Succubus Shadows Chapter 9

â€Å"She couldn't have!† I exclaimed. â€Å"He was with me all night.† â€Å"Not after the concert ended,† pointed out Roman. â€Å"You know, I think that band might really be going somewhere.† Whatever trace of sentiment he'd shown earlier with me had vanished in Carter's presence. â€Å"Simone was hanging out in that twenty-four-hour coffee shop,† Carter said. â€Å"Seth went there to work after – what was it you said? You were at a concert?† â€Å"Yeah,† I said. â€Å"Blue Satin Bra.† The angel gave Roman a nod of agreement. â€Å"Those guys are great.† â€Å"Hey, can we stick to the issue here?† I gave both of them glares. â€Å"What happened with Seth and Simone?† Carter shrugged. â€Å"Same as usual. He came in and noticed her first, though. She had her head in a book – didn't even look up until he walked over.† â€Å"Well played,† I said. â€Å"Forces him into the aggressive role.† â€Å"I don't think Seth's ever really in an aggressive role,† mused Carter. â€Å"It just put him in a position to make the first move, if he wanted to be polite.† During our brief affair, Seth and I had made love so tenderly and so sweetly that poets would have wept at its beauty. Other times, things had been downright dirty, and I think Carter might have reconsidered his comment about Seth being aggressive, had the angel known. â€Å"Then what?† I demanded. â€Å"Like I said, the same. They talked about different things – a lot of topics interesting to Seth, really. I think she might have done some research on him.† â€Å"Fucking lovely.† I collapsed onto the couch, and then I promptly shot back up. â€Å"I'm going over there – â€Å" â€Å"Gone,† interrupted Carter. â€Å"They went separate ways, and then she bagged some guy, and I decided it was time for me to fly away.† â€Å"Lucky bastard,† grumbled Roman. â€Å"You have no idea what kind of shit I had to sit through.† The hint of a smile flickered on Carter's face before he turned back to me. I sighed and sat back down. â€Å"Confronting her's no good anyway. You already did it, and nothing came of it. I'm guessing this would just be a repeat.† Probably a good point. Being in a conflict with a succubus kind of sucked. I could punch Hugh or the vampires, and even with immortal healing, they'd still sport a black eye for a few hours – longer if I was really good. But with a succubus? I could smack her around, and she'd shape-shift the damage. And as for verbal fighting? Well, seeing as I had no real leverage, I'd probably just fuel her further and provide more cat fight entertainment for my friends. â€Å"Well,† I said to Roman. â€Å"I think I'm pissed off enough now that you don't have to go to bed with me.† Carter's eyebrow rose again. â€Å"I mean, he doesn't have to watch me sleep,† I explained. â€Å"I was kind of glum earlier, and we were worried my mystery†¦thing†¦might show up again.† â€Å"Why glum?† asked Carter. He attempted innocence, but I wasn't fooled. Even without being at the concert, he could easily figure out what had me down. â€Å"Long story.† Those silvery gray eyes bored into me, and I shifted and looked away. I hated when he did that. It was like he could see into my soul. That was a place I didn't even want to look at – let alone have others do it. I attempted a change in subject. â€Å"You know, I was thinking about this thing that's going on†¦this force or siren song or whatever. It's not like what happened with Nyx, but there's still a dreamlike quality to it, you know? I mean, it certainly seems like I'm sleepwalking. Do you think she could be back?† â€Å"Nope,† said Carter. â€Å"She's definitely still locked up. I checked myself.† â€Å"Really?† â€Å"Really.† I didn't follow up with the obvious question. Had Carter done it for me? I mean, checking up on Nyx probably wasn't too hard for him. He probably just asked some angel buddy who asked another angel†¦etc. It still made me wonder about Carter's endgame. Why go to such trouble for me? Why look into this? Why track Simone? His expression made me think he guessed my thoughts, something I hated. â€Å"Thanks,† I said. â€Å"But I think I'm heading to bed now.† â€Å"And I,† said Carter, â€Å"am going to get a drink.† â€Å"Done with Simone for good?† asked Roman. Carter made a dismissive gesture. â€Å"At least for tonight. I'll find her in the morning.† â€Å"You're kind of a slacker spy,† I pointed out, though I definitely understood his reasons for avoiding the other succubus' liaisons. His only response was another smile before he vanished. â€Å"Now what?† I wondered aloud. â€Å"Now,† said Roman, â€Å"you get your beauty sleep so that I can have another captivating day of listening to you give recommendations for people who enjoyed The Da Vinci Code.† â€Å"You know you love it,† I said, walking off toward my bedroom. â€Å"Sure you don't want company?† I glanced back at him and studied his face, the lovely lines of it and blue-green eyes like the Mediterranean of my youth. His expression was speculative, wry humor twisting his lips. I couldn't entirely tell if he was joking. Or what his exact meaning was. â€Å"Positive.† My words were a little bolder than I felt, but the night passed uneventfully, again furthering the idea that my blue moods were the target. Consequently, this put me in a good mood when I went to work the next day. I even wore yellow in an attempt at further cheeriness and greeted my coworkers with such enthusiasm that Doug wanted to know what drugs I was taking – and if he could have some. All of that changed when, while headed for the science fiction section, I felt something totally unwelcome: an immortal signature. A succubus immortal signature. And I knew exactly which succubus it belonged to. I did a 180, took a few steps, and tried to pinpoint its direction. Fiction. I headed straight over there, and sure enough, there was Simone – with Seth. She wore that guise I'd heard reports of, the bookish – yet sexy – brunette. They were standing by Seth's section, and she was holding up one of his paperbacks, Idiosyncraso. I knew she could feel my signature as I approached, but her eyes stayed on Seth, her conversation not missing a beat. â€Å"You really wrote this in college?† â€Å"Yup,† he said. â€Å"It wasn't the first I had published, though. I shelved it for years before digging it out and revising it.† â€Å"Cool,† she said, flipping through the pages. â€Å"I can't wait to read it. It'll give me something to do before your next one.† â€Å"Well, don't get your – oh, hey.† Seth had spotted me. I came to a stop beside them, and Simone turned toward me politely. â€Å"How's it going?† I asked, voice harsher than I intended. Seth, always sensitive to me, looked a little surprised at my tone but didn't acknowledge it. â€Å"Fine. Georgina, this is Kelly. Kelly, Georgina. Georgina's the manager here.† â€Å"Hi, Kelly.† I shook her hand with a hardness she matched, and we both continued grinning at each other like Stepford Wives. â€Å"I met Kelly at a coffee shop,† said Seth mildly, not aware he was in succubus crossfire. â€Å"Told her she should see the store sometime.† â€Å"It's great,† said Simone, all adorable innocence. â€Å"I'm a big reader. I love all things books. And meeting one of my favorite authors has given me great insight.† â€Å"Well,† said Seth, a little embarrassed at the attention. â€Å"I don't know how much insight I'm really offering.† Simone laughed. â€Å"Lots. I feel like I'm getting something from you each time I see you.† â€Å"Have you seen each other a lot?† I asked. â€Å"Kelly moved to Queen Anne,† said Seth. â€Å"So we keep running into each other.† â€Å"It's a great area,† I said. â€Å"Where do you live?† Simone faltered. â€Å"Um, on Queen Anne.† â€Å"Street, Avenue, or Drive?† Seth seemed surprised at the interrogative style of the question. Simone turned nervous. â€Å"Eh, Avenue.† Damn. Lucky guess. Queen Anne Street didn't exist. â€Å"Nice place.† Turning my back on her, I looked at Seth. â€Å"I came over because I heard someone say Maddie was looking for you.† That wasn't true at all. Maddie wasn't even in for another hour. I gave Simone a casual glance. â€Å"Maddie's his fianc? ¦e.† â€Å"I didn't think she was in yet,† said Seth. Why, of all days, would his memory be up and running today? â€Å"Maybe I misheard,† I said with a shrug. â€Å"But I figured you'd want to check.† â€Å"I will,† he said, still a little puzzled. â€Å"I need to show Kelly one more book.† She shot me a triumphant look, but I knew she'd accomplished nothing with Seth. He had that expression he got when he was so focused on something – in this case, the history of books – that he was distracted from the world. â€Å"Kelly† was a pleasant coincidence. Simone was too overconfident to notice. Seth turned back to the shelves, and me staying would have seemed awkward. With his attention elsewhere, I shot Simone a warning look. â€Å"Well, I'm sure I'll see you around.† â€Å"Oh,† she said with a serene smile, â€Å"you will.† When I got home later that day, I was ready to break some furniture. â€Å"Did you see – â€Å" â€Å"Yes, yes, I saw,† said Roman, materializing beside me. â€Å"Calm down.† I let out a small cry of frustration, something primal with no real form. â€Å"I can't believe that bitch! Can't believe she'd actually do it right in front of me! She did it on purpose. She did it on purpose to taunt me.† Roman was the picture of tranquility as he leaned against the wall, a far cry from my frazzled, pacing state. â€Å"Of course she did. It's like mobsters who threaten their victims in a crowd – there's absolutely no way you could have fought back, not with that many witnesses.† â€Å"Nice analogy,† I muttered. â€Å"Maybe there'll be a horse head in my bed next.† â€Å"I could leave one in hers, if it would help,† he offered. That almost made me smile. Almost. Except I wasn't entirely sure he was joking. â€Å"The really comical part is that Seth brought it about, you know? He was trying to stay away from me and walked right into this.† â€Å"The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.† I didn't dignify that with an answer. â€Å"Look,† he said in all seriousness, taking a few steps toward me. â€Å"It sucks that she's doing this, and we can definitely rule out coincidence. But if Seth's with Maddie while she's there, you know nothing's going to happen. And Carter will report back to us. No point in getting worked up over it.† â€Å"Easier said than done. Nothing's going to distract me from this.† He moved closer still and rested his hands on my upper arms. â€Å"Oh? When was the last time you went dancing?† I blinked in surprise. The last time I'd been dancing? It had been a salsa lesson at the bookstore earlier this year, after which Seth and I had ripped each other's clothes off in my office. â€Å"A while ago,† I said evasively, thrown off by both the question and his fingertips on my skin. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Let's go out,† he said. â€Å"There are a million places we can go. Any kind of dance you want. If memory serves, you're an okay dancer.† I narrowed my eyes. â€Å"I'm an excellent dancer, and you know it.† He leaned his face closer. â€Å"Then prove it.† â€Å"Irrelevant. I don't feel like going out.† Roman sighed and stepped away. I found I was a little disappointed to have him let go. â€Å"Man,† he said. â€Å"I remember when you used to be fun. I'm glad I left town when I did.† He walked over to my entertainment center and knelt down. â€Å"Well, if Muhammed won't come to the mountain†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Good grief. You're a wealth of religious proverbs tonight, aren't you?† â€Å"Hey, just trying to – Jesus Christ. CDs? You do know the Dark Ages ended a long time ago.† He pointed at my collection with disdain. â€Å"Everyone's gone digital now. You know, those little magical devices that store music? Or do you consider them some kind of witchcraft?† â€Å"Technology changes every year. Jump on a fad, and you're obsolete before you know it.† â€Å"Honestly, it's a wonder you aren't cooking over a fire in the middle of your living room.† â€Å"You forget – I don't cook.† â€Å"I live here. I haven't forgotten.† By then, he'd put one of my â€Å"archaic† CDs in the player. I laughed. â€Å"You're one to talk about ancient history. This is old school.† â€Å"Nah.† He rose and offered me his hands. â€Å"This is classic. Never goes out of style.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said, as the music began playing. â€Å"All the kids are doing foxtrot nowadays. Geez, it's even the slow style.† But I still let him take hold of my hands. â€Å"Hey, you're the one who owns that CD.† We both fell into the steps effortlessly, gliding around the living room and managing to dodge the furniture with some grace. Roman had a long list of flaws, but one of his better traits was that he was almost as good a dancer as me. â€Å"Why do you dance so well?† I asked, stepping over Aubrey. She didn't seem concerned at all about getting squashed and had shown no signs of moving when we began to dance. â€Å"What kind of a question is that? Why do you dance so well?† â€Å"Natural instinct, I guess. That's what I'm wondering. Was it something you were born with? Or is it something you can't help but perfect over the years? I mean, you've been around for a while. I suppose if you put your mind to something that long, you can't help but master it.† He laughed. â€Å"To tell you the truth, I don't know. Maybe it's in the blood.† â€Å"Oh, come on. I cannot picture Jerome out on the dance floor.† â€Å"Not him. My mother. She was a dancer. A slave girl for this king a long, long time ago†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Roman's gaze turned inward. He didn't seem angry, so much as nostalgic. â€Å"Of course, he was pretty pissed off when she got pregnant. That kind of thing tends to ruin the chorus line.† â€Å"What happened to her?† I hadn't been around that long ago, but certain things stayed the same through time. Slaves who angered their masters got beaten or sold to someone else. Or worse. â€Å"I don't know. Jerome took her away, off to some village where she could be a free woman.† I frowned. I still had trouble wrapping my mind around the idea of my boss falling – romantically and divinely – for a mortal. â€Å"Did he stay with her? He would have been a demon by then†¦.† â€Å"He never came back. First time I saw him was last year. My mother didn't hold a grudge, though. She would talk about him all the time†¦said he was beautiful. I don't know if she meant as an angel or a demon, though. Probably he looked the same, seeing as they're the same beings, really.† â€Å"I'm guessing he didn't look like John Cusack though.† â€Å"No.† This made Roman laugh again. â€Å"Probably not. My mother took on mundane jobs whenever we moved villages – washing woman, field worker. But at least she was free. And she still danced sometimes. I saw her once, when I was really young†¦just before she was killed. There was a festival, and I remember her dancing in front of the fire, wearing this red dress.† All mirth disappeared from him. â€Å"That image is burned into my mind. I can see how an angel would have fallen for her.† I didn't ask any questions about how she was killed. In those days, it could have been as simple as a raid or attack. They were commonplace. Or, more likely, she'd been killed in an attempt on Roman and his sister. He'd once mentioned that they were always on the run from angels and demons. â€Å"So maybe you learned to dance as a subconscious tribute to her,† I said, shifting to something lighter. That half-smile returned. â€Å"Or maybe I just inherited my father's attraction to graceful, sensual women.† The song ended, and we stood there, frozen in time with our hands still entwined. Foxtrot was hardly the bumping and grinding seen in modern clubs, but our bodies were close, and I felt like I could sense the heat from his. Whether it was real or imagined, I couldn't say. But I did know there was something very seductive about dancing, about mirroring another's body, and somehow, I wasn't surprised when he leaned down and kissed me. I was a little surprised that I kissed him back. But not for long. Because as our lips met, I realized how much I'd come to regard Roman as a comforting fixture in my life. We'd grown from adversaries to friends to†¦what? I didn't entirely know. I did know that I liked having him around and that I'd never really shaken the attraction that had drawn me to him long ago. I also knew that I was lonely for the touch of someone I liked and that I had an automatic instinct to respond to this sort of thing. His mouth pressed harder against mine, as hot and demanding as I recalled. His hands quickly moved from the formal orientation of foxtrot to something more intimate and eager, sliding down to my hips and somehow managing to push me against the wall while also shoving my shirt up. My own hands were around his neck, my lower body pressing against his as I felt all my nerves set on fire and lust coursing through me. He managed to break away enough to pull my shirt off, and then his hands moved to my breasts, which were wrapped in a white lace bra. He glanced down and made a face as he pulled from our kiss. â€Å"Can't you make it a front hook?† A small bit of shape-shifting made the bra disappear altogether. â€Å"Don't trouble yourself,† I said. He smiled and moved his lips to my neck while his hands cupped the curves of my breasts. It made it impossible for me to take his shirt off, but I slid my hands under it, loving the feel of his warm skin and taut muscles. I tipped my head back, letting him taste me and increase the intensity of his kissing. And through it all, there were no voices in my head. I heard none of his thoughts, sensed none of his feelings. I was alone – alone with my own reactions, simply enjoying the way my body felt with no other interruptions. It was glorious. I at last managed a break that let me pull his shirt off, and then my hands moved to his pants, putting us in a brief deadlock as he tried to move his lips to my nipples. I won and watched his pants fall to the floor. With that concession, he pulled me down as well and continued his efforts to kiss my breasts, almost kneeling before me as he did so. I ran my hands through his hair, gripping his head while his mouth sucked and teased. As he did, his eyes glanced up and met mine. I saw the desire in them and – something more. Something I hadn't expected to see. There was†¦what? Love? Adoration? Affection? I couldn't quite pin it down, but I recognized the general category. It was a slap to the face. I hadn't anticipated it. Lust, I'd expected. A primitive instinct to throw me down and fuck me, in order to relieve his body's need. For so long, I'd operated on the assumption that he kind of liked me and kind of wanted to hate me. Yet, now, I realized those nice moments we'd had recently weren't coincidence. His sharp attitude had been a facade, meant to hide his feelings. Roman still loved me. I identified it for what it was. He wasn't doing this just because he wanted my body. He wanted me. This was more than just fulfilling a physical instinct for him, and suddenly†¦suddenly, I didn't know what to do. Because I realized then, I didn't know why I was doing this. There was a fair amount of lust on my part, and I'd grown closer to him since his return to Seattle. But the rest†¦? I wasn't sure. There was so much going on right now: Maddie, Simone, Seth†¦Always Seth. Seth, who even now made my heart ache while I was wrapped in the arms of another man. My emotions were a tangle of confusion and hurt and desperation. I was with Roman as some sort of reaction, some attempt to fill the hole in my heart and seek false comfort. My feelings didn't match his. I couldn't do this with him. I didn't deserve to do this with him. I pushed him away and jumped to my feet, backing off toward the hallway. â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I said. â€Å"I can't†¦I can't. I'm sorry.† He stared up at me, understandably confused and a little hurt after the ardor I'd displayed seconds ago. â€Å"What are you talking about? What's wrong?† I didn't know how to explain it, didn't know how I could even begin to articulate what I felt inside of me. I just shook my head and continued backing. â€Å"I'm sorry†¦I'm so sorry†¦I'm just not ready.† Roman sprang to his feet in one graceful motion. He took a step toward me. â€Å"Georgina†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But I was already moving away, off to the safety of my bedroom. I slammed the door behind me – not from anger, but from a desperate need to stay away from him. From the hall, I heard him call my name and feared he'd come in anyway, despite my refusal to answer. I had no lock, and even if I did, it wouldn't stop him. He said my name a few more times, and then silence fell. I think he returned to the living room, backing off and giving me my space. I flung myself onto the bed, gripping the sheets tightly and trying not to cry. That horrible despair that plagued me so often filled me now. It was an old friend, one that I would never be able to leave. All my relationships – friends and lovers – were a mess. I was either hurting them, or they were hurting me. There was no peace for me. There never would be, not for this servant of Hell. And then, through that horrible, clenching pain inside me, I felt the lightest of touches. A whisper. A breath of music, of color, of light. I lifted my head up from where I'd buried it in my pillow and stared around. There was nothing tangible, not exactly, but I could sense it all around me: that warm, comforting siren song. It had no words, yet in my despair, I could hear it perfectly. It was telling me I was wrong, that I could have peace. And not just that – I could have comfort and love and so much more. It was like arms beckoning to me, a mother welcoming home a long-lost child. I slowly rose from my bed, moving toward that which had no form. Come, come. Outside my door, I heard Roman shout my name, but the tone was different from before. This wasn't confusion or pleading. It was frantic and concerned. The sound was grating to my ears as I stepped closer to that beautiful warmth. It was home. It was an invitation. All I had to do was accept. â€Å"Georgina!† The door blew apart, and Roman stood there, blazing with power. â€Å"Georgina, stop – â€Å" But it was too late. I had accepted. All that joy and protection wrapped around me, taking me into its arms. The world dissolved.

Nature Versus Nurture: Humans Should Morally Become Vegetarians Essay

To many, it is very acceptable and seemingly natural that humans include meat in their common diet. This practice can be found historically and globally across many countries and cultures. It is undeniable that humans are omnivores and have been for the past many millenniums. However, is consuming meat actually natural? What is acceptable may not be natural and may have become acceptable due to our environment and nurture, and it is important to distinguish between the two, as popular acceptance does not equal to moral rightness. In Animal Liberation, Peter Singer argues that, as animals have the ability to feel pain and pleasure, they have sentience and hence, are subject to the equal moral worth as human beings. Therefore he claims that it is only moral that most of us ought to opt for a vegetarian lifestyle. I agree with Singer on this claim based on the Natural Law Theory and with scientific proof that animals indeed have a sentience and also based on our natural physiological design. Singer argues that equality should not be limited only to humans and points out that beings with a sentience should be entitled to equal consideration of their interests (Singer, 1990), with sentience being the ability to perceive through the senses. This is perfectly reasonable as there is ethological evidence that animals do have sentience on several cases, such as sheep being able to recognize faces, prairie dogs speaking their own language. Furthermore, elephants bury their dead, gibbons take care of their elderly, and male bats babysit young bats that are not their offspring while their mothers are out hunting (Basile, 2005). These animals need not do these actions, as these actions are not necessary for their own survival, nor do their own progeny’s survival depend on them. However, these altruistic deeds show that animals do not merely act on instinct. Moreover, emotions are present in animals such as chimpanzees showing excitement and joy when they are allowed out in the sun. Also, sadly, works of Dr. Donna Haraway, a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, show that maternal deprivation, abuse and total isolation are shown to cause severe trauma in infant monkeys (as cited in Weisberg, 2009). The Natural Law Theory states that â€Å"good and right a direct function of the way things are naturally† and the good of human comes from realization of what is natural (VanDeVeer & Pierce, 2003). This law also supports anthropocentrism with â€Å"anthropo† being humanlike, with regards to sentience. When this theory was proposed, it was thought that only humans had the capability of being sentient and put human as of most importance. However, since some animals are now proven to have sentience, and arguably, morals as well, should they not be entitled to their own rights and interests as well? One might argue that since some animals, such as clams, cannot be proven to have emotions or morals, and hence it is morally acceptable to harvest them as food. However, this argument contains a fallacy of ignorance and is equivalent to arguing the Moon emits light before it was proven that in fact, it reflected the light from the Sun. Non-existence of an object should not be accepted simply because it has not yet been proven. Another objection to the equality of interests of animals may ensue from the natural state of the ecosystem: humans are at the top of the food chain and it is natural to consume beings positioned below us. And since the Natural Law Theory focuses on humans’ capacities, tendencies and desires, it is morally correct to consume meat as human beings. This is yet another fallacy of ignorance to what is natural. In fact, researchers have shown that humans are physiologically designed to be herbivores, and according to Dr. T. Colin Campbell, professor emeritus at Cornell University and author of The China Study, we have only started consuming meat around 10,000 years ago, which is recent in our years of evolution (as cited in Freston, 2009). Meat consumption is not essential for human survival and our omnivore tendency is out of choice, not of need. The anatomy of a human being is strikingly similar to one of a herbivore’s. Our not-so-sharp canine teeth and molar teeth are designed to optimize not the tearing of meat, but the chewing and grinding of fibrous plants. Also, carnivores have very short intestinal tracts, which is approximately three times its body length. However, a herbivore’s intestinal tract is around 12 times the body length, and human beings are extremely close to herbivores than carnivores. Also, humans lack the essential amino acids to properly digest meat and â€Å"It is clear that humankind’s gastrointestinal tract is designed for a purely plant-food diet. † (Mills, 2009). On a health perspective, meat eaters are found to be at a much higher risk of having intestinal cancer and heart disesse than those who opt for a vegetarian or even vegan diet. Towell, 2009) Since being vegetarian ultimately benefits humans and therefore flourishes humankind, fulfilling the Natural Law Theory, one can come to reason that being a vegetarian is morally correct and most should follow this lifestyle. However, it should also be pointed out that in some cases, if the human is extreme deficiency of a substance such as the vi tamin B12, and in that situation, meat contains enough of such substance that benefits the human in a much shorter time domain than choosing the vegetable alternative would, then the human should be allowed to consume meat for the sake of an utilitarianism view, as Singer supports. Since the interests of all beings count, the instant relieve of the human being leads to the longer pleasure from not being sick, and would maximize the net worth of happiness. Therefore, it is morally accepted, so long that the animal sacrificed in this case is treated as humanely as possible and with the least amount of pain inflicted upon it. Although we cannot deny that humans have more factual superiority, it does not mean we can abuse that power and forcefully consume animals against their will only to fulfill our unnatural tendencies and lust for meat. It is immoral to consume meat simply because years of nurture has made it seemingly acceptable and as a species with higher intelligence, we must take the responsibility to distinguish between nature and nurture, while ensuring the wellbeing of our moral equals and taking their interests into consideration.

Orientation: Education and Various Learning Tools Essay

The Student Orientation is an informative guide that helps accustom students to the online learning experience offered by the Desire 2 Learn website. This orientation gives newcomers an overview of what to expect from an online course and how to utilize the various learning tools within the D2L website. After thoroughly completing the student orientation course I have come to realize that while online learning may seem like a great way to fit college courses into a busy lifestyle, it takes a tremendous amount of self-discipline and dedication to succeed in the online learning process. Organization, time management and communication skills are essential to mastering online learning. I am taking four online courses this semester therefore it has been vital for me to properly learn to navigate through the D2L website beforehand and to figure out ways that I can use the various learning tools to my advantage. Each course opens up the the course homepage where the course news feed is located, along with a section for course updates, bookmarks and user links. The course navigation bar has links to Course Home, Classlist, Checklist, Content, Discussions, Dropbox, Grades, Quizzes and Course Tools. Primarily all professors will use the content area to post lectures, assignments, resources and other course activity in different modules. Some professors will set a deadline on certain modules so it important to manage your time wisely. The professor posts lectures, modules, assignments and other course activity in the content area. The content map to the left of the content viewer will give students an overview on the topics within a module. The discussion area is where the professor and students will post and reply to various topics throughout the course. The dropbox is an essential tool students will use to submit course assignments.

Audience Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Audience Analysis - Essay Example In defining a certain audience, detailed consideration of their culture, age, values, beliefs, background knowledge, or assumptions on the subject is fundamental. It ensures an appropriate tone, style, language, and content in passing the information. Thus, demographics, dispositions, and knowledge of the topic are the basis of an audience analysis. My audience entails all Hawaii residents who reside in the islands of Oahu, Kauai, and Maui. Addressing this audience is very significant since they are the main beneficiaries of the project and possible victims of the environmental problems it may cause. The will economically benefit from cheap and quick transport across the shores and the environmental and economical effects associated with the project will influence their lives since they are immediate to the shores. As such, an environmental assessment of the project will suit them and call for their action. They assume that the ferry will jeopardize their occupation. They also love their indigenous plants and animals. Hence, they fear that the emissions, effluents, and solid wastes from the ferry will kill their indigenous plants and animals. Actually, Nene,  a large goose is Hawaiis state bird (Pacific island Travel Web). They prefer less of technology and enjoy their good life. Hence, they disregard the ferry. The Hawaii residents have fear that the ferry will cause traffic at the port and severely affect the whales. Hawaii residents also venture in agriculture where they grow coffee beans, bananas, and  macadamia  nuts. The tourist business is Hawaiis largest source of outside income and hence they treat the islands with utmost care. They celebrate cultural events and canoe races. Traditional Hawaiian Islands residents have a diverse traditional culture and customs which they seek to maintain and celebrate. English and Hawaii are the most dominant languages in

Comparative Economic Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comparative Economic Systems - Essay Example While proponents of this global economic model argue that this is the best possible system, there are also those who strongly oppose various aspects of this system. Taking a historical perspective, we see that the events of the two centuries are shaped and defined by the practice of capitalism. In a way, the peaking of European colonialism coincided with the consolidation of capitalist economic theory, which ultimately replaced it. In other words, the power and influence wielded by large multinational corporations today (which are the faà §ade of global capitalism) is nothing short of a variant of imperialism. While conceding that concentrations of power and finance in and of themselves do not lead to oppression and injustice, empirical evidence of the workings of the capitalist model suggests such an outcome. Similarly, while neo-liberal economic paradigm might have improved the Gross National Products of individual nations and improved the general standards of living, there are ot her aspects to human wellbeing that is not easily measured and fulfilled (Dixon, 1998, p.125). For instance, when assessing economic systems, it is only logical to consider the consequences to the environment alongside measures of human standard of living. There is an emerging consensus among intellectuals and research scholars that there is indeed a strong correlation between the two concepts. In other words, it is rarely a coincidence that poverty thrives in hostile geographies and that affluence is usually seen in ambient landscapes. Apart from the literal sense of the word, ‘environment’ could also be taken to mean the political and socio-cultural context of a particular geographic space. Further, global capitalism has led to the practice of exploitation of cheap labor offered by Third World nations. So, while global capitalism is further developing the length and breadth of its reach, it benefits certain

Explore the concept of accountability with regards to the registered Essay

Explore the concept of accountability with regards to the registered nurse having the responsibility of delegating care to suppo - Essay Example In this way, the burden of each and every activity in the hospital or any health care facility is not solely carried by few individuals but rather designated to many other individuals who have the appropriate knowledge and skill in performing hospital duties. Furthermore, errors committed in giving health care will be minimized if not avoided because of mastery of the skill to the tasks that has been designated to the assistants. In everything that has been done, it is the patient’s best interest that is taken into account. A patient has put the trust in our hands for us to deal and treat his disease, thus it is just necessary to return the trust and be their advocates in promoting their well-being. In this text, support workers are team members whom tasks are delegated to by the registered practitioners. Support workers may represent health care assistant, rehabilitation assistant or technician, therapy assistant, assistant practitioner or technical instructors. Registered pr actitioner on the other hand pertains to a registered professional who usually delegates the task i.e. the Health Professions Council (HPC) or the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (CSP, 2006). Discussion The health care practitioners are bound within the scope of both the criminal and civil courts so as to assure that what they are doing are within the limits of legal requirements especially since they are dealing with human life. Registered health care providers are responsible to their acts of health practice and patient care thus must conform to the conditions and terms set by the regulatory and professional bodies. Currently, heath support workers do not have professional registrations (Department of Health, 2004; Scottish Executive Health Department, 2004). When a registered health care provider has delegated tasks to a support worker, it is to note that the registered practitioner must understand the skill and knowledge needed to perform the delegated assignment. It is the registered health care provider’s responsibility to delegate a task and on the other hand, the support worker is responsible for taking the assigned job sand also for the actions he/she used for accomplishing the specific task. This principle applies when the support worker has sufficient knowledge, judgment, and skills in carrying out the delegated task given that the task is bounded within the standards and conduct set at the work place. Meanwhile, supervision and feedback regarding the task must be appropriately delivered by the registered professional (Mackey & Nancarrow, 2005). Delegation, Accountability and Responsibility Delegation is the process undertaken wherein a registered health practitioner distributes a task to a support worker who is believed to be capable in fulfilling the work. With delegation as basis, the support worker is trusted with the obligation for the task. In a stricter sense, delegation is different with assignment. In delegation of task, the supp ort worker is responsible for the task and the registered health practitioner is held accountable to the support worker. In assignment, both the responsibility and accountability for a specific task passes from one person

Issues in Contemporary Real Estate Development Research Paper

Issues in Contemporary Real Estate Development - Research Paper Example As a developer, initially, after the agreement of not taking up any old projects on the site, it is important for one to go through the general issues with regard to the project and the real estate developer. In the given project, one has to go through an initial windmill and attempt to understand and propose the various measures that one can take in the development of the stated land. One of the most interested parties in the development of this project is a school located in Chicago, Illinois. .However, the school itself has the idea of turning green and this is completely different from the strategies that the windmill had in the initial stages. There are different statutory implications of purchasing the land, such as the local government of the area may not have wanted the land to get altered in a manner through which it would turn green. The effect on the site, later on, is that water resources may lack to be maintained in the land In order to operate on the land, the school has to fill out various applications. One of the applications that the school has to take seriously is in form of a title deed. The deed shows the various signatories to the land and that they are the rightful owners of the property. Collateral is another important agreement that one has to take up. This is from the fact that the previous owners of the land may have done some damage on the land that may have various health implications especially keeping in mind that the new tenants of the land are schoolchildren. Seeing as the school intends to utilize the land as a green project, there are various measures that they ought to take in order to make it habitable to their specifications.  

Type of Leaders Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Type of Leaders - Assignment Example It is clear from the assignment that the lesson plan is appropriately divided into several sections making it very easy to follow. Each activity is described completely. The teacher is given a step-by-step guide. One noticed however that there was no indication of a time frame for each activity suggested. The format of the lesson plan is written in a form that could easily be understood and read through quickly. One thinks that this is a better format than doing it in a narrative form. The sections on References, Instructional Aids, Materials Needed, Equipment Needed and the Learner Preparation are particularly helpful to the instructor. These sections are indeed appropriate in communicating the content of the lesson. The Content Outline is well-done and easy to follow. The lesson plan is logical and very clear. It encourages the students to be critical thinkers and provides them with opportunities to apply the theories they have learned by relating it to the real world. The pop quiz and online leadership assessment attached to the lesson plan will allow the students to express their ideas freely. They will also be able to interpret the information that they just learned. The quiz will promote their reasoning abilities and help them think what kind of leaders they are. Both the quiz and the assessment are adequate closures which will reinforce the learning process. They synthesize the lesson on leadership. In terms of evaluating the learning outcomes for the lesson, one thinks that there are no clearly identified means of assessing the student’s understanding. Although the pop quiz and the leadership assessment may probably help, it is suggested that the plan include a rubric which the teacher may provide the students so that they will know how they will be graded.

Death penalty should be abolished Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Death penalty should be abolished - Essay Example A punishment, which was put into effect in 1500 in England, was opposed by many academics in 1750. These academics included Cesare Beccaria who was the Italian jurist; Voltaire who was the French philosopher; and, Jeremy Bentham and Samuel Romilly, who were the English law reformers. They presented the argument that death penalty was the cruel form of punishing the criminals, and it is most often applied on innocent people. However, there are many counter-arguments that support the death penalty. This paper intends to juxtapose the arguments and counter-arguments regarding death penalty; and, support the statement that capital punishment or death penalty is cruel, and should be abolished. Ethics do not allow a government to take lives of its nationals. There is good number of chances that innocent lives will be put to death under this punishment, and there can be no compensation for this. It is possible that capital punishment converts to manslaughter by killing someone convicted of murder, when the murderer says that it was not murder but an inadvertent killing, such as killing in self-defense. An example is the open and shut case of James McNicol, who was put to death in December 1945. Although James did not oppose the conviction of murder; yet, after his death, Elaine Merrilees, his niece discovered that he was only guilty of manslaughter and not murder. Hence, death penalty can be understood as a violation of human or civil rights. Wrongful conviction also includes cases where people make false confessions. Such people are innocent in actual, and are penalized to death. Whether the court announces death penalty for a convict or not depends less on the criminal act and the evidences, and more on the skill of the lawyers, the financial status of the criminal, the socio-economic status, and the race and color. These factors result into biased decisions from the court, resulting in either making the real criminal escape the punishment or enforcing death penalty on to some other innocent person. This makes the whole system of death penalty illogical and heinous. However, it cannot be stated as a final decision that murderers should be given relaxation in punishment, which makes the debate of adopting or banning the capital punishment all the more daunting. Death penalty has deepened its roots strongly in many countries, and the victims are often Hispanics and the minorities, who are killed due to racial discrimination. It would have been somewhat acceptable if the punishment was for everyone, regardless of what race, color, or ethnic group the murderer belonged to, but since most of the times racial biases come across, the situation gets worse. This also becomes the cause for hatred between different ethnic groups, and may give rise to riots and a long sequence of killings based on racial differences. Marquart, Ekland-Olson and Sorensen (86) affirm that: Rather than systematically sentencing younger minorities to death, murderers of all ra cial categories who received death tended to be younger than the larger pool of imprisoned convicted murderers- although the difference in age between Hispanics sentenced to death or those imprisoned was not statistically significant. The family of the one who is being put to capital punishment suffers very badly. Negative impacts are inflicted on their innocent minds because they have to come to terms not only with the sentence of their loved one but also with his death, and that too so cruelly. Therefore, the agony of

Foundations of cognitive grammar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Foundations of cognitive grammar - Essay Example Therefore, there is a need to fill in the gap and discuss adjectives in terms of cognitive grammar. Moreover, there is an essential gap in discussion about boundedness in adjectives. This research paper is focused on consideration of two characteristics of adjectives: boundedness and gradability. A contextual modulation is suggested as the means to consider a problem of adjectives in cognitive grammar in a broader context. It is also suggested to focus on functionality of adjectives. A study of boundedness and gradability is conducted on the basis of constructing schematic domains comprising gradability as the main characteristic of adjectives (Paris, 1997). Schematic domains as a background of further study are justified, because content of adjectives is often neglected. A focus on schematic domains is justified in terms of cognitive linguistics, because content of adjectives or other parts of speech ‘set up’ in minds of humans. Nevertheless, it is possible to suppose t hat a stability of boundedness applied for adjectives may be manipulated under certain conditions; this is the prospect of the future study. The issue of boundedness in adjectives is discussed further on in a broader context. The range or point on a scale taken by bounded and unbounded adjectives. On the basis of theoretical framework basing on the works of contemporary linguists ranging from 80s till nowadays, the issue of boundedness is considered. In spite of the fact that boundedness has been considered as a rigid characteristic of nouns/verbs/ adjectives our study is focused on a possibility to consider boundedness as a more flexible feature. Unbounded adjectives reflect a range on a scale and bounded adjectives reflect point-like conceptualization on a scale. Moreover, cognitive frames are essential for human understanding and interpretation of different situations. In order to fill in the gap in the studies focused on human cognition and language it is relevant to discuss sch ematic domains. Furthermore, cognate base of boundedness is considered from a perspective of cognitive grammar. A different connection between superlatives and comparatives is discussed on the foreground of the schematic mode. Gradability is a factor influencing on the cognate base in the schematic domain. Thus, it is relevant to consider the way human cognition perceives and produces schematic domain modes. Boundedness illustrates the process of schematic domains reflection in human cognition. Therefore, this study brings in an innovative vision on boundedness in adjectives relevant to theory of lexical semantics and cognitive grammar. Table of contents 1.0 Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4 2.0 Background †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 3.0 Methodology†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.......7 4.0 Analysis †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...8 4.0 Discussion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.12 5.0 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã ¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..20 1.0 Introduction Cognitive grammar is currently becoming popular among researchers and learners of any language. This discipline

The Dark Knight of a Postmodern World Essay Example for Free

The Dark Knight of a Postmodern World Essay â€Å"The Dark Knight† is a film based on DC comic book character Batman and his fight to protect his home, Gotham City, from the antagonist, the Joker. Director Chris Nolan provides the viewer with not only an action film, but also a thought-provoking masterpiece. The film focuses on the thin line between sanity (Batman) and madness (Joker) and how anyone can easily turn from good to evil, the example being Harvey Dent becoming Two-Face in such a short time. The film deconstructs previous ideas of the â€Å"hero† by portraying Batman not as a hero, but as an â€Å"anti-hero†. He appears to be the hero, but possesses no superpowers and also causes mayhem in his city, much like a villain would. The Joker represents postmodernism because he threatens our â€Å"givens† (Instead of soldiers who are allowed to die, threaten the mayor and hospitals). He makes people question everything, creating chaos. The Joker also represents post-modern beliefs because he challenges our idea of the conventional villain, who is supposed to represent pure evil, by comparing himself to the hero, Batman, using such examples as how they are both freaks to society and how they were both created by one bad day. The most important instance of post-modern values is the Jokers entire character. He believes the average man lives with a bloated sense of humanity’s importance and a frail and useless notion of order and sanity. He sees human existence as mad, random, and pointless and the world as a psychotic carnival of animals that will kill each other at the first chance; â€Å"When the chips are down, these uh, these civilized people, theyll eat each other. Although his beliefs on others are post-modern, his attitude toward himself seems very naturalist-like. In one scene he explains â€Å"You know what I am? Im a dog chasing cars. I wouldnt know what to do with one if I caught it! You know†¦I just do things†¦Im not a schemer. I try to show the schemers how pathetic their attempts to control things really are. † This shows how the Joker just forgoes all planning and thinking and just does what feels right. Another belief the Joker has that I believe represents post-mod ernism is that chaos is fair. This quote challenges our pre-conceived notion that order and civility is fair by presenting a good case for his side throughout the movie. The movie itself confuses the viewer by making the Joker (the villain) the only person who logically acted from a clear set of principles, while Batman and Harvey Dent came off as characters without a clear sense of what their principled core might be. Batman, on the other hand, challenges our idea of what a â€Å"hero† is. Although he is the good side to the Jokers bad side, he is not a hero but an anti-hero. Batman is the â€Å"hero† Gotham needs (â€Å"I can do those things because Im not a hero, not like Dent. I killed those people. Thats what I can be Youll hunt me. Youll condemn me, set the dogs on me, because thats what needs to happen. ), but not deserves, so he is cast out, which is the opposite of what happens to guys like Superman or Spiderman, but Batman, unlike conventional heroes, can BE the outcast because it’s a necessary part of society. The irony in Batman being cast out is that it is exactly how the Joker is treated. Another similarity between the two is that they both create chaos in the city, although for Batman it is necessary for the greater good and the Joker believes living in a world of chaos is a good thing. The similarities between the Joker and Batman intrigued audiences, which may have been what made the film so popular. It presented a loved â€Å"hero† like Batman, and focused on the darker side of him, mainly the fact that he is a vigilante, an ordinary citizen who works outside the legal system for a greater cause. The Dark Knight† created its own niche in American cinema by deconstructing our idea of a hero and making us think about our own grip on sanity as individuals and as a society. Heath Ledger’s death didn’t hurt the movie’s popularity either, of course, he played that role perfectly, and so the fame is well-deserved. I personally am a huge Batman/ Joker fan, and â€Å"The Dark Knight† made me rethink Batman as a character and look at the characters involved closer and differently to find out what they truly represent.

Evolution of Porters Five Forces Model Essay Example for Free

Evolution of Porters Five Forces Model Essay Five forces is a framework for the industry analysis and business strategy development developed by Michael E. Porter of Harvard Business School in 1979. Michael Porter is a professor at Harvard Business School andis a leading authority on competitive strategy and international competitiveness.Michael Porter was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Five forces uses concepts developing, Industrial Organization (IO) economics to derive five forces that determine the competitive intensity and therefore attractiveness of a market. Attractiveness in this context refers to the industry profitability. An unattractive industry is one where the combination of forces acts to drive down overall profitability. A very unattractive industry would be one approaching pure competition. Introduction Five Forces Model by Michael Porter Five Forces model of Michael Porter is a very elaborate concept for evaluating companys competitive position. Michael Porter provided a framework that models an industry and therefore implicitly alsobusinesses asbeing influenced by five forces.Michael Porters Five Forces model is often used in strategic planning. Porters competitive fiveforces model is probably one of the mostcommonly used business strategy tools and has proven its usefulness in numerous situations when exploring strategic management models . Three of Porters five forces refer to competition from external sources. The remainder are internal threats. It is useful to use Porters five forces in conjunction with SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). A change in any of the forces normally, requires a business unit to re-assess the marketplace given the overall change in industry information. The overall industry attractiveness does not imply that every firm in the industry will return the same profitability. Firms are able to apply their core competencies, business model or network to achieve a profit above the industry average. Porters five forces include : Three forces from horizontal competition * Threat of new entrants or barriers to entry * Threat of substitute products or substitutes * Threat of established rivals or competitive rivalry Two forces from vertical competition * The bargaining power of buyers or buyers * The bargaining power of suppliers or suppliers Force 1: Barriers to entry Barriers to entry measure how easy or difficult it is for new entrants to enter into the industry. This can involve for example: * Cost advantages (economies of scale, economies of scope) * Access to production inputs and financing, * Government policies and taxation * Production cycle and learning curve * Capital requirements * Access to distribution channels Patents, branding, and image also fall into this category. Force 2: Threat of substitutes Every top decision maker has to ask: How easy can our product or service be substituted? The following needs to be analyzed: * How much does it cost the customer to switch to competing products or services? * How likely are customers to switch? * What is the price-performance trade-off of substitutes? If a product can be easily substituted, then it is a threat to the company because it can compete with price only. Force 3: Competitive Rivalry In this,we have to analyze the level of competition between existing players in the industry. * Is one player very dominant or all equal in strength/size? * Are there exit barriers? * How fast does the industry grow? * Does the industry operate at surplus or shortage? * How is the industry concentrated? * How do customers identify themselves with your brand? * Is the product differentiated? * How well are rivals diversified? Force 4: Bargaining power of buyers Now the question is how strong the position of buyers is. For example,cancustomerswork together to order large volumes to squeeze your profit margins? The following is a list of other examples: * Buyer volume and concentration * What information buyershave * Competitive price * How loyal are customers to your brand * Price sensitivity * Threat of backward integration * How well differentiated your product is * Availability ofsubstitutes Having a customer that has the leverage to dictate your prices is not a good position. Force 5: Bargaining power of suppliers This relates to what your suppliers can do in relationship with you. * How strong is the position of sellers? * Are there many or only few potential suppliers? * Is there a monopoly? * Do you take inputs from a single supplier or from a group? (concentration) * How much do you take from each of your suppliers? * Can you easily switch from one supplier to another one? (switching costs) * If you switch to another supplier, will it affect the cost and differentiation of your product? * Are there other suppliers with the same inputs available? (substitute inputs) Need for Porters five forces Model In general, any CEO or a strategic business manager is trying to steer his or her business in a direction where the businesswill develop an edge over rival firms. Michael Porters model of Five Forcescan be used to better understand the industry context in which the firm operates. Porters Five Forces model is a strategy tool that is used to analyze attractiveness of an industry structure. Porters Five Forces modelviews thebusiness fromoutside. It focuses on assessing competitive position within industry .Porters Five Forces model in the internal view. Automobile Industry The auto manufacturing industry is considered to be highlycapital and labor intensive. The major costs for producing and selling automobiles include: Labor While machines and robots are playing a greater role in manufacturing vehicles, there are still substantial labor costs in designing and engineering automobiles. Advertising Each year automakers spend billions on print and broadcast advertising, furthermore, they spent large amounts of money on market research to anticipate consumer trends and preferences. The auto market is thought to be made primarily of automakers, but auto parts makes up anotherlucrative sector of the market. The major areas of auto parts manufacturing are: Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) The big auto manufacturers do produce some of their own parts, but they cant produce every part and component that goes into a new vehicle. Companies in this industry manufacture everything from door handles to seats. Replacement Parts Production and Distribution These are the parts that are replaced after the purchase of a vehicle. Air filters, oil filers and replacement lights are examples of products from this area of the sector. Rubber Fabrication This includes everything from tires, hoses, belts, etc. In auto industry, a large proportion of revenue comes from selling automobiles. The parts market is even more lucrative. For example, a new car might cost $18,000 to buy, but if you bought, from the automaker, all the parts needed to construct that car, it would cost 300-400% more ./p A significant portion of an automakers revenue comes from the services itoffers with the new vehicle. Offering lower financial rates than financial institutions, the car company makes a profit on financing. Extended warranties also factor into the bottom line. Greater emphasis on leasing has also helped increase revenues. The advantage of leasing is that it eases consumer fears about resale value, and it makes the car sound more affordable. From a makers perspective, leasing is a great way to hide the true price of the vehicle through financing costs. Car companies, then, are able to push more cars through. Unfortunately, profiting on leasing is not as easy as it sounds. Leasing requires the automakers to accurately judge the value of their vehicles at the end of the lease, otherwise they may actually lose money. Indian Automobile Industry The Indian automobile industry is the tenth largest in the world with an annual production of approximately 2 million units. Indian auto industry, promises to become the major automotive industry in the upcoming years and the industry experts are hopeful that it will touch 10 million units mark. Indian automobile industry is involved in design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles. There are a number of global automotive giants that are upbeat about the expansion plans and collaboration with domestic companies to produce automobiles in India. Major car manufacturers The major car manufacturers in India are Maruti Udyog, Hyundai Motors India Ltd., General Motors India Pvt. Ltd., Honda Siel Cars India Ltd., Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd., Hindustan Motors etc.The two-wheeler manufacturers in India are Honda Motorcycle Scooter India (Pvt.) Ltd., TVS, Hero Honda, Yamaha, Bajaj, etc. The heavy motors including buses, trucks, auto rickshaws and multi-utility vehicles are manufactured by Tata-Telco, Eicher Motors, Bajaj, Mahindra and Mahindra, etc. * The passenger car segment in the Indian auto industry is growing by 8-9 percent. * Commercial vehicle will grow by 5.2 per cent. * India is a potential emerging auto market. * Motorcycles contribute 80% of the two-wheeler industry. * India is the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world. * Indias motorcycle segment will grow by 8-9 percent in the coming years. 11. India is the fifth largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in the world. 12. India has the number one global motorcycle manufacturer. 13. In Asia, India is the fourth largest car market. * Unlike the USA, the Indian passenger vehicle market is dominated by cars (79%). Used car Market The new chapter in the automobile industry is that of used cars. The massive demand of used cars indicates that cars are becoming increasingly popular. Those who cant afford the luxury cars and their high prices are opting for used cars. In todays time, customers are conscious and diligently investing on car dealership. Car buyers are investing heavily a lot of time for both to sell a car and buy car. Theres also a number of car websites that have offering detailed information on new car prices, used cars, car reviews, Chevrolet cars, jaguar cars and luxury cars. Market Share At present major Indian, European, Korean, Japanese automobile companies are holding significant market shares. In commercial vehicle, Tata Motors dominates over 60% of the Indian commercial vehicle market. Tata Motors is the largest medium and heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer.Car manufacturers in India dominate the passenger vehicle market by 79%. Maruti Suzuki is the largest car producer in India and has 52% share in passenger cars and is a complete monopoly in multi purpose vehicles. In utility vehicles Mahindra holds 42% share. Hyundai and Tata Motors is the second and third car producer in India The automobile Industry in India is now working in terms of the dynamics of an open market. Many joint ventures have been set up in India with foreign collaboration, both technical and financial with leading global manufacturers. Also a very large number of joint ventures have been set up in the auto-components sector and the pace is expected to pick up even further. The Government of India is keen to provide a suitable economic, and business environment conducive to the success of the established and prospective foreign partnership ventures. $5.7 billion is the investment envisaged in the new vehicles projects. Porters five forces model on Automobile Industry 1. Barriers to Entry Its true that the average person cant come along and start manufacturing automobiles. The emergence of foreign competitors with the capital, required technologies and management skills began to undermine the market share of many automobile companies. Globalization the tendency of  world investment and businesses to move from national and domestic markets to a worldwide environment, is a huge factor affecting the auto market. More than ever, itis becoming easier for foreign automakers to enter the Domestic market .Automobiles depend heavily on consumer trends and tastes. While car companies do sell a large proportion of vehicles to businesses and car rental companies (fleet sales), consumer sales is the largest source of revenue. For this reason, taking consumer and business confidence into accountshould be ahigher priority than considering the regular factors like earnings growth anddebt load . 2. Threat of Substitutes Rather than looking at the threat of someone buying a different car, there is also need to also look at the likelihood of people taking the bus, train or airplane to their destination. The higher the cost of operating a vehicle, the more likely people will seek alternative transportation options. The price of gasoline has a large effect on consumers decisions to buy vehicles. Trucks and sport utility vehicles have higher profit margins, but they also guzzle gas compared to smaller sedans and light trucks. When determining the availability of substitutes you should also consider time, money, personal preference and convenience in the auto travel industry. Then decide if one car maker poses a big threat as a substitute. 3. Competitive Rivalry Highly competitive industries generally earn low returns because the cost of competition is high. The auto industry is considered to be an oligopoly (A market condition in which sellers are so few that the actions of any one of them will materially affect price) which helps to minimize the effects of price-based competition. The automakers understand that price-based competition does not necessarily lead to increases in the size of the marketplace, historically they have tried to avoid price-based competition, but more recently the competition has intensified rebates, preferred financing and long-term warranties have helped to lure in customers, but they also put pressure on the profit margins for vehicle sales. Every year, car companies update their cars. This is a part of normal operations, but there can be a problem when a company decides to significantly change the design of a car. These changes can cause massive delays and glitches, which result in increased costs and slower revenue growth. While a new design may pay off significantly in the long run, its always a risky proposition 4. Bargaining Power of Suppliers The automobile supply business is quite  fragmented (there are many firms). Many suppliers rely on one or two automakers to buy a majority of their products. If an automaker decided to switch suppliers, it could be devastating to the previous suppliers business. As a result, suppliers are extremely susceptible to the demands and requirements of the automobile manufacturer and hold very little power. For parts suppliers, the life span of an automobile is very important. The longer a car stays operational, thegreater theneed for replacement parts. On the other hand, new parts are lasting longer, which is great for consumers, but is not suchgood news for parts makers. When, for example, most car makers moved from using rolled steel to stainless steel, the change extended the life of parts by several years. 5. Bargaining Power of Buyers -The bargaining power of automakers are unchallenged. Consumers may become dissatisfied with many of the products being offered by certain automakers and began looking for alternatives, namely foreign cars. On the other hand, while consumers are very price sensitive, they dont have much buying power as they never purchase huge volumes of cars. Example : Porters 5 Forces Model of the NANO car There is continuing interest in the study of the forces that impact on an organisation, particularly those that can be harnessed to provide competitive advantage. The ideas and models which emerged during the period from 1979 to the mid-1980s were based on the idea that competitive advantage came from the ability to earn a return on investment that was better than the average for the industry sector. As Porters 5 Forces analysis deals with factors outside an industry that influence the nature of competition within it, the forces inside the industry (microenvironment) that influence the way in which firms compete . BARRIERS TO ENTRY Time and cost of entry Time is most essential thing while launching a product in any market. The launch of the NANO is quite viable as the demand of the small car is on the rise in the market. By the cost of the entry we mean the initial capital required to set up a new firm is very high, it makes the chances of the chances of new entrants are very less. Knowledge and Technology Ideas and Knowledge that provides competitive advantage over others when patented, preventing others from using it and thus creates  barrier to entry. The TATA motors have great knowledge/ experience in the automobile industry and has renowned technological advantage because of the recent acquisition and mergers. Product Differentiation and Cost Advantage The new product has to be different and attractive to be accepted by the customers. Attractiveness can be measured in the terms of the features , price etc. At this level the price of the NANO car was one thing that is attracting customers. And above all this the image , trust the name TATA carries with it. Government Policy and Expected Retaliation Although governments job is to preserve free competitive market, it restricts competition through regulations and restrictions. The government tried to promote the TATA Motors to start a plant by providing land and tax rebates. But the unexpected retaliation by the local people surface in the setting up of the plant which costed the company a lot. Access to Distribution Channels When a new product a launched a well developed distribution is must for its success. The TATA motors had a advantage of well established distribution channel across the world. SUBSTITUTES Price band The threat that consumer will switch to a substitute product if there has been an increase in price of the product or there has been a decrease in price of the substitute product. If the price of the NANO car will increase the main expected customers ie the one switching from bike to car will not move to car and will remain in the bike only. Thus the price is kept checked in this manner. Substitutes performance The performance of the substitute sector will also play a important role in the success of the NANO car. If the price of the Bike segment increases or the price band of the small segment fall , it will have effect on the quantity required in the market. Its just on the price but also the features and the other services associated or it may be the status symbol story. The success of the electric car segment with player like REVA can also effect the demand of the NANO. Buyers willingness Products with improving price/performance tradeoffs relative to present industry products. It will determine the willingness of the buyer to but the NANO car.The willingness of the customers to go forward try the new product in the market ie NANO. They might be willing to go for the test products like Maruti 800 , Santro etc. COMPETITIVE RIVALRY Number and Diversity of Competitor This describes the competition between the existing firms in an industry. the current Business Policy Competitive Strategy scenario, the small car market in India is very competitive with players like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hyundai etc. which was pretty much dominated by Maruti. But with launch of Nano the 1 lakh car the whole momentum of the market has shifted. Now to be competitive in market other companies have to either slash rates of their existing model or have to go back to the drawing board and build again. Price Competition Advertising battles may increase total industry demand, but may be costly to smaller competitors. Products with similar function limit the prices firms can charge. Price competition often leaves the entire industry worse off. NANO is the only player so it has the price freedom but as the Maruti and Honda are also planning to launch the car in the same segment the price competition will start. Exit Barriers Even if the product fails in the market its not that easy for the company to exit the market just like that because of the heavy investment it has made in the initial stage. If the NANO fails or falls flat the TATA motors will not be in a state to slow done the product even when NANO production line can be used by the other products after few modification as for NANO only the new product line were setup and huge cost were incurred. Product Quality Increasing consumer warranties or service is very common these days. To maintain low cost, companies consistently has to make manufacturing improvements to keep the business competitive. This requires additional capital expenditure which tends to eat up companys earning. On the other hand if no one else can provide products/ services the way you do you have a monopoly. NANO enjoys the monopoly are there are no competitors in this segment. BUYERS Switching Costs If switching to another product is simple and cheap the customers does not think much before doing it. In case of NANO car the switching cost from bike to car is too high. Thus increasing the demand of the car many fold. Number of customers/ Volume of sales If there are few buyers then they are able to dictate the terms. They pull down the cost by Bargaining. The bargaining power of buyer is high as there are lot of choice available to the buyer and the service do not vary from one manufacturer to  the other. They force the manufactures to improve the quality. All this can be clearly seen in the case of NANO car the price tag at which it has been offered or the quality of the NANO car no compromises has been done at any front. Brand Image The brand image of the TATA and the segment in which the NANO has been the most attractive thing in the entire package. SUPPLIERS Number and Size of Suppliers A company to manufacture its products requires raw material, labor etc. If there are few suppliers providing material essential to make a product then they can set the price high to capture more profit. Powerful suppliers can squeeze industry profitability to great extend. In case of NANO the supplier are limited and the size of the suppliers are big enough to bring about the controlling power in the price of the car. The NANO car has more than 128 suppliers in all and the major portion of the building cost of the car is the parts supplied by the suppliers. Unique Service / Product Suppliers products have few substitutes. Supplier industry is dominated by a few firms. The some parts of the NANO car are obtain from the supplier who them are big enough and limited substitutes are available against them. So the entire production line depends upon them only. Ability to substitute Suppliers products have high switching costs. In many case even when substitute are available its not that easy to opt for substitute as the next product in the assembly line depends upon it. If the change in the any part is brought about the long list of depended parts also have to be changed , which in most cases is not feasible to do. Tata motors strengths The internationalisation strategy so far has been to keep local managers in new acquisitions, and to only transplant a couple of senior managers from India into the new market. The benefit is that Tata has been able to exchange expertise. For example after the Daewoo acquisition the Indian company leaned work discipline and how to get the final product right first time. ï‚ · Tata Motors Limited acquired Daewoo Motors Commercial vehicle business in 2004 for around USD $16 million. ï‚ · The company has had a successful alliance with Italian mass producer Fiat since 2006. This has  enhanced the product portfolio for Tata and Fiat in terms of production, knowledge exchange , logistics and its infrastructure.   In the summer of 2008 Tata Motors successfully purchased the Land Rover and Jaguar brands from Ford Motors for UK 2.3 million. Two of the Worlds luxury car brand have been added to its portfolio of brands, and has undoubtedly off the company the chance to market vehicles in the luxury segments. ï‚ · NANO is the cheapest car in the World. The range of Super Milo fuel efficient buses are powered by super-efficient, eco-friendly engines. Tata motors weaknesses The companys passenger car products are based upon 3rd and 4th generation platforms, which put Tata Motors Limited at a disadvantage with competing car manufacturers. Despite buying the Jaguar and Land Rover brands Tata has not got a foothold in the luxury car segment in its domestic, Indian market. The brand associated with commercial vehicles and low-cost passenger cars to the extent that it has isolated itself from lucrative segments in a more aspiring India. ï‚ · Other competing car manufacturers have been in the passenger car business for 40, 50 or more years. Therefore Tata Motors Limited has to catch up in terms of quality and lean production. Sustainability and environmentalism could mean extra costs for this low-cost producer. This could impact its underpinning competitive advantage. Obviously, as Tata globalises and buys into other brands this problem could be alleviated. Attractiveness of the Automobile Industry for Investment purpose Economic reforms and deregulation have transformed that scene. India has already become one of the fastest growing automobile markets in the world. The Indian automobile industry is going through a technological change where each firm is engaged in changing its processes and technologies to maintain the competitive advantage and provide customers with the optimized products and services. Starting from the two wheelers, trucks, and tractors to the multi utility vehicles, commercial vehicles and the luxury vehicles, the Indian automobile industry has achieved splendid achievement in the recent years. In the Indian economy, auto industry maintains a high-flying place. Automobile industry has a strong multiplier effect and is capable of being the driver of economic growth. A sound transportation system plays an  essential role in the countrys rapid economic and industrial development. The well-developed Indian automotive industry skillfully fulfils this catalytic role by producing a wide variety of vehicles: passenger cars, light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, multi-utility vehicles such as jeeps, scooters, motorcycles, mopeds, three wheelers, tractors etc. The automotive sector is one of the core industries of the Indian economy, whose prospect is reflective of the economic resilience of the country. Continuous economic liberalization over the years by the government of India has resulted in making India as one of the prime business destination for many global automotive players. The automotive sector in India is growing at around 18 per cent per annum. The auto industry is just a multiplier, a driver for employment, for investment, for technology. The Indian automotive industry started its new journey from 1991 with delicensing of the sector and subsequent opening up for 100 per cent FDI through automatic route.The automobile sector has been contributing its share to the shining economic performance of India in the recent years. With the Indian middle class earning higher per capita income, more people are ready to own private vehicles including cars and two-wheelers. Product movements and manned services have boosted in the sales of medium and sized commercial vehicles for passenger and goods transport. Side by side with fresh vehicle sales growth, the automotive components sector has witnessed big growth. The domestic auto components consumption has crossed rupees 9000 crore and an export of one half size of this figure. India is on the peak of the Foreign Direct Investment wave. FDI flows into India trebled from $19 billion in 2006-07 and $25 billion in 2007-08. By AT Kearneys FDI Confidence Index 2006, India is the second most attractive FDI destination after China, pushing the US to the third position. It is commonly believed that soon India will catch up with China. India is up-and-coming a significant manufacturer, especially of electrical and electronic equipment, automobiles and auto-parts . The country is expected to witness over Rs 30,000 crore of investment by 2010.Over the next one year, some 20 new cars will be seen on Indian roads. Maruti Udyog has set up the second car plant with a manufacturing capacity of 2.5 lakh units per annum for an investment of Rs 6,500 crore (Rs 3,200 crore for diesel engines and Rs 2,718 crore for the car plant itself). Hyundai and Tata Motors have announced plans for  investing a similar amount over the next 3 years. Hyundai will bring in more than Rs 3,800 crore to India, Tata Motors will be investing Rs 2,000 crore in its small car project. General Motors will be investing Rs 100 crore, Ford about Rs 350 crore and Toyota announced modest expansion plans even as Honda Siel has earmarked Rs 3,000 crore over the next decade for India a sizeable chunk of this should come by 2010 since the company is also looking to enter the lucrative small car segment. Commercial vehicle segment, Ashok Leyland and Tata Motors have each announced well over Rs 1,000 crore of investment. Mahindra Mahindras joint venture with International Trucks is expected to see an infusion of at least Rs 500 crore. Hero Honda is about to establish its fourth manufacturing plant. Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors are moving to the excise-free zones of Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal for putting up new capacity. The growth of the Indian middle class along with the growth of the economy over the past few years has attracted global auto majors to the Indian market. Moreover, India provides trained manpower at competitive costs making India a favoured global manufacturing hub. The attractiveness of the Indian markets on one hand and the stagnation of the auto sector in markets such as Europe, US and Japan on the other have resulted in shifting of new capacities and flow of capital to the Indian automobile industry. Global auto majors such as Japanese auto majors Suzuki, Honda and Korean car giant Hyundai are increasingly banking on their Indian operations to add weight to their businesses, even as numbers stay uncertain in developed markets due to economic recession and slowdown. Moreover, according to a study released by global consultancy firm Deloitte, at least one Indian company will be among the top six carmakers that would dominate the global auto industry by 2020. According to the study, the car industry would see a massive capacity building in low-cost locations like India as manufacturers shift base from developed regions. Production Although the sector was hit by economic slowdown, overall production (passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, two wheelers and three wheelers) increased from 10.85 million vehicles in 2007-08 to 11.17 million vehicles in 2008-09. Passenger vehicles increased marginally from 1.77 million to 1.83 million while two-wheelers increased from 8.02 million to 8.41 million.  In recent times, India has emerged as one of the favourite investment destinations for automotive manufacturers. * German car major Audi will start assembling its sports utility vehicle Audi Q5 from mid-2010. The company plans to assemble more cars locally at its Aurangabad plant instead of importing completely built units (CBUs). * Ford India commenced commercial production of its compact car Figo, and diesel and petrol engines at a new factory in Chennai. The Figo will be built exclusively in India and exported to Asian countries and South Africa. * Japanese major Nissan has decided to shift the entire production of its small car, Micra, from the UK to India. After production of the Micra begins here, Nissan plans to manufacture four more models in India, involving a total investment of over US$ 412.2 million. * Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japanese auto major Suzuki Motor Corporation, plans to double production capacity of its two-wheelers to 300,000 units by the end of the current fiscal year. The company will invest US$ 26.77 million. * Volkswagen has set a target to localise production in India to about 80 per cent in 2-3 years from the current levels of almost 50 per cent as it seeks to offer cars at more competitive prices. Domestic Market According to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), domestic passenger car sales have increased 32.28 per cent to reach 145,905 units in January 2010 from 110,300 units in the same month last year. Across all categories, total sale of vehicles increased 44.94 per cent to 1,114,157 units in January 2010, against 768,698 units in the January 2009. Road Ahead The Indian auto industry is likely to see a growth of 10-12 per cent in sales in 2010, according to a report by the global rating firm, Fitch. According  to its report, Indian Auto Sector Outlook, competition in the countrys auto sector is likely to increase due to increasing penetration of global original equipment manufacturers (OEM). Conclusion The average person cant come along and start manufacturing automobiles. The emergence of foreign competitors with the capital, required technologies and management skills began to undermine the market share of many automobile companies.Rather than looking at the threat of someone buying a different car, there is also need to also look at the likelihood of people taking the bus, train or airplane to their destination. The auto industry is considered to be an oligopoly. Many suppliers rely on one or two automakers to buy a majority of their products. If an automaker decided to switch suppliers, it could be devastating to the previous suppliers business. The bargaining power of automakers are unchallenged. Consumers are very price sensitive, they dont have much buying power as they never purchase huge volumes of cars Indian automobile industry has achieved splendid achievement in the recent years. India is on the peak of the Foreign Direct Investment. The attractiveness of the Indian markets on one hand and the stagnation of the auto sector in markets such as Europe, US and Japan on the other have resulted in shifting of new capacities and flow of capital to the Indian automobile industry. India is a significant manufacturer of automobiles and auto-parts. Global auto majors such as Japanese auto majors Suzuki, Honda and Korean car giant Hyundai are increasingly banking on their Indian operations to add weight to their businesses .The car industry would see a massive capacity building in low-cost locations like India as manufacturers shift base from developed regions. Although the sector was hit by economic slowdown but it doesnt effect the overall production of automobiles. In recent times, India has emerged as one of the favourite investment destinations for automotive manufacturers. The Indian auto industry is likely to see a growth of 10-12 per cent in sales in 2010.Competition in the countrys auto sector is likely to increase due to increasing penetration of global original equipment manufacturers References http://www.workosaur.com/auto-industry-overview/ http://www.ibef.org/industry/automobiles.aspx http://www.investopedia.com/features/industryhandbook/porter.asp http://ayushveda.com/blogs/business/indian-automobile-industry-and-michael-porters-five-forces-model-of-industry-forces/ http://www.indiastudychannel.com/projects/2663-A-STUDY-OF-CONSUMER-SATISFACTION-IN-AUTOMOBILE-INDUSTORY-IN-URBAN-CITY.aspx http://www.scribd.com/doc/18220669/Michael-Porters-Five-Forces-Analysis-TATA-Motors http://www.automobileindia.com/automobile-industry/ http://www.wikinvest.com/industry/Auto_Makers Read more: http://www.businessteacher.org.uk/free-business-essays/porters-five-forces-model.php#ixzz2Hs7eQILu

Ethical Issues in Addiction Counselling

Ethical Issues in Addiction Counselling Ethical Issues in Addiction Counseling Although counselors and psychologists remain focused in their professional ethics by following ethical standards which are similar; this is not the case in addiction counseling because counselors encounter different situations due to the nature of their counselees. O deal with this challenge is therefore imperative for the counselors to work towards realizing their ethical standards based on ethical standards of the counseling profession (Scott 2000). There are six unique ethical issues to be analyzed fully. The addiction treatment is not therapeutic as many processes psychology for it tends to be base more on faith than the scientific approach. The research being undertaken currently suggests that there is more research on the field of addiction and scientists have almost come into conclusion that addiction is a brain disease. Chemicals and their exposure to the brain is the main cause of addiction. Scott goes further to argue that drunkards recovering from alcoholism are not normal enough since the alcohol affects cognitive reasoning. However, the main problem is that many psychologists are known not to link alcoholism with clinical research to determine the interrelationship. This argument has elements of truth in tit because you can find that the practitioner rarely you will find them in touch with the research hence link is vital to addictive counselors and counselees. The greatest enemy to the promotion of integrated approach in harmonizing theory, research and clinical practice is tradition. Many practitioners think they know much from their experience and they hold on to the past ways of doing it. This is a clear indication of ignorance. For those who can not work within the disease model are advised to change to other forms of rehabilitation to safeguard many drug dependent from leaving the counseling censure. The addicts whom refuse to follow the classic disease model are said to be in denial or even adamant to change. Instead of forcing clients, to w ays that they do not like the counselors should be open minded and use the available methods. Hence, imperative to be open to look at the treatment model and whether it works or not and device new ways.Another very important point that affects Counseling addictions is the failure for professionals to agree on who is fit to handle these cases. Since this research is more complicated it requires advanced training which lacks with many addict counselors. The idea of uniformity rather than individualized training aimed at tackling the problems as per addict.Moreover there is questionable propensity of group work or team work. Since the professionals are not enough in this field then groups like Alcoholics Anonymous have come to aid their fellow alcoholics and they offer group approach counseling. With their dark past many of these addicts could have cognitive impairment because of using drugs and may develop antisocial behavior hence will not be in position to fit in the group discussio n. Furthermore, there is confidentiality and the federal laws are tougher on addictive law than the states this is made to encourage addicts to feel free to go for counseling without fear of being apprehended..In addition there should be clear cut demarcation between who gives the go ahead for counseling. Although, many of these decisions are made by people who are not sound it is advisable for the government to avoid forcing addicts to counseling like the law that incase you are caught driving and drunk you attend Alcoholics Anonymous. Incase the counselor finds the customer is not responsive it is the ethical responsibility of the counselor to stop the process otherwise there is no need to squander the customers money without results.In conclusion this article is scholarly because it has addressed paramount ethical issues affecting addiction counseling and the way forward. Ethics in Substance abuse Rehabilitation Most substance abuse practitioners are persons that are in recovery which means that this practitioners may have limited training in ethics thus they may encounter problems while trying to recognizing ethical dilemmas while in practice. This field lacks a framework within which it works consistently. In the past ethical problems in substance abuse were resolved using professional codes of practice of other fields e.g. medicine. However practitioners often feel that ethics is more of a personal issue thus organizations have been helping support practitioners sense of mortality and professional behavior through laws, regulations etc. Practitioners come from various training backgrounds which in turn affects their ethical background Howeverarticulate ethics and values can help improve and guide professional conduct.A clear set of standards and ethical framework may help practitioners clarify case management decisions and increase their competence in serving the clients because without a clear set of ethical standards for practice counselors may feel the pressure to comply with particular set of beliefs, causes etc. However a major setback undermining the achievement of good conduct is that many therapists are refusing to be part of any comprehensive program evaluation.The main aim of code of ethics according to Kerry in code of ethics is to; protect the health of the client by laying down standards of quality, provide guidance for professional behavior and also to protect and promote the professional identity and integrity of a profession. Ethical principles of rehabilitation counseling include; Autonomy which refers to independence, freedom and the capacity for self governance. States that the client should have autonomous voice in his/her treatment enabling him/her to make decisions. Beneficence which is an ethical principal that emphasizes an obligation to promote client welfare. Clients interests should be above the counselors. Non munificence refers to acting in a manner that does not harm the client. Rehabilitation counseling should function within the limits of the counselors role, training and technical competence and only on positions for which counselors are professionally qualified. Justice principle requires practitioners to treat clients fairly e.g. in the allocation of monies, resources and time. Also in the charging of professional service.Fidelity principle focuses on loyalty and honesty in professional relationships between councilors and clients, colleagues among others. It includes protection of clients personal information. Ethical dilemma exists when two or more ethical principle values come into conflict and suggest opposing courses of action..In conclusion findings of this article are scholarly in that they clearly show that substance abuse treatment field is rapidly changing. Treatment facilities are attempting to individualize therapy to meet the needs of a diverse clientele by increasing the menu of treatment option s, while more and more counselors are entering the field with less mentoring and limited training in ethics. Ethical practitioners are becoming more and more aware of the contextual forces in the profession that influences their ethical practices. Confidentiality in Substance Abuse Counseling Confidentiality has been defined in The Social Work Dictionary as: A principle of ethics according to which the social worker or other professional may not disclose information about a client without the clients consent. This information includes the identity of the client, content of overt verbalizations, professional opinions about the client, and material from the records. In specific circumstances, social workers and other professionals may be compelled by law to reveal to designated authorities some information (such as threats of violence, commission of crimes, and suspected child abuse) that would be relevant to legal judgments.In the 1996 revision, confidentiality is highlighted in three specific areas of practice: with clients, with colleagues, and in research. In Section 1.07 of the current Social Work Code of Ethics eighteen different categories of responsibility social workers have towards their clients confidentiality are outlined .The fact that there are eighteen provis ions, more than any other area in the code, demonstrates the importance of confidentiality to the profession of social work. These points specifically address what is considered confidential material, with whom and when that material can be released, and when and how this information should be explained to clients. Specific highlights include: Social workers have permission to disclose information only with the proper consent of the client. Social workers should inform clients about confidentiality, and when and to whom disclosure is appropriate. Social workers cannot disclose information to third party payers without consent of the client. Social workers should not discuss confidential information unless privacy can be assured. Confidentiality should be maintained in a technological office that includes computers, faxes, and cellular phones.Exceptions to confidentiality; there are times in the course of the client-worker relationship that the client may voluntarily rescind confiden tiality. There are other times where confidentiality is not legally binding on the social worker. These circumstances relate to safety of the client or others. Important issues related to confidentiality include client consent, duty to warn, and privileged communication. Consent. There are many times where it would be beneficial for a social worker to talk to others who are involved in the clients life. This might focus on obtaining third party reimbursement, additional history, collateral collaboration, court testimony or sharing information with other service providers. With managed care, clients generally want reassurance that their sessions will be covered, but that only the minimum amount of information is provided to the insurance company (Corcoran Winslade, 1994). Therefore, clients often allow social workers to release information to insurance providers, including diagnosis and treatment plans, but rely on workers to not divulge every aspect of their drug and/or alcohol use .A second occasion when a social worker may seek a clients consent is in pursuing additional history from collateral sources or corroboration of information. This will occur primarily during initial assessment; however, it might take place later during the treatment process. For instance,when a client is admitted to a psychiatric unit, there may be a need for additional information such as family history of psychiatric disorders or substance abuse, the precipitating event, or the clients current living arrangements. Such additional information, usually provided by a family member, may be beneficial in making an assessment and verifying a clients information. Findings of confidentiality in substance abuse counseling are scholarly in that it shows how applying the standard confidentiality rules for basic social work practice is not adequate or acceptable when working with substance abusing clients and may well cause legal and ethical difficulties. Comparison is most exhibited in the a bove articles mostly in the way of addressing practitioners know how which is clearly a hindrance in effective counseling. All articles observe reluctance on part of therapists in observing ethics code. Also all three articles address ethical issues in counseling. Furthermore all articles observe the importance of practitioners to observe code of ethics. All three articles support each other.Information in all the articles can be synthesized in terms of observing substance councelling which is discussed in all the articles. This can address all issues brought forward in addiction councelling. By broadly talking about ethical issues in substance addiction councelling, this will address all concerns.