Eymp 1

EYMP 1: Context and Principles for Early Years Provision 1. 1 Explain the legal status and principles of the relevant early year’s frameworks and how national and local guidance materials are used in settings. Children deserve and need the best possible start in their lives in order for them to fulfil their full potential in their learning and development (Terry, 2009). A happy, healthy and supportive childhood will help children to achieve the best that they possibly can (Smeyers and Wring, 2007).In 2003 the Laming Report was written following a very serious case of child abuse involving a girl called Victoria Climbie who was physically abused by her great aunt and another adult male. The abuse was so bad, a doctor involved in Victoria’s post mortem stated that â€Å"there really is not anywhere that is spared – there is scarring all over the body. † The report then goes on to explain how the local authorities involved in the care of this young girl were to blame for her death, as there was evidence of deliberate harm and nothing was done. Similar essay: Approaches to Promoting Wellbeing and ResilienceThe local social services department dealing with her case closed it on the day that she died. Following the Laming Report the government green paper was written in 2003 ‘Every Child Matters’ (ECM). The aims of this were to reduce the occurrences of education failure, ill health, abuse and neglect, teenage pregnancy, substance misuse and crime and anti-social behaviour among children and young people. It also gave children a voice and allowed them to decide what they want by creating the five outcomes, which are: * Being healthy Staying safe * Enjoying and achieving * Making a positive contribution * Economic well-being The Children Act 2004 enabled the ‘Every Child Matters’ to be established and was written next in order to provide the legislative spine on which the reform of children’s services is based. ‘It aims to improve and integrate children’s services, promote early in tervention, provide strong leadership and bring together different professionals in multi-disciplinary teams in order achieve positive outcomes for children and young people and their families. (Surrey County Council, 2004) Next came the Childcare Act 2006 which gave a new role to local authorities in the improvement of the ‘Every Child Matters’ outcomes, providing childcare for working parents and providing parental information services (DoE, 2012). This act also introduced the inspection of childcare premises and the registration of childcare workers as a must (OFSTED, 2012). This was then, when the implementation of the EYFS came into play.The ‘Early Years Foundation Stage’ was brought in to achieve the five ECM outcomes and it did this by: * Setting the standards for learning and care received in child care settings * Providing for equality of opportunity and ensuring that all practice is anti-discriminatory and all children are included in activities d espite culture, race, religion and gender * Working in partnership with parents and also maintaining multi-agency working to ensure the best possible education and care for children * Improving quality and consistency to give all child care settings a universal set of standards that must be followed and also giving the right to have all settings inspected * Laying a secure foundation for each child’s future learning and development to be planned around the child’s individual needs and interests† (DfCSF, 2008)There are six areas that are covered by the EYFS and they must all be taken in to account as they are very important in each child’s development. These areas are: * Personal, social and emotional development * Communication, language and literacy * Problem-solving, reasoning and numeracy * Knowledge and understanding of the world * Physical development * Creative development (Meggitt et al, 2011) The 4 themes of the EYFS highlight how we can help child ren to develop and learn and enjoy their childhood, these are: * A unique child- this looks at all children being competent learners and having their own unique ways in which they like to learn and explore. Children should be encouraged to be esilient, capable, confident and self-assured in order to be competent learners from birth. * Child Development- babies and children are all different and therefore have different ways in which they learn best. Children also learn at different rates and some need extra support. This looks at all areas of development including social, emotional, physical, cognitive and spiritual. * Inclusive practice- this is very important to allow children to feel that the diversity of their families and communities is respected and that no children are discriminated against. * Keeping Safe- the vulnerability of young children need to be protected to enable them to develop resilience.This can be done by the adults that care for them protecting their physical a nd psychological well-being. * Health and wellbeing- a child’s health is a fundamental part of their social, emotional, environmental and spiritual well-being. All of these areas contribute to and highlight the aims and the role that EYFS plays in the development and learning of all children in early years settings. As childcare professionals we must use all of the resources within the EYFS in our daily practice, including using it when planning, when observing children and linking what we see to aspects of the EYFS, to develop policies and procedures within our setting, to update our childcare practice and to reflect on our current practice. 1. Explain how different approaches to work with children in the early years have influenced current provision in the UK. In the past there have been people that have had theories that relate to child development and learning of children in childcare settings; these people are known as educational pioneers and are well respected as their theories have changed childcare for the better (Meggitt et al, 2011). â€Å"Friedrich Froebel  (1782-1852), the great German educator, is famous pre-eminently for his radical insight that the first learning experiences of the very young are of crucial importance in influencing not only their later educational achievements but also the health and development of society as a whole† (Weston, 1998).Friedrich Froebel had the idea that children learn best through play and by having real experiences and from these theories he was the founder of the first ever kindergarten in 1840 (Meggitt et al, 2011). Following the theory that children learn best through play, Frobel introduced toys that he called, ‘Froebel Gifts’ or ‘gaben’ which included balls, wooden blocks, rings, tiles and sticks which were all the key elements of Froebel’s kindergarten (Watson, 2002). Froebel’s ideas are very similar to those that construct the EYFS that all childcar e providers use today. Here is a table showing a summary of his ideas and how they are similar to and link with the EYFS: Froebel| EYFS| Schools should be closely involved with parents and that they should be welcome to join their children in their learning and development. â€Å"Creating the framework for partnership working between parents and professionals, andbetween all the settings that the child attends;†Section 1- Introduction- Purpose and Aims of the EYFS 1. 2 (p. 7)â€Å"Positive Relationships describes how children learn to be strong and independent from aBase of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person. The commitmentsare focused around respect; partnership with parents; supporting learning; and the role of theKey person. †Section 1- Introduction- A Principled Approach 1. 11 (p. 9)Creating the Framework for Partnership Working 1. 16 (p. 10)| Parents were the first educators for their children and that childcare providers working with parents will benefit the child greatly, because they know them better than anyone. â€Å"The EYFS sets standards to enable early years providers to reflect the rich and personalisedExperience that many parents give their children at home. Like parents, providers should deliverindividualised learning, development and care that enhances the development of the children inTheir care and gives those children the best possible start in life. †Section 1- Introduction- Setting the Standards 1. 13 (p. 9)â€Å"Close working between early years practitioners and parents is vital for the identification ofChildren’s learning needs and to ensure a quick response to any area of particular difficulty. Parentsand families are central to a child’s well-being and practitioners should support this importantRelationship by sharing information and offering support for extending learning in the home. Section 1- Introduction- Creating the Framework for Partnership Working 1. 16 (p. 1 0)| Children needed to have some time indoors and outdoors to enable them to have experiences with movement, games and the study of nature outdoors. | â€Å"The physical development of babies and young children must be encouraged through theprovision of opportunities for them to be active and interactive and to improve their skills ofCoordination, control, manipulation and movement. †Section 2- The Learning and Development Requirements- Physical Development 2. 15 (p. 15)â€Å"Children must be supported in developing the knowledge, skills and understanding thatHelp them to make sense of the world.Their learning must be supported through offeringopportunities for them to use a range of tools safely; encounter creatures, people, plants andobjects in their natural environments and in real-life situations; undertake practical ‘experiments’;And work with a range of materials. †Section 2- The Learning and Development Requirements- Knowledge and Understanding of t he World 2. 13 (p. 14)| The introduction of finger play, singing and rhymes into education. The encouragement of arts and crafts, including literature along with a mathematical understanding. Singing songs, moving and dancing. | â€Å"Children’s creativity must be extended by the provision of support for their curiosity, exploration and play.They must be provided with opportunities to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings, for example, through a variety of art, music, movement, dance, imaginative and role-play activities, mathematics, and design and technology. †Section 2- The Learning and Development Requirements- Creative Development 2. 17 (p. 15)| Children should have the freedom to move around and have healthy sensible food to eat. | â€Å"The physical development of babies and young children must be encouraged through theprovision of opportunities for them to be active and interactive and to improve their skills ofCoordination, control, manipulatio n and movement. They must be supported in using all of their senses to learn about the world around them and to make connections between new information and what they already know.They must be supported in developing an understanding of the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to food. †Section 2- The Learning and Development Requirements- Physical Development 2. 15 (p. 15)â€Å"Where children are provided with meals, snacks and drinks, these must be healthy, balanced andNutritious. †Section 3- The Welfare Requirements- Safeguarding and Promoting Children’s Welfare (p. 27)| The use of symbolic behaviour within a child’s play. Imaginative play was also important and children should pretend and imagine things to show their highest level of learning. | â€Å"Explores different media and responds to a variety of sensory experiences. Engages inrepresentational play. †Appendix 1- Creative Development (p. 8)â€Å"Children ’s creativity must be extended by the provision of support for their curiosity, explorationand play. They must be provided with opportunities to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings, for example, through a variety of art, music, movement, dance, imaginative androle-play activities, mathematics, and design and technology. †Section 2- The Learning and Development Requirements- Creative Development 2. 17 (p. 15)| The use of activities such as modelling with clay, drawing and making collages were useful in imaginative play. | â€Å"Expresses feelings and preferences in response to artwork, drama and music and makes somecomparisons and links between different pieces.Responds to own work and that of otherswhen exploring and communicating ideas, feelings and preferences through art, music, dance, role-play and imaginative play. †Appendix 1- Creative Development (p. 48)| Encouragement of playing with toys, such as wooden blocks, balls, etc. | â€Å"Finds out about and identifies the uses of everyday technology and uses information andcommunication technology and programmable toys to support her/his learning. †Appendix 1- Knowledge and Understanding of the World (p. 47)â€Å"Experiments with a range of objects and materials showing some mathematical awareness. †Appendix 1- Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy- Shape, Space and Measures (p. 47)| Children should be allowed to play freely (free-flow play). â€Å"on-going observational assessment to inform planning for each child’s continuing developmentthrough play-based activities. †Section 1- Introduction- Laying a Secure Foundation for Future Learning 1. 18 (p. 10)| (Meggitt et al, 2011) (DfCSF, 2008) Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was an Italian doctor who began her work with children with learning difficulties (Montessori, 2004). She was much more focussed on learning through being taught in a structured way, rather than the theory previously discussed of Froebel’s, learning through play (Meggitt et al, 2011). During her studies she found that Froebel’s theory was based more along the philosophical view, rather than the scientific aspect of a child’s learning and development (Montessori and Gutek, 2004).She came to the conclusion that children were active learners and that they passed through sensitive periods of development whilst being particularly responsive to certain areas of learning (Kramer, 1976). Montessori’s theories link with the EYFS because her methods provide an enabling environment for supporting the learning through the commitment of children within the care of the facility. Here is a table showing a summary of Maria Montessori’s ideas and how they link to the EYFS: * Structured teaching programme based on observing children with learning difficulties. * Challenging the difficulties by giving the child a task that they are unable to do, in the hope that they can learn to do it- re lates to EYFS Card 4. – Play and exploration * The use of ‘didactic materials’ to encourage children to use their hands. * Working alone rather than with parents, teachers, carers- this encouraged children to become ‘independent learners. * Polarisation of the attention is where the child is completely silent and focussed on what they are doing- relates to EYFS Card 4. 3- Creativity and critical thinking * Children should learn as part of a graded learning sequence and not through play. Play was allowed once children had completely their learning. * Children are active learners and should learn through role play, working with others, etc. – relates to EYFS Card 4. 2- Active learning (Meggitt et al, 2011)Margaret McMillan used ideas similar to both Froebel and Montessori. She began looking at manual dexterity exercises, similar to those used by Montessori. But as she continued her work, she used more and more of Froebel’s ideas, so they were mu ch more relative to the EYFS. Here is a table of her ideas and how they relate to the EYFS: McMillan| EYFS| First-hand experience and active learning are important. | | Relationships, ideas and feelings are just as important as physical aspects such as moving and learning. | â€Å"Children learn best when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs areMet and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring for them.The welfarerequirements are designed to support providers in creating settings which are welcoming,safe and stimulating, and where children are able to enjoy learning through play, to grow inConfidence and to fulfil their potential. †Section 3- The Welfare Requirements- Overview of the welfare requirements (p19)â€Å"Positive Relationships describes how children learn to be strong and independent from aBase of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person. The commitmentsare focused around respect; partnership wit h parents; supporting learning; and the role of theKey person. †Section 1- Introduction- A Principled approach (p. 9)| Children become whole people through play and play helps them to apply their knowledge and understanding to life. â€Å"On-going observational assessment to inform planning for each child’s continuing development through play-based activities. †Section 1- Introduction- Laying a secure foundation for future learning (p. 10)â€Å"None of these areas of Learning and Development can be delivered in isolation from the others. They are equally important and depend on each other to support a rounded approach to child development. All the areas must be delivered through planned, purposeful play, with a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities. †Section 2- The Learning and Development Requirements- Overview of the learning and development requirements (p. 11)â€Å"Children’s creativity must be extended by the provision of support for their curiosity, exploration and play.They must be provided with opportunities to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings, for example, through a variety of art, music, movement, dance, imaginative andRole-play activities, mathematics, and design and technology. †Section 2- The Learning and Development Requirements- Creative Development (p. 15)| Close partnership with parents is important and parents should be encouraged to develop alongside their children. | â€Å"Creating the framework for partnership working between parents and professionals, and between all the settings that the child attends. †Section 1- Introduction- Purpose and aims of the Early Years Foundation Stage 1. 2 (p. )â€Å"Positive Relationships describes how children learn to be strong and independent from aBase of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person. The commitmentsare focused around respect; partnership with parents; supporting learning; and the role o f theKey person. †Section 1- Introduction- Purpose and aims of the Early Years Foundation Stage 1. 11(p. 9)| Nursery schools should be an extension of the home environment and should be welcoming to both parents and children. They should enable children to experience fresh air, trees, rock gardens, vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, sandpits, flowers, lawns and the wilderness. | â€Å"Suitable premises, environment and equipmentOutdoor and indoor spaces, furniture, equipment and toys must be safe and suitable for their purpose. Section 3- The Welfare Requirements- the general welfare requirements (p. 20)â€Å"Wherever possible, there should be access to an outdoor play area, and this is the expectedNorm for providers. In provision where outdoor play space cannot be provided, outings should be planned and taken on a daily basis (unless circumstances make this inappropriate, for example unsafe weather conditions). †Suitable premises, environment and equipment (p. 35)| Child ren cannot learn if they are undernourished, unwell with health problems or poorly looked after. | â€Å"Children learn best when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs areMet and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring for them.The welfarerequirements are designed to support providers in creating settings which are welcoming,safe and stimulating, and where children are able to enjoy learning through play, to grow inConfidence and to fulfil their potential. †Section 3- The Welfare Requirements- Overview of the welfare requirements (p. 19)| These different theorists have contributed massively to the ways that our government produces their legislation in order to maintain a safe, healthy and educational environment for children to be cared for (Taylor and Field, 2003). 1. 3 Explain why early years frameworks emphasise a personal and individual approach to learning and development â€Å"Valuing children’s individuality, ideas and feelings is an important aspect of developing a personal and individual approach to learning and development† (Meggitt et al, 2011).What we do for the children in our care must be ‘child centred’ and the child is key in all decisions made about their care and education (Sinclair, 2006). All children are different and the EYFS talks about ‘a unique child’ which highlights this point. It recognises that every child is a competent learner right from birth and that they can be resilient, confident, capable and self-assured (DfCSF, 2008). There are different categories of needs that a child may have, which are: * Universal needs- these are fundamental to all children as they are their basic needs including food, drink and shelter. If these are not being met a child will struggle to meet any urther needs, such as education (Super and Harkness, 1986). * Psychological needs- these include love, affection, stable relationships and friendships, intellectual stimulation and independence (Meggitt et al, 2011). These are vital to children as they maintain a child’s quality of life be making them feel self-worthy and loved (Harter, Waters and Whitesell, 2008). * Developmental needs- these are what the child needs in order to develop further educationally (Shelton, 1987). It can be difficult to meet the developmental needs of all children in our care, as they may be at different stages of development; therefore it is best to work as a group but to focus individually on each child (Eccles, 1999).The child’s age, intellectual abilities, emotional development, social skills, experiences, physical abilities and relationships must all be key aspects when working with children to assist with their specific developmental needs (Meggitt et al, 2011). â€Å"The EYFS states that Children are competent learners from birth and develop and learn in a wide variety of ways. All practitioners should, therefore, look carefully at the childre n in their care, consider their needs, their interests, and their stages of development and use all of this information to help plan a challenging and enjoyable experience across all the areas of Learning and Development. † (DfCSF, 2008)When working with children using the EYFS, we value a child’s individuality by considering their ability, personality feelings and ideas to enable us, as childcare workers, to provide an effective learning environment. We have to take into consideration that the rate in which children learn and develop can differ; therefore we must adjust our approaches to each individual child’s abilities. We must recognise and meet each child’s needs considering their age, physical maturity, intellectual ability, emotional development, social skills, past experiences and relationships with others. In order to meet the child’s individual needs, we must observe children in play to establish their current ability. 3. Explain the partn ership model of working with carers â€Å"The parent is a deeply important person to the child, and the relationship between parent and child is always very emotional† (Meggitt et al, 2011). As childcare providers we must develop relationships with children and babies in our care that are consistent, affectionate and warm and this must then be coherent with working in partnership with parents to provide the best quality care and education for these children (Sinclair and Grimshaw, 2006). It is important to remember that the relationships childcare providers have with the children in their care are very different to those that children have with their parents (Lamb, 1999).One of the main aims of the EYFS is to create the framework for partnership working between parents and childcare providers in order for us to identify and address the needs of the child (DfCSF, 2008). As childcare professionals we must remember that all families are different and therefore will have differen t needs and wants for themselves and their children (NCMA, 2009). Most parents will always want the best for their children but sometimes are not sure what is the best and may ask for guidance (Rosenbaum et al, 1998). The only experiences we have of family life are our own, therefore we must respect the values and methods that families have and understand that different parents bring up their children in different ways (David, 2003).Parents will often be open to suggestions from childcare professionals if they seek some guidance but we must not force them to do as we say and must respect their wishes (Curtis and O’Hagen, 2005). Parents have the right to bring their children up as they please, although we may not agree with their methods (Forehand and Nousiainen, 1993). Here are some examples of different parenting methods: * Permissive Parenting- the parents allow the child to do as they please. Childcare providers must have ground rules in place for children to maintain orde r and calm, but if the child has not been taught that they must abide by rules, this could prove very difficult for the childcare provider and other children. Authoritarian Parenting- the parents are very controlling of the behaviour of their children and children must do exactly as they say. This can be difficult for childcare providers, especially if they are asked by the parents to continue rules that are in place in the family home that the childcare provider does not agree with. * Uninvolved Parenting- the parent is neglectful of their child and allows them to be unkempt, dirty, hungry and not meet their basic needs. This is a safeguarding issue and the childcare provider must report this to the appropriate agencies. * Democratic Parenting- the parent sets clear boundaries for the child and shows them physical affection. This would be the way in which many of us will conduct the care of children. (Robinson et al, 1995)A very important part of an effective relationship and partn ership between childcare professional and parents is trust. Parents may have had previous experiences where they have been let down by somebody involved in the care of their child and therefore gained their trust is important to be able to communicate, in order to provide the best possible care and education of the child (Meggitt et al, 2011). The partnership model of working with parents and carers is therefore a mix of all the above points- respect, trust, information gathering and sharing. We can promote this by talking to parents and discussing each child’s day with parents and carers. 3. 2 Review barriers to participation for carers and explain ways in which they can be overcome.The partnership between parents and child care professionals is a viable and essential way to increase the developmental opportunities for children (Christianson, 2003). We’ve talked about the importance of partnership with parents, but this can go wrong, as there are barriers to effective partnership working. Here are some examples of barriers and how they can be overcome: * Parents can often feel guilty or sad about leaving their child and may feel like they are missing out on their child growing up. This may make them feel paranoid that others may judge them for leaving their child, especially if they leave them to enable themselves to have a break and do something for themselves. It is important to make the parent understand that what they are doing is not wrong and nothing to feel guilty about.Focus on some of the positive aspects that the child will be having whilst in a childcare setting, for example, the experiences they will have and the friends they will make. Give the parents some sources of support that will be able to help them through this emotional time. (ways2work, 2010) * Culture and language can be a barrier as our society grows to be more and more multi-cultural we come across different people from other cultures, some that may not use English as t heir first language and may not speak any English at all. This can be overcome by using translating devices such as ‘Google translate’ to communicate and also be used to translate written policies and procedures, which can be printed out and given to parents. The same can be done for newsletters, emails, letters, handover books, etc.This way, the partnership between the parent and childcare professional is not affected because the inability to communicate. (Joint Improvement Team, 2009) We must ensure that parents understand the legal requirements for our country and their rights and responsibilities. This may be different in their country and if it is not explained in the first instance, this could prove a difficult situation. * Different methods of parenting can cause barriers in partnership working as they may be clash with how the childcare provider cares for children in their setting. For example, a parent may use the permissive parenting method which can cause pro blems like the child not following rules and doing exactly what they want.If a parent uses the authoritative, this could cause problems because the parent may want the childcare provider to continue their rules from home, which they may not agree with. These can be overcome by ensuring that parents understand the ground rules, policies and procedures before their child starts attending a setting. This way, difficulties can be overcome and the parent’s wishes are respected. A parent may use the uninvolved method of parenting, which could mean children don’t understand boundaries that are set and they can become withdrawn from the rest of the children in the setting. This can be overcome by explaining to parents the importance of routines and consistency. Hubbs-tait et al, 2008) * Parents may become defensive if they are approached about something that is causing problems for their child. As childcare providers we must communicate with parents if we have any concerns abo ut children to provide the best possible care and education. This can be overcome by being open, approachable and having a friendly attitude. (McClure, 2012) 3. 3 Explain strategies to support carers who may react positively or negatively to partnership opportunities. There are a number of different ways that childcare professionals can have good partnership with parents to enable parents to choose the one that suits them best (Meggitt et al, 2011).Here is a table showing some of the ways in which childcare professionals can work in partnership with parents and the positive and negative aspects of them: Ways to work in partnership| Positive| Negative| Learning Journeys- ‘a continuous journey through which children build on all the things they have already experienced and come across new and interesting challenges. Every child’s learning journey takes a personal path based on their own individual interests, experiences and the curriculum on offer’ (Hutchin, 2007). | * Learning journeys with photos and comments are a great way to show carers all of things that their child has been doing as well as charting their progress. * We might invite the parent to come into the setting to have a look at the learning journey or we may send it home. * Parents that are not so enthusiastic about their child’s learning may not find this method very useful, as they may not want to read through the learning journey. Parents that do not have enough time may not like this method either. | Handover books- a book that goes home for parents to add to, then comes back to the setting for the childcare professionals to write in. Usually just general information about the child’s day is written in this book. | * Parents and childcare professionals are communicating regularly about the progress of the child. * Any trends in the child’s behaviour can be identified easily by just looking back through the book. If parents are in a hurry picking up or d ropping off they may not always want to have a verbal handover, therefore the handover book is much easier as the parent can read it later when they have more time. | * Parents may not find it easy to write down things about the child- may not know what to write. * Parents may not have time to write down things and a quick chat when dropping off or picking up may be quicker and easier. | Verbal handover- when parents or carers drop off or collect the child they may just want to verbally handover how the child has been or if there is anything that the childcare professional may need to know. | * Quick chat is beneficial for parents that have little time before and after work. Parents may find it easier just to have a chat rather than writing information. * Builds trust and friendship between parents and childcare professionals. | * Things are not documented therefore there is no proof that something has been said if you may need it for any problems that could possibly occur. * Inform ation may not be understood by either party. | Newsletter- a letter containing information about topics that are being covered within the setting, any special activities or trips coming up, holidays, new children starting and just general information that parents may need to know. | * Fun and informal way of communicating important information. * Parents may think it is information that is not important and may not read it. | Partnership with parents can be effective but there may be occasions where it can be particularly challenging. As a childcare professional it is important to remain positive about the situation and not give up. Information must be shared with parents by whatever means necessary, whether they reciprocate or not. 3. 4 Explain how effective multi-agency working operates within early year’s provision and benefits children and carers. When working in a caring profession we have a responsibility and a duty of care to the people we are looking after. This means that we must care for them to the best of our ability (Rostgaard and Fridberg, 1998).In order to care for children effectively we must aim to meet all of their needs. As a childcare professional we may not have the knowledge to meet each individual need of the child as it may well be out of our expertise. This is when we must call upon another professional and work together with them to help the child (Sloper, 2004). For multi-agency working to be effective, good communication skills are needed by all professionals involved (Easen, Atkins and Dyson, 2006). The information shared must be relevant and only shared on a ‘need to know’ basis to protect the confidentiality of children and their families (Richardson and Asthana, 2005).Childcare professionals must gain consent from parents regarding the information sharing between other professionals, unless there is a possibility of a child protection issue, then this can be overruled. When sharing information with other prof essionals we must be organised and professional so that we are able to give, receive and record accurate information to ensure that the child’s care is not compromised by poor information sharing (Watson, Townsley and Abbott, 2002). Multi-agency working and partnership with parents are the key factors in good quality care for children. However, partnership with parents can sometimes be difficult but as childcare professionals we must remain positive and not give up as the important thing is to ensure information is given to parents or other professionals by whatever means necessary. Eymp 1 EYMP 1 1. 1 Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.The Early Years Foundation Stage framework sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life. The guidance materials are used to ensure settings provide: quality and consi stency in all early years settings, so that every child makes good progress and no child gets left behind; †¢ a secure foundation through learning and development opportunities which are planned around the needs and interests of each individual child and are assessed and reviewed regularly; †¢ partnership working between practitioners and with parents and/or carers; †¢ equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported. The EYFS framework specifies requirements for learning and development and for safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. . 2 Here is a list of different approaches: Reggio Emilia Montessori Common core Reggio Emilia The Reggio Approach gets it name from its place of origin, Reggio Emilia, a city located in Emilia Romagna in Northern Italy. After the Second World War, Loris Malaguzzi, a young teacher and the founder of this unique system, joined teams with the parents of this region to provide child care for young children. Over the last 50 years, this education system has developed into a unique program that has caught the attention of early childhood educators worldwide.Of special interest is the emphasis on childrens symbolic languages in the context of a project-oriented curriculum. The Reggio Emilia approach is made possible through a carefully articulated and collaborated approach to the care and education of young children. Here are the key points of the Reggio Emilia: Community support and parental involvement Administrative policies and organisational features Teachers as learners The role of the environment Long-term projects as vehicles for learning The hundred languages of children Community support and parental involvementTraditions of community support for families with young children comes from Italy’s cultural view of children as the collective responsibilities of the state. The parents role is the same as the community’s, at both sch ool wide and the classroom level. Parents have to take part in discussions about school policy, child development concerns and curriculum planning and evaluation. Because most parents are employed meetings are held in the evenings so that all who want to take part can do so. Administrative policies and organisational featuresA head administrator reports directly to the town council, who works with a group of curriculum team leaders, each of them coordinates the efforts of teachers from 5 or 6 centres. Each of these centres is staffed by two teacher per classroom, in which there is 12 children in infant classes, 18 in toddlers classes and 24 in pre-primary classes, one teacher trained in arts who works with classroom teachers in curriculum development and documentation and several auxiliary staff. There is no principle, and there is not a hierarchical relationship between teachers.This staffing plan along side with the policy of keeping the same group o children and teachers together for the 3 year period, facilitates the sense of community that characterises relationships between children and adults. Teachers as learners The teacher is considered a co-learner and collaborator with the child and not just an instructor. Teachers are encouraged to facilitate the child's learning by planning activities and lessons based on the child's interests, asking questions to further understanding, and actively engaging in the activities alongside the child, instead of sitting back and observing the child learning.Teachers' long-term commitment to enhancing their understanding of children is at the root of the Reggio Emilia approach. Their resistance to the American use of the term model to describe their program reflects the continuing evolution of their ideas and practices. They compensate for the meager preservice training of Italian early childhood teachers by providing extensive staff development opportunities, with goals determined by the teachers themselves. Teacher a utonomy is evident in the absence of teacher manuals, curriculum guides, or achievement tests.The lack of externally imposed mandates is joined by the imperative that teachers become skilled observers of children in order to inform their curriculum planning and implementation. When working on projects with the child, the teacher can also expand the child's learning by collecting data such as photographs, notes, videos, and conversations that can be reviewed at a later time. The role of the environment The organization of the physical environment is crucial to Reggio Emilia's early childhood program, and is often referred to as the child's â€Å"third teacher†.Major aims in the planning of new spaces and the remodeling of old ones include the integration of each classroom with the rest of the school, and the school with the surrounding community. The importance of the environment lies in the belief that children can best create meaning and make sense of their world through env ironments which support complex, varied, sustained, and changing relationships between people, the world of experience, ideas and the many ways of expressing ideas. The pre-schools tend to be filled with indoor plants and vines, and awash with natural light.Classrooms open to a central piazza, kitchens are open to view and access to the surrounding community is assured through wall sized windows, courtyards, and doors to the outside in each classroom. Long-term projects as vehicles for learning The curriculum is characterized by many features advocated by contemporary research on young children, including real-life problem-solving among peers, with numerous opportunities for creative thinking and exploration. Teachers often work on projects with small groups of children, while the rest of the class engages in a wide variety of self-selected activities typical of preschool classrooms.The projects that teachers and children engage in are different in a number of ways from those that c haracterize American teachers' conceptions of unit or thematic studies. The topic of investigation may derive directly from teacher observations of children's spontaneous play and exploration. Project topics are also selected on the basis of an academic curiosity or social concern on the part of teachers or parents, or serendipitous events that direct the attention of the children and teachers. Reggio teachers place a high value on their ability to improvise and respond to children's predisposition to enjoy the unexpected.Regardless of their origins, successful projects are those that generate a sufficient amount of interest and uncertainty to provoke children's creative thinking and problem-solving and are open to different avenues of exploration. Because curriculum decisions are based on developmental and sociocultural concerns, small groups of children of varying abilities and interests, including those with special needs, work together on projects. Projects begin with teachers o bserving and questioning children about the topic of interest.Based on children's responses, teachers introduce materials, questions, and opportunities that provoke children to further explore the topic. While some of these teacher provocations are anticipated, projects often move in unanticipated directions as a result of problems children identify. Therefore, curriculum planning and implementation revolve around open-ended and often long-term projects that are based on the reciprocal nature of teacher-directed and child-initiated activity. All of the topics of interest are given by the children.Within the project approach, children are given opportunities to make connections between prior and new knowledge while engaging in authentic tasks. The hundred languages of children As children proceed in an investigation, generating and testing their hypotheses, they are encouraged to depict their understanding through one of many symbolic languages, including drawing, sculpture, dramatic play, and writing. They work together toward the resolution of problems that arise. Teachers facilitate and then observe debates regarding the extent to which a child's drawing or other form of representation lives up to the expressed intent.Revision of drawings and of ideas is encouraged, and teachers allow children to repeat activities and modify each other's work in the collective aim of better understanding the topic. Teachers foster children's involvement in the processes of exploration and evaluation, acknowledging the importance of their evolving products as vehicles for exchange. (Source: www. reggiokids. com and Children and Young Peoples Workforce, Meggitt, Kamen, Bruce, Grenier) Maria Montessori She began her work as a doctor in one of the poorest areas in Rome, in the beginning of the 1900s.She worked with children with learning difficulties. She spend hours observing children. This is one of the strengths of her work. Her conclusion, which is now supported by modern re search that children pass through sensitive periods of development when they are particularly receptive to particular areas of learning. She saw children as active learners, just like Piaget. Here is a summary of Montessori’s ideas: She put together a structured teaching programme, which she based on her observations of children with learning difficulties. The work of an educator called Seguin, was also used by Maria Montessori.He had given manual dexterity exercises to children with physical disabilities. He done this as he believed that if they could learn to use their hands, they would then be able to get a job later on in life She designed a set of didactic materials, as she called them, which encouraged children to use their hands. She stressed the importance that children should work alone. She thought that this would help them become independent learners. For Montessori the highest point of a child’s learning is what she like to call the polarisation of the atte ntion.Montessori didn’t see the point in play, didn’t encourage children’s own ideas, until they had worked through all her graded learning sequence. Montessori has had more impact and influence on private schools than on the maintained sector of education. Common Core The Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the children's workforce – often referred to as the Common Core – sets out the basic skills and knowledge needed by people whose work (paid or voluntary) brings them into regular contact with children, young people and families. It supports integrated working by contributing to the use of a common language.The skills and knowledge included in the Common Core have been divided into six key areas: Effective communication and encouragement with children, young people and families. Children and young people development. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child. Supporting transitions Multi-agency working Sharing information It aims t o promote quality, respect diversity and challenge stereotypes, helping to improve the life chances of all children and young people. Also providing more effective and integrated services. At the same time it cknowledges the rights of children and young people, and the role of parents, carers and families. (Source: http://webarchive. nationalarchives. gov. uk and Children and Young Peoples Workforce, Meggitt, Kamen, Bruce, Grenier) 1. 3 Early years frameworks emphasise a personal and individual approach to learning and development because valuing children’s individuality, ideas and feelings is an important aspect in developing. It is necessary to meet the universal needs of all children, these are physical and biological needs such as food, drink, and shelter which are essential to survival.There is also psychological needs such as love, affection, secure and stable relationships, friendships intellectual stimulation, and independence. These are essential to maintain the indi viduals quality of life. A child’s needs vary from child to child as each child is an individual and not any two are the same. It can be difficult to meet the needs of children in child care settings when they are grouped together according to age. Some children will have developmental needs which are in line with the expected â€Å"norm† for their chronological age, whereas others will have needs which are characteristic of much older or younger children.Once recognised, the child’s needs can then be met. When doing this it is important to consider each childs age, physical maturity, intellectual abilities, emotional development, social skills, past experiences and relationships. 3. 2 Here is a list of barriers to participation for parents and carers: Concerns about welfare, development and learning of a child Parents becoming angry or upset Parents and carers with other priorities Parents and carers having prejudicial attitudes Differences in rules and expecta tionsThis can be overcome by talking to the parent or carer in a way that shows concern for the child, and not criticising the parent or carer. The conversation can also be held in a private and confidential space, with a clear focus on the childs best interests. This can be overcome by staying calm and talking calmly offering some where private to talk. 3. 3 As carers are individuals there is no one way to have a partnership with parents/carers, there needs to be a whole range of ways for parents to access partnerships in order for them to find the one that is most suitable for them.These may include diaries to communicate between home and the setting, meetings within in the setting, workshops run by the setting, open days and parents evenings. 3. 4. Multi agency working helps the different services and professionals to join together to prevent problems occurring in the first place. This means that practitioners can work with parents and carers to help them access and organise the different services and provisions that may be helpful to them.

Experimental Psychology Research Paper Essay

The terms `counselling’ and `psychotherapy’ are often employed in a loosely interchangeable way, especially in Australia. Where distinctions are made, there has been little agreement on what each term should cover. This article examines several axes on which `counselling’ might potentially be distinguished from `psychotherapy’; the most promising basis for such a distinction seems to be whether or not the mode of work attempts to access the unconscious. On this basis, several modalities currently termed `therapy’ would in fact be classed as types of `counselling’, including those modalities of family therapy which aim to engage clients at the level of conscious behaviour change and restructuring. Consideration of how new professionals are trained lends support to a continuum, with short-term, problem-focused conscious-oriented approaches at one end, and longer-term, transference-focused, unconscious-oriented approaches at the other, the dividing line coming at the point where trainees learn the skill of `immediacy’. to feel uncomfortable making. My university offered two programs: a shorter Master of Education award in `Counselling’, and a longer Master of Arts award in Counselling Psychology, aiming to train `psychologists’ for clinical positions in Community Mental Health, where they would often be doing `psychotherapy’. Everyone seemed to know what the difference between `counselling’ and `psychotherapy’ was, although exactly what it consisted in was rarely addressed. An introductory course called `The Roles of Counsellor and Therapist’ set Impact and Change: A Study of Counseling Relationships (Kell and Mueller, 1966). The `counselling’ in this book seemed to have a lot to do with transference (though that term was not employed) and stressed the counsellor’s `use of the counsellor^client relationship’Ã ¶things that had rarely been mentioned in my Australian training in `counselling’. On the other hand, Family Therapy, my chosen specialty and enthusiasm back then, was `therapy’, despite the fact that most family therapists at the time rejected the whole idea of transference (for an exception, see Box, 1998), gave their clients straightforward behavioural homework and checked to see if they did it. How was this different from the `educational’ approaches in which my friends enrolled in the M.Ed. program were being trained? I did not fully sort out these things during my two years in the US. I returned in 1981 to an Australia still largely committed to `counselling’, only to see it adopt the term `therapy’ with remarkable speed over the next decade (the insistence of family therapists on calling themselves that, rather than `family counsellors’, no doubt being a contributing factor). Clearly, `psychotherapy’ is now regarded within the profession (and increasingly will be regarded outside it) as the more prestigious term: but what makes it so? A status distinction has arisen without any corresponding thinking-through of the content of that distinction.

Starbucks Internationalization in Recent Years

With the first coffee shop opened in Sydney CBD, Starbucks entered into Australian market in July of 2000 and then expanded rapidly to 85 coffee shops in the following years. However, in August of 2008, Starbucks Coffee Company Australia announced to shut down more than 60 of its 85 coffee shops and to date it has scaled down to 22 opened in Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne (Starbucks 2010).This writing will focus on the analysis on the attributes of Starbucks’ products and marketing, and identify the opportunities and threats facing the Starbucks Australia. The second part of the analysis also draws attention to the changes in social economy, competitors’ move and the main trends in the hot drink market. Based on the findings, recommendations are offered, aiming to help Starbucks gain competitive advantages in Australian marketplace and long run sustainability in a larger social context.In terms of coffee products and service quality, the cafe market in Australia is extremely mature and competitive. It is understandable that consumers’ expectation towards the newly-introduced coffee brand has been exalted high, especially when they are charged with premium price (Marketing Lessons 2010). However, the exotic coffee brand does not bring specialty to the local coffee culture as expected, the consuming experience stay mediocre. Meanwhile, products do not suit Australians' coffee tastes (Marketing Lessons 2010).Starbucks’ positioning in Australian cafe market has departed from the consuming needs and patterns of the local customers. Dismantled with the uniqueness it possessed and its success in the US and other Asian countries, Starbucks Australia seems to be as ordinary as one of the numerous choices for customers in Australia (Coffee Break and review 2008), and people never genuinely felt the necessity to go to a Starbucks shop. Evidently, Starbucks overestimates its points of difference, as well as th e customer-perceived value of its services (Marketing Lessons 2010).To compete out in Australian Cafe market, Starbucks needs to find new ways of creating competitive advantage to differentiate itself from local market competitors. What could make Starbucks special? It could be the menu including items catering customers’ special needs in coffee tastes, or the store environment which makes customer feel comfortable to sit in and enjoy the time, or the excellent service offered by people. Or it could be the combination of all the specialties makes the consuming experience unique.Datamonitor (2010) points out that the core competence of Starbucks is the quality of products. However, it is far from enough, because the best coffee and best equipment in the world could only make 20 percent of success, just as Ed Charles (2007) describes that success of product and service is 80 percent due to the performance of staff, and they must be trained to perform at their best both on produ cts and service to maximize the perceived value of customer.More specifically, customers’ perceived value is related to both tangible benefits such as price, product quality, service, convenience and price, as well as intangible benefits concerning reputation, aesthetics, social and emotional needs like self-enhancement and sensory pleasure needs. Quality service performed by staff could highlight both tangible and intangible benefits of customers. The attributes of the quality service in coffee shop can be demonstrated by thinking of the best consuming experience you could ever imagine.When entering a clean, well-furnished coffee shop with attractive decoration and cozy ambience, customers are recognized by friendly employees and greeted by own names. Order is made in an attentive manner, and fulfilled accurately and timely. Coffees with appealing aroma are served at moderate temperature and they are great and unique in taste. Market players could acquire some of the attribu tes depicted in the scenario to survive in the marketplace and their service quality varies depending on the competency of the service staff.What customers need is consistent quality services, which is discovered in the report by Chen and Hu (2010) that if customers feel confident that they can have a consistent quality consumption experience each time they come, they tend to choose the same coffee shop to enjoy their coffee. And such favorable attitude towards the service they have received could evolve into customer loyalty, since the essence of customer loyalty is, as Barnes (2001) depicts, â€Å"all about how you make them feel†, vice versa.Customer loyalty may result in consistent purchasing behavior of the brand over time. Therefore, it could be concluded that the all-round quality service performed by staff with high consistency could be the competitive advantage of Starbucks, which can make it special and achieve long run sustainability in Australian market. In light of this finding, Starbucks Australia should devote more efforts to human resources management. More specifically, a series of human resource practice could be designed and implemented to strategically improve employees’ competency and working attitude.For example, staff training could help them be more competent to perform all tasks involved up to standards and with high consistency and staff motivation could boost morale and let them know what is expected of them in a quite specific way. Both staff training and motivation could increase employees’ satisfaction to the extent that they are willing to exert effort to perform the service well and taking initiative to improve the service quality. It is supported by a study that a 5 percent increase in staff satisfaction can result in 1. 3 percent increase in customer satisfaction (Kleinman 2007).By improving the service performance of each staff, which is as Kleinman (2007) defined ‘employee-centered outcome’, Starbucks could achieve higher customer satisfaction, which is ‘organization-centered outcome’, and as the customer satisfaction accumulated and boosted, Starbucks would successfully deliver its positioning as ‘best coffee with premium service’ to the Australian market. And the company’s competitive advantage lies in its human resource management which includes a combination of human resource practice to increase employees’ competency and willingness to render consistent quality service to customers.Compared with the strategies which focus on price, menu and store environment, strategies on HRM would be less susceptible to imitation, since it is intangible and tacit and it is hard for competitors to know the exact HRM practices which could be replicated Additionally, the human resource management (HRM) practices should be facilitated with other non-HRM measures. For example, particular resources related to improving the service quality should be prioritized and allocated by the management to enhance the service performance.If Starbucks managed to acquire the quality service and achieve high customer satisfaction and loyalty through its competitive advantage in human resource management, it could have stayed profitable even during tough social economic condition and keep competitors away from its marketing territory. Since 2007, customer’s consuming confidence was dramatically decreased due to the economic recession and they spent money with more discretion as a result of or threatened by unemployment, bankruptcies and degraded credit. The decreased confidence of consuming caused the curbed spending which in turn resulted in pressure on the company's margins’ (Datamonitor 2010). Such tightening of consumers’ spending has encouraged defection. McDonald's, for instance, has already made small forays into providing decent coffee, and achieved some successes (Economist 2008). To retain customer, Starbuck s need to stress on premium service quality to achieve high customer satisfaction and further differentiate its products and service from McDonald’s, so that existing customers feel attached to the unique consuming experience in Starbucks and reluctant to defect.Although McDonald’s could offer decent coffee with a reasonable price, the premium consuming experience and series of HRM practice behind the strategy will be the major barriers for McDonald’s. Like most other coffee products, Starbucks' products contain caffeine, dairy, sugar and other active compounds. It is proved by public research that excessive consumption of these ingredients may lead to variety of health hazardous. The health issues are increasingly calling for public awareness and the public are suggested by doctors and experts to choose foods with discretion and reduce the frequency or quantity of intake.Such trends of food choice will reduce the demand of Starbucks’ beverage and food pr oduct (Datamonitor 2010). Noticeably, despite the threats from the health issues against the coffee products, a report by Parker (2005) reveals that the coffee demand in Australia will keep increasing from USD268. 57 million in 2006 to USD307. 13 million in 2011. This can be partly explained by the research (Luciano et al. 2005) that people’s preference to coffee beverage is genetic in Australia, and it is different from their preference to tea which is affected by the environment.It is understandable that although people’s consuming concept is becoming increasingly health-oriented, they still maintain their coffee-drinking habit. In this sense, Starbucks could retain the coffee demand by adding more decaffeinated coffee beverages and other coffee products incorporated with healthy components. The overall increase in coffee market could be seized if Starbucks manage to tune in the market trend by adjusting their coffee product structure.According to the research by Che n and Hu (2010), one of the attributes of the coffee industry is that it is highly competitive and homogenous in terms of services and products, and the availability of alternatives to the customers can be considered as an important attribute in decision making of purchasing. Therefore, Starbucks could offer a wide range of selection of coffee products as well as other beverages like tea and juices. This proposal of strategy could be justified by the finding that Wong (2010) mentions in her report.The culture of hot drinks in Australia has been evolved towards heath, and consumers are becoming mature while choosing the beverage in better taste as well as showing their preference toward premium products in both coffee and tea categories. The estimation by Datamonitor (2010) of the overall growth in the hot drink market in the next five years is 9. 1 percent, which will increase from AUD1350 million in 2008 to AUD1473million in 2013. Noticeably, the emerging tea market will increase b y 8. 1 percent, from AUD437million in 2008 to AUD473million in 2013.To optimize the profits, Starbucks could bank upon such trend and launch new products featured in tea category. Tea product can serve its market among the health conscious Australian consumers well in the next few years, due to its healthy and medicinal benefits. There is another marketing feature draws our attention. As discovered in the research by Luciano et al. (2005), women consume more beverages than men and show a lower preference for coffee than men, but higher preference for tea, which implies that the primary driving force for tea consumption is its appeal to women.This feature drives Starbucks to develop more tea products to cater for women’s preference in taste. By adding ingredients in women’s favor and making the beverage attractive in color and design, Starbucks just launched a series of tea products (Starbucks 2010) to attract more female customers. At the same time, Starbucks has creat ively combined the tea with coffee (Starbucks 2010) to create a product with specialty, which introduces a different way of enjoying coffee and tea product and also is an effective ay to surprise and delight their customers continuously. To be successful in the competitive Australian market, it is necessary for Starbucks to focus more on the human resource management practices to achieve sustainable and competitive advantages, which make their staff more capable and motivated to perform outstanding services with high consistency, so as to restore brand specialty in the marketplace. It is also important for Starbucks to be alert to all the changes in the market, as customers’ consuming habits and preferences in taste are always changing.The product structure, according to the market trends and new marketing strategies, should be adjusted to seize the opportunity facing the company. Just as Cairns put it in the report Starbucks (2008), the company needs to put the specialty to the market and grows with its customers. The winner could even proactively guide the market trends and foster the new consuming needs of customer to boost profitability. This requires the market player to be consistent in quality service performance but active and creative in marketing changes.

Summary & Critical Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary & Critical Response - Essay Example rein some of the key findings stated that while teenagers may learn new skills at work, there is only little attention given in terms of the amount of time provided for acquiring a skill, or what significance it contributes. Another study found that those students who did part time job while in school could reduce the unemployment rate; however, this implies that many of those who started working in fast food chains eventually stopped their schooling and end up in â€Å"low-skill jobs.† Etzioni concludes that youngsters should balance their needs and other endeavors, but education must be their utmost priority. The discussion of the arguments presented in the article, â€Å"Working at McDonald’s,† by Amitai Etzioni is highly persuasive as the author supported and justified his arguments on practical grounds as manifested in the real setting. He cited similar studies to bring out factual information, although the discussion is limited in the context of the American culture. However, he further justified that there are various differences in work culture from one place to another; this is clear enough to say that some cases may not be true, or are only partially true in other cultures. From the tone of the language he used, it can be implied that he sympathizes with the present real experience of the youngsters today such that he considered how their values formation, as well as their character as individuals, could be affected if they are being hooked up from the influence of working in fast food chains. In addition, he emphasized that parents should not forget about their lifelong commitment and responsibility towards their children. They should not always consider that teen employment is educational but rather something like an activity that can provide a better opportunity for education and work. At the same time, it should consider that such activity can also be abusive. Finally, his persuasive discussion supported the validity of his arguments such that his

Sample Population Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Sample Population - Assignment Example Secondly, the manner in which one person is selected will be independent of how the other person will be selected (Walsh & Wigens, 2003). The benefit of using a random sample is that there is the generalization of the population one is interested in the study. In this case, the population is of about 1,000 employees and out of the 1,000 100 will be selected to generalize the 1,000 employees. Additionally, the selection method will use simple random sample where each individual will be chosen randomly and by chance (Torgerson & Miles, 2007). In that, each individual has the same probability of being chosen at any stage throughout the sampling process. In so doing, the technique will be unbiased as the employees of that are chosen without determining any particular characteristic. The research study will have data sources that will provide actual information shedding light on how employees can use the social media as a platform to raise grievances. The data sources will play a crucial role in the research, as they will explain the theoretical concept of social media and how it has been misused in the organization. In so doing, the information collected or data collected will be compared with what the information provided by the sample population and establish whether there is a relationship between the data. Additionally, the data source will be used to improve or emphasize on what the participants provide during the research.  

Media News Versus You Tube Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Media News Versus You Tube - Essay Example The images posted on this site by the soldiers have made most Americans believe that the war on Iraq was not worth the loss of US lives. They need a full picture of Iraq to see what the gain is for that loss of life but the restrictions on media coverage do not allow this. The news media has been around for a very long time whereas, YouTube, the popular free video hosting website founded in February 2005, began its humble beginnings in a garage and offered the public a preview of the site in May 2005. And just six months later, YouTube made its official debut. Although this is an extremely large and popular site, it has met with much criticism. Videos filmed by amateur first gained popularity during the terrorist attacks on London subways and buses last summer, when traditional news organizations as well as informal websites utilized the photos and images supplied by witnesses. Now it is estimated that 100 million clips are viewed on YouTube daily and 65,000 videos uploaded every 24 hours. According to Nielsen/Netratings, the site has almost 20 million visitors each month, out of which around 44% are female, 56% male, while the most dominant age group is 12-17. Websites like YouTube, true to its motto, "broadcast yourself" allows people referring to them as "citizen journalists" to upload their own videos on an infinite array of subjects and has enabled anyone with a video camera or cell phone, live action films or written reports on news events. In relation to the Iraq war, the streamline media gives optimism to the viewers and shows the brighter side of the war, while the stories told by American soldiers in their homemade videos uploaded on this website, present a different picture. Beyond the philosophical dimensions of the global television communications, it is a close-up medium which readily involves emotions and is most effective in revealing the plights of the people. But troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan are hearing the message that they should carefully consider before they upload any videos on the website. As opposed to controlled media, YouTube has given access to the citizen journalists to provide first hand accounts of major events even though they are less journalism than the raw material generated by amateurs, which a skilled and trained journalist should know how to weigh, analyze, describe and explain. Therefore, one cannot deny the fact that to treat an amateur as equally credible as a professional, would be to erode the line between raw material and finished product. Many people believe that editorial gate keeping is a form of censorship if not mind control, and the explosion of the internet; giving the notion that 'information wants to be free' has made traditional journalism a ready target. To its proponents, citizen journalism represents a democratization of media and a shattering power of the unelected elite as it not only challenges the notion of journalism in journalism, but completely circumvents it. But there are people who are of the view that however wrapped in idealism, citizen journalism forms part of a larger attempt to degrade, even to disenfranchise journalism as practiced by trained professionals. However, there is no question that the soldier behind the

International business class (Discussion Board) Assignment - 5

International business class (Discussion Board) - Assignment Example es-spatial proximity of upstream and downstream industries enhances the sharing of information and this enables a continuous sharing of ideas and innovation, which can create competitive bias in a certain type of industry. Factor conditions- against the traditional thought, he argued that key factor of production are created and not inherited. The key factors are skilled labour, capita and infrastructure. These are the ones that can create a competitive advantage. He referred to those factors as the â€Å"diamond of national advantage†, by implication he asserted that it is the inter-linkage of these factors that would actually precede the attainment of the competitive advantage. Further, he pointed out that government policy and the chance of event had a role to play in the inter-linkage and hence a national competitive advantage factor. Texas cotton farmers have in recent years been facing stiff competition from other overseas farmers, particularly China and India. The provision of subsidy-government policy, a factor that affects the inter-linkage of other factors may have tilted productions in favour of the Asian giants. However, demand conditions in the American market for cotton products, new business strategies being employed and the existence of a system of powerful infrastructural development in the region might tilt the scale in their favor. The four advanced factors that Porter writes about are Demand Conditions, Related and Supporting Industries, Factor Conditions, and Firm Strategy, Structure, and Rivalry. Texas cotton farmers were able to use Porters Diamond model to redefine their business strategy in order to remain competitive. One of the ways they did this was to upgrade on their machines and technologies. This propelled them into the new millennium and provided support for them to remain competitive in the national and global market. This helped them build up the industry into a new more effective and efficient operation. So national brands

Essentials of Organisational Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Essentials of Organisational Behavior - Essay Example For a company to survive in the current economic climate it is therefore imperative that it creates good organizational behavior policies that will enable it to increase employee productivity, company survival and increase profitability. The two principal outcomes of organizational behavior are job performance and employee organizational commitment. Since most employees want to perform their jobs well and remain in the organizational for a long time; improving their working conditions and creating a feeling of commitment to the company can greatly improve business performance (Nair, 2010). Aspects of organisational mechanisms including organisational culture and structure, group mechanisms constituting teams and leaders interact with individual characteristics such as personality and ability together with individual mechanisms such as job satisfaction ,motivation ,learning and decision making and also stress at workplace to influence an employee’s job performance and organisational commitment (Mullins, 2006). One way of improving business performance is by hiring creative talented and outgoing individuals. This can only be achieved through an intensive interviewing and screening process that allows the management to assess the personality traits and cultural aspects of the potential employees that are values that might affect the way they will act once hired, the type of tasks they will be interested in and how they will potentially react to events that happen at the place of work (Glynn, 1995). This intensive screening and interviewing process is also very important in assessing the cognitive abilities of the potential employees. This includes both verbal and qualitative abilities. Emotional skills including emotional regulation and awareness of others are also assessed. There is also need to assess the physical abilities such as strength and endurance. This way the management ensures they hire the best possible employees and this greatly improves business performance (Schermerhorn, 1996).

Primary Source Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Primary Source Analysis - Essay Example The report was written to prove that the riots were real and that they targeted the Negro community. The motivation for writing this document was the pain that was associated with the experiences and the treatment that black people went through. The unspoken assumption in this document is that, the audience can deduce that the author is addressing the terror the Negro community underwent during the riots. There lacks any detectable bias in this document. It is left out how the riots came to end. The document has a great deal of historical significance that reminds us of the trouble that the black people have gone through to become acceptable members of the American community. It gives the real picture of the anti-negro riots period where prejudice took place, and lots of innocent black people lost their lives. It also tells of the brutality the Negro community was put through all in the name of an inferior race. It depicts how far the black community in America has come to enjoy the equal right just like other American. In a kind of collusion, we can say that, that was the darkest hour for the black race. The document brings out the fossil idea in America that the white people are more equal than the blacks. The report brings out the old idea of revolution where the black community has stepped up to make a difference in the angle from which the white folks use to view them at. It will be so prudent to mark the significance of this document in bringing out the past inhumane actions that have been carried against black population American society. The document steps up as an evidence of the historical idea that all people should be considered equal despite the differences in skin race and color. The reports also bring out rich history about America’s biggest city and how far it has come to a point where the African American population and the white folks can share neighborhoods. The most

Marketing Management Campaign Research Proposal

Marketing Management Campaign - Research Proposal Example For this reason, different marketing concepts have been developed in order to enable a company to have a better way of increasing its profitability and market shares. It has also been argued by a lot of marketing managers that developing a proper marketing management campaign - particularly the implementation of market segmentation, the proper positioning of the products and services in the market as well as targeting the chosen markets, is the key to increase the consumer choice in terms of consumption categories. For the purpose of this study, the researcher will examine and evaluate whether the said argument is acceptable or not. First, the researcher will discuss the importance of marketing strategy in terms of increasing the number of consumers' choice in terms of consumption categories. In line increasing the consumers' choice, the researcher will analyze the importance of product positioning and targeting its selected market with the use of the traditional marketing mix known as the 4 P's (price, product, promotion / marketing communication, and place / market distribution). In line with the importance of product positioning on increasing the consumer's choice in the market, the researcher will also discuss the impact of marketing communication mix or promotion and the integrated marketing communication in product positioning. Prior to the conclusion, the researcher will discuss whether consumers today have more choice in the market in terms of selecting a preferred product and services in terms of the current market environment. Impact of Marketing Strategy to the Success of the Business Sales and profitability is the heart of each business. Since all humans have specific needs and wants with regards to a product and services, the study of marketing is focused on addressing the different needs and wants of its target consumers. It is wrong to believe that the study of marketing is focused only on selling and advertising. Since consumer product preferences are usually guided by marketing concepts such as the value of products and services, cost, customer(s) satisfaction and market distribution, marketing managers continuously find new ways to develop and establish a good relationship with the target consumers by increasing the number of consumers' choice in terms of

Wk6 Forum INTL304 HUMINT Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Wk6 Forum INTL304 HUMINT - Coursework Example Hungarian refugees were a good intelligence target since they were young and educated. The article notes that processing, resettlement procedures, and the federal government’s views on intelligence exploitation defined the methods of collecting information in this case (Coriden 2011, 1). Apparently, some refugees were willing to give intelligence to western powers in exchange of better treatment and to manifest their patriotism. In this context, the intelligence community depicted a high degree of dedication (Coriden 2011, 1). Nevertheless, the intelligence community encountered the challenge of exploiting the Hungarians despite establishing that most Hungarians crossed the border to seek refuge in the Free World (Coriden 2011, 1). The article notes that the ability of the intelligence community to collate and digest loads of information helped in filling major gaps in intelligence information (Coriden 2011, 1). From the article, I learn that intelligence agents or officers must understand the characteristics of human nature that include emotions, intentions and motivations of people. I also learnt that a young and educated population is a good intelligence target. Additionally, the intelligence community should work as a team since human intelligence can help in developing and maintaining foreign and national security. I learnt about the need for effective methods of collecting information. Dedication and professionalism are important aspects in human intelligence. Moreover, the intelligence community should aim gathering the information at a minimum cost and with utmost respect for the rules of human conduct. Coriden, Guy. 2011. Report On Hungarian Refugees. Central Intelligence Agency, Aug 03. https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/kent-csi/vol2no1/html/v02i1a07p_0001.htm (accessed February 12,

American Indian Education Essay Example for Free

American Indian Education Essay In this article the author argues that the American government should provide the Indian society the opportunity to create their own institution, for further education. He believes the American culture is being forced upon Indian society through education. Arthur C Parker believes in further education, as he himself is a no graduate from Dickinson Seminary. In his experience, Indian Students are being taught to assimilate to common American culture, while disregarding there own family tree. He states that by placing an Indian University, students would be granted the opportunity to further there education, as well as, the opportunity to embrace there own culture. Based upon Indian culture, Indians will be able to expand there education at a superior level, while never being forced to be similar to the white race. The American Indian wouldn’t be no less than an American, now be treated any differently, but he believed that the Indian had the opportunity to be granted the same education. Furthermore, he feels like no other Indian should be left out of the proper education they deserve. In conclusion, Arthur C. Parker strongly stands up for his believes, and does bend his head in shame, he is proud to be and Indian. Considering the time frame, 1913, where America is a developing nation of many cultures, the brining of a single race institution would cause a big controversy. America is known as the â€Å"Melting Pot†, where there is a variety of different cultures. To one, this article will seem to be talking back to American society. Parker has a strong believe and feels like this will improve the Indians education. I believe that he is so passionate for the American Indian University because he did not have the opportunity to complete his education, probably because he didn’t feel comfortable in his learning environment. In my perspective, this article is important, but nothing extraordinary from modern days, this issue continues with other races. The opportunity to have a single race intuition would’ve meant that every single race would have that same right, one has to be accustomed to what America is, as of today, a mixture of many cultures and beliefs. In my opinion, any student who believes, and want a higher education, will do so in any environment they are in.

English Is Considered As Lingua Franca English Language Essay

English Is Considered As Lingua Franca English Language Essay English is considered as lingua franca around the globe. People mostly communicate across cultures in English all over the world. During the process, it is natural that many words of the local languages get their way in and become part of that particular variety of English spoken in that region. This paper aims at finding Urdu words that have become part and parcel of the English language spoken in Pakistani scenario. It is a study of Urdu loan words that got their way in English in everyday communication. For the study, the language of newspaper was chosen as it represents the language in use. English daily the Dawn was selected for the purpose as it is most circulated newspaper in Pakistan. The paper elucidates that there are a large number of Urdu words which are part of English. Chapter I INTRODUCTION Newspapers have become an essential part of modern life. The modern man starts his day by reading over the news with a cup of tea. Equally unimaginable is a morning without the daily newspaper for some people. It is because newspapers are seen everywhere in the world. They are printed and published in each and every language known to man all over the world. Newspapers are called the mirrors of the world. They reflect and report the trends and happening from all parts of the world. Usually, they cover every aspects of life- national, international, local, social, political, cultural etc. Reading English Newspaper can improve EFL students ability of vocabulary and the skill of reading. But it doesnt mean that they need to look over the all content in the newspapers. First, they can find the topics they are interested. Then, just read these topics they scan. They also dont finish every paragraph of them. If the content is really interesting for students read it thoroughly. So they may get good mood to read what they are interested. Gradually, they are able to absorb many kinds of new information and have good storage of vocabulary. Language teachers can use the newspaper as an effective tool for demonstrating the concepts of reading and writing, as well as the structure of the English language. Using newspapers in this way helps students see realistic examples of the practical applications of grammar and comprehension that they can utilize in their reading and writing experiences in and out of the classroom. It is an observation in Pakistan that when we analyse the content of English newspapers we often find such words that are emerged from English into Urdu or other languages due to the culture association or bilingualism. The profession of news reporting and editing is totally about interpretation of words and phrases. One cannot interpret it until he has command over news language as well as general language. Where English enjoys a very prestigious status in Pakistan, It is essential that Pakistani news reporter and editors function effectively in English. This research presents an analysis of language conversion in Pakistani English newspapers due to culture association or bilingualism. Based on the empirical data from Pakistani English newspapers and magazines, this research aims to show the English words that have been converted into Urdu or other local languages of Pakistan. It also presents the brief overview of the use of English as a non-native variety. This research suggests that variations and changes in a language are an integral part of bilingualism and multilingualism. This research centers on the variations in the English language due to language conversion in Pakistan and also shows the significant role of the Urdu and other local languages in the formation of Pakistani English. Only those features that are found as a result of conversion have been discussed. In this research, only that data has been taken into account where Urdu phrases and clauses have been used. This research is interested in describing different aspects of language change in English when used in a non-native context i.e. Pakistan. First and foremost a great deal of interest has been generated in the English language as a result of its spread around the world and its use as an international language. Now-a-days English has become a global language. English is used all over the world by millions of native and non-native speakers because of its dominant position. There are approximately 430 million L2 users and 330 million L1 users. So the non-native speakers use English more than the natives ones. Being an international language, it is used almost in all the countries of the world. When people started using English in non-native contexts because of its growing popularity, it developed as a transplanted language. Its prevalence and power in Pakistan is growing very much. For many Pakistanis, English has become not only a practical necessity but also the language of opportunity; social prestige, power, success as well as social superiority. Such power is vividly seen in Pakistan where people tend to switch from Urdu to English to create special effect. Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and one of the two official languages of Pakistan. It is the most important language of literacy in the country. In Pakistan, Urdu-English conversion is a common characteristic of educated Pakistani bilinguals. Conversion occurs when two languages come in contact. English has assumed a linguistic and cultural identity of its own. This identity manifests itself throughout the language at the word level, the phrase level and the sentence level. It is the natural consequence of its regular contact with the Urdu language. A large number of borrowings from Urdu and the regional languages of Pakistan have entered in Pakistani English. Urdu-English conversion at the level of the phrase and clause is available; this research is likely to bridge the gap. The conversion data in this research focuses on the use of Urdu phrases and clauses in the English newspapers. The data has been collected from the following printed Pakistani English newspaper and magazines: 1. Dawn (daily) (Lahore) 2. The news Statement of the Problem: This research is based on the analysis of English newspaper and to check the frequency of words occurred in Urdu or other local languages. Objective of the Study: This study aims to find out the words of other Pakistani languages that have been occurred in English newspaper, in Daily Dawn and The news. To compare the common words occurred in both newspapers. Significance of Study: This study of newspaper provides us a thorough survey to what extent the Urdu words have been used in English newspapers. This is a beneficial research for language improvement of policy makers, teachers, students and assessment institutions. Limitation: We have studied thoroughly the reasonable amount of English newspaper Dawn Daily Lahore and The News. We have classified the section of newspaper. On the basis of this classification we have checked the frequency of the Urdu words occurred in English. Delimitation: We have studied ten newspapers of both Daily Dawn and The News on daily basis due to the time cost constraints and because they are the oldest source of information. Design of Study: This study is qualitative in nature. It is based on the Meta analysis of newspaper. The use of this method is appropriate with the purpose of this study. Research is conducted while using qualitative approach. Because the result of the data analyze is in the descriptive phenomenon such as words and sentences.

Companies In Controversial Industries Management Essay

Companies In Controversial Industries Management Essay Is it possible for companies in controversial industries to be socially responsible if their products are detrimental to human beings and the environment. Many claim it is impossible for them to be socially responsible because their CSR will always be an inherent contradiction since their business goal is at odds with the aims of public health policies. However as these companies already have a bad reputation, they have no need to be associated with doing good in order to boost sales. Hence when they engage in CSR, it could mean that they are genuine CSR practitioners. This paper examines CSR of firms in alcohol, tobacco and gambling industries and determines whether they can be socially responsible through their CSR implementation by using Porter and Kramers concept of shared value. However while assessing any motives companies may have to determine whether they are genuinely interested in CSR, it may be presumptuous or even unjust to these companies to assume their motives based on the consequences of their actions. Also, the approach used to determine whether the companies have been socially responsible may be too narrow. Nonetheless, companies need not have the best intentions for the society to be socially responsible. Introduction At the mention of controversial industries such as alcohol and tobacco industries, some may be quick to conclude that these industries cannot be socially responsible since they are producing goods that are detrimental to human beings and the environment. Even when firms in these industries practice Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), some may still find it difficult to start regarding them as being socially responsible. The motive behind these companies for practicing CSR is also often disputed over. As these firms already have a bad reputation, they need not be associated with doing good for consumers to demand for their products, unlike inherently good companies. When these firms practice CSR, does it then mean that they genuinely have the societys welfare at heart? Or could they be doing CSR as a way of obscuring their questionable business and gaining social acceptance? Keeping these arguments in mind, we will now look at specific firms in alcohol, tobacco and gambling industries and their CSR practices in particular to evaluate the possible incentives behind their CSR initiatives as well as to determine whether they can be socially responsible through their CSR implementation. In consideration of the controversies of CSR, in particular, the view that CSR should be conducted in such as a way that it benefits both the society and the owners of the firm, rather than only one side of the parties, we will be using Porter and Kramers concept of shared value to decide whether a company is socially responsible. This requires firms to adopt CSR practices that concurrently benefit the society and the owners of the firm, by addressing societal weaknesses or harms while improving the financial performance of the firm, to be socially responsible. Alcohol Alcohol is an important risk factor for disease. It has implications in birth defects, cases of assault and family violence, alcoholism-related abuse, traffic accidents, reduced workplace productivity and lower life expectancy (Collins Lapsley, 2008; WHO, 2011). Consumption of alcohol is estimated to cost the American society a staggering $223.5 billion/year in health care, road-related accidents, reduced workplace productivity, violence and crime in 2007 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). In comparison, federal alcohol tax revenue only amounted to $9.3 billion/year in 2007 (Congressional Budget Office). Case Study Take Diageo for instance. It is the worlds largest producer of spirits and an influential producer of beer and wine. It has 59 brands including Johnnie Walker and Guinness, two of the best-known brands of alcohol, under its portfolio. It generates $25 billion in sales revenue yearly. Diageo uses public awareness campaigns as part of its CSR initiative. It creates advertisements that educate drinking responsibly, including those aimed at discouraging excessive drinking, drink driving as well as underage drinking. However, these may have been the companys subtle attempts at bypassing regulations to advertise its alcoholic beverages to consumers. In Diageos the choice is yours campaign in 2008, it has also conveyed the message that overdrinking would inevitably lead to social disapproval, such as the embarrassing consequences of being thrown out of clubs. However, the University of Bath has found that such incidents are actually perceived as fun by youths (EUCAM, 2009), putting the intended effect of the campaign into question. Furthermore, the website of the campaign highlights the logos of Diageo drinks, casting doubts on whether it may have been aimed at advertising the companys alcoholic beverages to the consumers. The company also has campaigns that are aimed at reaching out to minors in schools. By claiming that they are contributing solutions to alcohol-related problems, the company is able to reach out to a target audience that they would otherwise not be able to reach due to alcohol marketing regulations. By using CSR as marketing gimmicks to make greater profits, the company has failed to manifest itself as a genuine CSR practitioner who does not have the societys best interests at heart when carrying out CSR practices. However, Diageo is making improvements to its corporate governance and has created a multi-prong strategy to take care of the interests of all its stakeholders. This year, it has reduced 9.4% of carbon emission in spite of its increased production and has increased water efficiency by 20% in Uganda through its implementation of better water recovery systems. In addition, it has organized internal DRINKiQ workshops to educate employees on responsible drinking. It also conducts independent audits on its suppliers with issues relating to health, safety and hygiene, working hours and wages. It also provides a confidential whistleblowing service, SpeakUp, to allow anyone who has come across a breach of its Code to report it. This ensures that Diageos Code of Conduct is strictly adhered to. Looking at the various Diageos CSR initiatives and going back to Porter and Kramers concept of shared value, Diageo would be considered a socially responsible company. Through its public awareness campaigns that concurrently discourage excessive drinking and advertise its brand of alcoholic beverages, the company is able to reduce the societal harm of its products and improve the profitability of the firm at the same time, although the effectiveness and the intended effect of the campaigns may be questionable. The implementation of better water recovery systems could also help the company save cost. These show that Diageo is a socially responsible company. Tobacco The health effects of tobacco have long been known. Smoking in particular is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary heart disease, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease and cancer. Each year, 6 million deaths are caused by the inhalation of tobacco smoke. The irony becomes salient when tobacco becomes the single greatest cause of preventable death globally. With products deemed universally harmful allowed for sale, can tobacco companies be socially responsible? Case Study Altria Group Inc. is one of the largest tobacco companies in the world. It is a pioneer of the tobacco corporate responsibility movement in the late 1990s. Recently, it has come out tops in social responsibility rankings, placing 15th on CR Magazines 100 best corporate citizens list and 4th in Fortune magazine. Altria has implemented a comprehensive corporate responsibility program targeting nine specific issues: tobacco product management, marketing practices, combating illegal trade, environmental management, sustainable agriculture, supply chain responsibility, employees, investing in companies and governance and compliance. Despite the multi-faceted approach, its CSR practices have been a subject of constant criticism, with critics questioning their motivations behind the acts of responsibility. Most argument centers on tobacco product management and marketing practices. Over the years, Altria has sought to manage its tobacco product issues and marketing practices as ethically as possible. They voluntarily communicate health effects with transparency, including health warnings on all its packages and websites. They undertake research and development in developing products with lower risks and also actively partner and collaborate with governments in support of cessation. In marketing practices, they voluntarily limit their reach of marketing to unintended audiences. Based on their actions, we can see the moral duty that Altria has undertaken as a company. Critics however argue against the motivation of their CSR, likening it to the washing of blood money. Some even argue that it is used as a sword and shield against product issues (Friedman, 2009). Yet it can also be seen as an atonement of sin. The term blood money seems to convey a form of coercion or illegal means to gain, yet from how Altria practices its CSR, we can clearly see their admittance to liability, transparency and the absence of coercion. Ironically, Altria has been embarking on initiatives to discourage people from smoking, which is counterintuitive of a profit-oriented business model. This seems to highlight the effort Altria has undertaken as a moral duty to doing right what it has done wrong, clearly fulfilling Kantian and even virtue ethics, and is a display of an ethical practice of social responsibility. Critics also argue that CSR allows tobacco companies to improve their image, leveraging CSR to add value to the otherwise evil company, thereby concluding that such a motivation may be of a selfish cause. However, unlike other corporations with the freedom of liberal marketing practices, tobacco companies including Altria undergo some of the strictest regulations on advertising and marketing. In fact, the company is creating advertisements that devalue its products, essentially decreasing the companys value further. There seems to be no tangible benefit for their bottom line with the implementation of CSR; instead, a greater amount of losses are being incurred. This thus further support the ethical motivation behind their CSR practices, as not much value can be leveraged off CSR for the benefit of the companys overall bottom-line. It is evident that a tobacco companys CSR does fulfill Porter and Kramers concept of shared value for both the company and society. However, it is more of a transactional value rather than a transformational one (Palazzo Richter, 2005), after all if tobacco companies really want to change society, the greatest impact will come from its voluntary demise. Therefore, it is justified for tobacco companies to do CSR, but it will never be able to transform or make good itself. Casino Casinos, like tobacco and alcohol, have contributed to a range of social and economic harms to the society (Hancock, Schellinck Schrans, 2008), with the most apparent social impact being the increase in problem gambling. It has been estimated that 1.2% of U.S. adults are pathological gamblers and another 1.5% are problem gamblers at some point of their lives, with the likelihood doubling for people living within 50 miles of a casino (Community Research Partners, 2010). Problem gambling impacts peoples lives in many negative and consequential ways; this includes unemployment, poor physical and mental health, risked social relationships as well as increased crimes (Community Research Partners, 2010). Large sums of social costs, including those spent on bankruptcies, imprisonments and divorces; have to be spent every year as a result of these impacts. Case Study Caesars Entertainment Corporation is the largest gaming company in the world with $8.83 billion in revenue in 2011. The company has carried out CSR extensively. It launched its comprehensive sustainability program, the CodeGreen, in 2004 and has displayed a strong commitment to achieving a broad set of sustainability goals for carbon emissions reduction, energy conservation, water consumption as well as waste recycling. Harrahs Lake Tahoe Casino and Harveys Lake Tahoe Casino, two of the companys casinos, have received the prestigious Gold Certification from Travelife, a certification body that recognizes companies within the tourism industry that adopt sustainable practices. Only four U.S.-based hotels out of 400 worldwide are Gold Certified in 2013 and three of them are Caesars properties (Stevens, 2013). Besides their commitment to responsible stewardship of the environment, the company also has codes of commitment to treat all their employees with respect and to provide them with good career opportunities, to promote responsible gaming as well as to help make all their communities healthy and vibrant places to live and work. To foster responsible gaming, the company only allows adults to visit their casinos, trains their employees on how to offer help to customers who may need it and provides toll-free helpline numbers for problem gambling. They have also adopted a policy to donate part of the company profits to community and charitable causes (Caesars Entertainment). As casinos fundamentally offer products that have adverse social and economic consequences, it may be unnecessary or even irrelevant for the company to conduct CSR to appear altruistic to the public. This may therefore imply that any CSR efforts from such companies could only be genuine. However, companies nowadays are increasingly expected to embrace wider responsibilities and roles and adhere to greater ethical, legal and responsible standards. Companies that fail to do so are found to receive weakened public support and less positive views from the media (Yani-de-Soriano, Javed Yousafzai, 2012). Therefore, it remains unclear as to whether Caesars Entertainment Corporation is a genuine CSR practitioner, or that they have conducted CSR to gain social acceptance. Caesars Entertainments CodeGreen sustainability program is a great example of creating a shared value through CSR. Through committing to responsible stewardship of the environment, the company strives to conserve energy, save water and recycle waste. These are environmental-friendly practices that also bring about cost-savings for the company. While not all the companys CSR initiatives, such as those targeted at promoting responsible gaming, directly bring about economic benefits to the stockholders of the company, they can help to gain social acceptance of the public, increasing sales and thereby giving rise to indirect economic benefits. Since Caesars Entertainments CSR practices create shared value for both the society and the owners of the firm according to the Porter and Kramers model, it is a socially responsible company. Limitations In evaluating the respective companies on whether they are genuine practitioners of CSR given that there do not seem to be a need for them to appear socially responsible, we have looked at how conducting CSR could benefit them to assess the motives that they might have in executing their CSR initiatives. However, it may be presumptuous or even unjust to these companies to assume their motives based on the consequences of their actions. The companies may indeed have been genuine practitioners of CSR, even if their CSR initiatives turn out to benefit the company as well. The approach that has been used to establish whether the specific companies have been socially responsible may also have been too narrow. In applying Porter and Kramers concept of shared value, our criteria for determining whether the companies are socially responsible only lies on whether the companys CSR initiatives benefit both the stockholders and the other stakeholders of the firm; however, we did not apply the model to take into account the inherent nature of the company that their products are detrimental to the society in determining whether they are socially responsible. As a result, all the three firms examined can easily be classified as being socially responsible. On the other hand, to take into consideration the inherent nature of the company, which could only create value for the owners of the firms at best, would mean that these companies could never be socially responsible so long as they continue to operate, according to Porter and Kramers model of shared value. Conclusion Corporate social responsibility is a complex and contentious subject that many businesses have to address and commit their resources to implement. When companies whose products are detrimental to the society practice CSR, their motives are often questioned and their ability to be socially responsible may still be contested. However, as have been discussed and elaborated on above, companies do not need to have the best intentions for the society to be socially responsible. In fact, companies who are not genuine practitioners of CSR, but have both the firm and the society at heart when practicing CSR are the ones who are the most socially responsible. Finally, we conclude that companies whose products are detrimental to the society can be socially responsible companies.