A Feminist Analysis of Cloud Nine Essay -- essays research papers fc

Feminist Analysis of Cloud Nine In 1979, Caryl Churchill wrote a feminist play entitled Cloud Nine. It was the result of a workshop for the Joint Stock Theatre Group and was intended to be about sexual politics. Within the writing she included a myriad of different themes ranging from homosexuality and homophobia to female objectification and oppression. â€Å"Churchill clearly intended to raise questions of gender, sexual orientation, and race as ideological issues; she accomplished this largely by cross-dressing and role-doubling the actors, thereby alienating them from the characters they play.† (Worthen, 807) The play takes part in two acts; in the first we see Clive, his family, friends, and servants in a Victorian British Colony in Africa; the second act takes place in 1979 London, but only twenty-five years have passed for the family. The choice to contrast the Victorian and Modern era becomes vitally important when analyzing this text from a materialist feminist view; materialist feminism relies heav ily on history. Cloud Nine is a materialist feminist play; within it one can find examples that support all the tenets of materialist feminism as outlined in the Feminism handout (Bryant-Bertail, 1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The system of patriarchy allies itself to economic power (Bryant-Bertail, 1). In the first act of the play, several references are made that allude to the economic power being held by the men. The play opens with the line â€Å"Come gather, sons of England, come gather in your pride† (Churchill, 810) and in Clive’s opening speech he makes several fatherly references; â€Å"I am father to the natives here, and father to my family so dear† (810). In the next song the line â€Å"The forge of war shall weld the chains of brotherhood secure† (810) can be found. It is interesting to also note that intermixed with these lines are references to Queen Victoria’s sovereignty. Several lines such as, â€Å"we serve the queen wherever we may roam† and â€Å"O’er countless numbers she, our Queen, Victoria reigns supreme† (810) can be found. The author intended these lines to be ironic and humorous. Even though the male cha racters are the ones saying them, they really don’t have any respect for her as a person, just as a figure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Women are hierarchized into classes (Bryant-Bertail, 2). In this story many of the women are in separate classes. I... ...up psychology is not isolated, but considered in relation to larger institutions (Bryant-Bertail, 2). The entire play is aimed directly at this tenet. In Act One, all of the characters think one way and act another. For example while Ellen may actually be a lesbian in love with Betty, she goes ahead and marries Harry because it is â€Å"the right thing to do†. However, in Act Two, the characters no longer feel the need to hide what they are from each other. Overall we are left to compare these competing mindsets not just to each other but to the larger institutional psychology; Act One is blatantly Victorian and Act Two is set in the 1970’s. The author purposefully chose these two eras because they so heavily contrast each other. The rigidity of Victorianism and the liberation of the late 70’s when compared with the characters show us that times may change but what people think doesn’t.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Works Cited Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1995 Churchill, Caryl In Worthen, W. B. ed. The Harcourt Brace Anthology of Drama. Fortworth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 2000.

Country Environment Analysis – Singapore

Country Environment Analysis – Singapore Date: 12/05/2012 Course: BUAD 6500 Prepared For: Dr. Stanford A. Westjohn Prepared By: Emtithal Alhumood, John Baker, Nora Dillon and Yuhong Fu Table of Contents: Page # Part 1 Macro Environment AnalysisAbstract ——————————————————————————————–3 Social Perspective ——————————————————————————–3 Economic Perspective —————————————————————————-5 Political Perspective †”—————————————————————————7 Challenges to Business in Singapore ———————————————————–9 Summation of Macro Environment Analysis ————————————————10 Part 2 Country Environment Analysis ——————————————–12 Country Environment Analysis Abstract —————————————————–12 Scope of the Tourism Industry ——————à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ12 Areas of Opportunity and Risk —————————————————————–16Challenges for US Business in Singapore’s Tourism Industry —————————-19 Country Environment Analysis Summation ————————————————–21 Part 1 Macro Environment Analysis Abstract: The country of Singapore enjoys a highly developed and successful free market economy. The first section of this report details the economic, social and political aspects of Singapore from a business perspective. Furthermore, this report will identify and analyze challenges which any business m ust consider upon entry to this growing marketplace. Social Perspective: Geographic Location: Situated in the northern part of the equator, Singapore lies between Indonesia and Malaysia.The island has a huge coastline of 193km. Half of the terrain contains metropolitan areas while reservoirs, open military areas, plantations, and parklands cover 40%. Covering an area of 699 sq. km. , the country is believed to be among the world’s most beautiful nations. Population: As of June 2011, Singapore's population stood at 5. 1 million, making it among the three most densely populated nations in the world (MediaCorp Pte Ltd, 2011). Singapore has a multicultural population with Mandarin, English, Tamil and Malay listed as the country’s four official languages. English is commonly used throughout Malaysia and is often referred to as the national language.Improved healthcare in the country has resulted in reduced infant mortality rate. However, the overall population growth rate i s relatively low at 2% from 2009 to 2010. Immigration is a significant driver of population fluctuation, as local population growth has actually declined in the past decade. Literacy: According to the United Nations Development Programme Report (2011), Singapore has a literacy rate of 94. 7%, which ranks 75th in global literacy by country. Education is regulated and supervised by the Ministry of Education which oversees both private and public schools. All public schools instruct students using the English language and their native tongue (referred to as â€Å"Mother Tongue Language†).According to Wikipedia, education spending typically accounts for 20% of the national annual budget in Singapore. Cultural Values: Singaporeans have a hierarchical history, and for the local population power distance is generally high. Respect for authority and social formalities are highly valued in Singapore’s local culture. Respect for parents, elders, teachers, and employers is held i n high regard. Due to the emphasis on family values, Singapore has developed a collectivist culture which focuses on the betterment of society; as opposed to the individual. Local residents generally express a modest humility when communicating with foreigners; which could be interpreted as â€Å"feminine† in reference to Hofstede’s cultural framework. Art / Music / Food:Held annually, the Singapore Arts Festival is a noteworthy event in the country’s celebration of the arts. The festival integrates visual arts, dance, and theatre. Besides home participants, global artists are also showcased. Today, the Festival is an international event. Additionally, the arts centre has traditional and classical music representation focusing on the four main cultures in the country. Singaporean cuisine signifies ethnic cultural diversity and food is seen as a uniting cultural strand that is fundamental to their national identity. Religion: Due to its strategic position, Singap ore is home to many religions. Once it was declared a port, several ethnicities and nationalities from around the globe immigrated to Singapore. 3% of the population practice Buddhism making it the core faith, 18% are Christians, 15% Muslims and 5% are Hindus. Besides, close to 17% of the populace do not practice any religion as they claim to be free-thinkers (Chong, 2010). Economic Perspective: Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy. It enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP higher than that of most developed countries. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in consumer electronics, information technology, pharmaceuticals, and financial services. Since the early 1990’s a focus on globalization has driven Singapore’s economy to new levels of growth and development.  Also you can read about  History of the Culinary Arts.It has signed 13 free trade agreements to encourag e international commerce and it boasts globally competitive tax incentives to draw international investors. Current GDP Breakdown: Singapore’s current GDP falls at $239. 7 billion. GDP per capita is roughly $60,000 which ranks fifth highest in the global community. According to trading economics. com, Singapore experienced an annual GDP growth rate average of 5. 54% between 2007 and 2011. Despite a 1. 5% GDP contraction in the third quarter of 2012, Singapore’s overall GDP is expected to follow historical growth around 5% this year. Export, Import and Trade: Singapore is the 14th largest exporter and the 15th largest importer in the world. According to the WTO, Singapore has the highest trade to GDP ratio in the world at 407. 9%.International trade is essential for Singapore, as it has virtually no natural resources. A large percentage of trade is conducted to meet domestic demand for energy, food, and other necessities. Singapore also regularly engages in trade, where by industries and businesses in the country import raw materials, before refining them for re-export. 47% of Singapore’s exports consist of re-exports. Singapore has relatively few barriers to trade. Trade partners have zero tariff rates applied to their products; other than alcoholic beverages. Some import restrictions exist, which are focused primarily on environmental regulation, health, and public security concerns.The import of rice also requires import licensing in order to ensure food security and price stability. In 2010, Singapore’s exports were valued at $351. 2 billion (USD). The primary export partners include Hong Kong (11. 6% of total exports), Malaysia (11. 5%), US (11. 2 %), Indonesia (9. 7%), China (9. 7%), Japan (4. 6%). Singapore’s imports were valued at $310. 4 billion. The U. S. was Singapore’s primary source of imports (14. 7% of total imports) followed by Malaysia (11. 6%), China (10. 5%), Japan (7. 6%), Indonesia (5. 8%), South Kor ea (5. 7%). Primary Industries: The petroleum and petrochemical industry in Singapore is one of the biggest in the world.Singapore imports oil from other countries before refining it for further use in other countries. Singapore has the third largest oil refinery in the world. The Singapore Petroleum Company (SPC) is also a leading player in the petroleum industry and is engaged in exploration, production, refining and distribution. Manufacturing is another major industry in Singapore. Although Singapore has specialized in digital and electronics manufacturing for the past forty years, the country has diversified into other forms of manufacturing. Thanks to government initiatives and subsidies, biomedical and pharmaceutical manufacturing is seen to be the future for Singapore's industries.Singapore is also a global leader in services, particularly in finance. Singapore’s banking system is considered to be among the strongest in the world. Singapore has the fourth largest fore ign exchange market in the world after London, New York and Tokyo. The Singapore Government Securities is the only Asian market, besides Japan, to be part of the Citigroup World Bond Index. The Singapore Exchange (SGX) was also the first demutualised, integrated securities and derivatives exchange in Asia-Pacific (Wikipedia, 2012). Economic Forecast: From 2011 onwards, Singapore’s GDP growth rate (constant prices, national currency) is expected to grow between the ranges of 4. 008 percent to 5. 162% in the next five years.According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in Singapore, 2012 may see a higher growth rate of 5 to 7% as its primary trade partners continue to recover economically. Political Perspective: Singapore's government is a blend of democracy and authoritarianism. It is a Parliamentary republic with a legal system modeled after English common law. The president is voted into office by the popular vote for a six year term. Voting in elections is required by law, so every citizen 21 years and older is legally obligated to cast a vote. The cabinet and the prime ministers are appointed by the president. There are 84 parliamentary seats and each person serves a term of five years. The judicial power belongs to the Supreme Court which is split into the Court of Appeals and the High Court.Judges in both of these courts are appointed by the president of Singapore (Government Structure, 2012). Political Parties: There are five main political parties: The Worker's Party of Singapore, the Reform Party, the Singapore Democratic Party, the Singapore Democratic Alliance, and finally the People's Action Party which happens to be the most dominant. This dominance is due to the fact that PAP brought Singapore from an impoverished nation to one with incredibly rapid economic growth. Although this party has brought a certain level of prosperity to the country, they have also instituted extremely strict laws and censorship on almost all aspects of lif e. Current Political Environment:In the past, Singapore was very conservative with spending and investment. However, in 2001 Singapore's government began structuring a stimulus package that included tax rebates for businesses and citizens, lower public service fees, a more expansive welfare program and financial assistance for smaller businesses. The monetary stance was changed to keep their currency competitive while assisting the increase in exporting. Since then, Singapore has relied less on government intervention and more on the liberalization of the economy. This came about due to the lack of improvement government intervention made and the requirements for a World Trade Organization membership (Politics & Government, 2007).Because the PAP holds over 90% of the seats in Parliament they have little trouble getting their policies approved by Parliament which only requires a two-thirds majority. As a result there is not a proper check and balance in Singapore's parliament against the PAP. However, recently their dominance may be lessening according to the outcomes of the 2011 elections that showed a significant decline since 2006. In order for the PAP to stay dominant they must focus on maintaining a strong economy and addressing immigration issues while gaining the trust of the younger generations. Due to Singapore's low birth-rate, immigration has been essential to their economic growth. The percentage of native citizens had gone down to 74% in 2010. This has forced native citizens to compete with immigrants for jobs.In the upcoming years it will be up to the government to legislate integration programs, lower the immigration rate, and smooth over ethnic tensions (Political Overview, 2011). Relationships Abroad: Singapore developed a good relationship with the United States during the Cold War due to the PAP's anti-communist platform and their ability to spread free trade through the Asian-Pacific region. In 2003, the United States and Singapore signed th e first bilateral agreement between the United States and an Asian country. Singapore's government has not only pursued good relationships with the United States they also focus on good working relationships with Australia, Jordan, India, Korea, New-Zealand, and Panama through the signing of Free Trade Agreements.The government is currently negotiating similar agreements with countries such as Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. (Politics & Government, 2007) Challenges to business in Singapore: According to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report, Singapore has the most conducive regulatory environment for business among 183 economies worldwide (guidemesingapore. com). While this exponentially expanding economy provides many opportunities for business development, there are a few challenges that must be considered by global entrepreneurs. Singapore has grown at a very rapid rate over the past few decades, and its economic success has attracted many industry leaders.This increase in business has created a very competitive marketplace, which presents challenges for new entrants. High competition is a barrier to entry for amateur organizations, and stiff competition often means reduced margins. Many companies who are considering an expansion into Singapore have concerns regarding economic growth and profitability. Many of these concerns stem from rising costs in the labor market and reductions in productivity. According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, labor productivity fell 2. 2% in the first quarter of 2012, following a downward trend for the past 12 months. Also, manufacturing costs rose 4. 6% and overall labor costs are up 3. 7%.The productivity reductions can be attributed to contagion from struggling European and U. S. markets. Higher costs in goods and services are driving increases in both labor and operating expenses. Access to raw materials is also a concern for manufacturers considering business i n Singapore. Geographic limitations and limited access to resources often force manufacturers to import raw materials. Logistic costs associated with the delivery of raw materials can often become cost prohibitive. This problem grows increasingly prevalent as the cost of fuel continues to rise globally. Another barrier to entry for new business in Singapore is the government’s recent effort to restrict the inflow of foreigners.Singapore’s citizens are growing increasingly discontent with income inequality and rising costs of living. In response, the government has been enacting a series of benefit restrictions for permanent residents and foreign workers. For example, certain workers are not permitted to bring parents or in-laws into the country, and healthcare benefits are being reduced. In July 2012, Singapore’s parliament considered amendments to its immigration law which would make new residency or long-term work permits a criminal offense (Mahtani – W SJ). These social indicators are red flags for new businesses who fear the impact of legislative protectivism. Summation of Macro Environment Analysis:Singapore proves itself to be a promising location for businesses hoping to internationalize. It's diverse and vibrant culture welcomes newcomers as evidenced by its high rate of immigration. Singapore's technology focused economy is growing at a stable rate with little sign of slow-down. This can be partially attributed to its political stability. It has been run by the same political party for decades, allowing Singapore to keep steady international relationships with foreign countries and their business partners. While all of these factors encourage business investment, new entrants must also consider legislative protectivism and the increase costs of labor and manufacturing in their decision.Part 2 – Country Environment Analysis Country Environment Analysis Abstract: With its rich cultural tapestry and beautiful landscape, modern day Singapore has a lot to offer its tourists. The second section of this report details Singapore’s recent efforts to make their country a major travel destination. As the fastest growing sector of its economy, Singapore has recently made huge investments in its tourism industry. Singapore’s government has constructed a mass-rapid-transit-system (MRT) which serves as a means of transportation for sightseeing tourists. Singapore is also focused on building attractions such as amusement parks and botanical gardens.Singapore is a melting pot of different cultures; as a result it offers a cornucopia of cuisines and cultural events. Along with its high population of English speaking locals and low crime rate, it serves as an ideal travel destination for westerners. Scope of the Tourism Industry: Singapore has developed a rich tourism history over the past 300 hundreds of years. At the southern tip of Malaysia, Singapore is a primary destination for eastern trade. Th is bustling trade environment has attracted a culturally diverse population, and it is no surprise that this environmentally beautiful hub for international business has become one of the premiere tourist destinations. Singapore’s tourism industry is massive. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) notes $22. billion in tourism revenue for 2011. In that same year, Singapore attracted over 13 million tourists, which was a 13% increase from 2010. This is an astounding number for a nation whose population is just above 5 million. 76% of these visitors were Asian; primarily from Indonesia, China and Malaysia. However, Australia, India and the Philippines also represented large percentages (see figure 1). Singapore has been experiencing double-digit percentage growth in tourism receipts for the past 6 years and is expected to grow another 12% in 2012 according to major Asian news organization Asiaone News. Fig 1: Singapore Tourist Levels per Country 2009-2011|Country or territory| 2009T ourists (ea)| 2010Tourists (ea)| 2011Tourists (ea)|   Germany| 183,681| 209,231| 219,952| Taiwan| 156,761| 191,173| 238,488| Vietnam| 265,414| 322,853| 332,231| South Korea| 271,987| 360,673| 414,879| United States| 370,704| 416,990| 440,576| United Kingdom| 469,756| 461,714| 442,611| Hong Kong| 294,420| 387,552| 464,375| Thailand| 317,905| 430,022| 472,708| Japan| 489,987| 528,817| 656,417| Philippines| 432,072| 544,344| 677,723| India| 725,624| 828,903| 868,991| Australia| 830,299| 880,486| 956,039| Malaysia| 764,309| 1,036,918| 1,140,935| China| 936,747| 1,171,337| 1,577,522| Indonesia| 1,745,330| 2,305,149| 2,592,222| *Data Source – Singapore Tourism Board 2012| Singapore attributes much of its growth to improvements in infrastructure and air connectivity. Investments in port access, roadways and air space have streamlined the movement of people and products throughout Singapore. The government has also invested heavily in railway for its MRTS which moves an average of 2. 4 million people per day (Wikipedia, 2012). Furthermore, developments in telecommunications have helped to improve information accessibility, which has improved the ease of travel for both business travelers and tourists. In the year 2000, Singapore’s government decided to liberalize its telecommunications sector.Previously, two companies controlled the entire telecommunications industry. In an effort to encourage global competitiveness, the government compensated the two companies, and opened the floodgates of telecommunication competition. Allowing market forces to drive this sector resulted in a revolution of progressive technology which has solidified Singapore’s current position as a technological hub. So why is Singapore growing increasingly popular as a â€Å"must visit† international destination for tourists? Many economists note the business friendly environment which has attracted top-tier investors from around the world. This environment has produc ed a cosmopolitan culture of engineering, art, food and music.Noting official languages of English, Malay, and Chinese, many international visitors also find it easy to communicate. Singapore’s government realized the unique opportunity for its tourism industry long ago, and developed the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in 1964 to facilitate and develop its tourist activities. According to the STB, sightseeing and entertainment represented the largest spend for tourists in 2009 (see figure 2). Given its rich history of tourism, Singapore has developed many attractions over the years. Visitors can tour museums of contemporary art, explore Singaporean history, walk its pristine botanical gardens, and experience its science centers and exotic zoos.But some of the most impressive attractions have been developed in the past decade. The Marina Bay Sands Resort is a contemporary architectural masterpiece which opened in 2010, and holds the record as the most expensive casino property in the world at $8 billion (Wikipedia,2012). Fig 2: Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay has 250 acres of reclaimed land which holds state-of-the-art conservatories, horticulture themed gardens, flower markets, and massive â€Å"supertrees† which stand 82 feet high and house countless exotic ferns and plants. These artificial trees were aesthetically constructed with tourists in mind, and illuminate the park at night with spectacular LED displays.Singapore also has its own Universal Studios which opened to the public in 2009. This â€Å"Hollywood themed† amusement park attracts visitors from around the globe, and is popular with western tourists who find comfort in its familiarity. Tourist attractions are big business in Singapore, and the STB works to ensure that there is no shortage of entertainment. Another tourist attraction is Singapore’s annual Grand Prix motor racing, which has generated significant revenue for Singapore’s growing economy. Auto ra cing has been a significant part of Singapore’s history since the 1960’s, and in 2007 the STB signed a contract to bring Formula 1 racing to Singapore.According to Wikipedia, 110,000 tickets were made available for the first race, and the event quickly sold out filling every seat in the newly constructed raceway. This international event has since gained popularity as a premier racing competition. The Grand Prix weekend event generated over $200 million in overall local revenue in 2011. Areas of Opportunity and Risk: Future development: As previously detailed, Singapore is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The connectivity of the country is vital to increasing competitiveness. Toward this end, one of the future plans for infrastructural development is the expansion of its MRTS, in an effort to connect all geographical areas in the country (GuideMeSingapore. com, 2012).Since, Singapore has slowly become a regional hub for petroleum production and explor ation and a tourist destination, the MRTS is aimed at providing a reliable, fast and cheap transportation of people and goods around the country. As previously discussed, communication facilities, particularly the telecommunications, have fueled growth in most parts of the country. Future plans related to communication include opening up most parts of the country by investing in the telecommunication sector. Satellite systems and submarine cables are projected to reach most parts of the country by 2014 to enhance geographic development. Other future developments plans include the transformation of the city into an exciting and buzz place by illuminating all areas with LED lights. The objective is to attract more tourists to the ity (GuideMeSingapore. com, 2012). The major areas of the city targeted for this transformation include Singapore River, Orchard Road, Marina Bay and the whole of the Central Business District. The projected number of tourists by 2015 is expected to reach 18 million (from 13 million in 2011). Hence, future plans include improving current tourist attractions. Funding/Investment: With its fast growing economy, Singapore is considered an important investment destination as compared to many countries in the world. Singapore has numerous funding opportunities for investors ranging from traditional banks to the grants provided by the government for investment purposes.Institutional support for both private and public funding is encouraged in Singapore. Funding opportunities are provided both to foreign and local investors. With the wide range of funding and financing opportunities, numerous investment opportunities are available in Singapore. As previously mentioned, one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy is the tourism industry. This sector provides numerous investment opportunities; particularly investments in tourist handling facilities such as guest houses, leisure resorts and hotels as well as investment in transportation faci lities. Oil production and exploration is another area of opportunity.With the rising demand for cheap gas and oil products in Singapore, oil exploration is an important investment opportunity for multi-national corporations dealing with onshore oil exploration activities. Other opportunities include investment in the financial sector such as providing financial services and trading in the stock market. Political Stability: While political stability is an area of risk in many countries of the world, it is an area of opportunity in Singapore. Singapore is ranked first as the most politically stable country in the Asian region (GuideMeSingapore. com, 2012). The political structure in Singapore makes the county an area of opportunity since the countries major sectors are not governed through political appointments. Important sectors of the economy are governed by bureaucrats.This means that performance, skills and loyalty to the policies of the nation qualify one to be appointed in any office in the country. Further, the dynamic nature of the country’s population contributes immensely to its political stability. The country has a multi-religious and multi-racial character where providing fair chances for all in terms of health, education and investment opportunities continues to maintain economic balance (GuideMeSingapore. com, 2012). Hence, Singapore’s political system is an area of opportunity rather than an area of risk. This is further investment incentive for U. S. MNE’s. Security of tourists: Singapore has a well-organized security system.The Internal security organ of the government is bestowed with the responsibility of ensuring the security of both local and foreign nationals. Hence, tourists are accorded utmost security by both private and government forces and protected from any instances of hate or racial utterances. Tourist sites and facilities are guarded by national law enforcement authorities to ensure that tourists move freel y without threats to their security (Ramesh, 2010). Singapore was recently noted as the number one â€Å"Ultra-Safe Destination† by Opentravel. com; which boasted its crime rates as the lowest in Asia. Hence, security of tourists is a major area of opportunity in Singapore. Financial Stability:The country’s projected revenue is expected to hit more than $40 billion according to the 2011 estimates. Expenditures are estimated at $35 billion leaving a trade surplus of more than 5 billion. In this regard, Singapore boasts of trade surplus rather than trade deficit. This means that the country is economically stable and it has stable resources for purchase of capital goods for the development of the country. The economic growth rate is an important indicator of the country’s economy. The projected economic growth rate is expected to hit more than 7. 5% by the end of 2012. With sound financial stability, international investors can have confidence in their expected re turn on investment.The tourism industry has seen similar growth in recent years (see Fig 3). Fig 3: Challenges for US Business in Singapore’s Tourism Industry: The STB is the countries’ leading economic development agency for tourism, and most opportunities for U. S. partnership in the tourism industry would be facilitated through this organization. The United States is a primary marketing point for the STB; which maintains office-space in both New York and Los Angeles. The government of Singapore prefers to use local firms to combine tourism with the ethnic lifestyles of Singapore. One concern for US firms who are considering opportunities in Singapore is the growing pressure of protectivism in its local culture.This is also a challenge for the STB who is aggressively recruiting visitors. The STB does work to promote local heritage, but it also strives to develop global tourism demand which often requires deviation from traditional culture. For example, Singapore†™s theater district regularly presents western musicals and dramas to satisfy western audiences. This is an area of opportunity for U. S. based organizations who wish to get in on Singapore’s booming tourism industry, but a legislative recent push to protect local heritage is prioritizing eastern values and culture. Singapore also relies on international investors and engineers to develop new world-class attractions.For example the Singapore Flyer, a 42 story high Ferris wheel located on Singapore’s southeastern tip, was designed by German engineers. Also, the design for its world famous Garden by the Bay Park was decided by an international competition which attracted more than 170 firms from 24 countries. The final design was awarded to two firms: Grant Associates from New York, and Gustafson Porter from London (Wikipedia, 2012). Another barrier to US business is the overwhelming Asian influence in Singapore. As previously stated, the majority of foreign tourists c ome from Asia (Japan 36%, Philippines 34% and China 31% – 2011). This is partially due to Asian airlines that have drastically reduced their airfares in an effort to encourage Singapore tourism.Collaborations of these Asian countries not only ensure that there is stability in Singapore’s tourism industry, but they also make it difficult for other countries to penetrate the market. Singapore is known for its â€Å"pro-business† culture, and in most cases it encourages international investment. Tourism, however, is a unique industry and the government is not as interested in incentivizing foreign tourism investment as it used to be. Some of the biggest challenge for U. S. firms and investors in Singapore’s tourism industry include: limited opportunity, competition, and government control. International firms are fighting to penetrate Singapore’s $20 billion tourism industry. The opportunity for substantial profit is attracting top-tier entertainment, culinary, construction, and engineering companies. However, Singapore is eographically small and well developed at this point. The STB is selecting from a pool of innovative firms when developing new projects and their preference to promote local firms is increasingly evident. This business environment is incredibly competitive, and the STB tends to award local firms when given the choice. One strategy for U. S. companies is to provide innovative proposals which cannot be easily replicated. U. S. based firms can also develop collaborative relationships or joint ventures with Singaporean organizations to gain a competitive edge. Country Environment Analysis Summation: The tourism industry in Singapore appears to have a lot of promise.Its diversity offers tourists a rich cultural experience while still allowing ease of the communication and transit. It also boosts a low crime rate, an increasing number of attractions, and stable political and economic environment. Those wanting to in vest in Singapore’s tourism industry through the construction of resorts and hotels will be welcomed by Singapore’s traditionally pro-business policies but potentially discouraged by its recent push towards protectivism. One thing is certain, the tourism industry in Singapore is booming, and the potential for growth is attracting the most innovative firms in the game. Works Cited: AsiaOne. com. 2012. http://www. asiaone. om/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Singapore. html Chong, T. (2010). Management of Success: Singapore Revisited. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian. GuideMeSingapore. com. 2012. Why choose Singapore? Available from http://www. guidemesingapore. com/incorporation/introduction/singapore-incorporation-advantages Retrieved on 10th November 2012. GuideMeSingapore. com. 2012. Introduction to Singapore’s political system. http://www. guidemesingapore. com/relocation/introduction/singapores-political-system. Retrieved on 10th November 2012. Janus Resea rch Reports -Doing Business in Singapore vs USA – http://www. guidemesingapore. com/research-reports/usa/doing-business-singapore-usaRamesh, S. (2010). â€Å"Government goal is to ensure all citizens enjoy fruits of growth: PM Lee† Channel News Asia (Singapore) Mahtani, S & Raghuvanshi, G. , (2012) Singapore Restricts Foreigners web: http://online. wsj. com/article/SB10001424052702303567704577518591429808110. html MTI (Ministry of Trade and Industry) Singapore (2012) web http://www. mti. gov. sg/Pages/home. aspx MediaCorp Pte Ltd (2011). Singapore's population reaches 5. 1 million. Retrieved from http://www. channelnewsasia. com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1155998/1/. html Ministry of Trade and Industry – Economic Survey of Singapore First Quarter 2012 http://www. mti. gov. g/ResearchRoom/SiteAssets/Pages/Economic-Survey-of-Singapore-First-Quarter-2012/Ch1_1Q12. pdf OpenTravel. com. 2010. http://opentravel. com/blogs/top-ten-ultra-safe-destinations-to-travel / Shibani Mahtani and Gaurav Raghuvanshi – WSJ – 06/101/2012 – Singapore Restricts Foreigners – http://online. wsj. com/article/SB1000142405270230356770457751 8591429808110. html Wikipedia. com (2012). http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Mass_Rapid_Transit_(Singapore) http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Singapore_Tourism_Board http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Gardens_by_the_Bay http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Tourism_in_singapore

Solving Problems And Making Decisions

The Health Board was established in 2009 following the integration of the two former NHS Trusts and two Local Authorities’. The Vision was to ‘Create Altogether Healthier Communities’ by aiming to prevent ill health, protect good health and promote better health’ through working with partners to provide services as locally as possible and reducing the need for hospital inpatient care wherever feasible. The acute service at one of the District General Hospital provides assessment of functional need and implements interventions to enable patients to safely leave hospital.A small team of qualified and unqualified staff covers the 430 beds the District General Hospital. As a senior qualified team member, I am responsible for four busy surgical, neurological and cardiac wards. I am also responsible to the clinical development of junior and unqualified staff members. I review the length of time a referral is waiting to be seen, picking up referrals due to breach waiting targets as agreed by management. I generally hold a larger caseload than other team members and support my team with complex referrals and a high referral turn over. Description of the problemReferrals to the service are made primarily via ward nursing staff and other members of the multi-disciplinary team. Patient information is entered into a referral book and then non-qualified staff members collect the referral information twice daily. This generates a referral card with basic information relating to the patient’s reason for admission and general current health, which is submitted to a referral folder within the department. The qualified staff members use these referral cards to prioritise referrals. Inappropriate referrals to the acute Service are unfortunately a common occurrence.Patients’ are referred for assessment, which becomes a requirement prior to discharge. Any referral requires staff time, which has financial implications. A non-complex referral can take an average of 2 -4 hours to fully assess, complete the required paperwork and implement required recommendations. A complex referral can take a couple of days. An inappropriate referral can cause an unnecessary delayed discharge not only for the patient referred inappropriately, but also for other patients appropriately referred as often they must wait for the qualified to work with the inappropriate referral before they can be seen.This may result in a hospital bed being blocked; occupied by someone that could have been discharged rather than made to wait for an assessment. The rough average costing of a night’s stay in a NHS hospital bed is ?500. Analysis of the problem Consistent feedback from all therapists within the acute medical team indicated a flaw in the current referral system. Team members highlighted large numbers of referrals that did not meet the criteria for acute medical assessment and similarly large numbers of referrals made at inappropriate times. Following lengthy discussion at a team meeting, it was agreed that the current system was failing.The demand for assessment and interventions to plan for safe discharge from hospital is high. The indication of knowledge and understanding of the purpose of the assessment and intervention within the context of discharge planning is not so high. This was the consensus after reviewing the numbers of, reasons for and timing of referrals. Generally a referral is made by a qualified nurse sticking a patient information label onto a referral card and selecting a tick box option to indicate reason for referral. An estimation of the time this would take is 10 minutes.Based on an annual salary of a newly qualified staff nurse, this would equate to ?1. 80. An Assistant visits each ward twice daily, collecting the referral cards and completing information from the patient’s medical notes including reason for admission, social history and past medical history. This fully completed referra l is then placed into the referral folder which is located within the department. This part of the process will take up to 30 minutes per referral dependent on the complexity of the admission and medical history, if the medical notes can be located and if ward staff are to hand to discuss.Based on an annual salary of an experienced Assistant, this would equate to ?4. 40. For a referral to be made and information collected will cost approximately ?6. 20 (in wages. ) If a hospital bed costs approximately ?500 per night, and a patient is not discharged home to await an assessment, an inappropriate referral has then cost ?506. 20, which is a very large sum if the assessment was not required. An average initial assessment will take an hour, with another hour of paperwork.If a home visit or functional assessment is indicated, this may take up to three hours. If equipment is required, or referrals to other agencies indicated, this may take another couple of hours. Based on an annual salary of a mid-range senior qualified, the 7 hours would equate to ?105. To complete a full assessment and implement required interventions, a patient may require a further two nights in hospital i. e. ?1000. So, in total, ?6. 20 to complete an appropriate referral, ?105 to fully assess, ?1000 to implement interventions equals ?1111. 20.Once the problem of the impact inappropriate referrals have on delivering an effective and efficient acute service delivery, a focus group was set up to explore potential solutions. The aim was agreed – prevent unnecessary referrals to improve the effectiveness of the service, reduce delayed discharges and prevent bed blockages. Resolution of the problem Possible solutions were discussed as a team, which included management. Each potential solution was reviewed and realistic outcome potential considered. It was decided to target the referral process, to include the appropriateness and the timing of referrals made.The aim was to ensure only people i n need are referred and done so at an appropriate time. The chosen solutions were to educate referrers, facilitate morning handover a meeting with ward staff and therapists to discuss patients, create and cascade out referral flow-charts and to establish a clear criterion of those to refer and those who do not require assessment or interventions. The team evaluated each solution individually, reviewing the barriers and gains for each option and noted what would be required to implement each solution.Focus groups were recognised at the most cost-effective tool to progress solutions and a referral flow chart and appropriate/inappropriate referral criteria established. This was approved by the head and approved to role out onto the wards. There was of course resource implications, including clinical time spent away from assessments educating referrers. This reduced the scope for patients to be assessed by therapists. Similarly, Assistants spent the time they would usually collect refer ral information printing and laminating referral pathways/criteria and delivery them the wards.The most costly resource expenditure was a senior qualified attending a daily bed managers meeting, where delayed discharges could be highlighted and bed pressures discussed. Attendance to such meetings enabled our purpose and profile to be raised and the cost implications of frequent inappropriate referrals could be flagged. Other potential solutions were considered but not implemented primarily due to cost implications. For example, a triage system where a qualified would take all the referrals, attend relevant wards and review each referral on a 1:1 basis to establish it’s priority and appropriateness.This was deemed cost ineffective. Another potential solution was to create a referral duty desk and all referrals would need to be telephoned through during a set three hour time period. Though this would ensure all required information would be gathered, and priority/appropriatenes s could be established with the referrer straight away, it was not implemented. The department was unable to offer more than one therapist to operate the telephone for the entire hospital. Ward staff feedback was they were unable to commit to having time to make and discuss referrals within the duty desk operating hours.Similarly, it was agreed within the team that 3 hours a day out of clinical practice would be too cost effective and detrimental to managing the busy waiting list. The aim was agreed – prevent unnecessary referrals to improve the effectiveness of the service, reduce delayed discharges and prevent bed blockages. The solution was also agreed – a multi faceted approach to include establishing a referral pathway, referral criteria, establishing a morning ward handover, education for referrals and therapy attendance at bed managers meeting.Implementation and communication of the solution Action plan: Solutions identified and agreed. Action plan of how to, wh en to and who to lead on implementing each aspect of the solutions created. Referral pathway – myself to lead, completion within 2 week time frame for approval by service head. Once approved copies to be printed and laminated. Laminated pathways to be displayed on each ward, in nurse station area, in referral folders and in ward managers’ office. Referral criteria – focus group, completion within 2 week time frame for approval by service head.Criteria to be printed, laminated and to be displayed on each ward, in nurse station area, in referral folders and in ward managers’ office. Establishing a morning ward handover – ward allocated to lead, completion within two week time frame Education for referrers – myself to lead. PowerPoint presentation to be created within two week time frame for approval by service head. Education sessions to be arranged within two weeks following head approval. Attendance at bed managers meeting – senior to attend for immediate effect. Communication –Email sent to all ward managers and bed managers to inform them of referral Pilot. Information session offered for drop-in attendance for staff to openly discuss concerns and desired aim of planned changes. Meeting with Ward managers to explain full scope of Service, importance and impact of inappropriate referrals Feedback emails encouraged regarding referrers experiences of how the service altered if at all following the changes. Positive improvement monitoring – No official audit was completed during or immediately following the pilot. ConclusionThe problem highlighted was the impact of inappropriate referrals and inappropriately timed referrals on Service delivery in acute patient care. Solutions were identified and implemented over time. Although no formal audit was identified or carried out during this period to formalise outcomes and findings, staff feedback from all disciplines summarised positive change. The number of delayed discharges reduced, the amount of time spent with appropriate referrals increased and general team morale improved. Overall, the action plan to resolve the problem was successful.Ward staff approached therapy staff to discuss referrals, rather than simply making a referral without thought for appropriateness. The implementation of morning handover with nursing and therapy staff created time on a daily basis for such discussion, including addressing if a patient was ready to engage in assessment. No adjustment was made to the referral flowchart following its implementation. However, natural adjustments occurred with multi-disciplinary discussions on a daily basis. On reflection, methods evidence collection such as audit should have been carried out in order to formalise the effect of the change implemented.

Chargaff Erwin essays

Chargaff Erwin essays Erwin Chargaff, born 1905 in Czernowiz, Austria, was a pioneer in biochemistry contributing to the understanding of DNA. He, in 1928, earned his doctoral degree in chemistry at the University of Vienna's Spath's Institute in 1928. Erwin began his career in biochemistry at Yale University, working under Rudolph J. Anderson from 1928 to 1930. His early work included stories of the complex lipids, the fats or fatty acids that occur in microorganisms. Helping discover the unusual fatty acids and waxes in acid-fast mycobacteria led him to study the metabolism and biological role of lipids in the body. Chargaff was also a pioneer in the use of radioactive isotopes of phosphorus as a tool to study in the synthesis and breakdown of phosphorus-containing lipid molecules in living cells. He published a paper on the synthesis of a radioactive organic compound called alpha-glycerophosphoric acid. He began to study nucleic acids in 1944, while at Colombia. Until this time scientists believed that amino acids carried genetic information. DNA was also believed to contain the tetranucleotides made up of cytosine, thymine, adenine and guanine, that served as an attachment site for the amino acids that made up genes. It was already known that a cell's nucleus is comprised in part by DNA, Chargaff was able to determine how much of which bases were present by measuring the amount of light each quantity of base absorbed. He showed that adenine and thymine occur in DNA in equal proportions in all organisms and that cytosine and guanine are also found in equal quantities. Chargaff's major conclusion is that DNA carries genetic information, and the number of different combinations in which the four nucleic acids appear in DNA provides enough complexity to form the basis of heredity. Finally, he concluded that the identity of combinations differs from species to species and that DNA ...

Hassans Story Essay Example

Hassans Story Essay Example Hassans Story Paper Hassans Story Paper A. The two major types of surface markings that bone do have are the depression and openings. These include fissure, foramen, fossa, sulcus, meatus, process, condyle, facet head, crest, epicondyle, line, spineous process, trochanter, tubercle, and the tuberosity. B. Liu and Hassan were surprised to find metopic suture on an adult skull because right after birth the left side and right side of the birth bone are united by the metopic suture. They also were surprised, because this suture should have disappeared between the ages of six to eight years of age. Finally because they are only founded in 5 to 10% of people. C. The skeletal structures that are found inside the nasal cavity that might be missing from a excavated skull would be the perpendicular plate, middle and inferior nasal concha and the vomer. D. Hassan and his team would be able to tell the ages of the skeletal remains of the woman and the baby by the four main sutures such as coronal suture, sagittal suture, lambdoid suture, and the squamous sutures. E. The features that the larger skeletal in the sarcophagus would show to indicate it was a female is the vertebral column of a female is about 61cm (24in. ) and a male vertebral column of a male is about 71cm (28in. ). : F. The bone of the neck region that could be affected or damage by strangulation or neck trauma other than the cervical vertebrae is the hyoid bone. G. If the bones of a person found at the excavation site were mixed and out of order the anthropologists would be able to determine which was cervical, lumbar, or thoracic, because the cervical vertebrae include interlocking vertebrae bodies with saddle shaped superior and inferior surfaces alongside the canal is triangular and of a similar size to the vertebral body, and the spinous process are shorter then in thoracic and not as massive as the lumbar vertebrae process. The thoracic vertebrae increases in body size and articulates with a pair of ribs in the human skeleton. The upper thoracic bodies are roughly triangular in a superior outline whilst the lower thoracic vertebral bodies are more circular. The vertebrae canal are smaller relative to the vertebral body, and importantly, more circular then in cervical vertebrae. Finally the lumbar vertebrae increase in size from superior to inferior. They are the largest of all the infused vertebrae, and should be easily identifiable by their size and features. H. Bones with their hard structures would be subject to and show signs of the disease that destroyed this community because I. The structure that passes through the transverse foramina of cervical vertebrae that would cause death if damaged as in the child’s skeleton is.

How to Conjugate the French Verb Accepter

How to Conjugate the French Verb Accepter The French verb  accepter  means to accept or to take. It is a regular verb, which means that conjugating it to fit a specific subject pronoun is relatively easy. This lesson will show you how to begin forming complete sentences in French with the proper use of  accepter. Conjugating the French Verb  Accepter Just as in English, we need to conjugate French verbs to match the subject pronoun used in the sentence. The pronouns are the I, you, he, she, we, and they in French, its j, tu, il, nous, vous, and ils of a sentence that forms the subject. When we conjugate regular verbs in French, it is often a simple matter of changing the ending of the verb. Luckily,  accepter  ends in -er  and follows the uncomplicated pattern of many other  regular -er verbs.   This chart shows you the conjugations for the word  accepter  in the various tenses and with different subjects.  For instance, to say I accept, you would say jaccepte. Likewise, he  will accept is il acceptera. Subject Present Future Imperfect j accepte accepterai acceptais tu acceptes accepteras acceptais il accepte acceptera acceptait nous acceptons accepterons acceptions vous acceptez accepterez acceptiez ils acceptent accepteront acceptaient The Present Participle of  Accepter The French equivalent to the -ing ending in English is -ant. This is called the  present participle  and for accepter, it is  acceptant.  You can use this in various contexts as an adjective, gerund, noun, or verb. The Past Tense of  Accepter Passà © composà ©Ã‚  is commonly used for the past tense in French. With  accepter, the auxiliary verb  used is  avoir, so you will use a conjugate of that helping verb to express the simple past tense of   accepter. Along with the auxiliary verb, you will also need the  past participle  of accepter.  In this case, it is simply acceptà ©. To bring these elements together, if you wanted to say I accepted, in French, it would be jai acceptà ©. More Conjugations of  Accepter Those are not the only conjugations for  accepter, though you should study them first. Once you have those memorized you can worry about a few special cases. The subjunctive and conditional forms of the verb are used to express mood. Subjunctive mood refers to subjective ideas  or those that are uncertain. Conditional mood refers to something that may or may not happen depending on conditions. Passà © simple and the imperfect subjunctive will be used in formal writing. While not necessary to know, its good to be aware of them. Subject Subjunctive Conditional Pass Simple Imperfect Subjunctive j accepte accepterais acceptai acceptasse tu acceptes accepterais acceptas acceptasses il accepte accepterait accepta acceptt nous acceptions accepterions acceptmes acceptassions vous acceptiez accepteriez accepttes acceptassiez ils acceptent accepteraient acceptrent acceptassent The imperative form of a verb also expresses mood, but in this case, it is not necessary to use the subject pronoun. In this case, rather than saying tu accepte you can simply say accepte. Imperative (tu) accepte (nous) acceptons (vous) acceptez Similar Verbs to  Accepter Accepter is not the only French verb that means to take. It is used more in the way of accept or tolerate something. Other verbs mean to take something with (amener) or to actually take something (prendre). While you are learning how to use the verb  accepter, you will also want to look at these other French to take verbs. Understanding all of them as a group will help you know when to use which one.

Political Environment Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Political Environment - Case Study Example A good political environment such as political stability is conducive to business because it meant that business can operate unhampered. Its factories can work without disruption and its employees can go to work any issue, therefore, the business can operate smoothly when there is a political stability. A bad political environment such as political instability, on the other hand, is a bad macroeconomic environment for business. We can take the recent issue about Egypt’s coup’d etat where the military took over the government and the people protesting it. News of military crackdowns is everywhere and conflict happens every day. This is bad for business because it cannot operate smoothly. Moreso when it is in the Middle East where the majority of the oil in the world is produced. In the case of political instability in Egypt, oil prices rose up above the $100 because Egypt controls the Suez Canal where most oil cargo passes through such as what is reported in the article â€Å"Oil prices rise above $100 post-Egyptian military's coup d'etat† (Business Standard, 2013). This uncertainty that oil may not reach their destination or may be entangled in the conflict sends anxiety in the market that its price shot up. And this price hike in oil has ripple negative effect in business in general and for us consumers because all industry is dependent on power which needs oil. When the input of the price of oil shots up, the price of the products and services will naturally increase making everything expensive.