Barclays Bank PLC Is A Multinational Company Essay Example for Free

Barclays Bank PLC Is A Multinational Company Essay Amenities to attract highly skilled and creative persons at all important levels ? Tradition of closeness to key customers and target customers A business can differentiate itself by performing its existing value activities or reconfiguring in some unique ways. And the sustainability of that differentiation will depend on two things: a continuation of its high perceived value to buyers and a lack of imitation by competitors. There are many alternative strategic directions in which Barclaycard could implement in their current strategy of differentiation. These may include technology innovation or product/ service differentiation. Product/service differentiation Product differentiation occurs when, owing to differences in physical attributes, ancillary service, geographic location, information, and/or subjective image, one firms products are clearly preferred by at least some buyers over rival products at a given price (, 1990, ). For firms seeking to make their demand curve less elastic, successful differentiation provides an insulated position against competitors by enabling firms to sell a larger quantity at a given price or by allowing the firm to create brand loyalty in customers resulting in lower sensitivity to price. This uniqueness may build an entry barrier for competitors to overcome (, 1992; , 1980). However, being unique may require a trade-off with investment if achieving differentiation requires costly effort such as extensive research, product design, high quality materials, or intensive customer support. Thus, the firms employing the differentiation strategy cannot ignore costs and risk (, 1980). Horizontal product differentiation focuses on differences in attribute variety among competing brands. It occurs when one brand contains more of some attributes but less of some other attributes in comparison to another brand (). Consumers different tastes will exploit differing strong and weak points among brands given identical prices (, 1992). The shift towards consumerism is accelerating with significant implications in many of the markets in which we operate. Fundamentally, our view is that consumerism involves a shift in power from institutions towards consumers. The rapid transformation of the credit card industry – first with the severing of the traditional tie between bank accounts and credit cards and second, with the emergence of credit as a true commodity in the credit card industry illustrates this so well. Consumers in the past were grateful if they received credit it was seen as a right granted to a special few by a bank and hence banks held power over individuals. The value proposition was the availability of credit. Technology Innovation In the case of Barclaycard, it is could improve its operations and competitive advantage through real time design data driven tools. This tool would improve their credit limit strategies and increase their interest earning balances. A Fair, Isaac Model Builder for the decision trees may be used as this tool uses historical data to assist in identifying optimal account management strategies. Fair, Isaac Model Builder for Decision Trees is a PC Windows based application designed specifically to support data driven strategy design. It gives lenders the power to rapidly create new strategies in real time using multiple performance dimensions, to process large datasets rapidly so strategies at any point for greater understanding of the portfolio and transfers strategies to and from production application with ease, putting new strategies into production faster. This real time, highly interactive approach dramatically shortens the time between strategy creation and roll out. With Barclaycard objectives of the new strategies to increase interest bearing balances, increase turnover, control bad debt, and address attrition, Fair, Fair Isaac can be a big help for the organization. While the average number of cards in a person’s wallet has increased over the last five years, the value to an individual of having multiple cards will diminish in an environment where credit is a commodity.

Baroque music Essay examples -- essays research papers fc

The Music of the Baroque Era The style of polyphonic music containing elaborate ornamentation and contrasting elements, that is how Baroque music is defined. The Baroque era was a kind of transitional era in art and music. The Renaissance means rebirth and is typically regarded as such. The Baroque era in music is not a set style in music but many diverse styles which may be broken down into at least three distinct periods. A renewed interest in art and music was experienced throughout the Renaissance which then led to the Baroque era which was more of a transitional stage leading up to the maturity of classical music in the Classical era which began as Baroque ended. (Howard n. pag.) The origins of the word Baroque itself is as obscure as the melodies contained in its music. Many people believe that the word baroque came from two different places. Some believe that it came from the word barocco, which is Italian and means bizarre or strange. Others believe that it is Portuguese and it came from the word barroco meaning distorted or irregularly shaped pearl. The barroco was considered more beautiful because of its uniqueness. Either way the name stuck. The era began in 1600 and ended with Johann Sebastian Bach’s (1685-1750) death in 1750. Bach is likely the best known and most widely appreciated composer of the era, although Antonio Vivaldi and George Fridiric Handel were certainly very important composers of the time as well. The music of the Baroque itself is very colorfu...

Major Depressive Disorder and Patient Essay

Please complete the following: 1. Select correct answer 2. Provide rationale 3. If you complete all successfully, all points will be awarded. 4. Total points: 34 1pt for correct answer, 1 pt for rationale 1. Select the example of tort. a. The primary nurse does not complete the plan of care for a patient within 24 hours of the patient’s admission. b. An advanced practice nurse recommends that a patient who is dangerous to self and others be voluntarily hospitalized. c. A patient’s admission status is changed from involuntary to voluntary after the patient’s hallucinations subside. d. A nurse gives a PRN dose of an antipsychotic drug to a patient to prevent violent acting out because the unit is short staffed. Rationale: 2. A patient states, â€Å"I’m tired of all these therapy sessions. It’s just too much for me.† Using supportive confrontation, the nurse should reply: a. â€Å"It will get better if you just keep trying.† b. â€Å"You are doing fine. Don’t be so hard on yourself.† c. â€Å"Tell me more about how the therapy sessions are too much.† d. â€Å"I know you find this difficult, but I believe you can get through it.† Rationale: 3. What is the best analysis of this interaction? Patient: I get discouraged when I realize I’ve been struggling with my problems for over a year. Nurse: Yes you have, but many people take even longer to resolve their issues. You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. a. The nurse has responded ineffectively to the patient’s concerns. b. The patient is expressing lack of willingness to collaborate with the nurse. c. The patient is offering the opportunity for the nurse to revise the plan of care. d. The nurse is using techniques that are consistent with the evaluation step of the nursing process. Rationale: 4. A patient with schizophrenia says to the nurse, â€Å"I feel really close to you. You’re the only true friend I have.† Select the nurse’s most therapeutic response. a. â€Å"We are not friends. Our relationship is a professional one.† b. â€Å"I feel sure there are other friends in your life. Can you name some?† c. â€Å"I am glad you trust me. Trust is important for the work we are doing together.† d. â€Å"Our relationship is professional, but let’s explores ways to strengthen friendships in your life.† Rationale: 5. As a patient and nurse move into the working stage of a therapeutic relationship, the nurse’s most beneficial statement is: a. â€Å"I want to be helpful to you as we explore your problems and the way you express feelings.† b. â€Å"A good long-term goal for someone your age would be to develop better job-related skills.† c. â€Å"Of the problems we have discussed so far, which ones would you most like to work on?† d. â€Å"When someone gives you a compliment, I notice that you become very quiet.† Rationale: 6. Complete this goal statement for a newly admitted patient. â€Å"By the end of the orientation stage of the therapeutic relationship, the patient will demonstrate: a. Greater independence.† b. Increased self-responsibility.† c. Trust and rapport with two staff.† d. Ability to problem-solve one issue.† Rationale: 7. A patient with a history of self-mutilation says to the nurse, â€Å"I want to stop hurting myself.† What is the initial step of the problem-solving process to be taken toward resolution of a patient’s identified problem? a. Deciding on a plan of action b. Determining necessary changes c. Considering alternative behaviors d. Describing the problem or situation Rationale: 8. A patient says, â€Å"I went out drinking only one time last week. At least I’m trying to change.† The nurse responds, â€Å"I appreciate your effort, but you agreed to abstain from alcohol completely.† The nurse is: a. Using cognitive restructuring. b. Preventing manipulation. c. Showing empathy. d. Using flooding. Rationale: 9. A nurse and patient who developed a therapeutic relationship enter the termination phase. An important nursing intervention for this stage is for the nurse to: a. Provide structure and intensive support. b. Inform the patient of the progress made. c. Encourage the patient to describe goals for change. d. Discuss feelings about termination with the patient. Rationale: 10.Which patient behavior would require the most immediate limit setting? a. The patient makes self-deprecating remarks. b. At a goal-setting meeting, the patient interrupts others to express delusions. c. During dinner, a patient manipulates an older adult patient to obtain a second dessert. d. A patient shouts at a roommate, â€Å"You are perverted! You watched me undress.† Rationale: 11.A patient playing pool with another patient throws down the pool cue and begins swearing. The nurse should initially intervene by: a. Asking other patients to leave the room. b. Calling for assistance to restrain the patient. c. Suggesting a time-out in the patient’s room. d. Restating rules of the milieu related to swearing. Rationale: 12.A nurse says, â€Å"What step would you like to take next to resolve this issue?† The patient stands up and shouts, â€Å"You are so controlling! You want me to do everything your way.† What is the likely basis of the patient’s behavior? a. Projection b. Dissociation c. Transference d. Emotional catharsis Rationale: 13.A patient with suicidal ideation is hospitalized. What is the priority intervention? a. Negotiating a no-harm contract. b. Facilitating attendance at groups. c. Administering a psychotropic drug. d. Determining the precipitating situation. Rationale: 14.Following the admission interview, a spouse of a patient asks the nurse, â€Å"Why did you ask my partner all those questions? Some of them had nothing to do with current problems.† The nurse’s best response is, â€Å"Those questions help us understand: a. The patient’s current status.† b. The complete family history.† c. The patient’s past experiences.† d. What the patient prognosis will be?† Rationale: 15.After breakfast, a depressed patient pleads with the nurse, â€Å"Please let me go to my room to lie down for a while.† The nurse should: a. Explain that the patient must attend scheduled activities. b. Bargain with the patient to attend the next activity, then rest. c. Rearrange the patient’s schedule to accommodate the request. d. Explain that the team will be displeased if the schedule is not followed. Rationale: 16.When communicating with a withdrawn, depressed patient who speaks slowly and in monosyllables, the nurse should: a. Be as cheerful as possible. b. Use simple, direct sentences. c. Use silence while assisting the patient. d. Frequently encourage the patient to elaborate. Rationale: 17.Which topics should be included by the nurse preparing psychoeducational groups for patients with major depressive disorder and their families? Select all that apply. 1. Flight of ideas 2. Changes in weight and sleep 3. Feelings of importance or elation 4. Psychomotor retardation or agitation 5. Inability to concentrate or make decisions a.1,2,3 b.2,3,4 c.2,4,5 d. 1,2,3,4,5 Rationale:

The Bloody Sunday-Industrialists

Working conditions are intolerable; our situation is becoming more excruciating as the time goes by. Father Gapon has been like a ray of Gratifying light that has shone through our darkened hope and made it come to life once again. Four members of the Assembly of Russian workers were dismissed at the putilov iron works 2 days ago and father Gapon true to his word has assisted us by calling for industrial action. 110,000 workers in St Petersburg, including myself, have now gone out on strike. We now sit impatiently anxious to see what our next step of action shall be and how it may affect our life in the days yet to come. Will we fail and go back to our insufferable conditions as they were before, Will we come out on top and get given the tolerable treatment we deserve, or worse yet will we suffer such a humiliating defeat that our conditions worsen from what they once were. Sitting here I can not help but allow such thoughts to surface in my mind, after all this is a significant action by which my life can suffer a vast transformation, whether it will be for better or worse, is still yet to come. January 18th Another day has begun and yet another decision has been made Father Gapon has decided to make a personal appeal to the Tsar. He has wrote a petition asking to give us healthier working conditions, we have requested a reduction in working days from 10hours to 8hours, a increase in wages and an improvement in working conditions amongst others. The response to our petition amongst the workers is overwhelming as an infinite amount of people have signed the petition. We shall go to the winter palace on the 22nd of January to present our petition, in hopes to get a positive response to the requests we have made. I live in hope till the day comes for us to present our petition to the tsar and receive a response expectantly a constructive one at that. 22nd January 1905 As we marched through the Winter palace we were road blocked by the army, we attempted to get them out of our way in a calm and rational manner however despite our attempts they refused to move and let us in. Unable to think of any alternative we only saw one action we could take that could possibly give us an opportunity to move the army out of our path. Crouching down to the ground the protestors and I gathered stones of the ground and regrettably threw them at the army, although it was regrettable we had no alternative, the army put us in a tough situation from which we could not get out of without putting up a fight. The army inevitably fought back using water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse of the crowd we had formed, however as they begun to fight back we refused to back down, we wanted our rights to be given to us, we wanted to be treated with respect and be addressed to by others with some common decency, is that so much to ask? What we did was not a crime we could have gone much further with the matter however we did not, we merely stood up for our own rights. We all began to scream and panic scattering away from one another as a trigger was pulled and a gun shot was heard going off. Within seconds thirteen of our allies are lying dead on the ground they had just minutes ago picked stones up from, others were wounded and the remainder in shock. The army when questioned claimed they only returned fire, however how could this be true when we approached the winter palace unarmed? It is undeniably clear that we could not have fired any shots, we did not fire any shots, and the only shots that were fired were those of the armed force.

How to Pay for College by Playing Games

How to Pay for College by Playing Games Time at games brings you chance for studying Nowadays there are a lot of ways to use modern technologies to facilitate your life and make it easier and more comfortable. New devices and various pieces of equipment have not only become our day-by-day assistant, but also an opportunity to work at any time and at any place. More and more mobile applications and tools come into our lives and change it rapidly. These processes are impending, as they are the result of the development of present-day digital world. For many students it is an issue to get enough money for studying and academic activities. That is why such opportunities, which include playing games and raising money for education, are very attractive and worth attention. For example, such a platform is provided by Grantoo (Fuel Powered) that already raised 3.5 million in these affairs. All these money is intended for charity and is supposed to help students improve their academic lives. Games as a contribution to tuition problem If you ask any person, if it is a nice occupation for him or her to play video games, the answer will inevitably be: â€Å"Yes, of course, it is!† Many people bind their lives with the video games industry and, of course, many of them are students. It is wonderful, if you do what you like and get money for that. In the platforms, like Grantoo, all the earnings you get for playing, you can spend for your tuition. These are attempts to combine an entertaining stream with an educational one. Also the video games, provided by this platform, require much thinking, so they help you develop intellectually. In these games there are tournaments, participating in which, you can cooperate with other players and make your contribution to charitable giving. This all allows students to have a â€Å"positive† image of such video games, that it is not only entertainment, but also something charitable and kind. Cooperation for fun and business It is undoubtedly a good opportunity for you if you can cooperate with others using your mobile device and get benefits from it. New mobile platforms not only give you such opportunities, but also act like a guide for you in this new stream. Playing with your friends and just with other players, you can both, have fun and communicate. And at the same time you know that you do something good, as all the earnings will be for charity. So each member of the community makes his or her contribution in something good. When students take part in the game tournaments, they can earn a significant sum for their education and tuition. Winning in game tournaments grants you the possibility to donate to the charities that you like without any obstacles. All you need is a device to play, connection to Internet and a willing to spend good time by playing. So, it means that you can enjoy playing games with your friends online and competing and at the same time make earnings –isn’t it a great chance for you? Become modern by learning up-to-date things No matter what you do, it is very important to keep pace with the most up-to-date things in regard to it. The more information you acquire and the more you learn in any business, the better you get adapted to conditions around you. New mobile platforms that so headily appear in the contemporary world provide many abilities and chances for you to have and to develop yourself. Be always heading forward and learn how to make your life and the lives of your close people better and more convenient. And it is cool, if you can do all this by having fun. Why not make charity in entertaining and pleasant way?!

Women, Voice Pitch Authority, and Gender Bias

Women, Voice Pitch Authority, and Gender Bias Do we respond differently to the sound of a voice based on its gender? Do mens voices have more authority and are womens voices more friendly? These questions skim the surface of an overlooked aspect of gender discrimination bias that arises from how we judge a female voice, especially pitch. Typically, gender bias against women is rooted in optics. We look at hair color, body shape, size, weight, height, physical attractiveness and make assumptions. Clothing, skirt length, and style of attire provide visual cues that fuel stereotypes and feed into gender expectations. Take away sight and we still jump to conclusions, but now the pitch of a womans voice becomes the yardstick by which we measure her worth. Picture the stereotypical dumb blonde. How does she sound? Either we imagine her voice as high and squeaky, or soft and breathy like Marilyn Monroe. Its sexy, but it doesnt convey authority or increase trust. Going Low To gain authority, women have long believed that its better to pitch their voices lower. And experts have discovered that most women are following that dictum. Over the past 50 years, womens voices have dropped significantly. Although womens voices normally register a full octave higher than mens voices, today theyre just 2/3rds of an octave higher. The most prominent example of this vocal divide can be seen in the media where an enormous distinction exists between the types of products sold by female voices and those pitched by male voices. At first glance, it might appear that women and men enjoy parity based on the number of voiceovers on TV commercials. Womens voices are commonplace in commercials that sell everyday household items such as dishwashing detergent, toilet bowl cleaners, diapers, paper towels. But commercials selling big-ticket items such as cars and trucks are largely the domain of male voices. Thats because of the sexual politics surrounding how we perceive male and female voices. Writing for the UK website the New Humanist, Sally Feldman observes: [Theres] a basic difference between the way men and women tend to speak. Whereas men often breathe from their abdomen, women are more likely to constrict their voices to an upper range which allows less variety and less control. In a recent collection of essays, Well-Tuned Women, Kristin Linklater writes: â€Å"When a high voice connects with a strong impulse based, for instance, in anger or fear, it becomes shrill, strident, screechy, piercing, nasal, penetrating, sharp, squeaky or brassy and generally unpleasant to the point of causing major distress in the hearers.† Men, on the other hand, with their deeper voices and richer tones, find it easier to convey authority and control. It’s partly physiological. Men’s voices are lower than women’s because they have a larger larynx, developed in the Adam’s apple at puberty, and longer, thicker vocal folds.... Anne Karpf [author of The Human Voice] argues that men have come to assert power through their deep voices and resonant tones to such an extent that â€Å"pitch has become a weapon in the gender wars. Men in Control Look beyond TV commercials and youll see how effectively men have wielded the power of pitch in the gender wars. Ever notice there are no female announcers on game shows? asks veteran voice actor Lora Cain. None serve as announcers on TV talk shows, and very few do network promos or movie trailers two of the most prestigious and highly-coveted jobs in the voiceover industry. According to Cain, statistics bear this out. Men do 80% of the voice work while women accounting for only 20%. Why does gender discrimination exist in a field where its not how you look but how you sound? Cain feels its because those positions of clout that determine whether a voice will be male or female namely, writers and directors are held primarily by men. The key is more women writers and women directors, she observed in a recent phone interview. If there were more women writers, thered be more of a tendency to say, Lets consider a woman for this. Opening Doors for Women Voiceover professional Lora Cain is one of just a handful of women competing at the upper levels of this male-dominated field, and shes acutely aware of how the deck is stacked against female announcers and women voice actors. Theres this belief that women dont sound good in certain situations or that women dont like to listen to women. Wheres the logic in that? she argues. Women talk to each other, and women make 80% of the buying decisions in this country. But when a woman wants advice on what to buy, shes not as likely to ask her male partner as she is a female friend...or even another woman standing in line at the bathroom. Thats just what women do. So, of course, we listen to other women. We seek out each others opinions. We are  our greatest resource. Im hoping that we can change that belief little by little. Cain credits changing opinions in the industry as opening doors for women. Whats popular now is the real person sound. Its created new opportunities and thats really wonderful. But women are still shut out of certain jobs where theres an expectation that you need to have a certain weight behind your voice. Some say that women dont have that, but thats not true. She cites Randy Thomas  as a woman with vocal weight. Described as the most recognized female voice in America,  Thomas is best known as the voice of the TV show  Entertainment Tonight  and the Hooked on Phonics commercials. Thomas shattered the voiceover glass ceiling in 1993 when she became the first female announcer of the Academy Awards. Since then, shes done the Oscars at least seven times as well as the Miss America Pageant and the Democratic National Convention. Shes the first announcer male or female to hit the trifecta of announcing the Big Three Awards the Oscars, the Tonys and the Primetime Emmys in a single year. Confidence Thomas has broken out of the pack of female voice talent due to that authoritative voice, as Cain describes it. You hear it and you believe her. This authority and forcefulness is ultimately the biggest hurdle facing women in the voiceover industry and in business as well. Listeners, like clients and co-workers, are more willing to place their trust in the voice that sounds confident and assured. The Count Is In A March 2010 AdweekMedia/Harris Poll  bears out these findings. Researchers asked participants to listen to male and female voiceovers in commercials and judge them based on various criteria. When asked who sounded more forceful, 48% chose the male voiceover while only 2% chose the female. When asked who sounded more soothing, respondents overwhelmingly chose the female voiceover 48% vs. only 8% for the male. Both genders were regarded as equally persuasive with 18% choosing the male voiceover vs. 19% choosing the female. Yet when it comes to major purchases, authority seems to trump soothing or persuasive. When asked which voiceover would be more likely to sell them on buying a car or a computer, respondents chose the male voice 3-4 times more often than the female; only 7% chose the female voice in either situation. In comparison, 28% of respondents felt the male voiceover was more likely to sell them a car, and 23% felt they were more likely to buy a computer based on the male voice. The problem is that we hear gender first and form assumptions about the speaker even before we have a chance to assess timbre, pitch, speed, clarity, and other vocal qualities that might establish authority or trust. Unfortunately, hearing gender isnt all that different from seeing gender when we discriminate based on sex alone and assign characteristics to physical traits often arbitrarily, stereotypically, and unfairly. Crossing Barriers Like Thomas, Cain has come up against the structural bias inherent in an industry where voices are judged by how well they sell. Shes been taking a crack at another glass ceiling announcing TV game shows as the only woman among half a dozen candidates vying to announce the popular syndicated show  Wheel of Fortune.  When the shows longtime male announcer passed away in November 2010, Caine pushed for the producer to consider a woman. Although there are no female announcers on any games shows currently in production, Cain is optimistic, noting, We go through these cycles in the 80s and 90s women could be heard as announcers on game shows although they were mostly cable channels. When she pointed out to  Wheel of Fortune  executive producer Harry Friedman that there were no other women announcers on TV game shows today, he was willing to give her a shot. Although the person behind the voice usually remains invisible, Cains putting her thoughts forward along with her voice to make audiences aware that women are capable of doing the same quality work as men, just as they do in every other career field. Im calling attention to this, Cain explains, because we need to recognize when women cross these barriers. At the same time, however, it would be nice to have viewers listen to someone like Randy Thomas and think, Oh, she sounds great instead of focusing solely on the fact that, Oh, thats a woman. Sources Camber, Rebecca.  Why women who want to get ahead get a husky voice.  DailyMail.co.uk.Dolliver, Mark. How People React to Male vs. Female Voiceovers.  Adweek.com. 8 March 2010.Feldman, Sally.  Speak up.  NewHumanist.org.uk.Hendrickson, Paula. Choice Voice. EMMY Magazine at RandyThomasVO.com.

DB3 carminal justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

DB3 carminal justice - Essay Example Smith. As an initial matter, society is turning more and more to alternative treatments for minor drug offenders. As stated in a research study by the U.S. Department of Justice, there are a number of potential types of alternative treatments available, such as residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, drug education, pharmacological interventions, community-based therapeutic programs, and relapse prevention programs (Peyton and Gossweiler, 2001: 7). A careful analysis can match Mr. Smith with an alternative treatment program for his particular type of abuse. In addition, there is a growing body of evidence which suggests that therapeutic options might be more relevant to eliminating the underlying behavior which resulted in the drug offense. More particularly, there has been a rather long-standing perception, by the public and by researchers in general, that drug use per se leads to more advanced criminal behaviors. Indeed, much of the drug debate centers on this very premise that recidivism and progressively worse criminal actions are inevitable. The data, however, does not support such an attenuated conclusion; quite the contrary, the research demonstrates that there are similar risk factors for both the abuse of drugs and criminal behavior. In short, incarceration does nothing to deal with Mr. Smith’s underlying risk factors. More specifically, there is a demonstrable impact of substance abuse on criminal behavior that is relevant to incarceration decisions. Such a general statement, however, is of little use without a closer examination of the specific impacts. The types of criminal behaviors that result from substance abuse, for example, tend to be limited and, in many cases, predictable. As an illustration, heroin abuse does lead to financial criminal behaviors; that is, the abusers commit crimes with the specific objective being the financing and re-financing of their heroin habits. A more general