Character Analysis -Tell Tale Heart

The short story can produce many different â€Å"types† of characters. Usually, these characters are faced with situations that give us an insight into their true â€Å"character†. In the Tell Tale Heart, a short story written by Edgar Allen Poe, the narrator of the story is faced with a fear. He is afraid of the Old Man’s Eye. The actions that this narrator performs in order to quell his fear can lead others to believe that he suffers from some sort of mental illness. The very fact that this narrator is so repulsed by the old man’s eye, which he refers to as â€Å"the evil eye†, is reason enough to be suspicious of his character. The narrator has an inner struggle with the thought that â€Å"the evil eye† is watching him and an underlying feeling that â€Å"the evil eye† will see the real person that he has become. This paranoia leads the narrator to believe that the only way he can put down his fears is to kill the old man. It is said that denial is usually the sign of a problem. If this holds true, then the narrator has the characteristics of a â€Å"madman†. In the first paragraph, he asks, â€Å"but why will you say that I am mad! (Kennedy & Gioia, 34) This statement can be looked upon as a statement made by someone going through a paranoid episode. He talks as if he is in frenzy, especially when he talks about hearing things in heaven and in hell. â€Å"The disease had sharpened my senses? Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven? I heard many things in hell. † (Kennedy & Gioia, 34) The â€Å"disease† that the narrator is talking about eats away at his conscience until â€Å"[I] made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever. (Kennedy & Gioia, 34) The progression of the story revolves around the actions of the narrator. He describes the â€Å"wise† ways in which he prepares himself to commit this deed. The way the narrator â€Å"stalks† the old man the whole week before he kills him can be evidence of a problem. Every night he would watch the old man sleep. He found comfort in knowing that the eye was not watching him, that it could not see the true evil within his soul. While the eye was closed, so was the idea of killing the old man. It is not until the old man awakens each day that the struggle within is apparent. This may be the reason why the narrator is so obsessed with watching the old man sleep. The actual act of murder, which the narrator believes was premeditated, was in fact a spur of the moment action. He toiled with the idea while the man was awake, that is, while he could see the â€Å"evil eye†. However, while the eye was closed, the narrator was at peace. One night, during one of the narrator’s â€Å"stalking† sessions, the old man awakens. The narrator goes into a paranoid frenzy, mistaking the beating of his heart for the beating of the old man’s heart. During this frenzy, the narrator is afraid that neighbors will hear the beating of the man’s heart. This causes the narrator to take action. He quickly subdues the old man and kills him. He then takes extreme steps in disposing of the body, dismembering it and burying it under the planks in the floorboard. These extreme actions can be used as evidence to the paranoia that is taking shape. The fear of getting caught would be a normal reaction to someone who has committed a murder. However, the dismemberment of the body was not necessary since the narrator had ample resources to dispose of the body properly. When the police arrive at the house, the narrator is sure that he has nothing to fear. He lets them into the house and bids them to search wherever they like. He leads them into the room where the body is buried and invites them to sit down. Although he fears nothing consciously, the narrator battles with his conscience subconsciously. He begins to feel uneasy when the officers start talking to him. The paranoia begins to build steadily and before long, the narrator hears the beating of his heart, which he again mistakes for the beating of the corpse’s heart. This implication gives further evidence to the paranoid nature of the narrator. The beating grows louder to him and, since it is his heart beating, the officers could not hear it. This made the narrator even uneasier since he could not understand why they could not hear it as well. A short while later and after a rabid inner struggle, the narrator, in a fit of rage, admits to his crime, believing that the police officer were aware of what he had done. This is the pinnacle of his paranoid state. The idea that the officers were just toying with him, that they knew all along that he had murdered, presents a clear case of paranoid psychosis. Despite the narrator’s cunning plan of how to commit the murder and how to dispose of the body, his own sub-conscience becomes his undoing. The sound of the old man’s heartbeat continues to taunt the narrator and his reaction to his subconscious thoughts causes him to admit his crime to the police.

Abu Sayyaf Group Essay

Abdurajak Janjalani’s religious and political thoughts provided the basis for ASG’s original ideology.23 The initial premise for creating the group was for a Muslim Mujahideen that would be committed to â€Å"a struggle in the cause of Allah† or â€Å"fighting and dying for the cause of Islam.†24 To his ASG followers Janjalani was more than a leader, he provided their ideological path and enlightenment. Janjalani was well educated and knowledgeable of various areas that impacted the Muslim population in the Philippines. These included the historical, religious, economic, political, and social conditions that existed at the time25 and it was his aim to build his idea of an Islamic state in the southern Philippines to improve those conditions.26 Funding to initiate and support the movement in the beginning was supposedly supplied by Mohammed Jamal Khalifa, Osama bin Laden’s brother-in-law.27 This was the first reported link to Al Qaeda. Later, in 1992, Janjalani and his group established an official headquarters in Isabela, Basilan naming the Camp Al-Madinah Mujahideen, but the camp was captured by the Philippine Marines in 1993 forcing ASG to relocate and establish a new base in Patikul, Sulu. This fostered greater cooperation and alliance with Ghalib Andang who led the Sulu-based unit of the ASG.28 Working together the combined ASG forces began an aggressive recruiting effort to expand their manpower, acquire arms and munitions, and began the lucrative series of fund-raising activities in kidnappings and demanding high ransoms.29 Before his death in 1998, Janjalani delivered eight radical ideological messages called Khutbahs. These Khutbahs are regarded as primary sources of his radical Islamic thought and depicted the depth of his Abu Sayyaf . . .5 understanding of Wahabi Islam. One of the Khutbahs exposed an intense resentment of Christian missionaries in Mindanao, especially those regarded as criticizing Islam. His interpretation was that â€Å"aggressive preaching of Christian missionaries in Mindanao thus insulted Islam and provoked Muslims to respond violently. As a result, the bombing of the Christian missionary ship M/V Doulos in 1991 was retaliation against Christian missionaries who used derogatory words against Islam and called Allah a false God.†

Mariachi Music Research Paper Essay

Mariachi music originated in Jalisco, Mexico. It is said it began in the town of Cocula. It is a version of theatrical orchestra, it includes violins, harp and guitars which developed in and around Jalisco. It began in the 19th century, and is still popular today. The Violin is apart of a Mariachi ensemble, it is a string instrument. It is 4 stringed and the smallest, highest-pitched member of the string family. The purpose of the violin in mariachi music is to complement trumpet melodies. The most important element of this style of playing to use the entire bow. The Vihuela also plays a major role in a Mariachi ensemble. The Vihuela is an instrument that is basically two different guitars ring instruments. The one played in the Mariachi band is from the 19th century. It has 5 strings and originated from Mexico. There is another one from the 15th and 16th century, that one originated in Spain. That specific Vihuela typically had 12 strings. The Guitarron is a very large, deep bodied Mexican 6- string acoustic bass. It is similar to the guitar developed from the 16th century. The Guitarron is typically played by doubling notes by octave. The Guitarron is used to keep the beat and other instruments together. The trumpet is apart of the brass family, it has the highest register out of all the other instruments. It is played by blowing air threw closed lips. The trumpet replaced the cornet in the mariachi band, now there is usually two trumpets in a mariachi band. The trumpet combination in mariachi was popularized in the 1950s. There are many characteristics to mariachi bands. The forms found in mariachi music are, the most important element of the style. Mariachi song forms (such as the bolero, cancià ³n ranchera, son, huapango, joropo, and danzà ³n) are always the rhythmic patterns that are performed by the guitar section of the group. There is also singing involved in mariachi music. For example, the â€Å"grito mexicano†, a yell that is done at musical interludes during a song, either by the musicians and the listening audience. Like of that would be the mariachi players singing â€Å"AY YA YAY YA!†

Firewall Applications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Firewall Applications - Essay Example Firewalls protect a computing device throughout its connection to the internet by continuously monitoring all its activity. The software reduces popups by allowing only the trusted set of programs to access the internet. It determines the set of trusted and non- trusted programs by maintaining a set of sites that may attract potential scam. The Firewall passes all the known leak tests in order to protect the host computing device. Survives spy attempts and transfer of diseased files that may sometimes survive system reboots. Detects and acts against applications that assign themselves substantial system privileges. â€Å"Banking Mode† is a salient feature. In it, the firewall remains in a banking mode throughout the time the computing device is connected to the internet. During its connection the banking mode of the firewall prevents the host from scams and also from entering the phishing websites. It is a two-way firewall that monitors every connection to a computing device. It provides Protection from Trojan Horses, Viruses and Worms. Spyware and Adware are restricted. The firewall Scans files, Internet services and all connections for any possible intrusion. It also Prevents access to unwanted websites. An edge that it has over other firewalls is that if a computer is already infected it restores the computer to its prior state. It is recommended to my elder sibling that Online Armor Premium Firewall be installed in his home PC. This is because in a reasonable cost it provides adequate support that should be present in any firewall software. Especially its feature of maintaining a databank of trustable and non-trustable sites reduces the number of popups for the system user thus increasing its usability. Top Ten Reviews (2011) Kaspersky Internet Security 2011. Personal Firewall Software Review. Retrieved from http://personal-firewall-software-review.toptenreviews.com/kaspersky-internet-security-details.html Top Ten Reviews

Business environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Business environment - Essay Example (HOLDEN, MATTHEWS & THOMPSON. 1995) In UK there are many businesses which export and import product internationally. There are big names in UK like Unilever, Barclays, HSBC, Tesco, Marks and Spencer etc who are involved in trading internationally. To emphasize on Marks and Spencer it is been one of the oldest British retailer selling clothes and luxury food products. It operates in 40 countries of the world and is a well known brand world wide. Due to its vast operations world wide M&S is a global competitor for many international clothing brands. This global coverage through international trade has led to expansion in manufacturing activities of M&S worldwide which have made it profitable by outsourcing its manufacturing activities easily in cheaper countries which have made it possible for the company to compete in international market on low cost and maintain its margins. Due to its international trade, M&S has also altered their products in accordance with the demand of internati onal market which have make the company deal with many types of commodities serving many markets worldwide. (COADE. 1997; BRUCE, MOORE & BIRTWISTLE. 2004) On the other hand Tesco is one of the largest retail chains in Britain which has grown steadily over time and has internationalized its operations throughout the world. The international trade pursued by Tesco has also benefited it in the similar ways; Tesco being a very strong player in the local market is able to use its brand successfully around the world and has gained next level recognition throughout the world. Due to internationalization its operations has expanded in many countries of the world like Malaysia, Czech Republic, Poland, USA etc. where it has achieved economies of scales resulting in lower operating costs and a better ability to compete internationally with lower prices. On the other hand international trading is extremely beneficial to Tesco’s financials that has become very significant in the group res ults of Tesco. Overseas trading accounts for 60% of Tesco’s total results and its makes up 20% of current trading profits, while most of the operations worldwide are either profitable or on breakeven and in many countries it is a market leader. Another advantage the international retailing of Tesco is that due to its operations in many markets, it overcomes or reduces its risks of failure. For e.g. Tesco has recently started operating in US and its still a loss making region. However this loss is compensated by the profits generated by the others regions which make Tesco a profitable group. International trade not only can result in cost saving but it also leads to international recognition, higher revenues and profits, dispersed risk which are all beneficial for the business as well as the UK economy. (FERNIE. 2005; SETH, & RANDALL. 2000) b) Analyse the impact of two global factors on two or more UK business organisations. Organisation operating worldwide and trading interna tionally faces much more difficulties as locally operated businesses. Due to the globalization Barclays faces different environmental conditions in geographic regions. Banking sector works closely with the laws and regulations. Like political factors legal factors mostly depend on local legislation and regulation. Risk management policies of Barclays will be in accordance to legislation. Legislative compliance should be incorporated in the over all strategy,

Romanticism Art Movement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Romanticism Art Movement - Essay Example The artists of Romanticism considered imagination as a gateway to transcendent experience and spiritual truth and these qualities were evident in their artistic creations. . It is significant to note that the Romantic Movement in art was a product of the movement in literature and philosophy which accentuated emotional, spontaneous and imaginative approaches. â€Å"In the visual arts, Romanticism came to signify the departure from classical forms and an emphasis on emotional and spiritual themes. Caused by the sudden social changes that occurred during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, Romanticism was formed as a revolt against Neoclassicism and its emphasis on order, harmony, balance, idealization, and rationality.† (Romanticism) Thus, the movement stressed freedom, emotion, and imagination of individuals and was subjective in character. The artists of this group emphasized spontaneity and freedom and considered imagination as greater to reason and beauty. Therefo re, they depended greatly on personal spirit and creativity as against formal training. â€Å"Romantic techniques were developed to produce associations in the mind of the viewer. These foundations of the Romantic Movement were influential in the development of Symbolism and later Expressionism and Surrealism.† In conclusion, Romanticism has been a significant movement in the history of art and literature which tremendously influenced the artists of the period as well as the other movements of the time and the following age.

Primate Infanticide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Primate Infanticide - Essay Example Primate infanticide mainly takes place when male primates take control of groups comprising of their female colleagues, installs one of them as an alpha who then orders the killing of all the young male primates who have not yet weaned. Those in favor of the pathological behavior ideology share the opinion that primate infanticide comes about because of population pressure (Borries et al, 1999). Their perception is based on the fact that primate infanticide is not a normal make up, but is likely to take place whenever there is an excessive population of primates within a given locality. To corroborate their perception, such scholars argue that primate infanticide habitually takes place when a specific set of primates reside within a region with insufficient resources, such as food. The highlighted information notwithstanding, conclusive evidence has recently pointed out that primate infanticide is basically a male reproductive strategy. This is because females who lose their male offspring early are prospective to resume sexual activity earlier compared to those who keep their offspring (Borries et al, 1999). Consequently, they are set to bear their next infants sooner than the females with surviving infants. Additionally, further research has pointed out the fact that in most instances males who have borne children with the females have not been related to the killed infant. It is similarly important to note that further research has pointed out to the fact that the infanticidal males are normally new immigrants who were either sexually immature or did not copulate with the female group member earlier. Similarly, the male members have gone ahead to remain as members of the group for a substantial duration. The information discussed above on the sexual selection hypothesis may have been conclusive in the past, for there was no

Islamic Politics and Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Islamic Politics and Culture - Essay Example In fact Islamic dictatorship is prevailing in majority of the Arab countries. However, the recent revolutions in Libya and Egypt have forced many of the Arabs to think about a democratic political system in their country. However, the fundamentalists in those countries are against this idea. The concept of political Islam has been evolved out under the above context. According to Mohammed Ayoob, â€Å"Political Islam is a product of modernity as much as a response to it†(Rajesekhar). However, westerners are watching the dawn of Political Islam suspiciously. â€Å"In April 2014 Tony Blair urged the West to set aside its differences with Russia and China to focus on the growing threat from radical Islam† (Veerman). Westerners believe that Political Islamic movements are trying to destroy modernization and civilizations in the name of religion. This paper analyses the impact of the encounter between Western expansionism and Muslim-majority societies on the rise of politica l Islam. A crucial factor generating tensions in the West is the presence of ‘Islamism’ or ‘political Islam’, in all of its different manifestations, within Muslim communities. Islamism can be defined as "forms of political theory and practice that have as their goal the establishment of an Islamic political order in the sense of a state whose governmental principles, institutions and legal system derive directly from the shari’ah" (Veerman). The interference of religion in politics is unacceptable to westerners. They believe that religion should be separated from politics in order to create a stable and advanced society in a country. They have many examples to prove their arguments. For example, in countries such as Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, women get less freedom and power in politics and social life. Westerners believe that the over involvement of religion in politics is the major reason behind these problems. They try to empower

Not sure Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Not sure - Assignment Example the same method, conceptual methodology of previous studies was also referenced as a means of providing the researcher a framework through which they could understand how prior research identified the very same terms and sought to draw inference upon them. The design of the study was concentric upon creating a sample of individuals that would be reflective of a standard number of the broader population. The data was collected in terms of interview questions and analyzed via the authors after these interviews were conducted. The main finding had to do with the fact that both men and women faked orgasm during all manner of sexual relations; however, women statistically faked it almost twice as much as men. The greatest limitation of the research is contingent upon the fact that an individual respondent was under a great many societal and gender expectations to answer in a given way; reducing the possible validity of the findings based upon these biases. Similarly, the greatest strength was with regards to the statistical size of the group that was measured; far exceeding what was needed, this providing the reader with a tacit understanding the a rigorous study was

Education - Teaching Beginners Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Education - Teaching Beginners - Essay Example As a result, the potential of learning among the students being taught by that individual greatly reduces (Capel & Anne 2005). Almost every research conducted with an aim of increasing the knowledge base on the teaching industry concerning the teachers’ retention within the profession reports that the first three years are the most taxing and the most risky. During these three years, there is usually a great likelihood that the teaching beginner will leave the profession (Dowding 2008). The rate by which teaching beginners drop out necessitates review of the system of education especially in schools within the urban centers as well as hard-to-staff. As such, these learning institutions are regarded as the major victims as they are not only unable to retain teachers, who are fully certified, but also face an uphill task in attracting replacements. The purpose of this analysis is to access the challenges that the first year educators face and to deduce critically how mentoring o f these new teachers may assist in addressing these problems in an effort towards establishing teaching and learning of indispensable quality Some of the problems that beginners in the teaching industry face include discipline in the classroom, motivation of the students, challenges arising from trying to deal with individual differences, assessing student’s work, teacher’s relationship with the student’s parents, class work organization, insufficient teaching aids and dealing with the individual student’s problems among others. However, there are three main problems, which are regularly faced by these teaching beginners. They are: classroom discipline, motivating the students and dealing with individual differences (Boydell & Bines 2009). As such, they may seem as arising due to the inadequacy of teaching experience but on a greater insight, they were present since time immemorial and as such, they are inevitable and they tend to affect even the most exp erienced teachers. Classroom Discipline Classroom discipline refers to training within the context of self-control and within social conduct, which is in an orderly manner and as such, it is brought about by a classroom management that is not only accepted and desired by many people but also effective in delivering a milestone. According to Capel and Anne (2005), classroom discipline is a challenge of the highest orders that beginning teachers face in their new environments (Capel & Anne 2005). As such, these teachers find themselves compromised in situations where they are required to attend or respond to spontaneous replies coming from the students. Moreover, they find it difficult to give responses to cues coming from the entire class he is teaching. However, such teachers tend to develop an attitude of sensitivity when issues concerning the behavior of the students, which they perceive as capable of disrupting their planned presentation, are brought into contention (Capel & Anne 2005). Further, classroom discipline, due to its dominance among the challenges faced by teaching beginners, can be perceived as a code word. As such, it is a codeword as it encompasses a host of diversified difficulties (Boydell & Bines 2009). Still, it is a codeword as it is a point of reference. In this regard, it can be used as an indication that the teachers who are in their first year of teaching lack some specified skills and as such, it enables the school management to establish

Scholarly Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Scholarly - Research Paper Example I have held constantly that nursing is an encounter of care my experiences in home care have further deconstructed my notion of nursing as encounter of care. In this paper, I will touch upon my experiences when I, together with my preceptor, visited two home care clients of Alberta Health Services. In this regard, I will present two scenarios wherein I will expound on the nursing competencies as espoused in CARNA by sharing the health visits we had with the clients. Then, I will also show how the theory of evidence-based knowledge and theory of quality care nursing with phenomenology augments the minimal discourse on instruments to measure quality of home care (Robinson et al., 1999). Finally, I will conclude the paper with my reflection and its summary. Alberta health Services (AHS) is the largest health care provider in Canada. AHS diverse health care services, employing highly qualified health care providers. Also, AHS view health care services as no one size fits all. Instead, they acknowledge the significance of divergence as it affects the needs and health concerns of their patients. AHS turned diversity into an enabling ethos, thus, it has established the care arena that is responsive, holistic and client-centered. However, in the midst of the condition of diversity, AHS holds a stable pillar - CARNA competencies. AHS strongly advocates knowledge-based and ethical nursing care practice in all the services they offer. As such, undertaking my home care services with AHS afforded me a chance to take a re-look in what I now know as a nurse and how I can further strengthen it while improving on aspects of the nursing practice where I may falter – a readiness for change. The client is suffering from enlargement of the prostate. He lives at home with his wife. The patient has a Foley catheter inserted. Concurrently, the client is also suffering from other

How Young People Represented in Eastenders and Hollyoaks Essay Example for Free

How Young People Represented in Eastenders and Hollyoaks Essay Eastenders is a British Soap Opera, first broadcast in the UK on BBC1. It’s about people who works and live in the frictional London Borough of Walford in the East End of London. The scenes usually around the Albert Square. This soap originally played in the TV as two half-hour episodes per week since 2001, for episodes are broadcast each week. It is one of the UK’s highest rated programmes. It’s created by two person called Julia Smith and Tony Holland. Hollyoaks is a long running British Soap Opera firs broadcasted on Channel 4 in 1995. It’s created by Phil Redmond and Directed by Ross Knowles and Robert Duffey. This programme is set in a fictional suburb of Chester called Hollyoaks. Scenes usually around the education college called Hollyoaks Community College. The characters are people who are in their late teens or early twenties. The series are filmed at Lime Pictures. There are many conventions in the soaps. Cliff hangers are is a practice of ending of an episode which leaves the character in a seemingly impossible situation or something really exciting happens. The purpose of this that it makes the story so interesting which makes people want to watch the next episode of the soap. Moralistic storylines are usually main theme of the story; the lesson the main character learns. Usually people who watching the soap learns from that storyline. For example for a moral storyline is could be that: a girl steals another girl’s roller-skate, the moral in this that stealing is wrong. Multiple storylines are means in a soap that lots of different lines going on. For example that a lady has a baby, someone had a car crash, while the school burnt down. Realism is also important for a soap opera because who watching it has to believe in that it’s ‘real’. For example people can’t sell a pen which cost 50p for  £20.000 because it’s not realistic. Soaps are passing on social messages such as: drunk driving, young pregnancy, taking drugs and so on. The writers passing these messages to do not do any of these by showing their consequences. If people see that 5 people dies because the driver was drunk they might not going the drive when they drinking. Characters from Eastenders I’ve chosen are Stacey Slater and Bradley Branning. Stacey had arrived in Watford at the age of 15 and she stayed with her uncle Charlie. She had been causes troubles with her behavior. She had been thrown out because of her behavior. She falls in love with Bradley BranningStacey represented like a bad teenage girl with lots of boyfriends. She also had taken drugs in the past. She not very educated. She worked at a stall. She was pregnant but had an abortion. Bradley represented as a quite clever teenage boy. He has a good job at the bank. Was in a relationship with Stacey. He sexually harassed by his boss. He flirted with lots of girls/women. He flirted with her colleague as well. I’ve chosen these characters because I thought they are exciting to me. Characters from Hollyoaks are Ste Hay, He has some wicked ways. It hasnt all been plain sailing for him. A job at chez brought him into the flight path of one Brendan Brady and so began the twisted love/hate/love/hate/love romance that is Stendan. All sorts of obstacles have come between them pregnant girlfriends, fitness instructors, angry wives and long lost sons; however it was Brendans issues with his sexuality and his propensity for violence that stopped them truly being together. Leanne Holiday is a blonde, petite, button-nosed; Leanne looks all sweetness and light. She first came to the village as fiancà ©e to Lee Hunter, who was returning to the village after a five year absence. Hardcore fans will have followed their engagement in the online drama Fresher’s. Wandering eyes from both parties soon caused trouble in their relationship, Leanne snagging Doug and Lee falling for Amy. She always chases boys. Young people in Eastenders represented more badly, in there are young pregnancies and other bad stuff going around the young characters. In Hollyoaks the young people are mostly represented as a studying respectful teenager. So the young people in Eastenders represented most likely as bad, while in Hollyoaks they are represented as goods. I think in Eastenders and Hollyoaks young people are represented in the way how the young people act or behave in the real life. Some young people having in trouble some of them are behaving well and doing their work and just being normal.

Financial Ratio Analysis On Company Performance Commerce Essay

Financial Ratio Analysis On Company Performance Commerce Essay Critically evaluating the financial analysis position of the two major UK based Companies BP plc and Royal Dutch Shell plc by calculating the ratios which seems to be an appropriate to bring-out the performance and the strategic financial management of the companies. BP PLC AT Glance BP is one of the worlds largest energy companies, providing its customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, retail services and petrochemicals products for everyday items with Core BP Brands are: Castrol Arco Aral Am Pm Wild bean cafà © Starting in 1908 with oil found in a rugged part of Persia after a long and difficult search. Still commencing its development in this 21st century with the long-term projects in Russia, the Gulf of Mexico, North America, Azerbaijan, Indonesia were it has a lot of oil and gas in the proverbial pipelines. The BP group operates across six continents, were products and services are available in more than 100 countries with 80,300 employees (at 31st Dec 2009).the sales and other operating revenues comes to $239 billion (2009).the number of service stations expanding to 22,400 with an active exploration and production in 30countries. SHELL PLC at Glance The parent company of the Shell group is Royal Dutch Shell plc, which is incorporated in England and Wales. Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemical companies and headquarters are in The Hague, the Netherlands, were Chief Executive Officer is Peter Voser. Its aim is to meet the energy needs of society, in ways that are economically, socially and environmentally viable, now and in the future. The brand oils are: Shell Advance :-Shell Advance oils unique performance package is dedicated to bikes and bikers, backed by years of know-how and expertise in lubricants and biking experience. Shell Donax :-Shell Donax Heavy Duty Transmission fluids. Protecting the fleet and reducing the maintenance costs. Shell HelixHYPERLINK javascript:void(#):-Shell Helix motor oil contains active cleansing agents that continuously clean and protect the engine, allowing it to operate at its full potential. Shell Retinax :-The superior performance of Shell Retinax greases is recognised by many of the worlds leading truck manufacturers, many choosing Retinax as their factory-fill grease of first choice. Shell Rimula :-Shell Rimula is one of the worlds leading brands of heavy duty diesel engine oils with top quartile brand preference in many of the markets in which they operate. Shell Rotella :-Shell Rotella portfolio includes heavy duty diesel engine oils, coolants, multi grade oils, designed to provide excellent performance for vehicles, farm implements and construction equipment. Shell Spirax :-Shell Spirax is a leading brand of transmission and gear fluids. Shell Plc operates in above 90countries with 101,000 number of employees on sale of 145 billion litres of fuel. It produces 2% of worlds oil and 3% of worlds gas containing of 44,000 thousand shell service stations and above 35 refineries and chemical plants all over the world. What Is PIMS? Profit Impact of Marketing Strategy (PIMS) is a data base of the market profiles and business results of major American and European companies developed with intention of providing empirical evidence of which business strategies lead to success with in particular industries. Data from the study is used to craft strategies in strategic management and marketing strategy. The study identified several strategic variables that typically influence profitability. Some of the most important strategic variables studied were Market share Product quality Investment intensity Service quality The PIMS project was started by Sidney Schoeffler working at GE in the 1960s, then picked up by Harvards Management Science Institute in the early 1970s, and has been administered by the American Strategic Planning Institute since 1975. It was initiated by senior managers at GE who wanted to know why some of their business units were more profitable than others. With the help of Sidney Schoeffler they set up a research project in which each of their strategic business units reported their performance on dozens of variables. This was then expanded to outside companies in the early 1970s. The survey, between 1970 and 1983, involved 3,000 strategic business units (SBU), from 200 companies. Each SBU gave information on the market, within which they operated, the products they had brought to market and the efficiency of the strategies they had implemented. (http://www.economicexpert.com). The PIMS project analysed the data they had gathered to identify the options, problems, resources and opportunities faced by each SBU. According to Tellis and Golder (1996) claim that PIMS defined markets too narrowly. Respondents described their market very narrowly to give the appearance of high market share. This self reporting bias makes the conclusions suspect. They are also concerned that no defunct companies were included, leading to survival markets. (http://www.economicexpert.com). PIMS Between BP PLC and SHELL PLC BP operates at the frontiers of the energy industry wit world class assets, technology, and capability it knew how to meet the energy needs and deliver the long-term value. BP stays ahead of Shell in restructuring the efforts were the energy management have acknowledged more work is required and is to cut further 5,000 jobs globally in an effort of re-align the business to better meet the operational challenges into the global economic recovery. Shells third quarter 2009 earnings, on a current cost of supplies basis were $2.99 billon compared to $10.9 billion a year ago were the CCS earnings per share decreased by 72%in the same quarter and the cash flow operating activities also raised 42% from $12.6 billion (2009) to $7.35 billion (2008).When it comes to BP the profit fell to $4.98 billion compared to $10.03 billion an year earlier using the industry standard replacement cot profit calculation. The firm reduced the headcount by 3000 last year and is set to cut another 5,000 jobs by the end of 2009. Despite shells good operating performance in this difficult environment it is embarked on an ambitious programme of stringent measures to further improvement of performance .BP shares the remain favoured relative to shell for most buy and holds investors requiring the exposure to the firms relative progress in 2009 to maintain a trend. (http://seekingalpha.com). Performance P/L Sheet of BP PLC and SHELL PLC for the years 2009-08.   Transactions BP Shell 2009 2008 2009 2008 Revenue 239272 361143 278188 458361 Purchases 163772 266982 203075 359587 Gross profit 75500 94161 75113 98774 Production and manufacturing expenses 26954 35709 25301 25565 Selling and administrative expenses 14038 273441 18555 18136 Depreciation and amortization 12106 10985 14458 13656 Exploration expenses 1116 882 2178 1995 Net Interest and other income 5140 262095 6941 12579 Finance costs 1302 956 542 1181 Profit/loss before tax 25124 34283 21020 50820 Taxation 8365 12617 8302 24344 Profit/loss after tax for financial year 16759 21666 12718 26476 Fair Calculations of ratios are as follows Calculation of Selected Ratios for Companies Performance: Using the financial information of the companies the few selected ratios are calculated and explained as follows 1)  (ROCE) Return On Capital Employed =   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2009 YR   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2008 YR BP 15 22.35 SHELL 10.48 29.67 BP 2009= 15 BP 2008 = 22.35 Shell 2009=0.48 Shell 2008=29.67 Gross profit margin ratio tells the profit a company makes on its cost of sales or cost of goods sold. Here, BP shows an approx 7% fall in 2009 when compared to 2008. Shell shows a fall of 18% in 2009 which more compared to 2008. 2) Gross Profit Margin =   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2009 YR   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2008 YR BP 31.55 26.07 SHELL 27 21.55 BP 2009 = 31.55 Bp 2008= 26.07 Shell 2009 = 27 Shell 2008= 21.55 Gross profit margin ratio tells the profit a company makes on its cost of sales or cost of goods sold. Both the companies BP and Shell had show a result of 5.50% goods sold during 2009 which is quite better than the 2008. 3) Mark up =   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2009 YR   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2008 YR BP 46.10 35.27 SHELL 36.99 27.47 BP 2009=46.10 BP 2008= 35.27 Shell 2009= 36.99 Shell 2008= 27.47 Mark-up is the amount, or percentage, a trader adds to the cost price of goods, in order to achieve a profit. The mark-up is the profit percentage based on the cost of goods sold. Both the companies have showed an increase of 10% mark up price in 2009 than the previous year 2008. 4) Current ration =   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2009 YR   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2008 YR BP 1.14:1 0.95:1 SHELL 1.14:1 1.10:1 BP 2009= 1.14:1 Bp 2008= 0.95:1 Shell 2009=1.14:1 Shell 2008=1.10:1 Measuring the both companys efficiency and short-term liabilities gives out the current ratio of working capital. In the year 2009 BP and SHELL shows an equal ratio of efficiency than the year 2008. 5) ACID TEST RATIO =   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2009 YR   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2008 YR BP 0.76:1 0.17:1 SHELL 0.81:1 0.92:1 BP 2009 = 0.76:1 BP 2008= 0.17:1 SHELL 2009 = 0.81:1 SHELL 2008 =0.92:1 Quick or liquidity ratio is also known to be Acid test ratio. Working out with the current assets minus stock divided by current liabilities gives the value of the companys liquidity. This tells whether company have short term assets to cover the immediate liabilities without selling inventory. BP had given a quick raise of 0.60:1 between 2008-09 than the SHELL. Analytical Methods Suitable Horizontal Analysis: The analyzing of financial information for two or more years for a single company it is known as horizontal analysis. When comparing the amount in dollars computing percentage changes from year to year for all financial statement balances, such as cash and inventory. Trend analysis involves calculating each years financial statement balances as percentages of the first year known as the base year. For example the below horizontal analysis   table of the two companies are :- Horizontal Analysis 2009/2008 (%) BP Shell Revenue -33.75 -39.31 Purchases -38.66 -43.53 Gross profit -19.82 -23.95 Production and manufacturing expenses -24.52 -1.03 Selling, and administrative expenses -94.87 2.31 Depreciation and amortization 10.20 5.87 Exploration expenses 26.53 9.17 Net Interest and other income -98.04 -44.82 Finance costs 36.19 -54.11 Profit/loss before tax -26.72 -58.64 Taxation -33.70 -65.90 Profit/loss after tax for financial year -22.65 -51.96 Vertical Analysis: The term vertical analysis applies because each years figures are listed vertically on a financial statement. The total on the income statement is net sales revenue, while on the balance sheet it is total assets. This approach to financial statement analysis, also known as component percentages. Common-size balance sheets and income statements can be more easily compared, whether across the years for a single company or different companies.   Vertical Analysis 2009/2008 (%) BP Shell 2009 2008 2009 2008 Revenue 100 100 100 100 Purchases 68.45 73.93 73.00 78.45 Gross profit 31.55 26.07 27.00 21.55 Production and manufacturing expenses 11.27 9.89 9.09 5.58 Selling and administrative expenses 5.87 75.72 6.67 3.96 Depreciation and amortization 5.06 3.04 5.20 2.98 Exploration expenses 0.47 0.24 0.78 0.44 Net Interest and other income 2.15 72.57 2.50 2.74 Finance costs 0.54 0.26 0.19 0.26 Profit/loss before tax 10.50 9.49 7.56 11.09 Taxation 3.50 3.49 2.98 5.31 Profit/loss after tax for financial year 7.00 6.00 4.57 5.78 http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Profit:impact:of:marketing:strategy.html http://seekingalpha.com/article/170391-bp-stays-one-step-ahead-of-shell-in-restructuring-efforts

The External Triggers For Change In Toyota

The External Triggers For Change In Toyota In today dynamic marketplace, change management has become a very vital element of the organisation development. Change doesnt not always imply innovation, thus, change is defined as a part of organisation invariably influence people and process of the organisation (Cole, 2008). The pace of global, economic and technological development makes change an inevitable feature of organisational life. Change can be classified into planned change and unplanned change. Unplanned change is a piecemeal reaction to circumstances as they occur. Whereas, planned change is change that is designed and implemented in an orderly and timely fashion in anticipation of future events (Hayes, 2002). For instance, the implementation of Just-In-Time (JIT) operation in the Toyota Production System (TPS) is considered as a planned change. It is because the adaption of JIT is gone through a planned and well-managed change process. Change is crucial to strategy and vision generation when organisation is preparing for the strategic planning process (Burnes, 2004). Change is an alternation of organisations environment structure, technology or people. Organisation often view change as a continuous process that they need to capture the learning and pass it on. The forces of change can be divided into internal and external forces. External forces include economic factors, and new market opportunity. By contrast, the internal forces inside an organisation can lead to a change (Griffin, 2003). Organisation need to clearly clarify the factors, which have triggered the changes. After that, a change management approach should be undertaken, which comprises of change management process, approaches adopted to minimise the resistance to change and an overall performance evaluation program of the change. History of Toyota Toyota Manufacturing Corporation (TMC) story starts, when Sakichi invented the wooden Toyoda handloom, which was to revolutionize the countrys textile industry. Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, which is now known as Toyota Manufacturing Corporation (TMC), was founded in 1918 by Sakichi Toyoda and Kiichiro Toyoda. Kiichiro Toyoda had travelled to Europe and the US in 1929 to research automobile production and begun researching gasoline powered engines in 1930. The 1st A1 prototype passenger car was completed in year 1935 (http: //www.toyota.co.uk). Toyota began its operation in Europe since the early 1960s. They attempted to design the car based on Europe market needs and wants. Further, Toyota had established a manufacturing plant operation in UK in year 1989 because of the strong tradition of vehicle manufacturing in UK and the large domestic market for their product (http://www.toyotauk.com). In year 2004, Toyota has become the one of the top three car manufacturer, alongside General Motor (GM) and Ford. Globalisation has forced Toyota to improve their business process to be more competitive in the global market. Toyota has established a clear vision 2010 Global Vision Strategy. The mission of Toyota is to create a more prosperous society through automatic manufacturing. Therefore, Toyota has to always focus on the future of the automobile industry when deciding the position of the company. The vision of Toyota aims to achieve long term, stable growth in harmony with the environment, the global economy, the local communities it serves and its stakesholder (http://www.toyota.co.jp). Forces for Change The external and internal forces have resulted in the need of change. The external triggers for change are derived from outside the organisation. The external triggers for change in Toyota: Globalisation The declination of barriers to the free flow of products and services had driven the trend of globalisation. Globalisation has opened up new market and created opportunity for business to expand their market share (http://news.bbc.co.uk). Increased Competition The increased the competition in the market has forced companies to improve their business operation to be more competitive in the market. For example, as a global player Toyota, frequently confront each other as competitors in nation after nation. Ford, for instance, has 5 car-design centres scattered around the world, each focus on specific market segment (Terpstra and Sarathy, 2000). As a result, change may occur. In this assignment, case regarding to the impact of change on TPS had changed the company policy, process, and decision making. Tough rivalry There are many aggressive competitors, such as Nissan, GM, Ford and so on. Most of them have established their own competitive advantages in the global market, thus, this may constraints Toyota to gain more market share in the global market (Hill and Jones, 1998). Thus, there a need of change for Toyota to create their competitive advantages. Low Demand The demand of consumers is low so Toyota needed to turn out low volume of different models using assembly line instead of supporting the dedicated assembly lines for one vehicle. Finally, Ohno developed the TPS, by adapting the Ford production system to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of production lines. This idea was derived from the trip to Ford factory and designed to achieve three main objectives: costs reduction, quality improvement and zero inventory (Lynch 2006). The internal triggers for a change in Toyota: The introduction of JIT The new management philosophy Just-in-time system had been applied by Ford companies in 1910. They arranged all the elements of a manufacturing system people, machines, tooling, and products in a continuous system for manufacturing the Model T automobiles designed to make huge quantities of limited number of models (Lynch, 2006). As a result, Ford became the largest car company in Japan with GM as the second largest manufacturer, together manufacturing over 90% of the vehicles manufactured in Japan. New product innovation There is a need of new product innovation because the increased fuel price has influenced the consumer buying behaviours. Therefore, there is a need for Toyota to develop fuel-efficient vehicles and hybrid vehicles (Lynch, 2004). Management and Marketing The poor management of Toyota in India has led to a lockout in India plant. The falling demand of car in Philippines has led to the Toyota plant close down because of the poor marketing expertise to help the Toyota to increase their product awareness (http://news.bbc.co.uk). Operation problem Based on the mass production paradigm of the day, economies of scale alone should have made this an impossible for the tiny Toyota. The new discovery of the technology that used by Ford in production line became a threat for Toyotas position in the market. The only way that it could survive was by finding new and flexible production methods that could help them to create more value on car manufacturing process (Lynch, 2006). Production Lines There are numerous problems with Toyota (without using the technology in its TPS) (Turban, 2008): Problem in its supply chain and its operations, and its car keeping costs mounted. Customer dissatisfaction increased due to Toyota inability to deliver cars to dealers on time. Management used computer that generated useless reports and data. Thus, management faced the problem in using the data strategically. Internal department often failed in file sharing and information exchange. Thus, it had slow down the speed of reporting. Report system that used in TPS always provides inaccurate information and information overlaps. Management failed in making decision in a given time due to the inaccurate information. Types of Change Change is the transition from one state to another. There are three types of changes which may undertake by the organisation to response to the change in external and internal environment: Incremental Change According to Hayes (2002), incremental change is a continuous adaption and modification of organisation existing strategic, process, policies and system. It is risk for an organisation adapts incremental change if the external forces of change are great because the opportunity of organisation development and expansion may be constrained by the existing systems and operations. Strategic Change Strategic change is the proactive management of change in organisation to achieve strategic objectives, which involves establish new systems, policies or procedures (Lynch, 2003). Transformational Change Transformational change may involve both strategic and incremental change because the intervention leads to alignment among the organisations strategies, design element, and culture (Johnson and Scholes, 1999). The revolutionary of Toyota is considered transformational change. The transformational change of Toyota occurs in response to external and internal disruptions, which consist of tough rivalry, internal company dynamics and so on. There disruption severely jolt organisation and push them to alter business strategy, and in turn, their mission, values, structure, systems, and procedures (Cummings and Worley, 2001): Transformational change involves altering most of the featuring of the organisation and achieving a fit among them and with the firms strategy. Today, the demand of better quality has been on the increase for the past two decades or more. Toyota has change process in production, business operation and retail system. The culture of Toyota has changed as they attempt to develop a lean organisation. Previously, the culture of Toyota is problems of production are corrected later and quality of controlled by additional inspection and containment. Now, they build a culture that stops to fix problems with the core philosophy of eliminating waste (Liker and Meier, 2006). Transformational change happens in situation experiencing huge change and uncertainty, thus, changing never finished as new structures and process will continually have to be altered to fit the changing condition. The adaption of JIT approach in TPS enable Toyota to produce different types of cars in one production line, thus, it has increase the ability to Toyota in response to the different types of customer preferences (Hino, 2006). Transformational change requires innovation and continuous learning. Toyota is considered as a learning organisation because their culture is stopping the problem and fixing the problem at that time. This typically is a continuous learning process and trying new behaviours, assessing their consequences, and modifying them. Learning occurs at all levels of the organisation from top level management to low level management (Liker and Meier, 2006). Change Management Of Toyota Change is a critical part to be managed when Toyotas globalization had started exporting the Crown to the United States. Thus, a well-organised change management process (Appendix 1: Change Management Process, p 20) needs to be carried out to avoid the problem of inefficiency works due to the lack of concentration on specific aspect (http://blogs.iht.com). According to Hayes (2002), there are several steps involved in the process of change management: 1. Recognition: Organisation has to be clearly aware of the external and internal factors (Refer to force for change above) that lead to a need of change take place within the organisation. In year 1940, Ohno Taiichi, chief engineering of Toyota found that it is difficult for tiny Toyota to compete with Ford and General Motors (GM) (the world largest car manufacturing company) in a global market. The only way that it could survive was by looking for new and flexible production method that could help them to establish their position in the global market (Lynch, 2006). Other than that, the demand of better quality of the market has indicated the problem of traditional TPS focuses on reducing per unit costs generates a mind-set of never stopping the line because higher production number theoretically equal lower cost per unit (Refer to the internal and external factors, which trigger the need of change). 2. Start of Change Process: In this stage, it involves the translating the need for change into an aspiration of change among the people, deciding who will manage the change and building a workable and effective change relationship. In order to start the change process, Ohno had visited the Ford factory because of the belief that Ford factory can provide him a way to modify the TPS. However, Ohno found that the Ford production was flawed. In response, he looked for a way to make mass production efficiency with small production volumes and at lowest costs Just-In-Time (JIT) approach (Stevenson, 2007). Thus, forces of change have encouraged Toyota to develop lean system for TPS by adopting JIT approach (Appendix 2: Attributes of Lean Organisation, p21) (Appendix 3: Traditional unit-cost-focused manufacturing, p22) (Appendix 3 (a): Lean Waste Reduction Result in Lower Total Cost, Improved Delivery, p23) (Hill, 2007). 3. Diagnosis: Then, diagnosis of reviewing the present and identifying the future for better change management is taken place. Reviewing the present state can help organisation to the need of change through diagnosis the causes of problems, current deficiencies and opportunities. Organisation may able to clearly identify what is changing and the future direction through reviewing the current state. Organisation have to imagine how and what future that business likely to achieve and then establishing objectives to accomplish it. The present state of Toyota is unable to produce the types of cars, which can meet the market needs and wants, mass production lead to high waste, and so forth. Therefore, in order to a well-entranced global company, Toyota had established the major objective of revolutionary TPS is to build up competitive advantages- affordable price and high quality and eliminate the problems of current TPS, so that Toyota can compete with other larger car manufacturer although their market share is smaller (Krajewski and et al., 2007) (Appendix 4: Toyota Production System, pg 24). 3. Prepare and plan for implementation: Subsequently, organisation need to make choices such as which method should adopt for the change and whether full or trial implementation should be run. Toyota had established 14 management principles (Appendix 5, pg 25) in its new TPS to guide its operation in various countries including UK (Liker and Meier, 2006). The 14 management principles have developed Toyotas supplier throughout the value stream. Furthermore, Toyota has established four underlying principles to TPS (Stevenson, 2007): Work should be finished specified as to content, sequence, timing and outcome. Every customer-supplier connection, both internal and external, has to be direct and specify. The people who involved in the connection, the forms and quantity of the services and goods and so forth need to clearly indicated, The flow of products and services must be simple and direct goods and services are directed and specific person or machine. Any improvement in the system must be made in accordance with the scientific method, at the lowest possible level in the organisation. 4. Implementation change: The implementation of change need to be carried out in an appropriate time. Further, organisation needs to be focused on monitoring and controlling actions to ensure everything flow smoothly. The implementation of lean system has affected the Toyotas internal linkages between its core and supporting process and its external linkages with its customers and suppliers. In the human resource department, they had emphasised on the right incentive systems that reward team work. Toyota has provided training and education for employees regarding the responsiveness of system to problems that makes the seemingly rigid system so flexible and adaptable to changing circumstance (Hino, 2006). As a consequence, Toyota developed a new HRM system inserted new program such as assimilation (process of bringing people into their new TPS culture) and training (On-the-job Training-OJT) into the recruitment system. They are adopting the OJT to encourage employees to learn their own jobs well to be able to train others (http://www.toyotauk.com). Furthermore, they exert tremendous efforts to develop people who live in their system through the kaizen program (continuous improvement) such as suggestion program, quality circles, leadership development and the like (Liker and Meier, 2006) (Appendix 6: HRM Framework TMUK, pg 27). 5. Review and consolidate: Feedback of the change process is needed for review and consolidation. Consolidation primarily refers to the unfreezing concept of Lewins model. After implementing the new TPS, Toyota had announced there is a huge reduction of costs in production process. Further, Toyota can better response to the customers needs and wants. To sum up, organisation may not able to sustain in the market if they dont manage the change process properly. Thus, managing change and the ability of perceive the change is crucial to future success. The resistance of Change However, there are some circumstances faced by Toyota when implementing the change in their operation. According to Mr. Stevenson, the employees of Toyota fear that they will be unable to implement the JIT approach in production with reach the cost-efficiency objectives, and therefore develop negative attitude toward the change or behave poorly if required to use them. Besides that, the staff of Toyota has used to the traditional production. Every day, they are doing the same job, thus, they rely on habits in doing the job. The habit of the employees has become a source of resistance to change. Furthermore, the implementations of changes require high capability workers and high skills workers. Some employees are fear of losing status, jobs, authority and other economic benefits has refused to change. It is because the changes lead to some change in the organisational structure of Toyota. Some low level workers have been promoted to become high skills workers to participate in the production lines. Some older workers are not able to cope with the changes, thus they tend to resist change. Techniques for Reducing Resistance There are various methods can be used to overcome the resistance to change: education and communication, participation, facilitation and support, negotiation, manipulation and co-optation and coercion. Among those techniques, Toyota has applied the education and communication techniques. They discuss the change with the employees to help them to see the logic of change. They try to understand the problems that faced by employees during the change process and attempt to solve it out. Apart from that, participation is undertaken by Toyota to work out the problem of resistance to change. Toyota has involved all the employees in the implementation of lean system in business operation. Toyota also provides supportive efforts such as training and development, which help the employees to adopt the change easily. (Source: Interview from Sales Executive Mr. Stevenson, R.) The Impact of Change on Toyotas Operation Production Process The external and internal factors had encouraged Toyota to build lean system in TPS a philosophy of continuous improvement and forced problem solving that drives out waste, which can help create a lean organisation. By implementing the new production system, all the stages in production must be carried out by establishing the quality and continually improving quality standard; therefore, it can meet total quality standards and delight customers. The revolutionary of the TPS has completely changed the manufacturing process in term of inventory, scheduling, quality control and so forth (Taylor and Brunt, 2002) (Appendix 7: JIT contributes competitive advantages, p 28). The revolutionary of TPS had encouraged Toyota create one-piece flow within the organisation because it helped Toyota to eliminate waste, force problem to surface, create interdependency, make problem uncomfortable and identify weak links in the flow and strengthen them (Appendix 8: Waste Reduction Model, pg 29). Thus, it can save their resources and uses it in other areas (Liker and Meier, 2006). The new TPS helped Toyota in establishing standardised process and procedures to create consistent performance and better manage their operation around the world. The revolutionary of the TPS is focusing on flexibility by basing production on demand rather than simply on capacity. According to Mr. Stevenson, Toyota has developed a flexibility and responsiveness that continues to set the standard for the industry by concentrating on small quantity and manufacturing on what customers want. With the continuous improvement, TPS has become the ideal system in todays rapidly changing global environment. TPS increases the production flexibility able to produce different models on one assembly line (http://news.bbc.co.uk). Marketing and Customer Services The old TPS is focusing on economic of scale rather than the customers needs and wants. Therefore, demand of products is low as the new competitors such as Ford and General Motors has introduced the new vehicles. The use of new TPS has changed from supporting dedicated assembly lines for one vehicle with high volume to low volume of different models of vehicles by using the same assembly line. Furthermore, the revolutionary of TPS had enabled the Toyota served all the segment of passenger car vehicle market by offering an extensive range of innovative, high quality vehicles and engines. The vehicles are designed to satisfy the varied demand of Toyotas customers, while delivering superior quality and reliability (Hino, 2006). Customer satisfaction is a top priority in today competitive market environment. Mr .Stevenson cited that the implementation of revolutionary of TPS has impacted on the business operation of Toyota Lean Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Toyota built lean CRM in response to the growing volume of customer information collected at the many touch-points during the customer lifecycle. Therefore, Toyota can capture the change in customers behaviour easily. The Customer First concept is generated from the TPS. Toyota realise that no matter how good the final product might be, it is worthless if the products dont meet customers demands and needs. Thus, Toyota Retail System (TRS) are developed to define the Toyota Way in retailing. The concept of Customer First is about putting the customer in the drivers seat before the car has even been designed. The concept has separated throughout the whole organisation. The creation of 14 principles of Toyota Way has applied to the TPS Plan Do Check Act to retail environment. The objectives of TRS are to reach efficiency in retailing and delivering best purchase and ownership experience for customers (http://www.toyota.co.jp). Technology The continuous improvement in TPS had developed the use of technology in production. The expensive fuel price had encouraged Toyota to develop hybrid engines (Lynch, 2006). Other than that, the issues of global warning has increasingly concerned by stakeholders. The development of hybrid technology enables Toyota to more emphasis on promoting environmental friendly vehicles, which can more commit to corporate social responsibilities. Traditionally, Toyota was using digital print to print large areas of solid colour without areas of banding appearing and ruining the piece. The development of new technology DocuColor enables Toyota to produce with exceptional print quality (www.xerox.com). Culture In the past, the culture of the Toyota has increased the costs of production; it is because employees keep producing the products without stopping and correcting the problem of the products. Therefore, Toyota has the intention to build up an organisation culture, where employees need to detect a problem, stop the problem immediately and solve the problem at that time (Krajewski, and et al., 2007). The improvement is made at the lowest level of the organisation so that the employees who are actually doing the work are actively involved in doing the improvement (Appendix 9: The contrastive between traditional method of correcting problem and the Toyota method of stopping to fix model, p30 ). Other than that, the implementation of lean system has fostered the culture of continuous improvement, which placed high value on performance and result. Mr. Stevenson cited that Toyota has also build up a close relationship with its suppliers, thus, Toyota only order the materials, which is needed and there is no extra storage for unused materials. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Change In the past, Toyota is considered as a low cost producer. But, the low cost strategy unable to help Toyota to establish s strong position in the global and compete with its competitors. Therefore, the implementation of lean system in TPS with JIT approach enables Toyota to pursue both cost leadership and differentiation strategy (Morrison, 2006). Differentiation strategy can be developed through the total quality control and continuous improvement in the stages of TPS. Furthermore, the new TPS provides an opportunity for Toyota to pursue its global niche strategy Lexus, which tend to target high income level people and to increase its presence in the global market (Lynch, 2006). Other than that, new technology that invented into the TPS had lowered the cost of production through eliminating waste and making it more efficient for Toyota to change model quickly in response to changing customer taste. With the revolutionary of TPS, Toyota has dominated the top ranking for reliability and manufacturing excellence in the third party quality survey since year 2006. Based on a Consumer Report, there are 47 most reliable car models in today market. Surprisingly, 21 Toyotas models are ranking in the survey of evaluating around 1.3 million vehicles. Toyota had been voted the global most admired motor vehicles by Fortune 500 global executives in 2005 and 2006, ranking first in the industry for quality, and social responsibility (http://www.toyotauk.com). Today, Toyota has replaced GM as the worlds largest car manufacturer. The successful of Toyota is the global market is because of its sophisticated lean system in business operation: production, customer services and marketing areas. Traditionally, it takes 3 days to build up a car. With the implementation of JIT approach in TPS, it only takes 24 hours to build the car from a roll of steel to finished vehicle. In average, the construction of engine is done every 54 seconds (http://www.toyotauk.com). The whole concept of Toyota is customer first, which has result in the increasingly growth of sales in Europe in 2006. Toyota had announced its record sales in Europe for 10th year in a row the achievement of an annual sales growth of 13% and a market share of 5.8%. The development of hybrid technology was voted as the Best Eco-Friendly Engine in 1999 and 2000 (www.issolutions.co.uk). According to Mr. Stevenson, Toyota has maintained its competitive advantages without making any loss, while other large car manufacturers are making loss during the economic downturn. This has prove that the lean system in the Toyota is efficiency and effective and able to react to the external change. Conclusion The implementation of lean system in business operation in Toyota is focuses on elimination waste, zero inventories, respond to customers behaviour quickly, quality management, and continuous improvement. However, no process can ever be perfect, thus, continuous improvement is needed. The element of continuous improvement can be a competitive advantages for Toyota to sustain competitive in the global market. TPS enables Toyota to produce vehicles at low costs, but low costs in production only reduce the selling price (short-term benefit). Therefore, Toyota can endeavour to produce vehicles which contribute the long term benefits for customer fuel-efficient engines. Fuel efficient engines not only offer the customers with long-term benefit, but also cultivate the environmental protection policy. Furthermore, Toyota can research on every aspect of the vehicles and find out the way to save the customer long-term costs with the basic requirement of security and safety policy. Nowadays, global warming is becoming an issue that concerned by public. Although, Toyota had developed the new technology hybrid engines, which is a combination of petrol and electric. However, this technology is not widely developed by the Toyota because not all the vehicles are manufactured by using hybrid engine. In order to contribute to the society, this is an opportunity for Toyota to strive in research and development by using hybrid engines in producing all the vehicles. Technological changes can make well-establish product obsolete, while technology can be used as a value-added function to achieve organisational competitive (Terpstra and Sarathy, 2000) (Hill and Jones, 1998). In order to avoid from vehicles obsolete, Toyota has to always keep updating the latest technology that used in manufacturing. By using the latest technology, Toyota can be more innovative in creating and manufacturing the vehicles. The revolutionary of TPS has developed Toyota as a learning organisation learning continuously from the problem solving. Furthermore, globalisation had influenced the way Toyota conduct its business in term of marketing and customer services, production, human resource management, strategy, use of technology and its business process. The changed of company policies had led Toyota successfully passed its competitive competitors GM and Ford. The implementation of TPS enables Toyota to uses both cost leadership and differentiation strategy to compete in the global market. As a consequence, Toyota has become one of the world largest car manufacturer companies in term of low price and high quality. In conclusion, their lean system made them an innovative leader in the auto industry and served as an important cornerstone of their success. Appendix 1: Change Management Process Start of change process Diagnosis review the present and identify the future state Review and consolidate Implement change Plan and prepare for implementation Recognition of the need for change External change, problem opportunities. (Source: Hayes, J. (2002) The Theory and Practice of Change Management, 1st Edition, Palgrave Macmillan, New York) Appendix 2: Attributes of Lean Organisation Apply JIT techniques to reduce virtually all inventories. Establish system that assist employees produce a perfect part every time. Reduce space requirements by minimising the distance a part travels. Build close relationship with supplier, helping them to understand their needs and their customers needs. Educate supplier about the responsibility of helping meet customer needs. Eliminate all but value-added activities. Material handling, inspection and rework jobs are the likely target because these do not add value to product. Build the workforce by constantly improving job design, training, employee participation and commitment, and teamwor

Puck and Bottom in A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay -- Midsummer Night

Puck and Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream      Ã‚  Ã‚   When James Joyce was a teenager, a friend asked him if he had ever been in love. He answered, "How would I write the most perfect love songs of our time if I were in love - A poet must always write about a past or a future emotion, never about a present one - A poet's job is to write tragedies, not to be an actor in one" (Ellman 62). I mention this because - after replacing the word "comedy" for "tragedy" and allowing a little latitude on the meaning of the word "actor" - Joyce is subconsciously giving A Midsummer Night's Dream's argument about the role of the artist. That is to say, an artist must be removed from the action, or, at least, not prone to normal temptations. This emotional distance gives the artist the type of perspective that Theseus likens to a madman's. It also, however, gives the artist a vantage point from which he can give the other characters' experiences meaning. Therefore, I will argue that, in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare se es the artist as someone who is removed from the play's main action, but gives meaning to the play's experience (for both the audience and the other characters). I will show this by examining the roles of the two counterpart artists: Bottom (who supercedes Peter Quince as Every Mother's Son's artist), and Puck (whose art is changing people's hearts and minds). My first four paragraphs show how Shakespeare uses Puck and Bottom allegorically to represent two different components of the artistic mind. Secondly, I show how Shakespeare leaves them emotionally distant from the main action of the play. Lastly, I will show how they end up interpreting the play, thereby, giving it meaning.    It is im... ...speare's Festive Comedy: A Study of Dramatic Form and Its Relation to Social Custom. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1972. Bonazza, Blaze O. Shakespeare's Early Comedies: A Structural Analysis*. The Hague: Mouton, 1966. Briggs, Katharine M. The Anatomy of Puck. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1959. Frye, Northrop. "Characterization in Shakespeare's Comedy," Shakespeare Quarterly: Vol.IV (1953), pp.271-277. Nevo, Ruth. Comic Transformations in Shakespeare. New York: Routledge, Chapman & Hall, 1981. Palmer, John. Comic Characters of Shakespeare. London: Macmillan, 1946. Rhoades, Duane. Shakespeare's Defense of Poetry: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Tempest". Westport, CT: Greenwood Press,1986. Young, David. Something of Great Constancy: The Art of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1966.

Lord of the Flies: Is There Hope for Man? :: Lord of the Flies Essays

One of the main themes in William Golding's 1954 novel Lord of the Flies is that without civilization, there is no law and order. The expression of Golding's unorthodox and complex views are embodied in the many varied characters in the novel. One of Golding's unorthodox views is that only one aspect of the modern world keeps people from reverting back to savagery and that is society. Golding shows the extreme situations of what could possibly happen in a society composed of people taken from a structured society then put into a structureless society in the blink of an eye. First there is a need for order until the people on the island realize that there are no rules to dictate their lives and take Daveers into their own hands. Golding is also a master of contrasting characterization. This can be seen in the conflicts between the characters of Jack, the savage; Simon, the savior; and Piggy, the one with all the ideas. Arguably, the most savage person on the island is Jack Merridew. The first image of Jack and his group is presented as "something dark" and a "creature" before Golding goes on to explain "the creature was a party of boys." Ironically, that is exactly what happens. The beast turns out to be the evil within the children themselves. Jack conflicts with most of the other major characters from the beginning. He calls Piggy "Fatty" repeatedly and opposes Jack almost every step of the way. As the novel progresses, Jack becomes more domineering and assertive, slowly losing all of his former morals and civility. The one point in the novel where this happens is when Jack paints his face: "He made one cheek and one eye socket white. . ." Then Jack proceeds to cover the other half of his face in red, foreshadowing his perpetual recruiting and takeover of the island. Jack ends up as the other authority figure on the island by force and by exploiting the other boys need for savagery. The need for savagery arises because of Golding's views of humans as being vicious by nature. Jack, being a leader in his own right, can not see the light of day again once he has seen the darkness of self indulgence and absolute power. Simon, on the other hand, is not wild at all and can easily differentiate the light from the darkness.

Interview with a Record Store Owner Essay

On a less then pleasant day the weather was cold and rainy so before I left the safety of my car I turned my collar up to face the cold and made a bee line to the store so fast it would put Usain Bolt to shame. When I walked in the store I was greeted by the smell of coffee and sound of The Rolling Stones song Monkey Man playing over the store speakers with the owner of the store john singing along to the song and throwing his arms up like a monkey. As soon as you walk into the store your face to face with a giant rack of used DVDs ranging from Driving Miss Daisy to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre the store itself is not very big on the left side of the store is a shelf contain records from Abba to Rob Zombie on the right side is a shelf holding the cds. I was immediately welcomed by john who sitting down in behind his cash register with a sign on it that read â€Å"No Personal Check† behind him was a giant poster of Frank Zappa which seemed like one of his most prized positions j ohn had. John had on a tie dyed rolling stones shirt john had looked tried and he seemed to be discomfort later I found out he looked that way due to having MS. Before john and I stared talking I asked if we could take a walk around the store john told me that he is not able to â€Å"move very well because I have Multiple sclerosis† so he called for his employee Jack to walk with me and directed Jack to answer questions I have. Jack was tall and in his early 20s ,jack and I walked around the store looking at vinyl they had they had seemed to have every record you could ask for and if they didn’t have it they could order it for you . I asked jack to explain the process of how they value the used records that come in the shop jack pulled a random of the shelf and proceeded to go over the check list â€Å"first we look at the condition of the album sleeve any bends or damage to it second we look for the labeling â€Å"mono,† â€Å"monophonic,† â€Å"monaural,† â€Å"stereo† or â€Å"stereophonic† on the sleeve and record label, which identifies the recording process and helps us determine the va lue and finally we Evaluate the condition of the record by looking for any obvious damage to the vinyl. Jack holds the record up to the light on a slight tilt Look for scratches, record edge nicks or damage to the paper label† we have music here for everyone’s price range after that I thanked jack and retuned to talk to john. When I came back to talk to john he had offered me a cup of coffee I accepted and went on to ask john how long has the store been open john told me that â€Å"I am the fifth owner of Rainbow Records; it first started out in Park Ridge in the mid-1970s. Then the store was moved to Palatine in 1993 by the fourth owner, who offered me the opportunity to buy the store from him in 1997 I then eventually moved the store to here†. I asked john what was the first record he had ever purchased john though for a minute and said â€Å"Surfin Safari by The Beach Boys when I was 9-years-old† I ask john why do you think vinyl sales are going up while CD sales are falling â€Å"There is nothing like vinyl It has a totally different sound than CDs or that MP3 stuff. I’m sorry, but you don’t listen to music on a phone and really get to appreciate it.† I said to john it looks like your store buys all types of records and CDs is there any type of music you won’t buy? â€Å"Classical no one asks for it so I don’t want it besides this is a rock and roll store† John what do you think about kids that have never heard a record on vinyl? They are really missing out Vinyl has a great in-depth sound to it,† he says. â€Å"There is an art to what I call albums and what everybody called albums back in the day. From the cover, which is a piece of art in itself, to listening to, and appreciating the way songs are arranged from side to side, you don’t get that with any other music format.† Looking around the store and seeing I was the only person in there besides jack maybe because of the weather but maybe because the store isn’t doing so well I asked john what got him into the record business â€Å"If you think about how much money you’re going to make, that’s a mistake. You’re not going to get rich doing this. What you’re doing is sharing your love of music with other people,† after john told me that a smile came across both of are faces. Before I had left the shop I walked around the store and picked up three records I think john would approve of the first one I got was The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed, Second album I grabbed was Surfin Safari by The Beach Boys and the third one was Frank Zappa Over-Nite Sensation. When I went up to john for the last time he could not help but to laugh as he rang them up as he handed me the bright yellow bag he said â€Å"enjoy† when I had made it home the first thing I did was put on my new rolling stones record put the needle on Monkey Man and turned my record player up to eleven.

Data Types and Why We Care | Written Assignment |

Data Types and Why We assist Written Assignment Kayla 1/30/2013 Kayla Coleman Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Principles of Testing and Measurements Data Types and Why We administer There argon a zillion different types of selective info in the world. roughly types we pull in learned through geezerhood of education and others have yet to be discovered. One question ab break data types that is asked frequently is Why do we care? Though in that respect is no schoolbook book serve up I intrust we care because without these various types of data we lead non be able to come even the simplest of questions.When I think of the rendering a simple question I think of a question that rouse be answered in a a couple of(pre token(a)) words. A simple question that I would wish well answered is What Is Your Favorite Color? I have picked this question because it is simple to answer and understand. My method of step for this question would be by ranking. For example blue would be ranked the highest because most students liked blue. I have picked basic rating because it is the vanquish way to find the answer that I need without added confound when it comes to understanding the results.There are many different levels of measurement. All levels have different ways itemises eject be used. One level is the token(a) level. At this level Numbers enkindle be used for tags or labels like Barcodes and social security numbers. When using nominal variables measurement means is classified as classifying cases in groups. These groups must cover in all cases and can not belong to several(prenominal) groups (Levels of measurement,). Ordinal Level is another level of measure. With this kind of measure Numbers are mostly used to order rightful(prenominal) like in popularity.You have the jerks, the cheerleaders and the Nerds tho we all know what order there is. The groups for ordinal variables are ordered exclusively the distance between cardinal adjoining categ ories may vary. musical interval or balance Level is the third level of measurement. With Interval or Ratio Levels numbers are used to express quantities like the keep down of money you pay for shoes in this case numbers are not just all-inclusive, mutually exclusive or ordered (Levels of measurement,). There are a lot more ways of measurement then we acknowledge like underlying tendency.Central tendency tells us where the middle of a bunch of data lies. The most usual measures of central tendency are the mean, median, and mode. The loaded is the sum of the numbers divided by the number of numbers in a set of data. The Median is the number in the middle or the mean of 2 numbers in the middle when ordered in ascending or go order. The mode is the most frequent number in the set (Saccuzzo & Kaplan, 2010). Stand excursion and the Z pee-pee are two more types of measure that can be used.The Standard Deviation measures the unfold out of numbers. A measure of the more spread ap art the higher the dispute. Standard deviation can be calculatedas the root of variance, which is the average of from the Mean. The Z label explains if a score is equal to, below or above the mean of a group of scores. Basically, it compares scores. The normal Z score is between -2 and +2. Anything other than this are considered little typical of scores (Saccuzzo & Kaplan, 2010). Survey query is one way of measurement.Survey olfactory modality into is owing(p) when answering of respondents. It can be a paper-and-pencil form or a person-to-person in-depth interview. Scaling is another way of measurement it deals with the construction of an instrument that relates to qualitative and vicenary metric units. The purpose of qualitative query is to gain more exposure to an force field (Trochim, 2006). Qualitative research is good for obtaining in truth detailed information that allows you to examine the realm of interest in great detail.However alike much detail does make it touchy to determine what the generalized theme is. An collateral measure is an unobtrusive measure that allows researchers to meet data without doing a formal occasion (Trochim, 2006). I believe that a questionnaire would own me the most valid answers to this question. Overall, the large pith of data and measures of data is very overpowering if you do not know what to look for especially if two methods measure the uniform thing.However that is a large amount of information out there that can dish up us clear up the confusing methods of measures this way we can have a valid more efficient research outcome. Reference Levels of measurement. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http//weber. ucsd. edu/aronatas/levmeas. html Saccuzzo, D. , & Kaplan, R. (2010). Psychological examination Principles, applications, and issues. New York, NY Trochim, W. (2006, October 20). Research methods knowledge based. Retrieved from http//www. socialresearchmethods. discharge/kb/unobtrus. php

Explain the Biological Mechanisms by Which Stress Can Induce Depressive Behaviour

beg off the biologic instruments by which express fundament induce depressive doings. Introduction Depressive deportment is a core feature of several necessitate(ip) psychological dis casts, most obviously major depression (MD) and depressive episodes of bipolar depression (BP). economic crisis is as well as frequently found to be co-morbid with psychotic disorders much(prenominal) as schizophrenia and with anxiety-related disorders (e. g. social phobia or OCD). natural depression is the biggest major risk cistron for self-harm and suicide, thence posing a real clinical problem to try to understand and nullify the mechanisms involved.Traditional anti-depressant treatment has only sh feature a belittled benefit to placebos in treating the disorder therefore, much effective drugs that target the right biologic mechanisms ar imminently needed. The majority of observational research in the area has utilise rodents to assay medication and cast cognise psychopatho logical aspects of depression in humans, such as learned help slightness, cognitive deficits and increase co-morbidity with anxiety-related doingss. There are umteen factors that whitethorn explain why near muckle (around 16% of the population) will experience a depressive episode in their life while and early(a)s wont.Genetic vulnerability and epigenetic changes, psychosocial support, socioeconomic status or even climate-related factors all arrive to be considered in considering the right treatment for separate cases. Whilst the causal cerebrate between many of these and the onset of depression is somewhat inconclusive, the quick association between inveterate haywire extend (CMS) and depressive demeanor is now a huge area of research, resulting in the striving-induced model of depression.Even where there is evidence for the design of genes in depression, such as allele variants for the 5-HTT protagonist region, it is arrangementn to vary as a operation of exposu re to stressful life events. The mechanisms by which environmental stressors john lean to depressive behaviour have been explored thoroughly, with a strong focalisation on the authority of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis vertebra and its disfunction in depression. The consequent rise in levels of the glucocorticoid hormone hydrocortisone, quest HPA activation, has been manifestn to become chronic increased in demoralize patients.This is horizon to be due to the development of glucocorticoid resistance, whereby game levels of cortisol are present in the blood stream and off-base thread however shun feedback to shut down the HPA axis no longer works. Due to the legion(predicate) roles of cortisol within the form, several biological processes whitethorn be abnormal as a consequence of CMS that may lead to depressive behaviour. Direct and indirect effects of HPA disfunction include changes in resistive result, neuronal damage, decreased rates of neu rogenesis and the serotonin pathways.These processes tip to interact and exacerbate one some separate therefore, understanding each proposed biological mechanism of stress-induced depression and their impact upon each new(prenominal) is likely to lead to a come apart treatment outcome. Acute Stress and the HPA axis The experience of exquisite minor stress is a usual and adaptive process, triggered by an environmental stressor deemed to be potentially harmful. From an evolutionary perspective, this serves to protect the individual from danger via activation of the sympathetic nervous formation, preparing the individual for clamber or flight mode.Stress, as soundly as input from the corpus amygdaloideum, hippocampus and mid caput, in a flash activates the stress result via the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The first spry response is the boot out of corticotrophin purgative hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus, which travels to the pituitary where it binds to CRH Receptor 1 (CRHR1). CRH john too act right away on other(a) school principal regions, e. g. the amygdala at this early stage. CRH1 activation commences the wrick of adrenocorticotrophin release hormone (ACTH), which travels via the bloodstream to the kidneys, stimulating the delayed release of the glucocorticoid (steroid) cortisol.Cortisol acts passim the body in all kiosks, via screening to cytolic glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors (GR and MR) (see Figure 1). Figure 1 Cortisol can pass finished the cell membrane due to its lipophillic properties. c everyplaceing of cortisol to the GR complex in the cytoplasm apparent motions dissociation of GR from the complex, resulting in an active GR monomer. two GRs then dimerise to form a GR dimer. This can act as a transcription factor in itself by attaching to Glucocorticoid top Elements (GBE), or it can interact with other Hormone Binding Elements and transcription factors to enlightened gene transcript ion. http//jimlund. org/blog/? m=200910 A rise in cortisol levels, on board CRH, leads to adaptive changes in behaviour, cognition and insubordinate function. Importantly, this rise is followed by a negative feedback loop of cortisol and CRH acting upon its own receptors (NC3R1 and CHR2, respectively) to shut down the HPA axis erst the threat has been resolved. This homeostatic mechanism terminates the issue of any more CRH and therefore brings cortisol levels back to baseline (pre-stressor), decisive for returning(a) the individual back to a popular resting state.It is this negative feedback mechanism which has been foundn to be discontinue in patients with depression. Chronic Stress and Glucocorticoid opposite In a situation of CMS, the lengthy activation of the HPA axis leads to abnormally magisterial cortisol levels. However, chronically elevated cortisol can be dangerous, due to its role in suppressing the immune system and increase vulnerability to infection. It is achievable that in order to counteract the constant influx of go cortisol causing potentially unwished-for downstream effects, GRs in lymphocytes become unresponsive or resistant to glucocorticoids.This dysfunction of GRs is truely seen in depressed patients and has been deputen numerous propagation using the dexamethasone suppression test (DST). Dexamethasone (a synthetic glucocorticoid) mimics cortisol by binding to GRs and shutting down HPA operation in healthy controls. Therefore, dexamethasone-treated individuals have virtually no detect open cortisol over the course of the following day. On the other hand, in depressed patients, the DST doesnt learn any significant repression of HPA activity.Whilst they already show significantly higher overall levels of cortisol, they also show reduced suppression of dexamethasone during the DST. This shows that the GRs are unresponsive to glucocorticoids, leading to the typical feature of glucocorticoid resistance in depressed pati ents. The Inflammation/Cytokine Hypothesis Glucocorticoid resistance has essential implications for immune system function. Under normal acute stress, cortisol suppresses lymphocytes in computer peripheral tissue from producing pro- unhealthy cytokines by initiate intracellular GRs and leading to transcription of downstream regulatory genes.Key targets of GR-mediated transcription related to immune function include the upregulation of anti-inflammatory genes annexin-1, IL-10 and I? B? (inhibits NF-? B) and down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes, such as IL1-6, 9, 11-13, 16-18 and TNF-?. However, glucocorticoid resistance following chronic stress can mean that lymphocytes stop responding to cortisol, so there is an increase in the proliferation of leukocytes and yield of pro-inflammatory cytokines.The proposed mechanism for how these peripherally-generated cytokines are able to affect the central nervous system (systema nervosum centrale) involves several pathways. T hese cytokines (IL-1? , TNF-? and IL-6) cannot typically diffuse across the blood- champion-barrier, simply they can enter the central nervous system in regions of high BBB permeability or be actively transported across the BBB by endothelial cell transporters. Additionally, without crossing the BBB, cytokines are able to activate endothelial cells to defecate soluble factors (e. g.PG-E2) to indirectly activate neurons, as well as activating legitimate afferent neurons (e. g. the vagus nerve) that carry information to the CNS about the sacking. In these ways, peripheral inflammation can mystify typical changes in the CNS and sickness behaviour seen in depressed patients lethargy, anhedonia, reduced locomotive activity and sleep and weight disturbances. conduct for this proposed mechanism comes from findings that clinically depressed patients show an abnormally high production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1? IL-6 and TNF-? ), cytokine-based immunotherapy often causes de pression in genus Cancer or hepatitis C patients and cytokine organisation causes depressive behaviour in animal models. Reversal of this depressive behaviour can be seen by administration of anti-depressants, which target and reduce the inflammatory response in both patients and animal models. In a similar fashion, anti-inflammatories such as cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors or omega-3 have strong anti-depressant effects on behaviour. Inflammation-Induced NeurodegenerationAnother begin to modelling stress-induced depression has focused on the controversial findings of clinically depressed patients show changes in volume of structural brain regions, including the hippocampus, amygdala, anterior cingulated, prefrontal cortex and mean ganglia. The mechanisms by which some brain regions, in particular the hippocampus as implicate in stress-induced depression, might decrease in volume appear to be a combination of both neurodegeneration (increased caspase-mediated cell death of n eurons) and a decrease in adult neurogenesis in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus (DG).Stress-induced HPA hyper-activity may explain the atrophy seen in some brain regions of clinically depressed patients. Glucocorticoids agitate the breakdown of tissue into glucose for the quick release of energy therefore, chronically increased levels may result in brain tissue loss in regions where cortisol acts, such as the hippocampus. Furthermore, the link between stress, inflammation and an increase in aerophilous stress may also explain a large portion of the neurodegeneration apparent in depression.Inflammation has been shown to increase oxidation and the fact that the CNS has no proper defence against aerophilous damage makes it very vulnerable to oxidative stress (OS). This has been demonstrated as a key feature in neurodegenerative diseases and depression, implicating a causal role of stress-induced inflammation in triggering degeneration. The damage caused by OS can lead to m itochondrial dysfunction, which can lead to still intracellular build up of damage oxidised proteins.The only way for cells to do in this situation is to activate programmed cell death (apoptosis), or in less controlled circumstances, necrosis can occur, leading to a decline in cell poem and lateral effects on the aflutter network. This mechanism of oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration can be slowed down and treated by the performance of antioxidant enzymes, which serve a neuro-protective role. These enzymes eradicate kick radical oxidising particles and also suppress pro-inflammatory cytokine action.A further damaging feature seen in neurodegeneration and depression is nitrosative stress (NS), which may domiciliate to neurotoxicity and therefore cell death. An increase in the production of cortisol after acute stress will temporarily cause a suppression of neurogenesis in the DG. Neurogenesis in the DG has been demonstrated to be vital for healthy cognition and memory , impacting mood, the sleep-wake cycle and impulse all affected in depression. Therefore, CMS leads to extended suppression of neurogenesis and may explain the behavioural outcomes typical of depression.The decrease in neurogenesis following exposure to stress may maybe involve the neurotrophin Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), shown to be greatly reduced in regions that also show a decrease in neurogenesis and related to brain regions typically affected in depression. Animal models exposed to CMS show decreased neurogenesis and BDNF levels in overlapping brain regions and elicit depressive behaviours associated with dysfunction of these regions. Furthermore, anti-depressant treatment that successfully increases BDNF levels also leads to recovery from depressive behavioural symptoms.However, the causation here is not clear whether the BDNF levels move are a result of other stress-induced mechanisms or whether it is partly the cause of the behaviour. just about evidence suggests that anti-depressants can work severally of BDNF restoration. Hagen and colleagues set out to control for possible variables such as age, time of cortisol readings and overall brain volume. Whilst there has been no robust evidence for a link between baseline cortisol levels and hippocampal volume, this study did find that hippocampal volume was negatively fit with length of depressive episode pre-hospitalisation.Furthermore, better reactivity (lowering of cortisol levels) after treatment was predicted by greater hippocampal volume (relative to overall brain volume). b) antineurogenic effects and reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and c) apoptosis with reduced levels of Bcl-2 and BAG1 (Bcl-2 associated athanogene 1), and increased levels of caspase-3. Stress-induced inflammation, e. g. increased IL-1? , but not reduced neurogenesis, is sufficient to cause depression. Antidepressants a) reduce peripheral and central inflammatory pathways by decreasing IL-1? TNF? and IL-6 levels b) stimulate neuronal antitheticaliation, synaptic plasticity, axonal evolution and regeneration by dint of stimulatory effects on the expression of different neurotrophic factors, e. g. trkB, the receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor and c) attenuate apoptotic pathways by activating Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl proteins, and suppressing caspase-3. It is cerebrate that external stressors may provoke depression-like behaviours through activation of inflammatory, oxidative, apoptotic and antineurogenic mechanisms.The clinical efficacy of antidepressants may be ascribed to their ability to reverse these different pathways. Neuronal damage and apoptosis activating of the Kynurenine Pathway (KP) 5-HT Accumulated evidence indicates a role of the hippocampal 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the response to stress and modulation of depression, but it is undecipherable whether and how the hippocampal 5-HT and NPY systems make contributions to chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression.Here we observed that rats receiving a commixture of chronic unpredictable mild stressors for 3 weeks showed a variety of depression-like behavioral changes, including a significant reduction in body weight, sucrose preference, and locomotion, rearing and grooming in open field test, and a significant increase in immobility time in forced swimming test. These CUMS-induced behavioral changes were suppressed or blocked by intra-hippocampal injection of 5-HT (31. 25 microg/microl) or NPY (10 microg/microl). These info suggest a critical role of reduced hippocampal 5-HT and NPY neurotransmission in CUMS-induced depression.