Athenahealth Inc. Analysis

Athenahealth controls health system management software market through its products that target physicians. The company has enjoyed considerable success due to its strong marketing strategies. For six consecutive quarters, the company has posted positive earnings.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Athenahealth Inc. Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This demonstrates the strengths and viability of the marketing approaches adopted by Athenahealth. The company’s hold on the market and its influence is attributed to a number of strategies. The continued investment in client infrastructure has increased the scales of operations within the company. This has enabled Athenahealth to develop products with strong infrastructural backing in the market.  The company has also continuously leveraged its payer rules, a strategy that has contributed to increasing in annual profits. The strength and reputation of t he database have enabled the company to automate its software after sales. This improves product compatibility and customer satisfaction. Through this, the company has developed a strong after-sale incentive aimed at improving the loyalty of the customers. Athenahealth has also developed a commission-based revenue model which is aimed at reducing start-up cost for businesses. This approach has reduced the overall cost of Athenahealth products as compared to market competition. The low infrastructure cost of Athenahealth products has also enhanced its market performance. Athenahealth products have been consistently ranked as the best by the KLAS enterprises. This has improved its reputation in the market and increased its competitiveness. Research and development The development of cutting-edge technology for healthcare sector remains the key mission of Athenahealth. To achieve this goal, the company has invested heavily in its research and development. To fulfill the dynamic needs o f the clients, the company has initiated research to test its ICD-10 product. This product will enable the company to acquire critical information on client’s billing processes. Surveys can also be conducted using the ICD-10 to determine the performance of the EMR product.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Athenahealth has also initiated a number of RD processes to improve the efficiency of its previous products. As a result, the company has engaged their clients to document some of the challenges associated with the pioneer software. Thorough research and development led to the introduction of AthenaClinicals. This product has enhanced the experience of the end users due to its simplicity. The product is considered to be more physician-centric due to its enhanced features. Physicians using AthenaClinicals can access drug information with ease. Operations Athenahealth i s engaged in healthcare software designing, production and marketing. Through the AthenaNet propriety, the company develops products aimed at streamlining the operations of the healthcare sector. Service operation is also a major operational division within Athenahealth. Through this division, the company builds and maintains software and software databases for various health facilities in the country. Under this role, the company has coordinated with healthcare facilities and insurance companies to introduce new products. Such products are specified for a given market. The company’s revenue arises from three main activities and products. Revenue cycle management is the first product that was developed by the company. It is marketed under AthenaCollector trade name and is currently used by different healthcare facilities. AthenaClinicals and AthenaCommunicator are the latest software developed by the company. These are engaged in clinical and patient cycle management respecti vely (Hermanson, 47). Human resources Athenahealth has developed a strong working culture that enables the employees to grow and discover their potential. The company is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on gender or race. Internal promotions and transfers are done based on merit and experience of the employees.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Athenahealth Inc. Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To meet the needs of the market, employees at Athenahealth are constantly trained and exposed to new ways of product development. To address the emerging issues in the organization, the company engages in periodical employee engagement surveys (Lois and Aneil, 198). Culture/ethics Culture is the most valuable asset at Athenahealth according to the chief executive officer. By developing a culture that rewards high achievers and supports underperformers, the company has enhanced employee cooperation. All ‘Athenistas’, as they are famously called, are entitled to appraisal and stock awards. This enhances the professional development of the employees. Weaknesses Marketing According to Cosinuke Rob, the Vice President of Athenahealth, the well-intended regulations introduced by the government affect the marketing strategies of the company. The government has introduced subsidies for technology such as the products developed by Athenahealth. Due to such constraint, healthcare innovation and software development has remained slow (Duncan, 53). Research and development The financial and human cost of research and development is high at Athenahealth. To meet the cost of developing a new product, the company must increase the cost of its products. The regulatory subsidies introduced by the government to make the products accessible to healthcare facilities affects the RD gains made by the company (Hamilton, 281). Operations The healthcare software market presen ts a number of challenges to companies such as Athenahealth. While other software companies serve a wide market with varied tastes and preferences, the healthcare market has a unique specification. The design of products for this market is also influenced by various government policies such as subsidies which affect innovation and product development (Duncan, 53). Finance Despite posting impressive sales, the market capitalization of Athenahealth has remained below one billion. Recent financial reports of the company placed the market capitalization at $800 million. The share value of the company at the stock exchange has also remained low. In 2009, the company reached its high price value of 23.96 (Kuratko, 42). Core competencies Athenahealth has a number of core competencies which has led to its impressive performance. First, the organization is aligned to the needs of the customers and the changes in the market.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A portion of Athenahealth revenue comes from the fees charged by its customers. This is a commission-based model that was adopted to reduce the installation cost incurred by customers (Marbury, 34).  Apart from developing a commissioned based sale approach, Athenahealth is renowned for its high-quality products. The company designs its products based on the challenges facing the market. As a result, the company has consistently received positive reviews from the market. The company has been recognized for supporting the healthcare sector by the KLAS enterprises. This is a healthcare reform research firm aimed at improving the quality of healthcare services (Adler-Milstein, 347).  The human resource model in the company has also improved its market performance and competitiveness. Employees at Athenahealth are constantly trained and subjected to seminars as a way of enhancing their skills. Motivation of employees is at the center of the company’s culture. As a result, empl oyees in the company are dedicated and committed to developing high-quality products (Duncan, 53). The healthcare system is reliant on the policies of other industries such as insurance and education. Athenahealth has remained cognizant to this by maintaining a close relationship with the different industries. For example, most of the products of the company are developed in collaboration with health insurance companies. Through this collaborative approach, the products developed by Athenahealth have been accepted in the market (Udell, 30). Competitive advantage Athenahealth is a pioneer in healthcare management software. This has granted the company significant control of the market as compared to competitors. Though the market lack barriers to new entrants, the performance of Athenahealth has not been affected. Athenahealth has strong competitive advantage due to its great innovativeness and uniqueness. AthenaClinical and AthenaCollector provide market unique products. Most of the se products are developed in consultation with stakeholders in the healthcare industry. This has improved the market response towards the products developed by Athenahealth (Jones and Frank, 312). Key weaknesses Despite the impressive performance of the company in the market, Athenahealth faces a number of challenges. First, the company’s business model exposes it to market risk. Contractual involvement model forces the company to form long-term relationships with the companies that acquire its products. This model subjects the company to policy and regulatory restrictions. The company is also engaged in long distance service provision (Gold, 357).  By leasing and operating the data hosting facilities from northern parts of the country, the company is exposed to interruptions. The long distance delays caused by internet disconnection affect the company’s clients. Backup cost for the services provided by the company also push the price of the products up. To remain on top of the market, Athenahealth must develop new strategic measures (Udell, 30). Strategic analysis Functional strategies To remain on top of the market, Athenahealth must increase its production efficiency. This can be achieved through increasing research and development activities. The development of new products must not affect the profitability of the company. Currently, the company focuses on three main products. Increasing the number of brands marketed will not affect the efficiency of the manufacturing process. Corporate level strategy Athenahealth has failed to adopt a viable corporate level strategy, instead focusing on the domestic market. Despite the potential of its products, Athenahealth has failed to enter new markets and diversify its products. It has only three software products targeting markets within the range of its servers. The company should shift its corporate level strategy and enter new global markets (Udell, 30). Central problem identification According to Jonathan Bush, the chairman of Athenahealth, quality remains the focus and culture of the company. The products developed by the company have so far met the expectation of the clients. However, challenges associated with internet connectivity and server instability affect the quality of the services offered. Athenahealth should concentrate in decentralizing its offices to other parts of the country. Central problems A number of central problems exist that affect the success of the company. First, the share value of the company has remained static despite changes in the market. Despite control of the market, Athenahealth has failed to cover all healthcare facilities in the country. Strategic recommendations Healthcare information technologies are an emerging market that presents massive opportunities to Athenahealth. However, the company must adopt a number of new strategies which can enhance its market performance. The company should diversify its offices and develop new servers to increase its coverage. This will enhance its presence in the country. The company should also change its client engagement model to reduce the risks associated with post sales services. Works cited Adler-Milstein, Julia and Robert Huckman. â€Å"The Impact Of Electronic Health Record Use On Physician Productivity.† American Journal of Managed Care 19.1 (2013): 345-352. Print. Duncan, Loretta. â€Å"Managing Your Practice. AMS Partners With Athenahealth, Inc.† The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society 103.3 (2006): 52-53. Print. Gold, Marsha. â€Å"Evolving Vendor Market for HITECH-Certified Ambulatory EHR Products.† American Journal of Managed Care 19.1 (2013): 353-361. Print. Hamilton, Byron. Electronic Health Records. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009. Print. Hermanson, Dana. â€Å"How Effective Are Organizations’ Internal Controls? Insights into Specific Internal Control Elements.† Current Issues In Auditing 6.1 (2012): 31-50. Print. Jones, Stephan and Frank Groom. Information and Communication Technologies in Healthcare. Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 2012. Print. Kuratko, Donald. â€Å"Diagnosing a Firm’s Internal Environment for Corporate Entrepreneurship.† Business Horizons 57.1 (2014): 37-47. Print. Lois Boynton and Aneil, Mishra. â€Å"Driving Employee Engagement: The Expanded Role Of Internal Communications. â€Å"Journal of Business Communication 51.2 (2014): 183-202. Print. Marbury, Donna. â€Å"Post-Implementation: Making the EHR System Work for You.† Medical Economics 5:2 (2014): 34.Print. Udell, Melody. â€Å"Ten Minutes with Rob Cosinuke.† Marketing Health Services 34.3 (2014): 28-31. Print. This essay on Athenahealth Inc. Analysis was written and submitted by user Daisy Doyle to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Case Study for Banyan Tree Hotel and Resort

Case Study for Banyan Tree Hotel and Resort Executive Summary The hotel industry has been on an economic rise for the previous decade because of several factors such as better marketing strategies, well trained personnel, excellent communication skills among the industry stakeholders, tailor made packages for various tourists, together with global increase in the rate of tourism.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Case Study for Banyan Tree Hotel and Resort specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Banyan Holdings limited was a noble idea born out of the need for tourists to relax within an environmentally friendly hotel, customer centered, culture sensitive, together with a green conscious habitat. The Banyan is a fig tree that epitomizes peace according to ancient mandarin culture because of its evergreen leaves that create a relaxing shade upon which one can soothe his senses. It was out of this that Mr. Ho Kwon Ping and Ms Claire Ching established a single Ho tel in Thailand. With proper marketing skills, he built a brand. The brand has grown to become one of the leading hotels of choice for international tourists visiting Asia together with local tourists longing to experience a romantic, friendly and serene holiday either as individuals or as group. For tourists wishing to stay at a luxurious yet affordable hotel, Banyan Hotels have been the place of choice due to its strong brand name. The product has now become global with branches in Seychelles and Europe. With tenets based on a green economy, the world is now a global village with interests that assure the world citizenship of businesses that are environmental conscious together with customer friendly. Banyan Hotels have this in their procedures and merchandise. Introduction Ho Kwon Ping established the Banyan entity in 1994. This is with the Banyan Tree as its brand. A gap that existed in the hotel industry triggered its establishment. The target market was clients who needed priv acy and intimate accommodation at affordable costs (Wirtz Lovelock, 2009). Today, it is ranked as one of the best luxury resort in Asia with 15 resorts and hotels, 35 spas, and 38 retail shops in more than 40 locations in 20 countries, a feat that even the big hotels took years to establish (Wirtz Lovelock, 2009).Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The success of this resort firm is linked to its brand and the extension made to the brand, the swift marketing strategy, communal participation and incorporation of the world marketing programs. This addresses diverse concerns such as The factors that contributed to accomplishment Evaluation of Banyan Tree’s brand marketing procedures Brand and product portfolio What are the main factors that contributed to Banyan Tree’s success? The success of Banyan Tree arises from a good plan and presentation in its marketing programs. The marketing programs were both interior and peripheral. The internal marketing programs focused on the need for a friendly communal and monetary working area where external marketing strategies focused on tapping into the affluent class that needed a green conscious environment that was as reasonably priced as other resorts but quite exceptional in their delicate tastes. Market Target Before its establishment, there existed a gap in the hotel industry between the giant chain international hotels like Hilton and other luxury resorts like the Shangri-La. The big difference in the accommodation costs created an invented market. Ho provided affordable individual villas, well-designed romantic escapade for guests, tailor made customer packages as well as a skilled personnel that would influence upon the visitors (Wirtz Lovelock, 2009). Marketing Strategy The choice of the brand name was well tailored by the international advertizing agency. The logo plan of t he Banyan Tree and the marketing phrase â€Å"Sanctuary for the Senses† promoted the merchandise and procedures of the resort (Kapferer, 1997). Focus was not on luxurious accommodation but on romantic experiences that was valued by its clients. This anchored well with the need for international tourists seeking such services. The design and delivery of the products and services Some of the merchandise and procedures offered were unique for example the Banyan Tree Spa that offered aromatic oil for face together with body massage. The services tailored by employees were dynamic and according to the natives’ culture and traditions complying with the brand that focused on relations and closeness. Dinner could be offered in a Thai boat accompanied by Thai musicians, wedding packages that Buddhists officiated and even wedding ceremonies conducted under water in the corals. These are some of the unique services in a natural setting. The services aimed not only at customer s atisfaction but also the business reaped maximum profits from the customers. Aggressive internal marketing The locals got employment from the resort from which they earned a living and retained the special heritage. The employees were trained fundamentals to good service delivery with some accorded the â€Å"Banyan Tree Experience† to build the brand in them (Kapferer, 1997). Lucrative welfare policies motivated the employees to consistent good performance.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Case Study for Banyan Tree Hotel and Resort specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Incorporation of the local communities and the interest of the public The villas were developed from indigenous material provided by the locals. The local artisans were engaged in the manufacture of local art and handicrafts. This merchandise encompasses garments, jewellery, clannish art compounded with spa frills like incense candles. The merchandise was availed for sale at the â€Å"Banyan Tree Gallery† (Kapferer, 1997). By incorporating the local artisans in the drawing and assembly projects, the locals identified with the brand as a means of earning an income (Kapferer, 1997). Environmental practices The villas were totally from indigenous material in the remote areas. The merchandise used in the resorts, as toiletries were recyclable. The resort initiated â€Å"The Green Imperative Fund† that supported community-based programs like building schools, promoting crafts of the locals and restoring devastated coral reefs (Kapferer, 1997). The fund also set up a marine conservation office to oversee current and potential areas susceptible to degradation. Can Banyan Tree maintain unique position in the overcrowded resort market? Setting Most of the resorts are initiated in isolated areas that expose the clients to quiet environment. Its aim of preserving the environment grants it a uniqueness that lack s in most resorts. The luxurious resorts are expensive and sport oriented while Banyan Tree is less expensive and romantic (Kapferer, 1997). Promotions Activities that involve the community help in promoting merchandise and procedures of the resort. Its activities and products are eco friendly. The wastes products are recyclable, indigenous materials used to produce goods sold in the gallery. Sustainability The resorts contributed to the local economy by offering employment to the locals as well as benefiting the environment. The guests who visited the resorts voluntarily contributed to the â€Å"Green Imperative Fund† (Kapferer, 1997). A feedback on the success of their contributions was often given that motivated them. The experiences that the clients had in these resorts appealed to their senses. The services offered at Banyana Tree satisfied the clients. Discuss the brand and product portfolio of Banyan Tree, Angsana and the color of Angsana of beach resort and city h otels, spas, galleries and museum shops fit as a family The main idea of Banyan Tree is the delight in romance when travelling and the wonders present in dissimilar sections in the world. Marketing programs and public relations were the ways through which the firm used to create awareness about its brand. Globally, â€Å"Banyan Tree became a member of Small Luxury Hotels† and the foremost hotels in the world (Kapferer, 1997). The target consumers for Banyan Tree were well-off customers. To achieve this, it decided to use agents who specialized in exclusive luxury holidays. Angsana was introduced after the lavish resorts were stable. This brand was more reasonably priced and fashionable than the Banyan Tree. It ran as a stand-alone spa business in other hotels. The colors of Agsana, a merchandise line of Agsana, were to enter the tourism trade.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A fine way of marketing is positioning. It refers to finding strategic ways of creating awareness about your brand in ways that will place it different from the competitive entities. A sturdy brand means a better image quality for a firm thereby keeping the competitors at bay (Kapferer, 1997). For effectual administration of a brand, the characteristic aspect of the brand ought to be managed. This refers to the real characteristics like the merchandise, pricing, and wrapping among many others. The elusive aspects refer to procedures that generate emotions about the merchandise or service. Brand positioning aims at detailed consumers for the merchandise or procedures introduced. Activities involved in the brand must have a fundamental aim. Therefore, it must be exclusive and dissimilar from the competitors. Its sustainability, significance to the market, and appropriateness must be ensured. Firms should also profit from brand positioning. Brand positioning should realize support and financial goals for the entity. Brand identity plays an essential role in marketing the merchandise and procedures of an entity. It reflects what the audience easily identifies because of the logo, color, and symbols. It creates a clear difference in the mind of the audience from other competitors. It gives a full impression of activities of a firm. Brand equity relates to the value a firm receives from the brand (Kapferer, 1997). Conclusion The Banyan Hotels and resort have established an unrivaled niche in Asia in the Hotel trade. Presently, the prime Hotel chains in the globe such as the Hilton fail to rival it in Asia. The founder of the Holding, Mr. Ho Kwon together with the Co-founder Ms. Claire Ching had a lucid and defined vision that has seen them accomplish enormous strides in the trade (Wirtz Lovelock, 2009). They typify how a clear vision undergoes successful marketing to reap the benefits of their dream. With a skilled marketing team, Banyan Holdings transformed this g rand idea into a brand name, which experiences universal acclamation. This is because it has collected tributes from the UN. A brand is a special feature that is associated with either a merchandise or procedure. If the service is quality, the brand sells, if the product is quality, the brand disposes itself. References Kapferer, J., (1997). Strategic brand management: creating and sustaining brand equity long-term, 2nd Edtn. London, UK: Kogan Page Wirtz, J. Lovelock, C. (2009). Services Marketing in Asia, A case Study. New York, NY: Prentice Hall.

Exposures, Financial Contracts, and Operational Techniques Essay

Exposures, Financial Contracts, and Operational Techniques - Essay Example As the research declares the transaction exposure can be hedged through three types of contracts: forward market hedging, money market hedging, and option market hedging. The forward market hedging supposes to enter into a derivative contract when the object of the transaction exposure is determined. The contract from the derivative market will be liquidated with the funds obtained from the spot market. According to the paper findings in a money market hedge, the company which is exposed to transaction exposure borrows or invests in one currency and exchanges the proceeds for another currency. The proceeds for the loan or saving account are related to business operations when the hedge is covered or they are purchased from the market at the end of the contract when the hedge is uncovered. Operating exposure can also be offset by considering changing financing policies: using natural hedges, using back-to-back (parallel) loans, and using currency swaps. The first method considers matching the currency cash-flows. The success of this practice depends of the predictability and low volatility of cash-flows. Back-to-back loans are agreements between companies from different countries to borrow each other domestic currency for the period of contract. It is actually a credit swap, because the two companies borrow the currency which will be repaid.

Double Feed Induction Machine (DFIM) model in d-q coordinates system Research Paper

Double Feed Induction Machine (DFIM) model in d-q coordinates system. Induction Motomr example of application in practice (variable speed drives) - Research Paper Example The stator is fed by a fixed voltage sources while the rotor is fed by a variable source. Both the stator and the rotor are connected to a three phase power frequency. Mathematically it is convenient to express the three phase voltage concept of DFIM in a dq coordinate system. A (d, q) coordinate system refers to direct and quadrature axes along which current is aligned. A good example that shows the application of an induction machine is the Growian wind turbine that has DFIM as part of its energy regulating system (Anahua et al, 8). A Growian wind turbine which was first used in Germany the year 1977 could be among the first induction models in a (d, q) coordinate system. It came about as a result of three German utilities forming the Growian Company whose function was to design and test a huge wind energy alteration system. It had a variable speed drive with a teetered rotor that had full-span pitch and variable speed force train made of power electronics. The engineers came up with a trade-off between a generator whose frequency converter is in the stator circuit and a doubly fed induction machine whose frequency converter is situated in rotor circuit (Anahua et al, 56). It is characterized by the magnitude of aspect such as amount of voltage, speed, and flux. It is based on the assumptions the stator and rotor voltage acts as the input regulators depending on the flux density distribution, as well as, the electromagnetic condition. Additionally, the rotor current and stator flux also work as the variables. The converters control the rotor voltage to acquire the desired floe of current and the reactive power. The power reaction and resistance is viable in managing the magnetic saturation a transformation is clearly indicated by a mathematical equation. Disconnecting the machine from the grid, lead to a reduction of stator current to zero. This breaks the circuit which is an indication that DFIM model

The Churches Mission in the World Research Paper

The Churches Mission in the World - Research Paper Example This paper will look at 2 of the most reliable and popular sources in the world of Christian literature regarding information on the church’s mission. These 2 sources are â€Å"Ancient-Future Faith: Rethinking Evangelicalism for a Postmodern World† by Robert E. Webber and â€Å"Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World† by Lee C. Camp. The chapters that are most appropriate for this paper’s questions will be taken studied and assessed. There will be feedback given on these sources and then the paper will provide its own reflection regarding the church’s mission. It will also explain weather or not it agrees with the information from the sources. It will take on these subtopics as such: Discussion on â€Å"Ancient-Future Faith: Rethinking Evangelicalism for a Postmodern World† by Robert E. Webber Discussion on â€Å"Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World† by Lee C. Camp. Reflection on both sour ces and personal feedback Discussion on â€Å"Ancient-Future Faith: Rethinking Evangelicalism for A Postmodern World† by Robert E. Webber This paper took information from chapters 17, 18 and 19 from this book by Robert E. Webber as the portions of the book that most relate to the question this research is trying to answer. In this book, Webber’s approach on explaining the church’s role is mainly associated with evangelism or sharing the word of God. His approach in telling us about the church’s role starts with explaining some historical information about how the church’s evangelism began then moved to telling of evangelism’s progression and how this idea changed or evolved thru time. The book also provides information regarding the church’s shift in how it viewed baptism. According to the book, ancient churches treated baptism as the first step toward conversion, while the early church viewed baptism as â€Å"the culmination of a pr ocess of personal salvation†. (Webber 141-42) According to the book, this is also why the medieval church used force as a tool for evangelism. The book also tells us about the church’s role or its purpose. It tells us that there came a time where reform was needed in the church’s ideas and methods, but despite these reforms, the role of the church was still understood and still remained the same. In essence, the church’s role is to â€Å"Christianize† the world, all while emphasizing the importance of faith, rather than works. The reform movements worked toward letting people know that God initiates salvation. Many movements also worked thru evangelism in their own ways and making sure to introduce God and his teachings into society. The book tells us of â€Å"The great commission† which is the church’s ultimate goal, to convert people to Christ. (Webber 143) The book also tells us about â€Å"problems inherited from the enlightenment †. This tells us about the movement’s association with individualism as being the major problem in the situation. It tells us that this approach focuses too much on â€Å"You† and loses the ultimate message of the gospel. This section of the book also provides deeper differentiation between evangelical and Baptist movements. It provides us both the positive and negative sides of these movements as well as tells us about evangelism’s apparent separation from the church. Along with this information is the

Supporting Individuals in Childcare Education

Supporting Individuals in Childcare Education Exceptionalities are neither positive nor negative; rather, they are differences (Darragh, 2010, p. 114). In your own words, explain the term exceptionalities. Then, using one exceptionality outlined in the text on pages 116-127 of the course text, identify developmental challenges the exceptionality may present for the child, and appropriate adaptations, accommodations, or modifications that may need to be considered in order to support the individual childs development and learning. The term exceptionalities have a defining characteristic that is different from the norm for physical and mental abilities. It describes children or people that go beyond what is normal or what society expects. The child can have extra unusual abilities. It can also include children that have disabilities that prevent the child from functioning well in certain areas of development. The same goes for a child with different emotional or health development. It is a difference in development of these different disabilities such as syndromes, impairments, and certain disorders. (Darragh, 2010). In that respect are different classes such as intellectual disability, hearing, oral communication and speech communication, visual, orthopedic, autism, multiple impairments, traumatic injuries to the brain ad giftedness and talent. These are most commonly seen in the classroom. Children that are exceptional have many challenges in front of them. A gifted child can have learning and attention probl ems. There are number of these children that go through school without being diagnosed ad to having special talents or needs. These can also have problems in social emotional such as frustration this is common in a child that has not been diagnosed and their talents and learning have not gone unnoticed or partly addressed. They have a high aspiration and dont like the low expectations that someone may have for them. They want independence and struggle with knowing that they need help with learning and attention issues. They may be trying to be perfect. Low self -esteem is another challenge for a gifted child because if they dont have the support needed they can lose confidence in their abilities or they just quit because they believe they start to think that failure is unavoidable. This thinking can cause depression for the child. Social isolation is another They can feel like they dont fit in into the world or another. They may lack the social skills to be comfortable with other ch ildren in their gifted class. They may have problems relating to children in their regular class. This can cause a child to think, Where do I belong?. They often find it easier to relate to an adult than children that are their age. The truth is a child that is labeled exceptional may be a challenging enough. There are other challenges that they face such as language and communication problems, learning and being involved in daily tasks like playing games and interaction with children. Children can experience challenges in attentiveness and being able to manage their impulses. To accommodate a child that is exceptionalities the parents and the teacher need to recognize the gift or the disability that the children has. Talk to the school if you suspect a child is gifted. Request a meeting with special services coordinator. Tell them your concerns. An example is if a parent or teacher is taking care of a child with autism. You need to make sure you maintain your daily routines because routines for this child is very important. Stay in the gifted program if the child was identified as gifted but not doing well in the program. The child should be assessed for learning and attention problems before you make decisions about removing the child from the program. The childs environment can be fixed by the childs sensitivity by making sure to have books, toys, and appropriate music for the child. You can have a mentor for that child to help the child improve or build on thei r abilities and make a difference in the childs development. Making most of your childs IEP by addressing the childs weakness and to nurture their gifts. To make goals that are long term and short term. Make sure you brainstorm and be persistent. Empower the child by helping the child comprehend what their gifts are and their weaknesses are Let them know that you are there for the child in his struggles in areas. If they are frustrated give them time to figure it out and dont go straight in to help the child. Let them cope with their mixed abilities. Parents that partner with teachers can help that child develop their talents can reach their full potential. Teachers can use charts and pictures in lessons to help in the strengths of the child. Some adaptions can be changes in class work or routines because of the type of disability. Modifications can be done to like the things the child is taught, and the way the child works at school. Accommodations are such as a tape recorder and b ooks on audio. Modifications are changing the curriculum or instruction. When these are made children with disabilities is not expected to master things like others. Supporting the development and learning of each and every child requires specific knowledge of each childs strengths and challenges as well as knowledge of development, exceptionalities, and effective practice. Explain how evidence-based practice synthesizes knowledge of individual children and effective practice. Then, identify how you plan to use this process in your work with young children. The way we take care of children effectively rests in what we know of the childs exceptionalities and the evidence that we use for beneficial activities with them. Knowing the characteristics of the exception and the disabilities makes it easier to care of that child. Applying the knowledge and information that parent and teachers have in the past can be put to the present situation. Evidence-based practice can elevate a family making mistakes by following a process they studied and their values. (Darragh, 2010). This process is encouraging because it shows teachers and the parent they are not by themselves. This helps parents and families to share what their experiences are and when they do this the get extra knowledge and can save time. When I work with exceptional children, I intend on using evidence-based knowledge to see past and to see what the effective method will be for that child. These methods will help in focusing on the childs special issues that they may have. Being spe cialized in this this will help the child to grow and become improved. I will make sure before I deal with these children that I comprehend their needs, and I will research cases and will make sure I stay updated often so that I will be up to date with any new issues. I will research and find out what I need to watch out for in the childs development. I will also use the five-step evidence based decision making. I will ask the question, What my childs main needs are? Look or the best evidence such as what research and practices can give me advise on how to meet the childs main needs. Seeing the quality of the evidence is seeing that the research of the current knowledge is current for the field, and if they will benefit the child. Putting together the research with values and wisdom which is applying what you have learned that respects the child and the family in their way of supporting their child in their development and learning. I will evaluate all the steps such as the childs s trengths and challenges. (Darragh, 2010). I will help the children to make good decisions with their goals that will benefit the child. Understanding the childs unique needs and their cultural and linguistic diversity. The way we can support a child is having the knowledge and skills to understand the diverse needs of the children and their families. We should offer a welcoming, nurturing, and a classroom with respect. Effective assessment is an essential component used to lend insight into young childrens strengths and challenges. However, assessment data, particularly for young children, can be difficult to obtain. Based on pages 245-247 of the course text, explain how play-based, strength-based, and culturally and linguistically sensitive assessment address challenges associated with effective assessment for young children. Play-based assessment is a tool that shows how a childs development in interactions with the environment. (Darragh, 2010). Play opens windows to the childs strengths and the way they cope with things. It is not just social/emotional, cognitive or motor skills. Play gives important documentation on the qualities of the childs relationships. (Darragh, 2010). This is successful with the infant-toddler children. Watching children play teachers can see how a child relates to other children because children are more likely to behave normally when they play. This method is a remedy for challenges that are associated with assessments. The strength-based assessment is criticized this assessment has been great on providing information on a childs abilities. (Darragh, 2010). This information can be checked with the expectations of a normal child. This type of assessment strength is it focuses on what children can do instead of what they cannot. Culturally and linguistically is a sensitive, resp ectful and responds to the childs learning needs assessment. This is the best because it focuses on both the cultural and the linguistic aspects. At the beginning assessments were done in English and now they have Spanish language ones. When in English this made, it challenging because of a small number of assessment tools. The assessments have addressed the issues by getting appropriate tools for assessment which they are free from cultural and linguistic bias. It also takes account for the cultural information that the child accepts. The observation of the children is getting to know the child and the interaction they have with their environment and by listening and watching them it helps in your ability to make decisions on teaching and learning.

The Downfall of Man in Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe :: Defoe Robinson Crusoe Essays

I would like to comment about how Crusoe lived with himself after he became the master in a heirarchy where he was once the slave. He is so unhappy with his role of slave he takes the first opportunity given to him to escape. He also takes the first opportunity given to him to become the master of those left on the boat. This is unforgivable. He throws a man over board because he does not believe he can trust him, but he knows he can trust the first boat that sails his way. Does this sound funny to anyone else? He also offers to give all of his possetions to the captain of the boat that saves him: "I immediatlely offered all I had to the Captain of the Ship..."(204) How did he know the captain was not going to kill him and keep his possetions anyway. The captain turns down the opportunity to take Crusoe's desperate offer. However, he does offer him money for a boat that does not belong to Crusoe and the poor Boy Xury, who does not belong to anyone. How soon Crusoe forgets the horribl e life of being a slave!! It is humorous how it is only those who are in the possition of master who think slavery is a good idea. Crusoe then meets Friday. He saves his life, much the way the captain saved Crusoe's life. Friday offers all he has (which is not much) to Crusoe, much like Crusoe did for the captain. However, Crusoe is too selfish to turn Friday down on his offer as the captain did. He takes advantage of the man and immediatly introduces him to slavery. Crusoe is an example of the downfall of man. Humans are sometimes so obsessed with power they only focus on who can be controlled. Whether it is separated by class, gender, color, or as Courtney said religion one group must always feel as if it has power over another. This is common theme in litersature and in life. As I read the excerpt from Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" in "Oronooko" I found myself confused with the point that Defoe was trying to make. Allison, I agree with you completely when you say that the actions of Crusoe "sound kind of funny." I too feel that Crusoe is an example of the downfall of man. First reading the

Comparison of Two Film Versions of Romeo and Juliet Essay

In this essay you will read a comparison of two film versions of Romeo and Juliet. One film is made by Baz Luhrmann which is made in 1997, while the other film is made by Franco Zeffirelli in 1968. I will compare these two Romeo and Juliet films by looking at the director’s techniques and the characters. Baz Luhrmann’s techniques were to use many different angles. He used the high angle, the low angle and the normal angle which is on eye level. He used the high angle at the very beginning of the movie when Shakespeare’s famous sonnet was read and when Baz Luhrmann was showing an overview of the city Verona. He used the low camera angle when Tybalt and some others of the Capulet family came, ready to fight with the Montegue’s. The low camera angle was used to film the cowboy shoes of the Capulet, and then the camera went up, from the low angle, to his face to make him look more powerful. The normal camera angle was used a lot, for example when a Montegue was hiding behind the door of a car. He made the fight take place at a petrol station for a bigger spectacle because of the guns that were used. Baz Luhrmann made his film look very modern, so did he with the characters. The Montegue’s would wear an open shirt with flowers on them that you normally only were at the beach or Hawaii and one of them had pink hair.. They wore that when they were driving around in the car and when they were fighting. Baz Luhrmann made the Capulets look angry, mean, and dangerous. They would were metal cowboy shoes, ear rings, black leather pants, and a shirt without sleeves. They looked like a dangerous fighting gang during the fight with the Montegue’s. Even though the film looked modern, the characters did say the original words that Shakespeare wrote. Therefore, the old English with the old English accent was used. Franco Zeffirelli’s techniques were to use a lot of normal angles. He used that all the time in the film. He used it when people were talking to each other and when the families were fighting. He only used the high angle when he was giving an overview of the market. In this film, the location was the same all the time, the fight and the market took place in the streets, like how it is supposed to be because after the fight the Prince says â€Å"if you disturb our streets again†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The characters would look more normal and natural. They did not have ear rings or weird hair. The characters would look like the people that lived at that time. They wore the colours of their family, sometimes a cape, and a little hat. This video would look much more like the original play. They also used horses to travel with. As well in this movie they would use Shakespeare’s original text and the old English accent. After this comparison, I prefer Franco Zeffirelli’s movie because it is more original and you can see better how Shakespeare meant the story too look like. Baz Luhrmann’s film was too modern and did not have anything to do with the time the story of Romeo and Juliet take place. Franco Zeffirelli’s techniques may be very simple, but that is how the story is supposed to be shown. Franco Zeffirelli’s movie is better because it looked more like the real play.

Bicameral Legislation essays

Bicameral Legislation essays A bicameral system is a legislative system in which the power of law making is vested in two houses, or chambers, both of which must approve a bill before it becomes law. There are a few general guidelines by which most bicameral systems, including the United States, operate. The upper house, The Senate, is made up of members selected on a territorial basis. Therefore, senators represent states, or other political subdivisions instead of the people themselves. They also serve longer terms than members of the lower house. The lower house, the House of Representatives, is composed of members selected according to population. They serve shorter terms and have closer identification with the districts they represent. This makes it much more possible for members to strongly reflect the existing mind of the electorate. This bicameral system is in force in all states except Nebraska which, since 1937, has had a unicameral legislature. Throughout the world, national parliaments are a bout equally divided between bicameral and unicameral systems. Throughout the history of the United States bicameral system, committees have served a primary role. Standing, or permanent, committees were not new when established in America; rather, the concept originated in British Parliament. Therefore, when the American colonial assemblies and the Continental Congress implemented the committee into their legislative structures, the people were familiar with committees and their functions. In the early days of U.S. Congress, most bills were determined in the full chamber, leaving only details and clerical tasks for ad hoc committees. This system was flexible and responsive to the preferences of the entire House or Senate. However, as the duties of Congress grew, permanent committees were necessary. The First Congress created a standing Committee on Enrolled Bills in 1789. This was the first permanent committee created, and coexisted w...

Bundling Campaign Contributions - How It Works

Bundling Campaign Contributions - How It Works Bundling campaign  contributions is a common practice in American congressional and presidential elections. The term bundling refers to a form of fundraising in which one person or small groups of people - they might be lobbyists, business owners, special interest groups or activists seeking legislative action  - convince  their wealthy friends, coworkers and other like-minded donors to simultaneously write checks to their preferred candidate for public office. It is not uncommon for bundlers to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in a presidential-election year and receive special treatment in return for their work. A bundler is the person or small group of people  who pool or aggregates these contributions and then delivers them in one lump sum to a political campaign. In the 2000 presidential campaign, Republican nominee  George W. Bush used the term pioneers to describe bundlers who raised at least $100,000 for his White House bid. Bundlers are often rewarded by successful candidates with plum positions in an administration or other political favors.  Four out of five of Democratic presidential nominee  Barack Obamas largest fundraisers in the 2008 presidential campaign received  key posts in his administration, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Responsive Politics. Bundling is a legal way for campaign supporters to circumvent  individual contribution limits set forth in federal campaign finance laws.  An individual can contribute up to $2,700 to a candidate for federal office in a single election cycle, or up to $5,400 a year. But bundlers can persuade like-minded donors to give at once, typically by inviting them to a fundraiser or special event and in turn rolling up those contributions into massive sums of money to federal candidates. Bundling Is Not Heavily Regulated The Federal Election Commission, the entity that regulates campaign-finance laws in the U.S.,  requires candidates for federal office  disclose the funds bundled by registered lobbyists. For everyone whos not a lobbyists? Disclosure is voluntary and sporadic. In the 2008 presidential election, for example, Obama and Republican nominee John McCain both agreed to make public the names of bundlers who raised more than $50,000. The FEC rules, however, are considered loose by government watchdogs and  easily circumvented by crafty bundlers and lobbyists wishing to remain out of the public eye. In some cases, bundlers are able to avoid disclosing their role in raising large sums of money for a campaign by never physically pooling and delivering the checks, just organizing the fundraising.   How Much Money Do Bundlers Raise? Bundlers are responsible for generating tens of millions of dollars to their preferred candidates. In the 2012 presidential race, for example, bundlers delivered about $200 million to Obamas campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Bundlers, who are often corporate CEOs, lobbyists, hedge fund managers or independently wealthy people, are able to funnel far more money to campaigns than they could personally give under campaign finance laws, states the good-government group Public Citizen.   Why Bundlers Bundle Bundlers who deliver large amounts of campaign cash to candidates have been rewarded with access to prominent White House advisers and strategists, official titles and privileged treatment in campaigns, and ambassadorships and other plum political appointments. The Center for Public Integrity reported that Obama rewarded about 200 bundlers with jobs and appointments. Bundlers play an enormous role in determining the success of political campaigns and are apt to receive preferential treatment if their candidate wins, Public Citizen wrote. Bundlers who direct money to presidential candidates tend to be first in line for plum ambassador positions and other political appointments. Industry titans and lobbyists are more likely to receive preferential treatment from elected officials if they raised large amounts of money for them. When Is Bundling Illegal? Bundlers seeking political favors often promise big money to candidates. And sometimes they fail to deliver. So in some cases, bundlers have been known to give large sums of money to employees, family members and friends with the implicit goal of having those employees, family members and friends turn around and contribute to a candidate for Congress or the presidency. Thats illegal.

Internet forum should be more strictly controlled for the entries Essay

Internet forum should be more strictly controlled for the entries because internet forum can encourage harmful and misleading news - Essay Example Therefore, there is need to control the internet forums by imposing strict regulations on its usage. However, controlling the internet forum may attract criticism as people may feel that this is one of the laws limiting the public freedom, which the constitution grants. In reality, Internet forum should be more strictly controlled for the entries because internet forum can encourage harmful and misleading news. Internet forums refer to any forms of internet channels that are responsible for providing information to the access of the public. They may include any official internet news sites or even social networks that provide information to the public. The issue of controlling the internet forums is a concept that has for long drawn attention from many scholars. Controlling internet forums refers to the imposition of strict measures against its abuse in providing information. In the era of internet technology, many internet forums have emerged, making it entirely a big challenge to control the information that is relayed through these channels. While there is evidence that these forums are informative, it is clear that they can be used to relay raw information that may be untruthful, hurtful or even misleading. Misleading information refers to any material facts that may influence negatively the reaction of the people or even bring about a controversy. However, several policies have been p ut into place as a control mechanism for internet use. For instance, â€Å"regulations would force Internet companies to apply for a license if theyre running a microblog or forum† (Shalvey 1). Due to the sensitivity of information, it is crucial that every information that is relayed through these channels be reliable and truthful. Misleading information may have far reaching effects to the receiver or even to the world. In many occasion, the news items report different information, putting people in

Analysis of news presentation of academic research Essay

Analysis of news presentation of academic research - Essay Example However, this is not the case with news research, as there is no particular detailed research undertaken to ascertain the authenticity of the information presented. Two articles, scholarly research and news media research, addressing the same issue, are very different. While the scholarly article reports about the actual study conducted, the news article is a report about the scholarly research report. It is thus less detailed and does not have as much information as the actual article. In view of this, in this paper, I will analyse two articles, both addressing the same issue, mobile phone advertising, will show the differences between the two articles. The article, â€Å"High stroke and heart disease link to living close to airports† is a news media report on the actual journal article, â€Å"Aircraft noise and cardiovascular disease near Heathrow airport in London: small area study† by Hansell,, et al. (2013). The report points the objective of the actual study, with out giving further details. In fact, there is little relationship between the information contained in the news article and the scholarly researcher. The author, using the thesis of the study that there is a positive relationship between aircraft noise and higher rates of stroke and heart diseases, reports on the outcomes of the study. ... from mentioning the study to support his story, the author uses little information, indicating that his was simply a news item with minimal scholarly intentions. The article, â€Å"Aircraft noise and cardiovascular disease near Heathrow airport in London: small area study† is a report by the researchers, Hansell, et al. (2013). The study points out that there is a high likelihood of people living close to airports to develop problems such as the stroke, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular disease. The researchers, in order to prove the hypothesis of their study, conducted an analytic case study on neighbourhoods exposed to varying levels of aircraft noise related to Heathrow airport. The article sought to compare the hospital admission rates for people suffering from cardiovascular disease in this area. Using standard noise metric, the A weighted equivalent (Aeq) sound pressure level; the researchers established the relationship between people’s exposure to airpl ane noise and the increased risk of suffering from these diseases. The researchers, using a qualitative research technique, carried out an analysis comprising of 12 London boroughs and nine districts west of London. These were the groups with a high risk of exposure to noise emanating from Heathrow airport. For an article to qualify as a scholarly article, a research methodology should support the assertions made by the author. There are two main methods used in research, i.e. qualitative and quantitative, which researchers use while conducting their research, most significantly on data collection. According to Creswell (2003), qualitative research method (traditionally used in social sciences, but currently applied on market research) aims at gathering adequate information about an issue or an