity of the Holy Spirit in personal faith, in the community of believers, and in responsible living in the world?   The Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune God. The Holy Spirit is God in the same way that the Father is God and the Son is God. Scripture and the church tradition, including Nicene Creed (We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified), indicates that the Holy Spirit, known also as the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Jesus Christ, is of the same essence as the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit worked at the beginning of a church. Apostle Paul indicated an organism of a church as the Spirit baptized body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). And the one who leads us to become a new creation in Christ through worship is the Spirit of God (Eph. 2:18, Phil. 3:3). Each local gathering is a part of this one universal believing community as a body of Christ, and as Christs agent the Holy Spirit leads and guide us to grow into Christlike maturity   and fulfill Gods mission (Eph. 4:11-16).   The Spirit also works in a life of an individual believer. The Holy Spirit convicts lost people with respect to sin, righteousness, and judgment and by Gods power repentant and believing souls are saved. In sanctification, Holy Spirit indwells the Christian as one grows in the likeness of Christ and in his service. Scriptures tells us the Spirit who works throughout our journey of salvation. The Spirit leads us to repent our sins (John 16:7), makes us born again (John 3:3-5). And the Spirit empowers us to bring holiness in our life and helps us to bear fruits in our life (Galatians 5:22-23). 6. What is your understanding of the kingdom of God; the Resurrection; eternal life? As the Psalmist confessed, Your Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations (Ps. 145:13), I believe that God is the king of his covenant people. And as Apostles Creed (from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead) and the Nicene Creed (He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead) said, I believe that Christ will be our ultimate judge at the last day and God will reign over the whole world. As the Nicene Creed stated coming of Gods Kingdom (his kingdom will have no end), there must be the coming kingdom of God in the future in which Gods reign affects the whole world. However, the Kingdom of God is more than a vision of coming Gods reign in the future. The kingdom of God speaks of a present reality though not in entirety and a future result where the reign of God over all of creation will be perfected and made whole. In Luke 17:20-21, Jesus responds to a Pharisee who asked when the kingdom of God would come, The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say here it is or there it is because the kingdom of God is within you. As well as we experience coming of Gods reign over the world in the future, we will experience the Kingdom of God here and now although it is a foretastes of the fullness of Gods Kingdom. The resurrection of Christ on the third day after his crucifixion and his ascension to be with God until He comes again for the final time of judgment also marks the path of all those who claim faith in Christ. At the time when the Good News of Jesus Christ spreads to the whole nations, he will surely come to the world again (Mt. 24:14) from the heaven in a cloud with power and glory (1 Thessalonians 4:16). At that time people who accepted Jesus Christ as their savior will be risen from the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:15-16). Christs resurrection marked Christs victory over sin and death both physically and spiritually, we too as Christians who bear the marks of Christ gain the right to have the same victory both physically and spiritually. Eternal life is the end product of our resurrected souls. As the Apostles Creed (the life everlasting) and the Nicene Creed (the life of the world to come) insisted, I believe that those who have been saved by Christ will share the joy of eternal fellowship with Christ. Heaven means eternal joy in Christ and those who reject Christ will be judged to the eternal condemnation. 7. Explain the role and significance of baptism in the ministry to which you have been called. Sacraments are acts instituted by Christ and administered by a church having an outward form and conveying Gods grace. Baptism is one of two United Methodist sacraments the other is the Lords Supper. These sacraments are means of grace within the covenant community. They are visible signs and seals of something internal and invisible and the means by which God works in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. The scriptural mode of baptism is found in the New Testament. It records that Jesus was baptized by John (Mt. 3:13-17), and he commanded his disciples to teach and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19). Whoever accepts Jesus Christ as their savior is eligible to be baptized. Baptism conveys Gods grace that redeems us from our sins through the atonement of Christ. Therefore, baptizing of a person, whether as an infant or an adult, is a sign of Gods saving grace. In baptism, we witness that Gods grace is poured upon everybody regardless of their condition. Even though baptism is the special channel through which we experience Gods grace of the atonement of Christ, baptism does not guarantee our salvation. As John Wesley insisted in his sermon, Scripture Way of Salvation, salvation is a lifelong process of responding to Gods grace. By being baptized, we become a covenant people of God who have a promise that the Holy Spirit will work in our lives. However, salvation is not automatically obtained by baptism but by accepting Christ as our savior, trust in Christ and grow in holiness to be near unto God. Baptism represents an act of initiation for Christian believers into the Church. By being baptized, we make a covenant of relationship between God and also between congregations in a church. As baptized Christians, we join the universal church and make a promise our loyalty as the body of Christ. 8. Explain the role and significance of the Lords Supper in the ministry to which you have been called. God provides us various ways in which we can grow in Gods grace. The Lords Supper, also known as Communion, or Eucharist, is one of the Christs gifts to the church, in which we experience Gods grace. Following Jesus example and instruction, when the church celebrates the Lords Supper we receive gifts of bread and wine. In this sacrament, we celebrate our fellowship with Christ and with each other. The invitation to the Table comes from the risen and present Christ. In United Methodist, whoever loves him, repents their sins, and seeks to live as a Christian disciple is invited to participate in the Lords Supper. By responding to this invitation we affirm and deepen our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is not easy to understand how bread and wine become Jesus body and blood in the Lords Supper. So it is mystery. Some churches insist that the Lords Supper is merely a memorial of Christs sacrifice and a sign of Christian fellowship. Some churches including historic Reformed churches insist that bread and wine in Communion conveys a unique spiritual power although Christs body ascended into heaven. Lutheran churches insist that Christs actual body is present with the elements of bread and wine. And the Roman Catholic churches insist that even the essence of bread and wine are changed into Christs true body and blood, with maintaining their physical reality persisting (transubstantiation). United Methodist believes that the real presence of Christ is communicated to the believers. To participate in the Lords Supper is not merely to recall the event 2000 years ago. But when we receive bread and wine with faith, it becomes dynamic action within us and we experience the grace of body and blood of Christ which is re-presented to us in the Lords Supper. The past event of our Lords death, resurrection and ascension comes into the present so that its power once again touches us, changes us, and heals us. We gather at the table with joy. Our eating and drinking is a celebration of our risen Lord. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ is present with us at the table and so we give joyful thanks for what God has done and is doing in our lives and in the world. We come to the table in hope. We look forward with joyful anticipation to the coming reign of God.   9. How do you intend to affirm, teach and apply Part II of the Discipline (Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task) in your work in the ministry to which you have been called? What we believe as Christians matters. What we believe tells us who we are. Part II of the Book of Discipline contains Methodist heritage in faith and theology and heart of Methodist doctrines. In other words, Part II of the Book of Discipline tells us who we are as Christians, particularly Methodists. It is important for Methodists to study this in order for us to have a clear understanding of our heritage, doctrine, and the faith we profess together. Our Christian faith is built on tradition which fathers in faith handed over to us. We will also add our profession of faith upon it and turn it over to the next generation. Therefore, as a pastor, to lead people into right direction to Christian faith by affirming and teaching what we believe and who we are is crucial. In order to fulfill this mission, I will preach the gospel verified in our tradition and theology. A pastor should not preach the gospel according to his or her own theology but we should profess communal faith built upon tradition. Through preaching and small group study, I will teach Methodist heritage. To learn who our fathers of faith were and what they believed will help us to know our identity and to understand the place where I am now. On the basis of our tradition, we should do our best to leave our footmarks so that our children can see and follow faith of their parents and go in the right direction. To leave footmarks of our faith is to teach our children and show them how to live out what we profess in our lives. I will teach our children the Methodist heritage and doctrine in Sunday School at a level they can understand. 10. The United Methodist Church holds that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason. What is your understanding of this theological position of the Church? The scripture is the primary source of Christian faith.   It is clear that the Scripture is the primary vehicle by which we grow in faith. The scripture has great authority in teaching and guiding us in faithful living and right understanding as to the nature of God and humanity. All the scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). When we read the bible, the Holy Spirit guides us to find the truth which illuminates our life.   Church tradition is an important practice for theological reflection and interpretation of the Scripture. Christian faith has built upon our ancestors confessions of faith for a long period of time, and that formed church tradition. Tradition is a source of authority and a lens through which Scripture is interpreted inside it. Experience is an important practice for Christian faith because the scripture and theology must be understood on the basis of our experiences. Communal experience within a faith community helps us to understand Gods word toward us here and now. Reason is used to examine authenticity of theological reflection and an interpretation of the scripture. By reason we ask questions of faith and seek to understand Gods action and will. However, reason as a practice for Christian faith does not mean to have a speculative thought but it indicates to conceive under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Wesleys quadrilateral indicates the importance of checks and balances between four practices. To focus upon one practice brings danger to a church to lose its balance and have a radical view on Christian faith. Thus, to keep the balance between these four practices, with holding primacy of the scripture, is crucial. 11. Describe the nature and mission of the Church.   What are its primary tasks today? In regard to the nature of the church, I agree with the Nicene Creed which describes the church as one holy catholic and apostolic. The church, in this case, meaning universal Christian church, is one in Christ. The church is holy so it is called apart from the secular world.   Although only the part of holiness is seen at the church in the present time, we will see the fullness of holiness at the time of coming of Christ in the end. The Church is universal for all people. As it is written in 1 Cor. 12:27, Church is likened to the Body of Christ whereby the coming together of the various parts form one perfect and organic body with Christ as the head. This analogy means that the church will embrace both the fullness of Christian teaching and the diversity of people who make up the church and function as the each parts of the body. The church is apostolic so it stands in continuity with the apostolic witness. I believe that the mission of the church can be found at the Twenty-five Articles of Religion which indicates three necessary elements of the church: faith(congregation of faithful men), preaching(in which the pure Word of God is preached) and sacrament(and the Sacrament duly administered) (13th Article of Religion, 1784). The church is the gathering of people of faith, spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, and administers sacraments. The ultimate goal of the church should be to make people disciples of Jesus Christ. Through preaching, teaching, worship, and nurturing, the Church is Gods ordained vehicle whereby others can be disciplined and experience the grace in which we stand as the body of Christ. The primary task of the Church today is to be a true mission church. As the body of Christ, bound to God and to one another through Christ, church always lives in a community. To lose dynamic organism of a church means to lose its vital power. A part which is not united with the whole is useless. For that reason, a local church should be connected with people and groups around it and be united with the universal church spiritually. If a church is connected and united, it should be transformative. If a church has a vital organic power, it will transform the world in which they live as a living plant bears fruits. God being connected to us came down in the form of flesh to dwell among us. Jesus ministry was to preach the Good News and to live out the message of love with people around him. The church that truly impacts peoples life is the church that knows people around her, shares joys and sorrows of the people, and give them hope in Jesus Christ. 12. Describe your understanding of the primary characteristics of United Methodist polity. First, the system, known as itinerancy, is the most distinguishing feature of Methodism. In many polities ministers are called, but in Methodist polity they are sent. One consequence of this system is that local congregations are generally receptive to whoever minister is sent. This gives ministry an objective quality that is not dependent on the personal characters of individuals or the expectations of parishes. One of the most valuable consequences of this polity is the relative success that United Methodist Church has had in placing women and minorities in parish situation. Second, United Methodist Church determines church policy in conferences, which function as deliberative bodies. There are several levels of such conferences. The annual conference is the basic corporate body of which the primary function is to connect local churches to one another. All ordinations take place at the annual conference. The highest deliberative body in Methodism is the General Conference. The conference legislates general policy for the church as a whole. The annual conferences are grouped geographically into the jurisdictional conference, of which there are presently five in the US. Central conferences are concerned with the work of the church outside the US. Churches within a specific area of an annual conference may assemble in district conferences. Annual meetings among local congregations or groups of contingent congregations, to which a member of an annual conference is assigned, are known as charge conference. Third, one of the unique features of Methodist governance is a structure of official leadership through which the supervisory function takes place. The executive function of the bishop includes a number of powers-particularly associated with the appointment of clergy to charges. The bishop works through district superintendents. They act as liaisons between the local parishes and the bishop. The several district superintendents in a conference are called the bishops cabinet. The district superintendent presides at the charge conferences. Fourth, an involvement of lay people in the deliberative and legislative bodies of the church has been important. Governance in contemporary Methodism is a shared responsibility of clergy and lay people. Lay preachers and lay leaders continue to work in local churches.

volleyball college essay :: essays research papers

Have you ever struggled mightily for something and succeeded? What made you successful?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I looked in their faces and knew mine mirrored theirs. I didn’t want it to, but it did. Just ten minutes ago, we all were so jubilant. We were so sure we were going to win. We had all wanted it for so long, but we finally felt is as our destiny just a few moments ago. But as our opponent threw the ball in the air, I knew she was just about to serve another ace. However, when the ball landed three feet in front of our best passer, something snapped inside of me.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We were going to win the game. That was the end of it. I knew it. We were the winners of that game. I stood up and yelled in a voice that even frightened me. I didn’t scream about moving our feet, or calling the ball, I screamed about how big of winners we were. I was done with moping. For seven minutes of my life, I had forgotten that I could do anything I set my mind to, and I had given up. The worst seven minutes of my volleyball career were those seven minutes in the third game of the final match at Brighton Volleyball Tournament. I had put my determination down to wallow in my disappointment. Disappointment needs to build determination. I had decided a long time ago that there were certain things in life that I could do better than other people. Those were my gifts. I use my gifts to my full potential.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The server on the other team once again threw the ball into the air. This time, my teammate sprawled for the ball, and made a perfect pass to me, allowing me to set the ball and have my co-captain smash it to the ground. I looked once again at the faces of my teammates. Things were different now. I knew at once that they knew what I knew. We were the winners of that game. We remembered that at that point, and were assured of it when the referee blew the final whistle after I served an ace on game point.

Wireless Technology Essays -- Internet Computers Essays

Wireless Technology Wireless technology is an industry that has seen much growth and progress in the years following the inception of the internet and cell phones. Our society has progressed to the point to where we can no longer function without this technology. Business, travel, and everyday life now are dependant on wireless technology. Wireless technology is just what its name implies, communicating or computing without wires and phone lines. Wireless technology uses a variety of different devices such as desktop and laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDA’s), cell phones, and many others. The major benefit of wireless technology to users is the immediate access it offers to resources. Whether it is providing access to your office, the Internet, your business, or just making a phone call while walking down the street, wireless technology provides millions of users with a degree of flexibility that used to be limited by wires. In general, wireless technology works a lot like wired technology. The user inputs data onto device, connection software translates the data into a format for transmission, and transmission protocols determine the method and route the data into a format for transmission. The method and route the data will take is determined by transmission protocols. Once more, connection software re-translates the data into a format that the new user can perceive. Wireless technology is important to business because it makes communication and integration of e-business easier to achieve. Virtualization brings computing power to the consumer when they need it. Grid technology lets us share and manage collections of resources as if they were a large virtualiz... ...s many wireless technologies as possible. In the end, the wireless technologies that will survive will rely on ease of use and affordability. Bibliography Woods, Arthur and Chiu, Charles, (Sept/Oct 2003). Response to Technology in College Classrooms. Retrieved October 25, 2004 from http://ts.mivu.org/default.asp?show=article&id=1045 New to Wireless Technology (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2004 from http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/wireless/newto/ Introduction to Wireless Networking (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2004 from http://www.dnjonline.com/articles/mobility/nov02_wireless_networks.asp Bluetooth Wireless Technology (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2004 from http://www.palmos.com/dev/tech/bluetooth/ Wireless LAN (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2004 from http://www.wirelessdictionary.com/#WLAN

Be able to prepare to provide support for eating and drinking Essay

I should always check the individuals care plan to establish the level of support required by the individual when eating and drinking. I should also ask colleagues, the individual’s family, friends and the individual if they would like help and how they would like me to help. I must ensure I’m not imposing a level of support which suits me or my organisation rather than the individual. I should provide the minimum of support possible in order for the task to be accomplished regardless of how long this will take or the mess the individual may make. I may need to support individuals to prepare for meal time with things such as protective clothing. I should check if they need support with positioning to ensure they are comfortable whilst eating and drinking. It may be that the individual is able to feed themselves, if provided with the correct equipment to do so. By providing the individual with the correct equipment I’m providing active support and ensuring that I’m supporting them in a way that helps the individual maintain their independence There is specially adapted cutlery available for individuals who may have arthritic fingers, where they are not able to grip conventional cutlery. An individual suffering with dementia may need to be prompted to eat at regular intervals. The individual may be sight impaired making it difficult to eat independently. An individual suffering with dysphagia and have difficulty swallowing. They would require their food to be pureed or may need to be fed via P. E. G. tube. Some individuals may need to be fed if they do not have the use of their hands. There are many different levels and types of support depending on the individuals circumstances. Demonstrate effective hand-washing and use of protective clothing when handling food and drink Support the individual to prepare to eat and drink, in a way that meets their personal needs and preferences The individual may require protective coverings such as an apron to protect their clothing from stains from dropped food or drink and napkins to wipe themselves if necessary. I should provide individuals with the opportunity to use the toilet and wash their hands prior to their meal. An important aid to eating is an individual’s dentures. They should be available and also well fitting. They may have religious activities they wish to carry out prior to their meal such as praying, washing themselves or giving thanks. Provide suitable utensils to assist the individual to eat and drink. Ordinary cutlery can be too heavy to hold or too difficult to grip for some individuals and particularly those with arthritic hands. There is a wide range of specialist cutlery available to allow individuals to remain as independent as possible and manage eating and drinking with minimal assistance. Some of which is listed below: Types of utensil Purpose Angled cutlery For some people who finds it difficult to bring a fork or spoon at right angles to the mouth Easy grip handled spoon and fork For an individual who finds it difficult to grip cutlery. Plate guard If an individual is likely to shuffle food off the plate, the plate guard would stop food from escaping Melamine cups, plates and bowls, two handled drinking cups with a flexible plastic straw To avoid breakages if an individual is prone to dropping things. For people with hand tremors Cups with a spout Very efficient if I need to avoid spillages Special plates with hot water compartment at the base Feeding cup Non slip tray with handle Gadget to remove lids from jars/bottles To keep food warm while individuals eat their food, useful if they normally take long to eat. This will reduce the rate at which the food gets cold. Avoids spills – liquid at the bottom is drank first so ensure no tea leaves. For those with use of only one arm, to carry several items at once Aids individuals with weak hands.

Extracting Dna from Bananas

Extracting DNA from Bananas In the Lab: Extracting DNA from Bananas, DNA was removed from bananas that had been blended with water in order to examine how DNA is seen from the naked eye. DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, which is a nucleic acid that contains the sugar deoxyribose. DNA is made up of a series of monomers called nucleotides. Each nucleotide has three parts: a deoxyribose molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. In addition, there are four kinds of nitrogenous bases in DNA. Two of the nitrogenous bases, adenine and guanine, belong to a group of compounds known as purines. The remaining two bases, cytosine and thymine, are known as pyrimidines. The actual DNA structure is seen as a double helix in which two strands are wound around each other. Each strand is made up of a chain of nucleotides. The two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between adenine and thymine and between guanine and cytosine. In 1944, a group of scientists led by Canadian biologist Oswald Avery performed an experiment that would determine which molecule in a heat-killed bacterium was most important for transformation to occur. Avery and the other scientists discovered that DNA is the nucleic acid that stores and transmits the genetic information from one generation of an organism to the next. Thus, DNA is present in all living organisms. It holds the instructions necessary for the organism to grow and function, and is passed on from generation to generation through heredity. During the procedure of the lab, a ratio of one banana per one cup (250 milliliters) of distilled water had to be mixed together in a blender. The solution had to be blended for 15 to 20 seconds, until it became a dense mixture. In a separate five-ounce cup, a solution consisting of one teaspoon of shampoo and two pinches of salt was made. 20 milliliters (four teaspoons) of distilled water was then added to the mixture. Then the salt and shampoo had to be dissolved into the mixture by stirring slowly by avoiding foaming. Three heaping teaspoons of the banana mixture that was made in the beginning of the experiment was then added to the shampoo, salt, and water solution and mixed with a spoon for five to ten minutes. While the banana solution was being mixed, a number two cone coffee filter was laced inside a second five-ounce cup. The coffee filter was specifically placed in the cup so that it did not touch the bottom. After stirring for five to ten minutes, the mixture of banana and shampoo was filtered by pouring it into the coffee filter and letting the solution drain for several minutes until there was approximately five milliliters of filtrate to test. A test tube of cold alcohol was then obtained. Then a plastic pipette was filled with the filtrate two times and added to the alcohol. The solution then sat for two to three minutes without a single disruption such as shaking the test tube. The white DNA could be seen precipitating out of the alcohol layer. Lastly, when good results were obtained, there was enough DNA to spool onto a rod or a plastic loop. Throughout the entire experiment there were many possible ways that the ending result of the appearance of the DNA could have differed. The order in which the procedure is stated is very important because the cells must first be broken down in order to release the DNA to be seen. If the steps were altered then the yield or the amount of DNA per banana could have been very small because the DNA would get trapped inside the cells or bound to lipids. Although nowadays very few errors are made due to scientists using biotechnology equipment that allows them to look at DNA to see exactly how organisms are different, and find out how they work. Each living organism has its own unique DNA sequence. Three examples of why scientists might need to indentify DNA are for genetic testing, body identification, and analysis of forensic evidence. Genetic testing can best be defined as a process in which an individual’s DNA is isolated and tested for the presence of specific genes or defects that could indicate the future onset of some disease. Body identification is a subfield of forensic science wherein investigators need to identify a body. Furthermore, analysis of forensic evidence is defined as the application of forensic science and technology to identify specific objects from the trace evidence they leave, often at a crime scene or the scene of an accident. Overall, the Lab: Extracting DNA from Bananas demonstrated and visualized the process of how DNA can be seen from the naked eye by removing DNA directly from bananas.

Review of the Financial Statements of Merck and Novartis Companies

In module 2 case study I am to do the following understanding financial reports and continue to review the financial statements of Merck and Novartis to learn additional information. The emphasis of this Case is to review the income statement, balance sheet and computation of ratios. Review the financial statements for the companies and answer the following questions for the last reporting year: What components of stockholders' equity does each of the companies disclose?Merck & Company IncThe components of the stockholders equity common stock (authorized and issued), other paid-in capital, retained earnings, accumulated other comprehensive loss, and treasury stock. Novartis International Ag. The components of the stockholders equity are share capital, treasury shares, reserves, and non-controlling interest. Do the companies have preferred stock shares outstanding? If so, what special features do these shares contain? Merck & Company Inc. Merck has authorized 20,000,000 shares of pref erred stock in 2012.All preferred stock from the AMI a merger in 1998 is being converted to either cash or shares of Merck stock. Novartis International Ag. Novartis did not report any preferred stock. Do either of the companies report treasury shares? If so, do the companies disclose the reason for reacquiring the shares? Merck & Company Inc. Yes Merck reported treasury shares; they reported the purchase of treasury shares on the balance sheet in the equity section and also on the summary of common stock and treasury stock transactions.In this case no they didn’t disclose any reasons for reacquiring shares other than those from the merger. Novartis International Ag. Yes Novartis reported treasury share; No they did not disclose reasons for reacquiring shares Income Statement. What are the basic and diluted earnings per share for each company? Merck & Company Inc. Basic earnings per common stock $2. 03 Diluted earnings per common stock $2. 00 Novartis International Ag. Basic earnings per common stock $3. 93. Diluted earnings per common stock $3. 89Have the companies reported any discontinued operations? Merck & Company Inc Merck has not reported any discontinued operations Novartis International Ag. Novartis reported no discontinued operations for 2012. Do the companies disclose any stock compensation plans? If so, are they reporting such plans under the fair value or intrinsic value methods? What was the value of compensation expense measured for any outstanding stock option plans? Merck & Company Inc. Yes they are reporting under the fair value method.The value of the compensation expense measured was approximately $72 million to the holders and $4 million Merck common shares issued. Novartis International Ag. Novartis did not disclose any stock compensation plans Financial Ratios Compute the following ratios. Also, interpret and assess each group of ratios for the company. What type of story are the ratios telling the analyst? Profitability ratios: ? Gross profit margin = Gross income/sales. The gross profit margin is a financial ratio which is a measurement of a company's manufacturing and distribution efficiency during the production process.A company uses its gross income to fund such company activities as research and development and marketing, which are important for generating future sales. A prolonged decline in the gross profit margin is a red flag for possible impending negative pressure on sales and, ultimately, earnings. You need to know the trend of the company before you can make an analysis of whether or not the gross profit margin is good or not, in this case Novartis has a better gross profit than Merck. Merck & Company Inc. 8,739/47,267 = . 185 Novartis International Ag. 11,243/56,673 = . 198?Net profit margin = Net income/ sale Net profit is the profit that is generated from all phases of the business, including interest and taxes. This is the â€Å"bottom line† that garners most of the attention in dis cussions of a company’s profitability. The net profit margin (net margin) compares net income to sales. A consistently high net margin is often indicative of a company with one or more competitive advantages. Furthermore, a high net margin provides a company with a cushion during downturns in its business. In this case Novartis has a better net profit margin than Merck.Merck & Company Inc. 6,299/47,267 = . 133 Novartis International Ag. 9,618/56,673 = . 170 ? Return on stockholders' equity = net income/ shareholders equity Return on equity (ROE) is equal to a fiscal year's net income. It measures the rate of return on the ownership interest of the common stock owners and measures a company's efficiency at generating profits from every unit of shareholders' equity. Return on equity for most companies certainly should be in the double digits; investors often look for 15% or higher, while return of 20% or more is considered excellent.Neither of these companies is great for their ROE but they are close, Novartis being higher. Merck & Company Inc. 6,299/53,020 = . 119 (12%) Novartis International Ag. 9,618/69,219 = . 139 (14%) Liquidity ratios: ? Current ratio = current assets/current liabilities The current ratio is a financial ratio that measures whether or not a firm has enough resources to pay its debts over the next 12 months. While Merck is able to pay back its debt, Novartis can pay its debt more easily and have a lot left over. Merck & Company Inc 34,857/18,348 = 1. 900.Novartis International Ag:  124,216/30,946 = 4. 013 ? Quick ratio= current assets-inventory/current liabilities Generally, the quick ratio should be 1:1 or higher; however this varies widely by industry. In general, the higher the ratio is, the greater the company's liquidity (i. e. , the better able to meet current obligations using liquid assets). The quick ratio is also known as acid test ratio. Both companies have a quick ratio but Novartis has a better quick ratio than Merck. M erck & Company Inc. 34,857-7,305/18,348 = 1. 501 Novartis International Ag. 124,216-6,744/30,946 = 3. 796?Inventory turnover = COGS/Inventory The inventory turnover is a measure of the number of times inventory is sold or used in a time period such as a year. Merck & Company Inc Inventory not specified on the 10K. Novartis International Ag. 18,756/6,744 = 2. 781. Leverage ratios: ? Debt-to-assets= Total debt/total assets Debt to asset ratio is a financial ratio that indicates the percentage of a company's assets that are provided via debt. Novartis has a lower debt than Merck. Merck & Company Inc. 18,348 + 16,348 = 34,696 34,696/106,132 = . 327Novartis International Ag:  5,945/124,216 = . 048 ? Debt-to-equity= total debt/total shareholders’ equity The debt to equity ratio, usually abbreviated as D/E, is a financial ratio indicating the relative proportion of shareholders' equity and debt used to finance a company's assets. Novartis used fewer loans to finance the companyâ⠂¬â„¢s assets than Merck. Merck & Company Inc. 34,696/536,020 = . 065. Novartis International Ag. 5,945/69,219 = . 086 ? Times-covered ratio= earnings before interest and taxes/ interest Times interest earned (TIE) is a measure of a company's ability to honor its debt payments.The times interest earned ratio is also referred to as the interest coverage ratio. Merck & Company Inc. Only had a consolidated statements of income Novartis International Ag. Only had a consolidated statements of income What type of information do you find in footnotes to the financial statements? Additional information provided in a company's financial statements. Notes to the financial statements report the details and additional information that are left out of the main reporting documents, such as the balance sheet and income statement.This is done mainly for the sake of clarity because these notes can be quite long, and if they were included, they would cloud the data reported in the financial statement s. Do you find the balance sheet, income statement or other measures such as ratios the most informative? Comment on the advantages and disadvantages of using ratios for analysis. I find that the balance sheet and the income statement have the standings of how the company did per quarter but the ratios show comparison of how they did. The ratios are good because you breakdown all the big numbers and just use percentages and analysis what is important.The balance sheets show the breakdown of all the individual accounts consolidated so both are good. A disadvantage of depending on the statements are that they can mislead you indifferent ways, if you only look at the numbers and do not look at the foot notes you may make a bad decision. Bad information can also be given through the statements, although this is illegal people still do it and later on change it or say it was a mistake but you may not catch that. Ratios can also have disadvantages like if they are not computed correctly y ou may have the wrong percentages or you may have nothing to compare them to.

Alternative Fuel Vehicles Feasibility Study Essay

As a leader in the rental vehicle industry for the past 30 years, ABC Rental Cars has continually remained a step ahead of its competition. To continue to set the pace for other rental agencies to follow, and to ensure ABC Rental Cars’ dominant position in the marketplace, alternative fuel vehicles (AFV), or more specifically, hybrid vehicles, should be evaluated as to the feasibility and consumer interest of introducing these types of vehicles into our fleet. Currently, gasoline prices are at an all-time high. The United States’ dependency on foreign oil is also at an extremely high level, and with the ever-shifting Middle Eastern political climate teetering at volatile levels, hybrid vehicles are an important avenue to be considered. While hybrid car sales currently lag behind sales of conventional vehicles, J. D. Power & Associates, a market research firm, estimates that hybrid vehicle sales will increase to half a million by the year 2006. In addition, nearly 20 new models of hybrid cars, SUV’s, and trucks will be rolled out to consumers in the next few years (Mossy Automotive Group, 2004). ABC Rentals can reap the rewards of providing these vehicles to its consumers, provided the cost associated with this program is mutually beneficial to both parties. Initially, the types of fuels that are available need to be researched to determine the viability of introducing hybrid vehicles into our fleet. While there are several options of alternative fuels available, most are not practical. The fuels analyzed included natural gas, biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, Fischer Tropsch, liquefied natural gas, methanol, and propane. Ultimately, the research concluded that the only practical, economical, and accessible fuel currently available is electricity, when used in the hybrid concept. There are many vehicles that use electricity. The most popular concept is used in hybrid vehicles. These vehicles have an electric motor, with a separate gasoline motor. One of the benefits is fuel economy. According to an EPA report, hybrids â€Å"can more than double the gas mileage of conventional gasoline or diesel-powered cars. † Also, this use of energy reduces emissions because gasoline consumption is reduced. Next, the gasoline motor charges the battery as the car is running, nullifying the need for recharging stations. Ultimately, the most practical fuel that can be considered at this time is electricity combined with gasoline, which is used in hybrid vehicles. (EPA, 2003) As a means to gauge consumer interest in these types of vehicles, we also needed to research our competitors to distinguish if hybrid vehicles would be a practical addition to our fleet. Currently, EV Rental Cars is the only company in the United States to rent hybrid cars to the public. At this time, there are a total of eight locations with hybrid vehicles: four locations in California: Los Angeles, Burbank, Ontario and San Diego, one location in Phoenix, Arizona, two locations in Virginia: Dulles and Arlington, and one in Washington D. C. With all of the locations above in mind, EV Rental Cars has grown in fleet size to more than 400 cars throughout the eight different locations (www. evrental. com, 2001). One of the vehicles available to rent at EV Rentals is the Toyota Prius, which is a full size family sedan. This vehicle rents for $49. 99 per day, or $299. 94 per week, and EV Rentals offers 150 free miles per day and . 25/mile thereafter (www. evrental. com, 2001). The Prius achieves 60 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway (autos. yahoo. com, 2004). Comparatively, Honda has introduced the Honda Insight, which in the rental vehicle industry is considered to be a standard size car, and the Honda Civic hybrid, which is considered to be a compact car. These two cars are offered by EV Rentals at a similar price to the Toyota Prius (www. evrental.com, 2001). The Honda Insight achieves an EPA highway mileage of 66 mpg and 60 mpg in the city, while the Honda Civic hybrid can travel 650 miles with a full tank of gas (www. honda. com, 2004). As indicated above, these three cars are not only great when it comes to mileage, but another advantage they enjoy is that they are also environmentally friendly. For example, the Prius produces 90 percent less harmful emissions than a traditional car (www. ineed2know. org, 2004), which is important to those individuals that are concerned about the environment. Even President Bush seemed to agree that alternative fuel vehicles needed to be further investigated when he endorsed the concept of alternative fuel vehicles and allocated more than a billion dollars toward the transition to hydrogen fuels (www. evrental. com, 2001). On the other hand, these types of cars are not a practical investment if cost and availability are issues. Not only is the price higher, but due to limited interest in hybrids by consumers at this time, there is only a small geographic area where hybrids are being rented. Most locations are situated in California, Arizona, and Washington; therefore, if ABC Rental Cars is looking for a new rental opportunity that could expand quickly, hybrid vehicles may not be the ideal choice. Initial startup costs and maintenance costs are also important factors to consider. The price of a hybrid automobile is higher than that of a comparable gasoline engine powered automobile. According to the Website ineed2know. org, a consumer can expect to pay from $3,500 to $6,000 more for a hybrid vehicle. The money a consumer saves in purchasing a hybrid depends greatly on the cost of gasoline. For example, if gas is priced at $1. 80 per gallon, it might take the average driver between 10 and 15 years to make up a $3,500 increase in the initial price. The higher the gas prices go, the less time it will take to recoup the higher price of purchasing a hybrid (ineed2know. org, 2004). However, statistics detailing the amount of time needed to recoup initial investment costs for businesses were not available at this time. Batteries for hybrid vehicles cost considerably more than conventional car batteries. Hybrid batteries sport a price tag of $1,000 – $2,000, more than 10 ? 20 times that of a gasoline powered vehicle (ineed2know.org, 2004). While most hybrid batteries are covered under the vehicle warranty, once the warranty expires it will be the owner’s responsibility to cover the cost of a new battery. Below are some specific pricing examples of hybrids that are currently on the market: The Toyota Prius has a suggested retail price of $21, 708, which is comparable to the Corolla that retails at $15, 580. The hybrid Honda Civic cost $20, 650. That’s about $2,300 more than the Honda Civic with a gasoline powered engine. (Phelan, 2004) Eartheasy. com lists the Honda Insight with a base retail price of $19,080 to $21,280. (2004) The Pontiac Website (2004) lists the comparable Vibe at $17, 165. The Ford Website (2004) boasts the hybrid 2005 Ford Escape, available in August 2004, which will have a retail price of $26,970 for the front-wheel drive SUV. The four-wheel drive hybrid SUV will retail at $28,595. Comparable Ford Escapes with gasoline powered engines retail for $19,995 and $21, 605 respectively. Renewable energy has become the focus of many markets in today’s society. From solar panels to hybrid vehicles, Americans are interested in purchasing these types of technologies, but need financial help from the government in the form of tax credits and rebates. Hybrid vehicles are costly to manufacture, and automakers pass on this higher cost to consumers in the form of higher retail prices of the vehicle. To help offset these higher prices, automakers are encouraging the federal government to provide tax credits to those consumers who purchase hybrid vehicles. The reason for this push is there is currently no alternative technology planned for the future. In a speech given to the Automotive News World Congress, Ford Motor Company’s CEO William Ford stated: â€Å"Hybrid vehicles are a very good bridge between today’s technology and fuel cells. Fuel cells ? as promising as they are ? come with a tremendous infrastructure challenge. We do not have hydrogen on every corner like we do gasoline, and we also have storage issues. With hybrids, we do not have to invent anything ? we know they work. † (Kiley, 2004) To date, there are two types of tax credits available to those who purchase alternative fuel vehicles: ? If you purchase a certain type of electric vehicle, you may be entitled to a tax credit. ?If a vehicle qualifies as a â€Å"clean-fuel† vehicle, you may be entitled to a deduction from gross income. Currently, any clean-fuel vehicles that are manufactured after June 30, 1993 and before January 1, 2007, qualifies the owner for a deduction off of their gross income for a portion of the cost of the vehicle. Examples of these vehicles are natural gas, hydrogen and any fuel that is composed of at least 85% ethanol, alcohol or ether. Electric vehicles receive a 10% tax credit, based on the purchase price. The maximum dollar amount cannot exceed $4,000. These credits will be phased out gradually ? 25, 50 and 75 percent in 2004, 2005, and 2006 respectively, until it is phased out completely in 2007 (www. taxguide. completeax. com, 2004). These tax credits are targeted to the individual consumer, and not for rental vehicles. With the price of gasoline currently hovering around $2. 20 per gallon, the hybrid vehicle appears to be an attractive alternative. However, without a tax credit geared towards the business market, it is not a feasible option. Unfortunately, even with a tax credit, it would take years for the population to change their driving habits. To summarize, marketing alternative fuel vehicles to the consumer can be challenging, and most consumers are not aware of the types or manufacturers of these vehicles. If people are knowledgeable at all about alternative fuel environmental friendly vehicles, they may not be certain of where they can purchase or rent one of them. Purchasing an environmentally friendly vehicle is getting easier to do, with more car manufacturers jumping on the bandwagon. Honda and Toyota have led the way with hybrid vehicles, and Ford has also been in the market with its Ford Crown Victoria natural gas vehicles, with upcoming plans to debut their 2005 Ford Escape hybrid in August 2004. Pontiac is also throwing their hat into the ring with their new hybrid vehicle, the Vibe. Most consumers that are in the market for alternative fuel vehicles are looking at the new hybrids, which use both a combination of electricity and gasoline and can achieve 50 to 60 miles per gallon. The batteries on these vehicles automatically recharge themselves; consequently the vehicles never are required to be plugged in. Renting an alternative fuel vehicle can be more challenging than purchasing one, since at this time there is only one viable rental agency; EV Rental Cars, who has partnered with Budget Rent a Car, a major player in the rental car industry. If a person lives in, or is visiting California, Arizona or Washington D. C. , they can rent one of these vehicles at one of the major airports. The cost is $10 to $20 dollars more per day than renting regular gasoline powered vehicles. Most can be rented or reserved on the Internet, but some alternative fuel vehicles cannot. Consumers must request these in person at rental locations. There are a small amount of benefits for the consumer. For example, drivers can travel in the carpool lane even if they are driving alone in California, Arizona, Virginia and Georgia, thereby saving time. Additionally, when returning traditional rental vehicles, a renter is usually required to return the vehicle with the same amount of gas as was in the vehicle when first rented. Conversely, alternative fuel vehicles can be returned empty, incurring no extra surcharge. As far as refueling these vehicles, charging electric vehicles is free at the rental car recharging stations. Also, hybrid vehicles are more economical because they get more than 60 miles per gallon. Looking at the limited benefits, the overall cost and lack of convenience of purchasing or renting one of these alternative fuel vehicles, and the fact that there is limited availability, does not make it very appealing to the consumer. To investigate a hybrid vehicle consumer’s point of view concerning these types of vehicles, we conducted an interview with Dr. Mark Looper, a hybrid car enthusiast who operates the website altfuels. org. Dr. Looper holds an MS and PhD in physics from the California Institute of Technology, and an AB in physics from Princeton University. He has owned alternative fuel vehicles since 1993, and rents hybrid vehicles from the local EV Rental agency in his area. His website offers reviews of these rental vehicles, as well as real-life experiences of Dr. Looper’s travels utilizing alternative fuel vehicles. Dr. Looper’s primary reason for renting AFV’s is to provide information about alternative vehicles to the general public in the form of his reviews, as well as to promote and gain support for these vehicles with his friends, colleagues, and anyone interested enough to learn about alternatives to gasoline powered vehicles. While Dr. Looper’s rental charges exceeded the cost of gasoline powered vehicles, he stressed that cost was not much of a factor in his decision. Instead, Dr. Looper was far more interested in providing useful information to the visitors of his website. One of the questions asked of Dr. Looper was his comfort level while renting AFV’s. Specifically, did he feel nervous that alternative fuel may not be available, or that the vehicle would not handle as well as a traditional vehicle, two concerns of traditional vehicle owners. His reply was that while he was initially nervous when he decided to drive the vehicle across the country, he has never felt nervous while driving in his area. Fuel was always available, as were charging sources. Dr. Looper has stated that he would continue to rent alternative fuel vehicles, to not only â€Å"promote AFV’s by enhancing market demand and visibility,† but to also provide important feedback to consumers considering purchasing or renting these vehicles. Dr. Looper also feels very strongly about environmental issues, and considers this when making a decision of which vehicle to rent. If an alternative fuel vehicle is available, he will always choose this path, as opposed to the traditional vehicle. In conclusion, our research reveals that ABC Rental Cars should not consider introducing alternative fuel vehicles into its fleet at this time. The initial investment costs are much higher than those of traditional gasoline powered vehicles, and costs associated with the upkeep of these vehicles are also prohibitive. In addition, while tax breaks are available to consumers purchasing hybrid vehicles, our studies failed to reveal any tax savings for businesses purchasing, or renting hybrid vehicles. Furthermore, Dr. Looper’s enthusiasm and knowledge notwithstanding, the demand for hybrid vehicles is not currently at a level that would justify the amount of capital necessary to launch this program. However, ABC Rental Cars should continue to monitor developments in the hybrid vehicle industry, as well as gauge consumer interest in these vehicles, and be prepared to move forward with this program should it become economically feasible in the future. 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