Productivity in the workplace as an lpn Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Productivity in the workplace as an lpn - Essay Example Most of the nurses view lpn roles similar to certified nursing attendants: nurses feel that lpn need to be told what to do and be closely monitored. Lpn’s believe that a professional degree gives authority and autonomy in an organization; moreover, increases motivation for workplace productivity. The feeling that they are being treated equal to nurses enforces them to work hard, care more, and be at good relation with co-workers. In order to reduce conflict and increase workplace productivity of lpn, collaboration between nurses, lpn, and management must be addressed. A health care institution with good working relationships smoothen work flow by facilitating ease of task. Time is not wasted for arguments and health care workers focus only on how to deliver quality care to clients; therefore, human resources are maximized which increases workplace

Operation management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Operation management - Essay Example From this research it is clear that although OM is usually thought to be concerned with day-to-day operations of a limited number of resources and functionalities of a business, it is still an all encompassing field of study and more so in today’s fast paced business environment that demands that businesses brace up their operations strategies to face the highly competitive marketplace. While short-term goals of a business are important to be achieved in terms of efficiency and increased productivity, it is the business’s ability to achieve these results in the long-term that determines its success in the market, making it imperative that it tie its short-term efforts strategically for sustainability and profitability. Technological advancements and innovative approaches to business have constantly changed the face of the market for any business across the world, opening new avenues and options for implementing change in the way business is done. The sole focus being to increase productivity and reduce cost to attain a competitive advantage for survival in the long run. Different methodologies have been available through sets of frameworks for implementing the change strategically for operations of a firm and these will be explored and in the report. Research methodologies that are a best fit for implementing operations strategy will also be studied while exploring the concepts of soft systems methods like lean management, Six Sigma, etc. that help understand the relevance and success of operations strategy in OM.... that help understand the relevance and success of operations strategy in OM. Further, the process of OM itself will be understood with reference to the various development stages of a business in any market. 2. Defining Operations Management â€Å"OM is defined as the process of design, planning, controlling and executing operations in manufacturing and service industries† (Will et al., 2002). The management of a firm’s operations can be found to deal with a wide variety of activities including the design and management of products, services, processes and supply chains through acquisitions, development and utilization of resources at strategic, tactical and operational levels to deliver value to customer while increasing profitability for all the stakeholders of the business. OM encompasses tactical issues ranging from plant layout and structure, project management methods to equipment selection and replacement, operational issues like inventory management, process and production scheduling and controlling, quality control, and policies related to equipment handling and maintenance, etc. (MIT Sloan, 2011). 3. Strategy in Operations An operations strategy reflects what a firm does in the market and is one of the functional strategies of a firm that reflects its decisions which determine the direction of its operations. As the term operations refers to activities or functions of the firm that relate to the producing of products and services, operations strategy is well concerned with the long-term management of resources that are required to produce these products and services (Slack et al., 2010). 4. Importance of operations strategy a.

Propylene Glycol as a Pharmaceutical Excipient in Pediatrics

Propylene Glycol as a Pharmaceutical Excipient in Pediatrics Disha Patel The Utilization of Propylene Glycol as a Pharmaceutical Excipient in the Pediatric Field Abstract As a widely used excipient in pediatric formulations, propylene glycol functions as a solvent, emulsifier, humectant, and hygroscopic agent. It is a clear, colorless liquid whose properties enable it to have pharmacodynamic applications. Oftentimes, propylene glycol is combined with other mediations to enhance its penetration. For instance, a combination of 20% propylene glycol and 5% lactic acid in a semiocculusive cream base is used as a highly effective and well-tolerated keratolytic in patients with lamellar ichthyosis and possibly could be in various other hyperkeratotic diseases. Unfortunately, though to a lesser degree, this excipient is associated with toxic effects such as hyperosmolality, hemolysis, and lactic acidosis. Also, in concentrations greater than 10%, propylene glycol may act as an irritant in some patients (Health Effects 2). From a pharmacokinetic viewpoint, there is a potential of renal toxicity associated with propylene glycol and lorazepam. The high concentra tion of propylene glycol contained in certain intravenous drug products, such as phenytoin, diazepam, digoxin, and etomidate, may induce thrombophlebitis. Here, the patients increased serum creatinine concentrations are likely to have resulted from exposure to propylene glycol due to lorazepam infusion. Serum osmolality and osmol gap may be useful markers for propylene glycol toxicity. Much like the above mentioned applications, through its chemical composition, propylene glycol has the ability to exert a beneficial effect on pediatric formulations (Webbook 5). Introduction Propylene glycol, which is also known Propane-1,2-diol, is a colorless, viscous, organic liquid with a slightly sweet taste. This excipient is utilized in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical preparations. Examples of pharmaceutical applications include therapeutic drugs such as vaccines, cough syrups, local anesthetics, antiseptics, vitamins, and hormones. It is produced through the fermentation of yeast and carbohydrates. Propylene glycol is industrially made from propylene oxide. It is made from either a catalytic or a non-catalytic method which exposes the propylene into extremes of temperature and a small amount of sulfuric acid or alkali to yield propylene glycol for industrial purposes (Frequently Asked Questions about Propylene Glycol 1). It is concluded that, with extensive research, this excipient is categorized as safe in the body. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry, in the body, under conditions of normal low exposure, propylene glycol is quickly metabolized and excreted. Its metabolic pathway is comparable to that of sugar: propylene glycol is quickly converted into lactic acid, similar to what happens with the energy in the muscles when exercising. Afterwards, the lactic acid is excreted via urine (Database of Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS) Reviews 2). Surprisingly, from a toxicological point of view, alcohol is more toxic than propylene glycol. Propylene glycol has been used safely for more than 50 years in a large variety of applications. As a result, it is effectively used in prescription medications such amoxicillin (500 mg), clindamycin hydrochloride (150 mg 300 mg), gabapentin (300 mg), lyrica (50 g 75 mg), and omeprazole (20 mg) (Result Filters 4). Through statistical data, it is overwhelmingly evident that there is a continually growing market for propylene glycol. According to the IHS website, United States (19%), Western Europe (39%), Japan (17%), and China (80%) had the largest consumption (Inactive Ingredients in Pharmaceutical Products 5). Since it has been proven safe with a relative low toxicity level, it is projected that the consumption of propylene glycol will rise (IHS Home Page 4). The Effects of Propylene Glycol in Pediatrics Pharmaceutical medications are composed of two very essential ingredients: active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients. The purpose of the active pharmaceutical ingredient in a drug is to elicit a specific therapeutic effect on the patient. Specifically, when the drug is consumed, it will exert a necessary effect on the body in order to produce an ideal outcome: the therapeutic response (TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR PROPYLENE GLYCOL 3). The component of the drug is the excipient, which is an inactive ingredient utilized for possible multifunctional usage. For instance, an excipient can be binders, coatings, diluents, disintegrants, fillers, flavors, colors, lubricants, glidants, sorbents, preservatives, sweeteners, and solubilizing agents. Oftentimes, they do acquire some extent of therapeutic acclivity, though less than the API. Similar to many other drugs, propylene glycol functions both, as an API and excipient-an indication that multiple functions can have multiple benef its (AccessMedicine [41168448] 2). Additionally, medications are tailored to a specific age group to maximize the therapeutic effect for the patient. Therefore, criteria for an ideal drug for the pediatric population will undoubtedly differ from the criteria for the geriatric population. Routes of administration suitable for pediatrics include oral, topical, rectal, inhalation, injectable and drop (eye, ear, and nose). Propylene glycol enters the body as an alcohol and metabolizes in the bodys enzyme pathways. These pathways do not mature in humans until 12 to 30 months of age. Proper judgment when administering a propylene glycol-based formulation to neonates is crucial in order to prevent potential complications (PubChem 1). In comparison to adults, new born babies have a propylene glycol half-life of 16.9 hours rather than a significantly lower 5 hour half-life for adults. In one study, the use a multivitamins whose contents included propylene glycol resulted in serum osmolality in low-birth-weight premature babies. However, in another research activity, phenobarbital injections containing propylene glycol were deemed to have an inconsequential effect on the osmolar gap (AccessMedicine [40400741] 4). A higher amount of propylene glycol delivered per dose, such as 3 grams, is known to cause more seizures in infants, in comparison to those receiving lesser amounts per dose, such as 300 mg. In a population of 262 patients treated for burns, roughly 3 percent were the result of topical propylene glycol which resulted in hyperosmolality (Potential Safety Concerns with the Large Amount of Propylene Glycol 2). Since propylene glycol is a liquid excipient, it affects the gastrointestinal tract. However, studies of people and animals show that if you have repeated eye, skin, nasal, or oral exposures to propylene glycol for a short time, you may develop some irritation. Furthermore, extensive studies performed have concluded that there are no severe risks of propylene glycol in infants. Thus, it is assumed to be safe if consumed in moderation. The oral liquid formulation also illustrates a high compliance rate amongst infants. Simple considerations such as route of administration and effective concentrations can help achieve a therapeutic response (AccessMedicine [40400741] 6). The chemical composition of propylene glycol is relatively simple: alcohol groups with a hydrocarbon backbone. To an extent, this simplistic structure plays a broad role in various applications ranging from industrial to pharmaceutical uses. Generally, neonates can be exposed to propylene glycol orally or topically. Absorption through oral intake is significantly more effective than on the skin. Once propylene glycol reaches the site of action, it is rapidly metabolized and subsequently excreted (A-Z Index 9). In the blood stream, the half-life of the excipient is approximately 2-4 hours in adults. However, in neonates, it is drastically longer (17 hours). Pertaining to its mechanism of action, it is further metabolized to lactate which is further metabolized to pyruvate, carbon dioxide, and water. Through utilization of the gluconeogenic pathway, glucose is formed. Even though the safety the propylene is apparent, extremely large exposures to propylene glycol have the potential to r esult in lactic acidosis and hyperosmotic changes in the blood (Health Effects 4). Extensive research has provided sufficient evidence on the safety and quality of this excipient. To begin, numerous sources indicate that propylene glycol has a dramatically low degree of toxicity. It is associated with moderately low concern for acute toxicity by ingestion, skin contact, and inhalation. There have been reports of altered nervous system function because of high oral exposure to propylene. Normal metabolism of this excipient can be negatively affected through blood pH and osmotic changes. Furthermore, animal studies also confirm the relative low risk of propylene glycol (Webbook 2). For example, a longitudinal study performed on rodents with extremely high exposures to the excipient presented no indication of adverse effects. Consequently, a similar study performed on cats illustrated hematological changes. High aerosol concentrations inhaled by rats caused minor nasal and ocular signs that may have been due to mild irritation or drying effects of propylene glycol on mucous membranes. On a positive note, there is no correlation to cancer from the use of propylene glycol (AccessMedicine [45774923] 1). Pharmacological Profile of Propylene Glycol Propylene glycol, with a formula C3H8O2, is readily miscible with water, acetone, and chloroform. In reference to its structure, it contains an asymmetrical carbon atom, so it has two enantiomers. Since the commercial product is a racemic mixture, pure optical enantiomers can be achieved by the hydration of optically pure propylene oxide. Upon the mixture of propylene glycol and water, the freezing point of water is drastically depressed. Because of this, it is used as a de-icing fluid for vehicles. With the exception of ethylene glycol, glycols are generally known to be non-corrosive and have low volatility and toxicity. Even with the strict criteria established for pediatrics, propylene glycol satisfies the requirements for safe administration to pediatric patients (A-Z Index 5). Furthermore, it is derived from propylene oxide and its production methods include either catalytic- proceeds at 150  °C to 180  °C in the presence of ion exchange resin or a small amount of sulfuric acid or alkali, or non-catalytic- high-temperature process at 200  °C to 220  °C (IHS Home Page 3). Even though this paper focuses mainly on propylene glycol’s purpose as an excipient in pediatric formulations, it has an overwhelmingly degree of other applications. A certain amount (45%) is used as chemical feedback for the manufacture of unsaturated polyester resins. Chemically speaking, propylene glycol reacts with a mixture of unsaturated maleic anhydride and isophthalic acid to give a copolymer. Continuing further crosslinking, thermoset plastics are produced from the unsaturated polymers. Similarly, propylene glycol also reacts with propylene oxide to produce oligomers as well as polymers that are utilized to form polyurethanes (Frequently Asked Questions about Propylene Glycol 2). As proven be multiple research articles, this excipient is proven safe. The extent of safety is measured by plasma concentration: â€Å"Serious toxicity generally occurs only at plasma concentrations over 1 g/L, which requires extremely high intake over a relatively short period of time.† However, there is always an uncertainty and accidental occurrences. For instance, rare cases of propylene glycol poison were largely related to either inappropriate intravenous administration or accidental ingestion of enormously large quantities by children (Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet 9). Conclusion As proven through this research paper, propylene glycol is an effective ingredient for pediatric use. Since there was no established linkage between cancer and its use, it is popular for multiple uses. Several considerations should be utilized in formulating pediatric medications-specifically, the ingredients in the formulation. With its multiple uses, propylene glycol is well-suited for children for its safety and effectiveness. Like all ingredients, propylene glycol may produce adverse effects in the patient, but drastically less harmful than others. Since an enormous quantity must be consumed before toxicity level is reached, it is well suited for children. With viscous properties, upon consumption, it has the potential to elicit a faster therapeutic effect on the patient. Therefore, it is both potent and efficacious. In all, this ingredient proves to be a significant element to the overall formulation of a medication, regardless of the age group targeted (Webbook 5). Bibliography A-Z Index. ATSDR. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=1120tid=240>. Database of Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS) Reviews. AccessData. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnDetailNavigation.cfm?rpt=scogsListingid=262>. Frequently Asked Questions about Propylene Glycol. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://www.propylene-glycol.com/uploads/PropyleneGlycolAdvocacybrochure.pdf>. Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet. New Jersey Department of Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/3595.pdf>. Health Effects. ATSDR. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp189-c2.pdf>. InactiveIngredients in Pharmaceutical Products: Update (Subject Review). Peditrics. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/99/2/268.full#sec-11>. Potential Safety Concerns with the Large Amount of Propylene Glycol. Natap. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://www.natap.org/2000/may/potential_safety051500.htm>. Propylene Glycol. PubChem. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=1030>. Propylene Glycol. Webbook. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C57556Mask=8>. Propylene Glycols. IHS Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://www.ihs.com/products/chemical/planning/ceh/propylene-glycols.aspx>. Result Filters. National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14524641>. St. Johns University Academics Schools Libraries. AccessMedicine. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com.jerome.stjohns.edu/content.aspx?bookid=348sectionid=40381672jumpsectionID=40400741>. St. Johns University Academics Schools Libraries. AccessMedicine. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com.jerome.stjohns.edu/content.aspx?bookid=388sectionid=45764289jumpsectionID=45774923>. St. Johns University Academics Schools Libraries. AccessMedicine. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com.jerome.stjohns.edu/content.aspx?bookid=392sectionid=41138958jumpsectionID=41168448>. TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR PROPYLENE GLYCOL. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp189.pdf>.

Eli Wiesels Night and Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities :: Synthesis Essays

Eli Wiesel's â€Å"Night† and Charles Dickens' â€Å"A Tale of Two Cities† Life is not always fair. There is no real explanation for this. In almost all constitutions people are created equal but very rarely are all of them treated this way. But before the French revolution happened very few people even had these rights. Then when WW II came around the Jewish people were targeted by the Nazis. They were stripped of all their rights and basically became slaves to the Nazis party. The Nazis tried to rid Europe of the Jewish people and if they had their way eventually the whole world would be free of this religious group. The character that people show through times of adversity can define them individually and as an entire group. In â€Å"Night† Eli Wiesel faces life and death everyday in the Nazis concentration camp. While in â€Å"A tale of two cities† by Charles Dickens, Carton saves Darnay’s life twice once during a trial and another at the guillotine even though Carton resents Darnay shows mans true potential. â€Å"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times† (Dickens), this famous quote can be applied to more than just the opening of A Tale of Two Cities. In this very moment there are great things going on all over the world. Things like scientific discovers and diplomatic resolutions to international problems are being done right now. There are however many problems happening too. Civil wars and ethnic cleansings occurring in Africa the tsunami that devastated many Asian islands were people are struggling to survive. Yet with all of these things man does not give up we fight on through and that could be mans greatest asset. To fight on even though there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel. The most horrific of tragedies ever to happen to man was due to mans evil. The holocaust was a tragedy where over 11 million innocent people were killed for no other reason than there religious beliefs. The most amazing thing though is not the cruelty of man but instead the strength of the human race to fight through even though so many have lost their lives for no reason. Not to say that they never had doubts of whether they were going to make it through. Even the people who before this never had a waiver in their faith had trouble staying strong in belief that God will save them.

Moments Of Action :: Expository Essays

There never seems to be an answer to that one moment of action. There are numerous factors that keep the world in a balance every second. If one of these is slightly altered, the stability is broken, the harmony shattered, the world changed. However, the answer one should give to these moments is unclear. Whether those moments are for the better or the worse, only time can tell. As the fourth quarter clock winds down to the final seconds of a crucial game, the quarterback completes a long range pass for the game winning touchdown. At the moment of its occurrence, it is a tempest of action that can determine the future for many of those involved. It is one of those moments without any explanation. The quarterback might have caught attention from a national football league scout. Maybe the touchdown receiver would be heralded as a hero for his team for years to come. It could possibly affect somebody watching the game from the other side of the world, causing them to realize that nothing is impossible. Though these are the results that primarily come to mind, there is a side to the play that is frequently overshadowed. What happened if the star wide receiver got hurt on the play, and it ends up being a career-ending injury? What about the reputation of the losing coach, who could get fired at the end of the season due to that one loss? All these happen in an instant, a second, just a moment of action that creates an impact that doesn’t have a response. As a car passes by, a pedestrian stumbles over his own shoes, and dives headfirst into the path of the charging vehicle. After the dust clears, police handcuff the driver, and the victim’s family is making plans for a funeral. That one moment of action just affected two unfortunate people’s families, and possibly even more than that. The driver was going at fairly legal speeds, and he ended up being detained for murder. The man who was killed was the only one supporting his wife and son, yet he is gone and his family is stranded. As the moment passes, one can only imagine what would have gone down IF something else happened. If only the pedestrian had taken an extra second to tie his shoes, he would have lived to see the light of day for another second.

Evaluate the External Corporate Communications of an Existing Product or Service

Evaluate the external corporate communications of an existing product or service Types of external corporate communications Write down the meaning of each and give examples Related to CWOA * Advertising – Advertising is a way to inform in a way of notice or announcement to the public or businesses about promotions, services and products. Other can be information about upcoming events or a massive sale. Advertisement can be informed through TV, leaflets and Radio. CWOA inform their customers about new events taking place via Television advertisement as well as posters on public transport vehicles and on their websites.Their recent service is the Zufari which is a bit like a safari but at the CWOA location. CWOA will inform families and their loyal customers about this new and exciting service that they will start providing over the Easter Holidays through TV advertisement, leaflets and their website. * Packaging – Packaging is a process to which business follow in order to protect their products from damages and ensure the product is safe and clean which stays fresh. Packaging sells a product more effectively for a business that it would without it.Customers feel more confident when purchasing products because they know that the product is safe, clean, and best of all brand new. Packaging mostly is process by plastic but can be corrugated board as well as metal glass and paper. CWOA have their souvenir shops that have products all packaged with good aesthetics. They are packaged in clear plastic bags. For example their T-shirts will have the CWOA logo and will be in a clear plastic package for the customer to see and handle properly whilst the t-shirt also being protected from dirt. Logos – Logos are a form of identify to differentiate a business from its competitors. It helps consumers recognise all types of businesses and therefore competition rises as well. If one logo is better than another either because of the way its name is or the st yle, it makes a lot of difference to the sales and profits of a business. For example the Armani logo is very famous and therefore has expansive products. On the other hand, George a clothing line that sells at retails of Tesco is not as popular, however their products are very cheap but may not live up to its expectations of high quality.CWOA have a recognisable logo that is easy to read and understand globally. It is very attractive logo that has been designed for years that consumers instantly recognise the great quality experience at the attractions. * Methods – There are different types of methods to communicate with the outside or external of the business such as the public to inform of new products and sales and or publish sales figures on the internet which has to be met by law. There are methods to inform people of their new products to ensure they are attracted to it and its value by its price.CWOA are currently launching their new service called Zufari which is a f amily adventure that looks at all the different kinds of animal in the same theme of a Safari. CWOA will use methods to attract their customers to its new service. On their website they would use large, bold and colourful colours to attract readers, pictures to engage their mind and theme styles that relate to animals. Pricing methods to attract them to purchase and book online which may be a cheaper alternative such as a family deal of 4 with 20% off before a certain date. Mission Statements –Mission statements are a summary of the aims and values of a company, organization, or individual. It is a statement of their core purpose and focus that doesn’t change for a very long time. These statements can be found on any organisation website. The mission statement for CWOA can be found on their Merlin entertainment group website as well. ‘Its aim is to deliver unique, memorable and rewarding experiences to millions of visitors across its growing estate’. Missi on statements underline the purpose of the business.It gives them a direction and its customers as external commuters to see what the business’s aims is that relate to the customer. Missions statements shows customers how passionate a business is for thriving in success and in favour of the consumer with excellent services that is promised to be provided to each and every customer. However if CWOA don’t reach their goals then this can question CWIA’s abilities in proving the great customer experience they promised. This can affect their brand and its reputation. Livery –Livery is a way to distinguish colour and, style and theme to their customers from other companies. CWOA do this to many of their souvenir products so that customers are reminded of how much great fun they had from their experience at the attraction. This may ‘re-awake’ their senses and encourage them to go back to experience the same fun they had on their last visit. The live ry on their products can be of their colour schemes or logo for example a teddy bear would have a logo on the shirt and a red and yellow colour background of the hirt to represent its home as CWOA. However a livery can be somewhat of a disadvantage to the business. CWOA may change their logo style, theme and or colour scheme as well as the whole logo design due to change in leadership, partnership and or takeover by another firm. This will mean that CWOA may have to change all their designs on their souvenirs as well as their products. High costs can result of this action. If logo and design is changed then customers may not be able to recognise the brand as well as they did with the first logo design.Memories of great fun and experience may not be the same when looking at a different style logo. * Strap Lines, – Strap line is another way of saying a slogan that is a method to catch a reader’s attention and persuade them to buy their product or service. An example of a strap line used by CWOA for their new service called Zufari ‘Ride into Africa’. Slogans are a way of saying something is alike and the experience will be of a replica. The same goes to CWOA of their new service which will offer a similar real Safari experience. This kind of slogan attracts customers to visit the attraction.Some strap lines may not be appropriate for come consumers so business need to be careful of the way they use the strap lines. A good strap line is Tesco’s ‘Every Little Helps’. This is because Tesco is a large firm with products at very cheap prices and also competitive. It is a way of saying every little saving helps make larger saving on other things. It also outlines Tesco’s objectives of cheaper products than their competitors. * Endorsements – An endorsement is an approval, from a third party or an important person, of a service or product is a way of support and or a recommendation of the business’s pro ducts and or services.Endorsements work like an advertisement except it is less of a persuasion and more of a personal recommendation. If CWOA asked Jonathan Ross to endorse their attraction along with his family then that would make CWOA’s reputation high. Families would want to go to CWOA simply because a famous person has visited that attraction which to them can mean that the attraction is worth going to because of higher status of approval. Endorsements generally are an excellent method to increase sales fast. The endorser of CWOA, which could be Jonathan Ross, receives a fee or payment of endorsing the brand and material.Endorsing a famous or well-known person like a celebrity is not cheap; many of them demand high fees. People will believe an outside person that they know, which they can relate to; about a business that they are not related to such as Jonathan Ross is a TV presenter of his own family show. * Sponsorship – Sponsorships are increasingly getting bi gger and better. Organisations and events can run with the help of sponsorship. It is more of a promotional activity which is a form of corporate communication.Sponsorships work like this; an organisation supports an activity, event or another organisation by giving them money and or other valuable recourses which may relate to them and in return they may want advertisement on space on their boards or area of event. And if it is another organisation than it generally requires advertisements space. An example of this is a football team such as Arsenal Football that has been sponsored by Fly Emirates which is an international airline service and has their logo on the Arsenal jersey and on around their stadiums.CWOA are sponsored by many organisations such as EDF energy, Cornetto, MasterCard, Nintendo Wii and other smaller companies. In return CWOA puts their logos on their website, event leaflets and on their rides. Advertisements of Chessington World of Adventures Chessington World o f Adventure has produced a TV advertisement of their Halloween special event taking place during the Half term. The event is called Halloween Hocus-pocus. The video is on the CWOA’s website and on TV 2 weeks before the actual event taking place. TV is a good way for advertisement because the message gets across to a wider audience.TV advertisements are better effective because they are memorable, especially to children, because they use sound and colourful vision. This video was due for half term of October 2012. Presentation methods: Presentation methods to meet the needs of the customer – how the use of style and use of images, use of language are all targeted at specific customer groups TV is watched by many people at home and during the evenings when the family are all together at tea time, there are many family type advertisements that go on at that time of period.TV is colourful with lots of sounds to engage the listener. CWOA have a dark Halloween theme that rel ates to their event. The dark theme uses darker colours, images of moons, witches, animals, people in costumes that look surreal, decorated hotel rooms and the theme park is set during the night. With many muted colours and flashing images along with multi images of animals and witches and monsters, it grabs a lot of the audience’s attention who are sitting in the comfort of their own home.Images that are suitable for all audiences are the best to gain all target consumers. TV advertisement shows good quality images, as most families now have access to HD TVs that enable higher quality videos and images. The styles of texts they have used are very bold and gothic. The sound track has been adapted to a dark and scary theme with a few spooky laughter sound and tense tones. There are also animal sounds, such as bats and owls. Sounds like these engage the audiences well and interact with their hearing senses.In the video are also a few animated clips that have been integrated wit h real life videos of the resort. These animated clips are of Halloween characters such as witches and monsters. The videos of the resort show some of their special Halloween plays and events along with new rides. Some animals are shown to show those audiences that know very little about COWA. The events show examples of Halloween parties, dress up, plays and characters in play whilst hosting families around their resort experience.The advertisement is a good quality however I believe that the video could have been more informative rather than just showing clips of rides, animals and people in costumes. The vieo could have informed parents of ticket prices, were to look for further information details, special offers and the exact events and new features of this Halloween special and what makes it special than an ordinary day at CWOA. The clip does engage the younger audiences to carry on watching the clip and still be interested. picture/advertisement video source from: http://www. chessington. com/plan-your-trip/chessington-videos. aspx#content

Social Media and Social Change

Social Media and Social Change: A Closer Look at the Revolutionary Qualities of Social Media In Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, Marshall McLuhan coined the phrase, â€Å"the medium is the message† (McLuhan). McLuhan suggests that messages are greatly affected by the medium in which they are delivered. Messages must be received in the proper channel to create social change. On July 21, 1969, the American astronaut Neil Armstrong created history when he sent his message to 3. 31 billion people via radio and television, â€Å"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind†. Forty years later another astronaut created history by sending the first tweet from outer space, â€Å"Launch was awesome!!! I am feeling great, working hard, and enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun! â€Å"(AP). While many people see online activity on social media sites as a past-time, a growing trend and even a fad, it is actually the biggest key player in creating social change. This is why NASA has more Twitter accounts than any federal agency. The biggest reason NASA has been extremely keen about adopting social media is because of the collapse of interest in space programs, said the NASA chief of public affairs Bob Jacobs. NASA also has plans to incorporate YouTube on their next shuttle flight to field questions from space (AP). The message is clear, NASA looks to generate more interest in space programs or to create social change and they look to social media tools to help them. We are in the midst of a communicative revolution fuelled by social media and driven by the masses. Social media possesses the intrinsic power to change the world even in the most marginal of ways. A closer look at the ability social media has to generate dialogue, its ability to change perception and persuade, and its ability to connect and unite the masses democratically, will demonstrate the power that social media possesses to enable a revolution. It will demonstrate a profound shift in the way that we communicate and denounce social media as a current fad or passing trend. Many people credit the television for its ability to deliver a high quality message. In fact it would be extremely hard to misunderstand a message delivered through such a high sensory communicative channel. Social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter have been criticized for its â€Å"dumbing down† qualities. In Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes our Future, Mark Bauerlein suggests that Generation Y, that is – a generation of youth born in the late 1970's to the late 1990's – spend wasteful hours on social networking sites posting useless updates and sending mundane messages (Bauerlein 12). But the Harvard Law professor Jonathan Zittrain reminds us that â€Å"the qualities that make Twitter seem inane and half-baked are what makes it so powerful† (qtd in Cohen). It is the same qualities that give social media a high quality communication channel for inspiring social movements amongst participants. Participants of social media are often required to create accounts or profiles and as a result participants are left with a sense of community. Because all content on social media sites are user-generated, any information or message posted on a given site is automatically received as word of mouth dialogue and this is the powerful nature of social media. It is important to note that dialogue is unrestricted to mediums. It can occur via face to face interaction, by telephone, by email or even a social media site such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or MySpace. Danah Boyd suggests that comments in a world of social media act as conversation in the real world (Boyd 124). Her compelling article, Why Youth Love Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life argues that profiles, friends and comments â€Å"differentiate social network sites differentiate from other types of computermediated communication† (124). Boyd explains that comments are what engage and encourage users to participate and when they do they become participants (127). In Sociability and social interaction on social networking websites, Andrew Keenan and Ali Shiri identify the emphasis social media outlets place on transferring your existing â€Å"real world† experiences, connections, networks and information to the web and making them accessible (Keenan & Shiri 443). Naturally users are inclined to do the opposite. Any dialogue generated online is not limited to or even discouraged from entering the real world. What Boyd, Keenan and Shiri remind us is that social media sites are not only encouraging us to socialize on their sites, they are encouraging us to participate and to socialize in the real world. In The Power of Dialogue, Patrick Jenlink highlights the contributions dialogue makes in creating social change: The primary challenge to global society, as we pass the threshold of a new millennium, is to transform existing social systems, and therefore American society, in such ways as to embody a more inclusive, democratic, and open-ended communicative spirit. Necessary to this transformation is a social discourse that enables the power and potential of global citizens to be realized. Dialogue is such a discourse that enables citizens in unconcealing societal patterns and structures, which guide and direct individual and collective interactions within and across events and activities. Engaging in dialogue, as a social discourse of creative possibility, with others in our daily lives can contribute to change in our selves and society (Jenlink 1). One example of social media's ability to use dialogue to create social change is the recent use of Twitter to coordinate protests. The Iranian government's attempts to restrict and censor media outlets was challenged by citizens that used Twitter to spread the word about the Iranian Election (Cohen & Stone 2). When the Chinese government censored citizens from accessing the internet the Global Internet Freedom Consortium provided Chinese movements with software that helped evade censorship. When asked about the increase of traffic from Iran, the founder of the organization suggested that â€Å"the Iranian people actually found out by themselves and have passed this on by word of mouth† (Cohen & Stone 2). Furthermore, Zittrain suggests that â€Å"Twitter was particularly resilient to censorship because it had so many ways for its posts to originate – from a phone, a web browser or specialized applications – and so many outlets for those posts to appear† (qtd in Cohen & Stone). Similarly, word of mouth messages are difficult to avoid because they can be delivered from so many places – a neighbour, a teacher, a coworker, a classmate or even an astronaut. In short, the intrinsic nature of social media sites to turn user generated content into word of mouth information, that is – unrestrictive dialogue – allows for users to spread messages quickly and effectively. Social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and MySpace have not only given us a way in which we can converse, they have given us a space in which conversation and dialogue can start and continue to grow. When John E. Kennedy first tried to define advertising in 1904 he did so with three simple words, â€Å"salesmanship on paper† (O'Reilly). While he might rework this phrase, first to include all forms of advertising media and then to comment on some form of social change; he would certainly be forced to include social media tools such as YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter as they have changed the way in which we choose to communicate. When considering social change it is imperative to consider advertising. The first step to creating social change on any level is to change public perception and there is no other industry known more for changing perception than the advertising industry. It is best explained by notorious ad man who persuaded millions to watch MTV and wear Tommy Hilfiger, George Lois who said, â€Å"Great advertising can make food taste better, can make your car run smoother. It can change your perception of something. Is it wrong to change your perception about something? Of course not. I’m not lying; I’m just saying, ‘This one’s more fun, this one’s more exciting. ‘† The advertising industry is typically always the first one to recognize the capability of digital technologies to create social change. This is why Katalyst Media, a media agency dedicated to producing content on social media has more campaigns than they can handle. The founder and CEO of Katalyst Media, Ashton Kutcher uses social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to send his message and to persuade others to join his causes. It started with a message to promote World Malaria Day that read â€Å"Every 30 seconds, a kid dies of malaria. Nets save lives. $10 buys a net† and was followed by a link to Malaria No More's web site where people could donate (Macsai & Wilson 80). The celebrity's tweet persuaded millions to join and the donation website had more traffic in one month than it did the previous twelve (80). Kutcher was able to tally nearly 90,000 nets in a very short time. What Kutcher did was raise awareness to a cause and by taking advantage of the most popular space in modern times to have a conversation he created action. Another celebrity to cash in on free advertising, that is – the process of attracting public attention to a product, business or cause through multiple forms of media with the ultimate goal of delivering a message to create action – is Bill Cosby. Cosby recently held a virtual town hall to discuss issues that face the African-American Community and to promote this town hall he advertised his message on social media sites, Facebook and Twitter (Hein). Cosby launched his ad campaign in a few simple words, â€Å"Our children are trying to tell us something, but we are not listening† followed by a link to Ustream – a website that streams footage live alongside a comments box where the streamer can read at the same time. Cosby was capable of generating 1. 3 million views which set a record behind President Obama's inaugural address (Hein). Similarly, companies are taking advantage of social media sites by gathering positive word of mouth dialogue to create a social change, that is – a higher demand and positive brand relationship with consumers (Schmitt). Companies like Nike, Red Bull and Samsun all have their own Twitter and Facebook pages where consumers post reviews and experiences with relative products. In The Last Campaign: How Experiences Are Becoming the New Advertising, Garrick Schmitt highlights the increasing awareness that companies have for social media (Schmitt). He also argues that companies unwilling to adapt are unlikely to survive (Schmitt). The ability that social media has to change perception is largely fuelled by its ability to generate dialogue in a public space. In creating a public space social media sites provide a space where the masses can rule, even if the masses are as marginal as a group of chess players. In Explaining Why Young Adults Use MySpace and Facebook Through Uses and Gratifications Theory, Mark Urista, Qingwen Dong and Ken Day assert that â€Å"the uniqueness of social networking sites is not in their ability to allow individuals to meet strangers but rather their ability to enable users to shape and make their social networks visible to others (Urista et al. 17). Because social networks are visible to the public it is easy to find the best or most popular product. Persuasion and the changing of perceptions becomes easy when 500,000 people think the same way you do. This is why Bill Cosby was capable of generating 1. 3 million hits when he only had 650,000 Twitter followers and 26,000 fans on Face book. In short, social media sites present users and companies with a platform for persuasion through a visibly public space. Effective companies and social change movements relish critical feedback via social media and used correctly can persuade the masses to take part of revolutionary change. Perhaps the most powerful quality that social media possesses is the ability to connect, unite and democratize traditional forms of communication. All of which help to generate social change albeit unintentionally. The most recognizable form of social media's ability to democratize and unite can be found in its language. Twitter for example opened up its ever evolving language to its users. Tweets is a term that refers to a Twitter post. the letters RT is a negotiated term amongst all users that stands for Retweet which means to forward, like an email or repost. As more and more uses are found for social media sites such as Twitter, the language evolves. For example, Tweet-Up is a recently added term that refers to a real-world meeting of people who connected via Twitter (Wired). Another way in which social media acts as a democratic force is its ability to give power to the masses. User-generated content certainly adds to the democratic nature of social media sites because the content on them can become important or redundant but it is up to participants and users to decide. When something becomes popular often times groups will be started and streams of meta data are collected and grouped to provide easy access. In Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business , Erik Qualman suggests that â€Å"human beings have the dichotomous physiological need to be our own individual, yet we also want to feel like we belong to and are accepted by a much larger social set. People are willing to have an ‘open diary' as a means to stay connected – as their ultimate desire is to feel connected† (Qualman 43). This idea suggests that we are rewarded for participating so a simple call to action is in fact rewarding: Part of this lies in a yearning to have a clear understanding of what the majority is ding. It was much easier to know what the majority was doing when all on had to do was tune into Casey Kasem's â€Å"American Top 40† to find out the latest and greatest in music or to flip through â€Å"Vogue† magazine to quickly grasp ever fashion trend. â€Å"Social media help us make sense of information overload by quickly seeing what our friends find important, helpful or interesting. It also helps eliminate people performing he same tasks – if three of your friends have already performed the task (finding a good hotel in Bermuda), why should you be redundant? (Qualman). Danah Boyd also highlights social media outlets call to participate as a reward (Boyd 126). Social Media makes participation in social movements rewarding and democratic. Participation in social medi a allows users to connect and unite as the public platform used by social media sites makes it easy for users to connect and to participate with others. These qualities are the underlying reasons surrounding the profound shift in the way that we choose to communicate. Social media has become the biggest change to our society since the industrial revolution (Qualman). Qualman states the following statistics while arguing his case for social media revolution: 96% of Generation Y have joined a social media network, is the number one activity on the internet today, 1 out of 8 couples married in the US last year met via social media, it took the radio 38 years to reach 50 million users, the television took 13 years, the internet took 4 years, the iPod took 3 years, Facebook added 100 million users in less than 9 months (Qualman 2). Along with it are the intrinsic qualities social media carries with it, that is ability to generate dialogue, to change perception and persuade, and its ability to connect and unite the masses democratically. The social media revolution is incipient and inchoate. The creation of every new medium brings with it a learning curve and as its strengths are developed and its language invented, social change will be one of its many uses.